This doesn’t look cool, or new, or even interesting. It looks like an old phone — the kind that had a cord. Oh, but looks are deceiving. This is the Telespy, a motion detector that senses if someone comes into your home, and then calls you to let you listen to what’s going on in the room. Sure, it’s good to have in case someone robs your house. But it’s even better for listening to your kids when you’re not home, or even hearing things your significant other might say. Not that you would do anything like that. Would you? We spotted it first in the tech/design blog ProductDose.com, but it’s sold by Smarthome for $84.99. It’s already so hot, they’re sold out right now — but they’re taking orders for more. By the way, it works like a real phone, too.

You thought nothing could ever replace that ubiquitous workplace tool, the stapler. It may be time to toss that red Swingline: This odd little plastic device is a staple-free stapler. It attaches up to five pieces of paper without using any of those nasty little metal pieces. Somehow, we’re told, this new age stapler cuts a small square in the paper, folds the little pieces in on themselves and tucks them into a paper pocket. It’s touted as environmentally friendly (although we’re not sure if saving the world from little pieces of metal is better than making more plastic devices) and it’s cheap at $5.99. The little stapler comes in a multitude of colors and there is even one that’s shaped like a purple kitty for the kids. We spotted it first on ThinkGeek.com, but you can also buy them at Wrapables.com (where they have a little pop-up graphic to show you how it works) or at Amazon.com.

Crock pots are so ’70s. Today the PC term is slow cooker, which enables us would-be gourmets to feel more gentrified about our pot roast. One of the most stylish on the market comes from high end cookware manufacturer All Clad, exclusively at Williams-Sonoma. It comes with that trademark stainless steel exterior and holds seven quarts. Soups, stews, chili, ribs, dips, pork loins – do it just like Mom did: add ingredients to cooker, set timer . . . done! Your warm dinner will be waiting at the end of the day. Sweet. White ceramic insert goes from cooking to serving to fridge to dishwasher. Sweeter. A bit pricy at $149.95, but you are paying for All Clad’s reputation and exceptional craftsmanship. If you like the stainless look, but prefer a lower price, check out Target.com – they have one from Rival, on sale for $39.99. Still in need of inspiration? Take a peek at The Gourmet Slow Cooker, a cookbook by Lynn Alley ($18.95 at Sur La Table online).

What is the crucial decision on the mind of most teenage girls right now? Shoes. Back-to-school shoes, more specifically. According to ElleGirl Magazine, it’s all about sneakers. There are so many styles of trendy canvas footwear out there, you probably need help deciding. The magazine has an online back-to-school shoe gallery, but here are the highlights: Vans, Chuck Taylors, Reeboks, Nikes, Pumas, Coach, on and on . . . they all have wildly colorful variations on the sneaker theme. Here’s a pair worth pondering: Reebok’s Freestyle Hi Basquiat Classics for $199.99. Don’t worry, though: The old standards are cheaper, yet still stylish. Hilary Duff has been seen trotting about in her old black Chuck Taylors, and Mischa Barton was recently padding around in plain white Keds.

OK, so Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts were dusted 23-10 in their pre-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys. That’s exactly what the Colts had in mind. After all, they slinked in at 1-3 in last year’s pre-season and wound up as Super Bowl champs. The Colts were 0-5 in 2005’s exhibition games before winning their first 13 regular-season games. So don’t fret — and grab your Manning gear now. We like either the Peyton Manning signed jersey or the official Colts helmet signed by Manning. You make the call.

It may be broiling outside, but fall is creeping closer. And you - well, you’ve probably been wasting time sitting around watching golf every weekend on TV. But it’s not too late to treat yourself and a loved one to an upscale picnic. Dean and Deluca, the trendy New York-based grocery, has everything you need to provide the perfect outdoor dinner - complete with gourmet food. Their Ultimate Picnic Trunk comes with a built-in table and tasty goodies such as triple creme brie and fig almond cake.