Connections Puzzle Book

We became Connections fans instantly and remain daily players of the fun and at times maddening game by puzzle editor Wyna Liu. Connections makes its print debut, allowing offline puzzle solving. You’ll find some previously published boards, some new ones, and special print variations. If you haven’t heard our Design Tangents podcast episode with Wyna, it’s a great time to download it.

Use this code to sign up for a 20% discount on this book at Bookshop.org

This product is sold by Bookshop.org

Notes in Repose Limited Edition Vinyl LP

Blue Bottle’s Notes in Repose is their first LP release, a work featuring 11 contemporary jazz compositions which were performed and recorded in their cafes in different markets. Participating artists include Gary Bartz with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Makaya McCraven, Jeff Parker, Angel Bat Dawid and the Kyoto Jazz Sextet. The project was created as a way to celebrate its Signature Blends, including Giant Steps, named after John Coltrane’s seminal album. Blue Bottle views the tension of jazz akin to the blending and roasting of their coffee. The 12″ LP is pressed in heavyweight 180g vinyl and runs 44 minutes.

This product is sold by Blue Bottle Coffee

Éditions de la Tour × Analog:Shift Vintage Watches Playing Cards

Our friends at Analog:Shift dropped a watch-inspired set of playing cards with Éditions de la Tour, adding to the ephemera they feel is part of celebrating and collecting watches. The horologically-themed standard deck features 52 different watches curated by Analog:Shift’s founder James Landin and is beautifully designed and printed. It focuses on various influences, styles and details; number cards feature blueprint-style illustrations, and full color illustrations bring the court cards to life. As with all of Éditions de la Tour’s decks you’re getting some of the best playing cards available.

This product is sold by Analog:Shift

Women’s Hometown Down SE Jacket

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Jackson, Wyoming-based Stio released a limited edition of its best-selling Hometown Down Jacket in a denim print that brings a fresh point of view to the season. It has everything you love about the classic jacket like an easy fit, a responsibly-sourced 800-fill ALLIED Feather water-repellent goose down and printed Illume Sire fabric, all with a Mountain West-inspired twist. The handwarmer pockets, adjustable hood and interior pockets make it an easy-to-wear winter jacket on and off the slopes.

This product is sold by Stio

SmoothSip Slider Ceramic Insulated Travel Cup / Mug

Owalla’s SmoothSip® Slider Insulated Travel Cup / Mug is lined with ceramic, which doesn’t hold the flavors and aroma from past contents and offers a less metallic taste. It comes in many colors, 12 oz and 24 oz sizes, and all with your choice of with or without a handle. Prices start at $30 for the 12 oz cup up to $40 for the 24 oz mug.

This product is sold by Owala

Nordic Seed Crisps

Jöey Nordic Seed Crisps are new on the scene and deliver a tasty crunch in many flavors, including our favorite, Nori + Tamari. These gluten free crackers are great to snack on out of the package, but go well with cheese, dips, anything you’d normally put on one. Watermelon seeds are the one ingredient you may be less familiar with, but they are among the most water-efficient and nutrient rich seeds, packing lots of magnesium, zinc, potassium, protein and iron. Pumpkin, sesame, flax, hemp, chia and sunflower round out the recipe along with brown rice flour. Various three packs and boxes are also available.

This product is sold by Jöey Organics

Friar Park x Niwaki Meditation Jacket

Niwaki—one of our favorite gardening brands—has launched a collection inspired by the gardens at Friar Park, the long time family estate of George Harrison known for its quirky architecture and extensive gardens. Though George passed in 2001 his wife Olivia still lives there, and their son Dhani grew up there. He has passionately cared for the gardens since his father died, and his appreciation of Niwaki’s gardening clothing and gear turned into a friendship with the founder. Fast forward to the new collaborations, which include this 12 ounce Akamimi Japanese denim meditation jacket and a set of tools. The jacket is long and loose with an oversized hood and large patch pockets; and an embroidered Japanese maple leaf gives it a bit of flair.

This product is sold by Niwaki

Cat Bed Air Purifier

The One Is All combination pet-hair filter and air purifier looks like a slightly cute, squat droid. Though it’s touted for capturing cat hair its floor-height induction quarantines any animal fur. The biggest appeal is that it features nearly inaudible operation. Plus, the hair is contained in a distinct trap to prevent clogging the separate H13 HEPA and activated carbon filtration systems. The latter reduces pet odors and traps dander and dust. Turn it on and forget about it; the One Is All reads air quality and adjusts on the fly without needing input from its human owner.

