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 Click on the picture for a really healthy recipe for Trail Mix. Antioxidant Trail Mix |
National Trail Mix Day Do you really have to be hiking on the trail to eat trail mix? Of course not! Trail mix is good for when you're traveling, especially on an airplane, where your food choices are very narrow. Now that it's almost time to go back to school, think of trail mix for a healthy snack in your children's lunchbox. If you have glucose issues, the recipe on today's video will help to stabilize your blood sugar levels. If you follow a gluten-free diet, the recipe on the video will give you a nutritious snack, which is gluten-free. So don't wait until you go hiking to prepare this wonderful, nutritious snack. |
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National Toasted Marshmallow Day Of course you've toasted marshmallows before. Most people toast them over a campfire, but some get desperate and use the kitchen stove, grill, butane lighter, fireplace, or anything else with a usable heat source. Whether you like them slightly golden, deep brown, charred, or still aflame (!), toasted marshmallows are essential for S'Mores or just by themselves. Happy National Toasted Marshmallow Day! |
 Click on the picture for a recipe for a delicious Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake. Kids and the Marshmallow Test |
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 Click on the picture to read tips on cooking with herbs from Rodale, a leading authority on health. 7 Ways to Preserve Fresh Herbs |
More Herbs, Less Salt Day Did you grow herbs in your garden this summer? Or do you have a windowsill herb garden? Sometimes you don't have a use for all the fresh herbs that are available. Why not preserve them for winter use? Today's video shows 7 different ways to do that, and how to use them after they're preserved. Growing and preserving your own herbs is a great way to save money, and using more herbs and less salt is a great way to preserve your health. |
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Get Ready for Kindergarten Month Starting kindergarten, and thereby starting "school", is a monumental event in a person's life. It is exciting, fun, scary, and great. This is when formal learning begins, which can really get a curious little mind pumped if they're challenged and if their curiosity is fed with fun and interesting facts and activities. If you have or know a child who is entering kindergarten, whether homeschooling or going to a traditional school, help them to keep the joy of learning and discovering new things alive! |
 Click on the picture to read All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten Math Song for Kindergarten |
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 Click on the picture for the benefits and how-tos of forgiveness. Forgiveness and the Freedom of Letting Go |
International Forgiveness Day Have you ever had a sore that just would not heal? Have you ever wondered why, even on a beautiful day, you just don't feel as happy as you should? Maybe it's time to think back and determine if there's someone you are holding a grudge against, or someone who has wronged you in some way, that you have not forgiven. Forgiveness doesn't mean forgetting, or condoning, but just letting go of the anger and sense of injustice. It's one of the healthiest things you can do. Some say, Forgiveness is a gift that you give yourself. |
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National Dog Day How much is that doggie in the window? Well, it depends on whether the dog is a thoroughbred, a mixed breed, a mutt, a rescue dog... There are so many types to choose from! Giving a home to a rescue shelter dog is always a great idea. (Don't forget cats, but that's another holiday.) To celebrate today's holiday, you could give your dog the last lick of your ice cream cone, or you could adopt a dog, or you could make a donation to the shelter of your choice. In any case... |
 Click on the picture to find out everything about dogs! Tina and Chandi |
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 Click on the picture for a great list of banana split recipes! How to Make a Grilled Banana Split There are still enough grilling days to make this yummy treat! |
National Banana Split Day Today's link (click on the picture) features a dozen variations on this delicious ice cream treat. But wait! There's more! Also, there are some Breakfast Banana Split recipes, and then a few specialty recipes at the end of the list. There's even a Low-calorie Banana split recipe. Low-calorie Banana Split? Isn't that an oxymoron? |
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Punctuation Day Are you always sure about where to place a period? Do you wonder if you could can that comma? Do you wish you knew exactly when to establish an exclamation mark? Have you come across a colon? Can you situate a semicolon? How does a word acquire an apostrophe, and where do we park a pair of parentheses? Check out today's website link to find out! |
 Click on the picture for the top 10 rules for using punctuation. Punctuation Rap |
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 Click on the picture for a great website about gymnastics and famous gymnasts! Amazing 4-year-old Gymnast |
National Gymnastics Day From a child's first somersault to the first public performance to a mesmerizing Olympic event, gymnastics is a field which brings out the best in a person's health, fitness, stamina and devotion. There are many fields in which a person can grow, develop and excel. Gymnastics is one of these worthy of pursuit! |
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National Tooth FairyDay Do you see that little trail of fairy dust going from the window to the pillow? That's from the Tooth Fairy, when she came to trade you a tooth for a treat. Now look up in the sky... There is a sparkly new star blinking and winking at you! Thank goodness you kept that tooth so clean! |
 Click on the picture for lots of ways to celebrate this magical holiday! Kid's Thoughts on the Tooth Fairy |
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 Click on the picture for some fun activities for seniors who may not be able to initiate their own activities. Mayo Clinic Atrium, Charming Older Couple |
