Things I Covet - The Girly Laptop Case

This is it ... the perfect, lovely, ultimate girly-girl laptop case.

It's the Marlo Women's Laptop Bag (available in eggplant or pink) by frances & grace.

Bubblegum pink (the eggplant, though more understated, is also gorgeous), black ribbon trim. It's fabulous. There's really nothing more to say.

The Marlo bag retails for (gasp!) $369 and is at present available only directly from the manufacturer.

Gifts for Guys: The Swiss Pen

Last year, for the gadget loving man in your life, it was the SwissMemory ("USB memory with your choice of 128, 256, or 512MB memory stick and a blade, nail file, screwdriver, scissors, LED mini light, retractable ballpoint pen, and key ring"). This year from Victorinox: the Swiss Pen, a twist action pen featuring multitools, including the Swiss army knife, screwdriver, file, and scissors; in addition, the pen features a red light flashlight and pressurized ink (by Fisher Space Pen) that enables writing upside down and underwater.

The Victorinox Swiss Pen retails for $50.00

Keep it in your Trunk

A great random buy -- the Safety Girl Roadside Emergency Kit ($29.95).

What is it? A sassy pink lunchbox filled with everything from chocolate to OxiClean® Instant Spot Remover Wipe to an emergency blanket and Instructions to Jump Start a Dead Battery. Every item is high quality; the Space brand emergency blanket, for example, " helps prevent hypothermia and trauma shock by reflecting and retaining body heat — and Space Brand is constantly relied upon worldwide in disaster relief and rescue."

Check it out on the SafetyGirl.com site.

Kitchen Gadgets - $3 well spent

Simple, clever ... and just $3!

Check out the clever Over Boil Clip from Walter Drake.

According to the website, the clip raises one edge of the pot lid 5/8" to allow steam to escape, thereby preventing boiling contents from bubbling over onto the stove (and saving cooks from having to hover over the stove; set a timer and walk away!). The clip fits all pots and is dishwasher safe.

via KitchenContraptions.com -- one of my favorite blogs!

Yankee Candle Clearance

Heads up on the Yankee Candle clearance sale going on now! I just checked it out, and while some items are beginning to sell out (so act quickly!), there are still some really good deals to be had .... I'm a big fan of the jar candles, and right now several of the 14.5 ounce jars (which burn 60-85 hours) are half off, marked down to $9.49 from $18.99; while "Amber Sunset" doesn't do too much for me, there are some delicious scents on sale, including Balsam & Cedar, Christmas Wreath, Macintosh, Macintosh & Peach, Spiced Pumpkin, and Pumpkin Pie.

Happy Shopping!

Yankee Candle's semi-annual Clearance Sale ends on Monday, January 16, 2005.