Caplan Miller Events Blog

If you are anything like me you jump on the opportunity to attend any event with delicious cuisine from Austin’s premier restaurants. Especially when there are multiple restaurants represented. And when the event supports a wonderful cause it’s a home run! Count me in!

Austin Film Festival’s 8th Annual Film & Food gala offers this wining combination on Wednesday, October 20th from 7-10pm at The fabulous Driskill Hotel. All proceeds from the ticket sales and event auctions benefit AFF’s Young Filmmakers Program. Don’t you want to support students, ages 9-18, to explore their creativity and improve their literacy skills through the arts of screenwriting and filmmaking?

Fonda San Miguel, Garrido’s, The Driskill Grill, Parkside, The Carillon, Ranch 616, Austin Cake Balls—just to name a few. Open Bar. Silent & Live Auction Items. All of this for only $85-what a steal! Hurry up and get your tickets here. Do it!

Cheers!
Elizabeth

One of the all-time best inventions and one of my favorite things in the world is the milkshake. Don’t even begin to argue because this topic is not debatable. Ice cream blended into a think, creamy (sorry ‘bout it), delicious treat – I mean, what could be better? I talk about them all the time and want one every second. Is your mouth watering yet? It’s 8:23am and I’m about to break into Amy’s. Funny enough, there is a huge buzz going around Hollywood about Millions of Milkshakes (i.e. Heaven). A place for only milkshakes?? Now we’re talking – I guess someone finally listened to me… This celebrity hot spot is known for creating shakes with any flavor and toppings of your choice and naming that shake after you. There are over 50 celebrity-named shakes that have been custom made from what they like. Getting to drink a milkshake and feel like a celeb all at the same time?? Double whammy!! And you know they aren’t eating them so we need to do something about it. It is our obligation. So we, yes – you and me, need to hop on a plane to Hollywood and slurp those suckers up.

Okay, okay so that idea is a little far fetched, but don’t get disappointed yet. The Chocolate Cup right here in Austin, TX offers Milkshake Bars at your event. Yup, that’s right. You get to choose from tons of different flavors and mix-ins. Starting to feel like Kim K? That’s the point sista (or brotha!)!

If you aren’t throwing an event anytime soon and need a quick dairy fix, go to locally owned Amy’s Ice Cream or Big Top Candy Store on SoCo. All your milkshake dreams will come true.

Personal fave milkshakes: Blue Bell coffee milkshake and Marble Slab’s sweet cream with chocolate chips (thanks, dad!). Yums!!! So I guess you could say that my shake would be called “Amy’s Triple Cs” – coffee, cream, chocolate chips. Delish! What would your shake be??? Until next time…

You know you love me!
Xoxo,
Gossip Girl

The upcoming holidays have been on my mind over the last couple weeks, and that’s got me thinking about traditions. Our family has always been big on traditions, some old and some new. Some of my favorites are cornbread dressing at Thanksgiving and an ornament exchange among the cousins at Christmas. There is just something about doing the same thing year after year that is very comforting and special. I can’t wait to continue our traditions and maybe even start a few more with my young family.

I think family traditions are one of the reasons why I love weddings so much too! This past August I had the great pleasure of working with Anne Catherine and Zach on their beautiful wedding at The Driskill. Zach’s family has a handmade chuppah that has been in their family for a very long time and so many of their family members have married underneath it. This beautiful chuppah was carried down the aisle during the processional and held in place by four family members throughout the ceremony. Now, I have been in the wedding business for ten years now, and I don’t think I have ever been so moved during a ceremony! I had to fight back a few tears as I watched the chuppah go down the aisle just as it had been done for generations. Here are a few photos captured by the lovely and oh so talented Stacy Sodolack with SMS Photography! Anne Catherine and Zach, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your special day. I will never forget it!

xo,
Sarah

I dedicate today to the quintessential, all-American brand, Ralph Lauren.  When I hear Ralph Lauren I think of The Great Gatsby, fall in Connecticut, Polo matches, picnics and stables.  Fabrics like tweed, herringbone, houndstooth, silk, cashmere, taffeta, sherling, leather, lambswool.

Born in The Bronx, New York, Ralph Lauren has epitomized American Luxury since the 1970s and has created a lifestyle brand for a range of people buying into the American Dream.  Whether your shopping Collection, Black Label, Blue Label, Lauren, Polo, RLX…men’s, women’s, children, baby, home, accessories…Ralph Lauren allows you to live in his dreamy world of sophistication, glamour and class.

Ralph Lauren’s Fall collections are always my favorite with his ad campaigns always look so soft and luxurious…exactly the type of clothing I want to wrap myself in for Fall/Winter.

