In our first ever blog post founder Ben Ross shared his driving principles, the basis for everything we do at Brackish: “Family, Friends, Good Times, and an admiration and appreciation for nature and its natural beauty that you find everywhere around us.” We can’t think of any single Charleston event that represents these principles better than the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. And, to celebrate our first year participating, we want to share with you our guide for making the most out of everything SEWE has to offer.

1)Plan on going more than once.
SEWE offers so many great events and exhibits for the whole family, and like any Charleston event this includes our four-legged friends, but we recommend designating at least a day to bring out the whole crew and a day or two to go back and enjoy the indoor exhibits... Otherwise you may be left rushing away from the wildlife paintings for face paintings or leashed to your canine outside and unable to see them altogether.

2)Map out the day’s events ahead of time.
With exciting things happening through every part of town, making it to all of your favorite events might require some planning. Plenty of exhibits are walking distance, but if you’re going to make it from events at Brittlebank to the Mills House and everywhere in between, you’ll need to schedule in some transportation and a little extra time.

3)If you’re not sure what you might be interested in, start with some of our favorite events.
The DockDogs Competitions, Birds of Prey Flight Demos, and the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary Show are always great crowd-pleasers that are offered every day to help get you in the SEWE spirit.

4)Make sure to come see us at the Brackish booth.
We’ll be looking forward to seeing you in the Rutledge Room of the The Mills House Hotel on Meeting Street. You won’t be able to miss us, just look for the big feather bow tie!

"Buck...you are a true legend and will live in our hearts forever. You are already missed beyond words. We are so thankful to have had you bless our lives with your pure heart and spirit! May you run and rest well in the happy hunting ground..."
- Ben Ross

3. Peter Tosh - Wanted Dread & Alive - No, this is not a Bon Jovi parody, this was released prior to the karaoke classic. This was also a great song before Pineapple Express featured it in the hilarious chase scene. Either way, reggae has a way of finding its way into my playlist in a major way in the summertime, thanks to some friends who got me hooked. This tune by Peter Winston McIntosh is great background music while throwing divers into the pool.

5. Jimmy Buffett - Southern Cross - This song is originally by Crosby, Stills, & Nash, but this particular version exemplifies the summer concert experience. Even if you don't like his music, an outdoor Jimmy Buffett concert in the summer is a rite of passage. Don't fight it, this song will stay with you.

That's my summer soundtrack, and even though I could go on forever, that's a good start. We at Brackish Bow Ties are passionate about our music, so much so that we want to hear from you and put you in the running for a $20 Amazon gift card. Whoa! Slow Down BBT! Don't break the bank! Not bad for 30 seconds of work. What is your favorite summer song? Submit your responses by commenting below, posting a comment on our Facebook page, or give us a shout out on Twitter. Judging is completely subjective and is affected by my musical tastes. Commenting on all 3 mediums will give you a better chance to win, so will posting a picture on our Facebook page.

Good Luck! You have until Tuesday, June 26.

This is a continuation of last week's post on how men can maximize their wedding potential without crossing the line. It's easier said than done for many. Part 2 will focus on preparation and the early stages of the "hitchin".

1. Skip The Ceremony Code Of Conduct - There is probably no bigger faux pas in the wedding world. So much so that it's rarely talked about. But if you've been to a few weddings in your day, chances are you've skipped a ceremony and gone straight to the reception. Reasons vary from running late to not being able to find the church to sheer laziness. I have a friend who never goes to a ceremony unless it's his own. No exceptions. Most of us, however, feel obligated to show up for and observe the sacred nuptials.

But if you do skip the ceremony, get your story straight. And don't let the bride know. I repeat, don't let the bride know. She'll never forget it. Next, don't bring it up unless you are asked about it. If you initiate it, you are begging for criticism. Stay under the radar and you'll be fine. Just don't make it a habit.

And if you do skip the ceremony, just know you may be missing this

2. Pre Wedding Drinks - Slow out of the gate! Drinks somewhere before the wedding is encouraged. It's a time to celebrate! But it's a marathon, not a sprint, Grasshopper. Over indulging may ruin the rest of your experience and many other's as well. I'm not the guy monitoring your alcohol intake, believe me. But common sense is a powerful thing. 

Best Case Scenario: Meet up with a few people somewhere close to the ceremony (walking distance). Have 1 or 2 cocktails. Liquor is the way to go over beer unless you have a legendary bladder. There's nothing worse than sitting in a wedding thinking about running to the restroom. Unless you are the friend sitting next to him and all he does is whisper to you about it.

These 2 things are rarely discussed but vital to wedding survival. Start out on the right foot and you're on your way to another great (or tolerable) wedding experience.

Any comments or ideas? Say something below!

