My favorite mirror
Every fair lady deserves a pretty pocket mirror like this one, from the small Web company My Favorite Mirror. They specialize in mirrors (plus coasters and mouse pads) with quirky designs by dozens of independent artists. You can also choose from gorgeous antique illustrations and pop art, like the mirror you see here from their Lovely Ladies collection. Or you can design your own! It’s a truly unique gift, and for less than $7 each, you can give a different design to every one of your friends.
The Buckhead Bag from Frances and Grace
Leapin’ Leopards
Your average laptop bag isn’t exactly a style statement. This, however, is not your average laptop bag. The Buckhead Bag from Frances and Grace is a luxurious gift for a working superwoman, designed by a working mom for both style and functionality. Available in beautiful patterns and colors (the interior of this model is a gorgeous raspberry moire), the bag is tricked out with expertly sized pockets, a coordinating laptop sleeve, interior business-card and pen holders, and plenty of thoughtful extras, like an interior key hook. $349 at FrancesAndGrace.com.
Obi Belt Shirtdress by NatureVsFuture
Is that the question? We’ll take the Obi, thank you very much, in the form of this amazing plum Obi Belt Shirtdress by NatureVsFuture, available at online indie boutique MightyFlirt.com. We love the asymmetrical placket, the lustrous cotton twill fabric, the rich color and, of course, that universally flattering, waist-cinching Obi sash. Wearing something this original and eye-catching instantly makes you pretty much the coolest woman in the room… with the tiniest-looking waist, to boot. Try not to gloat.
Polar F6 Heart Rate Monitor
The sleek (and cute) Polar F6 Heart Rate Monitor has so many features, it stops just short of exercising for you: Way beyond just calculating your heart rate and your target heart rate, the wrist monitor tracks your calories burned and your fat burned, plus helps you set exercise goals by tracking your calories burned over days, weeks — even months. But the best thing about this little gizmo is that it keeps you honest: If you’re not working out hard enough and you haven’t reached your target heart rate, it beeps to warn you. And when you are working out hard enough, it notifies you of that too, so you can stay on pace and avoid overstraining yourself. Basically, it keeps you from wasting your time on the treadmill. And in that department, we’re looking for all the help we can get.
Light in a bottle
Catching fireflies in a bottle is one of those sweet (but ever-so-slightly sadistic) pleasures of summer. We can probably all recall an evening spent watching a humble little winged critter making a glowing lantern out of an everyday jelly jar (and hopefully we all remember letting the firefly go eventually). But since summer’s a long way off, the Firefly may have to tide you over. This nifty device, available online or at select outdoor-adventure stores, fits onto any widemouthed water bottle and transforms it into a reading light or lantern — great for nighttime walks or bike rides, camping trips or just blinging out your workout bottle to make everybody at the gym jealous.
The fit traveler
When you travel, it can be tough to keep your fitness routine on track. It takes a strong person to resist the siren smell of warm, soft pretzels during those long, hungry hours at the airport. And somehow, the sad little fitness center at the hotel never quite measures up to your nice, shiny gym at home… assuming, of course, you even had room in your carry-on to pack your sneakers. But rather than give up entirely and surrender to on-the-road sloth, consider this stylish little alternative: The Fit Traveler kit. Designed by a pair of health-conscious travel hounds, the compact workbook includes step-by-step instructions for a full workout routine that’s hotel-room-friendly, plus a very packable, extremely useful exercise band. Now your workout can go anywhere you do. (Airport pretzel-eaters, rejoice.)
