National Homemade Bread Day

  Today is National Homemade Bread Day.  It's a great day to make a loaf of your famous homemade sourdough bread and give it to your favorite sister.  

This day was created to encourage families to come together and enjoy making homemade bread.  It has been celebrated since the early 1980's.  Making bread is a great way to slow down and spend time with one another as we knead the bread dough, wait for it to rise or bake in the oven. 

There are many varieties of breads you can make today.  From Sourdough, rye, wheat, white and cheddar jalapeno.  To sweet breads, pretzels, buns, muffins, donuts and biscuits.  

Now is the time to brush off those breadmaking skills you learned during the pandemic quarantine and put them to good use.  Bake a loaf of bread and give to your sister your friends and or neighbors.  Make a loaf or two just for you and your family to enjoy.   Don't forget to snap a few pictures for social media using #HomemadeBreadDay 

P.S.  One of these years "someone" will get the hint I've dropped in this post and make me a loaf of his homemade sourdough bread.

What kind of bread will you make today?

World Kindness Day

  World Kindness Day is an international holiday that was started back in 1998.  It is a day dedicated to large and small acts of kindness to bring us all together.  The World Kindness Movement states that the purpose of this day is to "highlight good deeds in the community" and to focus "on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us."

If you've been following my blog for a while, you know that I'm BIG on Kindness and have many posts dedicated to Random Acts of Kindness.  It's great that we have a day dedicated to Kindness and being kind to one another.  I just don't understand why we can't do this every day?  This should be a normal, daily thing for all of us.  There really is no reason not to be kind.

Did you know that people who are constantly kind produce less cortisol (the stress hormone) and age slower than the rest of the population?  Another reason to be kind to others!

How can you celebrate World Kindness Day?

Do three Random Acts of Kindness today.  

Smile at someone, give compliments, hold the door open for someone.

Hug your loved ones and friends.

Write a love poem to yourself and read it aloud.  (You should be kind to yourself today, too)

If you need some other ideas, you can find more on this post or you can search "kindness" on the blog.

Here are some Ways to make Kindness a norm in your everyday life, taken from Randomactsofkindness.org :

1.  Send an uplifting text to a friend
2.  Let that car merge in front of you with a smile and a wave.
3.  Go out of your way once a day to make someone smile
4.  Compliment a friend or coworker
5.  Reach out to a family member you haven't spoken to in awhile
6.  Treat someone to a cup of coffee or tea (friend, coworker, stranger or even yourself)
7.  Add intentional moments of kindness, laughter and delight to your everyday routine

Don't forget to post your support of kindness on social media today by using #worldkindnessday

Have fun today!

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming....

The election is over (thank God!).  

No more junk mail political flyers.

No more lies political interviews.

No more mudslinging political commercials.  

We can all move on with our lives.

National Harvey Wallbanger Day

  Happy Harvey Wallbanger Day!

I think this is one of my favorite days of the year and I want to make sure that everyone out there is celebrating with me.  Of course, I'm starting early this morning, so I might be a few drinks ahead of you.  It's election day, so you might need a couple of these today.

A Harvey Wallbanger is a fruity cocktail made with vodka, Galliano and orange juice.    It's basically a screwdriver, but a little fruitier.  Galliano is an Italian liqueur that contains Juniper, Anise, Mint and Vanilla.  If you are unable to locate Galliano, you can always substitute Kahlua, Triple Sec or peppermint Schnapps. 

Harvey Wallbangers originated in the sixties.  The story behind the drink goes something like this:  A bartender named Donato Antone created the drink and served it at a party.  The one person remaining after the party, Harvey, was banging his head against the wall.  There are a couple other stories floating around, but I like that one the best.  The drink made its debut to the rest of the world in 1968.  Galliano used Harvey in their marketing campaign in 1969 with, "Harvey Wallbanger is the name and I can be made."  The drink's name also became a metaphor to describe someone who goofs off or makes mistakes.  Harvey Wallbanger was also a frequent write in vote during elections.  

