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

| 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

| 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

| 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.)

| 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

| 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.)

| 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.)

| 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

| 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.)

| 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.)

| 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

| 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")

| 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

| 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.)

| 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

| 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

| 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

| 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

| 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.)

| 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.)

| 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

| 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)

| 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

| 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")

| 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

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

Red Leather Satchel

$275 at Henry and Lulu | Buy

(9" x 11")

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

iTunes Music Store Card

THOUGHTFUL GIFTS FOR EMPLOYEES

Prepaid iTunes cards let recipients load their Macs and iPods with whatever they’re into that week. Because songs are only 99 cents each, a $15 card goes the distance.

$15 at Amazon | Buy

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

Heart Cards

So you didn’t have time to send out holiday cards, and you were too hung over to manage New Year’s greetings. Perhaps you should start a new tradition by sending Valentines. These Paper Source heart cards come in dozens of color combinations, and are made for slipping under pillows, or into suitcases and lunchboxes.

$6 at Paper Source | Buy

(10 cards)

| Posted 12 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Clean Provence

This perfume is like putting your lips to the down of a ripe peach. The scent is meant to recall the soft, fresh fragrance of French milled soaps. It’s made with extracts of Provencal lemon, cotton blossom, rose geranium, sweet lime and soft violet musk. Think of someone slicing honeydew in the next room, or a breeze blowing through clean sheets on the clothesline.

$76 at Beauty.com | Buy

(2.14 oz.)

| Posted 12 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

“Mommy” Baby Tee

This baby shirt was designed by tattoo artist Scott Sylvia, whose baby is way edgier than yours. Your little one may be too young for ink, but everyone should know who has his heart.

$22 at Infantile | Buy

(Via <a href="http://preshrunk.info/">Preshrunk</a>.)

| Posted 12 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Multicolored Aprons

The only downside to this cute cotton apron is that you’ll be annoyed the first time you stain it. Machine washable. Comes in many different colors.

$36 at Murge Designs | Buy

(By reader request)

| Posted 11 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Ceramic Valet

Julia wrote in to say that she was looking for something to hold her jewelry, something besides a big wooden box. This, my friends, is surprisingly hard to find. I came across these ceramic valets that keep all of your jewelry neatly stowed in individual cells. They’re cheap, and you can stack them up. Also works for office supplies.

$10 at Container Store | Buy

(No longer available.)

| Posted 11 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Steve Madden Spurs

Do you see these? These are green cowgirl boots, people. You could wear anything with these and look stylish. Still, the gold lasso is a bit much, dear. Let’s not go mad with power. Genuine leather upper. 11.5” shaft height, 13” circumference. 2 1/2” stacked heel. Free shipping!

$133 at Solestruck | Buy

(Did I mention free shipping?)

| Posted 10 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Small Heart Locket

This little heart locket makes me nostalgic. I couldn’t resist such a traditional, sweet Valentine’s Day gift. It’s 14k white gold and comes with a 16” chain. A small photo or keepsake fits inside, and you can have it engraved with your names or whatever you like. Aww.

$110 at Mondera | Buy

| Posted 10 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Tomales Bay Deluxe Collection

PERFECT PICNIC GUIDE

Cowgirl Creamery makes some dreamy cheeses. I feel nothing but tenderness for their Mt. Tam Triple-Cream Brie. It’s rich, indulgent, and ever so friendly. Cowgirl Creamery offers all kinds of cheese clubs, but my favorite product is their sampler pack of three tasty cheeses, all made in the Tomales Bay region. You’ll get the Mt. Tam, a bum-fortifying triple-cream brie, Point Reyes Original Blue, and Matos St. George cheddar. With this in your picnic basket, don’t bother with sandwiches.

$50 at Cowgirl Creamery | Buy

| Posted 10 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Molecule Jewelry

My friend Judith has stunning taste, especially in jewelry. The other day, I commented on her amazing ring. “It’s a caffeine molecule,” she said. Every so often I see a product line that floors me, and this one has me laid flat. You’ll want every bright, smooth piece Muscovie Designs has on offer, but the molecule jewelry is the wittiest. There are six different options, all representing substances that affect mood. I’ve pictured the Adrenoline Pendant here, but they also offer rings. Science becomes you.

