What's the Most Romantic Place for a Wedding?

The Detroit Historical Museum and the Huffington Post offer suggestions for making your wedding unique, including a romantic suggestion for where to tie the knot in Royal Oak.

After the Valentine’s Day marriage proposal comes the challenge to find to perfect place to tie the knot, right? To make the task a little easier the Detroit Historical Museum has an exhibit called “Saying I Do: Metro Detroit Weddings” that showcases some of the most romantic ways to say "I do." The exhibition highlights three centuries of local wedding ceremonies and includes the Detroit Historical Society’s collection of wedding gowns and accessories. For Valentine’s Day, the Huffington Post Detroit is also offering some suggestions for the best sites to tie the knot, from the iconic to the offbeat. On the list of great wedding locations is the Detroit Zoo. “The Detroit Zoo holds several possibilities for marriage locations, but the most…

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Kiss for Free Food at Qdoba on Valentine's Day

Buy an entree, get another for nothing—if you kiss someone in line.

Customers at the Qdoba restaurant in Royal Oak can get free food on Tuesday, if they don't mind a little PDA. The nationwide chain is bringing back a Valentine's Day promotion that, according to spokeswoman Ashley Cohen, tens of thousands of customers took advantage of in 2011. Anyone who buys an entree can get another for free—once they kiss a fellow customer at the cash register. It doesn't matter (to Qdoba) who it is. No coupon is necessary. The Qdoba on Main Street is open normal hours, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., on Valentine's Day.

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The Heart Beat

Come on Baby, Light Me a Fire

Ignite valentine passion with blazing flames and sensory candles.

Almost every night around 6, from mid-October until mid-March, my mother would start a fire in the fireplace in our den. As children, we’d grumble when she asked my siblings and me to bring in some logs. The grumbling, of course, didn’t last once the fire was lit. Living in the chilly Midwest, we cherished the flickering warmth that the daily ritual provided. That time of day was special. According to the Virginia-based Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association and the Washington, DC-based National Association of Home Builders, fireplaces rank second among the top features desired by buyers of new homes. And there’s no better time than Valentine’s Day evening to ignite the night, whether fireside or with the flicker and glow of candles. …

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The Heart Beat

Hugs & Kisses Not Just for Valentine's Day

Speak from your heart and give kids lots of hugs this week and always, say the experts.

As Valentine’s Day is almost here, this is a perfect time to think about the power of a good hug. “There is lots of research emphasizing the significance of touch, both with humans, and monkeys,” notes Dr. Talia Ziv, a West Bloomfield-based relationship and parent coach. If you have teenagers, hugging doesn’t always come easy, but Ziv doesn’t want parents to give up. “Adolescents push away because it's part of their process of detaching from their parents,” she said. “But they need a loving touch — even when the hugs are pushed away. Consider a comforting touch on the hand, the arm, even loving eye contact,” she said.  Family therapist Marcie Wagner of Birmingham refers to research by Professor Joan LeFebvre, of Family Development at the …

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Top Off Your Valentine's Day With Chocolate

Brooke Wilson, owner of Love & Buttercream in Oakland Township, explains how to make a chocolate topper for baked goods.

Sprinkles and frosting are common decorations for baked goods, but have you ever made a chocolate topper? Brooke Wilson, owner of Love & Buttercream in Oakland Township, suggests a chocolate topper to sweeten your baked goods. Wilson explained that chocolate toppers take about five minutes and make a beautiful addition to any treat. To learn how to make one easily, watch Wilson's video. Wilson is a Royal Oak resident who operates Love & Buttercream out of her parents' house. After attending pastry school and growing up baking scrumptious treats as a hobby, Wilson decided to create her own business that specializes in cookies, cupcakes, cakes and everything sweet. She said she likes to get creative and offer her customers — most of whom are…

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Fill Your Valentine's Day With the Sweet Stuff

Brooke Wilson, owner of Love & Buttercream in Oakland Township, demonstrates how to fill cupcakes with ganache and cherry filling.

For Valentine's Day, consider baking cupcakes — but taking them one step further and filling them with something sweet. Brooke Wilson, owner of Love & Buttercream in Oakland Township, uses ganache and cherry filling frequently when she bakes. To learn how easily you can do it yourself, watch her how-to video, attached to this article. Remember, you can swap out the filling with whatever you like. Wilson, a Royal Oak resident who operates Love & Buttercream out of her parents' house, grew up baking scrumptious treats as a hobby. After she attended pastry school, she decided to create her own business that specializes in cookies, cupcakes, cakes and everything sweet. She said she likes to get creative and offer her customers, most of whom …

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