=== modified file 'themes/ubuntu/theme.c'
--- themes/ubuntu/theme.c	
+++ themes/ubuntu/theme.c	
@@ -202,11 +202,19 @@
 	// draw border
 	cairo_t *cr = gdk_cairo_create((GdkDrawable*) win->window);
 
-	// set the background color
+	// get the tooltip bg color and use it for the notifications
+	GtkTooltips *tips = gtk_tooltips_new();
+	gtk_tooltips_set_tip(tips, win, "","");
+	gtk_tooltips_force_window(tips);
+	gtk_widget_realize(tips->tip_window);
+	GtkStyle *style = gtk_widget_get_style(tips->tip_window);
+	GdkColor bg_color = style->bg[GTK_STATE_NORMAL];
+
 	cairo_set_source_rgb(cr, 
-			     255.0/255.0,
-			     255.0/255.0,
-			     230.0/255.0);
+			     bg_color.red/65535.0,
+			     bg_color.green/65535.0,
+			     bg_color.blue/65535.0);
+
 	draw_rounded_window(cr, 0, 0, w, h, windata);
 	cairo_fill(cr);
 
@@ -339,12 +347,6 @@
 	gtk_widget_set_size_request(spacer, STRIPE_WIDTH, -1);
 
 	windata->summary_label = gtk_label_new(NULL);
-	/* mvo: hardcode black here, it sucks */
-	GdkColor black;
-	gdk_color_black(gdk_colormap_get_system(), &black);
-	gtk_widget_modify_fg(windata->summary_label,
-			     GTK_STATE_NORMAL, &black);
-			     
 	gtk_widget_show(windata->summary_label);
 
 
@@ -385,9 +387,6 @@
 	gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(windata->content_hbox), vbox, TRUE, TRUE, 0);
 
 	windata->body_label = sexy_url_label_new();
-	/* mvo: hardcode black here, it sucks */
-	gtk_widget_modify_fg(windata->body_label, GTK_STATE_NORMAL, &black);
-
 	gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(vbox), windata->body_label, TRUE, TRUE, 0);
 	gtk_misc_set_alignment(GTK_MISC(windata->body_label), 0, 0);
 	gtk_label_set_line_wrap(GTK_LABEL(windata->body_label), TRUE);