Beyond Words

I’m getting weary on writing serious stuff so here are just some fun facts to think about on this Thursday:

• Each king on playing cards represents a real king in history:  Spades-King David, Clubs-Alexander the Great, Hearts-Charlemagne, and Diamonds-Cesar.
• Elephants are the only animals that can’t jump and they have no natural predators.
• Butterflies taste with their feet.
• Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards.
• Multiplying 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321.
• Thomas Edison was afraid of the dark.
• In every episode of Seinfeld there is a Superman somewhere.
• Months that begin on a Sunday will always have a “Friday the 13th.”
• If a star fish’s arm breaks off it grows a new one.
• The word “cemetery” comes from the Greek word “koimetirion,” which means dormitory.
• It is impossible to lick your elbow.
• A duck’s quack doesn’t echo, and no one knows why.

• A person can live without food for about a month, but only about a week without water.
• Giraffes have four stomachs and an octopus has three hearts.
• Why is a W called a double u and not a double v?
• Why are grades always A, B, C, D and F but never E?
• Earth is the only planet not named after a god.
• The fastest insect is the dragonfly, which can reach a speed of about 58 km per hour.
• When troops returned from civil war battles without any casualties, they would post “O Killed,” which later evolved into “O.K.” meaning all is good.
• The Civil War (or “The Battle between the States” as many in the south still call it) has more books written on then only one other subject:  Jesus.
• A statue with a soldier on a horse with two feet in the air means the soldier died in combat.  If the horse only has one foot in the air, the soldier died of injuries from combat.  If the horse has all four feet in the air the soldier died of natural causes.
• Skunks can accurately spray their smelly fluid as far as ten feet.
• Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.
• Honey is the only food that does not spoil.
• There is a city called Rome on every continent.
• Hippos can easily outrun a human and are considered as one of the most dangerous animals around.
• All of Santa’s reindeer were female.  Males spend December without antlers.
• Pore patterns in human skin are as unique as fingerprints.
• Pill bugs/Roly-Polies are not insects and are cousins to lobsters.
• The roar of a lion can be heard from 5 miles away.
• Cheetahs can accelerate from 0 to 70 mph in just a few seconds and are the only big cats that don’t roar.
• Polar Bears skin and tongues are both black
• Birds are the only animals that have feathers but they have no teeth.
• Sharks and octopus don’t have bones.
• Of all the words in the English language, the word ’set’ has the most definitions.

And on that note, I’m now all set to set myself down with a set of snacks to see if all of these are dead set true or if they’re just a set of urban myths!   Ready, set, go!

Don’t Cut the Cord!

A friend recently discovered that her phone line died while she and her family were out-of-town.   Sad thing is, they didn’t realize it for several weeks because they rely solely on their cell phones for all communication.  But, before the phone company could determine what needed to be repaired, my friend was asked to plug a “regular” phone into the jack to see if it was working.  The repairman needed to know what the problem was before being dispatched to fix it…and we all know how long that can be when we know exactly what the problem is!  Unfortunately, she didn’t have a “regular” phone.  She, like many households, no longer has a landline.  She, like many others, also discovered this maybe isn’t the best idea.

Between 2008 and 2011, the number of wireless-only households nearly doubled according to “The New York Times” and “Readers Digest.”  They also reported, however, that experts agree  “cutting the cord” and opting for smart phones only may not be so smart after all.

Take Hurricane Sandy for example.  When the super storm blasted the east coast last fall, hundreds of New Yorkers lined up to use any of the almost extinct pay phones…if they could find one.  The storm knocked out 25 percent of cell phone towers from New Hampshire to North Carolina, leaving millions without cell phone service.  Landlines, however, were not affected.  Most landlines rely on underground copper wiring rather than electricity and radio waves to function and they are almost always more dependable during storms and other communication crisis situations.

Experts also like to remind us that when you call 9-1-1 from a cell phone, the operator will not be able to immediately identify your location, which they can easily do when you call from a landline.  In addition, most home security companies depend on landlines to trigger an alarm.  If you live in a rural area, landlines are considered even more vital, as wireless service is often spotty and expensive the further out you live.

