Wedding Wednesdays: 5 Signs Your Wedding Dress is the One

Not only are wedding dresses expensive, but your dress will likely be one of the most memorable articles of clothing you ever buy. Before you say “I do” to a wedding dress, here’s how to know it’s really the gown for you.

It’s an appropriate style and silhouette for your specific wedding.

Consider how your night is going to go. Planning to tear up the dance floor for hours? Maybe a long train isn't the best idea. Choose what feels most comfortable for how you want to enjoy your wedding!

You love it based on your own opinion, without the input of others.

It's all about how you feel you look in the dress on your wedding day. Think about it. When you're getting ready for a night out and you have the most amazing outfit, your whole attitude changes and you have a glow about you. You should absolutely feel that way in your wedding dress!

You’re buying it for the right reasons.

Don't worry about having to get it from a specific store or by a certain designer; let the dress speak to you. It has to feel right. When you know, you know!

You can eat, walk around, dance and enjoy yourself while wearing it.

Sure, you can change out of your dress for the reception but where's the fun in that? Take control of your attire for the night by finding the gown that makes you feel like you can do anything!

You’ve seen all your options.

It's okay to shop around! Do your homework; read those wedding magazines; watch a thousand episodes of 'Say Yes to the Dress'. Trying on a dress doesn't mean you have to buy it. You may be surprised to find a classic A-line that flatters you perfectly and makes you feel like a real bride for the first time. You won't know until you try!

Don't stress, you'll find your dress! Consider these signs and devour the details of a great time shopping for the right gown for you.

Tasty Tuesday: Spinach and Artichoke 4 Ways

Spinach and artichokes are a match made in heaven. So having them 4 ways is a real blessing. Check out these delicious recipes that will have you cooking up a storm for Sunday Fundays and Super Bowl parties to come. Yum!

Spinach Artichoke Dip Onion Rings

Ingredients:
1 clove garlic, minced
5 oz fresh spinach
16 oz cream cheese
14 oz artichoke heart
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 white onion
1 cup flour
5 eggs, beaten
3 cups panko breadcrumb
oil, for frying
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Instructions:

• In a skillet, heat a tablespoon of oil and saute garlic and spinach until spinach is wilted.
• In a bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add cooked spinach, artichoke hearts, mozzarella, salt, and pepper.
• Peel and slice the onion into ½ inch (1 cm) rings, and detach the rings from each other.
• On a wax paper–lined tray, lay out onion rings and fill each with dip mixture. Place tray in freezer until solid (about one hour).
• Preheat oil in a pot over medium heat to 350˚F (180˚C).
• Place the flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs into three separate bowls.
• Dip a ring into the flour, shaking off excess, then dip it into the egg, the bread crumbs, then back into the eggs, and one last time into the breadcrumbs.
• Repeat with the remaining rings.
• Fry the rings for 5-6 minutes, until deep golden brown.
• Drain on a paper towel.

Spinach Artichoke Pull-apart Bread-bowl

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon red pepper flake
¾ cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
14 oz artichoke heart, 1 can
8 oz cream cheese, softened
¾ cup sour cream
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
1 sourdough bread boule

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
• In a saucepan set over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Stir in the spinach and artichokes.
• Mix in the cream cheese, sour cream, ½ of the mozzarella and Parmesan. Stir until combined and cheese has melted.
• Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Remove the top of the sourdough boule. Cut around the inside of the bread, being careful not to cut through the sides, and scoop out the center of the boule.
• Cut the scooped out bread into cubes, and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Vertically slice into the edges of the bread bowl, cutting all the way through the bottom, leaving 1 inch (2 cm) of space between each. Place onto a baking sheet next to the cubed bread.
• Spoon the spinach artichoke mixture into the sliced and hollowed bread bowl. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella along the edges of the top of the filled bread bowl.
• Drizzle the cubed bread pieces with the remaining tablespoon of of olive oil. Place the sliced top back onto the bowl.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Spinach Artichoke Penne

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
5 oz spinach
1 cup artichoke heart, drained
16 oz cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 cups milk
4 cups penne pasta, cooked

Instructions:

• Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add spinach, cooking until wilted, then add artichoke hearts, cooking for 1 minute.
• Add cream cheese until melted, stirring until there are no lumps.
• Sprinkle in garlic powder, salt, pepper, and milk, stirring until smooth.
• Add pasta and mix until pasta is evenly coated.

