I'm a grandma, wife, mother, crazy writer, spaz artist and face painter who is a disciple of Christ, loves to cook and read and wishes there were more hours in the day...oh and dark chocolate lover!
It's Friday at last! And for a long weekend too. What could be better? Going out of town!! That's right, I'm taking my hubby out for Valentines. Kids get to fend for themselves. It's a good thing they're all adults, right? lol
Anyway - I'm excited. He doesn't know that we're not really going anywhere, lol. But hopefully he'll still have fun and relax. He's been sooo stressed with work - poor man. :(
So anyway - Today doesn't have much to celebrate other than that and that it's National Random Acts of Kindness Day. Sandra Boynton posted a great one on her twitter...
She's so awesome. Can't believe I've been collecting her stuff for over 30 years.... ugh. Let's not go there, lol
Anyway - it's also Indian Pudding Day -
which if you know your puddings, you'll know this is made of corn meal
and has nothing to do with Indians. sigh. The stuff you learn when
researching.
And just to help get those feet moving and spirits rising, here's a couple of my favorites. Turn up the volume and get everyone dancing!
This one is appropriate for the day, lol
Last one - in honor of my hubby who LOVES the Peanuts Movie. :)
That's right, Valentine's Day!!! One of my favorite days of the year. Do you know that the card industry loves this holiday?? sigh.
I was looking up all the stuff going on
today in Brownielocks, and I could not believe the celebrations going on
today. So, it's not just Valentines...and that means there are options
for those
who are bah-humbug about this day that everyone else likes to gush
over.
(which would include me, lol)
National Creme Filled Chocolates day - of course. But, personally, I don't like those kind. Give me a dark chocolate Dove heart, and I'm happy. :)
Extraterrestrial Culture Day and Extraterrestrial Visitor Day
- I guess would be for those who are really into extraterrestials.
Ever seen the movie Escape to Witch Mountain? The new one with the
Rock?
There's a convention in Las Vegas that would sooo go along with these
two...lol. Ferris Wheel Day -
Who loves the ferris wheel??!! Everyone raise your hand...well, except
my daughter. She hates the one at Lagoon because she's not really fond
of heights. I don't really like that it
turns...but I can force myself to relax, lol. International Book Giving Day
- I hear that there's a country in Europe that has a tradition on
Christmas Eve that they all give each other a book and sit up reading
and eating chocolate. I think this day
could be another tradition to adopt. I have a couple of books left of
one that I illustrated
should someone want a free book, lol. Contact me and I'll get it to
you. Wish my other ones were at the point to give away...next year!!
:) I also noticed that it doesn't have any reviews...if someone were to give me a review, that would be excellent!! (I'll give you a free copy of my book that I'm writing. ) Library Lovers Day
- this would go along with the book giving day, don't you think? I
love libraries...I could spend hours there, which is the problem. I was
telling someone the other day, I have to look
up the book I want online and then go and pick it up so I don't spend
the rest of the day there... sigh. League of Women Voters Day
- women have come a long way since this time when they had to push the
rights to vote. We owe these women a great debt of thanks.
What I didn't know is that they are still in action. Here's a link to
the group in Utah... http://www.lwvutah.org/
Welcome
to the League of Women Voters Utah. It's Time to Talk about the
Legislature. Read up on the League's Legislative Priorities for 2017. If
you would like to ...
And for those who aren't married, have a significant other or aren't dating at all...Singles Awareness Day or Singles Appreciation Day and Quirky Alone Day
- that means they have something to celebrate,
even if they don't get the hearts and roses. They can buy themselves
candy and say they deserve it, right? My hubby always gets my daughters
a valentine. I wish men weren't so blind... (for my daughters!)
Although this is another reason some people are still alone, lol
And lastly...Valentines Day!
One of the biggest flower, candy and gift days of the year. My
sister-in-law works for Jimmy's flowers and she's a crazy busy woman the
week before Valentines day. I hate how
they jack up the cost of roses for that time -- you can get a dozen
roses for less than $20 any other time! But I was telling my hubby
yesterday, every day is valentine's day with him.
