We are inching ever so close to the most wonderful time of the year where skeleton masks hang next to Santa Claus ornaments in stores and shopping becomes an even bigger part of day planning.

The Holiday Shopping Card is, hands down, one of the best ways to give and get all year long. The cards sells for a minimum donation of $70 and cardholders get 20 percent off purchases from more than 800 retailers (national and local) in the Houston area.

The cards are good between Oct. 28 through Nov. 7 and Victory and the American Cancer Society get every bit of the money from the card sales.

To get in the Holiday Card mood, shopping centers and stores are hosting events, leading right up to the official kickoff Thursday.

Highland Village is holding “Trick or Treat, Shop and Eat" Saturday from 3 -5 p.m. with bites from center restaurants and special cardholder discounts at participating stores. The Galleria is also getting in on the Holiday Card action with parties and events.

Tuesday, the Tory Burch boutique in The Galleria is a throwing a Holiday Card cocktail party from 6-8 p.m. giving shoppers a chance to use their card early and enter a raffle for a Tory Burch handbag. Tickets are $10 each or three tickets for $25. Wednesday, Off The Wall Gallery is open for sips, bites and art from 5-9 p.m. and Thursday, the whole mall gets in on the action from 1-3p.m. with balloons marking participating stores.

Thursday night, Buchanan’s Bungalow in The Heights is staying open late just for Holiday Card holders with a shopping party from 6-9 p.m.

Since many retailers know the urge to shop and save before anybody else can be overwhelming, many stores are allowing shoppers to start on Tuesday. Follow the Holiday Shopping Card on Twitter and Facebook to find out who is open early and what other extras stores are giving to Holiday Card holders.

To Market To Market

The Urban Market in The Heights is another uniquely Houston shopping event, bringing together scores of antique dealers, interior designers, artists and local culinary talent for the annual bazaar. The tents go up Nov. 6 for preview shopping from 4-6 p.m. Tickets are $25 and include noshes and sips. The Urban Market opens again at 9 a.m. Nov. 7 for a full day of shopping local collection as well as containers just shipped from Europe full of objects, antiques, artwork, remnants and trims from workrooms.

The Urban Market draws those who dabble in interior design as well as those on a mission for clients, but the atmosphere is relaxed and fun. Some vendors take credit cards, but cash and checks are preferred. Before the shopping, engage in a little cocktailing at a kickoff party at Maison Maison Wednesday from 6-8:30 p.m.

Fashion Houston, Take Two

Fashion Houston wrapped up a week ago and already event president and organizer Jared Lang is mulling over plans for a second installment of Houston's fashion week. I caught up with him at Belvedere after the “Best in Fashion Show” event (he just can’t get enough of fashion shows it seems) and we chatted a bit about Fashion Houston’s next move.

The biggest question from those who attended the inaugural event was about seasonal collections. Fashion Houston showed Spring 2011, so typically the next installment would feature Fall, but that would be an awfully tall order in the next six months. To his credit, Lang says he doesn’t want to throw something together just to say Fashion Houston is showing a fall collection, but he is contemplating an intimate event, possibly featuring a local designer.

Lang and his style crew envision presenting annual Spring and Fall collections in 2012, bringing in fresh national designers while keeping a focus on Houston’s own crop of design talent.

All the Club’s a Runway

And about that Best in Fashion Show night. I was asked to be one of the judges for the charity event featuring Community Cloth, Young Texans Against Cancer, Trees for Houston Redbuds, Women of Wardrobe, CanCare and Pink Door. The models were all members of the young professional groups and the crowd parted smack down the middle of the bar, creating the perfect runway.

I was partial to Molly Moodt’s black lace leggings, 80s-inspired shirtdress (which she ripped open to show a blue CanCare T-shirt, sans collar) and peep-toe booties. It was like the pressure of American Idol, Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model all rolled into one and I just wanted to hug it out with everybody when it was over.

The judges chose Lauren Levicki, representing Women of Wardrobe in a look from 310 Rosemont and Women of Wardrobe, as the winner of the event at Belvedere. Each model wore an outfit from fall pieces at 310 Rosemont and was styled by a fellow member of their charity organization.