Holiday Byte » Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Women

emily — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:27:54 +0000

Need to pick out something for your wife or girlfriend but don’t have a clue on wear to start looking. Well don’t sweat it here are some ideas you may want to consider

Day Spa Gift Certificate – Everyone needs a day off now and then and what better way to show your love than with a full day of pampering.
Godiva Chocolate – You’ve done chocolates before but you haven’t done chocolate until you’ve tasted Godiva chocolate.
Theatre Tickets – Whether it’s a Broadway Play, night at the theatre, concert, ballet or opera, every woman likes a night out on the town
IPod Nano – New design, lots of songs how can you go wrong.

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Women is a post from: Holiday Byte

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Men

emily — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:26:13 +0000

Are you looking for a Valentine’s Day gift for that special man in your life? Whether it’s your boyfriend or husband here are some helpful gift ideas for you consider.

Sports Tickets – Find his favorite team and get tickets for a big game, make it a special night out with him.
Video Game – Whether it’s a new Xbox 360, Playstation 2 , or Sony PSP if he likes games he’ll love this gift.
IPod Nano – Hard to go wrong with one of these everyone loves them
Race Car Driving School – If he likes cars he’ll love this gift
Golf – Why not get him that driver or putter he’s had his eye on for a while, or how about a set of personalized golf balls
Lingerie – Ok technically he be wearing it, but we don’t think he’ll mind.

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Men is a post from: Holiday Byte

Unique Valentine’s Day Gifts

emily — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:25:19 +0000

So you’ve done the flowers, the chocolate and the jewelry and now you’re looking for something that’s off the beaten path. You want something special, something different, something truly unique that will be remembered for years to come here are our suggestions.

Star Registry – Why not name a star in the heavens after that someone special.
Hot Air Balloon Ride – Spend an afternoon flying over the scenic countryside of your choice with that someone special in your life.
Bed and Breakfast Weekend – Find a cozy bed and breakfast near you and spend a weekend away from the world.

Unique Valentine’s Day Gifts is a post from: Holiday Byte

Traditional Valentine’s Day Gifts

emily — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:24:26 +0000

It doesn’t matter if you’re a hopeless romantic or just someone who appreciates tradition, it’s just hard to be a classic gift sometimes. Here are our top picks for Traditional Valentines Day Gifts.

One Dozen Long Stem Red Roses – It just doesn’t get any more classic than this, and it’s a gift that every woman should get a few times in her life.
Chocolate – Another classic, but we’d like to recommend going the extra mile and choosing a premium gourmet chocolate like Godiva. Oh and if you’re listening we really like those truffles hint, hint, nudge nudge.
Jewelry – This is another classic it can be something over the top like a diamond pendant or solitaire earrings, or as simple as sterling silver bracelet, some gifts just work for every occasion.

Traditional Valentine’s Day Gifts is a post from: Holiday Byte

Valentine’s Day Gifts

emily — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:23:19 +0000

While many people exchange gifts on Valentine’s Day it is one of the holidays that has a particularly short shopping time. Most people only shop for Valentine’s Day gift between February 1st and February 14th, which makes on time delivery difficult for many online merchants. While chocolate, flowers and jewelry are the gifts most commonly associated with this holiday people recently have started to branch out giving more personal and unique gifts. If you are looking for suggestion be sure to visit any of gift giving guides.

Valentine’s Day Gifts is a post from: Holiday Byte

Valentine’s Day Jewelry

emily — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:22:37 +0000

Jewelry is another popular gift on Valentine’s Day. In the late 1980′s the Diamond Industry began producing print, radio and television ads to promote diamond jewelry as the perfect gift for Valentines Day. An estimated 29,000 jewelry stores expect to sell over 2.2 billion dollars worth of merchandise for this holiday, making it the second most popular holiday for Jewelry with Christmas being number one.

Valentine’s Day Jewelry is a post from: Holiday Byte

Valentine’s Day Flowers

emily — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:21:57 +0000

One of the most popular gifts to send on Valentine’s Day is flowers. In fact for many florists it is the busiest day of the year. On Valentine’s Day American send more than 424 million dollars worth of domestically produced flowers and over 240 million dollars worth of imported flowers. Over 68 million dollars are spent on roses which are the most popular flower given on this day. The second most popular flower are lilies. It is estimated that 15% of women send flowers to themselves on this day.

