“I Love You” Message Beans">“I Love You” Message Beans

Well, Happy New Year to all of you! The wreaths are coming down and the menorahs are being put away, which only means that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. So start getting those hearts out or wearing your “I hate V-Day” t-shirts. Oh, and get ready to say “Happy Anniversary” to us at g3!! We’re about to turn one year old! But, back to the gifts. If you are not a romantic, but still want to give your special someone a gift that he or she will remember, try to “I Love You” Message Beans from Signals.

Posted on 1 Jan 2007 by Anne B.

Beat the Leaves, Part 3: Leaves In Bags

I swear to you that Leaves In Bags is the actual name of this product. But you’re probably also asking, why is she writing a third installment to a leaf removal issue? Well, I bought the first 2 items in my “series” and then found a better solution in one product: the Leaves In Bags system. This fabulous contraption not only holds the leaves and the bags, but has this nifty shovel that is so much easier to use than the big plastic hands. (However, the big hands did make leaf removal a bit like being in the circus. LOL!) This may be the perfect gift for the back-broken leaf wrangler in your family.

Posted on 27 Nov 2006 by Anne B.

Beat the Leaves, Part 2: Poly Leaf Scoops

Okay, for the second installment of my series on lawn refuse removal techniques and gifts, I’ve chosen the Poly Leaf Scoops to go along with my Port-A-Sac Lawn Bag Holder. In my quest to make my job of leaf disposer a little easier, I found these huge green alien suckers that are like 10 times the size of my own hands. The rake is never easy to use when putting the leaves into the refuse container (bag, can, whatever), and I’m tired of scraping our snow shovel against the driveway to pick up the leaves. My personal philosophy is that the grab is more efficient than the scoop. Hence, the Poly Leaf Scoops.

Posted on 20 Nov 2006 by Anne B.

Beat the Leaves, Part 1: Port-A-Sac Lawn Bag Holder

My husband’s favorite time of year is Autumn. I don’t know why—we spend every weekend on the lawn raking up the leaves. Well, I for one have had it!! He’s out of town for the second Fall in 3 years, and it’s up to me to get the leaves picked up and tossed. I’m only 5’3 so the big garbage cans aren’t exactly easy for me to fill and then dump into a huge lawn bag! I’m fracked, as they say on Battlestar Galactica!! (Sorry, I hope that wasn’t too cultish or crass.) Anyway, my goal is to beat the leaves without them beating me. I’m going to have to haul these suckers away from my grass during nap times, so time is of the essence. My first solution is to get something in which to put the leaves, hence the Port-A-Sac Lawn Bag Holder from The Container Store via Amazon.com. Stay tuned next week for part 2 of how I beat the leaves!!

Posted on 13 Nov 2006 by Anne B.

Sierra Outdoor Ventless Fireplace

Fall is coming here in Southern California which means cooler evenings. We love to grill dinner and sit outside to enjoy the cool evening air. But as Fall approaches the evenings end early as the cool air drives us inside too soon.

Posted on 20 Sep 2006 by Anne W.

Spa Shower Mat

As I said yesterday, with 2 small kids, a husband I adore and 2 businesses finding the time to enjoy a bubble bath is virtually impossible. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to find ways to relax.

Posted on 14 Sep 2006 by Anne W.

Spa Massage Bath Pillow

I have this huge garden tub that I admire while I step into the shower every morning. With two small kids, the idea of finding the time to enjoy a long hot bubble bath seems daunting. But I have my hopes.

Posted on 13 Sep 2006 by Anne W.

“First Day of School” Frame">“First Day of School” Frame

I have pictures from the first day of school for each of my kids. It is a momentous day. It’s a rite of passage, every year, and especially the first year. The first year of preschool, kindergarten, elementary, jr. high and even college, each year measures the passage of time as your child grows up. And such special occasions should be captured and framed appropriately.

Posted on 31 Aug 2006 by Anne W.

Moving Day Housewarming Gift Basket

As a military family, we move a bunch. But we also see many other families always on the move, as well. Our good friends just moved to Texas and decided to build their house rather than purchase a “used” one. Now, when you buy a house from someone, you hope that the previous owners kept a good log of all improvements or problems with the home in case you, yourself, have issues with the house. With this in mind, I wanted to get our friends a Housewarming gift basket that would not only show that we cared, but one that was functional, too. And Gifts By Delivery had just the item I wanted to send: the Moving Day Housewarming Gift Basket.

Posted on 21 Aug 2006 by Anne B.

