Fashion in Houston - Project Runway

When most people think of Texas, barbeque, the death penalty, humidity, and Dallas, the show, come to mind. Most people never think of Texas, much less Houston, as a fashion Mecca. Houston does have a Galleria with all the latest stores carrying all the fashionable designers, but none of those designers are from “around these parts”, to them Houston is just a place on the map.

All of that changed when Chloe Dao won Project Runway, a Bravo reality show where designers compete by sketching, planning and sewing their outfits and taking them to the runway. One by one the designers are bid farewell or auf wiedersehened by Heidi Klum until one is crowned king/queen of the runway. Chloe Dao, a Houstonian, won season two of the show and today she had a fashion show in Houston.

I have seen the tents up in New York and Los Angeles and have envied the people that were lucky enough to attend those events, but today the tent was up in Houston and I was one of those lucky people. There was food, an open bar, media, and photographers every where. Every time you turned around there was another beautiful woman wearing one of Chloe’s dresses getting her picture taken for a newspaper or magazine.

The backstage was chaotic to say the least. I was only in the back for a couple of minutes, but I don’t know how they do it, everyone was working non-stop to get the models ready for the show.

Finally the lights came up and it was time for the runway. The dresses are amazing. I thought I would be totally scarred by seeing 5 foot 9, 100 pound women walking in front of me endlessly, but I really do not feel so bad, or maybe the booze softened the blow. The show consisted of some of Chloe’s original designs, along with some items from her store, lot 8, and the men’s Adam’s Apple collection.

To top the whole experience off Chloe was finally given her car! The car was one of the prizes for winning Project Runway and today she finally got to driver her very own 2007 Saturn Sky home.

Oh, yeah, and everyone received a goodie bag just for attending, how cool is that?!

I think it is so neat that Houston is alive with designing talent, we have a pulse. I know that we are really far off from becoming a fashion capital, but hey, we have to start somewhere. If you sew it, we will wear it.









For your viewing pleasure, I have uploaded all the pics to flickr.

Chica? - Present

Yes, I am still here, but super, super busy. The party was fun, but tiring since I had to work back to back to back. I will post some pics soon, I promise.

I am heading to the Chloe Dao fashion show on Wednesday, so I will have something to tell you guys then. I have no idea what to wear, I am thinking that it should be something fun and "in", but maybe I am just thinking WAY TOO much about it.

Much Love,
Chica

Here I Go Again...

I am Boston bound. Yes, I will be going back to Boston for work. Well, to be fair I did talk myself into this trip. You see, my company is having a HUGE party on Thursday and the only way for me to get to go was if I was up there working. My company is renting out the Tiki Room, wow! You might say if you have been there, or what is that? If you haven’t. Let me tell you, we ended up at the Tiki Room three years ago, after the company party at Jake Ivory’s, and it was so much fun; too much fun for a company party. So, when I heard that this year it was going to be at the Tiki Room I commenced my plot (insert evil laugh here).

I have not been to the Summer company party in three years. In 2004, I went on vacation in June and in 2005, I had just gotten back from Maternity leave and was not in a party mood. I have been to the Christmas parties, but they are at a Hotel and all fancy, even though they are fun, this is a different kind of fun. I will keep you guys posted.

In other news…I might be changing jobs, same company. I will know more about it this week since I am up there and all. It seems interesting, a change, so we will see. I will keep you guys posted on that one too.

Happy Anniversary!!

Today, exactly 11 years ago I got married. Wow, time has gone by fast, well I shouldn’t really say that, being married and staying married is the hardest job I have ever had. What is love, you ask? Well, it means different things at different times, sometimes it means having someone to talk to when I have had a bad day, or having someone to talk to when I have had a good day, or not smothering him with a pillow in the middle of the night, or knowing at the bottom of my heart without any doubt that I can count on someone else to always be there for me.

Our marriage is not perfect, it has been a “bliss..tering pain” (JRs words) at times, but hey, I have never been married before so I don’t know what this thing is all about and every day, every year that goes by is a new frontier/undiscovered territory.

I really hope this marriage thing works out for us; the last 11 years have been interesting and can not wait to see what the next 11 years bring. Good luck to us!!

Letter to Britney Spears

Hello Britney,

Being a mom is hard work and I think that being in front of the public eye would make the job a lot harder. I have two kids and let me tell you that I am so glad I am not famous because I don't think that I could handled being criticized openly about my ability to be a mother, I can hardly stand it when someone I know makes a comment. Plus, I would end up in the cover of every tabloid given all the oops I have had with my children.

So, how are you doing? I saw you last night being interviewed by Matt Lauer, you know what I noticed? You are starting to look a lot like Courtney Love, all you need to complete the look is a slur and some needle marks on your arm. I don't know who your publicist is but they need to be fired. There is no way that you did a prime time interview with Matt looking like that. You looked like you were going to a summer BBQ. What was up with the gum? You are about to be a mother of two, you need to dress appropriately. Your skirt was too short and your boobs were just hanging out. Yes, I know you are pregnant, but there is no need to be dressing like that. There is a fine line between trendy and trashy and you my sister are right on that line.

