We hope you have a great #caturday!
Happy National Cat Day!
Category: Floral Occasions & Holidays
Petal Talk provides helpful information, ideas and tips on everyday floral occasions like anniversaries and birthdays and annual flowers holidays like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas and more!
National Cheese Lovers Day
The United States has a holiday for everything from National Puppy Day to National Kissing Day, but did you know that there is also a holiday for cheese? That’s right, January 20th is National Cheese Lovers Day, and if you’re like us then you know how exciting this day is. From macaroni and cheese to meat & cheese platters to cheese-flavored popcorn and more, the list of our favorite cheese foods goes on. Craving some cheesy goodness yet? Check out our top cheese picks from our family of brands:
Cheese Gifts
Harry & David’s Gourmet Cheese Assortment features Manchego cheese, Promontory, St. Pete’s Select Blue Cheese & Sartori BellaVitano Gold cheese (it’s so good it won a gold medal!).
The Popcorn Factory’s Cheese Popcorn is a classic favorite available in most of their popcorn tin varieties.
Harry and David’s Award-Winning Cheeses includes five gourmet cheeses from hard cheeses to crumbly blue cheeses.
The Popcorn Factory’s white cheddar popcorn is another mouth-watering flavor which can be found in many of their 2-gallon tins.
1800Baskets has a premium cheese basket including cheddar, monterey jack, and a cheese knife to cut all your fresh cheeses with!
When you love cheese so much that you want it year-round (and who doesn’t?) join a cheese club that sends you either wine & cheese or wine & fruit monthly!
However you decide to celebrate this day, make sure you include some cheese (and don’t forget to share)!
Chinese New Year 2016: The Year Of The Monkey
While we just finished our New Year’s Eve parties and (hopefully) started on our New Year’s Resolutions that we set for January 1st here in the states, those that follow the Chinese culture still have some time before their official end of the year sets in. And though we’re sure you’ve heard of the occasion before and may even be familiar with which animal is said to represent 2016, we’d like to share some more insight into their holiday so that you can get a closer look at how others symbolize the start and end of a calendar year; take a look at what we’ve put together below.
Chinese New Year Facts
Did you know?
● The Chinese New Year is also referred to as the “Spring Festival,” and has been since the 20th century.
● Originally, the purpose of the Chinese New Year was to honor both household and heavenly deities, however, younger generations now view it as an opportunity to rest and relax.
● In traditional Chinese culture, the New Year was considered the single most important festival found on the calendar. It is said to begin in the middle of the 12th month and end in the middle of the first.
● Once the Western calendar was used in China around 1912, New Year’s Day also began to be celebrated on January 1st. However, in 1996, Chinese leaders reverted back to their roots and implemented a vacation period (known as Spring Festival) that lasted for one week to celebrate the New Year.
● According to Chinese tradition, each new year is represented by one of the 12 zodiac animals.
Chinese New Year 2016
Based on the Chinese Lunar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on Monday, February 8th in 2016. This year’s zodiac animal, the monkey, is known to be intelligent and creative – but don’t let it fool you! Another one of its many personality traits is its aptitude for being mischievous.
For those who are born this year, or for those who have been born during the year of the monkey in the past (1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004), you may find luck with the numbers 4 and 9, or with colors such as gold and blue.
Chinese New Year Traditions and Symbols
Like most other holidays, the Chinese New Year is associated with tons of traditions and symbols; three that we find the most interesting are:
1. Dinner: Similar to how you may sit down for a large family meal on Thanksgiving or Christmas, in traditional Chinese culture, dinner on New Year’s Eve is often viewed as the most important meal of the year. So, if you’re looking for ways to celebrate in your own home, consider a family gathering with a feast!
2. Dragons: Did you know that a Chinese cultural belief is that individuals are descendents of dragons? That said, it isn’t unusual to see this particular animal reflected in drawings or costumes. In fact, on certain days throughout the Chinese New Year, it is said that there are even dancing dragon performances!
3. Festival of Lanterns: The Festival of Lanterns, which occurs on the 15th day of the New Year, is known to symbolize the last of the Chinese New Year celebrations. On this day, individuals are known to either A) light lanterns throughout the streets, or B) create paper lanterns on wheels, often in the shape of the animal of the year! Now that you know, get your creative juices flowing and create a monkey lantern of your own!
