TypePad Featured Blogs

Sugar Sugar

Analise loves pink. Also: Shabby Chic, Vintage Goodies, and antique/thrift shops – a passion that’s woven throughout her blog, Sugar Sugar. Wife and mother of three living in central California, Analise loves finding, crafting, and showing the designs she makes from odds and ends she’s procured in her travels, whether it’s buttons, delicate designs, or ribbons. Her designs are romantic, soft and inspired by spring and everything sweet; many of her designs are available for sale as well. And when you’re done browsing, check out the listings of “blogs to love” for more shopping temptation.

We Love Gifts

Everyone loves gifts – and here’s a spot that makes it almost as fun to shop for them as receive them. We Love Gifts is a UK-based blog that “brings you unique gift ideas…for yourself, friends, girlfriend…pets and anyone else you know”. And they do! Collected here are fun products like a retro-twist Easter Jar, chocolate-filled hens eggs, and –wives rejoice – the LavNav, a device that tells you whether the seat is up or down (and lights up when you get near it). Lots of Categories here too, from Baby Gifts to Romantic Gifts, covering virtually every occasion and family member, such as the Donkey Bag for stylish girls. Fun, funky, retro and just plain cool, this is a shopping site that will have you coming back time and again!

Art and Ghosts

Who are Tilly, Belinda, and Stella? They’re some of the people (?) you’ll meet in Art and Ghosts. “Louise” is an artist and her unique vision results in a blog filled with her fanciful creations. Inspired by children and the world around them, Louise’s inspiration takes wing in her designs, and are reflected in posts such as The Strangest Little Girls in the World, The Orchard Twins, and Marionettes. Whimsical, imaginative, and delightful, Louise’s designs will add a touch of serendipity to your home and are available for sale through her store. Intrigued by her style? Check out her recommended books, blogs, and recordings too.

Optimist

Optimist is a blog about modern designs, cool stuff, beautiful items and handy gadgets for babies and young kids authored by a Dutch mom who lives in Germany. Little ones need a lot of items to keep them happy and healthy, and this blog has virtually everything parents (and grandma) might need to organize and run their now hectic lives. Items and Categories covered include bath, kitchen, and clothing, with more – lots more – to be found. The designs are wonderfully creative and some have a European flavor, and will delight children and parents alike. The author – herself a new mom with a 3 year-old as well – knows what to look for in terms of design, functionality, and affordability, and posts her opinions with a keen insight that readers will appreciate.

Rare Bird Finds

Rare Bird Finds was started by two friends because they were always on the lookout for cool new things. And in their blog, they share them with you - coincidentally, just in time for the holidays! Here, you'll find one-of-a-kind pieces from indie designers, unique gifts to wear, to use, or to play with. For that hard to shop for person (like the one you're going to break up with after the holidays), there's the holiday gift guide with cool suggestions. There are ideas for men, women, and kids displayed through colorful designs and product shots; the sidebars carry lots of additional gift ideas from sponsors too. It's the perfect place to begin your seasonal shopping, only without the crowds!

Kicking Tires

What's the best feature about the 2008 Toyota? What are the safest cars on the road today? What are the hottest new designs from the LA Auto Show? You'll get the answers - and then some - at Kicking Tires "the blog for car buyers". Whether you're in the market for a car, "just looking", or doing some research, this is your site, because if it runs, it's in here, with facts, figures, reviews and more on every make from Acura to Volvo and on categories from Auto Shows to Safety.  (And if anything began with a Z, you'd be sure to find it here!) Links to help you ask questions, find the right car (or sell it), combined with well-written, informative posts make for a site that even pedestrians will enjoy taking for a spin!

