The Hottest of What's Hip: My Top 12 Posts of The Past Year

As I reflect on 2008, I'm very flattered and fortunate to have had lots of nice press for my blog, my social shopping picks and my taste during the past year. Some of these include <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/dec2008/tc20081228_809309.htm">this recent article in Businessweek,</a> an appearance on KTLA, an article in the LA Times and wonderful mentions from fellow bloggers, design sites and designers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkZFiaOkh997h5fga7lFezSEydEgiJ3AyK2b-fLKMTCQdcMEU7cwPbbLY84HE46Q7bGlomHcQQVBNvcViywC4EF0eiOLgQIDjuC7ms8dXrLwqNbq5DiWlOe0pNIPnL8HWPdCbuSIxJaaB/s1600-h/iihihroundup.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286402398403791698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkZFiaOkh997h5fga7lFezSEydEgiJ3AyK2b-fLKMTCQdcMEU7cwPbbLY84HE46Q7bGlomHcQQVBNvcViywC4EF0eiOLgQIDjuC7ms8dXrLwqNbq5DiWlOe0pNIPnL8HWPdCbuSIxJaaB/s400/iihihroundup.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 495px; height: 334px;" /></a><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://w.sharethis.com/button/sharethis.js#publisher=0d650ffe-1ec7-4395-883b-24e806d21a65&type=website"></script><br /><br />I wanted to share with you the 12 posts of the 540 posts I wrote in 2008 that garnered the most interest. Not that these were my most well-written posts, nor the most researched, but simply based upon web metrics (hits, page views, links from other sites, etc.)<br /><br />Whether it was because my posts were 'picked up' by such widely read sites as NOTCOT, Racked, Boing Boing, FFFound, Designboom, Dezeen, Trendhunter, Core 77, as well as several large international sites in Japan, the Netherlands, South America and the UK, or because the subject matter simply generated continual interest throughout the year, here are the stories, in no particular order, that seemed to pique the interests of my readers the most in 2008:<br /><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/01/setting-that-hirshhorn-exhibit-rumor.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286388238893148786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYpPi3MZXGNwVQvt18QuBktRsV2hxlEPSg0iUJsSFcWkewm6hAehZhQfgnzxFeJjs8ELmMo5fZSk3ve653YSqGzHciccaSXrVPYbU8qfsSVPw2Kkz60I_Uj1-E5n51_YwzUUswiFtdfCH/s400/Picture+33.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 495px; height: 405px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/01/setting-that-hirshhorn-exhibit-rumor.html">Read it.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/04/whole-story-about-marc-jacobs-naked.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286387085748986210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTU3m8y0lJLAl9tUapqoGEPQ7uQvVvKADJREXUZpxksP8UJL0nq3cjNlkPD_rq4cI88Ue-OYrEl-efha477np4ggdQpTnaKTTbcNRXS_QdY2SdFrlTOzrBkrgjN9ym-DztyIMCDRztJnm/s400/Picture+16.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 494px; height: 470px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/04/whole-story-about-marc-jacobs-naked.html">Read it.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/10/pomegranate-phone-dialing-up-interest.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286386831551634402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz-4WoVYiAsIMNPMLG6AabUQIUGgriP8h94MVVLLuo2ueQu-H_scJGfQU3sa6LihP-YoIpNs2ACunMVOZLysA0q5s2nwujYcuRwUU3vFUapqLsV3Kan5-D04m7-gxDYf8DJ6WM6sPfwwJO/s400/Picture+27.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 495px; height: 406px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/10/pomegranate-phone-dialing-up-interest.html">Read it.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/06/vanity-fairs-hitchcock-shots-compared.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286386625357915906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEG3n93TVaZuXZ6bFqYI93GL7OUcCKu-u-ZgWLQDqmRBB46rhUCI2Rc-zkCzayUrLqKaivlF0oilTkx8dQ38yZS3telvC787GkR3bUmzVSM03cZ2QscUQZIrrpm7XY3IOprh1cHd7J70D8/s400/Picture+30.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 496px; height: 429px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/06/vanity-fairs-hitchcock-shots-compared.html">Read it.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/10/wearing-hair-of-dog-portraits-of-people.