DIY Valentine's Day Gifts

Homemade. To Do or Not To Do?



Sometimes DIY gift projects are a total flop but with a little originality and heart, you CAN have HOMEMADE Romance.

Ask yourself is it...
1. Personal- It must be made JUST FOR your special someone. (i.e. using an inside joke, or using a theme that is something significant to the both of you.
2. Planning- Did it take time and thought? No one want just a piece of construction paper with I love you written on it ;)
3. Junk or Braggable- Will it be another item to stash in the junk drawer or will she immediately pick up the phone to call her besties to brag?

Using these guidelines… Over the next few days we will suggest a few D.I.Y. projects for your special someone, friends, family and even for the kids.
Some are the old, tried and true. Others are new and innovative.


For that Special Someone
A Record Deal- Choose a collection of tunes she loves or that make you think of her. Go a little further and Make an amazing CD case that maybe has your picture together.


Scrapbook- Make her a scrapbook (i.e. pics, movie ticket stubs, cocktail napkin from your first date, newspaper clipping from the day you met, places you want to take her to)


Dining In- If you eat out often, maybe cook him dinner. Go above and beyond. Maybe learn how to make sushi rolls (youtube.com has some great tutorials) and serve it on the floor in front of the fireplace with a great bottle of Saki.


Love Coupons- Such a cliché but people do it because they love to give and receive these! Here are a few romantic ideas...
•Candlelit dinner at home
•Dinner at the restaurant of their choice
•Extravagent Sunday brunch at the restaurant of their choice
•Full body massage with candles, music, wine
•Moonlit walk
•Romantic picnic at a spot of their choosing
•Watch the sunset with a bottle of wine
•Cuddle next to a fire (indoor or out)
•Romantic movie of their choice
•Stay at a local hotel for the night
•Sunset or moonlight picnic
•15 minutes of slow dancing to the songs of their choice
•Candlelit bubble bath
•Skinny dipping
•Stargazing or watch the city lights
•Feed them chocolate, strawberries, grapes, while listening to their favorite music


Wrapped in Love- Cover your valentine's favorite chocolate bar for a sweet gift in just minutes. Add ribbon, buttons, stamps, or cutouts to make it even more personal.


Remember, make it personal, take your time, and make something that they can actually use.

Happy Crafting!

Cupcake Fondue

I saw this Cupcake Fondue idea over at PintSizeSocial.com and I absolutely love it. It's a great idea for children and adult parties and a unique spin on fondue.

The Wedding Party Events

We came across this and if you haven't been to Crate and Barrel to check out everything they have, STOP right now and GO! Well, maybe not right this very second but you should definitly go take a stroll through one of their many locations. Here in Atlanta, they have two convenient locations in Lenox and also at North Pointe in Alpharetta.

As soon as walk through the doors, you will want to begin filling your shopping basket with their clean lined goodies (Or fill your registry). They make registering for your wedding so simple with an easy to use touch screen computer to sign up and a scanner gun to shoot all of your favorites. Just make sure you keep an eye on your registry because if your fiancee is anything like my husband who got gun happy... you'll have things on there that didn't fit in your "color scheme". ;)



If you're about to be married, they're throwing a party in your honor. Bring your partner or your friends. For two full hours, their entire store is yours. Enjoy great food, drinks, music, and their experts’ advice on registering. You'll also receive a beautiful gift. Call your local store or click on this link for a list of locations to RSVP.

For the Mixes- A Twilight Inspired Singles Party

Here are a few inspirations if you are thinking of throwing a Valentine's Day Dinner Party for all of your singles.

Start your base of the party as a traditional black and white party and add splashes of red twisted throughout everything.

Red Wine and Red Signature cocktails will get the drinks flowing. I love this recipe for a Red Snapper (not the fish). It will warm you from the inside out.

•1 oz. Amaretto
•1 oz. Whiskey, Canadian (Crown Royal)
•2 oz. Cranberry Juice

Gather everyone together for some fun games that will get your guests mingling and break the ice. Here are a few games compliments of party411.com

Proverb Partners - Before your guests arrive, write proverbs in two different pieces on index cards. For example, write "Honesty" on one card, and it’s match, "is the best policy" on another card. Tape a card to the front of each person who arrives at the party. Once everyone is there and has a tag, tell people to mingle until they find the person who completes their sentence! The last couple to find each other gets a "booby prize".

