This week we get to know Girlfromnorthcountry aka Michel! Michel is an handmade expert maven on ThisNext. She always finds new products an all areas of shopping, fashion, food, home, music etc. With her creative lists and detailed recommendations, Michel has become an amazing user of the site! So listen as we get to know her a litte better.

1. Can you write a haiku about you, your blog, or what you do? And/Or in one sentence describe yourself

dreamer obsessive compulsive happy and delusional

I am a designer for a gift ware company,the Clay Company,and I design with my partner, pewter ‘jewelry for the table. It is small, vintage and nature inspired.

2. What are the last five things you purchased and what is your next dream purchase?

The last things I’ve purchased are, a Schiaperelli vintage crocheted crown, a rosie the riveter military dress, Beatle’s Rock Band Special Edition, Franco Sarto black leather boots and a Target ruffled mini skirt. I would love rag and bone leather maryna jacket.

3.  What is your favorite movie about shopping and why?

I read ThisNext’s blog and I know this is a repeat for sure, but I love ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. I love Meryl Streep and her relationship with Anne Hathaway and the clothes from start to finish and I mean the frumpy ones, too, are amazing in their perfection to show the character changes. So like everyone else, that’s my feel good movie and of course ‘Sex and the City’.

4.   What has been your favorite ThisNext discovery

Just recently it was by another ThisNext recommender, fashionistaDIVAgrrrl, Lulu Guiness’ Union Jack Lips Clutch

5. Tell us a little about how you got started in your business and why you love it!

Its started with going back to art school and when got my first design job as an illustrator for a resort tee-shirt company. That lead to designing wine labels and ‘arty’ labels for ‘wine country’ food products, bookcovers and finally landed a secure positon as lead designer for the Clay Company.  We are really small, do all our design and production in Sonoma County and do all our own product styling,photography and packaging. Now we just have to get a decent looking website!  I still have time to pursue my own design interests and I love just about anything you can put the tag ‘design’ on and try to do it with varying degrees of success.

6. If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

I would want to be Sailor Moon, she fights for justice, but gets tripped up a bit on the way, but always makes it work and she looks so cute.

7. If you could be a fruit what fruit would you choose and why?

I am a fruit, but if I had to pick one it would be a cherry, they just taste so good and are like little hearts.

We’re thankful for lots of things here at ThisNext. You, for instance! And as unbelievable as it may seem, Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. So, consider this a a friendly heads up. It’s time to get prepared — learn to cook that turkey or make plans with someone who can. We’re here to help though. Browse through the community’s Favorite Thanksgiving Products for holiday inspiration and instruction.

Another great article has featured ThisNext this week! Forbes has featured us in an article about the web’s best shopping websites! Thanks Forbes for the great compliment!

Be sure to check at the entire article!

We woke up to a lovely little surprise this morning!! A great article was written about ThisNext and was featured on Entrepreneur magazine’s website and in their print edition too :)

Check out the article here>>

Thanks for the love Entrepreneur magazine!!!

In honor of Halloween being tomorrow, user Berth made a super list of some of the weirdest findings. For example, why would anyone want to buy themselves a racoon roadkill scarf???? It certainly is bizarre but also HIGHLY entertaining! SO everyone kick of their SPOOKY Halloween weekend by checking out this awesome list!

See more of the WHY WOULD YOU EVER? list by berth at ThisNext.

As, I’m sure I’ve mentioned to any of you that I’ve talked to, I reached a major ThisNext milestone yesterday. I finally made it to my 5000th recommendation, and let me assure you, this is no easy task. I’m damn proud of myself and plan on using this high to float into the weekend. But before I do, I wanted to narrow it further — to create an honor roll, of sorts. So here they are, my 40 favorite products of my last 500 recommendations…

See more of my 40 Favorites From the Last 500 list at ThisNext.

This week we learn about Joylise, a ThisNext maven and a previous expert maven. She also has just begun a new blog where she touches upon but is not limited to, motherhood, fashion, art and gardening! So after you get to know Joylise a little more, make sure to check out her blog and ThisNext profile where see has SUPER lists, my favorite is her Top 100 Wishlist!

1. Can you write a haiku about you, your blog, or what you do? And/Or in one sentence describe yourself

mommy-wife-student
daydreams inspiration love
my cup overfloweth

2. What are the last five things you purchased and what is your next dream purchase?

My husband and I just bought a brand new house! It’s perfect and now i have so many DIY projects on my plate…I bought an adorable pair of grey suede DV Dolce Vita booties for my fall wardrobe, I just bought a Ryobi 7 1/4” saw because I’m building a pergola in my (mostly dirt) backyard, some black furry boots for my 3 year old daughter from Gymboree for her fall wardrobe, and I got some great very hard to find vintage books on e-bay and alibris .
My next dream purchase is a macbook. I already have the iMac and iPhone and couldn’t live without them, but now I want a macbook instead of the S-L-L-O-O-W-WWWW compaq HP laptop I’m using…

3. What is your favorite movie about shopping and why?

OMG I love them ALL!!! If I had to pick a favorite it probably would be Devil Wears Prada…I watch it whenever I’m feeling down, and it always cheers me up!

