Today is Wednesday June 23, 2010

Public Service Day

Today is the day to volunteer your time to help in your community. Across the world, volunteer opportunities are endless. You can help out in your local food pantry or become a big brother or big sister. Volunteers are always needed in schools, nursing homes, fire stations and churches.

Public Service Day was started by the United Nations in 2002 as a way to highlight the contribution of public service. Get your friends and family involved in volunteering too, because every act of compassion and kindness, no matter how small, can make a difference!

June is Gay Pride Month & Great Outdoors Month

Today is also National Pink Day  

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

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On this day in History:

	1700 - Russia gave up its Black Sea fleet as part of a truce with the Ottoman Empire. 1860 - The U.S. Secret Service was created to arrest counterfeiters. 1868 - Christopher Latham Sholes received a patent for an invention that he called a "Type-Writer." 1904 - The first American motorboat race got underway on the Hudson River in New York. 1926 - The first lip reading tournament in America was held in Philadelphia, PA.

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Quote of the Day:

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees."

--Dolores Ibarruri


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Today's Tip:

Lemonade Kool-Aid

Original purpose: Quenching your thirst.

 Aha! use: Cleaning lime deposits and iron stains inside the dishwasher. Pour a packet of lemonade Kool-Aid (the only flavor that works) into the detergent cup and run the (empty) dishwasher.

 Reward: Citric acid in the mix wipes out stains; you don't have to

Today is Tuesday June 22, 2010

National Chocolate Eclair Day

Did you know that eclair is the French word for lightning? It is believed that these delicious pastries got their name from the glistening frosting resembling a flash of lightning. 

Eclairs have been a favorite treat since at least the 1860's and will be a bakery shop staple for a long, long time. Eclairs are carefully baked until the dough rises just enough to allow for a hollow interior. Then, cream is piped into its center and the eclair is topped off with icing. 

With that sugary, crispy dough and cream filling, they are a favorite dessert worldwide and it is difficult to eat just one. But you can start your diet tomorrow, right?

June is Gay Pride Month & Great Outdoors Month

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

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On this day in History:

	1772 - Slavery was outlawed in England. 1933 - Germany became a one political party country when Hitler banned parties other than the Nazis. 1944 - U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt signed the "GI Bill of Rights" to provide broad benefits for veterans of the war. 1946 - Jet airplanes were used to transport mail for the first time. 1959 - Eddie Lubanski rolled 24 consecutive strikes in a bowling tournament in Miami, FL. 1990 - Billy Joel became the first rock artist to perform at Yankee Stadium.

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Quote of the Day:

"My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. She said that achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others, and that’s nice, too, but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about success."

--Helen Hayes -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today's Tip:

Vegetable oil will put a shine on leather shoes. Use a damp cloth to remove any dirt, then run a soft cloth with a drop of oil over the surface to (literally) add polish.

Today is Monday June 21, 2010

Summer Solstice

Today is certainly the day to enjoy some extra summer sunshine! It is the summer solstice, the longest day of daylight for people living in the northern hemisphere. In the Arctic Circle, there will be 24 hours of daylight, whereas in Antarctica there will be 24 hours of nighttime. As the earth spins on its axis around the sun, the summer solstice occurs when the earth's axial tilt is closest to the sun.

The worldwide interpretation of the summer solstice varies from culture to culture. Most countries however, recognize it as a symbol of fertility. Various festivals, gatherings, and rituals take place today worldwide. In Celtic and Slavic cultures, people used to celebrate with dancing and bonfires, believing that these rituals would help increase the sun's energy. In England, thousands of people gather every year at Stonehenge and Avebury at sunrise to welcome the summer solstice.

To celebrate today, grab your sun glasses and sun screen and head outside to enjoy the extra hours of daylight!

Today is also Go Skateboarding Day

June is Gay Pride Month & Great Outdoors Month

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

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On this day in History:

	1788 - The U.S. Constitution went into effect when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it. 1939 - Lou Gehrig quit baseball due to illness. 1942 - Ben Hogan recorded the lowest score (to that time) in a major golf tournament. Hogan shot a 271 for 72 holes in Chicago, IL. 1945 - Allied forces captured Okinawa, Japan. 1981 - "Raiders of the Lost Ark" opened.

