Photo Lunchbox

The economy looks bad, but that doesn’t mean it should reflect on you. Let’s consider your lunch for instance. Maybe you’re taking lunch to work more often to save money. Yea – good for you! But a brown paper bag? Or worse, a plastic grocery bag? Did we not just talk about Bagnesia?

Dig out your favorite photo and send it to Photo Lunchbox. They’ll set you up with a primo classic metal box. You can repeat the image on the front and back or even choose different images for each side.

Suddenly, you’ll be invited to sit with the cool kids at lunch. Your stock is rising. Well, maybe not your financial stock, but definitely your hip cred.

Photo Lunchbox

Sushi Pillows

This posting is for my friends in the Sushi Cult. You know who you are. "Try it. You'll like it. Be one of us. Let's go get some sushi." Over and over again.

Next thing, they'll put on a white shirt, blue tie, and go door to door with pamphlets about the wonders of sushi.

Anyway, two actors from the musical Miss Saigon cooked up (get it? cooked up? oh, forget it.) the idea of pillows designed to look like sushi. This was while they were on tour. Now you know what traveling acts do when not on stage.

No idea if they've quit their day job, but will someone please feed the girl in this picture? She's about to eat a pillow. She's even started to get those zombie eyes. Oh yeah, it's a cult.

The Original Sushi Pillow

Custom Headboards

Imagine waking up underneath the Eiffel Tower.

OK, maybe you’ve already done that before during your wild and crazy nights in Paris. This time, enjoy it from the comfort of your own bed. The French gendarmes would really appreciate it. I mean really.

A friend recently moved into a new condo tower. He’s an artist and was looking to do something different with his new bedroom. He told me about a company in Canada that creates custom headboards.

Choose from their varied selection of artwork, select the size of your bed and decide on framing. Create your own art or ask them to contact your favorite artist. They’ll create a unique piece of art that you’ll enjoy waking up to every morning.

One+Only Custom Headboards

Datz

So last weekend, we were invited to an opening party for a new deli in town. Some friends of ours helped design the space and created the artwork, and we've really been looking forward to seeing them open.

A group of six of us met for drinks beforehand (they don't serve vodka at the deli, for goodness sakes). Since the very same weekend, there happens to be a parade going on very near the new restaurant, we all decide to take one car and everyone piles into an SUV. Two in the front, three in the middle and one person graciously offers to ride in the cargo area. This SUV doesn't have the fancy third row seating (cheapskates).

We're all having a great time - talking, talking, and more talking - on the drive over to the deli. We park the car about a block away because of the parade crowd and get out of the car, very focused on getting to the new restaurant. We’re about half way down the block when a woman walking away from the parade yells, "Excuse me, you left someone in the car!"

Only then do we realize, the cargo area doesn’t have an inside door handle. And the knocking we kept hearing – it wasn’t fireworks. It was Charles locked in the back.

True story.

If you’re in Tampa, visit Datz Deli. It’s so good, you might forget someone in the car. Maybe that should be their new tagline.

Datz Deli

Chocolate Photo Oreos

Think you can get by with just buying flowers for Valentine's Day? Here's a better idea.

Start with chocolate covered Oreos. (Sure, they’ve been around for awhile. Oh yeah, I know.) Then, have your favorite photo of a loved one printed on the chocolate. And yes, it is edible. This company will even put sprinkles on as a frame to your photo.

Just try dipping a bouquet of flowers into a glass of milk. Here's a gift that is personal...and delicious.

Better hurry. Valentine's Day is coming up fast.

Edible Gifts Plus

Cupcake Envy

You know the two words that drive me into a panic? Valentine’s Day. What? You thought I was going to say "in-laws"?

What are you doing for Valentine’s Day this year? Flowers? Chocolate? How about both?

Check out Cupcake Envy. See the photo on the left? It’s a hand sculpted cupcake that is iced with a layer of vanilla buttercream (yum) and then decorated with handmade sugar roses.

You’ll want to take your time eating this work of art. It’s not cheap. But you’ll sure score points for individuality.

Cupcake Envy

Mardi Gras

I love Mardi Gras. You get to celebrate all the best of New Orleans. Jambalaya, crawfish, pralines, king cake and, of course, drinking.

And nothing says Big Easy (you saw that coming, didn’t you?) like a great set of beads. Make sure you’re properly attired when attending a Mardi Gras party. Buy some specialty beads to stand out from everyone else.

I love the fleur de lis design, but it might be a little overdone. Look around MardiGrasOutlet.com for the purple, green and gold beads that best fit you.

MardiGrasOutlet.com