Happy Holidaze

June 23 - Pink Day

2009-06-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Pink Day is an unofficial holiday, yet it is still one of my favorites! Pink is my very favorite color and if something comes in pink, I have to have it! Housewares, office supplies...you name it and I probably have it. One of my most beloved belongings is my pink KitchenAid mixer. I even have a matching cover for it so it stays clean.

Wear pink today! Eat pink foods! (OK, there aren't too many pink foods that I can think of, but you can always make it pink by adding food coloring.) Take pictures of pink things or make some art or crafts with pink as the focal or accent color!

Here are some of my personal pink pics:

Enjoy!

November 15 - Bundt Pan Day

2008-11-15T05:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Bundt Pan Day!

It is supposed to be super hot in Los Angeles today, so if you don't feel like cranking up the oven, you should check out Kiss My Bundt. I really really wish I'd thought of that name first; I love it!

Anyhow, have some cake today (hopefully of the bundt variety) and celebrate!

November 14 - Peanut Butter Lovers Month

2008-11-14T20:40:00.000-08:00

November is Peanut Butter Lovers' Month

I never did get around to making that peanut butter dessert recipe I posted last November. So while I procrastinate on that, why don't you try my recipe for Triple Threat Peanutty Cookies.

1 box (18.25 oz) yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 c vegetable oil
½ c peanut butter
1 c peanuts, chopped
¾ c peanut butter chips
½ c sugar

Preheat oven to 350F. Stir cake mix, eggs, oil, and peanut butter in large bowl until batter forms. Stir in chopped peanuts and peanut butter chips.

Using heaping tablespoon of batter, roll cookie dough into 1 ½ to 2 inch balls. Dip half of each cookie in sugar, then place sugar side up on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350F for 15 minutes, until cracked and lightly browned. Let cool 3 minutes on pan on wire rack. Transfer to rack to cool completely. Serve or store in airtight container up to 1 week. (Not that you'll have any left by then.)

November 13 - Indian Pudding Day

2008-11-13T21:51:00.001-08:00

According to one source, today is Indian Pudding Day.

Never heard of Indian Pudding? Me either. So I pulled up my trusty search engine and looked for an answer. It doesn't sound Indian (American or Eastern) but it does sound delicious!

Indian Pudding is a dessert that is baked and it's a warm, brown, gooey, delicious-sounding thing you serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. I cannot wait to try this for Thanksgiving!

Recipe 1
Recipe 2

November 12 - Family Stories Month

2008-11-12T05:30:00.000-08:00

November is Family Stories Month

I could not find an official site for this observance, nor could I find who had created it. Regardless, I still think it is a fantastic idea, and one that I can really get geeked about. Additionally, the holidays are the best time to try to collect family stories, as you often see them more this time of year.

I am a huge history buff and I love to hear stories about my family. My grandparents are all gone and most of their siblings as well. While I still have my parents, I want to know as much about my family as possible. Recently, I've been creating my family tree on Ancestry, but I don't really get any stories this way, mostly facts.

There are many ways to collect your family's stories, but you need to focus on the best way to get the stories from your family. Some people will find that story telling comes naturally, but others you will need to prompt. My mother always says that she doesn't have any stories, or that she can't think of any. All I need to do is simply ask her a question or two, then sit back and listen as she talks and talks. I tease her about it and say, "I thought you didn't have any stories!" She has them, she just needs a prompt or two.

Prompts can be as simple as, "What was your childhood like" or more specific, like "How old were you when you got your first job?" This site has some great questions to ask your relatives, or even to answer yourself! (November is also National Life Writing Month.)

One year, my family wrote down memories on little slips of paper. We put them in a jar, and pull them out at holidays, or when we are all at home. They don't have to be holiday specific, just funny or warm little things you don't want to forget!

Enjoy Family Stories Month, and let me know if you have any good ones! I love to hear family stories, even if they aren't about my family!

November 11 - Pursuit of Happiness Week

2008-11-11T05:30:00.000-08:00

November 8-14 is Pursuit of Happiness Week

I'm not sure who created this observance, but (at the risk of sounding cheesy) I'm glad they did!

