Patterned Tool Set

Even if you laugh at the idea of building a bookcase by yourself or shutter at the thought of power tools, you'll still find use for some tools around the house, whether its hanging picture frames, replacing your shower head, or just trying to put on some really tight jeans. If you're secure enough in your femininity, this tool set covered in a pastel brocade pattern is pretty enough to display as decoration.

$69.00, Brocade Home

Missus Monogrammed Mugs

Drink your morning coffee out of one of these mugs, and you'll have the added bonus of letting everyone know what letter your name starts with. Each initial on one of these fancifully shaped mugs is embellished in a girly flourish, with flowers and/or birds and/or butterflies. Last time I checked, some of the letters were on back order. Anthropologie also sells some more masculine monogrammed mugs.

$6.00 each, Anthropologie

Sagaform Tapas Serving Bowl Set

A friend of mine and I love going for tapas, a variety of Spanish appetizers. I can never get enough Gambas Al Ajillo (shrimp with garlic and olive oil). Now you can serve tapas (or any other appetizers) at home with one of these cool trays. You can choose from either a 18- or 22-inch-long wooden tray with four porcelain bowls.

$29.99 or $49.99, Bed Bath & Beyond

Barefoot Contessa Breakfast Set

I recently learned that it’s actually not that hard to make pancakes from scratch, so long as you have a ton of flour and some baking powder sitting around. (Which I don’t.) If you want to go the easy route, try this cool set. It comes with Ina Garten’s pancake and waffle mix, a bottle of amber maple syrup, and a silicone spatula.

$26.95, Sur La Table

Wilton Cake and Cookie 30-Piece Decorating Set

Know what's fun? Decorating cookies. And this set has everything you need to create your masterpiece in frosting. It has four icing colors, eight metal decorating tips, and 10 disposable decorating bags for easily piping the icing onto the cookie or directly into your mouth.

$24.95, Sur La Table

Wire Bowls

From a distance, these delicate bowls, made from either gold or silver wire, almost look like they are carved out of ice. Plop one on your table to display fruit or other decorations. They come in three different diameters: 10 inches, 12 inches, and 14 inches.

$14.00 to $20.00 each, Mxyplyzyk (click on "living wares")

Filippa K Lace Mugs

If you want to snaz up your choice of morning caffeinated beverage, drink it out of one of these mugs by Swedish fashion house Filippa K. The mugs are printed with a lacy design based on fabric from Filippa K's collection.

$45.00 for two mugs, Bunny Maxwell

Strawberry Pitcher

Deep down inside I know that water poured from this nine-inch glass pitcher would taste the same as any other, but it just seems like it would be more refreshing, doesn't it? This pitcher would also make a pretty vase.

$38.00, Anthropologie

Fruit Pyramid

Here's how the ancient Egyptians displayed their fruit. What? It's true! I saw a gold, hieroglyphed version of this at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Okay, I'm lying, but I'm sure Cleopatra would have been really into this chic chrome fruit stand. If chrome plating had been invented 2,000 years ago. You know, because it's a pyramid.

$28.00, Chiasso

NordicWare Holiday Pancake Pan

I'm pretty much always in the mood for pancakes. Especially when they look like snowmen. This nonstick pan helps you whip up three-inch dollar pancakes with different holiday shapes--Christmas trees, Santas, reindeer, angels--baked right in. And, best of all, it makes seven of them at once.

$29.95, Sur La Table

Racha Trivet

One of my favorite things about Top Chef is how the chefs all yell, "Hot behind! Hot behind!" when they walk around the kitchen with hot pans. (I wish I could yell that at my job.) If you want to keep your hot behind...I mean, hot pan...from burning your table, try this pretty iron trivet. It even looks great all by itself.

$18.00, Anthropologie

Onion Goggles

I need to remember to pick up a pair of these before Thanksgiving. I've tried wearing sunglasses when chopping onions, but they don't really work, and it's too dark to see what you're doing. I like how these goggles mold to your face to block out the onion fumes that make you teary.

$19.99, Bed Bath & Beyond

Coaster Notz Tree of Us

These four coasters are made of silicone and decorated with a not-too-girly flower pattern. What's really nifty is that you can write on them with ballpoint pen (whether its your name or a game of tic tac toe) and it washes right off.

$21.00, Click Design That Fits

Sagaform Sugar and Creamer Set

Coffee's always a nice finisher to a good meal, especially when you serve up the sugar and cream in cool containers like this little porcelain set by a Swedish design house. It looks great just sitting out on the table.

$30.00, Rare Device

Tea’s Me Teacups and Saucers

If you're feeling prim and proper (but still a little whimsical), have a spot of tea in these fun teacups. The colorful set comes with four cups and saucers, all in slightly different shapes and sizes, in various pastel colors. They all come packaged in a pretty hatbox.

$35.00, Rosanna