Roses can’t talk, but when you get a dozen premium long stemmed Columbian roses embossed with a special message it sure says a lot. Check out the product page to view their superb detail. These Personalized Roses come in your choice of red, white, pink, or yellow and your choice of “I Love You,” “Happy Birthday,” or “Happy Valentine’s Day” as your special message. Roses are shipped within 2 days of your order and are handled with extra care to make sure they arrive in optimum condition.

FYI: Since these roses are super special you’ll need to speak with a product specialist over at Hammacher before the order gets shipped out.

$79.95

Posted by Sean in So Pretty, Splurge
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The vinyl versus CD debate has been going on since since CDs first became available to consumers in the early 80’s. We’ve had 20+ years to acclimate to the crystal clear sound of compact discs, but vinyl enthusiasts still long for recordings “the way they were meant to sound”; fuzz, pops and all. As someone who falls in the middle of these camps, I’m dying to see what my old records would sound like when converted to MP3 files. I appreciate the sound of vinyl, but just can’t be bothered to flip the record every 20 minutes each time I want to hear some tunes. In addition, sometimes it’s nice to let an album (or perhaps 5+ of them if you’ve got a multi-disc player) repeat several times while I’m busy working for hours at a time. Vinyl has several selling points, but convenience just isn’t one of them.

With the InstantMusic Vinyl & Cassette Ripper, you just hook it up to a turntable or cassette deck then plug it in into a USB port on your PC or Mac. The included software lets you to convert your music to MP3 files, or burn directly to CD. It also has an awesome feature that detects the gaps between songs to divide old LPs into individual MP3 files. Just a couple years ago I remember lamenting that products like this were really expensive and/or hard to find, but now Think Geek makes them available for a mere $50. Thank you, technology!

The only problem this doesn’t solve is the room that vinyl takes up. If you’re anything like me, even if you’ve got a digital copy of your records, it’s not like you’d even consider getting rid of the originals! At least you can listen to them anytime you get the hankering, and without all that fuss of flipping, flipping, flipping…

$49.99 Windows
$59.99 Mac

Posted by Lauren in Nerd, Gadgets
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It’s been about 5 months since Sean blogged about the Daily Affirmation Bowls, but I still think about them on dreary mornings when I’m getting out my regular bowl. I wonder if I’d notice a positive change in my day if my morning bowl of orange wedges were encircled with uplifting messages. Hey, sometimes all it takes is a quick compliment to totally turn your day around, so it’s possible that an Ego Boost Mug could improve your attitude and your day. Boldly declare your greatness with a smirk and a really cool, slightly oversized mug. Choose from Super Human, Smarty Pants and Mr. Wonderful (I’m sure Ms. Wonderful is just sold out). Ceramic is dishwasher and microwave safe.

$11.95

Posted by Lauren in Just For You, Household
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Let me start off by saying that I am a firm believer that all practical things should come in pretty packages. Why companies are still making those silly bright yellow galoshes when cute ones like these are available is a mystery to me. You dont have to sacrifice pretty footwear for dry feet anymore; I had no trouble finding many different cute designs. (Just look at these adorable pink cowgirl rain boots!) The only hard part was deciding which ones were my favorite.

These little girl’s mary-jane rain boots are to die for. It’s a shame these cuties only come in sizes 6-11 toddler sizes, or I’d be sporting them every soggy day this spring. How sweet are these pink kitty rainboots? Slipping these cherry print boots on could easily be the best part about your little girls rainy day. The thought of splashing around with these in rain puddles actually makes me feel a bit giddy inside! Any of these rain boots will be perfect for those impending soggy days where it’s too wet for regular shoes, but not slushy enough for snow boots.

$23-28

Posted by Alison in So Pretty, Kids, Clothing and Accessories
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Valentine’s Day for us nerds can be a little confusing because of it’s emotion-based themes of love, romanticism, and all that gushy that stuff computers and science can’t explain. Have no fear fellow nerds and geeks because ThinkGeek is here to make it easy for you to express those feelings that can be so tricky to say.

