Ever since I first laid down on a thick slab of memory foam, I’ve been dreaming of adding a memory foam mattress to my home.  Of course, my brief but luxurious rest was abruptly ruined when I glanced down at the price tag - over $1000.  And so my dream died, along with a little part of my soul.  I just couldn’t understand why I wasn’t born to that special, privileged class of people who can effortlessly buy $1000 mattresses.

…But all that has changed.

This morning, I was pondering the fate of an Overstock gift card balance on my account, browsing the top sellers for good deals.  Then I saw it.  My Memory Foam Mattress in Queen size.

For a mere  $399 plus shipping.  They also had the other sizes, including California King and Mattress Toppers, too.

Memory Foam 10-inch Mattress (Queen)
Price: $399.99
Features 3-inch layer of 5-pound density Nasa developed memory foam on top of a 5-inch, 2.5-pound density base layer of regular foam Provides the ultimate in pressure-relieving comfort Made from 100-percent hypoallergenic materials.

I love ocean-inspired and nautical decor, so I was really excited to see this collection of housewares from Michael Aram.  They’re contemporary and bright, but they retain a lot of personality (as opposed to a more stark and modern look).  The only downside is the price, as some of the pieces are a little expensive - but I guess they’d make good gifts or splurges.

I’ve included several pieces from the collection below, but I especially love the salad servers and the candle holder.

Michael Aram “Coral Reef” Salad Servers
Connected with purity, protection and serenity, deep-sea coral has always fascinated. Hand-sculpted by Michael Aram, this set of two servers captures the ravishing color and intricate texture of the one-of-a-kind creature. Each measures 12″ long.

Michael Aram “Coral Reef” Bowl, 9″
Connected with purity, protection and serenity, deep-sea coral has always fascinated. Featuring a hand-sculpted coral base and detachable bowl, this magnificent bowl captures the ravishing color and intricate texture of the one-of-a-kind creature. Coordinate with other Coral Reef giftware from Michael Aram.

Michael Aram “Coral Reef” Candle Holder
Connected with purity, protection and serenity, deep-sea coral has always fascinated. This magnificent hand-sculpted candleholder by Michael Aram adds lush dimension to any setting. Holds three candles. Measures 14.25″ tall.

Michael Aram “Coral Reef” Nut Bowl
Connected with purity, protection and serenity, deep-sea coral has always fascinated. Featuring a hand-sculpted coral base and detachable bowl, this magnificent bowl captures the ravishing color and intricate texture of the one-of-a-kind creature. Coordinate with other Coral Reef giftware from Michael Aram.

Michael Aram “Coral Reef” Bowl, 6.5″
Connected with purity, protection and serenity, deep-sea coral has always fascinated. Featuring a hand-sculpted coral base and detachable bowl, this magnificent bowl captures the ravishing color and intricate texture of the one-of-a-kind creature. Coordinate with other Coral Reef giftware from Michael Aram.

I’m not sure that I’d ever really *need* a Temperature Controlled LED Shower Light, but it certainly does look cool…right?   Just imagine the surprise of a date or houseguest who happens upon your club-worthy shower.  You could add one of those waterproof mp3 players and a little techno, and it would be just like that post-college trip you took to Ibiza, minus the fantastic beaches, handsome Spanish men, and amazing food.

Actually, there’s a very practical use to this LED shower light, especially for the very old and very young.  After you reach a certain temperature, the color shifts from blue to red, letting people know when it’s okay to step in without a major temperature shock.

Temperature Controlled Shower Light
Price: $44.95
First there was the awesome Faucet Light and now now there is the brilliant LED shower light.The LED Shower Light will make for a unique showering experience for guests and for kids. The light will go from Bright Blue to Fire Red when the water hits the temperature (89 Deg. F/ 32 Deg. Celsius).  Easy to install. Fits most showerheads.  No batteries or external power source. Water flow generates the light stream.

I’m an obscene fan of Moleskine notebooks, so I’m a little surprised that I hadn’t seen this one previously.  This ruled reporter notebook is perfect for taking casual notes (or any notes if you’re a lefty).  In addition to the Franklin Covey link below, you can also buy it at Amazon.

