Boston Tattoo Convention is Back

New England's premiere tattoo event - the Boston Tattoo Convention - returns to the Hynes Convention Center this weekend for its 18th year! Featuring the best in local and international artists tattooing all weekend long, as well as cool clothing and lifestyle vendors, unique stage acts and music, tattoo contests, free product giveaways, and so much more! Whether you are looking for a fun way to spend your weekend or your next one of a kind tattoo, the Boston Tattoo Convention offers something for everyone.

Well-known artists from all over are available to tattoo you including Suze, Alicia Thomas, Jorel Gabinay and many more. You can view the complete list here. Doors open to the public on Friday, March 29 at 4PM. Here's the full schedule of events to help you plan your ink-filled weekend accordingly:

Friday, March 29, 2019
12:00PM – Artist Load-in and Set-up Begins
12:00PM – BTC Registration and BPHC Artist Licensing
3:00PM – BPHC Artist Health and Safety Training Course
4:00PM – DOORS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!!!
5:00PM – BTC Swag Giveaway on Stage
5:30PM – The Baphomettes Burlesque
7:00 – 10:00PM – Live Music and Performance on the Main Stage – The Rupert Selection, Nick the Barbarian, Dr. Bones Circus of Marvels, Frantic Endeavor
8:00PM – Registration For Tattoo of the Day Opens
11:00PM – Tattoo of the Day Judging

11:15PM – Tattoo of the Day Award
12:00AM – Doors Close to the Public

Saturday, March 30th, 2019
10:00AM-12:00PM – BPHC Artist Licensing
12:00PM – DOORS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!!!
2:00PM – Seminar : TBA
2:00PM – Tattoo Contest Registration Begins
2:00PM – Baechtold and Abel Aerial Artistry
2:45PM – BTC Swag Giveaway
3:00PM – Miss Boston Ink Round 1
4:00Pm – Alternative and Fetish Fashion show hosted by Hubba Hubba
4:00 – 5:30PM – Seminar: TBA
5:00PM – Miss Boston Ink Round 2
6:00PM – Baechtold and Abel Aerial Artistry
7:00PM – Tattoo Contests Judging by Category
10:00PM – Tattoo of the Day Judging

11:00PM – Tattoo of the Day Award
9:30PM-2:00AM – After Party at Kings Boston w/ Musical performances by Lenny Lashley’s Gang of One & The Radiator Rattlers
12:00AM – Doors Close to the Public

Sunday, March 31st, 2019
12:00PM – DOORS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!!!
12:30 – 3:30PM – Seminar: Brass Monkey Fabrications presents Machine Building & Tuning with Jeff Burt
1:00 – 3:00PM Nipple Piercing Concepts with Ryan Ouellette
1:00PM – Tattoo Contest Registration Begins
2:30PM –The Synystr Mr. Syxx & The Diabolical Dr. SeVeN
3:30 – 6:30PM – Seminar:TBA
4:00PM – Tattoo Contests Judging by Category
5:30PM – Tattoo of the Day Judging
6:00PM – Tattoo of the Day Awards
7:00PM – Doors Close to the Public

Save money off the door price and buy tickets online here prior to the show. You can buy a Single Day Pass or a 3-Day Pass for access the whole weekend!

All ages welcome, but you must be 18+ with photo ID to get tattooed. All minors must be accompanied by an adult, and children 12 & under are free!

Check out the Boston Tattoo Convention website for more information. Get your tickets today and devour the details of a weekend well spent at the Hynes Convention Center!

Wedding Wednesdays: We're Craving Country

If you're a country lover, it's only natural to incorporate your favorite tunes into your wedding! From getting ready to the reception, The Knot has you covered with music for every part of your big day. And if you really want to play up the country wedding music theme, get yourself a line dancing instructor and swap out your formal shoes for a pair of wedding-worthy cowboy boots at the reception. Check out the full list here or a preview of each below!

Getting Ready Country Wedding Songs
You need some serious jams in the background while you get ready to say "I do." Here are a few awesome country songs to put on your getting-ready playlist.

“Fearless," by Taylor Swift
From the album: Fearless, 2008
Lyrics you'll love: "I don't know how it gets better than this/You take my hand and drag me head first/Fearless/And I don't know why but with you I'd dance in a storm in my best dress/Fearless"

“Sure Be Cool If You Did," by Blake Shelton
From the album: Sure Be Cool If You Did, 2013
Lyrics you'll love: "You can't shoot me down cause you've already knocked me dead/Got me falling apart with my heart talking out of my head"

“This Is How We Roll," by Florida Georgia Line
From the album: Here's to the Good Times, 2012
Lyrics you'll love: "This is how we roll/We hanging round singing out everything on the radio/We light it up with our hands up/This is how we roll"

Ceremony Country Wedding Songs
Looking for processional music that's a bit unconventional? There are so many sweet country wedding songs that work for your wedding ceremony too. This meaningful moment doesn't have to be serious or solemn, so you should choose music that speaks to you. In fact, there are many beautiful and heartfelt songs that are perfect for the wedding processional, recessional and interludes. If you love country music, but still want to keep your ceremony more on the traditional side, you might consider using an instrumental (read: wordless) or acoustic arrangement of your favorite tune. Below are some of the best country wedding songs for your wedding ceremony.