Funny but true, right?  Think about it.  You probably remember your home phone number from years ago but I bet you don’t know your friends’ cell phone numbers that you call daily.  I’m as guilty as you are, but I will say we still have a landline in our home.  In fact, the phone on my night stand is not only a landline, it’s not even cordless!    I also have a pretty pink Princess phone in our guest room much like the photo at the top of this blog.  Yes I’m nostalgic but I am also cautious.  I worry because Kristen won’t have a landline in her apartment this fall and she’ll be in Oklahoma!  But, she will have cable, internet, a tanning room, a movie theatre, and a pool on-site!

Call me silly; call me old-fashion, but I think I will always have a landline.  What about you?  How many of you have joined the “cell-only” population?  Have I made you think twice about your decision?  I didn’t think so.  Call me and we can talk about it!

Today is my sister and brother-in-law’s 35^th wedding anniversary.  I just saw the photo of their wedding day that she posted on Facebook.  I remember that day.  I was a bridesmaid and loved every minute of it.  I love her and loved being a part of their wedding.   I also love my brother-in-law.  He, the father of two boys, has always been so sweet and patient with my daughter.  I will say their marriage has been unconventional in many ways, but it works.  He has travelled a lot for his job; sometimes living in other states and countries some of the time.  All the while my sister was home raising her two boys and doing a great job of it.  For so many years she was my maternal role model and I learned so much from her.  Although I don’t see her as much as I wish I did, I spent a lot of time with both of them in the past…whether it be a summer in Spain, a road trip to Utah, or weekends in College Station.  We shared a lot.  What I’ve also always admired about them is that they seem to truly enjoy spending time together, even though at times it is few and far between.  They accept their situation and make the best of it.  They prove that although being married isn’t always easy or perfect,  it is worth making it through the hard times.

I have been married only once and to the same man for 27 years and still have faith our box will remain full.  Some years are memorable, others have been tough.  Still, marriage is important to me and I take it, and the commitment I’ve made, seriously.  In between mine and Smitty’s immediate families, there are no divorces.  Our parents were each other’s “one and onlies” and all of our siblings remain married to their first spouse.

Like my sister, I was somewhat of a “single” mom for much of Kristen’s growing up years.  Smitty travelled often and since we only have our one girl, the majority of raising her fell on my shoulders.  But, like my sister, I loved doing it and know I could have never have been as involved in Kristen’s life and devoted so much time to her if it weren’t for Smitty’s job and hard work.  He always says I’ve had way more influence on her, but I always remind him we both did, as without him, I couldn’t have.

What makes a strong marriage?  Everyone always says “communication,” but that answers always felt a little vague to me.  I prefer to think it’s a solid combination of shared interests, mutual respect, and similar values.  Yes, talking things out and honesty are important, but if you have those two things but nothing in common, what do you have?

That’s a photo of John and Ann Betar of Connecticut who are officially the longest married couple in the U.S.  John is 101 and Ann is 97.  They have been married 80 years!  Wow!   How awesome is that?!  What I love the most about the photo is that they are smiling and holding hands.  Very sweet.

So just how can that king and queen live happily ever after in their castle?  I’ve always liked the quote that says a “perfect “ marriage is simply a relationship between two people who refuse to give up on each other.  I guess that pretty much sums it up, but what about keeping the romance alive?  I have no answers for that but I do know that I have an entire Pinterest board on weddings and yet I have no intention of being in one ever again and I’m not planning on Kristen walking down the aisle any time soon.  I can’t explain it!

Those were our wedding vows.  I still love it and it still hangs in our master bedroom.  I also love Gretchen Rubin from “The Happiness Project’s” five mistakes to avoid in a marriage.  They aren’t your standard “don’t cheat,” “date your spouse,” and “love each other,” but they are just as important:

1.  Avoid constantly craving appreciation and recognition.  Don’t always rely on your spouse to feed your ego.  Make yourself feel good and be proud of yourself!
2. I have a very short fuse and become irritable very easily, but snapping at each other is a big no-no.  You say things you’ll regret later and maybe even things you don’t mean.  Breathe and think before speaking.
3. Studies show married people treat each other with less civility than they show others.  Basic consideration and warmth go a long way.  Start at home.
4. Are you a “score-keeper?”  Do you keep track of what you’ve done and what your spouse has or hasn’t done?  If so, stop!  Even St. Therese of Lisieux said “when one loves, one does not calculate.”
5. I think probably the mistake so many of us make so often is simply taking our spouse for granted.  What if that spouse was not here tomorrow?  Would you be proud of how you treated him or her today?

