Michele Bosak (or mimi) is a sculpture/drawing maniac. We spent a while on her Etsy Shop checking out her unique work. We decided to highlight Absence no. 12 on Veneer giclee print for its thoughtful use of color on the wooden textured background.

Found at Etsy for $27.00

Public restrooms are nasty, so any advantage you can gain while in there helps. The dissolving soap paper are small sheets of paper that will lather your hands when you apply water and rub your hands together. I like that my wife can carry these in her purse and if a public restroom runs out of soap, I can still wash my hands before dinner.

50 sheets for $4.95 at Amazon.

Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar, 4.5-Ounce Bar (Pack of 6)

In my house my wife and I have been trying to cut down on the basic stuff for the arrival of our new baby girl. One of the more needlessly expensive services we pay for, is our phone service. I spent hours researching how to lower that phone bill and the only real alternatives were voice over IP (VOIP) phone services. Though lower than a regular landline it still left me with a monthly bill.

Through some more digging around, I found the Ooma phone system. It is basically a voice over IP device, but unlike other voip services, you only pay for the device once. For as long as the Ooma phone system works, you don't pay a dime for phone service. In other words, our phone bill went from $50 (after taxes) to zero. In 4.5 months of owning the device, it will pay for itself. After that, it is a free ride. I hope to have a full review for you in the near future.

Found the Ooma phone system for $203.99 at Amazon.

We go ga-ga for illustrations. This Isak Blossom and Bill Tray is no exception. The tray is simply made from 7 layers of birch wood and it is then finished with a laminate coating.

Found at huset for $45.00.

Although the Nikon D300 has been out on the market for some time now, we recently purchased one to use on our product photoshots. Our photographers do nothing but rave about it citing the Nikon D300 as a great amateur to semi-professional DSLR camera.

The Nikon D300 takes sharp images and displays stunning colors. The active D-lighting feature amazing: it can brighten up a subject that has been underexposed due to backlighting or insufficient flash illumination, or enhance contrast of an overexposed subject that otherwise looks too bright. For those of you who shoot sports, the Nikon D300 can shoot up to 6 frames per second out of the box. If you purchase the MB-D10 grip that will increase to 8 frames per second.

The camera also features a 3" LCD screen. The screen allows you to preview pictures you've just taken or use it as a view-finder like most point-and-shoot cameras. The controls are simple to use and we found it's menu to be very easy to navigate -- though it is important to point out some of the features are buried deep in the menu system.

The hot shoe allows for an external flash like the SB900 and will give you an amazing advantage to control the lighting. You can also purchase software to control the camera through the PC "Camera Control Pro". A wireless adapter is also available to shoot images wirelessly. Honestly the capabilities are endless with this one.

Some sample shots taken with the Nikon D300:









Images taken by Hector Gongora


IN THE BOX
- Nikon D300 (Body only)
- Battery and charger
- Instruction manual

THE GOOD
- Easy to use
- Amazing images
- Can get up to 8 FPS (with optional accessory)
- Great battery life

THE BAD
- Does not come with camera control software

WHERE TO BUY
- Amazon
-


Linksys BEFCMU10 Ethernet Cable Modem

Looking for a new water dispenser for your home or office? Take a look at the Island Sky Water-Making Machines. The Skywater 14 machine works without bottles, so your back won't be hurting the next day after lugging around a heavy 5 gallon jug. The concept is actually fairly simple: The Skywater 14 transforms air humidity into water. It does so by using a technology that filters air, then it condenses it and collects it in a large reservoir. The entire system is purified with OZONE, which is EPA and FDA approved. After the water is purified, it passes through a carbon filter, which enhances the taste.

It is a cool alternative to provide low cost, high-quality drinking water for your home or office. Another thing to note is that the Skywater 14 needs no plumbing. You simply plug this bad boy into a standard 110 or 220 volt outlet and wait for the water to be sucked from the air. The unit has an LCD display which shows current indoor temperature and humidity conditions, and features a full tank gauge so you know when your water is ready.

We rarely show the home office some love. File Folder Set "Clover" is our way to kiss and make up. The beautifully illustrated file folders are both colorful and striking.

Found at Papaya! for $12.00

Ok, so this isn't your ordinary house fan, but we thought it was so cool we just had to share it with you. This little wind maker is made by BlowIt Fans). It is made for musicians to be able to attach to microphone stands or equipment to cool themselves off while they are rocking out.

The fan has a 3 speed motor and the airflow can be adjusted on the fly through its directional and angle adjustments. The gooseneck can be positioned in virtually any position, which allows you to use it in really tight spaces.

Please note that it is not a standard house fan, but instead has a clamp that will fit most stands and drum racks.

Found the Personal Cooling System on Amazon for about $69.00

This collection of 44 wall decals designed by wallcandy arts let's you design your own multi-colored tree, by using tree trunk parts, flowers, birds, and butterflies. The removable and reusable vinyl can be used on any wall.

Found at notNeutral.

Angel Pacheco is crafty with his craft. You'd have to be to create the Kokopelli hand-painted plate. The southwestern inspired design resonates with colors you'd only dream of using.

The 7-inch in diameter plate goes for $28.00.

Found at TheHeadsCreation Etsy Shop.