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286386728583837522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46tkNXhKMnWDJigfmz1OK4WVkDoPyDB_s7SHIDYnw5HzOvyk4ax6KhTygiQeM6k7DzCKjzNd1HFNdVSDn2hupl6ZAZy7URnkvrh8ahyDbnFHM0oixRO0JDlJmwpceT0Wuq2uuPDGi9jNw/s400/Picture+29.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 492px; height: 709px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/10/wearing-hair-of-dog-portraits-of-people.html">Read it.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/09/sensory-deprivation-skull-wellness.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286386509912898946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUr4j5z_iD2IxQpmsF0EnVUuUzIsWArDPtXwRndezV72Pd1PfQ_sCpnCeiJQLULE4jkDJeSRxF4jtOxzXQyoEmqq8QBmZ1DZswPb2rebbxohIo5MoxKbyM0UOb3KBVY9eKOuPdSg4Bg5E/s400/Picture+63.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 493px; height: 538px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/09/sensory-deprivation-skull-wellness.html">Read it.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/09/wocka-wocka-wocka-down-runway-giles.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286386437055544418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxqJsGdXD6YG3gpdfWcdBbc-3VUBwuPn85fCxLucX7cGVv-bBc8ypg2ZpbjQNwOr9OS9bp8LBrSOTCgvNqUVFgbFOoFJK9kAb_-cd8x2Rslo1DYOtfc_xLXhSd3j2iwDektzqOBFWSCLUX/s400/Picture+26.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 495px; height: 545px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/09/wocka-wocka-wocka-down-runway-giles.html">Read it.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/03/pantone-makes-your-world-more-colorful.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286390022333588066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGV9KFif8o7ifDkpdsburA3vjQATqUcJzTWyYoVR2dL5ncpHfd1HP5EtyuX6ob0TaiCwjrVyrFwM8y6Ezz9a0CyZ4x3gaJ3U49t_Strds14nQILAEK0iSNxs74UaMIDic18XreOeIzz0bg/s400/Picture+34.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 496px; height: 513px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/03/pantone-makes-your-world-more-colorful.html">Read it.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/03/sterns-marilyn-lindsay-side-by-side.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286386931179359874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoM9H7CJ9s_TvHHw8GFr91sqh5yEcO8Tk9H84NW2giRKpLd-b7Jtl0buH6WfHB636fjHQQxPm4aBPnlfr8afReVnAu5nBzJAXNZfPcdd3-Mpl5y0Q60c9eoIjAvbW-0ETz_z8pk7cM2GH/s400/Picture+28.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 496px; height: 662px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/03/sterns-marilyn-lindsay-side-by-side.html">Read it.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/10/hand-gesture-candles-from-atelier-wm.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286386357469562994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbXAyAZGExsNJA5JsTwJsQDZTJKy8V9oZuPoStSQ15IOlkhMDGDbzo3EFJwgmwYV21F4zIDlrc-Rdl0__im7aP9YT4SZnjqA53yS0NxyqLctCsG9noGKzfxy1osAn1mMVq8jC2K8loa7j/s400/Picture+31.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 494px; height: 477px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/10/hand-gesture-candles-from-atelier-wm.html">Read it.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/03/viktor-and-rolf-say-no-to-fashion.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286386264632144866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAjmCYgTOS3H5uKyfrd5bpKJna97hYbauSiu8ktHZ1PtXDvMCTeVDEuzwEqMIwPlzaeBUfgvjx9yWnYqvHSqlpTmsdvGf-2ggW-fjTAhXApSZvrSv12N6uwuX8saBFei_Fg9jLKniS14es/s400/Picture+32.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 498px; height: 424px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/03/viktor-and-rolf-say-no-to-fashion.html">Read it.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/01/speaker-manufacturers-turn-up-volume-on.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286392759953649202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVdNvpH8uFT2qEdrhdDS4YTixJ3Kp0S_JNrTVKGiFyojqGZDKs-zCdNy0FCy1hAwmDbJp99T7aW2yrvYWNXv4g80q9AZ5UNK4gJ9R_KbaxtxAAsi-YD04D8RDArDRg66aOycejKuzXROH/s400/Picture+35.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 497px; height: 767px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/01/speaker-manufacturers-turn-up-volume-on.html">Read it.