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Click on the picture to read about the history of the Bunsen burner, and more about the types and colors of the flame.	March 31 is Bunsen Burner Day If you were ever in high school chemistry class, you will probably have a story or two to tell about using a Bunsen burner. Today is the birthday of Robert Bunsen, hence, today's holiday. Today's YouTube: The Bunsen Burner Song What??!! You never knew there was a Bunsen burner song? Now I see that it's a very good thing this holiday was created!

March 30 is Take a Walk in the Park Day The breeze playing with the leaves on the trees, the fragrance of the flowers blooming along the paths, the rustle of a little creek or brook, the chirps and tweets of the birds... enjoy a walk in the park today. Today's YouTube: New York's Central Park About the benefits of "green space"	Click on the picture to read an article from ScienceDaily about the benefits.

Click on the picture to read advice on how to stand out as a Mom and Pop Business. Some people now create online businesses to cut costs of commuting, daycare, and just to enjoy the dream of ownership. I have been my own boss for over 25 years. There's nothing like it!	March 29 is National Mom & Pop Business Owners Day Small business owners have been around since America was in its early days. The mercantile, the meat market, the dry cleaners, all were started by someone who had a dream. Small businesses offer something different from the big chains, a sense of community, a personal connection within the community, maybe even a gathering place. Especially in today's economy, small business owners are taking their dreams and making them a reality.
Today's YouTube: Talking about his book, The Mom & Pop Store: How the Unsung Heroes of the American Economy Are Surviving and Thriving, Robert talks about what makes this community phenomenon great!

March is National Youth Art Month It is so important for our kids to learn to create and appreciate art. This month is specifically set aside to showcase and promote kids' art and to continue to teach them to learn about and appreciate art. Plan to paint, do sidewalk chalk, or some other art project together before the month is over. Today's YouTube: Cute Pompom Animals This video shows instructions for making a cat and a dog from yarn pompoms. Perfect weekend project!	Click on the picture to read more about this U.S. National Holiday.

Click on the picture for a list of quotes on creativity.	March 26 is Make Up Your Own Holiday Day Have you always wished there was a holiday called Green Grass Day, or Fake Eyelashes Day, or Golf Caddies Day? Well, today you can make up your own holiday! That's right, anything you want! Have fun! Today's YouTube: Can't decide which holiday you want to declare? Here's scientific proof that a nap will help! (YES! Now it's not laziness, it's science!)

March 19-27 is National Bubble Week I can remember teaching a class of 50 two-year-olds in the church class. When the kids were getting fussy and needed a diversion, we would blow bubbles. They were always fascinated. According to Guinness World Records, the most people blowing bubbles at once was in Upton Park in London. More than 22,000 people blew bubbles for one minute. The largest bubble ever created was 50 feet by 2 feet! Today's YouTube: Dolphin Play Even dolphins like to play with bubbles.	Click on the picture for some great bubble blowing techniques and recipes.

Click on the picture to see the rather pointless webpage.	March 24 is Chocolate Covered Raisin Day Let's see, 1/4 cup of raisins is one serving. I need at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables today. Nothing but carrots in the fridge for vegetables, and anyway, I had one of those yesterday. So 1/4 cup of chocolate covered raisins, (the chocolate is good for me, of course) will be one serving. Let me get a ziplock bag and measure out my fruit servings for today. One... two... three... I'm so glad today is set aside to celebrate this delicious fruit! Today's YouTube: Gecko Movie Even geckos appreciate them!

March 23 is National Puppy Day This holiday was created to encourage people to adopt their animals from a pet shelter, instead of buying at a pet store. Many puppies at the stores are from puppy mills, which are terrible places for puppies. Today's YouTube: Puppy Mills This video shows the difference between puppy mills and responsible breeders.	Click on the picture to see the official webpage.

Click on the picture to read about Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday party.	March 22 is Sing Out Day Based on the fact that today is Stephen Sondheim's birthday, this day is celebrated by singing! Broadway musicals are an important part of our culture. Stephen Sondheim wrote great musicals like Company, Sunday in the Park with George, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Into the Woods. Today's YouTube: Children Will Listen written by Sondheim, sung by Bernadette Peters

March 21 is Memory Day. So do you remember ever celebrating Memory Day before? I was going to make a list of all the cool things you could do today to celebrate, but when I went to find my pen, I forgot why I was in the kitchen, so I just poured another cup of coffee. My doctor told me a couple reasons to reduce my intake of coffee, but I can't remember what they are right now. Wait... Doctor? Didn't I have an appointment today? Oh, that's right, they called and canceled it because I forgot to pay the bill. But that's OK, because it seems like today is a special day that we were going to celebrate together. What were we going to do again? Today's YouTube: The Remember Song by Tom Rush	Click on the picture for tips on remembering from Psychology Today.

Click on the picture for tips for your springtime garden. Serenade to Spring by Secret Garden	March 20 is the Vernal Equinox or the First Day of Spring. Happy First Day of Spring. Today is officially the Vernal Equinox. The name comes from equal nights.

March 19 is Swallows Return to San Juan Capistrano Day. This is one of my favorite stories. It is part folklore, and part fact. I read a book by Leo Politi to my kids when they were young, Song of the Swallows. It's a lovely rendition of this story.	Click on the picture for the full story of the swallows. See the swallows and listen to an old 50's song by Pat Boone.

