Celebrate Every Day

Welcome to October 14, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate favorite desserts and a delicious superfood.

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m a big fan of eating dessert first! It’s kind of lifestyle choice, but it reminds me to celebrate the food that feeds my inner child. I’m not saying I do this every day but there are certain desserts that deserve top billing. Do you guys have a favorite dessert? On National Dessert Day, celebrate your own sweet tooth by having dessert first.

October is Spinach Lovers Month and this makes some of us think of Popeye the sailor man. When he ate a can of spinach, he gained super strength because of all the vitamins in it. Popeye cartoons made the vegetable so popular in the 1930s that sales shot up 33%. But here’s the interesting part: The reason everyone thought spinach was such a superfood was because of a misplaced decimal. A scientific study told everyone that there were 35 milligrams of iron per serving, but it’s actually only 3.5. That doesn’t mean spinach isn’t good for you, but it does mean you’re not going to develop super strength just because you eat some. During Spinach Lovers Month grab some of this leafy green superfood just for the love of its taste!

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we

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Welcome to October 13, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate getting pumped up and our Nation’s fighting spirit.

Today’s celebration is about pumping you up! I’m not talking about your muscles, girly man, I’m talking about that under used super organ between your ears. It’s estimated that we only use a small fraction of the true potential of our brains and if you need more motivation think about this. Everything you see in the world around you was created in someone’s head. That means the 3 pounds of gray matter you now own was responsible for taking us out of the stone age into the age of computers and rockets. So how much heavy lifting are you doing these days? On National Train Your Brain Day get cracking! Even if it's only lifting a pencil to your favorite puzzle.

On this day in 1775, the Second Continental Congress formally established what would become the United States Navy. The most famous American Captain from this era was John Paul Jones. In 1779, he engaged the British 44 gun Royal Navy frigate, Serapis. With his ship burning and sinking, Jones refused to surrender and he uttered the now famous words, “I have not yet begun to fight.” And it turns out he was right! Three hours after making this declaration, the British ship surrendered to him and Jones took command. On our Navy’s Birthday, we celebrate the men and women who carry on the fighting spirit of Captain Jones.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to October 12, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate those who work the land and a Southern melting pot.

Farmer’s Day has been celebrated since the mid 1800s and it’s easy to see why. These folks contribute to much more than just the food on our table. Their hard work affects everything from manufacturing to transportation, producing a whole host of products from leather goods to textiles and even the ethanol in our gas tanks. These days it’s more important than ever to support your local farmers. Even city slickers can do their part by purchasing from farmer’s markets and visiting restaurants that take pride in their farm to table menus. On National Farmer’s Day, celebrate the way of life that sustains us all.

When we think of gumbo, the hearty stew of seasoned vegetables and seafood or meat, we immediately think of Southern cooking. For this we can thank its older West African roots that blended with Native American and European traditions to create a culinary classic. Traditional recipes call for okra, a vegetable that thickens things nicely, but you may have also heard of gumbo filé. This Choctaw spice made from dried sassafras root, also thickens the stew and was most likely used when okra was out of season. And if all else fails you can leave the cooking to an expert! On National Gumbo Day, celebrate this stew that is a true melting pot of flavors.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day

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Welcome to October 11, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate crafty critters and an uncommon hero.

In 1979, one of America’s smallest and weirdest celebrities made her debut, Twiggy the Waterskiing Squirrel. Chuck and Lou Ann Best rescued a baby squirrel that had fallen out of its nest. As a joke, Chuck built her a pair of Styrofoam skis and attached them to his daughter’s remote controlled boat. But Twiggy surprised everyone by taking to this sport so quickly. Word got out and soon Twiggy was making appearances on news shows around the country. For nearly 40 years, this tiny performer and her offspring have entertained audiences across the country. During Squirrel Awareness Month, celebrate these crafty little critters by giving them the right of way on the road and on the water.

Many brave Americans fought in the Revolutionary War, but the colonists did not fight alone. Other European nations, who were not fond of the British, were willing to lend a helping hand. One of the most prominent was Polish General Casimir Pulaski. After being exiled from his homeland, where he fought against the Russian army, Pulaski made his way to Paris. Here Benjamin Franklin recruited him for the war against Great Britain. He became one of General Washington’s most valuable field commanders and went on to save hundreds of troops before he was fatally wounded in Savannah, Georgia. On General Pulaski Memorial Day, we celebrate the hero who stepped up for a country that wasn’t even his own.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to October 10, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a mysterious cake and a tempting fruit.

The origins of angel food cake carries an air of mystery. The recipe came from India, but was given to an American family in 1883 by a friend. The family owned a boarding house along the Hudson River and the owner was a skilled baker who took her friend’s recipe to a whole new height. It is said that she baked one cake at a time behind closed doors to protect the secret recipe. The lighter than air results were a great success, and angel food cake became a favorite of First Lady, Lucy Webb Hayes. Today, this cake can be found almost anywhere. On National Angel Food Cake Day, celebrate the lighter than air concoction that doesn’t require a wing and a prayer.

For fans of apples, this is the best time of the year. Once Autumn comes around, it’s apple picking season. On average, each American will consume about 16 pounds of apples every year, so it’s good that the trees produce as much of the delicious fruit as they do—about 840 pounds every season. That means plenty of Red Delicious, McIntosh, and Fujis for everyone. There are dozens of varieties. Actually, there are nearly 2,500 types of apples but only about 100 of them are sold commercially. October is National Apple Month, a time to celebrate this tempting fruit and all the goodies made from it.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to October 9, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate bold flavors and brave explorers.

