Squid Pro Quo

So I'm madly in love with all our new wallets from Gama-Go!This one features one of Mall of America's favorite friends - the octopus! With the handy dandy slots for laundry, parking, and beer money I can easily see where exactly all my spare change is going!! This "Leviathan" may literally be the reason that I'm broke (it bears the term "squeeze" in its moniker!)! Or, at least, that is what I'm telling myself! In any case, I'm firing my financial planner and upgrading to something with a little more style (albeit squid-like)!!!!

Check. Mate. and Giggle

Think chess is strictly a serious game? Think again. The Playmate Chess Set puts a little whimsy back into a classic game with pieces like you’ve never seen before. Limbless molded rubber kings, pot-bellied queens, and sway-backed knights meet in this set best defined by two ridiculous traits: bug eyes and open, laughing mouths. Sure, they’re a little strange looking, but also strangely delightful: pawn, knight, bishop, or king, the entire socioeconomic system of the Playmate stands united in laughter and lunacy. And what chessboard (or chess player) couldn’t use a little more of that?

Can You Hear Me, Dr. Wu (& Wu)?

Admittedly, there was something of a hub-bub when these arrived at Mall of America. Some were hesitant (and said things like "what on earth...."), others were pensive (they needed a little time to learn to love, perhaps?), but most squealed with joy at these adorable, vintage-inspired kits, and really, what's not to love? -hours of fun and adventure are packed ever so neatly into happy little tins....it's hard to imagine a frown when these are around!!!! (and yes! Any one of these would make a great gift!)

Requiem for the Paper Monster

So every year I make all these commitments and promises to myself, and then I procrastinate and put off said promises until the following year. One of my favorites is the one where I say that I'm going to get organized and go through that enormous stack of random mail, paper, postcards, stuff I thought looked cool for some reason, movie stubs (why do I keep those), etc, and file it or throw it. Why is this so hard to accomplish (asks my husband the neat freak)? I can't really say, except I fear that a combination of laziness, lack of time, and bizarre sentimentality (my friend who I never see anymore gave me that card 15 years ago!!!) is the most likely culprit. This all has become a moot point since our pals at Knock Knock came up with these file folders that perfectly express all of the above sentiments. Dare I say that filing has even become fun??!!

(also - my husband wishes to express his enormous gratitude to the Knock Knock people, who have assisted in making his home office clutter free!)

Under Pressure - Recipe

One of our Anonymous posters has offered a terrific recipe to try with the Fagor 3-in-1 Multi-Cooker. We wanted to share it with you here just in case you missed it - looks absolutely delicious. Of course, we recommend that you carefully review the instructions provided with the Multi-Cooker to ensure proper use. Thanks for the post!

Quick Curried Rice with Chicken

This moist and colorful pilaf-enriched with coconut milk and dotted with bright green peas-provides a creative way to use leftover cooked chicken.

3 minutes High Pressure plus an 8 minute Natural Pressure Release. Then 1 to 2 minutes of additional steeping.

1 TBL Oil
1 tsp whole cumin seeds
1 tsp fennel seeds
2 cups extra-long-grain white rice
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
One 14 oz can unsweetened coconut milk
1 1/2 TBL mild currey powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 cup of boiling water if needed
4 cups diced cooked chicken, warmed
1 1/2 cups frozen peas (rinsed)

Heal the oil in your Fagor cooker on the browning option. Add the cumin and fennel seeds and cook, stirring constantly, until they turn a shade darker and become fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Toss in the rice and coat with the oil and seeds. Stir in broth, coconut milk, currey and salt.

Lock the lid into place. Select the HIGH setting for pressure cooking. Maintin high pressure cooking for 3 minutes and allow pressure to come down naturally for an addtional 8 minutes. Quick release any remaining pressure.

Remove lid carefully, tilting it away from you to allow excess steam to escape.

Adjust for salt or curry powder to taste if necessary. If rice in not quite tender, stir in the boiling water as you add the chicken and peas. Set but do not lock lid in place and allow to heat through for a minute or two.

Stir well before serving.
Serves 4 to 6.

