Museum day - for free!

The Smithsonian Magazine is sponsoring Museum Day this Saturday, September 30. Hundreds of museums around the U.S. are giving free admission with a Museum Day pass. Print out your pass here, and find a participating museum near you here.

I am doubtlessly exposing myself as a big dork, but I love museums, and I think a museum visit is one of the best date ideas ever. I've been on several museum dates, and I've absolutely loved every one!

iPods!

It's hard to believe, but evidently not everyone has heard about the new iPods yet! I think the new shuffle is the greatest, hands down. It costs just $79, holds a whole gig, is really tiny, looks super-slick, and if you buy directly from the Apple Store you can get it engraved for free! Plus it has a clip, and the new earphones are supposed to be much better than the old ones!


The new models of the regular iPod and the Nano are also supposed to be great, but if you don't want to shell out that much cash, go for a refurbished player: Apple sells them for as little as $99 for a Nano or Mini.

But really, everyone should buy the new shuffle. And if someone wants to buy me one, all the better!

More Optimus Prime!

Reader coupon riot fondly remembers the time when little children would proudly declare "I am Optimus Prime!" I wanted to find a t-shirt with this slogan, but I couldn't find one. I did, however, find a pretty co0l design available at Cafepress, "I cried when Prime died":


This is available on a range of shirts and various accessories, and prices start at just $3.49 for the bumper sticker.

just can't let go?

Even though the end of September is *quickly* approaching, I am still having a hard time saying goodbye to summer. Luckily, the gulf stream (? something like that) keeps the DC area more or less warm until around Halloween. In fact, I was *just* outside and felt a tad too warm in jeans and a top with 3/4 sleeves.

It's times like these when I am frantically trying to wear all of my sandals and open-toed shoes before it's too late! Which made me think that I need to share Mohop Shoes with you all. A lovely husband-and-wife team from Chicago are responsible for these gorgeous creations. These sandals are completely handcrafted and are infinitely customizable, just by changing the shoe's ribbon!

This is one of my favorites from the gallery. You start by picking the heel you like (always the highest for me, of course!), and then the handpainted sole that speaks to you the most. Then, pick your ribbon and you're ready to go! You'll see from the gallery that customers have sent in pictures with their own customizations...buttons like the picture shown, various trims from the fabric store, their own vintage ribbons, and more!

These shoes are definitely a splurge, but at around $150 are waayyy more affordable than any handmade shoes I've ever heard of. Sometimes you need a little bit of luxury!

Optimus Prime wants YOU to vote!

So here in the U.S., mid-term elections are approaching - they're less than 2 months away. If you haven't registered to vote yet, you can do that at govote.org. If you've registered, but need an absentee ballot, you should request one ASAP. Don't know how? Google "absentee ballot yourstatename" to get the info.

Voting is great because you can write in candidates if nobody good is running (which is all-too common, sadly), so go out and make that county clerk mark that there was a vote for Optimus Prime* for State Senator.

* Optimus Prime regularly does well as a write-in candidate in student elections at CMU, I figure we can spread the Transformers love!

Scooped!

I was going to tell you all about the Kashi giveaway and cardboard challenge, but I've been scooped! Go read about it on iateapie.net. :)

Space Blog!

This is incredibly cool: Anousheh Ansari (yes, Ansari as in the Ansari X-Prize) is in space right now as a private citizen, and she is blogging about it. Go check out the first ever space blog! I can't express how jealous I am right now!

Pixelgirl Shop discount

I haven't featured Pixelgirl Shop yet, but it's not for lack of good stuff to buy! Now the perfect opportunity to feature some awesome indie wares has come up - from now until September 23, you can get 10% off your Pixelgirl order by using the code "shopdeal" at checkout. And what might be in your shopping bag? Why, I'm glad you asked!

• Gorgeous sparrow earrings: $12.00 (without the discount).
• Chic fabric belt: $19.00.
• Rockabilly dice cufflinks: $14.00.
• Sudsy sushi soap set: $18.95 (shown below).

