Today is...

Jump for Jelly Beans Day

It’s National Jump for Jelly Beans Day! Today, we encourage candy-lovers everywhere to jump for joy and show your appreciation for jelly beans. These tiny candies evolved from an ancient confection called “Turkish delight,” which was one of the earliest forms of hard candy. Our modern-day jelly beans gained popularity during the American Civil War. A candy company in Boston began marketing jelly beans as the perfect treat to send to soldiers, and soon everyone was hooked. One of the most famous jelly bean fans is President Ronald Reagan. He served them at his inauguration!

To celebrate National Jump for Jelly Beans Day, treat yourself to a delicious handful of jelly beans. Jump for joy when you stumble upon your favorite flavor!

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month

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History for July 31   1498 - Christopher Columbus, on his third voyage to the Western Hemisphere, arrived at the island of Trinidad. 1790 - The first U.S. patent was issued to Samuel Hopkins for his process for making potash and pearl ashes. The substance was used in fertilizer. 1948 - U.S. President Truman helped dedicate New York International Airport (later John F. Kennedy International Airport) at Idlewild Field. 1964 - The American space probe Ranger 7 transmitted pictures of the moon's surface. 1971 - Men rode in a vehicle on the moon for the first time in a lunar rover vehicle (LRV). 1991 - U.S. President Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. _________________________________________________________ "Anyone can revolt. It is more difficult silently to obey our own inner promptings, and to spend our lives finding sincere and fitting means of expression for our temperament and our gifts." --Georges Rouault

Today is...

National Cheesecake Day

Today is National Cheesecake Day! Cheesecake is a rich, decadent dessert made with cream cheese, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Add a crumbly graham cracker crust and a fruit topping for the ultimate cheesecake experience!

There are dozens of different cheesecake varieties. Some of the most popular flavors are strawberry, key lime, and peanut butter cup. There are also many styles of cheesecake. Different countries (and even cities) have their own version of this classic dessert.

To celebrate National Cheesecake Day, grab a slice of your favorite cheesecake from your local bakery! Remember to keep an eye out for special cheesecake deals and giveaways in honor of the occasion.

Today is also  National Father-in-law Day

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month

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History for July 30   1619 - The first representative assembly in America convened in Jamestown, VA. 1942 - Frank Sinatra recorded the last of 90 recordings with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. 1942 - The WAVES were created by legislation signed by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The members of the Women's Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service were a part of the U.S. Navy. 1965 - U.S. President Johnson signed into law the Medicare bill. It went into effect the following year. 1998 - A group of Ohio machine-shop workers (who call themselves the Lucky 13) won the $295.7 million Powerball jackpot. It was the largest-ever American lottery. _________________________________________________________ "Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you’re alive, it isn’t." --Richard Bach

Today is...

Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

Tonight is the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games! Millions of people around the world will tune in to watch the festivities and celebrate the beginning of “the world’s greatest sporting event.”

The first Olympic Games took place in Ancient Greece in 776 BC. Historians believe there was just one event—a short sprint called the “stadion.” The modern-day Olympic Games began in 1896. Today, over 10,000 athletes from over 200 countries compete for a coveted gold medal.

To celebrate the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, invite some friends and family over to watch the spectacle! Check out these ideas for Olympics-themed party food and enjoy the celebration.

Today is also  Walk on Stilts Day & National Scotch Day

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month

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History for July 27  1663 - The British Parliament passed a second Navigation Act, which required all goods bound for the colonies be sent in British ships from British ports. 1866 - Cyrus Field successfully completed the Atlantic Cable. It was an underwater telegraph from North America to Europe. 1909 - Orville Wright set a record for the longest airplane flight. He was testing the first Army airplane and kept it in the air for 1 hour 12 minutes and 40 seconds. 1940 - Bugs Bunny made his official debut in the Warner Bros. animated cartoon "A Wild Hare." 1944 - U.S. troops completed the liberation of Guam. _________________________________________________________ "It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere." --Agnes Replier

Today is...

All or Nothing Day

Today is All or Nothing Day! How does one observe this unique occasion? The answer to this question is different for everyone, but one thing is certain—this is not a holiday to be taken lightly.

