For our Valentine’s/Presidents Day long weekend, Ross and I drove West  with no other plans than to see what we could discover… and what we uncovered was quite literally a “Trip”.

We began in the direction of Fredricksburg, stopping for a quick try at a roadside fishing hole, and tasted our way through the traditions of the quaint historic German town. The map then showed Marfa, TX to be the next point of interest, 6 hours away. Stopping once for a quick bite to eat at The Gage Hotel in Marathon, TX, we reached our destination, Marfa, just in time (at Midnight) to witness the controversial Marfa Mystery Lights dancing about the West Texas desert…seriously, we both saw them… CRAZY!

However interesting, the true mission to our quests was revealed to us previously at dinner in Marathon by the hotel concierge, Stephen. Initiated by my uncontrollable interest in others’ conversations, Stephen not only informed us of a nearby natural Hot Springs camping spot (4 hours away), Chinati Hot Springs, that lay tucked below in the side of a dried up canyonous ravine system, he also mapped out his favorite rout for seeing the most of West Texas’ offerings…Big Bend!

From County Roads that most would call “Desolate Dirt Trails” , Wild Horses, and “Do it yourself” Plumbing provided by our Chinati Hot Springs host, “Hippie Dave”, to Champagne Snacks and Pandora radio on the iPhone, Ross and I never once noticed that we had driven 1,000 miles, round trip!

Any blind adventure seems it would be a great one; however, I definitely recomend trying this Rio Grande Route at least once… you’ll see what I mean

Whole Foods offers not only cooking classes in their culinary curriculum, but also a romantic date night opportunity. For Christmas, Ross bestowed me with this Friday night cooking class for two, and we had a delectable time!

With our syllabus provided and our ingredients prepped, the five kitchen room was stationed in twos: Two cutting boards, two knives… and two glasses of champagne. As our instructing chefs floated the room advising on timing, substitutions, and other pointers, Ross and I (OK, mostly “I”) sipped champagne and giggled at our own impressions of Julia Child and Bobby Flay… I even made my own apron for the event!

Our chefs were so kind, knowledgeable and entertaining that they even indulged our personal curiosity in alternative  Gluten Free Ingredients. Once we plated our dishes, we all sat down family style to the fruits of our labor and enjoyed not only the conversation of  new friends, but also savored the delicious  taste of disbelieve… that “I actually made this?!?!!”

Do be warned, this activity is geared more towards the pleasure of your entertainment, rather than an in-depth “Tricks of the Trade” style crash course. Whole Foods offers other classes for that, if such is your goal. If you don’t have a Whole Foods in your home town, I am sure your local gourmet store does or will offer such classes if you ask!

-Enjoy

I was on the Decorations Committee for this annual fundraiser hosted by The Junior League of Austin this year and a year is what it took to put on this show.  This year’s theme was It’s a Wild Holiday, so we dressed all of Palmer Event Center as that of a Christmas celebrated on an Old World African Safari.

The Event has come and gone, but we are re-selling all the decorations from this event Friday Dec 4, through Sunday Dec 6 to help further raise money to be donated back to the Austin community.

To spare you a years worth of words collected, I will simply let the pictures do the talking!

Upon request The Gilt Studio is now offering classes! But, of course, this is no ordinary education…

Join us at The Gilt Studio for a 4-week in studio workshop, learning how to Gild on Glass with 22Karat Gold Leaf to make Water Gilded Vere Eglomise art tiles. We will indulge in our favorite aperitif dishes, and share our crafty cocktail delicious, while learning the history of and how to apply this traditional art form to your custom designs in today’s modern world.

We will make two art tiles. The first of which will be a design provided in teaching these skills, and the second will be one of your choice, be it your own artwork or found design. Gilt Art Tiles are unique and custom expressions for Home Accents?! Custom Gifts of Art?! They may be converted into Coasters, Mosaic Tiles, whatever you wish. You may also give the class itself as a gift in the form of a “Gilt Certificate”.

Our next class is projected to begin Thursday evenings beginning November 5th (excluding Thanksgiving).  However, we  also invite you to organize your own group of three or more people and schedule classes on a series of dates that work best for you!

For further information and to register, please e-mail Palmer@GiltStudio.com or call us at 512-732-0662. Must have 3 people for classes to proceed. Please allow 1 week to order materials.

The Gilt Studio donated a “Gilt Certificate” Package to Ballet Austin’s Silent Auction: Fete*ish Fundraiser Party. Decorated to satisfy each and every desire, Fete*ish was a Moulon Rouge inspired event where upon entering the guests were tantalize down the red carpet marked by a row of promiscuous legs leading the way, and finally roped in through the front door with feather boas waiting for all. Entertained with scantily clad acrobatic dancers scattered throughout the crowd, a top notch burlesque performance and party goers dressed to thematically impress, this Party Fete*ish was satisfied!

Today she is offering Special Pricing on Christmas Card Packages if you schedule your shoot before August 25th!

A friend asked me to be her teammate for Austin’s Urban Assault Ride hosted by the New Belgium Brewing Co. this past Sunday. We woke up at 7:00 am to race other cycling enthusiasts in a city wide obstacle course scavenger hunt. For most, the goal was to either beat everyone elses’ time at a chance to win the new “Bike” , if not to at least beat their own time from last year. For Laura and I, our goal was simply to just have FUN! Honestly speaking, our true underlying goal was to see if we could find the cutest mimosas spot along the way in between each check point, and really had no intention of actually attending each check point… some just looked so far away!

Yet, once we got started we didn’t want to stop! With a general idea of where to go and in what order, we accidentally stumbled upon our first check point. We were so thrilled to receive our first of 7 accomplishment tokens after successfully throwing 4 rope rings around empty beer bottles at the train tracks on east 5th street, we passed on our first mimosa and went on to discover a new hidden inner city bike trail, balance water on our heads while riding our bikes, jumping into Town Lake collecting beach balls, and slidding out racing big wheels around a winedy and sharply turned race course. We never thought twice about the Mimossas, be we sure were glad to be greated at the finish line with a cold bubbly brew of New Belgium Beer.

I had so much fun; can’t wait unitl next year… Thanks Laura!