08.25.10

A Gem of Austin: Mayastar.

I cannot leave Austin without stopping at this sumptuous little store on South Congress Street. Every time I return home with a coveted piece of jewelry countless women ask me where I got it. Well, here is your answer. I also buy a lot of gifts for friends at Mayastar because the selection is so unique. All of my girlfriends have been waiting for this post.

Meet Maya. Owner of Mayastar. She has been on South Congress for 15 years. Maya started selling antiques and slowly phased in jewelry and clothing. Now Mayastar is a staple on South Congress filled with fresh clothing and some A-MAZ-ING jewels.
This one’s for all of those ladies who stop me at Wegmans and ask me where I got my bling… All Mayastar purchases are 10% off through September 25 with the promo code kiki (case sensitive) at checkout. Many of the items shown are not available online, so if you see something in this post that you cannot find online, please call the store at (512) 912.1475 to place your order.
Here’s what made it onto Kiki’s List:
1. Coralia Leets Long Necklace– $268 (PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF FOR KIKI’S LIST FOLLOWERS) ***KIKI’S LIST FAVORITE
2. Coralia Leets Single Stone Earring– $163 (PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF FOR KIKI’S LIST FOLLOWERS) ***KIKI’S LIST FAVORITE
3. Geode Cocktail Rings– $74-$111 (PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF FOR KIKI’S LIST FOLLOWERS) ***KIKI’S LIST FAVORITE
4. Engraved Brass Cuff- $147 (PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF FOR KIKI’S LIST FOLLOWERS)
5. Coralia Leets Turquoise Earrings- $163 (PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF FOR KIKI’S LIST FOLLOWERS)
6. Citrine Quartz and Apatite necklace– $145 (PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF FOR KIKI’S LIST FOLLOWERS)
7. Coralia Leets Double Stone Earrings– $358 (PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF FOR KIKI’S LIST FOLLOWERS) ***KIKI’S LIST FAVORITE
8. Beaded Pendant Necklaces- $65-72 (PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF FOR KIKI’S LIST FOLLOWERS)
9. Turquoise Cocktail Ring– $248 (PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF FOR KIKI’S LIST FOLLOWERS)
10. Coralia Leets Dot Earrings- $163 (PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF FOR KIKI’S LIST FOLLOWERS)
11. Enamel Cuff- $41 (PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF FOR KIKI’S LIST FOLLOWERS)
12. Beaded Earrings- $64-74 (PLUS AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF FOR KIKI’S LIST FOLLOWERS)
I already own # 1 & #2…. Next on my list; #’s 3 & 7….
Thanks again Maya… Can’t wait to come back!

08.24.10

Go Ahead and Cuff’em: Leighelena.

Okay.. here are the bracelets you’ve all been waiting for. I am so utterly excited to introduce you all to Leighelena. Enter Austin-based Leigh Elena Navarro, creator and designer of the Leighelena (a combination of her first and middle names, Leigh +Elena) line. Leigh learned how to fuse metal and glass as a little girl by watching her mother create wall hangings. She has turned Leighelena into a family business. Her mother helps hand-create each piece and any item large enough is finished with a stamp from her grandfather’s treasured stamp collection. I love the sentimental value that each piece holds. Every creation is hand made in Austin. All cuff bracelets are genuine leather and can be custom sized to fit your wrist. Leighelena has been featured in O Magazine, Real Simple, Redbook and Southern Living, and as you can see has been spotted on stars like 90210’s Annalynne Mccord

Here’s the best part: All Kiki’s List Followers will receive a 15% discount this week. You must place your order by calling the store to receive this discount. (512) 531-9673. If you see something in this post that you would like to buy, but cannot find online, let Leighelena know when placing your order.

