The cheese does not stand alone

Mouse-Shaped Cheese Knife

There are some images of animals and their counterparts that are eternal: cats will always want to eat birds, hay is for horses, and mice will risk life and limb to get the cheese. As such, there is no shortage of themed material available for these iconic mash-ups. If you’ve got a cheese (or mouse) fan on your gift list, this Mouse-Shaped Cheese Knife at Sur La Table would make a fine addition to their collection. Unless of course, they have a collection of real mice, which in that case it might be a little inappropriate.

Ultra-hyper-mega-cute animal drinking mugs

Upside Down Animal Mugs from Décole Japan

They look like little ultra-cute pieces of chotcke sitting on a shelf into you turn them over, and then you see these pieces from Japan’s Décole are actually drinking mugs. The Upside Down Animal Mug collection measures about 4 inches tall each (upside down or not) and come in three hyper-cute versions: cat, panda and piglet. These mega-cute little drinkers will set you back $20 each. Too much cute? Yeah, maybe.

***UPDATE 9/29/13*** Looks like things got a bit topsy-turvy at the link above; they are sold out. However, here is a link to the upside down panda mug: Decole Animal Face Mug – Panda. Hyper-mega-super-cute lives on!

Pig Mitt now, therapy later

Boston Warehouse Pig Decorative Mitt

As a promotional tie-in to the new movie, the SciFi Channel recently ran a Land of The Lost marathon. Deeply rooted memories of Sleestaks and Pakuni bubbled up as I tuned in to watch, but amid all the cheesy sets and bad acting one character emerged that I did not remember: the spray-painted pig.

Apparently the mortal enemy of Chaka and the rest of the Paku, the pig was adorned with bright blue and pink circles. I can see how that may be frightening, but nothing compared to this Pig Mitt from Boston Warehouse I ran across today. Perhaps it’s due to revived Sleestak nightmares, but I’m pretty sure the teeth alone will frighten any small child. Star this oven mitt in a stop-action animation, and you got yourself not only a needed kitchen accessory, but a hit TV show as well. In the early 70’s, that is.

Wide-mouthed frog serves up no flies

Frog Dip Bowl & Spreader

I had a frog growing up. Well, a frog-shaped cookie jar, that is. I think he had a yellow bow tie. While that distinguishing feature somehow made raiding the cookie jar OK, this wide-mouthed frog has a bowlful of dip in its belly.

The Frog Dip Bowl & Spreader brightens up the party spread. Good for dips and cheeses, the earthenware frog comes with a spreading knife to match. It’s not easy being green, but this little guy keeps trying — hopefully those aren’t flies in that dip!