For my favorite Ralph Lauren must have, there is nobody that does the riding boot better than him!  And the best part is that he sells them in a wide range of prices through his different brands allowing a perfect pair for anyone wanting to buy this classic, shoe staple that will never go out of style.  Here are a couple of this seasons favorites…

Images: Ralph Lauren Collection Sahara Riding Boots; Lauren by Ralph Lauren Halima Riding Boots; Lauren by Ralph Lauren Stara Two-Tone Boots; Ralph Lauren Collection Salome Vachetta Boots

So saddle up ladies and ride these bad boys to work, school, night on the town, to the grocery store, picnic in the park.  They can go anywhere with the comfortable low heel…dress it up or throw on with cut-off shorts and represent the proud American designer, Mr. Luxe Lauren.

Xx

E

I just returned from a trip to Ethiopia with my clients and friends at A Glimmer of Hope. On the second to last day of the trip, I watched three weddings take place at the Fasilides Castle and when we returned to our hotel, one of those weddings was hosting their reception there. Obviously I was excited to see another culture’s wedding and reception and I grabbed my camera!

They had a red and white color scheme, used balloons to decorate the hotel’s pool, and had a very regal looking throne for the bride and groom. The entire wedding party did a very slow processional into the reception which ended with the bride and groom entering together. They had a DJ as well as a singer that performed with a keyboard player. It was awesome!

I watched the wedding cake as it was being set up and I was very interested to see what an Ethiopian wedding cake was like.

With all of the red and white, I was so hoping to see some red velvet cake appear (yeah right!). I know that they probably have no clue what red velvet cake is, but it would have been perfect. Which got me to thinking….I have a new obsession with cake flavors.

Our friend Camille posted this rainbow cake photo on her blog back in May. I was crazy OBSESSED.

Since then, I am totally into the INSIDE look of my cakes.
People, listen up! Here is my cake trend prediction for 2011…. are you ready?
It’s all about the cake FLAVOR.
I’m telling you peeps, I’m calling it now. Remember where you heard it.

It’s time for a call to action! Let’s stop making the cake flavor an after thought and let’s stop playing it safe. How fun is it to see an interesting cake slice? White cake is a classic and never gets old BUT if you have the opportunity to carry on your event theme through the cake flavor – do it!! Choose your flavors based on your color scheme, theme and the season.

Isn’t this fall cake just yearning to be a carrot cake?

And this sweet pink beauty is just begging you to fill her with strawberry cake!

Get creative and give those guests something to talk about!






Red Velvet, Sicilian Orange, Lemon Poppyseed, Green Tea Cake, Mint Chocolate Chip, Lemon Blueberry, Pastel Rainbow Cake, Candy Corn Cake, Neapolitan Cake, Tie Dye Rainbow Cake, Gingerbread Cake, Pumpkin Pie Cake

sweet!
CC

We celebrated my dear mother’s birthday last night. I was tasked with finding the perfect dinning experience for my very opinionated family. That’s no easy job as many of us are food snobs. Not in the sense that we will only dine at the finest restaurants. We love a good ‘ole dive restaurant! The experience is judged more on food quality and service. We LOVE gathering over food and often times dork out guessing the spices/flavor of the dish. There’s also nothing better than a waiter making you fall in love with multiple items as they so eloquently describe the ingredients. I will take one of each-yes please!

La Sombra was the restaurant of choice and I’m here to tell you they did not disappoint in food quality or service. Two hours later we left with great memories shared over flavorful fare and top-notch service. La Sombra was an excellent choice and I would highly recommend it.

MY FAVORITE MENU PICS:
Cochinita Pibil
Banana leaf roasted pulled pork, orange, achiote, pickled red onions & corn tortillas

Ensalada de la Casa
Mixed greens, vine ripened tomatoes, hearts of palm, avocado, queso fresco & passion fruit-sherry vinaigrette

Parrilla Guacha
Shine Bock marinated hangar steak, garlic sausage, chili rubbed pork ribs, roasted potatoes, spring onions & seasonal squash with a duo of red & green chimichurris

Feijoada Completa
Black beans and rice, beef jerky, crispy pork belly, morcilla sausage, braised kale & farofa

Be sure to check out La Sombra and make your own memories!

Cheers!
Elizabeth

When picking out the perfect dress, there are many vital steps in making this your best Cinderella outfit yet. Your jewels must sparkle like diamonds in the sky, your lips must be pleasantly plump, and your shoes must have red bottom soles (just splurge, honey). Yes ladies, these are all musts. But there is one essential necessity that we are leaving out here, err, shall I say…HAIR. I mean, duh! This can make or break all that hard work (and hard earned cash) you’ve been putting into this look. Blondes, Brunettes, Redheads, Curlies, Straights, Longies and Shorties.. listen up! My best celeb friends and our beautiful brides are doing it, and you can, too.

