Mighty Goods: Products from November 2004

Ofoto Calendar

I’d been looking around for a personalized photo calendar, and Ofoto had the most reasonably priced, easily produced option. You choose from one of eight designs, and then pick which photos you want for each month. You have to sign up for the service to order a calendar, but Snapfish offers one too, though it’s a bit tougher to make. With the Ofoto service, the easiest thing to do is to compile a “calendar” folder in advance, upload it to the service, and pull photos from that. This way, you don’t have to jump from folder to folder (and wait an eternity for each one to load). You can choose to start the calendar on any month you like, so it makes an excellent gift year round.

$20 at Ofoto

(Measures approximately 10"x15".)

Kirtsy This | Posted 18 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Sno-Jack Snow Scooter

Snow Scooter, baby! Does this thing look like a blast? If your legs tangle up on skis; if snowboards have you face-planting off the lift, put some fun in your winter with this zippy scooter. The front bar is collapsible for easy storage and transport. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m itching. It’s designed to hold up to 200 pounds. You place your feet on the plastic deck, and the handlebars help you turn and keep you upright. It’s your second shot at being a kid. You can push yourself along in flat spaces, or glide down hilly spaces. And when you’re done, throw in a few snow angels for good measure.

$80 at Buy.com

Kirtsy This | Posted 17 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Satin Hook-and-Eye Corset

The holidays are coming up, ladies. Do you have your naughty-elf outfit at ready? If not, all you need to complete this little number is a velvet Santa cap and a plate of cookies. The thing about corsets is that they make you look thinner than you are, which is a welcome feat when the holidays roll around. Suck it in, hook it up, tie a little bow around your neck, and wait for him under the tree.

$68 at Fredericks

(Also comes in black.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 16 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

In Another Country Wool Sweater

Too many men wear sweaters that make them look fat. This slim-fit sweater won’t bulk you up, or let you fade into the crowd. The teal, orange, and lime stripes will keep you visible on the slopes, and happy on the street. Lambswool with ribbed collar and cuffs.

$66 at Karmaloop

Kirtsy This | Posted 16 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Egg Carton Socks

Twelve pairs of baby socks made inexplicably cuter because they’re rolled up and packed in an egg carton. This sudden urge you have to buy socks for tiny baby feet is the power of marketing, people. The socks are multicolored and polka-dotted, which makes them that much sweeter. They’re 100 percent cotton, with some spandex so you won’t end up with unkempt, one-sock baby. No-skid bottoms.

$32 at Toy Classic

Kirtsy This | Posted 12 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Fandex

Each Fandex takes a particular subject–dinosaurs, painters, mythology, presidents–and provides you with about 50 cards of information on the subject. The cards are fastened together at the bottom, so they fan out as you read them. Each has a picture at the top, and information on the front and back of the card. In the Body Fandex, for example, one card has a picture of the skeletal system and corresponding information. Surprisingly informative, and fun for car trips, Fandexes come in every flavor. In addition to those mentioned above, Amazon also carries Fandexes on the United States, wildflowers, trees, birds, explorers, the Civil War, American Indians, Shakespeare, first ladies, mummies gods and pharohs, New York, and cats.

$10 at Amazon

Kirtsy This | Posted 12 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Pond’s Cleansing and Make-up Remover Towelettes

I know I’m on a towelette kick, but indulge me. I keep a pack of these inexpensive, resealable, cleansing swipes by my bed. Technically, it’s a “refill pack,” which just means that it’s half the price of the pack that comes in a big plastic tub. Here’s why they’re handy: You get in around 3 a.m., and just as you drift off to sleep you realize that you haven’t washed your face. If you don’t have a handy stash of makeup-remover towelettes in your nightstand, you have to tear yourself from your warm bed, trudge into the bathroom, trudge all the way back, then lay in bed wide awake. If you do have a stash, you roll over, swipe your face a few times, recoil in horror at how much crap you still have on your face despite having applied makeup eight hours ago, and sink back into a peaceful slumber. (No rinsing necessary.) Convenient, no? And they don’t smell funny or dry out your face and make your skin feel all tight. You will like them.

