Continued: Bright ideas can lighten the load

Bloated, cranky, premenstrual women of America: You now have a buddy in your monthly battle with PMS. Former Minneapolis native Jordan Eisenberg, 27, launched www.pmsbuddy.com about six months ago, "as a service that makes people laugh and has real utility." The site features PMS tips and facts from a doctor, suggestions for how to be a good partner (buy chocolate, send flowers) and an e-mail feature that notifies boyfriends, husbands and other males when the women they love are nearing that time of month when they might want to crush your face. "It's not at all intended to be sexist," said Eisenberg, of Denver, who notes that women are on the pmsbuddy creative team. "But women really hate it when guys ask them if they have PMS." In fact, Eisenberg's wife told him she'd kill him if he talked about her. He might want to send those flowers. Quickly.

Apparently, not everyone is losing naps over a struggling economy. High-end stationer Felix Doolittle has a line of play date cards for the toddler set. The palm-sized cards, with your choice of nearly 100 illustrations from pint-size cowboys to mermaids, feature heavy stock paper and rounded edges. The child's name is written at the top; the parent's name and contact information are at the bottom for play date planning at a minute's notice. A set of 20 cards is $30. Go to www.felixdoolittle.com.

Looking for a fresh alternative to that dinosaur called the greeting card? Sendaballs are 10-inch vinyl playballs with a variety of messages, including "Have a ball on your birthday!" and "Bounce back soon!" The balls are hand-addressed, stamped and delivered -- fully inflated -- by regular mail. The Chicago-based company also ships to colleges and military addresses. Priced about $20, with a $3 charge for overseas shipping. Go to www.sendaball.com.

Here's a new way to speed date: Think "8." Aish New York, a Jewish social and educational organization whose umbrella organization pioneered speed dating in California in the 1990s, has created Dinner D8. Here's how it works: Sixty-four single professionals, all in their 20s and 30s and evenly divided by gender, enjoy cocktails, then an elegant three-course dinner, moving from table to table, with schmooze breaks in between. By evening's end, participants have had the opportunity to meet up to 32 potential mates. "It doesn't have the overwhelming pressure of speed-dating," said Aish program codirector Lisa Baldel, 28. "It's a great meal and a fantastic way of meeting an entire room." The first Dinner D8 in September led to a flurry of subsequent dates, Baldel said; a second dinner is planned for November. But let's not let New Yorkers have all the fun. "This is definitely something you can replicate from market to market," Baldel said.

Carol Brody Fleet was 40 years old and the mother of an 11-year-old daughter when her husband, Mike, died from Lou Gehrig's disease. Reeling from grief, but determined to get her life back and help other young widows do the same, she wrote "Widows Wear Stilettos: A practical and emotional guide for the young widow" (New Horizon Press, $14.95). The book offers tips on how to cope with unfortunate comments, help one's children adapt, manage finances and decide how and when to re-enter the dating world. Go to www. widowswearstilettos.com.

Gail Rosenblum • 612-673-7350