Let me tell you about the newest hottest boutique in town.  Loop is the recent creative venture of Carrie Schwartzenburg.  Many of you may know her from the Rice Village staple Raspberry Rose.  And for all those fans of Raspberry Rose, Loop is conveniently located right across the street at 2427 Rice Blvd.

Shoes are the foundation of Loop, and shoes there are a plenty!! With prices varying from $40 to $250 there's something for everyone!  Not only do they have the latest in shoe heaven trends but they're doing it with a conscience.  They sell the popular TOMS Shoes, where every pair you purchase a pair of shoes is given to a child in need. 

Besides shoes, Loop also carries clothing, bags and jewelry.  All pieces are around the $100 mark or lower.  It's quite a bonus feature to this chic Rice Village Store.

Ultimately, Loop is filled with classic trends, hip for today and will last throughout the seasons. Loop is definitely the place to go to stay in the Loop!!

Please join the Raspberry Rose Girls in welcoming the "New Kid on the Block , Loop!!" Three great days of shopping and 20% off STOREWIDE!!

Contact Loop for more details:

2427 Rice Blvd
Houston, TX 77005
713-520-5511

Posted by danny at 02:56 PM | Permalink

If you are expecting or are looking to re-decorate your little one's room, Nest & Cot is a “must” on your to do list.  Located at 2402 Rice Blvd in the Rice Village , this store has everything a baby (and mommy & daddy) needs. 

Sister duo, Whitney Janke and Ramsey Miller opened Nest & Cot in August 2005.  These native Houstonians, and University of Texas graduates, felt there was a need for wonderful, different and unique children’s furniture, bedding and accessories.   Whitney and Ramsey enjoy working together, both bringing a different aspect of business to the table.  Whitney is the creative mind and heart of the business, while Ramsey focuses on public relations and advertising.  “We believe that Nest & Cot provides the best customer service and uniqueness to the baby and youth market that no other store provides in Houston .”  The sisters have made the perfect baby & decor design boutique.  I can't forget to mention Lauren, the store manager.  She has also played a role in the success of Nest & Cot and can answer just about any question regarding the product lines and custom nursery designs and consultations. 

Nest & Cot concentrates on making your baby’s nursery a “dream land” but also provides design services for all walks of life.  From baby, teen, to adulthood, and even empty nest, they can do just about anything on any budget.  You will love their extensive selection of fabrics, accessories and furniture.  One of the most popular linen and bedding lines, which is not only for baby, is the Belle Notte brand.  Many of their room designs will have the delicate florals and soft fabrics of Belle Notte included. When in the store, you’ll even see a few awesome frames and portraits (by Danny Clark!).   Nest & Cot’s exclusive line of furniture is now a national brand.  Each piece in the collection refers to the birds that are found in children’s nursery rhymes.  “The sentiment and care that goes in to each piece stops nothing short of the fairy tale ending.” 

Nest & Cot has the latest and greatest baby items, too!  Soft blankets, even softer plush animals, stroller accessories, baby carriers, and more, line the walls.  Some items that you must have (and they will bring to GNO) are the Lexie Rose Line of cute fashionable infant and toddler car seat covers (above) and Sophie La Girafe.  Sophie is a the perfect baby's first teething and sensory development toy.  We got one for Baby Zoe and she absolutely went gaga over it.  It's shape is perfect for little hands to grasp, it squeaks and it has a very distinct smell for baby.  The store can't keep Sophie on the shelves.  

Their infant clothing is “awwww” worthy.  If you are looking for a baby gift, Whitney and Ramsey have it.  Be-Jeweled pacifiers, silver rattles, mary jane socks and adorable baby crib shoes are just a few. 

It is easy to get caught up in all the baby gift goodness.

Danny surprised me while in the hospital with the best Dwell Diaper bag, but they also carry Bumble Bags and MZ Wallace.  Moms no longer are stuck carrying Disney or Winnie the Pooh character bags.  We can now also be fashionable with our mom purse and accessories.  The coolest new mommy must have is the diaper and wipe bag.  It's perfect when you are just running a few short errands and really all you will need is a diaper change.  They are perfect to keep in the car also.

