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3 Great Valentine’s Day Deals On Amazon

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With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, I decided to peruse Amazon to find gift ideas for my loved ones this year. The selection of gifts for Valentine’s Day is pretty awesome. Here are just a few gift ideas that I would like to share.

First, is a product called Organic Seaweed Facial Kit. It’s made by Black Bird Botanics and distributed by Custom Global Product. It’s a perfect gift to give to any women who likes to pamper herself with organic products for the face. There’s a detailed list of all organic products used in the description. It comes with a seaweed toner, seaweed lotion, seaweed masque and a face wash. This is a nice gift if your love one likes to go to the spa!

The second find was a product called the St. Valentine’s Day Cupid with Arrow Large Cookie cutter, made by Fussy Pup. It measures 6×6, made in USA and is made from heavyweight copper. This cookie cutter is great because it allows you to make a HUGE cookie for your loved one.

Beautiful 14K Gold Locket
Beautiful 14K Gold Locket

Lastly, I found this really beautiful locket on Amazon. It is a 14k Yellow Gold-Filled Engraved Four-Picture Heart Locket with a 20″ chain. They also carry it in sterling silver. You can add up four special pictures of the people you love to this beautiful locket necklace — perfect gift idea for a mom.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

Posted by Eve

Little-Known Facts About Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

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Here are some facts about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that aren’t widely known by the general public.

He was a Republican

Most people would assume that because Dr. King was black, and fought for the rights of the underprivileged, that he would naturally be a Democrat. But the truth is that by many accounts, Dr. King was a Republican, and more conservative in his views.

It is also little known that in the past, most southern blacks were Republicans due to the fact that Democrats were well known for their racist ideals. They were guilty of championing three ideals that were, and still are, looked down upon by blacks and northerners — slavery, secession, and segregation. Only recently has the Democratic party come to be known as a party that blacks and the underprivileged support. So knowing this, it is not very surprising that Dr. King would decide to associate himself with the Republican party during his lifetime.

According to Earl Ofari Hutchinson, the author of The Emerging Black GOP Majority, some Republicans believe that Dr. King was aligned with them on many issues such as affirmative action and welfare due to certain comments he made in speeches. For example, they say that his quote stating that American’s should not be judged based on the color of their skin meant that he opposed affirmative action. Others believe that this idea is a little far-fetched.

Dedicated Fraternity Man

According to the history of the www.17th-house.com website, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was initiated into the Sigma chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. as the number 5 of his line in Spring of ’52. The Sigma chapter (Boston citywide) and the Eta Lambda chapter (Atlanta, GA) of his fraternity are dedicated to keeping King’s memory alive with memorials, presentations, and events. Eta Lambda says on their website that in 1956, Dr. King gave the keynote address at the fraternity’s 50th Anniversary Banquet in Buffalo, NY.

Only Man with U.S. Federal Holiday

As of this date, Dr. King is the only American (excluding U.S. Presidents) to be honored with a Federal holiday. Even the presidents of the U.S. have to share a day (President’s Day), but King has a day all to himself.

The national observance of MLK Day is a controversial issue for some who still believe that no man other than a president is deserving of that honor. Others are thankful that Dr. King is being recognized for his super-human efforts in helping to bring about justice for the oppressed people of the United States.

Bending Right Before His Death

As stated in accounts by Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was with Dr. King on the balcony where he was killed, Dr. King leaned over right at the moment that the gunman fired. Jackson has said that if he hadn’t been leaning down, he would not have been fatally shot in the neck.

“He had just bent over. I reckon if he had been standing up he would not have been hit in the face,” Reverend Jackson is reported to have said, according to the BBC News website.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, “The Hutchinson Report: Martin Luther King a Republican? Not as Far-Fetched an Idea as You Think,” BlackAmericaWeb.com

1968: Martin Luther King shot dead, BBC News

Posted by Jade

Valentine’s Day Tip “Not Just Once A Year”

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Here’s a valuable Valentine’s Day tip that you can carry with you all year long.

Many of us wait for Valentine’s Day, to express our love and gratitude to our mates. I believe that the special attention that is paid to a mate on that day should be an everyday occurrence for the life of the relationship +/or marriage.

1043941_26514482My mate and I are fortunate enough to have actually been experiencing the added love that is generated on February 14th of every year on a daily basis, for over 19 years. From the day we met, all those years ago, we felt a connection that neither of us experienced in prior relationships. We felt mutually that we have experienced life together in a different era.

We honestly feel we are soul mates. Having that emotional connection helps us to appreciate the fact that we found each other again while living this life. That is why we feel that many couples are making a mistake by following society’s mores on when and how to show love and appreciation. For example, does a mate really need cupid’s day to arrive to have a date, buy them a gift or to make a romantic gesture? We say no you don’t!!! We firmly believe that couples in a successful and committed relationship show and give love on a daily basis with words and actions. It begins in the morning with both mates awakening and saying “I love you” and ends at night with those same words of affection.

As far as giving or receiving gifts, we give one another gifts everyday. Our gifts sometimes consists of making a hot cup of coffee every morning, just the way I like it. Or while my mate is preparing for work, I prepare and pack lunch with something special in the bag every time. To us, it shows that we are a team and shows love in actions other than purchasing expensive gifts.

