January 2 - Resolutions Week

The first week or so of January is unofficially known as Resolutions Week.  Usually, I refuse to make resolutions, knowing I am not likely to actually keep them. Above is a list of things I would like to work on this year. Putting this out into the world for others to see might help keep me accountable to working on these areas of my life.  Speaking of which...

I recently came across a site called 6 Changes. The premise is that you come up with six changes you want to make in your life and spend 2 months on making each change. At the end of one year you will have (hopefully) met your goals. The site focuses on helping you work on those changes.  One of the steps in the 6 Changes method is public accountability. I know that I am more likely to follow through on something if I've told several people about it, rather than keep it to myself.

43things is a site that is less of a how-to in changing your life, and more of a place to put your list of (43) things you want to do. Somewhat related is Listology, which is a place to keep lists of all kinds.

I started this post talking about resolutions and somehow rabbit-trailed into list-making and keeping. Hope you found something useful and/or entertaining here!

December 18 - Bake Cookies Day

I think made-up holidays are my favorite.

OK, not really (it's a toss-up between Thanksgiving and Christmas). But the silly, made-up holidays are what really inspire me. They set a theme for my day and put a unique spin on an otherwise fairly dull routine.

According to this source, today's made-up holiday is Bake Cookies Day. No big surprise behind the timing of this one; many people are already getting in the holiday spirit by baking sweets. In fact, I was already planning on baking some cookies this weekend...I decided today would be a great time to start!

Please don't ask me what my favorite Christmas cookie is. I have too many favorites to pick just one! Today I made Peanut Butter Blossoms (the ones with Hershey's Kisses) and prepared the dough to make gingerbread cut-outs for tomorrow.

What are your must-haves when it comes to Christmas cookies?

November 12 - Family Stories Month

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!

May 9 - Postcard Week

May 4-10 - National Postcard Week

I could not locate an official site for this holiday. The only link I could find was broken. Several sites state that the first week in May is Postcard Week, and that it is celebrated here in the US and in the UK.

I suggest you grab a few postcards and send 'em off to some people you have lost touch with. That seems like a lovely tradition to start. Or you could begin a postcard collection.

Maybe you have moved away from home. Have someone back home send you some postcards of your old hometown. On the flip side, you could send someone who has moved away some postcards so they know you are thinking of them.


Today is also:
Child Care Provider Appreciation Day

March 25 - Pecan Day

Pecan Pie Recipe, from Karo Syrup


Are you missing the holiday food we were sharing just a few months ago? If so, you can celebrate Pecan Day by making a Pecan Pie. I always thought I had my Grandmother's secret recipe for pecan pie. Then, this year I looked at the recipe on the Karo Syrup label, and was disappointed to find it was exactly the same. Oh well, it's still super delicious! Enjoy with some whipped cream - fresh is best, of course.

March 20 - Grab Bag

March 20th is...

Absolutely Incredible Kid Day
Do you know an absolutely incredible kid? If so, let them know how great they are. Write them a letter. Encourage them in their absolutely incredible-ness, and let them know you care about them and want them to succeed.

National Agriculture Day
My suggestion for celebrating this day would be to find out when and where your nearest farmer's market is. Support the local guys. If you are a foodie at all, you will soon become addicted to shopping this way. Thank the local farmers while you are there.

Great American Meat Out Day
From meatout.org:

The purpose is to expose the public to the joys and benefits of a plant-based diet, while promoting the availability and selection of meat and dairy alternatives in mainstream grocery stores, restaurants, and catering operations.

Proposal Day
While I believe this holiday refers to marriage proposals, those of you already married (or not inclined to become so) can use this day to propose...a meat-free meal. Or whatever.

Snowman Burning Day
Also known as the first day of Spring, some people celebrate by burning snowmen. I know, I know - "But snowmen are made of snow. How can they burn?" They make snowman effigies out of newspaper or something and burn those. The purpose: why, to celebrate Spring's arrival, of course. I can't make this stuff up, people!

Some people hold that rising smoke rising from the fire is supposed to ward off blizzards and usher in spring-like weather.

Kids, don't try this at home!