Valentines Day – The Important Tradition Of Chocolate, Roses, And Romance
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kay_Coolidge]Kay Coolidge
“Don’t get me candy,” she may say, but being obedient to this request has occasionally sentenced some logical and straight-forward thinking men to a few days in the dog house. “Okay,” he thinks; “no chocolates, she’s on a diet – she made a special point of letting me know that, message received.” Valentines Day preparations become a little simpler, since red roses are the traditional symbol of love – there’ll be no consternation over which color to choose.
But a lovely luxuriously decorated valentine shaped box of chocolates, if not equal to roses, ranks high as a symbol of love on this all-important day for romantic relationships. It brings with it a message of unconditional love (i.e. “ok, you may need to lose a little weight, but I love you just for being YOU!”), passion, and never-ending love and devotion. Not to mention the long considered, and now scientifically explained, aphrodisiac properties of the chocolate.
According to Mark Twain, “love is the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired,” and this quote is likely more fitting on Valentines Day than any other day of the year. Traditional Valentines Day gifts, such as chocolates and flowers tend to provide reassurance that the relationship is on an even keel; that despite the changes brought on by time – the original magic of the early years still remains. Of course, Valentines Day, as a romantic holiday along with the chocolates and other gifts currently associated with it, didn’t really flourish in the United States until the mid 20th Century.
In fact, the legend that goes all the way back to the Roman era paints quite a different picture of this holiday and the impetus for it. There are actually three different versions of who the original Saint Valentine was, and the behavior he was noted for, except that in each one he was hailed as a martyr. It is generally reported, though, that Saint Valentine
1. Either performed marriages in secret after the Emperor outlawed it for members of his army
2. Was executed after attempting to help Christians escape from horrific prison conditions, or
3. Sent the very first valentine message to the daughter of his jailor who he had fallen in love with her after she visited him in prison.
Interestingly, there is no mention of either chocolates or flowers being included in any of those versions of that early history.
Clearly, Valentines Day has evolved considerably. It is the second most commercial holiday next to Christmas, and some complain that it has become far too commercialized. Yet, about a billion Valentines cards are sent out each year, even in this digital age. Obviously green and sustainable thinking goes out the window for at least this one day. This is understandable.
After all, something as meaningful as a beautiful and touching card from the most important person in your life needs to be cherished, and an email just doesn’t measure up as a potential family heirloom. Between florist orders, massive sales of all varieties of chocolates, teddy bears, and jewelry, February retail sales often reflect that this one day remains an important not-to-be-missed (if not avoid (or forget) at your own peril) opportunity for couples to set aside the time to demonstrate their love and commitment to each other.
This celebration is not just limited to the United States, either. Valentines Day is celebrated in many cultures. Chocolate often plays a role, though sometimes in a different context, likely due to its reputation for causing people to react as though they’re falling in love. There is, of course, the irresistible luxurious smoothness and taste that always makes a Valentines Day gift of chocolates welcome and highly anticipated. And, fortunately, since they come in a variety of quantities, those who aren’t quite certain what the reaction of the recipient will be can play it safe with a small diet-friendly assortment of Valentines candy.
Kay Coolidge is the founder and proprietor of Popsies Gourmet Popcorn and Sweets Shoppe in Oak Harbor, WA. Popsies online home is http://www.popsiespugetsoundpopcorn.com where you can order the same fresh made-with-love-by-Grandma-Kay popcorn tins filled with your favorite flavors (up to three per tin) that locals clamor for.
Call Kay at 360-240-8937 for unmatched customer service, whether it’s popcorn you’d like or any assortment of candy (see the huge variety on the website-from vintage to the very latest) you’d like included in your ‘care package’ from Whidbey Island’s best kept secret. Need unique party favors or custom gift baskets? Popsies offers free consultation on either, and will prepare and ship your order for timely delivery.
