I took a short blogger retreat recently with a lovely group of friends. I realized I never shared the photos from that trip — it was brief but full of warm, creative moments with people I’ve known for years and some new faces I’d only just met in person.
The retreat happened in Round Top, Texas. Given all the hardship many communities in Texas faced after Hurricane Harvey, I wanted to share something cheerful and celebratory about this special place.
The weekend was organized by Ashley and Jared of Sugar & Cloth together with the Round Top Chamber of Commerce and The Vintage Round Top. I helped a bit — mostly with floral arrangements and a few setup details — but the credit goes to Ashley, Jared, and their amazing team of creative women for making the event feel effortless and beautiful.
I didn’t take as many photos as I usually do because it was one of those weekends where I was so present and having fun that the camera stayed in my bag more than usual. If you want a fuller photo set, the Sugar & Cloth posts cover the event in more depth. Below are the images I did manage to capture and a few notes about the weekend.
We stayed at a few different places so everyone could experience something slightly different: The Vintage Round Top, The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell, and The Wander Inn by Junk Gypsy. They’re all charming, but I’m partial to The Vintage Round Top — it’s especially fun when you’re with a group.
I joined Ashley and the team the day before the event to help set up. When everyone arrived we enjoyed a relaxed, delicious dinner catered by Houston’s Armando’s — tacos, margaritas (they were excellent), and a long styled table that made the evening feel special. Ashley ordered custom gold foil menus from Minted, and I made a long floral runner down the center of the table using greenery and ranunculus from Flower Muse. The runner looked lush and natural, with stems tucked in every few inches so the color popped. Each ranunculus stem had a tiny water source so we could keep them fresh during the meal and reuse them afterwards.
The next day we visited a private estate for lunch, spent time with rescued horses (a definite highlight), and toured the shops around Round Top on a little bus with the Round Top Chamber of Commerce. The poolside balloons were provided by Studio DIY’s balloon shop and the sweet treats were from Minted and Sweet Jenny Belle, while Armandos took care of food. Ashley handled the styling and I took care of florals, again using Flower Muse blooms — which I always love for their quality and color.
It was such a treat to spend time with an incredible group of bloggers and creatives — Kelly from Studio DIY, Melissa, Eden from Sugar & Charm, Chelsea from Lovely Indeed, Courtney from Pizzazzerie (who has a new book out), Cyd from The Sweetest Occasion, Jen from The Effortless Chic, Cassie from Hi Sugarplum, Julie Blanner, Michael from Inspired by Charm, and many others. I kept thinking — how did we not get a group photo of everyone together?
Have you been to Round Top? If you’re in Texas — from Austin, Houston, or Dallas — it makes a relaxed weekend escape. If you like antiques and vintage shopping, plan a trip during one of the big Round Top Antiques Shows for a more bustling, treasure-filled adventure.
Round Top is a small town with a big heart: beautiful venues, friendly vendors, and a creative community that makes any visit feel restorative. I left feeling inspired and grateful for the time with old friends and new.