I have a long list of standard Chicago experiences handy for when tourists visit: the Magnificent Mile, Navy Pier, deep dish pizza, and a visit to the Bleeding Heart Bakery (1955 W. Belmont; 773-327-6934). The organic bakery boasts an overwhelming array of vegan and gluten-free treats, but fear not, stubborn carbovores — there are plenty of scrumptious traditional goodies for you, too. More punk rock than crunchy hippie, BHB features an extravagant array of cupcakes painted with neon frosting in decadent flavors like Mexican hot chocolate, mango chile, dulce de leche, red velvet, and peanut butter bacon. Their cakes have gained some notoriety, too — co-owner Michelle Garcia has appeared on the Food Network’s Extreme Cakes (dummy reproductions of their winning cakes and their medals sit above the door). Visit their website for more information, the latest cupcake flavors, or just to drool. — Katie D.

A friend thought I might be interested in these Tin Can Lids by Jack Bresnahan, and was he ever right. We recycle to within an inch of our lives, but how cool it is to get inspired to reuse. The toppers give the cans a nice modern industrial feel. See more at Dezeen. — Mary T.

Finding dolls that encourage our daughters to use their imagination has been a bit of a challenge. (Although not as big of a challenge as steering away from dolls that look, well, trampy.) The Topsy Turvy Doll is a winner on all counts and a great value to boot. Each doll is actually two dolls — reverse the skirt and Alice becomes the Queen of Hearts — and the detailing is incredible. We gave the Alice doll and the Mermaid doll as birthday gifts and both were a hit. Find them for $28 at North American Bear Co. If you’re not into dolls, Topsy Turvy Pets include a dinosaur egg that turns inside out! — Sarah L.

Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday. Exactly why that is, I’m not quite sure. Maybe it’s the stuffing, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. Or maybe it’s the drama-free memories of our family and close friends clustered around a too-tiny table enjoying a meal together. It could be how every year, without fail, my dad and I would slip into a l-tryptophan nap on the couch watching a Mel Brooks movie before pie was even served. Or it could be the simple act of gathering loved ones together over dinner and giving thanks for what the year has brought us. A whole holiday based on appreciating what you have is a beautiful thing, indeed. Of course, now we need to know what you think: what makes your turkey day special? — Megan B.

NOTE: We’re taking the rest of the week off. See you on Monday!

Photo by S Brown

Confession: I never tasted crab until I was 23. Completely forgivable, as I grew up in the Midwest and didn’t live out East until after college. But now that we’re back home, we miss the fresh seafood! In the fall and winter, our local store stocks vacuum-sealed blue crab. A bit pricey at nine dollars for eight ounces, but the taste of a classic Maryland crab cake that’s more crab than breading brings back a lot of great memories. — Sarah L. Click for the recipe. (more…)

While at first glance I didn’t love the Dreamgate Wallband, something about it made me take a second look. Now I’m trying to convince my boyfriend that we have to have it! The folks at Studio 1a.m. look at this piece as a reinterpretation of a headboard and consider the extra-long proportion inspiration for creative placement. The wallband is made of reinforced cork and comes with self-adhesive backing to make installation simple. —Erica P.

Art Mind made it to the front page of Etsy for this series of egglike “mini art feeling” sculptures, but it was the Oh, Deer art sculptures that caught my eye. These little dears (Sorry!) would add a modern holiday twist to a mantlepiece. And surely they’re better than “those stupid Pottery Barn reindeers”! — Mary T.

The zoo has long since lost its childhood magic for me. The work of Fern Bisel Peat, however, continues to captivate. She lived from 1893 to 1971 and while her illustrations appeared in books, magazines and paper doll collections and on tin toys and puzzles throughout the ’30s and ’40s, I can find little of her work after that. My favorite is still the first one I saw, “Cinderella,” published in 1943, which was my Mom’s growing up. The stepsisters look rotten enough to make your molars ache and Cinderella has lost none of her charm. You can find Cinderella, and other great examples of her work, at AbeBooks.com. One I’ve just discovered is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Tanglewood Tales, a retelling of the Greek myths for children, which show a different side of Peat’s work. Thankfully, it seems I’m not alone in thinking her work has lost nothing over time. Single-page folios from books, original watercolors, and this new puzzle can also be found on Esty and eBay. — Sarah L.

It doesn’t matter what we think; clearly there is still a market for large-scale vinyl wall decals. How else can you explain these latest from Bodega? Designed by a series of modern artists, they’re quite a bit edgier than the vinyl decals we’ve gotten used to seeing, and some are downright disturbing. What do you think — would they apply at your house?

Related: A renewed love for wall decals

You’d think an adult wouldn’t be so excited over lollipops as a birthday gift, but that was definitely not the case when my husband received salted caramel lollipops made by This Charming Candy. The lollipops are handmade by two friends in Seattle and Sunnyvale, CA, respectively. The small batches mean they’re super-fresh, and the pure creativity means they’re exceedingly delicious — and I am not usually a huge fan of hard candy. Choose from flavors like tangerine-clove, pomegranate, even a Twilight-inspired selection. (I’ll allow it…I guess.) Most are $18 for for 12 lollipops. Remember, they’re handmade in small batches, so order early if you want to get some for the holidays. — Mary T.

Related: Fran’s Salted Caramels