On Monday night, MommyQ attended the Hair Affair Fashion Show and it was totally intriguing. From the moment I walked behind the red velvet curtains to conduct my interviews and take pictures, I was in eye candy heaven. The 18th Century French inspiration was vivid enough to make Marie Antoinette order a French Cosmso (3 oz. pineapple juice, 1 1/2 oz. vodka, 1/2 oz. cassis, garnish with pineapple slice or leaf) and party like a rockstar.

Waterstone Aesthetics and LegitArt Entertainment came together to oragnize the event and it was magnificent. Not to mention, 100% of the proceeds benefited Locks of Love, a non-profit for children under the age of 18 who suffer from long-term medical hair loss.

The wigs and hair pieces for the runway show were jaw-dropping. You must see the pics to truly understand how grand they were. I spent mots of my time backstage, watching the model prepare and get final touches on hair and makeup. I was totally impressed with how calm the folks running the show remained, even three minutes prior to the opening of the curtains. The models did a wonderful job bringing personality to all of the outfits. It was also great to see the look of satisfaction on the stylists’ faces when their model’s look came together. Pay special attention to the model with the birdcage on her head.

Experience the full story on News 8 Austin and visit Austin Eavesdropper for even more info, pics and goodies. Plus, find out which Texas model is destined for greatness on the reality show America’s Next Top Model.

Last weekend, the second annual Austin Fashion Week began with a huge party and fashion show at Idea City, the place GSD&M calls home. Partygoers and fashionistas did their best to beat the heat and as the sun went down and a cool breeze entered the equation, it was time to get serious about style.

What Bloggers are Saying:
You can see what local fashion bloggers like Indiana Adams (AdoredAustin), Joanna Wilkinson (KeepAustinStylish) and Tiffany Diane (AustinIsBuning) had to say about the runway show and Austin’s unique aesthetic in a News 8 Austin blog complete with video.

80s Pop Star, Tiffany
One of the hightlights of the evening was definitely 80s pop star, Tiffany, belting out her famous tunes. Part of me was expecting to see a redheaded teenager in an acid-washed denim jacket and big hair walk out on stage.  No, Tiffany is all grown up like the rest of us now. But she did an amazing job and really engaged the crowd. It was impossible not to sing along when she sang ‘I Think We’re Along Now.” See how Tiffany dazzled the crowd on News 8 Austin.

Austin’s Fashion Talent
A Project Runway contestant who competed in Season 6 , Louise Black, is participating in Austin Fashion Week this year. You can read about more of Austin’s notables on News 8 Austin.

My Fashion Blunder…
I have to tell a quick personal story, because it’s just to hilarious not to share. I wore a totally unique dress to this event – a Marc by Marc Jacobs red-striped linen dress. After the fashion show, we went to grab a drink at a local bar called Townhouse. After we walked in, we realized my dress matched the red striped fabric on the furniture exactly.  What are the odds of that? It was hilarious and just goes to show fashion is totally unpredictable.

Here are a few pics from the evening:

Last week MommyQ was lucky enough to take a trip to Portland, Oregon, to witness a “behind-the-scenes” movie experience.  Walmart and P&G invited me to attend, so I could see the guts and the glory it takes to produce a television movie. The movie, “In My Shoes,” is a clever, compassionate and family-friendly project that proves the notion of family movie night is not forgotten.

When I was a kid, I remember sitting with my parents and my sister once a week, usually Friday night, to watch television together. I have to admit, I don’t remember exact titles of the movies we watched, but I do recall the laughter, giggles, communal popcorn tub and the fun. I also know my parents didn’t have to jump up and run to the TV (we didn’t have remotes back then) to change the station because something non kid-friendly was interrupting our viewing pleasure.

From the wonderful folks at P&G and Walmart to the producers to the actors, EVERYONE working on this project is totally aware of the need for family-friendly television entertainment. Even the youngest actor on the set, 11-year-old Jackson Pace, mentioned how important it is to be able to watch television together as a family. (BTW, what a cute little guy.)

