A New Series: {Fashion Fridays}

Given my interest in all things fashionable, I thought I'd launch a new series entitled "Fashion Fridays." From here on out, I will use Fridays to post something having to do with - you guessed it - fashion.

What better way to start off this series than with a posting about new arrivals at Galeana, my store! I promise I won't take advantage of self-promotion every Friday, but given that I got some new stuff in the store yesterday, I thought I'd share it with you, too.

So check out the email that went out to all my store customers announcing our latest arrivals.

Feelin' Hot, Hot, Hot

Summer is in full swing here in South Texas and there's no doubt about it:
IT'S HOT.

It's not just any kind of hot, either. No, it's the really bad hot.
The kind of hot where you stare in your closet wondering what you are going to wear,
knowing that by mid-morning, your clothes will be sticking to you.
The kind of hot where you start sweating on your short jaunt from your back door
to your garage. The kind of hot where you have a temporary lapse of better judgment
and allow your 6 year-old to go and see the new "Transformers" movie where the
language and sexual connotations are barely appropriate for a 13 year-old. (Oops.)

Thank goodness Va Va has us covered with their airy and breezy dresses.
Lightweight and cotton, you definitely don't need an occasion to wear these puppies.
Just throw them on with a pair of flip flops for an easy, put together look -
regardless of where your day is taking you. They are perfect for a trip
to the grocery store, your child's playdate with Little George,
or the BBQ/Pool Party on Friday night.

The best part? In Va Va, you'll be feelin' hot (as in hottie)
but still be lookin' cool (as in cucumber).

Only at Galeana.

Happy Fashion Friday, everyone!

Short Cuts

Have you ever wondered where the short films at the Oscars come from? Have you ever wondered where they go after they've been nominated and/or won? Furthermore, have you ever been disappointed that you've never seen them? If you answered "yes" to any or all of the above, you are not alone.

While I can't give you any answers to those questions, I can tell you that last night, I was lucky enough to have seen 8 of the 10 nominated shorts from 2009. No, Joan Rivers wasn't there asking people what they were wearing (I was in Corey Lynn Calter in case you are curious), nor was there a red carpet filled with celebrities and paparazzi. But as a movie buff, I was delighted to have been amongst the crowd who got to see them.

Hailing from all over the world (Germany, Ireland, Denmark), and varying in length and format (animated and live action), these little morsels were thoughtful, tender and well done.

The bad news? You likely won't be able to see these in a theater, the way they should be viewed. The good news? Some of these movies are now available on iTunes (search under "Movies" and then "Short Films"). A list of all 10 of the films that were nominated in this category is listed below:

Via here

The longest one was 30 minutes, so even if you only have a few moments to spare, it'll be well worth your while. I HIGHLY recommend viewing them.

This viewing was part of a series called "Cinema Tuesdays." Texas Public Radio and the Bijou at Crossroads Theater have teamed up to bring (old and new) films that might not otherwise be shown in San Antonio. For more information, click here.

Out and About {in Galeana}

Good friends and co-workers,

Trish T. and Mary H. looking lovely in prints.
Trish T. wears a silk Corey Lynn Calter dress from Galeana.

Out and About {in Galeana}

Hotties Jennifer M. (left) and Lisa S.
Lisa wears Amy Tangerine's I HEART TX tee from Galeana

Out and About {in Galeana}

The beautiful Sara M. with her son.
She wears an Odd Molly top from Galeana, paired
appropriately with white jeans, sassy wedges and orange purse.


Lynn B. looks perfectly summery in her Odd Molly
dress from Galeana. Love it paired with the silver sandals.

New Arrivals at Galeana

Here is a rendition of the latest email that was sent out on behalf of my store, Galeana:

Images courtesy of Voom Group, Inc.

