Happy Valentines Day!

Three Ways to Share the Love this Valentine’s Day

Give of yourself, your time, your heart—to people you know, and people you don't. Share your love in small ways and big. And best of all, be generous. There are plenty of ways to do good and feel good this Valentine’s Day. Here are a few.

1. Will You Be My...Volunteer? There’s no shortage of ways you can help. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen, animal shelter, or favorite nonprofit group, or offer to tutor a child in reading or math. You can find loads of opportunities on VolunteerMatch, or check your local college campus for organized events.

2. Reach Out to Those in Need. Deliver homemade Valentine’s cards or heart-shaped cookies to the sick, the elderly, the homeless—and their caregivers. Call a local children’s hospital, domestic violence shelter, or nursing home and ask how you can help.

3. Remember Those Who Serve You. In the spirit of service, think of all those people who make your life easier and more convenient—every single day. Give a thank-you card to the bus driver or the barista who serves you your latte. Personally thank the janitor who keeps your office or campus clean, or the people who pick up your trash. Leave your waiter an extra tip, and smile at the gas station attendant.

From an article written by Elaine Gast
www.casefoundation.org/spotlight/valentines

February Favorites—New Uses for Old Things

You just never know when something old becomes "new" again! Check out these ideas for new uses for everyday items.

Toothbrush: Use a clean toothbrush to remove stray threads of silk from freshly shucked ears of corn. The bristles will lift them away quickly and efficiently.

Colander: At a party, stash ice in a colander set on top of a bucket or a bowl. Water will drain out, and guests will get only the solid stuff.

Vegetable oil: Put shine on leather shoes with a bit of vegetable oil. Use a damp cloth to remove any dirt, then run a soft cloth with a drop of oil over the surface to (literally) add polish.

A giveaway shower cap: The kind you get in hotels is the perfect wrapper for shoes when traveling, preventing them from dirtying clothes packed in your suitcase.

Return address stickers: Brand anything as "yours" with a return address sticker. Use them on such items as books, binders, Tupperware, office supplies, tools, etc.

Ketchup squeeze bottle: Make no-mess pancakes with the help of an old, clean ketchup bottle. Pour in batter, then squeeze out precise portions.

From realsimple.com

Candy Hearts—and More Fun Facts

• About 8 billion candy hearts will be produced this year; that’s enough candy to stretch from Rome, Italy, to Valentine, Ariz., and back again 20 times.

• More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold for Valentine’s Day.

• 92 percent of women can remember the last time they received flowers, and 56 percent of those were roses.

• American men say they’d prefer to receive boxed chocolate as a Valentine’s Day present followed by gourmet, high-end chocolates then conversation heart candies.

• Children receive 39 percent of all Valentine’s Day candy and gifts. Following them are wives/mothers (36 percent), fathers/husbands (6 percent), grandparents (3 percent), and pets (1 percent).

• On average, men shell out $130 each on candy, cards, jewelry, flowers and dates. That’s more than double what women commit to spending.

To enjoy your fresh cut flowers for as long as possible, replace water on a daily basis and re-cut stems once a week. Add an aspirin tablet to water for longer life and never store above 80 degrees F.