June 28-July 4

June 28 - National Handshake Day
June 29 - National Camera Day
June 30 - Meteor Day
July 1 - International Joke Day
July 2 - "I Forgot" Day
July 3 - Compliment Your Mirror Day
July 4 - Build A Scarecrow Day

June 27 – Paul Bunyan Day

The legend of Paul Bunyan started with stories told by men in lumber camps. He was supposed to be a giant lumberjack who performed incredible feats - such as scooping out the Great Lakes to get water for his blue ox, Babe. The stories probably date back to the 1800's. They appeared in newspapers in the early 1900's and turned Paul into part of American folklore.

June 26 – Chocolate Pudding Day

Chocolate Pudding Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch
• Pinch of salt
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 large egg
• 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Four 6-ounce ramekins or custard cups

1 Whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt in a heavy 2-quart saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, and boil, whisking, until pudding is thick, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

2 Immediately beat the egg lightly in a medium, heat-proof bowl, such as a hard plastic or ceramic mixing bowl. Very gradually add the hot chocolate mixture to the egg, whisking constantly. Whisk in the chocolate chips until they are melted and the mixture is smooth.

3 Pour the pudding into the ramekins or cups. If you want, cover the surface of each of the pudding cups with some cut out wax paper to prevent a skin from forming on the top of the pudding. Refrigerate, covered, until cold, at least 2 hours.

June 25 – National Log Cabin Day

My sister and brother-in-law just recently bought a real log cabin in the U.P. (that’s the upper peninsula for you non-michiganders) of Michigan and it is AWESOME. It is available to be rented out as well so if you are interested…I highly recommend it. It is called “Wildwood Cabin” sits looking out over the water and the BEST little restarant is down the road…it’s actually one of the only places to eat around there, but it is AMAZING!!!!

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p291944

June 24 – Celebration Of The Senses Day

Today I took some time to appreciate all of my senses. Concentrating on each one for about a minute or so, really smelling the smells and listening to the sounds. I discovered a weird bussing noise at my work that now I can’t seem NOT to hear anymore, and a smell that woke up parts of my nose I don’t even think my nose knew existed. Our senses are taken for granted so much of the time, it was nice to sit there and appreciate each one. I am very lucky that I have all five. Although, I would like to change my taste a little bit if I could to like healthier things, but we can work on that. Take some time to day and be thankful for the senses you have!

June 23 – National Pink Day

Pink day and my Hubby’s Brithday! Two things I LOVE. Well, this is obvious everyone should wear pink, buy pink fowers for your wife, girlfriend, co-worker, a random person…do anything pink. Eat pink food…CELEBRATE PINK PEOPLE…it’s FABULOUS!

Other suggestions:
*Pink Margaritas
*Buy Pink Shoes

Check out this website:
http://thegloss.com/fashion/12-ways-to-celebrate-national-pink-day/

June 22 – Stupid Guy Thing Day

Here are some I found online:

- leave the toilet seat up
- never asking for directions when you are lost for 20 minutes
- “babysitting” your own kids = this one really gets me
- forgetting birthdays & anniversaries
- starting a fight so you can leave the house
- never answering the cell phone when your wife, girlfriend, or significant other, partner calls

Feel free to add to the list…

June 20 – World Refugee Day

This is a day to bring awareness to all those who are forced from their homes, who need shelter, medical attention, education, food, water, etc. There is a HUGE production with live video for 12 hours and all sorts of information about how you can help.

These websites are very informative…check them out and do something to help refugees today, even if it is just spreading awareness to others.

http://www.refugeedaylive.org/
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home

June 19 – World Sauntering Day...& Katie’s Birthday

Katie, my sister, wanted to declare this day Katie’s Birthday instead of World Sauntering Day, since in my family birthday’s are a big deal and you can do pretty much whatever you want…this has become Katie Day where Katie gets to make all decisions and everyone loves her.  So we relaxed on our hotel balcony overlooking the beach, went to the beach and Erin & Katie “swam with the dolphins” (the dolphins were way out in the water, but they were all swimming in the same water- you can kinda see them in the picture), and Erin was trying to jump after and catch a fish in the water…don’t ask. We went to an island with “wild” horses on it, and drove back to Baltimore for a cookout for Katie’s birthday where we had some of the most AMAZING cake I have ever had. All in all I thought it was a great day!

June 18 – National Splurge Day

Today my sisters, mom, and I started our annual Girl’s Weekend trip! Every year we try to do something and this year we went to Maryland to visit my sister Erin…today we went to Ocean City, MD…which by the way is AMAZING and I highly recommend it to anyone who is in the area. Awesome beach, great boardwalk and people watching…overall relaxing (not in a Zen sorta way though). Anyways, tonight we walked out on the boardwalk making all the necessary stops. We ate some Thrasher’s Fries, stopped at the Candy Kitchen, got some Ice Cream, Pizza, and did a little shopping. It was great! So go out and splurge on something today…You’ll be glad you did!

