I’ve been looking for an alternative to the chalk board we have hanging in our kitchen (it’s handy, but messy) and when I saw this dry erase board from CB2 I feel in like with it immediately. It’s made of bamboo, is eco-friendly, wipes off easily and can hang either vertically or horizontally. Our house is full of wood (floors, wainscoting, etc.) and it will fit in perfectly with our decor. It’s on my “to buy” list, for sure.

$59.95 @ CB2.com

I have to confess that I really dislike the smell of most diffusers and prefer the house to be filled with the smell of fresh flowers or baked cookies. But ever since I discovered Archipelago Botanicals diffusers I’ve been a complete convert. The scents are subtle yet they are there and they do last a while. My favorite is Mango Tangerine, in case you’re curious.

$35 @BeautyEncounter

My love for (costume) jewelry knows no bounds and after receiving a few more pieces for Christmas, I’ve realized that while placing them in ceramic bowls on my dresser is all fine and good, I want something prettier to display my wares. While snooping around on Amazon I found this jewelry box and tree by Umbra that I’ve place on my birthday list (it’s in a few weeks).

$22.49 @ Amazon.com

If you’re trying to reduce the number of chemicals you use at home, that bathroom deodorizer spray has to go. Poo-Pourri Little Stinker spray uses a blend of Bergamot, lemongrass, and grapefruit essential oils, which are naturally anti-bacterial and smell great — and a little goes a very long way. The spray was designed to eliminate the smell of dirty diapers in the pail or garbage, but it’s perfect for use in the bathroom for those who have already been potty trained.

$12.95 for a 2-ounce bottle, $19.95 for 4 ounces, at poopourri.com.

Who says “utilitarian” has to mean “boring”? This extra-long oven mitt by Built combines form and function with style. Made of neoprene (yes, the same material used to make wetsuits), the mitt is heat resistant up to 500 degrees F, stain resistant, and goes all the way up to the elbow for extra protection. It fits either hand, and it’s slim design means that you can really get a grip when you need to.

$18 at Built.

If you’re trying to decorate or organize a small space (like a dorm room, a child’s bedroom, or a home office), these brightly colored pieces pack a one-two punch. Covered in polyester microsuede, the 15-inch cubes come in eye-popping colors like fuchsia, teal, and lime green as well as basic black and chestnut brown. Lift the lid to find a surprisingly good amount of space inside — enough for a family of stuffed animals, a fleet of toy cars, reams of printer paper, or even a college kid’s dirty laundry.

$17 each at Target stores.

Yogibo’s Yogi-Max is the classic beanbag gone high style — and ultra-flexible. 6-feet long, 3-feet wide, and 3-feet high, the “lounge bag” can be leaned up against a wall to make a chaise, or laid out on the floor to become a day bed or a sofa large enough to seat three adults. It comes in 11 colors, and the zippered cotton covers are removable and machine washable — I’m not kidding, the one the company sent me to try out really got worked over by my preschoolers and still looks great. But the best part? The long, foam-bead-stuffed pillow contours to support your body wherever you need it most (me: lumbar), making me wish I had one during the last month of my pregnancies, when all I wanted to do was sleep but it was nearly impossible to really rest.

$229 at Yogibo.com.

Singer Shepley Metcalf’s new CD, “Something Irresistible: Songs of Fran Landesman + Simon Wallace” is just that — irresistible. A selection of songs written by the woman behind the 1955 jazz standard “Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most,” Landesman’s music is mostly unknown in the United States. Metcalf brings them to light — the CD is the first recording of Landesman’s and Wallace’s music by a U.S. singer — and she also brings them to life, underscoring the clever lyrics with her smooth, expressive singing.

$14 at CD Baby.

This clever little vase looks like those ubiquitous zippered plastic bags, but it’s actually made of glass. Fill it with your favorite candies, use it to catch coins on your bureau or paperclips in the office, or see if it holds water before you pour in the goldfish your child won at the fair.

$20 at Uncommon Goods.

I’ve been on a bread-baking tear lately (hint: the best thing about a no-knead bread recipe is that it practically makes itself). But after one too many perfectly crusty loaves turned hard as a rock on the counter or sadly squishy wrapped in plastic, I finally realized that I needed a better way to store my baked beauties. Retro was the way to go, and this stainless steel bread box by Prime Pacific fit the bill — it’s rust-proof, easy to clean, reasonably priced, and can hold more than one loaf at a time.

$24.99 at Amazon.