Plantarium Garden Lab KitThis is supposed to be for children, but I think it's pretty cool. You get seeds and this weird Jell-O substance that helps the plants germinate. Since it's transparent, you can watch all the magic happen.
$30.00, Kid O
Playmate Chess Set
I like how all the pieces in this chess set look like little neon green and blue blobs. And the blobs look so happy. But I'm sure their smiles begin to look more smug when a blue blobby knight takes your green blobby queen.
$35.00, Mxyplyzyk (click on "kids & pets")
Pamela Barsky Piggy Bank
I heart this sweet little piggy from Pamela Barsky. The piggies are cast from a vintage mold, and all banks come with a little cash inside. On her website, Pamela Barsky claims that each one can include anywhere from a few coins to 100 bucks.
$28.00, Pamela Barsky
Magnetic Flexible Rubber Man Set
Okay, these are basically stick figures with magnets at the end of their arms and legs, but I heart them. I am plotting to build a magnetic rubber man army. This photo probably shows all of the possible positions you can bend them into, but I'm positive that I could waste an afternoon or two looking for more.
$ 18.95 for two, Flax Art & Design
Instant Irish Accent Breath Spray
Now you can be more Irish than them all. It's Irish brogue in a bottle! Okay, not really. But it's pretty darn amusing (and supposedly "fresh on the tongue like mist off the Cliffs of Moher"). In all honesty, even though the Irish eyes are smiling today, I think I'd rather "look and feel Canadian." Happy St. Patrick's Day, eh?
$4.99, Perpetual Kid
Oggs Color Changing Eggs
I like that these weird color-changing thingies are not only shaped liked eggs but soft and "throw-able." Oggs fight! And the three glowing eggs come with a silver recharging stand that is so very "Mork and Mindy."
$56.95, Flax Art & Design
Peeps Marshmallow Maker
Don't have enough peeps in your life? Now you can make your own. And you don't even have to wait until Easter. I have no idea how this works, but I am intrigued by the weird yellow pump with a little yellow chick on the top. And I'm very excited about the pink and yellow sugar packets. $26.00, Fred Flare
Marshmallow Shooter
Turns out that guns and marshmallows are a winning combination. Honestly, this little gun, which uses air pressure to launch mini-marshmallows at your enemies, is loads of fun. I especially enjoy munching on the ammo while trying to fire off some rounds into other people's drinks. $22.99, ThinkGeek.com
H20 Waterproof Playing Cards
I'm not sure why you would really need your playing cards to be waterproof. Maybe your poker night guests are clumsy with their drinks? Or maybe you have a penchant for bathtub solitaire? In any case, these look pretty cool. $5.95, CB2
Ball of Whacks
This toy, made of pyramid shaped magnets, is supposed to make you more creative and save you from writer's block or accountant's block or whatever block you're afflicted with. I don't know about all that, but this is so much fun to play with. I don't recommend keeping it on your desk at work though. It's hard to stop messing around with it and focus on your work. $29.99, Creative Whack Company
Deluxe Wooden Sudoku Board Set
This whole Sudoku rage makes me feel like a dolt. Whenever I try to do one of them, I end up with scribbled out numbers all over the place. (But that doesn't stop me from trying again.) I like this board set, because if you make a mistake, you can just pluck out a tile and plop another one back in. Also, the pieces remind me of Scrabble, a game that's close to my heart. $50.00, Kate's Paperie
Maharam Memory Game
Here’s a fancy twist on those memorization games for children. Players match cards with 36 different classic patterns—created by big name designers such as Charles and Ray Eames and Alexander Girard— from Maharam, the textile maker.
$36.00, Design Within Reach
Lego Star Wars
This game is uber cute and so much fun. It's the first three episodes of Star Wars, scene by scene, only everything is made of Legos. Even when your character dies, shattering into tiny Lego pieces, you'll be shouting things out like, "Strike me down! I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine!" It's available for PS2, GameCube, XBox, and PC.
$19.99, Amazon.com
Good Vs. Evil Unicorns Play Set
I'm rooting for both the good and the evil unicorn. Is that so wrong? No matter who wins, I'm pretty sure an innocent teddy bear will get impaled. $9.95, Archie McPhee
Luminos Dominos
I have a soft spot for dominos. This definitely isn't the nicest set I've seen (the pieces are plastic with stickers on 'em), but I love the fun design. Now, if only I could make a career of adding up multiples of five...
$32 for three, Plum Party