Wedding Wednesday: A Forever Replica

Happy Wedding Wednesday! Today we bring you a new way to preserve your wedding day. Unlike keeping your bouquet in a shadow box or saving your cake in the freezer, you can create a lasting memory with a miniature replica! Artist Anne from Earthly Grace, can capture your significant elements in tiny clay figurines. It's an incredible talent and something to last you a lifetime.

Here's a video of Anne at work.

 

Anne is a mom to three beautiful little girls. When she isn’t running around after them she can typically be found in her studio working on her latest miniature. Loving all things hand made comes to her naturally. At a young age she would dig up the natural clay from her backyard in Pittsburgh and sculpt mini animals. All of her creations are sculpted with love and are truly one-of-a-kind!

Anne is ready to help you remember your special day! If you would like to request pricing, please fill out the form on the Earthly Grace website and upload a few images of your cake, bouquet, or any other special item so she can see the detail that will go into crafting your special memory. Anne can also answer any questions you may have regarding your replica! She books up fast, so get your orders in today!

We love seeing new and creative ideas to capture your wedding day forever and Anne's work with the miniature replicas is a sure way to devour the details of a lifetime of love! Check out Earthly Grace today for more information and be sure to follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for new updates.

Celebrate with the Institute of Contemporary Art

10 years ago, the Institute of Contemporary Art settled into its modern facility in the Seaport District after claiming 12 temporary homes throughout the city including ones on Boylston Street and State Street. Now, with a full decade of waterfront residency under the museum’s belt, it seems a celebration is in order. On Saturday, December 10th the ICA will host a Community Day to acknowledge its current building’s 10th anniversary and you're invited to join the party!

Attendees can experience a free day of art, music, talks, tours, and even see themselves projected throughout the building as part of an installation by Boston-based artist Susannah Lawrence. How awesome is that? Free admission gives you free range to the exhibits and pieces found throughout the 62,000-square-foot building. If you haven't experienced the ICA yet, this is the perfect time to do so!

Festivities will also include a performance by Dorchester’s Branches Steel Orchestra, an interactive podcast called “The Object Project,” and even giveaways of Japanese calligraphy and UNIQLO goods. Quite an array of takeaways from this all encompassing arts event. But the 10th anniversary of their current location isn't the only thing the Institute of Contemporary Art has to celebrate; it's also the 80th anniversary of when the museum was founded! Originally called the Boston Museum of Modern Art, in conjunction with New York City’s Museum of Modern Art, they opened their doors to the public in 1936. Incredible!

Community Day kicks off when the museum opens at 10AM on Saturday. Get there in the first two hours, and you may find a complimentary cup of coffee or hot chocolate waiting for you. What a way to get people there early! Community Day runs to 5PM and is free to all ages. Don't miss out on your chance to experience and devour the details of all that the Institute of Contemporary Art has to offer. Get your tickets here and wish the ICA a happy 10th and 80th anniversary!

Monday Mashups: Get Prime Tickets

There are so many vendors out there to purchase concert tickets from; StubHub, Ticketmaster, VividSeats, SeatGeek and Live Nation, just to name a few. But what if we told you there will soon be an easier way to acquire seats to your favorite shows? All you need is an Amazon Prime account. You may recall Amazon launching its online ticketing business last year in the U.K. Well now we are here to share that they are making moves to expand to Europe, Asia and the U.S. very soon!

Dubbed Prime Tickets, part of the company’s pitch has been that it displays ticket fees up front, and customers can easily pay with the payment method they have on file with Amazon. Amazon's vision goes beyond just selling tickets as they aim to cater to the entire live entertainment experience, including what happens before, during and after the show. They believe the ticketing business is ripe for innovation and improvement, as much of the industry has not fundamentally changed since the 1970s.

The initiative is being led by a vice president, Ian Freed, who has been with Amazon for more than a decade and once served as CEO Jeff Bezos’s technical assistant. Freed was most recently the executive who launched Amazon’s Fire Phone. He then took a year-long sabbatical, and he now runs Amazon’s ever-growing restaurant-delivery service in addition to Amazon Tickets. A man with a plan, we only anticipate great things to come for Amazon with the help of Freed and his team.

