if your looking for stuff to buy at michaels-

I love my bake even strips, and flower nails for baking.
I like my small Wilton leveler for leveling the cakes... I can't do it without it.
Disposable piping bags too.

aggiechef, I tie the strings in a bow around one of the "spikes" in my upper rack. I love that little bag! I used to use the baby bottle basket but some of the holes were too big and I'd find the tips at the bottom of the machine.

ive been too embarbassed to ask what the heck are these flower nails?

It looks like a giant silver nail. They're used to make roses (and other flowers)... but you can also turn it upside down, spray it with Pam and put it in the center of your cake pan to help it bake evenly
http://cgi.ebay.com/Wilton-Flower-Nail-1-1%2f4%22_W0QQitemZ260358480745QQcmdZViewItem