Monday, August 30, 2010

Inspiration Board: Chickadee Sip and See

I love nothing more than when a friend has a new baby.  Is there any greater joy in the world?  I always want to rush to meet the baby and welcome it to the world but I also worry that I will be intruding on a very tired new mother!  Although we loved having well wishing visitors when our son was born, I often felt like we had a revolving door.  It wasn't easy for me to recover or to get our new born on a healthy sleep schedule.  That is why the Sip & See party is so clever!  Ladies in the south have been doing them for generations but my friends from up north seem to latch on to the idea when they hear about it!
Here are my ideas for the perfect Sip & See:
I think this chubby chick invitation is perfect for our party.  It even has corresponding Thank You Note cards that you can order at the same time!  If you are hosting for a friend, order her the Thank you Note suite when you order the invitations as a gift.


Of course, no Chickadee Sip & See would be complete with out a few Chenille Easter Chickies!  Set them on orange cupcakes or arrange them across your mantle!



Use yellow and orange Gerbera Daisies simply by cutting off the stems and placing them face up in small round dishes.  So simple and so dramatic! Check out FiftyFlowers.com to order!




A Sip & See Party should last for two to four hours and be scheduled around the baby's sleep schedule.  Typically, afternoon Champagne Teas are the best format. Setting up a small buffet of tea sandwiches and cupcakes is the perfect!   Check out What's New Cupcake? by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson for fun and fantastic recipies and ideas!




Also set up a drink station so that your guests may help themselves to Coffee, Tea, Champagne, Lemonade, Iced Tea and all of the condiments.  I love this Colin Cowie Flavor-Infusing 20-Cup Glass Beverage Server from HSN!  It holds enough of your drink of choice for 20 guests!  

A few more simple tips:

Set up a handwashing station or keep a bottle of anti-bacterial lotion near the baby.

Have a photographer take photos of your guests with your bambino.

Leave a guest book or small squares of paper out for the guests to write messages to the baby on the way out the door, after they have Sipped and Seen!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Mommy Mixer!

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http://www.mommymixer.com
Don't miss out . . .
On the First Fall Dallas Mixer!
  Dallas MommyMixer
Great sitters.  Great families.  Great connections.
Come to MommyMixer, the only local service that connects college students looking for fun babysitting jobs with busy families that need occasional help.  There's no better way to get hooked up with the family  of your dreams!



August 31st - Tuesday
7:00 - 8:30pm
Merge
Preston Royal Shopping Center, 5959 Royal Lane



Please follow ALL of these NEW instructions...in order to secure your spot!

FIRST, fill out your MM resume! 
We need for you to submit a new MM resume with your updated availability!!!
Act quickly, space is limited! 
THEN, send us an RSVP email to SitterRSVP@mommymixer.com
Please note the NEW email address to send RSVP's to.  Important... Please include your city's name and date of Mixer you plan on attending. 

Finally, show up 15 minutes early to the event with a smile!

Be prepared to meet great moms & find great jobs!
Please feel free to forward this email/invite to any of your friends!
Please use the SHARE THIS tab in the right hand corner of this invite.



Good Morning America


www.mommymixer.com • 816 West 10th Street • Austin, TX 78701

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

FIG Finale Sale!

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VIP Preview Party Thursday, August 26th from 6-9 by ticket only
Early Access Shopping, Cocktails, Music and Complementary Valet Parking

The sale starts on Friday, August 27th from 11AM - 8PM and continues on Saturday, August 28th from 11AM - 5PM.

Don't miss your chance to shop the Fashion Industry Gallery's Designer Sale with up to 75% off Women's, Men's and Children's clothing and accessories.  It is truly not to be missed!  

Designers participating in the sale include:

7 for all Mankind
Alice & Olivia
Cosabella
Diane von Furstenburg
Ella Moss Kids
Hanky Panky
J Brand
James Perse
Juicy Couture
Kooba Handbags
Lacoste
Paige Denim
Tommy Bahama
Trina Turk
True Religion 
Vineyard Vines
and many more!!!

No strollers or large bags are allowed so find yourself a babysitter and head out for some fun fashionable finds at bargain basement prices!

 For more information check out www.fashionindustrygallery.com or call 214.748.4344


Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Join Me for Fashion's Night Out


Have you always dreamed of being a stylist?  Are your friends always telling you that you have a knack for fashion?  If so, this is your chance to break into the business!

Neiman Marcus NorthPark 
with
FD Luxe
invites you to
Fashion's Night Out

Friday, September 10th from 6 to 10PM
7PM Fashion Presentation

I will join a panel of celebrity judges that includes Jacquelin Sewell, Jason Sheeler of FD Luxe, and Dallas Maverick, Jason Terry to determine who has what it takes to style with the best!

