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Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe

MARDI GRAS KING CAKE

1/2 c. milk

1/2 c. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. shortening

1/3 c. warm water (110-115 degrees)

2 pkgs. dry yeast

3 eggs

1 tsp. grated lemon rind

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

4 1/2 - 5 c. bread flour, sifted

1 (1") baby doll, bean or nut

In a saucepan, combine the milk, sugar, salt and shortening. Scald and cool to lukewarm.
In a large bowl dissolve the yeast in warm water. DO NOT PUT YEAST IN HOT WATER AS IT WILL KILL THE YEAST AND YOUR DOUGH WON'T RISE.
Add the milk mixture, eggs, lemon rind, nutmeg and 2 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth. Add the remaining flour 1 cup at a time.
Transfer the dough to a floured board, knead 5 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, turn over and cover with a damp cloth. Let the dough rise in a warm place free from draft for 90 minutes to 2 hours.
When the dough is double in bulk, punch it down and knead it about 5 minutes. Divide the dough into thirds.
Roll each portion into a strip 28 to 30 inches long. Braid the strips and shape the braid into an oval on a greased baking sheet. Secure ends.
Carefully insert the baby doll into the dough, best hid if done from bottom.
Cover and let it rise until the dough is double in bulk, about 1 hour.

Bake the King Cake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Watch carefully. Cool the cake completely, frost it with Lemon Glaze and sprinkle it with alternating strips of purple, gold and green sugars.

LEMON GLAZE:
1 1/2 c. confectioners' sugar

1 tsp. lemon juice

2 tbsp. waterFood coloring (yellow, green & purple - red & blue mixed together for purple)

Mix sugar, lemon juice and water together and tint with food coloring.

Recipe from: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,176,156170-237201,00.html