 

Nest & Cot is our final small business highlight for our Girls Night Out THIS SATURDAY!  Make plans to join us, Whitney & Ramsey and all of our wonderful business owners Saturday, October 17^th from 6:00 – 9:00pm.  Be sure to register at www.gnohouston.com and you will be entered to win the grand door prize of the evening.  We can't wait to see you there!

Whitney Janke & Ramsey Miller Nest & Cot

2402 Rice Blvd.

713-429-5246

www.nestandcot.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Denise at 09:16 PM | Permalink

Get your babysitter scheduled because you are not going to want to miss this event.  We have been planning for this special event for the last several months.  We hope that you all can take some time to drop by to shop and support the Texas Center for the Missing at the same time.  ONLY those attendees that pre-register at www.GNOHouston.com will be entered into the Grand Door Prize drawing of lots of goodies and gift card cash!  Pre-registration will also save you time at the door.

The first 100 attendees will receive an earth-friendly shopping bag filled with goodies and even more room for your shopping finds of the evening.  As you can see above, we have a great line-up of businesses and boutiques for everyone, so don't forget to bring a friend or two.  You can learn more about each of the vendors here on the blog (search "Girls Night Out").

Enjoy light hors d'oeuvres, wine tastings from the Roving Vineyard, delicious cake balls from Angie's Cake, Mojitos provided by Republic Distributing & Bacardi, and Sweet Leaf Iced Tea provided by The Sweet Leaf Co.

We will also have a SWEET special portrait promotion/sale at GNO just offered to those that attend.  If you plan to have portraits made soon, this will be for you (details still to come).

We can't wait to see you there.  8 days and counting!

Posted by Denise at 08:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Alan Cable Jewelry has a sign on the window, “Hand crafted silver and gold jewelry, No Tricks.”  This one metal smith shop is true to the statement, but it should also say “most unique and cool jewelry in Houston.”  When you walk into the rustic shop you see true craftsmanship first hand.  And, on most days, you’ll meet the sweetest dog Charlie too!

Alan Cable has always been an artist, sketching and building things from a young age.  He was a “rocker” during the 80's as the lead singer of the band “The Refuge” (some native Houstonian’s might remember hearing them at dances and parties).  As a young adult, Alan found that jewelry design was a relaxing, creative outlet.  Before mastering metal smithing, he designed pieces that were produced in Indonesia.  He loved the country and people so much he built a house in Bali where his business was headquartered.  In the early 2000s, Alan decided to shut down his jewelry import business and began creating his designs himself.  Completely self-taught (aside from a few diamond setting classes and books) Alan created his first pieces “trial by trying.” 

Posted by Denise at 08:13 PM | Permalink

I was so excited when Keri suggested Greenpark Pharmacy & Gifts as one of our invited vendors for Girls Night Out because as many of you already know, I am actually a pharmacist and Danny's Dad and Uncle are also.  (In fact, a little tid bit of trivia about Danny and I- we had 8 pharmacists in our wedding including all my bridesmaids.)  But enough Clark family facts.  Let me tell you about this hidden treasure in the neighborhood.

The running joke between Nancy and Ken Hughes is “Do we own a gift shop or pharmacy?”  The answer is BOTH!    Eighteen years ago, Nancy and Ken bought a “typical” pharmacy in the Greenpark professional building near the medical center.  Ken, a pharmacist, always wanted to offer compounding drugs.  Doctors send their patients to Ken when mass produced medications don’t work.  Soon the Greenpark Pharmacy was exclusively compounding prescriptions.  Nancy saw that the space filled by over the counter medications was just getting dusty – people bought their Tylenol and Advil other places.  That is when the “Gifts” were added.  Since moving to their Bellaire Blvd. location 5 years ago, Nancy and Ken’s shop has flourished. 

Posted by Denise at 08:55 PM | Permalink

 

 

 Clare Devlin was looking for something to do that would allow her a flexible work schedule and more time with her young daughter and husband.  A friend of hers in California told her about this relatively new company.  Clare grew up in Northern California where wine and wine making were family interests.  She has always been the one who picks the wine for friends at dinner.  “It's what my parents exposed me to that I suppose I am passing on to friends- opening up your palette to new varietals.  Educating friends on what they are consuming is something I did on my own so, why not get paid for it?”
 

