Building a wardrobe of versatile neutrals makes sense: Mixing and matching pieces is easy and clothing is less likely to look dated. But a closet full of blacks, browns, beiges and khakis hardly makes for inspired dressing. To brighten up your look without splurging on a whole new color scheme, take a cue from Glamour Magazine and change up your shoes. In this post, they advocate brightly colored shoes with cocktail dresses. But why stop there? An electric blue heel would look wonderful peeking out from beneath the hem of your black pants at work, or a pair of hot pink flats could jazz up your jeans and white tee. Colored shoes are a no-fail way to liven up your look. Here are five inspired choices, all less than $100.

rsvp Hart Heels (above)

Guess Beautifi Sandal

Sam Edelman Delancey Flat

Michael Antonio Mavis Pump

Franco Sarto Now Pumps

Packing lunches is a great way to save cash and eat healthfully: No running out for a $9 fast food lunch or succumbing to the temptations of the office vending machine for you, and no mystery meat school lunches for your kids. But all those plastic sandwich bags (or Saran Wrap, for that matter) are tough to recycle, and end up clogging landfills. What’s more, some organizations, like the nonprofit Healthy Child, Healthy World, site concerns about the impact these plastics can have on kids. Rather than abandon the sack lunch, try packing sandwiches and snacks in reusable, non-toxic bags. The Snack Taxi Snack Sack (pictured above) comes in several sizes and a host of cool prints to make lunch time more fun. The Wrap-N-Mat (below) unfolds to a placemat, so it’s perfect for toting along on picnics or hikes where there may not be a clean place to put down food. The FreshSnackPack (bottom) can hold an entire lunch in its clear pouch.

Nothing like an afternoon cocktail served up from a streamlined iron bar.

Imagine leaning up against this tufted headboard as you read your latest issue of InStyle…or watch this season’s Mad Men.

It seems like simply washing your face should be enough, doesn’t it? After all, washing usually… well… gets things clean. But invariably, when I follow my (necessarily gentle) facewash with toner, I see plenty of make-up left behind: residue from foundation , traces of blush and bronzer, streaks of eyeshadow and eyeliner. Yuck.

I like simple solutions, so rather than adding a step to my evening routine, I’d rather have one do-it-all product. Finding something that lifts make-up while being gentle on my skin, however, has been tough… till now. Biore just launched Makeup Removing Towelettes with Green Tea. The ultimate in clean simplicity, each towelette annihilates makeup and grime while nourishing your skin. Obviously, the process is made even simpler by the prepackaged towelettes–you don’t even need a washcloth!

In the garden:The large size tub is a practical weed pail, or use it to carry the vegetables you harvest out of your garden. The extra-large is ideal for gathering leaves, hauling rocks, mixing soil or transporting uprooted plants!

For pets:Use the TubTrug for as portable bathtub for your dog. The smaller sizes work as feeding dishes for your pets. Add a blanket to on and it become the perfect cat bed!

Kid’s rooms:Use these tubs as organizers for toys in the playroom or as a container for transporting toys between your house and grandma’s.

Around the house:Can we say laundry basket? That’s a no brainer! They are also practical carryalls for beach accessories, a catchall by the door, or as a container for bulk fruits and vegetables in the pantry. Or, buy assorted colors to use as a way to sort your recyclables.

Sheath dresses should be a staple in every woman’s closet. Simple and elegant, they’re great go-to dresses for everything from work to church to cocktail parties. Fortunately, there are beautiful buys at every price point, and you don’t have to spend a fortune to look stunning.

The two dresses above (one from St. John and one from Tahari) are both gorgeous, but one costs $98 and the other costs $995–more than ten times more! (And they’re both from the same store!) Can you tell the difference?

Naturally, I needed to jumpstart my color, so I knew the best way to do it is with a deep conditioning mask. It’s the hero hair product that makes your hair super-soft and leaves behind moisturizing ingredients (dry hair makes hair look dull and drab) that boost shine and vibrancy. Phyto, long known for rescue-type hair treatments, has recently revamped their hair mask line with new packaging and formulations. The reformulations are free of silicones and parabens, and the Phytocitrus Mask has color-saving ingredients like grapefruit extract, that restore my hair’s ph level to lock in color. It’s also filled with shea butters and sweet almond proteins to hydrate and leave my dry, frizzy locks, feeling soft and smooth. Look for the new packaging soon too, that boasts 60% less plastic.

For those sunny days, when I’m not wearing a hat, I need to make sure to coat my hair with a leave-in conditioner like Warren Tricomi Protect Organic Hair Shield. The SPF saves my color and keeps my tresses from feeling fried, and the silky moisturizers make it look vibrant and shiny. I’ve got to be vigilant about this and do it every time I rub on sunscreen. Anything to prevent fade out, now back to the frizzies… 

The Marrakesh rug features a washable sisal weave made of polypropylene, which is resistant to mildew and fading. The patterns echo printed fabrics you might see throughout the eastern Mediterranean. Use a rug pad with the rug to keep it from slipping. A runner is $66!

