Caplan Miller Events Blog

I’ve finally gotten my running groooove back on and oh how I love my time on the trail on Lady Bird Lake. It is such an authentic Austin experience and especially good for the soul. As I hit the ground running my time flies by as I’m entertained by all walks of life (and you know we have some interesting characters in Austin). I tend to keep my eyes peeled on the speed walkers (work that body, work that body!), the HOT shirtless men (you know you watch them too!), and then there’s the super mom running with a mega running stroller carrying triplets (get it girl!). My eyes have recently been pulled toward this super funky truck sporting the words Sup ATX. My initial thought was this was another cool program through Runtex. Nope, it’s the hot new Stand Up Paddle–“SUP”-get it?—gracing our lake. The sport is an ancient Hawaiian form of surfing. In the 1960’s, surfing instructors in Hawaii would manage groups of beginner surfers from stand up paddle boards, as standing on the board gave them a higher viewpoint, increasing visibility, as well as better views of incoming waves. SUP also has roots from the Beach Boys of Waikiki where they would stand on their long boards and paddle out with outrigger paddles to take pictures of tourists learning to surf. This is where the term “Beach Boy Surfing,” another name for stand up paddle surfing. The Flagship SUP ATX stand up paddle boards are designed to perform great in the ocean, on waves, lakes, and rivers. Very Stable-Easy to Ride-Easy to Carry-Easy to Manage. Not to mention they come in all kinds of fun colors.

If the awesome colors don’t sell you on this hip new sport, then I know you are going to sign up once you know celebrities are jumping on board (literally!). If it’s cool enough for Jennifer Aniston, then I guess I will try it!

A MUST watch—The trailer for the “SUP ATX Stand Up Paddle Journey from Malibu to Austin”. Awesomeness!
SUP ATX

I’m totally hooked and I haven’t even set one toe on this board. If you are out and about on Saturday come join me in this adventure. I will be the clumsy one trying to not fall over. For anyone looking for a unique Austin experience-SUP ATX is right for you. This would be a great team building activity for any corporate groups. You can also offer SUP ATX on your welcome guide for groups coming in for a wedding.

Hope to see you on the lake!

Cheers!
Elizabeth

I have two words for you that will change your way of partying forever: Flutter Fetti. I am obsessed and you will be too. This is one hundred percent guaranteed fun (or I will personally give you your money back). You may not know this, but you have encountered flutter fetti before. If you watch Saturday Night Live, you have seen this. If you watched American Idol last night, you saw this (Lee DeWyze is the most best!!). I’m telling you… this is a major phenomenon!!!

Flutter Fetti is not just streams of paper flying in the air, but it is an art. You can pick your choice of containers and stick sizes. You can have a solid color or mix it up with multicolor. There is no right or wrong way to flick your wrists and once you do, fun will be pouring down from all sorts of directions. Line up your guests with flutter fetti sticks for the bride and groom’s departure or hand them out on the dance floor and let ‘em rip for the last song. Either way, you are bound for amazingness.
(P.S. Note my new vocab and please use: most best, amazingness)

Warning: Be careful though – if you get overly excited and flick too hard and too close, it can hurt. Courtney can tell you from experience… OUCH!

Let the fluttering fun begin!!
You know you love me!
Xoxo,
Gossip Girl

What is it about a mirror that can make everything look just so fabulous and fancy? Well, not only do they make your room feel twice as big, they add tons of sparkle and double all your gorgeous lighting.

Thankfully, these beautiful pieces of glass are no longer just for the walls. I love incorporating them into my decor however I can. Think furniture, table numbers, signage, tabletops, vases, and charger plates!

Recently, I have become obsessed with the Venetian style mirror.

This gorgeous one can be purchased at www.horchow.com. Consider hanging one behind your bar at your next event. Not only is it a conversation starter, but your guests will be able to discreetly check their teeth for spinach!

Love,
Sarah

Nothing stands out more than that beautiful wedding gown or those fabulous shoes you just had to have to go with it. But that doesn’t mean everything else goes unnoticed. Accessories are major this season. Add a hairpiece that will make your eyes sparkle or strand some layered necklaces and make heads turn. There’s nothing like a beautiful beaded clutch to go with your dress. With these accessories you are bound to make a statement.

