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Doug Patterson's

Doug Patterson Cell: 336-710-1108 Office: 336-283-9057 www.calldougnow.com

Dear Friends,

Hello to All! Welcome to my Monthly EZine. This issue is has some great topics! Check it out. Enjoy!

Email: Doug2960@gmail.com Mobile: (336) 710-1108 If you are thinking about a home purchase, the first step is to call or email at Doug at Doug2960@gmail.com for referrals for qualified and highly experienced home mortgage lender professionals. Getting a "Pre-Approved Letter" from a friendly, experienced and knowledgeable home mortgage professional is the first step in achieving your real estate goals.

Doug is Strictly a "Buyers" Agent only,so there are no conflicts of interest!

At my website, CallDOUGnow.com, you can sign up to perform searches for homes just for fun! ...or use the site to get acquainted with the market and what's happening in your neighborhood. Check it out! Questions? Call or email me at Doug2960@gmail.com!

Doug Patterson www.calldougnow.com 336-710-1108 336-283-9057

Welcome Home!

Table of Contents Recipe And Design

4

A tasty recipe and a stylish home design how to.

Valentines Day With The Kids

5

Celebrations family style!

The Origins Of President’s Day

6-7

It’s more than just another bank holiday!.

The Colors of Roses

8-9

The History of St. Valentine’s Day Ever wonder how the romantic tradition got it’s start?

12 - 15

Guys Guide To Giving Flowers Wow the woman you love with the perfect floral choice.

16 - 17

Seven Urban Love Legends: The how to on separating love fact from love fiction.

18 - 19

Products To Love!

Hot trends, technological wonders of tomorrow and so much more!

City Spotlight Come visit the Big Apple! New York, NY.

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All pictures courtesy of sxc.hu unless otherwise noted. Thanks to Wikipedia for Random Fact information and aid.

Editor in Chief - Phly Jambor

Decoding the colorful meaning of roses.

10 - 11

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Welcome Home is for entertainment purposes only. This magazine is not intended to solicit other brokersʼ listings. If you are currently working with another broker, please disregard this information.

Businesses That Make A Difference Newman’s Own, making the world deliciously better.

The information provided in this publication of Welcome Home or on any website maintained

by U.S. Cybertek, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, agents, representatives, licensors, licensees or employees (collectively Publisher) is intended as a general guide illustrating common methods of common practices, and the publisher makes no warranty or guarantee whatsoever of the safety, effectiveness, or other characteristic of any methods or products described herein. Neither does the Publisher assume any liability for information published in any website or other publication to which reference may be made herein. Readers are cautioned to review and comply with all written instructions, safety bulletins, and other materials provided in connection with any of the products mentioned herein and all products used in connection with any of the methods described. Neither Published nor any of its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, agents, representatives, licensors, licensees or employees shall in any case be liable to you or anyone else for any loss or injury or any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special punitive or similar damages arising out of your use of or failure to use any of the methods and/ or products described in this publication or any other publication or websites to which reference may be made herein. Publisher disclaims all warranties, and any warranty or guarantee of safety, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose lies solely with the manufacture(s) of any product described or recommended or used used in connection with any methods described or recommended.

Recipe and Design Rosebud Centerpieces

Lemon Butter Cookies

Cut this lemon-flavored sugar cookie dough into heart shapes and decorate with icing and glaze for Valentine's Day treats.

A beautiful and charming way to dress up your dinner table for a Happy Valentines Day!

Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1 cup powdered sugar 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt Parchment paper Royal Icing Colorful Glaze

Preparation: 1. Preheat oven to 325°. Beat butter and zest at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy.

Gradually add sugar, beating well.

2. Combine flour and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Shape dough into a disc.

3. Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut with a 2 1/4- or 3 1/4-inch heart-shaped cutter; place 1/2 inch apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets.

If desired, cut 1 or 2 holes at top of each cookie (to hang or thread ribbon through after baking).

4. Bake at 325° for 12 to 14 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes. Transfer to wire racks; cool completely (about 20 minutes). Decorate as desired with Royal Icing and Colorful Glaze.

