A friend of ours works from home, and we're jealous that she has no commute, no beige cubicle walls, and no dress code. As if that wasn't enough, she invested in an Apple MacBook, and now she can take her work anywhere. We admit we covet her sleek, stylish laptop and have vowed to buy one as well. This is one of those purchases that is functional but totally fun.

A warm, well-made down comforter from Pacific Coast may seem like a luxury, but there are several practical reasons to justify this purchase. One, they're warm enough that you can turn down the heat a notch or two at night and not notice. Two, a good down comforter lasts much longer than the cheap bedspreads that come in a set. (And does any really like the feeling of polyester next to their skin?) Finally,... more

There comes a point when it's time to get serious about your sound system. Factory direct may be fine for the car, but you should be able to rock out at home. If you traded your boombox in long ago for a decent stereo system, you're ready for the Bose Acoustimass 5 Series III speakers. They're compact but give amazingly full sound, and you'll be able to hear every gravelly note of your favorite... more

If you want to commit to making your own fettuccini, invest in the Atlas Pasta Machine. Spend a few bucks one the cheap hand roller and you can easily tuck it away in a drawer after a few uses, but this puppy says you're serious. It's one thing to make a delicious Bolognese sauce, and quite another to serve it over your own homemade noodles. Aspire to have more dinner parties and share your... more

Most of the world has learned English to help the poor multitudes of Americans who travel widely but have little mastery of foreign languages. Make us look good and learn the language of your choice with one of the highly rated Rosetta Stone programs. You can help international relations by translating for other Americans or helping foreign visitors. Even if you only impress the waiter at your favorite taqueria with your flawless Spanish, it's... more