Random Facts You Should Know About Valentine's Day

With Valentine's Day a little more than a week away, I thought it would be a great idea to present some interesting trivia and random facts about the holiday. 

Valentine's Day dates back to a fertility festival in ancient Rome called Lupercalia. A custom of the festival was to bring young boys and girls together by drawing a name from a jar. Many of the pairings were successful and couples wound up getting married. This custom lasted until it was decided that mates should choose each other by sight.

A priest named Valentine of Rome was responsible for giving the holiday its name. The reign of Emperor Claudius II was highlighted by many bloody battles. He found it tough to get soldiers because they did not want to leave their families. As a result, he canceled all marriages. Valentine started to conduct ceremonies in secret but was brutally beaten to death on February 14 and was martyred as St. Valentine. In addition to being the patron saint of lovers, he is also the patron saint of epilepsy, plague, greetings, travel, young people, and bee keepers.

During the 1600s, Europeans began the tradition of exchanging Valentine's. In the United States, the first mass-produced Valentines appeared during the 1840s.

I didn't know that Groundhog Day was also originally celebrated on February 14.

One of my favorite types of trivia is "By the Numbers":

• According to the National Confectioner's Association, more than 36 million heart-shaped are sold for the holiday, and more than 58 million pounds of chocolate are purchased. About 8 million conversation hearts are produced, which is enough candy to stretch from Rome, Italy to Valentine, AZ. Conversation hearts have a shelf life of five years.
• 61% of men and 39% of women will purchase flowers. The most popular flowers that people purchase aren't roses, but mixed bouquets. These are followed by red roses, roses of other colors, flowers, and plants. (Source: Society of American Florists)
• This year, $8.6 million will be spent on wine. 
• According to the U.S. Postal Service, 150 million cards and gifts are mailed each year. 
• The website Accuracy Project lists many cities and towns around the world with names associated with the holiday 
• The number of children conceived on Valentine's Day is 11,000 (Source: Statistic Brain)
• Teachers are the most popular recipients of Valentines, followed by children, mothers, and wives. Children exchange more than 650 million cards each year (Source: Kids Growth)
• Hallmark produces over 1,330 different types of valentines (Source: Kids Growth).
• Women purchase 85% of all valentines (Source: Kids Growth).
• The average amount pet owners will spend for Valentine's Day is $4.52 (Source: National Retail Federation).
• 6 million people will plan a proposal (Source: American Express)
• Total spending on Valentine's Day will be $18.9 billion. The average person will spend $142 (Source: National Retail Federation).

Celebrity couples who were married on Valentine's Day include; Captain and Tennille, Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, Brian Wilson and Melinda Ledbetter, Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, Prince and Matye Garcia, Sharon Stone and Phil Bronstein, and Salma Hayek and Francois Henry Pinnault, 

For more random facts and humor, as well as ideas for gifts, parties, and crafts, check out the website St. Valentine's Day.

As a gentle reminder, our shop can customize many of our Bridal Shower games to tailor to your Valentine's Day-themed celebration. If you don't see anything you like, you can always request a custom order!

It's time for the daily Listmania:

Valentine's Day Party Idea of the Day: From Mother Nature Network, I love these Cupid's arrows created with packs of Big Red gum and heart-shaped Chuckles.

Paul Robeson

Black History Month Fun Fact of the Day: 1n 1948, singer, actor, and civil rights activist Paul Robeson was considered for the vice-president's spot under Henry A. Wallace's Progressive Party ticket.

Oscar Fun Fact of the Day: "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and "Birdman" are tied for the most nominations this year. It's also the first Best-Picture nomination for its respective directors, Wes Anderson and Richard Later.

Today's Birthdays: Jeremy Sumpter (26), Darren Criss (28), Sara Evans (44), Michael Sheen (46), Bobby Brown (46), Chris Parnell (48), Laura Linney (51), Jennifer Jason Leigh (53), Tim Meadows (54), Christopher Guest (67), Barbara Hershey (67), Charlotte Rampling (69), Al Kooper (71), Cory Wells (73), and David Selby (74).