The history of a Mardi Gras celebration existed many years before Europeans came to the New World. Some time in the Second Century, during mid-February (usually February 15 according to the Julian calendar), Ancient Romans would observe what they called the Lupercalia, a circus-type festival which was, in many respects, quite similar to the present day Mardi Gras. This festival honored the Roman deity, Lupercus, a pastoral God associated with Faunus or the Satyr. Although Lupercus is derived from the Latin Lupus (meaning "wolf"), the original meaning of the word as it applies to Roman religion has become obscured over the passage of time.
When Christianity arrived in Rome, the dignitaries of the early Church decided it would be more prudent to incorporate certain aspects of such rituals into the new faith rather than attempt to abolish them altogether. This granted a Christian interpretation to the ancient custom and the Carnival became a time of abandon and merriment which peceded the Lenten period (a symbolic Christian pentinence of 40 days commencing on Ash Wednesday and ending at Easter). During this time, there would be feasting which lasted several days and participants would indulge in voluntary madness by donning masks, clothing themselves in the likeness of spectres and generally giving themselves up to Bacchus and Venus. All aspects of pleasure were considered to be allowable during the Carnival celebration and today's modern festivites are thought by some to be more reminiscent of the Roman Saturnalia rather than Lupercalia, or be linked to even earlier Pagan festivals.
From Rome, the celebration spread to other European countries. In medieval times, a similar-type festivity to that of the present day Mardi Gras was given by monarchs and lords prior to Lent in order to ceremoniously conscript new knights into service and hold feasts in their honor. The landed gentry would also ride through the countryside rewarding peasants with cakes (thought by some to be the origin of the King Cake), coins (perhaps the origin of present day gifts of Mardi Gras doubloons) and other trinkets. In Germany, there still remains a Carnival similar to that of the one held in New Orleans. Known as Fasching, the celebrations begin on Twelfth Night and continue until Shrove Tuesday. To a lesser degree, this festivity is still celebrated in France and Spain. A Carnival season was also celebrated in England until the Nineteenth Century, originating as a type of "renewal" festival that incorporated fertility motifs and ball games which frequently turned into riots between opposing villages, followed by feasts of pancakes and the imbibing of alcohol. The preparing and consumption of pancakes on Shrove Tuesday (also known as "Pancake Day" or "Pancake Tuesday" and occurring annually between February 2 and March 9, depending upon the date of Easter) is a still a tradition in the United Kingdom, where pancake tossing and pancake races (during which a pancake must be tossed a certain number of times) are still popular. One of the most famous of such competitions, which takes place in Olney, Buckinghamshire, is said to date from 1445. It is a race for women only and for those who have lived in the Parish for at least three months. An apron and head-covering are requisite. The course is 415 yards and the pancake must be tossed at least three times during the race. The winner receives a kiss from the Ringer of the Pancake Bell and a prayer book from the local vicar. "Shrove" is derived from the Old English word "shrive," which means to "confess all sins."
It is generally accepted that Mardi Gras came to America in 1699 with the French explorer, Sieur d'Iberville. The festival had been celebrated as a major holiday in Paris since the Middle Ages. Iberville sailed into the Gulf of Mexico and, from there, launched an expedition along the Mississippi River. By March 3, 1699, Iberville had set up a camp on the West Bank of the River...about 60 miles South of the present day City of New Orleans in the State of Louisiana. Since that day was the very one on which Mardi Gras was being celebrated in France, Iberville named the site Point du Mardi Gras in honor of the festival. According to some sources, however, the Mardi Gras of New Orleans began in 1827 when a group of students who had recently returned from school in Paris donned strange costumes and danced their way through the streets. The students had first experienced this revelry while taking part in celebrations they had witnessed in Paris. In this version, it is said that the inhabitants of New Orleans were swiftly captured by the enthusiasm of the youths and quickly followed suit. Other sources maintain that the Mardi Gras celebration originated with the arrival of early French settlers to the State of Louisiana. Nevertheless, it is known that from 1827 to 1833, the New Orleans' Mardi Gras celebrations became more elaborate, culminating in an annual Mardi Gras Ball. Although the exact date of the first revelries cannot be determined, the Carnival was well-established by the middle of the Nineteenth Century when the Mystick Krewe of Comus presented its 1857 Torchlight Parade with a theme taken from "Paradise Lost" written by John Milton.
In French, "Mardi Gras" literally means "Fat Tuesday," so named because it falls on the day before Ash Wednesday, the last day prior to Lent...a 40-day season of prayer and fasting observed by the Roman Catholic Church (and many other Christian denominations) which ends on Easter Sunday. The origin of "Fat Tuesday" is believed to have come from the ancient Pagan custom of parading a fat ox through the town streets. Such Pagan holidays were filled with excessive eating, drinking and general bawdiness prior to a period of fasting. Since the modern day Carvinal Season is sandwiched between Christmas and Lent, with Christmas Day being December 25 on the Gregorian Calendar as set by the Roman Catholic Church, this means that other Holy Days are "floating" in nature. Easter always falls on a Sunday, but it can be any Sunday from March 23 through April 25, its actual date being the Sunday which follows the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox. Mardi Gras is always 47 days prior to this alloted Sunday (the 40 days of Lent plus seven Sundays). The beginning of the Carnival Season itself, however, is also fixed...being January 6, which is the Feast of the Ephiphany, otherwise known as Little Christmas or Twelfth Night. Since the date of Mardi Gras thus varies, the length of the Carnival Season also varies accordingly from year-to-year. The origin of the word "Carvinal" is from the Latin for "farewell to the flesh," a time when one is expected to forego earthly pleasures prior to the restrictions of the Lenten Season, and is thought to be derived from the feasts of the Middle Ages known as carnis levamen or "solace of the flesh."
In 1833, Bernard Xavier de Marigny de Mandeville, a wealthy plantation owner, solicited a large amount of money in order to help finance an organized Mardi Gras celebration. It was not until 1837, however, that the first Mardi Gras Parade was staged. Two years later, a description of the 1839 Parade noted that it consisted of a single float. Nonetheless, it was considered to be a great success and apparently, the crowd roared hilariously as this somewhat crude float moved through the streets of the city. Since that time, Mardi Gras in New Orleans has been an overwhelming success, continuing to grow with additional organizations participating each year.
The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple (symbolic of justice), green (symbolic of faith) and gold (symbolic of power). The accepted story behind the original selection of these colors originates from 1872 when the Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff of Russia visited New Orleans. It is said that the Grand Duke came to the city in pursuit of an actress named Lydia Thompson. During his stay, he was given the honor of selecting the official Mardi Gras colors by the Krewe of Rex...thus, did these colors also become the colors of the House of Romanoff. The 1892 Rex Parade theme ("Symbolism of Colors") first gave meaning to the representation of the official Mardi Gras colors. Interestingly, the colors of Mardi Gras influenced the choice of school colors for the Lousiana arch-rival colleges, Louisiana State University and Tulane University. Whe LSU was deciding on its colors, the stores in New Orleans had stocked-up on fabrics of purple, green and gold for the upcoming Mardi Gras Season. LSU, opting for purple and gold, bought a large quantity of the available cloth. Tulane purchased much of the only remaining color...green (Tulane's colors are green and white).
Today, Louisiana's Mardi Gras is celebrated not only in New Orleans, but also in numerous smaller cities and towns around the State and in the neighboring Gulf Coast Region. Similar celebrations are also held in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro...arguably the world's most elaborate Carnival location with its Samba Dromo parades, which annually attract a huge number of tourists from all corners of the globe. Regardless of where the festivals take place, however, all share a common party atmosphere inherently associated with the celebrations.