</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">addendum:</span> One of my most widely read posts of 2008 was actually written in 2007, about belgian artist <a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2007/10/inked-oinkers-or-tattooed-pigs-by-wim.html">Wim Delvoye's tattooing of pigs</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2007/10/inked-oinkers-or-tattooed-pigs-by-wim.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286451529131044882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRYeDkoRLko5RowBIKvJOeN8F5wlPrTEojIb69b2GkeLf1Oo5fN4WjMQM4m324HEd5jc4GTBUf7sYVD0FK_Uk6rJ0TiSDpxvWmmhclUEZMn-Vm8OjPXDuki-fsg-mIsql0MT6lt4AslPm/s400/Picture+72.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 497px; height: 634px;" /></a><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2007/10/inked-oinkers-or-tattooed-pigs-by-wim.html">Read it.</a><br /><br />It was clearly my most controversial post to date and the <a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/05/wim-delvoyes-swine-art-own-your-own.html">updated post in 2008</a> continued to generate a great deal of interest - and yes, more controversy.<br /><br /><a href="http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2008/05/wim-delvoyes-swine-art-own-your-own.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286451006912801410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZO1zeDvTYxq0FLGhiTPtPHyI2jEXAyaBvkvZeOO-dw8OGKn58qGNnDudzf-hUFTymHP-zJ0AdmHWtaJ8t8bnqv1WKblhyphenhyphenp7sTqjd0tHVnTs8MzfNPrntqSJWSjYIDXUzpqkkg-xHoF7v/s400/Picture+71.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 495px; height: 459px;" /></a><br /><br />I promise to continue to bring you unusual posts related to art, design, style and fashion throughout 2009. Thanks so much for reading and I hope you continue to enjoy if It's Hip, It's Here.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD0-iuwfrLZsw-qoIFEyhTfj9i4VtESNoK7FSBvZFar2Lfo6XPHtj63JgA5J2Rr8G2hfP4XT2QeOcd4VY9LQZV4wmdTwj2rhVD3kS3vNZbJitMcdTu7vMkOr8tyBBBmDZMiOKt0CKsF2B/s1600-h/cropped-croppedheader1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286401055524930562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD0-iuwfrLZsw-qoIFEyhTfj9i4VtESNoK7FSBvZFar2Lfo6XPHtj63JgA5J2Rr8G2hfP4XT2QeOcd4VY9LQZV4wmdTwj2rhVD3kS3vNZbJitMcdTu7vMkOr8tyBBBmDZMiOKt0CKsF2B/s400/cropped-croppedheader1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 80px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">To make it easier to stay hip, you can:</span><br /><br />• <a href="http://twitter.com/lauralsweet">follow me on twitter</a><br /><br />• <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7701743452">join the facebook group</a><br /><br />• <a href="http://www.thisnext.com/by/laurasweet/">see my shopping recommendations on this next</a><br /><br />• <a href="http://friendfeed.com/laurasweet">read my friend feed</a><br /><br />• <a href="http://www.notcot.org/laurasweet">my submissions on NOTCOT</a><br /><br />• <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/IfItsHipItsHere">subscribe to the blog via an RSS reader</a><br /><br />• <a href="http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/if-its-hip-its-here-laurasweet">download a flash widget of my blog to place on your own site or blog!</a><br /><br />For those of you who generously submit things about which you'd like me to write, please search the blog first at the top in the google search box to see if I've already blogged about it, because I receive several emails with submissions for things about which I have already written.<br /><br />In regards to advertising and affiliations, I will be creating a press kit and price list this year to furnish potential and interested parties.<br /><br />Happy New Year!<br />May your 2009 be filled with happiness, health, love and art.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsMvSxZo3vz-CPP2_L3RatT8hMSnqxWEZBrP-8QzXjKvi3RfBzH9IGrtIBrPg4HFgqmts-yhTl-oWbjHBT2kJf7kWtPS_5K8OHxaEwMhSSh6BmV4VhihyphenhyphenZbUrQNmy-VW2_MqPfE6PA_gq/s1600-h/menindie.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286402595690754738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsMvSxZo3vz-CPP2_L3RatT8hMSnqxWEZBrP-8QzXjKvi3RfBzH9IGrtIBrPg4HFgqmts-yhTl-oWbjHBT2kJf7kWtPS_5K8OHxaEwMhSSh6BmV4VhihyphenhyphenZbUrQNmy-VW2_MqPfE6PA_gq/s400/menindie.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" /></a><br /><br />with love,<br />Laura (and Indie, the Jack Russell)<br>