Lately I've been kind of down in the dumps, for several different reasons. When I started researching this observance for my blog, I wasn't originally planning on celebrating this very intensely. But as I started to plan what I wanted to write, I realized that I should definitely take the opportunity to actively pursue happiness. I mean, face it: happiness is not likely to come a-knocking on my door.

According to this site, there are 16 factors to happiness. It will likely take me longer than a week, but I plan on spending at least one day thinking about each factor and how I can pursue happiness in that area of my life.

Even if you are normally a fairly happy person, take some time out this week to pursue some happiness! We can all use a little extra happy stuff in our life.

November 10 - Gingerbread House Day

2008-11-10T05:30:00.000-08:00

Hmmm....I know Christmas festivities start earlier and earlier each year, but gingerbread houses in early November? I normally celebrate this in December (see last year's post), but I'm sure there is room in my life for more gingerbread.

Following is the recipe I used for my cut-out gingerbread houses last year. We like to eat our houses, rather than construct elaborate structures to be admired, so I use a softer cookie recipe.

Gingerbread Cut-outs

1/2 c butter or margarine, softened
1/2 to 3/4 c white or brown sugar
1/2 c molasses
1 egg yolk
2 c flour, sifted
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
additional flour as needed

-Cream butter and sugar until smooth. Stir in molasses and egg yolk.
-Combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and spices. Blend into wet ingredients until smooth. Add more flour as needed. Wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
-Preheat oven to 350F. On a well-floured surface, roll to 1/4". Cut with cookie cutters. Place cookies 2" apart on ungreased sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks.

November 9 - Chaos Never Dies Day

2008-11-09T18:28:00.000-08:00

Let's just face it: chaos never really does die. It's time to just accept that fact and go with it.

This morning, I think I broke a tooth. Half a block away, there was a haz-mat spill and the streets were blocked off. We have out-of-town guests arriving next weekend and we do not have a working vacuum. Oh, and there is scum living in my shower that will not die.

But it's cool. It'll all get taken care of.

I hope.

November 8 - Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day

2008-11-08T15:55:00.000-08:00

Last year, Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day was NOT the resounding success I'd hoped it would be (nor even the mild success I'd claimed it was).

Now, my boyfriend is not a picky eater. He clears his plate and has seconds by the time I've gotten halfway through my first. He loves everything I've ever cooked for him.....EXCEPT for the dried fish-fried rice dish I'd made for CSBAPD 2007.

Last year's failure - let's call it - made me a bit apprehensive about trying again this year. So much so that I pretty much put off thinking about what to make until yesterday. By that point I figured, heck, let's just forget the whole darn thing.

If you are still feeling up to the challenge, here's a bold and pungent dip for you to try. This, my boyfriend loves. He pretty much ate the whole thing in, like, one or two sittings. I, personally, find it too pungent, and would substitute some mild cheese for about half of the Gorgonzola. But, that's just me. Happy eating! And I hope you've got a breath mint or some gum handy.

November 7 - Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month

2008-11-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

November is Gluten-Free Diet Awareness Month

At first glance, it seems as if it would be easy to avoid food items containing gluten. At second glance, you will find that gluten is in many, many food items you would not even imagine would have wheat (or rye or barley) in it. Twizzlers. Salad dressing.

People with celiac disease (celiac sprue) are put on a non-gluten diet. Some patients with other gastrointestinal diseases can benefit from that diet as well. A good number of autistic children are thought to benefit from a gluten-free diet.

I don't have a good deal of personal knowledge of being on a gluten-free diet. However, I have a friend who must be on one because of celiac disease. I know it is very difficult for her, especially if she is craving pasta or bread!

Throughout the month, I will try to find some interesting/useful sites for you to check out to learn more about the gluten-free diet. Here are two to get you started:

The Gluten-Free Girl has a great deal of recipes for you to check out. Thursday's post has some gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes and tips.