I also got to meet some phenomenal women/mothers/entreprenuers as in @MomStart @mamaspohr @eightymphmom @BettyBuzz @OurOrdinaryLife – funny, fantastic and talented, who could ask for more?

Get a taste of what the new and improved family movie night is by watching The Jenson Project on July 19th on NBC. And if you haven’t seen Secrets of the Mountain, you’d better get to watchin’ because it was incredible. Stay tuned!

I had a Swedish Massage there today with a sprinkle of Deep Tissue. My massage therapist, Colleen (who has many clients who are professional hockey players) did a fabulous job. It’s an upscale massage spa with affordable prices. The rooms are small, but clean and comfortable. I love the heated massage tables.

If you prefer a different style of massage, they have that too. They even offer Ashiatsu Bar Therapy and pregnancy massages. You can see of their services by clicking here.  Massage Harmony has two locations in Austin — one on S. Lamar and the other in Westlake. If you go to Westlake, I highly recommend Colleen. Okay, enough reading. Go book your massage today and for goodness sake, RELAX!

I’ve been a big fan of Craigslist for many years. Yet sometimes there are things about Senior Craig that I don’t like. Let’s say I’m trying to sell a baby stroller. By the time I get my ad posted, 20 more stroller are already ahead of mine in about 24 hours. Not to mention, I’m not a huge fan of how the ads look and the time it takes to create them. Don’t get me started on the shady personals. Ew.

I’ve heard friends talk about Adbirds which is like Craigslist, but it has many more capabilities. I checked it out today and I’m hooked! I created a few free ads and it was such a breeze. The interface is fast, easy and sophisticated. You can add lots of pictures, links, video clips – whatever you want – and it’s seriously simple. As a mommy, I appreciate the ability to do stuff online as quickly as possible. I’ll have to be changing a diaper, reading a story or wiping crayons off the walls any minute.

I’m going to do more research on Adbirds to figure out all of the neat stuff it does. They have an affiliate program and from what I’m hearing, it ROCKS. Adbirds is also extremely eco-conscious as the company is all about local shopping, community and saving everyone gas. Think of it as more money in your pocket for diapers, formula and wipes! The company tagline is “Better Online Advertising” and they speak the truth.

Drop me a comment if you’ve already discovered Adbirds and let me know what you think. I’m an instant fan and excited to learn more. Click here to post an ad and see for yourself!

Yes, that’s my little logo. MommyQ is sponsoring this event with a bunch of other great businesses and I can assure it will be AWESOME. We scouted out the location and discussed details today. I was excited about it before, but I’m even more excited about it now. Details about the scrumptious menu will be coming soon.  Also, if you’re a mom here in Austin and you haven’t been to Underwear yet, shame on you! This shop is a little slice of heaven!

Go ahead and buy your tickets to Star Light, Star Night today before they’re gone.

Tomorrow my family will be wearing blue – will PROUDLY be wearing blue. Myself, my husband and our two children will help promote the incredible, international, Light It Up Blue campaign that kicks off World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month.

Iconic landmarks around the globe – including the Empire State Building in New York City and Willis Tower in Chicago along with the CN Tower in Toronto and Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia – as well as airports, bridges, museums, concert halls, restaurants, and retail stores, are among more than 100 structures in over 16 U.S. cities and nine countries around the world that will light up in bright blue tonight.

As the parent of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I cannot express how much this campaign means to me personally. I would wear blue every day of the year if it would help promote autism awareness! To me, the reason autism is so tricky is because we get a diagnosis of it and advice about  improving it, but we get nothing solid about what it means for the future.  People ask me how we deal with it and I always explain we take it one day at a time. If we sat around and worried about what the future may hold, we’d drive ourselves crazy.

On the bright side, things like speech therapy, OT therapy, family support, patient parents and loving teachers make it all better. Our autistic children make huge strides forward every single minute of the day. My heart goes out to the undiagnosed children who are struggling, the families who can’t afford the help they need and the “distracted ducks” that are living in an odd, isolated world.

Autism Speaks, North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, is launching this campaign. Since its inception only five short years ago, Autism Speaks has made enormous strides, committing over $142.5 million to research and developing innovative new resources for families through 2014. The organization is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

What can you do? How can you make a difference? Wear blue with pride tomorrow.