Plate Caddy

We had a BBQ last night at my house and took out the Plate Caddies for everyone to use. They were such a hit that I wanted you all to know what a wonderful and useful product this is. I can’t tell you how many parties I’ve been to where I have to try and juggle (and this is truly what you do when that drink starts to fall) my plate, silverware, a napkin and eat all at the same time. Well, at my house, you will never have to do this again, because we have the Plate Caddy at your service!! The caddies come with a hole to put your silverware, napkin, and even a little colored tee that identifies that plate as yours! Very clever!

Posted on 1 Aug 2006 by Anne B.

Fourth of July Wreath

If you want to show your patriotism, I suggest that you go to to Collections Etc. and take a look at the Berry Fiber Optic Wreath! Due to copyright laws, I was unable to download a picture to show on our website. But this wreath is ultra cool with it’s lights and resemblance to a flag. We can’t put flags out on our houses due to HOA Rules, but this wreath will help me to show my patriotic colors! And being a military family, we may just keep this baby on our door year-round!

Posted on 26 Jun 2006 by Anne B.

FresherLonger Miracle Food Storage

Well Summer is here and it always reminds me of the huge garden that we planted every year when I was a teenager living on the farm. I crave fresh vegetables, the kind of freshness that you just can’t get in the grocery stores. Oh they try, but the vegetables and fruit are all picked unripe and shipped so they will “ripenâ€? in-transit. But usually they arrive less than their full beauty. So I eagerly await the new growing season and I make jaunts to the Farmer’s Market for the freshest fruits and vegetables available. But once you have them at home, how do you keep them fresh? And this question really extends to all food at home.

Posted on 21 Jun 2006 by Anne W.

Digital Photo Frame

I love my digital camera. And I love taking pictures of my children. So needless to say, I have a lot of pictures. And I would love to be able to display them without having to print them out (or send them out for printing) and then framing. Well you get the picture.

Posted on 6 Jun 2006 by Anne W.

Hot Dog Roller for the Grill

Happy Memorial Day everyone! As a military spouse, I am proud to be writing a post on this day of remembrance for those men and women who have fought and are currently fighting for democracy and for our freedom. But I also thought that I would promote what most people do during Memorial Day: GRILLING! The newest, coolest gadget I’ve seen in awhile is the Hot Dog Roller from Red Envelope. It’s a great gadget for today or a great gift for Father’s Day—June 18th!

Posted on 29 May 2006 by Anne B.

Peaceful Progression Alarm Clock

Hmm, I love to sleep in. Just ask my husband. But life marches on and I have to get up early enough to get it all done. Breakfast, pack lunches, showered, kids dressed, oh yes, me dressed too, beds made, dishes done. And then we are off to start the day.

Posted on 17 May 2006 by Anne W.

Dinner My Way

Happy Mother’s Day to all those moms out there reading this. I wish I’d gotten this entry in before today, but being a mom myself of two small children, life and its exercises often get away from me. But Dinner My Way is a company and concept that saved my life after my son was born in February, and if your husband forgot to honor you, as a mother, today, then let him read this entry SOON!

Posted on 14 May 2006 by Anne B.

The Foot Thing

Ok, ladies, this post is really just for us. I hate shaving my legs. But it’s a necessary evil, so it has to be done. We have this large very nice shower, but no step, nothing to put my leg up on.

Posted on 3 May 2006 by Anne W.

Cup-A-Cake cupcake holder

I like to bake, though I’m not, by any means, a baker extraordinaire. I can do a few things well, like muffins, cookies and cupcakes. The one problem I usually have is transporting baked goods to friends. Cookies and muffins are fine—they can be schlepped into a basket or artfully arranged on a plate and then covered with foil or plastic-wrap. Cupcakes, however, are a problem.

Posted on 29 Apr 2006 by Tina V.

Vincci Wine Opener

As a part-time wine connoisseur, albeit still a novice one at that, I look around at all the various wine paraphernalia in great wonder. My kitchen drawer contents consist of three different wine openers. And its become apparent that without any awareness of it, I have been on the great search for a new and unique wine opener.

Posted on 25 Apr 2006 by Anne W.

Forest Faces

Spring is definitely here in Southern California and everything is in bloom. The gardener in me is alive and singing. So when perusing my usual gardening spots, I found these forest faces and fell in love. I have half a dozen people to whom I will send these as a “Spring is here gift!â€?

Posted on 19 Apr 2006 by Anne W.