The King Cake

The King Cake is a brioche-style cake traditionally made throughout the State of Louisiana during the weeks prior to Mardi Gras. Usually oval in shape, the King Cake is a bakery delicacy made from a rich Danish dough (which is a sweetened yeast bread...a cross between a coffee cake and a French pastry) and covered with a poured sugar topping decorated in the traditional Mardi Gras-colored sugars of purple (symbolizing Justice), green (symbolizing Faith) and gold (symbolizing Power). This colorful topping is representative of a jeweled crown in honor of the Three Wise Men who visited the Christ Child on Epiphany (a word derived from the Greek meaning "to show"). Epiphany, also known as Twelfth Night (i.e., January 6) is when the Carnival Season officially begins.
The King Cake tradition is believed to have begun with French settlers around 1870, who were themselves continuing a custom which dated back to Twelfth Century France, when a similar cake was used to celebrate the coming of the Magi twelve days after Christmas bearing gifts for the Christ Child. This celebration was also once known as King's Day. As a symbol of this Holy Day, a tiny plastic baby (symbolic of the baby Jesus) is placed inside each King Cake but in times gone past, the hidden items were usually coins, beans, pecans or peas.
Today, the cakes are baked in many shapes but originally, they were round to portray the circular route take by the Magi in order to confuse King Herod, whose army was attempting to follow the Wise Men so that the Christ Child could be killed. The origin of the modern King Cake can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when popular devotion during Christmas turned to the Three Wise Men. In 1871, the tradition of choosing the Queen of Mardi Gras was determined by who drew the prize within the cake. Today, such a find is still deemed to be a sign of good luck and it customary for the person who discovers the hidden plastic baby to host the next King Cake Party.