Southern Living, February 2010

What You Need: •

Stemless wine glasses

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Multiple colors of roses

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Distilled water

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Votive Candles

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Votive Candle Holders

Instructions: 1. Wash Glasses. Place about 1/4 inch of distilled water in the bottom of each glass.

2. Place the candles. put the candles in the votive holders.

3. Prepare the roses. Remove any dead petals and snip the stems so that only 1/2 inch remains.

4. Place Roses in the glasses and the votive candles on the table in the pattern of your choice.

Light and enjoy!

Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens.com

How To Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Your Kids!

Valentine's Day isn’t just for couples or adults. Help your kids get excited about V-day with these Valentine's ideas like games and fun surprises. You can even create your own traditions with your kids.

Date night with Dad Dads, plan a date night with your daughter for Valentine's Day. Take this opportunity to spend quality time with your daughter and talk to her one on one. Let mom help her get dressed up, you take her to dinner, she will feel like a princess!

Plan a Valentine's Scavenger Hunt Mom and dad, plan a scavenger hunt for your little ones around the house. Hide things like candy, stuffed animals, pink clothes for your daughter, anything fun and small that they would be excited to hunt for and find! Use clues like rhymes and make the answer lead them to the next clue.

Let them help plan your big night If you prefer to leave the kids with grandma and grandpa, let them help plan your special night. They can help make the dinner reservations, go with dad to pick up flowers, pick out mom's outfit, all the fun of planning but without the hassle of children on a date night.

Have a "Hearts and Smarts" party with the kids A Hearts and Smarts party is just a fun way to celebrate Valentine's Day without spending a lot of money on a date or a weekend getaway, plus you can involve the kids. Here's how it works: Do a Google search on the history of Valentine's Day or Valentine's traditions in other countries. Take pink and red construction paper, cut them into hearts and then write a trivia question (& the correct answer) on each heart based on your Google search. Finally, fill a candy jar with candy and yummy goodies.

Gather the family in the living room and take turns choosing a heart, asking the question, and the person who correctly answers first can choose a goodie from the jar.

It's a fun way to have quality family time while helping educate your kids.

These are just a few ideas to help you plan fun family activities this Valentine's Day. Remember, date nights are fun but family time is even more precious.

Written by Charissa Cowart. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

The Origins Of President’s Day Few young folks today recognize that "Presidents Day" was actually a holiday created to specially recognize George Washington, on his birthday. The holiday was originally created in 1885 by a bill signed by President Chester Arthur, which declared that February 22nd, Washington's Birthday, would be a federal holiday.

However, like most things to do with Washington, things were not so simple. Washington's Birthday was actually on February 11th, but that was according to the Julian calendar. However, Britain eventually shifted to the Gregorian calendar, which moved everything ahead 11 days. Eventually, Abraham Lincoln was elected president and proved to be a president as great and served as much of a catalyst to the nation as Washington did. His birthday was February 12th, and many states started to observe that date as a holiday. **The Birth of Presidents Day** Many years later, in 1968, members of Congress decided that it would be easier to celebrate the holidays if they were on Monday so that workers would have a three day weekend instead of having a broken week in the middle of the week.

This bill moved all holidays to Monday, so President's Day is on the third Monday in February. This national holiday is often called "President's Day," in honor of both Washington and Lincoln, but the official name remains "Washington's Birthday." In order to make the single national holiday more inclusive of both Presidents, Congress considered a bill to rename it as President's Day. Congress rejected the bill. Some in Congress would like to make the national holiday more inclusive of not only Lincoln, but all Presidents who served our country. But when it comes down to it, the original purpose of the holiday was to recognize the first significant and great President who had one of the largest roles in

founding this nation and creating the Constitution that we hold so dear. Washington deserves to be recognized as the greatest leader the United States have ever had. **What Does President's Day Mean to Americans?** If you ask most Americans about President's Day, they'll likely tell you that it's one of the best shopping days of the year.

