The Super Bowl is around the corner and it’s going to be big one. Rematches of all rematches, the Patriots vs. the Giants. In case you have blocked this from your memory, the Giants ended the Pats perfect season in the 2008 Super Bowl with an unbelievable 83-yard drive, with 35 seconds left in the 4th quarter. New Englanders will forever be haunted by this dark day in American sporting history.
Now, with an epic rematch looming, New England is holding its breath for the Super Bowl that must be won at all costs. Most of America will be watching this epic rivalry play out on the big screen because tickets to the game at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis are nearly impossible to come by and are selling for between $2,000 (for the worst possible seats), and $500,000 for a luxury box.
So for us commoners who will be watching the game on the Big Screen, how can we maximize are viewing experience? First of all, Football is best enjoyed with good company so invite all your friends. Step two is also kind of obvious, stock up on food and drinks. Beer and football are an American classic so buy plenty. For food, you can always grab the wing platter at your local grocery store but if you want your party to stand out, there are a number of quick and easy recipes for guacamole or bean dip you might try. If you interested in taking it to the next level, try making your own spicy wings. They cook in under ten minutes and they are delicious. With food and beverage taken care of, that brings us to the next key ingredient for a superb Super Bowl viewing experience: The TV area.
Between the high-strung emotions and the combination of lots of beer and food, Super Bowl parties can get rowdy and messy. You may want to go through your TV room and remove the fine china and that weird paperweight you got from your grandmother as a graduation gift. You don’t need to strip the room and lay down plastic sheeting but anticipate a lot of activity and excitement. Also, there will be more people watching the game than you typically have at your house. Make sure you consider how many people will be attending when you organize the room. Guest will appreciate some kind of seating options even if it’s just the kitchen chairs moved into the TV area.
Hopefully, at this point you have your food and drinks ready, your TV room is prepared and the invitations are sent out. A few final tips for making this Super Bowl party great: Try to set up the food and drink in the TV room or as close to it as possible. This will allow your guests to stay glued to the game instead of having to get up constantly. Also, when the night comes to an end, you will be left with a bunch of either very happy or very disappointed, intoxicated football fans. Both are equally dangerous behind the wheel of a car. Try to organize some designated drivers ahead of time to keep your party and the roads as safe as possible.
Who allowed a rodent to control our seasons anyway? A tradition that spans the course of history was passed down from Ancient Rome to the Fierce Teutonic tribes to the fine people of Pennsylvania to keep it alive. Of course we are talking about Groundhog Day.
A tradition kept alive by Punxsutawney Phil. Punxsutawneywhat..?
Let’s back it up for a moment and break it down. The town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania is home to our little season’s keeper. In Punxsutawney, Phil resides in the lovely area of Gobbler’s Knob. When he is not hard at work one day of the year, Phil is pampered by members of the Inner Circle. This elite group of top hat wearing, groundhog enthusiasts cater to Phil’s every need. Being the world’s oldest groundhog, Phil has been determining our seasons for 121 years. How is this possible? The mysterious Groundhog Elixir of course! One sip a year of this potent potion and Phil tacks on seven more magical years of his little rodent life.
Now that we have been acquainted with our season selecting friend, I had to ask how does it all work?
A crowd emerges around Gobbler’s Knob. News crews and videographers eagerly await Phil’s appearance. After Phil emerges from his burrow he speaks to the head of the Inner Circle, the Groundhog Club president. In “Groundhogese”(a language only understood by the current president of the Inner Circle), Phil tells the president his prediction. Phil’s proclamation is then translated for the world. Phil’s forecasts are not planned in advanced or influenced by the coveted Inner Circle in any way.
This is where you, our loyal FiCE fans come in. Get your bets ready! This Groundhog Day, FiRE+iCE challenges you to a contest of epic proportions! 500 dinners are on the line and the fate of the seasons hangs in the balance. Here’s how it works: Go on our Facebook Page before February 2nd and post “I predict Phil will see his shadow (winter continues).” Or, “I predict that Phil won’t see his shadow (early spring).” Those who guess correctly will win a FREE DINNER on Groundhogs Day.
On the bright side, it is a win-win situation at FiRE + iCE Boston. If he predicts 6 more weeks of winter than we can hunker down with a hearty meal and wait for warmer days. If spring is forecasted than I can think of no better a place to go for a celebratory iCE Bowl.
Holiday spirit is the in the air… and with it comes the cheer, kindness and pure anxiety of Christmas shopping. I have spent countless hours fretting over what gifts I should give to my friends and family. Will they like it? Did I get them the same thing last year? Will they re-gift it to Uncle Bobby again? I hope not…
So this year I am taking a different approach to spreading the holiday love. Homemade gifts allow for more personalization and meaning in the gift giving process. They also just might help relieve the stress on that weary piggy bank of yours. So how do you give a homemade gift that does not seem corny or cheap? First off, think about the person the gift is for. What are they into? What sort of sense of humor do they have? For someone with culinary ambitions, a homemade recipe booklet could be just the thing. For those of you with baking experience, try layering a mason jar with all the dry ingredients for your favorite cookie. Then tie the recipe on with a ribbon. The layered ingredients will look very inviting in the jar, and you can count on the fact that anyone worth a gift likes cookies. If you’re the type whose cooking sends people running for the take out menu, perhaps something more artistic would be a better route.
