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Tampa Bay Life -
Holidays
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(NewsUSA) - A stunning floral arrangement - whether it's full of sunflowers, tulips, carnations or roses - can express a range of emotions, from romantic to friendly to something in between. So if you want to make a lasting impression this Valentine's Day, give bouquets to all of the important people in your life. The most popular Valentine's Day flowers are, of course, roses. For many people, red roses are the perfect way to say, "I love you." To make this loving gift a long-living one, recipients should follow these simple steps from the experts at 1-800-Flowers.com. * If the roses are delivered in a box, open the box as soon as possible and place the flowers in water. If water isn't immediately available, place the open box in a cool, dark place. * Fill a vase with lukewarm water and mix in a floral preservative. * Fill a sink or bowl with water. Using a knife or shears, cut an inch from the bottom of each stem while holding it under the water. Remove the foliage that would fall below the water line. * Immediately place roses, loosely and evenly spaced, in the vase. * Place the vase in a cool spot, away from any heat sources. * Add warm water to the vase every day to keep the roses looking fresh. * Completely change the water every three days and recut the stems. Remember that with these simple yet effective tips, your loved one will be able to truly appreciate the gift of roses. To order beautiful flowers and other Valentine's Day gifts, visit www.1800flowers.com. |
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Tampa Bay Life -
Holidays
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(NewsUSA) - Valentine's Day is synonymous with romance, of course. But of the millions who celebrate the popular holiday for lovers each year, how many actually know the rich history behind it? There are several competing theories on the origins of Valentine's Day. Some say its beginnings can be found in the Middle Ages, when many believed that birds mated for life on Feb. 14. To commemorate the spirit of companionship, people would send love letters on that day. Others say we owe our celebration to the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia, a pagan fertility festival that was held in mid-February. On this day, women wrote love notes that were placed in an urn and randomly drawn by men, who would then pursue the note-writers and claim them as companions for the next year. Early Christians preferred to associate the holiday with the saint of romantic causes, Saint Valentine. But there is some controversy regarding Saint Valentine: The Catholic Church recognizes at least three saints named Valentine or Valentinus. The most popular candidate is a third century priest. Legend says he performed secret marriages against the orders of Emperor Claudius II, who forbade young men from marrying because he believed that single men were more likely to join the army. As the story goes, Valentine was imprisoned for his misdeeds. He then fell in love with his jailer's daughter and sent her a note signed "From Your Valentine" before he was executed in A.D. 270. A little more than 200 years later, Pope Gelasius officially recognized Feb. 14 in honor of Valentine, the patron saint of lovers. Some say the tradition of sending Valentine greetings started in 1415 with a Frenchman named Charles, Duke of Orleans. Imprisoned in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt, the duke reportedly passed time by writing romantic verses for his wife. By the 16th century, sending written expressions of affection on Valentine's Day had become very common. By the beginning of the 20th century, the giving of Valentines was accompanied with gifts of flowers and chocolates. The red rose and heart-shaped box of chocolates became synonymous with Valentine's Day. Now, more than $1 billion is spent annually on Valentine's Day candy. The National Confectioners Association estimates that more than 36 million candy hearts will be sold this year alone, the majority of them from Russell Stover, the leading producer of heart-shaped boxes of chocolate in the United States. Russell Stover also caters to the health conscious with assortments that are sugar-free and low in carbohydrates. To find the perfect Valentine's Day heart for that special someone this year, visit www.russell stover.com. |
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Tampa Bay Life -
Holidays
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(NewsUSA) - Holiday shopping is not easy on the feet. Not only are you trekking from store to store, but if you have a long list of presents to buy, that hour-long errand you intended easily turns into an all-day affair. At the end of the day, you bring home a few unwanted gifts of your own: foot pain and blisters. The American Podiatric Medical Association estimates that the average person takes about 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day, especially when on the hunt for that perfect gift. To help shoppers get back on their feet, the APMA offers five holiday foot fixes: 1. Massage your feet. This will help release tension, increase circulation and rejuvenate the skin. 2. Soothe your soles. Soak your feet for at least five minutes in a container filled with warm water. Pat dry and apply lotion to hydrate your feet. 3. Elevate legs. Lift your legs above your heart while lying down to help reduce swelling. 4. Rotate ankles. Cup the foot under the back portion of the heel to brace the foot and leg; turn slowly at the ankle five times. This loosens the ankle joint and relaxes your feet. 5. Point your toes. While standing, do toe raises, toe points and toe curls for five seconds; repeat 10 times. This alleviates toe cramps and strengthens calf muscles. Check out APMA's Web site, www.apma.org, for a list of approved products including foot creams, scrubs and powders that are beneficial to maintaining good foot health. |
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Tampa Bay Life -
Holidays
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(NewsUSA) - If the holidays overwhelm you, think about how that jolly old soul with the red suit and white beard must feel. Even with many years under his ample belt, dear old Santa has been "calling in the reserves" for nearly 60 years. In 1947, Major Bill Hendricks and a group of Marine reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The idea came from Bill's wife, Diane. Earlier that year, Diane handcrafted a Raggedy Ann doll and asked Bill to deliver it to an organization that would give it to a needy child at Christmas. When Bill determined that no agency existed, Diane told him that he should start one, so he did. The pilot project was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948 and expanded it into a nationwide campaign. That same year, Walt Disney designed the renowned red train Toy for Tots logo as a favor to the organization. In the late 1980s, the Marine Corps determined that a nonprofit charity was needed as an integral part of the overall national Toys for Tots program. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation became an operational organization in September 1991 and has been the fundraising and support organization for the program ever since. Today, thousands of volunteers and corporate sponsors across the country continue the legacy that began when Diane Hendricks handed her husband a handmade toy and asked him to deliver it to a worthy child. The goal is to deliver a message of hope and brighten the holidays for children whose lives are touched by poverty. Currently 12 million (17 percent) of the nation's children live below the federal poverty level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Since its inception, Toys for Tots has touched the lives of more than 160 million children. To learn more about the Toys for Tots history and how you can help children in your area, visit www.toysfortots.org, or make a donation at participating The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. locations. |
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