"Beautiful Every Time," by Lee Brice
From the album: Love Like Crazy, 2010
Lyrics you'll love: "The love for me girl I see in your eyes/That's beautiful/Beautiful every time/Oh every time"

"Bless the Broken Road," by Rascal Flatts
From the album: Feels Like Today, 2004
Lyrics you'll love: "This much I know is true/That God blessed the broken road/That led me strait to you"

"Valentine," by Jim Brickman and Martina McBride
From the album: Evolution, 1997
Lyrics you'll love: "All of my life/I have been waiting for/All you give to me/You've opened my eyes/And shown me how to love unselfishly"

First Dance Country Wedding Songs
There are so many great country songs about all types of love, but what makes a good country song for your first dance is one that speaks to what it's like to spend a lifetime with one special person. When it comes to choosing your first-dance song, think beyond the words too. Your first-dance song also has to have a beat you'll feel comfortable dancing to for at least a few minutes. Before you settle on a country first-dance song, try dancing to it together. If by the end of the song you don't want to stop moving to it, you've found the perfect tune. We narrowed down a list of the top country first-dance songs with a mix of classics and more contemporary country wedding songs.

"God Gave Me You," by Blake Shelton
From the album: Red River Blue, 2011
Lyrics you'll love: "God gave me you for the ups and downs/God gave me you for the days of doubt/And for when I think I lost my way/There are no words here left to say, it's true/God gave me you"

"It's Your Love," by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
From the album: Everywhere, 1997
Lyrics you'll love: "It's your love/It just does somethin' to me/It sends a shock right through me/I can't get enough"

"I Don't Dance," by Lee Brice
From the album: I Don't Dance, 2014
Lyrics you'll love: "I don't dance, but here I am/Spinning you around and around in circles/It ain't my style, but I don't care/I'd do anything with you anywhere"

Parent Dance Country Wedding Songs 
It doesn't matter whether you're planning to dance with your mom, dad or someone close to you who's filled a VIP role in your life: This wedding dance is going to be an emotional moment. So choose a country song that's meaningful and reflects the importance of your relationship for your parent dance, and prepare for one of the most tear-jerking moments of the entire day. We love the idea of picking a country song for your dance together with your parent.

"My Wish," by Rascal Flatts 
From the album: Me and My Gang, 2006
Lyrics you'll love: "This is my wish/I hope you know somebody loves you/May all your dreams stay big"

"I'll Be," by Reba McEntire
From the album: I'll Be, 2000
Lyrics you'll love: "I'll be the rock that will be strong for you/The one that will hold on to you/When you feel that rain falling down/When there's nobody else around/I'll be"

"Anything Like Me," by Brad Paisley
From the album: American Saturday Night, 2009
Lyrics you'll love: "There's worse folks to be like/Oh, he'll be alright/If he's anything like me"

Reception Entrance Country Wedding Songs
If you're doing a grand entrance at your wedding reception, then you'll want a happy and festive song to announce your (and your wedding party's) arrival. Entering to a song can help get you and your guest in party mode and transition from cocktail hour to the reception. Put a country spin on it with a song that speaks to the joy and excitement of being surrounded by your family and friends.

"Love Story," by Taylor Swift
From the album: Fearless, 2008
Lyrics you'll love: "Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone/I'll be waiting; all that's left to do is run/You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess/It's a love story, baby, just say, 'Yes'"

"Check Yes or No," by George Strait
From the album: Straight Out of the Box, 1995
Lyrics you'll love: "Do you love me, do you wanna be my friend?/And if you do
Well then don't be afraid to take me by the hand/If you want to"

"Lovin' You Is Fun," by Easton Corbin
From the album: All Over the Road, 2012
Lyrics you'll love: "We're having such a good time together and it's only just begun/My heart's never smiled so hard/Baby, lovin you is fun/It's fun"

Reception Dancing Country Music Wedding Songs
The best way to make sure the dance floor at your reception stays packed? Great music. That's why these songs should be on your "must-play" country wedding song playlist. Pick a DJ whose skills you trust, give them an idea of the songs you like (better yet, print this list of country wedding songs for them) and then let them run with it. This fun, upbeat set of songs for reception dancing works for all ages and has tunes you can't help but dance to. Bonus: If line dancing is your thing, then you'll definitely find a few country wedding songs in here that will make guests want to kick up their heels on the dance floor.

