Wow. Just saw these wooden Chupa Chups Cases on Tre Cool, which quickly lead down a rabbit hole of unbelievable wooden candy cases… car key cases… tons of phone cases… PSP cases… and this making of that is quite something. I mean, really, i had no idea that there was a market for beautifully crafted, wood and leather Chupa Chups cases that you can wear on your belt look or hang from your purse… but now i’m fascinated. See the details and some of the others on the next page!

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For a love of all things matte black - these Alexander Wang Objects Collection made me laugh… matte black Beach Ball… and Pool Ring! Also amusing - the Dog Collar & Leash, perfect for Bucky our black lab on special occasions? See more on the nest page!

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Happy Holidays! 2013 is around the corner, and we’re finishing up this year with more of our annual coupons from our favorite stores and over 30 giveaways from now through Christmas!

Today is definitely baby/kids day of giveaways ~ NOTCOT Holiday Giveaway #26 is from Montessorium! They have quite a generous bundle of giveaways and various ways to win! Through commenting, you have 10 chances to win Letter Work and Number Work Books and all four Montessorium apps: Intro to Math, Intro to Letters, Intro to Geography, Alpha Writer. For those who tweet or instagram, there are 10 chances to win the full app bundle too!

Justine and I grew up Montessori kids - and we’ve never forgotten the awesome minimalist design that is present through all of the montessori objects - from sand paper letters and numbers, to the counting beads, blue solids… and so much lacquered woody goodness. Perhaps those early designs helped influence our design aesthetic here at NOTCOT at an early age… But when we were learning with all of that, there were no ipads… we were barely playing with computers… and it’s a whole new world of options now! Especially with Montessorium, they’ve translated much of the Montessori style of learning to ipads and board books with stunning illustrations. For Alpha Writer, you can even switch between illustrators - Zeptonn, Mike Lowery,and Marloes de Vries! Taking the sand paper letters and numbers to board books only seems natural - and the added texture in the board books is fantastic! The iPad apps, so beautiful, educational, and fun!

THE GOODS: 10 winners will each win Letter Work and Number Work Books and all four Montessorium apps: Intro to Math, Intro to Letters, Intro to Geography, Alpha Writer. Another 10 (via twitter/instagram) will be chosen to win bundles of all 4 Montessorium apps

TO WIN: Either leave a comment here sharing what inspired you as a kid by midnight 12/22 PST for a chance to win. Winner will be contacted via email.

OR - tweeting and following @NOTCOT and @Montessorium and/or instagramming and following @NOTlabs and @Montessorium sharing what inspired you as a kid by midnight 12/22 PST for a chance to win. We’ll direct message/comment to the winners.

See more details of the goodies on the next page!

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Happy Holidays! 2013 is around the corner, and we’re finishing up this year with more of our annual coupons from our favorite stores and over 30 giveaways from now through Christmas!

NOTCOT Holiday Giveaway #25 is here filled with goodies from Skip Hop, perfect for new parents (or parents-to-be!). This bundle is a great collection of some of their new products that have you completely covered, from a Grand Central Diaper Bag that can hold any/everything and then some, while still keeping you (and the baby) organized - the Complete Sheet 4-piece nursery set, which is basically an instant nursery minus the crib, with wall decals, sheet set, crib skirt, and nursery blanket (all in adorable themes!) - and for fun toys to get your kid going, Alphabet Zoo ABC Blocks, Tree Top Friends Bead Tree, and a Flapping Owl Pull Toy! It’s a lovely bundle to kickstart things while introducing your child subconsciously to some stunning design early on!

THE GOODS: A bundle including a Grand Central Diaper Bag (winner chooses color), Complete Sheet 4-piece nursery set (winner chooses print), Alphabet Zoo ABC Blocks, Tree Top Friends Bead Tree, and a Flapping Owl Pull Toy.

TO WIN: Leave a comment here sharing something unexpected you’d want your child to learn by midnight 12/22 PST for a chance to win. Winner will be contacted via email.

See more details on the next page!

UPDATE: Congrats to John in APO, AE.

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On fun birthday presents, i got a HHA TWI01… HHA stands for Hardcore Hardware Australia and TWI stands for TACTICAL WRITING INSTRUMENT! Yup, this is more than an awesome matte black pen that takes Parker and Fisher Space Pen cartridges… it can be used to break glass in cases of emergency, etc. The entire shaft of the pen is constructed from 6000 series, non-reflective; black anodized aluminum, and a dome shaped crown constructed from high-grade stainless steel. There are also O-rings keeping the pen completely waterproof! See more pictures of it on the next page…

p.s. Between this and my Triple Aught Design Titanium Rescue Ring i should have no excuse getting stuck behind glass…

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Happy Holidays! 2013 is around the corner, and we’re finishing up this year with more of our annual coupons from our favorite stores and over 30 giveaways from now through Christmas!

Happy NOTCOT Holiday GIveaway #24!!! The latest comes from our friend, Andrew Bell of Dead Zebra goodness - this year the special Holiday Android is Frankie Frost as designed by Scott Tolleson, these are limited edition collectibles, and 10 of our lucky winners will get one! In addition one super winner will get 2 of these Frosts as well as a signed Do Not Eat book and a ‘You should come with me’ print.