The Hottest of What's Hip: My Top 12 Posts of The Past Year

As I reflect on 2008, I'm very flattered and fortunate to have had lots of nice press for my blog, my social shopping picks and my taste...

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Merry Christmas

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fMhkVOIw59t4PSodzq40c7Gj6diFaM9qY1h5E_KDcNQznpr6XJwa3NZszJGivtLzd0-WSWfsnqNFWox4ysQiI4VilM7w75KJfra8j_ZHur3s8hggaugnL4s7q4QKmCbmpZyqg8x7KjIY/s1600-h/Xmas+card+in+progress.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147749190356538114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fMhkVOIw59t4PSodzq40c7Gj6diFaM9qY1h5E_KDcNQznpr6XJwa3NZszJGivtLzd0-WSWfsnqNFWox4ysQiI4VilM7w75KJfra8j_ZHur3s8hggaugnL4s7q4QKmCbmpZyqg8x7KjIY/s400/Xmas+card+in+progress.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 530px; height: 339px;" /></a><br /><i>Original photo of Indie by Monika Hummer. </i>

Merry Christmas

Original photo of Indie by Monika Hummer.

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My 15 Minutes of Fame

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8JSKHEj2xK9UGq4H9MTLkXHk4ZUjKPC_FuJemqbKjllyR7L8RBNpfym_ZQgRtg1_M8PTytum7YGVh1EI9aEDZpeBz22slMWdyk5KlZRb0ZfmhFpIJDmAVr9He2DQyrC5YsofcktEVHZ-/s1600-h/LA+Times+photo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147614805124813538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8JSKHEj2xK9UGq4H9MTLkXHk4ZUjKPC_FuJemqbKjllyR7L8RBNpfym_ZQgRtg1_M8PTytum7YGVh1EI9aEDZpeBz22slMWdyk5KlZRb0ZfmhFpIJDmAVr9He2DQyrC5YsofcktEVHZ-/s400/LA+Times+photo.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 593px;" /></a><br /><i> Above: the photo by Jay Clendening, </i><i>accompanying the article</i><i> in the LA Times </i><br /><br />In todays' Los Angeles Times, reporter Alana Semuels did a story on social shopping networks for which I was interviewed. Imagine my pleasant surprise at the color 5" x 7" photo of myself (and my dog, Indie) accompanying the article, smack on the back page of the business section!<br /><br />Here is the article:<br /><div class="storybyline" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 15px ! important; color: rgb(153, 153, 153) ! important;">By Alana Semuels, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer <br />December 24, 2007 </div> <div class="storybody"> Laura Sweet may be the Internet's Oprah Winfrey -- for objects shaped like guns, that is.<br /><br />Just as millions look to the billionaire talk show host for tips on books, health and beauty, hundreds turn to Sweet's "gun-shaped stuff" page on <a href="http://www.thisnext.com/">www.thisnext.com</a> for hair dryers, television remotes and vases with the contours of firearms.<br /><br />Sweet, who trolls the Internet every day for cool and wacky things that might be worth acquiring, has recommended 1,590 products on the Los Angeles-based website. "It has kind of pointed me out as a design maven," the 42-year-old Beverly Hills resident said as the holiday gift-buying season entered its final days.<br /><br />So-called social shopping websites like ThisNext are uniting people the world over through their love of conspicuous consumption. By mentioning a product, a self-appointed authority can convert it from unknown junk to a must-have in moments. That's made superstars like Sweet popular with manufacturers trying to spread the word about their products.<br /><br />So far, ThisNext has recorded more than 155,000 clicks on items based on Sweet's recommendations alone.<br /><br />On Kaboodle, another social shopping site, members can check out recommendations from "featured Kaboodlers," who have lists of things they want, including "things for my cat" and "accessories and jewelry." The site had 4 million unique visitors in November, up from 1 million in June, and has sold ad space to major brands such as Crest and Visa.<br /><br />"We're drawing on the wisdom of the crowds," said Manish Chandra, Kaboodle's founder and chief executive.