We hosted an amazing party in October to celebrate our HGTV episode and had a blast showing off our awesomely renovated rooms to our friends and neighbors.

We had a delish gorgeous cake from Rise and Shine Bakery, food from Mandola’s, beer from Thirsty Planet and to make the par-tay complete and enhance the uniqueness of the experience, we served a variety of Gilgal wines from the Golan Heights Winery – the Vinexpo grand medalla de oro 2011 – Chardonnay, Cabernet and Merlot a la Fleischer Wines. Needless to say, every sip was savored.  If you haven’t heard about Fleischer Wines, let me enlighten you.

Fleischer Wines was founded in 2000, by the Fleischer brothers of Houston, who are originally from Santiago Chile. Roberto and Miguel set high goals for themselves when it came to starting their business: excellence in wine making, consistency from year to year, appropriate quality-price relationship, and a level of service that would allow them continuous provision of fine wines to quality restaurants and liquor stores.

Fleischer Wines imports and distributes wines from many different regions in Europe, Middle East and the Americas. They offer an amazing selection of Israeli and kosher wines, both mevushal an

d non-mevushal. As any Jewish gal knows, this ain’t no Manachevitz! The Gilgal wines I mentioned above are exclusive to Spec’s and the Gilgal Cabernet is their top seller, all sold under $20.00. Specs sells it for $18.99.

Fleicher Wines is an award-winning name you should know. (Yes, I’m talking to you my wine snob friends.) It was a fantastic night and so much fun to relive the excitement of being HGTV’d. Hugs and kisses to Thom FIlicia and the HGTV crew for giving us the opportunity to be part of such a wild ride.

Read more about my HGTV’d experience here:

Part I: Truck Arrives & Demo Begins!

Part II: How It Happens & The Cool Local Business Involved

When the fabulous Michele Utt of MK Events asked me to partner with her to throw The Bachelorette Watch Party, I was intrigued. When she mentioned this amazing party would also serve as a fundraiser, I was impressed. When we decided it would benefit Autism Speaks, I was ecstatic. My happy heart (in combination with my inner party diva) is thrilled to announce The Bachelorette Season Finale Watch Party, August 1st from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  Proceeds will benefit Walk Now for Autism Speaks in Austin. Tickets to the event can be purchased online for $40.

This event is shaping up to be one of the best Girls Night Out parties ever held in the great state of Texas.  The swag bags and silent auctions items alone are making us swoon. Plus, we’re adding new ones even as I type. Take a look at ALL of the AMAZING people & companies who are involved. They deserve a mega-shout out! Woo Hoo.

Why Autism Speaks? My readers know autism is close to my heart, because my oldest son was diagnosed when he was three. The biggest thing we need as parents and as a society is access to critical data about autism and more resources for families struggling to understand it. All of these autistic youngsters will be adults one day. Who will support them? How will they lend their special vision, talents and skills to society?  They need to thrive! Lastly, let’s figure out what causes it. There are too many unsubstantiated theories. We need answers!

Okay, stepping off of my platform now…

-  A special thank you goes out to our sponsors: Baldwin Beauty School (thank you, Wendi!), Premier Data Com and Warren Kull with www.yourlaketravishome.com, for supporting our event and compassion towards the cause.

- Enjoy complimentary appetizers by Mandola’s, wine by Flat Creek Winery, cocktails courtesy of Treaty Oak Rum and Graham’s Texas Tea and dessert a la Michelle’s Patisserie.  Bouquets of red roses fill the room courtesy of Flowers By Nancy.

- Chef Paul Peterson, (www.chefpaulpetersen.com) who was featured on TLC’s BBQ Pitmasters and is currently the executive chef at Austin’s favorite Tex-Mex Restaurant, Vivo. will be firing up the kitchen and serving some tasty eats!

Swag Bags valued at over $700 and are yours to take home!
Swag Bags Sponsored By:
~Bettysport
~Oak Haven Massage
~BASE Personal Training
~Kendra Scott Jewelry
~Shandi Nichelle Co.
~Vitamin Water
~Don Rogers Photography
~Dermalogica
~Dream Water
~360 Tans
~Creative People Marketing & Design
~Hill Country Galleria
~Bee Waxed

Silent Auction Items Include:
~Zoom Whitening by Lakeway Smiles
~$300 in Kendra Scott Jewelry
~Gift Certificate to Spa at the Lake
~Spray Tan by 360 Tans
~Gift Basket by Blue Avocado

Evening and bridal gown designer Liz Fields, who is based in New York, is hosting her 1st Annual Military Gala, a launch extravaganza that will kick off an effort across the country to give away gowns to women within the military family. The gala will be the perfect setting for Liz to showcase her new collection of bridal gowns, destination wedding dresses, special occasions niche designs and evening gowns. But, part of her dream to make military ladies’ dreams come true too.

