Sweet Tart Champagne Cocktail - Valentines Day

Celebrations call for champagne! Toast Valentine's Day with a special champagne cocktail, the Sweet Tart. Pink, fun and festive, you will fall in love at first sip. Served at the Stone Rose Lounge at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz. Stoli Raspberry

1 oz. Simple Syrup

1 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

1 bar spoon full of Strawberry Jam

Preparation:

Add ingredients to a Shaker Glass. Shake well and strain into a martini glass. Fill the rest with Champagne. Garnish with a lemon.

By Judy Hedding, http://phoenix.about.com/od/cocktails/r/sweet-tart.htm

Have A Romantic Valentine's Day In New York

Valentine's Day may be an overly pink, Hallmark-perpetuated hypefest, but it's also a great excuse for a night of unabashed romance. Make your sweetheart feel special with a fabulous New York Valentine's Day.

The Valentine's Day Gifts

Flowers are a sure bet to impress the ladies. Check out Flowers of the World for truly unique arrangements that she won't forget. But in this economy, it truly is the thought that counts, so a modest bodega bouquet and a heartfelt note will do just as well.

Give your Valentine some naughty ideas with Sexy Slang's Bedroom Challenge, a fun little book of ideas for spicing things up all year 'round. Sexy Slang also has cute tees for your favorite stud muffin or hot chick.

Gifts from the Apple store will wow dates of any gender. Why not load his iPod with romantic songs chosen just for him from iTunes? Or spend a little more and spring for a new iPad or iPod and get free laser engraving of your personal message and free signature gift wrapping.

Turn up the heat this Valentine's Day with some sexy toys from The Pleasure Chest. Who needs flowers when you can give your Valentine a gift that keeps on giving?

Arrange a special adventure for your Valentine through Great American Days.

The Romantic New York Valentine's Day Outing

Carriage Ride in Central Park -- The picturesque carriage ride in Central Park is not just for tourists and romantic-comedy heroines. Snuggle under a blanket with your sweetie in the moonlight. Canoodle to the clop-clop of horse's hooves as you view the city from a more romantic perspective.

The Scenic New York Kiss -- Enjoy a memorable kiss on Valentine's Day in one of the city's most romantic locations. There's the top of the Empire State Building, naturally, where you can make like Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr (or Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan). Also included in a recent Daily News list of the best kissing spots in New York are the Rockefeller Center Skating Rink, The Cloisters, Central Park, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Just try to keep it PG-13 until you get home.

By Pamela Skillings, http://manhattan.about.com/od/eventsandattractions/a/valentinesday.htm

Top 6 Valentine Gifts For Her

 Is there a woman alive who wouldn't like to receive a romantic little something on Valentine's Day, chosen by someone she cares about. Here is a list just in case you are having trouble choosing something... perfect!

1) Roses

Trust me... nothing will impress a woman more than a bouquet of roses. Here is a selection to peruse ranging from one single rose, to a dozen and EVERYTHING in between.

2) Heart Pendant

Another really romantic possibility. Lots of price ranges to meet any budget.

3) Chocolates

Chocolates in a heart shaped box. Does it get any more romantic than that? The $135.00 box caught my eye, but relax, there are boxes at every price range. :)

4) Lingerie

Gain some brownie points by picking something that you would love to see her in. The best way I know to let her know that you still find her gorgeous.

5) Fragrance

These are the most popular fragrances of the moment. You won't go wrong if you close your eyes and choose any one from the list. (Personally, Angel is my favorite.)

6) Women's Watches

You can never own too many watches. Some of these are absolutely stunning!

From Shirley Bragg, http://beauty.about.com/cs/valentinesday/tp/valentine2003.htm

Make a Wedding Bouquet

Wedding Bouquet Supplies

You will need:

• roses or flowers of your choice
• flower cutters
• ribbon
• a few straight sewing pins
• a clean vase
• room temperature water
• floral food antibacterial
• floral tape
• Clear Set, or hairspray if none is available

Choose Wedding Bouquet Flowers

Choose your roses carefully – a rose in the bud stage with unblemished petals and straight stems are best. Pick flowers that complement your wedding colors. They do not have to be a direct match.

Trim and Prepare the Flowers

Cut 1 inch from the bottom of each stem and remove all of the leaves, thorns, and greenery. Place the flowers into a clean vase with room temperature water and plant food antibacterial– leave the flowers in the vase for 4 hours to become fully hydrated.

Form the Wedding Bouquet

To form the bouquet, begin with the most opened flower as your center point and place three flowers around the edges of the center flower. Tape the stems of the first four flowers with your floral tape. Use the same binding point at all times.

Place the next three flowers in the spaces left between the flowers. Tape the stems together, squeeze them, and repeat this process until you have achieved the required size of your bouquet. I have used 18 flowers in this bouquet that I have made.

Wrap the Flower Stems

Once all of your stems are taped together, wrap the stem of the arrangement with a non-wired ribbon that goes along with your wedding party. Make sure to cover all of the floral tape. Go all the way down, see if you need extra coverage, and possibly work your way back up.

Secure the ribbon with the ball headed straight pins at the bottom and the top of the ribbon. Place pins in upward, pushing them towards the top of the flowers.

