Anyone can tell you the key to my heart is cookies—and giant cookies make me blackout. You could dip them by breaking each in half or take it to the extreme and pour the milk on the cookies. Luckily for us, the folks at Entresuelo1a designed a cup intended specifically for the biggins. Now there’s good news and bad news. The bad: their online store isn’t up yet. The good: you can email them at info@entresuelo1a.com if you’re interested—I know I am!

If you’ve followed Destroy Today over the years, you most certainly know I love my cable organizers. Even if all of my cables are accounted for, there’s no harm in acquiring a few decorative ones, like Leaf Ties and Fork & Cream Sauce by Lufdesign. I especially have my eye on the Leaf Ties, which would add that touch of nature my workspace has been missing.

via Yanko Design

Junjie Zhang designed a beautiful concept for easy keyhole finding. While many car manufacturers experiment with keyless entry and other fancy replacements, this looks like a solid direction for non-auto-related locks.

via Yanko Design

I’ve been asked to be a guest on DesignChat tonight. The discussion will revolve around spring, coffee table books, and Matryoshka dolls. And since it’s live with a chatroom below the feed, you can chime in and ask a question or two. Join us here at 9pm EST.

These cards are pretty clever and they are designed by San Francisco’s own Yellow Owl Workshop. I came across the cards at Upon A Fold, where a pack is a solid $8, but you can buy direct from YOW and get them for a smooth $4.50 (or 5 for $18).

via Ufunk

I’m not much of a tea drinker, but if I had Sharky, I’d gladly have a cup of tea every morning. Unfortunately, it’s only a concept at the moment, but with its novelty appeal, I’m sure it’ll go into production sometime soon. One commenter at Looks Like Good Design did make a good point—”who owns clear tea cups?”

My good friend, Luke Williams, finally launched his weblog—yes, I used the full word. Even though it has only been live for a short time, he already has a solid amount of fresh content. I know Luke is determined to keep this one active—as opposed to his first attempt, which ended up being comment-spammed by myself impersonating some of the more interesting people from MICA. Check it out and let him know what you think.

One thing I have always hated about OS X is the Apple Mail icon. It is way over the top, displaying a stamp with a photo in it and the stamped mark saying “Hello from Cupertino.” Johan Prag decided to take things into his own hands with a series called Redesigning OS X on his blog, &seen. It’s simple, identifiable, and beautiful. I, for one, am glad to have it in my dock.

via swissmiss »

I’m not sure why it took me this long to write a Free Gems post about an AIR app, but it’s time. Focus Booster is a fantastic little utility for improving your time management. It uses the Pomodoro technique, which is based on the following five steps:

1. Choose a task to be accomplished
2. Set the timer to 25 minutes
3. Work on the task until the timer rings
4. Take a short break
5. Repeat, taking a longer break every four rounds

The app keeps this technique simple with a single-click to start and a stop button if need a timeout. You can even set your own work/break length. The UI is beautiful and a pleasure to have on the desktop.

I think time management and personal workflow are essential for any profession. I’ve been trying to start a routine lately, beginning jotting down a list of to-dos for the day. And since I work from home, I take a walk around the block to get into the working-mood. On the walk, I make sure my car is where I left it, especially after my recent impound experience. It’s also nice to get some fresh morning air.

I bring this up because life in front of the computer takes a toll on your body and surrounds you with an endless array of distractions. The more complex the workload, the more stressful it can be to focus. What techniques or apps do you use to stay on top of things?

This certainly isn’t new, considering it’s been hiding in my queue for a number of months, but it’s worth mentioning regardless. The Socket-Deer, by Nendo, is an alternative socket plate, equipped with antlers that cradle your cell phone while charging. It’s a simply brilliant idea, but I can’t find a store that sells it. It might just be one of those great-concept-never-produced sort of products. If anyone comes across one in the wild, be sure to let me know.

via Inspire me, now! »