Happy Leap Day and National Surf and Turf Day

Happy Leap Day.  It only happens every 4 years!  Here's some interesting trivia about it.
People born on Leap Day are called Leaplings or leapers.
It's a leap year if the last 2 digits of the year are divisible by 4.
(Century years are the exception to the rule; they must be divisible by 400 to be a leap year.)
I might watch Quantum Leap or the movie Leap. 
Do you remember "Leapin' Lizards," Annie's favorite exclamation?
Take a leap of faith.  Play leap frog (or checkers - that's sort of like leaping).
How will you leap into this celebration today?

Surf and Turf for dinner - steak and lobster, although at my house it's more like fish sticks and hamburgers.

The Bible talks about fish a lot.  You may get scooped up in the net but there's only one Way to stay there.  Make sure you leap in through Jesus Christ.
Matthew 13:47-50 [Jesus said,] "Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.  When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore.  Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.  This is how it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Happy National Skip the Straw Day & National Tartar Sauce Day

Why is it that I never use a straw at home but when I go out I feel that I need one?  My cold drink isn't complete without a straw.  I'll avoid fast food today to comply.

We don't have fish that often but I prefer tartar sauce when I do have it.  I buy tartar sauce and end up throwing half of it away because it sits in the refrigerator for so long.  I need to make this easy tartar sauce recipe by Natasha's Kitchen.  The recipe makes 1 1/2 cups.  If that's still too much, you can cut the recipe in half.  All the measurements are easy to half except the 1 Tbsp (there are 3 tsp in 1 Tbsp).

Happy National Chili Day & National Strawberry Day & National Toast Day

Hubby makes great chili and that's what dinner is tonight.  Toasted garlic bread sounds good to go with it.  Two at once!  Not putting strawberries in my chili though.  I did buy frozen strawberries and whipped cream for dessert and we probably have some strawberry ice cream.  We feast tonight!  Do you like your chili spicy or mild?  This isn't hubby's chili recipe but it sounds like a good one from The Magical Slow Cooker.  I like hot dog chili on hot dogs too.  If you don't like chili, you can go to Chili's and get something else.

Strawberries are so versatile.  You can have them for breakfast in oatmeal or as jam on toast (and again celebrate 2 at once!)   You can eat them fresh as a snack.  You can add them to a salad.  And, of course, there's always dessert.  Southern Bite has a recipe for Strawberry Yum Yum and it does sound yum yum!

We've already covered toast.  Toast is good for breakfast, lunch (grilled cheese), and dessert.

But the best bread is talked about in John 6:48 when Jesus said, "I AM the bread of life."  Don't let your bread get toasted in the judgment.  Turn to Jesus now and accept his forgiveness and eternal life.

Happy National Pistachio Day & Inconvenience Yourself Day

Written Reality has an easy pistachio pudding cake recipe to try out.

Did you know?
Pistachio nuts are good for you.  They contain vitamin B6, protein, and fiber.
Pistachio shells usually split naturally when ripe.
They are know as the happy nut because the split shell looks like a smile.
Pistachio shells can be used as a fire starter.
Shells can be used to line the bottom of pots of houseplants for drainage.
They can be used as mulch for plants that require acid soils.
It can take up to a year for pistachio shells to decompose in mulch unless soil is added.
Place shells from salted pistachios around the base of plants to keep slugs & snails away.
They are mentioned in the Bible.

Genesis 43:11 Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift - a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.

Inconvenience Yourself Day is about putting others first.  Think about how your actions and words impact others.  Be kind.  Do random acts of kindness.  Show appreciation for someone today.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Happy National Chocolate Covered Peanuts Day & International Pancake Day & National Clam Chowder Day

IHOP is offering all you can eat pancakes with the purchase of a breakfast combo - but NOT TODAY.  Today they are offering a FREE short stack of buttermilk pancakes but the restaurant might be a little busy.  If you can't get in today, come back tomorrow for all you can eat pancakes.  Unless you are celebrating pancake day, aka Strove Tuesday.  It's the last day to feast before Lent so tomorrow won't work.