<br /><br />The crowds have eclectic tastes. Among the products made popular by online advocates: Walkie Bits, which are little turtles that move across tabletops; a faucet that changes colors based on the temperature of the water coming out of it; and a $50 watch that says NOW on its face instead of giving the time.<br /><br />Morgan Bennett, creator of the watch, said sales spiked after the public relations director of ThisNext persuaded him to post the watch on the site. It hadn't been advertised anywhere else.<br /><br />"One guy picked it, and then boom, some guy from Norway was looking at it," Bennett said. "Now they're pretty much sold out."<br /><br />Although the sites provide links to places online where shoppers can buy the products listed, many members use them for getting ideas rather than shopping. When they intend to buy something, nearly 70% of U.S. consumers start their online shopping at a specific merchant's website, and only 0.08% start at Kaboodle, according to research firm EMarketer Inc.<br /><br />For those who post on such sites, the lure of being known by peers as a person of impeccable taste is irresistible. Emily Boss, a member of ThisNext, said it's an ego boost when people e-mail you to compliment you on your fashion sense or mark your review as funny. She's part of the new ThisNext Maven program, selected by the company's staff as one of the site's more prominent tastemakers.<br /><br />"There's definitely a feeling of being influential in a community that has a celebrity aspect to it," she said.<br /><br />The sites have even made shopping celebrities out of fictional characters. Lizzie Nichols, a character in a series of novels by Meg Cabot, has a ThisNext fashion-and-beauty-favorites list, which includes underwear and fake eyelashes. (Fake shoppers, apparently, need fake eyelashes.)<br /><br />Cabot's own list doesn't tell people to buy her book, but she is one of many people on the sites who have products for sale. Boss, the ThisNext Maven, works for an e-commerce company and sometimes recommends things her company sells.<br /><br />Indeed, it can be difficult to tell whether an expert who suggests a purchase has a special interest in promoting it. Most of the websites try to block companies from posting -- rather than advertising -- their products.<br /><br />But such companies as L.A.-based Marketingworks, which sells word-of-mouth marketing services, sends its "brand ambassadors" to various websites, including social shopping sites, where they set up profiles and talk about products the company is promoting.<br /><br />Brand ambassadors "don't just go in there and converse," said Marketingworks Chief Executive Chas Salmore, "they have a loose, structured script to use to talk about the value of a particular promotion."<br /><br />For Classic Media's "The Original Christmas Classics DVD Box Set," for instance, brand ambassadors were told it might be effective to say something along the lines of: "What's your favorite Christmas Classic? A lot of people really love 'The Little Drummer Boy.' 7 Christmas Classics are together in one DVD Set called 'The Original Christmas Classics.' I have the inside scoop because I work for them."<br /><br />Salmore said the company wasn't spamming, but rather providing useful tips and inside information about things like upcoming sales and sweepstakes.<br /><br />Many members and recommenders on social shopping sites say they don't care if someone has a vested interest in a product as long as he or she is honest about ties with the company.<br /><br />As a popular recommender on ThisNext, Sweet gets lots of offers of swag and has accepted a free gift from a company she later reviewed. But she said her word-of-mouth couldn't be bought.<br /><br />"I'm very particular about what I post," she said. "I'm not shilling for anyone. I'm just talking about things I like and admire."<br /><br /><a href="mailto:alana.semuels@latimes.com">alana.semuels@latimes.com</a><br /><br /> </div>And congrats to Matt Condron, David Buckingham and Thisnext!!!<br /><br />Since this nice little bit of press, I've been fortunate enough to receive some more wonderful mentions. For more recent press or an If It's Hip, It's Here press kit, please contact me.<br><br><br />Thanks so much!