Links: Style Me Pretty, Soo Ihn Kim Earrings, Judith Leiber Small Curved Oval Minaudiere, Style Me Pretty, Juicy Couture Flower Headband, Aqua Messy Steel Chain Necklace

So remember, add a little bling to your ‘do.
Xx,
E

Thanks to my mom, Joni Webb and my travels to Paris, I have a love for French design. Step into Alyse and Robert’s home (those are my ‘rents) and it’s 100% pure Country French bliss!

My home is slowing morphing into my parent’s home’s mini-me, thanks to my mom’s design skills and inspiration from Joni!

This is the inspiration for my bedroom. It’s toile, ya’ll.

Here is your quick history lesson on toile…

Wikipedia tells me that Toile de Jouy originated in France in the late 1700s. The phrase literally means “cloth from Jouy-en-Josas”, a town in north-central France. Toile de Jouy is typically abbreviated to just “toile”. Although it has been continuously produced for hundreds of years, it experienced an increase in popularity around the year 2000.

…well I’m here in 2010 ready to produce an event designed all around/over/with/on/in it!

I would pair toile linens with Tuscan Chivari Chairs

We would munch on nutella + banana crepes and we would sip kir royales. I’ll hang a crystal chandelier in a tree over this imaginary table o’ mine and voila – that’s my idea of fab fête. Who’s in?

Au revoir!
CC

My girl’s dinner group recently chose The Carillon to entertain our taste buds. I couldn’t wait for this dining experience—I was literally counting down the days!! If The Carillon doesn’t ring a bell, it’s the signature restaurant at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center. Executive Chef Josh Watkins leads the culinary crew at this fabulous new hotel on UT’s campus. I knew everything would be amazing, but Chef Watkins and his gang really blew our socks off! The service, wine list, ambiance, menu (of course!)—all of it was TOP NOTCH! It was one of the best fine dining experiences I’ve had in Austin in a very long time. I could go on and on describing the details of each course (and all of my girlfriend’s menu), but I won’t bore you with those details. However, I must share Chef Watkins’ love affair with fish and his current menu does not steer away. Hamachi Crudo, Tuna Tartare, Prince Edward Island Mussels, Bacon Crusted Sea Scallop, Hawaiian Red Snapper, Hawaiian Blue Prawn, Nairagi all grace the menu at The Carillon. I’ve sampled most of these dishes, but I have to say the Hamachi Crudo was my FAVE. It’s absolutely DELISH!

As Texans, beef is a staple item on any menu (restaurants and/or events). We love our beef and there is nothing you can say that will make us change our mind in selecting a different protein for our menu. Beef all the way! It’s extremely rare that fish makes an appearance on the menu for our events. I’m taking a stand and jumping on the Chef Watkins FISH bandwagon. I want to dare you all to be bold, step out of your comfort zone, and select fish for your next event. Go for it-you won’t be disappointed!

A few scrumptious fishy treats that keep me excited………..

Cheers!
Elizabeth

Besides being extremely funny, a little too sarcastic and suffering from a small case of word vomit, Chelsea (Handler – for those of you who didn’t know who I was talking about… seriously???) and I share a passion for all things MINI.

There’s no denying that we all love Chuy. Yes, he’s a hoot and yeah, he throws out a great one-liner from time to time, but lets get down to business – he’s MINI and MINI is in. MINI comes in all colors, flavors, and sizes. It quenches your thirst when your throat has a tickle, it satisfies the small emptiness when your stomach makes a growl, and it fixes that craving from your sweet tooth that you just simply can’t deny. MINI is the new big and I need MORE.

mini-sips

mini-munchies

mini-sweets

Hop on board and splurge on these MINI musts for summer. Come on now, everyone’s doing it!!

Images: Paige Denim Shorts, Louis Vuitton Speedy, OPI Minis, Chanel No 5, ipad

Come early. Be loud. Think MINI.

You know you love me!!
Xoxo
Gossip Girl

Ahhh, the mysterious red velvet cake! If you are from the south or have seen the movie Steal Magnolias you are familiar. It has shown up at every single one of my birthdays that I can remember. To keep the tradition alive, I brought in dozens of these yummy cupcakes to the hard working nurses in the labor and delivery ward when my son was born, and when we celebrated his first birthday on Sunday, there was no doubt what to serve. Simon Lee Bakery created the most delicious red velvet cake ever.