Valentine’s Day Flowers is a post from: Holiday Byte

Valentine’s Day Party

emily — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:21:16 +0000

First decision: date and time. Your best shot for getting lots of guests is to pick a not-prime time. Try something the Saturday before Valentine’s Day, for instance, or Sunday, the day after. Also an off-time, such as brunch of lunch instead of cocktail or evening party. Check to make sure key players can come. Also a time when you’ll have the week before to do the work. Guest List Write down whom you want to invite and take a count. This determines everything from cost to venue to refreshments.

Where will you have it? Your home? A romantic outdoor patio restaurant? A restaurant with a fireplace and strolling violinist? The rec room at your apartment complex? If you’re going to rent, call ahead and find out how many people they can accommodate, if the place is available that day, how much it will cost, what’s included in the rental fee, and what other services are available. If you’re renting a place, go there and talk to the catering decorator, walk around and take a tour. Questions will occur to you that might not otherwise:

Can you bring your own food and drinks?
What about decorating?
Are there separate fees for room rental, security, maintenance, waiters, insurance, etc.?
How’s the parking and public transportation. This can make a big difference in your guests desire to come, for instance on a rainy night.

What’s the theme? Well, Valentine’s, but romantic? Light-hearted? Formal? Casual? Choose your theme and then plan your tablecloths, tableware and dishes, glasses, decorations, invitations, party favors, music.

Schedule of Party Events
Plan a time for mingling, with drinks and hors d’oeuvres before a dinner â€“ that’s how people warm up If you’re having honorary speeches or some such (20 minutes is plenty of time to allot for this), allow time afterwards, because the conversation will be primed Provide music for background according to the tone of your event â€“ rock band, romantic piano, harp, etc. Now coordinate what you’ve decided on so far Make sure time, place, theme, and cost all gel. Here are some adjustments you can make

Hard liquor, mixed drinks are expensive. If you’re having lots of people, switch to beer and wine, or make an alcoholic punch.
To cut costs, try something thematic like a bottle of Valentine wine, that is, from the Valentine Vineyards, in Southern Mendocino County. The labels on the wine are cool for a Valentine’s Party!
You can buy party trays at Sam’s or at Local Fancy Catering Boutique or you make them. Making them is probably going to cost more than Sam’s, but it has it’s virtues, Caterers can be very pricey, but then there’s no work for you to do.
Ordering a beautifully decorated cake is a good way to handle dessert for a crowd. It brings everyone around, is festive, and easy to manage.
Music can be live (more expensive) or your radio or CDs (no cost).
Will you want a maid? The day before to clean? The day of the party to help serve and clean up? Or both? (Be sure and check out her uniform. You could provide a cute Valentine’s apron for her.)
Need a bartender? Also check on his uniform. You don’t want any surprises.
Arrange for photography â€“ stills, candids, videos, a professional photographer?
Decorations â€“ floral arrangements are probably the most expensive, but they can sure dress up a table.
You can go to a party store and look around according to your theme, if you’re going with paper goods.
If you have your own china, crystal, etc. start planning how to get it clean and shining and ready to go.
If you want to purchase permanent tableware, visit a store like Tuesday Morning and see what they have.

(Tip: Shop right after Valentine’s this year and see what they put on sale! Then you’ll be ready for next year.)

Elegant doesn’t have to be more expensive People instinctively cut back when the goods are pricey, i.e., f you serve Beluga Prime from Caviarteria in New York (price $750/lb.), your guests won’t be expecting to make a meal of it, and who can eat more than a dab of caviar anyway? If you’re providing Krug Clos du Menil from Sherry-Lehmann in New York ($1,400 a case), no one’s going to be chugalugging it. Tell them it’s Kobe beef (up to $500/lb.) and they’ll be too horrified to ask for seconds. Make Julia’s Child classic chocolate cake, all of 1 high, and one small sliver suffices even the piggiest eater. It’s richer even than a Starbuck’s brownie. These things titillate your senses other than raw hunger and so are very satisfying in another sort of way. Have a classic piano in the background, and people naturally move into refined slow-motion.

