It's a Pants-Off, Dance-Off

No, it's actually not. In fact, it's definitely a PANTS ON affair...but fun nonetheless, I promise!

For the third year in a row, my department is hosting a dinner, dancing and live music event to benefit the girls of the Settlement Home. The Settlement Home is a local orphanage and our goal is to give 17 of those girls a holiday. Right now, we've raised enough to support only three. They ask for the simplest things... even at 16 and 17, a lot of them would like tweety bird sheet sets or twilight posters. They do not have much to call their own and the joy we can bring to them at this particularly tough time to be without family, is immense.

Yes, we have a crappy date this year. It's a Monday, and it's the Monday after Thanksgiving. But if you can attend, we'd love to see you there. Amazing local band Del Castillo will be playing and they rocked the house last year! El Sol y La Luna will be serving delicious food.

If you can't make it, you can make a donation OR it would even be a huge gift to pass on this message to your networks. We do not want to disappoint these girls this year!

Details below:

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Join hosts Keller Williams University and KWCares for the 3rd annual benefit concert supporting Austin’s own The Settlement Home for Children.

This year’s holiday event will be held on November 30th at El Sol y La Luna (600 E. 6th. St.) and will feature a concert by Latin rockers Del Castillo and a scrumptious Tex-Mex appetizer buffet.

Tickets are just $25 each for an amazing show. Purchase for your tickets today at www.kwutunesin.com. If you can’t make it, you can still bring holiday cheer to the Settlement Home girls when you make a donation.

Also, there are all kinds of raffle items to be won:

6 One World Theatre tickets for Manhattan Transfer 12-13-2009;

6 One World Theatre tickets for Jane Monheit 12-06-2009;

6 gift certificates to Cannoli Joe’s;

5 month season pass to Austin Symphony;

5-piece ceramic serving set;

1 $25 gift card to Maudie’s;

1 $45 gift card for Dawn Erwin massage service;

1 Gift card for Craig Richardson chiropractic service;

2 One World Theatre tickets for Take Six performance;

2 One World Theatre tickets for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performance;

2 One World Theatre tickets for Travelin McCourys performance;

2 One World Theatre tickets for Jerry Jeff Walker performance;

4 passes to Alamo Draft House;

1 $75 gift certificate to Moonshine Grill;

1 Gift pack of 12 jars of assorted Arriba Salsas;

Last year, Del Castillo joined us at the Gibson Guitar Center on Veteran’s Day to raise more than $5,000 for a great cause. We hope to make more great memories in 2009.

We hope to see you there!

68 days...

I'm so sad that we're not eligible for the 8k tax credit. Sorry, not the most glamorous of posts but I know a lot of people who are still hoping to take advantage -- it expires 11/30! Feel free to share these resources around, and let me know if I can help at all!

Free e-book on 8k credit (explains everything super-simply)
Article on ensuring speedy close (by my super-cool boss).

This Month in Real Estate September...good overview of what's going on today!

Nursery Progress!

I'd call myself a "fly by the seat of my (ever growing larger) pants" kinda pregnant lady. I've been thinking about the nursery forever but having the hardest time making decisions! I've bitten the bullet, convinced I absolutely LOVE what I picked out, only to spit it back out and start over again. BUT - I think we're finally making progress.

I had the hardest time finding inspiration pictures. I didn't want her room to look like she threw up butterflies, or flowers, or winnie the pooh (which still makes me giggle even with a child of my own on the way). Here are just a few that I found slightly inspirational...




I (errr...we) finally decided to paint her room silver sage -- the most beautiful color on earth. Restoration Hardware stores are always painted this color -- it's the most relaxing, complex yet neutral color there is and I've been obsessed for years. There is no imitation, you have to suck it up and pay the ridiculous paint per gallon at RH.

From there, I tried some 3-d "inspiration boards"

I love the chocolate/silver sage/white cream combination. Now that the walls are actually painted though, the silver sage reads with a good amount of gray in it in the light of her room - and a hint of pink looks gorgeous. (Mike actually looks quite handsome in the room as well). Unfortunately, the color doesn't read that well in the pictures!


And, since I just got a new flip camera - I had to try it out - so here's the video version (starring Michael).


Still on the way...
crib (no pics)
glider
This bedskirt and sheet (along with a plain silver sage sheet)
These blankets (silver sage)


This gorgeous roman shade (so simple, but i love it) in warm white.

This adorable nightlight


Maybe this (in more rose shades)? Funny, added this to my etsy favorites the other day and didn't even realize I had saved the inspiration picture above with poms!


More to come!

And, upon request...here's 27 week belly (the butt and, by god, the boobs, match the growth well).

Drool

As much as I love my current job (and Austin SO much more than Dallas (Northpark aside, of course)) there are certainly the days when I miss being around the creative energy of Fossil. Not to mention the "employee store" where you could purchase Michele watches for $200 and sample 54 handbags in never made colors for $50. Check out Kate, Jill and Shay's super-cool places featured on Design Sponge (also an amazing blog!)

Jill

Kate

Shay (my very favorite!)

COUGARS!

No, not the kind you find on 4th ready to roar. The kind on wheels. We're selling one that's a really great deal ($5900 with less than 20K miles). Info here: http://2000cougarforsale.blogspot.com/

Pass it on if you know anyone looking for a car for themselves or their kid!

Thinking of buying?

I interrupt my non-blogging about my favorite hair products to bring you a serious message. I have the amazing opportunity to work at one of the fantastic companies ever - Keller Williams. Although before I moved back to Austin I was working in retail in Dallas and having so much fun interacting with all the creative fashion and environment designers and artists, it's been so wonderful to be back at KW - a company with so much heart, conscience, vision and true leadership.

But enough sap. If you're thinking of buying this year (and if you're thinking about it, no doubt now is the time), you might find this short little video a helpful overview of all that's going on. And let me know if I can ever help you find an agent. Buyer's agents cost the buyers nothing and we at the head office really do have access to the very best agents across the country - and trust me, you want a good agent because there are a lot of mediocres out there!

Bananas for balloons...

Do you ever get out of touch with a friend for a while and it's been so long that you then don't call them because there seems to be so much you'd have to talk about that you'd have to schedule in a three hour time block? I haven't updated this blog in a million months and there is so much to share...new place, new baby stuff, getting ready for a baby girl, navigating maternity fashion and adjusting to life as a shoe size 9 (my feet grew A SIZE, people) in flats (so sad for a girl with a serious aversion to sensible shoes?).

But instead, i give you pretty things. Like pretty ladies with balloons in a pretty field followed by a pretty wedding. Full pictures on thenicholsblog and featured on style me pretty. The cork wedge pink payless shoes shown in the full pics almost ruined it for me (sorry, just not a fan) but other than that...completely gorge. Oh, and check out the nichols most recent pics from the white dunes of nm, like nothing i've ever seen!