Voom was founded in LA in 2002 by Joy Han and her husband, James.
Since then, it’s been a nonstop race of grand (and successful) proportions.
Joy has dubbed her style genre "Twisted Vintage,” no doubt because she uses
vintage styles as inspiration, but adds her own (slightly naughty) twist –
mostly by way of short hems and funky prints.

As you can see from the images above, they are anything but “old era.”
Seeing a need for more diverse product line-up,
Joy introduced, VaVa in 2006. VaVa still maintains the same great style
mantra that Voom was founded on, but it has lower price points.
(And during these economic times, this is something we can ALL appreciate!)

To get a piece of this fashionista’s action,
Vrr-Vrr Voom on over to see our newest summer
arrivals from Voom and VaVa.
Only at Galeana.

My (not oft) dose of shameless self-promotion...

Blue Star and Red Dot

The Blue Star Art Contemporary Center has been around since 1986. It formed out of a need to exhibit the work of a number of contemporary artists in and around San Antonio. In 1988, after being operated solely by volunteers for two years, a full-time Executive Director and staff was hired.

Today, Blue Star is one of San Antonio's leading contemporary art influencers. In addition to the 20+ exhibitions that are showcased each year, the Center is also responsible for helping to create Contemporary Art Month, a citywide celebration that now includes over 50 collaborating organizations.

Tonight, Blue Star will host Red Dot, their highly anticipated art sale. This is an opportunity for patrons to purchase contemporary art selected by San Antonio collectors and other Texas cities. What makes this something beyond just raising funds for Blue Star (though that's clearly an important aspect of it) is that fifty percent of the art sales from the evening go back to participating artists. It's a win-win for everybody.

In case you are in or around San Antonio tonight, it's not too late to purchase tickets at the door.

The 3/50 Project

You may have noticed the two images on the left side of my blog. I wrote about one of them the other day. Today, I'm going to focus on the other: The 3/50 Project.

The 3/50 Project is committed to saving the brick and mortars - those that are still alive, that is - that our economy is built on. It's a movement that encourages the support of all your local Mom and Pop stores that continue to bring you interesting goods and services in a personal and individualistic manner that large chains simply can't deliver.

So what exactly is the 3/50 Project? Choose your 3 favorite local shops. Spend $50. Save your local economy. It's that simple.


Saving your economy... one retailer at a time.

Out and About {in Galeana}

The lovely stylist Marie Antoinette in Corey Lynn Calter tunic from Galeana

The Hasbeens are Here!

Check out the following email I sent out for the shop today:


What is a hasbeen?

A hasbeen has been inspired by other hasbeens throughout the ages.

Look at the hasbeens of the 1970s, for example. Gender equality took center stage. The Vietnam War prompted deadly demonstrations from anti-war protesters. Mandatory busing to achieve racial school integration threatened our educational process.

Change. Revolution. Evolution.

The designers of Swedish Hasbeens’ have taken note of historic times like these. They know that sometimes you have to move backward to be able to move forward. That’s why they’ve introduced us to their line of toffels (aka clogs).

Today’s designs are based on those original 70’s models that changed and inspired so many. They’ve been updated, though, with ecologically prepared natural grain leather, a material that’s nicer to people, as well as to Mother Earth. They also come in all sorts of funky colors (red and silver are among our favorites). A winning combination, this keeps them relevant for tree huggers and 21st century fashionistas alike. And that can only mean one thing: these Hasbeens are so Must-Haves.

We’re the only ones in town who’ve got ‘em so get ‘em before they are so – uh – has been.

An interesting design note: Swedish Hasbeens were chosen as the trend of the year in Sweden at the annual Trend Award Gala 2008 in Stockholm.

Farm to Market

I had a great weekend. On Saturday morning, I went to the Pearl Farmer's Market that I referred to on Friday. It was a terribly muggy, hot morning, but that didn't stop the crowd from gathering downtown to attend the Grand Opening.

Fruits, veggies and meats galore - the Market was filled with beautiful colors and activity. There were only about 20 or so vendors, and many of them had run out of their supplies within the first 30 minutes!