Garage Vacuum

Its Spring and cleaning is in the air too. Our garage is filled with the needle like leaves from a tree in our front yard. And the car and the truck are in need of a good cleaning. All things my husband prefers to do by hand. He and kids run around scrubbing and wiping and generally making a good mess and having a good time. The cars get clean, but the people need a bath afterward.

Posted on 18 Apr 2006 by Anne W.

All in One Kitchen Garden

The other day my kids and I planted a window garden. We purchased some seeds with the idea of learning about plants and how they grow. As many of you know I am an avid gardener, but I live in a rental home in Southern California. My current home has only a few beds in the back yard and the rest of the yard is beautiful concrete. The backyard is very nice, but not at all conducive to the kind of gardening I would like to do. I love both flowers and vegetable gardens, but I miss my herbs the most.

Posted on 12 Apr 2006 by Anne W.

Grill Fork/Thermometer with Rapid Read Tip

Its spring here in Southern California. Woohoo! And we can’t wait to start grilling again. My hubby is master of the grill. He loves grilling up something yummy for dinner. But like most grill masters he asks the age old question, “Is this done?â€?

Posted on 11 Apr 2006 by Anne W.

2006 Birth Year Keepsake Box

Do you have a friend who’s about to give birth? Do you want to get them something more unique than a pack of onesies or diapers? Uncommon Goods has the perfect gift for your new parents: the 2006 Birth Year Box. But this isn’t just a regular keepsake box—it follows the Chinese calendar and includes the various traits that the newborn may possess as a member of the year of the dog.

Posted on 27 Mar 2006 by Anne B.

Funky Flatware

I have always loved garage sales, rummage sales and estate sales, particularly estate sales. My reason really is that I love to look for old flatware and funky china patterns. I know its silly, but I really love the older patterns and sets. Mostly I look for the unusual and different. Well then I found these [funky flatware](http://www.wow-imports.com/products.asp?cat=14) pieces. I am in heaven. And I no longer look for flatware at estate sales, now that I can get these wonder pieces.

Posted on 22 Mar 2006 by Anne W.

Ionic Breeze Quadra

Ahhh, Spring time – and all of my allergies are back with a vengeance. My saving grace is our Ionic Breeze Quadra air purifier. I absolutely adore it. I had seen all the infomercials on it and a friend had one and loved hers. So when we moved to a new location and my allergies were kicking in and now my children had them too. I knew I had to do something to keep the air as clean as I could in our house.

Posted on 21 Mar 2006 by Gadget Guru

Heart Stones

I am an avid gardener so anything to make my garden a special place to relax, and “smell the rosesâ€? is inviting to me. These heart stones are just what I mean. These are sweet heart shaped stones make a wonderful surprise for you or your guests to stumble upon. They will lighten your mood, warm your heart, a little reminder that there is love in the world.

Posted on 8 Mar 2006 by Anne W.

Sushi Magnets

My life hinges on the front of my refrigerator. Not the contents, mind you, but the little pieces of paper sticking to the front of the fridge, held on by magnets. As such, I can never have enough magnets. I fell in love with these little sushi magnets partially because of my dis-organization system, but also because I’m a fan of those little bite-sized pieces of heaven. If you know someone who loves everything Japanese (I know a few), or just likes a good California roll or maki, these sushi magnets would make a fabulous housewarming gift or just a little pick-me-up present.

Posted on 3 Mar 2006 by Tina V.

Key Cassette

Ok, due to a life situation (military family) we have moved a lot in the last several years, including 4 cross country moves in that last 4 years. And some of our stuff has not made each trip, so we have storage units, a home that we still own in one town, cars, 4 houses. Well you get the idea, we have had a lot of keys to keep track of. And I am a systems lover, I always want just the thing to help me keep things organized.

Posted on 1 Mar 2006 by Anne W.

KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Metallic Chrome

Hey, Its me, Anne W. I am filling for Gadget Guru today. So I get to offer up a Home Tech/Gadget for us women.

Posted on 28 Feb 2006 by Anne W.

National Geographic Animal Wall Clock

We live just miles from the World famous San Diego Zoo and even closer to the Wild Animal Park, the wilder zoo of northern San Diego County (and affiliated with San Diego Zoo). So my children have been going to the Zoo since they were born. Actually literally, my son had his first visit when he was 8 days old. So naturally they are animal lovers. We have animal prints, animal costumes, we watch animals on the zoo webcams from around the world. So when I found this incredible National Geographic Animal Wall Clock. I was thrilled. I knew this would be a hit!This colorful wall clock features the authentic sound of a different wild animal every hour including an elephant, a tiger and a polar bear. It makes a great educational tool for kids too as it comes with a set of 12 5â€?x8â€? informational cards describing each of the animals featured on the clock. It’s also suitable for a kid’s room due to the built in light sensor which automatically quiets the animals.