My Urban Garden Deco Guide

Cities aren't just concrete and steel. Look closely, and you'll discover a world of flowers and grass and intimate beauty. It's the world of urban gardens, and in My Urban Garden Deco Guide you'll explore this "fast-changing" environment, learn the tips and tricks to create an urban oasis, and lots more. Whether you're working with a small space or are lucky enough to have a back yard, blogger Anne Robert gives city dwellers the lowdown on everything they may need to make their urban space even more beautiful, from the next wave of outdoor furniture (some cool stuff, here!), to high-tech options for outdoor offices, to designer edible gardens. Anne Marie also spotlights items that will make any visitor to your garden green (with envy), such as planters that change color and decorating with water. Here's the one stop shop for everything green, so dig in today!

Daily Style Bakery

So many shops, so little time…especially now that the holidays are upon us! Never fear, the Daily Style Bakery cooks up tasty offerings and "what we're loving today from our favorite sites". And how!  You'll find items from A (Accessories) to W (Web Snob) and everything in between (and if something began with Z, you'd be sure to find it here)! This blog captures the best of the web, from fun and funky, to chic to classic, and fitting every budget.  There are "bundled " suggestions on things like gifts for kids, customized jewelry, and gifts for him.  There are links to the hottest news in the retail industry, too. Product descriptions are often witty, insightful, and true-to life; and best of all, many of these items come with special discounts so you can save while you shop! 

Wedding Goddess Wisdom

The last thing brides-to-be need as their day approaches is stress - and on her blog Reverend Laurie Sue Brockway dispenses "inspiration and information to help brides stay centered and sane". Reverend Brockway practices in New York, but her advice is universal, as you'll see in her post "bridal stress and how to stress less", her thoughts on "second time around" vows, and reflections on marriage itself.  Marriage encompasses many areas and Reverend Brockway offers her thought on them all, along with her wedding album of ceremonies she's officiated, suggested meditation for brides to be, and lots more. This is a wonderful spot that all brides (and perhaps more than a few grooms) can use to really enjoy their day.

Granny Buttons

Here’s one of the more unique blogs we've come across in some time – one dedicated to life aboard English canal boats. It's a different world on the water, as writer (and canal boater) Andrew Denny points out: there are 3,000 miles of canals in England acting as roads that connect cities. Andrew was one of the first boating bloggers in the world (and the first canal blogger in the UK) and his journeys on his canal narrow boat form a fascinating view of life on the river, as you’ll see in such posts as the Ghost of Harecastle Tunnel, thoughts on canal boat builders, and journeying on the canals. This is not boating in the traditional sense as canal narrow boats are different in design and functionality; currently there are about 30,000 full- and part-time “liveaboards” forming a community that is more than just virtual. Indeed, in addition to his own posts, Andrew has posted links to several other “boater blogs” such as the Nuggler, and together with a robust selection of pictures, they recreate a way of life that’s both colorful and appealing – welcome aboard!

Brides Club

Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. Or so goes the refrain – and Seattle-based Brides Club makes it come true with everything a bride needs to make her day even mores special. Even if you don't live in the Northwest, you’ll be saying “yes!” to this rich online source for information on Wedding Expos, travel, caterers, and more. There ‘s a great list of links to wedding resources, bridal shows, and wedding planners; photo galleries that illustrate the latest trends in fashion and food; and lots of categories to enrich any wedding day.

Nikki Shell

Happy Halloween! While you’re waiting for the trick or treaters, spend some time at Nikki Shell a crafts and fashion blog. Here you’ll find posts on everything from whimsical creations, cupcakes and stitching, and an invitation to a handmade Christmas Postcard Swap. Then take a moment to read Nikki’s insights on consumerism and how she’s amended her buying habits (and how you can too, for the betterment of all). Nikki’s pieces are equal measure classic, fun, and fabulous and with the holidays coming up, might provide some unique inspiration for your gift giving. Great fun!

Kit Up

Kit Up is a military-style blog detailing "the stuff you couldn't have done without in your military life" - and which may be even more useful off the field. Here you'll find close-up commentary on the unusual secret ingredient to a good night's sleep, down under dining, and the do it all bag among the items. Product information and user opinions are freely provided as are ordering options. The compact and durable nature of these items makes them great camping and traveling companions  - and perhaps necessary means of survival, too. Lots of information military links and categories provide interesting reading, so open up Kit Up today!

