Mighty Goods: Products from January 2005

Refillable Record Book

A blank-page, journal with recycled record albums as the cover. It has two inside pockets and takes regular binder pages

$35 at Buy Olympia | Buy

Kirtsy This | Posted 31 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT GUIDE Just in time for Valentine’s Day, it’s your standard, run of the mill, light bondage kit. This one takes the edge off by packing a creamy silk blindfold and two silk scarves in an unassuming vanilla ice-cream container. Tasty.

$20 at Good Vibrations | Buy

Kirtsy This | Posted 31 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Fire DVD

VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT GUIDE Warm your hands in the glow of your TV screen. This fire DVD is just like a regular blaze, but without the wood chopping, and you’ll never have to remember to open the flue.

$18 at Mousse Shop | Buy

Kirtsy This | Posted 31 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Musini

ON CLEARANCE This toy has won awards all over the place, and you’ll love it as much as your kids. Musini is a music box that listens for vibrations in your floor. When your toddler jumps, spins, or stomps, Musini detects the motion and responds with a unique musical sound. Your kids dance, and Musini provides the music. Kids can choose from five different musical styles–jazz, classical, and so on–and you can set the sound and sensitivity levels.

$20 at Amazon | Buy

(Regularly $40.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 28 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Esquire Magazine

If Maxim makes you uneasy and The Economist makes you sleepy, Esquire is just the thing. It’s like a magazine for young women except, you know, the editors assume their readership is smart. Also, more cars.

$8 at Amazon | Buy

Kirtsy This | Posted 27 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Moonbeam Clock

THOUGHTFUL GIFTS FOR EMPLOYEES

Wouldn’t you rather be woken by a “gently illuminating light” than, say, a spine-slamming alarm that sends adrenaline spiking through your veins? Me too. The Moonbeam Clock wakes you naturally with light, and has a backup bell for mornings when you need extra encouragement.

$36 at L.L. Bean | Buy

( 5"H x 7"W x 3"D.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 27 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Droste Cocoa

Throw away the Nestle Quick. This unsweetened cocoa from Holland will make your toes curl. Whisk it into hot milk and sweeten with Bailey’s Irish Cream or Frangelico. If you can get your hands on some homemade marshmallows you might be able to ascend. It’s also amazing in baked goods.

$10 at igourmet.com | Buy

(About 9 oz.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 26 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Zip It Travel Socks

These socks have a four-inch zippered pocket for storing cash, ID, or keys. A good gift for bike riders, runners, and cautious travelers. They’re a cotton/nylon/spandex blend, and they come in black or white.

$15 at Siegler and Co. | Buy

Kirtsy This | Posted 26 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Weleda Skin Food

This is my new favorite thing! First off, the scent is a blend of lavender, rosemary, and orange oil–so it smells clean and sweet. It’s for very dry skin, so when you first put it on it feels a little thick and gooey. Three minutes later, your skin will feel so silky that you’ll want to purr. You can also use it on chapped lips; it tastes faintly of oranges. I’d read about this stuff a thousand times, but I finally tried it because a reader and firm believer sent me some (thanks, Freddy). Try it. You’ll be passing it out to friends too.

$15 at Amazon | Buy

(For 2.5 oz.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 26 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Bent Ply Feeder

Is your discerning kitty turning up her nose at mealtime? Maybe it’s not the Fancy Feast, maybe it’s the plastic bowl. This chow bowl has a frame made of bent plywood. It elevates your pet’s water and food, which is supposedly more comfortable and especially good for animals with arthritis. The feeder comes in small, medium, or large, and the site offers instructions on how to figure out which one will work best for your pet. When you get it, you can have in encrusted with jewels. (Thanks for the tip, Maggi!)

$98 at Vivavi | Buy

(For medium-sized feeder.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 25 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Hand Tied Romance Bouquet

Remember last year when you grabbed a sad little bunch of Valentine’s flowers from the convenience store? Turns out that baby’s breath is a highly potent form of birth control. This year, give yourself a fighting chance. Order this gorgeous hand-tied bouquet of pink alstromeria, lemon-scented wax flowers, lavender asters, allium and purple lisianthus, asters, and cremones. From now until Valentine’s Day, code V5AFF gets you 15 percent off everything at Kabloom. The baroque bouquet is awfully nice too.

$58 at Kabloom | Buy

Kirtsy This | Posted 24 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

JPG Magazine

JPG Magazine is a chapbook of photography taken by artists who publish much of their work online. It’s a testimony to how the Web helps talented people find their niche, regardless of their connections. Full disclosure: Heather and Derek Powazek are the publishers, and also my pals. This is JPG Magazine’s inaugural issue, and it’s lovely. It’s fifty-two, full-color pages, and contains the work of thirty-one photographers. It also includes an interview with Emilie Valentine, one of the first photobloggers, and a spread by photographer Noah Grey. If you know someone who gives their camera good morning kisses, or someone who tracks indie publishing gems, this is a thoughtful gift.

