We’re inching our way to 2017! Christmas and Hanukkah are around the corner… and NYE is just behind them… and here’s a bit of inspiration helping get us there! Click the squares to find out more.

Welcome to the 2016 Ever Growing NOTCOT Gift List - it’s ever growing, because instead of making individual gift guides this year, i’ll just keep adding to this post (and bumping it up with each update for your easy viewing pleasure!) WHY? Well, if i were you, i’d much rather have one page i could scroll through for ideas as i shop, rather than trying to hop all over through a litany of links… AND thanks to our fantastic NOTCOT sponsors (Shout outs to David Kind, Distiller, ICON, AutoNation, and AutoDesk Fusion 360 - we love you guys!) we can focus on finding and sharing awesomeness with you! (Versus the old model of ads, that encourages sites to make you open as many pages as possible, as many times as possible, since they’ve got to get those ad views.)

As for what we’re defining “gifts” as this year - fun products that you can wrap your arms around (i.e. no cars, ovens, walk in greenhouses, etc.) that aren’t basic tech items (i.e. computers, speakers, cameras, gaming consoles, kitchen appliances). We’re going to focus on the fun, random, and unexpected… for all that other stuff - there are so many other places to go look! Also, we’re focusing on products you can actually BUY and have under the tree (i.e. no crowdfunding or pre-sales). So it’s kind of a free for all! I’ll show you some stuff that could make for a fun gift (for yourself or others!) and leave it to you to decide who would like what (instead of Gifts for Mom, Gifts for Travelers, Gifts for “insert stereotype that is unlikely to be true here.”) Oooh, also - these are all items our team already has or wants to gift or wouldn’t mind being surprised by.

So - if you’re ready - let’s get our gifting on! To the next page…

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We’re SO close to 2017! Really can’t wait to get there - 2016 has been… yea… Anyhow, here’s a dose of 25 inspiring amusements that have been making us happy on NOTCOT.org! Click the squares to find out more.

The Power Practical Luminoodle! Essentially an LED strip that you can power via USB - and before you just buy a basic LED strip and hack it together yourself, they’ve already done the work to make this waterproof with a nice light diffusion, attached adjustable magnets, included straps to attach it to things, and a little white stuff sack that can turn into a lantern. Basically - it’s an awesome stocking stuffer and gift for your campers, road trippers, cyclists, and more. Also, being USB powered, its easy to plug it in to anything from a USB wall or car charger, computer, or even that back up battery you probably carry for your phone… and for those who don’t already have somewhere to plug it in, you can also buy the Luminoodle Plus that includes one. (Ooh and for last minute shoppers, they are available and slightly cheaper with Amazon Prime!

While skeptical at first, i got curious while black friday shopping and impulse bought one… and i’m delightfully impressed with it! Such a simple idea, executed so thoughtfully, they’ve really elevated the LED strip in a lovely, functional way. Also, nice packaging! Take a peek at the details and unboxing on the next page.

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I keep finding myself real estate shopping/researching more and more - especially paying attention to unusual design solutions to challenging lots - and today this Bridge House on 8th Street in Hillcrest, San Diego, CA caught my eye. Owners, Rammy and Traci Cortez, and architect, Hector Magnus of Architects Magnus build The Bridge House. Quite the unmissable black and white structure that initially looks like two houses, but is actually a fascinating solution to a 10ft city utility easement running through the center of the property. It is a two-story, 2,700 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths single family home with a grated steel 12-foot bridge, on a mere 4,725 sqft lot. The pictures are a bit confusing to stitch together in my head… until i dove into the 3D Walkintour (pssst - jump to floor 3 to see what’s above the garage, and jump to another floor to get back out.) I wonder what the rules to an easement are - you can build a bridge over it? Or does it have to be see through? Will have to look into that more…

In the mean time - take a peek inside and around the house on the next page!

