Last night I laughed myself to tears watching Fox’s New Girl. Though the show got sort of a slow start, I stuck with it and boy am I glad I did! Something about the episode really struck a chord with me and I felt compelled to share my thoughts on it with my fellow entertaining enthusiasts.

Last night’s episode, “Jess and Julia,” focused on the conflict between the show’s heroine, an adorkable, ribbon-loving, polka dot rocking Jess (Zoey Deschanel) and her roommate Nick’s new girlfriend Julia, a smart, pant suit wearing lawyer. Jess’s sugar sweet demeanor irritates Julia who is not very girly and doesn’t like dessert.

Things come to a head when Jess finally snaps back at Julia’s passive agressive comments:

“I brake for birds. I rock a lot of polka dots. I have touched glitter in the last 24 hours. I spend my entire day talking to children. And I find it fundamentally strange that you’re not a dessert person. It freaks me out.  I’m sorry that I don’t talk like Murphy Brown. And I hate your pants suit. I wish it had ribbons on it or something just to make it slightly cuter but that doesn’t mean I’m not smart and tough and strong.”

Something about Jess’s mini monologue really hit home for me. Lots of times people think that just because I am a girly girl that I am not tough and strong and smart. But that couldn’t be further from the truth!

I love to bake, ribbons make me happy and I rocked a polka dot shirt just yesterday. At the same time, I am gainfully employed, own my own business and serve in leadership roles in a variety of professional and community organizations. I speak a second language and have a college degree.

Sometimes girly girls can be underestimated but, just like Jess proves, when we want, we can be a force to be reckoned with!

There’s nothing wrong with pant suit wearing, Murphy Brown talking girls. The world needs us both! But I agree with Jess, I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t like dessert. It really freaks me out.

Today Kate and I are being our Italian adventure, traveling from Dallas to Amsterdam and finally Rome. While abroad we’ll visit three of Italy’s most exciting cities: Rome, Florence and Venice. To keep all of of our important hotel and flight information in one place I made up a easy to fill multi-city travel itinerary.

Of course it only makes good sense to share this helpful template with my amazing readers. I hope it helps you in planning your next exciting excursion!

Download the Multi-City Travel Itinerary

{Photo via Pinterest}

I am a list person. I make to-do lists, idea lists, life lists, and, of course, pack lists! A few years ago I stumbled across this handy little travel checklist over at The Project Girl. Every time I’m going on a trip be it for a fourteen-day European excursion or a weekend jaunt home, I print this baby and get going!

After years of hand writing in a few necessities I felt missing from the list, I recently broke down and decided to recreate the list to specifically meet my needs. My changes are minimal…mainly I added a few items I often found myself forgetting, like my glasses and extra contact lenses. Shampoo and conditioner, jewelry, and a travel journal are other adds. Also, I changed diarrhea medicine and laxative to simply antacids. The idea of thinking of diarrhea before a trip just kinda took some of the excitement out of packing!

The design I left the same. I changed to color to match my luggage, but that’s about it. I didn’t want to rip off Project Girl, but if it’s not broke…

Do you use a pack list to get ready for a trip? Is there anything I’m missing? I’d be happy to make some adds if someone thinks of something that might be helpful for everyone! I’ve also licensed mine under the creative commons so feel free to add, remix, restyle as you please!

Enjoy this free printable and happy travels!

Download The Ultimate Travel Pack List

Earlier this year, while attending a provisional meeting for the Junior League of Dallas, I had the opportunity to hear Colleen Walker, CEO of Girl Scouts of North Texas, speak. She ended her speech with a poem that she said inspires her and promotes the message of leadership that the Girls Scouts promulgate.

Something about these words really resonated with me. Especially the line about playing small. Being the best version of yourself isn’t just good for you; it’s good for others.

The inspiration this poem provides is applicable for so many pieces of my life: career, relationships, family and more. Read it for yourself. Then tell me what these words mean to you in the comments!

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear
is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness,
that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually who are we not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people
won’t feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine as children do.
We were born to make manifest
the glory of God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And when we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

- Marianne Williamson

{Photo via Pinterest}

A giant cup of coffee, my most comfortable sweatshirt and a day of just me and my best friend, WordPress. I couldn’t ask for a better snow day!