Spinach Artichoke Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 oz spinach
1 cup artichoke heart, drained
3 cups milk
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons black pepper, freshly ground
2 cups elbow macaroni
¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
• In a large pan, melt the butter. Add garlic, and spinach cooking until spinach is wilted. Add artichoke hearts.
• Slowly add the milk, salt, and pepper. Stir until milk is boiling.
• Add the macaroni, cooking until the milk coats the macaroni like a glaze.
• Add the cheddar and 2 cups (200g) of mozzarella, stirring until the cheese is completely melted.
• Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella on top.
• Bake for 7 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

Eat your way through these 4 recipes and devour the details of the happy couple that is spinach and artichoke. Enjoy!

Pop a Pierogi or Two with a Bone Up Brew

Bone Up Brewing is the Boston area's smallest brewery! Husband-and-wife brewing duo Jared and Liz Kiraly crank out fresh new beer every week from their 3-barrel nano brewery and taproom. Inspired by old-school Belgian farmhouse brewing while celebrating American styles, their ales combine the heart and soul from each of these beloved beer cultures. Four year round beers are always available, but the gears of Bone Up are always turning, so you can expect an ever-changing array of one offs, seasonal releases, and experimental batches.

Located in the heart of Everett's budding Fermentation District, the taproom is open Wednesday through Sunday and features full pours, flights, and growlers from ten rotating tap lines. In addition to a weekly cask, the taproom hosts games and an ongoing series of food vendors and pop ups. This Saturday, February 3rd, you can catch Spoko's Pierogi Pop Up! There's nothing like a beer and a bowl of hot buttery pierogi to warm your belly on a cold winter weekend!

Spoko is a pop-up restaurant and catering business combining Polish street food with international influence. Their mission is to recreate our favorite dishes from childhood with modern flare for the 21st century. Here's a sneak peek at the menu:

• Beef - Gochujang braised Korean beef, scallion pancake dough, pickled daikon, roasted sesame seeds and spicy aioli
• "Ruskie" - potato, caramelized onion, cheese, bacon, sour cream, chives
• Samosa (vegan) - garam masala potatoes, peas & carrots, mustard seed, green chutney

So stop by this Saturday and devour the details of some on-and-poppin' pierogi with the best beer around. Cheers!

Join the Super Bowl Celebration at City Tap House

City Tap House has announced their Super Bowl LII lineup early, which includes in-house specials and takeout dining options to complete your game watching experience. From now through February 2nd, you can place an order for City Tap’s “Tailgate Platter” and pick it up on Super Bowl Sunday. If you’d prefer to watch the game in front of one of City Tap’s 80” TV screens, they’ll be serving up the “Tailgate Platter” in-house in addition to some other food specials. No flags on this play--City Tap House knows how to do their job!

If you prefer to stay in for the big game, this is the easiest – and most delicious – way for you to entertain your favorite football fans in the comfort of your own home. Seriously, you can't go wrong with this deal! The platter – enough to feed the whole bench for $52 – features Philly cheesesteak spring rolls, CTH’s famous ten-spiced wings, potato skins and supreme pizza. And if being a wingman is what you’re all about, there are two options that more than satisfy the title: 30 wings for $45, or 75 wings for $100. On Super Bowl Sunday, there is no such thing as "too many wings".

But if cleaning up after Sunday football isn’t your thing, leave it to City Tap. Pigskin fanatics can order up the signature Tailgate Platter in-house ($52) in front of the big screens or create their own version with a la carte selections: Philly cheesesteak spring rolls ($12), CTH’s famous ten-spiced wings ($14), potato skins ($12) and supreme pizza ($16). Because no tailgate spread is complete without beer, platter orders come with the option to pair the lineup with a bucket of five Narragansett brews ($12). Talk about a Sunday Funday!

Whether you come in for the game or take-out, there's no better way to celebrate than with City Tap House. Call your football lovin' friends and devour the details of your plans before time runs out!

Wedding Wednesdays: Winter Weather Beauty Products to Save Your Skin

January, and winter in general, can be a challenging time when it comes to keeping your skin glowing, hydrated and dewy. With snowstorms and bomb-cyclones on the east coast, and cold, dry weather everywhere else, the elements this time of year can take a toll on the skin you’ve worked all year long to keep moisturized and clear. But for our brides-to-be with spring and summer weddings coming up, it's especially tough. We're here to help you combat that dry winter air and save your skin! From hydrating lip balms to glossy hair oils to luxurious moisturizers, here are some of our favorite winter beauty products.

Alterna Haircare Bamboo Smooth Kendi Pure Treatment Oil, $25
Between highlighting, hot tools, and winter weather, our hair takes quite a beating when this season comes around. This oil is one of the only ones that we’ve found to be successful at keeping our strands feeling soft and silky.