Here are some popular proverbs to get you started:

■A penny saved is a penny earned
■Beggars can’t be choosers
■Absence makes the heart grow fonder
■Every cloud has a silver lining
■He who laughs last laughs best
■Blood is thicker than water
■Handsome is as handsome does
■Make hay while the sun shines
■Haste makes waste
■Familiarity breeds contempt
■Let sleeping dogs lie
(This is also a fun game to play with classic movie lines or lyrics from your favorite songs!)

Pass the ‘Pick - Separate your groups into teams that are lined up man-woman-man- woman and so on (with at least 6 people per row, and as many rows as you would like). Put a toothpick in the mouth of the first person in each line, and the line to pass it the quickest from person to person wins a prize. This can also be done passing an orange under the chin, or a dollar between the knees.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker - For a fun way to find your perfect match, at your huge singles party, have everyone write down 5 things that are true about them, and 5 things that are important to them in a mate. Everyone has to walk around the party and find a person who fits at least 3 of the criteria on their list, or whose criteria they fit. It should be fun to see how long the game lasts before people start talking and forget about finding their "perfect match." This game is just a great way of breaking the ice and meeting new people.



Keep the energy up by plugging your iPod up to your sound system with a mix of sexy upbeat music. Take advantage of iTunes Genius or even Pandora.com for a great mix.

No Valentine's Day is complete without chocolate. Finish your party with an amazing dessert bar but that consists of all chocolate. You could do a chocolate fountain, cakes, cookies, and homemade chocolate truffles that guests will brag about until next year. This recipe for Chocolate Truffles by Alton Brown of food network will get you started.


Ingredients
10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/4 cup brandy
1/2 cup Dutch process cocoa powder, finely chopped nuts, and/or toasted coconut, for coating truffles
8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
Click HERE to see full recipe
Make it a really successful turnout by inviting friends, men, women, co-workers, actually anyone who checks the single box. You never know who may meet their perfect match!

All My Single Ladies

Here's a thought. Instead of staying home and wallowing in your sorrow of singlehood, embrace it! Throw a "All My Single Ladies" party inspired by the crazy and wild women of all of those Housewives of --- shows we know and love.

Invite your girlies to get dolled up, put on their glittziest jewelry, highest of high heels, flashiest faux furs and the most revealing tops they can find just to sit back and enjoy drinks, food and fun.

Dazzle them with enticing martinis and decadent desserts like these favorites of mine.

French Martini

1 1/2 oz. Vodka
1/4 oz. Chambord
1/4 oz. Pineapple Juice
Top with a lemon twist

Put your own twist on it by rimming the glass with sugar and topping this sweet cocktail with a splash of your favorite bubbly.














Also try making something that everyone traditionally loves but with a great spin on things!
Here is a recipe for Red Velvet Bread pudding compliments of Paula Deen at foodnetwork.com

Red Velvet Bread Pudding
Ingredients
Red Velvet Cake:
2 cups sugar
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2 eggs
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 ounces red food coloring
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon vinegar
Bread Pudding Mix:
3 cups half-and-half
3 large eggs
1 large egg yolk
Pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
Vanilla ice cream, for serving
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Greased 9 by 13 by 2-inch sheet pan.


In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter, beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs 1 at a time and mix well after each addition. Mix cocoa and food coloring together and then add to sugar mixture; mix well. Sift together flour and salt. Add flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Blend in vanilla.

In a small bowl, combine baking soda and vinegar and add to mixture. Pour batter into the prepared sheet pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from heat and cool completely. When the cake is cooled, cut into 1-inch cubes.

Place cubes onto 11 by 17-inch cookie sheet. Place in oven for 10 minutes.

Bread Pudding Mix:
Combine the half-and-half, eggs, egg yolk, salt, and vanilla in a medium bowl. With an electric hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Mix in the half-and-half mixture.