Chomp!

Some kitchen gadgets are fun if not entirely functional. You don’t need ice cream molds or avocado slicers in your kitchen, they’re just a fun thing to have. But you DO need a cherry pitter if you’re a big fan of summer’s favorite fruit (or its equally stony friend the olive) and you don’t want to bust a tooth. Introducing the Cherry Chomper! This adorable little guy makes the previously thankless job of pitting cherries entertaining, safe and fun! Just place a cherry in his mouth, press down, and the now-pitted cherry is ready for you to eat or bake into a pie. When you’re done, lift his head and the pits and excess juice can be easily cleaned out of his “stomach.” Still too much work? Well, the Cherry Chomper is also safe for kids! So get those little ones into the kitchen and put them to work in your pie assembly line--this product’s so cute, they won’t even realize they’re doing a chore! The Cherry Chomper includes recipes for using your newly pitted cherries and is dishwasher safe, so pick one up today and get chomping!

We Demand Hot Tea!

Who says tea drinkers are wussies? Add a little edge to your afternoon tea with the Terrorist Tea Pot. The classic white tea pot is made menacing with the addition of shifty eyes above the spout and the delightfully demented ski-mask cozy keeps the teapot’s identity secret and your tea nice and hot. Use this tea pot when alone to give yourself a chuckle or with company to let them know when it comes to hot tea, you mean business. And after you buy the T.T.P. (because really, why wouldn’t you?) be sure to look over the box it comes in--they take great pains in its packaging and this is no exception. The back of the box lists a number of tea cozy facts, including famous cozies in fiction and the necessary warning that “SOME OTHER COZIES ARE EVIL.”

Ingenious

When the ingenuiTEA first arrived at The Afternoon, I was incredulous of its title. (Who has ever heard of an “ingenious teapot?”) Then I tried it. After one cup of steeped fruit sangria tea, I am a believer, both in the product and the validity of its name. When it comes to loose teas, there is nothing better than the ingenuiTEA, which makes infusers a thing of the past. Simply place loose leaves in hot water and steep to taste--no gadgets, stirrers, (or kettles!) required. IngenuiTEA is microwave and dishwasher safe for easy water heating and clean-up, durable, and, at only nine ounces, portable enough to take to the office. As one customer so eloquently put it, this is “the greatest teapot for the workplace ever!” But the best part about this product, in my opinion, is its easy- pour feature. Simply place a cup under the teapot’s hidden valve and watch tea flow! Ingenious.

Eight is Never Enough!

Here at Mall of America nothing stops people in their tracks faster or more often than our stunning glass octopi!!!! Now, you already know about our affinity for all things squid-like (we're not afraid to admit it), but these beautiful, hand-blown art glass pieces need a moment in the spotlight before they scuttle on out the door with one of our customers. We love it when our gorgeous tentacled friends find a new home, but every time we sell one we feel do feel a *little* sad (parting is such sweet sorrow...). Thank goodness we still have our beloved General Sherman to console us!

Tipsy

I’ve heard of rocking chairs and rocking horses, but rocking GLASSES are new to me--and drinking as I know it. They’re also new to The Afternoon in Omaha, where I have spent more time than I should probably admit admiring their unusual contours (especially the bottom one!). Larger than a shot glass, smaller than a brandy snifter, each Sagaform Rocking Glass has a rounded base upon which it sways, swivels, tips, and amazingly, never spills. Fun to tilt, fun to use, rocking glasses give a whole new meaning to the word “tipsy.”

Sending out an SOS

-to be stranded on an island, and not so much as a drop of pinot noir in sight? Oh, the agony! Thank goodness, our pals at Fred get it - they know that true torture would NOT be the loneliness, lack of food, wild animals, or frightening dark and stormy nights, but rather the sullying of one's palette with something as uncouth as rain water (well, hopefully, you would have water of some sort.....). It's best to err on the side of caution and keep this handy dandy bottle stopper with you at ALL times, lest you find yourself washed ashore, and your worst nightmare comes true.