Braid it, twist it, bun it. Bang it, crimp it, loosen it. Sounds kinda dirty, huh? Curl it, bob it, wave it. Scrunch it, pin it, bump it (yeah, I said it.).

Pump up some volume with intensifying mousse or straighten those sleek strands with your hot ceramic CHI. Let your flowy locks down for a more natural look or throw those pieces up and show that head whose boss. You simply can’t go wrong, well unless you’re Courtney Love – sorry ’bout it. So get out that hair spray and those bobby pins and start teasing away. Ladies… this is how we ‘do it. Until next time…

You know you love me!
Xoxo,
Gossip Girl

With the holiday season right on our heels, it’s no doubt our social calendars are filling up fast. Don’t forget to thank your host and hostesses by giving them the very best! Here are a few of my favorite sure to please hostess gifts that will guarantee you an invitation back!

Enjoy!
Sarah

1. Amy’s Dunked Caramel Apple with Dutch Chocolate
www.amyscandykitchen.com

2. Pomegranate Noir Deluxe Home Candle
www.jomalone.com

3. Veuve Clicquot
www.specs.com

4. Vera Wang Stationery
www.neimanmarcus.com

5. Personalized Linen and Bath Soaps
www.potterybarn.com

Hello hello! New Guest Blogger here! I’d like to dabble into a few different areas as I begin my adventures in the blogging world, and today I’m going to travel back in time. Join me!

Are you looking for the perfect pair of pants that are slimming, comfortable, AND sexy? (Didn’t think you’d ever get all three, right?) Well look out ladies because leggings are making a comeback! And these are not just any ordinary leggings- we’re talkin’ embellished, cut-out, snake-skin, suede, and…wait for it…LEATHER! Yes, leather!!! (Think classy, no chains or whips allowed.)

I say if you’re going to wear them- go big or go home. Pair those puppies with the new fall sweater you’ve been dying to wear, a loose, longer blouse with accessories to dress it up, or a long tank and cute blazer for a night on the town. Make the outfit wow from head to toe with a pair of lace-up booties or hot platform heels. The combination of tight hot pants and high, high heels will make your legs look lean and mean!

Try American Apparel, Free People, or Madewell for a more affordable pair of this novel trend. Once you’re sure you’re ready for more, take a plunge and dig deep into your pockets to try the highly innovative legging designs of David Lerner, Alice and Olivia, or Elizabeth and James.

Peace, Love, Leggings,
LL

It’s here, it’s here, it’s really here! My favorite season is in full swing and the month of October is really when the sweaters, boots and scarfs start making their way out of the closet. I have been in Colorado the last couple days refreshing myself after a maddening (but exciting) summer, soaking in the crisp mountain air, and finding once again my inner fashionista. My vacation started with reading through the new October Vogue Issue while on the plane, spending my nights combing through Style.com and the Fall 2010 RTW shows, catching up on my favorite style blogs (most notably The Sartorialist) and picking up Sunday’s New York Times to breath in the Style Section. I decided to go out with a bang last night and watched The September Issue, the documentary following Vogue Editrice Anna Wintour and the beyond talented Creative Director Grace Coddington – seeing glimpses into the culture of the magazine and the process of creating the year’s largest and most important issue.

And now feeling revived and up to speed with all the fashion happenings, I am ready to report on the inspiration for my fall wardrobe and it starts and ends with three beautiful words – Dries Van Noten. I am loving the army inspired colors and fabrics – “Gossip Girl” called it right with her army nail lacquers! And no secret to anybody that knows me, but I love anything over sized, cut in the classic menswear style and my accessory of choice…scarves, scarves, scarves!   Here is a peek at a couple of looks I will be channeling this season…

Love the army green pant, navy a favorite color and a loosely knit scarf

Love the feminine waist line of the trench in the masculine color/fabric, and a full skirt peeking out from under 

Gold blazer…yes please!

I got a little ahead of myself and will also be taking inspiration from Dries Spring Summer 2011 RTW collection and I am going to start by stealing a couple of my fathers jackets and shirts before I head out of town to acheive this minimial, slightly androgynous look…

and yes those are purple suede pumps!!!

wide leg jeans and a metallic tee-shirt

I’m ready for the cold…bring it on…I’m ready! I’m dusting off the boots, laying out the scarfes and ready to be back in Austin trading in my iced coffee for some hot cafe latte!

Xx

E