Kiehl’s Crème de Corps, $48
This classic Kiehl’s body lotion is super moisturizing and absorbs into your skin immediately when you rub it on, and it has a nice neutral scent to it.

Arcona Night Worker Cream, $55
This super hydrating reparative cream-gel hydrates and brightens skin overnight. It’s ideal for dry and sensitive skin, and works best when applied washing your face at night.

Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream, $18
It’s great to get in the habit of applying an eye cream at night, but during the wintertime, you might even want to use one in the morning too. After all, the skin around our eyes is extra thin and prone to wrinkles, but a great quality eye cream like this one from Mario Badescu will hydrate that skin, keeping wrinkles and dryness at bay.

Lano Rose Scented Hand Cream Intense, $15
No one likes the look or feel of dry, cracking hands this time of year. Not to mention, that can totally throw off a great manicure! We’ve tried many hand creams over the years, and the rose-scented one from Lano is hands down the winner. It locks in moisture and makes our hands feel so soft.

Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay, $27
We love a product that multitasks and this heavenly-smelling mask from Origins does just that. Not only does it reduce the appearance of pores and add some serious glow to our skin, but it’s incredibly moisturizing—so much that it leaves our skin feeling hydrated for 24 hours after using it.

Get over the winter blues and devour the details of saving your skin with these picture perfect beauty products for every bride-to-be!

Eataly Apres Ski Festival

On January 25th, Eataly will be transformed into an Italian ski lodge, complete with hearty food, winter beverages, and live music. Entering the lodge will be free, and to save time, customers will be able to buy food and drink tickets that will net them treats like vin brulé (a warm mulled wine from Piemonte), Bombardino (an eggnog-based drink with brandy, whipped cream, and cinnamon), and comfort food like polenta, house-made sausage, and cannoli for dessert. Yum!

Eataly is the largest Italian marketplace in the world, committed to promoting high-quality yet affordable regional Italian food with a local twist. As of now, each Eataly USA location is modeled after the first Eataly in Turin, Italy, founded by Oscar Farinetti in 2007. Eataly USA is a partnership between Eataly Italia, Mario Batali, Joe Bastianich and Lidia Bastianich of Batali-Bastianich (B&B) Hospitality Group, and Adam and Alex Saper, brothers and operating partners.

The Eataly USA locations have plenty for visitors to shop, taste and savor including: several boutique eateries, fine dining restaurant, retail counters, including meat, seafood, fresh pasta, pastry and chocolate, cheese and cured meats, coffee bars, a Nutella corner, bakeries, a mozzarella lab, gelaterias, every essential grocery department including sweets, spreads and jams, more than 100 olive oils, dry pastas and condiments, a housewares section, a book store, a microbrewery, a cooking school, various private event spaces, and much more! Whether you're attending for the festival or making a stop over during lunch, visiting Eataly is a must!

Come escape the elements at Boston's Eataly! Mingle with friends, jam out to their live DJ, and feast on seasonal Italian favorites at this cozy winter retreat this Thursday. You can find the Apres-inspired festival on the second-floor mezzanine of the Prudential, just past the escalators at the Boylston Street doors, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Entrance is open to all; food and drink ($5) tickets will be available at the door. Or plan ahead, and get a ticket bundle today for just $35 (includes eight tickets that will get you about two drinks and three food offerings)! Join us on the 25th as we devour the details of escaping to Italy, fresh off the slopes, right in the heart of Boston!

Monday Mashups: Get Ax-cited

A business dedicated to ax-throwing and drinking beer sounds like something you’d find in a remote Midwestern town, a rural curiosity run by guys who look like Paul Bunyan. But ax-throwing venues are a growing trend, and the Boston area will soon have two of them. That's right...get ax-cited!

One of the places arriving in the area, Urban Axes, is part of a larger chain based in Philadelphia that has plans to open in Somerville’s Union Square sometime this summer. This unique establishment will have a capacity of 80 to 100 people and will be less focused on the bar aspect and more on the ax throwing, with three to four arenas, each holding four targets.

The other business, Revolution Axe, is an independent company run by four locals who intend to debut in Everett in April. Chris Greeno and fellow co-founders Dan Doran, Greg DiLullo, and Tom Vieth first became interested in an ax-throwing venture after visiting a few of them over the border in Toronto and Montreal.

When the four founders began looking for a location, they quickly focused on an area of Everett often referred to as the Fermentation District, a stretch of businesses that includes Night Shift Brewing, Bone Up Brewing, and Short Path Distillery. Revolution Axe plans to set up shop next door to indoor trampoline park Sky Zone and rock climbing gym MetroRock. With so many activities in one area, you can surely have yourself a Sunday Funday on this happening block.