Read more about MommyQ’s life with autistic child:

- Living with Autism Diagnosis: One Year Later

- Autism Rides Off Into The Sunset

I’ve been wanting to sponsor an event in Austin for a while, but none have been a great fit for me. Then my wonderful friend at Hosteria Verde Supper Club & Catering told me about her “Star Light, Star Night” fundraiser and I was hooked. “Star Light, Star Night” will be granting your party wishes under a starry sky! MommyQ is so excited to participate in it. I encourage all moms to incorporate this event into their Mother’s Day celebration.

This is more than just a fundraiser, it is a night of eye candy for the senses. The evening will feature models in Stella McCartney lingerie from Underwear boutique and amazing jewelry from Limbo Jewelry Design’s newest summer collection. Guests will enjoy fabulous food, yummy cocktails, a DJ, live music and a silent auction. In addition to all of these goodies for mom, there will be a spectacular aerial dance performance by Blue Lapis Light, an aerial site-specific dance company. The proceeds of this event will benefit Blue Lapis Light, a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring innovative forms of expression, inspiring and elucidating performers and audience members.

The pre-Mother’s Day event takes place on Saturday, May 8, 2010, from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 pm at the Spring Condominiums in downtown Austin. The event will be held poolside on the fifth floor of the tower overlooking Lady Bird Lake. It is truly an evening under the stars!

You can buy tickets online for $45 at HosteriaVerde.com. I encourage all moms to be there. Start off your special day with fabulous food, sexy style and a dash of aerial thrills. Drop me an email if you’d like to donate an item for the silent auction.

Image: Blue Lapis Light

I’m not joking. You know vampires really do rule the world when you see charity events like this – Celebrity Vampire Baseball ™ to be held in New Orleans on March 20th. You can meet Twilight, New Moon and True Blood fang-faves, as well as other athletes, actors and randoms. My outspoken, gold-pants-wearing boy, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) will be playing too!

The event is brought to you  by Twilight Fan Trips and yes, that’s real too.  Highlights of this unique baseball adventure include watching an exhibition game, getting autographs and photos with the stars, meet and greets, and an exciting after-party and concert. 25% of net proceeds from each celebrity baseball ticket sale will go towards Haitian Relief organizations to support their ongoing efforts to rebuild lives destroyed by this disaster.

This is my favorite part for sure. A portion of proceeds will also be used to support New Orleans non-profit organizations such as The Blood Center, which will host an on-site blood drive. Yummy.

‘Tis the season for giving thanks, attending parties and receiving gorgeous bling! Celebrate with Austin’s All About Diamonds and brighten your holiday in a sparkly kind of way. If you shop at the store on Bee Caves – starting today! – the first person to mention MommyQ’s blog in the store wins a $100 Gift Certificate. Come on moms, I know you want to grab that!

If you live in Austin, TX, join All About Diamonds for their Jude Frances and Philip Stein Trunk Show & Viewing Party:

December 4, 10am-4pm
Philip Stein & Jude Frances Trunk Show
Enter to Win a Philip Stein Wine Wand ($325 value)
Gift Bags and $100 Gift Certificates from All About Diamonds for all guests!

December 4, 4pm-7pm
Philip Stein & Jude Frances Viewing Party
Hosted by All About Diamonds and Hall Plastic Surgery & Rejuvenation Center
Enjoy Champagne and Chocolate Truffles
Hourly Giveaways for Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaners
Win a pair of Jude Frances Diamond Ear Hoops ($480 value)
$100 gift Certificate from All About Diamonds for all guests!

December 5, 10am – 5pm
Jude Francis Showcase
Win Jude Francis Diamond Ear Hoops ($480 value)
Gift bags and $100 gift Certificates from All About Diamonds for all guests!

MommyQ’s Inbox is always overflowing with information. Sales, grand openings, new products, special events, community giving and more. Seriously, I have 125 unread messages and they ALL pertain to motherhood. I never knew it was such an email-intensive job. Here are some of the highlights so you don’t miss out on something special or as my two-year-old says, “sumpin peshal.”

