National Cheesecake Day

July 30
National Cheesecake Day

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

National Lasagna Day

july 29
National Lasagna Day

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

First Fingerprint Taken

july 28
First Fingerprint Taken

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

Beatrix Potter's Birthday

July 28
Beatrix Potter's Birthday
(Author of Peter Rabbit)


I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

Bugs Bunny's Birthday

july 27
Bugs Bunny's Birthday

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

Bert's Birthday

july 26
Bert's Birthday
(from sesame street)

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

Aunt and Uncle Day

july 26
Aunt and Uncle Day

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

Threading the Needle Day

july 25
Threading the Needle Day



Threading the needle is a metaphor for walking a fine line between two issues.

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

Marvin The Martian's Birthday

july 24
Marvin The Martian's Birthday

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

Amelia Earhart Day

july 24
Amelia Earhart Day

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

Mosquito Day

july 23
Mosquito Day

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

Ice Cream Cone Introduced

july 23
Ice Cream Cone Introduced

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

Summer Leisure Day

july 22
Summer Leisure Day

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

National Junk Food Day

july 21
National Junk Food Day


I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)



What is your ultimate junk food?

Ice Cream Soda Day

july 20
Ice Cream Soda Day

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

Moon Day

july 20
Moon Day

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

Chess Day

july 20
Chess Day

I will update later, just putting this here so you know what to celebrate today. :)

Stick Out Your Tongue Day

july 19
STICK out your TONGUE day


Pretty self explanatory..



Maybe eat an ice cream cone today because every time you want to take a lick you are sticking out your tongue :p

Cow Appreciation Day

july 18
Cow Appreciation Day

So for today we wont be eating beef.

CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

WHAT YOU NEED
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2 (14.5 oz) cans chicken broth
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup chunky salsa
8 oz corn tortilla chips
1/2 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese
sour cream

1. In a large pot over medium heat, cook and stir chicken in the oil for 5 minutes.
2. Add the garlic and cumin. Mix well.
3. Then add broth, kernels, onion, chili powder, lemon juice, and salsa.
4. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes.
5. Break chips into 4 individual bowls. Pour in soup. Top with cheese and sour cream.

(pictures soon)

Disneylands Birthday!

july 17
Disneyland opens in 1955

We will celebrate today with mickey mouse shaped pancakes.
I have little rubber mickey shaped thingy so they come out so cute.
Minnie pancakes can be made by using the same shape and just adding a tiny spot of whipped cream on one ear as the bow, or half a strawberry as the bow.
They are totally cute and kids know who the pancake is suppsoed to be right away.


We will being going to Disneyland this week, also.
(Lets hope for not so hot weather.) :):)



(Pictures soon)

Tapioca Pudding Day

july 15
Tapioca Pudding Day

I am sorry, but I just cannot get myself to eat tapioca pudding. Im sure its good and all there is just something about it. hahahahha

So here is a recipe I found. Let me know how it is :)

WHAT YOU NEED
3 cups whole milk
1/2 cup quick cooking tapioca
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Stir together milk, tapioca, sugar, and salt in medium sauce pan.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
3. Reduce heat to low. Cook and stir for 5 minutes longer.
4. Whisk 1 cup of the heated milk mixture into the beaten eggs, 2 tablespoons at a time until incorperated.
5. Stir the egg mixture back into the tapioca until well mixed.
6. Bring the pudding to a gentle simmer over medium to low heat.
7. Cook and stir for 2 minutes longer until pudding becomes thick enough to evenlly coat the back of a metal spoon.
8. Remove from heat and add vanilla.
9. Can be served hot or cold.              ENJOY!!


Just a random picture of tapioca pudding

Tape Measure Day

july 14
Tape Measure Day

Today would be fun to get the tape measure out and see how tall all the family members are.

Also, since my daughter is 3 she is learning her numbers so we will go around the house measuring some of her favorite things, for example, a doll, her bike, crayons, ect, and she can practice saying her numbers and we will keep a little paper so she can write her numbers.
This is great practice without seeming like practice.

For older kids you can start teaching them the different measurements on the tape measure.

And for kids that are able to add I think this would be fun
1. Find a tallish item (example, the refrigerator)
2. Measure it half way up, if you have a freezer on the bottom model then measure to there, then another sibling can measure the top half, or the same child.
3. Then add the 2 numbers together.
4. Re-measure the whole thing and see if you came to the right number :)

(pictures soon)

Pick Blueberries Day

july 14
PicK BlueberrieS DaY

I guess there are some orchards or farms that will actually let you come over and let you pick fresh blueberries. I think kids would really enjoy seeing where their food comes from. Or better yet plant a blueberry plant and pick them from your own garden. I am not sure around my area where they let us pick them so I have no problem just picking them up from the store because the plant in our garden has gone a little uncared for :( haha oops.

So since we wont actually be picking blueberries we are going to make blueberry banana bread.