This elegant poem rug design was created with words from famed 17th century French writer of fables, Jean de La Fontaine. La Cigale et La Fourmi, “The Cricket and The Ant,” tells the story of an industrious ant and a carefree cricket and the end of summer. Hand-hooked of washable, poly-acrylic pile that’s soft underfoot, this rug works indoors and out! Sizes start at $59.

For a long time, you probably pooh-pooh’d getting a better TV. However, it is a fact that once you go high-def, it’s hard to go back. The same can be said for Blu-ray.

If you haven’t replaced your old DVD player yet, you may not notice a difference. However, once you’ve made the upgrade to Blu-ray, you’re going to want to take that movie magic everywhere and anywhere. Panasonic’s DMP-B500 makes that possible.

Boasting 3.5 hours of battery life, this portable Blu-ray player features a nifty 10.1-inch screen so you can catch a movie on a plane, in the car, or just out in by the pool.

However, it will be hard to hoard this kind of image to yourself for too long. For those times when you need to share (and they WILL happen), this unit can be easily hooked to any HDTV, via the player’s HDMI output. Using HDMI means one cable for a quick, easy connection. That means there’s no need to fumble around weaving that wire clutter.

Aah — but for $699 (on sale!), you didn’t just expect to watch movies in and out of the house, did you? The DMP-500 isn’t just a portable Blu-ray player, but it’s your key to all sorts of other entertainment. One of the key features on the unit is VIERA Cast. This is Panasonic’s own service, which provides easy, instant access to content providers such as Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube and a slew of other services.

Neutrals are nice, but summer is a great time to take a cue from nature and add pops of color to your look.  This season, purples are hot, and surprisingly easy to wear. For daytime, sweep a pale purple, like Anna Sui Eye Accent in Vivid Lavender (above), up to your brow bone and lightly under your lower lid (On darker-skinned gals, I like Stila’s Eye Shadow Pan in Wisteria (below), a brighter, shimmering lilac). It’s a subtle wash of color that will brighten up your face.

For evening, add a deep purple or plum, like the one found in Cover Girl’s Eye Enhancers 4 in Berries & Cream (at bottom) to the crease and lash line. It’s a sultry, summery alternative to the smokey eye.

Stila’s Eye Shadow Pan in Wisteria

Cover Girl’s Eye Enhancers 4 in Berries & Cream

The excitement is dying down for Twilight: Eclipse. OK — at least the lines at the theater are dying down. However, you still have plenty of time to show people what a frothing fan you really are. Just slap one of Skinit’s Eclipse-themed skins on any of your favorite electronics.

Yes! Now you can wrap your laptop or portable in your love for Twilight. The manufacturer actually has an Eclipse skin for every device you’ve got. There’s a laptop skin, a Kindle skin, a DSi skin, and even a Wii remote skin. Wow wee.

While it may seem silly to those that haven’t pledged allegiance to Team Jacob or Edward, it’s actually sort of practical. See, all of those brooding faces are actually protecting your devices from wear and tear.

Of course, all of this protection is due to a high-quality photo. These aren’t the kind that you print on your printer at home. Skinit actually uses some souped-up equipment to create a nice graphic on 3M vinyl. In fact, it’s so nice, it might just last longer than your actual laptop, phone, or other favorite piece of electronics. That’s right; this covering is easy to peel off, in case you want to swap out the graphic or move it to another device.

French Bull Collage Round Tray, $22

This summer seems to be the season of buying housewarming gifts. Not sure why so many of my friends are in transition, but I’ve attended at least four housewarming barbecues, cocktail parties and brunches in the last couple of months. I love a good party, but in these cases I’m also faced with the challenge of finding fun, practical and beautiful gifts that will help my friends “warm up” their homes. Enter French Bull, the maker of fun melamine products. The idea for French Bull started in 2002 from a desire to create high-style housewares products for design-conscious consumers at accessible prices. And these pieces are not your mom’s or grandma’s melamine!

Add pattern and color with a set of storage containers. Great for keeping food in your refrigerator or freezer. Remove the lids and bring them right to the table, indoors or out! What a stylish way to transport your summer salads and desserts to picnics and pot lucks!

Some of us look to the stars for our future and now you can look at these star sign mugs for a fresh start to every day! French Bull created a 12-piece collection of porcelain mugs representing each sign of the zodiac. Each mug is $13.50 and comes pre-wrapped in a bright orange box. Cute.

Fall is rapidly approaching, and designers are encouraging you to let out your wild side! Models swathed in leopard prints were stalking the runways for fall, and heavy-hitting designers like Gucci, Christian Louboutin, Hermes and more have created bold clothing and accessories for the upcoming season.

Want to wear it? The bold can channel their inner feline with an article of clothing like the Shape fx Cap-Sleep Dress, above (keep shoes and accessories neutral, please!). For a more subtle take on the trend, try adding a leopard print belt, bag or gloves like the ones below.

