misosouper, a shopping blog

Need something to pour in your new teacup?  Concoct your own herbal medicinal brew in this sunny, self-warming pot.  (I’m sure it does tea just as well as “herbal medicine,” but herbal medicine is so much more mysterious and fun to say.)

And as a somewhat tangential FYI:  Vivabox, one of our past sponsors, is offering a 25% discount on their Fragrance and Bar-B-Que  gift boxes from now through February 14.  I’m partial to the Fragrance collection, which includes 10 sample scents, plus a gift certificate to Sephora for a full-size bottle; but I’m sure that if someone grilled me up a fat filet from the Bar-B-Que box, I wouldn’t exactly turn my nose up at it.

This ginormous remote control has languished in my “to be posted” file for months, partly because I thought it a useful, yet utterly ridiculous gadget.  Then I actually saw one for sale at my local drug store yesterday.  It’s so big that it will make you look like a Smurf in comparison.

Now I think it’s a useful, utterly ridiculous, yet totally awesome gadget.  A nice Valentine’s Day present for a beloved always complaining about the missing remote.  Or you could just use it to clunk him over the head.

Unless you are in possession of Madonna’s taut, ageless, Madame Tussaud-esque skin (my God, does that woman age?), I don’t recommend using the 4000x zoom of the EyeClops Bionic Eye to look at yourself in the mirror.

Anything else, however, is fair game.

Not in the mood for love?  These gifts will bring out your cheeky side.

These animals will keep that library in line.

Mix your Mexican beverage metaphors and serve her up with a tray full of Negra Modelos.

My favorite martian.

Way creepier than playing poker with mirrored glasses.  A true objet d’art.

Why should Radiohead get all the rainbows?

A satisfyingly dramatic way to pass the days.

Now that the election is over, you need someone else to root for.

Lover, you should have come over.

My teenage cousin is obsessed with phone charms.  Here’s one (a miniature terrarium!) that doesn’t involve pink beads.

Perhaps my favorite item in the whole gift guide.  Perhaps the cheapest, too.

Do these derby critters remind anyone else of the Hummer soapbox derby kids?

Portable iPod karaoke sets bring joy to the world.

A daschund bag needs no commentary.

I warned you that I like small things writ large.

Yo to the yo.

This koi pitcher makes a lovely gurgling sound when it pours.

I’m thinking this tape isn’t fireproof.

Parrots are the new Rabbits.

Cleaning toilets probably isn’t what Pinocchio signed up for.

Unwrap it.  You know you want to.

What this sleek white instant camera lacks in vintage charm, it makes up for in features, like autofocus.  Plus, it hasn’t been discontinued, which is always a plus.  RIP, Polaroid.

And to think you were going to get them a Jawbone.