Eco-Chic Weddings

Do you promise to love, honor ... and recycle? Eco-Chic Weddings will help you plan “environmentally-friendly celebrations”. Written by a former wedding and event planner at Martha Stewart, this unique blog shows “how to incorporate sustainability without sacrificing style”. And from stylish invitations made from recycled paper, to eco-friendly wedding gowns, all the way to an organic wedding feast, you’ll discover how to put on a wedding that’s good for you and the world you live in. Lots of tips, places to shop, and recommendations grace the pages of this site; so before you set the date, make it a date to check it out today!

Vinyl Pulse

Here’s “daily news about designer toys” that are definitely outside the box, like Adam Ape, Baby Cubs, and Yeah Kou. Vinylpulse brings you the latest playthings from showrooms and studios around the world, and represent the next generation of design, functionality, and fun! In addition to photos and fun facts about the toys, you’ll find bios on the designers, as well as links to places to shop, like the “purveyors of the peculiar”, artists like Dalek, and favorite toy sites, such as toytoons. This is definitely not the toy chest you might remember, so open it up today!

Goodyblog

Parents rule! At least at goodyblog, described by readers as "the best mom, baby, parenting, news, and shopping blogs all rolled up into one." And that's good, because one thing you don't have when you have kids, is time.  Just a few moments gives you child-related topics such as how your creative child could also get richer, awesome sales, news briefs, and activities.  There are many more categories (from art to weblogs) and readers' comments are always fun to browse.  It's the mom and dad spot for those who "must see, must do, must have - right now"! 

Ask.cars.com

Does the Nissan 350Z convertible have a hardtop? Do hybrids come with manual transmissions? What are low profile tires? The answer to all of these questions: We have no idea. Luckily, Ask.cars.com does. Here, the experts at Cars.com let you poke under the hood and find out everything you ever wanted to know about your Ford Festiva but were afraid to ask your mechanic. Queries are divided into five categories, such as “How Does That Work?” “and “What Car Should I Buy?" To ask a question, type it into the box, fill in your name and email, and hit submit. Or try the search box, which returns results from the entire Cars.com network. If nothing else, you'll finally know what torque is. Oh yeah. Like you already knew.

housemartin

If you’re the type of person who likes to wallow in wallpaper or tiptoe through tulips, you’ll swoon over housemartin. Subtitled, “inspired home and floral,” this repository of elegant design, stylish floral arrangements, and exquisite objects (both decorative and functional), is maintained by a former textile designer from the fashion industry. Those in the "just so" set might have a hard time containing themselves as they browse the many examples of arranging and tweaking one's physical surroundings. If you have a way with whimsy, or would like to, drop by and immerse yourself in this sublime world of all things beautiful.

Oh Joy!

There’s something delightfully inviting about handmade and design-forward goods. Oh Joy! celebrates the grace and beauty of such items, gathering them from all over the country (but especially focusing on hometown Philadelphia finds). Joy Deangdeelert Cho knows all about great design; as founder of Oh Joy! Studio she specializes in designing for home accessories, textiles, branding and stationery (and what a stunning portfolio it is!). Joy’s online collection of gorgeous finds includes everything from food to clothes to home accessories; all guaranteed to empty your wallet (the TypePad team has admittedly been drooling over every. Single. Item). Take a browse through; you’ll most certainly have a joyful visit.

Scratchings and Sniffings

Yvonne DiVita used to be a veterinarian’s assistant – until she was bitten. Repeatedly. In an effort to remain loyal to her pet pals (but with a wish to stay far away from sharp little teeth), she started her blog, Scratchings and Sniffings. Filled with all the pet news, stories, and products she can get her paws on, it’s a great place for pet lovers to connect and share. Learn about nutrition, travel, and all the fun you can have with your furry (or feathered or scaled) friends. Dr. Larry is also on hand to answer all of your pressing questions about pet behavior (why do they do that?). Paws up for Scratchings and Sniffings!

