Letters to the Editor
Sorry, there are no letters to the editor this week.
Polls
What would you like to see be added to the newspaper?
a. An advice column
b. An arts & crafts section
c. Book reviews
Merfairy of the Week
Congratulations, Joy Sweetthorn (D-name X-plosive)! You are our 13th Merfairy of the Week!
Interviews
Sorry, there are no interviews this week.
Events List
Weekly Merfairy Meeting: Every Saturday at 3:00 P.M. Pixie Standard Time at Misty Ledge in Sunflower Gully. All Merfairies are welcome to come and speak at the meetings.
Peace Day: Every Sunday. A day to be peaceful with no fighting or stress.
Merfairy Empress Appreciation Day: Every year on November 14th to recognize hard work and dedication to her empire.
Merfairy Princess Election Day: Every year on January 1st to elect a new princess for the empire.
Merfairy Masquerade Ball: Every October 23rd. A day where all the Merfairies gather dress in costumes and go Tail-or-Treating at other Merfairy's homes.
Merfairy Art
Sorry, there is no Merfairy art this week.
This Week's Fashions
Sorry, there are no fashions this week.
Merfairy Home of the WeekType Sarhinaflower in Google and my video channel should come up. 
Go there to see the Merfairy Home of the Week!
Shelly
Sorry, there is no Shelly this week.
Rachel's Merfairy Tales
The Merfairy's Secret Valentine
Once upon a time, there was a Merfairy named Tadpole. Her favorite day of the year was Valentine's Day. On Valentine's Day she got a special surprise in her mailbox! For instead of just cards, she got CHOCOLATES! She looked at the little card, and it said: "For you, from your Secret Admirer." Tadpole was both happy and scared! She NEVER got a secret admirer! So, she got on her red dress (for merfaries, that is) and went to the Merfairy Valentine's Ball, and got a surprise. Her best friend, Toad swam up to her and said, "May i have this dance?" "Yes!" replied Tadpole. This was the best Valentine's Day ever!
The end.
Sarah's Poetry Corner
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day brings so many smiles
So bright and that stretch for miles!
Cards and chocolates and love and friends
With all that, the love never ends!
So I wish you all a fun and happy day
And may love always be with you, every day!
Rocky's Mythology
Introducing Rocky's Mythology by Roadyrocky!
Mermaids Around the World
In Ireland mermaids own a red cap that they need to dive deep under the sea. Stealing it will keep them on land for as long as the blackmailer wants, but as soon as she gets it back, she'll go back to the sea, and never come back.
In Nigeria, they believe merfolk can become human by simply going above the water and as soon as they touch water again they'll become a whole fish.
In most Middle-Eastern countries they believe merfolk have no tails at all but look like real humans who can breathe underwater.
Contests
Sorry, there are no contests this week.
Recipes
This week, instead of the usual Merfairy-themed recipes, I have a special Valentine's Day recipe for all of you today that I'm sure you'll enjoy!
Valentine's Cupcakes
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
5 eggs
1 cup whole milk
Colored sprinkles, for decorating
Candy hearts, for decorating
Sweet Vanilla Frosting, recipe follows
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, set aside.
In large bowl, add the butter and sugar. Beat with an electric hand mixer until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well. Slowly alternate between adding the milk and the flour mixture, ending with milk.
Line 2 (12 capacity) cupcake pans with Valentine's Day paper liners. Using a standard ice cream scoop, fill each liner 2/3 full. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean about 18 to 20 minutes Remove the pans from the oven and put on a wire rack to cool completely.
Frost the cupcakes with Sweet Vanilla Frosting. Use an offset spatula or butter knife to spread the frosting on top of the cooled cupcakes. Decorate with sprinkles and candy hearts. Enjoy with your loved ones!
Sweet Vanilla Frosting
Ingredients:
2 sticks butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 drops red food coloring
Directions:
In a large bowl add the butter and a few cups of sugar. Beat together until combined. Slowly alternate between adding the remaining sugar with the wet ingredients, being careful not to over beat.
Mermish
Mermish is the official language of the Merfairies. It will be at the end of every issue so everyone can learn it!
Anit: Search
Dal: Want
Em: You
Fan: Am/Is/Are
Fimara dom: Low tide
Fimra tre: High tide
Fre: Help
Hredenu: Male
Hron: Swim
Ifen: Was/Were
Kesseni: Female
Kila: Many
Li: Here
Luron: Far away
Lusa: See
Nulma: Love
Ohora: Storm
Olo: There
Sessa: Mermaid
Setanim: Human
Suron: Wave
Tala: Hello
To: I
Torm: Beach
Tritse: Ship
Antorum: Beachcomber
Mortum: Someone who would fail to see a mermaid right in front of their eyes
Sesmuna: Friend of mermaids
Setannor: Curious but harmless person
Setantraya: Curious and dangerous person
Setsur: Sailor
(The Mermish language is from the book The Secret World of Mermaids by Francine Rose. No copyright intended.)
The Merfairy Code
1. A Merfairy stands for peace, love, happiness, and justice.
2. Always defend your empire, no matter what.
3. A fellow Merfairy never gets left behind.
4. Never use your powers for selfish and/or evil deeds.
5. Never go into battle with a vampire and/or Merfairy catcher without other Merfairies by your side.
6. What happens in The Merfairy Empire stays in The Merfairy Empire.
Special Thanks To:
Rachel Rosepetal, for the lovely story, and Roadyrocky, for the splashtastic mermaid mythology!
I hope you enjoyed this week's issue of The Merfairy Times! Check back in 2 weeks for yet another exciting issue!
Swim with you later!
Merfairy Empress Sarah Stardust
The Merfairy Times