Bag of Hopping Passover Fun

It's an unfair fact of life that the biggest Christian holidays fall at the same time as the biggest Jewish ones, and Christmas and Easter get all the press. What's a Jew to do to make Passover more fun for the kiddos?

Here's a thought: go for the gross factor. Kids don't often respond to food (even lots of it), or chanting ritual during which they must remain quiet and still. But, they do enjoy a good gross out moment or two. With this Passover plague pack of hoppin' mad frogs, you can bring to life the second plague, the aforementioned frogs, in vivid detail. Hand them out and let the amphibians fall en masse from the heavens. 

At just $3.99, each bag of frogs is a wrathful treat for children at the Seder table. And, it'll keep them happy until the gefilte fish hits the plates. Order them at www.pickmanmuseumshop.com.

Hurrying to Health, Chop Chop

Wow, it's spring. Which means for my part of the country, flowers blooming and birds chirping into the night. In your part, perhaps a late snowstorm and lots and lots of mud. One thing is for certain, though: summer is coming, with all the horrors shorts and bathing suits involve.

So show some support for your pudgy friends. One of the secrets to looking good by June is eating a ton of veggies. So boring. But this OXO salad chopper set gives the greens a bit more interest. Just throw all the veggies of choice into the special blade proof bowl, and commence chopping with the two bladed, wheeled chopper (it looks like a pizza cutter on steroids). In a chop chop, there's a neatly chopped salad to devour. Easy and fun (although for calories sake, lay off the gooey dressings).

Find this fabulous chopper set at www.surlatable.com. It's a fast way to cutting a fine figure.

Foot Fetish Fun

Don't get all shocked. It's true that the headline looks naughty, but this gift item really isn't. But, it is particularly perfect for someone with a, shall we say, deep and abiding affection for feet.

These little feet probably belonged to some tiny dancer once upon a time, but are now available for sale. They're lovely feet, beautifully proportioned, and can be placed in all sorts of poses. This isn't a practical gift, but an aesthetically lovely one for the foot lover in your life. They can strike a pose on a nightstand, look pigeon-toed and uncertain on a mantel, or stand strong on a bookshelf. And they're basic black, which we all know goes with absolutely everything.

The tiny tootsies are online at www.okstore.la. Order them up for someone who will hold them close.

Instant Mirror Makeover

Mirrors are for checking in, quick fixes, mild satisfaction or intense disappointment. But for kids, mirrors are about making funny faces. And this super-cheap toy gives them a whole new way to explore their comedic sides.

These mirror decals deliver about 50 nifty add-ons to the reflective experience. Just stick a pair of glasses, some new ears, or goofy headgear onto the mirror and watch the childish delight. All the decals are removable and reusable, for lots of dress up fun. It's such an easy way to entertain a kid.

Packages of the decals are sold at www.wishingfish.com. And at just under seven bucks a pop, they make a great babysitting aid, last minute present for kids you've never met, or even a party favor.

It Fixes Almost Anything

Oh, what could this multipurpose wonder product be? Chocolate? A new pair of shoes? An electric screwdriver? Nope. Try duct tape.

Also known as duck tape (don't ask me why; perhaps it keeps unruly ducks quiet on road trips), this household staple seals, attaches and grips better than anything. The only thing it usually isn't is pretty. Basic silver gray is ok for utilitarian use, but sometimes duct tape has a more visible role and needs panache. Enter this new duct tape, dashed with pattern and color to match or pleasingly clash with decor everywhere. It still does the job, but now it does it with style.

It's also the perfect gift for anyone who's just moved into a new abode (duct tape, upon move-in, is an absolute necessity). Order rolls of this sticky fabulousness at www.spoonsisters.com. 

Give The Hostess Some Hands

Sometimes a gift item emerges that's just so fanciful, strange and disturbing, it needs to be purchased for a friend immediately. This is one of those gifts.

These tiny hands turn an ordinary hostess gift of powder room "hand soap" into an art installation. The sudsy substance is molded from doll hand molds, in various shades of flesh. They're pudgy, cute, beseeching, and disembodied. It's just what the hip hostess wants her tipsy guests to see as they try to wash up: an assortment of baby hands, reaching desperately out of the soap dish to the heavens. Priceless.

And this gift isn't priceless; it's about 20 bucks. What a good deal on spare parts! Find them at www.aplusrstore.com.

No Trouble with Tribbles

With all the green talk in the air, overpopulation is a hot topic. Remind the worry wart on your gift list that life could be so much worse: give them a Tribble or two.

You remember Tribbles, don't you? Every Star Trek geek worth their salt does. These furry faceless creatures were irresistible, until the Enterprise crew realized that they loved to breed at lightning speed (not unlike some people you probably know). These Tribbles, available for shipping, have been "fixed," so they're cuddly and comforting, sort of like fluffy rocks with personality.

A giftee doesn't have to be a Trekkie to appreciate a trio of Tribbles, although it wouldn't hurt. You can beam them to the location of your choice through www.thinkgeek.com.