It's not always easy to get excited about practical housewares, but leave it to great designers to elevate the mundane to the status of art. The people at Creative Danes are turning our heads with their new take on the trivet. Their version comes in an array of bold colors, snaps together to fit handily into any utensil drawer, and has a fun shape reminiscent of a propeller or a pinwheel. You won't even want to cover them up with that hot casserole dish.

From lazy days at the pool to evening bonfires at the beach, summer is jam-packed with photo ops requiring that your camera be at the ready. BuiltNY's 'Hoodie' camera case is made of cushy neoprene to protect your fragile LCD screen, has an hidden interior pocket for storing memory cards or extra batteries, and comes with both wrist and belt straps for easy access. Plus, the graphic prints make them far more appealing than the typical boring black canvas.

For kid-friendly cameras to slip inside, click here

During the morning rush the last thing we want is to be leashed to the bathroom by a twisted, tangled cord. Naturally, we were delighted to find the new BarBar 1800 cordless flat iron. We love that it allows us complete freedom to move around while prepping for the busy day ahead. It fires up to a whopping 390 degrees in just three seconds, and holds the heat for up to five minutes at a time. By placing it back on its console to rest, re-charging is effortless and completed by the time you grab a new section of hair. You might just call this your magic wand.

And click here for summer hair protection tips!

For those of you raising future astronauts, Smart Lab has come up with toy that lets you explore the wonders of a shuttle launch without making a family trip to Cape Canaveral. This remote control rocket is fueled by the age-old science fair combo of baking soda and vinegar and, with the press of a button, it heads straight for the sky. Next stop: space camp.

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If you think an Ipod is the be-all end-all of mp3 players, prepare to be proven wrong. With the Sansa Fuze, you can store up to 2,000 songs, listen to preset FM radio stations, play videos or peruse photos on the color screen, or lay down your own tunes with a built in voice recorder. Best of all, when the little gadget is full, you can purchase a tiny memory card to double the capacity. The Fuze comes in five colors, with an impressive 24 hours of battery life so you can rock out all day long.

When your aspiring young shutterfly tires of her pretend camera, and you don't yet trust her with your own sleek digital model, the Pop Cam will satisfy her inner artiste. The lightweight plastic snapper uses 35mm film to capture images in a style after Andy Warhol's heart, dividing the screen into four quadrants with the image replicated in shades of yellow, blue, green and red. Stick the resulting masterpieces on the fridge, or slip copies into invitations to your spring barbecue. After all, every child deserves her fifteen minutes of fame.

If the weathermen are correct, the coming months are going to be especially rainy, and nothing can sour your morning like an inside-out umbrella on your way to work or school. Thankfully, the clever people at Senz have put their heads together to improve upon traditional models. Don't let the wacky shape put you off; its award-winning, aerodynamic build is what gives it the strength to withstand winds up to 70 mph, keeping you nice and dry through the spring.

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but tax season is upon us (only 47 days!) Instead of panicking, consider investing in the Neat Receipts scanner. Just run your receipts through it, then toss 'em. The thin, brilliant device hooks right up to your computer to import copies into Works, Outlook, or Excel to create searchable, IRS-approved copies. You can analyze your spending, organize receipts by category, and even export them to Turbo Tax. We can't make any promises about the size of your return, but you will sure feel organized!

We've been hoping for an early spring, but for every new flower, there's probably a new allergen. Nip sneezes in the bud with the Vornado Air Quality System 500. Energy Star qualified, this system is amazingly quiet and easy to operate -- the filters just drop in. But the best part is that it circulates and purifies the air in the entire room instead of just a few feet around the unit. Now that should help you breathe easy.

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If you're tired of scraping burnt rice from the bottom of your pots, check out the new Rizo rice steamer. Designed by Toshiyuki Kita (whose line is part of the New York MoMA's permanent collection) the cute little cooker has three one-touch settings: steam, rice/sushi, and risotto. You can make up to 3 cups of your favorite grain without breaking a sweat, and without having to hide the steamer in your already overstuffed cabinets.