"Downtown," by Lady Antebellum
From the album: Golden, 2013
Lyrics you'll love: "I got some platforms sitting in the corner/They wanna stroll on a city sidewalk/I got a dress that'll show a little uhhh uh but you ain't getting uhh ohh if you don't come pick me up/Show me off, you might be tired but I'm not"

"Why Don't We Just Dance," by Josh Turner 
From the album: Haywire, 2010
Lyrics you'll love: "So baby why don't we just dance/Down the hall maybe straight up the stairs/ Bouncin' off the wall floatin on air/Baby why don't we just dance"

"This Feels a Lot Like Love," by Easton Corbin
From the album: All Over the Road, 2012
Lyrics you'll love: "I wanna be here when the sun comes up/Share a first sip from your coffee cup/And share a last kiss after the sun goes down"

We're all ears for this wedding playlist! Take a look at the full list here and devour the details of a country-filled music theme for your big day!

Spring Cleaning is Upon Us!

Should we call this 'Tidying Up Tuesday' or just stick to spring cleaning?! Either way, we've got a real treat in store for you. Well, for those that enjoy organization and neatness at least!

Unless you’ve been living underneath a (very cluttered) rock, you know Netflix star Marie Kondo is the ultimate organization queen. Her best-selling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing is jam-packed with tips that will turn your messy room into a neat, minimalist oasis. You can also see her skills first hand the next time your in need of a show to binge!

Now that you're just as inspired as we are, here are five tips for decluttering and organization that can help with your spring cleaning!

Tackle categories, not rooms
Decluttering your home is a huge undertaking, so it’s important you have a plan before you get down to business. Organizing room by room seems efficient, but Kondo urges you focus on categories. Think about it this way: You probably have a lot of towels scattered throughout your house. By taking stock of all your bathroom, kitchen and powder room towels at once, you can get rid of any duplicates or towels that have overstayed their welcome.

Get rid of the paperwork
This tip is helpful at work and at home. Speaking of superfluous systems, your filing cabinet needs to go. It’s the digital age, after all! You can find copies of almost every paper in your home office online. As for those important documents—like your birth certificate and recent W2s—Kondo advises whittling down your paperwork into two piles: “Papers to Save” and “Papers to Deal With.”

Don’t let nostalgia cloud your judgment
A movie ticket stub from your favorite film or a program from your kid’s school play may tug at your heartstrings, but these mementos aren’t doing your space any favors. So why keep them around? We know what you’re thinking: What if yesteryear’s trinkets bring you joy? Find a way to consolidate ’em. Instead of having a box with old birthday cards from Grandma Sue, place them in a scrapbook that can fit on your newly organized bookshelf.

Respect your belongings
Look at your closet. Are dresses slipping off intertwined hangers? Are expensive shoes scattered all over the floor? It’s OK, you’re not alone. We’re not sure what we think of Marie Kondo personifying clothes—she asks her readers to consider their clothes’ feelings—but we do see the importance of taking care of them. Regardless of how much their clothes cost, nobody wants to face the world in wrinkled, stained or scuffed pieces!

Learn the art of folding
If you don’t have a dresser, we recommend you get one, stat. According to Kondo, your clothes will be “happier” if you fold them. After you fold your scarves, dresses, and pants, Kondo recommends stacking them vertically in your closet—she claims you can fit 20 to 40 folded piece where you’d normally be able to hang ten.

Embrace cleaning and organization this spring and devour the details of decluttering all season long!

Monday Mashups: Steal These Wedding Trends for Your Next Corporate Event

The latest trends in weddings have plenty of crossover appeal for corporate events. BizBash shares what's on the radar of wedding planners, caterers, invitation designers, and editors right now and how you can incorporate these concepts and ideas into your upcoming gatherings!

Instagrammable Floral Arrangements

Floral and event design firm Renny & Reed created a giant pineapple made up of sunflowers as a statement piece for a welcome party on the Ocean Lawn at the Breakers Palm Beach, kicking off an epic wedding weekend. This cheerful pineapple went on to pop up at other events, including a corporate event for Sotheby's International in the Breakers' Mediterranean Ballroom.

Non-Traditional Color Palettes

Destination event designer Stefanie Miles of Dallas thinks the details of this navy and cognac-colored reception could easily fit with events that aren't necessarily nuptials. "Thoughtful touches to dinner place settings (like these personalized leather napkin wraps) could easily translate into showing employees or clients a fresh take on thoughtful attention to detail," she said.

See-Through Seating Chart

Invites aren’t the only way couples are incorporating acrylic into their big day. "One of the most popular designs for this wedding season are acrylic seating charts. On Etsy, we’ve seen a 115-percent increase in searches in the last three months alone," Etsy trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson said. "We’ve seen this trend in fashion and home decor for a while so it’s no surprise that it’s breaking through to weddings. Couples are loving this fresh take on seating charts because it allows for ultimate personalization and a modern take on a traditional reception necessity."

Stock Up

Set up a stocked gifting suite, instead of handing out gift bags: "The new welcome bag is really a welcome lounge, stocked full of essentials for guests," the Knot's Kay said. “By allowing guests to D.I.Y. their own welcome bag, you’re giving them exactly what they want for their stay, and you’re avoiding creating unnecessary waste with unused or unwanted items.”

