Austin: Gorilla Suit

Always so nice to be back at the St. Cecilia. The personal touches, like the welcome back note and the salty sweet chewy caramels they left for me, are the little details that make it so special.

I stayed in the main house this time around and had drinks on the porch overlooking the lawn.
Then I took a shower outside.
Isn't it heavenly?
Before we headed to Stubbs, we made a stop at Red's on S. Lamar to celebrate James Moody's latest venture, Guerilla Suit, a media and marketing firm. Moody is a man about town, super cute and charming, and owns Mohawk and created Fun, Fun, Fun Fest. Someone brought a coyote to the party.
And a fox.

Austin: Phoenix

All I have to say is thank you, james dyess, for the super amazing VIP tix to the Phoenix concert at Stubbs.

The concert was sold out.
But we were in and so close.

Super close.
Off to sleep on a Hastens mattress at the St. Cecilia.

Austin: Phoenix

And I'm off to Austin to catch Phoenix at Stubb's tomorrow night. Will def post while I'm there, but I'm so excited to head down south for a few days with my best girls. Will bring you some news from Stag, fill you in on what James Moody has shaking, and update you on some new bags that Spartan just received.

xx

Dallas: Me

Prepare for a little shameless self-promotion. Lauren Niebes, the darling art director for Dallas Child, featured me and this blog in the May issue that's out now. Niebes chose her five favorite Dallas-based bloggers and I'm thrilled that she even considered me. Dear Courtney Sinelli is one of her top picks, too. Click here or here to take a virtual peek.

Photo by Steven Visneau

Dallas: Tread, Class 7

Just back from my 7th Tread Fitness class. Hosted a slew of friends and blog readers - Haven's John Bass, PaperCity's Brooke Hortenstine, Gaia for Women's Paula Minnis, Koch's Nicole Boykin, D Magazine's Laura Kostelny, among many others - and I must say I had no idea that working out with my friends could be so much fun. All in it together, sweating it out, while simultaneously laughing at how ridiculously difficult it can be to run up an incline. And, contrary to what all my friends are saying - Jason Sheeler from F!DLuxe called me a "pusher" the other morning - I'm not the only one talking about Brandon Wall and Bart Fassino - who BTW have turned me on to sugar-free margarita mix. who knew? Click here to see what the Dallas Morning News has to say about them or here to read Courtney Sinelli's take.

xx

Houston: Bullet Girl

So if this isn't Texas, I don't know what is. In your face, no apologies, slightly controversial. Bullet Girl, a new jewelry line from Houstonian Jessica Meyer, is crafted from powder-free blank bullets specially produced by Meyer's grandfather's ammunition factory in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Meyer uses Rhodium, silver, brass, copper and 18 kt gold to further enhance her pieces and then adds the finishing touches by embellishing her earrings, necklaces, belts, and bracelets with rubies, diamonds, pearls, and onyx.




Find it this fall at sloan/hall in San Antonio and Houston.

Austin: Amanda Sterett

Julian Gold's Austin location is hosting Dallas jewelry designer Amanda Sterett this Wednesday, April 28 and Thursday, April 29 from 11 am to 6 pm for a spring trunk show. Sterett's business is a company with a conscience and her designs are produced by an amazing group of refugee women she found through Catholic Charities of Dallas. Sterett taught the ladies the art of jewelry making and now employs them to fabricate her line.

Dallas: Vilebrequin

Vilebrequin, the French brand known for its print-heavy, quick-drying men's swim wear is opening a pop-up shop in Highland Park Village on May 8. Through January 2011 you can stop in for more than 70 print, patterned, or solid swim trunks for men and boys along with linen shirts, travel bags, towels and hats.

Image from Esquire.com

Dallas: Tread, Class 5

Took my fifth Tread class this afternoon. And while I think I'm going to die every single time Brandon barks "12 percent incline, guys!" I keep going back for more. I'm bumping it up to three times a week to eliminate the gift that two pregnancies bestowed: softness. I'm not a sucker for pain. I'm a sucker for skinny.