Thoughtopsy

What would you give to make your life easier? Not just your personal life, but your work life, too. Thankfully we don't have to put that on our to-do list. Thoughtopsy is doing the heavy searching for us. Geared toward everyday heroes in a web-centric world, the answers within this blog focus on simplicity, production, and are iced with new media resources that have the ability to make your work life better. You'll find posts that are clear and efficient in their direction and purpose. Only five months new, Seth Godin and Guy Kawasaki fans will immediately feel at home here. Thoughtopsy's ability to extract essential marketing media nuggets and appoint them as life enhancers worth paying attention to will transform readers into revered thought leaders in no time.

Retail Design Diva

The Retail Design Diva blog gives the avid shopper a place to put up her Manolo-clad feet and revel in the consumer experience. Hosted by DDI Magazine and GlobalShop, Retail Design Diva is a fascinating read about the art and science of retail design. From upscale Neiman Marcus to modest J.C. Penney, no store is safe from the scrutiny of the Diva; even something as innocuous as mall curfews and dressing room mirrors fall under her discriminating eye. If retail design is among your interests, be sure to take a look at the articles about branding, visual merchandising, and retail technology. And if retail design is your career (or dream job), there’s a section just for you. The blog invites feedback and conversation, and encourages praise and venting equally. Because, hey, every diva should have her day.

Garden Design Online

Jane Berger can create a garden out of any space, even if it's not a large, lush backyard. She is both a journalist and a landscape designer with a degree from the George Washington University Landscape Design Program. Her blog, Garden Design Online, discusses landscape design elements, suggests shows and gardens to visit, and introduces readers to other landscape artists. Jane jockeys between Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., where she is the co-founder of The Garden Design Group which serves the entire metro Washington, D.C. area. Those with green (or even black) thumbs will quickly add this blog to their shed of online tools. New landscapers can stroll through her virtual garden, learn about plant varities, and get inspiration for the next backyard project. Park yourself on a garden bench and stick around to learn about historic landscapes or organizations you can join to become more involved with garden preservation.

Amazon Associates

If you have a website and are already recommending books, movies, or anything else Amazon.com carries, you could be making a little extra money through the Amazon Associates program. Amazon Associates helps members generate revenue via their websites through referrals. To help their Associates succeed, Amazon has launched the official Amazon Associates blog. Several times a week, this informative blog offers up tips, tricks and other information to make the Associates program as effective (and profitable!) as it can possibly be for its members. From how to refine search results links to featured Associates to new Amazon Associate services, you’ll have everything you need to start or refine your Associates program.

A to Z

Anne Louise and Zoe are British designers who share a love of textiles. They love the colors (sorry... "colours") and textures that go into creating beautiful fabrics and hand-crafted goods. Because their 9-to-5 jobs don't necessarily allow them to experiment with textiles as much as they'd like, they started the A to Z blog (derived from their initials) to share their beautiful creations with the world. Full of delightful handmade cards, prints, and handbags they've crafted themselves as well as resources and artists that inspire them, their blog is punctuated with stunning photography that really shows off their beautiful handiwork. Of course, you're free to simply admire their wares, but they also have a store for when you fall in love with that special item. And you should count on falling in love.

Scoutie Girl

Jan DiCintio of Scoutie Girl had an epiphany as she pretzeled herself around a client's toilet to paint the wall behind it. It just wasn't worth it. She embarked on a new creative venture, designing handbags for her own store, Daisy Janie. As she was exchanging links with other independent designers, she discovered a whole world of unique, labor-intensive products out there just waiting to be coveted. Scoutie Girl brings that world of outrageously talented indie designers to you, with jewelry, clothing, art, and paper goods all well represented. Each item is hand-picked by DiCintio for its creativity, beauty, and above all, its independent spirit. If you eschew mass-produced consumer products and appreciate items made with hands instead of machines, then you may be a scoutie girl, too.

