Vote! That’s the celebrity “it” endorsement of the year.

Non-partisan registration groups are enjoying a surge in celebrity participation this election cycle.

Some are helping target specific demographics: Wilmer Valderrama and Rosario Dawson made a public service announcement for the group Voto Latino. Others zero in on specific issues: Kanye West filmed a documentary about young veterans for MTV’s Choose or Lose campaign.

Dave Matthews and Jack Johnson finance volunteers with the group HeadCount to tour with them and register voters at their concerts. And Sheryl Crow teamed up with Rock the Vote to spread the word by offering a free download of her latest album, Detours, to the first 50,000 people who register three friends to vote.

Others, including the cast of the High School Musical 3 movie and Ugly Betty’s America Ferrera, are filming more conventional PSAs.

For High School Musical’s Monique Coleman, 27, getting involved was a no-brainer. “It’s a really important year,” she says. “I’m not doing this for some sort of publicity stunt. … I’m in the position to have the ability to possibly make an influence.”

Cast members from ABC Family’s Greek are touring college campuses. Series star Spencer Grammer, 24, points out that it’s much easier for a celebrity to advocate voting than to side with a specific candidate and risk alienating fans.

“Why wouldn’t you want to get involved? I’m not saying ‘Hey, go vote for this person,’ I’m just saying ‘Hey, go vote.’ ”

Marc Morgenstern, executive director of Declare Yourself, says: “We’re contacted constantly by representatives or celebrities themselves. The celebrities really see this as an opportunity to model the right kind of behavior.”

Star power is key, organizers say. “When we’re trying to make politics relevant, the artists bring an ingredient that all of the funding and hard work can’t replicate,” says Andy Bernstein, executive director of HeadCount. “It brings a credibility and emotional connection to the issue.”

This year, gains in registration among younger Americans are notable: 57% of those ages 18 to 29 say they are registered, a five-point increase over the past 12 years, according to the Pew Research Center for People & the Press.

Morgenstern says it’s safe to expect more: “Young people are notorious procrastinators. A lot of people don’t get around to (registering) until they’re staring at those deadlines.”

Go to http://www.declareyourself.com/ to Register!

By Cindy Clark

September 4th, 2008
Categories: General . Author: Che . Comments: No Comments

Not everyone has time to save the world, well.. most of us don’t. So when I found out about ways to clean things up and recycle used wares while doing my yearly summer shopping, I was happy to find a way to help! Board shorts are a good start, they’re perfect over a swimsuit or bikini, paired with a cute breezy tee or even complimenting a hideous life jacket (reminding the world you still have style when you’re being safe). This year Matix is including a biodegradable trash bag with every pair of Board Shorts in their Summer 2008 line in the hopes that taking the bag to the beach wont be a cramp on your style. Afterall, whats more stylish (and with GOOD reason) these days than caring about the environment and doing your part!

Next of course is shoes! Mohop shoes are the creation of Annie Mohaupt, and are composed of rubber soling made from recycled tires, a Finnish birch plywood core, and topped with various select veneers. Only the most environmentally-friendly woods, glues, sealers and inks are used on these shoes. Essentially, these shoes are completely customizable by changing the ribbons that tie the shoes on. Different lengths and styles of ribbons can be used to achieve a virtually infinite number of looks with just one pair of wooden bottoms. Different heel heights and shoe shapes are available. $150.00 at Mohop

Theres so many shoes in the world, it cant possibly end there! Every year we all have to buy new sandals or shoes to wear sockless on hot summer days but what about the men? We want them to pitch in too right? J shoes came up with an original concept, encouraging both reusing material and a fairly new trend of wearing unmatching shoes. It takes a brave soul and one who dares to stand out in our bold new world of sustainability and eco thoughtfulness. They call it the “Lost and Found” collection, every pair is made with a different source material, meaning you’re not going to find another pair with the same print as yours and you’ll be lucky to get the same color scheme but all the more reason to have several pairs to mix and match! The shoes are low cut and made from reclaimed shirts making the slogan rightfully “One Shirt | One Shoe”. Leather color varies on each shoe as well and each shoe also features a comfortable leather footbed and flexible rubber sole all wrapped up in a bag of the same material as the lone shoe. What a strange and original idea!

