Calling all design- and style-savvy Austinites! West Elm’s newest location is now open at 5th & Lamar in the Design District. Looking for a stylish, yet budget-friendly home decor pick-me-up? Look no further than West Elm’s vast selection of sleek, contemporary furniture, lamps, and everything in between. This weekend only (Sept. 3-Oct. 4) save 10% on your purchase at this new location!

Ever wish you could go to just one place to do both your “fun” shopping (ie: shoes and clothes) and your “not-so-fun” shopping (ie: office and pet supplies) without having to run all over town? Now you can! Arlington Highlands, a mixed-use development in Arlington, TX, offers both fashion-forward, fun stores (like White House|Black Market and Ann Taylor LOFT) as well as those stores you know you have to go to (like PetSmart and Staples)! In addition to making your Saturdays less stressful and cutting your fuel costs, Arlington Highlands also offers a plethora of restaurants from the casual (BJ’s Brewhouse) to the upscale (The Melting Pot). They even have a Jamba Juice for that mid-shopping pick-me-up.

It’s finally here! Opening today in Dallas, it’s the State Fair of Texas. Ready for rides, funnel cakes, and corny dogs? Then head on over to Fair Park for all the exciting festivities! Be sure to stop by the Wine Garden for wine tastings, and while you’re there, pick up a Texas Weekend Wine Tours brochure to help you plan your next Texas trip! Be sure to check out the daily discounts on State Fair admission before you go!

Affectionately referred to as “Bendel’s” by fashionistas the world over, famed New York department store Henri Bendel opens its first Texas location TODAY at Dallas’ NorthPark Center. The Henri Bendel brown-and-white-striped shopping bag has long been a symbol of luxury and status, and now you can get your hands on your own Bendel-branded merch like bangles, compacts, cosmetics cases, and more!

Head to San Antonio’s Julian Gold tonight for Ladies’ Night Out, where you can preview the latest fall fashions while enjoying drinks and bites from La Fonda.  The event benefits the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research.  Get there between 5:30-8pm for a chance to win a $250 gift certificate!

Ever wish you had a personal tour guide to lead you through the craziness of Round Top?  Someone to help you choose your purchases and discern a good buy from a not-so-good buy?  Someone who knows the best spots to hit?  Make that wish a reality and book a trip with Whimsey today!  Whimsey is a service owned by designers  Mandy & Meredith Cloud that allows you to book a trip to a Texas city where they will guide you through the best shopping and feed you coffee, pastries, and even champagne along the way!  They’re heading to Round Top Antique Week on Sept. 3 & Oct. 30, so book now at www.gotwhimsey.com or call Meredith at 512.415.8541

Tired of walking into boutiques and lusting after the gorgeous, but pricey clothes and accessories?  Yeah, us too.  Luckily, chic boutique Gabby B’s has come to our rescue!  Gabby B’s offers an array of go-to pieces such as sweet, floaty day dresses and chic-with-just-enough-glitz going out dresses, all at budget-friendly price points.  We especially love the excellent selection of accessories.  There are locations in New Braunfels, Schertz, and San Marcos, but fear not–the rest of us can shop and order from the website (yay!).

Escape to Midland for the weekend with an exclusive themed travel package!  You’re invited to experience “The Tall City” at special package rates now through February 28, 2010.  Themes include A Mother/Daughter Weekend that includes mani/pedis, A Lovers’ Getaway that includes massages and breakfast in bed, and A Family Weekend that includes pizza and soda delivered to your hotel room each night.  Each package also includes a special gift delivered to your hotel room.

Click here for a full list of travel packages and booking information

Waco-born entrepreneurs Shea Stanley and Chelsa Ressetar saw a need in the marketplace for better-fitting, higher quality men’s dress shirts.  After moving to Hong Kong in 2006, Shea observed the world famous custom tailoring that the Chinese are known for.  Armed with this newfound knowledge, Shea and Chelsa started Ownly Custom Designed Shirts, an easy-to-use online service where men can order custom fit, custom designed dress shirts at prices comparable to most off-the-rack brands.

Options on the website include choice of fabric (there are 75 !), fit, style of collar, buttons, and cuffs, and personalized monogramming.  Following a simple guide, you can submit your measurements for a custom fit, or you can select a standard shirt size if you’re in a hurry.

The Holidays are just around the corner, so consider an Ownly Custom Designed Shirt for the man–or men–in your life!

The butterflies are coming!  This weekend marks the Grand Opening of Dallas’ long-awaited Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House & Insectarium.  Located at Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park, this 230,000 cubic feet year-round exhibit will showcase up to 1000 free-flying butterflies in peak season.  For the Grand Opening, all of the insects will be native to Texas, and by next year tropical species will be present too.  As one of the largest butterfly houses in the world and the only year-round butterfly house in North Texas, this new attraction is a must-see.

Grand Opening festivities will be held from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on September 12-13.  Admission will be half price and children’s activities will be offered. 

General Admission: $3

Senior Citizens: $2

Children 3-11 yrs. old: $1.50

Children 2 yrs. and under: FREE!

3601 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

214.428.7476