It looks high-tech, but upon closer inspection it's hard to imagine who wouldn't find use for Gecko Grip Level from Black and Decker. No ordinary bubble-in-a-tube tool, the Gecko is equipped with specially designed Gripper pads to hug the wall, preventing the level from slipping while you mark your target. And in an extra stroke of genius, designers built in sliding "Accumark" tools, which allow you to pinpoint the precise distance between the nail and the top of the frame. (No more estimating with thumb and forefinger). So go ahead; decorate those empty white walls!

Packed with deliciously scented essential oils (and zero bad stuff, like sulphates or mineral oil), the U.K.-based, aromatherapeutic body care line This Works couldn't be hotter. Now, with the launch of Active Serum, that all-natural goodness is drifting north—to the face. Designed to be used alone or layered under a companion oil, the serum deploys sesame proteins, yellow-green algae, and guava to boost radiance and elasticity, and plant-based antioxidants to keep environmental evils (i.e., sun, wind, and pollution) at bay.    

Can you believe this is a diaper bag? The Journey Pack from Petunia Pickle Bottom's Scout Collection, made from industrial-weight heathered felt, isn't too pretty to deliver: the stylish pack comes with a water-resistant changing pad and an antiqued-brass wipes case, and is equipped with nine pockets for bottles, magazines, diapers, stroller clips, and your cell phone. It's billed as a bag that Dads won't object to toting around, but a minimalist mother will surely appreciate the sophisticated subtlety, too.

If you think having nice design pieces in your kitchen is frivolous, take a look at the MoMA Design Store's favorite new bread box. The sleek white melamine container is simple and beautiful, and the old-fashioned custom of keeping a bread box means no more hard sandwiches that taste like the chill of the fridge. But perhaps most importantly, the sturdy beechwood top flips over to serve as a cutting board. And when we heard it was even dishwasher safe...okay, we admit it. We're obsessed.

Weighing in at a hefty few pounds, Squiggles: A Really Giant Drawing and Painting Book might be the heavyweight champion of the kids' coloring book collection. The doodle-friendly tome is the latest innovation from Taro Gomi, creator of the best-selling Scribbles and Doodles (and the ubiquitous Everyone Poops). Here, Gomi uses his graphic style to deftly take kids through 204 pages of playful drawings with instructions for creative embellishment. It's an inspiring journey--and the paper is even thick enough to paint on.

Leave it to a model-slash-actress to suss out the best way of keeping up appearances. Monica Olsen, the Los Angeles-based founder of Skin by Monica, has added Ingestibles to her ever-growing product assortment (she also makes baby potions, as well as anti-aging brews for Mom). The peppy pills come in formulas running the gamut from health-restoring (Pure, Cleanse) to the more outwardly superficial (Young, Beautiful), and they're all positively chock-full of vitamins and minerals to detox, refresh, and strengthen inside and out. We're betting that after one just 30-day cycle, you'll be hooked on the results.

School has started and the air is slowly cooling off, but technically it's still Summer until this Sunday. Hang onto the last sunny memories of the season with this Mermaid Beach Wrap. Made in Germany from absorbent 100% cotton, the whimsical towel is as much fun post-bath as post-beach, and it's sure to keep your kid's playful vacation spirit going strong throughout Fall.

If your kitchen is feeling drab, punch things up with the brightly colored This & That collection from J Schatz. Every glossy earthenware piece is entirely handmade, and the candle holders can accommodate regular tapers or be flipped on their end to display large pillars. But the biggest standouts from the collection are the oversized salt and pepper shakers. Something of a conversation piece, the 7"-tall pieces are reminiscent of the classic fiestaware variety. But as it turns out, each shaker can hold an entire canister of salt, saving space on your shelves and making them as practical as they are pretty.

We've all got our demons--and when you're a kid, those often come in the form of imaginary monsters prowling your bedroom. Banish scary claws and paws with the hand-crocheted Monster Bomb, proven to vaporize the nastiest drooling beast. Just help you son or daughter toss the bomb under the bed before lights-out, and poof! The creatures are gone. And just in case any slink back in the night, the bomb keeps his single eye out for new targets.

Check out one of our favorite sites, Modern Tots. The good news is that the online store, with everything from furniture to toys, now has a brick-and-mortar showroom open in Brooklyn. Even better, the website is having a sample sale, beginning today. Up to 40 percent off on select items, so click away!

Keeping track of your family's medical records can make you feel queasier than the stomach flu--which is why we were so excited about Knock Knock's latest sanity-saving wonder, the Medical Organizer. The three-ring binder stores medical notes, contact info, prescriptions, and other vital stats (like allergies). There's even a business card holder for referrals, stickers to color-code your family members, and an attached pen to keep you from having to fumble through your purse.

