Big Rich Texas Stomped the Runway in Episode 3

Tonight's Big Rich Texas, episode 3 was SO fun to watch....

Not because of the cat fight between Connie and Leslie:  Connie was being a little sensitive.  I mean, Leslie is a pageant expert, so her helping Bonnie pick out her outfit and showing the girls how to stomp the runway is just second nature to her! Connie, she was just trying to be helpful... Bless her little heart.

And it wasn't the cat fight between Pam and Leslie: Listen, change is good! Sometimes you gotta shake things up... literally! Like, with a Zumba class. Try it, Pam!  I bet Ignacio would like to see you shakin' your money maker around the mansion. I'm just sayin'.

 Kalyn and Whitney scrap down over Tyler's affections

And it wasn't even the cat fight between Whitney and Kalyn over Tyler (although that was really good): Kalyn, sweetie, you will soon learn that teenage boys don't want nice girls. They want sluts who will have sex with them.  And even if they like you, it's not because you are a nice girl. It's because they see a girl who might have sex with them. It's ALL they think about.  On the positive side, you will soon learn that sex is your greatest weapon asset and when you learn how to harness your powers, the world is your oyster! Take a lesson from Whitney.

No, although all of those fights were pretty entertaining, this was my favorite episode so far because so many of my friends made cameo appearances! Including me!! Let's break it down and give some of the unsung style stars in this town a shout out:

At the rehearsal for Connie's show, we saw Eric Oliver, Jr. and Juan Lerma (with some random dude).  Eric and Juan operate Amrel Revilo Productions and were the producers of Connie's fashion show. They are new to the fashion scene but have impressed Dallas fashionistas with their style savvy and passion for fashion.

Remember when Pam called in to cancel on Connie's show because "Spain is too lovely to come back to muggy Dallas"?  Connie was flipping through a rack of clothes... and, hey! Recognize those pants? They are the Burberry trousers I now own and wore last week for my WFAA Daybreak appearance to talk about this show (among others).  I had to give them a nod.

See that blurry face on the left? That's ME! Whoo hoo! In a cameo with pageant Queen, Leslie Birkland, I got a few seconds on the telly at the Uptown Consignment fashion show. 

Who was that man in the turquoise shirt caressing Melissa's tresses at the fashion show? That's none other than Christian Iles, the self-proclaimed "Beauty Architect" and "Dr. Hair" of Dallas.

My gal pal and DFW Style Daily creator, Lisa Petty, never misses a fashion show. No fashion moment happens in this town without her and Connie's show was no exception.  I love Lisa's point-of-view and thoughtful approach to fashion. Check out her new website to get in the know on all the latest style news.

Spotted in the audience of the fashion show was Dora Chu. Chu calls herself a "recessionista" and is a personal shopper who has a flare for finding designer duds at consignment and resale shops. She has a knack for making her clients look like a million bucks without spending a hundred bucks! She writes a blog called Cheap and Chic by Dora.

Also on the fringes of the show, was stylist extraordinaire, Jim Duran. Unlike Dora, Jim's style is champagne wishes and caviar dreams. He's all about luxury and keeps his clients in designer couture. You can catch Jim's style musings at DFW Style Daily where he is a regular Contributor.

My second appearance of the night came as Leslie slithered down the runway. The camera caught me at the end of the catwalk (where I usually am) taking photographs. 

And my last shout out goes to Camille Umland (pictured right),  She's Connie's sister and partner in Uptown Consignment. Connie may be getting all of the glory from being on this show, but Camille is just as much a part of the store's success and deserves big kuddos for keeping the stocked, styled and running smoothly while sis busy being a TV star.  So, shout out to Camille!

Did I miss anybody? Who did you see in this episode?

Shay Geyer has grand designs for GrandLuxe

Shay & Oh So Cynthia

Last night, I moseyed waaaaaaaaaay up the Tollway to celebrate the July Home Design issue of GrandLuxe Magazine featuring the delightful, Shay Geyer, on the cover.

You may have seen Shay on WFAA's Good Morning Texas. Every Friday morning, she has a segment sharing great home decorating tips and tricks.  GrandLuxe Publisher, Pat Holder, couldn't wait to share with me that Shay will now be a regular contributor for the magazine sharing her style tips and bringing readers great finds.