The Throws, The Balls, and The Music of Mardi Gras

The tradition of throwing trinkets to the crowds during Mardi Gras parades was initiated in the early 1870s by the Twelfth Night Revelers and has become a time-honored expectation. In 1884, the Krewe of Rex threw the first medallions (silver-dollar-sized commemorative coins later called doubloons) instead of the customary trinkets. Today's doubloons are usually aluminum and anodized in a variety of colors, depicting the parade theme on one side and the emblem of the particular Krewe on the other. Many of these doubloons later become collectors' items. Early medallions were much heavier than those minted today and were usually awarded only as ball favors. The custom of throwing trinkets from floats and from the balconies of the city is one of the older traditions in New Orleans and began one year when the parade featured Santa Klaus aboard a float, dispensing small trinkets to the watching children. Other popular throws include long strings of pearlized beads and plastic cups bearing the emblems of the Krewes. The traditional cry of parade-goers who are pleading for throws is: "Throw me something, Mister!"
Private masked balls and parties have been held in New Orleans since at least 1718, when the majority of such festivities were hosted by the French inhabitants. However, when the Spanish government assumed control of the city, parties and street dancing were banned and it was not until 1827, when the United States came to power that the right to party in mask was restored. During the 1850s, the elite of New Orleans and their elegant Mardi Gras celebrations provided quite a contrast to the wild party atmosphere and near-rioting which took place in the streets. Most official Mardi Gras balls are (and always have been) formal and private affairs, with the only attendees usually being members of the individuals Krewes and their invited guests. An integral part of any Mardi Gras ball is the revealing of the reigning King and Queen of the Krewe, whose identities are a closely guarded secret until the night of the festivities. This tradition is employed to enhance the mystique of the celebrations. Debutantes are presented at the Ball Tableau as a formal introduction to society. The climbing of this social ladder begins much earlier in life with the children serving as pages to the court. Women dress in ball gowns and hope to be issued a "call-out" card. If fortunate enough to receive such a card, the woman is seated in a selected area and waits her turn to be "called out" for a dance by the Krewe member who sent the card. Such an honor is customarily accompanied by the presenting of a small gift (known as a "favor") from the Krewe member to his chosen partner. At some balls, general dancing will follow the "call-out." Attendance at the older and more aristocratic balls is strictly "by invitation only." Many people have been (and still are) omitted from this prestigious list over the years...including some former Governors of Louisiana who have expressed a desire to be in attendance. Originally, ball invitations were die-cut and printed in Paris. Today's versions still continue to be quite colorful and considered by some to be valuable works of art. Many invitations are looked upon as collector's items and, as such, are frequently framed and prominently displayed in the home...serving as intersting conversation pieces. Many of the old-line and most prestigious Carnival organizations do not hold actual Mardi Gras parades, but host only balls (usually in large hotel ballrooms with attendance by invitation only, of course). Not all parading Krewes host a ball after their parade, but the majority do indulge in such festivities. Some Krewes...notably Bacchus and Endymion...throw large-scale parties which include headlining entertainment. Prior to the actual dancing, many Krewes stage Tableaux. A Tableau is a "still-life" depiction of a scene by costumed Krewe members and based on the theme of the ball itself.
Mardi Gras music (basically a second-line beat, which is the same rhythm which propels New Orleans brass bands) is comprised of various forms, including the orchestral and big-band arrangements played at tableau balls, carnival-themed rhythm-and-blues numbers that explode from jukeboxes, jazz tunes, Afro-Caribbean chants complete with percussive rhythms which are associated with Mardi Gras Indians and parade-time beats from the school bands who march between the floats during parades. Traditional carnival favorites include: "Carnival Time" (by Al Johnson); "Mardi Gras Mambo" (by The Hawketts and written in 1954 by Art Neville); "Iko Iko" (written by James "Sugarboy" Crawford and performed by many artists including the Dixie Cups, Dr. John and the Neville Brothers); and "Big Chief" (considered to be a classis and first recorded in 1964 for Watch Records during a session which included Professor Longhair...for whom the song was writted by guitarist-composter, Earl King...and Mac Rebennack, a native of New Orleans who would later become known as "Dr. John"). However, it seems that each year brings the introduction of new would-be anthems. In the late 1800s, New Orleans had over 100 brass bands, most of which were affiliated with fraternal orders, fire departments and militia companies, in addition to various social and benevolent organizations. Around the beginning of the Twentieth Century, white maskers began to hire black bands to ride with them in spring wagons, providing music for their dancing. Thus were these horse-drawn or mule-drawn wagons forerunners of the bandwagons found in modern Mardi Gras parades. The early brass bands (which played mostly dirges, marches and quadrilles) were composed of musicians who had some formal training and who could, therefore, read sheet music. Jazz emerged when this tradition overlapped with Latin and African cultures...particularly the improvisational style of the black musicians. The official theme song of Rex (and therefore, by default, of Mardi Gras itself) is "If Ever I Cease To Love You." Not particularly an immensely popular public song, it was first played in 1872 during the visit to New Orleans of Grand Duke Alexis of Russia. The Grand Duke had ostensibly fallen in love with the American singer Lydia Thompson after seeing her in a New York burlesque-type musical called "Bluebeard." This song was featured in that show and to honor the Grand Duke's presence at the celebrations, the newly-formed Rex organization set the tune to "march time." It has remained the "song of the season" ever since...even though it has absolutely nothing to do with a "carnival theme."

Information from: http://www.novareinna.com/

Horrible Story with a wonderful ending!!!!

RUSSIAN OFFICIALS PUNISHED A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL BECAUSE SHE ASKED THE PRESIDENT FOR A NEW GUINEA PIGWednesday February 11th, 2009
Last time I checked, China had the world's most out-of-touch government. But Russia could give them a run for their money. Here's what I mean . . .

Recently, 13-year-old Nastya Ivliyeva of Kalitvensky, Russia, wrote an email to Russia's president . . . Dmitry Medvedev . . . asking him for a new guinea pig.

But when local officials learned of Nastya's letter, they were furious.

