Why do we kiss under mistletoe at Christmas? What are the Christmas mistletoe plant facts? The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe started way back in 16th century England. The custom traveled to early America, where kissing under the mistletoe was mentioned in a Washington Irving short story, “The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.” In Irving’s day, whenever a couple kissed under a mistletoe sprig, they took off one of the white berries. When all of the berries were gone from the sprig, the kissing power stopped. How’s that for good luck? Mistletoe Once Symbolized Romance, Fertility, and Vitality At Christmastime, we think of kissing under a sprig of mistletoe. In the 21st century, that mistletoe sprig might be artificial. Yet, most folks (like me!) prefer the real thing and order fresh or dried mistletoe to carry on the "kiss under the mistletoe" tradition. Some scholars believe that the ancient Greeks started the kissing tradition when they celebrated … [Read more...] about Why We Kiss Under Mistletoe–Christmas Mistletoe Plant Facts
buy
How First Time Home Buyers Can Get a Mortgage Loan
As first time home buyers, you might not be able to afford a mansion. But there is no reason why you cannot get a home that ticks all of your boxes. However, before you start searching for properties, you need to first get pre-approved for a mortgage loan. First Time Home Buyers: Look at Your Different Options People who qualify as first time home buyers are not only people who plan to purchase their very first homes. People who have not owned a principal residence in the previous three years are also regarded as first-time homebuyers. That is good news. After all, first-time buyers gain several advantages. For instance, first-time homebuyers can often access down payment assistance programs and meet flexible qualification requirements. And an advantage of a first time home buyers mortgage is that eligible first time home buyers can qualify for down payments for as little as 3%. In fact, first time home buyers have a number of options to help them purchase their … [Read more...] about How First Time Home Buyers Can Get a Mortgage Loan
Best Coffee Makers to Buy Now
The best coffee makers make the best coffee, right? That’s what we hope when we buy a new coffee maker and make a fresh pot of coffee. Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. (It ranks behind only water and tea in a recent study.) But on a workday morning in North America, I would guess that coffee is #1. According to The Motley Fool, the 150 million Americans who drink coffee consume 400 million cups of steaming java every day. That’s 140+ billion cups every year. And that makes the USA the #1 coffee-drinking country in the world. That’s why we decided to write about the best coffee makers to buy now. There are many types of coffee makers designed to brew coffee. Some models are full-pot brewers and some are single-serving coffee makers. Also available are dual coffee makers that brew either a pot or a single cup and espresso makers. Make no mistake: this story is a buying guide. We’ve highlighted the best features and benefits of each model featured here … [Read more...] about Best Coffee Makers to Buy Now
Beware of Fake Seed Scams Online this Spring
Fake seed scams and fake plant scams are on the rise. Here's what to watch out for so you don't get scammed. Gardening season is the time of year for fake seed scams online. Why? Because gardeners everywhere are busy ordering plants and seeds for the growing season. And that’s when fake seed scammers are hard at work. There are many benefits of ordering your seeds online—such as getting rare heirloom varieties that aren’t available in local stores. However, the industry has its share of scammers, too. So, make sure you know what to watch out for to avoid fake seed scams. How to Avoid Fake Seed Scams Online Colorful or unusual plants can be found just about everywhere online this time of year. And while many of these are 100% real, such as ‘Glass Gem’ corn and burgundy broccoli, many others are not. Avoid disappointment by following these online seed ordering tips: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is Ads selling seed packets of tie-die roses, bright … [Read more...] about Beware of Fake Seed Scams Online this Spring