What I didn't realize is that Shay isn't just a great interior designer, she also owns a fantastic 40,000 square foot store in Frisco called IBB Design Group where this soiree was held.

According to their website, "IBB Design Group has been creating residential & commercial masterpieces for over 30 years. Founded by interior designer, Beth Rafferty (Shay's Mother), this award-winning all inclusive design firm is always in high demand.

Their competitive advantage is that their facilities include an on-site showroom and design resource center giving their designers the tools to fulfill even the most discerning client’s desires. Whatever your style – traditional, contemporary, classic or transitional the designers at IBB can make your design dreams a reality."

(top left) GrandLuxe Publisher, Pat Holder with Shay Geyer, (top right) IBB Showroom vignette

(bottom left) IBB Showroom vignette (bottom right) WFAA's Amy Vanderoef and Shay Geyer

All I'm saying, is that if you need something for your home or office - you need to make this your first stop. The showroom was unbelievably gorgeous with furniture and home accessories in all price ranges.  Who knows, you might even be lucky enough to bump into Shay there for some personal advice on picking the perfect pieces for your space!

Dita Von Teese Introduces the Cointreau MargaDita

Dita Von Teese  is no stranger to controversy.  She has single-handedly revived the art of burlesque for a new generation and shocked the world with her marriage to goth-rocker Marilyn Manson several years ago.

Yep, that was an odd pair. Of course, they did share a love of make-up and costumes...

Cointreau liquor is a long-time partner of Dita's,  creating an entire "Get Contreauversial" campaign around her.  Tonight, fashionistas mixed with the local burlesque crowd at the Rosewood Mansion to celebrate the launch of her latest namesake cocktail, the Cointreau MargaDita.

The glamorous Von Teese wandered the room for at least an hour to take photos and chat with the dazzled crowd. "Can you believe how tiny her waist is?" "Her skin is flawless!" "She is absolutely stunning" were the comments I heard over and over. And yes, it was all true.

Click to see photos from this event on Faceook

 Dawn Neufeld, Karen Lukin, Mystery Beauty, Tetia Stroud and Janet Frequez

This reinvention of the classic Margarita pays homage to the Dallas socialite, Margarita Sames, who invented the drink in 1948 while vacationing in Acapulco.

Dita Von Teese toasts this alluring woman, who unfortunately passed away this past year, by using the classic margarita ingredients as a base for her Cointreau MargaDita cocktail: Cointreau, tequila and fresh lime juice. “I wanted to keep the integrity of the original margarita recipe, but add a personal touch of my own. The juxtaposition of floral notes with spicy elements makes for a seductive twist: aromatic Monin Rose Syrup for a hint of floral, feminine perfume, and a dash of chipotle powder for an unexpected spicy smack. I think Margarita Sames would approve,” says Dita Von Teese.

The new namesake cocktail delivers the ideal combination of Cointreau’s bitter and sweet orange flavors, earthy tequila undertones, refreshing lime juice, and subtle rose notes, complete with a spicy finish. Dita Von Teese’s final tribute to Sames includes a visually stunning yellow rose petal delicately floating atop. The beautiful accent represents “the yellow rose of Texas” in honor of Sames’ native home state where she also hosted similar fabulous parties.

Cointreau MargaDita
1 oz Cointreau
1 oz Silver Tequila
1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1/2 oz Monin Rose Syrup
1 pinch Chipotle Spice
Mix all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and pour into a chilled coup glass. Garnish with floating organic yellow rose petals. For an added kick, add a chipotle and salt rim.

Dita will perform Thursday, July 28, at the House of Blues with her "Burlesque: Strip Strip Hooray" Variety Show. General Admission tickets are still available.

R.I.P. Quick Newspaper

A source has informed me that the editorial and sales teams of Quick, the Dallas Morning News' free, alternative offshoot, were told at 10:15 a.m. this morning that next week's issue of the weekly publication would be the last to hit stands.

I spent the better part of 15 years working at the Dallas Observer and D Magazine. I became friends with many of the writers and editors who have since migrated over to Quick.  It is truly a sad day for me to see yet another publication close its doors and have friends lose their livelihood.

