Its not often I find a website that definitively embellishes style everyday of the week.  Also, it is not often I find a website that I consider very similar to this blog.  Notcot.org is one of the best sites on the net to find all things stylish and to find the best for the design driven people I know you all are :)!  Definitely check www.NotCot.org out...in fact, check it at least once a day!

Many times, I feel a need...no...an obligation to share all of the fine art that the Web and all of it's goodness has brought into my humble abode over the years.  Looking for and at art on the net is one of my fav. things to do...sorry if that sounds boring...maybe i am but if you share my appreciation of the arts in general you will love the beauty and creativity infused in Thomas Broome's work.  His website is: Thomas Broome's Website ... check it out!

One of the best beverages available by my book Izze is described by themselves..."IZZE (pronounced iz-ee) Sparkling Juice, an all-natural blend of pure fruit juice and sparkling water, is free of caffeine, refined sugars and artificial ingredients. IZZE Sparkling Juice is naturally sweetened with fruit juice only."  Its a great break from all the Colas and whatnot with high fructose corn syrup...if you have never tried an Izze they are sold at most Natural Food stores such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.

Edit:  ALSO SOLD AT STARBUCKS!!!! (Thanks Elissa!)

I've never owned a house and not until August had I even been able to completely decorate my whole room.  But when I buy a house I am definitely going to look into these tiles from Moving Color.  The tiles are "Temperature Reactive" which means when the hot water of a shower hits them they change color like you are pressing down on the screen of an LCD.  It is amazing unique and makes beautiful patterns.  We can all use more things to help us wake up in the morning!

I was bored over the weekend and decided to do a Photoshop tutorial from the Web.  I stumbled upon (randomly not with StumbleUpon) this tutorial to make a photo of yourself look like something from the movie Sin City.  It goes step by step so that anyone with Photoshop should be able to make it.  It is basically all levels & grain adjustment.  I added in the words on top which were both Googled freeware fonts!  Also if you click on the image and see it large you can see my sexy brown eyes :)

When I woke up this morning thinking it would be another day that I would not post on my favorite website on the net "The Style Lounge," I woke up to a noisy, REM disrupting, regular alarm clock that was equivalent to a herd of monkeys jumping all over me.  So I decided that I and everyone else in the world should have Hammacher Schlemmer's Peaceful Progression Wake Up Clock ($49.99) that uses "uses a gradual increase in ambient light, stimulating aromas, and peaceful sounds from nature to awaken sleepers."  Available from Hammacher.com.

This is a collection of Chill-out House tracks that are mixed into 2 CDs that come from bars that I only wish I could find here in Iowa City!  This is the absolute best album I have ever come across to put on if you are throwing a cocktail party.  The album is uptempo enough to create a fun atmosphere yet stays on the chill side.  I would highly recommend picking this album up for anyone who needs good background sounds to their parties or events.  Available from Amazon for $14.49.

One of the best and most used freeware apps that I also absolutely love is Sun Clock 6 by Map Maker.  It is a world map that displays world times and also the area of the world that is currently sun-lit (this app is pretty much a free Geochron)!  The world times are fully customizable and you can also decide if the map is centered on your location.  The paid version (personal edition) also include snow data and more options to customize that map.  This is the perfect screensaver for anyone who loves maps, loves Geochrons but doesn't want to spend $1000+ for one, and especially for anyone that will do the Decoration Monday!  To download visit http://www.mapmaker.com/shadowfacts/sunclock6.asp!

This Decoration Monday, I will share with you an idea that I have had for my own room swirling in my head for about a year.  It is to put about about 5 or six clocks and have times from different cities around the world!  It reminds me most of old newsrooms and almost opens up the world from your own room!  Another great place for this would be in an office, if you have one, unlike me :-(, whether you would use the clocks for your business or not they look great on almost any wall!




If this idea interests you, I suggest using very simple, straight-lined clocks and also using the same clocks if this will go in an office.  If you want to have it in a living room or a fun room you could use clocks from the parts of the world or clocks that have the style of that area.  This clock that I featured is a atomic clock that is available from http://www.zocalo-imports-furniture.com but there are many very good looking clocks at places like target that will do for this project!