If you're already ignoring the gadget-y digicam you got from Santa, try the old-fashioned approach to taking pictures. The plastic Holga camera takes vignette-like, soft-focused photos (with real film!), and has been something of a cult phenomenon for 20 years. Newly made over in three bright new colors, the Holga packs the one-two punch of being great looking outside, true-to-form on the inside. Hey, if it ain't broke...

If only everything in life could be this convenient-and portable. The Fujitsu ScanSnap S300 is only about three pounds, but it packs quite a punch - it can scan 8 pages per minute, front and back, recognize the size of the document, and make content searchable as soon as it's scanned. Hook it up to your computer, and it's perfect for documents, ranging from business cards to medical records. Plus, it fits practically anywhere. Get creative, or get to work...

Help them get home for the holidays with the Real Time Traffic-Avoiding GPS system. It's tricked out with the usual features(audible direction, alternate routes, maps, and restaurant and hotel information), but it also provides real-time traffic and weather stats, has MP3 storage to play music when not looking for directions, and it automatically adjusts it's brightness according to light conditions. And, in case you're still not confident that they can get home quickly, the whole thing is portable, with five solid hours of battery life.

Give a small gift of convenient indulgence: a single, perfect cup of coffee. The Bodum Bistro Mug Press crams everything you love about the French press (great design, the resulting delectable brew) into a personal, on-the-go package.  The press fits on the side of any mug, and in case that isn't enough, it even comes with a microwaveable beaker to warm your milk while you wait. Plus, it makes a pretty cute stocking stuffer. See more choice stocking stuffers here.

If one of your loved ones is a shutterbug, the Sony Cyber-Shot Digital Still Camera might be the gift for them. The cute, slim shooter is equipped with a "smile shutter" which, when turned on, recognizes when someone grins, focuses on their pearly whites, and snaps the photo automatically. Trying a family shot? Face detection mode can see up to eight faces and controls focus, exposure, color, and flash to reduce red-eye and make everyone look a little more natural. In other words, it's not too late to get that family holiday card out (see our story here)!

Ah, The Casio G'zOne. You won't necessarily need the shock-, dust-, humidity-, salt-, fog-, or solar radiation-resistancy, but the water-resistant part will sure come in handy the next time your kid decides your cell makes a fabulous bathtub toy. The scratch-resistant phone (is there anything it can't resist?) also has Bluetooth and GPS capabilities, a speakerphone and a camera, making it an all-around perfect pick for your favorite technophile.

'Tis (nearly) the season: time to make multiple costly calls to the long-distance relatives. Luckily, Philips' new DECT/VOIP phone system may just ease the burden on your bank account. This little cordless links directly to Skype, the international internet program that allows members to contact each other completely free of charge. The phone can also be used for landline calls, and has no need for a PC connection. It even allows you to store 500 Skype contacts ... so all your lost relatives can find you easily. Great.

Even if you did find time to iron, after sitting in a desk chair or being stuck on a long flight you risk emerging looking less than crisp. Next time you take a trip or plan back-to-back meetings, toss Rowenta's DR5020 Ultra Handheld Steambrush in your tote. The powerful steamer holds plenty of water, and a wide steam-head yields quick results. It also boasts removable fabric and lint brushes, along with a variable steam dial. No plugs, no wrinkles, no contest.

If the idea of sewing appeals to you but the actual process seems too time consuming, Singer's new Confidence sewing machines may  inspire you to pick up the hobby. Equipped with computerized push-button controls, each model is as easy to adjust as your iPod, with built-in features that make set up, threading, and switching from stitch to stitch much faster. The machine also stores patterns for a wealth of decorative embroidery stitches, including a charming little row of dogs which it spit out effortlessly in minutes, followed by a perfect monogram which we simply typed in with one hand. Pretty impressive, no?