If Amazon attempts to enter the U.S. ticket-selling business, it would definitely face some competition. As we mentioned earlier, Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, as well as other sellers, are already dominant here in the U.S., and Amazon could struggle getting access to quality ticket inventory. Venues, music artists, promoters and sports teams in the U.S. often cut exclusive deals with these sites, so Amazon would have to convince them to alter their practices. But we believe Amazon has an edge by being upfront with the fees included in the ticket price. Bottom line, people want the best deal. If Amazon can included these deals with a Prime membership and negotiate a quality ticket inventory, we foresee this being a huge success.

Just another step in the right direction for Amazon as the devour the details of all things ecommerce!

What To Do with All Those Leftovers

We love doing this post each year for different holidays! And of course after Thanksgiving, there's always plenty of leftovers. Sure, you can warm up a plate of what you just ate the day before but why not think outside of the box and get a little creative with those tupperware containers filled with food? Here are our five favorite recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers that will still have you enjoying the holiday even after the 24th!

Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce

A great appetizer you can share with family. Utilize your leftover cranberry sauce with this dish! Get the recipe here.

Stuffing Waffles

We love this idea! Get extra savory and use your leftover stuffing for this meal. Forget about the maple syrup, top these waffles off with gravy and really enjoy Thanksgiving all over again. Try this recipe here!

Turkey Tikka Masala

Talk about transforming a dish! This inspired recipe brings two cultures together right on the plate. Enjoy this tasty meal full of flavor days after Thanksgiving!

Turkey Nachos

Another shareable appetizer that we know we'll be trying! A great way to use most of your leftovers in a truly unique way. Plus, who doesn't love nachos? Try this recipe out!

Cranberry Sauce Parfaits

And for something a little more tart, and sweet, build some yogurt parfaits with any extra cranberry sauce you might have. These can be eaten at any time of the day. Trust us, we're going to be spooning these down all day. Get this recipe here.

Though we gave you great recipes to work with, we also encourage you to share your leftovers with those less fortunate. You never know who may be in need of a warm meal. Give thanks and full bellies even after the holiday when you devour the details with these tasty Thanksgiving leftover recipes!

Wedding Wednesdays: Pop of Color

There's a new trend on the horizon and it shockingly features the groom! More importantly, the groom's wardrobe. No, it's not the boutonniere or the socks, and it's definitely not the tie or the pocket square. It's the whole tux! A way for your soon-to-be hubby to make a statement. Let your groom standout on your wedding day with one of these colorful ensembles!

50 Shades of Blue! Light or bright, we truly love both looks!

Maroon is a great color for a tux especially if it's a fall or winter wedding. You can even add some texture with a velvet suit!

A perfect neutral to accompany any color scheme!

And our favorite, these perfect earthy green numbers! A beautiful contrast to the bride's gown for spring and summer weddings.

Get inspired and let your groom devour the details of the perfect colored suit for your big day! We guarantee the photos will be stunning!

Give Back Boston

'Tis the season of giving! Giving thanks, giving gifts and most importantly, giving back. Do something for your community this season and embrace the joy of giving! Here are some great ways to give back in Boston over the next few weeks.

Animal Rescue League of Boston

Don't forget, the winter can be a tough time for animals too. The Animal Rescue League of Boston is the only animal welfare organization in Massachusetts that has an emergency rescue services team dedicated to assisting domestic animals and wildlife in distress. Regularly scheduled volunteers are needed to help with yard cleanup, dog walking, and pet food organizing. (10 Chandler St., Boston; dvogel@arlboston.org for more information)

Boys and Girls Club of Boston

This organization—which is devoted to helping young people build character and recognize their full potential—helps approximately 16,000 children and teens, ages 6 to 18, in their Clubs and through programs and partnerships. How amazing is that? They are currently accepting volunteers for their after-school programming. Don't wait, help today! (200 High St., 3rd Floor, Boston; info@bgcb.org for more information)

Cradles to Crayons

This organization provides children through age 12 who are living in homeless or low-income situations with the items they need to thrive—at home, at school, and at play—free of charge. Added bonus: Anyone age 5 and above can volunteer at the Giving Factory, making this a great organization to volunteer for with your family. It's important to foster our youth. They are the future! (155 North Beacon St., Brighton; eduperey@cradlestocrayons.org for more information)

