Has anyone heard of Lemondrop.com? It's part of AOL and has great fashion, entertainment and beauty news (and a lot of other cool stuff too). I had never heard of it, but they emailed me a few weeks ago to do a "bargain bin" deal featuring Shopstixandstones.com so I investigated and discovered a fun place to browse online when I'm bored! Check out the deal... and use discount code LEMONDROP at checkout through 1/25 to receive 20% off your purchase!

http://www.lemondrop.com/2010/01/19/bargain-bin-20-percent-off-at-shopstixandstones-com/

On a more serious note, the tragedy in Haiti is awful and continues to grow. I've donated to Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross, but no matter what I do I still feel it's not enough. A friend of mine named Mica is Haitian and has gone above and beyond in her efforts to help Haiti; I went to drop off a few items at her house the other day and she has set up a collection warehouse in her garage. It's FILLED with bottled water, blankets, canned foods and more. She also came up with the idea to make Haiti Relief t-shirts (which are going to be really cute)! I am excited to help Mica sell these t-shirts as all the proceeds will benefit Haiti. Check out Mica's Haiti Earthquake Relief blog here:

http://haitiearthquakerelief.blogspot.com/2010/01/tshirts-are-designed.html

I'm always getting different fashion emails and newsletters that I might have signed up for at some point in my life; I get so many that I usually end up deleting most of them from my inbox without even looking at them either because I'm too strapped for time or I know I probably won't be thrilled with whatever so-and-so thinks is going on in the fashion world (because unfortunately there are not enough fashion gurus in this world)! Two email newsletters that I read every day (and can't get enough of) are Who What Wear and The Zoe Report (LOVE Rachel Zoe). Today I came across a TZR newsletter in my inbox that somehow went unread and unnoticed since November! I can't believe I didn't open it before today, but I'm sooo glad I finally opened it because I discovered something that usually is not included in fashion blogs or newsletters: The American Fashion Cookbook. Since when did fashion and cooking become one?! I, for one, am not quite sure... but I think I like it. Not that I'm much of a chef, but I definitely have fun when I get to whip something up every now and then. And honestly, nothing sounds more appealing to me in the kitchen than stealing recipes from the likes of Diane Von Furstenberg and Zac Posen. J

http://www.barneys.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-BNY-Site/default/Link-Product?pid=00505003972403

Well... I'm doing a little better with keeping in touch. My last post was 2 weeks ago, so they're getting closer together slowly but surely! Let's aim for no more than a week this time. ; )

This week has been one of the CRAZIEST I've ever had in terms of being busy. I was supposed to go to L.A. last Friday and had to postpone my trip. I was sooo upset at first, but everything piled up at once and I learned something valuable that's been told to me over and over for as long as I can remember: Everything happens for a reason!

I spent the week working on a new promotional postcard/flyer to pass out and leave at different places. I also took new pics for the fall/winter homepage flash animation. The best part about the week was last night's fashion show at Liv. The creator of Gold Saturn, David, who has become a good friend of mine, had a fashion show featuring his new collection. The sequined shorts and leggings for the show were provided by "yours truly" and I have to say, they went really well with David's Parisian-themed tees, tanks and tank dresses. Click link to see pics: http://www.nbcmiami.com/around-town/events/Fashions-From-Saturn-65454847.html

You'd think I would have a second to breathe in between, but nooo. Now I'm getting myself ready for an interview on Monday. I'll be on NBC live talking about fall's greatest fashions under $200 (for you and your dog lol) and I'm so excited that I get to take my lovable, cuddly baby girl Shiloh! This will be her tv debut and she is going to look FIERCE in a new pyramid studded collar and leash from Auburn Leathercrafters. Tune in Monday morning (Oct. 26th) to the South Florida Today Show on NBC at 11 a.m. to hear me talk about Dolce Vita shoes, Elizabeth Cole jewelry Linea Pelle wallets and more!

http://shopstixandstones.com

Wow... I've neglected my little blog for FOUR WHOLE MONTHS!! I feel like such a bad blogger. :( Although I can't promise not to do it again, I will try my hardest to keep you guys updated every week!

The past few months have been a blur for me: I hired a new web designer, I hired someone also to optimize my site and I am seeing lots of great changes very fast! Stix and Stones had its first Daily Candy experience in August and we had an amazing number of hits in one week.... 8,000! I was literally blown away. We had a little taste of local press at the beginning of this week, Stix and Stones was featured on NBC Miami's shopping column! Follow the link to check out the article: http://www.nbcmiami.com/around-town/fashion/Boutique-Caters-To-Ladies-and-Their-Furry-BFFs--61780257.html

I flew to NY a few weeks ago for Coterie and saw some amazing pieces for spring 2010! I saw some great stuff from lines I already carry: Matt Bernson sandals, Foley + Corinna bags, Citrine by the Stones jewelry, Dolce Vita shoes, etc. and I'm excited to be getting some new lines: Ash shoes, Local Celebrity tees and loungewear, Give and Take Tees, Botkier bags and shoes, Nine Days Denim and MUCH MORE!! I had such a fun time in NY, but my trip was way too short! I'm excited though, because I'm headed to D+A in Los Angeles (my fave place in the whole wide world) next weekend and I'll have a little time for work and for play!