All or Nothing Day is a time to take risks and live on the edge. Live like today is your last day on earth and let your inner daredevil shine. Be sure to make peace with your enemies, spend time with your loved ones, and do something you've always wanted to do.

Try something new, seek an adventure, and give this day all you’ve got. All or Nothing Day only happens once a year, so don’t hold back!

Today is also National Coffee Milkshake Day

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month

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History for July 26  1775 - A postal system was established by the 2nd Continental Congress of the United States. The first Postmaster General was Benjamin Franklin. 1945 - Winston Churchill resigned as Britain's prime minister. 1947 - U.S. President Truman signed The National Security Act. The act created The National Security Council, the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 1948 - Babe Ruth was seen by the public for the last time, when he attended the New York City premiere of the motion picture, "The Babe Ruth Story". 1968 - John Lennon and Paul McCartney completed the song "Hey Jude." 1984 - The Prince movie "Purple Rain" premiered in Hollywood, CA. 1999 - 1,500 pieces of Marilyn Monroe's personal items went on display at Christie's in New York, NY. The items went on sale later in 1999. _________________________________________________________ "What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal." --Albert Pike

Today is...

National Hot Fudge Sundae Day

Today is National Hot Fudge Sundae Day! A sundae is the perfect treat to enjoy on a summer night. The cold ice cream paired with a warm, chocolate topping is one of the most delicious combinations known to man. Add some nuts, whipped cream, and cherries on top and you’ve got yourself a world-famous dessert!

The Guinness Book of World Records has documented several record-setting sundaes. For example, the most expensive sundae can be ordered at Serendipity 3 in New York City for the hefty sum of $1000. In 2009, the Kids Club in Brunswick, Georgia created the world’s longest sundae. It measured over 130 feet long!

To celebrate National Hot Fudge Sundae Day, you don’t have to go to such great lengths. Just treat yourself to a scrumptious hot fudge sundae with all of your favorite toppings!

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month

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History for July 25  1564 - Maximillian II became emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. 1799 - Napoleon Bonaparte defeated the Ottomans at Aboukir, Egypt. 1850 - Gold was discovered in the Rogue River in Oregon. 1907 - Korea became a protectorate of Japan. 1946 - The U.S. detonated an atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific. It was the first underwater test of the device. 1946 - Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis staged their first show as a team at Club 500 in Atlantic City, NJ. 1978 - Louise Joy Brown, the first test-tube baby, was born in Oldham, England. She had been conceived through in-vitro fertilization. _________________________________________________________ "Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or something more." --Brother David Steindl-Rast

Today is...

Cousins Day

Today is Cousins Day! This day is dedicated to the wonderful people who helped us endure all our family get-togethers and holidays. They were there to keep us company at the “kids table,” and for some of us, they were the siblings we never had.

Do you ever get confused by all the different types of cousins? There are first cousins, first cousins once or twice removed, second cousins, second cousins once or twice removed, and on and on! Here’s a handy cousins tree graph showing all of the different relationships.

Cousins Day is the perfect opportunity to thank your cousins for all that they do for you. To celebrate the occasion, find some time to chat over the phone and catch up, or make plans to spend the day together!

Today is also Amelia Earhart Day & National Tequila Day

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month

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History for July 24  1847 - Mormon leader Brigham Young and his followers arrived in the valley of the Great Salt Lake in present-day Utah. 1933 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave his fourth "Fireside Chat." 1969 - The Apollo 11 astronauts splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean. 1978 - The movie "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," starring Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees, opened in New York City, NY. 1987 - Hulda Crooks, at 91 years of age, climbed Mt. Fuji. Hulda became the oldest person to climb Japan’s highest peak. _________________________________________________________ "The worst sin -- perhaps the only sin -- passion can commit, is to be joyless." --Dorothy L. Sayer

Today is...

National Hot Dog Day

Today is National Hot Dog Day! Hot dogs are one of the most iconic American foods. No cookout or baseball game would be complete without a delicious hot dog served on a bun and covered in ketchup, mustard, onions, relish, or chili.