BLUEBERRY BANANA BREAD
WHAT YOU NEED
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup fresh blueberries

1. In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together shortening and sugar. Add egss and vanilla and mix well.
3. Beat in bananas.
4. Gradually add dry ingredients, beating just until combined. (I usually add a 3rd of the dry ingredients at a time.)
5. Fold in blueberries.
6. Pour into 3 greased 5-3/4in x 3in x 2in loaf pans.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan and cooling on wire rack.

(I will post pictures soon)

National French Fries Day

July 13
National French Fries Day!

yummy!

This is a total excuse for junk food
buuuuuut instead of just hitting the drive through why not try out this recipe?
Fun for the kids to see that french fries are actually potatoes
I think it will help them to try different types of potatoes knowing that french fries are potatoes and amazing delicious.

Also, since most people are usually just getting drive through dinners (and usually more than once a week) why not make this the only french fries you eat that week, that 2 weeks, or in the month of July. Set your own time limit, if any.

(Of course I am away from home so I will post receipes and the pictures soon)

Go West Day

July 13
Go West Day

Today is about going west.
Since we already live so close to the most west point you can go in California we will celebrate today by going even more west and heading to the beach.

Today can also be about exploring somewhere that you have never been
Maybe a park or a nature walk is a bit west of your house.
GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND START EXPLORING.

Beach pictures soon.

Paper Bag Day

july 12
PAPER BAG DAY

Today was the day the paper bag machine was patented.

We will celebrate today by making paper bag puppets.
So cute, fun, and easy.

Also, I will be bringing my lunch to work :) (obviously in a paper bag)

Do you have any cute paper bag crafts?

Cheer Up The Lonely Day

July 11
CHEER UP THE LONELY DAY

Today is a day to think about the people that are lonely.
They are usually elderly and their loved ones have passed away or family lives too far to visit.

I was thinking we would make some cards and go visit a nursing home.

There are nursing homes everywhere and the residents love company.
It can be just to come say hi and drop off a card or flowers.
Or some people make it a weekly visit and come to read a story.

We will post pictures soon.

Barn Day

July 10

Super cute for kids.

I will be posting a fun little craft.

Do you have any craft ideas?

National Sugar Cookie Day

July 9
YUM

I love sugar cookies.
Not only do they taste yummy.
But they are so cute.
Super fun.
You can decorate them with different color sugar, or different color frosting/icing, or both. or sprinkles.

They can be decorated to match any holiday, theme, or just for an everyday treat.

Kids will have fun creating their own design.

THE BEST PART?
Cute cookie cutters!!
Everything about sugar cookies is SUPER fun.


As usual I will post the pictures and recipes I used soon.

Video Games Day

July 8

I am not into video games (just because I get addicted and dont have time to devote to them hahaha not because I dont like them) but I thought I would still post this for all the video game lovers.
And that is  A LOT of people.

What is your favorite video game?

Macaroni Day

july 7
I love pasta and I love cheese. So macaroni is obviously delicious.
I love kraft blue box mac and cheese. hahahaha
and stouffers mac and cheese with barbeque sauce. mmmm:)

But for the purpose of today I am going to make it homemade. (I am not making the noodles though)
I think this will be healthier for my family and yummier.

I will post the recipe when I get home.
I am a dumbie and keep book marking them on my home computer.

:)

National Fried Chicken Day

july 6
Fried Chicken Day

Yeah right. Like we need an excuse to eat fried chicken.

I have a recipe saved on my home computer so I will post that when I get home tonight

This is my first time frying chicken so lets hope it comes out good :)

Graham Cracker Day

July 5
GRAHAM CRACKER DAY
YUM!

Graham crackers are so yummy.
They are good with peanut butter.
They are good as smores.
They are good as chocolate eclairs. :)

Here's the link for the chocolate eclairs from June
http://crazyrandomholidays.blogspot.com/2012/06/national-chocolate-eclair-day.html

and a picture

And when I am not too lazy to go buy wood and make a bonfire in the backyard I will post pictures of our smores :)

How do you like to eat your graham crackers?

Caribbean Day

july 5
To celebrate Caribbean Day I was looking for different recipes.. but I am very picky so nothing was looking that good, or looking really hard to make so I would for sure mess it up if I haven't made it before.

So for us we will be going to Disneyland and going on Pirates of the Caribbean.

BUT
If I were into trying new things I would make this

Caribbean Fruity Salsa
WHAT YOU NEED-
1 cup diced fresh mango
1/2 cup diced fresh pineapple
1/2 cup diced papaya
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1/2 medium red onion, finely diced
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped

Toss together the first 5 ingredients
Pour in lime juice and olive oil
Season with salt and stir
Add fresh mint right before serving.

National Country Music Day

July 4
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COUNTRY SONG?
Hahaha
I LOVE country music
But our fourth of July was spent watching a parade, playing at the block party, and watching fireworks.

