Finding a great looking dress is every gal’s dream - throw it on and you’re ready for a day at the office or a night out with friends.  Shabby Apple, a new online store, is helping to turn the dress back into an every day occurrence, creating amazing stand alone pieces and giving back to countries where they source their textiles. Through work with Unitis, Shabby Apple donates 5 percent of its net proceeds to support work in India.  Every $100 donation provides at least 20 women with access to financial services and the chance to live outside of poverty.  This season, each Shabby Apple dress features a unique hang tag with a micro-credit success story.  Shop and help - a combo very worthy of your time. www.shabbyapple.com

Let’s face it - the majority of wedding rings we see out there are rather standard, either purchased from a jeweler or a glass case, but when you make your own wedding ring, it is bound to be unlike any other.  For the modern bride and groom, New York Wedding Ring is offering couples the opportunity to design and craft their own rings at full-day workshops.  A professional jeweler guides each step of the process, allowing you to be there right next to your honey when he or she decides what stone and grade of metal you’ll be wearing for the rest of your life.  (Nudge, nudge… “I always wanted platinum instead of gold.”  What would go better with a DRY Soda toast at your ceremony than a modern band you created with love?  www.newyorkweddingring.com

The standard refrigerator gallery is moving into the 21^st century for parents of little Picassos and Monets.  Artimus Art is a membership-based archival service that offers several different ways to preserve your child’s work through private and public online galleries.  You can also turn your child’s pieces of art into custom bound books and oil painted beauties that will last as long as the Dutch masters.  To top it off, all pieces sent in are returned in a postage-paid portfolio.  Crayons and finger-painting never looked so professional.  www.artimusart.com

We here at DRY agree that one little sweet treat per day never hurt anyone.  If you haven’t yet experienced the majesty of salt carmels, now is the time.  Decadent, buttery, sugary, carmels are topped delicate flakes of seasalt, creating that same bi-polar flavor combination that got us addicted to kettle corn.  Some of our favorites come from Das, who also offer pieces covered in chocolate, mixed with ginger and pistacio or swirled with chai spices, just to name a few.  They also wrap and ship, making life just that much sweeter.  Try them with Lavender DRY for the ultimate experience.  www.dasfoods.com 

If you’re like us, you’d love to create a keepsake for baby that will withstand the test of time.  And if you like DRY Soda’s modern and sophisticated design, chances are you’re going to love this fresh take on the baby book.  Chicago-based Binth offers a 52-page hardcover book in a green keepsake box to record and cherish baby’s birth through 3 years.  Simple and sophisticated with woodland illustrations in smart, clean lines, Binth is our pick for creating a cherished family heirloom.  Binth Baby Book $110 available at www.binth.com

Here at DRY, it is not often that we are short on conversation, but we have found that Table Topics fosters entertainment at its best.  Asking questions such as “When is it ok to lie?” and “What would you do if you got lost in a big city?” Table Topics sparks more interesting, thoughtful conversation at cocktail parties, on dates, and even on the road.  It is also a great game for kids, encouraging them to express their thoughts and be a part of grown-up conversation.  All editions are available for $25 each. www.tabletopics.com

Over the years, we’ve realized that all the guests at our dinner parties eventually end up in the kitchen. That’s why we’re fans of the cooking parties put on by L.A.-based Simple Gourmet: being in the kitchen is the whole point.  Founder Melanie Barsuk and her team come to your house, bring all the ingredients, and then teach you and your guests how to make simple, amazing recipes.  Great for showers, club meetings and team-building activities, too. www.simple-gourmet.com

We don’t have time for all the things we need to do, let alone the things we want to do, which makes shoes you sew yourself both ridiculously impractical and totally appealing.  We’ve been fans of Simple Shoes for a while, so it’s no surprise they’ve come up with something so, well, simple as do-it-yourself footwear.  Check them out at www.simpleshoes.com

We’re always looking for innovative ways to bring families together, and - surprise, surprise - having a Family Game Night is one of the simplest.  Whether you drag a classic game like Sorry or Monopoly from the back of the closet or pick up something new at a place like Blue Highway Games in Seattle, it’s surprising how fun and satisfying it can be to sit around the kitchen table with your family on a Tuesday night and roll the dice.  www.bluehighwaygames.com

Make everyday a celebration with Columbus-based Jeni’s Ice Cream, in amazing flavors like salty caramel, thai chili, dark cocoa with almonds, and Queen City cayenne.  Perfect for pairing with DRY Soda, Jeni’s ice creams are hand-crafted in small batches, creating unmatched textures and tastes.  We’ve been in heaven since ordering her ”Signature 9,” nine pints of year-round best selling flavors for $85 plus shipping.  www.jenisicecreams.com