For those who live in the Whidbey Island area or are visiting, stop by 851 SE Pioneer in Oak Harbor to sample the legendary friendly service and witness the amazing jaw-dropping variety of treats available at Popsies for each holiday and in between. You’ll see why locals refer to Popsies as the “Gem” of Historic Downtown Oak Harbor.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Valentines-Day—The-Important-Tradition-Of-Chocolate,-Roses,-And-Romance&id=6858432] Valentines Day – The Important Tradition Of Chocolate, Roses, And Romance
New Year New Adventures
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Roy_Smallwood]Roy Smallwood
I want to get outdoors more this year. I want to breathe the fresh air… to visit new wetlands… to visit open prairies… to climb mountain paths… to see more of my country. I want to get fit-so, I can do all this.
Sound good to you, too? Okay, we can do this.
There are reasons for this, of course. Many of us are interested in our well being and the well being of our surroundings. We are becoming more aware of the joys of being outdoors, of hiking through the woods next to where we live and those farther away. Remember the last time you sat on a ridge overlooking a river valley at sunset marveling at a day well spent? Remember sitting in the early morning on the creek bank sipping coffee watching the fog clear away as the sun burned through? Remember the Summer Tanager you spied through your spotting scope across the canyon? Well, I do, and these are the motivators for me.
The preparation for adventure is as much fun as the adventure itself. The conception of the plan, the choice of the place, the search for the route, the decision of what to pack and what to leave behind, the anticipation, all become part and parcel to the adventure itself.
So, with the work day behind us, we can find ourselves not only dreaming of but searching the internet for the mountain peak upon which we would like to pitch a tent or the nearby wetland for a day trip. Is it Peregrine Falcons or Ring necked Ducks we’re after? Is it a vacation we seek or merely the weekend respite that is our aim?
Decision made: it’s time to prepare. Get out on the neighborhood trails: begin building your stamina with a walking routine. Hit the swimming pool, do cardio; lift a few weights, do your floor exercises. Fitness leads to its own reward and joy, but you now have purpose.
It is a new year. There are new adventures to be had, new places to see. Who knows? You may visit some of the old familiar places that have slipped from your routine, and they become fresh again. You may pick up a new life bird in the new place on the new adventure, or you may see a species you’ve seen hundreds of times before. No matter; it will all be good.
Roy Smallwood is the owner of Kingbirdfeeders.com. He is an active member of the Bastrop County Audubon Society and encourages everyone to participate and enjoy birding whether in the backyard or in the field. Visit [http://www.kingbirdfeeders.com]Kingbirdfeeders.com for feeders, houses, guides and gear as well as [http://www.kingbirdfeeders.com/00ProdBinoculars.htm]binoculars. Happy birding!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?New-Year-New-Adventures&id=6820720] New Year New Adventures
New Adventures – Needed Equipment
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Roy_Smallwood]Roy Smallwood
It’s a new year. New adventures are yet to be, which means there may be a need to gather some new equipment or replace the old with upgrades. You’ve been contemplating this for a while anyway. You’ve been getting by with that old binocular and scope. You’ve known for a while that there are lighter weight, more powerful binoculars with greater clarity than what you now carry. You know there is a new, more inclusive and up-to-date field guide. You know there are better ways to transport and carry the essentials. You have planned for the day when some or all your equipment can be modernized. Obviously, you’ve gotten your money’s worth from your current rig. But times have improved on all of it. No sense being left behind and becoming outdated.
The advances in optics over the last few years are astonishing. The development of the roof prism for binoculars has led not only to greater clarity of the image but to internal focusing and improvement in water and fog proofing. The new materials used in the chassis of the binocular have made them lighter weight yet more durable. It is so much easier for anyone to stay focused on a particular bird for a longer period of time because one doesn’t tire so easily with these new light weight models. The coatings on lenses have improved light transmission and eliminated much of the chromatic aberration associated. Even the glass used for the lenses and prisms results in greater resolution. Many of these improvements have crossed over into the scopes as well. It’s time to take advantage of these improvements.
