By Jessica Ridenour

Silicone gadgets look great, tolerate searing temperatures, stay flexible, and clean up well. Are they safe in the long run?

Zid Zid Kids is home to fantastical creations for those who see the world from below the table. Based in Morocco, Zid Zid offers modern and whimsical kid-sized products children (and adults) will find irresistible and imagination-provoking. From pillows to poofs, Julie Klear’s designs are completely delightful.

What's the most energy-efficient way to make a cup a tea?

Hint: It's not your grandma's tea kettle.

When you're expecting a baby, you want a nursery that's beautiful, welcoming and soothing. But you also want to create a place that's safe for your child to breathe and play. Many building supplies and home furnishings contain chemicals that can be harmful when ingested or inhaled.

"Children are like canaries in the coal mine," says Maggie Wood of Maggie Wood Design, a New York-based design and consulting firm focused exclusively on green residential and commercial design. "They're the ones who will be affected by much lower levels of toxins and chemicals. If you make one room in the house green, make it your children's room."

When you live in a city, bags are a snapshot of life. Lugging a backpack or duffel-or conversely, a garment bag-equals gym membership, a laptop case means you work too much. Leather attachés are for the make-or-break clients.

Problem: Most of us are jocks, workaholics, and masters of the universe, all in one. Result: Bag schizophrenia. The wrists ache at all this stuff that carries our stuff.