Everywhere: Fendi Cinderella shoe

Pining away for Fendi's ridiculously pricey, outrageously sexy Cinderella lucite platform and silk sandals. There's a bonanza of ways for me to wear these this spring and summer.

Images from here.

Dallas: Dimples Cupcakes

I just had my first Dimples cupcake. While I was a bit pursed-lipped when the bill for three oversized cupcakes came to $13, I must now admit it was fully worth it. Omg, the wedding cake flavor was light and fluffy, deliciously moist and topped with just the proper amount of frosting. I have two more sitting on my kitchen counter - Banana Pudding and Chocolate Mousse - but I'm going to hand them over to my kids. This could be especially dangerous since they have a mobile cupcake van that roams to different Dallas neighborhoods. Please don't find your way to Lakewood.

Dallas: Skip Hollandsworth

Congratulations to my colleague and dear friend, Skip Hollandsworth. He took home a National Magazine Award last night in NYC for a feature story from the May 2009 issue of Texas Monthly. Read it and weep. Literally. Our cover line for that piece was "The Most Heartbreaking Story You'll Ever Read."

Dallas: Bump It Up

I wish this was around when I was pregnant. Bump It Up, a new book by Amy Tara Koch, is the ultimate guide to being chic while pregnant - yes, there is such a thing - and next Tuesday, April 27 from 6-8 pm at the W Hotel you can get your copy and have it signed by the author. There will also be some pretty amazing mama-to-be pampering going on with treatments by Bliss and Mama Mio, and crave crashing cupcakes from Sprinkles. To RSVP email rsvp.01521@whotels.com.

Dallas: Earth Day and Good Morning Texas

Happy Earth Day! Tune in this morning at 9am to ABC affiliate WFAA Ch. 8 to see me talk about some easy, fashionable ways to go green on Good Morning Texas.

Houston: D&A

Two of my favorite Austin boys, brothers Demian and Alex Vazquez, are having a trunk show at sloan/hall's Houston store this Friday (12-6 trunk show, 6-8 drinks and bites by Armando's). If you've never been to a sloan/hall gathering you must go. D & A are super talented and so kind. Everyone of their pieces is painstakingly handcrafted. I've always adored this diamond fang pendant, below.

20 percent of the proceeds from the entire days sales will be donated to HRC's Project Equality Gala.

Dallas: Tread

Today was the culmination of week 2 at Tread Fitness. Lemme tell you, when you're panting, sweating, and running up a 10 percent incline at 6 mph, your legs feel like they're about to burst into flames. Your mouth is dry as a bone. Your pony tail has completely come undone. The payoff: I can already tell a difference in my legs. My waist feels slimmer, too, and my J Brands fit better than ever. Someone I talked to at lunch today marveled at the changes he's seen in a matter of two weeks, too. This summer there will not be a tankini with my name on it.

San Antonio: Marti's

Last week I posted about Vega's in Laredo and a reader alerted me to Marti's in San Antonio. I've never been but the merch looks so good. I'm loving these lapis rings. So chic, no?

This mirror is like the Latin American version of a peacock mirror.
Can see myself throwing on these embroidered blouses with some jeans and flat sandals or cut-offs and platform wedges.

Brenham: Leftovers Antiques

Have you ever been to Leftovers Antiques in Brenham? I'm dying to go.

Dallas: FREE Tread Fitness

Sinus infection is pretty much gone and I'm about to head over to Tread Fitness for my 9:45 am class. I've become addicted. And I want you to become addicted, too. So, if you'd like to meet me and take a FREE Tread class, email the wonderfully fit and fun Brandon at brandon@treadfitness.com to attend a class I'm hosting on Wednesday, April 28 at 9:45 am. There's only room for 22 folks, so sign up asap. It's high-energy, great music, and we can sweat it out together. I can't wait for you to try this because I'm obsessed!