Here is the deal:

FD Luxe and Neiman Marcus NorthPark are looking for the next great stylist in the area.  Enter to win your chance to style a runway show during Fashion's Night Out, Friday September 10th at NM NorthPark.    Three Style Guests will be chosen and one lucky Style Guest will be selected by our panel.  

Here is the cool part:

The Winner will receive the opportunity to assist the styling of an upcoming section of FD Luxe as well as a prize package of a $500.00 Gift Certificate from NM NorthPark!

To enter please submit two photographs of how you would style the fall 2010 trends from Neiman Marcus as well as a paragraph on why you should be selected.  

Send the following to RSVPNorthPark@NeimanMarcus.com or NM Northpark  Attn: Fashion's Night Out-PR  400 Northpark Center  Dallas, Texas  75225


Full Name
Contact Phone Number
email address
and 
100 words:  Why you think you can STYLE? 
two images of your style point-of-view before Monday, August 30th

Finalists will be notified Thursday, September 2nd by phone.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Feather Your Nest Event is open for registration!

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I really hope you will join us for our next Feather Your Nest Luncheon and Speakers Event!  I am really excited about our next event because it could truly save lives.  Even though it is not fun to think about a breach in security or personal safety issues, being prepared for them can save lives.  Our speaker, Jim Savage, is a former Special Agent for the U.S. Secret Service will knock your socks off with his amazing tips and simple tricks to keep you and your family safe and prepared in the event of an emergency.  I hope you will join us at Fearings in the Ritz Carlton. 

James A. Savage, Jr. is the Chief of Security Operations for a leading global energy company. This Corporate Security Group is known for its oil and gas ventures and also includes a diverse range of other business units which operate across the globe, including Yemen, Peru and Northern Iraq. The Corporate Security Group is responsible for all matters relating to the protection of critical corporate assets, pro-active preventive strategies, and emergency preparedness programs.

Prior to this position, Jim was a member of the Senior Executive Service and served in a number of protective and investigative positions during his 20 year career as a special agent with the U.S. Secret Service.

Mr. Savage is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and served as a State Trooper for four years with the Texas Department of Public Safety before starting his Federal law enforcement career with the U.S. Secret Service in 1983. 

Friday, August 20, 2010

Time to Start Your Christmas Shopping!

If you are ready to start your Christmas Shopping now then check out my suggestion on the perfect gift that gives back.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Flower School

I had such a great time fulfilling my dream of going to Flower School Catherine Mueller in Paris this summer.  It was incredible and I am so thrilled that my amazing sister, Krystal, was able to join me!  We were also so happy to have our friends, Joyce Goss and her daughter Greer and Nancy Gonzalez there!  
Every day we learned several new floral arrangements and each one got more and more exciting.
One of my completed bouquets!  Lots of Ivy, Hydrangeas, English Garden Roses , Callas Lilies, and Orchids were used
Krystal and I on day two of class with our sweet heart arrangements.  We had so much fun working with our pink flowers and oasis to make a heart that had depth!
Our wonderful teacher, Catherine Mueller, working her magic on our first bouquet.  She was teaching us the spiral technique and we were all trying to embrace the Parisian trend of having a round bouquet with a flat top instead of a domed top!
Krystal and Nancy with their first white bouquets.  They both did a fantastic job!  We used White Peonies, White Hydrangea, Lilies, and Ivy for this arrangement.
At the Flower Market in Paris.  Most visitors are not allowed in unless they are a professional florist but Catherine made special arrangements for our class to visit.

With Krystal at the Flower Market.  I will never forget our visit there!  I didn't know that if you touch it, you buy it so I made a vendor a bit upset!
Our class at graduation.  I want to go back for another week soon!  Many of the students were taking the course for an entire year!

Our graduation diplomas and macaroons from Angelina.  They were so delicious!  I had a pistachio one first and a raspberry one for "dessert"!

If you are interested in taking flower courses, you could go to Paris or you could stay right at home!  Check out these local courses:
-Bows and Arrows co-owner Alicia Rico was once a stylist for Martha Stewart Weddings!  She leads two hour evening classes that start at $100.  214-828-2697
-Dr. Delphinium's Bryna Morrow teaches floral mechanics and techniques.  Classes start at $150.  214-525-1202
-If you have plans to become a pro check out Brookhaven College's continuing education program.  Call 972-860-4700.


Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Calling all Calligraphers!