ThreeMinds

Organic, one of the big names in digital marketing, was recently honored by Advertising Age as one of the top ten interactive agencies. With that kind of pedigree to protect, they could be selfish and keep all of their keen insight to themselves. But no -- they graciously share their wisdom with the rest of us on their blog, ThreeMinds. Focusing on the exceptional (and near-exceptional) experiences in digital media, ThreeMinds is a bounty of innovative ideas and campaigns. More than just a catalog of media, ThreeMinds offers thoughtful analyses to engage and educate the reader. From the latest YouTube happenings to wistful remembrances on video game culture, ThreeMinds takes you through it all. We suspect there are more than three minds' worth of good stuff in here.

Behind the Curtains

Pure Contemporary's Behind the Curtains is an amazing resource for anyone who a.) is making design decisions for their own living space or those of discerning customers, or b.) loves to window-shop and fantasize about a living amidst beautifully designed objects. Not only do the minds behind Pure Contemporary, "the contemporary design magazine for luxurious living," appreciate the best of 21st-century design, they've done a wonderful job of customizing the look and feel of their TypePad blog to both reflect their aesthetic and intergrate seamlessly with their main website. We particularly love their recent posts on Ron Arad lounge chairs, recent finds that feature the color blue, and Jaclo's mind-bending "canopy of rain" showerhead. For quirky finds, emerging trends, and potential objects of design lust, look no further than Behind the Curtains.

The Watch Report

Whether you wear a twenty-dollar Casio digital or a paycheck-busting piece of old-world Swiss craftsmanship, most people can certainly appreciate that a watch is about more than just the utility of time-keeping. At The Watch Report, horologically obsessed blogger Christian Cantrell has been offering in-depth reviews of timepieces at all price-points for more than two years. While his posting schedule has been light lately, the archives are rich with eye candy and insights. We dare you not to find something to covet at this impeccably organized and illustrated resource.

ShopperCast

Shopaholics rejoice! One of the most trusted consumer feedback services on the web has begun blogging. PlanetFeedback's ShopperCast is all about you. Greg and Jeffrey point readers towards the best online shopping sites, guide you to deals worthy of your time, all the while entertaining you with tales of unbelievable commerce-related blunders. Entrepreneurs, step right up and learn a thing or two. Shopper Cast is like one big magnifying glass exposing the blemishes of the buyer's world, while still praising the few diamond offers and experiences in the rough. Open your eyes with Consumer Alert, and then get some retail therapy in Hot Buy of the Day. There are plenty of links and references back to their parent website, PlanetFeedback.com, but that's just as well because it's eye-opening to read about how poorly customers can be treated, let alone discover a safe community to receive help. Both service sites are worthy of admiration.

The DVD Dossier

The DVD Dossier is a treasure trove for movie lovers. Especailly those who augment their theater-going experiences with a healthy amount of DVD purchases and rentals. Even without considering the commentary and links in the site's main feed, we can see bookmarking the Dossier for the visual listing of recent and upcoming DVD releases in the left-hand sidebar. That resource alone, updated weekly, would be plenty, but then you've got the main Dossier blog with in-depth news, previews, and even humor pieces. There is an amazing wealth of DVD-related content here, proving that the folks at the Dossier truly love movies. Don't be overwhelmed by you initial visit. Just bookmark or subscribe to their feed and let the cinemania flow.

Skimp

Hide the credit cards, Skimp is a new blog guaranteed to turn practical, research-minded electronic lovers into the biggest impulse shoppers this side of the Pacific. Loaded with coupons, deals, and discounts on tech toys of all sorts -- from webcams to monitors, scanners to cell phones. The posts are simple and straight to the point, offering only the facts, prices, and links you need to know. There are often more than a dozen posts a day leaving readers swooning with desire. The products come from BestBuy, Circuit City, NewEgg, Tiger Direct, and even more old-school department stores like JC Penney. If you're shopping online, look here first.