Like Urban Axes, most of the space at Revolution Axe will be devoted to ax throwing — there will be five bays, each with two targets and space at the end of each bay where friends can watch — beer and wine will be served once the company lands a liquor license. You may have become concerned when you read “ax-throwing” and “beer” in the same sentence. Not to worry, both companies have strict safety precautions in place to ensure attendees are out of harms way.

Anyone interested in throwing axes at either establishment will go through training, proper technique and review the rules of the game. For newbies, it often takes a few throws before the axe actually sticks! A staff person will remain with the axe throwers throughout their entire experience. No one is ever allowed to throw axes unsupervised, no matter how many times they may have thrown before.

Whether it's date night or you're planning a company outing, this ax-citing new activity will create a lasting impression. Check out Urban Axes and Revolution Axe for more information and follow their social media accounts for updates on when you can devour the details of all the ax-tion!

It's a Game of Frozen Thrones at the New Hampshire Ice Castles

If you haven't visited the Ice Castles in Lincoln, New Hampshire yet, you really, really have to! The 25 million-pound Ice Castles opened last week, welcoming visitors to a winter wonderland of icy slides, frozen thrones, fountains, tunnels, and LED lights that twinkle to music. But if you had visited this same spot in Lincoln just over two months ago, you simply would have found a field.

The making of the castles is a six-month process that begins with the drawing up of blueprints, paving the way for a crew of about 40 artisans to handcraft the attractions using hundreds of thousands of icicles. Any Ice Castles visitor (or Instagram admirer) knows that guests walk between walls of ice that reach 20 to 30 feet into the sky. The building of those walls begins with the installation of LED lights and a sprinkler system painstakingly spread across an acre — sprinkler heads linked to a fire hydrant and aimed just so — and with a temporary metal structure that’s sprayed with water so that the water freezes into icicles. Artisans then harvest those icicles and use them to build the castles, which is all done by hand.

In fact, the crew grows and harvests between 5,000 and 12,000 icicles per day, sticking the harvested icicles to an icy base created by the sprinkler system and carefully arranging the icicles so that they eventually grow into the LED-filled sculptures, arches, and tunnels with which visitors are familiar. There just is nothing like this on Earth. To go through a structure of this size that’s all made of ice with the whole thing at night glowing and changing colors, it’s just absolutely beautiful.

Adult admission in Lincoln is $13.95-$21, and admission for kids ages 4-11 is $9.95-$16, depending on the day of the week and whether the ticket is booked online or purchased at the door. Door tickets may be unavailable if online tickets are sold out. Check online here before you make the drive!

The castles typically close for the season in March, but the end date will depend on the weather. Don't miss your chance to channel your inner Khalessi and sit on a frozen throne for an epic Instagram pic! Head to Lincoln, NH and devour the details of a wicked cool time at the Ice Castles!

Wedding Wednesdays: Bridal Shower Themes for Every Kind of Bride

A great bridal shower speaks to the to-be-wed's personality and gets all of the guests involved while talking, laughing and sipping on something sweet (and bubbly). These themes do just that—and there's one for every kind of bride. Consider what works best for the bride-to-be in your life and enjoy the perfect time showering her with all the love and fun she deserves!

Wine Tasting Bridal Shower

​What it is: A wine pro or sommelier teaches the group how to taste at home or at a wine bar or vineyard. Choose a theme for the wine, like all vintages from the year the couple started dating or wines from wherever the couple is going on their honeymoon.

Best for: The bride who likes to sip; it's also best with smaller parties.

Planning tip: If you're planning to buy the wine yourself, follow this handy guide: Assume every bottle holds eight tasting servings. So, if you have eight guests and you want to taste four different types of wine, you'll need one bottle of each. After the tasting, figure about half a bottle per person.

Bartending School Bridal Shower

What it is: This type of shower is best suited towards a classy cocktail hour instead of a more casual daytime get-together. Hire a local bartender—from your favorite bar or from a bartending school—to come and show you how to make some fun cocktails.

Best for: The super-chic to-be-wed who prefers cocktail dresses to sundresses.

Planning tip: Just in case the socializing doesn't pick up right away, have some icebreaker tricks on hand. Doing something as simple as putting Mad Libs about the bride around the room can help encourage guests to get talking.

A Craft Bridal Shower

What it is: The focus of the shower is to get hands on and make a DIY project. These days, there are tons of options, like flower arranging, painting ceramics or making valentines or ornaments if it's around a holiday.

Best for: A creative and crafty crew that won't mind getting their hands dirty.