Place the red velvet cubes in a large baking dish or 8 individual ramekins. Add the pudding mixture to the dish. Make sure the cake cubes are completely covered. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the pudding is set. Serve with ice cream.


So, be creative and remember Valentine's Day isn't about just one kind of love. Show all of your single ladies just how much you love and appreciate them!

Valentine Inspiration: Kiddie Party

Alright, it's that time again and this year, we want you to have some great ideas to take and run with as you plan your upcoming Valentine's Day Party.

Today, we are talking about throwing those little pumpkin doodles of yours (kids) a Valentine's Day Party that just can't be beat.

First step, decide the day and time you want to host your VDAY Bash. Next up pick out your invitations. I love these from tinyprints.com! They are so cute! I would pinch them if they had cheeks!

Next divide the party into 3 sections:
1. A Craft
2. Game time
3. Snacks and treats

A perfect craft that all kids love is cookie decorating! This time, just find some really great cookie cutters (hearts, X's and O's) and you should be all set. (Find great cutters at your local craft store or even your favorite store with the bullseye emblem)

There are so many fun games to play for Valentine's. Here is one that I found to be cute!

Match Maker
A Valentine's Day word game where famous pairs come together.

Divide the children into 2 teams and form two rows facing each other. The first player on one side begins by asking the first player on the other team to complete this famous couple:
"Romeo and ....." the opposing player says "Juliet"
Continue down the row of players and then the other team starts...."peanut butter and ....." "jelly"

"Cookies and......." - milk
"Eggs and......" - bacon
"Cinderella and ....." - Prince Charming
"Samson and ....." - Delilah
And so on.

Last, my favorite, Food and Snacks! There are so many ways to be creative with this. Just pull out those same cookie cutters and get to cutting.... and I mean everything kid friendly and edible that can be cut with a cookie cutter!

A few of my favorites are:
1. Turkey and Cheese or PBJ Sandwiches
2. Marshmellow Treats
3. Jello Jigglers
4. Watermelon

Don't forget to wash this all down with a nice big glass of milk. *ahem* Strawberry milk that is ;)

Hand out plastic goody bags at the end for the kiddies to take home their decorated cookies and anything extra you come up with!

Happy Planning!

Valentines with EventTagious

Let us Plan your Perfect Valentines Day Date

EventTagious wants to help ONE lucky person plan the perfect Valentines Day Date for your special loved one.

Valentines day is a day to celebrate love and if you have no idea of what to do or how to pull it all together, we're here to help you! We'll help you show your Valentine how much they mean to you.

How to Enter: Starting today - February 6, submit a letter or upload a 2-3 minute video to our Twitter,Facebook or Blog telling us about your valentine and why you need our help planning your date.

How it Works: Once a winner is selected, we'll gather information from you to help you plan the perfect Valentine's Date. We do all the planning, you pay the bill. It's as simple as that!

Package Value: $500.00 value - package includes: planning meeting, research, purchasing, set up and breakdown.

We'll announce the winner on Monday, February 7 via Facebook, Twitter and our Blog.

To Enter, visit one of our social media sites and leave your story or video:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

BLOG

Good Luck!

Make this years valentines day the BEST Valentines Day Ever!

The First 30 Days of Engagement: Step 7- All About the To-Do List and Apps

So today wraps up our guide to the First 30 Days of Engagement.

We hope you've found this information to be insightful and helpful in your planning.


All About the To-Do List

You'll be multitasking to the max over the next 12 months or so. That's why it's crucial to know what you need to do- and when to do it. To avoid any deadlines, think of this organizational tool as your new BFF.

1. Choose a method for reining in the madness - Using pen and paper to make lists is popular, because crossing stuff off is immediately gratifying. You can also set up reminders on your e-mail calendar. It's your decision what method works best for you.

2. Work off a master log - Write down every task you have to get done in the next year. (A countdown tool from a bridal magazine or bridal website is a good place to start.) Pay special attention to what needs to happen in the first month - including mailing down a site and a date.

3. Write a daily list - of what needs to get done. It's best to do tomorrow's list a the end of each day.

4. Make tasks manageable and specific - Break down the biggies into doable steps. Don't write, "Pick out wedding dress." Instead: "Go through magazines and websites for style ideas." Week two might include "Make appointments at two brdial shops."