Last-Minute Halloween Costume Idea: How to Make a DIY Flower Costume
Looking for a last-minute Halloween costume for you or your kids? Instead of dropping close to $100 at the Halloween warehouse, get inspired by your favorite blooms and make this adorable DIY flower costume instead. It’s fast, fun and cheap: If you don’t already have the supplies lying around your house, you can find them at your local dollar store! Just follow this simple tutorial and you’ll be blossoming in the spotlight at your Halloween party.
Flower Costume Materials Needed
Laundry basket*
Brown wrapping paper
6 long-stemmed flowers
12-foot pet tie-out rope (or regular rope)
Yarn
Adhesive tape
Scissors
Hot glue gun
Thick plastic headband
* You’ll be wearing the basket around your waist, so make sure it’s big enough for you to fit in it
How to Make a Flower Headband
- Cut off the top of one of the flowers, leaving about an inch and a half of the stem in tact below the head of the flower. Remove a large leaf from the stem as well.
- Position the leaf and flower flat on the top of the headband, off-center and slightly tilted forward so the face of the flower points out to the front of the headband.
- Using a hot glue gun, carefully glue the leaf and the flower to the headband.
- For extra security, use yarn to tie the flower and leaf to the headband. Tie the stem directly underneath the flower petals so the yarn doesn’t peek through.
How to Make a Flower Pot Costume
- Turn the laundry basket upside down. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut out the bottom of the basket. The hole should be big enough for you to comfortably fit inside.
- Sit the basket right side up. One by one, stand up the remaining five flowers inside the basket, with the stems flat against the inside front wall. To attach each flower to the basket and to keep it from shifting, tightly tie the top, middle and bottom parts of each stem to the basket. (Tip: When you’re done wearing your costume, you can simply snip the yarn to remove and reuse the flowers!)
- Attach the rope to each handle of the basket to create “suspenders” that will go over your shoulders and hold up the basket around your waist. We used pet tie-out line; the hooks on each end of the rope can be easily clipped on to the basket.
- To transform your basket into a realistic flower pot, cover it with brown wrapping paper. (Don’t forget to wrap the inside of the basket too!)
- Tie a fall-themed ribbon around the basket, just below the rim, to give the pot an extra-festive look.
And, of course, a costume isn’t complete without some accessories! Add a bit of horticultural flair to your look by carrying a watering can (or a basket of gardening tools) and wearing gardening gloves.
How would you add your own personal touch to this DIY flower Halloween costume?
Chinese New Year 2015: The Year of the Goat
On Thursday, February 19th, you are sure to find doors dressed with icons representing good fortunes and red decorations cut out of paper! That is because on this day Chinese New Year 2015 is celebrated by individual families and Chinese communities all over the world. Read on to learn more about Chinese New Year history, traditions and how to celebrate!
The History Of Chinese New Year
As this falls at the end of winter in China, this celebration is also sometimes known as the “Spring Festival.” Chinese New Year always falls on a date between January 21 to February 20. The history can be traced back to over four thousand years ago and was originally a celebration to honor deities.
Today, Chinese New Year is a way to say goodbye to the previous year and welcome this year with open arms and thoughts of luck, wealth and success.
The Year of the Goat – What Does It Mean?
Each year on the Chinese Lunar calendar is associated with its own zodiac sign. 2015 is the Year of the Goat – also known as the Year of the Sheep – and thus the year is said to parallel some of the trait’s of that animal’s personality. According to this belief, we can expect 2015 to be peaceful and full of creativity and kindness.
5 Traditional Ways to Celebrate Chinese New Year 2015
Clean the House
This isn’t just for keeping up appearances (although it doesn’t hurt)! Generally, those celebrating will clean their house or “sweep the dust” as a way to say farewell to the previous year and welcome the new one.
Traditional Dinner With Family
Traditionally, on the eve of Chinese New Year, those celebrating gather with family – both immediate and extended – to mark the new year and reunite with relatives they may not see frequently. Serve authentic foods such as dumplings, sticky rice cakes and noodles!
Paint the Town (and Your Wardrobe) Red
Chinese New Year is all about the color red – and it doesn’t just stop at the paper cutouts decorations! Those who really want to get festive will even go as far as to wear red undergarments in the spirit of the holiday.
Decorating with red flowers is a great way to add a festive touch to the day! Fill your home with bouquets of red flowers scattered throughout for a fragrant (and lucky) touch. Pin a red flower to your jacket for a subtle touch that is sure to add some luck to your day!
Hand Out Luck and Wealth
A fun tradition for older generations to share is to give out red enveloped filled with money and luck to kids. This can be chocolate coins or actual money; the red envelopes are thought to be lucky therefore you are literally handing out luck!
