michael kors & the white ruffle shirt

By now you have seen that the white ruffled shirt is HOT for Fall. It is a fashion trend that has been recycled through the years. Dating back to pre-colonial time, ruffled shirts have been a wardrobe staple for generations. Ironically, the fluffy adornment frenzy was popular among men long before women jumped on the bandwagon. I remember my brother donning a powder blue ruffled shirt (like the one below) when he escorted a debutante in the late 1970s. (for the record, my brother is way cuter than this mannequin). Sporting his powder blue shirt at the Cotillion just wasn't enough, so a different one was showcased with his tuxedo for PROM (tee-hee). Thank goodness for Michael Kors! He has made the white ruffle shirt tres chic this season. You can dress it up with a snazzy black blazer... or go a bit more casual by pairing it with some sleek black trousers. This shirt is just plain fun to wear. And if you really want a thrill... slap a patch over your eye and go as a Pirate!

Fashion's Night Out: Neiman Marcus

We took to the front row for the Neiman Marcus Fashion's Night Out

webcast wednesday: the halloween spirit

Yes, it is already THAT time of year…when children go door-to door begging strangers for candy! Spirit Halloween Superstore
Spirit Halloween has already begun their rolling Grand Openings across Houston and Austin. Last year, this market was the largest fundraiser for the Spirit of Children, which is devoted to bringing the fun and fantasy of Halloween to children everywhere. The goal is to bring the outside world in to the pediatric patients at hospitals and rehabilitation centers across the nation. Spirit Houston & Austin raised more than $56K for Texas Children's Hospital in 2008. Keep in mind, that this is a seasonal business and that amount was raised in about 60 DAYS!!! Be sure to contribute at your local Spirit to help children in the hospital. As far as your costume is concerned, come in early because what you see today, may be gone tomorrow. This year pirates and vampires are on the prowl…

Fall riding boots

I love riding boots and literally live in them during the Fall & Winter. Then again, what equestrian doesn't? While I usually love basic black or brown boots, I found these plaid Etienne Aigner boots. The nice thing is that they are not from this season, so I got them for a great deal!! I have accumulated so many great Fall/Winter clothes over the years that this year I just need a few unusual things to tie together certain outfits or to create a "new" look while shopping in my own closet.

kenny rogers off the wall

He's off my wall for good. OK, he actually came down from my wall many moons ago...but, oh, how the memories came back when my mother recently mailed my Kenny Rogers poster to me! Thirty years ago this poster was tacked to the wall over my bed and stayed there for YEARS. When I was seven years old, I had the biggest crush on Kenny (at 17 & 27 I did too). As a kid, my Kenny poster was on one wall and Benji the dog was on another. By age 10, I knew I was going to grow up and marry Kenny, and the real perk was that I would not have to change the monogram on my towels either. Several years ago I met Kenny in a Dallas parking lot! My friend, Guy Morton, told me that he was in town doing an interview at our local country radio station and I drove over to watch. As I pulled into the parking lot with my CD blaring (and singing my trio of "We've Got Tonight" with Kenny & Sheena Easton) I pulled into a parking space and I looked over to the car next to me. That's when I saw HIM sitting in his car with his PR guys, who were very cool! Thanks to one of them, Gator, I had the chance to talk with Kenny without competing with a bunch of other fans. I have been going back stage and getting front row tickets for many years. During one backstage visit, Kenny called my mom on the phone to say "Hello." He & my mom are native Texans, so they had a lot to talk about, despite the fact that he was heading onstage to perform. I took my fiance (at the time), Cory, backstage to meet Kenny too. Cory told Kenny that our wedding song was going to be "Lady" and during his concert, Kenny walked across the stage, stood in front of us & serenaded us with this song! The entire night was magical. My sister & I also drove from Dallas to Oklahoma City for the weekend to catch his show, and I think she & I were the youngest ones in the crowd. What a whirlwind of memories, simply because a friend told me to be in the right place at the right time. Kenny will forever be my favorite singer, though others like Phil Collins come very close. And maybe, just maybe there is still a trace of my crush on Kenny....just don't tell anyone ;)