U-handblog

U-handblog and its sister site, U-handbag, are testaments to entrepreneurs making money doing what they love. Lisa has always been passionate about designing purses. When she had a tough time getting her materials, and heard a similar complaint from other seamstresses, she took advantage of the gap in the market. Now, her new blog gives detailed photo instructions of how to make stylish handbags that would be the envy of any Beverly Hills boutique. Not only does she give altruistic tips on how to make these bags, but she also offers Bag Selling Tips & Business Advice. Note that her blog is not one big filter for her supply shop, she also lists other crafting resources and shows off bags made by her readers. If you think you've got what it takes to be the next Amy Butler, Lisa has all the materials you'll need to get started right on the sidebar of her wonderful blog.

Online Personals Watch

Need a date? Whether you're entertaining thoughts of finding a partner online or already doing the Internet dating thing, you can hook up with a good matchmaking site by visiting Online Personals Watch. Editor Mark Brooks, a veteran of the social-networking industry, uses this blog to charts the trends and tactics for this sector of the Web. You might be surprised to learn there's far more to the online dating world than just Match.com and eHarmony. Brooks interviews executives and quantifies popularity with and ranks sites by both hits and member useage. While there's a fair amount of business-speak in Online Personals Watch, daters can easily spot sound advice within the collected interviews. Here's a free pointer: Find out the three most common mistakes people make when writing their profiles. Don't let this happen to you! You've only got 6 days left before Valentine's Day.

Parent Hacks

If only kids came with instruction manuals, right? You've heard it a million times, but there's no better school for parenting than the real world. Parent Hacks is a top-notch blog that leads you straight to experiential tips and tricks for raising your child(ren). The authors, moms Asha Dornfest and Margaret Foley, are comfortable speaking their minds and sharing their hard-won wisdom. Clearly their kids must be great nappers for them to find the time to post three times a day. The categories are well organized by age-group, activity, and concern -- whether you need to learn how to breastfeed, find the appropriate kid gear, or just need a little mental support without asking your mother-in-law. Parent Hacks scours the web to find sites giving the best advice, and delivers it straight to your inbox. With more than 5,000 subscribers, you know that this is advice worth coming back to again and again.

Bike Hugger

For cyclists by cyclists. Bike Hugger is an ongoing conversation between those passionate about cycling as a lifestyle. It's less about what are you riding or specific trails, and more about discussing bike culture. Follow the authors on their out-of-town bike rides, or join in on annual training challenges. The team of writers uses tags instead of categories, but don't fret, it's just another easy way to organize your posts. Popular topics include urbancycling, tourdefrance, and commuting. Look more closely and you'll find just as many links to other bike resources as miles under their tires.  The photos really bring the site to life, and anyone can appreciate a safe place to sound off when your city or state doesn't quite have your back. If you noticed that Bike Hugger looks particularly sleek, well branded, and better funded than most blogs, that's because it was built by a pro. Lead author, D.L. Byron, is both the author of Publish & Prosper: Blogging for Your Business and the principal at Textura Design.

Lulu's Vintage

Despite the hours of fun it can be to sift through racks at thrift stores and antique shops, it's even more fun to have your own vintage scout! Let Lulu be your guide to the best of all things retro. Lulu's Vintage is a well-designed blog with posts more reliable than most shop hours.  Fashion Fridays includes new clothes inspired by old styles, while Manly Mondays cover hard-to-find men's vintage clothing. We love that Lulu doesn't hoard her finds.  Not only does she share last-minute sales on eBay, but she also directs us to her Top 10 Vintage Clothing Websites so we can hunt for our own gems. If an auction is too much for your patience, check out "the store" to get your hands on Lulu's personal stock. Crafters will love the link on Antique Fabrics, while gossip-hounds will rush to the Celebrity category.