Posted on 22 Feb 2006 by Anne W.

SS925 Storm Station">Black & Decker SS925 Storm Station

This is an All-in-one Rechargeable Power Source/Radio/Light for when those times when the lights go out. I lived a lot of years in the tornado alley in the Midwest and then moved to hurricane central in Florida for a couple of years and now I live in earthquake prove Southern California. I remember many times when the lights would go and we would scramble for the candles and matches, which we always had set aside for just such occasions. I have discovered the value of being prepared. So if you are looking to give a gift to someone who loved to be prepared for those times when the lights go out, take a good look at this Storm Station. It is a great help to have some light and power to assist with those little appliances that require electricity (like a cell phone charger). This unit has a detachable and rechargeable flashlight, an integral room light that illuminates the immediate area, a 25 watt power sources to operate low wattage devices, an AM/FM/TV Audio/Weather-Band Radio. And best of all, when the lights go out, if the Storm Station is left plugged into an electrical socket, the built-in locator light will automatically turn on and assist you in finding the unit. This great gift of a Black & Decker Storm Station is $99 at Amazon.

Posted on 21 Feb 2006 by Gadget Guru

Back To Basics Egg N’ Muffin

I’m not really a breakfast person. My idea of breakfast is a cup of yoghurt or a muffin along with a strong cup of coffee. When I was in college, it was coffee and nacho chips, or whatever else was in our apartment’s pantry. My husband, on the other hand, is a sucker for the egg sandwich. He’ll stop at the closest fast-food chain to get his fix, but the Back to Basics TEM500 Egg & Muffin 2-Slice Toaster and Egg Poacher may actually make his artery-clogging routine change.

Posted on 21 Feb 2006 by Tina V.

Flower Aquarium

As you already might have guessed I love the garden. I am an avid gardener and am known to take on large floral growing projects occasionally. My last crazy floral project was to dig up the beds surrounding my pool and plant 40 climbing roses. They looked and smelled incredible, but the amount of work to maintain them was a little overwhelming. I sold the house after the first season, but I have driven by and know at least some of them are still thriving. So needless to say, I love fresh flowers. And I love unusual ways to display them. So when I found these flower aquariums I was in love immediately. They are very unique. You place your floral arrangement in the base, fill it up with water, attach the base which seals in the water and turn it over to display your flowers. The hand blown glass globe magnifies each flower so you can see each beautiful detail. And the flowers last longer too! The flower aquariums is available in 3 sizes – Single, Medium (7â€?) $14.95 and large (8.5â€?) - $19.95. I would definitely encourage buying one in each size or multiple of two sizes. From Gardener’s Supply Company.

Posted on 15 Feb 2006 by Anne W.

Because of You Custom Frame

Valentine’s Day is a great day to give a wonderful gift that will remind them of you all year round. Photographs make a great gift and what could be better than a wonderful custom frame that says how you feel about them too!

Continue Reading →

Posted on 29 Jan 2006 by Anne W.

Readylightâ„¢ Hand Crank Flashlight

With all of the technological gadgets around these days, you’d think that the last gift someone would want would be a hand crank flashlight. But this was far from the case when my husband received his Readylightâ„¢ Hand Crank Flashlight from Brookstone this Christmas. His response was pure joy and appreciation, as he was intending to buy one of these for himself (which I was unaware of until he mentioned it).

Posted on 21 Jan 2006 by Anne B.

Smart Spin Storage System

Okay, if you’re like me, when those infomercials invade your television, the channel is quickly changed. Luckily, however, one of my relatives didn’t change the channel when the Smart Spin Storage System commercial appeared.

Posted on 15 Jan 2006 by Anne B.

Long Range Cable Free Barometer with Weather Forecaster (Wireless Weather Station from Oregon Scientific)

When people are asked to name the items without which they couldn’t live, many will say their cell phones, cable television, or the Internet. One thing that’s on the top of my list is our Wireless Weather Station. I’m not an amateur weatherman or anything (those gadgets cost around $400), but I do check the temperature on a regular basis. Why? I have two small children, and being prepared for the weather outside is essential to our daily lives. I know that you can get the weather from the local news or cable weather station and even the Internet, but I need to know what’s going on in my backyard, not what it feels like at the weather station fifteen miles from my home.

Posted on 10 Jan 2006 by Anne B.