Posted by Denise at 10:14 PM | Permalink

Our lives are busy.  Family, work, and everyday life can “get in the way” of fun!  Ladies, especially moms, never seem to take time for themselves.  Arbonne International carries a variety of skin care and nutritional products to help all of us feel and look better, and pamper ourselves in the process.

The company, founded in 1975 by biochemists, biologists and herbalists in Arbonne , Switzerland , came to the United States in 1980.  Arbonne International has grown from a handful of employees to one of the largest home based businesses in the country. 

Cecilia Notzon began selling Arbonne products after using them.  “I was amazed at the results using the MutriMinRe9 body set, after only one week I got smoother skin on my arms, legs and specially my dry feet.  Also, I used the 7 Day Detox in the SeaSource Spa line combined with a well balanced diet, the Figure8 line yummy shakes, and exercise and lost 5lbs!"  Convinced by her personal results, Cecilia, a wife, mother of two, and architect by profession, began sharing her new favorite products with friends.  She started selling Arbonne after her husband was laid-off supplementing the family's income.  It has been a fun and profitable business for Cecilia, "I believe in the products and they are selling themselves!"

Arbonne products are formulated in Switzerland and produced in the U.S..  The “pure, safe, and beneficial” motto resonates throughout each product line.  Something for everyone, Arbonne caters to babies, teenagers, women and men, from skin care to make-up and weight management. 

 

Arbonne Baby Care Set

 

 

 

 

 

The FC5 skin care line uses the groundbreaking encapsulated fruit and vegetable nutrients to hydrate, cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize.  The moisturizer also has a SPF 30.  All of the products in this line have a light and refreshing kiwi scent.

An Arbonne exclusive is the new Revelage product line.  It was formulated to brighten the skin, reducing the appearance of age spots and freckles.  It corrects skin discoloration and gives an even tone.  Revelage has a hand therapy lotion – great for Houston drivers (when isn’t the hot sun shining down on our hands in the car?).

 

One of the Arbonne favorites is the SeaSource Detox Spa line.  This line was formulated to combat internal and external toxins that can lead to fatigue, stress, skin breakouts, weight gain, premature aging, etc.  All of the products smell fabulous and feel luxurious.  The Detox sea soak pampers your skin.  The Re-Mineralizing body lotion smells fantastic and moisturizes your skin for 24 hours. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Detox sea soak pampers your skin.  The Re-Mineralizing body lotion smells fantastic and moisturizes your skin for 24 hours. 

 

 

 

Cecilia is passionate about helping clients feel better about themselves, through outer beauty and inner health.  She will have all of these products and more for you to try at our Girls Night Out.  Be sure to check out the “only during the holidays” products and gifts. 

 

Cecilia Notzon

Independent Consultant

Arbonne International

713-252-4046

mcnotzon@sbcglobal.net

Posted by Denise at 08:42 PM | Permalink

Located at 2434 Rice Blvd, Raspberry Rose has been a Rice Village mainstay since 1983.  Owner Carrie Schwartzenburg grew up in the chic retail boutique learning the retail industry from her mom.  Opening as a resale store at its original location in 1976, Raspberry Rose has evolved into a hip and cool “go to” shop for casual to work attire.  Raspberry Rose clothing lines cater to ladies in their twenties to sixties (I’m sure a few hip “mature” ladies we know shop there too!).

The store is nicely arranged to easily find favorites and must have pieces.

You’ll find the latest and greatest styles from designers Michael Stars, Ella Moss, Bailey 44, XCVI and more.  One favorite this season is the Johnny Was embroidered shirt.  It looks great layered, belted or just worn with a comfy pair of jeans.

Another favorite is the LillaP Origami Wrap (seen below).  This top is one clothing item with infinite possibilities.  It can be worn as a halter, tunic, long sleeve wrap, and more.  It looks great worn alone or layered with a tank or under a jacket.  Raspberry Rose has the long sleeve Origami Wrap in many colors for your fall wardrobe.

Check out this chocolate colored leather jacket and scarf.  It is hard to imagine "cold weather", as we are in the midst of this heat, but what better way to look cool in the cold?