It's just fun to be silly and spread the cheer.
(This is what Sandra Boynton posted on Twitter today. )
I think it's a great day to watch one of my favorite movies... The Mirror Has Two Faces. It gives those who are lonely a hope for love. :)
So - no matter what your thoughts are on the day, if you're a
teacher and have to deal with sugar buzzed kids, or a parent with
emotional train wreaks or single and lonely depression, I hope you find
something to celebrate in this day. The sky is blue and the world is a
wonderful place because you are in it!!
Okay, it didn't really rain much yesterday, so it's making up for it today. I hope everyone remembered
their umbrellas! I'll try to keep this short and entertaining, I know
we're all busy!! But hey, got to take a minute to smile!
We're
having our cub scout Blue and Gold tonight, and one of the leaders sent
out a text asking if we needed her to get anything. I said I needed a
brain. The cub master sent back..."pay no attention to what is going on
behind the curtain," lol. I think we have entirely too much fun.
So...today there are a couple of fun things.
It's National Ballet Day
- if you like Ballet, you probably already knew this. I didn't know it
had a celebration day! So - what's your favorite ballet? Mine is
probably the Nutcracker. Swan Lake is supposed to be really good...
Haven't really seen one live other than the Nutcracker. Personally, I
think the best one is with Baryshnikov... Here's a clip of him dancing. (not the nutcracker)
and - in case you didn't know, he did a movie called White Nights, and here's a scene where he did 11 pirouettes. It's awesome. Won't let me embed, so you'll have to click on it... https://youtu.be/-UBVjAZQpi4
"White Nights" 1985 Mikhail Baryshnikov An incredible and so moving, film!!!
"e" Day (math) - this is related to math, as in "Today, 2/7, is celebrated as "e" Day, since the first 2 digits in the number "e" are 2 and 7." Those of you teaching math could toss that bit of trivia out to your students and see what they think, lol.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Day
- One of my favorite series of books of all time!!! I grew up reading
all the Little House on the Prairie books. I loved them. Loved the
illustrations, the stories, the simple life. The television series
created from it was fun, but not the same.
How many of you read those books? I hope to have my granddaughters
read them...but with the tastes of kids now a days, she'd probably be
bored.
National Periodic Table Day
- we had a math celebration, now you can do chemistry. Whoever came up
with this one...sigh. I even took chemistry, but I was also known for
lighting the beakers on fire...
Wave All Your Fingers At Your
Neighbor's Day - I guess this is to prove you are nice
neighbors and are refraining from waving only 1 or 2 fingers?? Who
knows, I thought it was silly.
And last, but definitely one of my favorites... National Fettuccine Alfredo Day!
One of the best noodle dishes ever invented...sigh. Imagine my shock
when I found out that the base of the sauce is heavy cream! and lots of
butter...no wonder it tastes so good. lol. Anyway...
Hope you had a great weekend! If you are super
bowl fans apparently it was quite the game (we never watch it). If you
aren't, well, we know how to have fun, right? We played a wild game of Wizard (which is sort of like Mormon Bridge...) lol. I hear the best thing about it is the commercials. :)
Just a couple of things...first,Brownielocks says it's Canadian Maple Syrup day...which
is actually a bit international, and not exactly promoting US, but we
like Canada, right?? And hey, maple syrup is good stuff, no matter
which side of the border it comes from. Do you ever use it in cooking?
It's a good alternative for some sugar items. Anyway - you could have
waffles for dinner and have syrup! good stuff.
And also, it's Frozen Yogurt day! That's
a yummy idea too. We haven't gotten frozen yogurt in a long time, and
my hubby got some for the boys when they got their wisdom teeth out.
I'd forgotten how good it is! So, go grab a pint and enjoy on the
waffles! YUM.
It's supposed to be rainy today - which
keeps that old line from the Carpenters song going... "Rainy days and
Mondays..." but they don't get me down, and I hope they don't get you
down either. Have a great day!!
And if you go by that stuff...we are apparently
in for a longer winter... but if you go by "Sunset Sam" in Utah,
we're in for an early spring, since he didn't see his shadow here.