Life is made so much more pleasant when in love. We are thankful everyday to “Mother Nature” for bringing us back together. So we say to all who have the great fortune of being in a loving and committed relationship to show that love everyday, not just on February 14th of every year.

Happy Valentine’s Day all year long!

Posted by Eve

How to Enjoy a Romantic Valentine’s Day At Home

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Tips for celebrating Valentine’s Day at home

Growing up, my mother always said, ” Your home should always be your oyster. ” I never understood that phrase and its full meaning until I was an adult.

Now, my home is my oyster and I take full advantage of it. In the past, me and my love would spend Valentine’s Day at a upscale restaurant or at a luxurious hotel, complete with room service. When we calculated how much money we spent over the years, we were astonished. It added up to be thousands of dollars. That money could have been better spent making home improvements or investing in our businesses.

With Valentine’s Day soon approaching, we are choosing to exchange gifts from the heart and have a romantic evening at home. Here are some of my ideas for having a great Valentines Day at home.

1. Make a dinner that consists of your partner’s favorite snacks, food and drink. For example, my spouse is an avid pizza eater and enjoys a ton of added toppings. So last year, when I called to order the pizza, I asked if they could make the pizza into a heart shape. To my surprise they did! My spouse was so appreciative of that simple gesture.

2. Next tip: adjust the ambiance in a room in your house. This could be the bedroom, living room, dining room or even the back yard (weather permitting). All that is required is to dim the lights and play nice easy listening music, whilst enjoying a meal, drinks and/ or appetizers.

3. If you happen to live in a warm weather climate, transform your yard into a Valentine’s Day oasis. You can do this by covering the patio table with a red table cloth and add candles and flowers. Also, you can string some outdoor lights to shrubbery, poles and awnings for an added effect.

4. Last tip: run a romantic bubble bath with rose petals added to the water, surrounded by lit candles and champagne for both of you to enjoy.

These tips for celebrating Valentine’s Day at home have yet to fail me. My spouse actually looks forward to them every year.

 

Tips for a Special Valentine’s Day on a Budget

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Many Americans are living on such a tight budget that spending $100-$300 or more on Valentine’s Day is just not feasible.

My spouse and I were affected, like many Americans by the economic downfall. So for the past 6 years my love and I have agreed that Valentine’s Day is not a day to spend our hard earned money on an expensive dinner, flowers, chocolates and gifts. We instead came up with an alternative method to spend quality time together and not break the bank. Here are three tips for a special Valentine’s Day on a budget.

Free Events

One thing that we do for a special Valentine’s Day on a budget is to separately research online any free events held in our local area that are happening before, on or after Valentines Day. For instance, last year my love (knowing that I enjoy wine) found a free wine tasting venue in our area.

Picnic in the Park

With just a little creativity you can have a memorable Valentine’s Day outdoors. For example, you can plan and have a picnic in the park on a nice sunny day. Bring hot chocolate in a thermos, homemade brownies and finger foods. You can then give your mate a heartfelt card, that is handwritten telling how much you love, adore and treasure their companionship.

In-Home Spa

Another idea for a special Valentine’s Day on a budget is to prepare a room in your house for a spa-like adventure complete with candles, massaging oils and relaxing music. Invest in a portable foot spa and a back massager for a real spa-like experience–a total of about $75.

In my opinion, spending a lot of money on Valentine’s Day does not show your spouse that you love them. Yet, when you carefully prepare, plan and execute a romantic gesture, shows your spouse that they are worth the time and energy it took to devise a plan.

Posted by Lorraine

Tips for Turkey, Chicken or Ham Leftovers After the Holidays

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My family always has an abundance of leftovers after the holidays — especially leftover meat, like chicken, turkey and ham. I do not like to have uneaten food spoil, so I re-purpose the meats to make more meals for my family.

Chicken or Turkey Leftovers

If you have leftover chicken or turkey, strip the remaining meat and chop it into cubes. Put cubes into a large bowl. Add mayo, finely chopped celery, diced onion, salt and pepper to make a classic chicken or turkey salad. It’s so refreshing and delicious to eat at lunch while at work. You can enjoy the mixture on bread, crackers or in a salad.

The next tip is to turn the chicken or turkey bones into homemade soups — it requires very little effort. Just place the entire bone, dripping included, into a large pot and fill the pot half way with water. Now add the following items to the pot:

  • 1 chicken bouillon cube
  • chopped onion
  • chopped carrots
  • potato chunks
  • chopped celery
  • cooked egg noodles

Season the pot with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer on low heat for about 20-30 minutes or until potatoes are fully cooked. Remove the bone from the soup before serving. It tastes so good on a cold day!

Leftover Ham

My final tip is for leftover ham. I really enjoy ham that has the bone in. What you can do is remove the remaining ham from the bone and cut it into cubes. Use the cubes for salads, as a flavor enhancer for rice or beans, or as an addition to my morning omelet.

You can also use the bone of the ham to flavor a large pot of greens or strings beans. Just add some salt, pepper and your usual seasonings.

Enjoy these tips for turkey, chicken or ham leftovers after the holidays!!!

Posted by Eve