Saturday, August 29, 2009

Sunday Steals!

What's worn out in your wardrobe? Need a new skirt with pintuck detailing, or a snazzy pair of Grecian sandals? Looking for a stellar handbag to complete your fall look?

Girls, Ladies, Fashionistas... if you haven't heard about Le Garage Sale - then you're just not living the Austin way of life!

As I get ready to settle in for a Saturday night of cleaning, I'm looking back on all of the wonderful events of last week, and ahead towards one more day of Le Garage Sale!

Le Garage Sale is a bi-annual shopping event featuring discounted end of season and preview merchandise from Austin's hippest boutiques and designers. Many of the participants of Austin Fashion Week are participating, including myself, and my dear friends Amy Barber of Sweettooth Bags and Diane Petkoff of Tasty Jewelry. This is the ONLY time you can get *annemarie* bags at such a discount!

Come on out to Palmer Events Center on Sunday from 11am to 5pm - the entrance is just $10.00, and the shopping deals are endless!

xo, Anne Marie

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Austin is so hip...

It's just another Thursday night in beautiful Austin, Texas, and my oh my there is so much going on! Why don't you let me guide you through my picks of the evening?



We're gonna roll out from South to North, from Congress to 11th!

First off, make a stop at Birds Barbershop on South Congress as they continue to celebrate being named one of America's top 100 Salons by ELLE magazine!

From 5pm to 8:30pm they will have a cocktail party with special prizes. You only have a few days left to take advantage of their August special - 1/2 off the Ladybird with color.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>


Next up join me at Parts & Labour for Dueling Glamazons - An Accessories Trunk Show! Just a few blocks north of Birds' on South Congress! I've teamed up with Leslie Bonnell of the Stitch Lab, and former Costume Designer at Zach Scott, to bring you an evening of Glamour, Sweets, Craft Demos and general fabulousness!

I'll be debuting some fabulous new clutch purses and Art Bags, and Leslie will be rocking your world with new jewelry! While you sip on some complimentary cocktails, enjoy sweet treats from Blue Note Bakery and Pie Fixes Everything... then head to the back of the store to relax with a 5 minute massage by Paul Drown, LMT.

We're also having Amazing Prize Drawings!

When you arrive you will be entered into a free drawing for some incredible prizes such as...

OH, and if all of that madness wasn't enough for you, Leslie has wrangled three of her amazing teachers from the Stitch Lab to do craft demos!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>


After Party! If you still have any energy left after these two amazing parties, head out to Austin's latest musical event - Souled Out.

Produced by Brandon Badillo of Bemba Entertainment, Souled Out is a bi-monthly Soul and Neo-Soul music series at the Historic and Funk-a-licious Victory Grill.

This week's line up includes an opening set by Tje Austin, followed by headliner Courtney Sanchez and Unified Theory. Cutie-pie DJ Aquaman will keep you in the mood in between sets. $5.00 cover.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

Well - if you don't have a reason to get out tonight - you just must not be alive! Join me for a night out on the town, and wear your best accessory - a fabulous smile!

xo, Anne Marie

Friday, August 14, 2009

Friday Finds - Resources for Small Businesses in Austin

I am veering into Business Plan land... and I wanted to share some fabulous resources for small business owners, or potential owners, here in Austin, Texas!

The first thing you need to start a business is a dream and a strong drive. If you have that - you can succeed - with a bit of research, a willingness to ask for help and a kind heart willing to give help in return.

So - are you ready?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The City of Austin's Small Business Development Program, or SBDP, offers free and low cost classes in subjects ranging from Small Business Bootcamp, Quickbooks Training, Customer Service, Business Plan writing and much more! They also have links to TONS Of resources in the Austin Area. Note - the website is not super user friendly or eye-catching (it's a City site, afterall) - BUT - do not discredit the treasury of info tucked away on there!
*MY PICK* How to Write a Business Plan - $45 - a steal!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The University of Texas at Austin Professional Development Center - it's just what it sounds like, Professional Development. They have recently teamed with the SBDP to offer classes for small business owners taught by amazing professionals!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BIG Austin offers classes and workshops for new & small business owners, business strength building, and pioneered micro-lending in Austin.
*MY PICK* Free Tightwad Marketing

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Crafty Business Seminar with Jennifer Perkins of The Naughty Secretary Club
Jennifer brings years of experience as a Nationally successful Crafty Business owner to the table. Her use of Social Media to promote her business is legendary - and STILL ahead of the curve.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SCORE Austin teams retired business professionals with new or growing business owners for FREE Counseling and low cost Workshops. Again, another not so user friendly site - but check it out because it's worth it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy Business Building!
xo, Anne Marie