So they went down to Nastya's school and berated the poor girl for wasting the president's time with such a stupid request. Then they forced Nastya to write a public letter to take back her request . . . and to apologize for being such a burden.

When Nastya's parents heard what happened, they were understandably upset . . . so they wrote yet another letter to Medvedev to complain about how their daughter was treated.

Long story short, the next day government officials showed up at Nastya's door with TWO guinea pigs and an apology for what Russia's youth committee leader called a "complete failure to understand real people and their problems." (Fox News / Metro)


http://www.acetj.com/features/stupidnews.php?feature_id=1445

February: Unknown, Silly, Bizzare, and Wacky Holidays

February 1: Serpent Day, Women’s Heart Day, National Freedom Day, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officially Started, Skippy Peanut Butter Created (1933), National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Robinson Crusoe Day

February 2: Groundhog Day, Bottle Cap Patented, California Kiwi Fruit Day, Grand Central Station in NY Opened (1913), National League Birthday (1875), African American Coaches Day, Hedgehog Day, Self Renewal Day,

February 3: Wear Red Day, Carrot Cake Day, Halfway Point of Winter, Sesame Street’s Elmo’s Birthday, The Day the Music Died Day

February 4: National Popcorn Day, Create a Vacuum Day, Gumby’s Birthday, Rosa Park’s Birthday, USO Day

February 5: Disaster Day, Thank a Mailman Day, National Weather Person Day, Hank Aaron’s Birthday (1934), Move Hollywood & Broadway to Lebanon, PA Day, Peter Pan Day (1953), Sale of the First Wiffle Ball

February 6: National Frozen Yogurt Day, Pay a Compliment Day, Babe Ruth’s Birthday (1895), Monopoly Board Game (1935)

February 7: Send a Card to a Friend Day, Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbor’s Day, Charles Dicken’s Birthday (1812), Pinocchio Day (1940), Dump Your Significant Jerk Day, Leadership Success Day

February 8: Fly a Kite Day, Boy Scouts Day (1910), Laugh and Grow Rich Day

February 9: Toothache Day, Hershey’s Chocolate Founded, GI Joe’s Birthday (1964)

February 10: Umbrella Day, World Marriage Day, YWCA Founded (1870),

February 11: Be Electrific Day, White T-Shirt Day, Make a Friend Day, Pro Sports Wives Day, National Inventor’s Day, Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day, La-Z-Boy Chair Day (1948), Thomas Edison’s Birthday (1847), National Shut-In Visitation Day, Satisfied Staying Single Day

February 12: Man Day, Darwin Day, Pancake Day, Oglethorpe Day, National Lost Penny Day, First Barbie Doll for Sale, National Plum Pudding Day, Clean Out Your Computer Day, Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday (1809)

February 13: Get a Different Name Day, First Public School Started (1635)
February 14: Valentine’s Day, Ferris Wheel Day, Read to Your Child Day, National Have a Heart Day, Telephone’s Birthday (1876), National Call In Single Day, Race Relations Day, Quirky Alone Day.

February 15: National Gumdrop Day, Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday (1820), Clifford The Big Red Dog Day (1953)

February 16: Do a Grouch a Favor Day, 911 Birthday (1st call from Haleyville, AL 1968)

February 17: My Way Day, National PTA Day, Who Shall I Be Day, World Human Sprit Day, Random Act of Kindness Day

February 18: President’s Day, Thumb Appreciation Day, Pluto Discovered (1930)

February 19: International Friendship Day, National Chocolate Mint Day, Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood day (1968), Cherry Coke’s Birthday (1985).

February 20: Love Your Pet Day, National Student Volunteer Day, Post Office Birthday (1792), Clean Out Your Bookcase Day, Columbo’s Birthday (1968), Toothpick Birthday (1872), Northern Hemisphere Hoodie Hoo Day

February 21: Locomotive’s Birthday (1804), International Mother Language Day, World Thinking Day, Single Tasking Day, Ash Wednesday, Card Reading Day

February 22: Be Humble Day, Tooth Fairy Day, Pebbles Flintstone’s Birthday, George Washington’s Birthday, Golf in America Day, Inconvenience Yourself Day

February 23: Tennis Day, Curling is Cool Day, National Rationalization Day, Tootsie Roll Birthday (1896), Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.