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As you may have noticed - i’ve been doing a lot of research on plants as of late. Currently looking into indoor grow lights… and found the beautiful, unique Bulbo lights! Particularly i’m fascinated by the Bulbo Cynara LED Light system. As they say, “Influenced by Italian tradition and inspired by nature. We put sunlight in a lamp.” It’s lampshade is inspired by flowerpots - made from Italian terracotta with a splash of glaze both inside and out (depending on which one you pick), and the expanding aluminum rods allow the light to grow with your plant so it always receives just the right amount of light. It’s a lovely looking alternative to the more industrial setups, and turns your indoor plant setups into stunning design features. It’s also easy to adapt to a changing home/space - you can suspend the lights over the plants, “plant” them in the pots, or have them free standing over a few plants. As for special editions - while they already come in a range of colors, you can currently find a Conran Shop Special Edition which has a glossy white shade and black and white striped cord. The lights spectrum is optimized for herbs and vegetables as well as things like aloe vera and strawberries. See lots of pictures of how lovely the details are on the next page!

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Phew! We’ve survived Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and nearly Cyber Monday (and whatever other shopping frenzy holidays have been added that i can’t keep track of) - so here’s a roundup of what’s been inspiring me on NOTCOT.org… there’s definitely a theme emerging lately as i dive further into some research projects and experiments!

Also - it’s been a lot more FUN to bring back the gift guide this year as a 2016 Ever-Growing NOTCOT Gift LIST instead! Dropping categories (who likes to be labeled traveler, mom, tech guy, runner, etc?) i’m happily adding products that seem fun into one giant scrollable post all season. It’s up to the gift givers to decide which products make them think of which lucky person! Let’s celebrate the multifaceted nature of our friends and family and SURPRISE them instead of pigeon hole them this season?

But back to the roundup at hand - click the squares to find out more. And hit me up if you’re interested/working with/excited by that magical intersection of plants and technology (especially robots!)…

I can’t stop staring at this stunning photo of the Rumpl Pyro-Fade Puffy - those colors! That lush forest! Can’t deny that the colors scream with a bright pop of colors that flow right into each other, and photograph stunningly! (AKA perfect gift for your instagram/photo obsessed friends?) Also the Ocean-fade blues are just mesmerizingly beautiful too! So tempting - these special Rumpl Faded Puffy throw blankets are exclusive to REI. I’m currently curled up in our Rumpl Down Puffy (which is SO warm, almost too warm for me when it’s not winter) as i write this, and dreaming up how fun the Faded Puffies would be on our adventures (or wrapped up under the tree for our adventurous friends!)… see more pics on the next page!

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Happy Black Friday! The London Design Museum just reopened in its new home - and when we heard that Free Universal Construction Kit (by our own Shawn Sims and friend Golan Levin) was on display in the permanent exhibition: Designer Maker User, Justine excitedly popped over to check it out!

As for the exhibition - “Designer Maker User presents the museum’s collection to look at the development of modern design through these three interconnected roles. Designer Maker User features almost 1000 items of twentieth and twenty-first century design viewed through the angles of the designer, manufacturer and user, including a crowdsourced wall. The exhibition covers a broad range of design disciplines, from architecture and engineering, to the digital world, fashion and graphics. Designer Maker User features a bold, colourful and engaging display designed by Studio Myerscough, with digital interactives by Studio Kin.”

Ready to take a peek inside? To the next page!

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Snapchat Spectacles are having a moment… in fact i can’t imagine a better name than “spectacles” with the way they are launching and dispersing their foray into hardware this insane holiday week. When the WSJ article is titled “Snapchat Spectacles Take Video, Cover Mortgage Payments” you know it’s madness. Short story - only way to get them is currently through their adorable minion-esque vending machines that are popping up across America, and you find out where they are on their Spectacles Bot Map, but when they pop up, get there fast, rumors are there are only 200 or so in each one, and they sell out in under 2 hours? Also expect lines around buildings… they are all over eBay for $500-1000 (and you can swipe your credit card at a SnapBot to get one for $130) All this insanity as they get ready for a rumored IPO… and the Spectacles resell bubble may die down as their NYC store restocks more often?

But, lets look at the SnapBOT! It’s adorable, beautifully poppy and minimal, like a giant rectangular minion beeping cute noises and barfing out rainbow receipts (how very snapchat?) So when Shawn woke me up that the SnapBot was just over at Brentwood Countrymart - we popped out of bed and headed over - figuring worst case we could see the madness and grab a coffee. Apparently the bot landed around 7, and the line was already a few hundred deep at 8:30. It was quite the diverse crowd - and people were already scheming what they were going to do with the money they made reselling them… So with cappuccino in hand, we headed to the bot - just follow the balloons! And it was appropriately placed right in front of the toy store! With its big blinking eye that matches the Spectacles logo and the camera/led on the glasses - it’s a great interaction for the buyer and those waiting around the machine. See more pics and video on the next page.

