Every cubicle dweller knows the dangers of leaving your chair and walking to the water fountain. People will try to chitchat, your boss may see you and ask you to come into her office for a second, or you might miss an important phone call.

The solution is simple: a mini-water dispenser, perfectly desktop sized. The one getting lots of attention these days is available at multiple online retailers. We found it at ThinkGeek. It dispenses your minimum daily requirement of eight cups of water a day. It isn’t a cooler, but you can freeze the water (or whatever you want to fill it with) and let it thaw during the day. It’s only about 20 inches tall and is $15.

There are a couple of other tiny water dispensers on the market that might interest you: The Hello Kitty pink one is about the same size (although it features Hello Kitty saying “Please Drink 8 Glasses of Water” on it) and is $17 at Toys ‘r’ Us. A “cute” desktop dispenser features a funny pig face where the water is dispensed. It also holds eight glasses of water, but is a little more expensive at $25 from DealExtreme.

The football games are coming, and it’s time to start thinking about beer. Not just the beer you’re going to drink, but what you’re going to serve it in. Toss the plastic cups. It’s time to upgrade. You could go with some basic but classy glasses, like the assortment at PubGlasses.com, where you can pick from a variety that can be personalized for $15 a glass (or get the special football game glass for $10 each). CocktailVibe has the Oslo beer glass ($32 for a set of 4); Pottery Barn has a solid-looking set of six British pint glasses for $28; and at Williams-Sonoma you can find a set of four glasses and have them monogrammed with your initials for $59. If you want to have a bit more fun, consider a pilsner glass with a color-changing LED base or a set with a witty saying (”Half Empty? Half Full?”) in Italian from Sur la Table for $39.50 (pictured, set of four). Uncommon Goods always has amusing and interesting items, like their artful set of glasses that make the beer look suspended in mid-air, or the set of four glasses with your “house rules” for football game parties. Or go all-out for your team with a crystal freezer mug complete with team logo (3 for $12.99). Want to really get fancy? A pair of Lalique Louvre beer glasses will cost you $142, or a handsome set of four Waterford crystal beer glasses will run $250. But aren’t your friends worth it? Now that we’ve got you thinking about beer glasses, why don’t you just go all the way and buy real German beer steins? At BeerSodaSports.com, there are all kinds of steins such as a Bavarian beer ceramic stein with a metal lid, for $38. Or go straight to BeerGlasshopper, where the selection is as wide as your new HDTV: from a real ox-horn with a pewter lid and base ($285), a 3/4-yard glass (with stand) that holds 68 oz. for $80, a 40-oz. Hofbrauhaus Octoberfest dimpled glass mug (pictured), a Swiss hand-carved colorful stein complete with fancy lid for $130 or - and yes, they really do drink from these glasses - an 80-oz. Hofbrauhaus glass drinking boot for $70. And, when your friends have had a boot or two, and shatter your precious purchase on the floor, just remember: That’s what friends are for.

You can’t buy love. But you sure can surround yourself with beauty that is good for the heart and soul. That notion would seem to be the organizing principle behind the eclectic offerings at Rian Rae Interiors & Gifts, which specializes in unique but comfy home décor pieces that make use of elements found in nature and are, quite simply, beautiful to behold. They’re also so sensually and texturally alluring that you might just long to reach out and touch them, like these geometrically shaped hand-crocheted pendant lamps ($224; pictured) or this French crinkle pendant made of white glass ($379). The Bamboo Cloud chandelier was designed by a Thai artist using traditional bamboo-weaving techniques in a nontraditional way ($690). The roof of this handcrafted lantern ($1,898) is covered with oyster shells. Cuddle up on the couch with this crocheted wool throw ($148), and put a cup of hot tea on this coffee table made from an antique Fench pigeon basket ($1,385). (more…)

Did you make it to Lollapalooza last weekend in Chicago’s Grant Park? Were you in the crowd for Wilco, Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails or Kanye West? No? Sigh. Neither were we. But that’s fixable. Read the Blogapalooza, take crib notes from the 2008 set lists, buy the shirt and say you went. The Lolla Coat of Arms women’s T (pictured) would do the job nicely, with its black and gold eagle stretched above a Lollapalooza banner ($20). You can get that same coat of arms on a Lollapalooza onesie ($15). A little more cash will get you extreme eye candy with the limited-edition custom-made Lollapalooza skateboard by Element ($95). If you’d rather be the center of attention for having not attended the CMA Festival, you can accomplish that with the 2008 official event shirt, which splashes the logo across your chest and lists the musicians down your back ($20), or even the official 2008 CMA shooter glass (and yes, that is its actual name) for $10. Wishing you’d gone to Bonnaroo? The 2008 limited-edition silk-screened event poster will help with that, since it’s got cool funky art and lists all the musicians who performed ($30). You say you’re more of a Coachella kind of girl? Then it’s the “Sound Waves and Heat Waves Unite” Hula Hula T that is calling your name ($35.) And if you’re really holding out for the music itself, you can still get single-day passes to the 2008 Austin City Limits Music Festival Sept. 26-28 ($80 per day) or grounds tickets to the 2008 Monterey Jazz Fest Sept. 19-21 ($35 Friday, $45 Saturday or Sunday). The longest-running jazz festival in the world already has its own official black, electric blue and gold 2008 event shirt online as well ($25), so regardless of whether you go, check it out. It’s as cool as Coltrane. — by Diane Porter