If you're more tech savvy and are looking for apps to help you with your planning, here are a few to check out:




Brides wedding genius - Browse dresses, honeymoon spots, and jewelry. An upgrade lets you keep track of to-do lists and assign tasks to your mom and bridesmaids. Free, for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

IBride Wedding Planner - A vendor directory - from bakers to photogs - for 50 cities. Free for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

Bridal Binder - Big-time help; The detailed tool keeps finances in check. $6.99 for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.


Wedding Plan-It - Manage your dress fittings, the guest list, the event budget and more. Free for Android.

The First 30 Days of Engagement: Step 6 - Budget Do's and Dont's

Got $25,000? That's the avergage cost for a wedding today. But if your budget is more restricted, there's lots you can do to cut corners without skimping on the "do" stuff -- food, drink and music. Here's how to save the right way.

DO Use a caterer who'll let you provide your own alcholic beverages.

DON'T Have a cash bar.

DO Trim your guest list in a sensible way.

DON'T "Accidentally" forget to invite your annoying aunt mae.

DO Negotiate with vendors.

DON'T Demand discounts from vendors. Also, don't use the strong-arm tactics.

DO Hire a photographer for this time minimum to take ceremony and family shots. Then ask friends to snap party photos.

DON'T Ask your 16-year old nephew to be in charge of photos.

DO Hook up an iPod to speakers. Come up with great playlists, rent a good sound system, and have a backup iPod on hand.

DO Opt out of unnecessary details, like fancy favors and napkin rings.

DON'T Skimp on food and drink. A hungry, thirsty guest is not a happy guest.

Monday. . . our final step, 7: All About the To-Do LIst and Wedding planning Apps

Photo courtesy Erin Hearts Court PhotographyTips via Brides

The First 30 Days of Engagement: Step 5 - Who Pays for What?

While the bride's family pays for it all scenario may still hold true in some circles, these days bill paying is more of a shared venture among all parents and the couple. Check out the classic division of dollars and who's more likely to pay for what today:


Engagement Parties
Traditional - The bride's family covers the first engagement party (the groom's side can throw one of its own); his side pays for the rehearsal dinner.

Modern - Each family may throw an engagement party (the bride's family can host the first one, if it likes); anyone can host the rehearsal dinner - even an aunt.

Stationery
Traditional - The bride's family pays for every invitation, program and place card - and even the stamps.

Modern - The couple picks up the tab, maybe choosing to DIY the save-the-dates or invites to save money.

Ceremony
Traditional - The bride's parents take care of the music, venue and aisle runner. The groom covers the marriage license and the offician't fee.

Flowers
Traditional - The bride's family pay for the big-ticket items, like centerpieces. The groom's side pays for the bride's bouquet, boutonnieres, and corsages.

Modern - All the flowers are paid for together by the bride's or groom's side, or the couple themselves.

Photo/Video
Traditional - The bride's family pays to document the occasion.

Modern - One family pays for the photos, the other for the video. Or the couple hire the photog, and the families each buy their own prints and albums.

Reception
Traditional - You guessed it: The bride's family picks up the entire tab - food, drink, decorations and music.

Modern - The groom's family covers specifics like liquor or music, the brides family pays for the rest. Better: Everyone pitches in according to what they can do.

Tips via Brides


Tomorrow. . . Budget Do's and Don'ts

The First 30 Days of Engagement: Step 4 - Where Does Your Money Go?

Where the Money Goes - Sample budget based on the average cuple with 164 guests, five bridesmaids and Five Groomsmen

48% - Reception Site, Meal, Cake and Bar

15.2% - Photography/Videography

7.1% - Flowers

6.1% - Wedding Rings

5.8% - Wedding Dress, Veil and other Accessories

5.8% - Music

2.6% - Transportation

2.5% - Invitations and other printed materials

1.9% - Attendants' Gifts

1.5% - Hair and Makeup (including Attendants)

1.4% - Officiant

1.2% - Favors

0.9% - Grooms Formal Wear


Tips via Brides

Tomorrow - Step 5: Who Pays for What?