I also like these snippets of wisdom:

Marriage is tough.  No one said it would be easy.  But, unless there is abuse or infidelity, it should be considered a sacred vow.    Maybe it all comes down to not focusing so much on each other’s weaknesses, but rather on each other’s strengths.   Happy Anniversary Coral and Gabby.  May you enjoy 35 more!

Father daughter pic in Thu

Man son pic in Thu

I recently saw the movie “The Bling Ring” with my daughter.  For those of you unfamiliar with the film, it’s a true story based on high-profile robberies that a group of L.A. high schoolers conducted in the span of one year.  Victims included Hollywood and tabloid heavyweights like Orlando Bloom, Paris Hilton, and Megan Fox.  In all, the teenage tyrants stole more than $3 million from many a movie star’s home and got caught only because they were dumb enough to post it all on Facebook.

It got me thinking about celebrity worship.  The “Bling Ring” members were so obsessed with the famous and infamous, as well as entitlement and labels, that they stopped at nothing to be achieve their desired and demented status.   Who are these people so many worship?  As I wrote about in my blog regarding trust, movie stars rank right up there with pastors and surgeons many an American’s mind.  But, who are these people?  I researched a bit and found that, while some are lucky to be earning a living based on their aptitudes, others boast close-to-genius level IQ’s!  They all “pretend”  for a living but they have real stories behind them.

As a reference point:  a whopping 95 percent of IQ scores fall between 70 and 130 while 50 percent range between 90 and 110, which is considered average/normal.  A score of 110-119 is considered “superior intelligence,” 120-129 constitutes “very superior intelligence,” 130-139 is considered “gifted,” and 140 or higher is considered “genius.”  Kinda makes you wonder about all those “gifted” kids in school today, right?!

Bearing in mind these numbers,   I found it fascinating to learn the following about some of pop culture’s biggest, or should I say, truly “brightest” stars:

Sharon Stone has a reported IQ of 154 and started college when she was just 16.

The late Jayne Mansfield was best known as a 1960’s sex symbol, but she had a reported IQ of 149.

Pop star Kesha reportedly scored a 1500 on her SATs (which is near perfect) and has an IQ of over 140.

Oscar winner Natalie Portman finished high school with a 4.0, has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Harvard, and is fluent in five languages.

Supermodel Cindy Crawford was high school valedictorian and earned a full scholarship to study engineering at Northwestern University.  She ultimately left college to pursue modeling.

Actress Jodie Foster has an IQ of 132 and a bachelor’s degree from Yale.

“Thelma and Louise” actress Geena Davis has an IQ of 140, is fluent in Swedish, and is accomplished on four instruments.

Colombian singer Shakira has an IQ of 140, is fluent in four languages, has perfect pitch, and was invited to speak at Oxford University, joining the previous ranks of of U.S. presidents, Mother Theresa, the Dalai Lama and Albert Einstein.

“Wild and crazy” Steve Martin isn’t so crazy after all.  The actor/comedian has a 142 IQ and majored in Philosophy at Cal State.  He is also an accomplished musician.

Despite not finishing high school, Director Quentin Tarantino boasts a 160 IQ.

Actor James Woods earned a perfect ACT score and a full scholarship to MIT.  His IQ is reportedly 180.

Others with notable IQ scores:

Actress Nicole Kidman – 132

Actor and Politician Arnold Schwarzenegger – 135

Singer Madonna – 140

Baseball legend Reggie Jackson – 160

I found it equally fascinating to discover the following on some of today’s most politically-active stars who many listen to and accept the views of based solely on the fact that they are rich and famous:

High graduates with no higher level studies:  Barbra Streisand, Martin Sheen, Sean Penn, Ed Asner, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Mike Farrell.

College drop-outs:  Jessica Lange (mid-freshman year), Alec Baldwin (due to scandal), George Clooney, Michael Moore (first year), Bruce Springsteen (community college), and Janeane Garofelo.

High school drop-outs:  Whoopi Goldberg, Cher

Giving credit where credit is due:  Susan Sarandon earned a drama degree from Catholic University (ironic?) of America

What does all this mean?  Other than the fact that Sharon Stone has beauty and brains and that Quentin Tarantino may be weird but is weirdly talented, I’m not sure.   All I know is that many a famous idol is of average intelligence, much like you and me. The fact that they have above average riches shouldn’t make them any more desirable or credible.  Maybe it all comes down to those famous words by Sandra Carey:  “Never mistake knowledge for wisdom.  One helps you make a living, the other helps you make a life.”

