Hosting Tips

“What’s Up Doc” Carrot-Ginger Cocktail

Even while pregnant, I’m not typically one to order a “mocktail” — they’re usually supersweet and lack the interesting aspects of their alcoholic counterparts, and I’d rather just drink an iced tea or grapefruit juice. However, when Adam and I were in Napa last month, I discovered a serious exception to the rule. While hanging at the […]

Easter Egg Pancakes

Lately I’ve started letting Phoebe “help out” in the kitchen: she was my devoted sous chef on last weekend’s pizza dough, and she singlehandedly added all the ingredients to a batch of zucchini muffins the other day. It definitely gets messy and undoubtedly takes longer than if I just cook something myself, but we have […]

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

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Nutella Molten Cakes + No-Churn Cherry Cheesecake Ice Cream

ed. note: Since our entire team has fallen in love with the decadent, beautiful, and perfectly-named blog Butterlust, we invited its creator, Katie, to pop by the site once a month in an all new series called “The Sweeter Side.” She’ll be sharing at-home recipes for ending the meal (or starting the day) on a sweet note, […]

Dangerously Decadent Chocolate Pie

With Valentine’s Day just a few weeks away, sweet treats, decadent chocolates, and dangerous indulgences are on our minds. And when tasked with whipping up a delicious and devilish Valentine’s treat, we knew that Libbie Summers — hostess with the mostess and author of Sweet and Viscous: Baking with Attitude — was the woman for the job. Keep reading […]