Horizons for Homeless Children

This nonprofit focuses exclusively on the needs of young homeless children in Massachusetts. Throughout the year, they look for volunteers to spend two hours a week at one of their “Playspaces’’ across the state. For the holidays, they’re looking for donations of Play-Doh, construction paper, and other items listed online. Give the gift of fun to these children in need of some play time! (Horizons for Homeless Children Headquarters; 1705 Columbus Ave., Roxbury; info@horizonschildren.org for more information)

Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly

Little Brothers Boston was founded in 1979 to aid those 70 years and older who are without the benefit of family or social contacts. We can't forget about those who've gotten our community to where it is today. The organization is looking for help providing companionship and delivering meals and flowers during the holiday season. (3305 Washington St., Jamaica Plain; boston@littlebrothers.org for more information)

New England Center and Home for Veterans

They’re in search of volunteers who can serve meals, sort and prepare school and housing supplies, coach and teach at the Veterans Training School, and participate in special work details, projects, and corporate work outings. This folks served our country. It's time to serve them back! Get involved today. (17 Court St., Boston; community.support@nechv.org to schedule)

Community Servings

Community Servings prepares and delivers 9,600 meals each week to the homes of individuals who are homebound with an acute life-threatening illness. On November 21-23, they are looking for volunteers to help sort and deliver over 20,000 pies, and prepare, sort, and deliver Thanksgiving meal bags. Let's share the holiday with those who need it the most. (18 Marbury Terrace, Jamaica Plain; afioretti@servings.org to schedule)

Lovin’ Spoonfuls

Lovin’ Spoonfuls collects and distributes healthy food that would otherwise be discarded to community organizations and resources like the New England Center for Homeless Veterans, Project Bread, the Dorchester Boys and Girls Club, and the Friday Night Supper Program. They are looking for volunteers for their events and community fundraising days. Show your love with a spoonful of giving back this holiday season! (367 Western Ave., Brighton; info@lovinspoonfulsinc.org to schedule)

AstraZeneca Hope Lodge Center

We haven't heard of this facility until today and are truly grateful to the folks that put this together. The Hope Lodge is a place for cancer patients traveling more than 40 miles to stay for free during their outpatient treatments. Since November 2008, the center has provided more than 94,000 nights of free lodging to 2,850 cancer patients from 48 states and 15 countries, saving them more than $17 million in housing costs. Volunteers are needed to prepare meals, clean, run events like talent shows and ice cream socials, drive patients, and landscape. Their mind/body community is also looking for volunteer nutritionists, yoga instructors, and massage therapists. (125 South Huntington Ave., Boston; jessica.brooks@cancer.org to schedule)

Coats for Kids

Our company donated earlier this year to this wonderful program. Anton’s Cleaners and Jordan’s Furniture locations are collecting warm winter coats for Coats for Kids through January 6. Anton’s Cleaners will clean all donations before the coats are distributed by partners such as the Massachusetts Community Action Programs, the Salvation Army, Wish Project, and Community Giving Tree. (Various locations; info@caringpartnersinc.org for more information)

Charities and nonprofits throughout Massachusetts are always accepting volunteers and donations, but even more so throughout November and December. Take some time when giving thanks and giving gifts to also give back and devour the details of the true meaning of giving this holiday season!

Monday Mashups: Taco Bell, A Lifestyle Brand

In case you missed it, Taco Bell is taking The Strip by storm. Yes, the same Las Vegas Strip that houses the Thunder Down Under and the legendary Ms. Britney Spears, is now home to Taco Bell's 24-hour "flagship destination". With dedicated DJ booths, a retail store, VIP lounges, and a few guitars signed by stars such as Peter Wolf, this is the fourth adult-oriented cantina location they've opened--first in the city of sin. A whole new way to experience the Taco Bell brand and lifestyle!

The Vegas store, like its forebears in Chicago, Austin, and San Francisco, aims to drive people inside by getting rid of the drive-thru and installing digital signage and a range of alcoholic slushie taps. Just your wildest late night dreams coming true. The menu will include shareable tapas-style nachos, quesadillas, and even chicken fingers. There's an exhibition kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare your Nachos BellGrande and the retail store that sells branded shirts, bikinis, rings, and towels.