Leopard Print Belt from Spiegel, ($14)

Steve by Steve Madden B-Side Leopard Tote, ($118.40)

MICHAEL Michael Kors Leather Gloves, ($103.50)

Frizz-free hair starts in the shower, so switching up my shampoo recently to include a smoothing one, was a smart move. Pantene has always been a go-to brand for me–I think they have good quality haircare at very reasonable prices–so I was anxious to try  out their new Hair Solutions line, specifically designed to transform your hair to what you want, ie smooth and frizz-free. It has complete shampoo, conditioner and stylers by hair type, in fine, medium to thick, color or curly.  I choose, of course, the medium to thick type that promises to convert my locks from untamed mess, to smoother and sleek strands. It’s got guar and patented micro-smoothers that smooth rough cuticles (a symptom of thick hair) and helps to lock out frizz.

It’s been a week of the shampoo and conditioner combo, and I am happy to say, my hair has been pretty frizz-free. The volume is less, and it really feels smoother. I’m anxious to try out the styling products too, which I will be doing in the next few days, along with some other frizz-free solutions. Who knows, with hair this good, I may just skip the Brazilian. Stay tuned.

When I was a kid, I loved the beach and the occasional round of mini golf. Overall though, the great outdoors didn’t seem all that great. Maybe that’s because I didn’t have a ginormous TV to keep me entertained.

Now, backyard theaters seem to be popping up every summer. Well, not just in the summer. I actually have a nearby neighbor that uses his for a Christmas display. If that doesn’t wow the kiddos, this surely will. It’s not just a movie screen, but it’s an Inflatable Mickey Mouse Movie Screen.

If you don’t have kids, there are a few different types of inflatable screens on the market. Still, this would be the one I’d want. Who couldn’t use a touch of Disney magic? Set it up for movies or a slideshow of vacations or other special moments. It’s also great for life-sized video games.

This 130-inch movie screen self inflates (thank goodness!) for fun under the stars. It’s a freestanding unit, which means you won’t have to build a rack, mount or any other structure. Then, when the show’s over, the screen is easy to wipe down and stuff back into its included storage case.

Just remember, you’ll still need a projector and speakers, or something like Epson’s MovieMate, which combines both. Oh — and don’t forget the popcorn!

Why do these bears look so sad? Well, maybe they aren’t fond of your taste in music.

See, they are Juicy Couture’s Mini Bear Speakers, which actually look like the perfect snuggling partners. However, this set of cuddly cuties actually allows you to crank music that you’ve previously been hoarding on your portable music player.

Just take the included black cord and insert it into your device’s headphone jack and these bears can belt out all of your favorites. I’ve seen some funky iPod speakers in my day, but these definitely rank as the most snuggly.

Made from plush velour, the product comes as a pair — and of course, they are pink. One is adorned with a golden logo-charm necklace, the other with herringbone bow tie. Cute, huh? If you really want them to get down, the arms can swivel at the shoulders and the legs do the same at the hips.

You can pre-order the pair now for $68, but don’t expect to take them to the beach or any summer bonfires. They aren’t expected to ship until the end of the summer.

I’ve loved designer Cynthia Rowley since I spotted her in a park a few months after I moved to New York. She designs gorgeous, quirky-feminine clothes and accessories, and over the years has expanded her empire to include eyeglasses, kids’ clothing and now, the ultimate tiny-tot accessory: diapers! Target recently announced that Rowley and Pampers have collaborated on an exclusive collection that will be launch this month at Target stores. They’ll be available in 11 pastel prints, including madras plaid, strips and printed ruffles, and cost $15.99 for 24 toddler-sized diapers.

What do you think? Would you buy these?

This heat is killing me. Whenever I see a pool, I immediately have to go for it. I will hop fences, if necessary. Of course, this means I spend very little time cleaning out my pockets. Occasionally, I may sacrifice a few bucks, but at least my video camera is safe — the Kodak Playsport.

This camera isn’t just waterproof. We’re not talking sprinklers or a few playful splashes. Instead, it can be completely submerged into water, up to 10 feet under.

Of course, taking video underwater leaves a lot of room for error. The device probably can’t make you a better swimmer, but it can correct some of that shaky effect, via the electronic image stabilization. Other features include full 1080p HD video (the good stuff!), as well as 5-megapixel still images.

Available in black, blue or purple, this $150 camera is pretty affordable, especially considering some of its other perks. Those include smart face-tracking technology, a 2-inch color LCD, and built-in editing software. Then when your day is done and your cornea is burning from chlorine, you can choose how you want to share content: through the computer or a big screen; Kodak has included both USB and HDMI cables for easy viewing either way.

It’s always confusing to shop in mid-July: It’s 90 degrees out, yet summer clothes have started to hit the sale racks to make room for fall sweaters. It’s a great time to scoop up deals on warm-weather wear, but I start to become aware that perhaps the utility of a new swimsuit or pair of shorts is limited.

