Photo: DecalDream

The weekend is within reach...let these little splurges make getting there more fun.
 
Laptop Decal Sticker, $7. We love that a scene from one of our favorite children's books—The Giving Tree—comes to life when you power on.

Aqua Stop Grace Rain Boots, $48. Splash through puddles in style with these lace-up black wellies that are anything but basic.
 
Chu Shu Shoe Liners, $16 for a 3-pack. These ultra-thin liners, infused with antimicrobial silver-based technology, fight odor and absorb moisture so that your flats won't smell when you go without socks.

Under Armour Charged Cotton Storm Hoody, $60. This sweatshirt is worth the extra cash. Not only will the extra-soft material will keep you warm during an early morning jog, but it repels water if you get caught in the rain.

Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio D

File this one under: Why didn't we think of that? The Sephora Collection Brush Wand ($10; sephora.com) uses magnets to nest four eye makeup brushes (for lining, smudging, shading, and blending), one on top of the other, into a slim, six-inch stick. A clutter-curbing, money-saving ($2.50 a brush!) stroke of genius.Look like a million (without going broke)

Photo: Ancient Industries

The weekend is within reach...let these little splurges make getting there more fun.

Bats Mobile, $25. Danish modernism meets Goth in this take on the classic nursery item. 

NASA Sounds, free. Set your ringtone to feature the roar of a space shuttle launch or Neil Armstrong's iconic "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind"--or program your computer to broadcast, "Houston, we've had a problem," every time you make an error on your computer.

Cake Knife, $22. With their vibrant, saturated hues and curvy shapes, these utensils would fit right in at the Mad Hatter's tea party.

Tie Dye Hair Ties, $10.50 for 6. Soft, stretchy retro-cool hair ties look as cute around your ponytail as they do on your wrist.

E-Books and Audiobooks, free. If you somehow missed reading 1984, Frankenstein, The Call of the Wild or one of 17 other required-reading titles in high school, this site tells you how to download versions for free, mostly as audiobooks and e-books, and sometimes as movies and radio dramas.

Photo: MoMA Store

The weekend is within reach...let these little splurges make getting there more fun.

Floppy Disk Sticky Notes, $10. You may not be able to use those plastic floppy disks leftover from the 90s in your computer anymore, but these paper sticky pads make writing yourself an old fashioned reminder more fun.

Hand Lotion, $4. This container's ergonomic shape is sleek enough to fit into your back pocket or an overstuffed purse.

Banana Split Halloween Costume for Dogs, $10. Shop early and pick up this sweet (and hilarious) ensemble for your furry friend.

Agate Earrings, $3. Classic gold hoops get an upgrade with a vibrant, quartz-like bead dangling from their center.

Photo: Gregor Halenda

Just between us, the fuzz on my upper lip has gotten out of hand: If it were dark instead of blonde, I'd look like my uncle Alfonse. So I was game to try OLAY's new Hair Removal Duo, which involves a two-step process using a skin guarding balm and hair removal cream. Because my skin is sensitive, and I was concerned that I might be trading a fuzzy lip for an alarmingly irritated one, I did the 48-hour patch test and followed the directions very carefully. After smoothing on the protective balm, then coating it with the removal cream, I waited exactly six minutes before gently wiping it all off. No problem! No redness! No fuzz! ($25; drugstores)

Photo: Poppin

The weekend is within reach...let these little splurges make getting there more fun.

Prepster Desk Set, $25. Notebooks in pink and white, a green ruler and set of pens, and a white tape dispenser will give your desk a little Palm Beach flair.

Apple Slicer, $40. Position this ingenious disc-shaped slicer on an apple and rotate it to release perfect slices for snacking or cooking. Even cooler: If you don't want to eat the whole apple, leave the disc pressed against the fruit, and it won't dry out or turn brown.

Printed Ballet Flats, $25. For this price, buy an extra pair of these adorable python slippers and keep one at the office for days when you just can't take another minute of wearing  heels.

Vermont Rolling Pins, $45-$94. These pins are functional works of art, from the sleek Modern to the funky Beehive.

Photo: Encore Prints

The weekend is within reach...let these little splurges make getting there more fun.

Encore Prints, $10. Get a motto for our modern times printed on a page from a vintage book or an antique dictionary.

Mimi Miniature Pyramid Stud Earrings, $16.10. These posts—embedded with a dainty faux diamond—are equal parts rocker and sophisticated.

Totes Bubble Umbrella, $17. Sometimes you need personal space—especially during a downpour on a crowded sidewalk.

Fila by Pierluigi Rolando Athletic Gear, $58-70. Get in the swing of things with this 70s-inspired workout wear splashed with prints by famed designer Pierluigi Rolando. 

Photo: Uguisu

The long holiday weekend is within reach...let these little splurges make getting there more fun.

Furoshiki Wrapping Cloth, $50. Fashion yourself a scarf, carry your groceries or wrap a present using this quirky graphic fabric.

R2-D2 Ice Cube Trays, $9.99. These freezer must-haves are cheaper than a droid robot, and--we can't help it--cooler, too.

State Prints, $15. Letterpress shop 1canoe2’s whimsical drawings pay homage to American cities, states and regions--because nothing says Wisconsin  pride like a poster that reads, “Cheese and crackers, beer and Packers.”

Farmer’s Market Basket, $14. Keep that fresh-from-the-market feeling going in your kitchen all year long with this stoneware take on the ubiquitous green cardboard basket.

Photo: Gregor Halenda

Because my spirits (and the delicate skin around my eyes) can sometimes use a little lift during the day, I like to keep a tube of Burt's Bees Sensitive Eye Cream in my bag. No bells and whistles here; just cotton extract for softening, rice extract for moisturizing, and a bit of soothing aloe. The crayon-shaped tube makes it easy to dab on and blend (even one-handedly, in case, like me, you sometimes find it hard to ignore the ringing phone that also happens to be in your bag).
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