Indulge in a Tray of Togetherness
As Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions, it is common for families to put out an assortment of snacks, also known as a Tray of Togetherness. This tray often includes dried fruits and nuts served in an decorative platter (red, if you have one).
Perfect Pairings: Famous Couples Past & Present
Mark Antony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, Beyonce and Jay-Z … history is filled with famous pairs both fictional and non-fictional that have filled our hearts with love. Whether your favorite celebrity pairing is from a book, movie, or a real-life couple, celebrate the timeless love celebrated by these famous pairs with our handy printable matching game!
This game is the perfect activity for a Valentine’s Day brunch, engagement party activity, bridal shower game, or for a fun ladies night filled with rom-coms!
So grab some pens, prepare some hearty snacks and put on a lovely soundtrack, and get ready to celebrate love! Download our Famous Couples Past & Present Matching Game here.
Famous Couples Matching Game Answer Key:
Non-Fictional Famous Pairs
Mark Antony & Cleopatra
Rhett Butler & Scarlett O’Hara
John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Adam & Eve
Matthew Broderick & Sarah Jessica Parker
Beyonce & Jay-Z
Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera
Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt
Prince William & Kate Middleton
Fictional Famous Pairs
Mickey & Minnie
Superman & Lois Lane
Popeye & Olive Oyl
Spiderman & Mary Jane
Romeo & Juliet
Homer & Marge
Han Solo & Princess Leia
Jay Gatsby & Daisy Buchanan
Ross Gellar & Rachel Greene
Tarzan & Jane
15 Romantic Activities for a Valentine’s Day In
Valentine’s Day 2015 is right around the corner! This year’s day of love falls on a Saturday, so why not make this year’s celebration an entire weekend of romance by staying in surrounded by your special someone. Here are 15 activities that you can do to add some excitement to the weekend – all from the comfort of your own home.
Tackle a recipe together. Is your pinterest board filled with dishes and treats you like but never actually planned on making? Take this opportunity to actually take a shot at that difficult recipe – after all, you do have a sous chef to work with!
Make it a rom-com movie night. When the temperatures are approaching freezing and the restaurants and stores are over packed, there’s nothing quite like snuggling up with your significant other over a romantic comedy. Grab a warm blanket, some movie night snacks, and cozy up in front of the TV with some of your favorite movie romances. Bonus points if it’s a Valentine’s Day theme movie!
Recreate your first date. Take inspiration from your first date and recreate the highlights from the comfort of your own home!
Make it a musical day. Bring out that old guitar or keyboard and celebrate the day by collaborating on a karaoke session together. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you can even create an original song incorporating both of your musical skills. If neither of you happens to be talented with the tune, simply make it a karaoke night!
Do a chocolate tasting together. Add some sweetness to the day with a chocolate tasting station! Pair some milks, whites, and darks with wine to really add some romance.
Decorate some sweets. Sure you can bake desserts together, but baking not only requires a ton of prep work but also requires a ton of cleaning afterwards. Skip this step and buy pre-made kits such as the Cheryl’s Buttercream Frosted Valentine Cookie Decorating Kit.
Make mugs for each other. Did you know that you can make your own one-of-a-kind mug with a ceramic mug and permanent marker? Get the how-to for this easy DIY permanent marker mug, and sit down with your Valentine to decorate mugs for each other.
Romantic dinner. Grab your best china and chill some bubbly while you prepare an intimate, romantic dinner for the two of your to enjoy. Be sure to check out our top tips on planning a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner for two.
Make it a boozy paint night. Channel your inner artists over a glass of vino by recreating a work of art! You’ll need two canvases, some paint, and a simpler painting or image to draw inspiration from. You’ll be surprised at how two people can interpret the same work of art in such vastly different ways!
Simmer down with a spa night. Pick up an assortment of spa supplies such as loofahs, body scrubs, face masks and soaps and melt all the stresses of the day away with a romantic spa night!
Build a pillow fort. Celebrate a simpler time by unleashing your inner child and building a pillow fort together! Then, snuggle in the fort with some snacks!
Set up a scavenger hunt. Treat your special someone to a scavenger hunt leading to a surprise gift. Hide clues around the home – put a romantic touch on it by using a heart hole punch to for heart-shaped notes!
Go through old photo albums together. Grab old photo albums of the two of you growing up and go through them together – be prepared for lots of laughs!
Have a picnic at home. Lay out a blanket on the floor, grab a picnic basket full of goodies and have a romantic picnic inside! Who needs the outdoors when you have each other?!