Retailers offer some of the steepest discounts of the year as they switch from winter stock to spring stock. Stores hope to clear out floor space for the new inventory, and getting rid of the remaining winter goods are their highest priority.

Sometimes the priority is so high that sales are very surprising.

Unfortunately, this practice has caused the national holiday, which was created to recognize President Washington and President Lincoln, to become a highly commercialized holiday, much like Christmas has become. It seems unfortunate that most Americans do not recognize the importance of the day, the history behind it, and the history behind the men for which it was created. **How to Recognize President's Day** That's not to say that you shouldn't enjoy a great day of rock-bottom bargains at your local store. But primarily, parents should spend the day with their kids, teaching them about Washington's life and the history of the birth of our nation.

Parents should enjoy activities with their children that reflect on what it means to be a U.S. President, and what sort of struggles and trials George Washington faced during his time as a child, his time on the battlefields of our young nation, and his time as a leader of this great nation.

Written by Ryan Dube. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

The Colors Of Roses Learn The Hidden Meanings Behind Rose Colors

Traditionally this saying was used to describe someone who only sees pleasant things around them, blissfully ignorant of any problems. Roses actually come in a variety of colors, so you could wear a set of yellow or blue rose colored glasses and experience a completely different set of emotions than with the traditional red or pink lenses.

Throughout history, roses have been given on every imaginable occasion, and this highly symbolic gesture has continued to evolve in meaning and tradition. Give the wrong color rose and you could be socially ostracized- well, most likely not, but it never hurts to be aware of the symbolic meaning of the roses you are going to send.

Many of our ideas about the symbolic meaning behind plants and flower colors come from Victorian times, when people did not feel free to verbally express certain feelings. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, first in Europe and then later in the Americas, language-of-flowers dictionaries

flourished, giving proper Victorian people a more socially acceptable way to communicate deep, passionate feelings.

Red, at least on St. Valentines Day, is the most commonly given color of rose, and it usually symbolizes romantic love. It can also symbolize courage and passion, but giving red roses to someone not aware of this could lead to an uncomfortable misunderstanding. Be aware of the possible perceptions of your intended recipient.

While all red roses symbolize desire, subtle variations in color can have different symbolic meaning. Amaranth red roses are a symbol of long standing desire, and cardinal red means sublime desire. Carmine means false desire, and fiery red can represent flames of passion. A deep red rose can indicate bashful shame. The burgundy rose has always been symbolic of unconscious beauty.

Do you need a rose that sends a more platonic message of friendship and good will? Consider the yellow rose: messenger of joy, friendship, caring, sympathy, delight. A yellow rose can also symbolize new beginnings, and can say, "Remember Me". In Victorian times, yellow roses were a symbol of jealousy. The ambiguous nature of the meaning of yellow roses lends magic to this color choice as a gift.

appreciation, while a lighter shade of pink could show admiration, sympathy, or joy.

Orange roses can signify enthusiasm or desire, or a feeling of warmth, whereas coral usually implies only desire.

The final two colors of roses are intertwined with the world of fantasy and mythology. While neither black nor blue roses occur naturally, both are attempted by florists through drying and dyeing. Black has traditionally been symbolic of death. Consequently, the black rose has been seen as a bad omen, but may also signal rejuvenation. The black rose is probably best used only as a gag gift, however, its meaning is likely to be misinterpreted and you may wind up scaring someone. The blue rose has been considered the "holy grail" of roses. While scientists are currently trying to genetically engineer this elusive flower, the only ones now commercially available are created using blue dye. The blue rose symbolizes fantasy, impossibility, and the search for miracles.

Sending roses has always been a way to express feelings that are difficult to convey in words. By carefully selecting the color , you add a touch of class to any gift and can convey a message steeped in emotion and history.

Even though you are no longer blissfully ignorant about the meaning behind the colors of roses, at least you can find the rose colored glasses that best fit you.

The white rose is commonly used in weddings, and in this context it signifies happy love. It can also mean spiritual love and purity, humility, charm, or innocence. It can also mean, "I am worthy of you," or be used as a gesture of platonic love.

