 (ARA) - Life is full of unique experiences and memorable events.
But often our most significant moments are fleeting. So we rely
on memories -- and the tradition of storytelling -- to keep them
alive.
Throughout the ages, women have found ways to preserve their
family histories and honor loved ones. From keeping a journal to
creating a beautiful charm bracelet that captures special
memories, here are four fun, tried-and-true ways to tell your
story:
Collect and Preserve Heirlooms
Who doesn't know a woman who has saved baby clothes long after
her children are grown? Or still has her wedding dress years
after their big day? Museums and libraries are not the only
places to find old artifacts -- take a peek inside your
grandmother's closet or attic. Treasures abound.
If you have objects that evoke memories near and dear to your
heart, then preserve them. Tap into your inner curator, and
invest in acid-free boxes and tissues that keep your objects
safe. And when they're not on display, store your treasurers in
a cool, dry place with little light.
Add to Charm Bracelets
What better way for true fashionistas to commemorate their
favorite moments then through personalized jewelry. PANDORA
charm bracelets, for example, are wearable "memory keepers" that
can be customized to capture unforgettable moments, while
celebrating a woman's personal style.
Any woman can string together charms that tell her own unique
story: a silver wedding cake, her birthstone, Murano glass beads
in the colors of her alma matter. Want to get started? The
Internet is a good place. At PANDORA-JEWELRY.com you can build a
bracelet online or locate a fine jewelry store that carries a
beautiful selection of charms to help you tell your life story.
Keep a Journal
For many of us, tracking our personal histories started in
junior high with our first diary. We turned to them to express
ourselves and remember our first kiss or the big homecoming
dance.
As adults, journaling remains an effective way to cherish our
memories. To jot down special moments day or night, keep a
notepad in your purse or on the nightstand. Want to share your
story with friends, loved ones and others? Use the Internet to
blog about your day. You never know who might learn from your
story: Anne Frank's famous diary is one of history's greatest
stories, and memoirs from icons such as Marilyn Monroe and
Theodore Roosevelt have topped the best seller's list.
Use Photography
Images, like photographs and drawings, are great ways to
remember events in our lives. Since the invention of cameras,
women have used photo albums to capture events and illustrate
the stories of their families and friends. Today, many women
have taken up scrapbooking, using photographs, artifacts and
well-chosen words to create one, comprehensive story.
Modern technology has allowed women to take scrapbooking a step
further: a blog can be a "virtual scrapbook." It can incorporate
images, slideshows and written anecdotes -- and be personalized
in many different ways. In addition, services such as Facebook,
Flickr and Snapfish offer ways to create photo albums on the
Internet. These services let you share your pictures with family
and friends. Courtesy of ARAcontent
Iced coffee: A cool way to Entertain
(ARA) - As summer draws near and warm weather arrives, the
summer entertaining season will be here before you know it. And
now more than ever, people are looking for economical ways to
entertain at home while maintaining their own signature style.
Anthony Carroll, green coffee expert for Starbucks, suggests
entertaining at home with coffee.
"Served hot or cold, coffee is the perfect beverage for so many
occasions," Carroll says. "During the summer, nothing beats iced
coffee."
While many coffees taste great chilled, Carroll recommends
high-quality specialty coffees like Kenya or African Kitamu from
Starbucks. Both coffees make a wonderful option for serving cold
because hints of citrus and floral notes become more pronounced
when iced, and pair beautifully with favorite summertime treats.
African coffees are especially good over ice, with crisp,
caramel notes that pair perfectly with fresh berries or a moist
lemon pound cake.
After selecting your favorite coffee, brewing the perfect cup of
iced coffee at home for guests is easy. To experience the
complex flavors of the coffee, Carroll offers these simple steps
to brew iced coffee to perfection at home:
* Brew coffee double strength, using one cup (2.5 ounces) of
ground coffee to three cups of filtered water (24 ounces), in a
coffee press to allow the coffee's complex flavors to shine
through.
* After brewing is complete, pour the coffee into a large
pitcher, adding three cups of ice and let it cool.
* Serve the coffee in a tall glass over ice and sweeten to
taste.
With Starbucks VIA Ready Brew, no coffee drinker will ever be
without a great cup of iced coffee -- simply brew it in cold
water and ice. A perfected micro-grinding process preserves the
naturally roasted flavors and produces the rich aroma and flavor
of iced brewed Starbucks coffee.
"From the classic Iced Caffe Latte to the refreshing and simple
Iced Caffe Americano, iced coffee beverages are easy to prepare
and can be paired with delectable foods to match all occasions,"
Carroll says. "Made with freshly brewed coffee, these
thirst-quenching chilled beverages will ensure that you and your
guests are kept cool in the summer heat."
