Thursday, February 26, 2015

8 Awesome Clam Chowders to Devour This Winter

If you're from Boston like me, you know we love our New England Clam Chow-daaahhh. A staple in most Boston restaurants and homes across New England, we enjoy chowder all year long. But since this winter has been extra chilly and some of my readers are outside of the New England area, I thought I'd share some tasty chowders that will help you brave the cold (as I escape to Las Vegas). Here are eight awesome clam chowders you need to try!

1. New England Clam Chowder


2. Manhattan Clam Chowder


3. Rhode Island Clam Chowder (who knew?)


4. Chipotle Chicken and Corn Chowder


5. Cauliflower Chowder


6. Late Summer Corn And Lobster French Onion Chowder With Gruyère Toasties (umm, yes please!)


7. Potato Corn and Bacon Chowder


8. Smoked Salmon Chowder

Smoked Salmon Chowder by Barefeet In The Kitchen

Get a bowl full and warm-up with these chowders to devour! (And if you're a true New Englander, you know the classic will still be your favorite)

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Wedding Wednesdays: Monogram Maven

Happy Wedding Wednesday! Our favorite day of the week is here and we plan on sharing some expert knowledge on incorporating a memorable monogram into your wedding details. It is an easy way to add a personalized touch that will stand the test of time. From the bride’s attire to the reception décor, here are 10 classic ways to use your monogram on your wedding day!

Start off the trend by featuring your monogram on your wedding invitations

Adorable wedding timeline for #bridesmaids {Natalie Franke Photography}

Add it as a header to any wedding information on display

A little treat for those #dancing feet - we LOVE when couples treat their #guests to flip flops {Natalie Franke Photography}

Fancy up your cocktail napkins with your signature monogram

Does it get better? #Striped straws, #nautical napkins, and pink #hydrangeas ...love this look! {Natalie Franke Photography}

Without a doubt, personalize your cake with it

Beautiful! Love a classic white #cake with floral accents <3 {Natalie Franke Photography}

Stitch it into your wedding veil for a very special personal touch

Monogrammed Veil

Jazz up your bouquet with it featuring some beading or bling

Bridal Bouquet With Pearl Pin Monogram

Have it on display as you enter the wedding ceremony

Floral Wreaths With Monograms on Doors

Or hanging by the alter

Vintage doors from the bride's great grandparents home, circa 1856, made a beautiful alter for this rustic, chic wedding!

Decorate the bride and groom chairs with your monogram for an elegant detail

Monogram Chair Decor

Let everyone join in on the fun with it featured on your reception lawn games

Everyone loves a little wedding #cornhole - great way to entertain guests! {Natalie Franke Photography}

Don't just stop at these 10 ideas. There's so many more opportunities to incorporate your monogram; from the groom's cufflinks to the centerpieces, the possibilities are endless. Let your creativity flow as you devour the monogram details of your wedding day!

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Five Free Things To Do In Las Vegas

In a few days, I will be traveling to Las Vegas for work and staying for a mini-vacation. We've already got some big things planned like seeing Britney and zip-lining across the strip from the Rio Hotel. So far, everything we are doing costs a good chunk of change, so I figured I'd research some free attractions and share them with you all! Here are five free things to do in Las Vegas you can bet on being fun!

Fremont Street Experience: Located in Downtown Las Vegas, the Fremont Street Experience offers free nightly shows featuring 12.5 million lights and 550,000 watts of amazing sound. The show is often paired with free concerts and other special events. It's a modern twist on old-school Vegas. The show starts every hour on the hour from 7 p.m. to midnight. On the east end of the street, walk through the outdoor Neon Museum, which hosts some of the old hotels' neon signs.

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Fountains of Bellagio: More than a thousand fountains at the Bellagio dance to music ranging from Pavarotti to Sinatra. Sold as the most ambitious, choreographically complex water feature ever conceived, this free show is sure to amaze you. Each performance is unique in its expression and interpretation and ranges from opera to classical to Broadway tunes. Depending on time of day, the show starts every 15 or 30 minutes in front of the casino.

Image result for bellagio fountain show

Flamingo Wildlife Habitat: Appropriately enough, the Flamingo resort is home to a flock of live Chilean Flamingos. These birds, along with a collection of other feathered friends, hang out in the hotel's very own wildlife habitat, or the closest thing to it on The Las Vegas Strip. There are also swans, ducks, koi and turtles relaxing by the waterfalls and the tropical foliage.

Flamingo-Las Vegas-Property-Amenities-2

Steetmosphere at The Venetian: Part of the charm of Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian and The Palazzo is the “Streetmosphere” created by an international roster of classically trained singers, actors and musicians. Daily performances in St. Mark’s Square add an unexpected element of entertainment to the shopping experience and embellish the center’s unique and vibrant atmosphere. The Living Statues amaze guests with their immovable poses, while Artiste del Arte, a troupe of talented musicians, wander the center’s cobbled streets and serenade shoppers beneath the evening sky. On any given day, there are approximately 30 small performances that unexpectedly delight and entertain shoppers.


Silverton Aquarium: The Silverton's huge, 117,000-gallon saltwater aquarium is home to more than 4,000 tropical fish—and several "mermaids." Watch one of the interactive feeding shows at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily, and don’t miss the mermaid swims on Thursdays between 2:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays between 2:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.; and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.


I can't wait to devour the details of these fun and free attractions and I hope you can too! Definitely research things to do free of charge before any trip you take. Free is always fun! Viva Las Vegas!