In 1917, a guy was selling a confection of sugar and egg whites he created in his Somerville kitchen. He was bought out by H. Allen Durkee and Fred L. Mower, both graduates of Swampscott High and veterans of the United States Infantry in World War I. They started the giant Durkee-Mower company that is still producing Fluff today.

Fluff is essentially a marshmallow spread you can put in your hot chocolate, you can spread on a sandwich (with peanut butter it’s called a Fluffernutter) or you can do what one of my officemates does, you can spoon it out of the jar.

It’s so lovely, it has its own festival.

Try the rare, flavored raspberry and strawberry Fluff. You can get four jars shipped to you for $16!

The Albertine Press in Somerville is doing something special.

What began as a custom design and print studio has grown to include a full collection of greeting cards, note cards, and coasters available at stationery stores and gift boutiques across the country.

And you can now get their letter-pressed designs online.

World Notes, blue - six letterpress printed note cards — are just stunning. They are inspired by patterns used in the four corners of the globe, and you get six handmade cards for $14. They are truly the keepsake cards you use when the occasion is one-of-a-kind.

If you’re not into blue, they also have red, purple, green or gray.

Shaded under trees, Old Schwamb Mill in Arlington displays a whole mill-full of museum quality Shaker furniture, both beautiful in form and precise in its use.

But what really caught my eye were these Pewter Dragonfly Measuring Spoons.

Know two things about me: I’m a sucker for dragonflies — I have a whole jewelry box full of them. I am also always running out of measuring spoons — either my kids have appropriated them for their toy cooking set or I’ve just used the last clean tablespoon for molasses and now I’ve got to find something dry for the baking soda.

They are beautiful decoration with a very precise function. For $61.25 you’ll find a tablespoon, full, half and quarter teaspoons right within reach right when you want them on their own decorated rack that is almost six-and-one-half inches wide. The pewter is lead-free and dishwasher safe. And if you’re are truly in love, the Shaker Workshops sell matching measuring cups, pewter hooks and even a coffee canister.

If you’re buying for the kind of mom who thinks and act of love is helping her lug barrels full of three-quarter stone up the driveway, you might be looking around for a garden tool for next Sunday’s big day.

Think about the Task Force 16-inch cut reel mower at Lowe’s. It has five blades — I like the 10 inch wheels — and the two-year warranty. (Don’t fear the blades — local businesses like Siraco Sharpening Services can take care of them once a year for you.)

It’s environmentally friendly — no gas, no extension cord to worry about — and at $89.98, it’s going to be less expensive than yet another diamond. You can buy a bag to trail behind it to catch clippings, (total cost around $130), but hey, you could always save that for an anniversary gift — unless you’re sold on that diamond. But if you’re buying for a mom like me, just offering to do the first trim of the grass might be enough.

I know it’s the Year of the Rat, but my friend was born in the Year of the Rooster.

So I’m getting her this “Loud Rooster” set, part of the Republic Zodiac collection at Aisle 9.

They have big bags and little bags and lunch bags and pencil cases, but I thought the wallet ($5.90) and keychain ($4.90) were most appropriate.

And if your friend wasn’t born in 1993, you can try some of the other animals in the zodiac– Loyal Dog, Naughty Monkey, or even Pretty Rabbit. But don’t limit yourself — if you think you’re a Super Dragon and your birthday is really Vibrant Snake, I won’t tell.

My friends with the perfect Asian-inspired decor have found they just aren’t sure how to mix the Japanese pottery and Chinese paintings with their latest addition, a baby. And now that the dear child is walking and talking and breaking things, my friends were just stymied.

(Rolling my eyes just a little) I hopped over to the Super 88 super-sized Asian grocery store in Malden. (They’re not just in Boston’s Chinatown anymore.) There I found pretty, printed bowls, in my friend’s condo decorator colors, and best of all, these are dishwasher safe and … plastic!

Do not tell anyone this is 99 cents a bowl! It just won’t be that hip if every hipster with kids is doing it.

We got the call about 15 minutes before everyone was coming over. One of my soon-to-be-guests thought it was nice to give me warning that my husband had invited over the whole crew — and by the way, they were hungry.

Luckily I had crackers on hand, some cheddar, some grapes and….. in the back of the cabinet was the very last jar of Wasik’s Yankee Chutney. Normally I’d spread the pears-and-apples jam on a roasting chicken, but piled up in a small pottery bowl and a fancy spoon, well it looked like I expected to have a full living room of snackers. Not bad for $6.50 a jar.

Next time, I hope Rachel calls 20 minutes early so I have time to find the napkins — passing off folded paper towels as fun almost gave me away.

My husband will pretty much wear any tie that isn’t boring old stripes. But whenever he knows he’s going to meet new people, he’ll usually pick a tie from Lebow’s.

Ties with patterns of money, rock bands, fish, computers, elephants … we’re always going to luck out and find something he’ll wear at Lebow’s.

Lebow’s is a men and boys clothing store that specializes in uniforms, hard-to-fit figures and even has a section for men with Down’s Syndrome (men who tend to have wider necks, be of shorter stature and have shorter arms than the average man).

But we’re always finding ourselves there to expand my husband’s tie collection. They have two kinds: silk specialty ties are $28.50 and polyester are $18.50.

When I saw these at the Blue Cloud Gallery, my local gift store in Somerville, Massachusetts, I had no idea these toys were California dreamers.

Blue Cloud’s Jumping Jacks started life in Ventura, California in Terrie and Richard Floyd’s workshop.

I’m used to seeing figures like Santas or jesters made into Jumping Jacks — pull the string and the joints move — but I’ve never seen them with animals.

Not animals this nice, anyway. They have tigers and elephants, but here in New England, we look for more tame playmates.

This looks like a happy cow. I’m not sure if he’ll like New England’s changing seasons, but he’ll certainly brighten up our toy room.

Being 10 inches long and 5 inches tall, I’m guessing he’ll be more of a wall ornament than a puppet on a shelf, but at just $26 for a handmade toy, he’s quite a find.

Prom — May Dance — Spring Fling — whatever form it takes across the land, the shindig puts a real stress on relationships around the lunch table. So, in all the anticipation of the “big event,” ladies, don’t let your anxieties or drama about who your date will be distract you from what’s real: the bond you have with your gal pals. They’re the ones who’ll want to see if you still have a copy of that photo you’ll take together on that special night, 10 or 20 or even 30 years later at the reunion. So, by all means color coordinate! Seeing these jewel-like Nicole Miller pastels hanging together at Sissy’s on S. Main St. in Pittsford, NY (marked down to $150! 585-383-8512) took me back, what can I say? For all the prom mom’s out there, take plenty of pictures, and share the moment with your old lunchroom posse. It’s times like these that I wish we’d had iChat.

Those of you out there who’ve already gotten “the dress” — SHARE YOUR FINDS with us. If your tips are useful, we might just chip in for the big night. Post your comment below, or go to the left rail of this blog and click on “Share a Find.” Your virtual gal pals will thank you.