Kirsten James Handbags Holiday Sale
I LOVE these diaper bags. I have one and use it all of the time. These bags are a great gift idea for any gal on your shopping list. Order your custom bag now and get 10% off your entire purchase. Plus, you’ll receive it just in time for Christmas.  Spend $250 or more and receive 15% off your purchase! (Remember, this company give 5% of the amount you spend to their non-profit too.)

You can receive your discount by using promo code “KJ Holiday Sale” in the message to seller box at time of purchase (your discount will be refunded thru paypal within 24 hours of order). Sale ends on November 30th. Visit Kirsten James today!

Four Days of Feasting in Austin
If you’re going to be spending the Thanksgiving holiday in Austin, you must attend these events. Hosteria Verde, owned by the fabulous foodie Anne Rutt-Enriquez, is teaming up with FLAVORS of Austin to present four consecutive days of unique dining events. You can get all of the details at Hosteria Verde. Buy your tickets today and invite your friends to join you. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out on this tasty fun.

The Brand New LK Stationery Company
Welcome to the BRAND NEW LK Stationery Company, proudly offering new designs by artist Laura Kelly. Welcome to the bright, fun, and whimsical world of Laura Kelly. We look forward to offering you happy and artistic designs on stationery items. From mini memos to note cards to placemats, if you can write on it – they’ve got it! Shop until your heart’s content at LK Stationary.

Skip the turkey swimming in gravy and opt for something a bit more unique. A bit more Austin. A bit more weird…

If you’re staying in Austin for the Thanksgiving holiday, you’re in luck! Thanks to Hosteria Verde Supper Club & Catering and FLAVORS of Austin, you can experience four consecutive days of foodie delights. Plus, proceeds benefit the Sustainable Food Center so you can feel good about giving back to your community too.

Anne Rutt-Enriquez, owner of Hosteria Verde, promises great food, countless cocktails, divine entertainment and the coolest vibe Austin has to offer. The event date are November 29 – December 2, 2009.

The kick-off event is a lobster brunch with plenty of Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Then you can gamble your holiday stress away playing casino games and enjoying the soothing sounds of one of the city’s most fab lounge singers at the ‘Old School Las Vegas’ event. Next up is ‘Arabian Nights’ complete with belly dancers. The festivities end the following night with a salute to Mexican cuisine. And yes, Austin’s QVC Lucha Libre Team wrestlers will be providing serious entertainment.

You can buy tickets now at Hosteria Verde for $85 per person. Get your tickets soon because seating is limited! Get connected online at Flickr.com/HosteriaVerdeAustin and Twitter.com/HosteriaVerde

MommyQ is pleased to announce a glamtastic giveaway, thanks to the fine folks at Gallery Direct.  One lucky winner will receive a 36” x 48” piece of artwork, Aix Les Bains, by artist Leonetto Cappiello. Retail value is $200!  The print will be a Canvas Gallery Wrap which means the image wraps all the way around the mounted canvas. No frame necessary for this retrolicious look. Add a splash of whimsy and color to any room in your home!

If you have not heard of Cappiello, he is famous for being a self-taught advertising genius. For example, this bright and brilliant piece is actually selling a wonderful little town in France, Aix les Bains. You see, Cappiello created bold figures popping out of black backgrounds, which was a startling contrast to the artwork being painted at that time. He is known as “the father of modern advertising” and produced more than 530 posters in his lifetime.

To participate in this giveaway, follow this link over to the Gallery Direct website. Enter your information in the form on the “Request a Catalog” page and you will automatically be entered. A winner will be chosen at random on Monday, November 16, 2009. Good luck!

I have dined at Green Pastures before and could not believe the transformation. The Victorian estate, full of antiques and fine china, no longer boasted that cozy Southern appeal. It was now a white wonderland with an unmistakable LA vibe, an impressive guest list and substantial swank.

The amount of time and creativity it took to pull off such an event is mind-boggling. From the beautifully lit trees that greeted you in the parking lot to the amazing floral arrangements and chic cabanas, every detail was flawless. David Kurio, what you do with flowers is unbelievable! This was also my first White Party, which is all-white-themed, and that alone was just incredible. To see hundreds of people gathered in one place wearing the same color is a pretty impressive thing all by itself. Fresh, fabulous and fun.