So, I'm sure most of you will want to go by that one... We ALWAYS watch Goundhog Day with Bill Murray. Do you have any traditions for this silly day?
It's also National Crepe Day!!
We love crepes at my house. If they weren't so time consuming to cook
(hey, we need like 30!!) we'd make them more. We love them with meat
and cheese fillings or with desert fillings and whipped topping...just
about anyway
you can fix them. (well, except for raisins- and if you haven't seen
Mouse Hunt, you won't know what I'm talking about, lol) The French celebrate this day as La Chandeleur
- apparently something to do with Mary presenting Christ to the
temple...though it's also supposed to have something to do with ending
winter and looking for spring. I don't think the human race has ever
really liked winter for very long, lol. Sled Dog Day
- Kind of a fun day - if you weren't going to be watching Goundhog day,
you could always watch Balto...that's a good one. My kids still quote
it... sigh. Here's one of their favorite scenes... And did you know
that Phil Collins was the voice of these two bears? It's hilarious. and last we acknowledge that today is also World Play Your Ukulele Day. If I had a ukulele I would play it, but since I don't...well, you'll just have to play yours. Or...you
can watch this clip from 50 First Dates of Adam Sandler playing one.
I'm not a big fan of his, but this was a cute move (if you could drop
the crazy friend and the brother...sigh)
So, no matter how you choose to celebrate it, have a great day!!
And what a Monday it is, too! Crazy. I hope everyone had a better start to their day than I did, lol.
So, figured we could all do with a reason to smile... there are two things that I think are awesome...
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day - which everyone loves to pop bubble
wrap...great way to destress! Always makes you smile. I think it would
be fun to wrap up in it and listen to it pop...or you could do the
whole Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium and dance
on it... Kids love that.
Croissant Day - I have to say, I think croissants are just about the
best thing since bread was invented. It's not something you would dare
eat everyday unless you were French, but hey, it's good once in a
while. Love it with hot chocolate...
Also good with chicken salad...
Inane Answering Message Day - and last but not least...we all hate those
answering machine messages that drive us crazy! We have a neighbor
that his used to get me all the time! It would answer and you'd think
it was him, and then it would be "hello? hello?
I can't hear you... guess you'll need to call back," UGH. My
favorite is a studio c skit of Jason doing voices trying to put a
messaging on his phone.
Okay - did it seem like a long week to you?? I
sure did to me! I'm so glad it's Friday, I can't describe it. It's
silly that just reaching a particular day can make you smile easier, but
ya know...we're a silly group.
Anyway - to brighten the already brighter day (you noticed the sunshine, right???) here are some silly things for the day.
first - and most, well, almost most important...it's Chocolate Cake Day!!
This is from her post from last year...but it's still good.
Anyway, that's
something to celebrate, right?? I think so. I found the best recipe for
chocolate cake from scratch that doesn't use coffee. My son even loved it for his bday cake. I'm gonna have to make it again... lol.
Fun at Work Day - this is great. I hope all of you are having fun, working away and giving all your co-workers a smile.
We're happy to be here, right??!!
Holocaust Memorial Day -
a somber note for a lovely day...but something we should never forget.
I hope that people remember and learn from the past...that's why we
always make sure to commemorate such days as
D-day, Dec 7th and today. There is so much to be learned from global
conditions during WWII...Germany wasn't the only thing.
National Big Wig Day -
apparently it's a day to pretend you're the big wig in charge of
something... I would imagine that's if it worked with everyone else
being big wig too...lol
National Geographic Day
- okay, I think National Geographic tends to be a little political
sometimes, but I think they have the best photographers in the world!! I
grew up looking at their little golden edged
magazine and visiting all the wonders around the globe. We actually
have a 'coffee table' book that's a collection of photos taken through
the years. Amazing stuff.
National Pre-school Fitness Day -I think it's sad that they have to promote fitness in preschool, my kids didn't
have any trouble moving around and playing! Neither does my grandkids...so perhaps it's just a mindset.
:) I don't know, but have fun playing!