Have a theme night. Pick a “theme” and surround all of the day’s activities around it. Whether it’s something as general as Italian (think Italian movies, Italian food, Italian wine) or as specific as Super Hero, with a bit of creativity you can have a Valentine’s Day the two of you will never forget!
20 Tips on How to Plan a Romantic Valentine’s Day Dinner for Two
With the noisy swarms of couples and the irrationally high menu prices, going out for Valentine’s Day is more of a hassle than a luxury. And with Valentine’s Day 2015 falling on a Saturday, you can imagine the hustle and bustle to be extra hectic. Who needs that when you can create a five-star experience right out of your own kitchen? Here are 20 tips how to plan a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner for two at home!
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 1: Prepare your food in advance.
The No. 1 mood-killer for your Valentine’s Day dinner? The stress of rustling up a last-minute meal. Don’t waste precious together time scuttling around the kitchen. Instead, prepare and cook all of your food well in advance. That way, you can sit down and truly enjoy the most important part of the night: your sweetie.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 2: Cook together.
There’s no rule that says cooking a Valentine’s Day dinner has to be a one-person job. Consider making your meal together as a couple. You can have fun playing and experimenting with the ingredients, or you can get sensual and feed each other as you go along. You don’t even have to sacrifice that luxurious touch you get at your favorite restaurant; simply pick up high quality ingredients (if ordering steak, be sure to get the right cut). Whatever you do, you’ll be creating some unforgettable memories … and food!
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 3: Ignite your passion with food.
Love potions aren’t just a bunch of fairy tale fluff. They actually exist! Certain foods are known as romance-boosting aphrodisiacs, including oysters, saffron, ginger, asparagus, garlic (we’re not kidding!), basil, figs and strawberries. You can find a full list of sensuous eats on Celebrations.com. Be sure to incorporate some (or all!) of these into your menu to heat things up on V-Day.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 4: Keep it simple.
Only two words describe the perfect Valentine’s Day cuisine: light and simple. You want your meal to fill you up—not weigh both of you down. Try these delicious yet delicate Valentine’s Day dinner recipes that’ll satisfy you both … and save you the hassle of whipping up a complicated feast.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 5: Make dessert easy.
To save you even more trouble, simplify dessert time by serving a combo of homemade and store-bought treats. And think small. Just a few itty-bitty desserts will do the trick. Try on these perfectly portioned sweets for size: Love Note Conversation Heart Dipped Oreo Cookies, Fannie May Love & Romance Chocolate Strawberries, Valentine’s Day Gourmet Pretzel Rods, Cheryl’s I Love You Gift Pail.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 6: Give your dining space a quick makeover.
Celebrating V-Day in the same kitchen or dining room that you eat in every night might be anything but exhilarating—unless you think outside the box.Change the everyday scene by simply rearranging a few pieces of furniture. You’ll feel like you’re in a brand-new home or, better yet, a fancy restaurant (minus the crowds)!
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 7: Make a keepsake Valentine’s Day menu.
Give your feast some true restaurant appeal: Print out your menu on Valentine’s Day themed cardstock, or create your own chalkboard menu sign. You can keep the menu card as a precious token of your night together, or you can reuse the chalkboard sign as a menu for your weekly dinner specials.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 8: Enhance your food with wine.
True love is like good wine; it gets even better with age! So go ahead and spoil yourselves: Complement the exquisite flavors of your Valentine’s Day dinner with a bottle of fine wine. Your sweetheart is definitely worth it.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 9: Break out the fine china.
If ever there is a more perfect occasion to put that fine china to good use, it’s Valentine’s Day. Lay out some gorgeous linens in shades of red, white and pink, and then set the table with your best dinnerware, glassware and silverware. Then comes the pièce de résistance: an eye-catching floral centerpiece. Your honey will feel like royalty when they finally settle down at the dinner table.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 10: Set the mood with candles.
To create a softer, more enchanting ambiance, turn the lights down low (but make sure it’s still bright enough to see!) and scatter plenty of romantic candles across the tablescape.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 11: Give your celebration some personality.
Add a striking personal touch to your celebration by making your own Valentine’s Day décor and gifts, like these handmade roses and this Valentine’s Day coupon book. Nothing says “I love you” quite like a gift that’s handmade and heartfelt.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 12: Decorate your home with heart-shaped anything.