My 15 Minutes of Fame

Above: the photo by Jay Clendening, accompanying the article in the LA Times In todays' Los Angeles Times, reporter Alana Semuels did ...

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I'm Officially A Geek And On The Cover Of Wired

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UELWl0MpmuBkrwMr9-99CuVTfKIQQH1xyWSwnfPvBYsbs3Bk9WIq3Us8mt1dzUMs8I7BGIntYIgVj2AIXSIsyP8H_9Gjz_6-rBKQ5iaUUv1N6MdhKmc90mvPmppeVTYAFiLba1Kn-yLn/s1600-h/JulyWired.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084240028665363618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2UELWl0MpmuBkrwMr9-99CuVTfKIQQH1xyWSwnfPvBYsbs3Bk9WIq3Us8mt1dzUMs8I7BGIntYIgVj2AIXSIsyP8H_9Gjz_6-rBKQ5iaUUv1N6MdhKmc90mvPmppeVTYAFiLba1Kn-yLn/s400/JulyWired.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 527px; height: 702px;" /></a><br /><br />So, I open my mailbox yesterday to retrieve my mail and what do I find, but a picture of myself and my late doggy, Abbey, staring back at me from the cover of Wired Magazine!<br /><br />No, I'm not on newsstands everywhere but I had almost forgotten that this 'custom' July cover was coming to me.<br /><br />Last January, Wired allowed the first 500 subscribers to upload a photo of themselves and if approved, would be put on their own cover. At that time, Abbey was still alive, but sick with cancer so I thought this would be a fun way to memorialize her.<br /><br />I was right. The cover is thick stock and seamless, you'd never know it was only one of a kind.<br /><br />I hope some of my readers were fortunate enough to be one of the 500!<br /><br />This is the closest I'll ever be to being a Covergirl!<br><br>

I'm Officially A Geek And On The Cover Of Wired

So, I open my mailbox yesterday to retrieve my mail and what do I find, but a picture of myself and my late doggy, Abbey, staring back at me...

