S.O.F.

You know what that stands for? Save Our Furniture. Because potential furniture destruction always exists whenever a party rages. You know what I'm talking about: moisture rings covering your precious wooden heirlooms.

Coasters are the ticket. But so many coasters are, well, lame. They're ugly, or bulky, or just seem stuffy (sort of like covering living room furniture in plastic). These coasters, however, are cool. Just a shadow of those lame coasters. Seriously, they are shadows, but usually of a different variety than the actual glass. In this case, it's a shadow of a soda can, complete with straw (there's also a coffee mug version, although I believe it's currently sold out). As guests imbibe, these coasted will confound. And they're flexible and in basic black, so no lameness here.

At just ten bucks a four-pack, these make a swell hostess gift. So, Save Our Furniture at www.mollaspace.com.

Office Frivolity

Remember the olden days, when companies lured you in to their hallowed halls with free sodas 24/7 and arcade games in the lounge? Well, wake up, because those perks are long, long gone. You and your friends are lucky to be gainfully employed, and don't you forget it. But that doesn't mean that there's no office fun to be had.

Like this portable air hockey set. Yeah, ok, it totally sucks compared to the full-sized model that was repossessed last year and hauled from the premises. But it has a fan, is battery operated and can be easily hidden in a cubicle, then busted out once the boss takes a breather. 'Cause hey, you might be lucky to have the dumb job, but the job's not lucky enough to have you stay on it if the cat's away. Gotta get those thrills where you still can.

Find this lilliputian arcade version at www.fredflare.com. At $30, it can entertain your office space confined buddies for hours of company time.

New Product on Find A Tadpole!

Go to Find A Tadpole and read about a killer kiddie gift.

Drawing to a Conclusion

Life is stressful. Many people advise meditation, but sitting still and trying to quiet my mind usually leads to an anxiety attack. I find that a focused activity, such as drawing, really does the trick (and trust me, the Toad is no artist).

If this de-stresser works well for a hoppy amphibian, it'll work wonders for friends and family. But first, the right tools are required. Many say pencils are the ticket, but I like the voluptuous quality of ink and color. Thus, these amazing Faber-Castell artist pens. They're designed with pliable brush tips that move quite a bit like paint brushes, but with the control and precision of, well, a pen. And they're available in handy "wallet packs" of shades of grey, landscape colors (pictured), and something called Terra (imagine Vermont in the fall). They're just a pleasure to draw with, easy to transport, and allow for inventive cross-hatching and shading. After a drawing or two, pulse rates plummet and breathing is easy. Whether the product is easy on the eyes is up to individual proficiency levels.

A caveat: these are NOT markers for kids! Children will not appreciate them and they will be ruined in short order. So give a set of these and a lovely portable pad to your favorite stress ball. Order from www.faber-castell.com. You might even end up with something nice to hang on your wall.

Name it Stanley

As in Stanley Steamer. With such a heavy emphasis these days on healthy food prep, a steamer is a must. But, with most steamers, comes hot metal, burns and awkward food removal. Until this thing's arrival, anyway.

Ok, its name isn't really Stanley. It's actually called a FoodPod, and it's made from food grade silicone. To use, the happy dieter stuffs it with the food of choice (the picture boasts broccoli) and hangs or lowers the thing into simmering water. While it looks vaguely like a rubber chicken or some misplaced internal organ, Stanley here is really the height of culinary practicality. And for a friend or lover bent on reduction, it's a kitchen must-have.

Stanley comes at a decent price, too: around fifteen bucks. It's available at one of the Toad's favorite sites, www.aplusrstore.com. Give this silicone steamer a home today; Stanley adds personality to any kitchen.

Crabby Bouquet

So Valentine's Day is over, leaving me with a half-eaten two pound box of See's Candy and one fat ass. I did not receive flowers (then again, I didn't ask for any, so no complaints there). But for the people who did, this vase is an excellent after Valentine's gift.

It's the crabby bouquet. Literally a vase with a "fiddler" crab on it, ready to hold those soon-to-be-wilted icons of love. Yes, what makes flowers so precious is that their beauty is fleeting. That also is what makes them annoying; just when you think you have the flowers looking perfect, they have to go south on you. Constant work. Thus the crab. It's there whether the flowers are in their glory or not, making an affirmative statement for crustaceans everywhere. Stick a thistle in it and you've really got something.

Check out Mr. Crab (and a host of other, less volatile vase choices) at www.jmendicino.com. He'll add a pinch of levity to all your arrangements.

Lemon Bar O' Soap

Los Angeles flora is always confused. It's the middle of February, and the citrus trees are mistakenly pumping out lemons and limes as if it were high June. My Meyers are multiplying with no end in sight.

But not everyone in the country is blessed with such wonky weather. Most of those poor souls are freezing to death and possibly dying of vitamin D deficiency plus scurvy. That's where these awesomely realistic lemon bar soap bars come into play. They look real and smell pretty convincing, but they're made of lovely glycerin and goat milk soap formulas, to soothe winter blasted skin. Imagine one in your arctic dwelling friend's kitchen, evoking lazy days of summer, cookies, and lemonade. The sunny yellow will lift anybody's cold weather blues. She'll thank you.

Find these little lemon bars of soap at www.etsy.com. And, as an added bonus, you could send some real lemon bars, too, just to keep more senses alive until spring arrives. Try them from www.matthews1812house.com.