Lavender roses symbolize love at first sight and enchantment, and can also be used to say "congratulations" to a graduate. Any shade of purple rose exudes a sense of majestic beauty.

A pink rose can hold many meanings. A darker pink rose can symbolize gratitude and Written by JennifeArk. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

The History of St.Valentine’s Day

The traditions of St. Valentine's Day mix elements of both ancient Roman rites and Christian tradition. To confuse matters, three different saints named Valentine are recognized by the Roman Catholic Church.

One legend states Valentine was a priest in Rome during the third century. Emperor Claudius II decreed that marriage was to be outlawed for young men, as he thought that single men made better soldiers than those who were married with families. Valentine, felt the decree was unjust and unfair, and defied the Emperor by performing secret marriages for young lovers. When his actions for undercover lovers was discovered, Claudius ordered valentine be executed.

However, according to another legend, Valentine may have actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. In 270 AD on the day before he was to be executed for refusing to renounce his Christian beliefs, he is said to have sent a note of appreciation to his jailer's daughter for bringing him food and delivering messages while he was imprisoned, signed "from your Valentine."

While we can never be certain as to the true origin of the St. Valentine legend, one thing is for sure, it must have been an appealing and enduring story because by the Middle Ages, Valentine had become one of the most popular saints in France and Britain.

The timing of Valentine's day may have been driven by the practice of trying to integrate previous pagan festivals into the Christian calendar. in this case, the Lupercalia festival.

Lupercalia, which began on the 'ides of February', was a fertility festival dedicated to the agricultural god Lupercus and to the Goddess of Love, Juno, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. Roman maidens placed their names into an urn set up in the public squares and young single men drew from it to get a 'blind date' for the coming year. More often than not, these annual matches often ended in marriage.

St. Valentine's Day was first set at February 14th by Pope Gelasius, around 500 AD. By this time, the 'lottery' system for romantic dating had deemed un-Christian and had been outlawed. During the Middle Ages, the practice of love lotteries carried on as 'Chance Boxes'. In France, drawings from the boxes gave young couples one year to get married or part company. In England, it was a common practice for men to wear the name of the girl they drew from the chance boxes on their sleeve, enclosed within a heart. Also during this period, it was commonly believed in parts of England and France that February 14 marked the beginning of birds' mating season, which increased the notion that Valentine's Day should be a day for romance.

Valentines messages started to appear around the beginning of the Fifteenth century, and even in these formative times they were often given anonymously.

The oldest known valentine in the world still in existence today was a romantic ode written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London after his capture during the Battle of Agincourt.

The greeting, was written in 1415, and is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London.

In the UK, St. Valentine's Day became a popular celebration around the 1600's. It continued to take hold, with the familiar "roses are red, violets are blue‌" verses making their debut sometime in the seventeenth century.

By the 1850's, it was common for lovers from all social standings to give their adored ones small gifts or handwritten letters. At the same time, in France, people began to decorate their valentines with ribbons and lace.

By the start of the twentieth century, the handwritten letters gave way to cards as advances in printing technology had improved the quality of printed cards. At the time, it was culturally discouraged for people to show their emotions in such a direct way as a letter, so a printed

card was a more acceptable method. More affordable postage costs and increasing use of the postal system probably contributed to the rise in popularity of the Valentine's card.

Americans probably first began exchanging handmade valentines with verses in the early 1700s. In the mid nineteenth century, the first mass-produced valentines began to go on sale in America. Miss Esther Howland, an artist and entrepreneur, became the first regular publisher of valentines in the USA. Often referred to as 'the Mother of the Valentine', Miss Howland designed many elaborate creations using lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap". Her cards usually cost between $5 - $10 each, with some as much as $35, astonishingly expensive for the time.

The Greeting Card Association estimates that if we include children's classroom valentines, over one billion valentine cards will be opened this year. St. Valentine's Day is the second largest card-sending time of the year, accounting for 25% of all seasonal card sales (Christmas accounts for 60%).