Ever get the feeling that, lately, kiddie-electronics are rivaling yours? The Crayola EZ Grip Digital Camera has all the bells and whistles your own camera has--digital, video, and web capabilities with a full-color preview screen--all packed in a bright, durable package equipped EZ grips for little hands. The kicker? The camera also features software to write a story with pictures, design frames, and even make photo-finger puppets (!).

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. 

In the dog days of summer, enhance hikes, games, and outdoor adventures with Motorola's Talkabout two-way radio. No mere toys, these lightweight radios are as rugged as they look, and boast a range of up to 25 miles. Additional highlights include live weather alerts and a vibrate option for when you want to be the only one to know about incoming transmissions. Truly a step up from the walkie-talkies of old.

How many times have you decided against grilling in the park because it just seems too hard to stake out one of those nasty charcoal-coated, cement-anchored picnic grills? Here's our handy (not to mention stylish) solution: the Cityboy Grill by designer Klaus Aalto. This portable grill is chic without sacrificing ease. The grate can be cleaned in the dishwasher, and it just uses an easy-to-find disposable gas cartridge. Now you're free to find the best grassy knoll in the park, and get your hot dog on.

Make it easier to capture precious moments with the Sony HDR-UX7 Handycam camcorder. It has a gazillion bells and whistles (a built-in intelligent flash to automatically improve dark videos, four different fader effects, super-slow-motion playback for dramatic moments, night vision in a 10-foot range, yadda, yadda, yadda), but the best part is that it can record directly onto a DVD--allowing you to watch your footage immediately. Even a PlayStation or XBox will read it without a problem!

Finally! After destroying your laptop, cell, video camera, Wii, and any other electronic in frustration, here comes the Olympus Stylus 770 SW. It's shockproof, waterproof, crushproof (to 220 pounds!), and freeze-proof but still boasts a stabilization mode, impressive zoom features, and 27 shooting modes--all wrapped into a mod little 7.1 megapixels.

Baby monitors are great for giving you a little bit of your life (read: sanity) back, but when all you're monitoring is sounds (some of which might be interference from your 10-year-old neighbor's walkie talkie), it's still a bit of mystery what's actually happening in the nursery. Graco's imonitor allows you to see high resolution digital video of your child on a 1.9-inch color display-and even includes zoom and night vision. Our favorite part is how small it is. Not much bigger than a cell phone, you can carry it with you within a 600-foot range.

If you love your music, we recommend Ultimate Ears, designed by the folks who have outfitted professional musicians with on-stage earpieces for years. Unlike typical ear pods, which are often uncomfortable and are inevitably jostled loose, these tiny dynamos stay snugly put with the help of a comfortable silicone "ear tip." The close fit means less outside noise can pollute your music--which means you can enjoy listening at a lower, safer volume. Feels good, sounds good, keeps you safe... and deemed good enough for rock royalty. Sold.

A damp toothbrush is a hotbed for the germs that cause flu, colds, and infections--and the balmy atmosphere from your shower isn't helping matters. Luckily, our futuristic age has produced the VIOlight system, a toothbrush holder equipped with a UV bulb to blast even the nastiest bacterium out of orbit. Designed by the renowned Phillipe Starck, the sleek silver unit even has a battery-powered compact counterpart for travel. Stick your toothbrush into either and hit the on button: After just 10 seconds, all the little buggers will have been vaporized. And starting today, VIOlight is available at Target stores nationwide.

Ever wished someone would invent a magical gadget that could tell you the weather, read your e-mail, broadcast news stories, give you stock reports, relay messages from friends and family, and play your favorite songs while you're having to tend to your mom duties away from your computer and cell phone? Someone has—and he's even cute. Nabaztag's newest "smart rabbit" (the 2005 model didn't have the belly button, which allows you to send voice messages to other rabbit owners) can live in any room of your house that has wireless Internet access—the nursery, the kitchen, you name it. Register the little guy and you can program him to do and say just about anything your heart desires when you give him the proper command. If only you could program people to be this helpful and obedient ...