Although the internet is an amazing thing and has created a wonderful creative space for bloggers like myself, I personally believe there is still a much needed place for quality journalists and news publications.  

In the last year, I have been approached by pretty much every news publication in town to write for them (except Wick Allison at D Magazine because he fired me several years back, and I'm pretty sure he'd rather go bankrupt than ever admit he made a mistake and hire me back in any capacity).

Because of shrinking budgets, publications have been forced to lay off or downsize their editorial staffs and have looked to bloggers to utilize for cheap content. The going rate for an article is - wait for it - $20 a post. Which is laughable, yet there are many bloggers who have taken them up on their offer as a way to align themselves with an established brand for creditability.  

You ever heard the old saying, "You get what you pay for." Yeah, I'm just sayin'.

And this is not a knock on bloggers. I am one, so I feel qualified to say that for the most part, people start a blog because they are passionate about a subject and it's a fun, creative outlet to talk about food or parenthood or fashion or whatever.  But bloggers are not journalists. Our articles are not professionally proof-read and fact-checked for errors. They are merely opinions. And they are not always educated or well-researched opinions.  Journalists are the meat and potatoes and bloggers are the gravy. We provide the tasty treats, but you need the meaty protein that a professional journalist can provide.

I hope you understand the difference.  Because this trend is greatly affecting the quality of the "news" you are getting. 

Best of luck to Kyle Kearbey, Sarah Eveans, Hunter Hauk and the rest of the Quick crew. I hope you find a place worth of your talents soon! None of us are better for having your voices silenced.


 

Paws in the City hosts a Patio Pet Party

Tara Harper and Pamela Chao

Tara Harper wants you to know that she is a whole lot more than a pretty face on a (soon to air) reality TV show. All eyes are on Tara and 5 of her friends as the August 15th launch date looms for the new TV show, Most Eligible Dallas from Bravo.

The biggest priority in Harper's life is Paws in the City, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization committed to ending the abuse, neglect and overpopulation of Dallas area dogs and cats.  Harper serves as President for this organization and spends much of her time scampering around town saving animals and then finding them good homes.

The mission of Paws in the City mission is to save as many dogs and cats from being euthanized at the City of Dallas shelter as possible. Whether due to overcrowding and space being limited or because they have a treatable illness, they will take as many of the animals as they can into their foster program and find them loving forever homes.

Last night, Harper gathered her pals and their pooches for a Happy Hour soiree at McCormick & Schmick's for live music, drink specials, house made dog treats, and a special patio menu featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, and delicious fish tacos. Net proceeds benefited the charity.

Click here to view more photos from this event on Facebook

Paws in the City is always looking for homes willing to foster these beautiful animals or families willing to adopt them. If you are interested in learning more about how to get involved, visit http://www.pawsinthecity.org.

Summer Sidewalk Sale at West Village

WHAT'S THE DEAL?   

BUY BUY SUMMER SIDEWALK SALE AT WEST VILLAGE

Bid farewell to the toasty Texas temperatures with bargains at the Buy Buy Summer Sidewalk Sale. West Village invites shoppers to scoop up savings on hot summer styles! 

 Racks of spring and summer styles will adorn West Village sidewalks, with some shops offering up to 75 percent off! Shoppers can save big on breezy summer frocks, chic tunics, stylish swimwear and much more. Top destinations include Accents, Epic Apparel, L. Bartlett, and Lilli London to name a few.

WHEN?   Friday, August 12, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday, August 13, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. & Sunday, August 14, 12-6 p.m.
 

WHERE?   West Village 

The sidewalks of West Village boutiques, 3699 McKinney Avenue, Dallas, TX, 75204

Shop till you drop, people!

Finally! H&M Opens August 18 at NorthPark Center

Hennes & Mauritz - aka H&M - is one of the largest retailers in the world, known for offering fashion-forward apparel and quality basics at affordable prices.  Finally, they have announced their expansion into Texas with the opening of a new location at the NorthPark Mall in Dallas.  Opening Thursday, August 18^th at noon, H&M at the NorthPark Mall will give shoppers in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas access to the latest trends at the best prices.

