Tis the Season!

• Develop a Shopping Budget and Strategy – First and foremost, determine how much you can afford to spend on your holiday gifts – especially in the wake of current economic challenges. Plan your day around getting those must-haves before they run out. If needed, you can always plan a second trip to the mall for more common gifts that are likely to remain in stock for a longer period of time.

• Take A Load Off – Prior to shopping, visit your mall’s Web site to see what services are available to customers. Some malls, including many GGP malls, offer services like valet parking and complimentary coffee. You may also be able to take advantage of coat check services where you can not only leave your winter coat but also drop off packages as you accumulate them.

• Lifesaving Moves – Bring a partner in crime, or even a team of friends to help you conquer the mall this year. It’s always good to have someone you trust to provide a second opinion when shopping. Also, be sure to leave time in your shopping day for lunch at your mall. Shopping feels better on a full stomach, plus if you plan it a little earlier or later in the day than most other shoppers, you can scoop up all the sales while most people are taking a break.

Gobble gobble and happy shopping!

Today I’d like to tell you about an organization that is near and dear to my heart: Spero is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 by several college friends looking to give back to the local communities that had offered them so much throughout the years. Spero is dedicated to bettering the lives of children in New England, and each year chooses a youth charity/nonprofit to sponsor. Funds are then raised throughout the year for that particular organization and at the end of the calendar year Spero donates all money raised. To maximize the size of their donation, no member of Spero receives any compensation for his work. At Spero, their motto is PARTY WITH PURPOSE.

During these years Spero has been able to donate almost $100,000 to charities spanning from Maine to Boston, such as Davids House (NH), Help for Abused Women and Children (MA), Center for Grieving Children (ME), Youth Enrichment Services Program (Y.E.S) (MA) and The PlayBall! Foundation (MA).

This year, their Cuban-themed event (Boston, MA) supporting Cradles to Crayons, is shaping up to be their biggest and best event ever! Their amazing sponsors are back. Perfect Surroundings is again providing the design/decor, Blackstone Catering is preparing amazing foods, and DJ7L will be getting everyone on the dance floor, to name a few. They will also be expanding the evening’s offering with a special VIP pre-party with Moet and Bacardi, and then a special after-party at the Morgan Hotel Group’s Ames in downtown Boston. Tickets are on sale now! Make sure you are checking the website, their twitter and their Facebook page for more info as well as updates on silent auction items and other great things happening at the event!

It’s a day of Halloween celebration, with spooktacular treats and monster bash activities for all ages. This event benefits the Allen Parks Foundation.

Come trek, walk or creep your way through the beautiful wooded city-paved trails of Allen.

Hurry and register here! Price goes up on October 23rd!

Where will you find the area’s most fashionable foodies this fall? At Delish at Galleria Dallas, a celebration of cuisine, featuring the signature restaurants at Galleria Dallas! Guests will enjoy tasty treats from some of the finest chefs in North Texas, live entertainment and an opportunity to meet and mingle with pastry chef and television personality Duff Goldman, star of the Food Network’s Ace of Cakes! The October 20th bash benefits a cadre of top Dallas charities, and is the season’s must-taste food event.

Galleria Dallas selected four of the area’s top charities to benefit from Delish at Galleria Dallas, including:

Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County
North Texas Food Bank
Paws in the City
Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas

Tickets for this year’s most savory soiree are only $50 and can be purchased from any of the event’s charitable partners. The soiree, designed by celeb party designer Steve Kemble, will be held from 6-9 p.m. on the Ice Rink at Galleria Dallas For more information, visit www.galleriadallas.com. Guests at Delish at Galleria Dallas will receive a Delish voucher. From October 20 – November 20, guests can further benefit the charity of their choice by redeeming that Delish voucher at a selection of participating restaurants for a complimentary dessert with the purchase of an entree. At the end of the promotional period, the charity with the most vouchers redeemed will receive an additional $5,000 donation from Galleria Dallas. Additional donations, ranging from $2,500 to $1,000, will be presented to the remaining charities.

Guests at Delish at Galleria Dallas will enjoy live entertainment and a spectacular selection of delicious cuisine from Galleria’s assortment of full-service restaurants, including:

Grand Lux Cafe
The Grill on the Alley
Marketplace Café at Nordstrom
Mi Cocina
The Oceanaire
The Second Floor
Townhouse (Opening late Fall)

“We are so excited to partner with these remarkable community organizations,” notes Galleria Dallas Director of Marketing and Business Development Jim Anderson. “While 100% of ticket sales for Delish at Galleria Dallas go to the charities, Galleria Dallas is also providing a contribution to our charity partners.”

Conveniently located at I 635/LBJ Freeway and the Dallas North Tollway, Galleria Dallas offers shoppers more than 200 exceptional nationally and internationally recognized retailers and a collection of notable restaurants and hosts over 19 million visitors each year. Center hours are 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday. Visit www.galleriadallas.com to learn more about the famed shopping center and for holiday store hours.

GALLERIA DALLAS PUBLIC INFORMATION NUMBER: 972-702-7100.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: SHIROMA SOUTHWEST, 800-382-3054/972-732-6100 kelly@shiromasouthwest.com

Sassies, as we head into the weekend, I’d love to share details on a great event happening tomorrow. On October 8, 2011, the “Butterfly Effect” will be held from 11:00am-4:00pm at Watters Creek, located at Bethany Drive and US-75 in Allen, Texas. The event is the combined effort of the Kula Initiative, Brandy Cooke and the Love Life Foundation. The event will begin at 11:00 am with participation in 108 Sun Salutations, yoga postures led by Brook Cheatham, from Allen Yoga Center, and Thom Allen. The picturesque setting of beautiful terraces, flowing waters, and picturesque bridges of Watters Creek will then showcase the stage for guest speaker Janine Latus, author of the book, “If I Am Missing or Dead,” and musical entertainer Maylee Thomas.

Representatives from local advocate agencies will participate and be available to speak with anyone who wishes to inquire about the resources available to victims and their families, lending a comforting and reassuring hand, and more importantly, a hopeful path to change for these undeserving victims of domestic abuse.

Event Schedule
11:00 a.m. 108 Sun Salutations
12:30 p.m. Advocates and families against domestic violence
1:30 p.m. Keynote speaker Janine Latus, Author of “If I am Missing Or Dead” and national speaker against domestic violence
2:30 p.m. Maylee Thomas benefit concert

Like a butterfly flapping its wings causing a vibration to spread forth and loom larger effecting huge change in its path, we can also spread forth a huge change in the effects of domestic, violent crimes. The first step is breaking the silence.

Just thinking about furnishing and designing an event as exciting as the Emmys makes me giddy, but meanies are always looking to criticize even one hair out of place. Luckily CORT makes red carpet appearances look as effortless as Lea Michele in that red Marchesa dress. I know y’all were torn between watching the fab Emmys clothing and the “Emmys.com Backstage LIVE” broadcast with all that trend-setting CORT furniture.

Now, I’m aware the greenroom isn’t actually green, but I’m green with envy looking at those sofas, chairs and tables from CORT’s Lounge 22 Bali product suite. Don’t those modern designs just exude the upscale cool associated with the Emmys?!?!

Y’all know I don’t like to get into the nitty gritty that can sometimes go into furnishing an event, but when I am wearing my Emmys best, hello, GOODBYE – I am NOT doing any heavy lifting! Who wants to get sweat on the red carpet?! With CORT, I know that the Emmys producers didn’t even have to glisten, from pick-up to drop-off and everything in between; CORT takes care of every detail for the sassiest of events!

Bye bye y’all!