Happy New Year! THE POP FIX hopes you have a fantastic and safe celebration to bring in 2010! We wish you happiness, health and abundant wealth throughout the new year (and new decade)!

If you’re not already familiar with TheStream.tv, you should be. TheStream.tv is the world’s 1st and largest network of live, interactive television owned and directed by Brian Gramo. Although TheStream is known for producing fun entertainment, it’s also a charitable organization from time to time that holds “streamathon” fundraisers for charity. Gramo says, “Everyone should do their part to help those less fortunate than themselves. Events like Streamathon are a fun way to remind people to do just that by raising awareness of worthy causes.”

This year we have reviewed trends for the holidays and important fashion shows throughout this year. I expect that you have learned that regardless of money or status, decent looking clothes are a necessity and we all feel that urge to dress accordingly to the latest and greatest trends and/or designers. However, there is a topic I haven’t covered yet, and that topic is “vintage” (used) clothing…

Melanie Van Latum is a world-reknown fine artist and street painter, and starting December 10th, Angelenos can see her newest work at the Deborah Martin Gallery. THE POP FIX’s Erin Darling had a chance to catch up with Van Latum to see what makes her tick, and to talk about her latest inspirations for her “Vessels of the Avant Garde.”

We at THE POP FIX are thankful for the people who read our articles, send us feedback, link our original content, and support us! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family, friends, (of course) incredible food! To show our undying appreciation for you, we’ve elected to create an online turkey gram for you, along with the help of the archaic (yet awesome) Microsoft Paint. Enjoy!

This time of year is special for most due to the associations that come along with it. Whether it’s time with loved ones, a rooftop covered in snow, traditions, or an amazing feast that only comes once or twice a year, the holidays are a time to relive old memories and create new ones. Here are some of my favorite things that have saturated my old holiday memories, and that continue to hold importance in the memories that have yet to be created.

A lot of great home accessories and furnishings come from Ikea, just ask any poor college student. But by far, the best things THE POP FIX has ever seen from the Scandinavian mega-store are the ingenious ad campaigns. These comical advertisements have brightened our day, and even encouraged us to shop at Ikea and casually overlook the fact we’ll probably throw the items out after a year, if they even last that long. Enjoy our countdown of our favorite Ikea commercials.

A wise man once said, “you get what you pay for.” This statement has irritated many a dedicated bargain hunter throughout history. If you do your homework, seek the deals, and/or wait for you favorite items to go on sale, shouldn’t the smart consumer be rewarded rather than proverbially berated? At least, that’s what we think at THE POP FIX, the online magazine that often runs content on how you can make the most of your money. Perhaps the saying should be, “you get what you look for.” But can you find anything interesting without actually spending money? We went on an internet search to find out. And, well, you can be the judge.