National Senior Citizen Day There is great honor in being a senior. You have experienced more of life than younger people, therefore you have developed extra wisdom and insight. If only all the young people would just give you a chance to tell them what you have observed and learned. Hopefully, today's holiday will increase understanding of the treasure of being a Senior Citizen! |
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National Cupcake Day Cupcakes are quick, easy and already come in a diet-sized portions. (No, that doesn't mean you can eat 3 or 4 of them and still lose weight!) Many, many, many years ago, my (now) husband and I decided to create a magical wedding for as little money as possible. (OK, we had no choice, because there wasn't much money to spend, and we couldn't wait, because we were getting older by the minute!) Our theme was "rainbows", so we asked a lady from our church to create a heart-shaped cake, just about 10" by 10". Then we baked hundreds of cupcakes ourselves, frosted them in pastel colors, and arranged them on the table in the form of a rainbow, with the heart cake nestled below the cupcake rainbow. It was beautiful! |
 Click on the picture for some of the most interesting and delicious cupcake recipes ever! Cupcake Song |
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 Click on the picture for a basic guide to thrift store shopping. |
National Thrift Shop Day Students spend hundreds of dollars for their dresses and suits for the Senior Prom. Our daughter spent $7 for the dress in this picture, and enjoyed comparing amount spent with her friends. She won, of course! Another daughter needed several items of clothing for last year's musical wardrobe. She was able to find all but one item at the local thriftshop. A woman I know scours all the local thrift shops, picking up only items that suit her niche on eBay. Items she buys for under $10 often sell on eBay for $30 and up. Shop a thriftstore and do your budget a favor! Saving Big at the Thrift Store |
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National Tell a Joke Day "Behavioral neurobiologist and pioneering laughter researcher Robert Provine jokes that he has encountered one major problem in his study of laughter. The problem is that laughter disappears just when he is ready to observe it -- especially in the laboratory. One of his studies looked at the sonic structure of laughter. He discovered that all human laughter consists of variations on a basic form that consists of short, vowel-like notes repeated every 210 milliseconds. Laughter can be of the "ha-ha-ha" variety or the "ho-ho-ho" type but not a mixture of both, he says. Provine also suggests that humans have a "detector" that responds to laughter by triggering other neural circuits in the brain, which, in turn, generates more laughter. This explains why laughter is contagious. |
 Click on the picture for some funny computer jokes. Kids Telling Jokes |
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 Click on the picture for many detailed methods for relaxing. There's sure to be something for everyone here. Chinese Bamboo Flute with Nature Sounds |
National Relaxation Day I think 90% of us are busy, running, stressed, 90% of the time. I don't know for sure. I'm just saying... Let's try relaxing today. Look at today's picture; it's a nice place for you to sit and rest. It's not too hot, there's a very slight breeze, and if you click on today's video, you'll feel even more relaxed. If you want to try learning some ways to relax other than today, click on the picture and read many ways to relax and de-stress. |
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Sandcastle and Sculpture Day There's something so special about spending time at the beach, with family or just by yourself to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Then, if you read today's article and get ready, you can build something from the sand. Anything you can imagine. People have created some really amazing sculptures, and there's no reason why you can't, too! Just try! |
 Click on the picture for some great instructions on building sandcastles. Just Sand, Water and Sand Sculptors International |
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 Click on the picture to read 15 facts about being left-handed. How To Handle Being Left-Handed |
Left Hander's Day Everyone is created just the way they're supposed to be. Many characterists and traits are "decided" even before we are actually born. One of these traits is whether we'll be right-handed or left-handed. The vast majority of people are right-handed. However, did you know that about one-third of the presidents of the United States have been left-handed? Many famous scientists, politicians, artists, musicians, and a host of other famous people have been left-handed. So if you're left-handed, celebrate your uniqueness and specialness. Who wants to be like the majority, anyway? |
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National Sewing Machine Day Are you old enough to have taken Home Ec in school? I remember making a scarf, a blouse, and I think a pillow. It was great to learn how to take a flat piece of fabric and end up with something useful. When I was expecting our first child, we were short on money, so I took apart some nice clothing and made baby clothes. Somehow, that was more rewarding than going to the store and buying something. Then I kept little scraps of my kids' favorite outfits and made patchwork Christmas stockings. It's nice to look at those stockings and remember their little outfits. If you haven't learned how to sew, ask anyone who loves sewing and they'll probably be overjoyed to show you how. Come on, try it! It's fun! |
 Click on the picture for some suggestions on how to create a lovely day for your sewing machine. The Sewing Machine Betty Hutton |
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 Click on the picture for the Top 10 Reasons to Smile Reason To Smile |