Interesting Sidebar

While doing research for this blog, I learned that 90 years ago one of the world’s most celebrated signs was born:  the legendary “Hollywood” sign.  Originally an ad for the Hollywoodland housing development, it became forever famous in 1949 when it lost its last four letters.  The rest, as they say, is history…Hollywood history.

“The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.”  Ernest Hemingway

Sounds easy enough, right?  Everyone values trust, whether it’s in the people we know or the faith we believe in.  It’s even written on our money and on many an official seal, but what exactly is trust and what brings about trust?

Recent cases of government spying, athletes cheating and lying, and even the George Zimmerman trial prove that finding anything to believe in…to trust…is often difficult.  Still, we all yearn to trust and strive to be trusted.

As defined, “trust” can be either a noun or a verb but basically it means the belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.  It’s a sense of confidence in an individual or institution and a feeling of reliability and faith.   Trust usually involves high integrity, good character, hard work and talent, high morals, honesty, and even leadership.  That’s why the findings of a recent survey conducted by the research firm The Wagner Group and “Reader’s Digest” are both revealing and shocking.

In the survey, Americans were asked who they put their trust in.   The most trusted man in America?  Actor Tom Hanks.  The most trusted woman in America?  Actress Sandra Bullock.  What????  Although I like both Mr. Hanks and Ms. Bullock, it’s a little bit disturbing that they are considered our nation’s most trusted citizens.

Thankfully, the three highest scorers in general were “your own doctor,” “your own spiritual advisor,” and “your own child’s current teacher,” but the fact that the four highest ranked actually named people are actors and that more than half of those named are either involved in the movies, TV personalities, or athletes does not bode well, in my opinion, for our country.  Not one member of Congress made the list, nor did any governor.  Only two presidents, Carter and Obama (and that fact is a whole other blog!), were included, as were four football players but not one basketball or baseball player.  Go figure.

“Trust is the easiest thing in the world to lose and the hardest thing in the world to get back.

To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.”

As I read that, I think of Lance Armstrong, Bill Clinton, Tiger Woods.  People trusted them and loved them but their dishonesty pretty much destroyed their integrity ranking.  Yes, you can earn it back once it’s lost, but fool me once…

Trust, like love and exercise, is a truly powerful thing.  When one trusts someone or something, their brain actually releases a hormone called oxytocin, which produces happy feelings in humans and triggers the herding instinct that leads sheep to flock together.  In addition, a study by Concordia University in Montreal found that babies as young as 14months can differentiate between a credible person and a disingenuous one.  If you are a dog owner, you know this to be true of them as well.  Man’s best friend can certainly tell who his or her true “friends” are.

Which professions do Americans most trust, according to the Wagner Group and “Reader’s Digest” survey?  Here are the top 10:

1.  Doctors
2. Teachers/Educators
3. Movie stars
4. Philanthropists
5. Spiritual leaders
6. Journalists
7. Filmmakers
8. Talk show hosts
9. Judges
10. Professional Athletes

Some good, some bad right?  Well, before you pat these survey takers on their backs, consider that TV doctors like Dr. Oz scored higher than bestselling doctors who don’t host their own TV show, and Judge Judy ranked way higher than any of her judicial peers, including all nine Supreme Court justices.  If you’re funny and political you are also more likable than if you are a more serious commentator, although Jon Stewart and Bill O’Reilly scored fairly even.  Thankfully, even though you are the highest paid movie stars, you are not necessarily the most popular.  Kristen Stewart and Tom Cruise, both box office and salary winners, ranked considerably lower than Bullock or Hanks.  And, although Business Leaders barely missed the top 10, coming in at 11, it’s believed Bill Gates ranked high as an individual because of #4, he’s an extremely generous philanthropist.

In a way though, it all makes sense.  Remember, the survey did not ask who you admire, but who you trust.   Isn’t it hard to trust someone you don’t admire though, and vice versa?  However, I certainly admire #6 ranked Steven Spielberg for his filmmaking genius, but I don’t necessarily trust him.  I also have a hard time accepting the fact that more people trust Whoopi Goldberg than our own president or Billy Graham.  If you look at the entire list, it appears that all you have to do to earn America’s trust is be on television or in film.  This growing trend of idolizing entertainers should concern us all (and the subject of an upcoming blog!).  I enjoy a Julia Roberts movie as much as the next person and I enjoy watching the Ellen show, but neither of them makes me want to go out and herd up some good feelings.

