I hope that everyone had a safe and good Labor Day weekend. I was unable to get online to write Monday and Tuesday, so I’ve missed you all. It’s back to school here in our household, and that meant shopping, and more shopping, and as the class teachers send home extra more detailed supply lists for classes like science and math there will be even more shopping still.

I wanted to share with you one of the more fun and interesting things I found while shopping. Of course this cute fellow resides on my desk and not in any of the boy’s backpacks. He’s a little too pink for them. There was a puppy version, but he was purple and they all passed on him as well. I am tempted to go pick up the puppy stapler to keep my kitty stapler company though, just because they are such a cute pair.

My cute feline friend here is a staple free stapler. I love these things. I generally buy my boy’s teachers each a staple-free stapler of some sort as a teacher gift every year. I’m thinking this year they will all be getting these adorable versions instead of the usual plain blue, red, or green ones that I’ve found for them in the past.

If you’ve never used a staple free stapler before, I highly recommend them. They are much easier to use, and they join the paper just as sturdily as a standard stapler. As an added bonus they take up less desk space, and you don’t have to keep those pesky metal staples in your desk drawer either.

When you are sitting at your desk most of the day you may tend to take your keyboard for granted a little. It’s just sort of always there and we don’t really think about it very often. I have a confession to make, my keyboard is my favorite gadget. I know that sounds very strange, but it is one of the most important and most often used things in my entire house.

No matter what your job may be if you’re on the computer during the day it’s worth it to take the time to choose a good keyboard. If you’re on the phone during the day as well, a quiet touch keyboard may be beneficial to you as well. If you’re moving around a lot a wireless keyboard could be just the thing you’ve been hoping for. Just remember to charge the power between uses!

One keyboard that I found very interesting and is currently at the top of my wish list is the Saitek Eclipse II Keyboard. This keyboard gives you a choice of backlighting colors in purple, red and blue adjustable via a dimmer mechanism. Key characters and keypad illuminate in the color you choose. Colored lights such as these are believed by many to improve your mood throughout different times of the day and particularly in the evening when there is no natural sunlight. It also has standard features such as weighted base and large area rubber feet to keep it firmly planted to the desk, and silent keys for those long typing sessions.