Speaking of hearts, they should be in abundant supply throughout your V-Day dinner décor. Sprinkle them wherever you can: Get heart-shaped ice cube molds, scatter heart-shaped doilies across the table, string up a couple of adorable popcorn hearts or bake a few delicious heart-shaped treats. Hearts galore for the one that you adore!
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 13: Pick a unique Valentine’s Day dinner theme.
If you’re not into the hearts, rose petals and lace, pick a different dinner theme that suits your interests as a couple. If you love the beach, turn your dining room and living room into a seaside escape with seashells and other natural elements. Mini honeymoon, anyone?
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 14: Make a playlist with meaning.
Instead of playing those cheesy, played-out love songs that don’t really have any significance to you and your darling, make a playlist of all the tunes that you love listening to together … even if it means putting The Spice Girls on your queue. Impersonal songs just become background noise, no matter how lovey-dovey the lyrics may be. If a song means something to your relationship, play it.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 15: Dress up.
Just because you’re celebrating at home doesn’t mean you can’t get fancy. Wear an outfit that your sweetie loves seeing you in, or blow them away with something new and stunning! Tell your Valentine to suit up too. Or, if your dinner date is a surprise, set out some elegant clothes they can quickly change into when they arrive.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 16: Play a game.
Sure, you know your sweetheart inside and out, but there’s always something new to learn! Play a fun Valentine’s Day game to get to know them on an even deeper level … and have some laughs doing it.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 17: Find a babysitter, or have a kid-friendly Valentine’s Day dinner.
If you have kids and want to spend some much-needed alone time with your honey, make arrangements with a babysitter way in advance so you don’t have to scramble for one at the last minute. If you end up sitter-less, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t include your kids in the romantic evening! Make your kids feel extra-special by asking them to help you create the menu for the night. Then, they can make believe they’re waiters at a swanky restaurant and serve the meal to the couple of honor: mommy and daddy!
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 18: Do the dishes tomorrow.
Don’t stress about cleaning up after dinner. Put the dishes aside until the next morning. Chores never end, but Valentine’s Day comes but once a year. Devote it to your one and only—nothing else.
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 19: Be a kid for the night.
Don’t feel the need to be serious all the time. After dinner, do something you both enjoyed as kids or as high school sweethearts, like ice skating, bumper cars, video games, laser tag … whatever your inner child desires!
Valentine’s Day Dinner Tip No. 20: Don’t stick to a schedule.
Finally, be spontaneous! You don’t have to stick to a precise plan in order to have a good time. Sometimes the best memories come from our most random ideas. If the two of you get the impulse to do something before, during or after your Valentine’s Day dinner, do it!
How will you make your at-home Valentine’s Day dinner special for your sweetheart?
Glitzy New Years Decorations: DIY Glitter Vase
The perfect New Year’s Eve decoration is eye-catching, conversation-starting, stunning, and simple to make. Use empty bottles you may have leftover from your holiday parties and turn them into wow-worthy décor for your NYE soiree!
Using champagne and wine bottles for the vessel is a small detail that will make this craft extra celebratory, but keep in mind that for tall vessels such as these you will need long-stem flowers. We chose white long-stem roses from 1800flowers for a chic yet classic look that will blend beautifully with the rest of our décor.
Gold is on-trend this year so we stuck with a white and gold color scheme for this idea, but black and silver would also be a beautiful color palate for this DIY idea.
Supplies for DIY Glitter Vase
Champagne bottles
Other glass bottles
White spray paint
Metallic gold spray paint
Gold glitter spray paint (optional)
Liquid adhesive
Coarse glitter
Foam brush
Directions for DIY Glitter Vase
First clean out the insides and outsides of your empty glass bottles. Once they are fully dry, use your base spray paint color and paint the entire bottle. For the champagne bottles, we chose to leave the ends exposed and paintless to enhance our looks.
Let dry for 4 hours. If necessary, apply another coat of base color and let dry. When you are satisfied with how it looks, it’s time to add some glitter! We went with two different yet unified looks for our glitter vases.
Metallic Gold Base + Gold Glitter Vase
Once your champagne bottles are covered in metallic gold paint and dried, apply a layer of liquid adhesive to about 2/3 of the bottle. Lay your glitter out in a large plate and slowly cover the bottle in coarse glitter.
White Base + Gold Glitter
Take the bottles that you painted white and cover in liquid adhesive. Dip into the gold glitter until about ¾ of the bottle is covered in glitter. Then, take a handful of coarse glitter and slowly sprinkle on the remaining ¼ top of the bottle. This will create a subtle “faded” glitter look.