Hot dogs (which are also known as frankfurters, franks, wieners, dogs, and red hots) have been around since the late 1800s. Today, the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council estimates that Americans consume 20 billion hot dogs a year!

To celebrate National Hot Dog Day, cook up some hot dogs for dinner tonight. Invite some friends over for an impromptu cookout and celebrate this yummy all-American favorite.

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month

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History for July 23   1715 - The first lighthouse in America was authorized for construction at Little Brewster Island, Massachusetts. 1827 - The first swimming school in the U.S. opened in Boston, MA. 1829 - William Burt patented the typographer, which was the first typewriter. 1904 - The ice cream cone was invented by Charles E. Menches during the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, MO. 1938 - The first federal game preserve was approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The area was 2,000 acres in Utah. 1945 - The first passenger train observation car was placed in service by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. _________________________________________________________ "Crowding a life does not always enrich it." --Rose Kennedy

Today is...

National Lollipop Day

Today is National Lollipop Day! Lollipops come in dozens of different shapes, sizes, and flavors. You can make traditional hard-candy lollipops with just four simple ingredients—sugar, water, corn syrup, and the flavoring of your choice.

Culinary historians believe that the lollipop (or at least some form of it) has been around since the prehistoric era. Early humans often enjoyed honey on a stick as a delicious treat. No one really knows how the modern-day lollipop was invented, but we do know how it got its name. George Smith, the owner of a small American candy store, came up with the sweet's name. In the early 1900s, he called the candy a "lollipop" after his favorite racehorse—Lolly Pop.

To celebrate National Lollipop day, head to your local candy or convenience store and grab a lollipop to celebrate! Enjoy!

Today is also Ramadan

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month


This week is National Zoo Keeper Week

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History for July 20  1810 - Colombia declared independence from Spain. 1917 - The draft lottery in World War I went into operation. 1940 - "Billboard" magazine published its first listing of best-selling singles. 10 songs were on the list. 1969 - Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. became the first men to walk on the moon. 1976 - America's Viking I robot spacecraft made a successful, first-ever landing on Mars. 1985 - Treasure hunters began raising $400 million in coins and silver from the Spanish galleon "Nuestra Senora de Atocha." The ship sank in 1622 40 miles of the coast of Key West, FL. _________________________________________________________ "Happiness is good health and a bad memory." --Albert Schweitzer

Today is...

National Daiquiri Day

It’s National Daiquiri Day! The daiquiri is a rum-based cocktail invented by an American mining engineer named Jennings Cox. Legend has it that Cox created the first daiquiri in the early 1900s after he ran out of gin at a small bar in Santiago, Cuba. 

The original daiquiri recipe called for white rum, lime juice, and sugar. According to another legend, Ernest Hemingway inspired the creation of the frozen variety at El Floridita in Havana in the 1940s. The bartender’s name was Constantino Ribalaigua and he is often considered the true creator of the daiquiri. Today, there are dozens of daiquiri flavors and varieties!

To celebrate National Daiquiri Day, share a round of these delicious cocktails with your friends! Mix them up at home or look out for drink specials at your local bar. Cheers!

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month


This week is National Zoo Keeper Week

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History for July 19  1799 - The Rosetta Stone, a tablet with hieroglyphic translations into Greek, was found in Egypt. 1939 - Dr. Roy P. Scholz became the first surgeon to use fiberglass sutures. 1946 - Marilyn Monroe acted in her first screen test. 1980 - Billy Joel earned his first gold record with "It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me." 1985 - Christa McAuliffe of New Hampshire was chosen to be the first schoolteacher to ride aboard the space shuttle. She died with six others when the Challenger exploded the following year. _________________________________________________________ "That is happiness: to be dissolved into something complete and great. When it comes to one, it comes as naturally as sleep." --Willa Cather

Today is...

National Caviar Day

Today is National Caviar Day! Caviar is processed, salted fish roe (otherwise known as fish eggs). The eggs are tiny, round, and usually black in color, but there are also orange and red varieties. Although it may seem like a slightly odd thing to eat, caviar was once reserved strictly for royalty. Today, it is still considered a delicacy all over the world.