What are you doing on your snowy day at home?

Being single occasionally has its perks. There always hot water in the shower, no one ever cancels your scheduled DVR shows, and you don’t get an exaggerated eyeball roll when you try to open a bottle of white. (Seriously, who propagated the lie that it’s not macho for guys to drink white wine?!) Lazy Friday nights are one such perk. You can wear jammies, drink wine and watch all the rom-coms you want without catching any grief!

Tonight I went over to Blockbuster, my favorite place to buy previously viewed DVDs. Enticed by the 2 for $20 action they had going on, I splurged and picked up four chick flicks I have been dying to own. $40 for DVD, I admit may not be the best allocation of my budget. But since three of them (Letters to Juliet, It’s Complicated and She’s Out of My League) I’ve already seen/rented at least 3+ times, I figure it would be a cost savings in the long run.

A little Washington White (gotta love Colombia Crest Chardonnay!) and a 100-calorie pack of Orville Redenbacher (mixed with M&Ms, of course.) and I’m on my way to a fantastic lazy, single Friday night! Now if I just had a bath tub…

What do you do to unwind after a long week of work?

In a few short hours I’ll be headed to take part in one of my favorite Dallas activities, attending a Dallas Mavericks game! Tonight the Mavs take on the Washington Wizards in their first pre-season face-off. Beyond being super excited that basketball is back in season, I’m also psyched to re-start my basketball season crush on J.J. Barea (left). Sigh.

Basketball season crush? Yes. A high school friend (you know who you are) once taught me that it was not only acceptable, but preferable to schedule your crushes to coincide with the different sports seasons. “It’s just more fun that way” she’d say. And I agree.

So how, out of all those crush-worthy Mavs did I choose J.J. Barea? First, he’s short by basketball standards. Coming in at exactly six feet, he is one of the few basketball players I could date and not look ridiculous standing next to. (I’m only 5′ 2″)

Second, he speak Spanish. I love the Spanish language and think it’s hot when guys can speak it. I also really have any easy time getting on board with any guy who has an accent.

Lastly, he’s sweet. Okay, so I don’t actually know him, (I did meet him once at an All-Star party this February and the proceeded to blush and giggle for the next 20 minutes.) but my friend who used to work for the Mavs does and she seems to think he’s a good guy. Given the amount of a-holes in the NBA she’s told me about, a good recommendation from her is a pretty good sign.

Now, do I totally realize by blogging this I further decrease my chances of JJ finding me adorable or even date-able? I mean, hard to get is totally out the window. I guess I should, but if JJ really is a guy worth dating I’m sure it will work out despite this post. Or so this blogger hopes!

That said, I leave you this: GO MAVS!

PS Loud shout out to Miss Brett S. for letting us park at your place tonight! Let’s catch up over drinks soon!

Clearly Kendall’s Entertaining Life hasn’t been so entertaining lately, but, actually, my real life has been crazy busy and highly entertaining over the past few months. I just haven’t had time to blog about it here!

The biggest highlight? A new job! I am now a full-time “Social Networking and Marketing Associate,” or in other words, a professional blogger! That’s right, this little ole blog helped me land a new job in a brand new industry! I still can’t believe that I’m getting paid to do what I love!

So that’s where I’ve been. I’ve spent the last five months working to launch my work blog, LowerOakLawn.com. I get to blog about the Dallas Design District including our new apartments, restaurants and all the cool interior design showrooms in the area. Yep, my job pretty much rocks.

Oh, and the new job also explains the two non-entertaining related posts: Doors of the Design District and Day in the Life of a Socialmediaite. Part of the interview process for my new job was to write blog post. Thanks to you faithful readers who commented on them and supported me through the interview process!

In other exciting news, I’m moving next week! Don’t worry, I’ll still be in Dallas! Just a little closer to work. I picked out an awesome apartment that is HUGE and has a perfect layout for entertaining. I’d love to hear any suggestions you have for how to arrange the living/dining room. The X marks where the cable connector is which makes the furniture arrangement a little less straight forward. Help! I could use it

Besides the great layout the biggest upgrade is the added cabinet space. There is TONS of room for all my plates, serving trays, glasses, etc. I’m sure my fellow entertaining enthusiasts can relate — keeping a fully stocked set of glassware and serving platters can sure take up a lot of space!