Moleskine Ruled Reporter Notebook
Price: $11.95
BE PREPARED FOR LIFE’S ADVENTURES With a design inspired by the journalistic tradition of the small, ruled notebook, the Moleskine Reporter provides you with room for the intriguing interviews and stories of your life. 192 lined pages; last 24 sheets are detachable Acid-free paper with rounded corners sewn into a top-bound hard cover Expandable inner pocket Elastic closure 3.5″ W x 5.5″ H

No matter where I’ve lived, I’ve always made it a priority to have a couple of bird feeders around.  Of course, being a woman, I also have to make sure that they’re attractive, which is where this particularly fine Lantern Bird Feeder.  It looks like an old converted lantern, but its not.  That’s a good thing, too, since you can never be sure what types of metal are used in old lanterns.  It’s much better to stick with something specifically manufactured for birds.

Aside from that, the Lantern-Shaped Bird Feeder is rust-proof and vented to help keep seeds dry.  The birds in your neighborhood will love you, and your neighbors won’t mind looking at it, either.

Lantern Bird Feeder
Price: $24.99

It’s funny.  Whenever I run and swim, I lose weight and firm up like you wouldn’t believe.  It’s incredibly simple, it works, and yet somehow, I still find myself buying crazy exercise DVDs instead of running and swimming.   The”On the Ball” Abs Workout DVD is the latest in my long line of experiments, but I’m actually really happy with this one.

Why, you ask?  Because it actually gave me something to do with the freaky ball that’s been occupying a corner of my office for the last 3 years.  For 3 years, that thing has stared at me from the corner, daring me to try it (and probably kill myself on it…I tell you, my ball is evil).  Thanks to On the Ball: Abs Workout, I’ve figured out how to use my balance ball and not kill myself.  I’d say this one actually earned my $20.

Abs Workout DVD
Price: $20.0
Abs Workout DVD - total running time: approximately 32 minutes.

When it comes to meat, a good sauce can help people overlook a lot of problems.  Did you singe the edges of the steak?  Just cover it with some sauce.   Over salt the chicken?  Rinse it off and add sauce.  Drop it on the floor?  Call it breading and add sauce.

This Robert Rothschild “King of the Grill” Sauce Set comes with Smoky Sweet Chipotle Sauce, Asian Sesame Sauce, Regular Smoky Sweet Sauce, and Apricot Ginger Sauce.  At $30 for 4, that’s actually cheaper than some of the bizarre gourmet sauces in the local grocery store.

Robert Rothschild “King of the Grill” Sauce Set
Show them why you’re the king of the grill! This set of four sauces lets you grill up steaks, burgers and chicken with flavors guaranteed to make your mouth water. From sweet and savory to spicy and exotic, these sauces are the grillmaster’s best companions.

I’m definitely a fan of mixing modern with not-so-modern - specifically, rococo with contemporary for a cute bohemian look.  When I came across these Rococo accent pieces today, I was definitely excited.  They’re super-versatile and they really brighten up a room.  What do you think?  Cute boho or hideous no-go?  Did I just say that?  Somebody stop me here.

Focal Point Rococo-R6
89617 - Focal Point Rococo-R6Rococo-R6Fixture Type:MedallionsDimensions:Projection: 2 1/8″Diameter: 16 1/4″

Focal Point Rococo- Left
99014 - Focal Point Rococo- LeftRococo- LeftFixture Type:Stair BracketsDimensions:Height: 7 7/8″Projection: 3/4″Length: 11 7/8″

Focal Point Rococo- Right
99024 - Focal Point Rococo- RightRococo- RightFixture Type:Stair BracketsDimensions:Height: 7 7/8″Projection: 3/4″Length: 11 7/8″
I’m not so sure that you need all three pieces to make the perfect little boho room, but I figured there’s no harm in mentioning all three.  I particularly like the round rococo focal point.

Back in junior high, I was a pretty big nerd.  Despite the fact that I looked pretty normal, I might has well have been a leper, based on the attention I got from the boys in my school.  Actually, the same can be said of high school.  Although a lot of that can be attributed to the fact that I was kind of an uptight nerd, I’m sure the constant minor breakouts didn’t hep, either.  I never understood how some girls were able to have perfect skin, while I was stuck trying to keep things under control.

Nothing worked: not diet, not exercise, and not even the various prescription acne medications that ended up causing half my face to peel off.  I guess it was probably just genetics, but that’s not even remotely comforting as an excuse -  actually, it still isn’t.  That’s a lot of wasted time.

