quikbook
this is the best place for real hotel deals; i book nearly all of my hotel stays at quickbook. if i don't know what my budget is going to be, i often make several reservations since there is no charge to cancel. when i know how financial matters are going, i cancel the ones i don't want. check back often, as prices sometimes drop close to your date if they still have rooms.

another girl at play
i'd tell you it is the most amazing collection of creative woman on the web, but since they've just added me, that's kind of embarrassing. visit this fantastic site to read about and link to dozens of fantastically talented woman from across the creative spectrum. and, please, kindly ignore the giant picture of me you'll find there.

bird in the hand blog
i'm not sure how i found this blog, but i really like this woman's sensibility. who is she? don't know. where does she live? i wish down the street, since i'm looking for new friends.

briarpress
i have recently become obsessed with letterpress printing and this website helps beat the craving. everything you ever needed to know, plus a great classified ad section.

build a modern house on a budget
i have a fantasty that i am going to buy a lot in the desert, then have a cool prefab modern house driven in on a truck. check out this site for nifty modern houses at trailer park prices.

camilla engman
she's a fantastic illustrator and has a really great blog, but mostly, i find myself visiting because her links are so amazing.

curlinreedsullivan
check out curlin's cool illustrations and make sure you don't miss her writing. she is the sweetness to my kvetch--she can make even the most mundane into something you want to put on your to do list.

cutxpaste
i have what is probably an unhealthy need to compare myself to other woman who make things and sell them on the web. this site has a fantastic links list that makes my habit easy. i often find myself compulsively connecting to their recommendations when i should be working or resting or playing with my dog.

denyse schmidt quilts
denyse and i have been trying to be friends for about three years now, only she lives outside of nyc and i don't. so, despite the fact we've never gotten around to having dinner, i love her work and you should check it out.

franklin report
before this website, and the book that goes along with it, i actually used the yellow pages to find people who can fix things. everyone i've hired from here has been extraordinary, although sometimes with prices to match. unfortunately, the info is limited to a few cities including new york and los angeles.

french verb conjugation
now that i'm taking french, i visit this site multiple times every day. it is a bit tricky to note accent marks, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be as addicted as i.

funktionhome
when i was feeling really low at the new york show, after three long and lonely weeks on the road, i overheard this girl telling someone i had cute stuff. as it turns out, so does she. to boot, she was half of one of my favorite teams on the amazing race.

i buy do it yourself
i knew a girl in high school who could sit down at the sewing machine and whip up just about anything. mary lou simpson was the best dressed girl at seaholm high and i dedicate this link to her. here you'll find all sorts of gals whipping up home made goodies.

indie designer labels
love this

john lineweaver
john's wit is lightening fast, and his color sense can't be topped. check out his cards and things on his new site. and, please note, his graphic design skills are for hire.

keri smith
keri's site is the more romantic version of mine. check out her book, too.

kim, the girl who made me feel beautiful
i met kim after seeing an ad for her makeup services in the new york times. i was looking for an update to my un-look and made an appointment at saks, where she was working at the time. in just under an hour, she fixed all my makeup problems, confirmed the lipgloss color i'd been wearing was fantastic, and planted the seed for what has become a lovely friendship. visit her site for makeup tips, or to make an appointment for your own personal transformation.

lisa kolkin
as one who specializes in "turning nothing into something" my hat goes off to this girl who makes the most beautiful somethings out of, practically, thin air. and, her site is so beauuuuutifully designed it makes me drool.

lulette
it rarely gets cold enough in los angeles for a wool scarf, but i may need one of these anyway--i especially like the ones woven with the words of my choice.

oh my god--a spelling checker
what more can i say? this web site checks for spelling errors on other web sites.

pappelina
i don't know what to say except i wish i was swedish.

possibly the greatest cheapest designer clothes ever
i'd be naked if it weren't for this site.

the best knits
most of the "i made it myself" shopping sites i visit bore me, but not this one. instead of the usual home-sewn purses and stuffed animals, skipping girl has the most innovative product i've seen in a long time. everything is cute, but i've got my eye on one of the bags woven with any word you can think of. make sure you check out the sweet deer scarf. i want one of those, too.

the coolest yarn on the planet
i almost want to learn to knit just so i can buy this yarn.

the purple book
i've been included in this year's edition of the purple book, a zagat-like reference book that includes cool websites the editors think you should visit. i've not yet seen what they've written, so i'm hoping they were kind.

the switchboards
imagine a world where everyone is creative and there is no middle management. well, that's the switchboards, a cyberspace gathering of, pardon my french, crafty chicks.

this is really funny stuff
from what i can gather, the writer of this blog is a fallen mormon, who moved back to salt lake from los angeles for some free babysitting. i'm a bit unsure of the details because i have tears in my eyes from laughing so hard at her hilarious take on things.

what time is it in?
nothing worse than waiting for a call from china only to find out it is still the middle of the night there. now, thanks to timeanddate.com, i can know what time it is anywhere in the world.