Have you entered the social media world of Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Blogs and RSS Feeds? While I have resisted for the past couple of years, I'm now an enthusiastic participant (and so is TallGrass). Talk about connection! - with the family that lives next door and the one across the country, with friends that you saw yesterday and those from 20 years ago. There's certainly no waiting for information. You get up-to-the-minute reports (though, yes, hearing from someone who talks about washing her hair is a bit annoying sometimes).

So, that brings me to Valentine's Day which is about connections with the people we love (and maybe that one really special person). I'm certain that many of us will receive electronic Valentine's Day wishes which will be lovely. But, wouldn't you still love an old fashioned, handmade construction paper and doily, grade school valentine? Chuck and I don't have children to make them, so I'm going to revive this time-honored tradition myself this year. Maybe I'll even send it through Loveland for that special postmark. Not everything has to be done so quickly. Slow love is just perfect!

With Love from you to him, a TallGrass Gift Card that the two of you can use is the way to make this Valentine's Week special. Choose spa services that you both can enjoy - like, a Mountain Man Facial for him and an Aromatherapy Facial (here) for you - and be surprised by the little treats that we'll be giving away throughout the week. Call soon, because while appointments for most services are still open during Valentine's Week, they won't be available for long!

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Valentine's Weekend, our Memory Maker Package encourages you to think beyond massages when picking services for each of you - how about a manicure and a pedicure (here) - and then remember your spa experience with our gift of an instant camera and a TallGrass picture frame. Be sure to mention this offer when you reserve your appointments so we'll have the camera and frame ready for you.

Don't forget about our February bonus - a 50-minute Aromatherapy or Therapeutic massage upgraded to an 80-minute massage. It's a perfect Valentine's Week treat. Click on the bonus section of this newsletter for all the details.

Give your sweetie a hint about what you'd like for Valentine's Day with one of our Dear Sweetheart postcards that you can fill out and mail. Pick one up at TallGrass or give us a call and we'll fill it out and mail it for you.

And, shortly, we'll be e-mailing a "suggestion" for TallGrass Valentine's Day gifts that you can forward to someone who loves you.

Relax. We have Valentine's Day handled for you!

On Sunday, February 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Jen Schapiro and the TallGrass Hair Salon team are hosting a cut-a-thon to benefit Starfish One by One, a non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships and support to rural Mayan children and their families.

For a $50 donation, you can support the Starfish effort and receive a salon service that includes a consultation, haircut, styling and paraffin dip. Our stylists are volunteering their time and talents and everyone who comes to the spa that day - whether to participate in the cut-a-thon or otherwise - is encouraged to make a donation.

Starfish One by One (www.starfishonebyone.org) is the project of longtime TallGrass guest Connie Ning, who will be in the salon during the cut-a-thon to talk about the organization's work assisting with the short-term economic and nutritional needs of families who otherwise could not afford to send their children to school beyond the 6th grade. Just $250 sends a girl to school for a year and the first graduating class is about to be celebrated.

It's impressive and the need is great, which is why we are so happy to help.