Under Pressure

My husband had an old pressure cooker which he loved. Whenever he made chicken and dumplings, his favorite, the pressure gauge rattled so loudly I was afraid it would explode (I know people whose old pressure cookers did explode with food going all over the kitchen). But the new Fagor 3-in-1 Multi-Cooker is completely different. Quieter, more versatile (a rice cooker and a slow cooker as well), even faster - and best, so much less expensive. Not only did I bring one home, I am going to give them as wedding gifts.

All I Ask Is.....

What could be better than sailing under beautiful blue skies, with seagulls calling all around, and the sound of water, gently rocking the day away! The thought of a lazy day spent lounging on a boat with sand between one's toes was one of the inspirations for this little collection of items, which easily evokes thoughts of John Masefield's lovely poem "Sea Fever."

"I MUST go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by...."

We know the feeling, and since we haven't had a chance to get to sand and sea just yet, we've built our own! (If you're in need of a mini vacation pop on over to the Mall of America! -the more the merrier!)

On What Grounds?

There is something strangely alluring about coffee. To regular drinkers, the perks are obvious, but for non-drinkers like myself, the culture of coffee holds mystifying appeal. What is it about coffee shop regulars that makes them seem so much deeper than the rest of us? Is it their books? Their fearless taste buds? The way they stare endlessly beyond the brim? Whatever the reason, Grounds for Murder capitalizes on the mystery surrounding coffee culture…and lets you in on a particularly thrilling case. A woman is murdered at Spill the Beans--a coffee shop overflowing with suspicious customers--and it is up to you to catch her killer. Read John Lutz’s stirring homicidal tale, assemble the puzzle riddled with clues, and piece together the crime one jigsaw tile at a time. With 1000 pieces and no picture to go by, Grounds for Murder is a challenge perfect for serious puzzlers and mystery lovers alike…and it just might take a few caffeine-fueled cups to solve.

Unsinkable Memories

Living in L.A. amongst the Malibu glitterati was quite an experience for a Nebraska boy. I remember my boss coming back from a script pitch to Jim Cameron; Mr. Cameron gave the boss man a poster of the Titanic, as he was making a new movie about the ill-fated ship somewhere down in Mexico. We thought, who would want to see another movie about the Titanic? As it turns out, most everyone (our script didn't survive the pitch). A few years later, I signed up with a trainer at a gym in Malibu - he spent our first session telling me about how he had to physically support Kate Winslet, underwater, as she navigated the flooded passageways in the lower decks of the ship in that same movie (well, the film-set version of the ship). Apparently there were several takes, and a good time was not necessarily had by all. He worked me so hard I developed a high fever and had to stay in bed for three days. Would have been better off supporting Kate. So I feel a certain kinship with these ice cube molds - not only can I recreate history with a little ice Titanic and little iceberg, but also I can experience a cocktail-induced six degrees of separation with the famous film. Sans Kevin Bacon.

Terabytes of Awesomeness

Attention all nerds, nerd-lovers, and otherwise enthusiastic intellectuals! Whether you’re crazy about laser pointers, UV technology, penning lab reports, or your new PDA, The Afternoon in Omaha has a new product just for you. It’s called The Ultimate Geek Pen and for good reason: in addition to the traditional ballpoint tip, it includes a stylus for PDAs and handheld game systems, a laser pointer for presentations, gooseneck flashlight for illumination, even a UV light to detect counterfeiting! Not quite that nerdy? Try the Multitask Light Pen. With just the flashlight, it’s perfect for late-night note-taking, grocery lists, or otherwise ill-timed inspiration.

Need a Hug?

The Afternoon has never come up short when it comes to salt and pepper shakers. In fact, I'd say that we've got a more diverse selection than anyone!! The current favorite is this adorable set, appropriately called "hug" - it is literally impossible to keep these in stock (seriously, we just got 24 in last week, and they're nearly gone!). It's easy to see why since everyone needs a hug now and then, perhaps even while seasoning one's french fries. :-)

For Mother's Day? Umm, no....A Shower Gift? Uh, not.....For My Cool, Off-Center Friends? Oh yeah.....