Taco Bell's Chief Marketing Officer Marisa Thalberg shares that this is a test run for the fast food chain to see what customers respond to. The goal is to get more diners in the restaurant rather than grabbing a bag to go. A successful run could result in big changes for the chain. Taco Bell is looking to open 2,000 new stores by 2022, all of which will adopt one of four new designs: California Sol, Modern Explorer, Heritage and Urban Edge. There’s also a new logo, the company’s first redesign in more than 20 years. Change could most definitely be a good thing for Taco Bell!

This is an interesting approach for the brand, and differs from other fast food chains, like McDonald's, whose current plan is centered more around its menu more than amenities and aesthetics. Time will tell which strategy pays off!  Next time your in Vegas be sure to stop by and devour the details of Taco Bell's new flagship destination!

Coming Soon: City Winery Boston

Typically if you're going to an intimate concert venue, you'll need to wine and dine prior to or post-show. This is not uncommon, especially since Boston has a number of smaller spaces for hosting live music. But one business is looking to change that by offering a one stop shop for your dinner, drinks and concert needs. Coming in 2017, an intimate concert venue, award-winning urban winery, and restaurant offering wine inspired, locally sourced fare, City Winery will be the place where you can indulge all of your senses at once!

With locations in New York, Chicago, Nashville and Atlanta, City Winery is committed to providing the highest-end combined culinary and cultural experience to wine enthusiasts in a world class, luxury concert setting. Since 2008, they have delivered this compelling mix to a sophisticated clientele of foodies and music aficionados, and are excited to bring their passion in sharing wine, music, and the culinary arts to Boston’s West End.

City Winery is the brainchild of Michael Dorf, founder of the iconic Knitting Factory, one of New York’s longest running music venues. After making his first barrel of wine in California with his brother Josh and wine maker David Tate, formerly of Ridge Winery and now at Barnett Vineyards, Michael caught the bug. He soon realized he wanted to create a space in Manhattan where he could combine his shared passions for wine and music. It was this experience that led Michael to conceptualize and start working on the City Winery business plan in 2006.

Putting a winery into the heart of a city allows for the fresh product to get to wine fans in a unique and efficient manner, pairing perfectly with the world-class entertainment. An idea previously unheard of in the world of wine. That is what City Winery is about: community, creativity and culture. A vibrant, interactive space in the heart of a cosmopolitan city where folks can not only make wine, but also meet friends new and old while indulging their passion for quality food, music, art and life. Needless to say, we are super excited for City Winery to open!

City Winery Boston will be located at 1 Canal Street. Sign up for their newsletter and check them out on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for more updates. We can't wait to devour the details of this venue in 2017! Cheers!

Wedding Wednesdays: Affordable Wedding Wear

For most, spending over $2k on a dress you wear just for a few hours is absurd. Wedding gowns are a huge part of your budget and saving money on them (between accessories and alterations) just isn't likely. Until now! Meet Whistles, a modern London-based brand, launching its own spin on affordable wedding wear.

Budget conscious brides rejoice! Finally a brand that will appeal to your wallet just as much as your inner chic-self. They are launching their official wedding dress collection that features gowns all under $1,000 (give or take a few bucks depending on the going exchange rate from pounds to dollars). Stunning designs that won't break the bank.

Whistles is already an established clothing company with phenomenal women's and menswear lines. Their wedding dresses will be of similar style; a refined and tightly edited collection. But that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in versatility! The designs range from a lace jumpsuit with cap sleeves to an off-the-shoulder gown with a high-low hem. The collection is set to launch in February 2017.

Elegant and reasonably priced, we love the beauty and thought behind this collection. Find your style and stay under budget with the help of Whistles and devour the details of a money-well-spent wedding dress!

5 Must Try Thanksgiving Cocktails

Fall flew by and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. For those of you doing your grocery shopping this weekend, we wanted to give you enough time to pick up these fine ingredients. Our five must try cocktails pair perfectly with any turkey dinner. Get your gobble on and enjoy these delicious drinks!

Pomegranate Orang Punch

Freeze the pomegranate seeds ahead of time for an extra chill. Get this recipe here!

Apple Cider Mojito

Crisp and refreshing! Nothing beats this perfect combination of apple and mint. Try this recipe here!