Raspberry Rose’s large selection of belts and scarves can finish your look over clothes, but undergarments are also important!  Plenty of tanks and shape wear line the back walls.  When an outfit can’t “support” a regular bra, NuBra is your answer.  These self-adhesive bra cups stay put all day, can be washed and re-used.  Hanky Panky panties are also a fun, colorful and lacey way to complete your outfit.

Alongside fabulous clothing lines are displays of jewelry.  You can create your own necklace with chains and drops from local designer Monica Haff.  The San Benito charm necklace from Virgin Saints and Angels is a best seller.  Necklaces designed with precious and semi-precious stones and metals from another local designer, Rebecca Lankford Designs can be layered or worn alone to compliment any outfit.

Next time you’re shopping in the Rice Village stop by Raspberry Rose.  You’ll find Carrie there or across the street at Loop.  Loop is Carrie’s newest venture and will be opening soon!  There you will find fashionable AND affordable shoes and accessories.   So check out all the latest fashions on either side of Rice Blvd.  And don’t forget, to come see all the best Raspberry Rose has to offer at our Girls Night Out October 17th!

Carrie Schwartzenburg, Owner

Raspberry Rose

2434 Rice Blvd
Houston, TX 77005-3203
(713) 529-2260

Posted by Denise at 09:18 PM | Permalink

As promised, I have all the details for Next week's Curly Girl Party for those of you with curly hair. 

Curly Girl Party with Hairsylist, Gerri Curtis

Sunday, September 20, 2009

2:00 to 4:00 PM

Danny Clark Photography Studio

2427 Bartlett

R.S.V.P. to Gerri at 832-647-5420 or hairbygerri13@aol.com

Food, drinks, door prizes and product discounts!

Gerri will be teaching some cool curl tricks and sharing special curly hair product knowledge.  This year she will be raffling off a chance to take home a Deva brand Hair Dryer (valued at over $180).  I want one!

We hope you can come and don't forget to bring a friend! Curly girls need to stick together and spread the word.  Curly friends don't let curly friends go frizzy.  Please be sure to RSVP.

Posted by Denise at 12:21 AM | Permalink

Like many small business beginnings, Angie Jackson saw something she liked and made it better.  She found a recipe in the newspaper and tried it out.  Her family loved it, her friends loved it and everyone wanted more…Angie’s Cakes was born.  

 

Cake Balls can be arranged in boxes or platters for a beautiful presentation for a special gift or party.  Angie’s Cake Pops are the same delicious cake balls, but on a lollipop stick. With these she makes themed baskets for any special occasions. 

 

Angie is bringing her Cake Balls and Pops to our Girls Night Out.  She will have a supply on hand for purchase and will take orders for more.  She promises to have plenty of samples to taste! 

Angie Jackson, owner

Angies Cakes

832-347-4987

To learn more about the Girls Night Out and the other businesses that will be there, don't forget to check back and often here on our blog.

Posted by Denise at 08:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We have been working hard for the last few months planning a special evening  for ladies only.  Mark your calendars for the evening of October 17^th, 2009 for our First Annual Girls Night Out at Danny Clark Photography Studio.  We have brought together some of Houston’s hottest and most popular small businesses and boutiques for an evening of shopping, socializing, and plain girl fun.  Admission tickets will be $10 (donation) and best of all, 100% of ticket sales goes directly to support the Texas Center for the Missing.  This organization is dedicated to finding the missing quickly and lending support to their families.  Houston Amber Alert is administered by Texas Center for the Missing.  They train law enforcement on the local Amber Alert system, provide 24-hour support for alert issuance, and deploy trained search-and-rescue experts upon request.

Posted by Denise at 04:57 PM | Permalink

Uber cool and super sexy friends Kathleen and Ricky of the Hollywood Frame Gallery are hosting their annual Golden Retriever Rescue party!  This is a great little party with lots of good food, drinks and entertainment.  Come by this Saturday and help support rescuing those big silly yellow dogs!

 When: - Saturday June 13th, 6PM to 9 PM

Where: The Hollywood Frame Gallery - 2427 Bissonnet

For more info see the flyer below.

Posted by danny at 09:35 PM | Permalink

A few months back I noticed a little shop down the street from us.  The shop is called Impromptu and is probably one of the coolest little gift boutiques we have found in a while! 