The First 30 Days of Engagement: Step 3 - The Big Picture. .. What's the Order of Importance

When starting your wedding planning, you and your fiance should sit down and determine the order of importance for your special day. Here are some tips to help you come up with a chart of importance.

1. Budget - Figure out how much money you have to spend. (See set your budget post.) Once you know that figure, other decisions will fall into place.

2. Size - Will your wedding be intimate or enormous? Come up with a ballpark figure for the number of guests you and all the parents would like to invite.

3. Location/Style - Do you want to marry where you were raised or where you now live or do you want a destination wedding? FYI - a local wedding makes planning easiest.

4. Season - Weather, holidays, and school and work schedules all play a role -- not to mention the overall mood you're going for, be it cozy, alfresco or dramatic.

5. Time of Day - Choose the traditional evening reception and guests will be prepared to party. A midday luncheon will be more subdued but can be as fancy as you wish.

Monday. . . Where does your money go?

Tips via Brides

First 30 Days of Engagement: Step 2 - Set Your Budget

Budget is a topic that no bride and groom want to discuss, but it is essential to discuss in the first 30 days of the engagement. Setting your wedding budget will set the tone for you wedding day and it will help you to be realistic in your planning.

When setting a budget you should:

Muliply the # of months you have before the X amount of $ you can put aside each month + your parents' contribution and any other savings - 5 percent (set aside for cost overruns) = your wedding budget

Here are some tips to help you set a realistic wedding

1. Set aside some time to review your own opinion on how you should split the wedding expenses - then discuss that with your fiancee. Do you want to go traditional (parents of bride pay & bride)? Do you want to be more modern (pay for it yourself)? Do you want to be progressive (and share the wedding expenses with your fiancee)? Keep in mind that the tradition of having the bride's family pay for the wedding was established in days when a father would effectively pay a family to take his daughter off of his hands, as she wasn't seen as contributing to the family economy. Consider whether that's a tradition you wish to be a part of.

2. Since today is not the 1950s and most brides are working full time and plan to continue working full-time,advise asking your fiancee to share the expenses of the wedding. Traditionally the groom's family only pays for the rehearsal dinner, and possibly part of the honeymoon. The bulk of the expense is really the wedding (the flowers, the cake, the gown, the food, the music, etc.).

3. Research the vendors and get price quotes before setting the budget. This is really critical. You may think flowers would cost $500, but really they can cost $2,400 easily. Many vendors have minimums - get this information up front.

4. Write a detailed list with vendor name and projected cost and tally everything up. It may be good to use software like Excel to easily update this and make cost comparisons between different vendors for the same thing (like different flower shops).

5. Once you have an idea of what your wedding may cost in your area (with vendors that you like), discuss the finances with your fiancee. How? Asking questions about his views would be a good place to start. Sharing the list of potential costs with him would be wise. Better yet, look into venues and costs together - reviewing purchases and setting budgets based on one another's needs is something you'll be doing for the rest of your lives!

6. Come to agreement with your fiancee about how you would like to pay for the wedding. Will you pay for it yourself or ask your parents for assistance? Do you both feel right even asking your parents for financial assistance?

7. Come to agreement with your fiancee about how you would like to pay for the wedding. Will you pay for it yourself or ask your parents for assistance? Do you both feel right even asking your parents for financial assistance?

8. Meet with your respective parents to speak honestly and openly how much they are willing to contribute to the "wedding fund." Special note: money from family has strings attached, so be careful about setting expectations that this is YOUR wedding and that you appreciate their financial contributions.

9. Create a spreadsheet using Excel or OpenOffice to write down and track your budget. The top line should have the total amount you are willing to spend and the end of the sheet should have a running total of projected and actual wedding related expenses.

10. Try to enjoy the busy and stressful wedding planning process, knowing that you have made one of the first and important financial decisions with your fiancee!

Tomorrow. . . step 3 - The Big Picture. .. what's the order of importance.