You can visit Austin360 for photos by clicking here. Find out why you should be supporting LEAP and LifeWorks!

Photo from Austin American-Statesman

If you’re a MommyQ blog fan, you know I have a young child with autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder). As a result, my whole family is dedicated to promoting awareness. MommyQ’s lil sis, Ms. Chatterly, will be participating in the Walk Now for Autism event in Denver, CO.

She is currently gathering recruits to form the most elite walking group ever created, Team Wubbzy. Yes, that funny one-of-a-kind yellow marshmallow-shaped dude, also known as Wub-Z, is the guy who is gonna bring all of this together. Visit Team Wubbzy’s page to donate to this important organization.  We’re hoping to raise $250! Help us reach this goal.

Vote for cute kiddos and support a worthy cause! It’s easy and fun to donate to the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep foundation. By participating in the National Charity Model Search, you can also support Austin photographer, Kelli Hierholzer with Fancy Pants Photography. One vote costs $1 and proceeds are donated to NILMDTS. Check out these cuties here and here!

If you haven’t heard about NILMDTS, it’s an incredibly touching foundation. They provide a helping hand and healing heart to families who lose a baby shortly after birth. In the midst of grief, confusion and pain a family might not think to photograph their baby. NILMDTS offers gentle and beautiful photography to capture short, yet cherished lives. With a network of over 6,000 volunteer photographers in the US, the foundation offers comfort in a unique and lasting way.

My best friend and I showed up around 9:00 p.m and the party was in full swing. And I mean swing literally because there was an indoor playscape where grown (drunk) adults were swinging their hearts out.  Luckily nobody got hurt because there was a faux lawn where lots of folks were sitting. Someone could have easily taken a stiletto to the head if they weren’t looking where they were going. Hesitating dangerously close to the swings was a bad idea. There was a guy monitoring the swings and he scolded people who were swinging too high. Funny to see adults get in trouble like that!

Anyway, I was talking and chatting through most of the music acts. I did pay attention when Solange, Beyonce’s little sis took the stage. She is stunning! The most beautiful face, just like you’d come to expect from a Knowles. She’s kind of like the rough one, cussing and singing about drugs. I applaud her baby blue eye shadow that you could see for miles. I didn’t get the outfit though. White tank, aqua skirt with white clouds (?) and weird loose yellow and silver-ish tights that weren’t tight. Regardless of the questionable fashion choices, the lady can dance. I thought ‘I Decided’ was great and I’m sure it will be topping the charts soon.

Halfway through the party they ran out of vodka. Yikes! So, I drank Alize Red Passion, the premium fruit liqueur. Ha! Let’s just say it was very fruity and fitting for the crowd. I’d say 80% of the men there were extremely comfortable with their sexuality, which is not straight. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that!” It was a fun, fun, fun crowd.

That being the case, there were more than a few eyes scrutinizing the fashion Dos and Don’ts parading around. I think I passed the test because my shoes were described as “fierce” on more than one occasion and one guy growled at me. Believe it or not, MommyQ was rocking the shiny tights and they seemed totally appropriate. Then again, Alize was part of the equation. Anyhoo – my best friend was rocking in her usual style and let’s just say everyone luh-huvved her! Ooh la la. I think she made 300 new friends on Facebook during the party.

Perez was hilarious wearing his pink hat and lots of attitude. He throws a fabulous shindig.  The worst part of the night was the 2-hour wait for a cab. TWO SOLID HOURS waiting for a cab. Triple ugh! MommyQ is way too old to hang like that. My fierce shoes expire after about 5 hours. All in all, it was exactly what I had expected and possibly even better. Cheers SXSW! Until we meet again next year.

Anyway, the focus was the Austin fashion scene and it’s thriving. Thanks to all of the creative souls living in Austin and all of the good karma, the ATX has carved out its own little paradise in the fashion industry.

