Gatherings

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 […]

Hosting Tips

Think Pink Valentine’s Brunch

Pink party skirts, rosé mimosas, flowers with a pastel flair, and a table flawlessly set with delicious eats and sugary sweets. What more could a girl ask for when toasting her gal pals at a “think pink”-themed brunch? Best friends Sophie Collins and Gillian Segal show us how to do the quintessential girls’ V-day soiree that […]

Valentine Branch Tree
Gatherings

15 Best Handmade Valentines

While we don’t entirely condone the traditional route of tins lined with truffles or a dozen red roses, there’s something to be said for homemade love. No matter the love language you speak, a valentine straight from your heart and hands always seems to make the sweetest statement. So this year, give your one-and-only the gift of your […]

Food

Raspberry Rose Cocktail

ed. note: Today’s mouthwatering cocktail recipe comes to us from Kristin Alexander — design darling, entertaining guru, and the founder of California-based Esoteric Events. Keep reading for all the delicious details, and to learn how to whip up this oh-so-romantic brew just in time for February 14th… Believe it or not, some of my most memorable Valentine’s […]

Love & Lemons couple taste testing
Gatherings

Love & Lemons

Jeanine and Jack stick to the most important ingredients when it comes to making fresh meals in their kitchen: a lot of love and a squeeze of lemon to finish. On their award-winning food blog Love & Lemons, they dish out the type of delicious recipes that we always want to make (seriously, if this site isn’t […]

beautiful bouquet
Health

14 Ways to Be Romantic

Adam and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary last June, and one thing I’ve learned over the years is the importance of showing little acts of romance — or even grander gestures once in awhile! It’s easy to become so comfortable with the person you wake up with each morning that you can forget to prioritize showing […]

DIY Valentine's Wall Decal
Hosting Tips

Valentine’s Wall Decal

I’ve often wondered why we don’t deck out our homes for Valentine’s Day the way we do for other holidays. Think about it: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas (or in my case, Hannukah) and Easter have us running around town, googling and pinning, and crafting like crazy to create a holiday wonderland that’s just so, while Valentine’s Day decor […]

Ombre Icing
Food

XOXO Valentine’s Brownies

It would be impossible to celebrate love’s favorite holiday without our one true love…chocolate, of course! What better way to say “je t’aime” than these decadent delights adorned with an ombre royal frosting. Now’s the time to up your game by making these extra special — pull out your apron and make a homemade, but still super simple, batch […]

pastel pinks
Design

Blush Pink

Raise your hand if you’re currently daydreaming of baked sweets, blush treats and pastel pinks. There’s just something about the blossoming shades of pink that embody February in the most quintessential way. And if it means that Spring is just one month closer — you can find me eagerly welcoming February’s pastel shades with open arms. Blush your way into […]

dessert & lingerie
Hosting Tips

A Lingerie Pop-Up Party

All you need is love, your favorite ladies and luxurious lingerie to turn any regular afternoon into an affair to remember. And we were able to do just that with a pop-up party we hosted with the help of our friends at Flora Nuit, a brand that brings shopping for beautiful intimate apparel into the comfort of […]