It's all good. Really.

"When money is tight it is even more important to remember how many other things we can do to better our world other than just writing a donation check. We make choices in our day to day life that have a tremendous impact on the world around us."

—from Shoppin' With Lovin'

We came across this quote by way of Boom Boom! Cards, an intentional acts of random kindness kit that includes a deck of 26 cards and instructions for doing something nice for someone else. Like what? How about burning a CD or creating a playlist with inspirational music for someone who needs to hear it? Or thanking all of the school secretaries at your kids' school---when it isn't Administrative Assistants Day?

Basically, the deck is stacked so that you can't do anything but good. Each kit comes with an online code where you register your set of cards. As you cross do-good acts off your list---like asking someone who is alone at lunch to join or remembering to hold the door open for a stranger---you do two things. First, let the world know about it via your online Boom Boom! account where your card is 'played' and geographically tracked. And then, you take the Boom Boom! card you just used and leave it for someone else to find. If we all act right, the goodness goes on and on and on.

What's the point? The creators, who worked on the idea for a year before actually launching the cards in early '09 are talking 'bout a revolution. The good kind.

The Boom Boom! team is convinced that there is "a small but growing army of people who are sure that we can re-vision the world we know and create the world we want through simple actions that allow us to reach out and exercise the innate altruism that lives in all of us."

Sounds good to me. Check out their blog, complete with video uploads and discussions of the many, many easy ways we can all do good, and order a deck at the same time.

Revolutionary acts for everyday life: Boom Boom! Cards - $9.99

Doing more with less

From downsizing our supersized appetites for "stuff" to rethinking the many choices that tend to drain our wallets, 2009 has been the Year of Doing More With Less---less money, less time, less fanfare, etc.

But if anything, we've learned that scaling back the way we spend time and money hasn't been that bad afterall. For years I've owned a copy of Dining on a Dime, the how-to recipe treasure by frugalista Tawra Kellam, but only in the last 12 months has it been in such heavy rotation that I actually had to hound a friend to return it to me after I loaned it out.

Anyone looking to offer a meaningful gift while sticking to a tight budget will appreciate Tawra's book which is jam-packed with tips, techniques and innovative ideas on everything from creating homemade (classy, too) gifts for the teacher to how to stretch leftovers in new ways. Check out the book, which goes on sale ocassionally. The Dining on a Dime series is easily one of the best buys you'll ever make.

Gone with the wind

First off, we weren't sure what to expect when Dyson offered us the chance to try out its new DC23 Turbinehead, billed as the latest in "Level 3 Root Cyclone" technology. But once we got going, we quickly realized that's exactly what this 19.5 lb. unit is: a cyclone.

The DC23 Turbinehead seemed a bit bulky when we removed it from the box, but once we put it together---in all of, oh, 30 seconds---it became apparent that this powerful puppy was on a mission to remove all of the dust, debris, pet hair and yucky stuff we didn't even know was ground into the family room carpet. Our black lab's stubborn hair was no match for the 220 air watts of relentless suction. Even though we were tempted to see if our 6-year-old's Star Wars Legos stood a chance, the kid's howls of anguish stopped us before we could suck 'em up.

In addition to the sheer power that the DC23 packs, we could appreciate the additional tools for vacuuming stairs, crevices (don't go there) and the brush tool.

Not easily swayed, this mom---who absolutely hates cleaning---put the Turbinehead to the ultimate test: cleaning the family Sequoia. The verdict? No more trips to the self-serve car wash where the vacuum cleaners never really get the job done. The Turbinehead performed wonders, handling everything from sticky candy bar wrappers and fast-food leftovers to taking out those fine, black rubber granules that come from playing football on a turf field. The tools were especially good at removing gunk sandwiched between seats and beneath the seat-belt receptacles.

The receptacle that holds all the dirt has us promising to do better---there's nothing like having all of that dirt and disgusting stuff trapped in a see-through canister.

If you're already a Dyson fan or consider yourself a household gadget geek, then this is just preaching to the choir. But for naysayers who wonder whether the $399 is worth it, here's the deal: Yes, it's a lot of money, but in an economy where most of us are trying to make the most of every dollar, the Dyson comes with a 5-year warranty, their technical support is terrific and you can't beat the cleaning job that a Dyson does. Hands down, Dyson makes the best. Period. Washing the filter (there are no bags) takes only a few minutes a month and for those of us whose kids often end up wheezing and carrying on as we dust and clean, the unit is certified asthma & allergy friendly™.

---Gail H. Towns