Dallas: Appearances this week

Monday: I'll be on Fox 4's Good Day Dallas between 8 and 8:30 am to chat about celebrity-inspired prom dresses

Tuesday: Tune into Mix 102.9 at 8 am to hear me chat about earth-friendly items

Thursday: Watch me on Good Morning Texas where I'll have even more green gifts to celebrate Earth Day.

Thank you so much for reading my blog. It's so fun to interact with everyone and you really make my day when you leave comments!

Dallas: Dwell with Dignity

Yesterday a friend told me about Dwell with Dignity and now I want everyone to know about this amazing non-profit. This group of interior designers founded by Lisa Robison creates beautiful environments for families who've been placed in homes and apartments by social service agencies. Dwell's philosophy: Help families escape poverty and homelessness by elevating their standard of living. All services and furniture is donated. Don't you want to help?

If you want to underwrite home decor or furniture for a project, click here. It costs as little as $25, but the payoff is much bigger.

Photos from Dwell with Dignity

Everywhere: Flares

Within a matter of a few days I've received several emails touting flared denim. I got the email (below) from Madewell on Tuesday.

These worn-in versions are Hudson's new Love Lane style with a minimal flute at the bottom.
And these are from Mary Kate and Ashley's new Textile line available at Intermix.
Then I read Amy Odell's post on The Cut. Read between the lines. It's what's happening for fall.

Everywhere: Tucker for Target

Target is killing me with their collabs right now and I just got confirmation that Gaby Basora's Tucker and Temple St. Clair are for sure doing lines for the store for fall. Tucker blouses are so easy breezy to wear and never go out of style - I still wear one that's four years old from one of the first collections. Here's a look at some of the spring collection. Can't wait to see what she does for Target. Mark your calendars for the September 12 launch date for Tucker, and August 29 for Temple.

Laredo: Vega's

Surprisingly I've never been to Laredo, but now I'm keen on making it down south to visit Vega's Interiores Mejicanos. They've been around since 1939 and they specialize in Mexican crafted furniture, decor, and accessories.

On Saturdays, shoppers are welcome on the outdoor patio for margaritas.
The store and the products on their site look so divine and when I saw that they sell Gorky Gonzalez I knew they had my number. Gonzalez is an acclaimed master potter/artist in Guanajauto who helped revive the majolica style and I've been collecting him for several years. When I visited his studio in GTO a few years ago, I bought several one of a kind items and commissioned a house plate - a very traditional oval clay disc painted with your home's name on it - that's still embedded in the brick of my old home on the M Streets.
I adore these sugar and creamer sets. Aren't they lovely? Traditional, but with Gonzalez's signature paint strokes and color combinations.

Dallas: Tread Fitness

Although I'm on day 5 of a sinus infection that refuses to go away, I dutifully attended my morning glutes and calves class at Tread. It ended three hours ago and my thighs are still on fire. I'm sure this is a good sign. During the weights portion of the class I kept wincing and say "This is soooo hard" and all Brandon replied was "It's not supposed to be easy!" Right. I knew that.

I'm going to measure tonight and will reveal what's been shrunk at the end of May. Seven weeks to foxy.

Houston: Tiny Boxwoods

I'm usually in Houston every six weeks or so and every time I'm there I have a very specific eating ritual. First, I stop at Crave Cupcakes for a hot earl grey with half and half and a cinnamon sugar cupcake. This always helps me begin my day (now you know why I need to workout). When lunch rolls around, there is no other place considered because Tiny Boxwoods is the only place I'll dine. Seriously, if I was with someone else and they suggested another spot, I'd have to tell them that I'd see them after lunch.

This super chic, but casual cafe is attached to Thompson + Hanson, a landscape architecture firm and retail nursery/store. You can imagine that the grounds of the cafe are pristinely designed - so clean and linear - and the atmosphere is always buzzing with pretty ladies wearing everything from dresses and heels to jeans and flops.
No matter where you sit, it's always flooded with light. I personally love sitting at the counter.
Or, if it's still spring or fall, outside to sip a cappuccino.

The chalkboard walls, with their scribbly writing of the days specials, feels very Left Bank to me. I need to plan a day trip soon.

Photos by Marisa Roman