4. What has been your favorite ThisNext discovery

I have a list of pink rings and pink watches, all luxury items that I could never ever afford, or ever frivilously purchase should I acquire the funds, but they were so fun drooling over and dreaming about…

5.  What is your favorite thing to blog about and why?

I like to blog honestly about life, as a mom,a grad student,a housewife, a military wife, a parent of a child with autism, and an overly inspired creative woman with a million ideas, dreams, and projects. Blogging via twitter, facebook, and my iphone is the closest I can come to sharing everything I do, feel, see, think about, and dream about, whether or not anybody is there to listen. Sometimes being a stay at home mom can be a lonely place, but somehow in the blogosphere you can reach out and not feel so alone…

6. If you could be any animal what would you be?

I think I would be a domestic cat, they are well taken care of, yet still independent and feisty. And they get to take naps all day long!

7. If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

I would want to be able to fly (because who doesn’t want to fly?), Take away peoples pain (without having to take it on myself), and a super green thumb to plant gardens for feeding those in need, and to make my tulip bulbs grow faster and multiply!

Thanks again to Joylise, we can’t wait to hear more from her in the future!!

Skirts, sneakers, denim, dresses, jewelry, jackets, bags or boots, you can make a bold statement with any one piece of unique apparel. And, we think it’s time to start turning heads with a new fall look. That’s why we’ve decided to give away a $250 shopping spree to Karmaloop. To enter, just create a look (using our list tool) that includes a statement piece in it. And then tag your items “TN KarmaLoop” . We wanna see creativity here, people. So, keep your looks fresh, with different cuts, fun colors, crazy prints or interesting textures. Break the mold and don’t be afraid to push the limits. I mean, they’re called statement pieces for a reason, right?

How to Enter

1. Create a look (using our list tool) that includes a statement piece in it
2. Tag your list and your recommendations “TN Karmaloop”
3. Multiple entries increases your odds

This week we get to know user AND blogger Josie of Josie in the City. When Josie isn’t writing ENTERTAINING blogs about the latest fashion or her everday adventures she is recommending beautiful dresses and jewelry on ThisNext as a maven. So while we get to know Josie a little better don’t forget to check out her profile!

1. Can you write a haiku about you, your blog, or what you do? And/Or in one sentence describe yourself.

I’m a woman with discerning tastes,a penchant for the truly outrageous and committed to living an authentic life.

2.  What are the last five things you purchased and what is your next dream purchase?

The last 5 things I purchased were a pair of Valentino Suede Platform Pumps, Christian Louboutin OTK Platform Boots, Amazon Kindle 2, Book: My life in France, by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme, and a Nikon D90 digital camera. My next dream purchase is a roundtrip ticket to Tuscany.

3. What is your favorite movie about shopping and why?

 I can’t recall a favorite shopping movie but when Confessions of a Shopaholic debuted in theaters, I was anxious to see it. I wasn’t thrilled about how the book was portrayed onscreen but after reading the book, I found that I related to the main character in so many different ways. Fashion, for the main character, was not just about the clothes but about a lifestyle. The fashion world is where my dreams come alive and take flight and any movie that highlights fashion, I guarantee you that I will be up front and center, watching it.

4. What has been your favorite ThisNext discovery?

The Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Milk Honey Bath. It’s pure heaven in a jar. I prefer bath’s to showers, so anytime that I can take a mini getaway in the tub, the milk honey bath comes with.

5. What is your favorite thing to blog about and why?

I’m the author of a lifestyle blog and what I love most is to muse about the small nuances of everyday living. I blog about those things that people, like you and I, can relate too.  By nature, I believe that people love to lurk into other peoples’ lives which is why reality TV is so popular. People want to know how the rest of the world lives and I think my blog provides a small bit of that, as seen through my own experiences and perspective.

 What do you do when you are not blogging?

My paid job is to be the Division Human Resources Manager for a global company.  Aside from that, I’m a fashion consultant and a motivational speaker who does frequent engagements for women’s conferences. I’m working on my first non-fiction book, which should be completed in 2010, and my business partner and I are currently getting ready to launch our first lifestyle podcast in December of this year.

 6. If you could be a fruit what fruit would you choose and why?

An Orange. I have a zest for life, I’m sweet, juicy and a little tart ;-)

Thanks so much Josie for sharing your thoughts with us! Also, don’t forget to check out Josie’s second blog which she co-authors called Fashion Forward Radio. She describes it as a blog, “bout fashion, lifestyle and beauty in hopes that it will help others develop their own sense of style and enjoy the finer things in life.”