At the heart of the gala will be military couples which run the spectrum of boyfriend-girlfriend, engaged, and married couples. They will celebrated and treated to a memorable evening of food, drinks, dancing, entertainment, prizes, giveaways and unbelievable surprises. Liz Fields is happy to partner with amazing sponsors like Lacy Pool, the stylist and buyer for Serendipity Bridal, who has teamed up with Kendra Scott and Toni Federici to create the looks. Additional sponsors include the Army Wife Network and Silver Eagle Distributors/Anheuser Busch.

I can’t let the cat out of the bag, but I’ve heard an American Idol Finalist will be performing and my beautiful friend Holly Mills-Gardner, a former Miss Texas, will be emceeing the fashion show and festivities as they unfold. Plus, the entire show will be televised on CMT in the Fall. How fun is that?!

The dust has been vacuumed, the dumpster has been removed, our POD has left the driveway and all of our new pals at HGTV’d have moved on to their next project. I hope it involves a few naps, because those folks are worn out! The BIG REVEAL was this past Sunday and my head is still spinning! I keep walking into my ultra-fabulous, posh, functional and sparkling, new rooms and wonder, “Whose house is this?!? It certainly isn’t mine!” I’m still not touching anything out of fear that I may mess up something. Although the fresh flowers are starting to wilt, so I’m going to have to replace them. Even the flowers are cool. I mean, really? These folks are goooood.

I’d like to give a special thanks to four local companies who helped us survive and enjoy this surreal experience:

#1 – Austin Paperhanging for the stunning, precise and perfect job they did hanging all of our new wallpaper.  You won’t fully understand until you see the room in person. It’s a HUGE area and DIFFICULT job and they did SUPERBLY. It’s mind boggling.

#2 - Aero Designed Systems who installed our brand new AC unit. Yep, our AC broke right in the middle of filming our episode of HGTV’d. It was about 103 degrees outside too. Aero worked quickly and the customer service was outstanding.

#3 – Let Us Do The Cooking was possibly the highlight of each day. This is a catering company located in Killeen, TX, and they brought us the most mouth-watering, fantastic food I’ve ever eaten. Yes, ever.  (Sorry, mom!) The corn casserole was stupendous, the green bean casserole was heavenly, the desserts were insane, the entrees were perfection, etc.

#4 – Central Market made the most beautiful & tasty HGTV’d cake. I had to print the logo from the hotel’s black & white printer, but Central Market was like, we’re so awesome, we’re going to do it with all of the red shades anyway! Not only was it pretty, but also yummy! We walked around with red lips all day and didn’t even care.

Here's a pic of the old chandelier coming down. You should've seen how high they had to go to make this happen. My knees were weak!

Here's a shot of David with Austin Paperhanging doing what he does best. You should've seen the precision. If you ever decide to this, leave it to the pros.

We took a million pics in front of that truck. We also saw various neighbors posing it with as they walked by...

Another shot of the gorgeous cake. Central Market knows dessert!

This pic was taken on my way out of the hotel on reveal day! I was a nervous, excited wreck. This is my annoying thumbs-up pose that I did repeatedly. Yes, that's gonna be a pleasure to watch on TV. Oy!

I’m not able to post pics of the finished rooms, but tune in for my next post when I finally reveal our celebrity designer.

Did ya miss something? Wanna know where to submit your casting video? Here’s MommyQ is Getting HGTV’d: Part One

What do you think? Do you have the guts to be HGTV’d????

Have you ever wondered what’s it’s like to be HGTV’d? I can pretty much sum it up in one word, AWESOME. For the past five days, my family has been taking an exciting, unbelievable, unpredictable, loud, consuming and mind-boggling journey with HGTV as they redo our multiple areas in our home for the new show, HGTV’d. I can’t give away all of the juicy details, but I can give you a little sneak peek. First, a few FAQs…

How did we get on the show? We submitted a video just like everyone else.  Go do it now! They’re casting in DC/Virginia, Miami and Chicago, people! Why did we get picked? Honestly, I have no idea. We’re totally nuts and fearless? Perhaps. The producers told me we were fun and open to wild ideas and our house had good “bones.” Are the homeowners totally in the dark about knowing who their designer is? Absolutely! We had no clue who our designer was until Tanika Ray opened the truck door.

