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If you’re on a diet, don’t read on. You’ll be rushing straight to the first store and stocking up on chocolate.

I’m not even a big fan, but I admit the Chocolate Coasters look absolutely delicious. They’re made from a rubber compound, but they look just the real thing; they even come in two colors… no discrimination against white chocolate lovers.

No, coasters are far from the most important thing in life. But for people who love subtle combinations of everyday things, drinking a hot chocolate from a cup sitting on a chocolate coaster has a certain unexplained appeal.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $12.95 on AnimiCausa.com.

Via Outblush

If you’re a man who happens to admire the miracles of Mother Nature, such as, say, rainbows… you’re in trouble. Try wearing anything rainbow themed and you’ll be either made fun of or congratulated for being so brave to wear it. Like it or not, the rainbow is not a symbol of the gay movement and there’s nothing you can do about it.

But a set of coasters can set it straight for you (pun unintended): I’m Not Gay, I Just Really Love Rainbows. The message is clear enough. And the guy in the picture? No, not a homosexual; you just like 80s disco. Fact.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $4.99 on BlueQ.com.

Although the website is in French, you don’t need a translation to figure out what the Clumsy Coasters are. They’re obviously made to look like spilled water… exactly the thing you’re trying to protect your furniture against by using them.

I never used to pay much attention to my tables and cabinets. That is, until I actually bought my own furniture and starting seeing every spill as a way of losing my money’s worth. I started using coasters then and, while you can get perfectly functional ones for free or at least very cheap, innovative coasters (or dessous-de-verre - literally “under the glass”, as the French call them) can make a very nice touch for guests.

Each set comes with two coasters, making them a bit too expensive for what they do, but sometimes the design is worth it.

How much under $29.99?
A little: ~$21 on Atypyk-E-Shop.com.

Via bookofjoe

Most men try to act all tough, but we know that they’re not really like that. He might say that Valentine’s Day is a silly holiday, but it’s about love, after all, and any excuse is good for that. As long as you buy him some gifts that he’ll appreciate (hint: no red hearts, nothing pink), Valentine’s should be a great opportunity to make your relationship better. You don’t have to go over the top - just show him your love. If you’re still not sure what to get him, check out our Top 7 Valentine’s Day presents for your guy.

7. If you want to get him something he’ll like, but also get a tiny little advantage out of it, consider the Circuitboard Coasters. He might find the supreme geekiness reason enough to use them and stop ruining your table.

6. Men and clothes… usually not a good combination. Clothes are complicated, you have to match the colors and all sorts of useless stuff. The FTW t-shirt is the ideal solution for guys who hate the notion of “fashion”. Black goes with anything and the message tells the world that everything’s going great for him.

5. Do you have a slightly childish (and yet so adorable) boyfriend? Get him a LEGO Star Wars watch. Features two cool things: LEGO (ah, the memories of endless hours of fun) and perhaps the greatest SF saga ever.

4. If a man likes beer, it doesn’t mean that he’s a slob or that he spends all his free time in a bar telling dirty jokes to his friends. Beer drinking can be classy too: get your man a set of Beer Bottle Goblets and have a drink with him!

3. Perhaps your boyfriend has to work in a stuffy office. He might not like wearing a suit, but he can’t do anything about it. A small and tasteful accessory could make him feel less like a company drone. The Light Bulb Cufflinks look ordinary most of the time, but when you push a button they light up.

2. They say every man is a kid at heart and I think there’s a lot of truth in that. You can test the theory by giving him an USB Whack it! and watching the reaction. My money is on “Ooh, a whack-a-mole! I used to love them when I was a kid!”

1. We mentioned the office and being a young at heart. How about combining them? The Dart Blaster is a toy that can ensure hours and hours of chaos fun at the workplace.

After you buy a new (and maybe expensive) table, those “weird” people who insist on you using coasters don’t seem so weird anymore. It’s not such a big effort, and furniture just looks better without stains.

But, if that reason isn’t enough for you, here’s another one: fun! Yes, coasters can be fun. At least LED Coasters can. They come with built-in LEDs that light up when you place your drink on them. So you can get a fun blue or pink gin tonic (and at least you won’t confuse your glass anymore).

A bit too expensive for just some fun, but damn it, they just look so cool!

How much under $29.99?
A little: $24.99 on Brookstone.com.

Via ShinyShiny

Ever since I bought my own furniture, I’ve noticed I’m a lot more careful around it… I’ve even started using coasters!

Well, actually I started using coasters because I found a set of cool ones. Cooler than these ones or not? I’m not sure. The Circuitboard Coasters are definitely innovative. Who’d have thought to make coasters out of old circuitboards? They come in a set of six, in a box with its very own circuitboard top.

Probably only appreciated by computer geeks, but at least you’ll know they’re unique! (they’re made out of different circuitboards, of course.)

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.99 on ThinkGeek.com.