Chocolate covered peanuts sound like peanut M&Ms to me but they can't call it that because of copyright laws.  

I was going to make Manhattan Clam Chowder but my Walmart didn't have canned clams.  So, pancakes it is.

Happy National Tortilla Chip Day & Play More Cards Day

Food is on every celebration day this week!  If you want to plan ahead, Tuesday is pancake day, Wednesday is pistachio day, Thursday is chili day, Friday is tartar sauce day, and Saturday is surf and turf day.

We are having taco salad for dinner to celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day.  You can also celebrate with chips and salsa, chips and cheese dip, or make nachos.

It's also Play More Cards Day, maybe.  My research came up with 3 different dates - Feb 22, 24, & 26.  So, why not celebrate all week!  That way we might hit the right day.  
During WWII, Bicycle Cards made decks of cards that were designed as a puzzle.  When they were put together they created a map.  The map was supposed to help prisoners make their way to safety once they escaped.  A deck of these cards is preserved in the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.  So, play some cards today.  It can be Solitaire, Uno, Spoons, Poker, or Old Maid.  You can play with other people or against the software on an iPad, cell phone, or computer.  My favorite cards games are Skipbo, Golf, Canasta, Mille Borne, Phase Ten, and Classic Solitaire.  (I like to play games!)  What card games do you like to play?  With or without other people?  Be sure to eat some tortilla chips while you play!
And while you're playing, take some time to listen to Tex Ritter tell the story of The Deck of Cards.

Happy National Banana Bread Day

Banana bread probably ranks as a comfort food for some.  You can add ingredients like berries or chocolate chips and give it a whole different taste.  Love Mischka has an easy banana bread recipe to make from scratch.  There's also a REALLY simple 3-ingredient banana bread recipe using boxed cake mix on stockpilingmoms.com.  Hope you get to enjoy a warm slice today.

Follow the link to YouTube to listen to Keith Green's So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt.  Listen for his reference to ba-manna bread.

Even better than banana bread:
John 6:35  Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.

Finished cleaning out my bookcases.         
         before                                              after     

     

Happy George Washington's (real) Birthday & Be Humble Day

I'm a little frustrated with George Washington's MANY birthday celebrations.  When I was researching Lincoln's birthday, things I read played it down saying it is now celebrated on Presidents Day.  However, when I researched Presidents Day, it was all about George Washington.  And NOW it's Washington's birthday AGAIN!  Yes, Washington holds a place of honor in our history but so does Abraham Lincoln and I feel like he's being ignored.  That's all I'm going to say about this.

The trouble with humility is if you say you are, you aren't.  Follow the link to listen to Mac Davis sing It's Hard to Be Humble.  I'm not advocating his language or message, just the fact that we all become full of ourselves from time to time.  Considering my rant a paragraph earlier, I may need to examine myself. 😔   True humility is recognizing who we are in light of a perfect God.

Psalm 25:9  He [God] guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.

2 Corinthians 10:12  We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.  When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

Happy National Sticky Bun Day

I totally thought sticky buns were the same as cinnamon rolls but they are not.  I don't really like sticky buns so I'm going to reinterpret this to mean cinnamon rolls - with lots of white icing.  Real sticky buns are in a spiral shape and covered with nuts.  The sticky sugary topping (like honey & syrup) is put in the pan first and the dough is put on top.  After it is cooked, it is turned upside down so the bottom becomes the top.  The sweet liquid drips down the sides making them sticky.

Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Happy National Cherry Pie Day and Clean Out Your Bookcase Day

It is not only National Cherry Pie Day; it is National Cherry Month.  Cherry pie is yummy but fresh cherries are just as yummy.  Pillsbury has an easy cherry pie recipe if you want to make one yourself.  If you don't want to make a whole pie , Mom Spark has a great mini-tortilla cherry pie recipe that's super easy to make.  Not pie, but Recipes That Crock has an easy cherry cake-type dessert called Cherry Delight (who can resist that).  Cherry dessert options galore!

This is the day to pull all your books (and other things) off the shelves, dust, then rearrange them.  One third of my bookcase shelves are nail polish related items which I regularly enjoy taking down, re-swatching, and rearranging in a different way.  There are 3 shelves of books and 3 shelves with craft items.  (I have 2 tall bookcases.)  Most of my books are on my Kindle Fire so I will also take some time to re-evaluate the books I have on that "shelf."  I use my Kindle practically every day.  I like the Fire because it has audio and it reads to me as I drive back and forth to work.  It's so nice to have all my books at my fingertips whenever I want them.  And what a bonus that it always opens to where I stopped.  No more accidentally pulling the bookmark out and losing my place.  We used to pack a box of books to take on vacation and I always had a few in my suitcase and one in my purse because you never know what type of book you'll be in the mood to read.  Now travel is so much easier and lighter!  This may be one of my favorite days and my favorite ways to celebrate.  I do enjoy organizing things and as you can see from the picture below, I have my work cut out for me!  Good thing my work is closing at 1 pm (it's supposed to snow) today.

What's on your bookcase?

Joshua 1:8  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Happy National Chocolate Mint Day

Since Peppermint Patty Day was last week, I'm thinking this celebration should include mint chocolate chip ice cream or mint hot chocolate, stirred with a candy cane.  Andes makes good bite-sized chocolate mints.  I think I saw some mint M&Ms at the grocery store.  You could eat some Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies.  There is also an herb called chocolate mint; the leaves (apparently) taste like chocolate and mint (makes sense).  Make a cake and frost it with mint icing.  Dinner then Dessert has an easy mint icing recipe.

Happy National Battery Day & Thumb Appreciation Day

I really appreciate my thumbs.  It's difficult to function without them (I've heard).  Thumbs are also called opposable thumbs because they can be stretched opposite fingers in order to grip things.  Some people celebrate by trying not to use their thumbs thus increasing their appreciation of them, while others celebrate by consciously using them.  How could you play "Where is Thumbkin" without thumbs?  Or play "got your nose?"  You couldn't sign toilet.  Thumbs are even more important than I thought!  Watch Spy Kids to see some big thumbs.  However you celebrate today, give it a big thumbs up.

How many battery-operated things are at your house?  Phones, hearing aids, watches, computers, cars....  The list goes on and on.  What would we do without them?  It should be battery appreciation day because our lives would be quite difficult if they quit working.  While we're on the subject, do the batteries in your smoke detectors need to be replaced?

Here are the answers to yesterday's presidential trivia.
1. Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, and John Tyler
2. Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, and Chester A. Arthur
3. John Adams, James Monroe, Thomas Jefferson
4. Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy

Isaiah 40:29  He [God] gives strength to the weary and increases the POWER of the weak.

Happy National Cabbage Day & President's Day & Random Acts of Kindness Day

Cabbage can be used in many recipes.  It's great in vegetable soup, or cooked with potatoes and kielbasa, made into coleslaw, or in the easy egg roll bowl recipe on stylishcravings.com.  Give it a try today.

President's Day is a day of patriotic celebration and remembrance.  Pick a president and learn something about him.  If you are in Northern Virginia, visit Mount Vernon.  It used to be free admission on Washington's birthday, whatever day they decide to celebrate it.  Or take a trip to South Dakota to visit Mount Rushmore.  Watch 1776 or any documentary about a president.  Read a book about a president or a presidential landmark (like Mount Rushmore).

Here's some presidential trivia for you.  (Answers will be in tomorrow's blog)
1. Who are the 3 presidents who served in 1841?
2. 40 years later,  in 1881, it happened again.  Name the 3 presidents who served that year.
3. Name the 3 presidents who died on the 4th of July.
4. Who were the 4 presidents who were assassinated while in office?

