February 29th - Happy Leap Day!

Leap Year happens every 4 years. The next Leap year will fall in 2016 so enjoy!


http://www.projectbritain.com/year/leapyear.htm

Coming Soon - New and improved SPG benefits!

Have you heard the news? On March 1, 2012, SPG will launch several new elite benefits for members. Keep an eye out for all the details by visiting: http://www.starwoodpreferredguest.com/

Events to remember on February 27th

Check out a few historical moments that occurred on this day:

1956 - Elvis Presley releases "Heartbreak Hotel"

1963 - Mickey Mantle of NY Yankees sign a baseball contract worth $100,000

1980 - Israel & Egypt exchange ambassadors

1991 - Gulf War ends after Iraqi troops retreated & Kuwait is liberated

1992 - Tiger Woods, 16, becomes youngest PGA golfer in 35 years

2003 - Fred Rogers, host of TV's "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" dies at age 74

New Year's Resolutions - Time to check in!

Just checking up on those of you that made resolutions for the New year. Are you still sticking with them? Click on the link below for some tips to help you keep up the good work! http://www.nativeremedies.com/blog/sticking-to-your-new-years-resolution/

Capital Jazz Weekend 6/1-3/2012

Aloft BWI is honored to be part of the 20th annual 2012 CAPITAL JAZZ FESTIVAL! Join us 6/1-3/12 for a weekend of non-stop fun and phenomenal Jazz. Special rates are available. Check out the official site for more details and book now. June will be here before you know it!

http://www.capitaljazz.com/fest/

Listen up Cookie Monsters!

What better way to spend a relaxing weekend afternoon than to bake a batch of cookies? Below is a tried and true recipe for amazing chocolate chip cookies. Try it out and let us know how they are!

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/ultimate-chocolate-chip-cookies/77c14e03-d8b0-4844-846d-f19304f61c57

Attention all Bird Lovers

February is National Birdfeeding Month so help take care of our feathered friends and keep your feeders full. If you don't have a feeder, you can simply put some birdfood in a small shallow plastic container. The birds will thank you!

Craft Show weekend in Baltimore

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Why not head down to the Baltimore Convention Center for the America Craft Council Show? Enjoy hundreds of the country's finest contemporary jewelry, clothing, furniture and home décor artists gather under one roof to present a jaw-dropping season of fine quality craft! Now in its 36th year, this is the ACC’s flagship show and a must-attend for craft lovers.

DATES AND HOURS
Friday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 25, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 26, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

http://shows.craftcouncil.org/baltimore

Happy Birthday George!

Did you know that today is the birthday of our founding father, George Washington?
Click on the link below to check out some fast facts about our first president.

http://americanhistory.about.com/od/georgewashington/a/geo_washington.htm

Celebrate Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday by mixing up a batch of original New Orlean's Hurricanes! The Hurricane became popular at Pat O'Briens bar in 1940's New Orleans, apparently debuted at the 1939 World's Fair and was named after the hurricane lamp-shaped glasses the first drinks were served in. It's said that O'Brien created the heavily rummed drink as a means to get rid of the large stock of rum his Southern distributors forced him to buy.

Ingredients:•2 oz light rum•2 oz dark rum•2 oz passion fruit juice•1 oz orange juice•juice of a half a lime•1 Tbsp simple syrup•1 Tbsp grenadine•orange slice and cherry for garnish.

Preparation:

1.Squeeze juice from half a lime into shaker over ice.

2.Pour the remaining ingredients into the cocktail shaker.

3.Shake well.

4.Strain into a hurricane glass.

5.Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.

ENJOY!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Some Valentine quotes to share with the ones you love!

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you. A. A. Milne

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul. Judy Garland

Where there is great love, there are always wishes. Willa Cather

Love is a game that two can play and both win. Eva Gabor

Love is being stupid together. Paul Valery

Read more:
http://www.brainyquote.com/specials/valentines_day/valentines_day_quotes.html#ixzz1mNYFg7v7

Love a Great Cocktail?

Love is….a great cocktail! And we have one A+ concoction for you to serve up this Valentine’s Day
month! Check out this sassy libation designed to celebrate 55 Aloft Hotels open across the globe…
Cocktail name: love potion #55
Ingredients:
 ½ oz. Cointreau
 1 oz. ABSOLUT Vanilla (or comparable premium vanilla vodka)
 ½ oz. Domaine de Canton (or comparable Ginger Liqueur)
 1 oz. Half & Half
 ½ oz. Monin Dark Chocolate Syrup (or comparable premium chocolate syrup)
 very small dash Cayenne Pepper
 1 fresh ripe strawberry
Recipe: combine ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into Martini glass.
Garnish with strawberry and serve.