Got boring throw pillows? We feel your boredom. Try these 18” square (a common throw-pillow size) nylon pillow covers to bring a touch of whimsy to your couch. You pick: the pug dressed as Henry VIII, as they will if left to their own devices; the cat dressed as Henry's daughter, Elizabeth I; or the corgi with top hat, bow-tie and monocle, which they wear when the queen’s not around.

These big, 4" long steel safety pins are practically jewelry in their own right. You get a 5-pack in assorted colors--gold, black, metallic pink, blue, green or others. Perfect for closing buttonless sweaters and tops or securing scarves in fascinating configurations.

That would be it’s name in German, but we’re just calling it the handiest thing since we were knee-high to a retail store. It’s a sturdy plastic (think milk-crate or industrial bin) storage box that doubles as a stool and step-stool, and folds for storage. Measures 14-3/4" x 12" x just 2-1/4" thick when folded, but snaps open to 10” x 12” across the top x 14” tall. Includes a fold-down cover and will support up to 250 lbs. We’ll pick one in orange or green-ish, both with a gray top.

The flat vase is 10-1/2" tall and made of thin formable plastic, flat enough to keep in a file folder, or to fold and put in your pocket when you're carrying roses somewhere. Fill it with warm water and mold it to the shape you want, empty it and fill it with cold water to hold that shape; add flowers. Ours are a lovely white and green, blue, or red floral pattern.

Got his-n-hers soap? Add this double soap dish to your shower and your soap-stacking days are over. Measures 9" long x 4" x 7/8" with drain slots to prevent gloopinated bars of soap, and mounts via a pair of suction cups to save you from having to drill holes in the tile. In cream/off-white plastic. Also suitable for dry-docking his-n-hers rubber duckies.

Here on the prairie we resent the calling of those things one puts under a glass "coasters". Why should the ocean fronts always get the credit?? So we are offering these roughly 3-1/2" sq. plastic devices under the inland name of "plainsers" You will get (8) all the same color of our choice, be it orange, brown, gold, black, silver or clear. We say square, but the sides are slightly convex out. Kind of like our midriff. An excellent value under any name.

Turns out Galileo didn’t invent his thermometer, but don’t tell anybody. Best to keep quiet and just order this version, which would make for a great showcase piece in your family room, study, bedroom or desk at work. Ancient technology meets colorful modern art. Measures 12-3/4" tall x 1-7/8” dia in clear glass with (5) globes filled with red, green, orange and two shades of blue liquid that float up and down to indicate the temperature. Marked between 64 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, in 4-degree increments.

From our collection of dopey ideas, this clear glass vase is shaped like a jumbo incandescent light bulb, but is 6-1/2" tall x 3-7/8" dia at its widest. Sits on its flattened head with a 1-1/4” polished aluminum screw-base at the neck.

Think: cartoonish cute. These table or hanging clocks are made as if from the body of a kerosene lantern, but flattened. In painted steel, they measure approx a foot tall on on a 4-5/8” round base, not counting the wire swivel handle/hanger on top. A 6-5/8” x 4-3/4” oval glass covers an antiquey Roman numeral face. Distressed for a vintage look, they run on a modern quartz movement that moves when you stick a “AA” battery in it. We’ll pick one for you in deep burgundy or a goldenrod yellow to go with that sweater you love.

Do these pants make your apple look fat? Plop your fruits, veggies, meats, pastas, candies, crackers, eggs, salad dressings, wine, beer and whatever else on the Nutra Track™ Mini Nutrition Digital Scale. It’ll tell you how many calories (also: salt, protein, fat, carbs, cholesterol and fiber) you’re about to injest--or it’ll just weigh the stuff, which doesn’t have to be food. Has (160) common food codes printed under its tempered glass top, and you can program more, for a total of (999). But it’s also just a great digital scale that weighs anything up to 5kg/11lbs in 1g/.1-oz increments. Compact, at 10” x 6” with a 4-3/8” LCD, and comes with a 24-page booklet plus (3) AAA batteries. From Mackie Scientific.