Glutenfreeda claims to have the largest collection of gluten-free recipes. Though I have not tried any of the recipes from this site, they look like gourmet food!

November 6 - Men Make Dinner Day

2008-11-06T05:30:00.001-08:00

Whoo hoo! Tonight, get a man to make you dinner! My man can cook a thing or two, so he'll definitely be wielding the spatula tonight.

If your man needs some help in the kitchen, have him check out the Official Site of MMD Day. If he has some skill in the kitchen and is feeling adventurous, he can head over to my favorite recipe site to pick out something new to try.

Bon appetit!

November 5 - Guy Fawkes Night

2008-11-05T21:47:00.001-08:00

Remember, remember the fifth of November
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot
I can think of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, twas his intent
To blow up the King and Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow.
By God's providence he was catched
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

Guy Fawkes Night

November 4 - King Tut Day

2008-11-04T05:30:00.000-08:00

Today is the anniversary of the discovery of King Tutankhamen's tomb back in 1922. Celebrate by walking like an Egyptian (ha ha) or reading up on some Egyptian history. The ladies could wear black eyeliner and channel Cleopatra and the guys could wear those funny faux beards the Pharaohs used to wear.

Wikipedia entry on King Tut

November 3 - Cliche Day

2008-11-03T05:30:00.000-08:00

Cliche Day is brought to us by the folks at Wellcat.

Try to incorporate into your speech today as many cliches as you possibly can. If you are stuck, try this site. You'll find a lot of everyday phrases that you can use. If you are an etymology nerd like I am, you should check out this quiz I found. It tests you on your knowledge of how cliches came to be.

And just remember, it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings, even if you don't see eye to eye.

November 2 - Cookie Monster Day

2008-11-02T05:30:00.000-08:00

ME WANT COOKIE! ME WANT COOKIE! OM NOM NOM NOM!!!

According to this site, today is Cookie Monster's birthday! I too love cookies, so I feel I have a special bond with Cookie Monster.

This must be an old photo of CM, because he now feels that Cookies Are a Sometimes Food. He has denied the rumors that he is now Veggie Monster.

Cookie Monster on Wikipedia

Cookie Monster vs. Martha Stewart:

November 1 - Digital Scrapbooking Day

2008-11-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

I've not yet ventured into the world of digital scrapbooking; I'm more of a paper and glue stick kind of girl. There is a lot of info out there (google it!), but I thought I'd show you two sites I've recently discovered.

Jessica Sprague offers courses on how to digitally scrapbook, and some free tutorials as well. I'll actually be participating in her upcoming course "Stories In Hand." It's not directly related to digital scrapbooking, but I'm sure looking forward to it.

Ali Edwards is a very creative designer who combines digital and traditional scrapbooking methods. I am so in love with her style! I've been doing a project based on her "Week In the Life" project and I'll (attempt to) do her "December Dailies" album this year.

Happy November 1st and happy scrapbooking!

Whoops! I forgot to show you the official site for Digital Scrapbooking Day. Here you go!

September 24 - National Punctuation Day

2008-09-24T16:07:00.000-07:00

Happy National Punctuation Day!!!

I have a few suggestions on how to celebrate today:
-Make a punctuation mark meatloaf (PDF)
-Take a punctuation personality quiz (I'm a colon)
-Use a red pen to circle all the punctuation errors in today's newspaper

For more ideas, try the official website.

September 19 - Talk Like a Pirate Day

2008-09-19T16:30:00.001-07:00

Avast, me hearties! Don't be thinkin I'd ferget such an important day as this one! Drink down some grog and talk like a pirate today. Arrgh, me booty!

August 6 - Fresh Breath Day

2008-08-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

I used to not be too worried about how my breath smelled. After researching fresh breath tips for today's holiday, I am now very paranoid that I have halitosis and am offending those around me. I will now take to carrying various herbs, toothpastes, mouthwash and tongue scrapers with me wherever I go.