This product is sold by One Is All

Tartan Reversible Rain Jacket

We’re not fans of cutesy apparel for dogs unless its functional, and with winter coming so does cooler mornings, rain and snow. For those days we like The Foggy Dog’s reversible tartan jacket, with tartan on one side and a solid color on the other. Available in green or red tartan. There’s an access point for the leash on the back, and the jacket is water resistant and has quilted insulation. A pocket with a snap holds poop bags treats. Available in other styles and colors.

This product is sold by The Foggy Dog

Plastic Free Programmable Coffee Brewer

Simply Good Coffee set out on a mission to create a coffee maker with no plastic components. It’s not that it’s hard, but it does take a lot more time and it costs more to execute—which is why even great coffee brewers have some if not many plastic parts. We advocate for as clean a kitchen as possible, glass storage containers, silicone accessories, non-chemically coated cookware, and natural cleaning products. Simply Good’s brewer looks and functions like most brewers, they’ve just gone through the time and expense to do things the right way. What you get is one less place where hot things you consume interact with plastic, and a little more piece of mind about clean living. You also gets a machine that is more robust and less likely to need replacement parts.

This product is sold by Simply Good Coffee

Yuzu Ginger Non-Ale Beer

This product is sold by Minus Moonshine

Matic Robot Vacuum + Mop

Matic Robot Vacuum + Mop has been cleaning up CH HQ for a few weeks now, and we’re impressed both by how well it performs and how considered its design is. From the site to unboxing, set up and operation Matic makes it easy. It has a pretty unique form factor with swagger despite its compact size, and small touches like googly-eye stickers give it more personality than most robot cleaning devices. The app is well designed and easy to use. The data it collects stays on device, meaning maps of your home or office aren’t uploaded and shared and stored remotely. Advanced computer vision (it has five cameras) help it view and map your space, allowing it to easily operate in low or no light and avoid obstacles. Vacuumed material (including liquids) goes into a HEPA-12 bag, which has gel-forming salts that solidify the liquid, resulting in a single bag that is easily removed and replaced without needing to empty a dirty liquid chamber. The rotating microfiber mop uses fresh cleaner, and what comes off it when it cleans itself also goes into the bag. Designed and assembled in California, Matic has consistently met and exceeded our tests, easily cleaning crumbs in corners and dog hair everywhere, and its mop takes care of minor spills easily. While we truly have no notes, the office dogs would definitely tell you not to bring one home.

This product is sold by Matic

2010 Rosé Champagne Damien Hirst Limited Edition

Dom Pérignon only releases a vintage when it feels it has something to say, and all of its releases are vintages—there is no standard product. Unlike most Champagne maisons who strive for consistency in their expressions and style, Dom Pérignon consistently seeks to create vintages that push and pull at the brand’s hallmark elasticity. The maison has partnered with Damien Hirst, who created a gift box and the bottle’s label, featuring a new take on his 2001 Kaleidoscope works. He took inspiration from the brand’s crest / label and made that the repeating element in the works, a blue and purple one for the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2018 and a pink and red one for the Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2010. The 2010 Rosé rose from a cooler than usual spring, a hotter than usual summer, and a dryer year—until an August deluge dispensed months of rain in a 48 hour period, impacting some of the grapes with a common fungus. The grapes matured quickly and were harvested quickly thereafter, and the resulting vintage is one of contrasts and tension between “light and darkness.” It’s a great looking addition to a great wine, ready to be enjoyed or gifted. Dom Pérignon x Damien Hirst Vintage 2018 is priced at $305.

This product is sold by Wine.com

GorillaSharpener

The GorillaSharpener is a collab between two favorite brands—MB&F and Caran d’Ache, their second take on the brand’s iconic sharpener. Limited to 300 pieces, it features the sharpener in Alpine Frost blue supported by silver gorilla arms and legs. It can sharpen round and hexagonal pencils and is delivered with a set of pencils and a mounting clamp. In addition to bringing a little fun to your desktop each GorillaSharpener sold is a donation to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. It’s also available the the brand’s M.A.D. Galleries in Geneva and Dubai, it’s Lounge in NYC, and Labs in Beverly Hills, Silicon Valley, Paris, Singapore and Taipei.

This product is sold by MB&F

Mushroom Chips (six pack)

Popadelics Mushroom chips are simply dried shiitake mushrooms and seasonings—nothing more. These healthy vegan snacks come in three flavors, Rad Rosemary + Salt, Twisted Thai Chili and Trippin’ Truffle Parm. Available in single varieties or the variety pack with two packs of each flavor.