To put a twist on iced coffee, try serving one of these iced
coffee beverages at your next summer get together.
Cafe con Leche
Coffee with milk, the perfect combination.
Makes four Servings
Ingredients:
1 cup (2.5 ounces) Kenya or Africa Kitamu ground coffee
3 cups (24 fluid ounces/710 milliliter) filtered water
1 cup (eight fluid ounce/236 milliliter) cold milk
Classic syrup
Directions:
Brew the coffee double strength using one cup of ground coffee
to three cups of water. After brewing is complete, pour the
coffee into a pitcher or carafe. Add three cups of ice to the
pitcher and let cool. Fill four tall glasses halfway with ice.
Pour 1/2 cup (four ounces) iced coffee over ice. Add 1/4 cup (2
fluid ounces/59 milliliters) cold milk to each glass. Sweeten to
taste with classic syrup.
Citrus Iced Coffee
Tangy, tasty and tantalizing -- a perfect afternoon drink.
Makes four servings
Ingredients:
1 cup (2.5 ounces) Kenya or African Kitamu ground coffee
3 cups (24 fluid ounces/710 milliliter) filtered water
1 orange sliced into thin wedges
1 lime sliced into thin wedges
Classic syrup
Directions:
Brew coffee double strength, using one cup of ground coffee to
three cups of water. After brewing is complete, pour coffee into
a pitcher or carafe. Add orange and lime wedges (put aside
enough lime wedges to garnish glasses). Add three cups of ice to
the pitcher and let cool. Serve in a tall glass filled halfway
with ice and garnish with lime wedge. Sweeten to taste with
classic syrup.
For more iced coffee ideas and recipes, visit www.starbucks.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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ROARING
20's THEME PARTY
Black felt gangster hats will be a great topper for your
event.
The best looking gangster hat just like Frank Sinatra's.
Dress up for a Roaring 20's theme party!
Roaring 20s Party Supplies, Party Decorations
 Dress
in boas and pearls the all time
favorite for your roaring 20's party.
Roaring 20's
Headbands or
wrap the satin flower around a napkin
for a napkin ring.
ROARING 20's & 30's includes Betty Boop
50's THEME ROCK AND ROLL
PARTY
 50's Accessories
Listen to the Music!
Use colorful jukebox
bandanas as napkins at your rock and roll party.
Loaded with fun decorate with a music theme, USO theme, movie and radio history...plus much more!
50's Theme Party Supplies, Party Decorations
60's PARTY
THE PSYCHEDELIC AGE!
Back to the 60's!
60's Theme Party Supplies, Party Decorations
 Peace Now!
Remember the late 60's and bring back the music. Celebrate
the Hippie Generation!
The Hippie Look is back and accent
your 60's party with assorted hippie bands.
 Yesterday!
Bring back the
memories of the 60's. An all time favorite of the Hippie Generation. Accent your costume with
a black Afro.
Great look for back to the 60's.
60's
Party Favors Yesterday! When the music of the Beatles starts to play, every generation sings
along. Assorted John Lennon glasses bring you back to the 60's.60's Decorating
Peace Now! Remember the late 60's and bring back the music. Celebrate the time.
70's DISCO
PARTY!
70's Disco Theme Party Supplies, Party Decorations
70's Quiz
Take this quiz to find out
how much you recall about the decade of disco and polyester.
1. What seventies sitcom
spawned hit singles, including "I think I Love You?"
2. Who co-starred with the Bee Gees in the 1976 film version of the
Beateles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band?
3. In 1977 who won the Indianapolis 500 auto race for a record fourth
time?
4. In 1978, who defeated Muhammad Ali for the world heavy-weight boxing
championship?
5. What seventies movie detective is a "bad mother...shut your mouth!?"
Answers:
1. The Partridge Family
2. Peter Frampton
3. A. J. Foyt
4. Leon Spinks
5. Shaft
80's
&
90's Nobody Does IT Better
80's -
90's Disco Party Accessories
80's Theme Party Supplies, Party Decorations
 Add metallic colors to
brighten up your party using our "Nobody Does It Better" Kit. This kit is a
party staple for 50-80 people.
Setting Up a Basic Bar
If you plan on setting up a basic bar, plan to have
the following on hand for every 10 adult guests:
1 case of beer
2 liters of seltzer
3 liters of soft drinks (diet and regular)
2 quarts of fruit juice
Plenty of chilled bottled mineral water (sparkling and flat)
2 bottles of wine – one red, one white
Hard liquor – a fifth makes approx. 14 drinks
Lemon and lime wedges and twists, olives and other garnish
Lots of ice – plan on 1 lb. per adult guest for the evening.
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