One of my great finds on Twitter last year is Julie Warner, who Tweets and blogs for Warners' Stellian Appliances in Minneapolis/ St. Paul. Julie's as engaging as she is informative, she really knows her stuff. Warners' Stellian Appliances has been a family owned and run business since the 1950s. In an era when independent retailers are disappearing, Warners' Stellian proves that through a commitment to community and customer alike, it's still possible to thrive. Intelligence and hard work don't hurt either. Not in the Twin Cities? Have no fear, Warners' Stellian handles online sales through their website. Check them out.

I went to a dinner party last night at my old friend Keith's. Keith lives in a recently renovated 1930s bungalow in a historic part of Tampa. He did a masterful job with his home. Despite the fact that it's a historic structure, he stayed true to his modern/ eclectic tastes while still honoring the architecture he had to work with. He did everything perfectly. The scale is right, the aesthetics are right and his use of the existing structure is spot on. Bravo Keith.