This product is sold by Popadelics

Phone Tatami Mat

At a recent sushi dinner in Tokyo we were presented with a rectangular tatami mat. It was both a thoughtful gesture and a moment to put our phones screen-side down and focus on our meal. Founded in 1740,  Kuboki Tatami makes a full range of tatami products and clearly isn’t stuck in its past, continuing to bring tatami to the way people live. The phone mat comes in nearly 40 different colors and patterns and is now part of our everyday carry—with both a physical purpose (keeping your phone germ and dirt free) as well as a note to slow down and enjoy a meal with presence.

This product is sold by Kuboki Tatami

Z5IIC Camera

The “C” in the new Nikon Z5IIC stands for “casual” and incorporates scene modes for the first time in any Nikon full-frame camera. Toggle the camera to a scene and the camera does the rest—night, portrait or any of its 15 modes. Unlike a typical point-and-shoot this is a full-frame mirrorless camera with a 24.5 C-MOS sensor and the depth and clarity provided by the EXPEED 7 image processing engine – the same processor used on the brand’s flagship Z9. The biggest bonus is access to Nikon’s massive lens library, from current Z-series to historic F lenses back to 1967. Price is for the body only, multiple options are available with various lenses and accessories.

This product is sold by Nikon

BoostCharge Pro Magnetic Charging Power Bank 10K + Cable

Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro Magnetic Charging Power Bank 10K + Cable is a substantial and capable charger. Attach it to a MagSafe iPhone with its quick-charging 15W for a rapid recharge. It has a stand that works horizontally or vertically, and it will work with any Qi2 supported device. A built-in USB-C cable delivers 20W, so you can quickly charge your AirPods or other earphones, or your iPad or other tablet at the same time. Add an additional USB-C cable and you can charge three devices at the same time.

This product is sold by Apple

Arc’Teryx × Beams Anniversary Collection Gamma Jacket

A 25 year design collaboration between Beams and Arc’Teryx reaches new heights with the versatile Gamma Jacket, a piece that’s as comfortable on the streets of Tokyo or mountain biking or climbing in Squamish, The recycled nylon and spandex material is extra stretchy and breathable, and there’s no added PFAS in its water-resistant coating. It’s part of a new six-piece capsule collection that includes a highly technical do-over of the Theta AR Jacket (much loved by serious alpine skiers and climbers). To commemorate this relationship milestone the ARC’TERYX × BEAMS collection kicks off museum exhibitions of both brands in New York and Japan this week. The capsule will only be purchasable in person at Beams stores in Japan, and Arc’Teryx stores in Canada, China, the U.K.and the U.S.

This product is sold by Arc'Teryx + Beams

Pore Refining Toner Pads

Thayer’s is a CH favorite for its natural, simple and effective formulations. One of their everyday basics—Thayers Pore Refining Pads—is a great way to clear away the dirt, grime, sweat and residue from your busy day. A simple, effective formula—witch hazel and salicylic acid on pre-moistened pads—is all you need. One side of the pad gently exfoliates, the softer side helps clear any impurities, and together this simple step reduces your pores and preps your skin for what’s next.

This product is sold by Thayers

Lion Collection Lip Veil

This product is sold by Chantecaille

Charcuterie Trail Mix

Raisins, take no offense, but we’re excited about Beest Snacks’ Charcuterie trail mix featuring roasted almonds, pork jerky chips and parmesan crisps with some seasoning and zero added sugar. A 4oz bag delivers an impressive 52g of protein in 660 calories. Beef jerky chips, pork jerky chips, and assorted sets provide lower cost and more options.

This product is sold by Beest Snacks

Embroidered Paint Hoodie

House of Errors’ new Embroidered Paint collection hits all the right notes with its unique approach to capturing the artistry of dripping paint. This hoodie features more than 800,000 embroidered stitches and takes 17 hours to embroider, creating a casual yet beautifully crafted piece. 100% cotton, machine washable, and unforgettable

This product is sold by House of Errors

Voyager Series USB-C Rechargeable Batteries

Paleblue’s Voyager Series USB-C rechargeable batteries provide a simple way to power all of your standard household items without compromise or hassle. They can be recharged around 1,000 times, providing years and years of more eco-friendly battery power. Currently available in AAA, AA, C, D, 9V and CR132A, packs of 2-12 batteries are available (depending on the size) and prices start at $25 for a four-pack of AAA or a two-pack of 9V. The USB-C recharging cable is included in each pack and charges four batteries at a time; just plug it in to one of your existing compatible chargers.

This product is sold by Paleblue

14p USB Light

Bocci’s 14p is a portable version of their iconic 14 light introduced in 2005 light. The glass sphere has two halves which beautifully distribute the output, and has three settings for helping you set the appropriate mood. It charges quickly, with a 45 minute charge providing between 80 and seven hours of light based on intensity. Available in multiple colors.

This product is sold by Bocci