Here are a few suggestions to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day from checkiday.com and nationaldaycalendar.com

• Smile and say "Good morning," "Hello," or "Have a nice day" to anyone you pass
• Pay for the order of the person behind you in line
• Let someone go ahead of you in line
• Bring treats for your coworkers.
• Take a friend to lunch.
• Say "please" and "thank you"
• Drop off a bag of groceries at the local food pantry
• Mail a "thinking of you" card to someone you haven't talked to in a while
• Order a bouquet of flowers to be delivered to anyone in the hospital (Call the florist and tell them to pick a hospital or nursing home and deliver flowers to the person the front desk thinks needs it the most.  It could be a sick child, an elderly person with no family, or a college student away from home.)
• Send a thank you note to the local fire department, police department or any military personnel
• Just smile

Ephesians 4:32 Be KIND and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Not a random act, but here is the b-day gift Abbie & grandkids (Caleb, Leah & Aaron) gave me.

Happy National Almond Day & Do a Grouch a Favor Day

Almonds are so good for you and they are tasty, although a little expensive.  I buy a big bag of almonds from BJ's and it lasts a long time.  Another way to eat almonds today is in Hershey's with almonds chocolate bars.  I would say drink some Almond Milk but I've been seeing things on the Internet about the production of almond milk killing bees so I'm kind of afraid to promote drinking it now.  If you like cozy mysteries, try 52 Steps to Murder by Steve Demaree.  It's the first in a series and the main character eats almond chocolate bars.

Have a heart and Do a Grouch a Favor today.  If you don't run across any grouches in your day, watch Sesame Street (and tell me where you live that is grouch-free).  Watch the Pixar movie Up.  That guy was a grouch and the Boy Scout did favors for him and look where it got him.  Wait, that may not be a great example.  I can't remember the ending so I should watch Up.  I do enjoy Pixar movies.  Livehappy.com has 5 suggestions to deal with cranky people.  They are:
1. Use a kind or at least neutral tone (Maintain low tones with me - now I need to watch Coneheads!)
2. Try reversing your reaction (I didn't appreciate this one so you read it and let me know what you think.)
3. Don't take it too personally
4. Break it up with a time out (That ought to go over well, you think?)
5. Create a crankiness code word (This is my favorite.  What code word do you want to use?  I think it should be mermaid.  "The mermaid is restless today."  "I can see her mermaid tail switching."  "I think her mermaid scales have changed color today.")  Speaking of codes, I just watched Mad Money.  It has some bad language but the story is so good.  (Did you catch my "squirrel" moment re: Up?)

Here's the Bible's suggestion for dealing with a grouch.
Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

So, hubby did this grouch a favor and went to a cat show at the Fairgrounds

Happy National I Want Butterscotch Day & National Wisconsin Day & National Hippo Day

What's your favorite flavor?  Does butterscotch even make the top 10?  I never even think of butterscotch.  I bought some pre-made butterscotch pudding to celebrate today; I can't even remember the last time I had butterscotch.  I do remember having some good butterscotch hard candies.

Today we celebrate the day Wisconsin became a state.  It's known as "America's Dairyland" and the only thing I know about Wisconsin is they make a lot of cheese.  So, eat cheese today in tribute to Wisconsin.

You have to go to YouTube and listen to (and watch) Gayla Peevey sing The Christmas Hippo Song to celebrate National Hippo Day.  Doesn't it make you want to march around and sing?  Then maybe visit the zoo to see a real hippopotamus yourself.

Genesis 1:24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds:  the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind."  And it was so.

Happy Valentine's Day & Library Lovers Day

How will you celebrate Valentine's Day?  Spend it with those you love.  Eat well.  Do something fun.  Watch a movie.  Paint a picture.  Do something to spread good will.  Go to the library.  Read a good book.  Read The Good Book.