Tips via Brides and Wiki How

First 30 Days of Engagement: Step 1 - Get Organized

Caterers, florists, and other wedding-related companies will be banging down your door to get your business. Friends and relatives will offer advice, phone numbers, and web sites for you to check out. How will you juggle the multitudes of research and information from those who want your day to be special? The key to smooth and stress-reducing wedding planning is...

Being Organized
Being organized is the art of having the things you need when you need them whether it is a brochure, a phone number, or a picture of your ultimate bridal bouquet. And no one recognizes the need to be organized more than someone who is planning a wedding. A few organizing techniques you can use to help you plan your wedding are the consistent use of a calendar/PDA and making 'to-do lists.' But what about all of those wedding-related papers you've accumulated? Estimates from caterers, song sheets from bands, and all of those pictures you tore out of magazines--how are you supposed to keep them all organized?

The Wedding Binder
The top tool for organized wedding planning is a 'Wedding Binder.' Besides your future spouse, your 'Wedding Binder' will be the closest thing to a best friend you'll have during your engagement period. The wedding binder is essentially a 'home' for all wedding-related information. Each topic will have a specific area in the binder allowing for quick referencing and retrieval.

How should you build your wedding binder to work best for you?

The size of your wedding and how many 'extras' you incorporate into your wedding day (ex. ice sculptures, doves) will determine the size of your binder. If you are having a small, simple gathering or you're not doing much research, you may not need more than a 1" spine. Large gatherings with many 'extras' will probably require a binder with upwards of a 3" spine.

Besides the binder itself, you will need:
• three hole punched, two-sided pocket folders
• extra wide dividers or self adhesive divider tabs for the pocket folders
• three hole punched, zippered pocket for pen/pencils/paper clips (optional)
One, two-sided pocket folder is usually enough room for the paperwork of one vendor. One side of the pocket folder is for ideas and research and the other side is for estimates and contracts. Keeping these different types of information separate will allow you to locate them and retrieve at a moment's notice.

Examples of some categories for your pocket folders are...
Catering
Photography
Bridal Gown
Transportation
Ceremony/Officiant(s)
Honeymoon
Assemble the pocket folders in order of importance to you. If you are constantly making calls to your caterer, place that folder towards the front of the binder. Already know what favors you want to give out? Place that folder towards the back.

What other information can be stored in your wedding binder?
Guest lists/gift lists
E-mail/phone list of bridal party members
Seating charts
A print-out of your registry
Appointments with vendors, contracts and receipts for payments and deposits
Benefits to using a wedding binder

• Money-saving benefit: You're always prepared when a vendor wants to talk about price. If someone quotes you a price in writing and you can't produce the paper it's written on, they could try to charge you more money for their services.

• Time-saving benefit: Since all of your information has a 'home,' you won’t be wasting your time printing duplicate information off the internet or repeatedly asking for the addresses of your guests.

• Sanity-saving benefit: All of your wedding information is in one place. No need to take apart your living room looking for what you need.
Tips for keeping an organized wedding binder:

• Label the pocket folders clearly

• Place new papers/information in the correct pocket of your binder as soon as you receive them.

• Sort and purge your binder once a month. Toss any information that is no longer relevant in the trash or in a folder for a friend or relative who may need it in the future.
Always bring your wedding binder with you when meeting with your vendors. You'll have all the information you need to compare prices and make educated decisions. You will be organized, prepared and in control of your special day.

Tomorrow. . . step 2 - Set your Budget

You're Engaged. . . Now What?

Tis the season for engagements. The holidays have come and gone and many couples are on the road to I Do. You've updated your Facebook and told all your friends and family. You've purchased wedding magazines and starting to peruse all of the wedding blogs. . .you're off to a good start. To make wedding planning fun and stress free in the months ahead, we'll show you how to get organized, how to prioritize, how to develop a budget and everything else you need to know to help you get to the best day ever.

Fab Finds and Ideas

Fab Find:

Save bucks with a custom Calligraphy Stamp, ideal for imprinting your address on reply cards and invite back flaps; $62 from Primele.

Fab Idea:




Serve spiked snow cones at your wedding!

It would be a great idea to serve these frosty drinks during spring and summer weddings and we're sure the lines will start forming the moment your guests spt the snow-cone station.