I was minding my own business, working away, when the most bizarre care package of the week (if not the month, or year so far) arrived on my desk. I’ve known about the giveaway for the new Coraline movie Nike Dunks, but this was just bizarre. Check the pictures out below…

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My South African-Portuguese pal, Carlos de Spinola, is at it again with his manual focus. After a brief hiatus of website updating during an extended trip through South Africa, the London-dwelling eagle eye photographer has posted quite the update. Everything from his signature Faux Double Exposure shots to Music, Weaponology (scary, but awesome– he used to be in the South African special police force) and my favorite by far, Nature– hence the awesome zebra pictured above. Also, keep your eyes peeled for a film he’s producing about South Africa. Congrats Carlos!

Lots of people are still storing their cash and cards in a beat up leather number that they’ve had since college, and for us there’s now a solid replacement.The Flipside Wallet is a sleek case made from highly durable polymers. It’s set up in two compartments; one for your cards, the other for cash and pictures. While it may appear simple, the Flipside is built to protect your cards from Radio Frequenct Identification Theft, which is now a real threat. Although, the leather wallet protects from identity theft the old fashioned way — by being too ugly to steal.

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The Limelight Lodge in Aspen was pretty much off our radar for years despite its great location. Then some local friends suggested the newly rebuilt Limelight. Not a brick exists from the old hotel and the results are rather impressive. A spacious, upscale room awaited us that mixed Aspen “mountain” style with a fresh, clean twist. The facilities also included a large contemporary outdoor pool and hot tub area which was rocking on our second night — which happened to be opening night of Gay Ski Week, a raucous long-standing Aspen tradition. The Limelight Lodge, while in need of a little “soul” and some warmer lighting and treatments in the public areas, was very well put together and ready for prime time. That and the reasonable prices will assure our return.

If you’re interested in the future of architecture, you want to check out Vision 2020, an online conference of noted architects, critics, and students where they paint a picture of the built environment and its relevance in the foreseeable future. The site features literature reflecting perspectives from all sides on the influence of technology, the natural environment, and the needs of the public. The Vision 2020 project serves as an open forum, and succeeds in bringing forth some compelling ideas. Feel like getting involved. You can submit a video to their YouTube page, or just post it here. But that’s not very forward-thinking of you.

Fair trade, dark, cherry, milk, mocha—no matter your chocolate preference, winning a year’s worth would be little short of lovely. Bridge Brands Chocolate’s current contest is soliciting 600-word essays about ways that the treat (or the necessity, depending upon whom you ask) has “bridged the gap between relationships,” be they lovers or political enemies. The contest was inspired by the company’s name switch from the San Francisco Chocolate Factory and founder Mike Litton’s observation that “chocolate throughout history has been used to soothe many of life’s difficult situations.” Winners will be announced on—when else?—Valentine’s Day.

Face it, Shepherd Fairey is not going to be turning your likeness into an iconic poster anytime soon. Unless your name is Barack Obama — in which case, hello Mr. President! But that doesn’t mean you’re SOL. Paste Magzine and the Zazzle – a site that specializes in customizable retail objects – have teamed up to give you the opportunity to “Obamicon” yourself. Just upload an image or use your webcam, select a saying or write in your own, and share it with friends. You can even order U.S. stamps featuring your own mug. Stuck on ideas? Check out their gallery of top picks like “Fail” one featuring George W. Bush.