webcast wednesday: honoring my native traditions

One of the things I love the most about my family is our multi-culturalism! Among the several ethnicities that make up our family tree is our Native American heritage: Blackfoot on my father's side and Cherokee on my mother's. One of the biggest honors for my maternal Grandmother was a ceremonial Cherokee shawl given to her during a Pow-Wow in Georgia. I have always loved going to Pow-Wows, and often take my friends so they can see the true celebration of our Native traditions.
Powwow - Click here for more amazing videos

fall fashion preview

Here is a sneek peak at what's hot for Fall according to Dish Magazine. More highlights to come soon on other Fall fashion finds-

nyc real housewife alex mccord's next venture

New York City's, "Real Housewife", Alex McCord, and host committee, Candace Jordan, Ryan Pruett and Kelli Zink celebrated the Grand Opening of Second Time Around,(STA) a chain of high-end consignment stores in Chicago this week. This is the resale store's debut in Chicago. Headquartered in Boston, the other 19 stores are throughout the Northeast from New York to Maine. Alex was absolutely stunning in this fabulous fire engine red dress. She is the new Director of Creative Operations for STA. Alex is very familiar with Chicago's North Shore, as a former actor with Northwestern University's Theatre Program. In addition to being a New York fashionista, she has a laundry list of impressive acting accolades and can sing the Gilligan's Island theme song in Latin! Following the store's grand opening, she was ready to shoot the next season of "The Real Housewives of New York City" back in the Big Apple. The Grand Opening was standing room only for a sneak-peek at top designers with discount prices! Second Time Around was written up by Vanity Fair online as one of the top three consignment stores in New York City & now that flair is in Chicago's trendiest neighborhood. Their stash includes riding boots... snazzy blazers... cocktail dresses... and this hot little samuri skirt, that unfortunately was snatched up by my sister before I could get my hands on it! The event was sponsored by Michigan Avenue magazine... and one of the hostesses included Windy City socialite, and fellow blogger, Candace Jordan, who I would love to see as a 'Real Housewife of Chicago' one day. A lucky shopper who scored big on this outfit... ...and more shopping galore- Second Time Around is located at 823 West Armitage in Lincoln Park. 773.698.6260 Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-8pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm

my interviews about senator kennedy

Click here for the Chicago Tribune article

From WGN-TV:  

senator edward m. kennedy

I have spoken of Senator Ted Kennedy many times in the past. While my family was on holiday in Maine after my college graduation, we met the Senator and his family. I approached him, seeking advice on getting into the Kennedy School. My parents wanted me to go there to earn my MPP. During the course of the conversation, I asked the senator for the opportunity to work in his office instead. Two weeks later I was on the Hill assisting his speechwriter! Some of my favorite days were when the senator's dog would run around the office entertaining everyone with tricks. Working in his office was the best experience of my life.

webcast wednesday: a lesson in texting & driving

Webcast Wednesday is a bit early this week to bring you this important public service announcement out of Wales. This is a very poignant (albeit graphic) lesson to teens, and quite frankly to all drivers, on the dangers of texting while driving.

katie holmes

Convincing as a high fashion model? There is some buzz online as to whether Mrs. Cruise can "cut the mustard," gracing the same pages as many well-known supermodels have. She has certainly come a long way since Dawson's Creek. What do you think?

tory burch

Tory talks about building her brand-

there's no place like home

I have always believed that I was born in the greatest place on Earth. I just spent a weekend back East with my family in the nation's capital. I absolutely love D.C.!

don hewitt

One of the amazing things about being a journalist is the opportunity to seek advice from those you admire and who paved the way for others. CBS' Don Hewitt was one of those men. Sadly, he died Wednesday from his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 86.