Using lightweight, reusable shopping bags made of recycled materials is pretty standard practice these days, but it's nice when bags you use all the time have a bit of style too. I like these bags made of recycled newspaper (from the Arts and Leisure section, so they're colorful too). They're made to be water resistant and have double straps and velcro closure. At $52 each, they're not cheap, but if you use the same one for years of trips to the farmer's market, the grocery store, and the library, then the per use cost could be almost nothing. And each one is unique.

Wallets of similar design are $30 each. Both are available at Uncommon Goods.

The Shemergency Survival Kit from See Jane Work comes with everything the modern woman needs to get her out of pesky wardrobe malfunctions, deal with dental pain, and more.

This handy kit is stocked with 24 items including; a folding hair brush with mirror, hair spray, clear elastics, earring backs, hand lotion, nail clipper, an emery board, clear nail polish, nail polish remover, a mending kit, a safety pin, double-sided tape, lint remover, shoe shine wipes, stain remover, static remover, breath freshener, lip balm, dental floss, pain reliever, deodorant wipes, a tampon, adhesive bandages, and facial tissues.

From Ms. & Mrs, a company owned by a mother and her daughters, buy it at See Jane Work for just $22. Keep one at the office and one in the car, in case of a shemergency.

I admit it, I'm one of those people who has to park my car in the same place at the mall every time or I'll forget where I left it. My husband thinks this is the silliest thing he's ever heard of but apparently he was born with a built-in GPS, not to mention a calculator. It's really annoying.

So this new compact GPS gizmo from Bushnell called BackTrack is the is perfect gadget for me. It basically combines advanced GPS technology with a digital compass. Simple and easy to use, it's small enough to hang on your purse. With just two buttons, an easy to read screen and the ability to save up to three key locations, anyone can use it. Key in your location with one button and once it's recorded, just push a button to navigate back to where you started so you never get lost again.

Available in pink or black, the suggested retail is $69 and you can get yours this fall at Amazon.

Miss the slots? Get 'em on your iPhone. Griffin's latest iTunes app, Double Bonus Slots, - takes off from their initial two offerings, Lucky 7 Slots and the poker app 5-Card Touch, which were hugely popular (compatible with iPhone and iPod touch).

Double Bonus Slots tracks winnings and starts each person off with 1,000 credits. Gamers place their bets then tap the screen to set the reels rolling. Griffin added "wilds and variables" to double the chances of winning big.

Double Bonus Slots Features:

Easy to play slots simulator
Fast animation and graphics
Large, wide-screen view in landscape mode
Keeps track of your winnings won and lost
Compatible with iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPod touch
Requires iPhone 2.0 Software Update

$1.99 at iTunes. Now if they could just deliver a cocktail with an umbrella in it . . .

I love artistic innovation: the world would be a much more boring place had people like John Lennon, Frida Kahlo or Andy Warhol never been born.

Having said that, I don't always understand where artists/innovators are coming from, and that's the case with this design...

Francesca Lanzavecchia has designed something called the LightMate. According to her website, "LightMates are soft anthropomorphic pillows and warming lamps. Their different sizes answer to everyone's need of heat; a mate to hug or a huge companion you can lay on."