In celebration of opening day, H&M at the NorthPark Mall will offer the first 500 shoppers in line an Access to Fashion Pass, valued from $10 to $500 in addition to fantastic opening offers and giveaways!  One lucky winner will receive an All Access Fashion Pass, allowing them early entry to the store before the doors open to the public. Once inside, the lucky winner will receive a personal style consultation from an H&M stylist who will help them to dress their personality in the latest trends from H&M!

You know I will be there, but that leaves 499 passes for the rest of you to fight over!

H&M NorthPark is located at 8697 N. Central Expressway and can be reached by phone at (241) 265-6870.  Store hours will be Monday thru Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Big Rich Texas: Weigh in on Episode Two

Last night's episode of Big Rich Texas was all about the beauty pageant circuit: Leslie is a pageant coach and one of her star pupils is her god-daughter, Kalyn.   Maddie and Grace decided they wanted a shot at a crown and decided to let Leslie teach them how to sparkle and shine on the pageant stage.

One of the first things Leslie instructed the girls to do was to lose 5 pounds.  Grace's Mom, Connie, mouthed to Melissa, "She can do it." Melissa, on the other hand, visibly recoiled at the idea.  The rest of the episode revolved around the three girls preparation of the event and their diet.

I knew this theme would strike a chord with female viewers, so I asked Melissa this morning how she felt about the episode.

Melissa and Maddie Poe

Q: I knew the topic of weight would be a hot topic among female viewers of this show. You were clearly uncomfortable with Leslie's suggestion that Maddie "lose 5 pounds" so that she would "look her best" for the pageant. How do you feel about the episode?


A:  "Overall, I'm very happy with Episode 2. As a society there's constant pressure our entire adult lives to look good, lose weight, etc, and then to have Leslie suggest to Maddie and the other girls to lost 5 lbs for a pageant was ridiculous.

Our teenagers shouldn't have to start at an early age being body-conscious...they'll learn those pressures soon enough in college. I never wanted Maddie to enter the pageant because that's not her, but she seemed excited to do it with Grace and Kalyn. So I gave in and let Maddie have that experience exactly the way she was without losing any weight. A few days before the pageant I could tell Maddie was having 2nd thoughts about it and I told her she didn't have to do the pageant but she seemed resigned to it. Once we arrived to the hotel on the day of the pageant, I was horrified at the ridiculousness of it....it was a joke of a pageant.   It felt like I was in a scene of another reality show called Toddlers & Tiaras which is a vulgar display of moms living vicariously through their little girls. (I'm with ya there, Melissa. I had the same thought!)

As the pageant day unfolded Maddie was even more set on leaving the pageant...she just didn't want to hurt Leslie's feelings. Once Maddie said the words 'I don't want to do this' I jumped on that opportunity to tell Leslie we would not be competing."

Q: Leslie gave you a lot of flak for not finishing to something you had committed to.  How do you respond to being called a quitter?

A: "I think, and would hope that any mom would support their child's feelings/decisions and have their back no matter what. Two lessons were learned in this episode: a)  For me, I learned that I know my daughter best and should never allowed her do the pageant because she is not a "pageant" girl and never will be. b) Maddie learned that she has the right to say no/change her mind even at the expense of disappointing an adult. Maddie felt good walking away from this episode because she remained true to herself.

What are your thoughts on this week's episode? Was it okay for Leslie to tell the girls that they could all stand to lose 5 pounds? Was it okay for Melissa to let Maddie bail on the competition after she had committed to it? Chime in!

Big Rich Texas Girl Time Possibilities

This past Thursday, Big Rich Texas threw out a poll on Facebook. The question was, "If you could spend an afternoon with the ladies of Big Rich Texas what would want to do? 

Of course, I had to chime in and, how fun for me, when Melissa and Pam chimed in on my answer.

How would you have answered? If you could spend an afternoon with the ladies of Big Rich Texas what would want to do?

Look who I found at the bar. Road Trip Barbie!

Taken at Bleu Monkey Grill

Reality TV Talk on WFAA's Daybreak

It's 11:15 AM as I type this and I already need a nap! I got up at 4:30 AM this morning to get dressed for my big television appearance on WFAA's Daybreak with Ron Corning and Cynthia Izaguirre.

