Today is...
National Parfait Day!

Did you know that the word "parfait" means "perfect" in French? It’s no wonder that this dish makes a perfect snack, meal, or dessert!
Although parfaits were originally served on decorative plates, today they are typically layered in tall, thin glasses. There are also many variations on the original parfait recipe, which originated in France in the 19th century.
American parfaits are made by layering ice cream with granola, nuts, yogurt, fresh fruits, and whip cream. Whip up your own version to celebrate National Parfait Day!

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November is Family Literacy Month & National Pet Adoption Month & National Pomegranate Month & Peanut Butter Lover's Month

This week is National Game & Puzzle Week

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History for November 25th 1936 -  Germany and Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact. 1947 - The London Council of Foreign Ministers meeting begins. 1958 - French Sudan gains autonomy as a self-governing member of the French Community. 1975 - Suriname: independent from Netherlands   1999 - The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is passed by the UN. ______________________________________________________ "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." --  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today is...
Great American Smokeout!

The Great American Smokeout is a social engineering experiment that encourages people to quit smoking. Lynn Smith, the publisher of a Minnesota newspaper, introduced the concept in 1974 when she announced a “Don’t Smoke Day” or “D-Day.”
Today, the Great American Smokeout is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. On the third Thursday of November, smokers across the country try to give up their cigarettes for 24 hours. The idea is that many will quit smoking altogether. Learn more about the harmful effects of tobacco and how to participate in this year's festivities.

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Today is also World Television Day

November is Family Literacy Month & National Pet Adoption Month & National Pomegranate Month & Peanut Butter Lover's Month

This week is American Education Week

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History for November 21st 1783 -  Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier and Francois Laurent made the first untethered hot-air balloon flight over Paris. 1789 - North Carolina ratifies the US Constitution and is admitted as 12th US state. 1877 - Thomas Edison announces his invention of the phonograph. 1922 - Rebecca Latimer Felton of Georgia becomes the first female United States Senator.   1964 - The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge opens to traffic. ______________________________________________________ "If you aren't in the moment, you are either looking forward to uncertainty, or back to pain and regret." --  Jim Carrey

Today is...
National Peanut Butter Fudge Day!

Peanut butter has been a staple in American kitchens for more than a century. It can be served in a sandwich, mixed with ice cream, combined with chocolate, or whipped into fudge! Peanut butter fudge is the perfect treat for anyone with a sweet tooth and a love for rich, decadent desserts.
According to legend, the origin of fudge can be traced back to the 1800s when people used the word "fudge" to mean "cheat" or "mess up." One day, a chef accidentally "fudged" a batch of caramel he was trying to make, inventing the delicious confection we know and love it today. 
Fudge is now made in many heavenly flavors, including the rich peanut butter variety. Try your hand at making a homemade batch in honor of National Peanut Butter Fudge Day!

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November is Family Literacy Month & National Pet Adoption Month & National Pomegranate Month & Peanut Butter Lover's Month

This week is American Education Week

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History for November 20th 1789 -  New Jersey becomes the first U.S. state to ratify the Bill of Rights (the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution of the United States). 1947 - NBC's political talk show "Meet the Press" premieres 1962 - The Cuban Missile Crisis ends. Soviet Union agrees to withdraw missiles from Cuba, and President Kennedy ends Caribbean quarantine 1985 - Microsoft Windows 1.0 is released.   1998 - The first module of the International Space Station, Zarya, is launched. ______________________________________________________ "Constant dripping hollows out a stone." --  Lucretius

Today is...
National Boston Cream Pie Day!

Celebrate National Boston Cream Pie Day! A French chef named Sanzian invented Boston cream pie in 1856. He worked at the Parker House Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, which is also where the Parker House roll originated.
In 1996, Boston cream pie became the official dessert of Massachusetts in a bill sponsored by Norton High School. This bill defeated both Indian Pudding and Toll House cookies as the state's official dessert. Boston cream pie is now also a popular doughnut, coffee, and ice cream flavor.
Although it is called a pie, Boston cream pie is actually a cake. It consists of two round layers of sponge cake with a thick vanilla custard filling. It is usually frosted with a chocolate glaze but it can also be topped with confectionary sugar. The dessert is served in wedges just like a pie. Enjoy a big slice today to celebrate National Boston Cream Pie Day!