It’s a totally once-in-a-lifetime type of surreal experience. The demolition was one of the wildest aspects. It’s pretty wild to have parts of your house torn apart when you know what’s going to happen. Imagine how crazy it is when you DON’T know what they’re going to tear down. I’m in awe of the entire team, because they are incredibly respectful of us and our home, not to mention how much thought and effort they put into each design idea. I encourage you to submit a video and see what happens. Trust me, it’s an experience you will never forget.

I’ll be dishing about it for the next few days, so stay tuned. Well, I gotta be sequestered. I’ve been kicked out and the big reveal is tomorrow!!!!

They tore out useless walls. We didn't realize they were useless, but we learned...Ha!

The noise was insane! The buzzing, whirling & hammering. The kids were troopers!

Our home was transformed into a fully functional TV set. Our kitchen was a huge work station, our yard housed a tent for meals and carpentry and our guest room was the make-up room. Yeah, you know I loved that part!

Get a load of this banister. You'll understand more about this when the episode airs, but OMG...I love what I'm seeing thus far!

Stay tuned for Part Two! I’ll talk about our TOTALLY RAD designer and what it’s like to work with ridiculously talented and funny peeps.

If you haven’t met Martha yet, this is a great opportunity to introduce your children to this clever and well-spoken canine. This week will feature new episodes of Martha enjoying outdoor activities like camping, canoeing and watching fireworks with her friends. We got to see Martha’s Slumber Party of the Weird and The Long Rotten Summer/The Case of the Shattered Vase. In addition to the entertaining stories and great vocabulary words, kids also learn why they shouldn’t watch scary movies right before going to bed. (A lesson I should revisit myself.) Look at those cuties playing with their new plush Martha pups!

Summer Fun Week:
Monday, June 27th – Martha’s Slumber Party of the Weird (2 parts)
Tuesday, June 28th – Martha puts Out the Lights (2 parts)
Wednesday, June 29th – Escape from Flea Island/ No Dogs Allowed
Thursday, June 30th – Martha in the Hold/Get Along, Little Doggies!
Friday, July1st – The Long Rotten Summer/The Case of the Shattered Vase

Click, click, click:
- Don’t forget to visit Martha Speaks online for terrific games. My son’s new favorite? Make The Band. It’s hilarious!
- Watch my son’s impromptu interview about why he loves Martha Speaks.
- Martha has gone mobile! You can download Martha Speaks Dog Party App.

Disclaimer: PBS did supply me with a DVD of the new episodes and 10 swag bags. My opinions are my own. If I didn’t personally love this talkative pup, I wouldn’t write about it. Promise.

If you give a mom a microphone, she’ll ask for a stage to go with it. When you give her the stage, she’ll ask if it makes her butt look big. Worrying about her big butt will make her change outfits, so you’ll need to get her a glass of wine to calm her nerves…

What happens when you throw 15 moms together and give them a microphone? Well, they talk your ears off about motherhood, of course.  The good, the bad, the exhausted, the sedated. It’s a job rich in laughter, marinated in pee, sprinkled with sticky candy and sauteed in a mixture of smeared mascara, laundry detergent and breast milk. Yummy, right? Much like Gefilte fish, motherhood is a delicacy not intended for the faint of heart.

On April 30th, grab your hubby, your mom, your grandma, your girlfriends, your overweight cat, a box of Puffs and join us at a pre-Mother’s Day celebration, the “Listen To Your Mother Austin” show. In fact, you can read more about it in the Statesman’s Mama Drama blog.

All of the fab mamas, myself included, will read a short original essay about motherhood. After our first rehearsal, I was so amazed at each and every story. This is NOT a sappy, cliche, poetry reading involving tambourines, Birkenstocks, awkward pauses and weeping. The pieces are smart, sassy, creative, thought-provoking and highly entertaining – just like the moms who wrote them.

This year’s Austin cast includes: Kristin Armstrong, Kimberly Cockrill, Julie Coombes, Jenny Lawson, Cathy Hale (that’s me!), Kathryn Harrison, Diane LeBleu, Blythe Jewell, Krystin Crain Johnson, Esther Mizrachi Moritz, Elizabeth McGuire, Jennifer Newcomb Marine and Gigi Ross.  Show producers Wendi Aarons and Jennifer Sutton will emcee and read at the event as well. (If you aren’t following @WendiAarons on Twitter, you should be beaten with wet diapers. She’s a freakin’ riot.)