If you need a different reason to celebrate today, it is Canned Food Month.

John 3:16 For God so LOVED the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Happy National Tortellini Day & National Cheddar Day & Kiss Day

The story on nationaltoday.com is that "the Goddess Venus had come to stay at a tavern in Bologna, Italy.  The owner, trying to spy on her through the keyhole, was only able to see her navel.  He was so inspired by the sight that he rushed to his kitchen and created the navel-shaped pasta we call tortellini."  Tortellini is good with butter & cheese, tomato sauce, and in soups.  Recipes That Crock has a yummy tortellini soup recipe and other tortellini recipes if you want it as pasta.  Enjoy some today.

Who doesn't like cheddar cheese?  It's great on sandwiches, as cheese toast, in mac & cheese, on taco salad, and in broccoli cheese soup.  (I must want soup.)  Wholesome Yum has a good broccoli cheese soup recipe.

It's Kiss Day (not the band).  Do some smooching with your honey and hand out chocolate kisses to your friends.

Happy Hug Day & Abraham Lincoln's Birthday

Hugging releases oxytocin which creates feel-good hormones and reduces pain.  Hugs improve sleep.  Receiving a hug helps reduce stress, lowers blood pressure and lowers the risk of heart disease.  It also eases anxiety.  So, follow doctor's orders and hug someone today (but no kissing, that's tomorrow).  Or you can eat some Hershey hugs, but that will never be a doctor's order.

I remember when we celebrated Lincoln's birthday ON his birthday.  Then in the 1970's, it was changed to fall on a Monday.  Lincoln's birthday was lumped in with Washington's birthday.  How can they arbitrarily change someone's birthday!?  Lincoln's real birthday (2/12) in still a state holiday in CA, CT, MO, and IL  Indiana celebrates Lincoln's birthday on the day after Thanksgiving; I have no idea why.  A wreath is laid at his birthplace in Kentucky and at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.  Although, I also read that the wreath-laying and reading of the Gettysburg Address in D.C. is held during President's Day weekend.  You can celebrate today by collecting or spending $5 bills and pennies.  Read the Gettysburg Address or watch a movie like Young Mr. Lincoln or National Treasure: Book of Secrets (AKA National Treasure 2).

Romans 8:15  The Holy Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by Him we cry, "Abba, Father."

Happy Make a Friend Day & White T-Shirt Day & National Peppermint Patty Day

Make a new friend today or get together with an old friend, renew an acquaintance or watch Friends. Sing "O What a Friend We Have in Jesus."   Whatever you do be friendly.

White T-Shirt Day is also know as White Shirt Day and it's in remembrance of the resolution of an auto workers' strike against General Motors in 1937.  The object is to keep your white shirt clean.  If you don't have a white shirt, you can drive around in a car.  Go to an auto show or go car shopping (that's more fun without sales people if you aren't planning to buy).  Watch a car race or watch the Pixar Cars movie.

I bought a bag of peppermint patties to share at work.  (Maybe I'll make a new friend there too.)  Bread With a Side of Butter's website has an easy recipe for homemade peppermint patties.  I think this may be a new party food and a great present for co-workers next Christmas!  It sounds easy enough for a fun family candy-making activity too.

Jesus thinks friends are very important.  He had many friends, 12 close friends, and one false friend.
John 15:13-15 Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one's life for one's friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my father I have made known to you.

Making friends at work today

Oatmeal Monday & Clean Out Your Computer Day & National Flannel Day

Make your computer happy by taking some time to clean it out both internally and externally today.  Defrag to free up space, delete files you no longer need or games you no longer play (that's what I need to look at; that and pictures).  Checkiday has a longish list of how to's in cleaning out your computer.  It's well worth reading.

I think the only flannel thing I own is pajamas.  I'll just have to stay home from work so I can stay in my flannel pjs all day!