How can you observe Harvey Wallbanger Day?  Meet your friends at your local hang out and order a Harvey Wallbanger and toast good ol' Harvey (just don't be the one banging your head on the wall at the end of the night).  You can use #HarveyWallbangerDay when posting on social media.

How to make the perfect Harvey Wallbanger? 

1.5 oz Vodka
4 oz orange juice
.5oz Galliano
cherry or orange slice for garnish

Mix vodka and orange juice.  Pour Galliano on top and don't mix it in the drink (you can pour over a spoon).  Garnish with a cherry or orange slice and serve.

Cheers!

National Dear Santa Letter Week

 This year I'm celebrating fun weeks throughout the year.  This week is National Dear Santa Letter Week.

Every year at this time, children around the world write letters to Santa Claus.  Hey, it's good to get those letters in early.  You know the Post Office gets busy around the holidays and these letters have to travel all the way to the North Pole!

This program has been going on since 1912 when the postmaster allowed the employees to answer Dear Santa letters.  In the 1940's the number of letters increased, and local charities and companies participated by answering letters and sending small gifts.  The goal of the program is to help families in need have a Happy Holiday.  

This is all handled through the US Post Office.  Children write letters and send them to: 

Santa Claus

123 Elf Road

North Pole 88888

The post office publishes the letter online (redacting personal information) and you can choose a letter and become Santa to that person.  You purchase gifts and send them.   

How to observe:

Help your child write a letter to Santa and send it the above address.

Take part in playing Santa and answer one of the children's letters.

World Vegan Day

 Today is World Vegan Day!  Hooray!

World Vegan Day is celebrated by vegans around the world on November 1st.  World Vegan Day was established by Louise Wallis in 1944.  He chose November 1 as the date because, "I liked the idea of this date coinciding with Halloween and the Day of the Dead - traditional times for feasting and celebration, both apt and auspicious."  November is a perfect month for feasting!

World Vegan month is celebrated around the world as a time to recognize how far the vegan movement has come and how easy and beneficial it is to live a vegan lifestyle.  World Vegan Month is also to encourage the vegan curious to give veganism a try.

2019 marks 75 years since the foundation of The Vegan Society.  The Vegan Society started as an offshoot of The Vegetarian Society until it was decided that it was important to distinguish the difference between Vegan and Vegetarianism. Vegans do not eat meat nor do they eat anything that is made from an animal (milk, cheese, eggs, etc).  The Vegan Society began celebrating World Vegan Day in 1994 and has celebrated every year since.

"World Vegan Day evolved from celebrating for one day into celebrating one week and now they celebrate the entire month!  World Vegan Month.  Where vegans and veganism is celebrated in workplaces, shops, restaurants and in homes all over the world."

How can you celebrate World Vegan Day?  

You can host a vegan lunch or vegan dinner party with friends.

Share your favorite vegan recipes on social media 

Challenge your friends or family to go vegan for 30 days 

Plant a tree  

Host a vegan potluck party 

Where can you get started?  How about searching this blog under recipes for an easy vegan recipe? 

If you decide to post on social media, make sure to use the hashtags:
#worldveganmonth
#worldveganday

I know I will be part of the celebration!  How about you?

Belly Ache Day

 Another Halloween has come and gone.  How much candy did you eat?

My Dad always called the day after Halloween, "Belly Ache Day."  The belly ache came from eating too much candy the day before (Halloween).  I never suffered on Belly Ache Day.  I was allowed a few pieces of candy on Halloween, and then the rest of my candy was squirreled away by my Mom, never to be seen again.  I think she probably threw it all in the garbage.  (Thanks, Mom)

If you have some energy and are looking for some ways to use up that Halloween candy (besides hiding it or throwing it away), check out my recipe for Halloween cupcakes.  You can make a few batches and give them out to the neighbors.   You can always donate some candy to a food pantry or bring candy to a nursing home (the seniors love getting the candy as a bingo prize!).

Here's hoping that you aren't suffering too much on this Belly Ache Day!