Chef Andrew Weissman and his colleague, Luca, were on hand to do a cooking demonstration. Weissman is in the final stages of opening one of his newest spots, Il Sogno (The Dream), in the Full Goods building (immediately adjacent to the Farmer's Market). Opening is currently slated for June. (Now those are two guys that have got it going on - handsome, successful, charming, intelligent and both have beautiful families. Their beautiful wives are both customers at my store.)


I'd say that the Pearl organizers have some structural challenges to work through. The flow didn't move in a natural direction and it was so crowded that people were uncomfortable and complaining. For a first time execution, though, I'm not sure that they could've done it any differently. There are just too many variables that are difficult to predict without a trial and error grace period.

This was also my first glance at the River Improvement project. They had just filled the spot with water, so things are really coming together.


If Saturday was any indication of the future growth of this endeavor, it is well on its way. This entire project is going to do wonders for the Alamo City.

Local Harvest

For those of us who have grown up in San Antonio, we know that the Pearl Brewery has been a landmark building for 125+ years. Though it stopped producing beer in 2001, it's now famous sign and beautiful buildings have remained a part of downtown's landscape.

Image via Wikipedia

In 2002, it was acquired by Silver Ventures and thus began its transformation. The Pearl Stables (an event hall), the Aveda Institute and Texas Farm to Table were among the first businesses to go into the compound, followed by Melissa Guerra, one of the newest tenants. There are several other exciting things happening down there - the San Antonio River Improvements project, new restaurants, office and residential space, The Culinary Institute - but I will have to save these other treasures for a separate post and focus on the task at hand! (There's simply too many exciting things to discuss...)

The reason I write today is to let you know about the Pearl Farmer's Market. The Grand Opening is this Saturday, May 16th (tomorrow) from 9 am until 1:00 pm and it's going to be incredible.


I've only been to a handful of Farmer's Markets in my lifetime, so I'm definitely not an expert on this subject. However, I can say that the concept for this one is really cool. All vendors plant, raise and harvest all of their goods, so you can be sure that it's the real, downhome thing. Even more impressive? All vendors must come from within 150 mile radius of San Antonio. That's means its all local. (As a small business owner, I believe that supporting your local vendors is a great way to give back to your community.)

In addition to plenty of things such as fresh produce, potted herbs, baked goods, fish and meats, there will be a cooking demonstration by one of San Antonio's true gems, Andrew Weismann, the star chef from Le Reve, Bigz, and Sandbar. Local band, Emory Quinn, or EQ as they are called by their fans, will also perform. Finally, you can even purchase a ticket for a seat at MesAllegre, the chef's table where all meals are prepared using items pulled directly from the market.

From here on out, there will be a Farmer's Market every Saturday - come rain, shine, snow or sleet. Put this on your calendar. This is not to be missed.

Out and About {in Galeana}

The always lovely Marcella A. in her
"Marcella" nameplate necklace

Tent Sale @ Galeana

I mean, what Modern Girl doesn't like a sale? Don't miss it! This Thursday through Saturday.


In-store only at Galeana.

More Mother's Day, Final

It is Thursday today, so you've only got a couple more days before Mother's Day is here. I've already purchased my Mom and Godmother their gifts, but they are coming from across the Big Pond (the UK) and they haven't arrived yet. I'm not exactly thrilled about their delayed arrival, but I can't do too much about it either. I thought I'd share this simply because perhaps my anxiety might motivate all of you who wait until the last minute to go ahead and get something together.

As you continue to ponder the perfect gift, my final category of gift suggestions are inspired by the "Queen Bees." While I believe that there are many mothers out there who deserve to be treated like Queens - especially on Mother's Day - let's not confuse these suggestions with that notion. In this instance, the term "queen" is used to describe those mothers who love luxurious goods. "Luxury" can be defined in a few different ways, but this list is for the Mother's that have - well - slightly more expensive taste. (It's always nice to dream...)