Impromptu is located right on the corner of Bissonet and Morningside.  Denise stopped in one day and came out with some hilarious file folders that I used in a clown session.  They would make a great coworker or boss's gift.  After that I just had to go in there to see what else they had.  That is when I had the pleasure of meeting the proprietors, Barbara Feig and Mollie Gremillion.  These two ladies are the coolest and truly love what they have put together.  If you were wondering where the name, Impromptu came from, it basically represents the nature of their spare of the moment decision to design an eclectic, distinct gift and accessory boutique.

Impromptu offers a number of items that are made by local artists, as well as a few out of town artists too.  One hot item they carry is DePetra handmade jewelry. 

They also carry a bunch of great pottery that is locally made by Ann the Potter.

Even our Houston dog lovers can find something to buy at Impromptu.  I thought these collars were pretty slick. 

In order to stay a little greener, there are these great recycled leather bags that are made in Italy.  I thought they were joking when they said the leather was recycled. 

If your looking for the perfect card, than this would be the place to shop.  They have a huge selection of cards and stationary that will definitely keep you laughing. 

Each item and artist has a unique story about their piece and how the ladies of Impromptu came to find them.  Everything in the store is there because Barbara and Mollie see something special in the artist or the work.  From the David Webb handmade block prints to these crazy little packs of tissue paper, Impromptu has everything an art lover needs.

If you are looking for a place to get a hostess gift, teacher gift or a unique item for the hard to buy person, Impromptu should be your destination.  The art is beautiful but the hospitality and smiles of Barbara and Mollie are priceless.  Be sure to tell them we sent you!

Impromptu is located at

2358 Bissonnet (at Morningside and Bissonnet) 
Houston, TX 77005
713-807-9696
http://www.impromptuhouston.com/

Posted by danny at 08:06 AM | Permalink

In this month’s small business review we are featuring a great little boutique smack dab dilly in the middle of West University.  If you are familiar with the late JMH Market (a little trivia for you…Danny used to work at JMH when we were in high school), you won’t have to look hard to find Hip Hop Lollipop. 

Hip Hop Lollipop is the cutest little party place in town.  If you have little girls ages 3 to 12, then this is the place to shop and party.   

Diane Sizemore has owned and operated Hip Hop Lollipop for the last year and a half, specializing in full service girly parties, gifts and clothing.  The customer service and attention to detail is what sets them apart from other similar shops in and around the Houston area.  It’s also a huge plus that you can avoid mall madness!

They have a magical party room available for the ultimate girly girl parties. 

Hip Hop Lollipop has six different party themes that any little girl would just love.  If your princess likes to be pampered, than a Spa Day Party Package with mini facial and pedi/mani treatment is the thing to go for.  There is a great little area for makeup, dress-up, and all the fixins. 

I’m sure the imaginations run wild in the room during a party.  Everything is decorated gracefully with plenty of room to sit and enjoy.  Can’t you just hear the squeals of delight while they play dress up! 

You can see all the different party packages here or just give them a call and they will be happy to go through the options with you.  Whitney will be having her Hannah Montana party at Hip Hop Lollipop in August and she is beyond excited.  Stay tuned for party pics in August.

Hip Hop Lollipop can also make your little girl’s party a hit with custom invitations, decorations, party favors, refreshments, cake and even a gift registry! 

The front of the boutique is chalk full of great gifts and clothes for babies and hip little boys and girls.  They haven’t forgotten mommies either.  They have an entire line of fashionable clothing and gifts for us too.

Some of our favorite items we found were these wonderful plush little lovies.  They are so soft and sweet, so my recommendation is to probably get two, so you have one as a back-up when your child wears it out or even worse, loses it.

They also have these great necklaces that are magnetic bottle caps to coordinate with any outfit.  These are really popular and were invented by a 12 year old girl.  Isn’t that cool?  Our daughter Whitney saw these necklaces and just fell over in love with them.   

 

Another great product for your girly girl or even the jet setting mom is these train cases.  They come in many different coordinating colors and styles.  This is the perfect accessory to anyone that needs essential items for that slumber party or camping trip. 