In celebrating Mother's Day yesterday, it's always fun to spend time talking with mom and applaud her for everything she's done for me in my life. Her undying support over the years and being able to have sincere, honest conversations with her is priceless. But I've gotten her pretty much everything you can imagine for Mom's Day and found that flowers are the failsafe go-to gift. EVERY woman loves to get flowers, I don't care what they say. But stepping outside the box and finding that really unique gift gets harder and harder every year. Discovering something they would never think of but would really appreciate because you put a lot of thought into it. Giving her something that really stands out and starts conversations. Let's face it, almost every parent is looking for an excuse to talk to anybody about their kids.

While bow ties for women are not completely out of the discussion, my mother will not wear one, no matter how hard I try. She's probably right, she usually is at everything else.

And while Brackish hopes to have something available for Mother's Day next year, here's your opportunity for Father's Day (unless your father does this). Our turkey feather bow tie is unique, thoughtful, looks great, and will give dad plenty of excuses to tell his friends what you gave him for Father's Day. Dad will probably not find this on his own since he won't be able to find it anywhere else. He'll be proud of it and be able to talk about you. Much better than a Home Depot gift card or a sleeve of golf balls. He can get those from anybody, anytime.

As you get older, it gets harder and harder to please mom or dad. While getting married or having another child would probably do the trick, a Brackish Bow Tie is easier and you can send it back if you don't like it. Guaranteed.

It's the least you can do for dad!

Any questions or ideas about Mother's or Father's Day gifts? Leave a comment below!

No matter where you are, by now you should be in the heart of wedding season.

Be Prepared. Be Very Prepared.

Spring and early summer are the prime wedding seasons and Brackish bow ties are popping up at numerous hitchings around America. Always cause for celebration and a great excuse for letting your hair down, weddings can sneak up and bite you if you let them.

So in honor of those most sacred nuptials and the party to follow, this self proclaimed wedding vet offers the Men's Guide to Maximizing Your Wedding Potential (Without Crossing the Line):

1. Know Thy Place (at least until it gets dark) - I'm not the formal wedding etiquette guy (far from it) but in order to survive, you must know your place. More than anything, it is the bride's day. That's common knowledge and common sense. Regardless of your involvement, I guarantee she has thought about and prepared for this day much more than you.

Speaking out during the ceremony, talking and throwing food during the father of the bride's toast, or knocking over the bride in the dance circle will not make for a pleasant experience. And future interactions will be strained, to say the least.

I write all this with a caveat: 2.5 hours into the reception, you're free. Sing on stage with the band until you're booed off, do the Macarena with the groom's mother, and push people out of the way at the ice luge. You're free to rock out. All will be forgiven (most of it, anyway).

2. The Wedding Planner Will Not Go Out With You - It's not gonna happen. Never. Her job and reputation are on the line and if any little detail goes awry, she's on the hook. She doesn't have time for you and has a different mind set than everyone else at the wedding. She's not looking for guys. Cut your losses. Chances are there are plenty of opportunities elsewhere. The wedding planner will not go out with you.

3. Be Committed To Your Dancing Decision - The perfect place for amateur dancers is a wedding reception. It's a melting pot of dance moves: The Robot, The Dougie, The Electric Slide, and The Worm, among others. All great fun for the right people. If you're gonna dance, commit 100% right then and there. You can't kind of go out not really excited about it. You need to tell yourself "I just wanna dance" and get out a cut a rug. As long as you're not Elaine Benes, it doesn't matter what you look like as long as you're committed. If you're not feeling it, find another nondancer and laugh at everyone else.

All tips seem like common knowledge but if you're a wedding vet like me or just starting out on your journey, chances are you've seen it all before.

Have any tips to survive or things not to do at weddings? Comment below, we'd love to hear from you!

That concludes Part 1 of the survival guide, stay tuned for Part 2.

A word from Ben Ross, Founder and Creator of Brackish Bow Ties. He's usually outdoors or busy handcrafting feather bow ties in his spare time so getting him to write Brackish Bow Ties' first blog post is a privilege for all involved.

ENTER BEN:

First time blogger, first blog, yes it's true.  I know, I know, in this digital world that we live in I am a fossil, but its never too late to try new things so here goes: I have never tweeted, been on facebook, or been in my space so bear with me.  I am going to be diving into this blogging thing head first without checking to make sure there is any water before I jump, so easy does it I hope on the landing.  Anyway, as the designer, artist, and creator of the bow ties it has been encouraged that I do this every once in awhile to let everyone know what I am thinking or feeling, so I said hey I'm in touch with that stuff it will be fun, this being my first time it will be quick but I promise that I will get better with practice. 

I want to leave everyone with what was the driving force behind this product 5 years ago and still is today. These same principles can be applied every day to one's life to help keep it in perspective in a world with so much coming at you:  "Family, Friends, Good Times, and an admiration and appreciation for nature and its natural beauty that you find everywhere around us."

Any tips for the 1st time Blogger?

Anything else you use to keep it in perspective and get through the day?
Leave Your Comments Below!