While traveling about Cyberland, I came upon a few household “toys,” that are sure to add a bit of whimsy to your kitchen. Whether you use them, or not, they’re good to drop into any conversation that starts with, “Have you heard about . . . .”

Beeswax Reusable Wrap

I got this wrap as a stocking stuffer last Christmas. It’s a set of three waxed squares used for wrapping such things as chunks of cheese, a half lemon, a snack lunch or a bowl of leftovers. The washable and reusable sheets are made from organic cotton, beeswax, organic jojoba oil, and tree resin. 

Anything that sounds so perfect must have a down side. One online tester, who admits to an acute olfactory awareness, thought she detected an odor from the food that had been wrapped in the sheets. I haven’t. But, then, my sinus condition may lessen my nasal sensitivity. 

There are several versions of the product selling on Amazon. The one I have, Beeswax Reusable Wrap, is made in Vermont and sells for $18 for a set of three colorful squares. The handy kitchen wrap is a happy alternative to plastic, but not a total replacement.

Ember Ceramic Mug

A Time magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2017” award went to this temperature-controlled mug. With an ordinary cup, you have only 37 seconds to enjoy your java at its ideal warmth. But an Ember mug maintains your brew (coffee or tea) at an optimum 136 degrees. The ceramic walls of the cup create convection currents that keep the heat constant for hours. After that, the charging saucer kicks in to keep it warm indefinitely. 

Learn more at Ember, where you will find the price is a hefty $80 per cup.  Hmm. . . come to think of it, you might want to get up and reheat your coffee mug in the microwave afterall. Sold in some Starbuck stores.

Halo Top Ice Cream

The manufacturer of this 360-calories-per-pint ice cream says you can eat the whole thing without regret. The low count comes from using the zero-calorie sweetener Stevia, as well as sugar and sugar alcohol. Available in most super markets at about $5 per pint.

Nessie Soup Ladle

You can be the only family on the block with a Loch Ness monster peering from your soup pot.  When Nessie comes “ashore,” she has four tiny legs to stand upright on the counter. Available at animicausa.com for around $16, (but I’ve seen them much cheaper at other places online, depending on their size).