Trader joe's

CB got me the most thoughtful birthday gift: treats, meals and other items from Trader Joe's, an all-natural, affordable, one-stop shop grocery store. Most of their food is organic, or close to it, and very easy on the wallet.

Storage ottoman

When it comes to decorating and design, I consider about 500 items/sources/magazines, think some more, and then finally decide to buy. Since we are in the process of staging our house to sell, we are trying to pare down items, find items for a smaller space, and use furniture that is multi-functional. Enter ottoman. There are a million to choose from and yes we could have purchased a really high-end, long-lasting one but since none of our other furniture is high end, we wouldn't want the rest of the room to be jealous. This one's from Target and about about $80. We have it as a quasi table (with a tray on for a level surface), but you can also use it for additional seating, and you can store blankets/pillows/junk inside.

Dymo Personal Label Maker LetraTag Plus LT-100H

(Left item) Okay, I know this is a bit Type A but I love this thing. We recently organized all of our important documents in a file cabinet. I spent a great deal of time separating and categorizing bills and documents. This item accomplishes this--and many other related tasks--easily. I got the label maker at Target (it was about $19) and the refills are about $6 (2/pack). I think it's easier to read when it's printed with no particular person's handwriting. Corey used it to organize items in his classroom, and we have a more sophisticated version at work. In fact, this was the most sought-after Christmas gift at our exchange last year. I can imagine it: one great big craft/scrapbook/photo closet, divided and organized with these labels...

Mukka Express cappuccino maker

This weekend on our visit to see Janell, I spied this very intruiging Bialetti product in one of her cabinets. This item is not to be confused with the coffee maker that you can get at Target for $19.99. I wanted to put it on my wedding registry, but I didn't want to miff people with my impractical item (CR did register for it and I thnk I may have to get it for her). I knew the cappuccino maker had a hefty price tag and probably would only serve a bi-annual indulgence. However, I think there's safety in knowing that Italian products that are related to coffee probably are top of the line. Jeff filled it with espresso, water and milk (either for foam or a latte) and within 5 minutes professional cappuccino was made. WOW--really good foam. I will refrain from buying a hand blender if I purchase this product. However, it certainly would enhance my coffee dependence from 1/2 cup of Dunkin' Donughts to a stratosphere of Italian espresso...

Ginger people ginger chews

I knew ginger was good for you, but I never thought I would be voluntarily eating it in any form except after my California roll. Ginger is magical in that many of its properties aid indigestion and inflammation of the digestive tract. These candies were a great tummy tamer on my last trip. Don't get me wrong, it's got a kick, but the taste is really refreshing.

Ball park cuff links

Okay, let me preface this with I would never spend this ungodly amount ($150 - $230) on said item. Also, if it weren't for the 195 weddings he's been in, Corey probably wouldn't know the purpose of a cuff link. However, it is an amazingly creative idea that Red Envelope came up with. I suppose if you had an extremely rich uncle who had everything, including his own jet, these would proabably do the trick. But chances are anyone who would appreciate these would probably prefer to take the $230 and actually go to a game.Their quote: These aren't just cuff links—they're a piece of baseball history. Crafted of salvaged seats from America's most famous and beloved stadiums, these cuff links are one of a kind. Coated in the original paint of the stadium seat colors, each cuff link boasts a deep patina collected from decades of home openers, double-headers and grand-slam ovations.

* offered in Yankee Stadium (royal blue), Wrigley Field (dark green), Fenway Park (dark blue), Dodger Stadium (Dodger blue), RFK Stadium (orange), Busch Stadium (gray), Tiger Stadium (dark green), Comiskey Park (light green), or Shea Stadium (orange)

Salud rollette perfume

I stumbled upon this wonderful boutique near the U of AZ campus in Tuscon. The store manager said Salud Spa Bar is about to go nation-wide, but for now only has a few stores. I love the concept: organic products and custom-made perfume and body care. I am such a product whore, but at least spending my money here ensures that I am getting something high-quality and good for my skin. I was nimbly eyeing the Skyn Iceland and Nuxe Paris lines, but I was hooked by the custom-made perfumes. For $24 I was able to make a perfume that I can stick in my carry-on and I don't have to haul around a big glass bottle. Also, the scents come from essential oils, so they don't have any toxic chemicals. My scent is a mixture of "bubble bath" (basically a citrusy concoction) and fig. They store your mixture in the computer system so you can easily reorder. Corey really liked the scent, so everyone wins!