Lastly Bikinis and swimwear. Not something youde expect to be eco friendly right? Most of them being made from spandex and other synthetics but two new designers at the San Lorenzo company, Jhonatan Figueroa and Megan Spurlock, are adding their own flavor to the Brazilian cut bikini brand.
They have come up with a line of eco-friendly, organic cotton bikinis. The fabric they use is popular with eco friendly designers and is 95 percent cotton with 5 percent spandex for stretch. The suits are turning quite a few heads. Others include this years Kelly B swimwear line which stays eco-friendly by using mostly organic cotton (Organic cotton is grown, processed, and produced without using pesticides and other toxic chemicals) and Raw Ganique, whos entire line of clothing is eco friendly and many pieces are made from hemp. In the men’s swimwear line they offer a really nice pair of surf shorts for about the same price as all the leading brands. Check out rawganique.com to see their summer line.

Always keep your eye out for recycled and organic clothing. More and more companies are taking on the job of saving the earth and they couldn’t do it without me and you buying their eco friendly products! Lets pitch in and look good!

June 4th, 2008
Categories: eco, Matix . Author: Che . Comments: No Comments

This year the brand that introduced to us the Chuck Taylor All Star, the quintessential cool sneaker, celabrates a century of originality. Worn by the likes of James Dean, The Ramones, Snoop Dogg, The Sex Pistols, and of course the namesake basketball player, Charles “Chuck” Taylor. “The ‘all time’ sneaker became liked in the 50′s to the emerging cultural shift that was blending fashion, music and youth culture” says Scott Patt, global creative director for converse.

Converse was founded by Marquis Mills Converse as a rubber company making tires, hockey pucks, boots for WWII and marching band ponchos. It has since transformed into a lifestyls brand that people from all walks of life embrace and their obviously doing something right!

In additon to making it to their 100 year anniversary, they are also starting a partnership with Target to create a contemporary premium collection called One Star which includes clothing as well as shoes. We adore the classic look and shape of the Chuck, not just because its cool but because its a low key fashion accessory. We especially love them when their torn and tattered and why? because if you’ve had them for a long time.. youve earned it and if you havent, it still looks like you have!” says Patt. Jaques, Nylon

May 15th, 2008
Categories: Trends . Author: Che . Comments: No Comments

Ever have a ton of nearly empty makeup containers laying around and just cant brong yourself to throw them away? Maybe youre crafty or just a little green inside but either way you dont want to let them go without working a little longer.
Used lipsticks, foundation bottles and powder compacts can seem totally unsuited to any other purpose, and yet I hate to throw them out because they’re often pretty and handy and it’s always nice to reuse or repurpose old things instead of chucking them in the landfill. This is a collection of suggestions for things you can do with old makeup containers that wont cost you hardley anything!

Powder Compacts

I’ve seen several good links on this topic recently. Turn a Used Makeup Compact into a Perfume Carrier [via TipNut] shows you how to repurpose a compact to be a container for solid perfumes you make yourself. This is awesome if you like making and wearing perfumes – they would also make fantastic gifts. Another post suggests turning them into little photo holders to be given out as party favors.

You can also just use them to hold small items like paperclips – particularly the ones that tend to get lost at the bottom of a purse. Mints or pills would work, too (make sure the compact is really clean first).

Loose powder containers

These usually have a top piece that allows the powder to sift through. Take that out, and the container can now hold lots of things. Like stacks of mini-sticky notes for writing To Do items, notes to yourself, or people’s phone numbers. Stuff coins or dollar bills in there for “mad money” or a savings account. Use it to hold jewelry, or take the lids off several of them, put the bottoms in a drawer and use them as drawer separators to hold small items.

Lipsticks

Clean old lipstick tubes can hold solid perfume or homemade lip balm. Also, pills, thin necklaces and earrings.

Decorate!!

If you’re feeling artsy or just want to play around why not use old nail polish to polkadot or draw other designs on the cases! You dont even have to be an artist because who’s going to dig through your purse anyway? (well lets hope no one is).

Have fun!

p.s.

Try this recipe for solid perfume! A great use for many of those old containers!

Solid Perfume

1/2 oz Beeswax
4 oz Vaseline
1/4 oz Fragrance Oil Concentrates (or use Essential Oils in amounts to aroma preference)

• Melt beeswax and vaseline over low heat in a glass or enamel pan (could also place in a large pyrex measuring cup and heat in oven slowly–stir while melting).
• Remove from heat and cool slightly.
• Stir in fragrance.
• Pour into container and let air dry until firm.

Thanks http://tipnut.com for the recipe!

April 29th, 2008
Categories: General . Author: Che . Comments: No Comments