I am honored to be sharing a conversation with one of my all-time favorite shopkeepers and entertaining gurus, Ted Kennedy Watson. I’ll never forget discovering his store in Seattle — walking inside felt like Christmas morning with its shelves of gleaming vintage silver, tins of packaged chocolates, boxes of perfumed soaps, and Livia Cetti’s vibrant paper flowers! I bought so many treasures that day and would fly to Seattle in a minute with the sole purpose of shopping there again. Ted’s beautiful eye and knack for curating treasures is a gift. It’s no wonder that his store has been named one of the best in the country by Architectural Digest. Retail aside, Ted has been writing a daily lifestyle blog for years and it is one of my favorite places to go on the internet. He has a palpable positivity and zest for life that’s contagious, and whenever I’m in a funk or need a boost, I make a beeline to his site where I find instant inspiration. His books on entertaining (namely Ted Kennedy Watson’s Guide to Stylish Entertaining) are also wonderful, with party tips, links to soulful playlists, and wisdom gleaned from a lifetime of experience breaking bread and making memories with loved ones. Without further ado, I hope you enjoy this conversation!

Continue Reading

Many years ago, I had a blog called Bluebonnets for Sal. Every Tuesday I’d publish a post on flowers. Years later, I still love everything floral-related and I find a way to bring flowers into my life whenever possible. One of my favorite things to make for parties are these super simple flower crowns. There’s something about these happy headpieces that makes me think of moonlit nights and forest fairies, candlelit dinners and late summer rain. I most recently made a few of these “Carnation Coronas” to celebrate the Summer Solstice. {Did you know the word crown comes from the Latin word corona, meaning garland/wreath or korone in Ancient Greek?} They are super easy to make and you can use any color scheme you’d like. Click through for my brief tutorial.

Continue Reading

I love having friends over for dinner. Good company and good food are a salve for the soul. One of my favorite things about having dinner parties at home (aside from the cooking) is getting to set the table. I love pairing linens and china with glassware and candles just as I love arranging flowers amidst a mix of decorative objets. We had some good friends over a few weeks before Easter and I used the occasion to bring out some of our seasonal decorations. Every Easter growing up, Carlos’ mother gave him a new porcelain Peter Rabbit collectible with his initials and the year written on the bottom. It’s a very sweet tradition and one I hope to continue – perhaps with my godchildren or future kiddos.

Continue Reading

My family and I had the pleasure of being featured in Garden & Gun magazine for the August/September 2017 Issue. We gathered around our old water cistern-turned-dining-venue at the family ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas for a proper wine and cheese celebration as the summer sun faded to the west. The magazine is a favorite of both mine and my family so it was a real treat to be featured in its glossy pages. Enjoy the lovely photographs by Kate LeSueur and read the full story in the August/September issue.

Continue Reading