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Quote of the Day:

"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit."

--Helen Keller
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Today's Tip:

Skateboard as a Shelf

Purchase a pair of L-brackets (available at hardware stores) that are a little more than half as long as the skateboard's width. Screw the brackets into two studs in a wall, about 16 inches apart. Remove the trucks and the wheels from the skateboard—or leave them on if they aren't grungy and you want to hide the supports—and place the board atop the brackets.

Today is Friday June 18, 2010

International Picnic Day

International Picnic Day is an opportunity to plan the perfect picnic for your friends and family. First, invite your loved ones to a park or large grassy area. Next, pack a lunch, complete with snacks and drinks. Finally, bring blankets to sit on and most important bug spray! Ants and mosquitoes are a picnic-planners worst enemy.

While outside, take a minute to enjoy the crisp air of the outdoors and the various sounds of nature. Take some time to enjoy the laughs and fun times with friends. They might even be contagious enough to entice other park visitors to follow your example and have picnics of their own!

Today is also Go Fishing Day & National Cherry Tart Day

June is Gay Pride Month & Great Outdoors Month

This week is National Flag Week

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

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On this day in History:

	1155 - Frederick I, Barbarossa, was crowned emperor of Rome. 1812 - The War of 1812 began as the U.S. declared war against Great Britain. 1873 - Susan B. Anthony was fined $100 for attempting to vote for a U.S. President. 1927 - The U.S. Post Office offered a special 10-cent postage stamp for sale. The stamp was of Charles Lindbergh’s "Spirit of St. Louis." 1959 - A Federal Court annulled the Arkansas law allowing school closings to prevent integration. 1967 - The Jimi Hendrix Experience made its debut performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in California. 1975 - Fred Lynn of the Boston Red Sox hit three home runs, a triple and a single in a game against the Detroit Tigers.

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Quote of the Day:

"Everyone is a bore to someone. That is unimportant. The thing is to avoid being a bore to oneself."

--Gerald Brenan
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Today's Tip:

Cupcake Foils as Votives

The best part of using foils to hold tea lights: No cleaning up the dripped wax. Simply toss the cupcake foils when the wick is snuffed.

Today is Wednesday June 16, 2010

Fudge Day

Got a sweet tooth? Indulge yourself in this chocolate deliciousness. The concept for fudge first started in the late 17th century with a candy called Scots Tablet, which was a slightly harder consistency than American fudge and did not have chocolate in it. Today, fudge can be found in a wide array of flavors and variations including marshmallow, nuts, caramel, and peanut butter. Celebrate Fudge Day by enjoying your favorite types of fudge with your friends and family. But don't be surprised if they don't want to share!

Today is also Fresh Veggies Day

June is Gay Pride Month & Great Outdoors Month

This week is National Flag Week

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

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On this day in History:

	1883 - The New York Giants baseball team admitted all ladies for free to the ballpark. It was the first Ladies Day. 1903 - Ford Motor Company was incorporated. 1952 - "My Little Margie" debuted on CBS-TV. 1975 - John Lennon sued the U.S. government, charging that officials tried to deny his immigration through selective prosecution. 1993 - The U.S. Postal Service released a set of seven stamps that featured Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Clyde McPhatter, Otis Redding, Ritchie Valens, Dinah Washington and Elvis Presley. 1996 - "Batman Forever" opened in the U.S.

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Quote of the Day:

"The greatest despair is not to become the person you were meant to be."

--Soren Kierkegaard

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Today's Tip:

Use Earrings as Pushpins

Face it: That long-lost earring is probably gallivanting with a wayward sock in Ye Olde Land of Misplaced Items. (What a stud!) Let its lonely, abandoned mate rebound as a pretty thumbtack on a bulletin board.

Today is Tuesday June 15, 2010

National Lobster Day

If you crave lobster, today is your day to celebrate! Boil 'em, grill 'em, steam 'em, or bake 'em. No matter how you decide to cook lobster, the result is always delicious.