February 24: National Tortilla Chip Day, National Trading Card Day, Sesame Street’s Gordon’s Birthday, Nylon Toothbrush Birthday (1938)

February 25: Quite Day, Let’s All Eat Right Day

February 26: Thermos Bottle Day, Tell a Fairy Tale Day, New York Subway (1870), First Movie Cartoon (1909), National Pistachio Day, Levi Strauss Day (1829), For Pete’s Sake Day

February 27: International Polar Bear Day, Mardi Gras Celebration (1827), No Brainer Day

February 28: Paczki Day, Spray Day USA, Floral Design Day, National Chili Day, Public Sleeping Day, DNA Discovered (1953), Pockets Invented (1590), Car Keys and Small Change Day, International Pancake Day

Information from: www.gone-ta-pott.com

101 Random Things about me and my boys!!!

I got this idea from Facebook....hope you all enjoy......

1. I am obsessed with Disney's Sleeping Beauty
2. I am SURE that my youngest son, Britain, needs behavioral therapy, because he thinks he is part Dog, part Billy goat, and part possum. He carries everything in his mouth, no matter if he is walking or crawling - Dog. He eats paper - Billy goat. He loves to hang upside down - Possum.
3. I love to color
4. Britain loves to empty drawer into the floor.
5. Jake loves to watch old cartoon, .He favorite channel on T.V. is Boom.
6. Both of my boys love to get their ears cleaned out...with q-tips of course
7. I love to send text messages rather than talk on the phone.
8. I love to blog about ransom stuff, but I don't like to blog to much about my life.
9. Jake's nickname is Pigpen, because he always seem to have a cloud of dust around him.
10. Britain's nickname is Gus from Cinderella, because he looks like him.
11. I think I will always be in love with my ex boyfriend (REP) and any other man that comes into my life will always be 2nd best to him.
12. I never carry cash with me.....I am starting to forgot what a dollar looks like...LOL
13. My kids were born with cameras in their faces......that may be why they are both hams for the camera
14. I love to pop zits....I know GROSS....I can't help it.
15. I hate people that shove religion down someones throat.....they just sound like hypocrites to me.
16. I think most men are pigs
17. I obess over my handwriting.....I never think it is neat enough
18. I am addicted to Facebook, Myspace, and Blogger.......I love to play around with the graphics and layouts....it is so much fun.
19. I am going through my pink phase.....kind of like Picasso and his blue period.
20. I love old movies....my favorite is Casablanca. Of course my favorite actor is Humphery Bogart, and my favorite actress is Ingrid Bergman.
21. I think vintage pin up girls are beautiful. They are so far from vulgar. I love their hair and makeup.....I wish I live during that era....the fashion was so pretty and clean looking.
22. I am a jeans and t-shirt girl. I like dressing up every now and then.
23. My favorite sound in the world is my boys real laugh.....the laughs that come from the pit of thier stomaches.
24. My favorite quote is from my son, Jake: "Can I keep you, Mommy?"
25. I twist my hair when I am thinking.
26. I will read just about anything, but my favorite genre is Historical fictions.
27. I am a terrible speller, but I can't stand misspelled words.....I always keep a dictionary handy. I don't trust spell check on the computer.
28. Jake hates to brush his teeth, but I love to brush mine.
29. I love Britney Spears, and I wish the media would leave her alone. She needs to raise her boys without all the circus. Raising two boys is enough of a circus as it is. LOL
30. I have two boys and my brother has two girls.
31. My Best Friend and I were born 8 days apart, and we are both Aquarius.
32. Britain and I have the same birthday....Jan 22
33. Jake love Star Wars, and has about 5 different Anaikan Skywalker action figures.
34. I love European History......Especially about Royal figures.
35. I hate wears a bra, because of the scars left by the chest tubes I had years ago.
36. I hate it when people try to write like that talk, except for texting.
37. Jake is named after a little boy that was in the daycare class I used to teach, and his daddy. Jake's middle name is William, same as his daddy's.
38. Britain is named after the country, from which my ancestors come from, and a car....The mini Cooper.
39. I hate socks, and I refuse to wear them
40. I have zero cartilage in my right knee, and I have had 4 surgery on it.
41. I want to go to NYU and get my degree in Archealogy.
42. Jake and I love, I mean, LOVE Starbucks.
43. I have a preppy side, but not too much.
44. I have a very good sense of direction
45. My Boys and I are really spoiled.
46. I love motorcycles (not harleys).....Thanks to my pal Blake.
47. I hate slow drivers...AKA Sunday Drivers
48. I think the college Greek System is a wonderful institution. I was an Alpha Xi Delta pledge, but never initiated (I left college before initiation). I still love Alpha Xi Delta.
