Event recap: Blogger Walk-Around at Knox Dallas with a giveaway!

Last Saturday, a small group of Dallas bloggers were invited to attend a blogger walkaround hosted by the Knox district of Dallas. Knox is home to a number of chic restaurants, boutiques, and home design stores, and it looking to distinguish itself from the Henderson district (they'd formerly been known as a unit called Knox-Henderson.) I've been to both areas  once or twice, but was generally unfamiliar with the shops located there.

I joined Tina of T Minus, T Plus; Julie of Rosy + Tart; Katie of Fashion Dinosaur;  Stephanie of Beauty and Gardens; Cris of My Fashion Juice; Isabel of Style Geek; and Ivonne of Ivonne Stacy Style for a fun day of shopping, eating, drinking, and blog talk. I've had the pleasure of spending time with these women before, but truly didn't know how much fun they were until we all got together for the walk around. Awesome women, all of them.

The first stop on our agenda was a cooking demonstration and class at the Milestone Culinary Arts Center. Well, that's what I thought we were doing. I soon learned that we were being broken into teams to compete in a "Chopped" cooking challenge. We were instructed to prepare a dish using two mandatory ingredients - pecans and currants - all within 30 minutes. I nearly broke out into hives because one, I'm not the greatest chef in the world (I had fish sticks for dinner last night. Fish sticks.) And two, I was competing against Julie who is an amaze-balls cook.

Isabel and I were team leaders, because I figured it was more strategic for me to tell everyone what to do rather than place myself anywhere near a direct flame. We were led to the ginormous kitchen and able to see all the ingredients before the cooking started to plan our recipe.

Then we got to cooking. It was crazy fun, y'all. Imagine a bunch of bloggers in high heels sliding around a kitchen, getting into way too much sugar, and taking photos of well, everything.

Isabel, Cris, Stephanie and Julie working on their fancy schmancy salad

Ivonne piping our homemade whipped cream. P.S I made that.

There was also lots of goofing around. Lots.

Katie and Tina. Love them.

We finished our dishes and brought them to the judges table. My team (Ivonne, Katie, myself and our PR guide) made pound cake french toast with homemade whipped cream and brown sugar pecans and currants. We like sugar. A LOT. We also like things that taste like instant diabetes. The other team made a nice, healthy, light salad with homemade dressing. While our dishes were being judged, we sat down for lunch provided by Milestone and talked with the head chef.

Then the winning team was announced - mine! Turns out people really, REALLY like sugar. What do you know.

High off my epic win, we walked over to or next stop - the showroom of designer Terri Ives. In business for 30 years, Terri has designed for Miss America participants, governor's wives, the former first lady of the United States, and many other nationally prominent women. Her showroom was filled with couture quality garments, all which can be made in dozens of fabrics and customizable styles.

Terri also offers custom-made jewelry to coordinate with her clothing lines. Made with precious stones such as turquoise, amethyst, jade and opelite, the pieces were truly stunning. Swoon.

After finishing at Terri's showroom, we walked next door to Forty Five Ten. Also known as Mecca, where I belong.

Tina with a python jewelry armoire. Python. Be still my heart.

In November 2007, Lucky Magazine described the boutique as "a European-influenced emporium, complete with a tearoom, beloved for its exquisitely selected clothing, accessories and beauty products." I saw things that that made me hold my breath, they were so beyond gorgeous. 

Oh, this old thing? A crocodile PS1 clutch from Proenza Schouler. If you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it. Neither can I.

Charlotte Olympia embroidered cat velvet flats. Do want.

For the piece de la resistance I present to you a luxurious tailored, pre-Fall 2011 Moschino blazer...with a removable teddy bear and velvet collar. This is my Holy Grail. I WILL DIY the hell out of this blazer. Oh yes I will.

Somehow we managed to tear ourselves away from the couture and handbags and jewelry and shoes (oh, the shoes) and wind our way to The Riviera Spa and Salon for manicures and pedicures and facials and massages. 

I had a massage that turned my body into jello and a mojito pedicure. In my world, any pedicure that comes with free booze ranks quite highly, and this one was no exception.

ONE of those is mine. The other is Ivonne's. Who does not drink. And kindly donated her mojito to me.

Katie, wearing an entirely thrifted outfit. I want to be her when I grow up.

And finally, we ended our day at Sangria Tapas and Bar. If you've never had tapas, it's something to experience. The menu is composed of small plates offering Spanish inspired items, such as dates wrapped in bacon and olives marinated in garlic and potato and cheese croquettes and paella and manchego cheese with quince paste AND OH MY GOD I AM SO HUNGRY RIGHT NOW.

At the conclusion of our meal, we walked out with swag from both the stores we visited and other shops in the Knox district.

And now, as a reward for making it this far, here's a little giveaway for you: A pair of handmade semi-precious stone earrings from Terri Ives!

Retail price for these beauties is $120! To enter, just follow me on Google Friend Connect and on twitter at @dresscourage. Leave a comment letting me you've done both, and you're in.

A HUGE thank you to Knox Dallas for hosting such a truly epic event. I had a fantastic time, and got introduced to a slew of new shops and restaurants. I'll definitely go back for a visit...soon!