Holidaze: Today is National Weatherperson's Day. With the way the weather's been lately, this is one person I prefer not to thank. However, I know they are just doing their jobs, and it's important to know the weather before we leave for daily tasks each morning. This holiday commemorates the birthday of Dr. John Jeffries, who was born on this day in 1774. Jeffries was a scientist and surgeon who was one of the first weather observers in the U.S.

It's also National Shower With a Friend Day. While this definitely sounds cozy, it also helps conserve water. 

Tomorrow, it's back to Oscar talk and our Freebie Friday giveaway. 

Have a PRINTASTIC day!

Kathy

The Bride Cuts the Cake and Other Last-Minute Details

Hope you're all enjoying your weekend. It's another chilly day in the 20s here. I didn't do much today--went to the gym, ate, tackled the NY Times and Newsday puzzles, and created another Oscar Night game for the shop.

Today, we conclude our series on weddings. It's down to the wire as the couple prepares for the big day. There are many last-minute details that need attending. These include, but are not limited to:

• Mailing your invitations and getting head counts. Calling and e-mailing guests who haven't sent a response
• Buying gifts for the attendants
• Booking a hairstylist and testing out styles. Also booking a make-up artist if you intend to use one and going for a trial run
• Applying for the marriage license 
• Final gown and dress fittings
• Last-minute adjustment with all vendors
• Creating a seating chart and making place cards
• Determining the ceremony and what the processional order will be 
• Planning the rehearsal dinner
• If you're having out-of-town guests, delivering "welcome baskets" to the hotel
• Bringing ceremonial accessories (yarmulkes, unity candles, etc.) to the site
• Confirming travel plans for the honeymoon

I've gone through this week without discussing another fun detail: the cake! Truthfully, I am not a fan of wedding cake as I don't care for buttercream frosting. I didn't even have a piece at my own wedding, which was the standard cake from the temple caterer. I found some refreshing alternatives to the traditional three-tiered cake.

1. How about some donuts to go with your coffee? Courtesy of Dough. I've had their donuts and can attest that they are absolutely delicious!

2. Try homemade pies instead of cakes! The retro-themed topper is classic!

3. I am in heaven with this stacked Oreo cake! I probably would've eaten the entire thing, lol. Created by Viewpoint Catering

4. If you're having a daytime wedding, this is a perfect brunch food. This pancake wedding cake is decorated with syrup, courtesy of Sarah Tucker Events.

5. I like this cake pop stand because I can have one without feeling guilty. lol. Courtesy of Sweet Lauren Cakes.

There are so many different types of cakes tailored for all budgets. Happy tasting!  Also wishing all couples who plan to tie the knot this year a long and happy marriage! I couldn't conclude our discussion of weddings without showing one more game from the shop. This is another matching game featuring famous couples from history and literature. We will also customize it for Valentine's Day, of course!

We're now gearing up for tomorrow's final playoff game before Super Sunday.

Party Idea of the Day: Keep your tables clean with these printable football coasters from Design Sponge. Downloading instructions included!

Super Bowl Fun Fact of the Day: Who was the oldest quarterback to start a Super Bowl? The answer is John Elway, who was 38 when he played his final game (Super Bowl XXXIII), and was named MVP.

Today's Birthdays: Caitlin Sanches (19), Connor Cruise (20), Max Adler (29), Chloe Rose Lattanzi (29), Ray J (33), Dwayne Wade (33), Zooey Deschanel (35), Maksim Chmerkovskiy (35), Lil' Jon (44), Kid Rock (44), Shabba Ranks (49), Naveen Andrews (46), Chili Davis (55), Susanna Hoffs (56), Michelle Obama (51), Jim Carrey (53), Steve Harvey (58), Steve Earle (60), Muhammed Ali (73), Maury Povich (76), James Earl Jones (84), and Betty White (93!).