While the exact origin of red velvet cake is unknown, it has not stopped us from craving this deliciously tacky dessert. Definitely considered more of a comfort food than haute cuisine, it is becoming increasingly popular and is showing up in many forms. A few of my favorite ways to enjoy this southern delicacy is the red velvet frozen yogurt and Sprinkles in northwest Austin and a red velvet cake ball from Austin Cake Ball. If you happen to be watching your weight, you can always indulge in Philosophy’s red velvet cake bubble bath! Yum!
I cannot tell you just how much I love this dessert and I know I’m not alone. However, there is just one problem; it is very hard to find a good one, like the kind we had growing up at birthday parties with that sugary, sweet, almost crunchy icing. If you have ever made one yourself, you know it can be tricky. I’ve been asked so many times for my recipe, and I am happy to share! I hope you love it as much as my family does.

Enjoy!
Sarah

Red Velvet Cake

2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Cocoa
3/4 Cup Oil
1 1/2 Cups Sugar
2 Eggs
1 1oz Bottle Red Food Coloring (yes the whole bottle)
1 Cup Buttermilk
1 Teaspoon Soda
1 Teaspoon Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
3/4 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Sugar

Sift flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa in a bowl. Cream oil and 11/2 cups sugar. Add eggs one at a time; beat well after each. Add food coloring; mix until well blended. Combine buttermilk and soda. Mix well; add to oil-sugar mixture alternately with dry ingredients. Add vinegar and vanilla. Mix well. spoon into 2 greased 9-inch round pans. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake 25-30 minutes. Combine milk and remaining sugar in a saucepan. Bring to boil. Spoon over each layer. Cool and frost.

Frosting:
1 8 Ounce Package Cream Cheese
1/2 Cup Butter
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Pound Confectioners’ Sugar

Combine cream cheese, butter and vanilla in mixing bowl. Beat until smooth. Gradually add sugar while beating. Spread between layers and on top and sides of cake.

With Spring in full effect, people are crawling out of their winter hibernation and celebrating the beautiful weather anyway they can!  The invites are starting to flood in for family barbecues, dinner al fresco, rooftop brunches, and any reason to be outside while we can still handle the Texas heat.  For more of the casual occasions I have been looking for cute new flip flops that can easily transition from day to night.  Being comfy is what these babies are all about!  And with a price tag to match anyone’s budget, here are a couple ideas ranging from Burburry to Target…

Images: Rainbow Sandals, KORS Michael Kors Winnie Flip-Flops, Mossimo Libby Gem Stone Flip Flops, Burberry Leather Flip Flop, Havaianas, Reef Stargazer Flip Flop, Tory Burch, Tory Burch Jelly Thora Thong Sandal, Diane von Furstenberg

Other than throwing these on for a casual occasion or quick errand, they are also fun to incorporate into your events.  My best friend recently got married and one of the bridesmaid’s gift were the the Tory Burch flip flops (pictured bottom left).  We all loved the design, and most importantly they came in handy for the reception…heels off flip flops on!  Dance all night!  Taking this a step further, why not provide all your guests the option to party all night long…

Though my first love will always be 4 inches, sometimes you just have to succumb to these feather light favorites! Happy shopping.

Xx,
E

(if you have seen the HBO show “Summer Heights High”, you might get my title.  If not, SBI {sorry ‘bout it})

Tufting was especially popular in Early American furniture making.  The look is achieved by threading through layers of fabric, often in a pattern, and securing the ends of the thread with a knot or button. The dense clusters created are known as tufts.

Oh how I love anything tufted!  If I don’t get a peacock blue tufted sofa for my home immediately, someone’s in trouble.

A few of my favorites…

Luxe Event Rentals has an amazing array of tufted sofas, chairs, walls and ottomans available to rent.  They have locations in LA, New York and are opening a store in Dallas this month (hip hip!).  Take a look…

If incoming furniture is out of your budget, a tufted look can be achieved at your event through your linen selection –
Here are “Button Taffeta” linens from Distinctive Details in Houston, Texas at a few of our past events:

Tufted blue chair, tufted blue sofa, I don’t just want you. I NEED you.

Love, Courtney

Credits: Brocade Home, Horchow, Urban Outfitters, Distinctive Deatils, Luxe Event Rentals