All mySimon Home and Garden Shopping Picks

How do you get a Star Wars nerd to eat breakfast? Give him a loaf of bread and this Darth Vader toaster. It won't be available until January, but you can preorder it now. There's not much to say about it except that it burns an image of Darth Vader onto every slice, doesn't require "Force" power to operate, and costs twice as much as a toaster should cost. But Mr. Lucas has bills... more

As much as we love Lech Walesa and Magnum, P.I., we're not fans of mustaches on actual people. But the mustache as design element - we love it. From pendants to pint glasses to stuffed animals, the mustache is popping up everywhere, including Target. This mustache key holder is a great place to, um, stash your keys, dog leashes, jewelry, or anything else you want to hang on... more

Remember that time you were trying to get the turkey out of the roasting pan and it slipped and fell and went skidding across the kitchen floor, and by the time you caught up to it, the dog already had his mouth around a turkey leg? We don't care how clean your kitchen floor (or your dog's mouth) was; you should roast the turkey on a Sili-Sling this year. The Sili-Sling helps you get... more

How many tennis balls has your dog lost in the park, now that it's dark outside by the time you get home to walk him/her? Avoid having to look around for a loose stick; get one of these balls with LED lights. They're battery-powered and rugged enough to withstand a dog's jaws, and bright enough so your dog won't have trouble finding them. Added bonus: You won't have to risk stepping in something as... more

No fireplace at home? You've got several options: 1) make a bonfire in a bucket, 2) watch a DVD of a burning log, or 3) get an electric fireplace. Since the first option is dangerous and the second is just embarrassing, take a look at some of these electric fireplaces. They're not as expensive as we thought they would be (the one shown here is under $300). Their fires look convincing; they emit heat... more

We're not sure what to make of the EasyBloom plant sensor. It's a gadget that somehow reads and records all the environmental data - sunlight, shade, soil moisture levels - in a place where you either already have a plant or want to put one in the future. When you plug the gadget into your computer, it tells you what kind of plant would work best in that spot and how to help any... more

What's even better than a clean, durable dog bed that resists stains, moisture, and odors? A dog bed with all those features plus a removable, machine-washable cover designed by William Wegman (the Weimaraner photographer guy). Introducing Crypton's Doodle Dog pet beds, available in 2 sizes and many colors. Finally, a dog bed you won't want to hide when you have company. More dog beds.

Ants usually aren't welcome at the dinner table, unless they're part of the decor. Use these ant napkin rings by notNeutral for Halloween parties, picnics, and any other occasion where you want to add a few "pieces of flair" to your table. Each set includes 4 painted metal napkin rings. Choose white or black. (Pity they didn't also make red ones.) More napkin rings. More fun housewares by notNeutral.

PC Magazine mentions the Webble Active Footrest in its "10 Futuristic Technologies for Your Office" feature. The Webble is essentially an ergonomic footrest - on wheels - that wobbles, so your legs move around under your desk, thus giving you the physiological benefits of increased leg activity while seated. Because when you sit at a computer for 8+ hours a day like we do, there's not a whole lot you can... more

Need some help cooking the perfect turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas? Electrolux has a whole line of ovens with a "Perfect Turkey" button. According to Electrolux, the button "uses a temperature probe to precisely control cooking, along with a convection system that gently browns the turkey while sealing in the juices," ensuring that "every turkey you roast in an Electrolux wall oven or range comes out perfect, every time." Kelly Ripa, the current Electrolux... more

Got yard work to do this weekend? Black & Decker's cordless mulching mower might help. It's got a 19" mower deck, starts with the flip of a switch, and (thankfully) requires no gas, oil, tuneups, or trips to the service station. (And it recharges to 100% in 10 hours.) The company says the mower is ideal for lawns up to 1/3 of an acre. Best of all there is no assembly required. Suddenly mowing... more

If you liked that "Oh No! Not You Again" doormat, you'll probably get a kick out of this one, which reads "Come back with a warrant." It'll crack up your guests and make the cops wonder what you're hiding inside. The mat measures 18" x 27" and can be used inside or outdoors. $17.99 from Target online (not in stores).

We only buy small amounts of fresh produce at a time, because we hate spending all that money at Whole Foods and then having our fruits and veggies go bad before we can eat them. Enter the Frisper Freshkeeper, which just made Oprah's "O List" ("a few things she thinks are just just great"). Unlike other big, bulky vacuum sealers, the Frisper is fairly small and does all the work for you. Put your... more

Shopping for rugs? Check out Pottery Barn sooner rather than later. Their "Concentric Squares" rugs are all on sale. Available in red, orange, chocolate, and ivory, the hand-tufted wool rugs are simple without being boring; the concentric square pattern gives them some visual texture. The 9' x 12' one is marked down from $749 to $599, which is more affordable than some West Elm rugs of the same size. (West Elm is Pottery Barn's... more

Instead of tossing your guests a 6-pack of Budweiser, why not serve them a decent pilsner in a proper glass? Designed for beer aficionados, Mikasa's "Brewmaster's Collection" consists of 4 different 4-piece sets: Wheat glasses, pilsner glasses, varietal glasses, and a flight set (6-ounce glasses), shown here with the accompanying dark wood caddy. All glasses are dishwasher-safe and make great wedding/housewarming/holiday gifts. Especially if you wrap them up with some good beer.