Regular readers will know about our love for all things kooky – pixie haircuts, gappy teeth, lollipops and lamps in the shape of giraffes.

Pompoms are our latest penchant, and with the help of this handy gadget (from 8.95) we’ve managed to whip up dozens of them.

After reading about the Clover pompom maker on one of our favourite blogs, we searched far and wide to find one. Toronto’s Passion Knit has various sizes in stock, and once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever pompomed without one.

Our plan is to tie knitted baubles to our holiday gift wrapping or make garlands for our staircase and tree. We may even make some pompom leis for our friends.

Laugh if you like, but we predict a trend.

Passion Knit, 3355 Yonge St., Toronto, 416-322-0688, www.passionknit.ca

If spag bog is a weekly staple in your kitchen, it’s time to let loose and get saucy.

After all, Italy’s staple food deserves more than a basic ragu.

At Scorcia, in the York Mills area, you’ll find a selection of pasta sauces (from $8) that would impress even the pickiest of nonnas. And for an Italian dinner that’ll knock your Tod’s off, don’t miss out on the antipasti, flavoured oils and aged balsamic vinegars.

One bite, and you’ll feel like you died and went to Rome.

Scorcia, 3421 Yonge St., Toronto, 416-787-8426, www.scorcia.ca