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

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History for October 23 1910 - Blanche S. Scott became the first woman to make a public solo airplane flight. 1946 - The United Nations General Assembly convened in New York for the first time. 1958 - Russian poet and novelist Boris Pasternak was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. He was forced to refuse the honor due to negative Soviet reaction. Pasternak won the award for writing "Dr. Zhivago". 1998 - Japan nationalized its first bank since World War II. ______________________________________________________ "Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work." --H.L. Hunt

Today is...
National Boss's Day!

Send your boss a gift card to show your appreciation. Boss’s Day recognizes all those in a supervisory role that demonstrate kindness, fairness, and understanding.
Boss's Day dates back to 1958 when State Farm Insurance employee Patricia Bays Haroski registered the date with the government. Haroski wanted to honor her father (who was also her boss!) for all the advice he gave to her and her siblings throughout their careers. She chose his birthday as the date for this special holiday!
Not sure how to celebrate? Send a free eCard, ask your fellow employees to chip in for a bouquet of flowers, or take your boss to lunch to show your appreciation. 

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Today is also National Liqueur Day 
 
October is Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month & National Breast Cancer Awareness Month & National Chili Month & National Dessert Month & National Pasta Month & National Roller Skating Month

This week is National Baking Week & National Cereal Lovers Week

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History for October 16 1701 - The Collegiate School was founded in Killingworth, CT. The school moved to New Haven in 1745 and changed its name to Yale College. 1846 - Ether, the painkiller, was used for the first time. The drug was invented by dentist William T. Morton. 1916 - Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in New York City, NY. 1943 - Chicago's new subway system was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony. 1951 - Little Richard held his first recording session in Atlanta, GA. 1962 - U.S. President Kennedy was informed that there were missile bases in Cuba, beginning the Cuban missile crisis. 1964 - China detonated its first atomic bomb becoming the world's fifth nuclear power. ______________________________________________________ "Every man has the right to risk his own life in order to save it." --Jean-Jacques Rosseau

Today is...
National Frappe Day!

The frappe is a chilled foam-covered coffee drink that originated in Greece in the 1950s. Today, there are many different variations of this refreshing beverage.
In the United States, frappes are usually made with coffee, milk, ice, vanilla ice cream, and sugar combined in a blender. In other parts of the world fruit frappes are popular.
Some people pronounce it “frap” while others say “frah-pay," but everyone can agree on the satisfying taste of this cool, creamy coffee treat. Make your own frappe today to celebrate National Frappe Day!

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Today is also World Habitat Day

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

This week is Fire Prevention Week & National Walk Your Dog Week & World Rainforest Week & World Space Week

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History for October 7 1777 - During the American Revolution the second Battle of Saratoga began. 1950 - "The Frank Sinatra Show" debuted. 1956 - A U.S. House subcommittee began investigations of allegedly rigged TV quiz shows. 1963 - U.S. President Kennedy signed a nuclear test ban treaty with Britain and the Soviet Union. 1982 - The musical "Cats" opened at the Wintergarden Theatre. In 1997 the show became the longest running show in Broadway history. ______________________________________________________ "Be patient with all that is unresolved in your heart, and try to love the questions themselves. Do not seek for the answers that cannot be given, for you wouldn't be able to live with them, and the point is to live everything. Live the questions now, and perhaps without knowing it, you will live along someday into the answers." --Rainer Maria Rilke

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!

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National Coffee Milkshake Day & System Administrator Appreciation Day

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month

This week is National Zoo Keeper Week

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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. ______________________________________________________ "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...
Hammock Day!

