Easy Herb

No, not Herb as in Uncle, but herb as in sage, parsley and mint. Herbs are always a perfect way to add kick to bland cooking, and the Toad is always looking for easy ways to prep them.

Sound lazy? Yeah, well, maybe. Toad has knife skills, but herb chopping is, frankly, a drag. Half the stuff sticks to the cutting board or ends up destroyed by my madly hacking blade. I'm always forgetting to chop them until the last minute, so I do a half-assed job, anyway. Although many would view this Microplane Herb Mill as a silly kitchen unitasker, I beg to differ. Just shove herbs of your choice into the mill, close and twist the top like a pepper mill, and out comes perfectly chopped, not bruised and wounded, herby goodness. Plus, it's made by Microplane, a brand that understands choppage and grateage for sure.

This would make an ideal housewarming or hostess gift. It's just $25 for an item friends and family might actually use and appreciate. Find it at Sur La Table.

Mini-Housewives

Before I get started on this rant, let me just say that I fully understand the importance for children to emulate adults. But this has gone too far.

Lately, I've noticed some newer miniaturized toys (all of which are, of course, marketed to little girls), which seem to stress the housewifely arts. Just look at the pictures here! One is a tiny Dyson vacuum cleaner, which apparently works and picks up teeny tiny specks of carpet gunk. The other item is a "mini" donut maker (there's also a cupcake version). This kitchen uni-tasker creates lilliputian baked goods, which presumably little girls adore. Now, far be it from me to discourage neatness or cooking aptitude in children; as I stated above, I'm all for it. But, instead of spending bucks on these inferior child models, why not just teach your kid (notice I didn't just say "daughter") to vacuum using the real vacuum (easily done if you have a canister model), or make baked goods in the real oven. And don't give me the "safety" argument, either. I, a former sucker, bought my kid an Easy Bake oven. That thing got hotter than Hades. Burnt her arm. Made crappy cakes. Was one of the unsafest items in the house.

So, teach your kids to really bake. Or, teach them to really clean. It could be fun. It's free labor. And free is always better than spending $34.95 on a tower of ineffective plastic.

Hot Pocket

Yes, it's still toasty in some parts of the world, but the weather is turning more unpredictable. And, for cold-prone people you know, nothing's worse than getting caught in chilly weather without a heat source.

So, check out this totally ingenious down shawl. Sure, it's basic black (goes with everything, don't you know) and slightly more stylish than that Land's End down vest stuffed in my car trunk, but that's not what makes this accessory a standout. The brilliance is in the fact that it stuffs down into its own pocket, forming a tidy heart shaped package that easily fits in a glove compartment, purse, or carry all for instant use. You have to love the practicality.

For $98, this "shawl" isn't super cheap. But it is, literally and figuratively, HOT. Find it at Athleta.

The Toad Gets Press!

Last week, the Larchmont Chronicle wrote a piece about Find A Toad. And, here it is!

For Good Luck, Give Them the Bird!

In these times of uncertainty and hubris, who wouldn't want a little more good luck? Sure, you could give your giftee those chocolate covered fortune cookies, but they're mostly air and empty calories. You need another good luck option.

Take this Fortune Chicken, for instance. He's winsome and fanciful in a modernist, all white sort of way. He isn't edible. And he's meant to hang around for a while. In fact, this Fortune Chicken's directions read: "Smash this chicken in times of confusion or great despair," giving the giftee the latitude to choose the moment for good luck to emerge. The beauty of this is that that moment will be different for everyone. For one person, it might be if Republicans take over Congress, for another it could be a botched botox job. You just never know when confusion and great despair might strike, and you can count on this chicken before it's smashed.

Find this Netherlands born bird (just $16) at Gretel Home. Hammer sold separately.

Nature Can Be Scary Too

So you knew I'd have to get around to Halloween. Every parent I know is fairly resistant to Halloween decor, yet they all give in because the kids just love it. And no kid wants some anemic white ghosty flitting about in the front yard; they want out and out disgusting decorations.

Many of the terrifying props incorporate elements of violence: chainsaws, hacked limbs, death and dismemberment. I'm not a fan. To my mind, nature offers up some pretty elemental scares all on its own. A good example? Look at this truly revolting spider larvae ball. It hangs from your tree or front porch, festooned with spiders and presumably bursting with more. Yuck. Gross. There's no violence here, but it will cause the coveted aversion reaction kids crave.

Did I mention it's on sale? Down from $39.99 to $29.99, for guaranteed grossness year after Halloween year. Find these bundles of horror at Grandin Road.

Evel Knievel: Precursor to Jackass

Back in prehistoric times when the Toad was a child, you couldn't record kiddie shows and then fast forward through the commercials. Thus, the TV commercials became part of the Saturday morning entertainment! And no ad was more entertaining than the one for this toy.

I'm talking about the Evel Knievel Super Stunt Set. For those too tragically young to remember, Evel Knievel was the original Jackass, a guy with a penchant for jumping his motorcycle over buses and through rings of fire, while wearing a silly 70's bellbottomed suit. I believe he broke every bone in his body. This toy consisted of a wind-up crank to get Evel and his cycle all wound up, before sending it shooting up the ramp and through the rings, or into the walls, or whatever. The ad always had the little plastic guy doing wheelies and performing awesome feats, but since I didn't know anyone whose parents actually purchased the thing, I had no idea if it worked. Well, now's your chance. Buy this original Stunt Set for your child, take it away from him or her, and see if you can get the rockin' stunt action going. And don't worry about emergencies: this set comes complete with both a little gas can and a fire extinguisher.

Each of these classic toys is individually numbered. Hospital stays for Mr. Knievel are not included in the purchase price. Find the Stunt Set, for $49.99, at Back to Basics Toys.