$5 at Drugstore.com

(for thirty)

Kirtsy This | Posted 12 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Isaac Mizrahi Prism Handbag

Isaac Mizrahi, I could kiss you. This $15 handbag is a little piece of cha-cha. You can already hear the fish-scale sequins chattering while you dance. The 24-inch strap lets you sling it across your body and forget about it. While the other girls are looking for places to hide their purses, or lugging them around like grandmas, you can get straight to shimmying. The only thing you’re lugging is a martini glass, sweets. Plenty of room for your cell phone, lipstick, and a hundred-dollar bill.

$15 at Target

Kirtsy This | Posted 11 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Nested Stacking Boxes

These gift boxes are extra convenient, and store beautifully. Throw in the present, tie on a bow, and you’re done. What’s more, they look fantastic. You can wrap a gift in under two minutes and get compliments on the job. The set comes with twelve boxes in red, blue, yellow and green. Stack them to package multiple gifts for the same person, or use them individually.

$8 at Container Store

Kirtsy This | Posted 11 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Iomega Micro Mini External USB Drive

REBATE So wee-tiny! You know how sometimes you want something just because it’s small? This 512MB USB drive is adorable. You can pop it on your keychain, and it will be smaller than most of the keys. Load photos, MP3s, or work files and take them wherever. As you likely know, the drive plugs directly into any USB port and needs no batteries or power supply of any kind. Comes with interchangeable color caps.

$79 at Buy.com

(price is after rebate, regularly $89)

Kirtsy This | Posted 11 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Sterling Silver Flat Foxtail Mesh Bracelet

Jewelry for the guy who doesn’t usually wear jewelry. Even paired with a solid T-shirt and jeans, this flat mesh bracelet suggests that you have an eye for well-made objects. Either that, or someone who loves you has good taste. Versatile enough that you’ll never need to take it off, which is convenient, because you won’t want to.

$160 at Mondera

Kirtsy This | Posted 11 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Lindemans Framboise Lambic

EASTER BASKETS FOR GROWN UPS

I don’t like beer. I’ve tried to like beer, really I have, but beer and I just aren’t friends. That means I end up drinking a lot of flat cider in bars where no one orders cider. On occasion, I’m thrilled to find a place that offers lambic, and Lindemans Framboise Lambic is my favorite. It’s a fruity, frothy, thirst-quenching yeast beverage. The Framboise is an ideal balance of sweet and tart, with a pleasant, mellow aftertaste. Like a complex, tipsy soda pop.

$6 at Beverages and More

(12 ounces)

Kirtsy This | Posted 11 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Comodynes Self-Tanning Towelettes

Are you pasty? Try these now. True, the name sounds vaguely gynecological, but trust me. They’ll make you all golden and glowy. I’ve used all kinds of self-tanning products in every price range. They smell foul, they’re impossible to apply, they leave weird bruise-like color blobs, or they flat-out don’t work. These self-tanning towelettes are heavenly. I keep them around for special occasions, and use one towelette for my face, neck, shoulders, chest, and arms. The color change happens about three hours later. It’s noticeable, and very natural. Just rip open the towelette, wipe on the self-tanner, and throw the little towel away. No awful smells, no messy creams, no weird streaking, and you only have to wait ten minutes before you get dressed. George Hamilton, watch your back.

$13 at Drugstore.com

(For eight individually wrapped towelettes.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 11 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Diamond Marquise Globe

Look! The whole world is shiny and new. If you’re tired of the old blue and green grade-school globe, go with a more modern option. This globe has a muted chrome finish and a brushed steel bracket that affixes it to the black base. It’s 12 by 17 inches, and will class up your study. Spin it, pick a country, and plan your next vacation.

$125 at Ultimate Globes

Kirtsy This | Posted 09 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Hula Honeys 2005 Wall Calendar

If January finds you craving some warmth, put a little summer on the wall. This retro Hula Honeys calendar will make you want to shake it. It’s by Chronicle Books, a publisher that can’t seem to make anything ugly lately. So pin up your honeys, crank up the heater, and pop a drink umbrella in your hot chocolate.

$10 at Amazon

Kirtsy This | Posted 09 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Snowman Paint

Leave a note in the snow, or make an alien snowman and paint him green. This Sno-Paint kit comes with eight color packets and four snowman-shaped spray bottles. You mix the pigments in warm water and then go outside to play.