Plum and Thyme Prosecco Smash

We're all about that champagne campaign and varieties like prosecco. Get a taste for the bubbly with this recipe!

Cranberry Mule

Cranberries are a staple on Thanksgiving Day. Why not incorporate them anyway you can, like in a cocktail for instance? Get the recipe here!

Pumpkin Pie Martini

Pretty much a dessert cocktail, this treat will surely give you that extra nudge into food coma. Try out this sweet recipe!

Enjoy these five must try cocktails and devour the details of an extra tasty (and maybe wastey) Thanksgiving!

Monday Mashups: Dessert Goals

Just when you thought life couldn't get any sweeter, it did. In late October, a new food festival took Brooklyn, New York by storm--or should we say, by sprinkle! With a goal of hosting the ultimate day of indulgence and fun for fellow dessert-lovers, co-creators Miraya Berke and Liang Shi brought this event to life. Already out-of-the-box thinkers, Berke is the founder of Pop Productions, a boutique events studio in New York, while Shi works as a creative director and experience designer in addition to running the curated dinner series Fun Fun Dinners.

At Dessert Goals, a daylong event, attendees were invited to sample treats from a roster of 20 New York-based vendors, including Wowfulls’ Hong Kong-style egg waffle cones, seasonal doughnuts from Doughnut Plant, Twinkie-inspired “cakies” from Jae NYC Eats, and bubble tea from Boba Guys. Full-size versions of the desserts were also available for purchase. Plus, a rooftop lounge featured a “salt bar” with pretzels and chips to cleanse the palette, as well as vintage decor and a seating area with dessert-theme accessories for sale. Sounds like a spot we wouldn't mind sharing a dessert in.

Tickets for designated 90-minute sessions were sold for $15, with a special preview hour for media and influencers. In addition, workshops, which were led by food industry experts and cost $50 each, were offered, including a class on becoming a professional food stylist, a workshop on launching a food business, and lessons on running food blogs and Instagram accounts from influencers @BrunchBoys and @OneHungryJew. If you don't already follow these social media stars, now is the time to do so! Caution: accidental licking of your phone screen or drooling may occur.

Attendees could then practice their new Instagram skills in the venue’s photo garden, which was specifically designed for dessert photography. A way for everyone to get the perfect shot. On hand were a variety of patterned backdrops, extra plates for arranging sweets, and ample natural light for shooting. In addition, pre-styled plates of the desserts were available for photographing but not eating. Makes you wonder about all those gorgeous foodie photos we always see!

It's clear to us that we no longer just eat with our mouths but our eyes and phones too! We love this event and hope everyone can devour the details of Dessert Goals someday too, whether in NY or in your own kitchen. Cheers!

Remember What's Important

After a whirlwind Presidential Election, it's always necessary to take a step back and remember what's important in life. Like the many issues going on around the world that are bigger than our opinions on the new President. One thing that comes to mind is world hunger and the number of starving children across the globe. A real tragedy.

We're here to say our efforts can help! Here's one way how. Scarborough & Tweed, a leading provider of corporate gifts, has entered into an expanded partnership with World Food Programme USA to feed children in need across the globe. As part of its One Bag = One Meal campaign, they have designed a special custom bag that can be purchased on the retail market. Every bag purchased from the company's catalog provides a nutritious meal for a child in need through World Food Programme USA.

Since launching the One Bag = One Meal campaign in late 2015, the company has so far donated more than 50,000 meals to children in need. How amazing is that? With Scarborough & Tweed's support, the World Food Programme (WFP) can continue to break the cycle of hunger and poverty by empowering children in the poorest communities with education and good nutrition.

Scarborough & Tweed's bags are perfect for meetings, conferences, and events. The bags can tote gifts, giveaways, conference materials, and company literature. The bags also make a great impression as stand-alone gifts. Scarborough & Tweed produces the bags in its own manufacturing facility in New York. The bags come in a variety of styles, fabrics, and colors and can be fully customized. Attendees are always up for a reusable bag; why not make it even more special by recognizing the tie the product has to helping those in need!

In addition to bags, Scarborough & Tweed offers an extensive line of world-class promotional products. With offices in New York and London, Scarborough & Tweed supplies brand-name merchandise, highly customized gifts, and inexpensive giveaways to events all over the world. Consider using them for your next event!

