My party closet! I have so much fun creating tablescapes in here. Photo by David Tsay for Veranda What fun to read Veranda Editor-in-Chief, Steele Marcoux's article about The Party Closet.  She calls it the most indispensable room you have never heard of!  Click here to read her story and ...

I have resisted the urge to start pulling out holiday decorations but, after catching a glimpse of a Christmas movie on Hallmark while I was switching channels, I could not resist lighting a new holiday candle this weekend.  As much as I love my pumpkin spice candles in the Fall, ...

It is time for Partner's Card again, one of my favorite ways to help an amazing organization, The Family Place.  The Family Place provides shelter, education, legal aid and so much more to women, children and men who are victims of domestic abuse.  Partner's Card is a great way to ...

Millie's baking passion continues and this time she has created a Jack-O-Lantern cake designed to burst with candy corn when it is cut into! We started by making two chocolate cakes in bundt pans using a dense cake cake recipe so that they could be firmly stacked, one on top ...

I'm ready for the weekend!  Millie and I have a baking experiment planned and we are looking forward to spending some time with friends.  I hope you have a nice relaxing time planned! -Loved hearing Laura Linney speak at the Texas Trailblazers Award Luncheon benefitting The Family Place today and ...

I'm so happy that it is officially Fall even though it still feels like we are in the middle of the summer in this Texas heat!  Fall means the release of so many wonderful new books too!  I have a long list of new book on my list but I ...

Although uncommon today, tulipieres were massively popular among wealthy Europeans in the 17th century.  They were designed to hold one tulip bulb per spout.  Once placed inside in water, the bulbs would be forced to grow through the nearest opening, therefore, they are sometimes called "forcing bowls."  Tulips, at the ...

I was thrilled when the team at NorthPark asked me to create a tablescape for the September Issue of their magazine.  Tablescaping is one of favorite things to do!  They challenged me to come up with a look that would suit the Fall and Holiday entertaining style of a host ...

Is it possible to make a comeback if you have never left?  The classic trench coat seems to be claiming it's rightful place on the throne of Fall fashions this year and I'm thrilled!  They are one of those wardrobe staples that never seem to go out of style.   There ...

I'm dreaming up a new tablescape for an upcoming project and I'm having so much fun playing with my collection of Tobacco Leaf.  Although I love to mix and match all of my china, because it has over 27 colors in it, Tobacco Leaf is a favorite!  There are so ...