Inventive alarm clocks

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The nights are long, and mornings are cold and dark. This means it's harder than ever for most of us to get out of our warm, cozy beds and start our days. Fortunately, there are some innovative products out there that can actually make that dreaded part of the day a little more bearable.Clocky -- Like a strict mother, you get one chance with this firm alarm clock. Snooze just once before clocky runs away (over wood or carpet). Then you're forced to get out of bed and track down this alarm who makes it his business to find the best hiding spot in your room. (Sharperimage.com $49.95) Flying Alarm Clock -- Time flies with this feisty alarm clock. When your wake-up time hits, this alarm emits a loud and obnoxious shrieking and the propeller top flies off, landing feet away from your bed. You, sleepy one, have to find the propeller top and secure it back on to the base to stop the blaring. All that action is guaranteed to get the blood flowing and you out of bed. (Thinkgeek.com $24.99) Peaceful Progression -- For those of us who don't like to be startled into our days, try this gentle and natural alarm clock that begins 30 minutes before wake-up time by gradually increasing the light in your room, filling it with aromatherapy to stimulate the olfactory sense, and soft nature sounds. The final portion of this wake-up is a buzzer, should you need it. Perhaps best of all, this alarm works in reverse to gently help you fall asleep at night. (Hammacher.com $49.95) Oddball Clocks -- For the retro lover in you, try one of these wacky wake-y machines that bellow out sounds ranging from the more traditional cow mooing to the monkey yelping to an alien-approaching alert . And, at 12 inches large they make for great room decor when not in use. All the various animals are rounded up in one spot and priced at around $15 at mookiegifts.com NYC Alarm -- Join the rest of the folks from the city that never sleeps with this NY-inspired, taxi-cab alarm. Plus, waking up to loud traffic sounds and blaring horns is a great way to prepare you for that work commute. Available at one of my perpetual favorites, Perpetualkid.com, for $15.99. Just like mama said, you have to start the day out right. For some, that means a balanced breakfast, for others (like us) that means an alarm to help us start the day at all. Hopefully one of these inventive little alarms will be right for you.(Helen Malani is the chief shopping expert for Shopzilla.com, an E.W. Scripps company, and the largest comparison shopping search engine on the Web.. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com)