So who do I trust?  I don’t trust easily but I do trust my family and my really, really good friends.  I trust God and my faith in Him.  Nationally, I suppose I trust Robin Roberts, Bono, Kelly Clarkson, Tim Tebow, Tracy Anderson, Bill O’Reilly, and Pope Francis.  How about you?  Who do you trust?

Sometimes God’s plans are better than our dreams…

It’s been a long week and I need something to make me smile today and that’s exactly what this shirt did.

We all know or remember those people!  Enjoy and Happy Friday to everyone!

“A person’s a person, no matter how small”   Dr. Seuss

This might be one of my most controversial blogs ever.  I hope I don’t offend anyone but I’m just a bit perplexed.  All the talk in Texas politics of late centers on State Senator Wendy Davis’ recent 11^th hour filibuster that resulted in a new bill not being passed…well, kind of.  The bill was actually passed but due to a large and vocal crowd in attendance and in support of Davis’ efforts, it happened just minutes past the midnight deadline.  A special session was called and the proposal won swift approval today in the House, which now sends it to the Senate.  It was the third time the Texas state house passed the bill and all but one Republican voted for the bill, along with four Catholic Democrats.  The Senate could vote on the bill as early as Friday,  making Texas far from the first state to legislate strict abortion measures.   The bill?   Legislation that would make it illegal to abort babies past 20 weeks of pregnancy, except in the case of severe fetal abnormalities or to protect the life or health of the mother.   Twenty weeks.  That’s five months out of a standard nine month pregnancy people.  More than half of that little fetus’ “life.”

Let me make this clear, this is not a pro-life or pro-choice editorial.  Those of you who know me know where I stand on the matter.  What this is about is it being okay to terminate a human life five months into gestation.  Experts agree that at this point in a pregnancy, the baby can hear and recognize its mother’s voice, has taste buds and is swallowing, has toe and fingernails, its hair is growing, its heartbeat can be heard, and the mom can feel it moving.  Babies have survived outside the womb at 21 weeks.  Does it make sense that killing a child outside the womb at 24 weeks is murder, but having an abortion at 24 weeks is okay?   Perhaps what baffles me the most is why on earth would someone need to wait five months to decide if they want to keep the baby growing inside of them?

The argument of course is that it should be a woman’s right to choose to have that baby, not the government’s.  Those for the bill’s passage contend that that very baby is a living, breathing being and terminating its life amounts to nothing short of murder.  Yes, I’m against big government being in my business but I also believe that a fetus at 20 weeks is clearly a human, as opposed to non-human, being that deserves basic human rights.  If you don’t agree with this, then you must not consider the fetus a human or a person for that matter.  I’m not here to argue the entire choice/life agenda; I’m just here to ask for clarification from the “I Stand with Wendy Davis” supporters.  Large, vocal crowds have a way of convincing fence-setters to join their side.  All I ask is for you folks to look deep in your hearts and decide just what a 20 week old baby is.  What did you look like at five months pregnant?  Did you feel that little bundle of joy inside of you was a mere blob of cells or a baby boy or girl who you may have already named?

“I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion is already born.”
-Ronald Reagan

Another argument is that of what to do in cases of rape, incest, or birth defects.   My question is, as catastrophic as those cases are and as horrified I would be if facing either of those realities, are those babies less human than others?  Who’s to say that fetus won’t grow up to find the cure to cancer?  I immediately think of Steve Jobs who was adopted and is quoted as saying about his birth mother, “I wanted to meet [her] mostly to see if she was OK and to thank her, because I’m glad I didn’t end up as an abortion.”

So, it’s a woman’s right to choose, right?  What about the dad?  Should he have a say?  What’s the answer when momma doesn’t want to have the baby but daddy does?  Isn’t society in desperate need of more fatherly involvement and guidance? Consider the following data compiled by “Children:  Our Ultimate Investment”:

• 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes
• 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes
• 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes
• 80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes
• 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes
• 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes
• 70% of youths in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes.
• 85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes.

