Banglz offers an easy way to do this with ankle and wrist weights that are meant to be worn everyday. These soft velcro weights are quick and easy to put on, and come in 1lb. ankle and 1lb. or 1/2 lb. wrist varieties. But sure, you can buy wrist and ankle weights anywhere. What makes these special? First, they are soft. The weights are rounded neoprene sleeves filled with sand. There are no pointy edges or lumps to deal with. But what really sets Banglz apart are the styles. Banglz come in a dozen different colors and patterns: black and white chain print, retro polka-dots, denim, zebra, tie-dye, and more.

The idea behind Banglz is that they are stylish enough to be worn every day. They aren’t going to fool anyone – they are bulky in a way that even the chunkiest jewelry is not. But they are certainly cute, and far more stylish and comfortable than traditional weights. Once, many moons ago, I bought a set of Reebok wrist and ankle weights but they were clunky and painful to wear. They now sit in a box in the closet. Banglz are appealing to the eye and the touch, making me more likely to put them on, even if it just to take the dog for a walk or while doing laundry. Every little bit, right?

Banglz are reasonably priced at $25 per pair. The fabric covers are not attached to the weights, so they can be washed separately. I would love to be able to buy additional covers without having to purchase new weights. A girl’s gotta accessorize.

Available at Amazon.com or Banglz.com

Delirium & Co.’s Silver Period line of clean-burning soy candles (with a 55-hour burn time) is the perfect balance of fragrance. We checked out Scarlet Grapefruit, which blends whiffs of ruby red grapefruit, red currants, apple, mandarin, jasmine, and amber. The fruity notes prevent the florals from becoming overwhelming, while those same flowers add a sophistication that is not often found with fruity scents.

Delirium & Co. is the house brand from Los Angeles luxury candle boutique Candle Delirium. Their Silver Period line – housed in silver Warhol Factory-style glass jars – is designed to evoke the beauty and glamour of the golden age of cinema. For more info or to purchase, please visit CandleDelirium.com.

The Simpsons is inarguably one of the most influential television shows in history. Winning countless awards and breaking countless records (including being the longest-running prime-time show in US history), The Simpsons is celebrating twenty years (and twenty-one season – and counting). What better way to celebrate than with the 20th season on Blu-Ray?

Season 20 was the first season The Simpsons went HD (though not until the second half of the season) so it seems fitting that it be the first season released on Blu-Ray. All 21 episodes are spread out on two discs, and look beautiful. The standard def episodes are as crisp and clean as the HD episodes. Interestingly, the audio on the HD episodes sounds flat and tinny – it actually sounds bad. Standard def episodes have audio that is crisp and well-mixed. To add to the disappointment, there are no extras, save for a five-minute preview of the 20th anniversary special directed by Morgan Spurlock. Frankly, I think that “preview” is the opening segment of the show that will air.

I get the feeling that this season was rushed to Blu-Ray to go along with the anniversary. All the early seasons that were on DVD (I think they are up to season 12 currently) are clean, sound good, and have some extras. The people putting together the DVDs took their time. Season 20 feels slap-dash, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they release a new and improved version in a couple of years.

I hate Purell. I love the sanitizing quality, but it feels sticky and heavy on my skin. Luckily Burt’s Bees has a solution with their own, all-natural hand sanitizer. Utilizing ethyl alcohol for sanitation, witch hazel to soothe, and aloe vera to moisturize, this liquid spray leaves hands soft and clean without any funky residue. The only downside is that the 2oz spray bottle is not quite as convenient to carry in your purse (though I have had Purell leak all over my bag, and it wasn’t pretty), but I can live with that.

The slender Neoprene sleeve offers protection without bulk or added weight. On a recent trip, I was able to slip my laptop into the front pouch of my suitcase until I checked in to get around the two carryon items rule. There is a zippered pouch on the front for cables and chargers. The pocket is very small – my MacBook charging cable barely made it in, and I gave up on getting the mouse in there. I would like a small handle on top for easy handling. Price points are around $40.

As their name would suggest, Designer Sleeves offers hundreds of different prints on their laptop sleeves. I loved the industrial, apocalyptic “Skelestar” style. Another favorite is the inter-office envelope, for the MacBook Air. Others include tie-dyes, animal prints, camouflage, tropical beaches, flowers, waterscapes, and much more. They will even work with you to make custom-designed laptop cases. There are no prices listed for this service, but it is meant for corporate orders.

Sleeves come in six different sizes, but be forewarned: just because the photos on the website portray MacBook Pros sticking out of all the cases doesn’t mean they are sized for MacBooks. MacBook sleeves are in a separate section. Sadly, only six designs are currently available (only three for the MacBook Air – but one of those looks like a manila envelope, like in the commercials).

Designer Sleeves are available at Amazon.com

With airlines charging fees atop of fees for checked baggage, now more than ever you will want to find a way to jam it all into your carry-on. Mandarina Duck has a new line of lightweight, polycarbonate carry-on luggage that offers a clean, modern aesthetic. We checked out the DROP overnighter.

Contents: We packed our carry-on with one pair of jeans, one t-shirt, a sweater, a MacBook Pro (15″), a small toiletry case, a smaller makeup case, a book and an iPod.

Pros: The polycarbonate shell is durable yet still amazingly lightweight. It comes in a range of deep, shimmering shades (gunmetal, navy, ruby, green, and black). The wheels roll easily. Separate zipper compartments keep your dirties separate (or your unmentionables unmentioned). A removable, padded laptop case makes it easy take out your computer for security.

Cons: The handle feels a little wobbly. And really, it doesn’t fit as much as it looks like it should. All the above items barely fit. It took a good amount of wiggling to get that zipper closed.

Verdict: I like it, but ultimately I am not sure how practical it is for my needs. Right now, they are hard to find, so I don’t have a price point on them – that would be a big deciding factor.

Best of all, Calypso Studios’s totes come in a variety of colors and patterns that change seasonally. At $10 per set, you can get patterns to match your every outfit and mood. “Safari” consists of three animal prints; “Trend” is a collection of mod patterns; “Cabana,” our favorite, is a bright orange collection of summery prints – that’s just to name a few.

The water-resistant polyester bags have a weight limit of 20 lbs., so you may want to reserve these bags for lighter shopping trips. I like to keep one in my purse for when I go clothes shopping.

To purchase, click one of the styles above, or visit CalypsoStudiosInc.com

Chesapeake Bay candles were started in 1994 by Mei Xu and her husband David Wang. Named for the Maryland bay that is their home, Mei began her candle empire in the basement of their house, using soup cans as molds. Fifteen years later, the line has moved just a wee bit beyond soup cans. All candles are made of soy wax with 100% cotton wicks for a cleaner, longer-lasting burn. In keeping with the nature theme, Chesapeake Bay’s Signature line consists of eight scents inspired by nature, made with natural essential oils, and hand-poured into glass jars decorated with trees.

We checked the ozone scent, Sheer White Musk. It is a wonderful blend of white musk, sheer jasmine, and tender violets. The scent is soft and soothing – not overwhelming like many musk/jasmine scents. Personally, I found the amount of scent to be a little lacking. I liked that it wasn’t overwhelming, but I want to be able to smell it without having to stick my nose into the jar. Price points are very reasonable: $20 for a candle with 35 hours of burn time. Reed diffusers, pillar candles, votives, and travel sets are also available.

Visit ChesapeakeBayCandle.com to order.