Hello Sunshine

Texas sisters capture vacation bliss with new online shop Sunshine Tienda

Texan twins Amanda and Laura Ernst are on a mission to spread the good vibes associated with vacation through new lifestyle e-store Sunshine Tienda. “The peace you feel when traveling is pure bliss,” says Laura, who lives in Dallas.

“When you can take a little something from that oasis and bring it back into your everyday life, you keep a little of that peace with you,” she adds.

The sisters, both grads of New York Fashion School’s Laboratory Institute of Merchandising, had always wanted an online shop. But a remarkable and personally satisfying trip to Puerto Rico finally pushed them to sell the products they knew would make people’s post-vacation happiness linger.

With Amanda in Austin, the two spent many a Skype session brainstorming about the perfect merch. The result, thus far, has been beautiful baskets, vibrant blankets, embroidered clutches and jewelry. Although the items vary in function, they share one trait: the ability to transport the buyer to an exotic place, if only for a moment.

“All of our fair-trade products make you feel like you’ve just walked into a thatched-roof tienda on the coast in the Yucatan or into a bustling Bolivian market,” Laura says. “We carry a vibrant product mix, from straw bags and olivewood bowls to embroidered clutches and bright brass earrings and everything else in between.”

All of the goods are handmade by artisans around the world — whether they reside in Brooklyn or Africa. And each has a pretty cool story. Prices range from $15 to $100.

The goal for the girls’ business, which launched on Thanksgiving Day 2014, is simple: to sell products they love, but also to inspire others to search the world for treasures.

“We may not have the luxury to live our lives in ‘vacation mode’ all the time,” Laura says, “but we can sure try.”

Embroidered clutch ($30).

Photo courtesy of Sunshine Tienda

Embroidered clutch ($30).

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Prom Closet

Biggest prom dress drive in DFW begins collecting donations for 2026

Photo courtesy of Prom Closet

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The 17th annual St. Andrew Prom Closet at St. Andrew Methodist Church in Plano will invite teens to "shop" for their dream dresses in February. But first they need those dresses.

Organizers have begun accepting donations of formal dresses (sizes 0-30), jewelry, shoes, handbags, and wraps. They'd like to offer thousands of dress options for teens to take home at no cost.

“We’re calling on our community to help make prom dreams come true by donating dresses and accessories,” says Kathy Moore, organizer of the event, in a release. “Start the New Year by cleaning out your closet and bringing us your gently used dresses, shoes, jewelry, and handbags."

New items can also be purchased through their Amazon Shopping Link.

"Each year, we rely on the generosity of individuals, local groups, and businesses to make every girl’s experience truly magical,” she says.

Items should be cleaned and "like new" (as if they were being taken to a picky resale store).

They may be dropped off at St. Andrew, 1401 Mira Vista Blvd., Plano, just inside the church’s north entry doors, on a designated dress rack. Drop-off hours are 8:30 am-8:30 pm Monday-Thursday and 9 am-12 noon Saturday.

Prom Closet 2025 Prom Closet is set up like a boutique, with thousands of gowns and accessories. Photo courtesy of Prom Closet

Volunteers needed
In addition to needing donations, organizers also need hundreds of volunteers to help run Prom Closet, from check-in and check-out, to personal shoppers, dressing room assistants, and set-up and tear-down crew members. Volunteers must be adults and must complete a background check. Sign up here beginning January 26.

A service of the Women of St. Andrew Methodist Church, Prom Closet allows teens the chance to "shop for" free dresses, shoes, and accessories in a boutique-style setting, complete with a (volunteer) personal shopper.

The event has grown from assisting 35 teen girls when it started in 2009 to 1,323 girls from 322 schools and 110 school districts last year. The girls come from all over Texas and as far away as Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, and exchange students from France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, and Thailand.

Shopping details
The 2026 shopping event will take place February 24-28 and March 2-5 & 7 at St. Andrew Methodist Church.

It is open to any high school girl from anywhere, no questions asked, but shoppers must register online beginning January 26 to book an appointment. There are 40 shopping slots per each 90-minute time frame. A few rules:

Shopping is by appointment only.
Each student must be present to shop for her own dress and accessories.
Each shopper is allowed to bring along just one guest, age 16 or older.

"For the St. Andrew Methodist Women, the Prom Closet truly is a year-round labor of love,” says the Rev. Arthur Jones, senior pastor of St. Andrew. “What began as a small outreach has grown into a remarkable ministry that blesses more than 1,300 young women and their families each year. The dedication of these women — and the many volunteers who join them — goes far beyond organizing dresses. They create an environment where every girl feels loved, valued, and beautiful."

Visit the event's website, call the Prom Closet informational hotline at 469-385-1810, or email standrewpromcloset@gmail.com for more information about donations, volunteering, shopping, and more.