June 17 – Eat Your Veggies Day

This is something I am NOT good at. In Seattle in the grocery store you could buy little individually portioned veggies that you would throw in the microwave in those steamer bags…they do not have them in Michigan and it is NOT helping my veggie intake. I don’t like to make them over the stove, and canned are just GROSS, so then I am left with HUGE bags of the steamer ones, or waiting for Jared to make them over the stove...neither of which is a convenient option. When it comes to doing things I already don’t like…convenience is everything. I am working on getting better at eating my veggies, and today was a great reminder!

I may not love eating veggies...however, I LOVE Veggie Tales! (Larry is the best!)

June 16- National Hollerin’ Contest Day

I think this video will explain…



Actual video:



(The second guy needs to get that thing out of the middle of his lips...PS Duke Really Liked this video!)

June 15 – Smile Power Day

Again, falling on my photography class day! I truly do think that if you smile at someone it can brighten their day. I try to smile at people who look really grumpy sometimes too, it’s sad how some people never smile, I could never live with someone like that. Always a downer, always looking on the down side of things, thinking everyone is out to get them…sucky way to live if you ask me and all it takes is an attitude adjustment to live differently.

So SMILE today and think of all the good things, spread your smile to others, and MAKE today a great day!

June 14 – Family History Day

I am just going to say that I encourage everyone to start a Family Tree if you don't have one going already...take some time today to talk with members of your family and learn about your ancestors. It is very important, medically and just to know. So stop reading this...go talk to your family...or get online and do some research!

June 13 – National Juggling Day

I can juggle three balls!

June 12 – Sewing Machine Day

Sewing Machine Day celebrates a very important invention ----- the sewing machine. The first sewing machines were made in France in the 1830s. It wasn't until 1846, that they were patented in the U.S. What a great invention. Prior to its creation, clothes items were sewn together by hand...stitch by stitch.

I have no idea how to use a sewing machine; I think that it would be cool only if you were really good at it. I do not like “homemade” looking things a lot, so if I could make it look like it was from a store GREAT; however I am fairly confident that I do not and could never possess those skills. The only sewing I do is to Duke’s Toys so that we can prolong their life a little bit…I may have sown on a button before…that’s good right?

June 11 – Nursing Assistants Day

I have to be honest I didn’t know there were nursing assistants; I thought someone who assisted a nurse was just another nurse or a physicians assistant. There are though, I was wrong…this was my thing that I learned today. Maybe the name nursing assistant through me off, is this the same as medical assistant because I have definitely heard of that before. There are so many kinds of assistants and things in the medical field, you have Dr’s, residence, interns, PA’s, RA’s, RN’s, nursing assistants, medical assistants, medical transcriptionists…I am sure there are 5,000 others, but those are the ones that come to mind right now. Some I get the difference between, others I have no idea.

Thank you to all you Nursing Assistant’s out there, I’m not sure why you aren’t nurses, but I am sure there is a good reason!

June 10 – National Yo-Yo Day

Middle school…that is what yo-yos make me think of. Man they were popular. I could do some tricks, the Eiffel Tower, Walk the dog, Cat in the Cradle…but I was no expert. I had a green yo-yo that I remember saving my money for and going to the Mackinaw Island Kite Company to buy!



(I was almost this good)

Did you know the yo-yo is considered to be the second oldest toy in the world, only behind the doll…although the yo-yo as we know it didn’t appear until about 1930 – the original Duncan Yo-Yo.

June 9 – Donald Duck Day

This is the day that Donald Duck made his debut back in 1934 in the Silly Symphony Cartoon, “The Little White Hen”. It is thought though that Donald Duck was born on March 13, 1914…there was actually quite a bit of research that went into this…and it actually is interesting, follow this link:

http://www.simplecodeworks.com/ndcc/313/

My friends dad used to be able to do the Donald Duck voice and I thought it was hilarious…I was not blessed with this gift. Can you talk like Donald Duck?

June 8 – Upsy Daisy Day

I am currently taking a photography class and today was a great day to be Upsy Daisy day! I was selected to show some of my homework for the class to look at along with a couple other people. We looked and the others and you heard things like “great use of positive and negative space”, “oh the shadowing there looks really good”, “what setting was that, it’s great”…then we got to my pictures and you heard, “what was the focus, I think it’s a little off”, “here is a good example of ‘noise’ in photography”, “I would have used a different setting for that one.” OH well, that is why I am in the class…UPSY DAISY!!!

June 7 – Chocolate Ice Cream Day

I definitely made sure to actively participate in this holiday. I am playing on a Kickball team, which is AWESOME and I highly recommend everyone to look in their area to see if there are any leagues to get in…and do it! WE won our game tonight and went out to ice cream afterwards…of course getting a big chocolate cone.

Chocolate is a classic and never gets old, and you can still spice it up, soft or hard, you can get toppings on it, or mixed in with it. I wanted hard ice cream, but they gave me soft…it was still amazing!

