Just in Time for Fall

by Kayleen Larson

Here at LCJM we love good design and clever ideas (that’s probably obvious). I’m particularly fond of searching for cool stuff. Here are a few of my favorite finds for fall.

Golf-Ball-Finding Glasses

From the ever-hip retailer Hammacher Schlemmer, these glasses were designed by two nuclear engineers from Canada. Which makes sense. Like us, our neighbors to the north know how important it is not to waste what’s left of our short golf season looking for missing balls! At: www.hammacher.com/publish/71144.asp

Adjustable Rake

At my house the leaves always seem to gather in the hardest to remove places. A one-handed adjustment on the handle of this rake makes it a breeze for reaching into tight spaces around shrubs and flowerbeds. Plus the handle telescopes from 35" to 57". www.smithandhawken.com

Ergonomic Back Packs for Kids

One of my pet peeves is seeing kids loaded down with heavy, ill-fitting backpacks. That’s why I’m a fan of Lands End’s backpacks for kids, like this Ergo Pack, It’s designed to relieve back strain, has straps that fit small bodies and more great features. Go to www.landsend.com and put the words “Ergo Pack” in the search field.

Halloween Gingerbread House

I purchased this kit from HearthSong for the first time six years ago and have bought one every year since. It's a family favorite. The gingerbread is baked and cut so all you do is mix the frosting, assemble and decorate. It costs more than the kits you’ll find at the discount stores, but it’s worth every penny. Go to www.hearthsong.com and put the words Spooky Shack in the search field.

The Best Fresh Produce Keeper, Ever!

I’ve tried all kinds of lettuce keepers, including those terrycloth bags you see at gourmet kitchen stores. But this one is by far the best. I’ve been amazed at how long and perfectly crisp the lettuce stays. You just rinse and snap on the lid. The Chefmate® Lettuce Keeper is available at www.target.com