Will you celebrate Oatmeal Monday?  I like oatmeal so I will enjoy celebrating this.  A bowl of nice hot oatmeal with fruit is yummy.  I also really like Quaker's Oatmeal Squares cereal.  If you don't like oatmeal as cereal, how about oats in granola bars or in cookies?  Or beauty products that contain oats?  Have you ever had the chicken pox?  Did you soak in an oat bath to sooth the itching?  I remember doing that for my kids.

We are in a time nowadays when people want to soothe their consciences like soothing itches.  This is what the Bible says about that:
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

Amanda's did an oatmeal bara for lunch with old fashioned oats, fresh strawberries cooked down, bananas, and marshmallows.  Here is Makenzie's oatmeal creation.

Happy National Pizza Day

We love pizza!  Our favorite pizza place is Boulevard Pizza in Wendell, NC (but they're closed on Sundays).  They have excellent pizza and subs.  What kind of pizza do you like?  I really like the Food Lion brand taco pizza and their spinach pizza.  And I like buffalo chicken pizza at Cici's and Pizza Inn.  We also make homemade pizzas using pita bread.

Here are some deals for pizza right now.
Papa John's National Pizza Day offer is 30% off large regular priced pizzas; use code PIZZADAY at participating locations.
Cici's is celebrating all week.  You can carryout 3 large one-topping pizzas for $5 each.
Domino's Pizza's deal is a large 3-topping pizza for $7.99 (for carryout only); use code 9174 at checkout.
Little Caesars pretzel crust pizza costs $6 and the stuffed pretzel crust pizza costs $9 from 4 pm to 8 pm. (although I didn't see this deal or this type of pizza on their website)
Pizza Hut is giving $5 off online orders of $25 or more.
Uno Pizzeria is offering takeout pizza for either $6, $7, or half-price when you buy a pizza of equal or lesser value.

Did you know?  Pepperoni is the most popular pizza.  Over 3 billion pizzas are sold in the USA each year and another 1 billion frozen pizzas.  17% of all US restaurants are pizzerias.  Americans consume about 23 lbs of pizza per person each year.

Happy Global Movie Day & National Canned Food Month & National Cherry Month & National Library Lover's Month

It's Global Movie Day!  How easy is that to celebrate?  Just watch a movie.  We love to watch movies.  Please share what your favorite movie is and why (or just what).

I have a can of cherry pie filling in the pantry so I can celebrate National Canned Food Month AND National Cherry Month all at the same time!  I like the Cherry Pie Filling Dump Cake recipe on The Typical Mom blog and I also like the Cherry Cheesecake Surprise Layered Dessert recipe on The Mandatory Mooch.  Of course, fresh cherries are good all on their own!

Here's some canned food advice from daughter, Amanda & her hubby, Brandon.  "If it is necessary to heat canned food in the can, the top must be removed to prevent pressure buildup....Then place the can in a saucepan of hot water and simmer on the stove top.  Food cans should never be placed in a microwave for heating....You can cook multiple dishes in one pot."  I can't think of a situation where this would be necessary and I still would rather open the can and cook the food in a pot.

How wonderful is it that we have libraries and can get books and magazines for free, assuming we return them on time and don't have to pay the late fee.  I love libraries.  Many libraries have books that can be borrowed and downloaded to a Kindle or other device.  Libraries offer many different activities for all ages and also have computers available for use.  Check out your local library this month and see what they have to offer.

(Picture from The Mandatory Mooch blog)

Happy Bubble Gum Day & Send a Card to a Friend Day & Happy Wear Red Day & National Fettuccine Alfredo Day & Happy e Day

Happy Bubble Gum Day & Send a Card to a Friend Day & Happy Wear Red Day & National Fettuccine Alfredo Day & Happy e Day

Make sure to wear RED today to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and to celebrate American Heart Month.