Many people use the term “caviar” to describe any kind of fish egg, but true caviar must come from sturgeon—a group of about 25 species of fish. Some examples of sturgeon are beluga, osetra, and sevruga. These particular fish produce some of the finest varieties of caviar in the world.

Caviar is quite salty so it is usually enjoyed plain, but it can also be used to garnish certain dishes. If you’re feeling adventurous, try some today! You can usually find caviar at specialty food stores. Otherwise, just head to a local seafood restaurant or grill a nice piece of fish to celebrate National Caviar Day. Bon appétit!

 

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month


This week is National Zoo Keeper Week

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History for July 18 1743 - "The New York Weekly Journal" published the first half-page newspaper ad. 1927 - Ty Cobb set a major league baseball record by getting his 4,000th career hit. He hit 4,191 before he retired in 1928. 1936 - The first Oscar Meyer Wienermobile rolled out of General Body Company’s factory in Chicago, IL. 1960 - Hank Ballard and the Midnighters released "The Twist." The song didn't become a hit until later in the year when Chubby Checker covered it. 1964 - The Beatles album "A Hard Days Night" was released. _________________________________________________________ "Justice is the only worship. Ignorance is the only slavery. Happiness is the only good. The time to be good is now. The place to be happy is here. The way to be happy is to make other people so." --Robert G. Ingersoll

Today is...

Yellow Pig Day

You're probably wondering, "What the heck is Yellow Pig Day?" This unique celebration dates back to the 1960s when two math students at Princeton were given an assignment to analyze the properties of the number 17. Thinking about the number 17 for so long drove them a bit nuts, (as you can imagine), so they came up with the idea of a mythical yellow pig. The yellow pig had seventeen toes, seventeen teeth, seventeen eyelashes, etc.

Today, mathematicians in colleges and universities all across the country celebrate Yellow Pig Day by eating Yellow Pig Cake and singing Yellow Pig Carols (seriously, we couldn't make this stuff up). And of course, the festivities always take place on the 17th day of July.

This is not a holiday for weak imaginations, so let yours run wild! In honor of Yellow Pig Day, host a Yellow Pig Parade, exchange Yellow Pig Gifts, or come up with your own wacky way to celebrate. Enjoy!

Today is also Peach Ice Cream Day

 

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month


This week is National Zoo Keeper Week

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History for July 17  1815 - Napoleon Bonaparte surrendered to the British at Rochefort, France. 1821 - Spain ceded Florida to the U.S. 1867 - Harvard School of Dental Medicine was established in Boston, MA. It was the first dental school in the U.S. 1941 - The longest hitting streak in baseball history ended when the Cleveland Indians pitchers held New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio hitless for the first time in 57 games. 1955 - Disneyland opened in Anaheim, CA. _________________________________________________________ "In the last analysis it is our conception of death which decides our answers to all the questions life puts to us." --Dag Hammarskjold

Today is...

National Corn Fritters Day

It’s National Corn Fritters Day! Corn fritters are savory bites of fried or baked corn batter—a mixture made with corn, egg, flour, milk, and melted butter. These treats can be eaten alone, served as a side, or enjoyed with a topping like syrup, powdered sugar, or jam.

Although corn fritters originated in the South, many other cultures have come up with similar dishes. For example, in Asia “pakoras” are a popular snack. This dish is made with vegetables dipped in batter that are then deep-fried.

To celebrate National Corn Fritters Day, head to your local Southern-style restaurant or grab your frying pan to cook up some homemade fritters!

Today is also National Personal Chef Day

 

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month


This week is National Zoo Keeper Week

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History for July 16  1790 - The District of Columbia, or Washington, DC, was established as the permanent seat of the United States Government. 1912 - Bradley A. Fiske patented the airplane torpedo. 1940 - Adolf Hitler ordered the preparations to begin on the invasion of England, known as Operation Sea Lion. 1945 - The United States detonated the first atomic bomb in a test at Alamogordo, NM. 1951 - J.D. Salinger's novel, "The Catcher in the Rye," was first published. 1981 - After 23 years with the name Datsun, executives of Nissan changed the name of their cars to Nissan. _________________________________________________________ "It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for." --Benjamin E. Mays