Picture this: it's mid-July, the sun shines and you rest on a hammock, completely relaxed. This is the essence of Hammock Day.
Today’s reason to celebrate reminds us to slow down, breathe easy and enjoy these beautiful summer months. Though its exact origins are unknown, it is said that hammocks originated hundreds of years ago in South America. Allegedly, the journals of Christopher Columbus provide the first documentation of the hammock. However, some sources attribute this invention to the Ancient Greeks. One thing is for sure—hammocks have always been symbols of leisure.
Today, take a few minutes to sit back and unwind on a hammock. Don’t have one? No problem! Just grab some sturdy fabric and rope—you can make yourself one in no time. Happy Hammock Day!

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July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month

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History for July 22 1926 - Babe Ruth caught a baseball at Mitchell Field in New York. The ball had been dropped from an airplane flying at 250 feet. 1975 - Confederate General Robert E. Lee had his U.S. citizenship restored by the U.S. Congress. 2000 - Astronomers at the University of Arizona announced that they had found a 17th moon orbiting Jupiter. ______________________________________________________ "Be patient with all that is unresolved in your heart, and try to love the questions themselves. Do not seek for the answers that cannot be given, for you wouldn't be able to live with them, and the point is to live everything. Live the questions now, and perhaps without knowing it, you will live along someday into the answers." --Rainer Maria Rilke

Today is...
Pecan Pie Day!

This sweet delight has the best of both worlds—a smooth filling and a crunchy top. Traditional recipes for pecan pie call for ingredients like roasted pecans, butter, eggs, and brown sugar, but there are many different variations. Some people even choose to add special ingredients like chocolate or bourbon.
Most Americans consider pecan pie to be a Southern specialty, but this type of pie is actually French in origin. French immigrants living in New Orleans baked the first American pecan pies. Many years later, the Karo company popularized the dessert with recipes that called for the company’s corn syrup.
Even though it’s not Thanksgiving, today is a great day to eat a slice of pecan pie! Pick up a pie at your local bakery or grocery store to share with friends. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and enjoy!

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Today is also Simplicity Day

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month

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History for July 12 1931 - A major league baseball record for doubles was set as the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs combined for a total of 23. 1933 - A minimum wage of 40 cents an hour was established in the U.S. 1941 - Moscow was bombed by the German Luftwaffe for the first time. 1946 - "The Adventures of Sam Spade" was heard on ABC radio for the first time. 1962 - The Rolling Stones made their performance debut at the Marquee Club in London. 1982 - "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" broke all box office records by surpassing the $100-million mark of ticket sales in the first 31 days of its opening. ______________________________________________________ "There is a time for work. And a time for love. That leaves no other time." --Coco Chanel

Today is... National Chocolate Wafer Day!

Today is...
National Chocolate Wafer Day!

These crispy, sweet snacks are an American favorite. With their waffle surface pattern and thin layers, they can often be found accompanied with ice cream or cooked into other baked goods.
Variations of chocolate wafers can also be found around the world.  Did you know that in Egypt, there are special kinds of wafers called freska that are only sold on the beach in the summertime?
Elsewhere in the world, chocolate wafers are enjoyed as a key ingredient in Oreos, in ice cream sandwiches and countless other recipes.  National Chocolate Wafer Day is truly a global affair!
No matter where or how you are eating your wafers, these delicious treats are truly worth celebrating!

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Today is also Eat Beans Day

July is National Grilling Month & National Ice Cream Month

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History for July 3 1775 - U.S. Gen. George Washington took command of the Continental Army at Cambridge, MA. 1863 - The U.S. Civil War Battle of Gettysburg, PA, ended after three days. It was a major victory for the North as Confederate troops retreated. 1901 - The Wild Bunch, led by Butch Cassidy, committed its last American robbery near Wagner, MT. They took $65,000 from a Great Northern train. 1912 - Rube Marquand of the New York Giants set a baseball pitching record when earned his 19th consecutive win. 1940 - Bud Abbott and Lou Costello debuted on NBC radio. 1971 - Jim Morrison (Doors) died in Paris at age 27. ______________________________________________________ "A person becomes happy to the same extent to which he or she gives happiness to other people." --Jermey Bentham