I got to the studio at 6:00 AM - yawwwwwwwn - and at 6:20 AM I was live on air!  Right before we went live, Ron asked me if I was nervous. Um, yeah, I was!  But once the producer gave us the signal and the lights went on, I was ready to go. Plus, I was wearing my fabulous new Burberry trousers I scored from Uptown Consignment the day before, so I knew I looked gooood!   I only wish we had gotten more time to chat because there is a lot of reality TV gossip to talk about!

In case you missed it - or just want to watch it again - here's my segment:

The news team and crew were just delightful.  Every person on the show walked over at some point and introduced themselves. You can tell they all genuinely like each other and have fun on the set. It was a great experience and the good news... is that I have already been invited back! Not sure when, but you will be the first to know!

Of course, if you are a regular reader of this blog, you already know all the best scoop the minute it happens. So, congrats! You are an "insider"!  The rest of 'em will have to wait until I am back on the air.

Shopping with Big Rich Texas star, Connie Dieb

Earlier today, I shared with you that I will be making an early morning appearance on WFAA's Daybreak with Ron Corning to talk about the bevvy of reality shows that have been filmed in and around Dallas.

A girl can't go on television just wearing any ole' thing, so I called up Connie Dieb, owner of Uptown Consignment and told her that I was coming over.

Oh, I should also mention that Connie is one of the stars of the Style Network's newest smash, Big Rich Texas!  It just seemed fitting that I should let Connie style me for tomorrow's show.

Readers know that I am a huge fan of resale and consignment shops.  It's easy to look great when you can afford to buy whatever you want.  I love the thrill of finding a great designer piece for pennies on the dollar and pairing it with something from Target or Marshall's.  Style is what you create, not what you can buy.

Uptown Consignment is an upscale consignment clothing store that carries women's clothing, shoes and accessories.  Connie has been a personal shopper for years and is an expert stylist. I loved a Prada dress they had in the shop (see photo below) but we decided it was a bit much for a 6 AM appearance.  Yawn.

So, what did I end up with? You'll have to tune in tomorrow to find out. Or just check Facebook at some point on Friday, because I will be posting photos.  Stop by Uptown Consignment to find your own resale treasure. You might be lucky and catch Connie in the store.  Tell them Cynthia sent you!

Cynthia will dish on Daybreak

Are you an early bird? Tune into "Daybreak" on WFAA tomorrow at 6:20 AM to watch me dish the dirt with cutie-patootie Ron Corning about all the reality TV craziness going on around here!

Ron Corning

PS: Since I do not expect anyone but my Mother to actually be up that early, you can always set your DVR and watch it when you get up or I will be posting the video from the segment as soon as I can get it.

Summer Style & Beauty Bash at TOOTSIES

Susan Friedman, Dan Pritchett & Alison Volk

I didn't think I was going to make this event at TOOTSIES. I had been in Fort Worth earlier in the evening, overseeing a cocktail reception for a client at the Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History for a new exhibit they are showing called, Ascent: When Dreams Defy Gravity. If you have boys, you should check this out. Very interactive exhibit about the history of flight.  

But after a week of talking about nothing but reality TV, I decided to pop in and make an appearance, because I needed something else to talk about this week besides cat-fighting and tattoos!

The divine Alison Volk and Tootsies hosted the evening where they showcased vendors like Citizens of Humanity, Rebecca Minkoff and Mark & Etsel.   Facelogic was sampling their line of body products and a DJ spinning upstairs gave the whole scene a club-like atmosphere.

Matthew Gilley & Jarrod Fresquez

Daniel Winson Lewis of Green Peridot (who happens to be my personal hair stylist!) was on hand to showcase the latest hair trend of feather extensions. Even guys, like Jarrod Fresquez, were happy to add a few feathers to their coif for the cause.

15% of the evenings proceeds went to benefit Young Texans Against Cancer.  

Click here to see more photos from this event on Facebook

TOOTSIES has been holding a huge sale to divest them sleves of Summer merchandise, but TODAY they are making another slash on those price tags and designer duds will be marked down up to 70% off! 

Oh So Cynthia with Tara Harper

And, of course,  no evening would be complete without a reality TV star sighting... So, who did I run into at TOOTSIES? 

