5 reasons why I love puzzles:
*Unlike board games (which are also great fun!), you can leave them out for the night and come back and finish up when you’re in the mood, without forgetting who’s turn is next, who was winning, etc.
*They develop your brain, encourage problem solving skills, and are great for upping your “Tetris skillz.” (haha)
*Nobody technically “wins” so there will never be a sore loser or obnoxious winner. This is great for those competitive types who can’t stand to lose, or teaching kids to learn the fun of playing a game just for enjoyment.
*There is no player number restriction, so you can put your puzzle together with a room full of buddies, or just yourself!
*No directions needed, no rules, no dice, just pick it up and go!

With that being said, the coolest concept of a puzzle I’ve seen lately is this mirrored puzzle from Uncommon Goods. I love a challenge, so I’d like to get my hands on this puzzle to give it a try. With 200 pieces, and no image to help you along, it’s sure to be a tad difficult, engaging and surprisingly addicting! Because it’s mirrored, your finished product’s image will be different every time. It all depends on who finished the puzzle, what room you’re in, etc. You’ll never have the same end result.

So who’s with me? Who wants to join my new BRING THE PUZZLE BACK Club?

$45-75

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

I like certain artwork on these tiles more than others, (whats the deal with the illustration for Aquarius?) but I suppose that’s a personal thing. The black frame won’t match every decor of course, but it’s a stylish choice over the classic white.

$32

$150

Similar gift ideas: Watermobile: Fuel cell car and experiment kit, and Solaro: has everything needed to build seven models, all powered by the sun.

$300

Find anything but ordinary for your holiday gift recipients this season at UncommonGoods. Ease the frustration of what to get with a gift certificate from UncommonGoods.

Every year you get a new sweater for Christmas and every year you donate it to the thrift store. What happens with all of these soft, yet unwearable cast offs? Some of them may ends up in the hands of a creative New England handicapped artist collective. They reclaim knits and transform them into exceptionally soft stuffed animals. Each creature is gently handcrafted from recycled materials, giving it a unique appearance all its own. I really like the exaggerated scale of the lion’s mane and the elephant’s ears vs. the size of the body, as well as the simple, petite facial features. I think whimsical is really the way to go with baby toys. The ones featured above are cute, but since color and material content will vary, your sweater plushie will be a unique surprise.

$26

Uncommon Goods also offers gift certificates in case you can’t decide on the best present.

They say it’s great for cutting cake and other desserts, but I wonder how well it does on other things. I wonder if the serrated edge makes it hard to cut vegetables, or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? I’d like to use a novelty looking knife as my everyday knife. Maybe a mini clever or machete, or something shaped like a lightsaber for the handle, but with a regular looking knife as the blade. Anybody have any answers to these burning questions?

RELATED: ipod Alarm Clock, ipod Covers

If you’d prefer a keyboard vacuum that sucks and blows (::snicker::) then I’d suggest the Shuttle Computer Cleaner from Stacks and Stacks.