Photo: Dan Saelinger

Last year, when Courtney Nichols launched SmartyPants vitamins—cherry- and citrus-flavored gumdrops—she was bombarded with e-mails from envious parents asking, "Can I take these, too?" So she and her cofounders created SmartyPants for grown-ups (with the same shape and taste, of course). Like the originals, Nichols says, they're the only all-in-one multivitamin gummies that contain 100 percent of the recommended amount of vitamin D as well as omega-3s (from eco-friendly, toxic-free fish oil). Plus, their candylike kick comes from organic sugarcane—not high-fructose corn syrup. But the best thing about them? For every bottle sold, the company donates a month's worth of vitamins to children in need.

($19 and free shipping with code OPRAH; smartypantsvitamins.com)

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Photo: Thinkstock

I’ve lost track of how many completely amazing and world-changing ideas for inventions I’ve had over the years. Probably because I’ve never actually made a single one. But isn’t there something appealing about having the cartoon, lightbulb-over-your-head idea, and then going ahead and actually making it happen? Sadly, due to my lack of engineering expertise, the world will probably never know my game-changing Umbrella Stroller That Doesn’t Tip Over design. And my so-ingenious-I-can’t-believe-I’m-revealing-it concept of Pneumatic Pet Tubes (you know, for when you only want to walk them one way and then send them home), still a pipe dream.

But shoes for the visually impaired? Good thing this wasn’t my idea, but that of Anirudh Sharma, an Information Technology Engineer from Rajasthan Technical University. According to this post on Pixelonomics, Sharma’s shoe system (called “Le Chal”) could replace the white cane and seeing-eye-dog as the best option for the visually impaired. Mild vibrations alert the walker when it’s time to turn and what direction; the vibrations grow stronger near the end of a journey. A built-in sensor lets the walker know of obstacles. Tests have gone well, and Sharma is planning to start producing and selling the shoes (for more updates, check out his fascinating blog). This design could no doubt change people’s lives--and it's almost as cool as a Pneumatic Pet Tube.

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Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio D

Party dresses can be a pricey proposition, especially if, like most women, you don't attend many black-tie events. But prepare to celebrate: A new evening wear collection from American Living for JCPenney—priced entirely under $150—just hit stores. With clean designs and slimming details like side ruching and V necklines, these gowns flatter any size from 2 to 16. And in comfortable jersey fabric and classic evening shades of red, black, and white, they feel good enough to raise a glass to. (americanliving.com)



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In Miranda July’s film The Future, the main character says something about how she wants to keep with the news, but that she's so behind she doesn't know where to start. I have to admit that I often feel this way. I also often feel like I’m so worn out from everyday life that I don’t want the dose of sadness that the news often brings. 

Which is why it’s always such a relief to hear a story of people being kind and open-minded, people with what they used to call character. Take, for example, the lesbian homecoming queens of San Diego’s Patrick Henry High School. Chosen and cheered by their peers, and almost immediately flooded with anti-gay hate mail, these girls seem to be the embodiment of a “teachable moment.” The situation must have seemed that way to the school’s superintendent, Bill Kowba, too. According to this piece at Good, Kowba said at a press conference Monday that he was “furious” at the hate mail and negative backlash: “What is essentially disappointing is that adults who have contacted the school...are demonstrating such a lack of tolerance and such a negative role model for children with their hateful comments.”

After all, there’s been a lot of news lately about gay teens being victimized and bullied, even to the point of being driven to suicide. Here are two girls who are doing a brave thing by living their truth, during high school no less, that greenhouse for conformity and self-consciousness.  And here is a school where the student body has accepted and welcomed gay students. How gratifying to see that here are also adults involved who, amid controversy, are backing up the kids, and respecting them as people.

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Photo: Courtesy of Rimmel London

I often find myself layering five different kinds of mascara to get just the right effect: long, plump, clump-free lashes. But when I tried Rimmel London Glam'Eyes Mascara, which comes with two different brushes in one tube, I knew the search was finally over. The brush with the pink cap lengthens and defines, while the black capped version adds thickness. The best part: I no longer have to be a mix master—this does-it-all mascara allows me to customize my lashes (without cluttering up my makeup bag).

RImmel London Glam'Eyes Day 2 Night Mascara, $8



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Banana Karenina. The Bun Also Rises. Lovers of puns and pastry rejoice.

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The Life Lifter: After seeing her baby son go through surgery for a rare cranial birth defect, this mother decided to pay it forward, sending care packages to other families like hers.

Photo: LeSportsac

Inspired by Oprah to create a vision board, Panamanian artist Marisabel Bazan started painting (instead of cutting and pasting pictures) as a way to project her dreams. Fast-forward five years, and Bazan's art is now splashed across LeSportsac backpacks, tote bags, and wristlets. One of our favorite styles (at left) is a screen-printed version of Bazan's Vida Linda butterfly painting (the original incorporates Oprah's name—one of her biggest influences—into the design). And this ultra-bright duffle won't just stand out on the luggage carousel, but it's a reminder to dream big.

Have you ever made a dream board? If so, tell us about what's on it.

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