The star of the new about-to-be-your-favorite-TV-show Bravo's Most Eligible Dallas, Miss Tara Harper. Who looked super-model stunning in a black Jackie O. dress from HALO.   

You can't really tell in this photo because her hair is covering it, but it had the most interesting neckline and I would totally borrow it from her if I could fit in a size 2... Click the link above to check out other stars who love this dress!

Top Chef IS Filming in Texas

There has been a lot of speculation about Top Chef's upcoming season.  Are they filming in Texas or aren't they?

Last week word came that Bravo's top rated cooking competition show, Top Chef definitely was shooting in San Antonio at the end of June.  Gail Simmons told a local blogger who found herself dining at the same restaurant as the cast, "You tweeted this location and have compromised our ..." and now multiple sources are revealing that the next season of Top Chef is going to be Top Chef Texas with filming also taking place in Dallas and Austin.

You MUST read this blog post from the poor girl who stumbled onto filming in San Antonio a few weeks ago and got accosted by the cast and crew for tweeting about the experience. When will people learn that social media has changed everything and there are no secrets anymore. None. Don't film in public if you don't want people tweeting and Facebooking about it. Period.

Has anybody spotted the cast of Top Chef in Dallas or have the inside scoop on where they will be!? Let me know!!

Big Rich Texas Frenemies

There's been a lot of buzz today following the debut episode of Big Rich Texas.  How much is real and what is, shall we say, enhanced?  Well, one thing's for sure. Bonnie, Leslie and Melissa have apparently weathered whatever storms we may see throughout this season and have bonded through the experience of filming this show.  You know what they say, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

Here are a couple of conversations I observed on Facebook over the last few days:

I would like to thank Whitney for making the photo I took of her and Bonnie at Sunday's premiere party at The Office her new profile photo on Facebook. That will be $150 please. Just kidding.  But did you have to cut off the watermark at the bottom? The one that had my website url on it. Jeez. Throw a blogger a bone!

Big Rich Texas: Red Carpet Party and Episode One Recap

There was not one, but two, premier parties tonight to celebrate the debut of Big Rich Texas on the Style Network.  I made The Office my first stop to catch up with Dr. Bonnie Blossman and her daughter, Whitney Whatley, along with Melissa and Maddie Poe.


  (left) Dr. Bonnie Blossman with daughter Whitney Whatley (right) Melisa and Maddie Poe
About halfway through the show, I made a mad dash across town to end the night with Connie Dieb at Komali, who opted to skip out on the large public party in lieu of a smaller, more intimate gathering with family and close friends.

Camille Umland, Abraham Salum with Connie Dieb

Click here to see photos from these events on Facebook

First off, let me just clue you in to a little something that you might not know. "Reality TV" is not always so real.  These shows are not exactly scripted, but not exactly spontaneous and unrehearsed. Big Rich Texas is no exception.  Most of the comments I get on posts about reality TV shows are talking about the cast being fake.  Well, duh! It's not that they are being fake, so much as they aren't being entirely real...

So, when you watch this show - enjoy it for what it is and what the producers want to portray: a good cat-fighting, back-stabbing, one-upping day at the country club between strangers pretending to be best friends. You'll like the show a whole lot more.

The very first scene is Leslie and Kalyn driving to the country club. Leslie says, "Anyone who is any body belongs to this club." Connie follows that up by saying, "It is the social place of Dallas."  The club they are referring to is Woodhaven  and I would be willing to bet my house that none of them are really members. Why? Because it's in Fort Worth! No person who lives in Dallas is hanging out at a Country Club in Ft. Worth which is a 45-minute drive on a good day.  No way. (Please refer to point made in previous paragraph about reality TV being fake.)

If you haven't figured it out yet, they were setting the stage for the premise of this whole show/season, which is about a group of Mothers and their daughters that will revolve around their life at this "elite" country club. 

Favorite lines from Episode One:

• "Keep your balls in your pants, Enrique!" yells Pam to a tennis Pro on the next court after Bonnie & Whitney lob several balls on her court and interrupt her game with Melissa.

• "I pulled out the dead husband card... that works every time." Leslie tells the camera about her attempt to sweeten up the Country Club's owner when they discuss her Membership request.