National Smile Week This has to be one of the healthiest holidays of all! As you will read in today's article, there are health benefits to smiling. Of course, there are emotional benefits. Have you ever noticed how your face is often reflected in the faces of those you look at? If you look at them with a serious look, they seem to look serious. If you look at them with an angry face, they often look angry, too. If you lower your eyes to avoid looking at them, they will most likely do the same. But the great thing is that if you smile at them, with your mouth, your eyes, and all the other 50-some facial muscles it takes to smile, they will usually smile back! When that happens, I think the sun shines a little brighter. Smiling at people is one of my favorite things to do. Have you noticed how people sometimes look at you like they're just hungry for acceptance, cheer, hope? You'd be amazed at what a real, from the heart smile can do for that person.  |
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Lazy Day I wanted to write something really great here, but I was a little lazy. (Just kidding) Are you lazy? Maybe just a little bit? Could being a little bit lazy be an improvement over your current hectic lifestyle? In any case, today's the day! So kick back (after you get home from work, preferably) and relax, and be a little bit lazy. (Did you watch our Twitter and Facebook last night? Then you already baked that Lazy Day Cake, so you can really celebrate!) |
 DO NOT click on the picture until tomorrow, when you might want to try to overcome laziness. Lazy Days - Enya |
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 Click on the picture to find 11 ways to instill a love of reading in your child. A Love for Reading |
Book Lovers' Day Book lovers can take a few extra minutes for reading today. How many books do you read in a year? Do you read at least one book each month? How did you teach your kids to love to read? I began reading to my children when they were two weeks old. As they were growing up, we usuallly checked out about 60 books each month, and read them all at least once. They're grown now, and they're avid readers. I guess it worked! |
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Assistance Dog Day Giving a person with limited physical abilities an assistant provides them with the great feeling of independence that everyone enjoys. It makes so many things we take for granted possible for those who wouldn't otherwise enjoy these things. A service dog also provides companionship and helps to bridge the social barriers between a disabled person and those around him or her. Service Dogs for People With Limited Mobility Happy Assistance Dog Day! |
 Click on the picture for an interesting description of the various kinds of service dogs. |
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 Click on the picture to read a great website on the history and specifications of West Michigan's Lighthouses. Great Lakes Lighthouses Happy National Lighthouse Day! |
National Lighthouse Day The Light-Keeper by Robert Louis Stevenson (The author grew up in a family of lighthouse engineers) The brilliant kernel of the night, The flaming lightroom circles me: I sit within a blaze of light Held high above the dusky sea. Far off the surf doth break and roar Along bleak miles of moonlit shore, Where through the tides the tumbling wave Falls in an avalanche of foam And drives its churned waters home Up many an undercliff and cave. |
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Wiggle Your Toes Day Are you able to be free enough to wiggle your toes? Can you take just a little, tiny break from your very important work to give those poor, little digits just a little bit of freedom? I really think if you try it, you'll like it. Come on! You can do it! Watch today's video. This guy tried wiggling his toes, and look what happened! What happens if you wiggle your toes Happy Wiggle Your Toes Day! |
 Click on the picture for some very important steps to being able to wiggle your small toe separately from the rest of your toes. |
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 Click on the picture for a great explanation of the rules of golf. How to Play Golf Goofy (Disney Classic) |
Golf Month Playing golf gives you a chance to enjoy nature, get in some walking, and improve your eye-hand coordination. Some golf enthusiasts would tell you that they don't care about any of this. They just love the game! It is almost impossible to remember how tragic a place this world is when one is playing golf. ~Robert Lynd |
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Coast Guard Day There's something in the heart of a man or a woman, when they decide to put their lives on the line for their country, that resonates deep inside them. It might be something they cannot explain, even to themselves, but it's real, nevertheless. Will we thank them enough? Will they feel our gratitude and respect? Will they know how much we admire them? Let's make sure of it. Coast Guard Tribute |
 Click on the picture for a list of the Coast Guard Units in West Michigan. |
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 Click on the picture to see what Muskegon's plans are for National Night Out. |
National Night Out People in neighborhoods used to know each other almost as well as they knew their family members. National Night Out is an attempt to help people reconnect, including with their safety officials, to help take a stand against drugs and crime. Get involved tonight! National Night Out |
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International Clown Week Clowns take the harsh realities of life and make them into something laughable. One of my favorite things about my grandma was that she could laugh at herself and really mean it. Hopefully we can all learn to laugh at ourselves instead of taking ourselves too seriously. Dralion Cirque du Soleil |
 Click on the picture for the official proclamation of Clown Week and info on clowning. |
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 Click on the picture for some great ideas on making new friends. |
International Friendship Day Some people have lots of friends, and maybe lots of acquaintances. Others like to have one good friend at a time. How about you? Are you wishing for a new friend, or do you have all the friends you want? If you already have a great friends base, why not wish them a Happy Friendship Day today? If you're not sure you have anyone to send this wish to, try the ideas in today's article. There's somebody out there who would love to have a friend like you! |
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That's What Friends Are For Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Elton John |
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