Summer scarves, though, are a great buy. Wear them now as a scarf or a wrap on a cool night, then pair it with a light jacket when the weather turns. Great deals are available on linen / cotton blends, like the Land’s End Scarf, available in 10 colors and pictured below, or on silk blends (I like the silk/cotton crinkle scarves from Orvis, above). Wear two together for an extra burst of color!

Thanks to digital cameras, you have thousands of memories at your fingertips. Still, I always love whipping out the old photo album to get nostalgic, even if my hair had its own zip code.

Looking at some of those old photos makes me sad. It’s not because of my hair or my clothes (although that doesn’t help). However, those pics always look a little faded, and frankly, they aren’t as easy to access. Instead, classic pics of that first bath, first car and first prom just pile up — and then I seem to forget exactly where that pile went to!

However, iConvert’s digital frame and scanner combo can easily create a digital copy of even your oldest photos. For under $200, you can have that second copy, and maybe even get some of them into a regular slideshow rotation.

This 8-inch frame features a built-in scanner that accepts 4×6 pics. Once the copy is made, you can transfer it to a memory card for computer use or just to keep as a second copy. If you are in need of those prom pictures on a regular basis, this unit can store up to 3,000 photos for desktop viewing, as well as play music and video.

I spent years on a quest for the right eye cream, and finally–Finally!–I’ve found a few that have earned their mettle. Here are three options at three different price points, and not only have these been road-tested by picky beauty editors, they’ve been road-tested by me (or someone close to me!).

$$$: Freeze 24/7 Eyecing Fatigue Fighting Eye Cream (above)

If you want instant gratification in addition to long-term improvement, Freeze 24/7 Eyecing Fatigue Fighting Eye Cream is the gold standard. Ingredients in this cream tighten and brighten in just minutes, while others stimulate cell turnover and boost collagen elasticity for better results over time. In addition to winning awards  from magazines like Redbook and Star, this has garnered recognition from beauty industry powerhouses like the Cosmetic Executive Women and Women’s Wear Daily. I can throw my own recommendation on the heap, too!

$$: StriVectin SD Eye Cream

StriVectin’s anti-wrinkle complex is beloved by every magazine editor under the sun, and has been featured in women’s magazine all over the world. It’s also the favorite of my oldest friend and mother of an infant: She ran out of it and tried another cream but immediately noticed a difference and switched back! It reduces fine lines by building collagen in addition to reducing dark circles.

$: RoC CompleteLift Eye Cream

RoC CompleteLift Eye Cream is another product that has earned my personal recommendation. While most eye creams focus on the under-eye area or crow’s feet, this firms skin all around the eye, including the eyelid, for a visible lift.

I hate to mop. Who doesn’t? While I spot clean when necessary, my kitchen floors haven’t been cleaned in a LONG time; I was thinking of hiring a cleaning person just to avoid the watery, grimey mess of mopping. Then I bought the Europro Shark Steam Mop.

I’ve been wanting one for a while, and when I saw this on sale I pounced. The Europro Shark uses plain water, which is great for environmentally-attuned folks who don’t want to use chemicals and moms who don’t want toxic products sitting around. Just attach the reusable microfiber pad, pour water into the chamber and wait 30 seconds. When it starts to hiss, you’re ready to go. Push (or pull) the mop slowly; unlike manual mopping, there’s no need to use vigorous back-and-forth motions. That’s it! Your floors are sanitized, dirt-free and nearly dry. It’s slim and weighs just 3 pounds, so it’s easy to store, too, and you can toss the cleaning pads into the washing machine.

Mad Men-lovers rejoice! Word is out that Mad Men’s costume designer, Janie Bryant, is launching a new 60s-inspired line for QVC: Mod by Janie Bryant. The line is expected to debut in September with around twenty items of clothing, ten to fifteen pieces of costume jewelry and one bag. It will be priced between $25 and $140.

Have an addiction for those fruit-flavored waters? Now you can create your own without pulp or seeds getting in the way. The Fruit Infusion Natural Fruit Flavor Pitcher is made with a special container that’s suspended inside a crystal clear acrylic pitcher and features open holes allowing liquid and fruit to mix on their own—and without the pulp getting into your water glass. The best part is that the special fruit container can be removed from the lid at any time, or you can refill the pitcher without replacing the fruit at all. Fill the fruit container with sliced lemons, oranges, cucumbers, strawberries or grapes to create your own flavored water!

I’m a casualty of the east coast heat wave, and lately all I can think about is staying cool. I don’t have air conditioning, and while it would be easy enough to pop over to the hardware store to pick one up, a part of me enjoys finding ways to beat the heat without it. Even more, I enjoy the savings on my energy bill.

I’d never suggest that everyone–or even anyone–should go without AC if they don’t have to, but everyone who’s looking for ways to save a little extra cash might consider, well… turning up the heat. According to this article from The Daily Green, the average American home spends 17% of their annual electric bill on AC, around $375. The article has excellent tips for getting by without air-conditioning as well as how to save money when you use it, and right at the top of their list is the tip you expect: Fans.