Holidaze: National Hot Buttered Rum Day! It's the perfect drink for a day like this! This drink typically contains rum (of course), butter, cider or hot water, sweetener, and spices (such as cinnamon or nutmeg). Hot buttered rum dates back to Colonial times, Jamaica imported molasses to our shores, with taverns in New England adding distilled rum to the mix.

On another personal note, I think it's very sad that they shut down the fast-food placed in Penn Station. Although I would never eat a full meal there, I like to grab some ice cream, pretzels, or popcorn occasionally. They are going to try and make it "upscale" like Grand Central Station, but I don't know if that would work with the LIRR crowd.

That's all for this evening. Stay warm, and for those in the metropolitan area, get out your umbrellas for tomorrow.

Have a PRINTASTIC night!

Kathy

Bridesmaids and Vendors and Food, Oh My!

Good afternoon on another bone-chilling day in the city.

Today, we continue our series on weddings. I've posted a few more wedding ideas on Pinterest.

So you have the date, place for the ceremony, and place for reception booked? Have you drawn up the guest list? Have you hired a wedding consultant? That wasn't so hard!! Now comes the nitty-gritty of planning:

1. Choosing friends and relatives to be in the wedding party. This can range from very small (just the best man and maid/matron of honor) to very large (several bridesmaids and ushers, flower girls, ring bearers, etc.). Once again, this can be a sticky situation, and feelings are bound to get hurt. This task requires a lot of soul searching and thinking things through. However, rule #1 is to always include immediate family members. The best man and maid/maid matron of honor should be responsible people you can trust. Remember, the more attendants you have, the more coordinating you will have to do. Also, if you don't want children at your wedding but parents insist on bringing them, you can set up a room where they will be occupied by a babysitter or two. There are many creative ways to ask someone to be a bridesmaid. Consider this Mad Libs-style card from Drippy Ink on Etsy.

2. Setting up a wedding registry, especially if you are having an engagement party. When I was getting married, wedding registries in my area were mainly at department stores such as Macy's and Fortunoff's (a store which is, sadly, no longer around). There are so many other options now: Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Walmart, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, etc. Everything depends on what your need and where your tastes run.

3. Choosing vendors wisely. Decide what kind of entertainment your want. Do you want a DJ or band? Do you want a piano player at the cocktail hour? What type of food would you like to serve? Check out Weddingmania for some great food ideas! I like the potato bar in the photo below. Eight to twelve months before the wedding is the time to be interviewing vendors and making deposits. It is also recommended that you take out insurance to protect the deposits in case of cancellation or unforseen events. Catering can be expensive, but Moneycrashers offers some budget-saving ideas.

Valentine's Day Party Idea of the Day: How about some Love Potion #9? Look for printables on The Dating Diva.

Super Bowl Fun Fact of the Day: Super Bowl Sunday, of course, is one of the biggest pizza delivery days of the year. Drivers expect to log in over 4 million miles and can expect larger tips than usual.

Today's birthdays: Liam Hemsworth (25), Orlando Bloom (38), Nicole Eggert (43), Shonda Rimes (45), Traci Bingham (47), Patrick Dempsey (49), Penelope Ann Miller (51), Trace Adkins (53), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (54), Kevin Anderson (55), Trevor Rabin (61), Richard Moll (72), Billy Gray (77), and Frances Sternhagen (85).

Holidaze: Yay!! It's National Rubber Ducky Day! Over the last several years, there have been numerous novelty variations of the cute yellow duck, such as holiday-themed ducks, and ducks resembling celebrities. Here's one of the most popular videos from Sesame Street, sung by Ernie. It's called, of course, "Rubber Ducky":

In addition to honoring the duck, it's also National Peach Melba Day and Stephen Foster Memorial Day. Stephen Foster (1826-1864) was a composer who wrote many American folk classics such as "Oh! Susanna,” “Camptown Races,” “Old Folks at Home,” “My Old Kentucky Home,” “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair,” “Old Black Joe,” and “Beautiful Dreamer.” Here's Ed Norton (Art Carney) playing the first few notes "Old Folks at Home."