THE GOODS: 10 winners will receive a Holiday Android - Frankie Frost and one Super Winner will receive 2 Holiday Androids, a signed Do Not Eat book, and a ‘You should come with me’ print. (That’s right - there will be 11 winners!!!)

TO WIN: Leave a comment here sharing your favorite thing about winter by midnight 12/21 PST for a chance to win. Winner will be contacted via email.

See more pics of the goodies (and a coupon!) on the next page.

UPDATE: Congrats to Brenda in Oakland, CA, Kirsten in Puyallup, WA, Gretchen in Chicago, IL, Joyce in Ottawa, ON, Frank in Las Vegas, NV, Geoff in Strongsville, OH, Daniel in Coahuila, Mexico, Thu in Fayetteville, AR, Robyn in Cape Town, South Africa, Carol in Columbia, SC. And Super Winner, Paul in Proivdence, RI!

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Happy Holidays! 2013 is around the corner, and we’re finishing up this year with more of our annual coupons from our favorite stores and over 30 giveaways from now through Christmas!

NOTCOT Holiday Giveaway #23 is a special one from Art In The Age of Mechanical Reproduction, who are behind the delicious and beautifully branded Root, Snap, Rhubarb Tea, and Sage liquors as well as Spodee (Wine with a KICK!), they also have quite the store of hand picked designer goodness! Beautifully inspiring and playful design/packaging/branding mixed with some of the most delicious and unique drinks makes Art In The Age of Mechanical Reproduction one of the most inspiring companies and stories i’ve encountered here at NOTCOT. So, since giving away their drinks isn’t the best of ideas (age checks, where you’re allowed to ship alcohol, etc) ~ we’ve teamed up to give away the next best thing, two fun super bundles inspired by them!

THE GOODS: Two special bundles (so, we’ll be picking two winners!) The Art In The Age Bundle includes: Snap Mug, Root Mason Jar, Hella Bitters, Whiskey Disks, Root Soap, Field Notes, 2 t-shirts, Tomr’s Tonic, Royal Rose Syrup, and a Feel Good Tote. The Spodee Wine Bundle includes: Trucker Hat, T-shirts, Matches, Magnets, Tumblers, Spodee Jam and more all in a galvanized bucket!

TO WIN: Leave a comment here sharing what creative flavor you’d love to taste in a cocktail is by midnight 12/20 PST for a chance to win. Winner will be contacted via email.

Take a close up look at the goodies to be won on the next page! (As well as cute videos about Root and Spodee!)

UPDATE: Congrats to Derek in Hawthorne, CA and Patrick in Falmouth, ME!

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Happy Holidays! 2013 is around the corner, and we’re finishing up this year with more of our annual coupons from our favorite stores and over 30 giveaways from now through Christmas!

Woohoo! NOTCOT Holiday Giveaway #22 - lots and lots of TOYS from our friends at kidrobot! Whether you share this bundle of fun with others, consider it a huge stocking of toys for yourself, or ration them out through the year, there’s no way you wont have lots of playful amusement! From surprisng blind boxes, to the adorable love birds that fit together so adorably, to the DIY blank Munny, and adorable happy labbit…, there’s too much here not to make you smile!

THE GOODS: A bundle consisting of Kid Neutron 8”, two Pop Mini Series ‘Corns, a Blue All City Breakers Mini 20-pack, Munnyworld Munny Series 4 (7” White Edition), a pair of Love Birds (purple and teal), two Fat Caps, two SPK2 Minis, and two Happy Labbit Minis.

TO WIN: Leave a comment here sharing what your favorite childhood toy is by 12/19 PST for a chance to win. Winner will be contacted via email.

See more pictures of all the goods on the next page!

UPDATE: Congrats to Jessica in Fremont, CA!

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This post is presented by MasterCard. When they reached out to us about sharing some fun Grammy inspired posts, naturally, i turned to our NOTlabs director and music lover, Shawn Sims, to share a bit of what we’ve been listening to around the lab!

At NOTCOT we always have music playing, and with the 55th Annual Grammy Awards just around the corner, it seems like the perfect time to share favorites playing lately. Whether you are working hard or just relaxing a bit over the holidays we hope that this mix inspires you too. There is a lot of music on it, including The Lumineers, The Avett Brothers, Mumford and Sons, Alabama Shakes, and the quartet of Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, and Stuart Duncan, all of whom are nominated for Grammys. There are a few other songs included from artists we enjoy, some older and some new, but all awesome! Check out playlist and some fun videos on the next page!

