Event Recap: Knox Blogger Walk Around

A small group of Dallas bloggers were invited to spend a Saturday in the Knox District. In case you're not familiar with it, the district is in Uptown and includes everything between McKinney and Travis around Knox and a few blocks south. It's chocked full of unique restaurants, shops, a salon, and even a vintage pharmacy.

Bloggers:

• me
• Elissa of Dress With Courage
• Cris of http://myfashionjuice.com/
• Stephanie of Beauty and Gardens
• Isabel of Style Geek
• Julie of Rosy + Tart
• Katie of Fashion Dinosaur
• Ivonne of Ivonne Stacy Style

First Stop - Milestone Culinary:

Our first stop was Milestone Culinary Arts Center and Viking Showroom. We stepped in and were surrounded by all these beautiful stainless steel appliances. It made my heart go pitter pat. Not only can you step in inside to check out the latest Viking appliances, but you can also reserve the space for events. One of the things that they offer for corporate events is the Stainless Steel Chef Competition where two teams compete to make different dishes using the same secret ingredients. And that's exactly what we did! You get 4 secret ingredients, 5 minutes to plan, and 35 minutes to cook.

Our secret ingredients were currants and pecans. Chef Sharon van Meter of the Food Network was one of our judges. I was on the  blue team and sadly we were not the winning team. The red team made a french toast concoction and came away with the win, while our colorful salad was not up to the task.

Milestone Culinary Arts Center

and 

Viking Showroom

4531 McKinney Avenue

Dallas, TX 75205

214-217-2818

Second Stop - Terri Ives Couture:

For our second stop, we crossed the street and headed into Terri Ives Couture. Terri Ives designs vibrant collections each season and tailors each piece to fit her customers' specifications. Having been in business for more than 30 years, her designs are sought after by many prominant women from a former First Lady to Miss America contestants. Coordinating jewelry is created for many of the pieces and is also displayed in her showroom. Terri Ives was absolutely delightful to be around and clearly has a passion for making women of all shapes and sizes look their very best.

For anyone wishing to add a little Terri Ives glamour to their closet but finding themselves more restricted of budget - she also offers a ready-made selection of garments at more modest prices.

Terri Ives Couture

4528 McKinney Avenue at Knox

Dallas, TX 75205

214-559-4900
By appointment only

Third Stop - Forty Five Ten:

As soon as we walked into our third stop, Forty Five Ten, we were greeted with a huge neon sign that pretty much summed up the stores philosphy: "Happiness is expensive." And so is Forty Five Ten. The store is not for the faint of heart or the slim of wallet. Bold fashion choices such as a jacket with a collar made of out of tiny teddy bears and black high heels with tall feather ankle straps jockeyed for space along with  a 5' tall, python skin jewelry cabinet. I must admit that I fell in love with the jewelry cabinet, but for $5k I had to pass.

Nestled in the back of the store, between the men's and the women's section was a full tea room. That sounds more my speed. I'll be back to try it out!

Forty Five Ten

4510 McKinney Avenue

Dallas, Texas

214-559-4510

Fourth Stop - Riviera Spa:

Our next stop was Riviera Spa and Salon. It was such a beautiful and calming place. They offer a manicure bar where patrons belly up to a marble topped bar like they were going to order a drink, but instead a manicurist pampers them. They also offer a gold banquette pedicure station where you can relax with your best girlfriends, drinking mojitos, while a team babies your toes. Also in the front of the salon is a section for hair.

But in the back is where all the real magic happens. I didn't manage to snap any photos really while I was in the back b/c it's a calm and quiet area with private rooms for facials, massages, and other spa services. I was lucky enough to be treated to a 25 minute massage and a mini facial. My facial was so wonderful that I scheduled a full treatment on my way out. In fact, I've already been back. Anh (my facialist) worked miracles on my pores. I have so fewer blackheads than before!

Riviera Spa and Salon

4445 Travis Street Suite 102

Dallas, TX 75205

214-521-2112

Fifth Step - Sangria Tapas y Bar:

Our last stop for the day was Sangria Tapas which I've been to quite a few times. They serve three different types of sangria (red, sparkling, and pomegranate) and a very wide assortment of delightful mediterranean tapas. The sparkling sangria is by far my favorite and I've been known to accidentally overindulge because it is just so yummy.  Along with the sangria, plate after plate of amazing food was brought to our table: paella, blistered shishito peppers, piquillo peppers, citral and herb marinated greek olives, Mediterranean cured meats, garlic shrimp, escargot pot pie, shrimp and crab croquettes, bacon wrapped dates, spanish meatballs, and amazing cheeses.

I ate so much that poor Rand had to be on his own for dinner. Everything was amazing. And I really do highly recommend the sparkling sangria and the bacon wrapped dates - those are hands down my favorite things on the menu.

Sangria Mediterranean Tapas and Bar

4524 Cole Avenue

Dallas, Texas 75205

Phone: (214) 520-4863

About the Knox District:

The Knox District of Dallas offers so many more shopping, dining, and service options than those that we visited today. You should really check it out if you are in the area. Parking can be a bit tricky right now, but there are several parking lots tucked away and even a parking garage you can access from Travis Street. Plus, they are working on providing valet service that you can access from multiple locations within the shopping district.