Planning tip: Go to a class or have an instructor come to your home and walk everyone through making their own item. Buy pretty boxes and ribbon to wrap up each guest's finished product to take home.

Tea Party Bridal Shower

What it is: The most classic shower theme of all is usually held at home or in a teahouse. Just because it's a tried-and-true idea doesn't mean you can't put your own creative spin on it. Create a bohemian vibe with colorful lanterns and low-slung seating or something more quirky and whimsical (think: Alice in Wonderland's Mad Hatter!).

Best for: The traditionalist or the prim-and-proper bride.

Planning tip: Have guests get into the theme with their attire by encouraging them to wear hats, gloves and bow ties. Traditional fare, like tea cakes, cucumber sandwiches and fruit tarts, are always crowd-pleasers, and set up a loose-leaf tea bar for guests to create their own take-home favors.

Pool or Beach Bridal Party

What it is: Everyone wears their swimsuits and sunglasses for a casual party by the water.

Best for: A summer shower and a playful crowd who won't mind getting their hair wet.

Planning tip: Tropical cocktails with bright umbrellas are basically required for this kind of party. Instead of the traditional shower games, rework the rules so you can play them in the water (think: The Newlywed Game meets Marco Polo).

Plan the perfect shower for the bride-to-be in your life and devour the details of a day to remember (second to the actual wedding of course)!

Bring Your Bottoms to Blossom Bar in Brookline

Get those bottoms up...you can finally bring your bottoms to Blossom Bar in Brookline! With a grand opening on January 3rd, the transformed Sichuan Garden is well underway, producing the most amazing cocktails along the most perfect bar in a Boston neighborhood.

Ran Duan — a former Eater Boston Bartender of the Year, led the transition of his parents’ Brookline restaurant from old-school neighborhood Sichuan joint to hip cocktail bar. The happening hot spot will be open from 4 p.m. until 12 a.m. to start, but will eventually have a 2 a.m. liquor license. Duan, who has previously appeared in GQ’s “Men of the Year” edition, has been running the show at Baldwin Bar — the acclaimed cocktail bar inside his parents’ other restaurant, Sichuan Garden II, in Woburn — since 2009, adding The Baldwin & Sons Trading Co. in an upstairs lounge in 2015.

Blossom Bar will offer a menu of about 40 dishes, including favorites from the old Sichuan Garden such as dan dan noodles, pork dumplings with chili vinaigrette, house special eggplant, and Chongqinq dry hot chicken. The bar has a phenomenal cocktail menu and shares these incredible concoctions on its Instagram page to give you a taste before you actually wet your whistle.

Head over to Brookline Village this weekend, drink a cocktail inspired by a notorious smuggler, and eat as many noodles and dumplings as possible. It's the only way to devour the details of the banging new Blossom Bar!

Monday Mashups: Sip and Script

Sip & Script® started as an idea between two friends and Boston calligraphers, Meg and Julie, who thought it would be fun to host calligraphy and hand lettering classes in an informal and casual atmosphere, where hobbyists and professionals alike can come, have a cocktail, learn from one another, and most importantly, connect over their love for the art of calligraphy.

With their first class selling out in mid-December 2015, Meg and Julie quickly realized that this is something that the community really enjoyed. They set out in 2016 to add more events to their calendar and to continue partnering with small businesses and venues across the greater Boston area to co-host events.

Their calendar continues to grow, hosting classes across New England, from private events in New Hampshire, to the popular Crompton Collective in Worcester, to Love Affair Suite in Portsmouth. We couldn't be happier for them - mostly because we now have the opportunity to have an awesome Girls Night Out! Sip & Script® strives to help spread the art of calligraphy and hand lettering by giving people access to a fun and supportive environment in which to learn and hone their craft.

We can't wait to try some calligraphy ourselves! In fact, you can catch us at Taste Wine Bar & Kitchen on January 22nd enjoying their Intro to Calligraphy and Wine & Cheese Tasting. Tickets are just $75 and can be purchased online here. Check out the Sip & Script® website for additional upcoming events.

It's time to put down the paintbrushes and grab some calligraphy pens! Sip and script with your gal pals, significant others, parents or grandparents and devour the details of expressing your creative side during an awesome night out!

Popular Hotel Brands Are Reconsidering "Do Not Disturb" Signs

Walt Disney World has recently swapped "Do Not Disturb" signs with "Room Occupied" signs at a handful of its hotels in Orlando, Florida. Disney is also allowing housekeeping and maintenance staff to enter the rooms on a daily basis. They will knock and announce their presence before entering, according to the company, as part of a new safety protocol. "The Disney Resort hotel and its staff reserve the right to enter your room, even when this sign is displayed, for maintenance, safety, security or any other purpose," read the new signs.