Take some inspiration from these wedding trends and devour the details of your next corporate event!

A Philanthropic Favorite: Cycle for Water

B/SPOKE, the fitness destination and lifestyle brand, has committed its 2019 fundraising efforts to help charity: water build clean water projects around the world. charity: water is a non-profit organization that is bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. In just over ten years, they’ve funded more than 29,000 water projects in 26 developing countries that can improve health, boost local economies, empower women, and give kids more time in school. With the B/SPOKE community and its far-reaching networks, B/SPOKE’s goal is to fund four wells, a $50,000 total investment.

This Saturday, March 23rd, B/SPOKE will host Cycle for Water, a 3-hour cycling marathon from 12:00PM-3:00PM. Over the last two months, teams of 2-4 people secured a Cycle for Water bike by fundraising at least $1,000. B/SPOKE hopes to have 35 teams, one for every bike in the studio, to ensure that they reach and exceed their fundraising goals.

Cycle for Water will be led by six B/SPOKE instructors, and team members can swap on and off their bike as they like during the continuous 3-hour event. The doors to the studio will remain open to anyone who would like to cheer and support. There will also be giveaways, refreshments and an after-party to celebrate the team’s cycling triumph and fundraising accomplishment.

Consider getting involved today and devour the details of helping B/SPOKE reach their 2019 charitable goals!

Wedding Wednesdays: Top 10 Places to Get Married in the United States

As a followup to our Wedding Wednesday post last week, we're sharing The Knot's top 10 places to get married in the U.S. based on wedding costs! Is your location one of them?

Heavily populated metropolitan cities across the U.S., like New York City and Chicago, are often expensive to wed in based on the zip code and the venue (Manhattan's average spend is $96,910!). But if you're not looking to break the bank, there are certainly other areas with lower prince points.

Based on the average cost of a wedding in 2018 ($33,931), according to The Knot 2018 Real Weddings Study, couples spent the least on their weddings in the following areas in the U.S.

1. Idaho: $16,366
2. West Virginia: $17,997
3. Wyoming: $19,395
4. South Dakota: $19,515
5. Alaska: $19,887
6. Arkansas: $20,223
7. Utah: $20,391
8. West Texas: $20,541
9. Lansing, Michigan: $20,861
10. Oklahoma: $20,935

If you're a Massachusetts native like us, then we hate to break it to you but...the average cost of a wedding in 2018 was $44,557. It might be time to consider taking your nuptials out of state (or start saving today)! Compare wedding costs and devour the details of the best budget and location for your big day!

5 Tips for How to Treat Talent at Events

If you're having entertainment at your next event, whether a well-know celebrity, drag queen, professional athlete, or YouTube Star, you're going to want to check out these tips from BizBash. To position your event to be as successful as possible, treating talent properly is essential. It requires fostering the best possible relationship with performers and entertainers. Here's how to do that!

Communicate clearly.
Communication is the most important element of a successful collaboration with talent. Details from dress code to equipment loading to what meals will be provided should be identified in writing. Artists often provide riders that lay out these requests in minute detail, from the type of microphone they require to their preferred temperature of drinking water. While these niceties may seem trivial, they can reveal if a planner is paying attention. Planners should read riders thoroughly, and if a request isn’t feasible, be upfront and honest about it.

Make safety a priority.
An entertainer’s safety is a top priority. For instance, if a performance involves a trapeze, rigging, or any other element that needs to be inspected for safety, planners should personally verify that everything is up to code. Make sure that all wires are taped down properly, speakers are secured, and any obstacles that could lead to injury are identified and corrected.

Take care of the whole crew.
A performance almost always involves more than just the people appearing on stage. From sound engineers to managers to bus drivers, it takes a team to create a large-scale performance. And just like the talent needs to be fed and cared for, so does the crew.

Be upfront about the payment schedule.
Artists, of course, prefer to be paid on site on the day of the event, but doing so is not always possible. BizBash suggests paying artists as promptly as possible and being open about the payment schedule.

Respect their privacy.
It’s important to respect an artist’s privacy, especially if that person is a celebrity. Assure performers that their belongings are secure in the green room, their personal information will not be shared, riders won’t be leaked, and privacy will be maintained.

Take BizBash's advice! Treat your talent right and devour the details of a long-term relationship with these five tips!

Monday Mashups: Two Recipes That'll Turn Your St. Paddy's Leftovers into Feasts

Corned beef and cabbage is one of our favorite holiday meals. Easy to make, and even easier to devour, there's usually leftovers to last you the week. Besides reheating in the microwave, what else can you do with your extra corned beef and cabbage? A lot! In fact, here are two recipes that'll turn your leftovers into feasts. Enjoy!

Corned Beef Quesadilla With Chipotle-Russian Dressing

Ingredients
For the Russian dressing:
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup ketchup
¼ cup scallions, minced
2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
2 teaspoons chipotle pepper purée

For the quesadilla:
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus extra for coating tortillas
1 cup sauerkraut, drained
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
6 rye or whole wheat flour tortillas
6 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded
¾ pound corned beef, thinly sliced

Directions
For the Russian dressing:
Mix mayonnaise, ketchup, scallions, sweet pickle relish, and chipotle pepper purée together. Chill until needed.

