As someone who was battling and losing to the effects of cross-country travel recently, the idea of jumping into the shower and cleaning off the bothersome lethargy of jetlag sounds like a dream come true...

Calm.com iOS app
• Free
• Calm.com (desktop version)

You know how sometimes you have to just tell someone to take a chill pill? Usually the person just needs an emotional time out; ideally this means literally stepping away from the situation and outside. Something about fresh air and sunlight can help get the balance right. But it's not always possible to get outside, especially at work. So next time someone looks like they need a mini moment of rest and relaxation, send them the link to this app which will help quiet their mind with 7 guided relaxation sessions, ranging from from 2 to 30 minutes. It's not quite as effective as a day at the beach or a hike, but it's funny how powerful sound and suggestion can be.

Here in Illinois, we've got 3-5 more inches of snow forecast for the evening, and here in the house, I've got a bad case of cabin fever. Time to bust out the chainsaws and the lightsabers! More

Quality loose leaf tea is the foundation of a delicious pot of tea, but the pot has a lot to do with it too. To begin, no plastic parts should be involved in the actual brewing compartment - heat and plastic shouldn't mix in the interest of both flavor and durability. Plastic lids or handles are okay. More

I've long wanted to replace our bulky old shower doors with a curtain in our home's one-and-only family bathroom. This shower sees a lot of action, from our daily showers to my son's baths. A curtain eliminates that bottom rail, making it much easier to give baths. And left open when not in use, the room now expands larger than before. I was daunted by the idea of dealing with holes in the wall (and possibly the tub!), but I'm so glad I took the plunge: More

Most advice about healthy living is common sense. A better bed means better sleep. Staring at a screen for too long will bring on eye fatigue. But some tips seem, well... way off. Like this one about TVs and computers in the kitchen. More

Last night at our Design Evening in NYC, Maxwell screened this short film for the attendees and we're happy to share it with you now. More

I'm a solid 6-workouts-a-week kind of girl (and I'd probably do 7 if my Thursday schedule wasn't wonky), but if The New York Times says I should work out less frequently, then perhaps I should take heed. Think of all the extra time I'll have to clean! More

When using appliances like washing machines and dishwashers - putting soap in and taking clean things out - one can sometimes forget that the appliance itself needs a good cleaning now and then. And boy, did my top-loading workhorse need it. To tell you how much, I'll just say two words: Cloth. Diapers. More

Tinké
• $119.00
• Zensorium

Tinké plugs into any compatible iOS device and converts your smart device into a fitness and health monitoring tool to track heart, blood oxygen level, stress levels, and respiratory rate at the touch of your thumb [video below]. The device works by using an optical sensor to measure blood volume changes inside your thumb, revealing cardiovascular health and stress levels (didn't know your thumbs were so revealing, did you?). If you're already using a fitness monitor like the Nike+ Fuelband, Jawbone Up, or Fitbit (or a smart weight scale), this plug-in device could be a great complementary tool for tracking hopefully your healthiest year yet. More