Disney isn't alone in this switch. Hilton Hotels and Resorts also changed its policy in November 2017. The hotel chain said the new policy recommends that staffers alert a security or duty manager after 24 hours of consecutive Do Not Disturb sign usage.

The changes follow the tragic events at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas last year. Gunman Stephen Paddock rented a room on the 32nd floor and shot into a concert on the ground below, killing 58 people and wounding hundreds in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Paddock spent several days moving 10 suitcases containing 23 weapons into his room. He reportedly put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on his door, though housekeepers visited the suite and didn't see anything amiss.

Disney and Hilton wouldn't say whether the mass shooting at Mandalay Bay prompted the policy change but that it was based on safety, security and guest experience. Without a doubt, we will be seeing a lot more of this. Nationwide, hotels are going to implement whatever they think is best to keep guests safe.

The Orleans hotel and casino, located on Las Vegas' famed Tropicana Avenue, along with Boyd Gaming's 23 other properties nationwide -- changed its "do not disturb" policy in late October, a spokesman said. Under the revised policy, a "welfare check" is conducted after two consecutive days of a "Do Not Disturb" sign on a room door. Wynn Las Vegas, located a couple miles up The Strip from Mandalay Bay, also changed its "do not disturb" policy in October to allow staff to check on rooms every 12 hours.

We are interested in seeing how this change integrates into each hotel brand's operations as time goes on. This is definitely something we will watch for and share information on again. We truly appreciate these properties taking significant measures to ensure guest safety and look forward to devouring the details of a getaway at any one of these hotels for that very reason. And you should too.

Wedding Wednesdays: Wedding Ring Engraving 101

There is a history of engraving sweet words on the inside of an engagement ring or wedding band - one that dates back to medieval Europe. It's a simple reminder of the love you have for one another. Lucky for us, getting the ring engraved is as easy as telling your jeweler. The hard part? Choosing what to have inscribed. We're here to help!

If you can't edit your sentiment down to a mere few words or want to use a stanza from a poem, your vows or a song, consider engraving your message around the rim of the stone itself. The GIA (Gemological Institute of America) can laser-inscribe a microscopic message or even a graphic. The inscription is invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen with a magnifying glass, so it can be a romantic secret between the two of you. Inscribing a message on your diamond also serves as a foolproof "birthmark" should the stone ever be lost or stolen. Otherwise, along the inside of the band serves the same purpose and is just as romantic!

Popular and sentimental wedding ring engraving ideas:

• I love you
• Our love is eternal
• To my soul mate
• C.R. to D.L. July 10
• Always
• Forever
• Eternity
• C&D forever (use your first initials)
• I thee wed
• All my love
• I marry you
• You have my heart
• My heart is in your hands
• Never to part
• To my wife/husband
• Soul mates forever
• I'm always with you
• To have and to hold
• Schmoopie (Your private nicknames for each other)
• Here is my heart; guard it well!
• No one but you
• God for me provided thee
• God unite both in love
• In thy breast my heart doth rest (Old English)
• Pour tous jours (For all days, 15th-century French)
• Joie sans fin (Joy without end, French)
• Mon coeur est a vous (You have my heart, French)
• Je t'aime (I love you, French)
• Mon amour (My love, French)
• Il mio cuore e il tuo per sempre (My heart is yours forever, Italian)
• Amore mio (My love, Italian)
• Vivo per lei (I live for her, Italian)
• Myn genyst (My heart, Old German)
• Mizpah (May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent from one another, Hebrew, Genesis 31:49)
• Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li (My beloved is mine and I am his, Hebrew, Song of Solomon 2:16)
• Semper amemus (Let us always love, Latin)
• Semper fidelis (Always faithful, Latin)
• Pari passu (With equal step, Latin)
• Amor vincit omnia (Love conquers all, Latin)
• Deus nos iunxit (God joined us, Latin)
• 百年好合 (Happily ever after, Chinese)
• 花好月圆 (Blissful harmony, Chinese)

The cost is usually based on the number of characters in the inscription, the font used, and whether it will be engraved by hand or machine. Machine engraving tends to be cheaper, on average $25 for 15 characters, while hand-engraving is usually pricier, at $75 for 8 characters, but adds a special hand-forged feel. The price of the inscription on the actual diamond varies depending on the carat weight of the diamond, but prices start at $15 for graphics or 15 characters.

Your love for one another definitely goes beyond words but engraving the most meaningful ones is something you can share for a lifetime. Considering adding this element to your rings and devour the details of a secret sentiment you'll always remember.

