We love it when someone takes an ordinary object and re-imagines it as something else. We also love products that fold away for easy storage, since not all of us have space to spare. So in a way we were charmed by the Cardboard Album Customizable Cot. It’s industrial-chic! It’s recycleable! But then we noticed the price tag. It retails for about 184 euros…which is a little more than $250 American dollars. I have three cardboard boxes in my recycling bin right now that will do the trick -- gratis. Add to that the slacker-parent guilt you’d have watching your baby sleep in a cardboard box -- a notch below letting him sleep in a dresser drawer.

What do you think: ridiculous or innovative?

What’s the point of this game? To Rock Your Heart Out!

Rock Band 2 works with all third-generation consoles, including Nintendo Wii, Sony Playstation 3, and Xbox 360. One to 4 players can rock the guitar (bass or lead), drums, or the mic. Hitting the right rhythms and singing the right notes (on cue) are the keys to advancing in the game. It's not as hard as it sounds though. Luckily, you can play on Easy Mode until you're ready to move on to Medium, Hard, or Expert.

 

 

I like how our band has to play gigs in our home town until we’ve gained enough fans to play at bigger venues. Then, when we have enough money, we travel around the world in our private jet, earning more fans until we become superstars.

I also like the new No Fail Mode feature. Even if you don't hit the right buttons, you still get a pass. My 5-year-old cousin and I play in this mode; it lets everyone play and just have fun! (And hey, if you or the kiddies end up liking an instrument, maybe it’s time to learn how to play it for real. I already want to get myself a guitar and start strumming.)

Check out these rocks stars to see how it’s done!

 

Used by permission of Sony Electronics Inc.

Dreaming of perfect pictures for the holidays and beyond? The Sony Cyber-shot, which now starts at $129.99, is super-easy to use, with a built-in Carl Zeiss lens and cool face detection technology to help you catch your squirmer's smile. The palm-sized cam is light and sturdy -- mine has survived being jostled around in my purse for a few years now. Double anti-blur solution means clear pics of your little angel’s first Christmas, first steps, or first face-full of pureed peas. (Check out Flickr's examples of interesting photos taken with the Cyber-shot DSC-W170.)

Price: 7.2 Megapixel Cyber-shot starts at $129.99
Manufacturer: Sony
Available at: Sonystyle.com

This contest is closed, but stay tuned for other great giveaways in the future!

You know those new Volkswagen commercials where Brooke Shields acts like people are having babies just to get their hands on a minivan with German engineering? Silly, yet oddly compelling. Well, I’ve found a couple of companies that would do even better with the have-a-baby-so-you-can-buy-our-product concept. They make diaper bags.

I know there have been a lot of cute diaper bags released in recent years: No one has to walk around with quilted pastel gingham anymore. But these just go beyond:




This one's from a company called Babymel, and though it won't be available in the U.S. until early 2009, it'll cost under $100. Love it! I don’t technically need the changing pad inside, but it might be awfully useful when I want to sit on a sort-of wet park bench…

The other bag I love is from Timi & Leslie, and costs $170:



Come on, that’s fabulous, no?

It's time for all of us to lose those boring white sneakers! New Balance celebrates the Beijing Olympics and the 20th anniversary of their popular M576 shoe with their China Mask Limited Edition series. Bright colors, bold patterns, and artwork based traditional Chinese opera masks make these some of the most unique kicks you'll ever see.

Price: $100
Manufacturer: New Balance
Available at: www.sportieLA.com