Lobster is a respected delicacy all over the world, especially in the United States, which would explain why lobster fishing in Maine alone is a $1.8 billion industry. As a whole, New England is known for its lobster. They were so plentiful in the 1800's that early Americans could simply stroll the shores of beaches to pick up lobsters to take home for dinner.

Indentured servants were fed lobster so often that one community in Massachusetts instated a law prohibiting lobster dinners from being served more than three times a week. Nowadays, many of us would gladly enjoy this seafood seven days a week!

National Lobster Day is also the perfect to host a lobster bake at your house with your fellow lobster lovers!

Today is also Smile Power Day & Nature Photography Day

June is Gay Pride Month & Great Outdoors Month

This week is National Flag Week

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



On this day in History:

1215 - King John of England put his seal on the Magna Carta.

1864 - An order to establish a military burial ground was signed by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. The location later became known as Arlington National Cemetery.

1909 - Benjamin Shibe patented the cork center baseball.

1938 - Johnny Vandemeer, of the Cincinnati Reds, pitched his second straight no-hitter.

Quote of the Day:

"The purpose of life is the expansion of happiness."

--Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

New Uses for Things You Already Own

 Tissue Box as Grocery Bag Holder

Original purpose: Helping you through a weepie movie.

Aha! use: Storing plastic grocery bags under the kitchen sink. After An Affair to Remember has exhausted your supply of tissues, stuff the bags into the empty box.

Reward: Restored order in your cabinets and bags ready for reuse.

Today is Monday June 14, 2010

Flag Day

Oh say does the star spangled banner yet wave! Today, we honor and commemorate the adoption of the flag in the United States.

This holiday was first proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the flag goes back as far as 1885. Numerous newspaper articles cite the occurrence of a Wisconsin schoolteacher arranging June 14 as "Flag Birthday" for his students to observe.

Celebrate Flag Day and raise your American flags with pride for the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Today is also National Children's Day & National Strawberry Shortcake Day

June is Gay Pride Month & Great Outdoors Month

This week is National Flag Week

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



On this day in History:

1777 - The Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted the "Stars and Stripes" as the national flag of the United States.

1900 - Hawaii became a U.S. territory.

1922 - Warren G. Harding became the first U.S. president to be heard on radio. The event was the dedication of the Francis Scott Key memorial at Fort McHenry.

1951 - "Univac I" was unveiled. It was a computer designed for the U.S. Census Bureau and billed as the world's first commercial computer.

1965 - Bob Dylan recorded "Like A Rolling Stone."
Quote of the Day:
"If one only wished to be happy, this could easily be accomplished; but we wish to be happier than other people, and this is always difficult, for we believe others to be happier than they are."

--Montesquieu
QUICK TIP:

Kitchen Cleaning To-Do List

When cleaning the kitchen always start with the sink. "Keep it empty and shining," says Marla Cilley, author of Sink Reflections (Bantam, $15, amazon.com) and creator of FlyLady.net, a housekeeping website.

A sparkling sink becomes your kitchen's benchmark for hygiene and tidiness, inspiring you to load the dishwasher immediately and keep counters, refrigerator doors, and the stove top spick-and-span, too.

 

Every Day

• Wipe down the sink after doing the dishes or loading the dishwasher (30 seconds).
• Wipe down the stove top (one minute).
• Wipe down the counters (one minute).
• Sweep, Swiffer, or vacuum the floor (two minutes).
   

Every Week

• Mop the floor (five minutes).
• Wipe the cabinets, backsplashes, and appliances (10 minutes).
• Wash the dish rack (four minutes).
• Wipe the switch plates and phone (one minute).
• Wipe the inside of the garbage can (one minute).
   

Every Season

• Empty and scrub down the inside of the refrigerator (30 minutes).
• Empty and clean the insides of the utensil drawers (15 minutes).
• Scrub down the cupboard exteriors (30 minutes).
• Clean the stove-hood filter (10 minutes).
• Perform "Shiny Sink 101"

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