Storm Trouper
Neither rain nor sleet nor gale-force blusters will cause the cleverly
vented Windbrella to whip inside out, come loose from its moorings, or carry you
off like Mary Poppins.
External Light
Better to screw in one Twister 10,000-hour bulb than curse the darkness in
that hard-to-reach spot or fret over your mounting electric bills (fluorescents
use way less juice).
Friendly Reminders
Post-its. Such an obvious choice for excellence, they almost didn't make
the cut—but who knew they now come in 40 unignorable colors, and sizes ranging
from postage stamp to poster.
Hot Shot
The Minolta DimAGE Xt weighs about four ounces, fits in a pocket, works as
a Webcam, and even (if you get the Marine Case) shoots underwater. How cool is
that?
Top Cat
Voluptuously furry (with very little shedding) and loving to the point of
codependency, the Ragdoll, a relatively recent breed, doesn't have a mean (or
seemingly any) bone in its body.
Good Nudes
For a convincingly bare-legged look without baring any imperfections, The
Nudes—Donna Karan's virtually invisible stockings—are like an instant coat of
leg makeup.
The Forever Bag
It's not about status. The Hermès Birkin bag is so beautifully finished,
inside and out, and of such fine leather, you'll have it forever, and so will
your granddaughter.
Clean Fetish
For those of us who want dust gone, not just redistributed, the Swiffer—in
all its manifestations—has achieved cult status. Don't get us
started.
Word Perfect
It may be on the tip of your tongue, but with The Synonym Finder, it's at the tip of your fingers—bingo! And for stringing words together, there's no wiser guide than The Elements of Style.
Sugar Hit
The delicate crunch, the tiny, pristine, burst of sweetness—even when you
toss them down by the handful, it doesn't feel like gorging. M&M's: Think of
them as nonprescription happy pills.
Petalicious!
The streaks, the ruffles, the over-the-top gorgeousness—parrot tulips
would be the divas of the garden if they weren't so easy to grow. And in a vase,
they practically arrange themselves.
Ironing, Unplugged
You may have perfected your waltz with the iron cord, but the Maytag Cordless Iron keeps the heat on without any entangling alliances. So much easier!
You Go, Grill
No bigger than a breadbox, the George Foreman indoor grill
cooks whole meals in minutes, drains off fat, cleans up in seconds, and now
comes in this snazzy Michael Graves—designed version.
Mmm-Wah!
A big moisturized kiss to Revlon Moon Drops Lip Conditioner, a beauty
classic that's been keeping lips soft, smooth, and sun-protected (with no sticky
fingers and no major cash outlay) since 1989.
Cloud Nine
Not too limp, not too hard, never needs punching into shape. The Slumber
Core pillow from Pacific Coast Feather is an excellent recipe for a good night's
sleep.
Schlep-O-Matic
The state of the art in wheeled luggage, the new Tumi T3 Wheel-a-Way is light, sturdy, well balanced, and a breeze to pull around.
No Jacket Required
There
are white shirts and then there are Anne Fontaine white shirts, impeccably
tailored marvels that send you out feeling crisp and confident.
Cutting Edge
Nicely weighted. Supersharp blade. At the risk of
sounding like an infomercial, the Henckels eight-inch chef's knife is the one
that lets you get rid of that drawerful of cut fingers waiting to happen.
Chore Busters
The grater grates in both directions and
catches the results in a measuring container. The peeler has a soft grip and
take-no-prisoners blade. OXO tools: always an extra soupcon of genius.
Tanks for the Compliments
Amazing colors, artfully cut, in revolutionary stretchy fabric that keeps
its shape and flatters yours: Eres bathing suits are a revelation.
Great Time
Want to spend $3,000 or so? Treat yourself to a Rolex. Want to spend $30
or so? Treat yourself to a Timex. Either way, you're getting a classic and an
icon of reliability.