Shoe Flyer

You don't have to be Carrie Bradshaw to appreciate Shoe Flyer, a brand new trend-watching site for all things shoetastic. Owned by Shoe Fly, a boutique chain in the Northwest, the blog hosts a team of reviewers composed of both women and men who make sure no hip footwear is left on the shelf. We love the look and feel of Shoe Flyer and the content they offer. Sure, since they're a business, they link to shoes within their catalog, but the posts are also filled with celebrity gossip, pointers to fashion sites, and links to lively shopping bloggers, too. The posts read like an email from your best friend telling you her latest find. Bargain hunters will dig the Sole Steal of the Week, while others will thank Shoe Flyer for their candid shoe reviews. Diehard shoe-lovers can subscribe via RSS or sign up for an email newsletter, of course. 

Beauty Dish

Birdie Jaworksi is a courageous leader and she doesn't even know it. Sure, Avon sales reps probably give her endless thanks for all the experience and wisdom she shares on Beauty Dish: True Underground Adventures of an Avon Lady -- but her effusive optimism, steadfast honesty, and positive attitude towards living life is a nice example of how being a great woman shows more beauty than cosmetics can provide. Ladies, it doesn't matter if you don't wear Avon, many women (especially those starting their own business) can benefit from this blog. Take heart to the entrepreneurial lessons offered in Avon Lady Quote of the Day, have a laugh (and note the terrific viral marketing example) in Avon as big as your head, and relish in knowing that life is not always about work. This is a sweet blog that unveils the human spirit, and how much of a difference positivity can make for everyone, let alone the so-called average mom.

Invade My Closet

Shopping + Gossip = Shossip. That's a formula for a pretty great blog. Invade My Closet delivers both subjects, with a vengeance. Your guide to who's wearing what, and how you can get it on sale -- that's the beat of Invade My Closet's author, Tara Fisher, a 26-year-old New Yorker addicted to soy lattes and dreaming of working at Elle. We love that she speaks through her clothes in What I Wore 2 Day, because what you wear is often dependent on your mood. Find the right handbags, catch a sale, help Tara make more room in her closet, or use your lunch breaks to see what's hot (and not) with the glitterati. Invade My Closet also offers a Q&A for the hesitant shopper, and encourages others to leave her a message in the sidebar. Like a magazine, you'll be looking at the ads just as much as the posts for hints on what's hip today, but it's fun! Hooked and eager for a fix between posts? Check out the IMC blogroll for more like-minded sass.

Miss Tified Beauty Blog

Miss Tified details one woman's quest to learn the tools and techniques of modern cosmetics, and while it's relatively new, this blog seems like its written by someone who knows what she's doing. The tip-off is all the little things: She chose an interesting topic that she can dive into, where her readers can offer their own insights or just come along for the ride. She customized the look and feel of the blog and gave it instant personality with a playful header. She clearly states the question she's tackling, right at the top of one of her sidebars: "How the heck do I master all the products and techniques out there that are supposed to make me look good?" She's knows her own voice and she's posting frequently, illustrating her entries with well-placed graphics. The sidebars have a great mix of navigation into the blog and over to related sites and resources. So, while she may not have completely mastered makeup, if her ability to put together a great-looking blog is any indication, we think Mena Trott will probably be ready to start her own line of cosmetics in about a month. [Full disclosure: Mena co-founded Six Apart. Ever fuller disclosure: We would've featured Miss Tified even if she hadn't.]

Independent America

Sometimes we don't realize how essential mom-and-pop businesses are until they're gone. That's what happened to Emmy-winning journalist Hanson Hosein and his wife Heather Hughes. After moving to the land of "Big Box" stores, they took a trip down the Pacific Coast Highway and noticed that indie-owned shops were dying out. What they found inspired them to take their message nationally. Independent America, the blog, chronicles the success of Independent America, the documentary film, based on a two month trip across 32 states. Americans in the film pass the message themselves -- the corporate chains are stripping the soul (and democracy) out of communities. Slowly but surely the citizens are seeing the difference between the discounted price on the product and the higher price they are actually paying through the loss of their community. We love that the blog goes beyond media announcements and the production of the movie and continues to spread the good word about where us readers and viewers can find the best of Indie America. Here are their votes for best sleeps, eats, and towns that they encountered on their trip. Hosein and Hughes also link up to American businesses that are "engaged and involved" in supporting the smaller retailers. How often do you shop at a Big Box store? Buy the DVD or watch the trailer and see if your attitude begins to shift.

