Log Bowls
These log bowls are handmade from reclaimed Canadian wood by the Loyal Loot Collective in Alberta, Canada. What a fine way to display and hold stuff (Like candy. Hello!) this fall. Sizes and colors vary.
Leather Watch Strap for iPod Nano 6G
When you want to wear your iPod nano on your wrist, sometimes all you want is something classy, easy, and simple (and leather).
The Pilot G2 0.38mm Gel Ink Pen
On a recent episode of The B&B Podcast, Ben Brooks and I got into a discussion about pens. All you need to know is that the Pilot G2 0.38mm gel pen is just about the best pen money can buy. If I have to use any other pen I almost prefer not to write at all.
Burton Mix Master Mitts
Few things in life are better than a day on the slopes. And music makes everything better. But loose wires and half-open jacket pockets are not things you want on the back country. Moreover, have you ever tried to adjust the volume or skip to the next track using that little white remote on the iPhone earbud cable while wearing your warm…
Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine
Perhaps one day I will own an expresso machine. And but so, in the meantime I guess posting about them on Tools and Toys will have to suffice. I have it on good authority that as far as home machines go, the Rancilio Silvia is the best of the best for the price range. Don't waste your money buying something at Target…
UGG Australia Men’s Ascot Leather Slippers
The first thing I do every day is make a cup of coffee. But before I make that AM trek to the kitchen I put on my UGGs. And, since I work from home, I often wear the UGGs all day. UGG slippers are known for their quality and longevity as well as their comfyness. (Is comfyness even a word?) Right now…
Blue Yeti USB Microphone
When I began writing shawnblanc.net full-time in the spring of 2011, I also launched a subscription membership that gave members access to a daily podcast called Shawn Today. I knew I would need a quality USB microphone for my daily recordings, and so I bought this Blue Yeti. The price is very affordable ($100) and the quality of this microphone is fantastic.…
Instacast iPhone App
Instacast is not the first iPhone app dedicated to managing your podcasts, but it is the first I have ever truly liked. Its most notable feature is that it offers over-the-air updating of your podcasts. You can update all your podcasts at once, or just one subscription, or even just one episode at a time. It will update the listing of all…
Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers
Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit? Are you constantly thinking about how to create things, build new businesses, or how to improve or transform your organization? Are you trying to find innovative ways of doing business to replace old, outdated ones? If so, then this book is for you. This is one book that is best served on the paper it's printed…
Featured Sponsor: Helvetindex Cards
Whether your goal is to capture items for your GTD system or write down a phone number, you can never go wrong with having some index cards on hand. But why settle for plain or lined when you can use something that has been thoughtfully designed to give you structure when you need it and freedom when you don’t. The Helvetindex Card…
Making Ideas Happen
Scott Belsky’s book, Making Ideas Happen, is centered around Thomas Edison’s famous quote that Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. Scott writes with a fondness towards the creative professional, and this book is a tool to help take the constant ideas we have from inception to reality. For many of us there seems to be no shortage of ideas,…
WoodWick Candles
And speaking of fall… nothing says cool weather and just lock me indoors with nothing but my books and writing utensils more than a candle. Well, I guess that's not entirely true. And I guess not just any candle, I mean come on… we are men here. The WoodWick candle from the Virginia Candle Company is about as manly of a candle…
Scott Allan 4 Pack of 100% Woven Striped Ties
Speaking of dressing up… with at least one well-fitting white collared shirt and one nice suit, you can pretty much dress for any occasion by using your tie and pocket square as the only variables. It's amazing how the color and pattern of a tie can be all you need to set the mood of your outfit. And so, assuming you already…
Solid Color, Silk Pocket Squares
Gentlemen, Fall is nearly here. That means Fall weddings, Fall formal events, and any other excuse to get out and put on your suit coat now that the days are getting cooler again. And in this man's humble opinion, there is no better way to dress up a suit coat than with a neatly-folded, solid-colored pocket square. I suggest silk for formal,…
Victorinox Swiss Army Rambler Pocket Knife
An item that belongs on the keychain of every man in the world and in the purse of every woman. There are all sorts of small pocket knives out there, but this tried, true, and simple Victorinox Rambler is, in this author's humble opinion, the best of the best. It has the size benefit of the classic but with a few additional…
Acme Made’s The Clutch Designer MacBook Laptop Bag
Speaking of messenger bags, this brown, designer-coated canvas bag from Acme Made continues to catch my eye. I haven't seen one in person but I've heard from a few who have and they like it.
Build Your Own Timbuk2 Bag
Timbuk2 arguably makes the best messenger bags in the world. I have one and I love it. And what more could you ask than to have your bag built to order? You can get exactly the size you want, in exactly the fabric you want, with exactly the color combination you want. And you can rest assured that when you receive this…
Tivoli Audio’s Model Three Clock Radio
A repeating theme here promises to be products which find the blend between vintage and modern. And this jaw-dropping clock radio from Tivoli Audio is no exception. Tivoli Audio is renown for their fine products which balance form and function in a way that many product designers only dream of. This Model Three just may make getting up in the morning a…
Banana Republic’s Shawn Sunglasses (Seriously)
Though I much prefer the look of the TOMS Classic 301, how could I not list these aviators from Banana Republic?
Machinarium for iPad 2
Ever since that weekend in the 5th grade when I binged on Super Mario Brothers I have spent very little time playing video games. But thoughtful, and artistic puzzle games like Machinarium have always caught my eye. I played through Machinarium when it first came out for Mac a while ago — it has a wonderful soundtrack, the artwork is beautiful, and…