Today is...

National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

It's National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day! Although it only requires three ingredients (bread, cheese, and butter), grilled cheese is one of the most popular comfort foods in the world. Send a free eCard for National Grilled Cheese Day to spread the word about this holiday!

The Ancient Romans were the first civilization to make a cooked bread and cheese sandwich, but many cultures have invented their own take on this ancient dish. In France, people enjoy Croque Monsieur (a grilled ham and cheese sandwich) while in Switzerland it is customary to melt the cheese and toast the bread separately before combining them. The classic American grilled cheese sandwich emerged in the 1920s when inexpensive cheese and affordable sliced bread became available. It is now a staple in cafés, diners, and school cafeterias across the country.

To celebrate National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day, enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich cooked your favorite way and served with a side of tomato soup!

Today is also National Licorice Day

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month & National Grilled Cheese Month

mages and text courtesy of MyPunchbowl.com" -- http://www.mypunchbowl.com/

History for April 12  1833 - Charles Gaylor patented the fireproof safe. 1934 - F. Scott Fitzgerald novel "Tender Is the Night" was first published. 1954 - Bill Haley and the Comets recorded "Rock Around the Clock." The song was released a year later in the movie "Blackboard Jungle." 1981 - The space shuttle Columbia blasted off from Cape Canaveral, FL, on its first test flight. 1985 - Federal inspectors declared that four animals of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus were not unicorns. They were goats with horns that had been surgically implanted. 1988 - Sonny Bono was elected Mayor of Palm Springs, CA. _________________________________________________________ "Don’t be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps." --David Lloyd George

Daily Challenge

Strengthen the muscles in your abdomen and lower back with 8 leg extension crunches.

How to do it:

Sit on the floor with your knees bent and your feet soles-down on the floor. Place your hands behind you, palms down, and lean back into your hands. Rotate your palms and turn your fingers towards your backside. Lift your right foot off the floor, extend your right leg out in front, bend your knee, and pull your leg back toward your chest. Put your foot back on the floor and repeat 4 times. Switch sides and do 5 more leg extension crunches on the left side.

Why it matters:

Weak abdominal muscles are shorter and can pull your body into a forward, rounded position. This crunch is a great exercise to strengthen your abdominal muscles while lifting your chest and pulling your shoulders back. Strong abdominal muscles make for a strong core, which contributes to better posture.

Let us know if you tried it.

Fun Fact:
The Rockettes, famous for taking leg extensions to a whole new level, have their skirts hemmed to a specified length from the ground up (rather than from the waist down). This ensures that each Rockette's hemline is at exactly the same height.