$.fn.customSelect = function() {
    // define defaults and override with options, if available
    // by extending the default settings, we don't modify the argument
    return this.each(function() {
        
        obj = $(this);
        obj.after("<div id=\"selectoptions\"> </div>");
        obj.find('option').each(function(i) {
            
            $("#selectoptions").append("<div id=\"" + $(this).attr("value") + "\" class=\"selectitems\"><span>" + $(this).html() + "</span></div>");
        }
        );
        obj.before("<input type=\"hidden\" value =\"\" name=\"" + this.name + "\" class=\"customselect\"/><div id=\"iconselect\" style=\"cursor:pointer;\">" + this.title + "</div><div id=\"iconselectholder\" style=\"cursor:pointer;\"> </div>")
        .remove();
        $("#iconselect").click(function() {
            $("#iconselectholder").toggle("slow");
        }
        );
        $("#iconselectholder").append( $("#selectoptions")[0] );
        $(".selectitems").mouseover(function() {
            $(this).addClass("hoverclass");
        }
        );
        $(".selectitems").mouseout(function() {
            $(this).removeClass("hoverclass");
        }
        );
        $(".selectitems").click(function() {
            $(".selectedclass").removeClass("selectedclass");
            $(this).addClass("selectedclass");
            var thisselection = $(this).html();
            $(".customselect").val(this.id);
            $("#iconselect").html(thisselection);
            $("#iconselectholder").toggle("slow")
        }
        );
    }
    );
    // do the rest of the plugin, using url and settings
}