 

The coolest of the cool were these jeans that have removable, interchangeable beaded designer cuffs.  
  

As you can see, Hip Hop Lollipop has something for everyone with a bright and cheery environment.  If you need help finding the perfect something for your littleone, Diane and her staff will be happy to help you.   Be sure to go by and visit Hip Hop Lollipop in West University and tell them we sent you.

6207 Edloe
713-218-7800

Posted by danny at 09:08 PM | Permalink

While recently shopping for baby gifts for our children's God Mother we were lucky to discover a wonderful baby and children’s décor and gift boutique in the Rice Village named Nest & Cot. I never stick to baby registries because I like to find cute, memorable, one-of-a-kind gifts. I found just that when I walked into the Nest and Cot.

You can't help but say, “aww” and “oh how cute” as you look around at all the accessories, décor and sweet baby clothes. On top of that, the specialty products, such as baby slings, baby wipe covers, and diaper pads are designed for fashionable moms in cool contemporary fabrics and colors. You won’t find the traditional standard boy and girl cartoonish patterns here.

I was so excited about this little shop of sweetness that we just had to feature them in our Small Business Segment for our May newsletter (soon to come out.) Danny and I stopped by to visit and get some great sample images of the wonderful products that they carry. Lauren was such a great host and gave us the ultimate tour.

Whitney Janke (beautiful name by the way) and Ramsey Miller are the owners. Along with the store manager, Lauren and staff, they provide custom design services for baby's nurseries and children's rooms. They can assist with every detail from, the custom and designer bedding, the handcrafted cribs and furniture (Bratt Décor), all the way to the chandelier. The room designs can take your precious baby from sweet nursery to toddler-hood and into their young teens. Many of the cribs have conversions to toddler beds.

Like us, they pride themselves on customer service and attention to detail. These ladies will sit down with you and help create a beautiful room that fits your style and personality. They have lots of samples and example room displays to help you select specific design elements for your room.

In addition, they carry many of the well known designer bedding lines to choose from. But if that isn't enough, there is an endless selection of custom fabric options for custom bedding and window treatments that they exclusively design specific to your needs. This allows you to mix and match fabrics, textures, and patterns to pull together a one-of-a-kind room that will surely charm the little one in your family. (These colors just remind me of a bowl of yummy sherbert.) Whether you want the room to be traditional, contemporary or shabby chic, the girls at Nest & Cot can help you pull it all together.

The store has a great feel of comfy luxury from its beautiful bedding to the little antique details that help combine the elegance of things worn with things new.

Our son, James is now 3 years old going on 15 and although he is completely past the "baby feeding" stage, sometimes when we want him to eat more of his dinner (especially the veggies), we will do the tried and true "airplane" move. You know, you take a scoop of food on the spoon and mimic a plane flying into the mouth along with all the typical plane sounds. Well I found this Babyplane spoon (below). Isn't that just too cute? What a great gift idea. Any of my close friends will tell you that I love gift packaging as much as I enjoy finding the perfect gift. Imagine this Babyplane tied to a wrapped gift for a baby boy.

In the studio we see a lot of Christening gowns. These are a few samples of the elegant silk gowns and rompers they have to choose from. The Nest and Cot also sells an array of clothing including bibs, onesies, and dresses.

Everything in the store has been carefully selected all the way down to the absolutely adorable Mary Jane baby socks. They now even have little baby boy versions that look like cowboy boots. I am sure a mom came up with these. Have you ever tried to get a baby under the age of 6 months into a pair of shoes? The baby will curl their toes making it literally impossible to get their little feet into shoes...besides why do infants wear shoes? To look cute. So these little socks definitely accomplish that. As you can see, they also carry plenty of sparkle.

In the last year Nest & Cot relocated to it's current location on Rice (near Morningside) after being on Bissonnet. If you are expecting or have a friend or family member that will soon be welcoming their little one into this world, you need to stop into Nest & Cot to see what's new. They love what they do and that shows through their helpful customer interactions and ability to cater to each of their clients. Truly impeccable service is what separates successful businesses and Whitney and Ramsey have definitely accomplished this. When you go in be sure to tell them we said hello.