You can find them in every shape, style and power level: The one pictured above is a good basic model by Lasko. I’m partial to the red, industrial look of the Aloha fan below, and for those who want their fan to be part of a whimsical decor, the Rooster fan is pictured at bottom. If none of these suit your fancy, check out the huge range of fans here.

You’ve worked out all winter, have a new bathing suit, sunglasses and even a great summer reading selection. So why make a splash at the beach, when you can make a KABOOM?

JVC’s KABOOM is the perfect beach buddy. This is the new and improved KABOOM boombox, which means it’s got upgraded full-range drivers and woofers to crank up more than a little sand — about 40 watts’ worth, anyway. In case you are out of FM range, the unit packs its own iPod dock, with a “twist and lock” protective sealing door.

If you have a different MP3 player, it still rocks with this box. Just connect your player to the unit’s USB port. If you don’t want your portable to get too sandy, you can copy music onto a USB memory stick. Of course, there’s also a CD player (remember those?), which features a special tube design to help eliminate vibration for a smooth playback.

The unit even comes with its own wireless remote, so you won’t have to won’t have to turn over before you’re perfectly tanned on one side.

Perfect for the beach, the pool, or to accompany your workout, the unit has a strap to make it easy to carry. Then, just drop this baby wherever the party is at. It’s also a pretty nifty conversation piece. After all, when was the last time you saw such a stealth looking boombox?

Arm yourself with this cool sun kit from Sephora. Think of it like a Whitman’s Sampler–you choose from twelve SPF makeup, sunscreen and self-tanning products from brands like Bliss, Jack Black, Clarins and Kate Somerville, all in travel-ready sample sizes. They’re housed in a shocking pink makeup case (cute to throw in a bag for the pool or beach) and come with two UV monitoring bracelets that let you know when you’ve reached your ray limit. And the best part? It’s valued at $90, but only $25, with 100% of the net profits being donated to The Skin Cancer Foundation. Not only are doing something good for you skin, but giving back too;  what more could you ask for under the sun?

I arrived at my 4th of July barbecue wearing adorable wedges: they were cork and shot through with gold, and they rubbed my feet so raw that I had to borrow flats from my hostess.

Inevitably, the conversation turned to the perils of fashionable footwear.  Betty Confidential’s Senior Style & Beauty Editor (and all-around delightful party guest), PJ Gach, tipped me off to Peaches & Boo Boo’s Save My Feet Elixir. She swears this stuff totally prevents blisters, whether you’re running a marathon or teetering along in stilettos. Just put it on and let it dry before slipping into your favorite shoes.

Hope that everyone had a fantastic July 4th. One thing that could have killed your weekend was a lack of battery power. Some of these portable gadgets can’t get me through a decent beach day. Thankfully, KIWI Choice can.

Instead of carrying a backpack full of batteries, the KIWI U-Powered can be your backup for cell phones, iPods, cameras and other devices.

The charger unfolds like a little fan. It can then be charged through any device’s USB port, a car charger, a wall charger, or just from the good old sun. That’s right; you can actually power your iPhone using the same thing that’s giving you a savage tan.

Featuring a capacity of 2000 mAh, you’ll need to charge up the KIWI U-Powered anywhere from 4 to 17 hours. However, once it’s juiced, it can hold power long after your tan has faded — up to six whole months.

The product comes with 11 different connectors, which means you can power just about anything on the go.

Aside from powering your devices, this $50 device comes in handy once the sun goes down, thanks to a built-in LED flashlight. The back is even magnetized, which means you can stick it to the fridge or other easy-to-find spot.

Summertime: It’s the season of skinny straps, strapless tops and sheer fabric. Finding a bra to wear under barely-there shirts is tough; ten years ago I might have been content to go braless, but as time marches on, modesty and support become more prominent in my mind!

I’ve tried a number of stick-on, strap-free options, but the best is Bring It Up! Breast Shapers. Rather than connect in the center, they adhere to each breast individually, which makes them feel more secure. They’re reusable up to 25 times, and because they lift from the top, they really do shape and contour in addition to providing coverage under sheer tops. Plus, the nipple area is free from adhesive to prevent the “Ouch” factor.

Perfect for picnics and backyard barbecues, these durable plastic baskets let you dish out burgers, hot dogs, fish and chips, sandwiches with classic drive-in charm. Bonus: they make cleanup a cinch! Just pick up some burger basket liners for serving. Baskets are dishwasher and microwave safe and a set of six is just $6.95!

The beehive beverage jar is the perfect self-serve container for lemonade, cucumber water and punches. The 13-inch container works great indoors and out and has three little bees adorning the lid.

Playing it totally safe, you could just take the patriotic color scheme for your tableware or accessories instead of using a flag. I can’t seem to get enough of Taika dishware by ittalia. This whimsical collection adds a touch of fairy tale to the every day. In fact, taika means “magic” in Finnish and the dishware designer says he hopes his illustrations inspire imagination and storytelling in other people’s lives.