Here are the items that made it onto Kiki’s List:

1. Green and Gold Cuff– $99 (PLUS 15% KIKI’S LIST DISCOUNT THIS WEEK) **KIKI’S LIST FAVORITE

2. Turquoise and Gold Cuff-$99 (PLUS 15% KIKI’S LIST DISCOUNT THIS WEEK) **KIKI’S LIST FAVORITE
3. Orange and Gold Cuff -$99 (PLUS 15% KIKI’S LIST DISCOUNT THIS WEEK) **KIKI’S LIST FAVORITE
4. Berry Carp Gold Cuff -$99 (PLUS 15% KIKI’S LIST DISCOUNT THIS WEEK) **KIKI’S LIST FAVORITE
5. Snakeskin Enamel Cuff– $85 (PLUS 15% KIKI’S LIST DISCOUNT THIS WEEK)
6. Leopard Print Cuff -$99 (PLUS 15% KIKI’S LIST DISCOUNT THIS WEEK)
7. Snakeskin Cuff -$99 (PLUS 15% KIKI’S LIST DISCOUNT THIS WEEK)
8. Nude Enamels– $60-$79 (PLUS 15% KIKI’S LIST DISCOUNT THIS WEEK)
9. Leather and Enamel Cuffs– $69-$99 (PLUS 15% KIKI’S LIST DISCOUNT THIS WEEK)
10. Brown Leather and Gold Cuff-$99 (PLUS 15% KIKI’S LIST DISCOUNT THIS WEEK)
11. Lizard Belts- $330 (PLUS 15% KIKI’S LIST DISCOUNT THIS WEEK)
12. Enamel Hearts– $38-$53 (PLUS 15% KIKI’S LIST DISCOUNT THIS WEEK) I am going to get the small hearts for my girls in their favorite colors; pink for E and blue for Lou.

… and here are the two that made it home with me. The cream stingray wide cuff (it actually sparkles just a little.) and the gold double wrapped python cuff. Next on my list, #2 and #4!


Thanks Leigh and Jimmy.. This feature was too much fun!

08.23.10

Field Trip: Austin.




Before my current (daytime) job, I had never even been to Texas before. Now, once a quarter, I get to travel to Austin; a colorful city that is known as the Live Music Capital of the World. Seriously, you can always find great live music playing somewhere. With miles of bike trails and more than 200 parks, Austin’s residents are able to take advantage of the 300 days of sunshine that warms this great city year round.
I love the carefree, artsy vibe of Austin. The people are warm and friendly, and the shopping and eating is out of this world. Austin is filled with so many little gems; a bevy of boutiques, cafes and even Airstreams parked along South Congress chock full of goodies that are sure to please your palette.
Today I am filling you in on my favorite places to dine in Austin. The rest of this week I will give you an inside view to my favorite shops and boutiques. It gets better. These gracious owners will be offering all Kiki’s List followers discounts on their products this week.
This one’s for the foodies. Here’s the Austin Eats that made it onto Kiki’s List:
1. Lambert’s Downtown Barbecue– Upscale Barbecue in downtown Austin. Delish cocktails and live music upstairs. It’s so good your hair smells like BBQ when you leave this place.
2. Chuy’s– -It may be a franchise, but I am addicted to their creamy jalapeno sauce!
3. Rudy’s– Another franchise, what’s even more shocking, each restaurant is attached to a gas station. The creamed corn is AMAZING. Oh, and don’t expect any fancy china here. Your food is served to you on good old-fashioned wax paper. My lunch was modeled above by Jewel. Tell them that you are from out of town and you’ll get a free sampling of all of their meats… and tell them that Kiki sent you!

4. Hey Cupcake! What’s being served out of this little Airstream will knock your socks off. I highly recommend the Vanilla Dream, but the Michael Jackson is their best seller. Thanks to Vince (above) who gave us our cupcake on the Airstream.

5. Bess Bistro– Sandy’s little bistro. I highly recommend the Bess FGTS and the grapefruit mojitos.

6. Roaring Fork– Part of the Eddie V’s Restaurant group. There are only four restaurants nationwide. I can’t get enough of their fried avocado and the lamb and butternut squash fondue pot.

7.Torchy’s Tacos– Cheap and damn good!

8.South Congress Café– The food is great, but what I really love is their infused Bloody Marys. My mouth is just watering thinking about it!

9. The Salt Lick– This is always my last stop at the Austin Airport for a little taste of Texas. The best part, they sell their amazing BBQ sauce, so I can bring it home to share.

10. Hula Hut– Definitely one for the family. Great chips and salsa, and even better fish tacos!
Check out Kiki’s List this week for my favorite Austin boutiques as well as discounts only for Kiki’s List Followers!