Car Domain

Car Domain is the place for auto enthusiasts to share photos and messages about their rides, and the Car Domain Blog rounds up great images and automotive news from the site and around the Web. We particularly love how they use the blog to point out cool posts from within their community, including a Top 10 of 2006. Other subjects include audio, video, news stories, and the always enticing free stuff, which offers schwag for Car Domain members who enter impromptu contests. Even if you're not you're not an import tuner, you can easily appreciate the enthusiasm, energy, and effort of the huge Car Domain community. We're excited to see that such a vibrant group has an equally lively blog to entertain and cheer its members on.

Daily Dose

Domino magazine, a fairly new title that launched back in 2005, is a shopper's dream. Immediately embraced by savvy shopaholics with a keen eye for design, Domino offers affordable solutions that don't skimp on style, which is perhaps one of the reasons its editors have turned to blogging to spread the word. Bargains don't wait for monthly publication dates, and enthusiasm can't be stoppered for 29 days of the month. Enter The Daily Dose, where three of the magazine's writers -- Nick Olsen (aka "The Deal Hunter"), Rita Konig (aka "The Girl About Town"), and Jamie Gray (aka "Material Guy") -- let readers look over their shoulders as they shop at home, online, and abroad. The blog is consistently packed with delightful finds, but some of our recent favorites include the Nigel Tufnel light fixture by Todd Boontje, the USB memory "stick" that lives up to its name, and candy that looks like olives (sounds awful, we know, but check out the pic and it will all make sense). If one of your New Year's resolutions is to do more vicarious online window-shopping, then subscribe to Daily Dose and cross that one off your list.

Shopping Bag Hags

Shopping Bag Hags is just what the shopaholic ordered. A brand new blog from CouponWinner.com, it's written by a handful of fashionistas reporting news, tips, and trends on topics that range from the "Perfect Luxury Swimwear" to "Holiday Shopping Like a Celebrity". Make no mistake this is a company blog, too. Posts like "Top Five Sites for Teen Presents" direct readers to merchant coupons on the CouponWinner website. But unlike what you'd expect from a coupon outlet, there are many popular brands you'll recognize like Nordstrom, BOSE, Best Buy, Target, Brookstone, PetCo, and even food shops like Vons and Safeway. If you live in a small town where brick and mortar shopping is hard to get to, or just have a penchant for pulling out the plastic online -- refer to these coupon mavens. We hope that as they get more comfortable with their new blog we'll get to see pictures of the fashion gems they're talking about. Until then, we'll trust their judgement because it's clear, The Shopping Bag Hags love a sale like no one you've ever met!

Starbucks Gossip

We recommend a triple-shot of Jim Romenesko every morning, and here's the best way to get it: Visit Starbucks Gossip, a "coffee confidential" from the man behind the Obscure Store & Reading Room as well as an eponymous filter blog about the Media. With daily dispatches from the hyper-caffeinated codependency between Frappucino-makers and Frappucino-drinkers, Starbucks Gossip is just what you'd expect from this long-time Web stand-out -- excellent. It was recently named to Rex Sorgatz's "Best Blogs of 2006 You (Maybe) Aren't Reading" (which also lists five other TypePad sites) and we think Sorgatz has zeroed right in on Romenesko's wonderfully simple  angle -- to offer a place for both employees and customers to vent, vet ideas, and kvetch about the little Seattle coffee-bean company that now blankets the globe with more than 7,000 outlets. 

The Clutter Diet Blog

Is your house a mess? Are your closets overflowing with clutter? Maybe you need to go on a diet. A clutter diet! That's the prescription for relief from Lorrie Marrero, who just launched her Clutter Diet site, which offers mess-management advice, training, and products. Her program is modeled on successful diet regimens, and a visit to her companion blog --