Doug Patterson's

Doug PattersonCell: 336-710-1108

Office: 336-710-1108

www.calldougnow.com

Dear Friends,

Hello to All!

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

If you are thinking about a home purchase, the first step is to call me for referrals for qualified

and highly experienced home mortgage 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.

At my website, CallDOUGnow.com, you can 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!

Doug Pattersonwww.calldougnow.com

336-710-1108336-710-1108

Table of Contents

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.

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 part icular purpose l ies solely with the manufacture(s) of any product described or recommended or used used in connection with any methods described or recommended.

Editor in Chief - Phly Jambor

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

Welcome Home!

4 Recipe And Design A tasty recipe and a stylish home design how to.

5 Valentines Day It’s history and celebrations.

6 - 7 Keeping Nasty Winter Colds Away Stay well this winter season with the 411 on cold prevention.

8 - 9 Winter Fun Outdoor Winter Activities In Your Own Backyard.

10 - 11 How To Buy Chocolates Pick the perfect sweet for your sweetheart.

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!

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

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

Crispy Chocolate Hearts

Recipe and Design

Preparation:1. Microwave chocolate morsels in a large glass bowl at

HIGH for 2 minutes or until melted, stirring every 30 seconds. Stir in peanut butter, stirring until well blended.

2. Stir in cereal, peanuts, and marshmallows. Line a 13- x 9-inch pan with foil. Lightly grease foil. Press mixture into foil-lined pan. Drizzle with chocolate. Sprinkle with white nonpareils, if desired.

3. Let stand 1 hour or until firm; cut with a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to make hearts. Store hearts in an airtight container or place in a candy box, if desired.

*6 (2-ounce) almond bark coating squares may be substituted.

Southern Living, February 2003

Ingredients• 1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate

morsels*• 1/2 cup peanut butter• 2 cups crisp rice cereal• 1 1/2 cups peanuts• 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows• 2 (2-ounce) chocolate bark coating squares,

melted• White nonpareils (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cover the base of a papier-mâché box with striped paper. Trace the box lid shape on decorative paper and cut out.2. Wrap and adhere a silver tooling foil strip around the edge of the box lid, pressing the foil above and below the edge to take the lid shape.3. Adhere the cut-out heart onto the lid. Attach pink yarn around the cut-out heart shape.4. Adhere a small silver frame with a message in it onto the lid.

• Papier-mâché box• Striped Paper• Decorative Paper• Pink Fluff Yarn• Silver Foil Tooling Strip• Small Silver Frame• Glue

Heart Box

Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens.com

What You Need:

A super sweet and memorable way to say Happy Valentines Day!

VALENTINE / LOVE

Celebrated on February 14 every year, Saint Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day is the traditional day on which lovers convey their love to each other by sending Valentine's cards, sometimes even anonymously. The most common feature of Valentines Day these days is the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines". Popular Valentine symbols of modern times include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, mass produced greeting cards have largely replaced handwritten notes. It is believed that nearly one billion Valentines Day cards are sent each year worldwide, making it only the second largest card-sending holiday next to Christmas. Women are believed to purchase approximately 85 percent of all "valentines".

Stories of many Valentines

Opinions differ about who St Valentine was. Early martyrologies mention at least three St Valentines under the date of 14 February. One is a priest at Rome, another a Bishop of Interamna (now Terni in Italy) and the other lived and died in Africa. Many, however, are of the opinion that the first two are the same person.

It is, however, widely believed that Valentine's Day has perhaps originated from the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia. A festival was held on February 15 in honor of one of their gods Lupercus, who was called upon by the Romans to ward off the threats of those fierce wolves that roamed the adjacent forests. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia, a love lottery was organized in which the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man then drew a slip and the girl whose name he picked up was to be his sweetheart for the year.

The holiday subsequently became Valentine's Day after a priest named Valentine. At that time when Christianity was still a new religion, Valentine was a priest in Rome. The then Emperor Claudius II, had issued an order forbidding the Roman soldiers to marry or become engaged. The emperor believed that once they got married, his soldiers would want to stay home rather than fight his wars. Valentine defied the Emperor's decree and secretly married the young couples. He was finally arrested, imprisoned, and beheaded on February 14, the eve of Lupercalia. Valentine was posthumously named a saint. As Christianity grew stronger in Rome, the priests moved the Lupercalia or spring holiday from February 15 to February 14, i.e., Valentine's Day. Since then the holiday began honoring Saint Valentine instead of Lupercus.

"From your Valentine"

According to another story, Valentine was one of the early Christians who was seized and dragged before the Prefect of Rome and jailed for helping some Christian martyrs. He cured the jailor’s daughter of blindness while in jail. When the emperor learned of this miracle he ordered the beheading of Valentine. Valentine is said to have sent the jailor’s daughter a farewell message signed, "From your Valentine".

In 1969, as part of a larger effort to reduce the number of saint days of purely legendary origin, the Church removed St. Valentine's Day as an official holiday from its calendar. At present, February 14 is dedicated only to Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius.

Written by Arindam Bose. Courtesy of Isnare.com

Valentines DayIts History And Celebrations

Winter is almost officially here and in some areas the effects of winter can already be felt. This means many individuals will be getting sick if they haven't already. Nasty winter colds are a fact of life and many people get at least one cold a season. There are ways though that you can help try to keep you and your family from getting nasty winter colds over and over again. It makes more sense after all to prevent those colds than to spend days trying to get rid of one once you or someone in your family has one.

Simple preventative measures will help you to keep your family healthy all winter long and some such measures do not even cost you a thing. Why wait until you get sick to start thinking about annoying colds that you keep you from your responsibilities when you can stop them before they even start. Do these few simple things in order to keep the colds away and your family healthy everyday.

The best way to keep your family healthy is to keep your home clean. This may seem like an obvious thing to do but you would be surprised at how many people clean their home but do not really get rid of the germs and bacteria that cause ailments such as colds. Not only should you be sure to keep the surfaces of your home clean but the places that you cannot see as well. Regular vacuuming, mopping, and dusting are important for good health ad surfaces that you and your family regularly come in contact with or that your food comes in contact with should be properly disinfected. It is always a good idea to

Keeping Nasty Winter Colds Away

Written by Mitch Gleason. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

keep a can of disinfectant spray on hand so that you can keep illness causing germs at bay. Cleaning and then disinfecting is a sure fire way to ensure the cleanest surfaces possible.

Dressing properly for the cold is another way to stay healthy all winter long. Wearing a warm winter coat, gloves, and a hat will hold in much needed heat that with a lack of will reduce the effectiveness of your immune system. We lose the most heat through our heads so a hat is extremely important, or a least a hood to hold in the heat. Kids may argue about piling on all of the clothes and it may be a pain but there will be many more complaints should not dressing properly result in illness.

Finally, one of the most important and effective ways to keep away nasty winter colds is to eat right and to get plenty of vitamin c. A poor diet will lower the immune system and vitamin c works to keep away infections and viruses and helps the healing process. Your daily value of vitamin c is fairly easy to obtain and often can be gotten simply from drinking a glass of juice a day.

Getting sick is a pain but you can prevent getting sick by taking care of yourself and your family. It is much easier to prevent than it is to cure and you don't have to miss work or school to do it.

Winter Fun!Outdoor Winter Activities In Your Backyard

While winter may bring cold weather and plenty of snow, that's no reason to stay indoors until next spring. In fact, winter is a great time to enjoy all sorts of outdoor fun and activities. You don't even have to travel far to enjoy the outdoors during the winter months because there are many excellent and exciting winter activities that you and your family can enjoy right in your own backyard. From sledding to ice skating, children and adults alike can experience many hours of backyard winter fun with the help of just a few tools and accessories.

One way for your children to enjoy the outdoors during the winter is to turn your backyard into the setting for an imaginative adventure. An inflatable winter clubhouse can provide the perfect outdoor meeting place or can be a base for the ultimate snowball fight. It could also be an igloo or an arctic bunker, or anything else that children imagine it to be. Whether it's actually snowing or not, inflatable igloos will provide your children with hours of winter fun and can be left outside all season. These inflatable clubhouses are also easy to inflate and are made from cold-crack-proof PVC, so they can easily withstand cold winter weather.

Arctic shields are also excellent backyard accessories for one of the most widely loved winter activities of all -- snowball fights. These inflatable arctic shields feature oversized handles so they can easily be held by hands in mittens. By providing protection and allowing for snowball deflection, arctic shields are perfect for charging ahead and getting right into the thick of every snowball fight. Of course, another favorite winter activity is sledding. Whether you have a hill in your backyard or nearby, inflatable sleds are the perfect accessory for outdoor winter fun.

In order to make use of the many great inflatable winter accessories that are available, you will need to have a good pump for easy and fast inflation. Pumps are available in different varieties including bellows foot pumps, which are extremely easy to use and are constructed from heavy duty fabric. Double action manual pumps are also available, many of which feature several nozzle attachments so they can accommodate almost any fill valve. For larger inflatable toys and accessories, electric or battery-operated pumps might be preferable, as they can effortlessly inflate large capacity toys in a matter of just a few minutes.

Another way to enjoy endless outdoor winter fun and winter activities in your yard is to build your very own backyard ice skating rink. While this might seem like a monumental task, it doesn't have to be. There are backyard ice rink packages available to provide you with everything you need to build an amazing outdoor rink. With heavy-duty liner, flexible PVC tubing to protect the liner, hockey lines, an installation video and a repair kit, these packages will have you skating in no time. In many cases, the rinks can be adjusted to fit your particular yard and all of the components can be easily stored during the off-season. Best of all, however, backyard ice skating rinks can provide endless winter fun and enjoyable exercise for children and adults of all skating abilities.

There are also several accessories available that can make backyard ice rinks even more fun as well as easier to maintain. For example, hockey nets are available for young and up-and-coming hockey stars who want to practice their goal scoring. Hockey nets are also great when you want to hold family or neighborhood hockey games. For the beginning skaters, skate tutors are great for learning balance and building confidence on the ice. With regards to backyard ice rink maintenance, portable ice groomers can easily attach to standard garden hoses and will allow you to keep your ice surface super smooth. In addition, there are a wide variety of snow shovels on the market designed for removing snow from backyard ice skating rinks. With different sizes and shapes available, you can choose the shovel that is best for you and your rink.

The best thing about enjoying winter activities in your own backyard is that you can experience plenty of winter fun without spending a lot of money. Inflatable toys, ice rink kits and a wide range of accessories are available at very affordable prices from online retailers such as Intheswim.com. When you find a respected, direct supplier, you will have the benefit of both quality products and excellent value. With so many fabulous toys and accessories available to enhance your outdoor winter fun, there's really no reason to stay indoors during the winter months.

Written by Jambe Claypool. Courtesy of Isnare.com

Are you thinking about buying some delicious chocolate to splurge on this weekend with your loved one? Perhaps you will purchase a box of chocolates for someone you care about or even make some romantic chocolate-covered strawberries. Do your children always attack the selection of chocolate bars at the grocery store checkout counter? It is so difficult to say no when you see their sparkling little eyes look up at you with anticipation, "Please?" Well, I've got good news for chocolate lovers everywhere. Eat it- just not that kind!

Chocolate is beyond delicious when it is made from organic ingredients, especially dark chocolate. I'm not talking about Dove and Hershey because we all know that these have chemicals and are what I refer to as junk bars.

They are trash- science experiments. It is okay to say no to your child when they ask for Snickers bars and M & M's because all you need to do is tell them that they can have chocolate- just not that kind. What about your loved one who eagerly awaits for you to make those chocolate-covered strawberries she loves so much that you usually make with melted chocolate chips or Hershey bars? She will certainly not be disappointed when you go out of your way to use pure organic chocolate. Her special gourmet treat will taste better than any other.

Okay, so you're probably wondering where you can find this chocolate and you're probably assuming it's a big secret and can only be purchased at a high price online but this is not the case. Organic chocolate can be found

How To Buy Chocolate

Written by Frank Bilotta. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

right in your grocery store and for a reasonable price. You can also find many different varieties at your local health food store. Other great chocolate products can be found at your nutrition store as well, like organic cocoa and liquid cocoa. Why do nutrition stores carry chocolate and cocoa? You guessed it, because they are good for you!

There are many associations that come to mind when we hear the word "chocolate". Some examples may be bad, fattening or forbidden. Some may think of chocolate that way and others may associate it with warmth, childhood, fun or an escape. However you think of chocolate, you may look at it in a new light now that you know it's good for you. Consume everything in moderation of course. You still don't want to eat chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner as tempting as it may be.

Where do organic chocolate and cocoa come from? First and foremost, you might be surprised and delighted to learn that cocoa is a nut or the seed in the very heart of a fruit. That's right, and it has much more nutritional value than some of the healthiest fruits. Cocoa is found on trees in the rain forests of Malaysia, Africa and South America. It is cut free from its fruit and left out in the sun. Dark chocolate is made from cocoa beans and the natural cocoa butter taken from it's surrounding pod. The creaminess of the cocoa butter is what makes the dark chocolate feel like silk in your mouth.

How are organic cocoa and dark chocolate different from the usual ones that you buy at the grocery store? Just read the ingredients and compare these two and you will see the clear choice.

Cocoa beans lose the very essence of what makes them beneficial in the first place when they are processed with alkali. This includes antioxidants and flavonoids that do wonders for the body. Organic unrefined whole cane sugar is much healthier than regular sugar. Your average sugar was once natural before it was processed until everything good about it was stripped down to nothing. Your average sugar is hardly sugar at all but pure sucrose. Organic unrefined whole cane sugar is exactly what it claims to be- sugar that is taken from the cane and dried out, containing all it's original nutritional value.

Soy lethicin is an emulsifier that is basically a synthetic chemical used to separate oils. It is the remains that are found once the crude oil is extracted from a soybean. Its consistency ranges from gummy to a solid form. It is usually bleached to rid of its reddish brown color into a more pleasing hue of light yellow and could contain pesticides. Who wants to consume such a thing? This additive is in almost every one of the chocolate bars you

find at your grocer's checkout counter! I think of this when my child asks me for a candy bar at the store.

Natural and artificial flavors sounds fairly safe and are in most of the food that many people eat every day. The problem is that these two ingredients could be just about anything and they are hardly ever itemized. Artificial flavors are a mix of chemicals made to mimic the flavor of something else, like chocolate. Natural flavors are a mix of natural chemicals found in food that add flavor.

I think of it this way: Some of the ingredients in non-organic chocolate were real at one point. Every ounce of nutritional value was then destroyed during processing and extra man-made chemicals were added. These additives changed the flavor of what was once food, so they needed to go back to work and put the food flavor back in with a few more chemicals. What is left is toxic. I'd rather go with the pure, untainted and delicious pure version. If I'm going to eat chocolate, I want it to be chocolate that I'm eating.

Here are the many benefits of consuming pure organic cocoa and dark chocolate (I think you will be very pleased):

Builds the strength of your hair and nails and beautifies your skin

Reduces risk of heart attack, blood clots and stroke

Increases the functioning of your pancreas

Detoxifies the liver

Contains dopamine, seratonin and MAO inhibitors that assist brain function.

Helps concentration

Protects against diabetes

Helps postpone dementia

Suppresses appetite to aid in weight loss

Raises good cholesterol

Helps prevent hardening of arteries (Great for smokers)

Now you know what to look for when you buy chocolate and I'm sure you'll enjoy it so much more knowing it's benefits. Have a delectable time!

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.

Guys Guide To Giving 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.

• 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.

• 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.”

• 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.

• 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 garden-style 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:

• 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.

• 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.

Written by Flower Guru. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

• 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.

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

• 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.”

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.

Seven Urban Love Legends:

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

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 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

do have a 28% decreased risk of getting divorced.

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

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 health-seeking 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

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.

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 information.

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.

FIELD TESTED

Reviewed by Rural Jungle Testing

Products To Love In February

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.

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.

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.

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.

New York, NY

Written by Ann Corba, courtesy of Isnare.com

City Spotlight

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

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

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

born.

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.

Businesses That Make A Difference

About Doug PattersonDoug is a native North Carolinean and owner/broker-in-charge of Park Place Real Estate. Areas served

incude Forsyth, Guilford, Davie, N. Davidson, Stokes,and Surry Counties. Doug is a graduate of High

Point University and Guilford Technical College. His real estate career dates back to the 1980's. Doug

enjoys working with First Time Home Buyers, Relocation and Move up Buyers and Sellers, and

Seniors.

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

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This month's random fact is all about the magic feeling we all adore: Love. It makes the world go round, causes

birds and rainbows to suddenly appear and sets off fireworks in out heads. But exactly what is it? Well it's love!

Love is the emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue

representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. In some religious contexts, love is not just a virtue,

but the basis for all being, as in the Roman Catholic phrase, "God is love". Love may also be described as actions

towards others (or oneself) based on compassion. Or as actions towards others based on affection. The word love

can refer to a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes, ranging from generic pleasure ("I loved that meal")

to intense interpersonal attraction ("I love my partner"). "Love" can also refer specifically to the passionate desire

and intimacy of romantic love, to the sexual love of eros (cf. Greek words for love), to the emotional closeness of

familial love, or to the platonic love that defines friendship, to the profound oneness or devotion of religious love.

This diversity of uses and meanings, combined with the complexity of the feelings involved, makes love unusually

difficult to consistently define, even compared to other emotional states. Love in its various forms acts as a major

facilitator of interpersonal relationships and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most

common themes in the creative arts. When discussed in the abstract, love usually refers to interpersonal love, an

experience felt by a person for another person. Love often involves caring for or identifying with a person or thing,

including oneself (cf.narcissism). In addition to cross-cultural differences in understanding love, ideas about love

have also changed greatly over time. Some historians date modern conceptions of romantic love to courtly Europe

during or after the Middle Ages, although the prior existence of romantic attachments is attested by ancient love

poetry. Because of the complex and abstract nature of love, discourse on love is commonly reduced to a

thought-terminating cliche, and there are a number of common proverbs regarding love, from Virgil's "Love

conquers all" toThe Beatles' "All You Need Is Love". St. Thomas Aquinas, following Aristotle, defines love as "

Random Facts