49. I love arts and crafts, and I always get the excited butterflies in my stomach when I am in an arts and crafts store. I get the same feeling about school supplies.
50. I love giving gifts
51. My 29th Great Grandmother is Lady Godiva......which is one of my heros.
52. Britain loves to play with coat hangers.
53. I am a Disney Freak.....I love anything Disney
54. Jake and I love, love, love Harry Potter.
55. Britain loves to play peek a boo
56. Jake and I both love to say "Touche, Pussycat!"...it is from Tom and Jerry.
57. I sleep better during the day than I do at night.
58. I love Grover
59. I am terrible at saving money
60. I did not think that this would take at long at it has, to complete. 3 days so far.
61. I hate it when people don't return phone calls, text messages, emails, etc.
62. I can not live without my cell phone
63. I have been to the following states: AL, TN, MS, FL, NC, MN, WI, MI, AZ, NY, OH, MO, IN, IL, KY, GA
64. I hate Basketball, but I love Baseball.....GO BRAVES!!!!
65. I do cyberstake......LOL.....I am just see what people are up, plus I love to look at pictures on the web.
66. I love clip art
67. I love to surf the web for the most random things
68. I love to watch Cops and Dog the Bounty Hunter
69. I hate Jerry Springer
70. I have zero will power when it comes to losing weight
71. I want to go to Europe.
72. My favorite holiday is Halloween
73. My family came from England......I am decented from Ancient English Royalty....before William of Normandy
74. I love scrapbooking.
75. My IQ is 134, and I have been recommended to the Menses Society.
76. I think my ex husband is very very CREEPPPPPYYYYY!!!!!
77. I love party planning
78. I am very interested in Astrology
79. I love balloons
80. My friend Renee and I are always quoting the TV show Friends
81. Our favorite candy is M & M's
82. I love Tiffany & Co. jewelery
83. Britain has never been sick
84. I was interview by Matt Lauder on the Today show in 1998
85. I have seen Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables on Broadway in NYC.
86. Sometimes Britain's eyes are blue and sometimes they are brown
87. Britain loves to throw his toys around
88. I have one tattoo and I really want another one
89. I collect anything with Pigpen, Gus, or the Union Jake on it
90. Jake had stitches at 10 months
91. I love to kiss, but I don't like PDA
92. I am a very aggressive driver
93. I do have an attitude
94. I hate housework
95. I don't understand why kids fight sleep
96. My kids have more of a social life than I do......that is so sad
97. I love to watch Britain walk
98. I can't wait until Jake's started Baseball this season
99. My favorite car is a Volvo C-70
100. I have been at the same job now for 9 years
101. I am finally done.....YAH!!!!!!!!
     

Valentine's Day: A History

Yes it is almost that time of year, Valentines Day. Exchanging candy, flowers, and cards with that special someone, but what is the history behind this holiday? Who is St. Valentine, for which this holiday is named for?

Not much is known about St. Valentine, however their are 3 legends about this paton saint:

• One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death


• Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.


• According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today.

These stories have some truth in them, but they are still clouded in mystery. However, it is no mystery that during the Middle Ages (The Age of Chrivary) that St. Valentine was one of the more populars saints of the time.

Why is Valentine's Day celebrated in February? It is believed that February 14th is the anniversary of St. Valentines death and/or burial around 270 A.D. Others believe that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's Day in the middle of February to "Christianize" celebrations of the pagan holiday of Lupercalia.

The oldest know valentine, which is still in existence today, is a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife. He wrote the poem during his imprisonment in the Tower of London, following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.

Valentine's Day gain popularity in Great Britain, during the 17th Century. In the 18th century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small gifts and handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to the improvement in printing technology. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity.

Americans probably began exchanging hand-made Valentines in the early 1700's. In the 1840's, Ester A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced valentines in America.

According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentines cards are sent each year, making Valentine's day the 2nd largest card-sending holiday of the year.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

information found at www.history.com