For the quesadilla:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a saute pan, saute the onions in 1 tablespoon oil until lightly tanned. Add sauerkraut and cumin. Continue cooking for 5 minutes more until dried.
Lightly coat bottoms of 3 tortillas with vegetable oil and lay out on cutting board. Cover with ½ of the cheese. Coat with single layer of corned beef, then sauerkraut. Cover with another layer of corned beef, then with remaining cheese and tortillas. Press down to compact. Lightly coat tops with vegetable oil.
Bake for 10 minutes until lightly browned on the outside and melted on the inside. You can alternatively use a Teflon pan or griddle and cook these on the stove top.
Cut each quesadilla into 8 wedges. Serve with the dressing.

Creamy Potato and Corned Beef Chowder

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup diced onion
1 (14 ounce) bag coleslaw mix or shredded cabbage
3 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and diced
6 cups chicken broth
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 cup heavy cream
3 cups diced leftover corned beef
Sprouts for garnish, optional

Directions
Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium heat.
Add the onions and cabbage, cooking until the cabbage is wilted and the onions are soft, about 7-8 minutes.
Add the potatoes, chicken broth, salt, pepper, celery salt and garlic powder to the pot. Stir and bring to simmer for 30 minutes, covered.
Blend the soup using a stick blender, or let the soup cool and transfer to a regular blender. Blend until smooth.
Add the cream and corned beef, heat until warmed through and test for seasonings.
Garnish with sprouts if desired.

So don't throw those leftovers away! Turn your extra corned beef and cabbage into feasts and devour the details of these two recipes today!

Finish Soup Season Strong with this Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup

It's still winter but spring will be here before we know it! Finish soup season off strong with this delicious Thai Red Curry Noodle Soup recipe by Damn Delicious.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch chunks
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
3 tablespoons red curry paste
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
6 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut milk
1/2 (8-ounce) package rice noodles
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2 teaspoons brown sugar
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, to taste. Add chicken to the stockpot and cook until golden, about 2-3 minutes; set aside.
2. Add garlic, bell pepper and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes.
3. Stir in red curry paste and ginger until fragrant, about 1 minute.
4. Stir in chicken broth and coconut milk, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
5. Stir in chicken. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced, about 10 minutes.
6. Stir in rice noodles, fish sauce and brown sugar until noodles are tender, about 5 minutes.
7. Remove from heat; stir in green onions, cilantro, basil and lime juice; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
8. Serve immediately.

This is one recipe we can't wait to devour the details of! Try it out for dinner tonight and finish off soup season strong. Enjoy!

Wedding Wednesdays: How to Address Your Wedding Invitations

It may seem like a no brainer but with the millions of other things you have going on...you may need a little refresher on how to properly address your wedding invitations.

As a rule of thumb, the outer envelope of your wedding invitation should be more formal, with titles and full names, while the inner envelope is more informal, leaving out first names or titles and last names (if you're very close to the guest). Find even more ways The Knot recommends to address your wedding invitation envelopes below.

A Married Couple

On the outer envelope:
Mr. John and Mrs. Samantha Holt or Mr. and Mrs. John Holt

On the inner envelope:
Mr. and Mrs. Holt or John and Samantha

A Married Couple With Different Last Names
List the person you're closest with first on the outer and inner envelopes. If you're similarly acquainted with both, list them in alphabetical order.

On the outer envelope:
Mr. John Holt and Mrs. Samantha Thuente

On the inner envelope:
Mr. Holt and Mrs. Thuente or John and Samantha

An Unmarried Couple Living Together
As with a married couple, both names should be included on the envelopes, but in this case, each name gets its own line.

On the outer envelope:
Mr. Joseph Hirsch
Ms. Rebecca Strecker

On the inner envelope:
Mr. Hirsch
Ms. Strecker

A Same-Sex Couple
Use the same rules you would for any other unmarried or married couple. If the couple is married, list the names on the same line.

On the outer envelope:
Ms. Celine Elgin and Ms. Jacqueline Purcell or Celine Elgin and Jacqueline Purcell

On the inner envelope:
Ms. Elgin and Ms. Purcell or Celine and Jacqueline

A Married Woman Doctor or Two Married Doctors
If a woman uses her maiden name professionally and socially, the envelopes should read:

On the outer envelope:
Dr. Anne Barker and Mr. Peter Underwood

If she uses her husband's name socially:
Dr. Anne and Mr. Peter Underwood

If both parties are doctors, you can address the outer envelope:
Doctors Anne and Peter Underwood

On the inner envelope:
Dr. Barker and Mr. Underwood or The Doctors Underwood

Those With Other Distinguished Titles
Apply the same rules you use for doctors for military personnel, judges, reverends and so on. If both titles don't fit on one line, indent the second line.