Scarborough & Tweed offers bags at a range of price points to fit any budget. The company has committed at least 25 cents per bag to World Food Programme USA. Support the WFP today and devour the details of you next event with the help of Scarborough & Tweed!

Wedding Wednesdays: Top Ten Hits Right Now for Your Reception

Happy Wedding Wednesday! We are currently en route to Nashville for work. Special thanks to JetBlue for the WiFi! As we sit through this flight with our headphones in, we had a thought that today might be a great Wednesday to suggest the best wedding songs from today's popular hits for a perfect reception playlist. Here's our top ten!

Get your guests on the dance floor with these songs:

Can't Stop This Feeling
Justin Timberlake

24K Magic
Bruno Mars

Juju On That Beat
Zay Hilfigerrr and Zayion McCall

Move
Luke Bryan

HandClap
Fitz and The Tantrums

Slow it down a bit with these jams:

Fresh Eyes
Andy Grammer

Star of the Show
Thomas Rhett

Love Me Now
John Legend

Say You Won't Let Go
James Arthur

Wanna Be That Song
Brett Eldredge

Add these top ten hits to your wedding playlist for a perfect reception and devour the details of a packed dance floor!

Thanksgiving To Go

Want to take Thanksgiving Day off for a change? This year skip standing in front of the oven, slaving over the stove, and getting covered in turkey bits. Get your meal to go with the help of Coppersmith's chef Jason Heard. You heard that right, this renowned local chef could cook your Thanksgiving dinner for all to enjoy!

Interested customers can choose between smoked turkey, bone-in ham, and brisket along with nine side dishes, including options like sausage and oyster stuffing, cornbread stuffing, garlic mash, macaroni and cheese, and chunky spiced apple sauce. And because Heard knows Thanksgiving is all about the gravy, customers can also choose between nine sauces like creole gravy, cheerwine honey sauce, and spicy molasses.

And we can't forget about dessert! The last dish of the day that ultimately puts you in a food coma. Celebrators who save room can feast on bread pudding, pumpkin pie with bourbon whipped cream, and chocolate pecan pie with rum caramel sauce. We're drooling already!

Starting prices for proteins begin at $150, sides at $35, and desserts at $30. Orders can be made in person or online. All protein orders must be placed by Tuesday, November 15 (a week from today), and side dish orders by Monday, November 21. Your feast will be ready for pick up on Wednesday, November 23. Still plenty of time to decide if you want a break from basting and baking.

And for those who aren’t chef savvy, don’t worry, all orders come with reheating instructions! Consider placing an order today and devour the details of a Thanksgiving dinner well spent!

Monday Mashups: Virtual Reality Meets Professional Football

Sunday night football fans, if you have a case of the Mondays this morning, we hope this post cheers you up! The NFL is producing a virtual reality video series exclusively for Google. Cue the theme song...

 

If anything can bring virtual reality into the mainstream, it's America's favorite pastime, right? Clearly Google would agree. The NFL announced on Thursday a new nine-part, virtual reality limited series for YouTube and Google’s new smartphone-powered VR headset, Daydream.

 

 

This is a sign of the times! A new realm of gaming for the sport and it shows that the most lucrative and popular league has some serious interest in the VR industry. An even bigger draw to the virtual world we're heading towards.

 

Lots of people are starting to get into virtual reality content, including other pro sports leagues like the NBA. The NFL even tested some VR videos with Jaunt and NextVR around the Super Bowl. But this NFL/Google deal is interesting in part because it gives Google some exclusive content to package with their new headsets — and people love NFL-related content, even if it doesn’t necessarily include live game footage of their favorite teams. Hence our post last week about Mr. Edelman!

 

 

The series, which will be produced by the league’s film studio, NFL Films, will look at life in and around the NFL, not just happenings on the field. From players, to coaches, to executives, to cheerleaders, to the fans themselves, it will detail how each prepares for game day. Tailgaters rejoice! This may be your moment in the spotlight!

 

The first episode of the series will hit YouTube on Thanksgiving Day and will be available on Daydream later this year. We know what we'll be putting on our Christmas wish list. Join the NFL in devouring the details of the VR world, one touchdown at a time!