She’s Got it! and Graciously shares it with Family, Friends, and Clients…

Her name is: Heater Beckle

Her role is: My friend. My Blessing. My Adviser… My Goodness!

She is smart, savvy, established, achieved, down right creative… and the triple bonus… she is so much fun! Always dressed to say “sassy”, she speaks with an eloquence of intellect and sophistication, yet her message is comfortingly simple: to encourage, achieve and most of all, ENJOY!

Heather stumbled into my home as a guest of a guest to my “Taste Testing” party last spring. Little did I know that behind her interrogation of a conversation, she was sizing me up with intent to take my hand as I begin this journey of debuting The Gilt Studio. As it would be, Heather is truly a PR veteran and opened I&O Communications here in Austin with her business partner of  3 years.

Since we met, Heather not only graciously advises me and The Gilt Studio in growing structurally through volunteering her time instigating such blessings as consultations with the likes of  Ines Rode, COO of America Retold. She also enthusiastically opens our eyes to the unique and entertaining events Austin has to offer: Fete*Ish Party and my favorite… Her Birthday Party!!!

It was a traditional affair, a cocktail party, with a quirky twist, A Wig Party! haha Heather asked her guests to cheers with her in High Heels and Lace whilst sporting the locks of your desired alter ego. One couple even showed up as “The Whig Party”!… The funniest part was having to “re-meet” everyone  at the end of the night once the wigs came off!

Thank you Heather for being such a creative and giving person. You truly have become and integral part of our growth at The Gilt Studio!

My Birthday is the day before Halloween, so I never knew if everyone was celebrating me, or just the occasion with such “pizazz”. Regardless, it has always made for a “drop in the bucket” when it comes to throwing entertaining and creative B-day Parties!

In my recent years, I have come to rather enjoy hosting pumpkin carving parties, especially for those who don’t have children (myself included) and tend to get excluded from or simply let the more juvenile  traditions of this season go by the wayside.

This year, back in July, we planted our own Pumpkin Patch with the intention to invite my B-day guests to come pick their own pumpkin from our own patch and carve their Jack-O-Lantern over Cocktails and Popcorn. Unfortunately, due to just barely surviving our most detrimental Drought here in Austin since the 1950′s, I don’t have enjough pumpkins to serve all of my guests…actually… I don’t have any, that will be ready, that is.

I do have two beautiful healthy baby pumpkins that are steadily taking their turn (from Green in color, to Orange). Though they wont be ready to carve by Halloween, we have had so much fun tracking their growth: from a buried seed in the ground, to the first sprout of leaf peaking through the dirt, to the monster it has become of giant leaves, strangling vines and blossomed flowers… Even more entertaining?!… Hunting for the pumpkins amidst the vines and actually finding out that one has grown!… and being able to say I have my own pumpkin patch! haha

I could very much see this becoming a fun and memorable tradition for children and adults alike! Though it did take some time to clear out the area, planting and tending to my pumpkin patch has been quite effortless, timelessly entertaining, and costing no more than the 10 cents I paid for my packet of seeds.

Next year you should try it! They say the best day to plant for the perfect Halloween Pumpkin is July 4th. I was a few weeks late on that deadline this year (we had a party to attend), but next year I will remind you all ahead of time so you may enjoy a patch of your own, as well!

Sweet Idea… For Sure!

Sloan hosted her dolly bearing guests with an extraordinary Dolly Cake and a Candy Bar like no other.  No average bar of Chocolate, Sloan’s Candy Bar was literally a bar displaying an array of beautiful candies as decedent as your taste buds can imagine. Laura McCullough, owner and barista of Sweet-Soiree, deliciously blends candy with style by staging an elegant, yet festive, bar of candied assortments at each party’s location. She custom designs the bar style and candy types for each event and budget type. This Candy Bar was indulgent to the eyes, and obviously tasty on the palate!

Thank you Sloan for inviting me and what a Sweet Idea!

-Palmer

It is finally official!…

Most 20 somethings ache at the approach of the Big 3-0… Not Elena, as she has been eagerly awaiting this honor since before I can remember. Not commemorating a phase gone by, rather embracing a phase “Next”, Elena and her guests “Splish Splashed in Fun under the Sun at her 30th Birthday Beach Bash” with a weekend of refreshing flare…

Elena welcomed each guests in their Condominium Room with a hospitality “bucket”  equipped with the weekend necessities: Beach towels, Custom Beach Coozies, a sand bucket filled with the makings for a delicious morning snack: a bottle of Champagne, Orange Juice, Breakfast Sausage and Danish and and invitation for the weekend’s events. We spent our days in the coastal sun, grilling alligator kabobs, burgers, hot dogs, and fajitas. I made her some homemade ice cream and a cake, and we sang and played the guitars by the late night bonfire while competing to make the perfect beach side ‘Sommores.

Congratulations, Elena, and thank you! It was a good time had by all…