On the outer envelope:
The Honorable Jane Kelly and Lieutenant Jonathan Kelly, US Navy

Or if they're both captains in the military: 
Captains Jane and Jonathan Kelly, US Navy

On the inner envelope:
Judge Kelly and Lieutenant Kelly, US Navy or The Captains Kelly

Children and Families
Younger guests can be included on the inner envelope of their parents' invitation by their name(s)—they should not be addressed on the outer envelope. For girls under 18, use “Miss." Boys don't need a title until they're 18—then they're addressed as "Mr."

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Abraham
Daniel, Jeffrey, Miss Brittany and Miss Kelly

Children 18 and Older
They should receive their own invitations (unless they're living at home with their parents).

On the outer envelope:
Ms. Audrey Abraham or Mr. Jack Abraham

On the inner envelope:
Ms. Abraham or Mr. Abraham

Take these tips from The Knot and devour the details of addressing your envelopes with ease!

Seeing Green Leading Up to St. Patrick's Day with City Tap

Irish bites, beers and bubbles are on tap, you guessed it, at City Tap Boston! Whether you were born Irish or just pretend to be for the beloved holiday, share your love for drinking and eating at City Tap House’s week-long St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans from March 11-17 where flutes of green bubbles and pints of Irish beer will be flowing all week.

Starting yesterday with True North's Irish Stout tasting and the addition of Guinness-braised short rib tacos (hailed as “Patty’s Tacos") to the menu, the week only gets better as it goes! Check it out:

Tuesday, March 12
A tap takeover by Clown Shoes Brewing Company will feature eight specialty beers on tap. Order up the Banger Bites & Flights special and score a flight of Clown Shoes beer paired with an Irish banger sausage platter ($20).

Wednesday, March 13
They say that at the end of a rainbow is a leprechaun’s pot of gold, but a “pot” of ice cream would be just as sweet as far as City Tap’s concerned. A themed Ice Cream Sundae Bar will be complete with Lucky Charms, green marshmallows, green M&Ms, rainbow striped sour candies, green sprinkles and more ($10 per serving).

Thursday, March 14
Promo teams from Murphy’s Stout & Heineken will be in the house throughout the day with swag and giveaways to showcase their signature brews.

Friday, March 15
Guinness – which originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin, in 1759 – will be celebrating their taste of Emerald Isle by readying your stomachs for the long weekend ahead. Some lucky leprechauns will take home a commemorative glass if they purchase one of the frosty beers.

Saturday, March 16
Pregaming is essential to any Irishman and on this weekend, it is for greater mankind. Trade in suds for whiskey by slugging down the Patty-O Whiskey Punch (whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup and orange juice topped with soda); Jameson Breakfast Shots (Jameson, orange juice & butterscotch - $7); or Green Tea (Jameson, peach schnapps, soda & lemon juice ($9). To further line the stomach, there are Guinness-Infused Pancakes topped with Lucky Charms and housemade whiskey-syrup ($15); Corned Beef & Cabbage Spring Rolls ($10); Corned Beef & Cabbage Plate with broiled potatoes, carrots, Irish soda bread and stout mustard ($22); and Guinness-Battered Fish & Chips with cod, French fries and tartar sauce ($18). From 1-6PM, The Royal Furs will be entertaining the Irish and wannabe-Irish with a live set. Four-leaf clovers will be hidden in-and-outside of City Tap and those with any luck will take home a $100 gift card.

Sunday, March 17: St. Patrick's Day
Opening at 9AM for (liquid) brunch, early leprechauns will cash in on a special door prize. With a Jameson photo station to commemorate this day of debauchery, revelers will enjoy all of Saturday’s food and drink specials in addition to a Patty’s Breakfast Patty (corned beef, egg & Swiss breakfast sandwich with special sauce on a jumbo English muffin with breakfast potatoes - $10, available 9AM-12PM).

Grab your girl friends, guy friends, and something green and head to City Tap all week long to devour the details of a proper St. Patrick's Day celebration. Cheers!

Monday Mashups: The Rise of CBD-Centric Event Venues

As laws begin to soften, BizBash has found that experiential spaces centered around CBD are starting to pop up and help consumers chill out. Take Color Up Therapeutics for example. Located in downtown Denver, the 12,000sf repurposed grocery store site is the largest facility dedicated to CBD and cannabinoids education in the city, which is saying something considering Colorado has been at the forefront of the marijuana and CBD legalization movements. Color Up's space includes a retail store, spa treatment rooms, executive offices, production lab, conference room for educational workshops, a yoga studio, a full-size kitchen for classes and demonstrations, and even a podcast room.

The company's goal is to break the stigma surrounding the medicinal plant through education and awareness, and to help the community see a different side of cannabis. In addition to a variety of CBD-focused offerings, the wellness center is also home to Color Up Therapeutics’ manufacturing and production lab where visitors can take a tour and get a peek at the creation of the brand’s hemp-derived products such as eye creams, lotions, and lip balms.