People love fancy candles. However those brand name candles can be incredibly expensive. Instead of spending your hard earned shekels on fancy candles, make your own. These candles can be fun to make and if the overwhelming success of Yankee Candle Factory is anything to go by, this gift will be well received.
But if all of this creative stuff sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo to you and you want to give a truly phenomenal, memorable, spectacular gift, there is only one real option: A FiRE +iCE gift card.
Being a senior in college means applying for graduation, looking for jobs, and having an overall mental breakdown. Lucky for all you readers, I am here as a senior surviving my final year and I’m ready to share my secrets.
The first issue we face at the beginning of the year is acknowledging that we are expected to graduate in May and instantly turn into adults and working professionals. The best way to prepare for this is to start off with an internship and treat it like a real job.
Taking the initiative to apply for an internship early on teaches students the importance of time management. I started my internship with FiRE+iCE in January of 2010 with the intentions of fulfilling a college requirement towards my degree over the spring semester. What started off as work, turned into learning about Google Analytics, social media interaction, blog writing, and the proper ways to research contacts while creating a database. I soon realized there was much more to learn and I turned my semester internship into an almost year long one.
Okay now that you took the step towards looking and acting professional its time to get all the tools and accessories that no one told you about. Yes there are secrets that you only learn of when someone decides you’re ready. I’m not sure who this someone is but for right now it’s going to be me.
Undergrad Checklist:
-Business Card
-Blazers (girls)
-Suit Jackets (guys)
-Padfolio (google it if you must)
-Good pens
-Brief case/Computer bag
-Online portfolio
-LinkedIn profile
-Tide to Go
-Facebook: We’ve all heard the lecture but its true; get the Solo cup pictures and hazy photographs off your profile. Employers know how to search you.
-Google Yourself: Web and Images. You’ll be surprised what comes up.
Getting through senior year is never going to be easy, but if I’ve learned anything in the past year at FiRE+iCE, it’s that if your passionate about the field you’re working in the work wont seem like work. It will come naturally. A mentor/supervisor/boss like the one we have at FiRE+iCE will be a supporting figure that will make or break the experience.
As I walk across that stage in May and move my tassel over I’ll be looking back not only at all the hours I spent interning but also at all the life lessons and marketing tricks I learned. And you can bet any FiRE+iCE cocktail that I’ll be waving back at my boss and the rest of our family, known as FiRE+iCE Marketing Team.
“When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better.”
– Maya Angelou
Everyone faces obstacles in life, some more than others. There is no denying that from overpowering challenges comes amazing strength. Everyday, across the country, men and women battling with breast cancer are fighting back, refusing to give up, and inspiring hope in others.
We are all connected to one of these incredible people and it is because of them that the month of October has been designated National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During the month we can all take some time to appreciate the people fighting and remember the ones who never gave up.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month was organized by the National Breast Cancer Foundation to help patients and loved ones in their fight. NBCF was founded in 1991 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women receive access to the proper resources for breast cancer testing, treatment, and support.
This organization offers hope to so many people that we decided to help support their mission. Throughout the month of October we will be donating 100% the proceeds from our top-selling Strawberry Shortcake dessert to the NBCF. In addition, we will also be donating all of the proceeds of our original Fun + Delicious Pink Ribbon t-shirts.
It is time to fight back for our friends and loved ones. We want to do our part to stop breast cancer and hope that our customers will join us in this fight.
What’s your favorite part of the week? If you’re like me, you live for the weekend. In the words of R Kelly “It’s the freaking weekend, baby and I’m about to have me some fun!” At FiRE+iCE we know that, so we’re introducing the perfect night cap to finalize you weekend glory. Introducing Sunday Night Team Trivia! Every Sunday Night, F+i will be hosting team Trivia at our Providence location. Grab some friends and come test your wits! Winning team gets a FiRE+iCE gift card.
But what’s a game night without some delicious food to go along with it? In order to make Sundays the true game night we will be offering our Happy Hour deals during Trivia Night. That means that all of your favorite appetizers are only $2.99. With these delicious munchies no one will be missing the stale chips and dip or the flat soda from the back of the fridge. Plus this means that you can leave the clean-up to us. Let us give you a great game night with none of the hassles.
Forget about moping around the house, watching reruns on Sundays; instead get your friends and come see us at FiRE+iCE for a great time and delicious food.
Back to school. Back to school, to prove to Dad that I’m not a fool. I got my lunch packed up, my boots tied tight, I hope I don’t get in a fight. Ohhhh, back to school. Back to school. Back to school.
Summer is almost over, and while some of us are still nursing a nasty sunburn, the rest of us are preparing, both mentally and physically for the inevitable fact that we have to go back to school.
The younger ones are stocking up on those coveted Crayola 96 pack of crayons with the built in sharpener, the older ones are buying mini fridges and dreaming of that first weekend on campus.
So as the summer days pass by why not get all your back-to-schoolers together and head to FiRE+iCE for dinner together. Monday nights are college night at FiRE+iCE, and great for college freshman eager to scope out the local college crowd. All college students eat for $9.99 at FiRE+iCE with a valid college ID on Monday nights. If your still treasuring the younger years you can come in during our Kids Eat Free week, August 22-28th, kids 10 and under eat FREE.
Go ahead, stock up on snack packs and pack up those boxes for move in day, summer is ending but at least the fun doesn’t have to end. Take the whole clan down to FiRE+iCE where everyone gets what they want.