The panel of experts did a great job offering helpful advice to all of us overly confident, chatty PR folks. One panel member stood out to me, as one often does. Lance Morgan, founder of Brilliant Magazine, was quick to respond with some funny quips and a few requests for cash and cashmere. A definite crowd pleaser!

After an array of questions from the audience, including one “panel stumper,” I decided to take advantage of the fashion expertise sitting stylishly at the font of the room. I had a burning question that just had to be addressed…

I asked Lance Morgan and Lauren Smith Ford, Managing Editor of Tribeza, the big question, “What are the rules about wearing white shoes?” They laughed at first, but offered a thorough answer.

If you don’t what I’m talking about, it’s the whole notion that you should never wear white after Labor Day. I’m not sure where that came from and I’m too lazy to Google it. Anyway, I grew up knowing two things. #1. -You can’t fly down a flight of stairs no matter how much you think you can. #2 – You can’t wear white shoes after Labor Day.

But celebrities do it and they’ve done it for years. Doesn’t that mean the rule no longer applies?

According to Morgan, the rule does apply. The only time you can circumvent it is if you live somewhere tropical. But Austin is like 105 degrees most of the year. Doesn’t heat have something to do with it? Morgan added that last year it was around 100 degrees in September (in Austin), so in that case you could wear white shoes two weeks beyond Labor Day. Miami and LA, however, are immune to this rule. But that’s an entirely different slice of cheese.

If there is a pair of white shoes in your closet, imagine an expiration date and wear them accordingly. And thanks to Lance and Lauren for enlightening us all! (Told ya so!)

AMC Entertainment has teamed up with the Autism Society of America to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special viewing of “Hotel for Dogs.” Join us on Saturday, January 31st at 10:00 a.m. at AMC Barton Creek 14. The lights in the theater are brought up and the sounds is turned down. Viewer noise and movement is totally acceptable. Whew! You can even brings snacks for your kiddos on special diets. Learn more here.

In honor of a great daddy and equally great granddaddy, friends of mine have started the “Gre-Dad’s Gift” this holiday season.  It stems from a thoughtful idea that always seemed to get lost in the shuffle. This year, that idea was given life.

Thanks to fundable.com, the Perks family can pay tribute and do something wonderful for a family in Blacksburg, VA. Find out how you can help!

Get revved up for a day of fun benefiting Dell Children’s Medicial Center of Central Texas! Circle of Friends is proud to present its first annual Angels on Wheels Motorcycle Run and Family Fun Day, Saturday November 1, 2008.

Motorcycle enthusiasts can support Central Texas kids in this 100-mile motorcycle run that begins at 9am at Dell Children’s Medical Center and continues through Georgetown, Lake Travis and other Central Texas locations. The ride will conclude at the new Mueller Lake Park, off I-35 and Airport Boulevard, where the Family Fun Day celebration will take place from 11am-4pm. This is the first event at the beautifully landscaped 30-acre park that features an outdoor amphitheater and stage, picnic peninsula and interactive playscape for children.

Entertainment includes music by Super Pal Universe, Amy and the Alibis, Wicked Brew, and Austin’s own Rick Trevino. Children’s activities include a gaming truck on wheels, moonwalk obstacle course, face and hair painting, and Dell Children’s pet therapy dogs. Mark your calendars!

Circle of Friends is a network of regional support groups across Central Texas that raise awareness and funds for the Children’s Medical Center Foundation of Central Texas to benefit Dell Children’s Medical Center.

Dell Children’s is the only dedicated freestanding pediatric medical facility in Central Texas that serves a 46-county area and beyond, and is the premier health care provider for every child and adolescent, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

Born in the great state of Texas and a big fan of cheese pizza, Nacho is known to wear many hats. Snowboarder. Politician. Astronaut. He makes his debut as Nacho the Party Puppy, a birthday connoisseur. Look for Nacho the Downward Dog to make an appearance in Fall 2009.

If you live in Austin, TX, you can come to Storytime at Book People and hear Nacho the Party Puppy read by Nacho’s best 2-legged friend ever, the lovely & talented Emma. Storytime will take place on Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 11:30 a.m.

Part I of the Dog Days of Fall series by MommyQ.