The center had a soft opening back in January, with plans for a grand opening slated for April 20 (yup, that's 4/20). The activity comes on the heels of the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill back in December, which made hemp-based CBD cultivation legal nationwide. Before this, under the Controlled Substances Act of the 1970s, cannabis of any kind had been banned, with individual states enforcing their own regulations surrounding CBD. (States will maintain this power under the new bill.)

To be clear, the new legislation refers to products that contain cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating compound found in hemp plants, which purportedly helps with anxiety, insomnia, pain, and inflammation. Legal CBD products must contain less than 0.3 percent of the psychoactive compound THC (the stuff in marijuana that causes a high).

According to the Farm Bill, hemp is now classified as an agricultural commodity (as opposed to a controlled substance), making it easier for legal and possibly higher-quality products to be more readily available around the country. Plus, there are now no longer restrictions on the sale, transport, or possession of hemp-derived products, as long as the items are produced according to the law.

And the law can be tricky.

BizBash shares that wellness brand Recess, which makes sparkling water that’s infused with hemp extract and adaptogens, recently opened a semi-permanent pop-up space in New York’s NoHo neighborhood. Recess IRL, the brand’s “first recreational wellness destination,” is designed to be more than a retail space, but rather an experiential place with wellness programming where consumers can “take a Recess” from daily life, explained Benjamin Witte, the company’s founder and C.E.O.

But in February, just days before Recess IRL opened, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued a ban on the use of CBD in food and beverage items sold in restaurants, bars, and cafés in the city, based on federal guidelines that say CBD is “not safe as a food additive.”

Even though the drink has been described as the “LaCroix of cannabis,” Recess contains hemp extract, not CBD, so the company believes the ban doesn’t pertain to the beverage. But Witte explained that the company is still working to remain on the up-and-up as laws evolve.

Because the hemp and CBD industries are largely unregulated, with laws that vary from state to state, brands like Recess and Color Up Therapeutics are hoping to educate the public—and build trust—as part of the buying experience. For example, Color Up Therapeutics’ CBD Wellness & Education Center hosts educational workshops surrounding CBD and cannabis, as well as offering CBD-infused cooking lessons and CBD-infused yoga classes and spa services like facials and massages. The company also holds classes for beauty industry professionals like estheticians and massage therapists who want to become more versed on CBD.

With the legalization and more CBD-centric venues popping up, it's only a matter of time before these establishments become getaways or destinations for events. Keep your eyes on the rise of cannabidiol and devour the details of planning a CBD-centric experience!

WAAF's Bourbon & Bacon Fest

And just like that, we're drooling. Could there be a better event name? We didn't think so. Get your fill of bourbon and bacon this weekend at WAAF's Bourbon & Bacon Fest at the Castle at Park Plaza!

The bourbon flows at The Castle on March 9th & 10th. Taste your way through a spectacular array of specialty bourbons and unique whiskeys from distilleries both large and small. Munch on an astounding variety of smoky, bacon themed samples. Our mouth is watering already!

This year’s event will host some of the areas best restaurants for you to sample from! There’s a mix of last year’s crowd favorite bourbons, along with new distilleries as well. You can choose from 2 Saturday sessions: afternoon or early evening, OR the Sunday afternoon session to be a part of this superb event. Here’s the complete schedule:
Saturday afternoon 2-4PM; VIP Ticket holders get early entrance at 1PM
Saturday evening 6-8PM; VIP Ticket holders get early entrance at 5PM
Sunday afternoon 2-4PM; VIP Ticket holders get early entrance at 1PM

Everyone receives a Bourbon & Bacon Fest glass to enjoy your samples of the most delicious bourbons. There will be live music, bourbon experts, chefs, a photo booth and more!

What else is new this year? VIP ticket holders will also be able to taste private/limited stock from each participating distillery that will be unavailable to the General Admission ticket holders.

Don't delay! Bourbon and bacon lovers, get your tickets today. We've been told they sell out fast! Get your fill this weekend and devour the details of WAAF's Bourbon & Bacon Fest. Hope to see you there!

Wedding Wednesdays: The Knot's 2018 Real Wedding Study Has Arrived!

As a bride-to-be in 2019, it's super important to be able to gauge the going rate for things. The Knot does a fantastic job of surveying married couples from the previous year to find out just what things cost and compile an average national rate. We're so excited to take a look at the 2018 list and hope you are too! It's super helpful for budget conscious brides wanting to make sure they're getting the most for their money. Check it out!

The Knot surveyed over 14,000 couples married in 2018 to uncover the latest trends and overall wedding spend in America, including the new national average cost of a wedding: $33,931 (excluding honeymoon expenses). Remember—this is an average dollar amount calculated by combining the total cost of thousands of real couples’ weddings, then dividing that sum by the number of couples surveyed. Keep in mind too, these couples come from all over the US and have entirely different wedding budgets, locations, head counts and styles. What they end up spending naturally varies—a lot. Throwing a wedding in a densely populated, expensive destination (a big city like New York or Chicago) costs more than it does in a smaller, more rural or less populated locale (Idaho, West Virginia or Wyoming).