These cloth napkins are fashioned after vintage French prints. The soft red has has a time-worn feel to it, like you discovered these napkins at a flea market. Love!

The Corbin antique brass wire lamp has an old-school feel. The neutral brass and tan shade would blend with a variety of styles and work in several rooms.

I’ve been a Dyson fan ever since I’ve had my dog, which has been for quite some time now. I’m especially thankful in the summer, when my dog decides to leave little dogs in every corner of every room; my Dyson sucks up that fur like I suck down Freeze-Pops.

So, of course, I was extremely interested in the Dyson Air Multiplier Table Fan. If Dyson can suck in, it can surely blow out, right? Well, sort of. This machine actually does both, drawing in air at the base, but also blowing it out to create an air stream. That’s not even the coolest part (no pun intended) when it comes to this fan.

Just look at it.

Unlike your old, dusty, oscillating dinosaur, this fan has no blades. In other words, you can skip the worries about sticking your fingertips in there, if that’s actually a worry. However, it also means that the fan is a lot quieter than what most of us are used to. Imagine being able to sit with your thoughts and get fresh air on a hot day?  If that’s not enough to satisfy, it will surely make for a nice piece of desk art at the office.

Two 10-inch models are available for $299.99 each. One is blue and iron, with the other silver and white. There’s also a massive 12-inch model in silver and iron, for $329.99.

Back in February, we turned you onto Slimware, the melamine plates that help you control portion sizes (Summer Tip: these shatter-proof plates are perfect for your work or church picnic, where piling on hefty portions of chips and potato salad is all too easy). The same company recently launched another product and, to be honest, I think it’s even more genius: Measure Up Bowls.

These ceramic bowls are sophisticated and simple, and on the inside they have measurements, so you know exactly how much you’re eating. Each set contains two bowls–one snack-sized for high-cal things like ice cream or nuts, and one meal-sized bowl for cereal or pasta–and is dishwasher and microwave safe.

I know pasta, cereal and ice cream are where it’s easiest for me to go astray (How can I eat just 1 cup of pasta and 1/4 cup of ice cream??), and these bowls will definitely help me stay on track. When you know exactly how much you’re consuming–and what the caloric consequences are–it’s much easier to step away from the spoon.

So in honor of Independence Day, I found a bronzer, Revolution Organics Freedom Glow Beauty Balm, that celebrates freedom, by doing it all in one lovely little tube.  First, it’s  made with only natural ingredients–85% of them are certified organic–so there’s some freedom right there. Second, you can use it all over–think cheeks, eyes, lips and anywhere your body needs some glow–so you’re not restricted to just one spot. It’s available in three lovely sunny shades that let you get your glow on in whatever works with your skin tone, whether it peach, warm golden or rosy. And this weekend, when I’m celebrating that freedom decked out in red, white and blue, it’s good to know my face will be too.

Le Souk Ceramique strives to keep alive a little piece of the old world by creating ceramics of handmade beauty and distinction. In Arabic, “souk” is the name for the village marketplace where traditional arts and crafts are bought and sold. Le Souk designs its collections in Washington State and then calls on skillful artisans in the Tunisia, North Africa, studio to sculpt each masterpiece.

Get the whole collection or just use some plates, a pitcher or large serving platter to add a bit of ocean inspiration to your basic white china. Gorgeous!

Don’t these aqua-hued salt and pepper mills also coordinate perfectly? The lock-and-grind grinding system offers a variety of grinds from course to very fine!

I love the go-with-everything-ness of jeans, but I’m always reluctant to put them on in the summer. Sometimes it’s just too hot, but other times, it’s just because jeans feel… so… un-summer-like. This season, I’ve found a perfect substitute: Sailor pants. Wide-leg styling feels much breezier, and somehow, the looks is much more festive. Plus, they’re work appropriate! I’m loving the two pairs above–one by Bernard Zins and the other from Spiegel–but one costs ten times more than the other. Can you tell which is which?

July 4th is just a week away. What better way to celebrate than to sport a few patriotic colors? Urbanears Plattan headphones come in red, white and blue — as well as a few other colors (including Salad!), for just about every other time of the year.

Aside from looking the patriotic part, Plattan headphones also provide the perfect way to set your own personal soundtrack for that fireworks celebration. While pretty colors fly above, you can listen to the classics, rock out, or even do a little death metal. These medium-sized headphones provide rich, secluded sound, no matter what genre you choose. Chic geeks will appreciate the 40mm handmade driver unit, as well as the 20-20kHz frequency response, 32 ohms of impedance, and a maximum input power of 40mW.

Plattan headphones fold down to the size of your fist, making them extremely easy to pack up and tote almost anywhere. Even better, they can accommodate more than one listener, using the company’s exclusive “zound plug.”