Enjoy!

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1. Pineda Covalin@sloan/hall; 2. VSA necklace@Galeana;
3. original artwork by Waddy Armstrong;
4. lipstick@vivre; 5. paper tiara@A+R; 6. DVR blouse@net-a-porter;
7. chocolates@shopping.com; 8. wallet@Louis Vuitton; 9. bracelet@eluxury;
10. throw@Leontine Linens; 11. heels@Neiman-Marcus

More Mother's Day, Part 2

The Craftster

I love to create. My mind is constantly aflutter with new ideas of what I could make or manufacture. It's easy for me to imagine myself as a modern day superhero-type craftster. "Faster than a sewing machine! Handier than a glue gun! Able to create beautiful ball gowns with a single stitch!" (I'd definitely have a pink cape.)

To all the creative, crafty Moms out there, these are great gift suggestions of projects she can do, things you can make for her, or adventures you can both partake in together!

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And because many of them won't be immediately recognizable, I thought I'd explain each entry with a few more details than the earlier posts:

1. A homemade paper bouquet is cute and kitschy. Besides never wilting, one of the best things about this arrangement is that it comes in a kit. All of the materials are packaged together and there are specific directions for how to assemble it.
2. A picture book is a great thing for everyone to enjoy. I'm a diehard Mac user, so I'd use iPhoto to create one, but there are plenty of other services out there that can do it as well. (Try Snapfish, Shutterfly or Kodak.)
3. The craft revolution is upon us and this is, perhaps, most evident in the rise in popularity in activities such as knitting and crocheting. Why not knit your mom a scarf? Or have her knit one for you? Again, this neck warmer project from Wool and the Gang comes in a kit so it's all there for you to do or to give.
   
4. Amy Butler is an artist who lives in Granville, Ohio (also home to my alma mater, Denison University, by the way). She's created a hugely successful business with her sewing and textiles. Why not toss Mom a pillow or two from Amy Butler? Perfectly posh for the front porch swing.
5. Sublime Stiching was started by (almost local) Austinite, Jenny Hart. Inspired by her mother's creations, she began making easy to follow embroidery patterns - perfect for even the beginner stitcher. Embroid a cute scene on a handerchief or pillowcase and Mom is sure to cherish it forever.
6. For the novice sewer, Singer has created a darling purple sewing machine. It's a beginner's dream as it's loaded only with the essentials. A Mother's Day arrival will ensure enough time for a go at this year's Halloween costumes.
7. Why not give Mom a craft class? There are lots of local shops that offer a number of classes in different mediums. If you are in San Antonio, try the Southwest School of Art and Craft or Tres Rebecas (call 210.224. 5733 for more information).
8. "Handmade Hellos" is a fun book. Written by the two sisters and designers who own Hello! Lucky letterpress, they've compiled 25 craft ideas from various paper artists. Why not try your hand at creating a card for your Mom?

The Sugar Mama

Sugar usually gets such a bad rap, but an indulgent treat every once in a while isn't bad. There are so many sugary delights to chose from out there, so why not marry them with an fun gadget or accessory? It makes me want to have an old-fashioned tea party. "Coffee or tea? One lump or two?"

Check out my fun selections for the Sugar Mama:

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1. sugar roses; 2. double-thermal cups; 3. cookies@Lily's Cookies;
4. cupcakes@Kate's Frosting; 5. French macarons@Paulette;
5. Kusmi tea; 6. kisses handkerchief@avrilloreti.etsy.com;
7. Nespresso milk frother; 8. heart-shaped sugar cubes; 9. French honey

For all the latte lovers out there (or for those of you who have Moms who drink lattes), I MUST mention the Nespresso milk frother. Pour in the milk and push the button and all your work is done for you. It creates a friendly, frothy accompaniment to your morning espresso (be it iced OR hot)! Yes, it does hot and cold.