So what’s the average amount cost of different wedding vendors? Read the full breakdown here:

Overall wedding spend (excluding honeymoon): $33,931

• Reception Venue: $15,439
• Photographer: $2,679
• Wedding/Event Planner: $2,002
• Reception Band: $4,247
• Reception DJ: $1,292
• Florist/Décor: $2,411
• Videographer: $2,021
• Wedding Dress: $1,631
• Groom Attire: $283
• Wedding Cake: $528
• Ceremony Venue: $2,382
• Ceremony Musicians: $797
• Officiant: $286
• Catering (price per person): $70
• Transportation: $856
• Favors: $245
• Rehearsal Dinner: $1,297
• Engagement Ring: $5,680
• Invitations: $386
• Hairstylist: $123
• Makeup Artist: $102

To find out more, check out The Knot's full article. Feel prepared to devour the details of your wedding planning with this helpful information and budget the best you can thanks to these real wedding costs!

Tasty Tuesday: Trick Your Thin Mint Craving with This Smoothie

Thin Mints have got to be the top selling Girl Scout cookie out there. Seriously...they are SO addicting. We love them chilled so we keep them in the freezer (to enjoy at our leisure). Yes that rhymed. Anyways, we were trying to find a healthy alternative to satisfy our sweet tooth instead of eating a whole box of these. And finally, we did! Check out this delicious mint chocolate smoothie recipe from Be Well by Kelly. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
1 serving of chocolate collagen protein (Kelly uses Primal Kitchen brand)
1 Tbsp cacao powder
1 Tbsp cacao nibs
2 tbsp chia seeds
½ of small avocado or ¼ of large avocado
Small handful of mint leaves
3 drops (or quarter teaspoon) of peppermint oil (optional)
ice (optional)

Instructions:
Blend all ingredients together. Top with more cacao nibs and mint leaves.

A sweet substitute to enjoy all year long! Devour the details of this healthy alternative you can sip and kick those thin mint cravings to the curb.

Monday Mashups: Jet Setting at Dolby SoHo

As part of a two-day immersive experience at the Dolby SoHo space in Lower Manhattan, Michael Kors kicked off New York Fashion Week on February 5 with a technology-laden celebration launching his Spring 2019 MICHAEL Michael Kors campaign starring Bella Hadid. Basically all of our favorite things in one room!

A modern reimagining of one of Kors’s favorite inspirations—the Jet Set—the designer and his supermodel muse held court surrounded by a myriad of high-tech innovations. BizBash shares that the campaign, shot by photographer David Sims, reflects a modern interpretation of jet set, one that focuses on speed, energy, and optimism. Each room in the Dolby space was designed to bring these campaign tenets to life.

Spread across multiple exhibits, guests first encountered a 360-projected environment of the “MK” logo in the Infinity Room; Dolby presented custom Kors video content, made up of 12 Dolby Vision displays and Dolby Atmos audio, surrounded by mirrors, creating the feeling of an infinite horizon of video. Making us feel totally immersed!

According to a Dolby spokesperson, in planning the activation, Kors and his team were drawn to Dolby for its state-of-the-art technology. In the Experience Room, Dolby worked with the Kors creative team to present an all-encompassing visual and audio experience: 16 projectors displayed across all four walls and the floor of the 1,000-square-foot space. A new Dolby Atmos remix of the Kors spring campaign audio material dynamically moved around leveraging 31 speakers, including 10 from above.

Dolby Dimension headphones were used to virtualize the audio of outtakes from the Kors spring campaign, and with Lifemix, allowed consumers to enjoy the original content without being cut off from their surroundings.

Continuing on, the Studio encouraged guests to star in their own MICHAEL Michael Kors Spring 2019 ad campaign. Guests could capture their movement on their own devices or via Hypno camera systems that instantly produce edited videos with branding, effects, and music. The latter afforded the chance for visitors to insert themselves into a re-created campaign set inspired by the actual Sims-lensed campaign that featured trampolines, exercise balls, and other props that encouraged movement.

Nestled in the back of the first floor was the Virtual Forest, where guests were treated to another content moment via a stylized set-up of 18 freestanding Dolby screens, enhanced with additional 3-D elements. As we've seen over the years at New York Fashion Week and other runway shows, technology has truly become part of fashion. The two will continue to merge and more and more designers will take the trend to another level—just like Michael Kors.

Downstairs, the party continued. Exaggerated, life-size charms were reimagined in the form of a seesaw and giant swing logo, allowing guests to interact with the brand’s logo and underscoring the joy and movement found in the campaign. The bottom floor also featured the Hypno Icon, a reactive video booth that produced a video by tracing guests’ movements, generating neon-hued shadows in real time. Throughout the night, guests were treated to musical entertainment via DJ Francois K and the Dolby DJ Lab.

Get fashion forward and devour the details of your next event with inspiration from this imaginative immersive experience for the ultimate wow factor!