For a full list of all the great shops visit the Knox District website.

What I Wore While Exploring Knox District:

I forgot to take a formal outfit photo, so here is one that Elissa took of me with the gorgeous jewelry case I was drooling over at Forty Five Ten. You can see most of my outfit except for my sandals.

• tunic dress (City Chic)
• black tank (Avenue)
• frog brooch (vintage, gift from Rand)
• watch (Orient Watches)
• purse (Bamboo 54 via CSN Stores)
• hair (heidi braids)

Event Recap: Clutts Catwalk at Tootsies

Earlier this month, I attended the The Clutts Catwalk at Tootsies here in Dallas. It was a charity fashion event benefitting the Dallas Children's Theatre. That is what most of Dallas's fashion events are - charity events. Sometimes you get high fashion and sometimes you get ready-to-wear. This show was all items for sale at Tootsies. They had some beautiful things, but all of it was size 0, so I just looked. :)

Photos by Plano Pete Photography and  James Edward Photography

I met Metsy Corter of My Brain on Shuffle and Elissa of Dress With Courage there to enjoy the runway show, the free champagne, and all the great people watching. I must admit that the highlight of the show was when a bevvy of hot, shirtless men strutted down the runway carrying silver trays of accessories. Yes, thank you.

The runway, the champagne, poses for photographers with Tyler Kerbyson, Metsy and Elissa, hot shirtless model
Photos by Plano Pete Photography and James Edward Photography

Event Recap: John Frieda Salon Tour

On Saturday, I headed to the John Frieda Salon Tour. They were offering 15 minute consultations and transformations.

The salon is a convertible semi trailor that pops out into a glamorous, full size salon. There are six work stations each equiped with iPads that the stylist uses to email you product "prescription", 2 massive touch screen centers that help you select hair color, a schmancy waiting area and even a reception area.

I decided to put their skills and products to the test, so I offered them my #1 hair problem - dry, frizzy hair. To really keep them on their toes, I was there on a hot, humid day (which means I was sweating underneath my hair, making things nice a frizzy) plus I washed my hair about 2 hours before the event. On me, clean hair automatically means frizzy hair. I get a nice halo affect around my head on days like this.

The stylist wasn't even moderately fazed (although she comment on how amazing frizzy my hair truly was). She immediately pulled out two products to use on me: Full Repair Deep Infusion and Full Repair Flyaway Tamer. After rubbing the Deep Infusion into my ends and slowly working it up the hair shaft, she hit it with a round brush and the hair dryer, before taming the halo on the top of my head with the Flyaway Tamer (which looks like clear mascara).

The Full Repair line is geared towards hair that has been damaged by heat styling, which mine has not, but my hair is so dry and so long that it was just the ticket. You are gonna be amazed at how different my hair looks. Sleek City!


Before & After:

 

I wasn't the only one getting pampered by the talented John Frieda stylists...

Me, Julie of Rosy + Tart, Elissa of Dress With Courage, and Stephanie of Beauty and Gardens

The John Frieda Salon Tour was in Dallas for two days before heading off to other parts of the country. Check to see if they're coming to your town and then head over for a consultation with a professional stylist.

Upcoming Event: John Frieda Salon Tour

The John Frieda Salon Tour is taking its team of experts on the road to transform styles all over the country. On site, you'll receive a complimentary 15-minute consultation and hair transformation.  The mobile salon will be in Dallas today and tomorrow. I'll be there on Saturday around 10am. If you're in the Dallas area, come check it out and be sure to say hello to me. If you're not in the Dallas area, check to see if the salon tour is coming to your town.

I've never used Foursquare before, but for those of you that do, you can win a free John Frieda hair care product. Just check in to enter - every 10th person to check in will win while supplies last.

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Random bit of information - if I could do it without ruining my hair, I would totally have hair the shade of red. It makes me swoon. I had a similar color once, but I had to bleach my hair blond before dying it red in order to acheive this color. And it just trashed my hair, so even thought ot was gorgeous, it had to go. I still miss it.

A Very Special Date Night

Saturday was our 1 year dating anniversary, so we out to a very nice restaurant just a few blocks from our house. They specialize in using local produce and meats. There was no calorie counting of course. We started with steak tartar, then he had buffalo steak and I had antelope steak, with a bottle of wine, and then we finished with an amazing cherry/caramel bread pudding with dessert wines. Yum!

I had Rand grab a couple of quick pics after we got home, but I didn't take the time to photograph my accessories since I wanted to spend quality time with Rand.

What I Wore on My 12 Monthaversary:

• brown tank (Ann Taylor)
• green/maroon/dark brown dress (L8ter via Ross or Marshalls)
• dark brown patterned tights (Target)
• brown satin coat (Andrea Jovine - I've had this forever -it's a size 8!!! I think I got it at Ross)
• green suede heels w/ bow (What's What by Aerosoles)
• brown woven clutch (Avenue)
• green necklace (??)
• green chandelier earrings (gift)

I hope everyone had as great a Saturday night as I!