However, if you’ve got bins of queso dip and tortilla chips, everyone will have that belly-up-to-the-car approach to the buffet table. If JC and the Sunshine Bang are cranking it out, well all impulses are on go and all inhibitions are on low.

Brunches are quite economical! Call those pancakes crepes â€“ no, really, it’s a separate recipe and divine, but nonetheless basically flour and water. Serve a light fruit punch or Bloody Mary’s, some bacon and sausage, a light salad – green or fruit â€¦ won’t cost much at all. I recommend Julia Child’s crepe recipe, and definitely the flaming orange crepes. They nearly put your tongue to sleep, and again, these things are so rich, no one wants more than a taste. A little trick thrifty hostesses learn!

Entertainment Live entertainment adds a really special note to a home party. Local talent is probably available that isn’t expensive. Check with universities, colleges, high schools, and churches â€“ the choral directors, the music or dance department. Check the yellow pages. There may be several children’s dance groups, and they are always charming, because children can do no wrong, entertainment wise. Check the ballet and tap schools and see if you have a boys’ choir.

Make decisions and book it. Also get a babysitter for the kids â€“ or send them all over to your sister’s with a sitter over there. Book your hair and nails. Send out the invitations. (Want to do something cute online? Try here: www.evite.com .) Put all your details in a notebook. Add notes afterwards with tips for your next party. That’s how we learn!

Start cleaning, cooking ahead and freezing, getting glasses out, and cleaning the farther corners of the house.

The little touches These you tinker with as time and money allow. It’s for fun. Look on the Internet for things like Valentine’s candles and Valentine’s soaps for your guest room, a Valentine’s wreath for your door, maybe a heart-shaped doormat. These are little touches you CAN add, not things you MUST have.

If it’s in your home, always have something hot to serve that’s in the oven as the guests arrive and smells divine.

Tip: Always use candlelight if you can. It hides a multitude of sins, i.e., dust bunnies and carpet stains, and sets a gentle ambience. Even the most white-glovey diva is disarmed in soft lighting.

If you want a good turnout, do your PR work. Talk up the party with friends as you see them, or give them a call to see if they got their invitation. Drop a hint about the Clos du Menil, or the Big Band. Tell them you’ve got a group sitter for the kids. Ask them for suggestions. Get them involved and committed.

That should get you started.

P.S. This is the year you’re going to be good to yourself. Wouldn’t that dog be happier in the kennel overnight?

Valentine’s Day Party is a post from: Holiday Byte

Traditional Valentine’s Day Gifts

Valentine’s Day Cards

emily — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:17:16 +0000

People had been exchanging handwritten notes on Valentine’s Day for years. In 1846 Esther A. Rowland is credited with producing the first mass produced Valentine’s Day Cards. They were heart shaped with embossed lace paper. They grew in popularity and within a few years were more popular than handwritten cards.

Today over 1 billion cards are exchanged on Valentine’s Day making it the second most popular holiday for exchanging cards. Christmas is the number 1 holiday and Mother’s Day is number 3, although more men by cards on Valentine’s Day than any other day. Hallmark makes over 1500 different cards for different people on Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day Cards is a post from: Holiday Byte

Valentine’s Day Masacre

emily — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:15:31 +0000

The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre is one of more intriguing murder mysteries of the 20th century. It centers around gangster rivals Al scarface Capone and George bugs Moran.

When the police arrived at the scene they found a group of brutal gangster thugs in room with weapons lying dead in lake of blood. The first clue came from an eyewitness across the street that says she heard gunfire and saw two policemen in uniform leading away two men. However, there was no police record of any activity or calls to that address.

The question of who had the most motive lay most was without a doubt Al Capone, even though he was vacationing in Florida. His plan of action was to take down Bugs Moran from the bottom up leaving him with no protection.

After the one survivor died without giving any clues the police were forced to recreate the crime based on the few eyewitness accounts. The version they came up with is as follows:

Two men entered the garage disguised as uniformed police officers. They men assumed is was a routine sting and complied with the two officers. The gangsters were made to face the wall where they were all disarmed. At that point two plain clothed men entered the garage and gunned down all of the unarmed gangsters. The two uniformed policemen then led the plain-clothes men off in mock arrest. Neither Capone or any of his henchmen were ever arrested in connection with the murders

Valentine’s Day Masacre is a post from: Holiday Byte

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