Multicolored anodized aluminum is back and as sleek as ever for the home. First popularized by the Art Deco movement, the process of making the metal’s surface harder and less reactive with acidic substances resulted in beautiful objects for the home like these rare English Art Deco anodized pink ($375) and green ($175) aluminum vases from Decollect. For the noncollector, we found a set of six tumblers at Sur la Table ($30) just right for outdoor entertaining. And for keeping the ice cream cold, Betty’s Attic has a retro aluminum ice cream bowl set ($18). For cocktails, Target offers sets of colorful martini and margarita (pictured) glasses ($30 for a set of six), and for nondrinkers there are juice tumblers ($20 for a set of six). Each one features a different color on the outside (like turquoise, eggplant and olive), and a mirror finish on the inside. Pour the beverages from a huge 98-ounce retro pitcher ($20). And if you’re in the market for a bud vase, TVA has a charming example of anodized aluminum that comes in your choice of red, purple or silver. Hand washing is recommended for all items.

Thank goodness for the Web. How else would you be able to score handmade home goods from around the world? (Unless of course you’re going to pull a Phileas Fogg?) Enter Poppytalk Handmade, an online “street market” showcasing handmade goods from artisans worldwide. The key differentiator from other craft sites like Etsy.com is that Poppytalk Handmade features a monthly theme. July’s market is themed “Home Sweet Home!” and features goods to make a house a home. August’s theme is “School Days!” appropriately enough. Much like an antiques emporium, the site features a limited number of screened “sellers,” who rent their space by the month. We were drawn to artist Michelle Brusegaard’s unique take on formalwear, which includes striking, signed digital prints of gowns hanging on clotheslines ($15 each). Also nifty: Domestic Construction’s pendant lighting made entirely of tea cups ($58). Beehive Kitchenware’s bird measuring spoons ($88; pictured) and other kitchen goods are the antithesis of standard issue culinary wares. The same can be said for Flappergirl Creations’ sexy aprons and coffee cup cozys ($28, $12).

It’s a garden of wonders at home decorating stores lately, as the classic theme of fruit has been revived with enthusiasm and now inhabits a wide range of home items. Fruit-themed pieces are fun, and an easy way to give your home a summery look. The pineapple has long been a popular motif in home decor. The pineapple hearth candelabra (pictured) is a graceful way to dress up the fireplace during the off season($55); it supports six pillar candles and is crowned with sculptural pineapple votive cover. The wrought-iron pineapple wall frieze ($80) is a striking adornment for any doorway. These lifelike porcelain pears and apricots will fool any guest reaching into a fruit bowl. Created by artists Lorraine Taylor and Nicky Smart, the sculptures are molded from real fruit and meticulously tinted and glazed ($72 to $400). Top off that mantle or sofa table with this handsome Belcaro pear box made of wood and decorated with bronzed leaves ($136). A & I Home Décor specializes in fruit decor, including grape, mixed fruit, strawberry and the pineapple (again!) kitchen wear, yet the perfect fruit for any country kitchen has to be the apple. We like the kitschy table clock ($30), the audacious big apple bread box ($32) or the cheerful ceramic three-piece tabletop set ($11). Finally, the Dale Tiffany fruit ceiling pendant lamp would look gorgeous over any dining table, with its warm fruity glow (on sale for $203).

Cast-iron pans are beloved by many chefs, for good reasons: They can go from stove to oven, they are ideal heat conductors, and when properly cared for, they can last decades. Two basic skillets are the Keilen 11.5-inch cast iron skillet at Sears ($9) and Williams-Sonoma’s sturdy 12-inch Lodge skillet ($27). A more sophisticated version can be found at Ginny’s, which carries Paula Deen’s Swirled cast-iron skillet ($50) and matching Dutch oven ($90), with a red enamel exterior and a white enamel interior (pictured). The enamel lining makes it easy to clean and doesn’t necessitate the seasoning and oiling required by more traditional pans. Cabela’s has a cast-iron starter set with three skillets, a Dutch oven with lid and heavy gloves, perfect for cooking over a campfire ($80). Lodge Pro Grid’s cast-iron griddle has a ridged side designed for cooking chops, and even vegetables; its smooth reverse side is ideal for making pancakes ($45). For Dutch ovens, look no farther than the big sale at DutchOvenPro.com, where you’ll find the Ultimate Turkey Roaster set, complete with roasting rack (on sale for $78). What’s Cooking America offers a useful guide to using and caring for your cast-iron cookware — it’s best to wipe off and oil them rather than scrubbing with soap and water. Once you have your pan, you can make skillet cornbread or recipes from Crate & Barrel’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook ($17).