Gotta run, I have a meeting with David from Gold Saturn in about an hour and I'm sooo looking forward to previewing his new collection! Can't wait to have his tees and dresses at http://shopstixandstones.com!

Before you go check out pics: Daily Candy article and some pieces I ordered for spring!!

I am in the midst of hiring a new website builder/ web designer/ search engine optimizer... 3 in 1 seems like a pretty farfetched wish, but I'll keep looking I guess.  I am excited ton start work with a possible new web-woman (what I like to call it)  named Aymee.  She seems really nice and I feel like a woman will have the perfect touch to make Shop Stix and Stones everything I want and more.  I'm ready for a major re-vamping of the site and I'm going for a really girly, Anthropologie-style look!  

So excited to welcome a few new lines also.  In the next few weeks I will FINALLY be receiving pieces from Dolce Vita, Linea Pelle and Foley & Corinna.  I can't wait! The price points for Dolce Vita are so great right now, I'll be getting sandals and closed flats for under $100 and heels for under $200. 

I'm also about to get my first order of Capri Blue room sprays, fragrance diffusers and glass-jar candles.  For those of you who don't know, Capri Blue is an awesome line of candles made of food-grade soy wax.  The wicks are zinc wicks and 100% environmentally safe.  I've been buying these candles for years and I'm so happy to welcome them to Shop Stix and Stones!

Well, I'm off to prepare for tomorrow's event at Grass.  Hopefully it will be a big success! Keep posted next week, I'll be part of Shop Miami on Thursday at the Moore Building!

I go through periods where I forget to blog and I haven't written in weeks... and it's DEFINITELY NOT that I have nothing to write about, so I apologize. I'm just soooo tired, but here goes:

My 22nd birthday was 2 weeks ago and I had the best bday ever.  I celebrated all week long. I started off with a family brunch on Monday, then Wednesday (the real day) went shopping with Mom, dinner with family and out for drinks with my besties!  I discovered this new place called Crazy Pianos and it was a blast!  Two guys battle it out on the piano, they sing and play the drums and I have to say their performances were a little better than mediocre, but we had an awesome time.  I've never had more fun singing Piano Man, Outfield and Santeria.

If that's not enough, I continued the celebration Friday night.  Went to Michy's (Michelle Bernstein's restaurant) with my boyfriend Mario and his family, the food was AMAZZZING!  One of my best friend's, Jamaloan, works there in the kitchen and I've been dying to go.  The restaurant was everything I expected and more.  

I spent Saturday and Sunday in the Keys with Mario, most of my friends and my brother Derek.  Of course there were "extreme thunderstorm warnings" on Saturday.  I must mention that it's sunny down there 99% of the time, so this rainstorm of course scheduled itself for 1 of the 2 days of my mini vacay!

Either way we had a great time and the perfect weather on Sunday made up for Saturday's monsoon.  I went parasailing for the 1st time and LOVED it!! We rented jet-skis and drank pina coladas and just layed out all day.... What a good week. :)

Back to the real world, though..  Work and school and more work.  Saturday I'm doing an event at Grass I'm excited about.  $5 admission, great shopping, free drinks and the best part, free food!  Hopefully it's a success.  We'll see....

♥ -A

Celebrate!

 I had such a great time at Shecky's! The 2 days were exhausting, but so much fun! My display came out really pretty and I made a lot of new customers. :) Now, on to the next event I'm doing... the Backlot Bazaar at Cheap N Chic! This Friday and Saturday from 12-6 we're doing a sale in the back of the store. Ingrid and Mario are putting clothes for $10-$20 and I am putting some merchandise at 4-%-60% off!  It should be a lot of fun and we'll be able to clear out old merchandise and make way for great new summer stuff!  Some new lines I'll be getting soon are Linea Pelle, Foley and Corinna, Argila, Coclico, Dogeared, Catherine Page Jewelry, Raina belts and MORE, can't wait!

Lately, I've been spending a lot of time on Facebook and Twitter! Follow ShopStixandStones.com:

http://twitter.com/StixandStonesAl

http://www.facebook.com/pages/ShopStixandStonescom/68761090668?sid=e628b05216910c6e648b4a65e236bc94&ref=search