Click on the picture for letter-writing tips. Watch a video of Terri DeBoer, explaining history and details.	March 18 is Absolutely Incredible Kids Day. Campfire USA created this day as a day to show kids they are loved and cared for. Among other things, they suggest you write a letter to your kid today. Today is the 14th year of this program. In the past thirteen years of Absolutely Incredible Kid Day, hundreds of thousands of kids across the country have received letters of love and encouragement from caring adults in their lives. This is not only for your own kids. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, neighbors, educators, mentors and all adults can participate.

March 17 is St. Patrick's Day. The first Saint Patrick's Day parade held in the Irish Free State was held in Dublin in 1931 and was reviewed by the then Minister of Defence Desmond Fitzgerald. Although secular celebrations now exist, the holiday remains a religious observance in Ireland, for both the Roman Catholic Church and Church of Ireland. Happy St. Patrick's Day!	Click on the picture for recipes, traditions, and stories about St. Patrick's Day. Watch a video explaining why the Chicago River turns green.

Click on the picture to read a very informative article from Medical News Today. Dr. Mednick wrote a book on napping, Take a Nap! Change Your Life. Watch her interview on Good Morning America.	March 15 is Napping Day. After losing an hour of sleep yesterday, people are even more sleep deprived than usual. In 1999, a professor at Boston University founded this unofficial holiday to help people adjust to Daylight Saving Time, and to promote the productivity benefits of napping. This beautiful nature video is almost as relaxing as a nap.

March is Red Cross Month. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared that beginning in 1943, March would be “Red Cross Month.” responding to 70,000 disasters a year more than 800,000 volunteers providing emergency communications for 154,000 military families training more than 10 million people providing more than 6 million units of lifesaving blood 91 cents of every dollar goes to those in need For 128 years, the Red Cross has been bringing hope to hurting people.	Click on the picture to read more about Red Cross Month. American Red Cross Song

Click on the picture to read about 10 Girl Scouts honored as 2009 National Young Women of Distinction.	March 12 is Girl Scout Day. Girl Scout Birthday, March 12, commemorates the day in 1912 when Juliette Gordon Low officially registered the organization's first 18 girl members in Savannah, Georgia.

March 11 is Johnny Appleseed Day. By definition, a legend grows bigger and bigger, the more it's told. The story of Johnny Appleseed has been told and retold, written, and sung. Keep the legend going by telling your children about it and celebrating with apple slices, apple pie, or another treat. You might even want to plan on planting an apple tree!	Do you remember the 1948 cartoon about Johnny Appleseed? Here it is on YouTube! It's a classic! Part 1 Part 2

How long has Mario been around? Find out here.	March 10 is "Mario Day". It is said that one March 10th evening, a man named Mario was interviewed on the Chicago news to tell about "Mario Day." He had declared March 10th as "Mario Day" because when you write the date, using the abbreviation for March, it looks like MAR10. Mario! Have fun!

March 9 is Organize Your Home Office Day. Many people these days work from home. A home office is a great place to get things done, unless you don't keep it organized. Are you buried alive, like this poor office owner? Today is the day to really get organized. You'll be amazed at how much work you'll get done!	Click on the picture to read some great tips for organizing your office.

Click on the picture to read some great poison tips for kids. Also, please read Tips for Teens and Babysitters.	March is Poison Prevention Month. Of course, we all think it won't happen in our home. But it's more than a fairy tale about a poison apple! Take the time to read these tips for kids. Also, bookmark our West Michigan Emergency Numbers page. It's a quick reference for when you need help fast. We want you to be safe!

March 6 is the anniversary of Oreo Cookies sold for the first time in 1912. If you're on a diet, you're going to hate me, but I just had to give you the link to the recipe for Cheesecake Factory's Oreo Cheesecake!	Click on the picture to read all about Oreo Cookies.

Click on the picture to read ideas for celebrating this day.	March 5 is Employee Appreciation Day You've probably heard of Bosses Day and Administrative Professionals Day, so it's only fair that there be a day for employees, too. This day was first celebrated in 1995. Appreciation is a powerful motivator. As the old saying goes, "You'll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." Show your employees that you appreciate them today!

March 4 is National Grammar Day Do people listen to you when you say something? Do you know how to express yourself when you have something important to share? You can thank your grammar teacher for helping you sound like someone worth listening to. For questions about grammar, one of my favorite websites is Grammar Girl by Mignon Fogarty.	Click on the picture to read the lyrics to March Forth on March Fourth.



March 3 is National Anthem Day When is the last time you read the history of our National Anthem? Of course things are rough right now, but America has come through tough times before, and she will come through this, too, the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave.


Click on the picture to print out certificates of participation and other fun things for you and your kids.	March 2 is Read Across America Day Some people begin reading to their children almost as soon as they're born. It helps children to get used to the melody of the language, as well as to develop a wide vocabulary. It is also important, however, to keep reading to your kids, even when they're teenagers. Many of them will treasure this time with you, especially if you began the tradition when they were very young. Here are our suggestions in children's books, young teen's books, and books for teens 16-18.

March 1 is Peanut Butter Lovers Day Peanut butter is a staple food of most families. Spread it on celery or apple slices, make it into cake, cookies or pies, or just spread it on a warm slice of Alvin's Bread (look in Bread Recipes). Try making your own homemade peanut butter! Check our recipe list for our peanut butter recipes: Miscellaneous Recipes: Banana Dog Homemade Peanut Butter Pudding, Mousse and Whips: Peanut Butter Mousse I Peanut Butter Mousse II	Click on the picture to see our collection of recipes. We'd love to add your recipes to the collection! Submit your favorite recipe here!