As a 20-something, my skin’s not as bad, but I definitely wouldn’t call it good. At any given time, there are at least a couple of existing breakouts or issues just below the surface.  That’s why I ran to the store within a few hours of hearing about the Zeno acne clearing device.  I had read nothing but positive reviews, and it was over $100, so I figure it might actually work.

Once I had it in my hands, I immediately got to work on a pimple-in-progress.   Two days later, it still hadn’t appeared, and the slightly swollen area beneath the skin had gone away completely. In all seriousness, I practically cried at the thought of how much better my teenage years would have been with this the Zeno.

So what I’m saying is this - if you have problem skin, or even if you just have occasional breakouts, don’t hesitate to pick up a Zeno.  They come in teal, pink, and silver, and they’ll usually run you somewhere between $150-200.

There are few things nicer than a friendly outdoor dinner in the middle of the summer. A pitcher of sangria, some light salads, and some meat on the grill - plus a bit of light music that everyone can enjoy.  The Time Life - Classic Soft Rock set includes 11 discs of the best soft rock songs from 70s and 80s.

Check out the full track list below.  There are a ton of good ones on here.

Disc: 1
1. Summer Breeze - Seals & Crofts
2. Key Largo - Bertie Higgins
3. Make It With You - Bread
4. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? - Chicago
5. Dream Weaver - Gary Wright
6. Hello It’s Me - Todd Rundgren
7. Sara Smile - Daryl Hall & John Oates
8. Chuck E.’s in Love - Rickie Lee Jones
9. Black Water - The Doobie Brothers
10. Still the One - Orleans
11. Hurt So Bad - Linda Ronstadt
12. Cool Change - Little River Band
13. Biggest Part of Me - Ambrosia
14. Never Be the Same - Christopher Cross
15. You Can Do Magic - America