• "I like making people feel uncomfortable," pouts Whitney to the camera about having to mingle with the "snooty people" at the Club. "I do too!" interjects her Mom, Dr. Bonnie. Well, now we know why Whitney has 15 tattoos.  One of which (her favorite) is the word "See-U-Next-Tuesday" as Maddie so sweetly referred to it on the top of her foot. Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.

• "Bless her little heart".  The ladies teach Leslie how to insult someone the Southern way.  This phrase is now stuck in my head and you will be hearing me use it a lot on this blog - probably with regards to this show.

• "When I envisioned having the sex talk with Maddie," says Melissa to the camera, "I envisioned birds and bees. Not purple penises" talking about Maddie's visit to the OB-GYN and being taught how to put on a condom by her doctor.

• "If I can get that vile tattoo off her foot - I can deal with some luscious lips on my baby girl," says Bonnie about her offer of giving Whitney lip injections in exchange for having her vulgar tattoo removed.  

• "I don't know whether to greet you or dance under you," shrieks Pam to Bonnie about her hatred of her Nicole Miller dress. Personally, I liked it.

 So, let's dish.  Who did you love and who do you already hate? Are you Team Bonnie or Team Pam? Let the games begin!!  You can watch Big Rich Texas every Sunday on the Style Network.

Glenn Pakulak is Good for Blogger Business

An interesting thing happened today.  Just for grins, I clicked on the STATS tab on my blog's dashboard. I was shocked to see that my post published March 25, 2011 titled "Who is Glenn Pakulak?" is now my most viewed post with 8,324 page views.

Originally, this post was titled "Who is Glenn Pickwick?".  You'll have to read the post to get in on the joke. Which will give this post even more hits...

For those of you who don't immediately recognize this cutie-patootie, Glenn Pakulak is a punter for the Oakland Raiders. He's been enjoying the distractions in Dallas while waiting to see if the NFL lockout will be lifted by filming Bravo's upcoming docu-drama, Most Eligible Dallas.

With rock-hard abs and a picture perfect smile, Glenn also does some fitness modeling on the side and is in the process of designing his own fashion line. 

So, what are my other most viewed post? See for yourself!

Interesting, but not shocking, that 7 out of the top 10 posts are about reality TV.  Here's what Glenn had to say about this accolade:

Save Up to 95% off at Merge Boutique This Weekend

MERGE boutique in Preston Royal Village is honoring ice cream day today and Saturday with a Pinkberry SOCIAL SALE!

Merge Interior

 Stop by between 10 AM and 6 PM to save up to 95% off sale items and 15% off regularly priced and new items in store. Shoppers can enjoy a free Pinkberry treat of their choice to stay cool while shopping.  You'll find hip and definitely "haute" cool summer looks from designers like Elizabeth and James, Haute Hippy, Graham and Spencer, Nicole Miller, Velvet and many more!

Merge | 5959 Royal Lane | Dallas, Texas 75230 | 214-987-1606

Texas Women: Episode One

Episode One gives us our first glimpse of the 4 ladies who will star in this season of Texas Women.  The main thrust of this episode was the fight between new roommates, Anna and Hannah.

In case you missed it, here's what went down in tonight's main event: the new roomies head out for Girls Night Out, Hannah has the manners of a goat and starts whisting at the bar staff to come hither and service her.

Anna says "Oh, no, you did'unt" and playfully whacks her in the head with a menu, Hannah goes ballistic and palm-smacks Anna in the head.  Anna starts wagging her finger in Hannah's face and saying, "Bless your heart" and "Let me tell you how life works".  

And so it begins...