Other features include a custom microphone and remote, which are both compatible with the iPhone, Nokia, HTC and Blackberry phones. Available for $59.99, these headphones have a 47-inch cord for a comfortable fit, which is perfect for an all-night celebration/jam session.

Who else remembers making popsicles the old-fashioned way? Pouring Kool-Aid into ice cube trays, covering with Saran Wrap and sticking toothpicks (or recycled popsicle sticks) through the plastic and into each slot. They turned out to be a big, drippy mess, but they were still fun.

Now, there are easier ways to make all kinds of frozen treats without the mess. These Orka Ice Pop Molds (above) produce swirly, twirly popsicles that will rival anything you’ll find in the freezer aisle, and the Tovolo Dual Freeze Molds (below) let you combine two tasty flavors on one stick. As for flavors, you can go the quick and simple route by using a powdered drink mix and water, or try one of Country Living’s fantastic recipes to produce surprisingly sophisticated treats.

It’s rare when you suddenly find that a great brand has slashed his prices, but that’s exactly what happened with Hard Company. Years ago, the make-up brand was sold in Sephora and specialty stores, but last year, it brokered an exclusive deal with Walmart, the ultimate budget retailer, and… well… they rolled back prices. Now, the once-pricey products can be found for a mere $5-$8. The other great news? The quality is as good as ever! I use the tinted moisturizer, Sheer Envy, every day. It provides great coverage and SPF 15, and at just $8, I don’t worry about wasting it.

Hard Candy also has a huge array of colors, including on-trend brights and shimmers. So if you want to play around with the latest hues without doling out a lot of cash, it’s a good place to start! Check out the whole line!

Thin has always been in, at least as far as consumer electronics is concerned. So it only makes sense that the new Mac Mini is — well, even more mini. Despite its super-slim (1.4 inches) looks, however, it’s what’s inside this desktop computer that looks very nice.

New features include twice the graphics performance at half the power. So while you are spending hours loading images from TMZ on your computer, at least you can say you are energy-efficient! Another great feature is the HDMI port, which means this unit easily hooks to many of today’s TVs.  Throw your camera’s SD card into the newly added slot, and you’ve a vacation slideshow right on the big screen.

Another nifty feature is the integrated power supply, which means a smaller system volume and less cable clutter.

For $699, you’ll get a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a 320GB hard, 2GB of RAM, and Mac OS X Snow Leopard. There’s also a whole mess of applications for organizing photos, making movies, and even learning to play music.

If you need to up the action, maybe for work purposes, the Mac mini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server packs in email, calendar features, file serving, Time Machine backup, Wiki Server, Podcast Producer and more. That has a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, two 500GB hard drives running at 7200 rpm, and 4GB of RAM, all for $999.

If you want to get personal, Apple can customize your system with more storage, as well as features like Apple Remote, the Apple 24-inch LED Cinema Display, Final Cut Express 4, and more.

I’m all for anything that will make my morning routine faster, easier and more pleasant, and Spongeables seem to fit the bill on all counts. In tons of fragrances and formulations, these sponges have the shower gel built right in, and they cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize in a single step. They’re packed with olive oil, shea butter, vitamins A and E and botanical extracts and contain enough soap to last anywhere from 3 to 20+ showers (they’re labeled accordingly).

They have something for everyone: Lavender Nectar lasts for 20 or more washes and has an exfoliating, so it’s perfect for every day. I love the idea of using the “low-dose” sponges (3-8 uses) for travel; just pop one in your suitcase (no need to put it in a plastic baggie!) and throw it away before you come home! No worries about liquids, spills or mucky wet soap holders. The duck-shaped Fruitilicious Spongeables (lots of bubbles for kids age 3 and up) are perfect for little ones, and Clean Power for Men is just for the guys. There’s even a Pedi-Scrub Foot Buffer to pumice your feet!

Thanks to your not-so-steady hands, you are now the proud owner of a lifetime of blurry vacation photos. At least you won’t have to worry about a bad hair day. Instead of trying to decipher memories, this little dude can take care of your shaky-cam. He’s the DigiDude, an extremely portable tripod packed into a funky little keychain.

Just attach your DigiDude of choice to your keys or camera bag. He also fits into your front pocket! Once you come upon a photographic moment, pop off the DigiDude’s head and pull out his little retractable legs. Then you can easily set up the DigiDude, which holds most point-and-shoot cameras, as well as flip-cams.

Perfect for getting rid of blurry pictures or even helping with self portraits, this pocket device is like something the pros would use, but in a compact, creepy package.

DigiDude isn’t the cutest travel buddy, but he might be one of the most helpful. Quirky, the makers of DigiDude, says you should collect all four models, which include Pinky Scorsese, Snot Buster, iChomp, and BoltBot. Maybe not, but at $20, they’d make nice gifts — and maybe you can even match a DigiDude to its perfect mate. Your little brother/nephew and the Snot Buster would probably make a good match!