$18 at Plum Party Supplies and Favors

Kirtsy This | Posted 09 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Amarena Wild Cherries

CLASSIC HOST GIFTS

I tried these for the first time at a friend’s wedding. The groom was a bartender, and these were the cherries they used as drink garnishes. They are nothing like maraschino cherries. The texture is dense, and the cherries have a rich, fruity flavor. They’re preserved in thick syrup, and are fantastic as an ice cream or cheesecake topping. Or drop a single cherry into a fizzing glass of prosecco or your evening Manhattan. They’re incredibly hard to come by online (in fact the site I’m sending you to doesn’t even have a photo of the product), but you can pick them up at Italian grocers, and Beverages and More carries them on occasion. Such a treat.

$15 at A Taste of Italy Foods

(18 oz. jar)

Kirtsy This | Posted 08 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Board.bug Baby and Child Monitor

Your toddler skipped crawling and went straight to walking. He can be out the front door and down the block before you can pick up a ringing phone. The Board.bug child monitor looks like a pair of wristwatches. One goes on you, the other on your kiddo. When the apple of your eye gets a little too far from the tree, an alarm goes off on your monitor. You can set three different safety ranges, and you can monitor up to three kids at once. An alarm sounds if you child takes the device off. Your monitor has a panic button that will sound your child’s alarm if he wanders out of sight. Now you can totally go to the bathroom. (via Josh Rubin)

$130 at Bizzar

(price is a conversion from euros)

Kirtsy This | Posted 08 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Demeter Pick-Me-Up Spray

I like to smell like food. This line of perfume is fantastic because it offers dozens of realistic culinary options to wear behind your ears. I especially favor Earl Grey, Sugar Cookie, and Gin and Tonic. Of course, there are other options if you prefer to smell less edible. Consider Wet Dirt, or Laundromat. Perhaps you can alternate for days when you feel particularly dirty, or squeaky clean.

$18 at Sephora

Kirtsy This | Posted 08 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Earthworm Bracelet

This delicate earthworm bracelet is so unexpectedly feminine. It reminds me of making mud pies, planting an apple tree, and raking fallen leaves. I can almost smell the dirt. An endearing gift for the gardener in your life.

$115 at BittersweetsNY

Kirtsy This | Posted 05 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Aqua Serving Plates

ON SALE I’d put hunks of bread on the big plate and various cheeses on the smaller, or lay out different kinds of teabags on the small plates and use the larger for tea cookies. This versatile set of five inexpensive, hand-glazed plates makes you want to plan parties. The four smaller plates fit perfectly into the larger platter, so you can use them in that configuration or spread them out. Plus, they’re dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe. Useful, huh?

$13 at Crate and Barrel

(No longer available.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 05 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

I’m Blue Shirt

So “America is Scary” is on backorder, but Mule Design’s shirts are ready to go. (Full disclosure: I know the folks over at Mule. Hi, guys!) These post-election shirts come in three slogans: “I’m Blue,” which is pictured, “Send Help,” with a little silhouette of the states, and “Baja Canada,” which pictures the West Coast blue states. You can buy them individually or as a package deal. Available in men’s and women’s styles.

$20 at Mule Design

($50 for all three)

Kirtsy This | Posted 05 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

America is Scary T-Shirt

They’re available in women’s and men’s sizes. It’s out of stock today, but they have a notice list. I have a feeling they’ll be printing more soon. I’ll be hiding under my bed.

$20 at Glarkware

Kirtsy This | Posted 04 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Leather Detail Sweater Vest

Layer this versatile sweater vest with a long-sleeve tee or lightweight sweater for extra warmth. The leather detailing on the shoulders was designed for durability under the straps of a hiking pack, but it also gives the sweater a unique look for wear in a more urban environment. The zip front lets you choose the most comfortable neckline for you. Cotton acrylic blend.

$78 at National Geographic

Kirtsy This | Posted 03 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Readymade Magazine

If you own more than one glue gun, you’ll probably dig this magazine. Learn how to turn old hardcover books into picture frames, build a small guest cottage on the cheap, or just see how artsy types are putting their homes together. Like Martha Stewart, but with a more modernist aesthetic and less criminal activity. If you have a DIY hipster in your life, a subscription makes a great gift. It can also help you make great gifts yourself. One of the best new(ish) publications I’ve come across. Dig out your X-acto knives and staple guns, and grab yourself a copy.

$19 at Amazon

(for six issues)

Kirtsy This | Posted 03 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason