Tag: mom blogger

MommyQ is Getting HGTV’d: Part One

Posted on by MommyQ

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.

Hello Fashionista Status: Austin Fashion Week Coverage

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MommyQ is a bona fide fashionista. Well, at least for a while. I’m excited to report I will be a contributing fashion blogger for News 8 Austin this year during Austin Fashion Week, August 14- 21, 2010.  This is my first year involved in Austin Fashion Week and although it hasn’t officially begun yet, I’m already thoroughly excited.

My first blog post is about the fabulously talented Lisa Kennedy, an Austin-based fashion stylist and hairstylist. She has been helping me rediscover my own style, which has been slightly derailed by two pregnancies. Seriously, during my style consultation she pointed out the obvious. I own a ridiculous amount of black shirts. Lisa and I were standing in my closet together and I was like, “Oops. How did that happen?”  Find out exactly what a stylist can do for you and why you don’t have to be a celebrity to have one by clicking here.

What keeps Austin so stylish? It is the eco-fashion? The thirst for individuality? The cowboy boots?  Nope, it’s the people. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of the women (and men) responsible for keeping Austinites informed and stylish. Get a fresh perspective from:

– Fashionably Austin keeps you fashionably connected to local fashion, as well as fashion catwalks around the globe.  My new friend and part of the dynamic duo behind this online fashion community, Cheryly Bemis, will be reporting from these events. It’s always fun to follow Cheryl!

– Austin Slave to Fashion is shopping and styling in the ATX. She loves all things fashion and thinks everyone deserves to feel good and look good in what they wear.

– Keep Austin Stylish keeps you up-to-date with the latest fashion news and trends in the most casually chic city in Texas.

– Let your imagination run wild with Colours Marie. Go ahead, colour outside the lines.

– Austin Eavesdropper covers music, fashion, food and all things fabulous. You’re all invited to “dork out” with her and celebrate the coolness of Austin.

Get your fashion fix on Twitter: @coloursmarie, @austinstylish, @slavetofashion, @webanna, @TollyM, @ATXfashionweek, @FashionablyATX –  and don’t forget me @MommyQ

Feed Your Inner Foodie at Star Light, Star Night Benefit

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Tired of the same food experience charity event after charity event?  Chafing dishes slowly drying out the rubbery gray chicken breast. Another boring crudites platter with sad carrots, and boring canapes. Yawn.

Hosteria Verde Supper Club is having a party this Saturday, May 8th (in Austin, TX) where you and your inner foodie can be excited. Plus, you’ll be giving back to a wonderful organization, Blue Lapis Light. Check out Star Light, Star Night where Hosteria Verde will be dishing up food so delectable and delicious, you’ll satisfy every craving.

From the innovative Raw Bar featuring fresh onsite shucked oyster with your choice of a mignonette or fresh horseradish granita, to pork belly sliders complimented by pickled onions, everyone will find something to feast on.

The menu for the evening features:
– Raw gulf oyster served on the half-shell with champagne Granita
– Avocado mousse with crab/tomato salad
– Cured salmon rye Crostini with Crème Fraiche and apple/Jicama salad
– Pork belly sliders with greens and pickled onion
– Chicken/ peach skewers with Serrano vinaigrette

Hungry yet? While your tummy is feeling happy & full, you can shop the beautiful collection of Stella McCartney lingerie from Underwear boutique and simply sophisticated jewelry from Limbo Jewelry Design. All proceeds from Star Light, Star Night will benefit Blue Lapis Light. Tickets are $45 per person.

Click here to read more and buy tickets!

A Crib In Every Color Imaginable

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If you’re shopping for baby cribs, take notice of this one! I remember having minimal options when it came to crib colors. There was white, black or brown. A few expensive ones came in bright, fun colors, but I wasn’t spending $3k on a crib. No way.

Here is a beautiful crib, the “Built to Grow” panel crib from Stanley Furniture’s Young America collection. This crib comes in so many wonderful colors, how will you decide? It is crafted in the USA and GreenGuard certified.  It is a convertible crib, so it goes from infancy to childhood. Find it at BabyEarth for $1080.

Light It Up Blue For Our ‘Distracted Ducks’

Posted on by MommyQ

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

Worth A Million: A Priceless Picture

Posted on by MommyQ

Your swoonworthy moment of the week, perhaps? Every so often MommyQ comes across a photo that just deserves to be posted. I don’t even know what it’s selling, but it must be shared & enjoyed. This is one of those pics. I think it’s the shoes…

It happens to be for Rhinestone Crown Bloomers at Posh Tots. Of course! When it comes to gorgeous photography and exquisite marketing, they’re hard to beat. A pair of bloomers retail for $24.

Maternity Clothes Have Come A Long Way, Baby

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I can’t even believe how cool maternity clothes are today. My first pregnancy began in February 2004 and it took me about 5 months to actually start showing. I remember hating most of the maternity clothes because they were so dull and frumpy. Did I mention frumpy?  The cool maternity clothes were only at A Pea in the Pod. Luckily for preggo ladies today, that is NOT the case.

There are so many fashionable maternity collections to choose from right now. I just blogged about Heidi Klum’s latest endeavor, Lavish, on Droolicious. Just browse the clothes at Isabella Oliver or Mommy Appelseed. They are so hip! Take a look at the links below and see a few of my faves. Rock that baby bump, girls!

Maternity Jumpsuit: Friend or Foe?
Strut Your Baby Bump Klum-Style
Skinny Maternity Jeans for Preggo Fashionistas