Gatherings

Hosting Tips

How to host a dinner party? You’ll find it right here, with unique ideas for gatherings that foster connection and build community with an intentional mindset.

Back to the Beach

“There’s not much better than a baby on a beach, is there?” It was one of those honest observations you make when you’re entirely comfortable with your significant other. We were lying underneath a palapa in Mexico, watching a mother lead her child along the shore. The toddler was experiencing the sea for the first time […]

How to Picnic Like an Event Planner

There are few things I love more than gathering friends for lunch al fresco in the summertime —  even a simple spread of cheese and crackers feels elevated when it’s on a pretty picnic blanket spread out in the grass. Here to show us how to make our picnics Instagram-worthy on the fly is Charleston-based event planner Calder Clark, who […]

Ginger Mint Lemonade

Click here to check out the full story, “Three Ways To Take Your Lemonade To The Next Level.” *photos by Laura D. Photography

Lavender Lemonade

Click here to check out the full story, “Three Ways To Take Your Lemonade To The Next Level.” *photos by Laura D. Photography

Rosemary Lemonade

Click here to see the full story, “Three Ways To Take Your Lemonade To The Next Level.” *photos by Laura D. Photography

The Pearl Diver

Click here to see more from the full story, “Two Tiki Cocktails Every Summer Party Needs.“

Two Tiki Cocktails Every Summer Party Needs

Editor’s note: More than four years since our epic mixology class at drink.well, and the cozy local joint is still one of our favorite places in town. With a new summer tiki menu debuting next week, drink.well owner and master mixologist Jessica Sanders stopped by to share two crazy good cocktails that’ll take your next poolside luau to […]

A Colorful Summer Seafood Boil

It’s finally starting to feel like summer in Austin, which means lots of outdoor parties with light and fresh food on the menu. I love setting big platters on the table and serving guests family-style, and nothing says “help yourself” like a backyard seafood boil. I’m a sucker for themed parties and when I couldn’t find the […]

Summer Backyard Movie Night

I went to an all girls camp in the Texas hill country, and some the best memories of my summers there were the nights designated for outdoor movies. We’d hold a vote the week before, and everyone could write in whatever movie they wanted. (At the risk of dating myself, I’ll say that Newsies, Pretty […]

Dinner in the South of France

Around this time two years ago, Adam and I took a trip to the South of France to celebrate my 30th birthday and our 5th wedding anniversary, two milestones that fell within the same week of each other. It was definitely one of those bucket list trips — we fell in love with the beaches, the effortlessly […]

Inside Our First Ever Get Healthy Get Together

I’m still on cloud nine after last Sunday’s first-ever #GetHealthyGetTogether that our team hosted here in Austin at the beautiful South Congress Hotel. Earlier this year, we announced a renewed commitment to creating content that inspires healthy lifestyles, and that inspired a desire to do something IRL with you guys. As much as we love our […]

Throw an Epic Memorial Day Bash in 6 Easy Steps

Celebrate the kickoff to summer by rounding up your crew for a backyard barbecue or party on the water. We pulled together our favorite creative ideas for food and drink recipes, activities, and decor tips that will equal an unforgettable holiday weekend without the stress. Click through for your complete guide to throwing a Memorial Day […]

A Marie Antoinette Bridal Shower

Four months into my engagement, and I’ve learned that planning a wedding is a full time job. Lesson #1: If any event — like an engagement party, a bridal shower, a bachelorette party — can be passed off to friends or family, you’d be wise to give them complete autonomy over planning. I was originally reluctant to […]

Seek the Surf

When I was seventeen, I headed west with my parents to tour California schools. The UCLA and Pepperdine campuses were beautiful, but the biggest takeaway of the trip was catching my first wave on a longboard in Malibu. I ended up writing an admissions essay about the experience and submitting it (ironically) to the land-locked […]

A Laid Back Mother’s Day Picnic

I can’t help but feel the pressure when it comes to Mother’s Day. I find myself trying to plan the ideal day for Mom, and hoping to perfect every last detail — the food has to be good, the gifts just right, and the heartfelt message in the greeting card? If that doesn’t draw a tear or two, I’ve failed […]

The Freshest Spring Lip Shades

I don’t want to start any fights here, but in my opinion the much-beloved fall season has nothing on spring. Those first few soft breezes on your skin, the dappled light flowing through the fresh blooms on the trees, the scent of aforementioned blooms in the air—it’s simply magic. (Plus, it means that summer AND […]