Here are a few observations from this first episode:

1. The Greenwood Saloon (where Ali Dee played her gig) looks awesome.  It has that Gruene Hall kind of vibe.  I really made me want to go there, drink a cold beer and dance with a cowboy.
2. We learned that Ali Dee works for the Dallas Mavericks hosting the team's behind-the-scenes Mavs Insider magazine show.  Brooke Jeter is a professional barrel racer. Anna Hunt raises ball-busting bucking Broncos.  And then there's Hannah Helvey... does she have a job? What does she do?
3. Ali Dee is actually a decent singer.
4. Fort Worth looks like a very cool, happening place in this show. Which it is! It's nice to see them filming all over different town to show the differnt aspects of the city: from it wide open countryside to the urban nightlife.
5. Brooke Jeter looks like she is as sweet as a tall glass of Texas sweet tea, but that voice! I don't know if I can get past the little baby-girl voice.  I do like that she is married. Gives the show a little diversity.
6. Not that this was in the show, but I have to point out that I read that Anna Hunt is a Californian who just shared a place with Helvey in Fort Worth while filming the show.  Really?  Out of the whole humungous state, the producers could not find a girl who is actually from Texas worth casting for this show? They actually brought someone in from California? WTF.

I am intrigued enough to keep watching. How about you?
Check out Texas Women on CMT every Thursday at 10/9 Central.

The Review: Redfork

The great thing about Dallas is that there is no shortage of great restaurants to sate your appetite. The downside, is that it is always so difficult to choose a dining destination because there are so many great choices! Top that off with the fact that there is a new restaurant opening practically every week, and it's enough to make a girl never want to cook again! At least that's the excuse I give my husband...

Last night I went to check out one of Dallas' newest entries to the dining scene: Redfork.

Before I sauntered over there, I went to the website to check out the menu.  The site said Chef Jeff Harris had designed a "menu dedicated to (his) unique take on New American cuisine". Well, that was a pretty vague description that could mean almost anything. But, I am pretty easy to please when it comes to food.  So, off I went. 

 Martini with blue cheese olives, Roasted Beets, Grilled Hanger Steak, Ham & Cheddar Croquettes

The restaurant is located at 2537 Fitzhugh, a few blocks east of Central Expressway. Kind of a random location, because there's not much else around it.  It looks like one of those spots that they gambled on, thinking the area will be a new hot spot in a few years - kind of like Henderson was 3 years ago. Let's hope they make it that long...

The surprise hit on the menu for me was the Roasted Beet salad. This is a dish that normally I never would have ordered, but my friend is a vegetarian and we needed a non-meat appetizer.  It's roasted beets tossed with arugula, fennel, grapefruit, Marcona almond and goat cheese with a light vinaigrette dressing. Trust me. You need to order this.

Out of all the dishes we had, the Macaroni & Cheese was the biggest disappointment. Not because it was bad, but because it was just so average.  Not thick and creamy.  No POP of cheesy flavor.  Just... meh.

RedFork offers a full dinner menu,  as well as a “late night” menu consisting of pizzas straight from the restaurant’s  custom-built,  wood-burning brick oven. There's also a great weekend brunch and for the light appetites, RedFork offers a variety of shared plates and a carefully selected, affordable wine list.

With it's charcoal gray walls, black furniture and mirrored walls, it has an open airy modern vibe. Great for dates or family dining. Cool without being pretentious.  Chef Harris says, “We want RedFork to be a restaurant and bar that people want to come to all the time, not just a destination spot”.

My friend, you have achieved that. Congrats.

Redfork | 2537 N. Fitzhugh Avenue | Dallas, TX 75204

Follow the Cast of Big Rich Texas

Set your DVR's!!  The Style Network's new show Dallas Divas and Daughters, Season 2 Big Rich Texas will air this Sunday. Here's how you can Tweet, Follow, Fan, Like, interact or just follow along to learn more about the new "stars" of this new docu-drama:

Big Rich Texas

Website

Official Facebook Fan Page

Twitter

Bonnie a.k.a Dr. Bon Blossman

Website

Facebook Fan Page

Twitter
YouTube 

Whitney Whatley
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter
Website 

Connie Dieb
Facebook Fan Page
Uptown Consignment Website

Grace Dieb
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter

 Leslie Birkland
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter

Kalyn Braun
Facebook Profile
Twitter

Pamela Martin Duarte
Facebook Profile
Twitter

 Hannah Gelbart Martin
Facebook Profile
Twitter

Melissa Poe
Website
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter

Maddie Poe
Facebook Fan Page
Twitter

"Team Melissa and Maddie" on Facebook

I've created a Twitter Cast List that you can follow to filter all of their tweets into one convenient stream. I have to warn you though... Bonnie is really the only one who utilizes Twitter and even she is not very prolific on the site.