National School Lunch Week

 This year I'm posting the interesting weeks throughout the year.  This week happens to be National School Lunch Week.

School lunches have been available since 1946.  This week focuses on healthy food choices, balanced diets and portion sizes.  Most cafeteria staff know the children and their eating habits.  They take great pride in their work and strive to put out the best meals with the resources they are provided to them.

Back when I was in elementary school (the stone ages), the cafeteria staff actually made the lunches right there in the lunchroom.  The lunches were homemade, and some were pretty tasty.  I did change schools and tried the hot lunches there and found them to be quite bland.  They were brought in from an outside source and had absolutely no flavor.  Today the food provided by the school is brought in from an outside source and, according to my children, awful.  (They are food snobs.  The majority of the meals they have eaten growing up have been homemade)

How to observe #SchoolLunchWeek

Visit your school's cafeteria and learn about the lunches that are available.

What were the school lunches like when you were in school?  Did you buy hot lunch often or brown bag it?

Sick

 After writing my other post on being sick, I remembered getting a bad case of the flu as a child.  I think my doctor mom was pretty worried about me.  Shocking.  I mean, I'm the third child.  Usually, we have to fend for ourselves.

I remember not eating much, which is something that always happens when I get sick.  My mom, probably worried sick, pulled a new treatment out of her medical bag:  Skittles.  She opened the bag of candy and gave me a few pieces to eat.  I found it strange because my mom did not just give us candy.  In fact, I don't recall there ever being candy in the house (except for halloween candy). I don't think candy was allowed in the house.  And candy while I'm sick?  Another red flag.  I ate a piece and waited.  My mom kept trying to encourage me to eat another one.  Eventually I ate a couple more pieces.

To this day, I am not a fan of Skittles (guess I won't be getting a kick back or sponsorship from Skittles any time soon).  Seeing them reminds me of a not so fun time in my life.

Are there any foods that you avoid because of an event in your life? 

My Weird Dog

 I know how much all of you enjoy hearing stories about my weird dog.  I will try to make it a point to write more posts about him.

While I was sitting on break at work the other day, I received a text from RT.  It was a picture of Pippen.  Here is our text exchange:

Me:  Aww!  Soaking up the last bits of summer!

RT:  I thought he was dead.

I had to do a double take of the picture.  I know how much Pippen enjoys working on his tan laying in the sun.  It was finally nice enough outside to catch a few warm rays.  Then I noticed the spot that he chose to do his sunbathing. 

First of all, Pippen (in all of his ten years) has never laid down in that spot on the grass.  There are maybe five spots in our yard where he will lay down and that is not one of them.  RT thought he was running and just dropped dead right there.  RT stared at Pippen for a couple minutes to see if his chest moved (to make sure he was still breathing).  I said it was wishful thinking on RT's part (Pippen has been rather annoying the last couple of weeks).  RT was probably planning how to move the dog and, more importantly, how to best break the news to me.  

Here is the photo. 

Please know that Pippen is alive and well and living his best life on our back deck.  Also, he has not been seen near that spot since this photo was taken.

National Carry a Tune Week

 This year I'm celebrating the interesting National Weeks throughout the year.  This week is National Carry a Tune Week.

This week caught my attention because RT has a tendency to hear a tune (or song) and sing it for weeks on end.  I'm thinking he might be one of the founders of this week.

I did a little research and found that this is an online event and is used to prompt people to recall a tune that brings out good memories and to carry that tune with them all week long. (something RT should have NO PROBLEM doing).

The American Tune Lovers Society opens up a survey so people can suggest their favorite tune.  These tunes can be from school days, a favorite song on the radio, a love relationship, a concert or any other time.  The tune must be American origin and recorded before 2001.  

There are six categories of tunes: Patriotic, Folk, Religious, Pop, Classical and Film.

How to observe #CarryATuneWeek:

Decide on a tune that you want to carry for a week and submit it to the organizers.

Let loose with that tune.  Belt it out or hum it, even if you are off key.

Ugh.  I'm wondering why I picked this week.  I envision hearing RT belting out, "Jolene" for weeks to come. 

Pray for me.

National Newspaper Week

 This year I am celebrating the fun National Weeks throughout the year.  This week is dedicated to Bella, who has been writing articles for her school newspaper.  Today starts National Newspaper Week.  This week recognizes newspapers and their employees.

Newspapers record events and are the first record of history.

Did you know?

The oldest published newspaper began in 1764, the Hartford Currant

Newspapers started out as weekly and monthly.  They did not become daily until the 1790's.

Newspapers reported biasedly and opinionatedly until 1923.  At that time The American Society of Newspaper Editors adopted the primary rule of journalism, "news reports should be free of opinion or bias of any kind."

How to observe #NationalNewspaperWeek

Send a thank you to the publisher, editor, reporter or columnist.

Purchase a subscription to show your pride.

Thanks, Bella!  I enjoy reading your articles.

How will you celebrate today?

International Postcard Week

 This year I'm celebrating the interesting National Weeks throughout the year.  International Postcard week celebrates those fun little cards you mail (mainly when you are off on vacation).

The postcard became popular in the late 1800's, making it easier to communicate with loved ones far away.  The cards did not require an envelope and were a lot less expensive to mail.  They became popular to send to friends and family while on vacation, giving a little glimpse of the place they are visiting.  

Some fun facts about postcards:

Deltiology is the art of collecting postcards.

Donald McGill created the best-selling postcard of all time, selling over 6 million copies.

Old postcards can sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars at auctions.

How to observe #PostcardWeek

Send someone a postcard.  If you can't find one to buy, why not make one on your own?  Just remember the cards have to be 3.5 x 5, in order to be considered a postcard.

Who will you send a postcard to?

Fall is Here!

"Fall is here!  Fall is here!

It's my favorite time of year

Football games and falling leaves
I'll take mine with turkey please"

It's that time of year set aside to think about falling leaves and all things pumpkin!  Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice, pumpkin spiced latte, pumpkin potpourri, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies and just plain pumpkins.

Are you a pumpkin person?  A football person?  How about a Halloween person?

Well, it's time to get your craft on this fall and get into the Fall spirit!  I thought I would put links to some of the Fall Halloween crafts and Costumes that I've blogged about in the past.  Some of these are great ideas to do with little kids and some are great to do with your Girl Scout Troop!


Halloween Crafts

Bat Pencil Cup  uses an empty can and construction paper

Extra Crafts - using construction paper, make owls, witch, ghosts and foam monsters

Mosaic Pumpkin - using paint chips

Mosaic Pumpkin - using construction paper

Owl - using construction paper

Pony Tail Craft - using ribbon (great for a Girl Scout Troop!)

Pumpkin and Ghost - using Popsicle sticks and paint

Pumpkin Magnet - using foam

Spider - using pipe cleaners and google eyes

SPIDER  using construction paper

Spider (under $1 craft)  using an egg carton, black paint and google eyes

Witche's Hat  uses foam and glitter glue

Pumpkin Soap


Have a party to go to and need a quick, easy Halloween costume?  Look no further! 

Costumes
Easy Halloween Costumes
Eye Candy Costume
Target Employee

It's also time to grab that apron and whip up some fall goodies!  Everybody loves pumpkin!  (well, at least I do!)

How about some Fall food ideas:

Vegetarian Chili
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin Pie (from a Pumpkin)

Halloween Candy Dessert 

The Great Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins 

Hope this inspires you to get into the fall spirit!  I think I'll go make some pumpkin cookies.

Enjoy!