Breadbox

Grand Old Timers

2010-04-20T11:07:00.002-06:00

Trust Nana or Pap to let you know when the meatloaf is ready or the pie needs to come out of the oven. These little kitchen time keepers can pass their cooking wisdom.
@ Mod Cloth, $13. l

Coastal Curiousity Bottle Stoppers

2010-04-16T04:47:00.000-06:00

These nautical themed bottle-stoppers -- a compass and a magnifying glass -- are made of brass and actually work.... useful should you need any help nagivating home.
@ Pottery Barn, $12

Flip & Tumble Reusable Produce Bags

2010-04-15T04:40:00.000-06:00

It's almost farmer's market season, and these polyester bags let your produce breathe and keep it fresher for longer. Plus, they mean less plastic bags go into landfills. One swipe with a sponge, the bags are ready to be reused.
@ Target/set of 5

Sagaform Java Creamer & Sugar Set

2010-04-14T04:34:00.000-06:00

Simple, clean lines. Heavy stoneware ceramic. Timeless appeal. Reasonable affordable. Wow.
@ Gretel, $24/set

Meet the Greens

2010-04-13T04:23:00.000-06:00

The Green Family includes Sid Green, punk rocker dish brush, Joyce Green, a lemon reamer with a beehive hair do, Mayor Green, an apple corer, Josie Green, an ice cream scooper, Squeakie Green, a bottle opener and poor Brandon Green, a veggie peeler who isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. All of eco-friendly (hence, Green) -- made with recycled materials. All are dishwasher safe. And all are likely to put an end to kitchen tedium.
@ Pop Deluxe, $6-$10 each

Cool Beans Ice Tray

2010-04-12T10:14:00.003-06:00

Ah, spring. Our thoughts turn to sundresses, flip flops and, of course, ice coffee. Those of us who are passionate about our ice coffee know that freezing coffee into ice cubes puts the flavor over the top. This fun ice cube tray produces cubes shaped like the flavor source itself.... and a great looking warm weather treat.
@ Blue Ribbon General Store, $9

Louise Tripod Glasses

2010-03-29T04:18:00.000-06:00

These tripod glasses come from Dutch designer Maarten Baptist for Umbra U+ Collection, which are supposed to be quite stable. They're also delicate, a bit birdlike and sure to start quite a few conversations.
@Velocity, $100/set of 4

Tidal Bounty Dessert Plates

2010-03-25T18:37:00.002-06:00

I just love the washed-out colors and marine-inspired designs that are New Orleans artist Shelley Hesse. They'd look pretty amazing as wall decor too.
@ Anthropologie, $14

Dunk Mug

2010-03-23T11:28:00.003-06:00

This is the perfect mug for those of who have a compulsion to dunk cookies, toast, biscotti and such into a warm beverage. Plus doesn't it just seem like it would make cookies + milk taste even better.

@ Not on the High Street, £16

Shatter Sugar + Creamer

2010-03-18T11:31:00.002-06:00

Designed by sculptor William Harvey, this neo-cubist set is made using fine china and is having some fun breaking a few rules. That said, I think these would probably look perfectly normal to most of us until we've had that first cup of coffee.

@ SF MoMA, $12-$16

Food Face Kid's Plates

2010-03-12T04:40:00.000-07:00

Go ahead and play with your food, kids! This plate makes it practically irresistible to do anything else. I'm not sure it'll get finicky kids to eat their broccoli, but it'll definitely make dinnertime much more fun.

@ Perpetual Kid, $12

Ceramic Colanders

2010-03-11T04:26:00.001-07:00

These pretty colanders are made from glazed ceramic are useful for washing produce or straining pasta. But their real value, in my opinion, anyway, is how charming they look doubling as fruit bowls.

@ Pottery Barn, $10-$29

w.r.d. Bottle

2010-03-09T04:56:00.000-07:00

This w.r.d. (water ready to drink) bottle definitely sends a message. And even if it wasn't eco-friendly, this sleek stainless steel bottle with a clip top is infinitely more chic than a wasteful plastic ones.

@ cb2, $20

Lodge Enameled Cast Iron

2010-03-08T04:04:00.001-07:00

I'm pretty impressed with Lodge's new enameled cast iron line. Finally, there's an affordable option to the far more expensive Le Creuset and Staub enameled cast iron cookware. Lodge's enameled cookware is as heavy, durable and good-looking as Le Creuset. The line offers Dutch ovens and skillets in a range of sizes and comes in Island Spice (shown), Caribbean blue, Kelly green and Cafe, a warm brown shade. Best of all, most pieces are priced under $50.