2018 Boston Calling Lineup

The 2018 Boston Calling lineup is here, and the headliners will give you some early 2000s nostalgia. Our favorite! Eminem, The Killers, and Jack White will headline the 2018 music festival, which will be held at the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston from May 25 to 27. Other high-profile acts scheduled to appear include Queens of the Stone Age, The National, and Paramore. You can see the full lineup and additional concert details here.

According to Boston.com, one change from last year is the comedy lineup, which has been rebranded as a “Comedy and Entertainment Lineup” and will be headlined by Harvard graduate, Natalie Portman, who had to cancel her scheduled “film experience” at the 2017 festival. Other entertainers making an appearance include Milton native Jenny Slate and the popular political podcast Pod Save America, hosted by four former Obama aides, including North Reading native Jon Favreau.

A limited number of early bird three-day passes are on sale now at the festival’s website for $279 plus fees, while VIP three-day passes (which offer perks like a fast pass entrance to the festival and air-conditioned bathrooms) and platinum VIP three-day passes (which include VIP perks plus access to premium food and beverages and exclusive merch) are available for $599 and $1049, respectively. Once early bird tickets are gone, the prices will increase.

Here's the full lineup!

Get your tickets today and devour the details of an epic time at the 2018 Boston Calling!

Monday Mashups: Detox with Soup This Winter

Our liver, the master metabolizer, filters the entire blood volume every three minutes. All our organs have their special role, but it’s the liver that processes and neutralizes all the chemicals our body is exposed to, from our food, environment, or personal care products. Treat your body, and liver, better in 2018 with these seriously special soups! Kickoff the New Year and knockout the toxins with these delicious detox recipes.

Broccoli Detox Soup

Ingredients
2 cups broccoli florets
2 celery stalks, finely diced
1 onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 cup greens (kale, spinach, beet greens or any other available)
1 parsnip, peeled and finely chopped
1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped
2 cups filtered water or low sodium vegetable broth
½ tsp sea salt
½ lemon, juice only
1 tsp coconut oil
1 tbsp chia seeds
Toasted mixed seeds and nuts, 1 teaspoon coconut milk, to garnish

Instructions

1. In a soup pot, heat the coconut oil, add the onion, garlic, carrot, parsnip, celery sticks and broccoli, and cook over low heat for five minutes, stirring frequently.
2. Add the filtered water or vegetable broth, bring to a boil, then cover the pot with a lid and let simmer for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are tender but not mushy.
3. Stir in the greens, then transfer into the blender, add the chia seeds and lemon, and process to obtain a smooth cream.
4. Top with toasted seeds and serve warm.

Beet Detox Soup

Ingredients
3 medium beet roots
2 carrots, finely diced
1 onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 small leek, finely diced
1 tsp coconut oil
2 cups vegetable broth, warm
¼ tsp sea salt
1 tbsp chia, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, 1 teaspoon coconut milk, to garnish

Instructions

1. Place the unpeeled beet roots in a pot, cover with water, bring to boil then simmer for 30 minutes until tender.
2. Drain from water and set aside to cool.
3. Heat the coconut oil in a cast iron skillet, add the onions, garlic, leek, and carrot and cook for 5-7 minutes over low heat. Remove from the heat and transfer onto a plate.
4. Peel the beet roots, cut into cubes, and add into the blender, together with the cooked vegetables and warm vegetable broth.
5. Process to obtain a smooth cream.
6. Season with salt and serve garnished with mixed seeds.

Sweet Potato Detox Soup

Ingredients
½ cup cooked red lentils
1 sweet potato, peeled and cut in cubes
3 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
1 parsnip, peeled and roughly chopped
1 onion, peeled and cut in quarters
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp cumin powder
Pinch of chili powder
¼ tsp sea salt
2 cups low sodium vegetable broth, warm
½ inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated
1 tsp coconut oil
Fresh parsley, 1 teaspoon coconut milk, to garnish

Instructions

1. Heat the oven at 165°C/329°F.
2. Line a baking sheet with baking paper, add the sweet potato, carrots, parsnip, onion, and garlic, season with salt, chili, turmeric, and cumin, add the coconut oil and toss to combine.
3. Roast for 20 minutes then transfer into the blender.
4. Add the warm vegetable broth, grated ginger, and cooked red lentils into the blender and process to obtain a smooth cream.
5. Serve warm, garnished with fresh parsley.

Feed your body, especially your liver, the best ingredients to stay healthy this winter and devour the details of a kickass start to 2018!

TripAdvisor's 15 Most Romantic U.S. Cities for Winter Travel

Want to whisk away your significant other this winter? We do too! Here are some picturesque romantic cities in the U.S. where sparks are sure to fly provided by TripAdvisor!

