Glenn Beck Announces M1 Ball Chairs at 2018 Kickoff Party

Scroll through the gallery to view photos from this event. Photos c/o Rob Wythe


Over the past 10 years, I have attended hundreds of charity events, fashion shows and parties, so it's not surprising that for the past few months, I have been experiencing event fatigue. I've decided that to keep blogging fun for me, I need to stretch myself, explore new avenues and step outside of my self-created box and that means more of a focus on people and projects that are meaningful and are striving to change the world for the better. So, when Mercury One's executive director Suzanne Bock Grishman approached me about getting involved with their annual gala this Fall, I jumped at the chance to learn more about their organization. Mercury One is a Humanitarian Aid and Education organization focused on restoring the human spirit. Their initiatives include "providing programs to individuals to advance the skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary for communities to help themselves as well as assisting our nation’s veterans, providing aid to those in crisis, and rebuilding and restoring the lives of Christians and other persecuted religious minorities in the Middle East." Sounds good, but what does that really mean? On Tuesday, May 16, I joined over 100 business and community leaders at Glenn Beck’s Mercury Studios to learn more about the organization and hear announcements for the 2018 M1Ball benefiting Mercury One, the nonprofit organization founded by Beck and his wife, Tania.

Symphony of Chefs 2017 Takes Dining For A Cause To A Whole New Level

photos c/o Thomas Garza


The social season is in full swing and as a result I am so behind in bringing you the scoop from the scene. Better late than never, right. I attended the 7th Annual Symphony of Chefs benefitting KidLinks on February 27, 2017 at the newly renovated and renamed Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station and was so impressed with the spectacular event that Hamilton A Sneed of HAS Events produced. This culinary evening was led by Honorary Chairs D’Andra Simmons-Lock and Jeremy Lock, Event Co-Chairs Georgia & Marc Lyons and Bonnie & Nathan Shea and Honorary Chef Chair, Salvatore Gisellu with Urban Family Restaurants. The unforgettable night began with an hors d’oeuvres reception featuring Rising Star Chefs: Jan Loov of Texas Spice, Benjamin Maulsby of Happiest Hour, and Juan Orocio of 4R Ranch Vineyards & Winery. DSQ Electric provided a live musical performance from the balcony in the Stationmasters Lounge lending a romantic flavor to the start of the night.

Jeremy Lock Flies Solo With A New Photo Exhibit at JM Gallery

JM Gallery recently launched a solo show of aerial landscapes and portrait photographs from photographer Jeremy Lock. The new exhibition kicked off Friday, March 3 where Lock hosted friends and family. In attendance were Lock's wife, D'Andra Simmons, and several of her Real Housewives of Dallas cast mates: Lee Anne Locken, Rich Emberlin, Dr. Mark and Cary Deuber. I loved that Kate Rose Marquez had her children in tow for a cultural outing, and I also chatted with Hamilton Sneed, JB Hayes, Jane McGarry, Steve Kemble, Chad Collum and a host of other interesting characters.

Bravo Is Banking On D'Andra Simmons and Kameron Westcott To Save RHOD

Let's face it, the first season of Bravo's Real Housewives of Dallas was kind of a disaster. Questionable casting choices, an inexperienced production company, poor editing and a bad time slot all added up to a less than favorable debut for RHOD in the Spring of 2016. By the time the first season was over in May 2016, there were many who said the franchise would never be picked up for a second season. I, for one, never doubted that it would return for the main reason that in the history of the HW series Bravo has never canceled a franchise after one season. Well, except for Washington, D.C. but that was for legal reasons with that whole Salahi affair... What Bravo did, was set about to retool the show and give it the best chance of success the second time around. And one thing that would entail is new cast members. Over the past summer, I think every eligible woman over the age of 35 within 10 miles of Dallas got a call or an email to gage their interest in the show. Out of that group, many had phone interviews with casting and those who fared well advanced on to Skype interviews with the production company. Six women were selected to have video "sizzle reels" made to present to Bravo and in the end, two women were chosen. According to casting, high on Bravo's list was wealth, status and diversity. Well, they got two of the three with their selections. So, let's get ready to welcome Kameron Westcott and D'Andra Simmons to the crazy train, shall we!? Sources tell me that D'Andra will be introduced as LeeAnne Locken's friend and Kam will be brought in as Cary Deuber's friend. The reality is that D'Andra and Kam are great friends in real life and it will be interesting to see if they take their cues from production to play on the teams they've been assigned or rebel to forge their own path.

So, you want the juicy scoop the only I can bring you? Well, here it is:

Jeremy Lock Brings Scenes From The Battlefield To One Arts Plaza With The Photographic Series Twenty One

Award winning photojournalist and seven-time Military Photojournalist of the Year, Jeremy Lock, opens his first public photography exhibit in the lobby of One Arts Plaza in Dallas' Arts District on February 10, 2015.

The photographic series Twenty-One is a showcase of Lock’s favorite twenty-one thought-provoking images that encapsulate his twenty-one years of service as a combat photographer. Lock embeds himself into the tragedies, celebrations, and everyday realities of the world around him.

I have gotten to know Jeremy over the past year because he married one of my dear friends, D'Andra Simmons this past February. I'm not sure that this world-traveled, gritty, military photographer fully comprehended what he was getting himself to when he landed one of Dallas' most celebrated beauties and married into one of our city's most influential families. D'Andra has dragged him off the battlefield and onto the red carpet. (chuckle) He's a salt-of-the-earth guy and a brilliant photographer. I am thrilled to spread the word about this exciting opportunity to view some of his works.

The twenty-one images he selected to showcase are powerful, and implore viewers to live and feel those moments just as Lock did when they were captured. "My photographic journey is rooted in my ability to capture the essence and reality of humanity at its finest and at its worst,” says Lock. “I’ve captured everything from the hunt for Osama bin Laden, to the playful nature of our young military who are defending our freedom, and the plight of humans in search of food after the Haiti earthquake disaster.”

Beach Bling for D'Andra Simmons

Congrats to D'Andra Simmons and Jeremy Lock who got engaged yesterday on the beaches of Rodanthe, NC. 

Simmons is well known in Dallas for her philanthropic work, her sense of high-fashion and her skin-care line Hard Night Good Morning.  She can now add "wife of famous photographer" to her list of achievements.

Lock is the chief photographer for AIRMAN magazine and is a seven time winner of the Military Photographer of the Year award. Lock photographs more than just Air Force Airmen; he also covers the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Special Forces soldiers as they deploy in war. His work has appeared in National Geographic, Time Magazine, the New York Times, LA Times and more.

According to her own website Simmons has been named one of the “10 Most Beautiful Women in Dallas in 2008” and named a “Fresh Face of Fashion” by Modern Luxury. She was honored with the “Distinguished Woman” award by Northwood University in 2011. A year later in 2012, she was a winner for People Magazine’s “Real Beauty at Every Age” search. She has graced the covers and inside pages of some of the nation’s favorite magazines such as W Magazine, People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, US Weekly, In Touch, Cowboys and Indians, Vanity Fair, and More Magazine in Great Britain. 
Simmons has served on the Advisory Board of Booker T. Washington School for the Performing Arts, volunteered with the Junior League of Dallas, AIDS Services of Dallas and Cattle Baron’s Ball for the American Cancer Society to name a few.

Best wishes to D'Andra and Jeremy. Watch out Dallas! There's a new power couple on the scene!

Photos: D'Andra Simmons on Facebook.