$175 at Muscovie Designs | Buy

| Posted 07 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Paper Balls

These are so much fun! You inflate them by blowing into a hole on one end, then you can bat them back and forth with your favorite little kid or kitty cat. When you’re done, you can flatten them and put them in your pocket for easy transport.

$7 at Hearthsong | Buy

(Set of ten.)

| Posted 06 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Stars Tee

This fun red T-shirt has you decorated like a military general. Wear it out and enjoy the respect that your rank demands. Cotton-poly blend. Salutes all around.

$26 at Delias | Buy

| Posted 06 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Gasperr

A classic pair of leather ankle boots with small pleats along the seam. The center panel curves up and over the toe. They slip on and zip up the sides. Dandy.

$90 at Steve Madden | Buy

| Posted 06 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Nelson Relief Aorta Teapot

If you like your serving pieces modeled on internal organs–and who doesn’t!–you’ll love this cozy aorta teapot by Jonathan Adler. I like it because it’s modern, but it still looks like a teapot. As opposed to the endlessly irritating novelty teapots that have become the norm: It’s the Chrysler Building! It’s an elephant! It’s Kermit the Frog! Just pour me a damn cup of tea. Comes in white and white.

$90 at Velocity Art and Design | Buy

(No longer available.)

| Posted 05 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

COVET: Egg Vase

Don’t worry about the flowers, this vase is just fine on its own. I find it very soothing. It’s a Ted Muehling design, created in 2000, and is manufactured in Germany. It is expensive, and therefore an excellent apology gift for when you really screw something up.

$240 at Moss | Buy

(About 6" high.)

| Posted 05 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Leaf Coaster Set

When you’re not using these leaf coasters by Michael Aram, you can scatter them across the coffee table to decorate for fall. Made of polished aluminum, they’re several steps up from the cardboard ones you brought home from the bar.

$50 at Bloomingdale's | Buy

(No longer available.)

| Posted 05 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Brocade Lanterns

I’ve always wanted to have a small room filled with brocade lanterns. They’re so vibrant when you group different colors-lime, yellow, purple, red. They definitely pull the eye away from all that IKEA furniture. I’ve pictured the yellow, pumpkin-shaped brocade lantern, but the link will take you to a page with several shape and size options.

$35 at Pearl River | Buy

| Posted 04 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Tempo Time Tag

The site calls its Time Tag “an extension of your computer clock.” That’s just right. It doesn’t do anything fancy, it’s just a little clock that clips onto your sleeve, collar, or laptop strap so you always know what time it is. Much better than digging out your phone.

$18 at Vessel Store | Buy

| Posted 04 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

One-Handed Pepper Mill

15 WEDDING AND SHOWER GIFTS UNDER $40

This is the sproingiest little pepper mill on the market. I own one, and it always gets comments from guests.

You hold it in the palm of your hand and use your thumb to press the button on top. This means that you can grind fresh pepper with one hand and wield a spatula with the other. Plus it has a little window that lets you know when you’re running out of pepper. Genius!

$24 at MOMA Store | Buy

| Posted 04 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason

Cook’s Illustrated Magazine

If I’m going to spend three hours cooking something, it damn well better taste good when I’m done. Cook’s Illustrated is my favorite cooking magazine, because it eliminates much of the risk involved in trying new dishes. I also love it because it contains no ads. Every recipe is tested multiple times and compared against other alternatives. It’s the magazine version of “America’s Test Kitchen,” which is a television show that tests several versions of a particular recipe, and gives you the easiest, tastiest one. The magazine also compares different food products and gadgets and gives you recommendations. Once you subscribe, you get access to the online archives, which offer ten years of recipes and product reviews. Subscribe, you will like it. And while you’re at it, you might want to renew your gym membership. (Many thanks to Freddy for the reminder.)

$27 at Amazon | Buy

| Posted 04 Jan, 2005 in January 2005 by Margaret Mason