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There seems to be a trend in iconic packaging being creatively repurposed for treats in the canine space… Thanks to Bucky, the NOTpuppy, we’ve been getting caught up fast in the space, and have come across some strange products… Firstly, picture perfume/lipgloss rollers… and deodorant roller balls? Well imagine that - only it’s a low cal liquid treat that your dog (or cat) can lick, and only 1 calorie in every 10 licks! That is PetSafe’s Lickety Stik! Now imagine those large gluesticks or sunblock sticks… some even have a string attached to go around your neck? Only instead of smearing it on… you let your dog lick it? That is Leanlix! The big form anyhow… the mini Littlelix - look just like Lip Smackers in their multi-flavored packs… the same packaging as the usual lip balms. These say 3 licks are 0 calories! And then there’s also the HumanGear GoToob (my favorite travel toiletry container) which doubles as a Paww Treat Toob…

Strange as they are, we were far too curious… so take a peek for more packaging details on the next page, as well as Bucky’s responses!

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This week’s roundup from NotVentures includes last minute Asian getaways, luxury in Switzerland, Christmas in London’s Goring and more. To find out more about each destination, click on its individual image.

Here’s the latest from our resident zoologist and London based editor, Justine Aw.

On a freezing, wintry day, we left the chilly Portland Square to find ourselves in a warm, decadent room filled with inviting floral displays and delectable macarons! The perfect taste of Parisian spring in a London winter! When we heard Pierre Hermé were launching their 2013 ‘Les Jardins’ collection, we knew we were in for a treat, but had no idea of the delicious and unusual flavor combinations that awaited! More previews of the new collection on the next page!

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Happy Holidays! 2013 is around the corner, and we’re finishing up this year with more of our annual coupons from our favorite stores and over 30 giveaways from now through Christmas!

NOTCOT Holiday Giveaway #21 comes from Kaufmann Mercantile! They “believe good design means beautiful aesthetics and well-chosen materials for products that are built for functionality and durability,” and we agree with them 100%! And as they describe, “We put a lot of thought and research into everything we sell. Our slogan, “More of What Matters,” refers to the way purchasing goods for your everyday life ought to be - an opportunity to choose from durable, fine quality luxury items made under ethical, environmentally safe circumstances.” So, as you can imagine, their store is filled with all kinds of products to better your home — from tools, to edibles, to grooming and more! For today’s giveaway, we have a fun selection of products to give your home a taste of the Kaufmann Mercantile life… with a Wine-Scented Soy Candle - beautiful use of a recycled wine bottle, EDC Kit - pry bar, screwdrivers, precision tweezers, waterproof lighter and a titanium key ring in under 2oz, 3 Cup Chemex Handblown Coffee Maker - so beautiful, AND makes coffee, Stone Ground Buttermilk & Honey Pancake Mix - mmmmm, Black Walnut Trencher Board - a stunning cutting/serving board, and a Handmade Picking Basket to hold it all, or take on a picnic, or…

THE GOODS: A bundle consisting of a Wine-Scented Soy Candle, EDC Kit, 3 Cup Chemex Handblown Coffee Maker, Stone Ground Buttermilk & Honey Pancake Mix, Black Walnut Trencher Board, and a Handmade Picking Basket.

TO WIN: Leave a comment here sharing what is most important to you when buying a product by 12/18 PST for a chance to win. Winner will be contacted via email.

See more pictures of all the goods on the next page!

UPDATE: Congrats to Lena in Berlin, Germany!

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Wow. BALL & CLAW FEET ON A PURSE! Ok, sorry, been a bit excited in a “how did i not know about this before?” way…

We’ve been hearing about the amazing world of Parabellum from Bernard at Acquire for some time now… and i must say their details and free range Bison leather feel incredible. And they are all hand crafted right here in Los Angeles! Well, catching up on things, they just took my breath away with their Handbags. Sure they are made of free range Bison, with hand turned edges, suede lining, removable handles and all the works… but what REALLY sets them apart are the Military Spec Ceramic Ball & Claw Feet in copper or black. Yes, like table legs, lamp posts, etc of days past… also, who hasn’t been terribly annoyed by the lack of protection most purses have to fight off and survive what real life throws at them… these hardcore feet sound like they can handle any floor you are forced to put it down on…

See more details of the Medicine Woman Handbag above i’m lusting after, as well as the Emmeline Tote on the next page!

p.s. If possible, i’d totally put feet on my other bags as well…

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Happy Holidays! 2013 is around the corner, and we’re finishing up this year with more of our annual coupons from our favorite stores and over 30 giveaways from now through Christmas!

Happy NOTCOT Holiday Giveaway #20! This is a fun one from our friends at W+K Studio - Goodness, a creative super bundle filled with everything you need to spruce things up creatively from tea towel to tees, paper ornaments and posters, gift tags to greeting cards,… and my favorite i showed you details of here - the brilliant 2013 Letterpressed Coaster Calendar!

THE GOODS: A bundle consisting of Chop Slice Drizzle Tea Towel, One Bright Idea Poster, Stay Sharp Tee, Keep It Simple Tee, Elf Approved Gift Tags, Dala Horse Ornaments, Thank You Card, Word Search Card, Joy Card, and Letterpresed 2013 Coaster Calendar.

TO WIN: Leave a comment here sharing what you are hoping for in 2013 by 12/17 PST for a chance to win. Winner will be contacted via email.

See more pics of all the goods on the next page!

UPDATE: Congrats to Janeece in Seattle, WA!

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