 

There are few careers out there that are more awesome than celebrity styling. It’s a lifestyle of everything we love at ThisNext. And, we’ve got an inkling that some of you might aspire towards it too. So, we’ve partnered up with School of Style and decided to give away an Official Stylist Kit . We really want to see who’s got the chops to be a stylist though. So, enter by styling up an outfit or two (using the list tool) and by tagging all the items “TN School of Style.” Then, we’re going to have celebrity stylist, Luke Storey browse through all the looks and choose a winner.  

Prize pack includes: Prop bag, gaffers tape, safety pins, black safety pins, handi-wipes, Sharpies, scissors, top stick, lint roller, tagger gun, seam ripper, sewing kit, hang tags, clips, and masking tape.

One of the perks of being a ThisNext Maven is getting a coveted media pass to cool product related events. Our Handmade Expert Maven, girlfromnorthcountry went to the New York International Gift Fair on August 15th through the 20th and was kind enough to cover the event.  She even created a little blog/diary of her journey through the gift fair. We will be posting all of her discoveries here on the ThisNext blog!

We continue on with her NYIGF journey now …

Sustainability is a major theme throughout the gift industry. Their was just an incredible array of company’s that are promoting their sustainability and truly following it’s guidelines. I had so many favorites that there are two many to name and feature pictures. So, I have decided to glean out a few that really stand out, one that practices an indigenous fair trade sustainable art form and has turned it into a fashion statement and another that has designed beautiful lighting, planters, basket, screens, organizers and furniture. Escama practices fair trade in Brazil with a group of women starting in 2004. They are a staple at the Museum of Modern Art and the are crocheted from post-consumer recycled pop-tops. All bags, belts, clutches and earrings, to name a few item are handmade.

In terms of sustainability applied to home decor my admiration for MIO is unparalleled. Their vast array of products, color and beautiful design is astounding. To quote MIO’s founders’ James Salm and Isaac Salm “At MIO, we believe (sustainability) is a good place to start. We want sustainability to be something that everyone seeks. In creating responsible consumer desires, we can facilitate the development of sustainable culture.”

Yes it’s true, there is ANOTHER season of The Hills and yet again I am watching it! AND this time, LC is out and Kristin Cavallari is in which means double your drama. With the change in cast, there comes a lot of new clothing! Get the fashion that Lo, Audrina, Kristin and Stephanie wear as the drama between relationships and friendships unfolds.

See more of my More Hills Fashion list at ThisNext.

This week we learn about home design afficianado Julie aka LatteAddiction. Julie was an expert maven last year and is still making great recommendations to help everyone revamp their home among other great recommendations! Plus we love users who are self proclaimed ThisNext addicts!!

1.  Can you write a haiku about you, your blog, or what you do? And/or in one sentence describe yourself?

Painted petals smile
Clouds spill open, spill upward
Sun rays exploding
 
 I also have an interest in research, I’m always looking up things on the internet (some not so interesting or useful) and have an appreciation for cool and unusual tidbits that I want but can’t always afford.

2. What are the last five things you purchased?

A book on the history of Kashmir, India/Pakistan, a mighty-fine clothing steamer, Poster board and baubles, too many groceries to list, so if I had to pick one, a pomegranate - YUM and Shure headphones for my husband.

3.  What is your favorite movie about shopping and why?

Pret a Porter - because it’s so over the top and the music is fabulous. “Here Comes the Hotstepper” is still a contagious song.

4.  What has been your favorite ThisNext discovery?

That is an extremely hard question since I like so many things. But one of my favorites has been the discovery of other neat shopping sites to find products at! Who knew you could have so much fun in unusual ways?

5. If you could be any animal what would you be?

Giraffe  - the ability to look unique with a long neck for necklaces and the ability to peek on the neighbors that are up to ‘no good’.

6. If you could be a fruit what fruit would you choose and why?

Pineapple: A crusty exterior with sweetness on the inside, and the aibility to live in a tropical climate.

Thanks LatteAddiction! We are looking forward to many cool recommendations and if you haven’t checked hers out yet here is a tase!

 

As you finish rotating your closet to Fall fashion, we want to help you accent your outfits. So, we’re giving away a Nine West Prize Pack. It’s not just any Nine West though. We’re talking about the Vintage America Collection and it’s just right for the season. The prize pack includes a bag, a pair of boots and a belt — all boasting that worn-in, vintage inspired look. These products are just waiting to make any fall outfit look better. So, get on it, because it’s easy to enter. Simply create a look using ThisNext’s list tool that includes at least one piece from Nine West and be sure to tag it ” TN Nine West”!