I’m a pretty “glass half full” kind of gal, which serves me well except for those times when my assumptions that the best will happen don’t really pan out. It’s those times that I’m taken off-guard, shocked to learn that, occasionally, the worst does indeed happen. Today we’re talking about disappointment, that universal feeling that is an […]
When I was pregnant, I read the book Bringing Up Bébé about the benefits of the French parenting style. In one scene, the author recounts an experience where she watched one of her friends bake a cake with her 3-year-old daughter — a relaxing weekend tradition that is de rigueur in many French households. Ever since, I’ve carried around a […]
The bathroom is the spot where I start and end the day — blow drying my hair in the morning as I consider the day ahead, putting on makeup before I head out the door, and then in the evening, winding down as I sink (finally!) into the tub. Luckily, since the bathroom is such a small spot […]
Today I’m spending the day with four of my best girl friends — having lunch, laying by a pool, and most of all, just catching up on life. In our early twenties, the five of us (plus a couple more) were thick as thieves, but since half of our group has moved away from Austin, it’s a […]
To-may-to, To-mah-to! If you haven’t guessed from the dozens of recipes popping up in your Pinterest feed, it’s officially tomato season. I love buying local produce when I can, and the farm fresh tomatoes spilling over grocery and farmer’s market shelves (in a mouthwatering array of colors) makes it pretty easy this time of year. When you […]
The build-your-own bagel bar at our bachelorette brunch from this morning was such a major hit, I wondered why I hadn’t done this setup at countless gatherings before. It couldn’t have been simpler to put together, required zero cooking time (a major plus when the weather’s as hot as it is in Austin right now), […]
I’m forever on the hunt for the perfect pajamas and loungewear — pieces that strike a balance between being insanely comfortable and incredibly pretty. Bonus points if they’re a one-piece or part of a matching set, so that I don’t have to expend any energy putting together a complete “outfit.” I fell in love with […]
So far, this weekend has been absolutely perfect. We’re hosting our cousins who are visiting from England, and there’s nothing like out-of-town guests to make you hit the pause button on work and other commitments and take a little vacation yourself. After a morning hike and trip to the farmer’s market yesterday, we spent the […]
Before we dive into today’s recipe, do y’all mind if I ask a quick favor? Forbes is currently accepting nominations for their annual list of the 100 Best Websites for Women, and it would be such a personal dream to show up on it. If you feel so inclined, would you mind taking a moment […]
During the warmer months (75% of the year here in Austin), our lives pretty much revolve around our backyard swimming pool. We spend the weekends in it, eat dinner around it, and hang out next to it while we’re grilling. While I’d never complain about having a backyard that’s almost completely pool and patio, ever […]
Every year, I always seem to end up with one signature drink of summer that I master and then make for just about every party of the season. It usually has a few defining qualities: a propensity to be made in large batches, requires only a handful of easy-to-find ingredients, and at least a little […]
I’ve always been one of those annoying people who gets up early on Monday morning, downs a swift dose of caffeine, and begins tackling the tasks of the day with an unbridled energy that’s reserved for meeting the challenges of a brand new week. I love my job, and that passion has historically translated into […]
Happy happy! So glad it’s the weekend, though it’s a little scary to think that we only have four more of them before summer’s over. Instead of letting it get me down, I’m using it as extra incentive to make the most of these slower-paced days with some quintessentially summer activities: dinners al fresco, afternoon […]
It seems that every time I visit a new destination, I somehow fall head-over-heels for a certain scent that comes to represent the place in my memories. There were the rose gardens in Paris… the lavender in Tuscany… then the diffusers that smelled like sea salt and were placed in every corner of our hotel […]
For me, summertime and books go hand-in-hand. There’s something about settling into a hammock (or a beach chair, or a picnic blanket) with a captivating novel or memoir that symbolizes the ultimate in slowing down and savoring — what summer is all about! This month, I’m cooking (and eating) from a fab new cookbook that […]
Good morning, lovelies! Hope you’re all enjoying your weekends, savoring summer, and diving into something extra delicious on this Sunday morning (and if you haven’t decided what yet, may I suggest one of these?) Our weekend kicked off early with Phoebe’s first trip to the zoo on Friday, and since then it’s been a whirlwind […]
You guys know that I’m not usually one to post big, complicated-looking desserts, but I do think that it’s a good idea to have one or two showstopping tricks up your sleeve for those times when you volunteer to make your mom’s birthday cake or really need to get on your friend’s good side before […]
I’ve read interviews where some of the most stylish, well-dressed women in the world claim that even they have days when they look in their closets and feel like they have nothing to wear. So it probably goes without saying that most of us earthlings have moments when our wardrobes feel uninspired, yet we don’t always […]
There’s nothing I love more than inviting a girl friend to come hang out in my kitchen: cooking together, comparing recipe notes, opening a bottle of wine and inevitably sharing lots of laughs. Two of my favorite foodie gals recently got together and did all of the above, and blogger-designer Athena Calderone was sweet enough […]
Even in today’s world where you can get pretty decent strawberries, citrus, and other produce all year round (imported of course, but totally edible), peaches are one of those items that should be reserved for summertime only. The flavorless and mealy stone fruit that pop up in grocery stores out-of-season barely resemble the sweet, luscious […]
Hello, hello! It’s a big weekend around here… we celebrated Chanel’s birthday yesterday (hence the huge cup of coffee in my hand as I recover from last night’s “punch”), and now we’re all anxiously awaiting the arrival of our editor-in-chief Lauren’s baby tomorrow! Can’t believe there’s going to be a newborn in our midst, and […]
Today’s 10 Best is dedicated to my mom, the world’s biggest cherry lover. Every year for as long as I can remember, the moment that cherries hit peak-of-season, she heads to the grocery and picks up a big bag which she “accidentally” devours on the car ride home. As wonderful as they are eaten fresh out […]
I’ve mentioned before that I’m a pretty streamlined packer, and the same goes for my “personal item” bag that gets stowed under the airplane seat. The key is to strike that balance between feeling underprepared, and feeling overly laden down with a too-heavy tote (the opposite of a vacation mentality!) I actually used to bring […]
The past week has been made up of some really lovely days: working in the morning, spending the afternoons with Phoebe swimming in the pool and making popsicles, and enjoying milder-than-usual (for Austin) summer evenings sipping rosé on the patio with Adam while our dinner cooks away on the grill. I’ve definitely been making an […]
While I could find reasons to argue each season as my favorite, I have a real soft spot for summer. I love the imagery of summertime: crystal clear swimming holes in the heat of the day, watermelon out on the back porch and cracking open a few cold beers on a warm summer evening with […]