LONG LIVE Chocolate Ice Cream Day!

COMPUTER MALFUNCTION - POSTS COMING

June 7-13 Holidays

June 7 - Chocolate Ice Cream Day

June 8 - Upsy Daisy Day

June 9 - Donald Duck Day

June 10 - National Yo-Yo Day

June 11 - Nursing Assistants Day

June 12 - Machine Day

June 13 - National Juggling Day

June 6 – National Trails Day

Today Duke, Jared, and I went for a walk around our house on a small trail. It was great. We have a lot of trails around us, there is one that goes from my mom’s house to the city Zoo, and there is another one that goes I am not sure where…and they recently made another trail that connects the two. I realize you have no idea what I am talking about and that was like the WORST description ever, but oh well, it’s the best I could do.

On nice paved trails I like rollerblading or riding my bike, but I also enjoy walking down trails through the woods or in the mountains! Jared and I recently decided that we are going on a trip to New Zealand and I am very excited to check out some of the trails there…if you have any suggestions of what to do while we are there please let me know!

Go enjoy the trails to day!

June 5 - World Environment Day

I must say that living in Seattle made me much more environmentally aware. I try to always use re-useable bags, or just put whatever I am getting into my purse. I have trash and recycling service. I know those aren’t the biggest things, but every little bit helps, and it erks me so much when people have like 1 or 2 small items and they put it in one of those huge plastic bags. Or like one box of Kleenex into a bag, and that is the only item…isn’t it just as easy to carry the box as it is the big bag?

Oh, I also try to turn off the water when I am not using it, I prefer to have the windows open to air conditioning, and I would rather not leave the lights on…for environmental as well as financial reasons!

Today try to make one change to help the environment…and encourage others to do the same!

June 4 – Old Maid’s Day

I remember playing this when I was younger, we had the coolest card and the old maid was…well old and I could see why she was single.

However, 99% of the “maids” I know are GEORGEOUS and I have decided that they must intimidate people or something. What is the deal with AMAZING people not having a line waiting to even just talk to them…boggles my mind. Then you have the people who you think would be an old maid forever and they have guys fighting over them, or been married multiple times…well that could be a problem.

Anyways today if you are a Maid…give the “Old Maid” name a new look. Live and Love being a maid…even if you can only do it for today, if you are happy being a maid that’s awesome. Today is the day to celebrate all of ya!

HaHa, I love how this picture has the "Old Maid" with a cat!  CLASSIC!

June 3 – Running Day

Today I did actually run! Not in the “I’m going out for a run” type of thing, but I played soccer with Jared and Duke in the back yard and I was running around and it was SUPER fun!

I have never been one to just “go run” however, I am thinking more and more that as much as I hate it, I may need to make it something I do…we’ll see.

Anyways, if it is nice today go outside and RUN! Run to chase your kids, a ball, run to get a brownie…whatever works for you!

June 2 – Bubba Day

Bubba Gump Shrimp….that is the first thing I think of when I hear Bubba. Second is my friend’s baby in Seattle, cause he is so cute and they call him Bubba (that’s not his real name don’t worry).

Interesting Fact: Bubba is the Yiddish word for grandmother

Today is the day to walk around and call people Bubba, and just have a good ol day. I read that if you are a true Bubba you will have a party and play cards, etc…You can decide how “Bubba” you want to be.

June 1 – Dare Day

Today I dared myself to keep up with this blog! I started this blog when I lived in Seattle, Jared went to work and school full time and I was bored out of my mind. Since then we have moved back to Michigan, by family and friends, there is nice weather, I have a house to take care of instead of just a small apartment, we have a yard, I have a job, I am on a kickball team, and taking a photography class! My life has gone from a level activity of 1 to about 9.5. Needless to say I am having trouble keeping up with my blog, participating whole heartedly in the holidays, and having the energy to write about it.

I really want to finish the year and make it through my holidays, but this is getting to be quite a challenge. I am daring myself to continue and make it all the way…

You think Christmas time wears you out…try a whole year of holidays…I will be glad when my celebrating is up, although I am learning something everyday, and that’s always good.

May 31 – Macaroon Day

Macaroons are a type of cookie or confection that is made without flour or yeast. There are many variations of macaroons, which generally fall into one of three categories: French macaroons, Italian macaroons and coconut macaroons. Italian macaroons usually contain almonds, and one well known Italian variation of the macaroon is called amoretti. They are flavored with either amaretto or chopped bitter almonds. French macaroons generally have top and bottom layers of meringue with butter cream filling. These popular desserts are available in a almost endless variety of colors and flavors. In the United States, macaroons are usually made with sweetened coconut.

Macaroon Background and History

It is not exactly clear who first invented Macaroons, but historians say they first appeared around 1533 from an Italian monastery. Amoretti, the Italian version of macaroons, was first created by Francesco Moriondo, the pastry chef for the Court of Savoy in the 17th century. (mahalo.com)

To be honest I thought a macaroon was a nut…apparently I was wrong.