Ideas & Tips — #wedding

If you're getting married, remember that thoughtful wedding favors can really set your special day apart. This detail is too often overlooked, but it is crucial to acknowledge the time and money your guests have invested in celebrating the start of your new life. Show your appreciation with a special gift that will always remind them of your wedding day.  There's something memorable about any occasion like wedding, baby or bridal shower, birthday or anniversary party that sends you home with a special treat. Favors are often arranged as part of the place setting, allowing them to do double-duty by...

Summer is on the horizon, and that means wedding season is also fast-approaching. According to online wedding-authority The Knot, June was one of the two most popular months for weddings last year. But if you haven't already begun brainstorming wedding gift ideas, don't panic! Check out these elegant, timeless items that will help the happy couple start their new life together in style: Champagne bucket: Give them a bottle of bubbly in a tasteful, stainless steel champagne bucket. After the wedding festivities, it will make a handsome addition to their dining area or bar cart.  Flower vase: Deliver a bouquet...

Are you in charge of throwing a friend or family member a wedding or baby shower? If so, consider using a garden-theme for a fun and flower-filled affair. Here are some tips:  Arrange fruit: Set out this beautiful basket and fill it with fresh fruit for your guests to snack on. Invite them in style: Send mailed invitations that are in keeping with your garden theme. You might choose a floral stationery or tuck a silk daisy inside the envelope.  Make floral straws: We love many bloggers' idea that turn paper straws into awesome floral centerpieces. For the "stems," use our stainless...

Depending on whom you listen, you either believe that Champagne is only for special occasions or can be consumed whenever the mood strikes. Wherever you stand on the issue, what can be agreed upon is that Champagne is a beverage that usually commands more attention and formality than others.  Originally hailing from the northeast region of France, the country has held onto the name Champagne as legally theirs for more than 100 years through the 1891 Treaty of Madrid. Eventually all of Europe joined protecting the name. Legally speaking, even American companies are only able to use the generic term,...

If you've gone out to a brewpub or into the home of a beer aficionado lately, you have probably noticed that there are a whole bunch of different beer glass styles in heavy rotation these days. Each type of glass corresponds to a particular brewing tradition and is meant to bring out the particular qualities associated with that beer style. That's not to say that you can't serve beers in the "wrong" glass, only that serving them in their intended glassware will give you a better idea of which characteristics the brewers were aiming to bring out in the beer....