Sonic Boom Alarm Clock
Sure to get anyone’s attention, even from miles away, is the Sonic Boom Love Clock Not only can it wake the dead with it’s 113 decibel alarm (louder than a jackhammer), but it can shake your bed to wake you up. This heart shaped alarm clock features a rainbow colored display and bed shaker attachment. The bed shaker is placed under your mattress and will send vibrations throughout the bed when the alarm goes off. Yes, you can disable the audio and just use the bed shaker. $39.99

DIY Blood Type Test Kit
Bleeding for a loved one can be a very endearing gesture, and using science to determine your blood type makes it an activity you’ll both be gushing over. Find out what your blood type of you and your Valentine is with the DIY Blood Type Test Kit and truly see if you are a match. Added bonus; this kit comes with a laminating sheet so you can carry the card with you once it dries. $8.99

Valentine’s Day Talking Tapes
They’ve been called “the audio equivalent of a flipbook“. They made action figures talk in the ’90s and now they are here to tell your 5 Valentine messages. This Valentine’s Day package of Talking Tapes say “Be My Valentine,” “I Love You,” “Hello Sweetheart,” and “You Turn Me On” and to show off that lovely sense of humor “I’m a Jackass.” For those Polygamist and others interested; amplify your message for more than one person to hear by using an ordinary drinking cup (see video). $5.99

Posted by Sean in Nerd, Unique
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Valentine’s day evokes many memories and feelings, though mine are somewhat different from the norm. Being a single gal, Valentine’s isn’t just about romance at my house. Instead, it’s taken on a new form, and is essentially a great reason to bake/decorate/eat beautiful sweets.

At the top of the list are cupcakes, which are a subject close to my heart. My newest love in the cupcake realm is silicone bakeware: I cannot praise it enough. My favorite part is obviously the non-stick capabilities, and growing assortment of shapes. I also love the fact that it’s lightweight, easy to wash, and won’t break like glass bakeware. Here’s an extra cute *PINK* silicone mini muffin pan from Tar-jay.

For those of you with multiple batches to bake, take a look at this *RED* 24 cup silicone muffin pan with sled (available at Target, too).
Or if you’d really rather bake a whole cake, here’s a large heart shaped silicone pan (also available from Target).

I also found these heart shaped pancake molds from Lillian Vernon, and heart shaped waffle iron from Hearth Song. Why is it that food instantly seems more appealing when it’s heart shaped? I’ll never know. I like the idea of serving your loved ones “I <3 U" pancakes, for breakfast in bed. But these are great for anytime or year, and all ages. After all, in this world or drive-thrus and take-out, people always enjoy lovingly prepared home-made goodies.

Presentation is everything, so after you’ve made your yummy cupcakes, you’ve gotta serve em’ up right! Treat all your Valentines to hand painted sugar-sweet place settings to go with their dessert. Each set is comprised of a heart shaped plate and mug, with an over all “candy heart” theme. They even have matching embroidered placemats.

So if you’re fretting over what your Valentine’s Day plans will be, try something different! Stock up on supplies and plan a sweets-sampling get together for all the loved ones in your life.

COUPON: At Lillian Vernon, get 10% off orders $75+ (enter Media/Promotional Code 066850100 in your shopping cart) or 15% off orders $100+ (use code 076850100).

Posted by Alison in So Pretty, Household
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In gift giving many people say “it’s the thought that counts”. Do you suppose that sentiment extends into thinking of others, too? I’d like to think so, and based on the Fair Trade offerings at Global Exchange, I’m not the only one. There is a variety of decadent, organic chocolates available on their site, all of which are produced and sold under Fair Trade practices. Your Valentine’s gift will be that much sweeter when it enables small cocoa farmers to earn a living wage and supports organic agriculture.

Whether your sweetheart is a true chocolate connoisseur or just one if its many fans, he or she will adore the rich selection at Global Exchange. There are lots of velvety dark chocolates with high cocoa content (my fave), as well as the standard milk chocolates and assorted caramels, bonbons, and other confections. One of their best sellers, the Valentine’s Day Action Kit, includes enough individually wrapped chocolates, retro styled Valentine cards and other goodies to satiate an entire classroom or office. There are also gift baskets and other sweet non-candy gifts available in their Valentine’s Day gift guide.

$3.99+

Posted by Lauren in Just For You, Green Living
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Every store has their busy season. For us it’s Halloween, for most it’s Christmas, and for Fig Leaves it’s Valentines Day. For a holiday that’s dedicated to love and intimacy, it’s no wonder that one of the biggest Internet retailers of intimates gets swamped with orders. They prepare for V-Day all year and have some excellent resources to make shopping for your loved one (or nabbing a little something for yourself) easy as pie.

*Free shipping on orders over $75 now through Valentine’s Day.

*Lingerie Q & A for Men: How to select the right size, style, fabric and more. Also includes such essential questions as “How can I persuade my wife to wear a thong?”. Unh huh…

*Well categorized sections like Top 10 Valentine Gift Ideas, sexy lingerie gifts, indulgent gifts, romantic gifts, gift sets, and a section just for him.

COUPON: Use coupon code LS010602 to save $15 off orders of a $100 or more until February 28th. Combine that with FREE Shipping on orders $75+ through February 14th and save even more.

