Normal Watches makes fun timepieces that sell for around $20. They call it “Trailblazing Sub Couture”– I guess watches don’t need to be worth thousands of dollars, do they. They’ve got 14 styles available…Great stuff for cheap!

Not everyone has the talent to be a professional in the arts, but that doesn’t make that itch not worth scratching every once in awhile. While serious types often spend lots of cash on the latest design software, more casual types try our hand at creating without the serious loot. Aviary is a cheaper way to give into your artistic whims. The site that comes off like an online Photoshop, complete with visual laboratory, image editor and color palettes. It allows aspiring artists of all genres — whether they long to be an audio editor or graphic designer — to indulge their imaginative sweet tooth. Go ahead, poke around and see what inspiration comes out.

The San Francisco Ballet is facing many of the same issues confronting cultural and arts organizations all over the country: aging audiences, global recession, pricey tickets. To counter act these trends, they introduced some great programs to build community interest. The Fridays at the Ballet evening performances are aimed at young professionals and the Nite Out series is for members of the LGBT community. They start with pre-show talks with choreographers and company members and close with cocktails at the War Memorial Opera House. The evening’s presentation of three brief works ensure that even if you don't love one of the pieces, you and your friends are bound to find something that makes you want to do fouettés on your way home. Next Friday will be no exception with Jerome Robbins’s West Side Story Suite and Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour, one of the hits presented for the Ballet’s 75th anniversary. Looks like everything old is new again.

The Rubik’s Cube, the Hula Hoop … sure they’re fun toys, but they’re not exactly versatile. Our friends at Zoomdoggle may just have this decade’s answer to those influential fads with BuckyBalls, a jar of 216 multi-functional rare earth magnet balls that are more fun than a barrel of ionic charged monkeys. Whether you’re using them as jewelry accessories or as a medium for a metallic sculpture, the highly adaptable novelty toy will keep you occupied for hours figuring out what you can do with them next.

[ED NOTE: Jake tells us the first 50 people to use the code "Josh" save 10% ($2)]

GAMA-GO is putting a clever spin on economic stimulus: they’re giving away money with the purchase of one of their wallets. Essentially, each wallet will come with a starter-kit of $5 tucked inside. There are ten styles to choose from. Billfolds for men include styles like Bringing the Bacon and Pocket Tokyo, while women can choose from Bling Sushi and More Freakin Owls. Each wallet retails for $24 (though consider the instant ‘refund’ of $5) here. This promotion is good from now until noon PST, Thursday February 26th.

Punxsutawney Phil may have put off spring for an additional six weeks, but regardless of the rodent’s fearless forecast the folks at Destroy Clothing (more on that here) have already begun preparing for Mother Nature to bring the heat. In order to clear space for their spring collection, they’re marking down everything in their online store 50% through Sunday. So even though the weather may be cold outside, you can get that warm fuzzy feeling that only saving brings. Type in the code hellyes at checkout. Move it our lose it to get your pick of the litter of choice jackets, sneakers, T-shirts and other accessories.

If you’ve been waffling on making the move from collectible vinyl toys to collectible metal toys, here’s an incentive: FullyVisual, the one-man metal-casting operation of Jamie Mathis is having a sale. Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. EST today, select figures will be discounted by up to 50%. FullyVisual has meticulously replicated signature characters by Frank Kozik, Buff Monster, Joe Ledbetter, Huck Gee, Gary Baseman and Luke Chueh, all with the artists’ input. The original figures were sold in editions of 99 silver with one randomly packed gold. Recently, FullyVisual kicked off a new range of mini-figures in silver, gold, nickel and black copper with a series by Amanda Visell.

It’s not true that clothes make the man, but a tie and a set of cuff links will go a long way towards completing an outfit. If the price is the factor that’s been keeping your sharp-dressed man act from making every one go crazy, COTO has just the thing to remedy your ills. For their 1/2 COTO markdown all ties and links are 50% off, making the prospect of supplementing your suits quite the sensible proposition. Check out all their gear online and grab something stat.