Here was some of our fourth of july

All of us

Parade

Airplane throwing contest

Fireworks on the roof

Waterslide

Dog Days Begins

July 3
Dog Days
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_Days

I realize that this isnt technically DOG days but that is the craft we are focusing on.
(If we had a dog we would probably be making doggy biscuts)

We are going to make a dog head band
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/dogcrafts/a/dogheadband.htm

We will post our own pictures and what we might have done differently when we make this :)

World UFO Day

July 2
Aliens and UFOs are fun topics for kids.
It silly to think there are little green guys off on another planet

This is a cute little UFO/flying saucer craft

WHAT YOU NEED:
2 paper plates
stapler
paint or colors
glue
jewels
any decorations
an alien sticker or a coloring of an alien

Decorate the bottom of both paper plates to look like your perfect flyer saucer

Put the alien sticker or picture of the alien inside the plates with the undecorated sides touching
(The alien in driving the saucer)

Staple the side together and you are all done.

Do have have any cute UFO cupcake or food ideas?

National Ice Cream Month

JULY
ummm YUM!!

Who doesnt love ice cream?

And AGAIN perfect for hot summer days.

I saw on pinterest how to make ice cream out of just a banana... so it is probably going to taste amazing, be healthy, and stop your ice cream craving. (We WILL be making this)

There are also endless crafts to do with ice cream or the thought of ice cream.

Just a simple coloring book page of an ice cream cone is fun.
Making ice cream clowns (I will post pictures of this)
Making your own ice cream sandwiches (YUMMMMMY)


I think if would be fun to have a cute little ice cream party where there are a couple different types of ice cream flavors and tons a different toppings (like different colored sprinkles, brown sprinkles, marshmellows, marshmellow fluff, nuts, cherries, fruit, whipped cream, gummy bears, nerds, any kind of candy) then each kid can be as creative as they want with their OWN dessert.

Side note: How to make sure you spell dessert (ice cream) and desert (dry sandy place) the correct ways is thinking what would you want more of? Obviously dessert (ice cream) right? So it has an extra S. You want more? It has more letters.
HAHAHAHA I'm a dork.

National Hotdog Month

JULY
I JUST said this about the beans, but how perfect is it that National Hotdog Month falls in the summer?

This is perfect for BBQs and bonfires.

We will defineitly be having backyard bonfires in our fire pit so I will for sure post pictures.

There isn't much to do with hotdogs.. except eat them.

haha

You can-
Put them in mac and cheese
Just a bun
String uncooked noodles through and cook that way (I will post pictures of us doing this)
Deep fry your own corndogs
Chili dogs!
Pigs in a blanket (We will post pictures of this, too)

Do you have any fun things to do with hotdogs?
Perhaps a craft?

National Baked Bean Month

JULY
How perfect is it that July, a summer month, is National Baked Bean Month?
Perfect for BBQs

I am pro easy things.. so for me baked beans in a can is that way to go.

hahahaha

BUT I will try to make my own.. Who knows? Maybe they will be delicious and I will never want to go back.

Does anyone have a kick ass recipe that will make it worth making my own baked beans?
Do you think the work put into soaking and cooking is worth it or canned is just as good?

National Blueberry Month

JULY
The whole month is national blueberry month!

I think blueberries are a little weird.. just because they look like kiwis inside.

BUT
I like blueberry pancakes and blueberry muffins, so before july is over I WILL make atleast those.
PLUS I wanna make blueberry scones.




If you have a good recipe for any of these or anything else with blueberries PLEASE let me know :)

(UPDATE: I have kind of a failed attempt at blueberry pancakes that I will be putting up soon along side an awesome attempt)

How Things Are Going To Work For A Little While

So I've been posting which ever crazy holiday it is the day of the special day.

I will now start posting it atleast a couple days early, even if I haven't made the recipe or even have a recipe yet or done the craft, so everyone knows what the day is and has time to prepare (for example, grocery shopping for chocolate pudding supplies :])

I will always update that day so it isnt just an empty blog post.
haha just trying to get organized :]


Have an awesome night everyone!

National Postal Worker Day

July 1

I would say that mostly our postal workers go unthanked.
I mean obviously they get their paycheck, but still.

Usuaully we aren't home and our mail seems like it just shows up at our house.
I just think that, especially in the summer, they need a little extra thanking sometimes.
It can make their day just by having some of the kids make little cards saying thank you.
Just imagine at your job... every day of the same thing over and over is so boring.


Well for our situation we do not really know our mail man or else we would make him cookies and since we want him to eat them we are just going to go to the store and we will buy a pack of cookies, cover it with ribbon or a bow, and make a little card.

(We did end up doing this a couple days after postal worker day so we just included that in the card)

I will post a picture of the cookies and card :)

What else can we give to our postal workers to help brighten their day?


PS We can also write letters to family and friends to make sure the postal workers job is secure. haha

International Joke Day

July 1
How fun!

A day ALL about jokes.

Knock Knock!
Who's there?
Boo.
Boo who?
Dont be sad it is only a joke.

LAME I know. But cute for kids.

Do you have any cool, funny, silly jokes?