Posted by Lauren in Clothing and Accessories
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Arent these little lovlies amazing? I’ve always been a fan of quirky, whimsical “things that shouldnt be fashion”, and this is a perfect example. These domino necklaces are hand painted and completely one-of-a-kind, which means that you’ll be displaying a tiny piece of original artwork around your neck. Chocosho currently offers about a dozen designs, but since each one is different, you’ll have to snatch the one you like best before someone else does. My favorites are the 14 K, Little bird, and Kitty with Teal Bow pendants, but they have so many it’s pretty hard to chose!

This could be considered a downside, but the pendants are sold without a chain, so you’ll have to provide your own. Of course if you have a pretty vintage chain or a special ribbon that you’ve been wanting to put to good use, then these pretty little pendants are exactly what you need. Another cool thing about being able to make your domino’s chain custom; you can decide exactly how far down you want your pendant to hang. Did you have in mind a sassy choker, or something longer? You could even turn these into a dangly “charm” on a bracelet. Or for those of you, like myself, who are eternally “pet minded” these would make an incredibly sweet pet collar charm! Whatever you decide to use your domino pendant for, you better do it quick, because once a design is sold, it’s gone for good.

$36

Posted by Alison in Indie, Clothing and Accessories
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There are several milestone ages in a young person’s life that strike a chord with nearly everybody. At 13 we’re teenagers, at 16 we can drive, at 18 we can vote, and at 21 we can drink. Depending on your location in the world, these years might be a little different and there may be some other personal birthday milestones that you’re waiting to approach. For instance, at 27 years old there is a dark and dubious milestone that isn’t widely recognized: The 27 Club. Comprised of people who achieved a meteoric rise to success, the members of the 27 Club all reached an untimely end during their 27th year.

While there are many “members”, just 5 musicians are at the core of this eerie group. The 27 Club T-shirt from A-non immortalizes Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, and Jim Morrison. They all met their Maker at the tragic young age of 27 but their work lives on forever, influencing talent even today. Available only through A-non’s online store, their exclusive design is clean, eye catching, and a little haunting for those who understand the connection. There is also a lyric from a Neil Young song that was quoted by Kurt Cobain: “Better to burn out rather than fade away”. Neil was actually shocked to hear Kurt’s use of his lyrics though, since the song is actually about artistic integrity; deciding whether to produce bland but accepted music or burning out by putting all your energy into what you love. As a company that trades at all the music festivals in the UK (and some in Europe), I doubt the irony is lost on A-non.

Since I just celebrated my 27th birthday, and am a big fan of most of the “Big 5″, I really wanted this shirt. When the package arrived from the UK I was immediately hit by the quality of the shirts and the printing. In the USA “t-shirt companies” are a dime a dozen, and many of them use cheap shirts and inks. By contrast, A-non’s were incredibly soft, had a flattering cut for both the mens and womens styles, and even the delicate facial features were crisp. They hail from east London and specialize in t-shirt design, gaining their influences from pop culture, especially music. Check out more of their exclusive designs and tell them Mable sent you!

Posted by Lauren in Clothing and Accessories
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Return readers may recall the penchant we have for slightly unusual home decoration. While there are some areas in life where sophistication is required, we feel that decorating your personal room is not one of them. Whether it’s your bedroom, workshop/craft room, or child’s play room, a little bit of whimsy can add up to a lot of fun and creativity for your personal space. The folks at Critter Walls specialize in this area, and offer the most beautiful and detail-oriented wall art I have ever seen. Co-owner Dede Lifgen, artist and mother of 3 boys says, “I’ve tried to give the animals a feeling of realism mixed with their own individual personality. Since they are not cartoon-like and are not menacing, they can be enjoyed by both young and adult.”

All of their designs draw from the beauty of nature and feature the likes of undersea creatures, jungle plant life and wild animals, birds in flight, farm animals, and even dinosaurs. Their customer gallery shows complete room transformations, but one well chosen wall decal can easily become the focal point of a room.

I’m a huge fan of wall art so you’ll be seeing reviews of other brands like Blik and Wall Candy Arts in the near future. If you’re decorating with any of these gorgeous, movable wall decals we’d love to hear your experiences. Please leave us a comment!

Posted by Lauren in Kids, Household
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Your eyes do not deceive you; that is indeed a cat wearing a “dog” harness and leash. Sean and I are expecting our first dog in a couple weeks, so we ordered her a custom dog harness from Weenie in the Window. While our little Dachshund puppy is still waiting for us to bring her to her new home, her adorable new harness has already arrived. When I opened the package today, one of our kitties came over to sniff the contents. As I let MC Chris investigate, I couldn’t help but notice how his long, sleek frame appeared to be the perfect size for the harness. Turns out it fits him really well, which isn’t terribly surprising since WITW harnesses are good for cats as well as many small dog breeds. After a little coercion he allowed me to use him as a model so I could blog about the harness without waiting for our puppy to arrive.