Disc: 2
1. Black Velvet - Alannah Myles
2. Beautiful in My Eyes - Joshua Kadison
3. Missing You - John Waite
4. Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) - Christopher Cross
5. Even the Nights Are Better - Air Supply
6. Kiss You All Over - Exile
7. Sexy Eyes - Dr. Hook
8. You’re the Only Woman - Ambrosia
9. Steal Away - Robbie Dupree
10. What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers
11. Lotta Love - Nicolette Larson
12. 25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago
13. Wildfire - Michael Murphy
14. Tin Man - America
15. Guitar Man, The - Bread
Disc: 3
1. Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) - Phil Collins
2. Waiting For a Girl Like You - Foreigner
3. Sailing - Christopher Cross
4. If You Leave Me Now - Chicago
5. Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime - The Korgis
6. How Much I Feel - Ambrosia
7. Sentimental Lady - Bob Welch
8. Minute by Minute - The Doobie Brothers
9. She’s Gone - Daryl Hall & John Oates
10. It Might Be You - Stephen Bishop
11. Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
12. I Saw the Light - Todd Rundgren
13. Diamond Girl - Seals & Croft
14. Horse With No Name, A - America
15. Baby I’m-a Want You - Bread
Disc: 4
1. Ride Like the Wind - Christopher Cross
2. Saturday in the Park - Chicago
3. Sister Golden Hair - America
4. You’re So Vain - Carly Simon
5. If - Bread
6. Ooh Baby Baby - Linda Ronstadt
7. Him - Rupert Holmes
8. You Are the Woman - Firefall
9. All I Need - Jack Wagner
10. Walking in Memphis - Marc Cohn
11. Making Love Out of Nothing at All - Air Supply
12. I Want to Know What Love Is - Foreigner
13. Living Years, The - Mike & The Mechanics
14. Drive - The Cars
15. One More Night - Phil Collins
16. I’ll Be There - The Escape Club
Disc: 5
1. Into the Night - Benny Mardones
2. It’s a Heartache - Bonnie Tyler
3. Drift Away - Dobie Gray
4. Maggie May - Rod Stewart
5. Your Song - Elton John
6. How Long - AIR
7. More Love - Kim Carnes
8. I’m Not in Love - 10cc
9. I Just Wanna Stop - Gino Vannelli
10. Babe - Styx
11. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton
12. Fooled Around and Fell in Love - Elvin Bishop
13. Lonesome Loser - Little River Band
14. While You See a Chance - Steve Winwood
15. Let’s Make a Night to Remember - Bryan Adams
Disc: 6
1. Daniel - Elton John
2. I Need You - America
3. Wild World - Cat Stevens
4. Escape (The Pina Colada Song) - Rupert Holmes
5. I’d Really Love to See You Tonight - England Dan/John Ford Coley
6. On and On - Stephen Bishop
7. Tempted - Squeeze
8. Things We Do For Love, The - 10cc
9. Best of Times, The - Styx
10. Cry - Godley & Creme
11. Your Wildest Dreams - The Moody Blues
12. Higher Love - Steve Winwood
13. I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) - Meat Loaf
14. Please Forgive Me - Bryan Adams
15. More Than Words - Extreme
Disc: 7
1. Lowdown - Boz Scaggs
2. Whenever I Call You ‘Friend’ - Kenny Loggins
3. Piano Man - Billy Joel
4. Longer - Dan Fogelberg
5. Miracles - Jefferson Starship
6. Lost in Love - Air Supply
7. More Than I Can Say - Leo Sayer
8. Rosanna - Toto
9. More Than a Feeling - Boston
10. Take It on the Run - REO Speedwagon
11. Make Me Lose Control - Eric Carmen
12. Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
13. Living Inside Myself - Gino Vannelli
14. Flame, The - Cheap Trick
15. Sara - Starship
Disc: 8
1. Livin’ Thing - Electric Light Orchestra
2. This Is It - Kenny Loggins
3. Africa - Toto
4. Eye in the Sky - Alan Parsons Project
5. Look What You’ve Done to Me - Boz Scaggs
6. You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling - Daryl Hall & John Oates
7. All Out of Love - Air Supply
8. Can’t Fight This Feeling - REO Speedwagon
9. Search Is Over, The - Survivor
10. All by Myself - Eric Carmen
11. Without You - Nilsson
12. Year of the Cat - Al Stewart
13. Dust in the Wind - Kansas
14. Vincent - Don McLean
15. Please Come to Boston - Dave Loggins
Disc: 9
1. Listen to the Music - The Doobie Brothers
2. Ventura Highway - America
3. Kokomo - The Beach Boys
4. California Dreamin’ - The Mamas & The Papas
5. I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash
6. It Never Rains in Southern California - Albert Hammond
7. Thank You For Being a Friend - Andew Gold
8. Everything I Own - Bread
9. When Will I Be Loved - Linda Ronstadt
10. I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near) - Michael McDonald
11. Baby Come Back - Player
12. Circle in the Sand - Belinda Carlisle
13. Hold On - Wilson Phillips
14. I’ll Be Over You - Toto
15. Just the Way It Is, Baby - The Rembrandts
Disc: 10
1. We Don’t Talk Anymore - Cliff Richard
2. Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
3. When You’re in Love With a Beautiful Woman - Dr. Hook
4. Fool (If You Think It’s Over) - Chris Rea
5. Doctor, The - The Doobie Brothers
6. Release Me - Wilson Phillips
7. Jessie - Joshua Kadison
8. These Dreams - Heart
9. Hearts - Marty Balin
10. I Go Crazy - Paul Davis
11. Sad Eyes - Robert John
12. American Pie - Don McLean
13. Air That I Breathe, The - The Hollies
14. Reminiscing - Little River Band
15. You’re No Good - Linda Ronstadt

Disc: 11
1. Got to Give It up (Pt.1) - Marvin Gaye
2. Serpentine Fire - Earth, Wind & Fire
3. Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
4. Cold as Ice - Foreigner
5. It’s So Easy - Linda Ronstadt
6. Year of the Cat - Al Stewart
7. Things We Do For Love, The - 10cc
8. Rich Girl - Daryl Hall & John Oates
9. Handy Man - James Taylor
10. How Deep Is Your Love - The Bee Gees
11. Blue Bayou - Linda Ronstadt
12. Heard It in a Love Song - The Marshall Tucker Band
13. Southern Nights - Glen Campbell
14. Fly Like an Eagle - Steve Miller
15. Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
16. Feels Like the First Time - Foreigner
17. Slip Slidin’ Away - Paul Simon
18. Stayin’ Alive - The Bee Gees
19. So in to You - Atlanta Rhythm Section
20. I’m in You - Peter Frampton

Get the set at: