Muse Boutique Hosts Annual Backroom Blowout Sale!

Step into Muse Boutique's back room for the annual Blowout Sale. Beginning today through July 30, find fashions up to 70 percent off in the back room!

Summer is heating up and it’s time to complete your sun-focused wardrobe! What better way than to stop by Muse Boutique’s Back Room Blowout Sale. With styles up to 70 percent off, you’ll leave with a closet-full of coveted designer duds. Shop the sale and splurge on labels like Roberta Freymann, 12th Street by Cynthia Vincent, Eva Franco, and Rory Beca. The annual Muse Back Room Sale is an event that frugal fashionistas cannot miss!

Muse
2411 W. Alabama

Everything I (should) Know About Being a Hostess, I (could have easily) Learned From my Mom

No matter when I visit my parent's home in Maryland, it always feels like I'm on a weekend getaway at a resort, or a cozy bed and breakfast. I realized this past Thanksgiving, that flying home gives me the warm fuzzies because of my Mother's impeccable skills as a hostess. So this past visit, I took notes. Here are 8 ways my Mom (and Dad too) taught me to be a hostess with the mostess to overnight guests any time of year.

1. Fresh flowers on their bedside table - beautiful, simple, and because they have to be purchased or picked recently, they show your guest how important they are to you.

2. Lots of healthy snacks that the guests can help themselves to without asking. Mom always has this amazing black bean salsa, cheese and crackers, and a variety of veggies in the fridge.

3. Workout facility - This is a major luxury, but a simple treadmill or directions to the nearest park will do. My husband's Texan blood can't handle running outside in weather below 70 degrees, so my parents treadmill is much appreciated.

4. An assortment of spa worthy toiletries in the guest's water closet make them feel especially pampered.

5. Provide bulky necessities - It's super helpful to have items such as a hair dryer, flat iron, bathrobe or a fresh pair of slippers that may be too awkward to pack. Just be sure to give your guest the heads up several days before their visit.

6. Guest room entertainment - Magazines, catalogs, popular novels, TV, anything that gives them private entertainment. It also gives them unspoken permission to enjoy some alone time on their vacation.

7. An assortment of breakfast choices - one morning we woke up to the options of Dad's amazing egg muffins, fruit, Cinnabons, blue berry muffins, and cereal. Though my Mom always has a ridiculous amount of food, a couple of low-maintenance choices are helpful for your guest.

8. Small gift or sentiment in their room - My mom often leaves newspaper clippings that she knows might interest me, a box of chocolates, or favors from a recent wedding or baby shower that I might have missed. An ex-boyfriend's Mom once left a bath and body set on my bed presented on a silver platter. I felt so special!

What are some of the fantastic ways that you pamper your guests?

New Art from Chris "Beeks" Beekman

The very talented Chis Beeks has some new ass-kicking work that you must see. Of the google hits Houston's Weekly Chic receives, more people are searching "Chris Beeks art" than any other topic. Obviously, people are starting to take notice. Here are just a few of my favorites.
* Also be sure to check out the Chris Beeks website for much, much more.

Shecky's Girls Night Out Houston

CLICK HERE for 2009 SHECKY's Girls Night Out info!

Few things shake my inner girly girl into a twitter, but this upcoming party makes my soul smile. Pay attention ladies, this is an event that will make you want to pull out those Manolo Blahnik's (you know, the ones you haven't worn since Sex and the City went off the air), and trot on over to the Crystal Ballroom. Oh yeah, and the tickets are totally and completely FREE...so read on.

What the heck is it?
Shecky's Girls Night Out is a five-hour shopping/socializing experience, that includes:

• Unique up-and-coming designer fashions at 75% off
• Open Bar provided by Chambord (hellooo...free booze...you know that means I'll be there)
• Free spa services
• Shecky's swag bags (two deluxe goodie bag tickets for $25, but the contents are worth $100+)
• Much, much more!
  

When is it?
Tuesday Nov. 18 and Wednesday November 19 from 5p.m.–10p.m.
Where is it?
The Crystal Ballroom at the Rice Hotel
909 Texas Ave. (Travis & Main St.)

What is Shecky's?
They are a national media company that hosts these fantastic soirees across the country, for the sole purpose of you having a killer time.
Shecky's rocks my proverbial world. RSVP HERE or email me if you have further questions!

Vaughan Christopher Gallery Grand Opening!

The art scene in Houston just got even awesome-er...in a priceless sort of way. Tonight is the grand opening of the Vaughan Christopher Gallery on South Shepherd. Even if you know zilch about art, you will definitely recognize some of these big names. Favorites such as Picasso, Warhol, Matisse and Dali are all represented. Check out their info. below for specifics. I will be there with cocktail in hand.

VAUGHAN CHRISTOPHER GALLERY
Friday, November 14, 2008
7-10 pm
1217 SOUTH SHEPHERD HOUSTON, TEXAS 77019
COCKTAIL RECEPTION

Works by Chagall, Dali, Francis, Haring, Hirst, Kaufman, Lichtenstein, Manes, Matisse, Miro, Moore, Murakami, Picasso, Quinn and Warhol are brilliantly showcased in the intimate space. “We have a large quantity of very high quality works,” said Amy King. ” Because our collection is so diverse, I think anyone could find something here that intrigued them, and I find that possibility extremely exciting.” Among the 100 pieces in inventory, we have iconic works such as Warhol’s Marilyn and Lichtenstein’s Bull Profile series to less familiar treasures like Picasso’s Picador et Chevral and Chagall’s Romeo and Juliet.

Jimmy Ferry Show at Xnihilo Gallery

If you want to see some fantastical art work that is like nothing you've seen before, go see our friend Jimmy Ferry's show in the Xnihilo Gallery at Taft Street Coffee. He's got 15 brand spanking new prints up (including the one above), that will be sure to knock your socks off. They are only up through Turkey Day, so be sure drop in.

Free Snapfish Book...Thanks Oprah!

Thanks to Oprah and her new "Clean Up Your Messy Home" tour, Snapfish will give you a free 8x11 bound photo book. It would typically be $29.99, but thanks to the richest woman on earth, all you have to pay is shipping ($6.99). You have to request your coupon from snapfish.com by this Friday, November 14th, and then you have until Sunday to use that bad boy. Just in time to make a holiday gift for someone special.

Chic Organizing Tip: If you didn't catch Oprah today, the snapfish album was used for a Mom who was drowning in her kids artwork. They scanned their favorite pieces, uploaded them to snapfish and voila! Instant art coffee table book. So start hitting that upload button.

Melting Mortimer

I guess I'm still in a bit of a Halloween haze, but I just LOVE these Mortimer candle bust..things. It has that special kind of wax that oozes like blood down poor Mortimer's face. Only 361 more days until Halloween!

You can find Mortimer at Urban Materials and Accessories Online, as well as a lot of other modern, funky, yet extremely well priced funzies.

Chic-E Beauty Reviews

Many of us have that girly girl in us that loves splurging on expensive beauty/make-up products. However, most of us also have that cheap ass inside of us that just wants that $4 mascara to do the trick. We've all been burned by drug store beauty products, but there are also some great ones out there that save us from dropping mad Benjamin's on our hotness. This is why I've decided to periodically do a Chic-E (get it..cheeky) Beauty Review. This will mostly include drug store buys, but also occasionally some pricier finds. Sure, I get screwed because I'm the one spending the doe, but at least you can learn from my mistakes, and gain from my experience. I'm starting this series with a bit of a dud. Here's the deal...

Rimmel's Flash Volume Mousse Mascara
Pros: It doesn't have clumping tendencies, and it does give your lashes "flash" volume
Cons: Within hours I had little specks of black mascara dust on my cheeks. I'm able to avert this if I put on a second coat with a more reliable mascara.
Verdict: It gets the job done, but I would definitely not buy it again..black specks?? Who has time for that?

Fall Fashion 2008: 5 Easy Ways to Make your Man Stylish this Fall

To be perfectly honest, I pay little to zero attention to men's fashion trends. As many of us already know, men(cough...straight men..cough) are relatively clueless about fashion. Yeah, they can probably put together your basic boring business shirt, tie, and pants, but they often keep the same style for decades. Can you imagine if you still wore that hypercolor shirt from 1989?

So what in the world is hot for menswear this fall? I was presented with this challenge when my husband, King of casual dress, recently started a new job that that requires him to wear a shirt and tie, almost everyday. Here are my favorite 5 runway inspired ideas, that your dude can adapt to his everyday repertoire.

1. Dark Colors - a palate reminiscent of the 50's, dark colors such as blacks, grays, browns, and mossy greens.

2. Accent Colors - amongst the dark palate, you can add in a dash of color with burnt oranges and deep reds. Gray and black look especially stunning with an orange scarf or tie.

3. Skinny Ties - originally for formal use only, this is my favorite fall male accessory. Black trim ties are especially popular, but really any contrasting color would look fantastic.

4. Chunky Knit Sweaters - Probably not wearable in Houston until February, but still ruggedly handsome.

5. Black Leather - also pulling from the 'Rebel Without a Cause' era, black leather in the form of jackets, vests, and pants are popping up all over. Warning: It takes a special man to pull off leather pants. Know when you are not that man.

Muse Boutique: Vino Thursdays at Muse

Imagine sitting on one of these cozy arm chairs, delicately sipping a glass of vino, while picking out new threads and accessories that are 50-75% off their regular price.

Every Thursday in July, Muse is offering their wine of the week during extended shopping hours through 7ish p.m. I know by this Thursday, I will definitely need a glass.

The Centre at River Oaks

2411 West Alabama (at Kirby)

www.musehouston.com

Ecologie Bags: Totally My Bag Baby

It seems like every time we read a suggestion for "going green" in style, it requires us to plop down a crap load of money. Thank goodness for eco-friendly (and pocketbook-friendly) retailers like Ecologie Bags.

This Houston, Texas company is a woman-owned national wholesaler and retailer that makes simple, classic, yet adorable reusable shopping bags. These bad boys are made of non-woven polypropylene, which just means that they are super light, hardy, and resistant to water and dirt. They can also hold up to 35 lbs of groceries (equal to about 4 plastic bags worth), and are so much more mod than the blah bags with grocery store logos! Are you ready for the best part? Every single designer bag sells for only $3.

What's the big deal about reusable bags? Well, try this on for size. The United States plows through about 100 billion plastic bags yearly. As we know, plastic is not biodegradable, and while waiting in landfills, it gradually pollutes our soil and waterways. You may think you're safe asking for paper not plastic, but think again. According to the EPA, the manufacturing of paper bags is actually worse for the environment than plastic. So..the less bags you use, the cleaner our little planet will be. Still not sold? Check out www.ecologiebags.com for more information. But as for us at Houston's Weekly Chic...it's in the bag.

The Retrochique Recycling Program

When somebody finds new uses for old things, which would otherwise end up in a landfill, it always makes us feel fuzzy and green on the inside. This is why we love the earthy, child-like simplicity of Retrochique.

According to the online urban dictionary, the definition of Retrochique is: something classic or old without being old fashioned. There couldn't be a more fitting description for the creations of Jamie Drumwright. Retrochique’s sole artisan uses a variety of vintage cotton fabrics, adds eco-spun felt, and turns them into fresh, retro-licious gear that you can use on a day-to-day basis. Jamie's pieces include various sizes of zippered pouches, bags, hot pads, coasters, and beyond. Her materials and fun fabrics are pulled from resale shops, and flea markets. Sometimes she even uses swatches of vintage clothing in her work. Talk about carrying around a piece of history.

With a degree in fashion design, as well as inspiration from 60’s handbag guru Enid Collins, Jamie creates bold graphic statements, with witty wordplay. Retrochique's goal is to provide something practical that you can use, but will make you smile in the process. Mission accomplished Retrochique. Mission accomplished.

To see more Click Here for the Retrochique Etsy Page

My Favorite Firkin Pub

Close your eyes, and imagine a perfect pub, in a perfect world. It would be clean, cozy, inviting, full of entertainment, and most importantly would serve a full menu of delicious tasty treats into the wee hours of the night. Lucky for us, we need not look any further than Westheimer one block east of Shepherd. The Firkin & Phoenix is not only my own personal happy place, but also beloved by many Houstonians. The same devoted patrons return week, after week, after week. It’s just like Cheers…without Sam Malone.

Their menu includes scrumptious English fare such as shepherd's pie, fish and chips, and bangers and mash. My personal favorite is the Jameson Salmon with a whisky glaze. Order it. You won’t regret it. In the entertainment department they offer weekly live entertainment, pool, trivia, a little Nintendo Wii action, 7 LCD TVs, and a projection screen to fullfill even those with the deepest resevoirs of testosterone. Oh yeah, did I mention that they have 13 beers on tap?

If you want to see what the Houston’s Weekly Chic editors do when they aren’t typing, stop by Thursday nights for karaoke. Mr. Karaoke is the best firkin KJ in town! (Sorry I couldn’t resist)

Firkin & Phoenix Pub

1915 Westheimer Rd.
Houston, TX 77098
info@firkinandphoenix.com
713-526-3100