It is estimated that women purchase 80 percent of all valentine's cards, which means that a large proportion of men either forget, or aren't very romantic when it comes to reciprocating! Valentine's Day is celebrated in the USA, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, and Australia, and is increasing in popularity in many other parts of the world.

Facts about Valentine's day cards (from the Greeting Card Association) Approximately 25% of individual valentine cards are humorous, with adults aged 35-and-under being the most likely to send humorous cards. Valentine's Day is the largest e-card sending occasion of the year. An estimated 14 million e-valentines will be sent in 2008.

Greeting cards are traditionally the most popular Valentine's Day gift in the U.S., ranking ahead of chocolates, flowers or dinner out.

American men may be more serious about Valentine's Day than women. In a national survey for GCA in 2007, 45% of women said they were likely to give a humorous valentine to their sweetheart, compared to only 34% of men.

The percentage of individual valentines exchanged through the mail in comparison to hand delivery is approximately 50-50.

Red is the most popular color choice for valentine cards, follow by pink and then white. Hearts, roses, Cupid and lace are traditional valentine card icons.

Written by Toby Shaw. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

Guys Guide To Giving Flowers

What’s the best way for a man to make a lasting impression on a woman? Recent consumer research shows that the answer to making a memorable impact is right under his nose– through flowers. In fact, the study shows that 92% of women can remember the last time they received flowers, and 89% say receiving flowers makes them feel special.

Giving great floral gifts, however, still remains a mystery to most men. To help them out, author and TV host Rebecca Cole provides guidance on giving females flowers.

“Flowers are a sensual gift that can express any emotion so simply – with just a little knowledge and a phone call to the florist.”

Cole offers advice to guys on: How to send just the right message to the woman in his life – a new girlfriend, that special someone, Mom or a good friend.

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The New Thing. This emotion may be the most difficult for a man to express, so Cole provides style advice for the guy who wants to show his new romantic interest exactly how he feels. “A passionate arrangement is filled with hot pinks, oranges, reds and golds.

Add a thoughtful card to help communicate just the right sentiment,” says Cole.

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The Real Deal. Flowers are intimately – and internationally – linked with the art of romance, and for good reason says Cole. “As relationships grow, flowers become symbols of different events and milestones in our lives together.

Take note of her favorite flowers – the varieties at your wedding, flowers you sent her when you first started dating or the ones she buys for herself. Those will have great meaning and impact.”

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Leading Ladies. “No woman – especially moms, grandmas and sisters – should live without a little TLC,” says Cole. A fabulous flowering plant or a garden-style arrangement with greens and soft pastel hues – no matter what the flower – will send the message that you care.

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The Gal Pal. “Flowers that show you’re thinking of someone, but not in a sensual way, have a natural, just-picked feeling,” says Cole. She advises to ask for a selection of gardenstyle flowers or a bright bold color palette that is fun and whimsical. A basket with a mix of flowering and green plants delivered to her door or office is also a sure fire winner.

What are the three top design styles that men can ask for with confidence: Research shows that 96% of women like to receive flowers when they’re not expecting them. “Guys should know that they don’t have to wait for a special occasion to give flowers,” Cole says. “Make an occasion by sending flowers to the woman in your life, just because. They’ll never forget it.”

Cole offers advice for men willing to try something trendy. She suggests these three top design styles that men can ask for with confidence:

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Monobotanic. Arrangements featuring only one type of flower (such as all roses, tulips, lilies or iris) are in style and may even include different colors of the same flower in the vase or container.

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Monochromatic. Pick a color, any color and stick with it! If her favorite color is pink, for example, ask your florist for a fresh bouquet of different flowers in the same color range.

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Bunches of Texture. Ask your florist to select complementary flowers of various textures to place in bunches in an elegant glass container. This unique look has a bold, contemporary feel and will surely provide the “wow” factor.

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Need to find a florist? Check Online Florist in your area or just search on internet.

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Don’t know what to say on the card?

Check for Creative quotes messages for every occasion.

