January 3, 2014 is National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day

The National Confectioner's Association has designated today as Chocolate Covered Cherry Day.  I know it's a bit early but these candies always make me think of Valentine's Day, which of course is next month.  But that's another story.

Anyway I found this video on YouTube if you'd like to try making your own Chocolate Covered Cherries.




Celebration suggestion for today - Buy someone you love (or yourself) a nice box of chocolate covered cherries and enjoy!

January 2, 2014 is National Buffet Day

     YUM!!!  Don't you just love holiday's that allow you to eat more then you should?  A buffet is defined as a meal consisting of several dishes from which guests can serve themselves.  We are all familiar with the traditional wedding buffet I'm sure.  But a buffet can be so much more.  Everything from breakfast to dessert can be served buffet style and the range of themes that can be applied to the buffet is endless.  The new trend I've seen is to call the buffet a "bar" as in the Breakfast Bar that many hotels make available to guests, or my new favorite the Potato Bar that has gained popularity at weddings.  Here the star is the potato and guest can add an array of yummy toppings.  I suppose the limited main dish in this case is why they don't call it a buffet, or maybe they just think that a buffet is a bit old fashion and a bar is more fun.  Either way I can certainly appreciate any meal where I get to pick and choose what I like the most.
     There are many restaurants that have found buffet service works well for them.  In my area we have several Chinese restaurants that serve all you can eat buffet style for lunch and dinner.  Depending on where you live you may also find a CiCi's, Ponderosa Steak House, of Golden Corral, just to name a few of the restaurant chains that are dedicated to family friendly buffet style.

Celebration suggestions for today:  Take the kids to a buffet restaurant and have some family fun time.  Or just create your own little buffet at home.  One of my favorite meals is an assortment of  appetizer foods for dinner.

January 1, 2014 is Ellis Island Day

     The gateway to America for some 12 million future Americans between 1892 and 1954 Ellis Island stands as a symbol of our roots.  Truly about one-third of the population today can trace their ancestry to immigrants who first arrived in America through Ellis Island before dispersing to other parts of the country.    The station opened with a celebration on January 1, 1892 and processed almost 450,000 immigrants in the first year.  In November of 1954 the station was closed and it wasn't until October of 1966 that it was recognized as on the National Register of Historic Places.

     Celebration ideas for today can include finding out more about your own ancestry and starting a family tree.  Get together with the family and make a dinner of some old family recipes, pull out the old photos and make sure to label them so generations to come will know who they are.

Everydays_A_Holiday

February 22 ~ Happy World Thinking Day

Happy World Thinking Day February 22 by Everydays_A_Holiday
See more Think Buttons

    World Thinking Day is a Girl Scout holiday.  Each year the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts designates a theme for World Thinking Day, and the activities for the guides and scouts are focused on that theme.  February 22nd was chosen for this holiday because it is the birthday of scout founder Robert Baden-Powell and his wife Olave Baden-Powell.

     No, my thoughtful gorilla has nothing to do with Girl Scouting, but why should they have all the fun... Everyone should be allowed to think on Thinking Day!

International Mother Language Day ~ February 21

This holiday was founded by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a specialized agency of the United Nations.  The idea of this day is to promote awareness of cultural diversity and multilingualism.
For many of us in the United States, English is our only language and the only language we grew up hearing.  But we don't have to be bored today or feel sorry for ourselves.  Unless you are a Native American (in which case your Mother Language is the native language of your tribe) your ancestors came for somewhere....
Today's the perfect day to begin to learn a new language.  Perhaps the language of your ancestors, or maybe just the language you've always wanted to know.

Use your new skills and plan for that trip you've always dreamed of...

Happy National Cherry Pie Day ~ February 20

National Cherry Pie Day February 20 by Everydays_A_Holiday
Browse Pie Aprons

I suspect the reason for Cherry Pie Day at this time of year has something to do with the old story about George Washington chopping down a cherry tree. 

If you do decide to make a home made cherry pie today don't forget the apron and this sweet gadget I found at GadgetTown.com.

Pulling out that oven rack will never worry you again. And they are so unique looking people will wonder what they are.  You can't see it, but there is a magnet on the back so they'll stay handy attached right to the stove.


Need a good recipe now?  Recipe.com is celebrating "National Cherry Month" so pop over there for some great recipes using cherries.


And it you want the pie but not the work...

January 31 ~ !YaD SdrawkcaB YppaH

happy backwards day

I found several references to this day on the internet, but nothing that seemed very official.  In any event it sounds like it could be fun to do things backwards for a day...