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe is a little bit magical, with its impressive adobe facades and its artisanal chocolate and coffee houses. This artsy city hosts tons of cultural events so there’s always something going on.

Newport, Rhode Island

Stately Newport is known for its handsome mansions, its harbor full of upscale yachts, and its sweeping Atlantic views. It draws sailing enthusiasts, architecture fans, and those in search of a romantic stay in truly lovely surroundings. It’s particularly pretty in winter!

Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara, also known as the American Riviera, makes a sunny winter travel destination. It’s got the lot: wide sandy beaches, white painted frontages topped with distinctive red roof tiles, plus high-end shopping and dining options. Rent a bike to pedal up and down the lovely waterfront, then catch a romantic sunset from Butterfly Beach.

Estes Park, Colorado

Here, you don’t have to stray far from the center to find a romantic spot. Just off Elkhorn Avenue, you’ll find the Estes Park’ Riverwalk, a lovely spot complete with shady nooks, benches, and outdoor sculptures. Take off into the Rocky Mountain National Park for snowshoeing or skiing surrounded by stellar views!

Asheville, North Carolina

First stop in Asheville should be the elegant Biltmore House and gardens, where the two of you can tour at your leisure. Nearby Craggy Gardens is a popular spot for hiking and incredible mountain views. In town, there’s a great live music scene to enjoy with a drink at the end of the day!

Charleston, South Carolina

With its horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping through the town and historic homes everywhere you look, it’s clear to see why Charleston has made this list of the most romantic cities in the US. This port city has it all: gardens, beaches, excellent restaurants, and charming shops packed with souvenirs to take home.

San Antonio, Texas

One of the main draws in San Antonio is its set of stunning 18th-century Spanish missions, now UNESCO-rated attractions and the perfect place to enjoy some quiet time out together. For a bit more buzz, follow the San Antonio River Walk and discover this romantic city at your own pace, stepping through arches, under trees, and past shops and restaurants alive with people.

Savannah, Georgia

With antebellum architecture, city squares draped in Spanish moss, and an intimate dining scene, it’s no surprise that Savannah makes the cut as one of the most romantic cities in America. Kick off your tour of Savannah’s cobbled streets in a horse-drawn carriage, on a gentle riverboat cruise, or simply with a stroll!

Key West, Florida

Here you can fish, swim with dolphins, sail— everything you need for a romantic getaway with a tropical flavor. Take a perch together in Mallory Square to watch the sun go down, then dine on ocean-fresh seafood at Nine One Five restaurant. No matter how you spend your time, Key West brings the heat to any couples’ winter travel plans.

Scottsdale, Arizona

This desert city has a lot to offer vacationing couples. Whether you’re hot air ballooning over a desert landscape studded with cacti, or walking the halls of the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, this place won’t disappoint. Set out to sample fine cocktails and wines at the end of a day of sightseeing.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Every Philly adventure should start at Reading Terminal Market—maybe with a roast pork sandwich from DiNic’s or a whoopie pie from the Flying Monkey. Once you’re fueled up, you can tick off the big sights, such as the Liberty Bell, and the Barnes Foundation, with its impressionist art collection. The manicured gardens and huge fountain at Longwood provide another romantic setting.

Denver, Colorado

A Denver winter can be very romantic indeed: skating hand in hand on the Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park, lingering under the mistletoe at Denver Botanic Gardens, watching the ‘Blossoms of Light’ display twinkling around the grounds. Alternatively, you can take off into the Colorado Rockies on your skis.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

This beachy destination is just the ticket for a romantic coastal break. You can trail down a canal on a gondola, sun yourselves on a palm-fringed beach, or paddle in the freshwater lagoon at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. Get a taste of the good life seeing the boats and luxury homes of Millionaires’ Row, or set off on a wildlife tour of the Everglades.

Austin, Texas

There are plenty of romantic activities in Austin: a picnic on Mount Bonnell, a swan pedal boat ride on Lady Bird Lake, or a cycle tour with Barton Springs Bike Rental. When the sun goes down, get yourself a front row seat at a blues or country show and let this city show you what it’s all about.

Boston, Massachusetts

Their final romantic cities recommendation is Boston. Whether you’re uncovering the streets and boutiques of pretty Beacon Hill, visiting the world-class art museums, strolling in the orderly city parks, or sharing a box of North End cannoli, this place makes a romantic retreat that’s nothing short of wonderful!

Have a romantic winter weekend getaway to any of these amazing cities and devour the details of a heartfelt trip with the one you love. A tradition you can keep for years to come!