Hey, I also heard that you are going to Namibia to have the baby. What is up with that? Are there no other African countries? Following in the steps of other celebrities does not make you cool.

My advice to you is, ditch your publicist and get yourself a classier look. Once you have the baby and have lost the baby weight you can go for more trendy/show off styles. Also, open a book once in while; why not go back to school? Yes, I know you love "funny people because they are hilarious and awesome", but do not say that out loud.

Anyway, try to enjoy yourself, you are young and rich, take a vacation get away for a while, and stay away from Africa. Also, I know other people have told you this, but just in case, remember to use birth control. The last thing you want is to have twenty kids by what’s-his-name. He is another topic all together.

Just my two cents,
Chica

Adventures at the Doctor’s Office

Today I had a doctor’s appointment, not because I wanted to, but because the doctor would not approve my medication that I have been taking for the past almost 10 years without seeing him first.

I should be ready for the visit, but it always surprises me, time just flies and six months go by quickly. Anyway, I finally get in to see the doctor and he asks me what I am doing there. I tell him that I just need my blood checked because I need a new prescription. He asks me if there is anything else wrong, this always makes me wonder since he is a doctor I am thinking he sees something I don’t. I tell him that I have been feeling great, have lots of energy, and that I on a quest to loose 25 pounds by December. I tell him that I have embarked on a new exercise program. He looks at my chart and tells me that I have been loosing weight, I say, yes, but that does not count since it is baby weight. I ask if there is something I can take, given my lack of thyroid I can not take any of the over the counter supplements. He looks at me and prescribes lots of exercise. Thanks Doc!

A little later a nurse comes in, I make my usual serious joke, he, he, are you good at this? She says, no one has complained yet. I tell her that people usually have a hard time finding a vein. She says, I don’t know why since there is a big one right there. She proceeds to do her stuff and I close my eyes (I should be used to this since I get poked once every six months or once a month when I am pregnant). When I open my eyes all I see is my arm full of blood and blood dripping on the floor and on my new Juicy pants! AHHHHH. She will not take the needle out. Ahhhhhhhh. I finally tell her to and she does.

I see her eyeing the same arm and I tell her that there is no way she is going for the same vein! She takes my other arm and actually tells me that she is nervous!!! WHAT? I say.
She pokes my other arm with no problem and I am outta there. I don’t think I can ever get used to that.

Houston Proud

On Saturday we headed to Downtown Houston to celebrate the grand opening of the Sabine to Bagby Promenade on Buffalo Bayou.

I have blogged in the past about how back in the 80’s and 90’s Downtown Houston was a ghost town. After 6pm all you could find on the streets was litter and homeless people. The only individuals that went anywhere near the bayou were those looking for drugs, a place to sleep, or a brave soul that wanted to feed an indigent person.

To see thousands of people gathered around the banks of the bayou was a proud moment for any Houstonian. Yes, the festivities could have been planned a little better; the “floating” cinema wasn’t really floating, like Chris said “floating just means it isn’t sinking”. But all in all, it was nice to see the city change for the better.

When you walk down the new and improved bayou you will find tons of plants/flowers, benches, sculptures, fountains, plus a new light system that will change from blue to white depending on the phase of the moon. Go Houston!!

Boston – Day 3

On Thursday night I decided it would be a good idea if we had a happy hour, so off we went. We gathered at the Emerald Rose in Billerica. It was so much fun. Here are a few pics…

Bad Movie

I saw The Omen and let me give you guys a piece of advice – Don’t. It was the worse movie ever. Some of the special effects were ok, but that was it.

I swear all that kid needed was a good spanking to get that devil right out of him.

Where Are You?

Where are you? What are you doing? Why haven’t you blogged in a while? Where in the world is Chica? You might be asking yourself questions like these and here is the answer, I am in Boston…ahhhhgain.

I was so excited about the trip; I mean tax-free shopping and all. JR did not share my excitement when I told him about my plans; he gave his usual speech, some blah, blah, blahs, followed by something about responsibility and conscientiousness. Yeah, yeah, yeah…anyway, after the plane landed in Beantown I drove directly to the Wrentham Premium Outlet.

I found some great, great stuff. I got a Burberry shirt, a Lacoste shirt, 2 Juicy Couture t-shirts and a pair of cropped terry pants, and a Coach large bag that matches the cute shoes I got last month. I got the kids some clothes and shoes. See JR, nothing to worry about.

After the shopping I ended up taking an unexpected trip. Instead of going left I turned right and ended up in Providence, Rhode Island, I hate when that happens.

I am up in Boston for work, some software training. I will let you guys know more about my trip as events develop. Stay tuned.

Phone Blog

Phone Blog.

What? "This ATM offers audio assistance for the visually impaired" This ATM is located on a drive thru! I guess that explains all the dents and scratches.