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As we ran around the LA Auto Show 2016, i kept noticing limited edition espresso cups (and mugs! but really, so many espresso sets) - so it started as a joke between Shawn and i to see if there were enough different luxury automotive espresso cups (direct from the brands) to have a full on little cafe… and the more i looked, the more i found… and they are pretty fun! So here’s a round up of mostly espresso cups, and then also some really crazy mugs and milk/sugar sets! And i suppose you could see this as a holiday gift guide if you’re looking to restock your home/office coffee setup or need some surprising gifts for the car folks who have everything - check it all out on the next page!

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It’s a crazy and exciting time in the automotive world right now. There’s so much inspiration coming from the PAST (vintage!) and so much coming up in the FUTURE (autonomous vehicles and incredible concepts!)… we’re thrilled our NOTCOT sponsor, AutoNation, presents our adventures at the LA Auto Show to share some of the PRESENT lustworthy inspiration!

You never know quite what you’re going to find at the LA Auto Show. There are the usual models you expect from the larger brands, but then you run into things like a half lego Porsche 919… or a huge wooden moose… or an all electric 911… or a crazy super pink panther car… endless VR experiences (which really don’t photograph well)… surprising collaborations (Hurley pickup truck? Sriracha Lexus?)… flying pigs… and so much more. Ready to see what we found? To the next page!

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Cheeky Home “creates modern mealtime solutions with a witty spirit to help end hunger in the U.S.” They have quite a collection of paper goods as well as porcelain dinnerware, and donate a meal to those in need for each item purchased. I’m a sucker for black and white stripes, so i have to share the Cheeky Fine Lines Porcelain Dinner Collection at Target with you! There are six designs which are available on 6” and 12” plates. See them all on the next page!

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It’s been a very Apple filled 2 days. Macbook pro arrived last night, Designed By Apple In California today. My macbook air has been long overdue for an update, but waiting for the new macbook pros has taken far longer than most rumors the last year! So, while many are complaining, i’m actually kind of loving the new macbook pro. Sure, the keyboard and mouse will take a little getting used to (and as far as loudness while typing, it doesn’t bother Shawn much compared to the noise when my nails would clink on the old one!) - and the touch bar is actually kind of fun - as for USB-C dongles, sure its a smidge more work, but i’m finding i don’t need them THAT much (other than for photos) - basically i’ve been ready for some newness, and i’m ready to adapt my workflow a bit to try it out… but not ready to jump to having a windows machine be my primary.

Anyhow - love when their shipping arrives a day early and surprises you! And while playing with the new machine, i was reading about the Designed By Apple In California coffee table books - a compendium of beautiful imagery of apple products from 1998-2015 as photographed by the amazing Andrew Zuckerman (behind Creature, Bird, Flower, and more). It’s a pricey coffee table book that comes in small (10.20” x 12.75”) and large (13” x 16.25”), and i can’t imagine a designer who wouldn’t welcome it into their design library. It’s rather over packaged, but unlike coffee table books from amazon, there’s no way it will get dented or dinged en route. And flipping through it, it’s stunning - and full of designer nostalgia. So much tech i’ve used from high school through the last decade of NOTCOT is in there. I’m tempted to scribble in the dates of the various machines i’ve owned that are no longer with me, just to remember all the tools that have helped get me where i am today when i look back on it all in a few decades. It’s a beautiful tribute to Steve Jobs and the stunning designs of Apple in its prime.

Take a look at the unboxing on the next page.

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So. Trump happened. It’s made a lot of us press pause for a moment to reflect on what that means, what’s possible, and what we should all be doing. And on a happier note - i’ve started the 2016 NOTCOT Gift List! Which is getting constant updates as i get inspired and run into fun possible presents… but yea… been an interesting week. So here’s a look at some of what’s been inspiring me over at NOTCOT.org through all of this. Click the squares to find out more!