Gatherings

Ireland-inspired Mood Board
Design

Emerald Isle

I’ve never been to Ireland, but it’s high up there on my dying-to-go-there list. And even though this time of year, mention of Ireland elicits thoughts of four leaf clovers and leprechauns, I’ve got my sites set on seaside cliffs with lush landscapes, awe-inspiring castles and quaint Dublin pubs. So rather than choosing a less-than-subtle St. Patrick’s Day green […]

Punch Cups
Gatherings

Adam Jacoby and Kris Swift

Adam Jacoby and Kris Swift have mastered the art of the dinner party, and it’s no surprise. As real-life partners and the duo behind Austin’s popular Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile, the two put their complementary skill set to work each night of the week — Adam as the culinary brains behind the restaurant, and Kris as the […]

Lavender Madeleines
Food

Lavender Pistachio Madeleines

Madeleines may have found their place in history thanks to Proust, but these buttery scalloped cakes are undoubtedly delicious enough to stand on their own, literary references aside. I’ve loved them for years, and can’t believe I actually had to purchase a madeleine pan to make these at home for the first time ever. The […]

Heirloom Tomato Bloody Mary / 10 Best Cinco De Mayo Cocktails
Food

Heirloom Tomato Bloody Mary

When crafting a cocktail, sometimes a slight departure from a classic is the best way to ensure you will love your (semi!) original creation. We did just that with our boozy brunch go-to (the bloody mary, of course) and broke tradition by straying from its signature shade of red. While there is something to be […]

Eleanor Bartosh and Adam Rasmus
Gatherings

Adam and Eleanor

photographed by kate lesueur When we were working with Eleanor and Adam last fall to do an “Entertaining With” feature, we got an unexpected but exciting call. “We may have to put the shoot on hold,” said Adam. “We just put an offer on a house!” Fast-forward four months later and you’d never believe this […]

the pink lady cocktail
Recipes

How to Host a Spring Mixology Party

From their customizable notebooks to their eye catching stationery, the Austin-based May Designs team knows how to use color and pattern to turn something ordinary into a party-on-paper. With that in mind, we knew we could count on the creative bunch to show us how to host a team-building gathering that’s anything but ice-breakers and trust falls. Their idea […]

monochromatic nude board
Design

In the Nude

Does anybody else feel stuck in color story limbo these days? With spring on the brain, pastels are begging for their big seasonal reveal, but the freezing temperatures outside are making it impossible to put those winter shades to bed. As a result, I’ve found myself safely turning to not-so-colorful shades of nude. Whether it’s a pair of […]

Julia Lake Baby Shower
Hosting Tips

A Pajama Brunch Baby Shower

photographed by mia baxter If I had to describe Julia Lake in one phrase it would be this: “Not afraid to be fabulous.” As the renowned event designer behind Julia Lake Parties!, Julia is one of those rare people who just instinctively knows how to turn a get-together into a magical, once-in-a-lifetime event. When Michael […]

Color Palette
Gatherings

Métier Cook’s Supply

Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher have come a long way since their time working the restaurant business in New York City. Today, this culinary-inclined couple is settled in Texas with not one but two businesses servicing the ever-growing Austin food community. The duo opened Lenoir in 2012 (which was named the best restaurant in Austin in 2014 — no biggie), and […]

wine and chocolate pairing party
Food

Chocolate + Wine Tasting at Chocolaterie Tessa

I confess that I’m a total chocoholic. So when Tessa Halstead, creative gal and second-gen chocolatier (her dad was an early pioneer of artisanal chocolate-making!) invited our team to meet at her darling Austin shop for a wine & chocolate tasting party, we couldn’t wait to make this our next field trip. Much to our tastebuds’ delight, the Chocolaterie Tessa team […]

Key to My Heart DIY Valentine
Hosting Tips

DIY Key to My Heart

A few months ago I came across a great image on Pinterest — a styled shot of tasseled hotel keys from The Grand Budapest Hotel. I stumbled happily down a rabbit hole that ended at the portfolio site of Annie Atkins, the incredible designer hired by Wes Anderson to create the graphic elements for the […]

Ashley of Hither & Thither sets table
Gatherings

Hither & Thither

First, we fell in love with this jaw-droppingly gorgeous home we kept spotting all over Pinterest. Then, we developed a total girl crush on Ashley, the gal behind that amazing home and her lifestyle site, Hither & Thither, brimming with inspiring photography, design, food and travel tales, all with an undeniable focus on family. Ashley and her husband, Aron, […]

DIY Valentine's Pockets using toilet paper tubes
Hosting Tips

Cardboard Tube Valentine’s Pockets

Valentine’s Day is quite a polarizing holiday, isn’t it? Round up a test  group, and you’ll likely be able to draw a line straight down the middle between the V-Day lovers, and those who absolutely loathe it.  If you know me at all, you know that I’m a proud member of the first camp — You mean to tell […]

Mod Valentine's Day Inspiration
Design

Modern Love

Happy (almost) Valentine’s Day, folks. We’re keeping the festivities going this week with lots more romance-inspired recipes, do-it-yourself crafts, and ideas to incorporate into your own V-day festivities. But first, this unabashedly lovey dovey inspiration board. Red has long been my favorite color, so I chose to keep this palette clean with little more than the […]