So that’s my update. Thanks to those of you who have kept my blog in your feed reader and I promise some great new parties this year! I’ll try to blog over here at least once a week. There you go — a new years resolution!

I’ll leave you with a little treat — some napkins I saw at Z Gallerie the other day. How true is this statement?

Now how great are those?! Totally worth $5.95.

As first impressions go, doors pretty much lead the way. A door can say a lot about a home or a business, or it can reveal very little about what lurks beyond.

Since the first step is the doorstep, that’s where I started when exploring Dallas’ “next urban neighborhood.” From the old, rustic doors of the antique shops on Slocum Street to the modern, glass showroom facades of the Decorative Center, the doors of the Design District are effortlessly chic.

Evolving from an industrial warehouse hub in the 1950s and 1960s to a center for antiques and decorative showrooms, the Design District is known internationally for its high fashion decorative fabrics and furnishings. It has become a reliable resource for decorative arts professionals who enjoy exclusive access to the area’s showrooms and stores. Interestingly, the economic downturn has led many showroom owners and artists in the Design District to re-think their designer-only policy, and many have opened their doors to the public.

Lately, the biggest door that opened for the Dallas Design District is the new exit ramp to Oak Lawn from the Dallas North Tollway. Dallas real estate development firm PegasusAblon, in anticipation of this new doorway, has invested heavily in its vision to take the Design District from a trade-only decorative destination to a vibrant, distinctive urban neighborhood.

Just a couple of years into the redevelopment of the Design District and the entire Lower Oak Lawn area, (now known as LOL), PegasusAblon’s team has effectively re-purposed and given new dimension to a treasured Dallas neighborhood.

Over the past week, I’ve been stalking LOL, touring the new apartment complexes and window shopping at the various furniture, lighting and antique shops and showrooms. The carefully crafted design of the new apartment communities is beautifully apparent. Both the Alta and Alexan Design District have developed home spaces that are unique and warmly livable for the urban professional seeking affordable style and premier proximity to Dallas’ hottest urban locales. I fell in love with the stained concrete floors, granite countertops and breathtaking skyline views.

Both communities are equally lush in amenities, including state-of-the-art gyms and A+ pools. Special features such as decorative tile back splashes in the kitchens add a custom home feel. The main difference between the two lies in the floor plans. The Alta units have a loft-like feel with open floor plans and exposed ventilation. While studio style units are available at the Alexan too, this community also offers more traditional apartment layouts.

The old saying goes; choosing a place to live is all about location, location, location. In that same vein, LOL is all about proximity, proximity, proximity. By car, LOL and the Design District are less than one minute from the Dallas North Tollway, two minutes from the AAC and Victory Park, five minutes from Downtown, six minutes to Uptown and just seven or eight minutes to West Village shopping. And with the current buzz about four new restaurant ventures planned for the LOL area, soon enough it will be the place to be — not just the place to live.

Doors are opening to a new community in Dallas — a community that is simultaneously rich with heritage and steeped in authenticity, yet artfully punctuated with a hip and ultra modern aura. The doors to LOL and the Design District are wide open with possibility and potential, giving Big D a new perspective on urban renaissance and redevelopment.

Tip: Ready to explore LOL but don’t know where to start? Check out Furniture Your Way showroom on Slocum Street, one of the oldest leather manufacturers in the DFW region. This week they hosted a massive sale, opening their doors to the public. With over 100 leather styles to choose from, you can find the look you want to achieve, whether it’s Hill Country Rugged or Dallas Modern Sleek. While I was out taking photos to chronicle the doors to LOL, the owner of the store walked right out the door to introduce himself to my friend Renee and me. He welcomed us through his doors and invited us to take a look around. Now this is a door worth gracing!

Find the Doors

Interested in checking out what’s behind all those beautiful doors? See the map below.
View Doors of the Dallas Design District in a larger map

{Photos by: Kendall Shiffler}

When my alarm blares at 7 a.m., I immediately reach for two things: my glasses and my iPhone. My eyes may barely be open, but I already have the news itch—what if something happened overseas while I was asleep? I would hate to go to work without knowing the day’s headlines.