Remember when you first watched Psycho and you couldn't take a shower for a month afterwards? Well, you're all grown up now (supposedly), so maybe it's time to face your fears of knife-wielding dudes with mother issues!!!! No? If nothing else, this would be the perfect gift for that snobby film student friend of yours (you know, the one that made fun of you for admitting you thought Ghostbusters was an awesome movie)!!!! Or maybe you could use fear as the mechanism for keeping everyone out of your bathroom (though they're all probably terrified of that moldy space anyway...)!!!!!

The Nature of Style

Everyone I know is going green these days. For me, that means saving countless pop cans and bottles in paper grocery sacks, staring at the mess I’ve made, and eventually overcoming inertia enough to drive to a recycling center. For some, though, including designers at Isi Basics and Ancient Graffiti, it means style. Why have a normal kitchen when you can have a green one, filled with nature-inspired--and nature-preserving!--products? Sleek, self-standing bamboo tongs, cheese trays made of beautiful, sparkling slate--if you’re going green, why not bring your guests along? Chances are they’ll be green with envy.

“Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle!”

We are in love with our new vintage puzzles from Random House!! What a great activity for those days when you want to avoid society at all costs!!! Or (if you felt like interacting with humanity) you could make it a family event!!! Yes, you could bond over the endless search for that missing piece (you know it's going to happen!!!), overturning couch cushions and poring over every inch of carpet. Best of all, these come in a beautiful book shaped box (an ingenious disguise!!), so they'll fit in perfectly among your collection of classics!

Pride and Prejudice...and Zombies

How do you make "Pride and Prejudice" even more exciting?? Is it even possible? In a word - YES!!!! Throw a few zombies into the mix and you have a recipe for madcap excitement and non-stop thrills!!! Can Elizabeth Bennett, with a little help from her sisters and overly-dramatic mother, steal the heart of Mr. Darcy AND fight off a crazed bunch of flesh eating freaks, all while wearing a hoop skirt?? The suspense is overwhelming!!! This new take on Jane Austen's classic tale became a runaway bestseller, mere moments after it made its debut to the sales floor!!! We couldn't stop the madness if we tried (and no, we're not trying....!)! Admit it, you're intrigued!!! (*also - check out our Jane Austen greeting card from Unemployed Philosopher's Guild!! In another word - ADORABLE!!! Oh, and it comes with stickers, too!)

The Write Stuff

When I was planning my wedding, one of the best pieces of advice I found was to carry a notebook on me at all times. I could write price quotes, notes to myself, brilliant thoughts, doodles of centerpieces--things that would’ve normally been forgotten were instantly (thankfully!) saved. The wedding long done, I still carry a notebook with me and I would suggest you start doing the same…and there’s no prettier place to jot down a quick grocery list than in our paperblank journals! Each journal cover is detailed with metallic foils and rich inks in designs ranging from ultra-modern to seemingly ancient. Some designs are copies of actual stained glass windows, ancient architecture, tapestries, one is even duplicates the handwriting of Shakespeare himself! Paperblank journals are filled with high quality, acid free archival paper, ribbon page markers (so much classier than an old receipt!) and most come with either bungee or magnetic closures to keep your thoughts safe from the world (or the world safe from your thoughts…) Every journal also has a secret memento pocket tucked into the back cover--the perfect place to keep receipts, business cards, pictures, or anything else you might need at your fingertips! Sizes range from itty bitty pocket sized to as big as standard paper, so no matter your needs you can find a paperblank journal to help organize your life as well!

A Practical Pasta Server for Poets

I am getting married in August, and practically every day at The Afternoon I find some amazing kitchen gadget to add to my registry. As a poet marrying a philosopher, I look for small items (can I really expect any kitchen larger than a shoebox?) and get really excited when I find appliances that multi-task. This Sagaform pasta server is perfect for me and my Italian fiance: it not only dishes up spaghetti, but measures uncooked noodles into perfect portions, grates cheese, AND saves valuable drawer space, leaving me all the more room for another fantastic product by Sagaform. Salad tongs that look like bear claws? Cute, easy to wield, and yes, small enough to leave me smiling.