Once all of your stems are taped together, cut the bottoms of the stems, leaving enough room for approximately a fist and a half measurement.

Spray the Wedding Bouquet

To keep the arrangement looking fresh, spray your arrangement with Crowning Glory or clear hairspray if you have any. This is the perfect wedding bouquet to make your day sparkle!

http://video.about.com/weddings/Make-a-Wedding-Bouquet.htm

Wedding Flower Shapes

Pick the Best Flowers  for Your Wedding Flower Arrangements

Understanding the diversity of flower shapes can help brides communicate with their florists about the best flower choices for their bouquets and wedding arrangements. Learn to categorize flowers into these eight basic shapes, discover the best way to incorporate certain shapes into arrangements, and review examples of each flower shape.

1. Circular Flower Shapes

These symmetrical flowers are adaptable for all types of wedding flower arrangements. You can add daisies to a mixed flower centerpiece for a fresh, simple look, or you can create a monochromatic bridal bouquet out of hot pink gerbera daisies that looks very contemporary.

•          Anemone
•          Daisy
•          Gerbera
•          Sunflower

2. Dome Flower Shapes

Dome shaped flowers can be large or small, but they serve well as focal points in a wedding flower arrangement because of their dense flower heads. Dome shaped flowers with many small florets, like hydrangeas, can be a feature flower in a small bridesmaid’s bouquet with the addition of only a few roses or some greenery.

•          Celosia
•          Hydrangea
•          Chrysanthemum

3. Flat Topped Flower Shapes

These umbrella shaped flowers consist of many tiny flowers atop short stalks that form large clusters. Flat-topped flowers have a lacy appearance that makes them ideal for weddings with a romantic, vintage look. Brides who want hand-tied bouquet may consider adding some flat-topped flowers to aid in development of the round, domed shape characteristic of this bouquet.

•          Queen Anne’s Lace
•          Trachellium
•         Yarrow

4. Globe Flower Shapes

Large globe shaped flowers, like allium, don’t combine well with other flower shapes and work best in minimalist ceremony or reception arrangements. Brides can have fun tucking the unusual craspedia flower into their bouquets for a playful element, or creating a tropical theme with proteas.

•         Allium
•         Craspedia
•        Protea
•       Thistle

5. Rosette Flower Shapes

Rosette shaped flowers include the most popular and traditional wedding flowers, loved by all brides for their lush look and versatility. You can use rosette flowers throughout your wedding arrangements and bouquets, as they combine well with other flowers, come in a wide range of hues, and can feature in traditional or contemporary designs.

• Carnation
• Dahlia
• Peony
• Ranunculus
•  Rose

6. Spear Flower Shapes

Spear shaped flowers sport clusters of many individual medium to large flowers growing on short stems at the end of a long stalk. The structural drama spear shaped flowers provide make them a must for large wedding ceremony or reception arrangements. These flowers also provide the foundation for most arm sheaf, or presentation bridal bouquets, which the bride carries cradled in her arm.

•          Delphinium
•          Gladiolus
•          Liatris
•          Lupine
•          Orchid

7. Spire Flower Shapes

Spire shaped flowers differ from spears in that many flowers grow at the end of a stalk, but the flowers are without stems, which gives them a spiky appearance. These flowers are welcome additions in posy wedding bouquets, breaking up the tidy dome shape of the bouquet and giving it interest.

•          Hyacinth
•          Lavender
•          Lily-of-the-Valley
•          Scented Stock
•          Veronica

8. Spray Flower Shapes

Spray shaped flowers offer the bride branching stems with many flowers, making them suitable as filler flowers in bouquets and table arrangements. Wedding flowers with many spray shaped flowers tend to have an informal look.

•          Freesia
•          Lily
•          Lisianthus
•          Spray Rose
•          Wedding Flower Arrangements

By Jamie McIntosh,

http://flowers.about.com/od/Special-Occasion-Flowers/tp/Wedding-Flower-Shapes.htm

Business etiquette doesn’t have to be complicated.

Business etiquette doesn’t have to be complicated. But there are certainly some bad manners that can be easily avoided at business meetings and events, including seminars, conferences, business meals or cocktail receptions.

 Avoid these meeting etiquette errors and you should be fine.

1. Failing to respond to the RSVP.

2. Failing to follow the dress code.

3. Failing to arrive on time.

4. Failing to extend the correct handshake.

5. Failing to introduce new people to those around you.

6. Failing to speak to appropriate topics.

7. Failing to yield respectful courtesies to others at the event.

8. Failing to follow other business etiquette rules.

Etiquette Mistakes at Business Events

Business etiquette doesn’t have to be complicated. But there are certainly some bad manners that can be easily avoided at business meetings and events, including seminars, conferences, business meals or cocktail receptions.

 Avoid these meeting etiquette errors and you should be fine.

1. Failing to respond to the RSVP.

2. Failing to follow the dress code.

3. Failing to arrive on time.

4. Failing to extend the correct handshake.

5. Failing to introduce new people to those around you.

6. Failing to speak to appropriate topics.

7. Failing to yield respectful courtesies to others at the event.

8. Failing to follow other business etiquette rules.