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We love you too, Boston! We are so grateful for all of our fans. Because of your support, Boston Magazine named us Best Wedding Stationery in their Best of Boston issue (still pinching ourselves!). Working one-on-one with couples on custom letterpress invitations and announcements was how Smudge Ink got its start. More than 10 years later, we continue to enjoy and cherish this part of our job. Thank you for inviting us to play a part in your celebrations all over Boston and beyond.

With Best of Boston on our minds, we did a small roundup of local spots and establishments that we find quite remarkable. Here are the winners of our unofficial poll:

BEST BOOKSTORE (Sarah): Brookline Booksmith isn't just my favorite bookstore, it's one of my favorite places on the planet! Whether I'm in the mood for a great children's book, classic, or new release, their collection never disappoints. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and makes excellent recommendations. Be sure to check out their author event series. (Also among the Boston Magazine winners!).

BEST COFFEE SHOP (Rheanna): Hands down, PS Gourmet Coffee in South Boston has the best ice coffee flavors. It’s not called home of the “bucket” for nothing.

BEST GYM (Clayton). Brooklyn Boulders in Somerville. Why? Indoor Rock Climbing. Free classes such as yoga and "broga" with purchase of a membership. Free trade coffee. Ping pong tables. Monthly complimentary beer tasting. Super awesome and friendly staff!

BEST RECORD STORE (Margaret): Deep Thoughts in Jamaica Plain is not only a great source for experimental music but also hosts great shows. (Also among the Boston Magazine winners!).

BEST FOOD TRUCK (Henry): Roxy’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese has turned an ordinary menu item into one of my all-time favorites. Go for the Green Muenster which has guac AND bacon on it. And I dare you to resist their french fries with rosemary and gorgonzola cheese.

BEST BRUNCH (Emily): Vee Vee in Jamaica Plain. I'm also really digging the art on display right now.

BEST GROCERY STORE (Sabrina): Thanks to H-Mart in Central Square, my fridge is stocked with kimchi, tofu, frozen dumplings, and other essentials. I end up going there a lot during the summer. My husband loves to bring their marinated beef bulgogi to BBQ parties.

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In honor of National Ice Cream Month—which we really celebrate all summer long—we put everyone to the test and threw an ice cream tasting competition. The flavor: coffee. Is there a better one? Everyone was allowed to enter their favorite brand, and then Kate and I went shopping at the local grocery store to round out the mix. There were nine contestants in total, and we covered each so that the taste test would be completely blind. I have to say no one took their judging responsibilities lightly. We’re talking about some advanced palettes here. After some deliberation, everyone was forced to write down their favorite coffee ice cream out of the nine contenders. Read on to find out the winners  ...

As you can see from the photos, each spoonful was given some serious consideration. Once the votes had been counted, we ended up with a tie between ice cream B and F! The winners were revealed to be Three Twins Milk Coffee and Ben & Jerry's Coffee, Coffee, BuzzBuzzBuzz! (shown below). But honorable mention goes to Clayton's ice cream pick which he made from scratch at home! 

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The home we moved into 2.5 years ago has a shady patio with two ready-to-plant window boxes at the base of each kitchen window. Since settling in, I have been happily experimenting in the world of window box plants, and I’m pleasantly surprised by how many can thrive in the shade. Among a handful of shade-happy annuals I chose, my favorites by far are my begonia (I don't know the exact variety), Strobilanthes Persian Shield and Euphoriba Diamond Frost. I love how the begonia blooms look with the dark perisan shield foliage and the ethereal nature of euphorbia’s baby white blooms. If you have shady window boxes you would like to plant, consider the following:

Composition. When evaluating what plants to buy, make sure to look at each plant’s tag to understand its height when mature and overall growth habit. Does it trail? Grow straight up? Or grow in a mound? You don’t want all the plants in the box to be 12” high or all of them to be trailing. Try to buy a mix of plants so that some grow high, others form mounds, and some trail. This variation will create visual interest. My plants are still growing so they'll need a little more time before they fill out the boxes as I envision. 

Palette. If you are as interested in color as I am, you’ll also want to consider bloom and foliage color. I find this very challenging and end up spending too many hours (yes, hours) arranging the plants on the ground at the nursery to make sure I have just the right color combination. I’m always striving to create interesting, unexpected palettes that complement the color of our house (greyish teal).

Care. Shade plantings don’t dry out as much as plants in full sun, and I have made the mistake of over watering in the past. Make sure the soil is fairly dry before watering, and be sure to fertilize once a week. I use liquid miracle grow, but any fertilizer for annuals is fine.

Protection. Lastly, be sure that your window boxes are secure! We have one that is unsteady and has fallen off the house every spring onto our perennial bed. I will not elaborate on how maddening and disappointing this is. I whole heartedly suggest you employ nails, screws, shims—whatever you think necessary—to protect those precious babies, folks. Happy planting!

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With the warmer weather and longer days, summer is a great time to host parties. Whether it’s a birthday pool party for the kids or just an impromptu barbeque with neighbors, summer gatherings are some of the best. And no party is quite complete without some tasty treats. To add a little more fun to your next celebration, we created these bright toppers to use for cupcakes or other party desserts (like this blueberry crisp!). 

Simply download and print the template and follow these easy steps:

1) Carefully fold along the dotted line.
2) With paper folded, cut circles along the solid line and leave a small part of the fold intact. The front and back circles should remain folded nicely against one another, saving you some cutting time. 
3) Apply glue (or double-sided stick tape) and place a toothpick (or popsicle stick, stirrer, straw, etc.) in the center. Close the circles together.
4) Place in your yummy treat, and voila—instant smile.

Enjoy!

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On the 4th of July, is there anything more delicious (or American, really) than blueberry crisp? Add a “dollop” (love that word) of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream and you’re in fruity-crispy heaven. I thought I would share a simple recipe that would be perfect for the upcoming holiday or any summer gathering really. I especially like this recipe because there are no fancy ingredients and you come out with a delicious crowd-pleaser with just 15 minutes of prep time (followed by 30 minutes of baking time). I love to bake but who wants to toil away in a hot kitchen while everyone else is kicking back and enjoying the day?

Download and print out the blueberry crisp recipe here. I’ve also included a blank printable recipe card for your own recipe keeping. Have a happy 4th of July, and GOOOO USA Women’s Soccer!

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