Remedies for bad breath fall into three categories:
-Avoiding certain foods/substances
-Basic routine dental care
-Dealing with bad breath when it happens

If you wish to avoid bad breath, avoid consuming:
Garlic (and garlic powder)
Onions (and onion powder)
Fish
Milk
Cheese
Liquor
Coffee
Sugary foods
Processed foods
Stimulants
Cigarettes

To avoid bad breath, follow these regular dental care tips:
Brush and floss regularly.
Scrape or brush your tongue also.
See a dentist regularly.
Use mouthwashes containing chlorine dioxide.
Check for signs of gingivitis and other dental problems.
Store toothbrush head down in a lidded plastic tumbler of hydrogen peroxide. Rinse very well before use.
Gargle with 1 tsp honey and cinnamon mixed in hot water in the morning.
Drink water throughout the day.
Eat "active culture" yogurt every day. This will help eliminate any traces of internally generated bad breath.
Drink tea.
The acids and fiber in fruits and vegetables can help kill much of the bacteria in your mouth. Another reason to eat more fruits and veggies every day!
Some medications may cause halitosis as a side effect - see if you can switch if it is a major issue.

Bad breath is bound to happen, even with careful dental hygiene. When it happens, try these tips:
Chew parsley, mint, fennel, ginger, basil, or cloves.
Drink water with lemon.
Eat an apple.
Gargle with salt water.
Gargle with mouthwash or have sugar-free mint or gum. Sugary gums or mints feed oral bacteria (bad for teeth and breath).
Whiskey will help kill the germs causing bad breath, but don't overdo it, it can worsen the problem.
Rinse mouth with water, then use a dry paper towel to rub your teeth. Rinse again. If towel is rough enough, use it to rub tongue clean.
Eat various mixed vegetables mixed into a mashed potato-like mush; vegetables like mushrooms, carrots and others work well.
Drink vodka after consuming onion/garlic.

Happy Fresh Breath Day!
Tips from the following pages:
Wikihow.com
Wikihow.com
Wikihow.com
Save Your Smile
GetRidofThings.com
Bad Breath Research

August 5 - Work Like a Dog Day

2008-08-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Work Like a Dog Day

How does one work like a dog? The definition I came up with is "to work very energetically and hard." Seeing-eye dogs, and drug or cadaver dogs notwithstanding, most dogs don't really do any work. I wouldn't consider them to be very industrious. "Work like a beaver" would be far more appropriate, although I wouldn't be able to say that without giggling.

While pondering this colorful phrase, I remembered another canine-related idiom: "dogged," meaning "stubbornly persevering; tenacious." In this light, "work like a dog" makes more sense to me. Dogs can be "dogged" when tracking a scent, or digging a hole.

So, to celebrate Work Like a Dog Day, you should work very energetically and hard while stubbornly persevering and being tenacious.

Wow. I'm tired just thinking about it. That sounds like too much for a Tuesday. I never could get the hang of Tuesdays.

(Before you send any nasty e-mails, I know that Arthur Dent couldn't get the hang of Thursdays. I personally have always had trouble with Tuesdays. If you don't know what I'm talking about, never mind.)

Definitions were obtained from Answers.com.

August 4 - National Chocolate Chip Day

2008-08-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Wait just a minute.

Didn't I already celebrate Chocolate Chip Day earlier this year? Why, yes! Yes, I did - and here's the post to prove it.

If you view the National Confectioners Association's calendar, you will see that they really do have two National Chocolate Chip Days. (They also have five different days listed as Chocolate Day, two of which are in December. I call shenanigans!)

But when I think about it, chocolate chips are pretty amazing. I guess it wouldn't hurt to celebrate them twice a year. If you don't know by now how chocolate chips (and chocolate chip cookies) were invented, I will tell you. In 1933, a woman named Ruth Wakefield wanted to make chocolate cookies. She made her usual butter cookie batter, and chopped up a semi-sweet chocolate bar (that's how it was sold before chips were invented) thinking that the little bits would melt and blend with the cookie dough. When baked, the bits softened but basically kept their shape. Somewhere along the line, Nestlé heard about this and printed her recipe on their chocolate bar wrapper. At first, they made a special chopper to break up the chocolate, but in 1939, the chocolate began to be sold in chip (Nestlé calls them morsels) form. Oh, and Mrs Wakefield ran (with her husband) the Toll House Inn, hence the name, Toll House Cookies!