A Guy’s Checklist of Things to Remember

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Be Spontaneous. You don’t have to wait for a special occasion to give flowers. In fact, most women say “no reason” is the best reason to get flowers.

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Size Doesn’t Matter. Trust your florist to help you send an arrangement that is appropriate for the occasion. Bouquets both big and small can make a bold statement. It’s the sentiment that makes the impact.

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Score Big Points. Surprise her by sending a bouquet to her office, and see how much attention you’ll get because of the attention she got.

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Relax. Flowers don’t have to mean commitment. Women know when an arrangement simply means that you care.

“The most important thing to remember is that you simply cannot go wrong with flowers,” said Cole. “Your florist is there to help, but you’ll get all the credit.”

Written by Flower Guru. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

Seven Urban Love Legends: Separating Love Fact From Love Fiction

When it comes to dating and love relationships there are certain “love facts” that most everyone believes. But, surprisingly, if we look at the actual research about these “love facts” we may find that they are not facts at all. They are fictions, myths. This is key information for anyone who is interested in creating a great love relationship; separating love fiction from love fact makes you an informed “consumer” when it comes to your dating and love life.

Here are seven of these mythic urban love legends and what the research actually shows us to be true about them.

Myth 1: The divorce rate in the country is 50%

do have a 28% decreased risk of getting divorced.

Fact: It’s never been 50%. It’s actually 41%. The odds are better than you think.

And a college education decreases the likelihood of divorce. This is shown by more sophisticated research.

Myth 5: On the online dating websites the majority of men are lying about themselves.

Myth 2: You have one soul mate and meeting that “One” is the key to finding love.

Fact: Research shows that love and marriage take hard work, including commitment, positive communication, and the ability to resolve fights. The best relationship advice I can give you is that you need to work on yourself and choose someone, a good friend with chemistry, who’s willing to grow with you. These are the keys to a happy marriage. Sorry, no fairy tale.

Myth 3: When you are married fighting is an unhealthy thing.

Fact: Couples who suppress their anger have a mortality rate that is twice as high as those in which one partner stands up for him/herself. Fighting with your spouse and then resolving differences is a healthy thing.

Myth 4: Living with a boyfriend/ girlfriend gives you a better sense of who your partner is and will make for a stronger marriage down the road.

Fact: Couples who have not lived together before marriage have healthier and more successful marriages. They also have less conflict, less abuse and are less likely to get divorced than couples who live together before marriage. However, a more recent study shows that couples who have committed to be married and live together

Fact: Independent research shows that the number is only about 20%. Common lies concern income, profession, age, marital status and weight.

Myth 6: It’s better to wait until you’re more mature and get married in your thirties rather than your twenties.

Fact: People who marry after their mid twenties just as likely to get divorced and surprisingly are much more likely to have a poor quality marriage than those who married earlier.

Myth 7: Choosing marriage means more stress and financial drain in your life.

Fact: Married people are healthier emotionally and physically and they have more wealth too. Study after study has shown that love relationships have a huge impact on our psychological, economic, and physical well-being. Having a life partner can create a higher sense of self-worth, provide intimacy and emotional support which fulfills the deepest human need for connection, and lead to greater wealth and economic stability. As a result, married people may be happier, live more satisfying lives, and have fewer psychological problems, including depression. Many researchers say that these factors lead to better physical health, greater healthseeking behavior, and lower rates of alcoholism. Here’s the big take-away: for over 100 years studies around the world have shown that married people live longer and enjoy a higher quality of life than those who aren’t partnered!

Written by Dr. Diana Kirschner. Courtesy of Isnare.com.

Products To Love In February Love and indulgence are in the air, but with bikini season just around the corner you need a better way to treat your self! Voila! Newman’s Own Light Raspberry and Walnut Dressing is the perfect way to have your salad, but make it taste great too. I love the wonderful flavor that you get and I love, love the fact that I don’t have to spend what feels like 10 years on the treadmill just to work off some flavor. And the best part? All of Newman’s profits after taxes goes to helping children. So do something nice for you and for the worlds children, grab a bottle and enjoy! Please click here for more

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Give something adorable this Valentine’s Day! This cutie’s is by TY Beanie Babies and his name is Cupid - The Valentines Day Dog! and the just waiting for some one to love him! He won’t chew your shoes or piddle on the rug like other puppies and With his heart shaped patch he’s sure to win you the heart of who ever you gift him to. Please click here for more information.

Make this Valentine’s Day an sweet trip down memory lane for someone you love. the Retro Candy Gift Box from Candy Crate is sure to please anyone from the age of 1 to 100! These super cute boxes are packed with retro candy favorites to tantalize you honey’s taste buds. Looking for a certain era in candy history? No problem! From the 40’s all the way to the 90’s, these guys have it all! We know its hard, but just try not to eat before you actually gift it, ok?Please click here for more information.

Products To Love In February Looking for some thing super cute that says I love you over and over?

BoldLoft "Say I Love You" Couples Pillowcases are the perfect way to let your other half see just how you feel! Wether settling down for the night or waking up in the morning, this adorable reminder of your love is the first thing they will see.

Please click here for more information.

Great gift for mothers! This delicate, artistic symbol of family love is sure to warm the heart of any mother! Measuring 1" L x 1/2" W, the pendant depicts loving parents and three children whose touching embrace forms a heart. The strong yet beautiful sterling silver is a stately reflection of the parents' deep love for their children and the textural finish adds dimension to this fine piece of jewelry.

Elegant pendant comes on an 18" L inch sterling silver box chain with spring ring clasp and is tarnish resistant. Attractively gift boxed and ready for giving...to yourself or other loving mothers! Proudly made in New Mexico, USA with fair labor. We do our part for the environment by handcrafting our jewelry from recycled genuine sterling silver.Please click

here for more information.

The Valentine Amore Romantic Gift Set - Bed of Roses Scented floating silk rose petals and tealight candles. The name says it all: Very romantic on high quality paper board each box holds 150 SILK Rose Petals, scented and floatable, 4 tea lights to set the mood and an invitation to romance. One stop shopping. You may want to add other extras to the end cap, i.e. chocolates; champagne etc The tea lights are of high quality wax, giving a nice glow to the romantic evening. You can use it for showers, parties,anniversaries and of course Valentines Day. The possibilities are endless.

The package needs no wrapping; it is a present and mood setter by itself. Please click here for more information.

City Spotlight

New York, NY Having been the capital of the United States only for a year, New York is often called one of the worldʼs capitals.

The significant part of international business, finance, commerce, fashion, cinema and so on and so far is concentrated there.

New York City has a nickname “the big apple”. There are several legends connected to the term, all they have in common only that the term appeared in 1920-30. The first legend says that during the Great depression well-to-do families had to make ends-meet by selling apples. The second refers to jazz musicians. They said 'There are many apples on the success tree, but when you pick New York City, you pick the Big Apple.' There is an opinion that the nickname came from the 'The Big Apple” club in New York. The other legend says that the nickname was invented by the sportswriter John Fitzgerald, who named his column about NYC's racetracks "Around the Big Apple".

New York City is located on the Atlantic coast of the United States, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The area of the modern New York began to be settled by the Europeans in the XVI century. Since the beginning of the XIX century New York has been the largest city in the United States.

New York is a cosmopolitan city, where the emigrants make up the big part of its 8 million population. New York City consists of five boroughs. They are Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan.

The most prestigious and renowned borough is Manhattan. Itʼs an island where the best theaters, cinemas and shops are located. One of the biggest attractions in Manhattan is Central Park - an oasis of green in the

middle of New York City. Here you can escape from the city noise, relax and enjoy nature. Manhattan is also filled up the highest skyscrapers with the offices of the leading international corporations. However Manhattan isnʼt only that chic. Harlem – one of the most dangerous city districts is also there. Many think that thereʼs nothing more in New York, than Manhattan, but other four boroughs are also worth seeing.

Brooklyn occupies the western part of the Long Island and the largest in population of all the five boroughs. Brooklyn is famous for its Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Bridge and Brighton Beach. Brighton Beach is one of the largest Russian communities in the United States.

The largest in area of New York City's five boroughs, Queens is more suburban in spirit. Like Brooklyn it is situated in the western part of the Long Island. Among the attractions in Queens are the New York Hall of Science and the Queens Zoo. The Bronx is the only one borough that is part of mainland New York. The Harlem River separates The Bronx from the island of Manhattan. The Bronx's attractions include Yankee Stadium, home of the New York Yankees baseball club of the American League; the Bronx Zoo, Bronx High School of Science, Walton High School, Morris Park, the New York Botanical Garden.

Staten Island is the least populated of the five boroughs and the most geographically separated. You can there by ferry from Manhattan.New York is magnetic city attracting a lot of tourists and emigrants every year.

Written by Ann Corba, courtesy of Isnare.com

Businesses That Make A Difference

You have seen it on you grocery store shelves and might have eaten it countless times, but did you know that when you bought it you were changing the life of

some one else for the better?

Newman’s Own came about when Paul Newman and A.E. Hotchner made salad dressing for some friends for

good for others and the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps for critically ill children were born.

Christmas, who loved it so much they came begging for more! Newman and Hotchner decided to go into production and were totally flabbergasted when the company turned a healthy profit it’s first year. Newman decided that he would use all the profits after taxes to do something

Today Newman’s Own carries on the tradition of selfless giving, and has donated in excess of 280 million dollars to charities all over the world. So next time you are in a hurry to grab something for dinner, reach for one of the many Newman’s Own products and indulge in a tasty way to help someone in need.

Random Facts

This month's random fact is about the beautiful and romantically named flower: Bleeding Hearts

Lamprocapnos spectabilis (formerly Dicentra spectabilis); also known as old-fashioned bleeding-heart, Venus's car, Lady in a bath, Dutchman's trousers, or Lyre-flower is a rhizomatous perennial plant native to eastern Asia from Siberia south to Japan. It is a popular ornamental plant for flower gardens in temperate climates, and is also used in floristry as a cut flower for Valentine's Day. It usually has red heart-shaped flowers with white tips which droop from arching flower stems in late spring and early summer. White-flowered forms are also cultivated.

Delicates hide amidst the ferns. They are found in little used corners underneath trees. Such gems are surprises in the garden. They persist year after year to create more fairy blooms each season. The sentiments of the Victorian era and Ruskin in particular are embodied in a single plant, the bleeding heart. This beautiful perennial is so named because its pendulous flowers do indeed resemble exquisite rosy hearts. The pendulous blooms are borne on delicate airy stems held well above the flowers. Even the slightest breeze starts them swaying to add a delightful animation to otherwise static plantings.

The bleeding heart of gardens is "Dicentra spectabilis," but there are others closely related that are native to our soil. These wild bleeding hearts can be found across America. They prefer to grow where there is even moisture with many dying back at midsummer.Bleeding hearts belong up close to doors and windows when combined with other delicate fairy-like flowers. Among them is "Dientra cucullaria," known as Dutchman's breeches and found throughout most of the eastern states. Rather than heart-shaped blossoms they feature pantaloons. The more commonly grown wild species includes "Dicentra eximia" from the middle Atlantic states. On the opposite coast grows the western bleeding heart, "Dicentra formosa." The species is found in forests of the Pacific Coast states from Canada south into California.

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About Doug Patterson Doug is a native North Carolinean and owner/broker-in-charge of Park Place Real Estate. Areas served incude Forsyth, Stokes and N. Davidson Counties.

Doug is a "Buyers Agent" exclusively! So he can

show you any home that's listed for sale in the TRIAD Multiple Listing Service! Doug is a graduate of High Point University with a BS in Business and Accounting and Guilford Technical College with an AAS in Architectural Technology. His real estate career dates back to the early 1980's. Doug enjoys working with First Time Home Buyers, Relocation and Move up Buyers, and Seniors.

Call Me For All Of Your Real Estate Needs: 336-710-1108