Advice to Etsy Customers: Before purchasing any of our products (or those in any shop on Etsy), please read all shipping policies carefully. They vary for each shop. For example, we offer downloadable PDF files but do not offer printing services at this time. If the customer doesn't have a home printer, he/she can take the file to any local print ship or a chain such as Staples, Office Depot, or FedEx Office. We spell this out in both our shipping policies and in the description for each item. This will save time, money, and headaches for both the seller and the customer.

Have a PRINTASTIC Day!

Kathy

My Take on Valentine's Day

Happy Monday! It's a rainy day in the city and my subway commute was horrible. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler rocked the Golden Globes, as usual.

Today, I'm taking a break from Super Sunday madness and weddings to talk about Valentine's Day, which is just a month away. To be honest, Valentine's Day was never my favorite holiday. It conjures up memories of not receiving cards in elementary school and no flowers for my high school's annual carnation sale. I remember my dad buying the last-minute candy and flowers for my mom at Penn Station. It wasn't until I started seeing my husband that I really celebrated it for the first time. He sent a dozen red roses to my office and we went out for a nice dinner. I've made cards for both him and my son. However, we really still don't make a big deal about the holiday. I do know that it's one of the most popular days for couples to get engaged, and the sales of candy and flowers go through the roof.

Because I am in the party games business, I do have to cover all holidays. In searching for Valentine's Day ideas, I did find many cute ways to celebrate the holiday with crafts, food, and more. I've started posting them on a Pinterest board. There are also many different online lists for party ideas, dinners out, gifts, etc. Please see below:

• For the classroom party. Most boys don't like receiving sappy Valentines. I found these and other cute ideas for boys from the website Family in Las Vegas. I will be offering some free printable games for kids as Valentine's day gets closer.

• Ideas for teens, which can include a movie, sporting event, concert, or a picnic.
• For those in my hometown of NYC, Time Out New York has excellent suggestions for romantic dinners, flowers, chocolate.
• Ideas for couples, of course.
• Gift ideas from Gits.com.
• Sensual ideas for men.

Here is another bridal shower/wedding/Valentine's Day games that I am offering from the shop. Called "They Go Together," like the song from Grease, this game, party guests will match popular food pairings.

Party Idea of the Day. These adorable Valentine's Day mailboxes come from Successful Homemakers.com. They are the holiday's version of the stocking stuffer. 

Super Bowl Fun Fact of the Day: Q. Who was the first wildcard team ever to win the Super Bowl? A. Super Bowl XV: Oakland vs. Philadelphia

Today's Birthdays:  Zayn Malik (22), Georgia May Jagger (23),  Jana and John David Duggar (25), Issa Rae (28), Deena Cortese (28), Jeremy Camp (37), Melanie Chisholm (41), Zack de la Rocha (45), Rob Zombie (50), Jeff Bezos (51),  Dominique Wilkins (55), Oliver Platt (55), Howard Stern (61), Kirstie Alley (64), Rush Limbaugh (64), Anthony Andrews (67), Glenn Yarborough (85).

Holidaze: Take the oppurtunity to organize your space and life on National Clear Off Your Desk Day! Honor your local drugstore on National Pharmicists Day. There are very few of the mom-and-pop type of drugstores still left. They have been forced to close because there is a national chain on every other block. For foodies, it's National Curried Chicken Day and National Marzipan Day. Neither food is a personal favorite of mine, bu there are a lot of people who like both.

Mazel Tov to Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden (of Good Charlotte), who tied the knot in a traditional Jewish ceremony. Neither the bride nor groom are Jewish, but I've read that many celebrities are following this trend--the chuppah, the breaking of the glass, the whole bit. Kudos to them!

Have a PRINTASTIC Day!

Kathy