So do I!! I wasn't thinking that way till I was texting my daughter yesterday and asked her if we were having fun yet...on yet another day of snow. She's in an area thats getting even more than we have, and she's feeling it. Not fun when your little ones can only handle so much being outside, especially when the snow is higher than they are!! lol
So I started thinking about ways to brighten her day...perhaps take them on a trip. And then I remembered we live by a swimming pool that's covered in the winter and has $1 night on Wednesdays!!! So, that's what I'm going to suggest for the next month or so... swimming!!
That should make everyone feel like they've gone somewhere anyway...for a couple of hours. :)
I took a fun picture last night of our sunset, it was awesome. Unfortunately I can't seem to get it to show up, so can't show you.
So - today there's only one thing worth mentioning.
It's
National Popcorn Day!!! Now that's awesome, don't you think? I think
everyone likes popcorn in one form or another. Theater
popcorn...microwave popcorn...airpop popcorn... flavored popcorn...
this is Sandra Boynton's picture for it...lol
what's your favorite? One of my favorites is Lisa's Passion for Popcorn in Kaysville right next to the theater. It's soooo good! We also have a recipe for caramel corn we make in the microwave that's terribly sinful...you just can't stop eating it. sigh.
Well...enjoy the snowy day of future water stores and drive safe.
How can you not celebrate that?? My mom was a big fan of Christopher Robin and Pooh, and read those books to us long before it was popular to do so. I remember my sister telling us about her friends talking about Whinnie the Pooh and she was like, so?? I've known about him forever...lol Anyway - it's the author's bday, so that's Whinnie the Pooh's bday. Here's a site that has some fun trivia about him. My kids have grown up with the movies that Disney made. I've heard rumors that they have totally ruined it with follow up stuff, so I don't even want to hear any more about it. The friends in the forest are going to forever be as they should be in my memory.
And because I'm a writer, we can't miss Thesaurus Day! I mean, I'd be lost without this book, let me tell you. Whoever came up with this brainchild was genius! And that was Peter Mark Roget, where we get the
Roget's Thesaurus. He came up with the idea in 1805 (just for trivia
sake) and it wasn't published till almost 50 years later. It has since
been continuously published, and I have to say I probably own 2 copies.
Good stuff guys, honest. :) And since the guys birthday was today,
it's thesaurus day. Good to know, right?
Okay - I know we aren't supposed to be living our lives in anticipation of the next best thing coming...but I've been waiting for this weekend! Who knows why...just had a long Christmas break -- but it wasn't long enough.
We're going to have granddaughters over Saturday night as well, and that should be fun! I'm being positive here folks...hate to say how much it's a whole different ball game with six and three year olds when you're over the 50 year mark as compared to when you were in your early 30s... sigh.
Anyway - a few fun things to get your weekend rolling from Brownielocks and the Nibble.
Blame
Someone Else Day- Well, if you like to blame others for your
errors or get people in trouble, today is your day. Siblings unite,
right?? Don't they always blame it on the other? My kids did...still do, lol
MakeYourDreamComeTrueDay - So, if you've been procrastinating following your dream, today's the day to start making it happen. I think we tend to forget that society has created the lives we
go about living. That's not what we're here for. We all have something
great within us. What is it you want to do with your life? Are you
doing it? Why not!? If you are, share it with the rest of us, motivation is a good thing.
Just think of where we'd be if Disney had not followed his dream? Or
heavens....what if Thomas Edison hadn't invented the light bulb? Or Bell, the telephone?
National Peach Melba Day
Read more at: http://www.thenibble.com/fun/more/facts/holidays-january.asp
National Peach Melba Day
Read more at: http://www.thenibble.com/fun/more/facts/holidays-january.asp
National Peach Melba Day -
did you know the Peach Melba was created in honor of a Sophrano named
Nellie Melba? I had no idea. There's quite the history of it here along with a recipe, if you're interested in making it. I'm not a big fan of peaches and ice cream, but ya know.
and just to get things rockin' and rollin', those toes tappin ' here's one of my favorites by the Piano Guys:
