January 29th, 2010
Puzzles
Why don’t we do puzzles with our kids any more? What better way to spend time together as a family. I remember doing puzzles as a kid. Mom, my brother and I would sit at the dining room table on those cold January and February days and spend hours working on a puzzle. (OK, it seemed like hours.) We used the dining room table so that if we didn’t finish in one sitting we could continue the next day without disturbing it. When we did finish the puzzle, we could enjoy it’s beauty for a while. Sometimes my sisters would try to help by standing on a chair and place the colorful pieces into their mouths. They wouldn’t eat carrots, but puzzle pieces were apparently delicious. Puzzles have always reminded me of my Mom. I can remember how she enjoyed sitting down and quietly trying to put one together. Maybe that’s why she enjoyed puzzles, “quiet”. With four children, she may have needed quiet every once in a while.
Make today a puzzle day. You and your family will enjoy the “quiet” time together.
-Ed
January 27th, 2010
I thought I would share my favorite chocolate cake recipe with you. My Mom used to make this cake for me on my birthday, and now my wife (Kathy) continues this yummy tradition. Try it out, it’s very simple and very chocolaty.
- Ed
TRIPLE CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE
1 pkg. chocolate pudding (cooked type)
1 box dry chocolate cake mix
1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)
Prepare chocolate pudding as directed. Blend any kind of dry chocolate cake mix into hot pudding. Pour into greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream.
January 22nd, 2010
When : Always January 22nd
National Blonde Brownie Day is a special day that is set aside to bake and eat blonde brownies.
What’s a blonde brownie, you ask? Well, as their name implies, traditional brownies are a dark brown. To make blonde brownies, light brown sugar is used in the recipe in place of dark brown chocolate.
On National Blonde Brownie Day, its your right and responsibility to bake blonde brownies, and to eat them. If you don’t have time to bake today, buy some and eat a few extra blonde brownies.
Note: The use of nuts and frostng on your brownies is optional.
Origin of National Blonde Brownie Day:
Our extensive research did not find the creator, or the origin of this day. Perhaps it was someone who wanted a different colored brownie. Perhaps it was a food company. We may never know.
If we ever find the originator, we have one question to ask: “Just what was wrong with regular brownies!?!”
From: holidayinsights.com © By Premier Star Co.
January 21st, 2010
National Hug Day
For some reason, January 21 has become an annual national hugging holiday. The official “National Hugging Day” site — at least, the closest thing we can find to an official site — credits a reverend from Michigan with starting the occasion.
Squirrel Appreciation Day
On the other end of the spectrum, Squirrel Appreciation Day — also, apparently, falling on every January 21st — is “an opportunity to enjoy and appreciate your tree climbing, nut gathering neighborhood squirrels,” according to the folks at Holiday Insights. So how does one properly “enjoy” them?
“Celebration of the event itself is up to the individual or group — anything from putting out extra food for the squirrels to learning something new about the species,” Christy Hargrove, the woman with the distinctive honor of founding Squirrel Appreciation Day, explains.
Hargrove seemingly started the holiday back in 2001. She’s a wildlife worker from North Carolina.
We think hugging a squirrel would be a great way to bring today’s two traditions together. If you want to be more traditional, though, you can check out this guide to recommended squirrel honoring activities.
Thanks to: The Inquisitr
January 20th, 2010
Enjoy thinking about your favorite penguin today. Mine is Opus from Bloom County.
-Ed
About Penguin Awareness Day:
Penguin Awareness Day, and World Penguin Day are great opportunities to learn about and appreciate one of the few natives of Antarctica. On these days, spend a little time learning about them…. a pictorial book or internet site is fun. You can also watch a documentary of these cute and popular, grounded birds.
These days are also a time to wear black and white—penguin colors. However, wearing a tuxedo in their honor is optional. It is also popular today to tell a penguin joke or two.
From: holidayinsights.com © By Premier Star Co.
loon taking off
January 19th, 2010
Popcorn day just feels right. It’s one of those childhood comfort foods most everyone can enjoy. Popcorn is great with salt and butter dripping everywhere or if you’re trying to lose some of the weight you’ve gained since childhood, plain is the way to go. (Lot’s of butter and salt is my preference).
Our son, Anthony, is in the Boy Scouts. If you have a son in scouts or know of someone involved with scouting, you know they sell the best popcorn ever. Our Trails End popcorn inventory includes, cheese, chocolate, lite, and caramel. (My favorite is the kettle corn.) So sit down tonight and pop some fun for your family.
Coming soon: April 7th is “Caramel Popcorn Day”
-Ed
January 18th, 2010
When : Always January 18th
Winnie the Pooh Day is an opportunity to enjoy your favorite bear and all of his friends. This day was created to celebrate the birth of A.A .Milne in 1882. He was an author of children’s story books, and created Winnie the Pooh and his friends. Winnie’s pals include Christopher Robin, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, and Roo.
Have some fun today. Celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day by reading some storybooks about the adventures of Winnie and his friends. Don’t read them alone. Read them with young children.
Did you Know? In his works, he was known as A.A. Milne. The initials stand for Allan Alexander.
From: holidayinsights.com © By Premier Star Co.
January 14th, 2010
When : Always January 14th
Dress Up Your Pet Day gives you the opportunity to …. you guessed it……dress up your pet!
Some pets like to get dressed up. Others, want nothing to do with it. This day is an opportunity to really dress up your pet(s). Make something for them to wear. Or, go to a pet store and buy an outfit. It’s winter, so something warm is best.
Sorry, we don’t have any ideas on how to dress up goldfish.
From: holidayinsights.com © By Premier Star Co.
I've been good!
January 13th, 2010
Deep in Thought
When : Always January 13th
Make Your Dream Come True Day gives you the opportunity to do something to realize your goals and dreams. Whatever your dreams are, they usually don’t come true without some effort on your part. So, today is the perfect opportunity to do something about it.
On this day do something, anything, to move in the direction of achieving your dreams. Sure, sometimes it takes several steps to accomplish them. So view today as a time to get started on them. With a little effort, they will come true!
Favorite Song of Dreamers: Somewhere over the Rainbow and If I had a Million Dollars
From: holidayinsights.com © By Premier Star Co.