It seems the cell phone has ousted the watch as the new standard for time-telling devices, but when you’re active, toting along your phone just isn’t practical. Enter the Wooloot Wave Ion Sport Watch. Unlike many bulky, serious-looking sports watches, this fun, functional, durable rubber watch is more like a funky accessory. It’s ultra lightweight–it weighs just 10 grams, or about as much as two teaspoons of sugar–and water resistant to 3 ATM (ie, in 96 feet of water). Perfect for days at the beach or active sports, from surfing to snowboarding to softball, the Wooloot Wave Ion Sports Watch is available in 12 colors and in sizes ranging from XXS (for children up to age 10) to Large. And at just $19.95, it’s an easy, inexpensive gift idea for just about anyone, from kids to teens to grown-up sports enthusiasts.

Want to snuggle up with something good in bed? I’m not talking about a good book, your cat or even a significant other. None of those items is half as entertaining as the Sony dash.

This bedside buddy sits on your nightstand (or lap), and looks like a fancy alarm clock. However, you won’t want to slap this screen when the alarm sounds. Instead, you can access news, weather, traffic reports, personal photos, your Facebook account, check email, pick out a recipe for dinner, catch a movie via Netflix or tap Slacker for music (subscriptions required).

The unit features a 7-inch color touchscreen, as well as options for over 1,000 free Internet apps. The dash connects to your existing home network wirelessly, which means you can set it down in almost any room.

It certainly fits nicely into any space. Because the unit packs an internal accelerometer, it can flip-flop from horizontal to vertical, promising the perfect placement. Also, if one person in the house likes YouTube and you prefer Pandora’s music service, the dash can store a few different user profiles with personalized channel preferences.

Can you really put a price on endless entertainment? Sony can. The dash typically sells for $199.99.

The chop-chop-chop sound of table fans and ceiling fans is a summer staple, but no longer! James Dyson, who became famous by taking the bags out of vacuum cleaners, has taken the blades out of table fans.

The Dyson Air Multiplier creates a soft, steady breeze without the need for clunky and sometimes dangerous fan blades. In simplest terms, this sculpture-like gadget sucks in air from the base and pushes it up into the ring. The air moving out creates a jet of air that sucks in even more air from the back, amplifying it 15 times. You’ll just feel a soft breeze and hear a soft whir. A small button on the base lets you adjust the speed of the air moving through the fan. You can also set it to swivel like a traditional fan. No blades means its safer for children (no little finger nicks!) and easier to clean!

I’m a bit of a broken record when it comes to sunscreen. Skin damage is cumulative, and it starts from the time we’re kids. Problem is, it’s hard to get the wee ones to sit sit still for sunscreen application. Shady Day is a Mom-owned, Mom-focused company that came up with all sorts of creative ways to get kids slathered in SPF as quickly and painlessly as possible. First they created the Shady Day Sun Protecting Wipes SPF 30 (above). Individually packaged towelettes contain enough sunscreen to protect from head to toe, and they’re easy to apply (just wipe–no extensive rubbing necessary). For concentrated applications or touch-ups on easy-to-burn areas like the nose, they’ve got the Shady Day Stick SPF 30, and for more all-over protection, Shady Day Spray SPF 30, a low-oil formula that absorbs fast and dries quickly. In addition to winning awards from major parenting magazines, all products are dermatologist- and mom-tested… and kid approved. Plus, the wipes and stick are great non-liquid items to stash in your carry-on bag!

I usually have a love/hate relationship with cargo pants; I love the idea of them, but hate the way they are sometimes. I’ve found that  they’re either too baggy for my small frame, too messy mom-looking (like the I didn’t have time to get dressed, rolled out of bed look) or too much of a tired look that’s sailed through too many seasons. But alas, I’m always on the hunt for them because they are essentially relaxed pants I can just throw on and feel comfy in. 

Trolling the Ann Taylor LOFT  store page the other day, I came across these–an actual slim- fitting, trim-looking cargo, with their own ribbon belt and instantly knew these were the pants I’ve been searching for since spring rolled around. The fit looks stylish, with a tapered leg that I’ve spotted on more expensive cargo styles (hello, J. Brand!), and doesn’t have too many pockets that bulge out. Plus, even better for me, they come in petite sizes. So I ordered up a pair, because of the fit, and with the extra 40% off deal, they are a steal at $29.99. I’m happy to say I’m in love. Wearing and planning to order more in all four of the colors.  OK, message over, back to beauty.

For the longest time, I thought I could get away with just hanging my swimsuit to dry before the next wear. After all, it’s been swishing around in water all day, right? Wrong. Turns out, swimsuits should be washed after every wear because chlorine and salt can eat away at the fibers. This can prematurely stretch out your suit (and make it sag in all the wrong places)! To keep your suit looking great summer after summer, handwash it with one of the delicate-care products below, then gently squeeze out the water and hang to dry.

Tocca Laundry Delicate Fine Fabric Wash (above)

The Laundress Delicate Wash

Planet Delicate Laundry Wash