Now, since it is so warm this time of year, it is not likely anyone would want to bake chocolate chip cookies, so you can buy them (lame!) or make some chocolate chip ice cream. If I wasn't on a low-carb diet, I would sooo make mint chocolate chip ice cream. I have made this recipe in the past, and I highly recommend it. Use the teeny tiny chocolate chips if you can find them. Alternatively, you could shave a chocolate bar, but this isn't Chocolate Shavings Day, so you should probably just stick with the chips. Plus shaving chocolate can get really messy.

Today is also:
Coast Guard Day

June 18 - Splurge Day

2008-06-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

June 18 - National Splurge Day

All right. This is the kind of holiday I like to see. Today I'm splurging by actually eating food from a restaurant tonight! Gas prices (heck, ALL prices) being what they are, my man and I do not often eat out anymore. But tonight I didn't want to cook (too hot) and since it's Splurge day....we decided to treat ourselves. We're not going overboard. We'll probably just get Panda Express or something. But hey, when you don't go out to eat more than once or twice a month, Panda Express is better than cooking chicken again.

Splurging is fun. (It's even fun to say. Splurging. Ha.) When I splurge, it is often on books, clothes or food. What do you like to splurge on?

June 17 - Eat Your Vegetables Day

2008-06-17T01:00:00.000-07:00

June 17 - Eat Your Vegetables Day

Yesterday was Fresh Veggies Day, and you have to eat more veggies today! These can be canned or frozen, although you get the most nutrition out of fresh vegetables. Your mother was right...you need to eat vegetables to be strong and healthy!

Today you should think up some ways to add more vegetables to your diet and, more importantly, implement these ideas! Or consider becoming a vegetarian. If you feel that cutting out all meat is too outrageous for you, try being vegetarian one day a week. You may find that its easier than you think.

Supposedly it is also Stewart's Root Beer Day, but I could not find anything about this online. I personally prefer Stewart's Orange 'n Cream. If you cannot find Stewart's in a store near you, I pity you.

Today is also:
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

June 16 - Fudge Day

2008-06-16T01:00:00.000-07:00

June 16 - Fudge Day

FUDGE!

It may be a little warm for fudge where you are, but I'll pass 0n my peanut butter fudge recipe anyway. It'll be about 90F here, but still, I think I'll make some. It keeps well in the fridge.

For those who don't like (or are allergic to) peanut butter, try looking for a no-fail fudge recipe. I was going to give you my mother's no-fail fudge recipe, but I can't find it. If you Google it I'm sure you can find something suitable.

FYI: It is also Fresh Veggies Day. It would be a good idea to eat extra veggies to make up for the fudge you will be eating.

Layered Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge
12 oz. peanut butter chips
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 c. butter
6 oz. chocolate chips

In a large microwave-safe bowl, place peanut butter chips, one cup sweetened condensed milk and 2 tablespoons butter; cook on HIGH in microwave for one minute, then stir. If everything is not completely melted, cook another 15 seconds on HIGH and stir again.
Spread mixture into wax paper lined 8-inch square pan.
In another microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips, remaining sweetened condensed milk and remaining butter. Melt as before.
Spread chocolate mixture on top of peanut butter mixture. Chill for 2 hours or until firm.
Turn fudge onto cutting board, peel off waxed paper and cut into squares. Tightly cover any leftovers.

Today is also:
Bloomsday

June 12 - Red Rose Day

2008-06-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

Red Rose Day

June 12th is Red Rose Day. Give a loved one a red rose to celebrate. Today, I'll think about the first red rose I received from my man. It was a single, perfect, thornless, red rose. The day I received that rose? That was a good day.

Did you know that different color roses mean different things? That each flower has a meaning? You'd better think twice before you send your next bouquet.