Who remembers Bazooka bubble gum and the comic that was wrapped up with the gum?  I loved to chew that gum and the comic was a plus.  Sometimes the gum was pretty hard and it really worked your jaw to soften it up.  Oh, but the nice bubbles you could blow!

It's National Fettuccine Alfredo Day.  I've made Alfredo at home but it's never quite as good as at a restaurant.  Broccoli and the flat Fettuccine noodles make it a pretty dish.

Now for my favorite - e Day.  I've been thinking of all the e things to do today and am disappointed in what it really means: e-Day celebrates the mathematical constant e, which has a value of 2.7182818.  It is celebrated in countries that follow the month/day date format.
Now that that's over, on to the fun.  I suggest celebrating things that start with e.  Escape via Elevator, Escalator, or Expressway; Eat Entire Entrees; Enjoy Entertainment.  You may be an Educator, Employer, Employee, or Encourager.  (Now I want to play Scattergories.)  How many e's can you put into today?

Send a card to a friend to let them know you're thinking of them.  It can be through snail mail, E-mail (and use Emojis), or hand delivered (by you).  Send a funny card, a sentimental card, or an "I miss you" card.

However you celebrate today, do it Enthusiastically!

Happy National Chopsticks Day & National Frozen Yogurt Day and Pay a Compliment Day
Sounds like Chinese food for dinner followed by a trip to Sweet Frog for frozen yogurt and a thank you to hubby for his safe driving (compliment).

Hubby and daughter, Katherine, visited China a few years ago and brought back chopsticks.  They are more than just chunky skewers for roasting vegetables.  Here are some chopstick etiquette rules.

• Don't insert chopsticks upright into your food, it's an insult.
• It's okay to stab a piece of food with a chopstick.
• Don't point at people with them.
• Don't suck or chew on the ends of your chopsticks.
• Chopsticks are not drumsticks.  Don't drum with them.

Today, to celebrate National Frozen Yogurt Day, Sweet Frog Frozen yogurt is offering buy one get one free for Loyalty members.  Menchie's Frozen Yogurt is offering buy one, get one free frozen yogurt from 3 pm - 7 pm and TCBY is offering free froyo up to 6 oz.

I like the thought of paying a compliment.  Paying implies that it costs us something and it does.  We have to pay attention to others and our surroundings to notice things and that takes our focus off ourselves.  Who is being thoughtful (and don't I wish I'd thought of that)?  Who is making sure things run smoothly?  Who is showing compassion and extending mercy to others?  Who paints the heavens in beauty and gives us everything we need for life and godliness?  Let's be aware today of the impact of others and say something.

Happy National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Most of my daughters played sports during their school years.  We spent many afternoons and mornings at ball fields, school gyms, and at pools watching children swim!  I'm happy we were able to give our children a well-rounded childhood.  The whole family enjoys watching sports too.  it is more difficult to find games featuring women but not impossible.  Daughter, Abbie, likes to watch girls' softball when it's on TV (it might be women's college softball).  And who doesn't enjoy watching the Olympics!  Once upon a time, I used to bowl on a few bowling leagues.  That's a sport, right?  And I have golfed.  Sports shouldn't be about gender; to me, it's about the challenge and competition.  An interesting side note is my high school gym teacher, Chris Weller, went on to be the coach for the Maryland Terrapins Women's Basketball team from 1975 until 1980.  I used to wonder how frustrated she must have been with a bunch of high school girls, most of who were only there because it was required and how great the difference was coaching women who could actually play.

Celebrate women and girls in sports this year, not just today.

Happy Homemade Soup Day

In case you already miss January's National Soup Month, here's an opportunity to reminisce.  What's your favorite kind of soup?  We like to make soup in the crockpot.  It's so easy and long cooking hours give the flavors time to blend well.  Hubby likes vegetable soup and it is yummy when he makes it.  I like broccoli, potato, cheese soup.  It's liquidy comfort food.  Brooklyn Farm Girl has an easy broccoli, cheese, potato soup recipe.  If you want someone else to make "homemade" soup for you, Chili's has great soup.  Chicken Enchilada is my favorite there.  Another "homemade" soup is out of a can.  If you have to cook it, it's homemade, right?