I quickly load the Associated Press mobile app. Home sales rose in June, the president is talking trade with Chinese officials and the Rangers won. It’s time to shower.

I drag myself out of bed, load Pandora and dock my iPhone—I only have time for a three-song shower this morning.

After my shower I open my laptop and load iGoogle to scan my e-mails and check the weather—looks like rain, no heels today. While drying my hair I update my Facebook status and catch up on what’s going on with my friends. Alison and Hudson broke up again? I make a mental note to send her an e-card later. I send a Happy Birthday wish, accept a new friend request and sign off.

I fill my coffee mug, grab my purse and load TwitterFon as I walk to my car.

When I arrive at work, I settle in by loading my multiple e-mail accounts and opening the Dallas City Hall blog—I have to check out the day’s happenings at 1500 Marilla.

I load my “Be Productive” playlist and get to work.

At noon I get a message on G-chat from a co-worker a few cubicles away.

“Bring your lunch today?” she asks.

“No. It’s such a nice day. I’m thinking of heading downtown. Want to join?” I reply.

“Sure! What are you in the mood for today?” she asks.

Feeling indecisive, I open Twitter and tweet: “Any good deals downtown Dallas today?”

Quickly I get three replies informing me that the new Jason’s Deli is giving out free cookies. Jason’s Deli it is.

At lunch we chat about new restaurants/bars we want to try. My co-worker suggests a new place on Lower Oak Lawn that she went to over the weekend but she can’t remember the name. We both pull out our phones and launch a quick search, she on her Blackberry and me on my iPhone. Both of us find the name and address of the restaurant within seconds. I check out the restaurant’s menu and text my boyfriend about the place she has recommended. He replies that it sounds good and suggests we invite our kickball team to join us there for dinner. He sends out a group text telling our team about our dinner plans.

Back to the office with 10 minutes of my lunch hour to spare. I open Google Reader and scroll through my list of entertaining and home decor blogs. I open a few interesting articles and post comments. I send a couple of emails to friends and say hi to my Mom, who works from a home office and uses Windows Live Messenger. She tells me about her new work Twitter account and that she already has 70 followers. Impressive.

Back to work.

5:30 p.m. Work is done for the day. Home at last. Phone starts buzzing. More friends confirming dinner plans. We’ll meet at 8:30 p.m. Until then I will spend some quality time with my laptop. I check Drudge, Facebook and Twitter, adding a post to Facebook about the new restaurant we’ll be going to and check out a few tweets. A tweet from @Nordstrom reminds me of their anniversary sale. I hop on over to the site and order a pair of jeans.

I also have time to send an E-vite for a small get-together at my place in a couple of weeks. I check on my blog, www.entertaininglife.com, approve a couple of comments, and begin researching my next blog topic.

I notice my Grandma is online and we chat for a few minutes before I throw on my gym clothes and hit the treadmill. I plug in my headphones to my iPod and listen to one of my favorite podcasts, “Grammar Girl.” Today she is discussing proper pronouns.

Back at home to get ready for dinner. Out of the shower and drying my hair again, I check Facebook to see that we’ve got a larger crowd coming for dinner. I check my E-vite responses and already five people are coming to my get-together. I check in with my work e-mail to assure everything is covered on that front.

Running fashionably late, I run Loopt to see if anyone is there yet. Looks like most are still in route. I hurry out the door.

10:30 p.m. back at home. I wind down by reading my favorite blogs and post a couple of Mobile Pix from dinner on Facebook. Then I check my Web site, www.designbykendall.com and discover a client inquiry about updating a Web site. I e-mail him back and then it’s off to bed.

Before sleep comes I think about this job I want to apply for and the post I need to write about “Why I love Social Media.” I think back over the events of the day. Social media helped me determine what to wear and where to eat lunch. It helped me organize dinner plans and figure out if I was running late. It compelled me to shop a sale, host a party and updated me on the day’s events—local, national and personal.

That’s when it hit me: “I don’t just love social media, I live social media.”

Photo credit: {d u y g u / CC BY 2.0}