Hey Marlo, what do you think of when I say “Moldy Cheese?” John? Ok, so… In the case of moldy cheese beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. If those deep blue veins of penicillium sound more like medicine than mouth watering cheese you are not alone. Not everyone appreciates the nutty, saltiness of a well aged cheese. It’s believed that the first blue cheese known as Gorgonzola was discovered by accident in 879 AD. But who was the brave soul that saw mold on cheese and decided to try it anyway? This is proof that whatever doesn’t kill you could be delicious. On National Moldy Cheese Day savor the boldness of a Roquefort, Stilton or Brie.

We all know that America was discovered in 1492, right? Not true. The Viking Leif Erikson sailed across the Atlantic and found a new continent that he named Vinland. The settlement was in today’s Newfoundland. Unlike Columbus, he and his men only stayed for a few years then moved back to Europe. For centuries, no one knew that this had even happened until archaeologists uncovered an abandoned Norse village in Canada. So it appears that it was the Vikings who were actually the first to plant their flag in North America. On National Leif Erikson Day, we celebrate this explorer who paved the way to the new world.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to October 8, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a long standing game and a fluffy bite of history.

In 1990, a group of friends, who called themselves the Tag Brothers started a game of tag. This 30 plus years game even inspired a movie! The real life gang kept it up with a lot of work, creativity, and a little bit of craziness. In high school, they’d run up and tag someone. But as adults, they’ve upped the ante. One guy broke into a friend’s house to tag him. Another time, one of the Tag Brothers flew cross-country and hid in the trunk of his friend’s car for hours—before popping out and tagging him. And the craziest “tag” was at a funeral for someone’s father. On American Touch Tag Day celebrate the simple game that can really go the distance.

The story of the Fluffernutter sandwich began with the great, great, great grandchildren of Paul Revere: Emma and Armory Curtis. In the early 1900s, Armory cooked up a sticky spread that he called Snowflake Marshmallow Creme. Other companies made similar products, but Emma created a recipe for a peanut butter and marshmallow creme sandwich that was published in the newspaper. During World War I, while meat was being rationed, the sandwich was used as a source of protein. That’s when it became known as the Liberty Sandwich. On National Fluffernutter Day, celebrate with a bite of history that is more than just a little fluff.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to October 7, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a happy accident and non-verbal communication.

Many of us can’t get going in the morning without a caffeine fix. Luckily for coffee drinkers, Dimitris Vakondios was no exception. Dimitris was a Nestle employee in Greece who really needed his morning buzz. One fateful day he discovered there was no hot water in the office, but Dimitris would not be deterred. He mixed instant coffee with cold water and ice, then shook it up and created a new twist on an old favorite. Today this chilled coffee drink called the Frappe is familiar to anyone who loves their java cold, and people mix things up with a variety of flavors. On National Frappe Day, chill out with your favorite version of this happy accident.

From eye movement, hand gestures to crossing legs, everything communicates to the people around us. While these nonverbals can help us in everyday life, there are people who make a career out of reading body language. Espionage relies heavily on observing unconscious ticks as experts look for things as simple as scrunching one's nose or licking one's lips, which are tells that can give you away. One spy was caught simply because of the way he held a bouquet of flowers! You may not need to save the world, but you can become more skilled at what someone is thinking or feeling by the way they carry themselves on National Body Language Day.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to October 6, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate going batty and reaching great heights.

In the middle of Alice’s trip through Wonderland, she stopped for a tea party that was hosted by the Hatter. Yes, that’s right, the character’s name isn’t the Mad Hatter, though that’s how we all know him. The phrase “mad as a hatter” was popular at the time that Lewis Carrol wrote his book, and since the character was a bit crazy, the name stuck. As for the phrase itself, hat makers in the 1800s used mercury to manufacture felt hats. Prolonged exposure to this chemical led to mercury poisoning, which caused irritability, memory loss and slurred speech. Sounds like the fictional host of the tea party in Wonderland! On National Mad Hatter Day, celebrate with a spot of tea and your silliest hat.

No matter how amazing their inherent skills, every athlete needs someone to help them achieve greater success. This is where a great coach can make all the difference. Michael Jordan was already one of the NBA’s most dynamic players before Phil Jackson became coach of the Chicago Bulls. Jordan was not initially a fan of his new coach, who wanted the team to spread the ball around—rather than make Jordan the focus of the game plan. But Jordan played along. And Jackson’s leadership took the team to six championships over the span of eight seasons, including 2 three-peats. On National Coaches Day, celebrate the people who help us elevate our game to a whole new level.

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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Welcome to October 5, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate getting funky and paying things forward.

As a child growing up in Georgia, James Brown was so poor that his clothes were little more than rags, for which he was sometimes sent home from school. So when he became a professional musician, he dressed in extravagant outfits, becoming known for his capes, rhinestone covered jumpsuits and copious amounts of jewelry. Brown’s talent earned him the name “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business.” He was a major player in the history of Funk music, setting the standard for musicians like Earth, Wind, and Fire, Parliament Funkadelic, and even Prince. On National Get Funky Day you don’t need to be the Godfather of Soul to get your groove on.

You may not be aware of how your choices add up, but doing something nice can have a far reaching ripple effect. For inspiration, consider the story of a young man from South Carolina with big dreams and humble beginnings. Though he never aspired to be a superhero, young Chadwick Boseman had a talent for acting. When that talent led him to a chance at attending Oxford University, the only obstacle was the immense tuition. Enter Denzel Washington. Though the two had never met, the benefactor paid for Chad’s tuition and his acting career began. That career ended much too soon, but left a legacy of outstanding performances. On National Do Something Nice Day celebrate the ripple effect that even a small act of kindness can create.

’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.

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