$20 at JPG Magazine | Buy

(6" x 9")

Kirtsy This | Posted 24 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Winter Cheer Organic Bouquet

Red roses on Valentine’s Day are for amateurs. If you’d prefer to be a little unpredictable, choose this modern arrangement in white. This cheerful bunch of oriental lilies, white roses, and white asters looks as though you just gathered it in the backyard. Also, they’re organic, which means that your gift of love isn’t sending insecticide into the drinking water. So that’s a plus.

$40 at OrganicBouquet.com | Buy

Kirtsy This | Posted 24 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Botanical Branch with Figs

Forget the flowers, Michael Aram’s fig branch sculpture makes for a gorgeous–and hardy–centerpiece. Put it on the table with a few tea lights, or set it on the mantle. Brings a sense of plenty to any room.

$130 at Room and Company | Buy

(No longer available.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 21 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Gold Soldier Pin

Who needs a guardian angel when you can have your very own soldier? This 18 K gold pin is also available in polished aluminum and is part of a limited edition of 1,000. Designed by Carlos Salgado, this army man can guard your evening bag or perch on your shoulder to watch your back.

$94 at Room and Company | Buy

Kirtsy This | Posted 21 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Frog Filpper Slippers

Frog feet for your little kicker. The embroidery reads “Flipper Slippers.” At last, you can bite those sweet little froggy feet without leaving teeth marks.

$10 at Henry and Lulu | Buy

Kirtsy This | Posted 21 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Sport Half-Zip

Who says it’s not easy being green? This retro half-zip sweatshirt is comfortable and stylish. Contrast panels are stitched in along the arms, back, and sides. Nice, big zip pockets keep your wallet safe when you’re out jogging.

$50 at Banana Republic | Buy

Kirtsy This | Posted 21 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Kids’ Dish Set

Now they have fine china for kids. Don’t you want to be six again? Each set includes an 8” plate, spoon, fork, cup and 5.5” diameter bowl. The set is 100% Melamine, and it’s dishwasher safe and shatterproof. So you can totally use the plate as a Frisbee.

$22 at Plum Party | Buy

Kirtsy This | Posted 20 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Grinder Brush

When your everyday objects are pretty, it makes your life a little more comfortable. This simple, stainless steel brush with natural bristles keeps your coffee or spice grinder clean and sparkly. Feels good in your hands.

$10 at CB2 | Buy

(No longer available.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 20 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Spice Gift Boxes

Penzey’s spice boxes make fantastic housewarming or wedding gifts. Prices and sizes vary. You can get a small package of four spices or go for broke with the Grand Spice gift crate that includes 19 spices. You can choose your spices based on the recipient’s cooking preferences: baking spices, Indian curries, grill and broil, spice, and several more.

$34 at Penzey's Spices | Buy

(For an eight-pack of spices.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 19 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Ziplinq Ethernet Extension cable

Ziplinq makes all kinds of cool retractable extension cords. This one is an Ethernet cable that connects your computer to a network or another computer. It’s only 4” long when stored, but it extends to 48”.

$11 at Amazon | Buy

Kirtsy This | Posted 19 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Alpine puffer jacket

ON SALE Bundle up in this basic down parka with contrast nylon lining. Plenty of exterior expandable pockets for your sunglasses and gloves, and two interior pockets for your wallet and iPod. Comes with a storm flap with hidden snaps and leather details. Shirttail hem with interior drawstring. If you’re not into safety orange, it also comes in blue, taupe, and red.

$50 at J Crew | Buy

(Regularly $128)

Kirtsy This | Posted 17 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Bow Front Knitted Top

Feminine and comfy, I haven’t been this pleased since ballet flats came back in style. This flirty cotton top defines your waist and shows a flattering, but still modest, amount of skin. Sweet with an A-line skirt, a pencil skirt (if you’ve go the shape for it), or a pair of slouchy trousers.

$68 at Boden | Buy

Kirtsy This | Posted 17 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

File

Throw away the ugly plastic rolodex that you snuck out of the office supply cabinet. It’s convenient, but not exactly a display piece. This lovely maple wood rolodex, on the other hand, is a work of art. It comes stocked 1,000 pretty found-paper cards in an array of colors and patterns. Now all you have to do is go out and meet enough friends to fill them up.

$75 at Lovely Design | Buy

( 7x5x3")

Kirtsy This | Posted 17 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Roomba

Robot vacuum! Cleans wood, tile linoleum, and low-to-medium pile carpet while you’re out shopping for dinner. When the battery gets low, Roomba returns to its charger so it’s ready to go when you spill sugar in the kitchen. Seriously, how long has it been since you vacuumed under the bed?

$249 at Amazon | Buy

Kirtsy This | Posted 13 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason