Easy & Free

Good morning everyone.
Today is March 17, 2008.
Today is a B day.
Happy Saint Patricks Day!

The History of Valentines Day and its patron saint is shrouded in mystery. One legend contends that Velantine was a priest who served in the third Century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made much better soldiers than married men, he outlawed marriage for young men, so that he would have a much better crop of soldiers. Legend also says that the Emperor’s daughter gave flowers to Valentine while he was in prison, while waiting to be executed.

Valentine realized that it was not just for single men to have to refrain from marriage. He defied Claudius order and continued to marry young lovers in secret. When Claudius discovered what Valentine was doing, he ordered that Valentine be put to death. There is another legend that sugests that Valentine was killed for helping Soldiers escape the harsh Roman Prisons where they were beaten and tortured. From this gruesome history, a holiday was born, letting all young and old lovers celebrate their love for each other, by sending valentines day cards and buying romantic presents.

Now on Valentines Day, we spend 180 million dollars on Red Roses and 36 million dollars on boxes of candy. With all the other romantic gifts we purchase, the total amount we spend for Valentines Day is an unbelievable 14 Billion Dollars. This Valentines Day,we should honor Valentine, the man who gave his life so that romantism could be preserved! Go buy your loved one a romantic gift to remind them how important love really is.

Heres the thing, I’ve been with my girlfriend for a year and three months, she’s 16, a bit alternative, but not a hardcore goth, emo or punk and she thinks that Valentines day is a huge commercial excuse to squeeze money out of stupid lovestruck people. I am a stupid lovestruck person and I want to get her something. What do I do?

Oh, and she hates pink, hardcore girliness and ANYTHING remotely teddy bear-like.

Help!

Leprechauns and shamrocks, pots of gold at the end of the rainbow and green beer are all symbols that bring to mind St. Patrick’s Day. This wonderful day is for everyone and everyone becomes Irish! It is not a holy day and it does not mark any historically significant event, but it may well be the only day known for pure fun. There are parades, rivers of green, lots of green beer, Irish Whiskey Cake and everyone magically becomes Irish.

Wouldn’t it be great to start a new St. Patrick’s Day tradition? What can we do to enhance the fun and bring more smiles and joy to others? How about giving St. Patrick’s Day surprise gifts to friends and family after the parade and the Irish lamb stew? The gifts should inspire fun and certainly do not need to be lavish. How about taking some decorated St. Patrick’s Day cookies and green soda to a senior citizens center? Your time and the small investment in this gesture will leave seniors smiling with fond memories of a very special St. Patrick’s Day. Get your friends and family involved in celebrating in a new way of giving. Motivate your friends and family with little gifts and encourage them to help you spread the fun and sharing. Take a St. Patrick’s Day party to a children’s shelter and watch eyes light up. With everyone pitching in, no one is overworked and the cost is small.

You can have your own celebration before or after sharing part of the day bringing smiles to others. The smiles and laughter you generate with this new tradition will have you and the recipients looking forward to next St. Patrick’s Day and the second annual Gifting Party.

In a world that has been fraught with economic worries, war and fear of terrorists, it just may be that we all need this one day of pure fun and a new tradition that shares some of the fun with others on this new Gifting Party day also known as St. Patrick’s Day.

Am i including the following:
color green
four leaf clover
Leprechuan and his pot of gold
St. Patty’s Day Parade
compound sent.
complex sent.
transistion words

oh and are there any spelling/grammer mistakes…

In 390 Patricius Daorbae (St. Patrick) was born to . When he was 16 he was captured by Irish raiders. They brought him from his home to Ireland where they only worshiped the druids. He was a shepherd by day and a slave chained to a wall at night. Not far from the pasture that we worked in there was a family. He made friends with them. They also helped him escape from Ireland. Once he returned to his home in Wales he had a nightmare. He dreamed on how the Irish raiders made the people bow down to the druids. When Patrick woke up he knew what to do, he would become a priest to spread the faith- in Ireland. Once he became a priest he traveled back to Ireland. The king would let him teach about his God where ever he wanted, but he had to win a contest. The contest was between the Druid’s God and Patrick’s God. The Druids saw a storm coming so they pretended to ask their God for thunder, lighting and rain. Now it was Patrick’s turn he picked up a 3 leaf clover and said a prayer then in a matter of seconds the clouds disappeared and the sun shined again. So since Patrick won the contest he got to teach about his God where he wanted.
Once Patrick had died (in 460) he was buried like everyone single priest was, but what was different was that when the funeral was over the cross that he had always carried on his neck, which was nailed to the coffin suddenly changed form and from it a portal of some kind emerged. From this portal little men (who would latter be called leprechauns) emerged. They ran around like ants. Once every single leprechaun had exited from the portal they all started making a town. Some witnesses of this construction said “There only material was cobbler.” Every thing was made from it. “They were also making shoes” said another witness. There were also some playing pranks on one another. Once the clock struck 12 for the start of May 17 they dropped everything they were doing and ran into there houses grabbing their gold and running up the hill and down it. There was someone watching while they did this so when they were not looking he dug a hole and a few more came and 1 fell in the hole. Once the others had left he ran to get them, no one knows what happened after this but all they knew was that the farmer was no longer a poor farmer he was a rich man arriving to town on horses and not foot. They also knew that in the morning there was a big rainbow and a few people who were returning from a picnic were rich, they clamed to have found a huge pile of gold at the end of it. Soon a legend started: that every May 17 the leprechauns would run with their gold and try to hide it. Only a few people are lucky to catch them and once they do they are really rich. But a few people were just happy with finding a four leaf clover. According to legend, each leaflet represents something: the first is for hope, the second is for faith, the third is for love, and the fourth is for luck. Another Irish legend tells that the three leaf clover, or “Shamrock”, was what Saint Patrick used to represent the Holy Trinity. The name “four-leaf clover” is a misnomer: the clover leaf actually consists of three leaflets.

Saint Patrick’s Day is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick one of the patron saints of Ireland, and is generally celebrated on March 17. The day is the national holiday of Ireland. It is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland and a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland and Montserrat. In Canada, Great Britain, Australia, the United States, and New Zealand. Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated worldwide by those of Irish descent and increasingly by non-Irish people (usually in New Zealand, Australia, and North America). Celebrations are generally themed around all things Irish and, by association, the color green. Both Christians and non-Christians celebrate the secular version of the holiday by wearing green, eating Irish food and/or green foods, imbibing Irish drink (such as Irish stout, Irish Whiskey or Irish Cream) and attending parades. The parade is called the St. Patricks Day Parade. It takes place all over the globe. Many people also set traps on hoping to catch a leprechaun, but how ever you spend your day remember that everybody’s Irish on May 17.

MARCH MADNESS? Who will be an underdog, who actually has a chance at winning some games in the tournament?
Which underdogs will have the biggest chance at an upset?

Halloween is right around the corner. Why should it matter to you? Because Halloween is not just a day for kids–adults can get in on the fun too!

It’s your chance to change to show another side of your Diva – and get your partner to join in! First you have to decide what costume to wear.

If you have a party to attend, check to see if there’s a theme, which might dictate the nature of your costume. If you’re locked into a costume party at your kid’s school, that naughty nurse costume might best be left in the closet (for at-home fun). If you’re in a relationship, consider a costume that will compliment your partner’s.

To enjoy that you’re the Belle of the Monster Mash, here are some tips for Halloween Costumes:

Top Five Tips on Halloween Costumes

1. Accessories! Like any outfit, it’s all about accessories for Halloween. For instance, if you dress up like Little Miss Muffet, don’t just stop at wearing a frilly dress. Shirley of Hollywood’s Little Miss Muffet costume comes with a lace up dress, hanging spider, cotton hat cap, a ribbon tie choker and spoon, while our Roman Emperor costume comes with tunic, cape, breast plate, golden leaf crown, imitation leather ciraso and sword.

And you can add you own to finish your look with like long satin gloves, boas, bling, boots & vintage shoes, and fishnet or sheer hosiery.

2. Connection to Pop Culture. Costumes that connect to current pop culture and trends are always a hit, like an Heiress Inmate costume. This year, keep your eyes open for pirates, rock stars, Roman, Casino Royale looks, French Revolution, and Desperate Housewives-inspired characters, and of course, the ever-popular cowboy and cowgirl ensembles.

3. Colorful Wigs – Wigs are a great addition to any Halloween costume. They really help ignite the fantasy of taking on an alter ego for the night. Shirley of Hollywood offers a range of wigs in all colors and lengths. Plus, a wig can be worn any time of year if you decide to get a little funky.

4. Try Couples Costumes – Shirley of Hollywood has great his
and her costumes. Some couples’ costume ideas: — French Majesty and Miss Antoinette, Musketeers, Pirates, Queen of the Nile and Roman Emperor, Pimp and “pimpette”, Cop and Inmate, and Man of the Mansion and hot bunny.

5. Emphasize Comfort. Approachable textures, breathable fabrics, and body-clinging yet functioning materials will let you live it up past midnight.

Whether you are Irish, love the color green, or just want your wedding to be a great party, St. Patrick’s Day would be a terrific time to have a wedding. After all, it is a day known for being a fun time, and everyone loves a party on St. Patrick’s Day. Bring out some traditional Irish touches, and make your wedding a St. Patrick’s Day celebration to remember!

Most couples who decide to have their weddings on St. Patrick’s Day will have some Irish heritage, and you will surely want to play this up. If your family has a crest, that would make a fantastic motif for your wedding. Any kind of personal touch like that will make your wedding feel more special.

If no ancient crest is forthcoming, Ireland itself certainly has numerous traditional motifs and symbols from which to choose. The shamrock is the best known symbol of St. Patrick’s Day, followed by the harp. These would be fun motifs to use – in moderation. The key to a wedding on any holiday is to make the holiday secondary to your wedding, so use the theme as an accent, but don’t let it take over the whole day.

The shamrock can be tastefully incorporated into your wedding in a variety of ways. It would be nice to have a small gold shamrock engraved on your wedding invitations. It would also make a great detail on your wedding cake. A white cake with a basketweave design accented by some green shamrocks would be a nice nod to traditional Irish pottery. And naturally, the groom will want to wear shamrock boxers under his tuxedo!

Green is the color most associated with St. Patrick’s Day, and it is an easy color to use in a wedding. Your bridesmaids will look fantastic in emerald green dresses, and the bride can add a green sash to her wedding gown. Speaking of emeralds, green Swarovski crystals would be a nice touch in the bridesmaid jewelry sets. The sparkling crystals are considerably more affordable than even the cloudiest pale green emeralds, and they would make fabulous sets of jewelry for the bridesmaids when used in combination with freshwater pearls.

Music is a big part of any celebration, and for a St. Patrick’s Day wedding, you will definitely want an Irish band. This is music that really gets the toes tapping, and you can be sure that your guests will love it. They will book up early for the holiday, so be certain to get your band lined up well in advance of the wedding. It would be great fun for your guests if you also had a few traditional Irish step dancers as part of the festivities.

Speaking of festivities, food and drink are also important. The traditional St. Patrick’s Day dinner of corned beef and cabbage is one option, but there are certainly some other Irish dishes that you can include in the menu. Many are warm and hearty for a cool spring day, like lamb stew and boxty. Irish celebrations are also known for their free-flowing drink, so have plenty of Guinness and Jamison’s on hand!

St. Patrick’s Day would be a great choice for a wedding date. It is a time of revelry and celebration, just like a wedding. So have some fun, and plan an Irish theme wedding that your guests will be talking about for years. Slainte!

Getting ready to start shopping for the woman that you love for Valentine’s Day? Not sure where to begin? Don’t worry because there are many, many Valentines Day gifts for her that she will be sure to love. These gifts range from the sweet and simple to the trendy and glamorous. You can find some unique gifts for any budget.

Getaway Weekend

A very relaxing way to spend the holiday is to schedule a getaway weekend. You will find that many local resorts or hotels usually offer Valentines Day specials. You can find deals that are as simple as you would like, or pack up and head to Vegas or New York City if you would prefer. What better way to spend a winter weekend than snuggled up in a luxurious room, lounging in a hot tub, with the fireplace burning. Make your wife or girlfriend feel extra special when you treat her to a weekend away from the kids, the stressful jobs, and the daily grind of life in general.

Sexy Lingerie

Valentines Day always seems to bring the thought of lingerie to mind. And why not? Valentines Day is the day for lovers, the day when all types of romantic things transpire. Sexy teddies, silk bras and panties, and other accessories can really spice up a night at home. If you’re looking for something a little more moderate, or maybe something that seems a little more practical to you, then there are plenty of other options. Boyfriend shirts, silk robes, or tiny high heels are sexy enough to still do the trick. Don’t like to shop in the stores for these items because you’re a little self-conscious? Then do it all online where you can be comfortable and probably get better selections than what you’ll find in the stores.

A Great Ecard

Great Ecards are one of the most creative and fun ways to show your Valentine how much you care. There is a great site out there with hundreds of designs to choose from that can then be personalized with your own pictures and music. What’s even better is that the basic service is absolutely FREE! This is such a fun way to send a unique and personalized Ecard to the woman that you love. You’ll have the option to send your card via email, post it to your blog or Facebook page, or print it out. Take this inexpensive opportunity to reach out to your wife, girlfriend, daughter, mother, or any other friends that you may have. And once you use Ecards for Valentines Day, you’ll want to use it for other holidays as well.

Does anyone think standford can go all the way? they have the best defense but their offense isnt always so great

For centuries Valentines Day has been the center of love and affection, with small gifts and tokens of affection passing back and forth between lovers and loved ones. But very few people know the real history of Valentines Day. Even though we now associate the holiday with love, cupids, and fanciful dreams of romance, the truth is that February 14th holds far deeper and far older traditions than one might originally think.

St. Valentine

If one looks back into historical texts of the Catholic Church, they will find that the actual history of Valentines Day revolves around the day when a saint by the name of Valentine was martyred for his faith. Apparently, Valentine was killed when he dared to defy the Roman Emperor Claudius II, and performed secret marriages for young lovers.

Other accounts claim that St. Valentine was killed when he helped Christians escape from the clutches of Roman inquisitors who were torturing and killing prisoners. Another interesting thing to note about the history of Valentines Day is that the Catholic Church actually recognizes eleven different saints named Valentine, and three of them share February 14 as their day of recognition.

Chaucer, Love Birds, and the Middle Ages

The first time in the history of Valentines Day that love and lovers are actually associated with the day is during the Middle Ages in a poem by Geoffrey Chaucer. After the famous writer mentioned the two love birds that represented the engagement of the young king Richard II to his young bride to be, Anne of Bohemia.

After this first association of love in the history of Valentines Day, the idea quickly grew popular. By the 17th century, it had become custom for young lovers to exchange small tokens and hand written love notes with each other. By the 18th century, greeting cards began to be commercially produced just for the holiday; and by the middle of the 19th century, retailers began offering special gifts for young men to present to the ladies they were suiting.

Although the history of Valentines Day isn’t necessarily as romantic as we are led to believe, the fact remains that it has become one of the most popular, and commercially profitable, holidays ever. Today, men often present their wives and girlfriends with chocolates, flowers, and cards; and the day has come to be associated with the highest number of marriage proposals than any other. One fact remains true regardless of the actual history of Valentines Day – and that is the fact that this is the one day of the year when people feel the most able to express their feelings of affection for one another.

Im supposed to be wearing the saint patricks day outfit but I cant even see it whats the problem?

For Valentines day, I am buying my boyfriend of 2 years a gift and also giving him a goodie bag of things like candy and home made heart shaped cookies and brownies. what else should i include in the bag? cute ideas?

Each February, in places around the world, friends exchange flowers, gifts, and candy in celebration of Valentine’s Day. The name of St. Valentine is known across the globe as a patron saint. Most of us however, do not know the true origin of St. Valentine and how this special day came to be. What we do know is that February is the month of romance. As we know it today, St. Valentine’s Day contains elements of both ancient Roman and Christian traditions. The Catholic Church recognizes at least three martyred saints names Valentine or
Valentineus.

One of the common legends states that Valentine was a priest that served in third century Rome. At the time, Emperor Claudius II declared that single males made superior soldiers than did those who had wives and children and he outlawed marriage for all young men in order to optimize his potential army of soldiers. Valentine immediately realized the injustice in this declaration and continued to perform marriages in secret ceremonies, which was in direct defiance of Emperor Claudius II.

Upon learning of Valentine’s actions, the Emperor immediately had him put to death.

There are additional stories surrounding Valentine that suggest he was killed for attempting to assist Christians in escaping Roman prisons where they were often tortured and beaten. If one particular legend holds true, Valentine himself sent the first ever “valentine” greeting.

It is believed that Valentine fell in love with a jailer’s daughter while in prison. The girl had visited Valentine in jail, during which time Valentine fell deeply in love with her. It is thought that before his death, Valentine sent her a letter that he signed “From Your Valentine”.

By the time of Valentine’s death and subsequent sainthood, he was one of the most popular legends in England and France during the Middle Ages.

The early pastors of Roman Christian churches used St. Valentine’s Day as the day young men chose maidens from the congregation as potential brides. Since that time there have been many traditions that have become an important part of Valentine’s Day. Cards, gifts, and the promise of
eternal love are the most common way that we express our feelings on this very special day each year. In the United States, the first commercially printed Valentine’s Day cards began appearing in the early 1800s. Since that time, Valentine’s Day has become a highly profitable business in which millions of dollars are spent each year.

While we enjoy and anticipate Valentine’s Day and the gifts we will give and receive, it is important to remember that this very special day originated with no gifts whatsoever, but rather an promise of eternal love and happiness that cost nothing at all.

It’s March + Madness time! Get on your seat belt, cause it’s going to be a wild ride for 2008. If you want to take your wagering to another level for 2008, then you have to take chances this year. It is going to be a wild ride for your ncaa men’s bracket. You will have a lot of losses in the first few rounds if you are not careful. It is best to find an specialist to follow that will give you the best expert ncaa basketball picks of 2008. Most experts will take in account the match-ups, trends, and a variety of other factors that will put you over the top. Many sites out there will offer you NCAA Basketball Picks to beat the college basketball odds, but they will charge you an arm and a leg and won’t guarantee you a refund if they are wrong and you lose money.

Many people ask, “Where can I print a ncaa tournament bracket?” Well to answer your question you can print it from CBS SPORTS and ESPN. There are many more sites but these two are really the best to print from. Easy to print and ready for you to fill out. Also many sites offer over $1 Million Dollars if you pick all 64 teams right in your ncaa tourney brackets.

Last year was a bad ncaa tournament to be a low-seeded underdog. Nothing like 2006, when 11th seeded George Mason made its historic run to the ncaa final four bracket, in 2007 there was really only 3 Cinderella teams. That was without doubt the lowest number of Cinderella surprise teams in the 23 year history of the 64 team era. If you think 2008 will be anything like 2007, think again!

Circumstances are ready for another tourney of ncaa picks with upsets and your local bracket pool will definitely be won by the person who can recognize the correct favorites to fail and long shots to move forward. Definitely, finding the right Cinderella team to advance. If your ncaa basketball picks are wrong, especially if a high seeded pick of yours falls, your ncaa bracket could collapse in the first weekend if your not careful.

Whatever you decide, you should definitely consult with an expert before going out on a limb and making bold predictions just because you have a gut feeling. Basketball picks are out there plentiful, especially free ones. You run an extreme risk going with free picks if you want to seriously consider making a living betting on sports. Consider this, you have a 50/50 chance of winning betting on sports, adding a professional to your repertoire will give you around a 90 to 95% chance of winning, it is just hard finding the right one that suites all your needs.

Fortunately, picking the right underdog isn’t all guesswork. The Cinderella squads of the modern era have shared common attributes. When you know what they are, it’s a lot easier to sniff out the upsets. Let’s examine the factors that correlate with upsets and identify the darkhorses in this year’s bracket that have the right statistical stuff to spring a surprise.

Often the fondest childhood memories stem from family traditions that were lovingly repeated throughout the years. Family traditions have family at the center of a celebration spending time together and creating lasting memories. If you don’t already have a family Valentine’s Day tradition, why not start one this year. It could be the beginning of many wonderful years of Valentine’s Day memories with your family.

A Valentine family tradition doesn’t have to be expensive. The main idea is to spend time with the family together. Here are some inexpensive ways you can start a Valentine’s Day family tradition in your family.

Make a Food Treat Together

Most people associate chocolates with Valentine’s Day, but how about making a different treat together that your family can share together. One fun treat you can make are Rice Krispies hearts. All you need is the basic Rice Krispies squares recipe, heart shaped cookie cutters and red sprinkles. Lightly grease the insides of the heart shaped cookie cutters and press some Rice Krispies squares mix into the cookie cutters. Then remove the cookies cutters and add the sprinkles. Repeat as needed with the rest of the mixture. It’s simple enough for young kids to help out.

Another simple idea is to bake a cake in a heart shaped cake mold. Make some red (or at least pink) icing and then the kids can decorate the top with sprinkles and heart shaped candies.

Play a Family Game

Games are a great way for families to interact with each other and have fun at the same time. Choose a favorite family game and have an enjoyable time together. Make sure that it is a game everyone enjoys so nobody feels frustrated or left out. It’s also fun to learn a new game together so the whole family is at the same level of expertise.

A card game that has hearts as the central theme is a good match for creating a Valentine’s Day family game time tradition. Capture the Hearts is a simple card game that the whole family can easily understand and play. The object of the game is to win as many hearts as possible. The only card knowledge required is to know the order of the cards.

Watch a Family Favorite Movie

The movie doesn’t have to be mushy and sentimental, as long as it is a movie that the whole family enjoys. It doesn’t even need to be a movie you’ve seen if it’s a movie that the whole family wants to see. Pop some popcorn, or eat some of the treats you’ve made for Valentine’s Day, and enjoy some time together.

Exchange Homemade Cards

Instead of shopping for cards try making cards at home. You’ll save money and have nice keepsakes. The cards can be as simple as folding a piece of paper and cutting out a heart with one straight edge of the heart along the fold. Write a customized message for each member of the family on a separate heart card for each. Encourage the other members of the family to do the same and you’ll have a nice time exchanging special heartfelt cards.

Holidays are very special to children and Valentine’s Day can be made even more memorable if you create your own family tradition. Your children may even use they traditions when they are grown with their own families.