Of great significance to birders is a new field guide. It is fun to share the old names of some species, such as “butter butt” for Yellow Rumped Warblers and “butcher bird” for Loggerhead Shrikes. However, it is equally important to know when a species has been split, such as when the Rufous Sided Towhee was split into the Eastern Towhee and the Spotted Towhee. It is also important to note that more species are being discovered in unusual places and some have become residents in those places. For at least these reasons and more, the number of species in North America has grown. There are now 990 species of birds included in the sixth edition of the National Geographic Field Guide. Three decades ago that was closer to 860. New field guides have been revised, redesigned, and rearranged to provide the user with a wealth of information that is more readily accessed than ever before.
Lastly, one must have a mode to conveniently transport his gear, guides, refreshment and water. To that end we seek a travel bag or pack that is durable and light weight but of sufficient capacity. The products offered through Mountainsmith provide all this with one important advantage-an environmental benefit. Water is now being sold in plastic bottles in great numbers. The consequence is a huge impact on landfills. The good folks at Mountainsmith recognized this problem and initiated a very unique and savvy solution. They have developed a way to turn bottles into a fabric from which their bags, lumbar packs and gear are made. By employing their products on your trips to the field you can carry your equipment efficiently and help the environment. Not a bad deal at all.
New year, new equipment, new solutions-all grand. It’s time for adventure.
Roy Smallwood is the owner of Kingbirdfeeders.com. He is an active member of the Bastrop County Audubon Society and encourages everyone to participate and enjoy birding whether in the backyard or in the field. Visit http://www.kingbirdfeeders.com for feeders, houses, guides and gear as well as [http://www.kingbirdfeeders.com/00ProdBinoculars.htm]binoculars. Happy birding!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?New-Adventures—Needed-Equipment&id=6852030] New Adventures – Needed Equipment
Creating the World You Desire Part III: What Do I Want?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Henrico_A_Norris]Henrico A Norris
Knowing what you want is about lining up your goals and actions with your beliefs. You know who you are and what you can do, but knowing what you want is a key step to empowering your life.
By now, you should have a pretty good idea of what things drive you. Reflect on your answers to the first two questions: Who am I and what can I do? If you were diligent in considering those matters, you have a nice concept of your values and convictions, your interests, as well as your abilities. These are the things that make you unique. Cherish and value these essential qualities. Think of them every time you make a move in life. Part of improving the quality of your life is establishing a firm base at home–in the depths of your mentality. A person who stands firm in their convictions and pays attention to what they believe in has tapped into the ultimate source of inner strength–that of personal will and the desire to protect one’s mind and heart.
Knowing where you stand and what matters to you is the first step to knowing what you want. It gives you something to fall back on. When we struggle, sometimes the only thing powerful enough to motivate you to live is the singular belief that it is your destiny to achieve. Tell yourself that everyday. You have passions, like flames, already set ablaze; No rain can kill that fire.
Be sure to consider both the “who” and the “what”? By that I mean life is more than just the philosophy. It is the application. What you actually do is still the single most effective means to progress. With that said, make a conscious effort to include your abilities and personal gifts in everything you do. Find jobs that match your interests and maximize the opportunity for you to contribute to society. Know that you have something valuable to express and make sure you have an adequate platform to do so. The money will come. What’s important here is the quality of your life.
Even if you’re your own boss, make your own hours and have an awesome position on paper, it means nothing if you’re not doing the things you love to do, expressing the feelings you want to express, or living the life you want to live. Many cheat themselves because they invest all their energy into one thing, usually something external. It could be a relationship, a job, a family issue, anything. However, try to think of your life as a canvas and the act of living is the paintbrush. You, my friend, are the color. Everything you think and do adds color to your life and contributes to the bigger picture. Some colors will show more than others, but no one color makes the entire portrait. You owe it to yourself to know what colors you have and paint the picture you want to see.
Use what you know about yourself to shape your future goals and never hesitate to reach high. Most will never take control of their lives and go after what they really want. Consequently, their minds will remain in existential purgatory.
For more articles and essays, subscribe to my blog! http://www.thetrappingsoflife.blogspot.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Creating-the-World-You-Desire-Part-III:-What-Do-I-Want?&id=6847515] Creating the World You Desire Part III: What Do I Want?
