Travel experts always warn women to be wary of purse theives who “cut and run” — that is, use a razor or a knife to slice through the strap of your bag before grabbing it. Travelon’s Carry Safe bags have a hidden chain-link construction, a cut-proof adjustable strap that conntects to the bag with a sturdy metal loop, and locking zippers to keep the contents secure.

$34.99 at eBags.com.

For more great bags, check out our slide show right here at Work It, Mom! Great bags for everything (and every budget)!

Got a kid who’s too old for coloring books, but always seems to be doodling on everything? Check out these Doodle books, all marked down to just $5.18 apiece at Amazon, and eligible for free Prime shipping or Super Saver Shipping on $25+.

Do You Doodle?
The Boys’ Doodle Book
The Girls’ Doodle Book
Beautiful Doodles

I do believe Santa may be stuffing some stockings with those this year. I’m just sayin’.

Rowallan of Scotland is known for their classic and classy wallets and bags, and their new line of colorful jewelry keeps are just as lovely. This embossed leather cylinder can hold all of the accessories you need for your business trip, with compartments large enough for chunky bracelets and cocktail rings, snap-closed flaps for storing post earrings, and a seperate section with an inset mirror. Chose from Dove Gray, Winter White, or our favorite, a luscious Raspberry.

$55.99 at Rowallan of Scotland.

Divine Chocolates combines gourmet tastes with Fair Trade sensibilities in their line of delicious chocolate treats. Owned in part by the cocoa farmers themselves, the proceeds from sales of the chocolate allow the farmers to reinvest in their communities, building schools, sinking wells, and setting up medical clinics. Their sample boxes — an assortment of six 3.5-ounce bars in flavors like White Chocolate with Strawberry, Hazelnut Milk Chocolate, and 70% Dark Chocolate with Mint — is sure to please the chocoholics in your life (and you’ll be supporting fair trade in the process).

$22.49 at BuyDivine.com.

The days are getting shorter and colder… time to break out the warmest pjs possible. when your kids were tiny they wore footie pjs all the time, but now that they’re big it seems like those cozy garments are hard to come by (unless you’re want to pay a small fortune online). Target to the rescue! The ubiquitous store has fleecy, cozy footie pajamas to fit kids XS (4-5) to XL (14-16) and in several cute patterns. My Amazonian 5-year-old found a sweet pair of purple ones with peace signs and hearts scattered on it; my 11-year-old, who is taller than I am, is psyched that there were some that fit him perfectly as well (and that they were covered in cool skulls).

$12.99 (on sale this week for $10) at Target stores and online.

Far be it from me to suggest Nordstrom is a regular shopping destination for those of us on a budget… but twice a year, they put on a sale, and they do it up right. Starting today it’s the big women-and-kids Half-Yearly Sale, and that means it’s the right time to check ‘em out and pay Target prices on Nordstrom items.

Twice a year I shop at Nordstrom, and twice a year I come away feeling quite smug. Try it. See if you don’t feel a little smug, too.

It’s not too early to start thinking about the holidays, either….

OK, I’ll say upfront that these are NOT for every office — you have to work in one where there is some sense of humor. A colleague recently brought these in and lots of fun and funny moments have been had. Work + funny moments = more bearable work.

$16 at UrbanOutfitters.com

I love salt-rimmed drinks, but I loathe dipping the glasses into a plateful of chunky salt. For one thing, I always end up wasting salt. For another, half of the salt from the plate ends up on the counter instead of the rim of the glass. But now, I let The Barmaid do it for me. Or, rather, The Barmaid lets me put just the right amount of salt — or whatever spice I want — on each rim with the touch of a button. Perfect for a summer-in-the-wintertime Margarita, or a salty-and-spice rimmed Bloody Mary at brunch.

$39.95 or $44.95 (including salt) at Limetreecove.com.

I’ve just come back from a business trip where I wished I’d brought a few more pieces of jewelry with me. I like wearing earrings and funky rings but I didn’t have a great way to carry them with me, so just brought two in a plastic bag. This jewelry case has multiple compartments so your necklaces won’t get tangled up with the earrings and it’s still small enough for travel.

$36.50 at Delight.com

Add a little flair to your dinner table with these contemporary salt and pepper shakers. The sleek, stainless-steel design goes with any decor, and look cool enough to stay out on the table in between meals.

$36 at Out of Gray.