Have you ever found yourself on a plane with absolutely nothing amusing to watch, play or read? While other people sit there with their Kindles, their laptops, their iPads, their novels and their DVD players (parents who let their kids listen to Chipmunks movies without headphones deserve their own special place in the back row next to the bathroom), sometimes I find myself with nothing to read but a dogeared copy of SkyMall. You know what? that’s fine by me.

First we have the Face Trainer, which Jane Krakowski’s character invented on Ally McBeal in the late 1990s and called The Face Bra:

One time the stranger wedged in next to me and I got in hysterics over every other item in the catalog, flipping through our copies at the same time and saying “no, wait, wait, look at this one!” to each other. The one that gave us the biggest bout of giggles was the Pet Loo. The thought of what one does after a dog actually uses it (if they ever do) made our complimentary soft drinks coming out of our nostrils:

But on this last trip, I had not bonded with my seatmate and just wound up laughing like a crazy person all by myself when I saw this one. I hadn’t laughed that hard on a plane since the time I rented I Love You Man and the “Tom Sawyer” montage part came on. Anyway, I think the SkyMall people may have stolen this idea from one of those horrible Fockers movies:

Also, what’s wrong with calling this the Litter Quitter? Why do you have to go all Kardashian on us with the “Kwitter?”  Am I supposed to share the toilet seat with four paws now?

Do you ever take a SkyMall out of the seat and peruse it? Have you ever bought anything from there? What’s the most hilarious thing you’ve ever seen in SkyMall?

1. Magic Bus in Mexico City: It’s not just the fact that it’s been yarnbombed, but also the patterns and colors that make it part Partridge Family/part Harajuku. I spied this on Pinterest via Casapinka.

2. Five Hotels Across the Room with Stunning Interiors: A feature from The Wall Street Journal that will make you want to go to there.

photo by Beatrice Amagat for The Wall Street Journal

3. Happy 5th Birthday Making It Lovely! I had no idea I had posted about you within about a week of your launch, but I do remember Nicole’s work catching my eye via all of those fabulous images she posted on Flickr! It’s been wonderful to watch her home, business and family grow over the past five years. Congratulations!

4. Middle of the country fights “flyover” derision; small cities grow and flourish: GOOD mag has a great article about how small cities that a lot of planes may happen to fly over are improving, growing and spreading the word about what they have to offer.

PET PEEVE ALERT: As someone who spent her formative years in Cincinnati Ohio, I don’t like the term “flyover state.” In fact, the kind of people who say it are the ones I hope don’t land anywhere near me anyway. You can keep your insane  rents and stinky cabs, your hideous traffic and your earthquakes thank you very much. Those of us under the flightpath know what great places these smaller cities can be.

5. Oh Pinterest, you are a danger. On a more positive note, I’ve been trying my hand at pinning, repinning and liking too much this week; I even let it distract me from watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills the other night. We’re just starting to dip our toes into Pinterest over here, so Pinners, let us know how to follow you in the comments section.  Here’s our Pinterest action.

What caught your eye on the web this week? Let us know in the comments section!

The spirit of the holiday isn’t over yet folks. I’m not talking about baking more sweet treats or filling your home with modern Martha-esque decorations or singing songs at your neighbor’s doorstep while wearing a tacky sweater…I’m talking about continuing the focus on giving to those in need. Thanks to Gus* Modern we are encouraged to keep this giving spirit alive and in return Gus* Modern is giving back to you! Donate three non-perishable food items from your pantry to your local food bank and save 15% on your Gus* Modern purchase. The sale will run during the full month of January with the Thompson Chairs being the only exclusion from our site. Personally, I think a Vintage Swing Arm Lamp is worth about 62987987938 canned goods and a set of School Chairs worth about 293875928375 cans, but maybe that is just me. Think of all the meals someone could make in exchange for all that food in exchange for a lamp or chairs! We’re using the honor system here, so get into the spirit of the season and see what Gus* Modern has to offer.

Go Gus* Modern and Keep on Giving! Happy New Year to one and all!

Happy Holidays Everyone! For those of you who may have asked Santa for more dangerous gifts this year, please be careful not to poke your eyes out. Also, don’t stick your tongue on frozen flagpoles or let a pack of wild dogs eat your dinner.

Merry Christmas!

Tomorrow, December 15th, is the last day to get items that will ship and arrive before Christmas. In a shopping panic? Take a deep breath and check out all of our Quick Ship items here. Here’s a peek at some favorites and some links to help get you started:

For the Dog Lover: Fauna’s Mini Animal Pillows – Here’s the Dalmation:

For that person who loves hitting up the Coinstar for extra cash, how about a Harry Allen Pig Bank? By the way, I think I’ve spied one of these in Andy Cohen’s clubhouse on Bravo.For that goofball who still secretly dreams of playing with Transformers, check out the David Weeks Cubebot:

For the Mid-Century Modern design aesthete, help them round out their collection with a George Nelson Clock, made by Vitra. This one is the classic Asterisk:

For that girl who loves fun jewelry, the Melissa Borrell Design Lace Necklace is a unique signature piece:Now, for great modern jewelry that looks great on a guy or a gal, check out the Eric Janssen Off-Axis Watch:

For that person who can never ever find their keys, check out the Harry Allen V2 Lock Keychain:

For kiddos and grown-ups age three and up, this game reminds me of an old one from my grandparents’ house called “Changeable Charlie,” though this one is much more aesthetically pleasing. It’s the Miller Goodman ShapeMaker:

Finally, if you want to splurge on yours truly (haha!), I have been coveting a VIPP 24 Kitchen Bin for years. I bought a cheap imitation at a big box store and it has two ill-placed screws that shred my trash bags as I remove them from the bin. Is it pricey for a trash can, um, DUH, but you do get what you pay for, in looks and function!

And again, here are all of the quick ship items. You have through December 15th to order these up for your loved ones.