Cue up the Santa Baby… at our house, today officially kicks off the Christmas season! We make it a tradition to decorate the tree and hang the stockings on the day after Thanksgiving every year. After all, we’ve only got 29 more days to be in the holiday spirit, and this season always flies by so quickly. Thought […]
We finally (!!!) just had our first semi-chilly day in Austin, and you should have seen our team… Decked out in scarves, boots, and turtlenecks, you would have thought we were experiencing an arctic blast, when it was actually just under 60 degrees. It’s amazing how the changing temps cause such a shift in what I’m […]
I love getting to know people who challenge me to check my assumptions at the door and remind me that there’s often so much more to a person than first meets the eye. When you’re introduced to Antonio Bond, you may notice his full beard, his many tattoos, or his trucker hat and metal band tees (he’s been a bartender at […]
Planning the Thanksgiving menu is one of my favorite activities of the holiday season, and I fully embrace the challenge of satisfying the traditionalists in my family (yes Dad, cranberry jelly will be happening) while following my own impulse to put a modern spin on a few of the dishes. Today’s menu is what I’d be […]
“Though a whole roasted bird is traditional, l think that a turkey breast rolled up with stuffing is hands-down the most flavorful way to serve the bird on Thanksgiving. I ask my butcher to debone and butterfly the turkey so that the hard part’s done before I bring it home. If you’d like, prepare the […]
Back from Hawaii this week and still smiling every time I think of our time there; the tropical flowers, salty air, incredible ocean/mountain views, and freshest fish I’ve ever tasted left an indelible impression on my mind. We had some amazing experiences — a helicopter ride all over Maui, and the day that Adam and […]
Have you ever tasted a new ingredient and thought, “Now this is a game-changer”? I can remember a few times in my life: Maldon sea salt, really good dark chocolate, European butter, and most of all, six years ago when we were on our honeymoon in Italy and I tasted buffalo mozzarella for the first time. Previously, I’d had […]
Whether you’re a newlywed or you just signed the lease on a new home, nothing beats the excitement of inviting your nearest and dearest to break bread at your table. But if you’ve never hosted a seated dinner before, the sheer thought of cooking for a group can be overwhelming. The key? Keep it simple! Set […]
Confession: I used to think that the only real reason to do cardio was to look good in a swimsuit. And since my 20-year-old body pretty much maintained itself (*sigh*… those were the days!), I didn’t work out super regularly because — why? Then a few things happened in my life that changed my perspective. First, I […]
Click here to read the full “Dia de los Muertos” story. *photgraphy by Buff Strickland
You guys — I’ve been anxiously counting down to today for the past several weeks. As you read this, I’m on a flight to Maui for our first family vacay since Henry was born! I have been seriously craving some time to unplug and inhale the fragrance of tropical flowers, eat tons of sushi, go for […]
I know, pumpkin spice everything has invaded the interwebs this month, but c’mon: it only comes around once a year and the season is so fleeting! And I’m #sorrynotsorry that we’re just going to keep the pumpkin train going for 6 more weeks until we’re officially sick of it. You’ll forgive me once you’ve laid […]
We’ve all been there… You’re rushing to get ready for people to come over: dinner’s in the oven, lipstick’s on, playlist is ready to go. Only prob is that in the mad dash to get ready, your house didn’t exactly get any attention and now you’ve got exactly 15 minutes to make it presentable for guests. Since […]
When I took a poll last month about which seasonal menus you’d love to get a little help with, “Adult Halloween Party” was one of the most frequent requests. I’m right there with you: it can be really tough to find the balance between spooky and sophisticated, and while you want to infuse the menu with […]
I love the idea of a Halloween costume created using makeup — instead of having to go out and buy a crazy getup you’ll never wear again, why not use it as an opportunity to stock your makeup drawer with a few new items that can add a fun twist to your usual morning routine? […]
Autumn feels like a fitting time of year to reconnect with faraway friends, as well as the people who live right in our own neighborhoods. When I was growing up, my parents were always friends with our neighbors — we’d have dinner parties, leave baked goods on each other’s doorsteps, and when I was old enough […]
What’s your approach to music festival dressing? I think the best looks are a perfect blend of casual and cool — you want to express your personal style and have fun with your outfit without sacrificing all-day comfort. We had such a blast teaming up with Target to scout out the best of ACL festival style […]
I’m on a major Asian food kick lately, playing around with lots of miso and sriracha and fish sauce in dishes. Since most of my experiments have also been super spicy, I’ve been searching for the perfect cooling cocktail to pair them with, and here it is! This Cucumber-Ginger Sangria packs its own little kick of heat with […]
It doesn’t feel like fall until I’ve eaten ______. How would you fill in the blank? For me, it’s caramel apples, pumpkin everything, a steaming mug of chai tea, and sweet-spicy-crunchy caramel corn. I think it reminds me of the fall carnivals we used to have at school growing up, where everyone dressed up and there […]
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of co-hosting a stylish Southern brunch with my designer friend Katie Kime to celebrate the opening of her first brick and mortar store. It was an unforgettable morning full of gorgeous design (her house!), amazing food (churros!) and a guest list that included the chicest gals from both […]
Usually I spend the month of October bemoaning the fact that summer is over, but this year, I am SO pumped for fall. Maybe it’s because I’m dying to wear my new ankle boots, or maybe I’m just over the humidity of late summer in Austin. Whatever the reason, I can’t wait to enjoy evenings by […]
I find it bizarrely fun to hear about what foods people dislike. It’s fascinating to learn that friends I may have a lot in common with in other areas don’t share my passion for sushi or sweet potatoes. The other day, my mom and I got an endless text thread where we listed all the foods we didn’t […]
Call me a fair-weather fan, but I equate football season with one thing: parties! Whether you’re inviting friends to gather around the tv in your living room, or meeting people at a genuine pre-game tailgate, the common denominator is good drinks and really great food. A lot of you guys have been asking for menu ideas […]
This morning as we took the kids on a walk around the neighborhood, we spotted the first few houses all decked out with giant spiderwebs, ghosts hanging from trees, and witches guarding front doors on their broomsticks. It definitely made me start getting in the spirit of things — which is perfect timing since today’s […]
Morning friends! I’m taking it a little slower this morning after two long days and late nights at the ACL Festival. We’ve totally lucked out with the most sunny, beautiful weather, and it’s weekends like these that make me extra happy to live in Austin. Yesterday, we took Phoebe to the shows for a few […]