People are bound to have a spectrum of reactions to the Inauguration Day proceedings, so if your gut is telling you to react by buying toys, it’s ok. Barack Obama’s message inspired an unprecedented array of art toys in 2008 from action figures to vinyl busts. Now’s the time to stock up. Wizard Sleeve Toys is having a one-day 20% off sale to celebrate the inauguration of our 44th president. Whether you go in for urban or herb-n art, here’s your chance to pick up an Obama action figure at a reduced price. Just enter “NEWPREZ” at checkout.

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If there’s any time to say out with old and in with the new, it’s midway through January. Australian T-shirt producers 2×4 T-shirts have taken cue and are slashing prices on their current crop of tops. The clearance sale features designs by talents like Emil Kozak, Jeff Canham and Noah Butkus, for the minuscule cost of $10 AUD. Time to toss those ‘08 shirts and and grab some discounted tops at the Wearewere.com.

It’s hard to avoid drawing paralells between Oki-Ni (London) and the Parisian powerhouse Colette from across the pond. Both carry the most exclusive items, and though their collaborations are not as frequent as some other brands, they are always grade A. To celebrate the new year, they worked with Oakley for 50 exclusive pairs of the iconic Frongskin sunglasses. In addition, the Timex 80 (which we’ve mentioned before) is back with some new metallic casings. And finally, if you did not get a chance to grab some of last season’s wares, head on over now and save 50% off sale items.

Being able to stay in business for five years is a good sign you’ve achieved a suitable level of success. In these tough economic times most companies would be forced to celebrate with a few noisemakers and an anniversary cake in the break room. While savings are certainly on the mind of the hat and apparel masterminds at Monsieur T, it’s not their wallets they’re worried about, it’s yours. To celebrate five years of churning out quality designs, the Portland producers of fine wearable prints are passing the savings on to you with a festive five day sale. From now until midnight PST on Friday (1/16), hats and apparel are 30% to 50% off. So head on over to their site and get a slice of that sweet anniversary pie for yourself.

We’ve been loving up Upper Playground at JS for years. From T-shirts and hoodies, to sneakers and skateboards, UP has consistently created apparel and accessories that fuse urban fashions and fine art. Last year was a banner year for the company and and its FIFTY24 gallery. A couple of personal highlights included Jeremy Fish’s Ghosts of the Barbary Coast solo show and UP’s line of artist-rendered Barack Obama posters. This year is off to a killer start with Alex Pardee’s Letters From Digested Children solo show, upcoming toys and compelling collaborations.

In honor of their tenth anniversary, Upper Playground’s first ever “thank you” sale begins today. The sale is good for 50% off on everything in stock at their retail stores and website. With clothes, hats, books and toys by Sam Flores, Jeremy Fish, Estevan Oriol, David Choe and Alex Pardee, there’s never a better time to stretch your dollar. Upper Playground is open 24/7 on the www and has stores and galleries in San Francisco, Berkeley, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, New York and London.

If there’s one thing we could use during this recession-marred holiday season, we’d have to go with savings. If there were a second thing we could tack on, we’d say, “how about some top notch tees from one of our favorite design houses?” Thanks to Momimomi we’ll be able to check both of those boxes off of our wishlist. Starting today, the tee company unleashes some quality holiday creations for ‘08 along with some special discounts for a few preferred customers — namely our readers. Yes, you’ll have the honor of receiving 25% off orders of $100 and above. As a bonus you’ll even be able to save a major amount of money on Momimomi’s TEeA Party subscriptions. The service that sends you one of a kind wearables at least once-a-month usually costs $360 for a 12-month subscription but for now you’ll only have to tender a mere $270. Just use our holiday discount code: MMholidayJS. Sounds like quite a deal if you ask us.

Tangible Worldwide just opened the virtual doors to their new online shop. If you’ve got love for Chicago or Portland (both fine cities), take a look at some great gocco prints, T-shirts and posters that reflect the civic pride. I may not be from Chi Town, but I’m really digging the Chicago Gocco print. In celebration of the store’s opening, they’re having an introductory/holiday-special sale until January 1st, so this is your chance to pick up a few limited edition pieces at a nice price. You’ll want to keep your eye on these guys, because they’ll be rolling out new designs in the near future.