“Listen to Your Mother Austin” will be performed April 30 at 1 p.m. at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave. Tickets are $14 and available online at http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1468976749. Proceeds from the event (after costs are covered) will be donated to Any Baby Can.

Valentine’s Day may be over now, but you can still embrace that lovin’ feeling. And it may be as easy as sipping a glass of juice…

As a Genesis Today Ambassador, I get to try new products from Genesis Today. For Valentine’s Day, they sent me a little ‘Getting It On with Goji’ treat – Cranberry Goji Juice. I’m not a big juice fan, but it was surprisingly awesome. It tastes great and offers the perfect marriage of sweet & tart. What’s great about the combo of cranberries and goji berries is blatter & kidney health, mood & antioxidant support and a little libido boost.

It’s easy to have a frisky February. In fact, there are plenty of natural things that boost your libido:

- Goji berries
- Maca Root
- Asparagus
- Oysters
- Chillis
- Dark chocolate
- Sleep
- Exercise
- $2,000 & a fab goody basket

Considering everything on the list, I’ll be choosing Goji berries over oysters any day! Of course, $2,000 sounds great too…

WIN IT! Want to win $2,000 for a romantic adventure and a wonderful goody basket? Enter the Genesis Today Lover’s Getaway. Just visit the Genesis Today Facebook Page for a chance to win a $2,000 cash prize and a gift basket filled with Goji goodies, steaks from Snake River Farms & champagne. Ooh la la!

1. – Like Genesis Today on Facebook
2. – Upload of photo of you enjoying Cranberry Goji juice
3. – Tell Genesis Today what you love the most about your partner

Last day to enter is 2/21/11

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!

As I sit here at my computer, enjoying the end of a much-needed rainy day, my thoughts turn to the picture perfect day that turned out to be one of the most tragic days in our lives, 9/11.

It seems almost inconsiderate to mention how beautifully 9/11/2001 began. I was living in a duplex at that time and my bedroom window was positioned in such a way that it gave me a wonderful view of the sunrise. I only had to open one eye to see the bright, orange, ball slowly lift up beyond the daybreak.

I remember every aspect of that morning perfectly, as most people do. Instead of waking up and tuning into Matt and Katie playfully banter about current issues, I focused my energy on sending out resumes. I was unemployed at the time. I was frustrated at my slow computer and almost ignored the telephone completely, because I was in no mood to be chatty. I picked up the phone on the final ring. It was my mother and she was frantic. She said something about terrorists, a bomb, a plane and attacks. I dropped the phone and ran to turn on the television. I don’t think I turned off the television for about two weeks.

I started watching the TODAY Show right before the second plane crashed into the tower. It was unbelievable. Watching the events unfold and getting snippets of information here and there was surreal. What was happening? None of it made sense. When the first building unexpectedly collapsed, I felt as if I were watching a special effect in a movie. It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. Were there people in that building? No…I’m sure they all escaped. It’s funny how your mind works when something like that happens. Denial seems to be the first emotion. No, this can’t be…

As the reality set in and I began to realize what was happening, it was like all of the air was suddenly sucked out of the room. I sat in front of the television for hours, glued to every shred of every detail. I called relatives and friends along the way for comfort. And then the tears began to fall.

I will never forget the stories. The firemen who rushed up the stairs bravely as people ran down them to safety. The helpless people in wheelchairs who were stranded in the stairwells, waiting for a stranger to help. The people who had to jump or be engulfed by flames. The people who could not escape. I cried and cried for them and their families. Each story was more heartbreaking than the next. Mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children, friends and co-workers. Nobody was safe and everyone was affected.

We lost more than loved ones that fateful day. We lost our security and the peace of mind we felt in our day-to-day lives. City skylines we once marveled at became terrifying, airports became targets and we were all scared to live our lives. We were all thrust, unwillingly, into a harsh new reality and it was shocking and scary. Yet, a funny thing happened for days, weeks and even months after 9/11. We found comfort in each other and a nation united.

We rallied to find strength, hope and fight for our freedom. Maybe it was getting a red, white and blue bumper sticker or being just bit more kind to strangers, but we all tried a little harder to be better people. We were sad, hurt, horrified and broken, but we persevered. I’d like to think that is the silver lining in all of this. Those events, no matter how unnecessary and cruel, united a divided nation. Even if it was fleeting, that’s no small feat.

I hope everyone tries to revisit those feelings of unity tomorrow as we mourn. My thoughts and prayers are with every family, friend and colleague who lost someone special that day. It is a day I will always remember and hope none of us ever forget.

Image: National Geographic

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.