@ Amazon, $35-$65

Pasta La Vista Sponges

2010-03-07T12:18:00.002-07:00

Spongioli -- or ravioli-shaped sponges -- might actually inspire you to practice your Ah-nold accent when you're doing dishes or wiping down the countertop. Pasta la Vista, kitchen grime. Comes in pack of three large, anti-bacterial spongioli.

@ Mod Living, $13

Match Convivo Dinnerware

2010-02-27T06:39:00.000-07:00

This impressive tableware collection harmonizes pewter and ceramic to create the beloved Convivo line. Handmade by artisans in northern Italy, Match Convivio pieces look fantastic in contemporary settings, not to mention traditional ones. In fact, pewter has been used as dinnerware since 3000 B.C. Match pewter contains 95% high grade tin, hence the "95" stamped into each piece. The collection is food-safe, lead-free, FDA-approved and dishwasher-safe. Granted, the stuff isn't cheap... but it sure is gorgeous.

@ Amazon, from $57

Stuck on You Wall Hooks

2010-02-26T04:51:00.002-07:00

Designed by Thelermont Hupton, these eye-catching kitchen hooks are a fun, colorful way to keep oven mitts, pot holders, dishcloths and aprons at the ready. They'd also be cute in other rooms too. Made of powder-coated steel.
@ The Future Perfect, $35/each

Simrin Laminated Fabric Trays

2010-02-25T04:36:00.001-07:00

These trays started as vintage, hand-screened fabrics. A bit of magic by the folks at Simrin, and they are reborn as fun, totally unique trays that still look like linen, but are resistant to water and stains.

@ Matter, from $80

Plucked Petals Measuring Spoons

2010-02-24T06:22:00.000-07:00

It's hard to imagine that something as functional as measuring spoons should be called 'adorable' and 'darling.' But that's exactly how to describe this measuring spoon set, which features a quartet of hand-painted blossoms. Each one is perfectly sized for a tablespoon, teaspoon and its fractions and each bloom nestles -- adorably -- on the leaf.

@ Anthropologie, $24

SuperTryer Place Mat

2010-02-23T15:29:00.002-07:00

Finicky (or timid) eaters might be tempted to expand their horizons with this cute, colorful SuperTryer placemat. Mushed beans, anyone?
@ Moomah, $10

EatSmart Precision Digital Scale

2010-02-23T13:54:00.004-07:00

Chefs and dieters rarely agree, but they both swear by one thing: When in doubt, always use a kitchen scale. After years of wondering why I never got consistent cookies and pizza dough with the same recipes, I finally treated myself to a kitchen scale. And even though I'm not a chef or a dieter, I too now swear by one of these.

@ Amazon,", $25

Babushkups

2010-02-19T06:19:00.003-07:00

Nested juice glasses are already a smart way to save shelf-space in tight quarters. But created to nest as Babushka babes, they're a small stroke of design genius.

@ Perpetual Kid, $18

Le Creuset in Lilac & Cassis

2010-02-18T13:23:00.005-07:00

You kill me, Le Creuset.

Years ago, I got a couple of your great-looking (and awfully durable) Dutch ovens in cherry red. And then you rolled out new lines of crave-worthy kiwi and turquoise. And now, you scoundrels release your ovens and wares in a gorgeous shade of cassis? It's not like your Dutch ovens ever need be replaced, Le Creuset. You've made these tempting new colors just as exasperating as they are desirable.

@ Sur La Table, $20-$275

Penguin Browniepops

2010-02-18T13:13:00.002-07:00

Seriously? How adorable are these little fellas? They are brownies on a stick (you had me right there) which are then covered in a hard icing shell. I'm always intimidated by ordering perishables online, but these little guys might force me to take a chance.
@ Williams-Sonoma (internet-only), $30

Critter Cutters

2010-02-18T11:28:00.002-07:00

Q: How do you get the pickiest, finickiest, most annoying eaters to enjoy their PB&J?

A: Critter Cutters sandwich cutters. They are tall enough for regular sandwiches (unlike cookie cutters, which flatten the whole thing. Shape sandwiches into butterflies, elephants, dolphins and puppies. Cute, huh?

@ The Spoon Sisters, $17/set of 4