Hubby says soup is so last month!  So if you're also tired of soup after January's National Soup Month, celebrate this Month's National Cherry Month or National Canned Food Month.

Happy Feed the Birds Day and Happy National Carrot Cake Day and Happy Take a Cruise Day

Feed the Birds Day was created to remind everyone to, well, feed the wild birds.  Their food sources may be covered with snow or at least harder to come by in many areas.  To celebrate you can also watch Mary Poppins.  There's a song in the movie called Feed the Birds.  Or visit the Happy Hooligans website for easy diy bird feeders.

Do you like carrot cake?  Since there's carrot in it, it's healthy, right?  😉  I've never made a carrot cake but The Butcher's Wife blog has a carrot cake recipe that looks good and pretty easy.

I guess more notice needs to be given to celebrate Take a Cruise Day unless you own a boat or know someone who does.  Some places have dinner cruises but it may be too cold for that.  Or you can take a drive which used to be called cruising.  Of course, it was more popular when gas was under $1 a gallon.

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?

Happy Groundhog Day and Happy Superbowl Sunday and Happy Tater Tot Day

Many people will celebrate this day by watching the Superbowl, not me; I don't like football, but others will.  Hubby will have to record the show since we have small group meeting tonight.  Do you watch the Superbowl?  For the game or for the half-time show?  Or for the commercials?  Do you make special snacks for game day?  We attended a church that had a Superbowl party and played the game on a big screen.  Everyone brought goodies and it was a lot of fun (I heard).

Do you think the groundhog will see his shadow?  Did you hear talk about using an AI groundhog instead of the real deal?  I hope to spend the afternoon watching the movie Groundhog Day and eating taco tater tot casserole.  

Come back tomorrow and let me know which commercial you liked best.  They've had some really funny ones over the years.  I like the cat herding one myself.    The commercial was made for Electronic Data Systems and aired during the 1999 Superbowl.  Hubby worked for EDS at the time (still does but the company has been sold and changed names several times since then).  

The groundhog may or may not see his shadow but remember what James 1:17 says about God.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

(Daughter) Amanda (and Tyler) to (Son) Matt & Cat:  Teddy (the dog) is enjoying the Super Bowl too (but he doesn't understand selfies and thought I was offering him my face 🤣)

Happy Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day and Happy Spunky Old Broads Day and Happy Car Insurance Day

WooHoo, eating ice cream for breakfast!  Kids will love this one.  Grown-ups can have coffee ice cream to get their morning started.  How about ice cream and waffles?  Ice cream topped with granola, that's sort of like a bowl of granola cereal, right?  Or bananas and ice cream (some call it a banana split)?  If you're stuck inside, chase away Winter blahs by celebrating in this fun way.  But this might mean you need to have oatmeal for dinner.

Do you know any spunky old broads?  Are you a spunky old broad?  I'm an old broad but don't consider myself spunky.  Now my BFF with the unicorn hair, she's spunky, she's just not old.  We bought a nice older gold van last year and I named her Goldie but the color reminded me of getting blonde hair color a little wrong - brassy.  So, her name is Goldie but I call her BOB because my gold van is a Brassy Old Broad.

I recently discovered that today is also Car Insurance Day.  This one's for my son, Matt, who works for Geico.  Looking at the 3 days to celebrate today, I feel like singing, "Which one of these doesn't belong?"  Two outrageous suggestions and car insurance.  (Try saying "out-RA-geous" with emphasis and "car insurance" in a really flat voice.  Makes me laugh!)  Now, all laughing aside, car insurance is important and every driver should have it.  Drivers are crazy out there - not you, of course.