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I'm The First "User Of The Week" on This Next!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj634c_UgC4Jv2KVUjB8xjHxYixSzbnna-hLIHmlR4laEkwUw6yKah17vVV-xbE9NDzVYBzIjr91X85Lk2xhr60uoAJyxFJWO-24-S9iej5W0D4p3CrilxfREeun2SGrlKry5vP41qzXVDr/s1600-h/Picture+11.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083153449995692450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj634c_UgC4Jv2KVUjB8xjHxYixSzbnna-hLIHmlR4laEkwUw6yKah17vVV-xbE9NDzVYBzIjr91X85Lk2xhr60uoAJyxFJWO-24-S9iej5W0D4p3CrilxfREeun2SGrlKry5vP41qzXVDr/s400/Picture+11.png" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a><br /><br />I'm super flattered that the increasingly popular shopcasting site, <a href="http://www.thisnext.com">This Next</a> has named me as their first "User of The Week". <br /><br />A new weekly component to <a href="http://blog.thisnext.com/">their blog</a>, I'm the first to get the honor.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwLdGfKgbvRqv6fqkJTJBaJSEFW0iI2Uqd6qGWoTdhbYNN6LuvQpCy-b0Dj8tm3TB2AnHc81ILfQND171yXhPcg21gpziOmZO-1Xn3zebB_O1nPCqCy9D0VYMSrBgasyrnRMEm4LL1BpQ/s1600-h/Picture+5.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083153596024580530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwLdGfKgbvRqv6fqkJTJBaJSEFW0iI2Uqd6qGWoTdhbYNN6LuvQpCy-b0Dj8tm3TB2AnHc81ILfQND171yXhPcg21gpziOmZO-1Xn3zebB_O1nPCqCy9D0VYMSrBgasyrnRMEm4LL1BpQ/s400/Picture+5.png" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a><br /><br />If you don't know about This Next (www.thisnext.com) by now, you should. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUpTerTwUn1rswzshkm28Je2Hs0uk3zIkALk6SvYJs7cDMEAi80PFHtAU0FTnRVRytD5koLP9-lyELWAp9c1fvxmOGC_aPqle5hXe9qebiejioI5al-8BQ4GQEAy-66B6oIHTEo9T6gGa/s1600-h/Picture+7.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083145014679923026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUpTerTwUn1rswzshkm28Je2Hs0uk3zIkALk6SvYJs7cDMEAi80PFHtAU0FTnRVRytD5koLP9-lyELWAp9c1fvxmOGC_aPqle5hXe9qebiejioI5al-8BQ4GQEAy-66B6oIHTEo9T6gGa/s400/Picture+7.png" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a><br /><br />As explained on their own site:-------------------------------------------------<br /><br /><i>ThisNext is a shopcasting network where people can discover, recommend and share products and services they love.<br /><br />In the real world, we rely on the people around us to sort out what we should buy. Brand marketing hype is too loud, too confusing. Tech specs are too complicated, confounding and time consuming to sort through. Our site is a way to answer online a question we ask those around us every day, “What do you use?”<br /><br />Buying things that are better suited to our individual lifestyles makes life better. We want to help people live the good life, whatever that means to them.<br /><br />The ThisNext Blog is a place where we identify bloggers and trends whose work aligns with our goal of helping communities unite, express who they are and find products that will help them live more happily and easily.<br /><br />Our blog will also cover shopcasting on ThisNext. Curious about what’s being picked, who’s picking it and why? Want to know why we’re doing something (or why we aren’t doing something)?</i><br />-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />I actually found out about thisnext.com before it was up and running from a friend of mine who was in contact with one of the founders, Craig Ogg. I have since Craig as well as CEO Gordon Gould, the other founder. Terrific, personable visionaries. I have also had the great fortune to meet some other members of their team, including their fabu PR Diva, Nicole. <br /><br />Their bloggers and staff are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkkvMQugCM5C7qBkr7vriKzCm_2GT5Ekm47mS-nzpqSw7wVpxSg6qFfkjgkLzLn47DgSVMolEPXDXIKXDrnzOZSYh03bajKO6PHInYHS3jQykXzhLb3cExbBgUWpMUbjGMyooL2dFSEni/s1600-h/thisnext-team.