While a clear majority of Americans want abortion to be legal in some fashion, a solid majority supports more restrictions.  A 2013 Gallup poll   found that 64 percent of Americans believe abortion should be illegal during weeks 13-24 but 80 percent believe it should be illegal after 24.  Somewhat amazing is that women are more likely than men to think abortion is generally wrong, and more women (50 percent) support the Texas 20-week ban than men (46 percent) nationwide. Still, the pro-choice movement wants virtually no limits on abortion, including the quest to mainstream a medical procedure—elective late-term abortion—that most of the civilized world finds barbaric and abhorrent. In many European countries, you can’t get an abortion past 12 weeks, except in narrow circumstances.  In January, Gallup reported that 80 percent of Americans think abortion should be illegal in the third trimester, and 64 percent think it should be illegal in the second trimester.  Surprisingly, only 37 percent of today’s “Millennials” generation thinks abortion is morally acceptable. This makes them far more anti-abortion than were Baby Boomers or Gen Xers at their age.

Another point of contention for me is that for many pro-choicers, pro-lifers are not and cannot be considered feminists.  Aside from the choice/life argument I like to bring up two women who people either love or hate:  Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin.  Feminists generally admire Hillary Clinton but abhor Sarah Palin.  This baffles me.  A feminist is defined as someone who advocates equal rights for women.   When one hears the word “feminist,” one thinks of a strong, smart, successful, ambitious, compassionate and accomplished woman.  Call me silly but I believe a woman who has gotten where she is on her own merits rather than her spouse’s, has raised a large family that includes a special needs son, has a loving and devoted husband, single-handedly toppled a long-standing political machine, can shoot a deer and then cook it for dinner, and successfully run a ginormous and physically rugged state that borders Russia is much more of a “feminist” than one who got to where she is on her husband’s coat-tails; a husband who cheated on her, publically humiliated her, and with whom she basically lives a separate life.  Okay, I digress.

For pro-lifers, much goes back to their faith that murder is just murder and that scripture uses the same language for the unborn as it does other children. Luke’s gospel uses the word “baby” and “child” interchangeably and the bible does not speak of the unborn child as an unthinking, unfeeling tissue mass, but as a person with whom God interacts.  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you.” (Jeremiah 1:5)   In addition, children were never seen as “unwanted” or as a nuisance, but as a gift from God — the highest possible blessing (Psalm 127:3-5, 113:9, Gen. 17:6, 33:5, etc.)

I know many of you wonderful readers of my blog disagree with much of this, but I am hoping this opens up a civilized dialog on the subject.  Yes, I know it’s the woman’s child she is carrying, not the government’s, but does society in the form of government have a responsibility to protect an unborn human life from being killed?

Okay, now back to fashion, décor, and witty musings!

Today’s “Tuesday’s Tip” consists of nothing more than some products I’ve recently discovered and love!  I hope you do too!

The geniuses at Umbra have created a wooden spoon with a stylus on the end, meaning you can cook and browse through recipes on your tablet without making a mess.  Wow!

This “Willow” bag by Mulberry is fabulous, as it’s both a clutch and a carry-all.  The front pocket zips off and becomes a classic evening bag.  Also available in pink, green and black at Mulberry.

Barefoot Dreams’ “Cozy Chic” robe is both stylish and comfy, and available in several color combinations.

This mini broom is actually an Amish cake tester.  Simply hang it near your oven and break off a straw to test baked goods doneness.  Available through Linda Anderson and other sites.

Sick of sitting in the bathtub only to have your perfectly warm water drain out the overflow drain?  Me too!  That’s why I love this suction cup that slips right over the overflow drain.  Available through Solutions.com and other sites.

What to do with all those wine corks you’ve been saving?  Make a keepsake trivet out of this heat-safe and one-of-a-kind trivet.  Great for wine-tasting tours!

I simply love the uniqueness and functionality of this laurel-shaped and flexible silicone roasting rack.  It fits almost any size casserole dish through its twisting ability and it stores flat.  What’s not to love?!  Available at Sur la Table and other retailers.

Although hard to find, I just love this Flexita grater by Yanko Design.  Its folding ability means your hand is protected and it stores flat.  Designed by Ely Rosenberg, if anyone finds where to buy one, please let me know!

I love the look of decorative and heirloom plates hanging on a wall, but I’m not a big fan of those brass plate hangars.  The answer?  These wonderful adhesive back disks with built in loops.  They come in a variety of sizes and are easily removed without damaging the plate.  Available through Amazon and other sites.

Okay, so I saved the most “icky” item for last but I think you’re going to love it.  It’s Rubbermaid’s new “Clean and Dry” plunger that boasts a special water repellant coating so drips and messes don’t ensue after plunging a clogged commode.  Love it!