Custom is the keyword when it comes to WITW products. Every item is handmade based on your dog’s (or cat’s) measurements and you can choose from a large selection of fabrics on their website. (They also offer an option to use your own custom fabric- which I opted for- but you have to contact them directly to inquire about that.) You can also add a ruffle (as seen above), pockets, a car restraint, and matching leash. The harnesses are made very well: sturdy enough to withstand the strongest of dogs (under 24″ girth that is). I’m still new to dog products, but I looked at a couple local pet boutiques and was shocked at the prices. $50 for a collar or couple strips of ultra-suede being passed off as a safe harness? No thanks. Weenie in the Window’s prices are a steal, especially when each item is custom made to your specifications. It even came in a package adorned with Dachshund stamps and stickers, and was lovingly wrapped in tissue paper and a fabric ribbon They’re a small, popular, company so order in advance if you’re expecting a new pet or are shopping for a pet lover: you may end up on the waiting list if they’re especially busy.

$14.95 leashes
$24.95-$34.95 harnesses

COUPON: Get Free Shipping in the USA when you mention Mables.com. Offer good until March 31, 2007. E-mail them prior to ordering to receive discount.

Posted by Lauren in Pets, Unique
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“What a beautiful bucket!”

Just one of the things I thought I’d never say, until I saw this “Animals All Around” bucket from Plum Party.

Pretty, vintage animal illustrations surround this sturdy metal bucket that has handles for easy carrying. Now for you sillies who don’t know what you’d do with a bucket this awesome, I’ll give you some ideas. You can use this “venti” sized bucket:

*As a baby (or puppy!) toy bin
*As a colorful alternative to presenting a baby shower gift
*As a baby laundry basket
*As a cute “bobbing for apples” bucket at a child’s birthday party
*As a Easter basket presentation
*As a punch bowl at a party
*For bathing your puppy or small dog outdoors
*As a table centerpeice filled with fruit
*For a “muddy boot” keeper, kept near your front door
*As the prettiest front porch flower planter ever

The uses are endless, as a bucket is one of the most versitile things ever. Be creative! Keep it well displayed, you’ll be sure to get endless compliments.

$72

Posted by Alison in Splurge, Household
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Legwear, especially textured tights, is really hot this season. It’s a trend that resurfaced in Fall of 2005 and is only getting more popular. Unlike most fads, it’s functional and affordable as well as a being a stylish fashion accessory. However, if you only shop at retail stores you’re going to miss out on the true versitility that 45 colors of legwear provides. Forget the standard black and nude; this winter you can adorn your legs with any of the 58 colors and prints available from We Love Colors. For someone like me who has searched in vain for that perfect pair of pink tights to match a vintage mod dress, or yearned for opaque thigh-highs in several hues, WLC is a dream come true.

If you’re a hosiery aficionado you’re probably already familiar with We Love Colors, since they manufacture their own products and many of them are exclusively sold on their website. Along with standard tights, you can also find fishnets, thigh highs, knee highs, and the insanely popular footless tights/capris. Their selection is pretty huge, and also includes styles for men and children, as well as accessories. As a little testiment to their deserved popularity and customer satisfaction, WLC has an entire blog dedicated to their legwear being featured in fashion shoots and on the catwalk, and a blog featuring photos from their customers. In fact, if you send in a photo of yourself in any of their products you may be featured, but they’ll also send you a free gift (contact them for details).

Posted by Lauren in Clothing and Accessories, Fun
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From the great user reviews on this site I was immediately convinced the LCR Dice make a fun game the entire family can enjoy. The simplicity of the game makes it portable, easy to learn, and adaptable for kids and adults. The LCR game is also a great way to get the party started, especially when there is more on the line then the included plastic chips.

As many of the adult reviews of the LCR dice game will tell you, the game gets much more interesting, and addicting when you play with real money. Be it dimes, quarters, or full dollar bills everyone involved will enjoy the thrill of rolling the dice to see who wins it all. For a more exciting kids game try using candy (or little dried fruits) instead of the plastic chips. Get the best deal on the LCR dice game, including shipping, from AreYouGame.

The game explained: 3 dice are labeled with L’s, C’s, R’s, and dots, which determine where the roller’s chips will go. The number of L’s rolled indicates the number of chips to be passed to the player on the left, the number of R’s rolled indicates the number of chips to be passed to the player on the right, and the number of C’s rolled indicates the number of chips to be placed in the center, or “pot”. (The dots are neutral and players do not pass any chips). The last player with chips, wins the game. It’s that simple!

$5.98

Posted by Sean in Kids, Fun
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