Today is...

National Candy Corn Day

It’s National Candy Corn Day! Did you know that candy corn has been around for more than 100 years and has never changed its look, taste, or design?

George Renninger of the Wunderle Candy Company created candy corn in the 1880s. It was made to mimic a kernel of corn and became instantly popular because of its innovative design. It was one of the first candies to feature three different colors!

Today, candy corn is a favorite American treat to enjoy during the Halloween season. The National Confectioners Association estimates that 20 million pounds of candy corn are sold annually. Grab a handful to celebrate National Candy Corn Day!

October is Adopt-a-Dog Month & National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & National Chili Month & National Dessert Month & National Pasta Month & National Roller Skating Month


This week is International Magic Week

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History for October 30   1893 - The U.S. Senate gave final approval to repeal the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890. 1894 - The time clock was patented by Daniel M. Cooper of Rochester, NY. 1945 - The U.S. government announced the end of shoe rationing. 1961 - The Soviet Union tested a hydrogen bomb with a force of approximately 58 megatons. 1978 - The movie "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park" aired on NBC-TV. _________________________________________________________ "Pleasure is, and must remain, a side-effect or by-product, and is destroyed or spoiled to the degree to which it is made an end in itself." --Victor Frankl

Today is...

National Zucchini Day

It’s National Zucchini Day! Today we celebrate this versatile green vegetable and all the delicious dishes we can make with it.

The common zucchini is a close relative of the cucumber and the melon. It is a type of squash that comes from Italy. In fact, the name “zucchini” comes from the word “zucchino,” which means “small squash” in Italian. The largest zucchini on record was 69.5 inches long and weighed 65 pounds! It probably wouldn’t have tasted very good though. For the best flavor, always choose a small or medium sized zucchini.

To celebrate National Zucchini Day, plan a dinner menu full of this healthy vegetable! Grill it, bake it into bread, or add it to a salad. Bon appétit!

Today is also Happiness Happens Day

August is National Goat Cheese Month & National Peach Month & National Water Quality Month

 

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History for August 8   1588 - The Spanish Armada was defeated by the English fleet ending an invasion attempt. 1899 - The refrigerator was patented by A.T. Marshall. 1945 - During World War II, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan. 1999 - Wade Boggs got his 3,000th hit of his major league baseball career. 2000 - The submarine H.L. Hunley was raised from ocean bottom after 136 years. The sub had been lost during an attack on the U.S.S. Housatonic in 1864. The Hunley was the first submarine in history to sink a warship. _________________________________________________ "Life is made up of small pleasures. Happiness is made up of those tiny successes. The big ones come too infrequently. And if you don’t collect all these tiny successes the big ones don’t really mean anything." --Norman Lear

Today is...

National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

It’s National Chocolate Ice Cream Day! Today we celebrate one of the most popular ice cream flavors of all time. Culinary historians believe that the first ice cream flavors were fruit-based, but by the 18th century both vanilla and chocolate were quite common. Thomas Jefferson took a fancy to ice cream while living abroad during the 1780s. (He was the ambassador to France at the time.) It is likely that he is responsible for bringing this delicious frozen treat to America!

Today, the United States produces around 1.6 billion gallons of ice cream each year. Whether you prefer your chocolate ice cream in a cone, a cup, a sundae, or a milkshake, indulge in a scoop (or two!) today! Happy National Chocolate Ice Cream Day!

Today is also Daniel Boone Day

June is Gay Pride Month & Great Outdoors Month

This week is National Fishing and Boating Week

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History for June 7  1775 - The United Colonies changed their name to the United States. 1776 - Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposed to the Continental Congress a resolution calling for a Declaration of Independence. 1892 - John Joseph Doyle became the first pinch-hitter in baseball when he was used in a game. 1937 - The cover of "LIFE" magazine showed the latest in campus fashions of the times, which included saddle shoes. 1939 - King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, arrived in the U.S. It was the first visit to the U.S. by a reigning British monarch. 1976 - "The NBC Nightly News", with John Chancellor and David Brinkley, aired for the first time. 1993 - The ground breaking ceremony was held for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, OH. _________________________________________________________ "Happiness, that grand mistress of the ceremonies in the dance of life, impels us through all its mazes and meanderings, but leads none of us by the same route." --Charles Caleb Colton

Daily Challenge

Jump up and down for 20 seconds.

How to do it:

Find a nearby wall clock with a second hand, or set an alarm on your phone or computer to time you. Then jump straight up and down on both feet for 20 seconds. Don't worry about how far you get from the floor. You can try to jump as high as you can if you like, but clearing the floor by an inch counts, too.

Why it matters:

It doesn't take a lot of time to get your blood pumping! This short bit of exercise will get your heart and lungs working harder and bring a little burst of energy into your day. Jumping can also help strengthen the muscles and ligaments that support the ankles.

Let us know if you tried it.

Fun Fact:
Photographer Philippe Halsman developed "jumpology," a philosophy of jump photography. He believed that when people jump, their attention is diverted to the act of jumping, and their true selves are revealed.