If you love calligraphy as much as I do then I know you are going to drop your pen right now to head out to The Dallas Calligraphy Society's exhibit of original works in a varity of lettering styles.  Now, if you think you are going to head out to see a bunch of envelopes and invitations, think again!  The range of pieces is amazing!  Some of them are ancient.  Some of them are modern.  They are all true works of art though!
The free exhibit is up through August 29th at the Irving Arts Center Main Gallery.
If the exhibit inspires you to hone your calligraphic craft then check out the list of Kaligrafos Workshops and area classes listed on The Dallas Calligraphy Society's website.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

BAM! A New Tablecloth!

I always knew that I loved setting the table but I must admit that our newest tablecloth has already brought us great joy!  I was so thrilled to meet local artist Beverly Ann Moore earlier this year and I adored the amazing tablecloth she made for our Easter Egg Hunt.  When I saw some of the samples for tablecloths that she created for other clients, I knew that I just had to order one right away.  


There were many reasons for my immediate order:

1. Beverly Ann Moore is one of the sweetest ladies around.  I loved the idea that she was going to put her heart, soul and positive energy into our creation.

2. I knew that this piece would be passed down for generations and would only look better over time. She uses acrylic paint on sturdy cotton canvas to create a design that can be spot cleaned with a soft sponge or gently machine-washed.

3. I loved the designs and I love the fact that it was being created just for my little family.

The process was a blast but it did take a few months.  Here are the steps:

First, I met with Beverly at our home so that she could measure our table and we could select the design and the colors.  Beverly really took the time to study our kitchen, make recommendations and gave me some fantastic input.
The second step was the most fun!  We talked about ways to personalize the cloth for our family.  I gave her a piece of my china so that she could copy it onto the cloth.  I also told her about the silver service that my mother-in-law gave us when Justin and I married.  It had a beautiful W monogram on it that I had already copied on some stationery.  She took a piece of stationery home with her so that she could copy the monogram.
Beverly came back for another visit after she had drawn out some design options for us.  She incorporated our china and our family silver!  She also used some of the curvy designs that she knew I would like because she saw them on my website!
Beverly is so kind and so involved in her creations.  Consulting with her on the design was so much fun!  We moved the designs, which were drawn on to tracing paper, around the table and played with various ideas.
After deciding on a design, Beverly sketched it out to scale and brought it by our home to lay it out on the table. She wanted to be sure that the scale, placements, and sizing was correct before she started painting.
Beverly told me that when she is painting, she is thinking about our family and how many great memories we will make around our table.  She puts love into every single one of her creations!
The finished product!  There is a place-setting painted on for each of us, complete with a personalized place card!  I love the clean white paint on the linen colored background but I also loved a cloth that she made with a natural canvas background black paint.  It was hard for me to choose but when I saw the finished cloth, I knew I had made the right choice for us!
A detail of my place setting!  Although it looks beautifully pale, it can handle spills and will not stain!  Beverly told me that she actually tried to stain one with red wine once and it came right out!
He is obviously thrilled with our new tablecloth!  That smile made the process completely worth it!
What I didn't predict is that my two and a half year old son would want to set the table now that he sees that everything has a place!


To order your BAM cloth today visit www.bamsart.com


Photography by Brian Coats  www.briancoats.com

Monday, August 16, 2010

Locker Looks

One of the things I always looked forward to was when summer was ending and school was starting up again was the chance to decorate and organize my locker!  There is something so exciting about dressing up the metal box assigned only to me!  Here are few tips for keeping your locker looking good:

  • Stackable shelves are a must.  They are the perfect starting point when trying to figure out how to organize your locker.  Check out the Container Store's wonderful options in fun colors and various sizes. 
  • Magnetic cork boards, pencil holders, hooks and memo cups will help make the most of the sides and the doors on your locker!
  • This year in home design, wall paper is big trend.  The same is true of locker walls!  You can purchase "locker wallpaper" at the container store or you can select a favorite wrapping paper or drawer liner to place around your locker walls.  If you don't want to paper the entire thing, just cover the inside of the door in a cheery print that will brighten your school day.
  • Old shoe boxes covered in pretty paper or fabric are great for storing extra school supplies or snacks.
  • If you will be keeping your gym clothes in your locker, think about adding an odor eater or air freshener to your locker to keep it from getting stinky.  
I would love to see pictures of your decorated and organized lockers!  Send a photo to askkim@kimberlyschlegel.com

Friday, August 13, 2010

Back to School Trends for Girls!

This back to school season is all about layers!  Here are three great looks that embrace the layered look and will help you make a great impression while heading back to school:


Jeggings
Jeggings are a combination of Jeans and Leggings and they are a MUST HAVE for every back to school wardrobe this fall.  Add flowing loose layers with a tunic, wrap or belted cardigan and you will be perfectly on trend!