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083143442721892626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkkvMQugCM5C7qBkr7vriKzCm_2GT5Ekm47mS-nzpqSw7wVpxSg6qFfkjgkLzLn47DgSVMolEPXDXIKXDrnzOZSYh03bajKO6PHInYHS3jQykXzhLb3cExbBgUWpMUbjGMyooL2dFSEni/s400/thisnext-team.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a><br /><i> Above: the hardworking team of This Next</i><br /><br /><a href="http://www.thisnext.com/company/news-and-quotes/">They have received impressive press you can view by clicking here.</a><br /><br />The name for my blog actually stemmed from my first list of products for This Next.<br />"If It's Hip, It's Here" was the first thing that came to mind once I started posting objects, art and services that I felt were worth sharing.<br /><br />Since then, I have created many 'lists' of cool and hip products on This Next. <br /><a href="http://www.thisnext.com/by/laurasweet/lists/">16 lists, to be exact. </a><br /><br />Lists that range from things like <a href="http://www.thisnext.com/list/C6440F2F/Shop-or-Ill-shoot-Gun-shaped">"Shop or I'll Shoot: Gun Shaped Stuff"</a> to <a href="http://www.thisnext.com/list/50B63433/Put-that-down-Thats-my-grandma">"Put That Down, That's My Grandma; Modern Cremation Urns"</a> and lists that are really useful like my <a href="http://www.thisnext.com/list/6B8C9DC6/Fancy-Friggen-Flooring-Radical">"Fancy Friggen Flooring and Radical Rugs" list</a> and my <a href="http://www.thisnext.com/list/C4D51643/THE-DISH-ON-DISHES">The Dish on Dishes</a> list<br /><br />Some of which have received press from other hot sites (like www.notcot.org) and many of which I've covered in my own blog. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NUE2kVkYVrBbAgL0bOxTJiQXZvM5fCRw9Fo8L24Vzi1BibBlGvhfDRcW8rR8HXjU9GpkXwuZhxoXCXdZRFXBllZXQgcUj8jdl882bpzRUM_pfjPkIEDrRXswaS0lfMxaA3qcLSNawbL9/s1600-h/mystuffonnotcot.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083148399114152338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8NUE2kVkYVrBbAgL0bOxTJiQXZvM5fCRw9Fo8L24Vzi1BibBlGvhfDRcW8rR8HXjU9GpkXwuZhxoXCXdZRFXBllZXQgcUj8jdl882bpzRUM_pfjPkIEDrRXswaS0lfMxaA3qcLSNawbL9/s400/mystuffonnotcot.png" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a><br /><i> above: My Gun Shaped stuff as seen on NOTCOT.org</i><br /><br />I add to the lists almost daily, so if you need to know <a href="http://www.thisnext.com/list/B798FC7F/Death-Becomes-You-cool-things">the latest and greatest things with skulls</a> or <a href="http://www.thisnext.com/list/163A93E4/Aquariums-that-rock">aquariums that rock</a>, links to all the lists can be found at the right in my side bar.<br /><br />As of today, here are my personal stats on this next:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDqzqwFEvfl0Sj9joSCkmD7-zLqeZZbWft4V-xKY3sozf4RhcY9wSf-qJ3XFMzazj4oXY11rEcPJCoLqxwGAc-J2upIboBjsmVcZGYCV2bU-E91GcURNJfLXvlEHlzdVXYfG2gsyvhdg2/s1600-h/Picture+4.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083144061197183266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDqzqwFEvfl0Sj9joSCkmD7-zLqeZZbWft4V-xKY3sozf4RhcY9wSf-qJ3XFMzazj4oXY11rEcPJCoLqxwGAc-J2upIboBjsmVcZGYCV2bU-E91GcURNJfLXvlEHlzdVXYfG2gsyvhdg2/s400/Picture+4.png" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a><br /><br />So, perhaps the above is actual 'proof' that I am a trendsetter, no? Okay, well then at least I'm someone who spends waaaay too much time on the web. At least I've done all the "searching for what's hip" legwork for you.....

I'm The First "User Of The Week" on This Next!

I'm super flattered that the increasingly popular shopcasting site, This Next has named me as their first "User of The Week"....

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