Feeling nostalgic for your grandmother's kitchen? Pick up these Well-Measured Bowls from Anthropologie, purveyor of all things that feel vintage and beautiful. The handmade stoneware measuring dishes--which could also be used as prep bowls--are both dishwasher and microwave safe. They also have handy pour spouts and nest in a stack for storage. Thing is, they're so pretty you may not want to hide them in the cupboard.

What kid doesn't love a costume? These kids' aprons from Marimekko make helping out in the kitchen feel official while keeping everything clean. Machine-washable and made from 100 percent cotton, the aprons come in the company's characteristically bright prints, including this iconic Mini-Unikko floral. The bold, splotchy flowers will cheer up the task - and little stains should blend right in!

When it comes to that much-needed morning cup of joe, don't you deserve more than a weak, burnt-tasting brew? No need to spend hours with a mortar-and-pestle each morning. Unlike many machines, which roughly chop the beans to pieces (resulting in uneven flavor), KRUPS's new KM7000 Grinder-Brewer contains a conical burr that produces perfectly fine grounds. Then after doing the prep work, the little dynamo percolates to your heart's content. Just pour your favorite whole roast beans in the night before, then set the timer. When you wake to the sweet scent of java, you'll swear your husband hired the most indulgent of maids. 

Kids love sweet stuff almost as much as they do making a mess in the kitchen. With the Kids Central Kitchen baking mixes, you can satisfy their cravings without sacrificing a healthy diet--the mixes have no trans fats, refined sugars, high fructose corn syrup, or artificial additives. How can you beat that when you still get to gobble up stacks of flapjacks, gooey chocolate brownies, or banana bread fresh from the oven? While the mixes can easily be whipped up by adults, the company encourages asking your kids for help. Now if only you weren't sacrificing the state of your kitchen...

The newest addition to Alessi's range, this pasta pot was actually inspired by cooking methods of old. With water in short supply on Italian olive farms, growers began cooking pasta as you would risotto, starting by frying it dry and then slowly adding sauce ingredients, along with just enough liquid to steam everything soft. The noodles themselves retained the flavor of the sauce, making for an especially tasty dish. Alessi's pot is specially designed to maximize the method's success, distributing heat evenly and allowing for minimal leaking of steam. It even comes complete with a built-in trivet and a melamine spoon. Mangia!

Much lauded for it's hydraulic folding system and it's easy-to-navigate three-wheel design, The Quinny Buzz stroller just got a stylish makeover. Quinny's limited-edition Thumbprint Collection owes its whimsical, hand-finished look to designer Lela Rose, whose children Grey and Rosey generously lent their thumbprints to the cushy seat cover's pattern. Lela then added intricate cross-stitching and cherry red accents for a homespun yet modern feel. The strollers first become available tomorrow, so move fast; only 300 were produced. And check out our road tests for more great stroller picks.

We're already aware that kids say the darndest things, but what happens when one father sets out to answer their obscure questions—as logically and completely as possible? In Father Knows Less Or: "Can I Cook My Sister?", author Wendell Jamieson enlists the help of everyone from astronauts to dominatrices to satisfy the curiosities of his 7-year-old son, Dean, and other kids. Among the weird, albeit fascinating, facts (it hurts more to get stung by a jellyfish than run over by a car, but giving birth is the most painful experience someone can go through), Jamieson seamlessly weaves in sometimes heartwarming, sometimes hilarious stories about his own childhood curiosities and obsessions. Not only will you love this, you should buy a copy for every parent you know.

With the recent controversy over the Baby Einstein DVDs, what's a parent to do? Why not turn to an old-fashioned standby--the inspiring properties of artwork. These adorable animal screenprints from Wee Gallery Art are specially designed to capture the interest of your developing newborn. Studies have found that the engaging, black and white graphics actually have a soothing effect on infants. Sure beats a premature Mensa session in the nursery.

Traveling is stressful enough without trying to smuggle your liquid toiletries past airport security. Not to worry; novelty mavens at NPW have ways of keeping you and your brood clean. Their paper soap, paper shampoo, laundry paper, and even shaving paper(!) leave no excuse for a grubby (or stubbly) mug. The convenient single-use sheets come in lightweight, water-tight cases perfect for tossing in your purse in a pinch. Bonus? They won't burst open in your suitcase.

Samsung's brand new U3 MP3 player may finally lead you out of the iCraze. The affordable little portable comes in five bright colors and works right out of the box. Just plug it into your computer's USB port--which doubles as its charger--and you can load it with up to 1,000 songs or other files, including MP3s, text files, jpegs, and more. Plus, unlike the seemingly-similar Shuffle, this one actually has a screen--meaning you won't have to navigate your playlist blind. It even boasts an FM radio, voice recording, and up to 15 hours of battery power. Sounds smart to us.