Bohemian Dresses
A loose flowing dress is perfect for back to school in our 100+ degree weather!  You can embrace a new fall trend while still beating the heat!  Wear it now with embellished flats and later with boots.  Belts, funky necklaces, layered bracelets and loose sweaters can add to the look.

Mad for Plaid
Plaid shirts have become a staple in every tween wardrobe and they have not gone away.  This season, layer them over a favorite tee or tank and pair them with a denim skirt.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

National Garage Sale Day - August 14th

I am totally in a de-clutter, clean up and get organized stage.  It always seems to happen at the end of the summer right before the school year is about to start.  That is why I am so excited about National Garage Sale Day coming up on August 14th!
Here are a few tips for having a successful garage sale:

  • Check your local rules, restrictions and regulations for your neighborhood before you do anything else!
  • Advertise in your local paper, market it on the web and put up signage.  Don't expect that people will find you without putting forth an effort.
  • Expect some early birds.  They know they will get the worm!  If you really don't want anyone to show up early be sure to ad the phrase "No Early Birds" to your ads.
  • Remember that one man's trash is another man's treasure!  You won't believe the stuff that will sell so, even you thought you should throw it away, stick it out there with a price tag and see what happens!
  • Make alternate arrangements for your pet on the day of your sale.  It can be stressful for a territorial dog to watch so many people on their lawn!
  • Thoroughly check every pocket or every clothing item, dig through bags and open every container before you stick it on a sale table.  You never know what you might uncover!  Double check that you have not left receipts with your personal information or a tiny treasure inside!
  • Women often complain that it is hard to get their husband to stop at a garage sale so stick the men's things (lawn mowers, sports memorabilia, etc.) at the front of your sale!  That will get their attention.
  • If you are selling electronics, be sure to have an extension cord at the ready so that your shoppers can plug your items in to ensure that they work!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Looking Hot at the Hospital...yes...you read that right!

Looking "hot" at the hospital was not something I thought possible until I heard about Annie & Isabel's chic hospital gowns.  Sisters Anna and Selena are both nurses and started making cute hospital gowns after learning that  inadequate, flimsy, worn, and stained hospital gowns are a major patient complaint!  Their "aha moment" came when one of the sisters was in labor and they remarked that it would be nice to have something beautiful to wear for such a joyous occasion.  Anna and Selena saw and opportunity to improve the hospital experiences of their patients by making them feel more comfortable and cute!
They called the company Annie & Isabel in honor of their great-grandmother, Annie, and their grandmother, Isabel.  As little girls, they dreamed of naming their own children after their grandmothers but, six boys later, they settled on honoring them through their work instead.
Not only are the gowns stylish but they also take care of the "draft situation" if you know what I mean!  Annie & Isabel gowns give some dignity and control back to the patients by keeping them covered in style.  
The gowns run $68 and make a fantastic shower gift or a great gift of encouragement for anyone you know who is suffering with an illness that requires time in the hospital.  Imagine what a new hospital gown could do for their morale!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Selling has never been easier!

Being a mom is wonderful but there is a lot of gear that goes with it!  There are so many baby stages that go by so quickly and they each require a new set of equipment!
Now there is a great new outlet for buying and selling all of the outgrown baby gear that is taking up all of the room in your home!  TradingCradles.com is an on-line marketplace specifically for moms with needs...either needing to get rid of things or needing to purchase things!
Moms out there are probably thinking they don't have the time to take a shower much less sell their extra baby stuff but TradingCradles.com gets that and has made it super simple and crazy quick!  Categories such as cribs, strollers, and clothing make the search easy and posting your own items is as simple as filling out a form and uploading an image.  TradingCradles.com crew claims that it takes less than 30 seconds!

Monday, August 2, 2010


If you love making your home a bit more stylish or purchasing a gift for a friend for 70% off, then One King's Lane is the shop for you!  It is amazing!
Everyday the team at OneKingsLane.com works to bring you stylish products from home, design and gift giving at 70% off the retail prices.  The sales last 72 hours only and once and item is sold out, it is gone to you need to work fast and grab what you are after!
The site offers amazing brand names such as Deyna Decker Candles and Elite Leather Sofas.  The products and the prices are amazing.  
My favorite part are the Tastemaker Tag Sales where the most respected and discriminating designers in the country sell their inventories for a steal.  The deals are amazing and many of the items are Antique, Vintage or Gently Used.  There are also wonderful inspirational design tips from decorators that are helpful and easy to do!
Sign up and get shopping today so you don't miss a fantastic sale!
 

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