The store is located at 2402 Rice Boulevard (near Morningside) Check out their website at www.nestandcot.com

Posted by danny at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I wanted to tell everyone about my hairstylist of 12 years now..(WOW)—Gerri Curtis at the Blue Mambo Salon, located at 8 Chelsea Street just off of Montrose near the Museum district.  She not only is a highly skilled hairstylist, but she is an expert in color.  I have her cut, color and highlight my hair and I would go to no one else (yes, I know I am high maintenance).  She often travels to industry events to teach others, but also to learn about new ideas, techniques and products that she can bring back to her clients. 

Gerri annually goes to New York to attend international hair shows and has been trained at the Deva Salon in New York to follow the principles of caring for and styling curly hair.  In fact, she has clients that come from all over the state of Texas to have her style and care for their hair and she is now considered one of Houston’s Top Curly Hair experts. In addition to her busy schedule at the Blue Mambo, Gerri is also a mother of 4.  So she understands how little time we mommies give ourselves to take care of our hair in the morning.  It is true that your hair always looks best right after you leave the salon, but Gerri believes in giving you the tools and understanding to help you make it look that good when you style it yourself. She is absolutely fun to work with and truly the best hairstylist I have ever had.  Most of my close friends and anyone I know with curly hair, I refer to Gerri. 

I started to read it before giving it to my friend and realized, what I thought was my “hair problem”, was curly hair that needed taming.  I am not the only one.  According to the book, 65% of women have curly hair and most don’t know it or have been at a loss on how to care for it.  Gerri has showed me the best way to manage my hair; from the right way to let it dry naturally to bring out the true curls to the best “curl friendly” products, with Deva.  She sells the full line of Deva products as well as Chi, and others.

 

Posted by danny at 09:31 PM | Permalink

A few years back my cousin Chad introduced me to Kathleen and Ricky over at the Hollywood Frame Gallery.  Ever since we first met these guys, we felt like family.  With big smiles and open arms they have helped us with crunch time framing, art displays and community awareness. 

Kathleen and Ricky hail from New Orleans where Kathleen (who did not want her photo taken) managed Animation Sensation, an art gallery specializing in animated art.  After New Orleans, they moved to Houston where the Hollywood Frame Gallery was born.  Over the last 12 years these proprietors have developed a unique market for creative custom framing. 

As you walk in the front door you are wowed by the creativity in the room.  They have hundreds of unique frames and styles to choose from.

Some of my favorite frames are these wildly cool and colorful frames.

In addition, they offer fabric wrapped mats that really set artwork off with texture and color.  Ricky is the craft genius that has everything correctly organized.

The Gallery also specializes in photo restoration and practice conservation quality techniques when framing artwork or prints.  Additional stylized techniques such as object mounting are available as well.  Recently they were framing pieces of Mardi Gras art where they mounted the matching coins in the mat.  These pieces were some of the coolest we have laid our eyes on. (Or at least the coolest until we see them next time)

Along with great framing they also sell great art.  They specialize in selling pet art like my very own pop art, Jim Tweedy's Friendly Doggies, Movie Poster Collections and Disney Collectors' Addition giclee' on canvas prints. 

Most of the Pet Pop artwork displayed by us is in Paraflex frames.  These frames can be fully customized to suit your decor and style. Each frame is a hard acrylic that you can mix colors such as purple with pink polka dots or sleek black and grey stripes.  Like everything else at the gallery, the choices are endless.

Small businesses in the area work hard for their customers and their community.  Ricky and Kathleen are the kings of giving and have spent plenty of time and money helping our furry community of pets.  Each year they help raise money for the Houston Humane Society in many different ways.  Currently they are one of the sponsors for the society's annual K-9 Fun Run. 

They also host events in their gallery for the Homeless Pet Placement League and the Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue.  Both of these organizations are great resources for finding a pet that needs a home. 

So if your in the neighborhood and want to see some top notch art or meet some of Houston's greatest business owners stop by the Hollywood Frame Gallery and tell them Danny sent you.  I'm sure they will make you laugh and inspire your art.

The Hollywood Frame Gallery is located at 2427 Bissonnet between Kirby and Greenbriar.  Or give them a call at 713-942-8885.

Posted by danny at 11:05 AM | Permalink