All mySimon Home and Garden Shopping Picks

The holidays are about traditions, and all too often that includes the food. If you've had your fill of roast turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, and stuffing, use the Hamilton Beach Food Chopper to quickly and easily whip up more exotic fare like pico de gallo salsa or mango chutney with ease. With a capacity of 1.5 cups, this appliance is perfect for chopping enough ingredients for single guys and gals (and a friend).

We just accompanied a coworker to Express where she tried on their PVC leggings. The verdict: Too hot. PVC does not exactly breathe. So if you're freezing this winter, maybe check those out, along with some fleece sheets. Not flannel; fleece. They're a lot more affordable than flannel sheets, and probably a lot warmer too. And if our fleece hoodies are any indication, you probably don't need to put them in the... more

Top 4 reasons not to buy a real tree (and go with a fabulous artificial tree instead):
1. The cost. $100 for something that will end up on the street in a couple weeks? In this economy?
2. The hassle of getting the thing through the front door and into that tree stand. The Christmas spirit should not involve so much swearing.
3. The mess. Your vacuum cleaner hates you. So does your... more

George Foreman is back, this time with a lean, mean, deep frying machine. Just like your washing machine, the George Foreman deep fryer has a spin cycle. Once your wings are cooked, the basket spins, shaking off some of the extra greasy goodness, so you don't have to feel so guilty about eating deep fried food. Other features include a viewing window (so you don't have to open the machine to check on your... more

The New Yorker recently profiled Bob Kramer, a former chef and a Master Bladesmith (there are only 122 people with that title in the US). To say this guy knows how to make knives is a gross understatement. Famous chefs like Thomas Keller of French Laundry rave about Kramer's knives, which used to cost small fortunes and be very hard to get, because Kramer made each one by hand. But! Kramer has finally designed a... more

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