After my friend Elizabeth introduced it to me in her kitchen, I couldn't stop talking about it. My sweet godmother gave one to me and it's like nothing I've ever seen before. Plus, it has certainly saved me a few bucks at the coffee shop.

More Mother's Day

Yesterday I began to post gift suggestions for Moms. I started out with what I thought a more "Classic" mother might like.

Following are suggestions for the "New" or "Expecting" Moms. (My sister just had a beautiful baby girl so we've been very focused on this very special segment of mothers this year.) There's nothing like the excitement of a new baby and this Mother's Day category deserves LOTS of attention.

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1. Flip video camera; 2. pillowcases@UncommonGoods.com;
3. door hanger@etsy.com; 4. child portrait@Langmore;
5. silk robe@Saks.com; 6. pedicure from any local salon; 7. onesie@zazzle.com;
8. Kate Spade custom stationary@You're Invited; 9. necklace@Bloom Maternity

I think most of the things I've listed here are self-explanatory, but in case you don't recognize the Flip camera, this is one worth mentioning. The Flip is a video camera that is the size of an iPhone, so it fits in any purse. It's easy to use (we're talking one button to record) so even the most - ahem - technologically-challenged Mom can figure this one out. And it plugs directly into any computer (thankfully it's PC and Mac friendly) so video clips are ultra easy to share with grandparents, other family members and friends. Simply record, upload to YouTube and voila - you're done.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is upon us so I've been on the search for the perfect Mother's Day gift. I thought I'd share some of my picks in case you need a little assistance.

I've rounded up a selection of really great things and have categorized them according to how I might categorize Moms. That's a hard task because if your Mom is anything like mine, it's way too difficult to put her under only one heading. That's why I was careful to select cool things that would work for all types... regardless of how I've put them together.

Throughout the next few days, I'll be posting different suggestions. You'll note that I've included things from all over, but have marked those that can be purchased in good ole San Anton.' (It's always nice to support your local shops, after all.)

Check out what I might choose for the "classic" Mom.

1. Hermes scarf; 2. Jo Malone perfume; 3. Flare candle@Galeana;
4. P.Jamas nightie@Lin Marche; 5. tulips from Martha Stewart;
6. Reed & Barton picture frame; 7. spa treatment@The Watermark Hotel;
8. monogrammed heart locket@Target; 9. bronzed baby shoes;
10. soap and 11. handwash/lotion@sloan/hall

Cinco de Mayo

Budweiser has single-handedly turned Cinco de Mayo into a celebration in the US. Though it's not an official holiday in the US (or Mexico, for that matter), it IS reason to munch on a few tacos (if nothing else).

Luckily, we are blessed with some of the finest Tex-Mex in the country here in San Antonio. Whether savoring the BEST breakfast tacos at Cocina la Mexicana (on Fredericksburg Rd.) or enjoying a margarita at Rosario's (on S. Alamo), here are a few outfits that would be perfect for the occasion:

By Day

By Night

All items are available at Galeana (except for the shoes... head over to LeeLee for those beauties).

Battle of the Blooms

Today is the Battle of Flowers Parade. The first one was held in 1836 in commemoration of the fallen soldiers at the Battle of the Alamo and the tradition is still going strong. Schools, banks and offices throughout San Antonio close so that residents and visitors alike can enjoy the day's festivities. There are a variety of participants: high school bands, musicians, members of community organizations, local celebrities, politicians and, of course, Fiesta royalty. It is a fun-filled, family-oriented event.

This is a great place to don a festive outfit. However, because of the hot sun and usually high humidity level, a fashionable and weather-appropriate ensemble can be challenging. Here's what I might put together (sunscreen and hat included).


1. VaVa Voom @ Galeana; 2. blogger's hat; 3. sunglasses @ Target; 4. SIGG water bottle; 5. sunscreen; 6. Belle by Siegerson Morrison @ LeeLee; 7. blogger's bag