So much love...

Maybe it isn't proper blogging etiquette to promote Valerie's work, seeing as she's a contributor here at SG, but I am so in love with this Shop for the Cure accessory pouch set over at Holland Cox that I don't care. Breast cancer runs in my family, so supporting cancer research and awareness is really important to me. So the fact that Valerie is donating 50% of the purchase price of each set to breast cancer awareness charities is really touching. Get this gorgeous set of three zipper pouches for just $38.00, half of which will go to charity. Don't like pink yourself? Get it as a gift for someone else. This is a good thing, folks. (Photo credit: hollandcox.com)

SCADs of good stuff

Via Modish I've found the online shop of the Savannah College of Art and Design. Shop SCAD features jewelry, books, housewares, stationery, fine art, and much more. My picks, after only the briefest perusal of ths site:

• Piggy in my Pocket - a delightful children's book by Hui-Mei Pan, only $5.95 for an autographed copy.
• Les Fleurs Art Card Set - gorgeous photography turns these cards luxurious. $20.00 for a set of 20 cards. Other designs available.
• iPod armour - the best iPod covers I've seen yet! $20.00
  

Give it up!

Here at SG we mostly focus on acquisitions - what you can buy to make your life a little better, a little more chic. But just as important it what you can get rid of to improve your life and your style. Everyone has too much stuff, it's a universal problem, but it's one that can be addressed. Here are some tips on cleaning out stuff you don't need.

For clothes, clean out your closet using the "box method" detailed at StylePhyle. Give your "charity" clothes to Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or Vietnam Veterans of America, who in some areas will come to pick up your donations.

For knick-knacks, remember that just because it was a gift doesn't mean you have to keep it. Wedding favors are not particularly meaningful gifts, so that salt and pepper shaker pair can go, as can the porcelain flower. That really ugly platter your aunt gave you for Christmas six years ago shouldn't stick around either. If items do have real meaning to you, decide how to display them to their best advantage, or pack them carefully away until you have the space to do so.

Take a good look at your furniture and see if any of your old pieces need to go. Leftovers from college dorm roms often fall into this category. If you are keeping furniture, keep it because you like it and you use it. If it doesn't fit both categories, you shouldn't keep it around, unless it's a family heirloom you just don't have space for yet. Sell or give away your furniture on Craigslist.

And books. I have a lot of books, and I find it very hard to part with them. But if you haven't read a book in years, and have no plans to read it again, it should go. Donate used books to your local library, and sell your old textbooks or give them to a local high school.

Old sports equipment, old computers, and mismatched dishes kitchenware should also be dealt with ruthlessly.

When you're done, you'll have a much less cluttered place, more cash, and some tax credits. Isn't that worth it?

Ahh - now that's a clean closet!
Photo credit: http://somdthisisliving.somd.com/vol4num1/closets.jpg

Welcome Tanya Patrice!

We have another new blog member - Tanya Patrice recently joined us! I first came across Tanya as the author of afexion.com; she also runs iateapie.net, which has food reviews. She just finished graduate school and has great style; I can't wait to see what she contributes to SG!

Busy busy!

This is a really busy week for me, which is why I haven't been posting much. Go ahead and check out these other sites, and I'll be back in the swing of things soon!

• Can this site really tell you how to make the best paper-airplane in the world?
• Generate some awesome complaint letters!
• Check out this cool coffee-cup tower.

Have fun, you crazy kids!

FCD

So graduate school takes a while. It takes upwards of a year to get letters like MS, MFA, MSE, etc. after your name, and upwards of three years to get those coveted JD, MD, or (my personal favorite) PhD titles. While you are slogging towards these alphabetic accolades, you can enjoy being FCD - a Friend of Charles Darwin. That's right, by declaring that Charlie is your Darwin, you can publicly support evolution and gain some precious letters to tack on to the end of your name. And it's free.

This public service announcement was brought to you by Style Graduate, FCD.