Celebrate Every Day

Sure Strawberries Are A Simple Pleasure, But Some People Really Know How To Celebrate This Fruit!

Welcome to May 20th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate berry bliss and millionaire dreams. 

The United States loves its strawberries. They’re one of our most popular fruits and lag only behind bananas and apples in overall sales. But nobody loves strawberries more than the people of Belgium. In the small town of Wépion, you can find a whole museum dedicated to the berry. Here they offer the history of strawberries in the region, along with samples and tours of local orchards. If you’re lucky enough to be in Belgium you can feast on the many varieties of strawberries, along with everything from baked goods to beer made with the fruit. On National Pick Strawberries Day, take a trip to your own local grower, and discover just how good a sun ripened berry can be. 

If you’ve ever dreamed of being a millionaire, then today is your day to get started. There are some practical steps to becoming rich, such as opening a savings account and saving more than you spend.  It’s also wise to get financial advice on how to reach your goal, but perhaps the best place to start is by visualizing what that money will actually look like.  If you could see the stack of a million one dollar bills, do you know how tall it would be?  The answer is 358 feet or taller than a 35 story building! On National Be A Millionaire Day, celebrate by day dreaming, and with a little luck and planning you’ll reach your goal in no time.

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

How Do You Like Your Eggs Cooked?

Welcome to May 19th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate scrambling your menu and wicked good cake. 

Cooking breakfast for a crowd? You might want to buy an ostrich egg. The average size is over 3 pounds and just one of them is the equivalent of 24 chicken eggs. And the largest ostrich egg on record was a whopping 5 pounds! Ouch! At the other end of the spectrum, a species of hummingbird in Jamaica lays eggs that weigh about 1/10 of an ounce. So unless you shrink down your guests, literally, they won’t do you much good as food. May is National Egg Month, a good time to mix things up.  And if you’re partial to good old chicken eggs there’s nothing wrong with trying a new recipe.

No one is quite sure where the name Devil's Food Cake came from.  But these light, moist chocolate cakes made quite a stir when they popped up in Indiana.  One of the first recipes appeared in the 1898 edition of the Hagerstown Exponent.  Right in the heart of the heartland, folks were swooning over the rich results made from boiling water and cocoa powder.  Perhaps they took off because they appeared side by side with Angel Food Cake recipes and offered a tempting alternative.  On National Devil’s Food Cake Day, celebrate taking a walk on the naughty side with a dessert that’s sinfully delicious.

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

Welcome to May 18th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate the dirty down low and elevated cheese.

A good home-cooked meal can make even the worst of days seem better. Delicious food and a full belly can bring a smile to anyone’s face. But there’s a catch…washing the dishes afterward. There’s a reason people grumble when they get stuck with this chore. It’s not very fun. Heck, someone even invented a machine to help avoid the task. On National No Dirty Dishes Day, you’ve got a choice: let that sink full of unwashed plates sit for an extra day, or get busy washing. Or smash them and start over. OK...maybe that last one’s not such a great idea. But it sounds fun. How about you celebrate with takeout food and use some paper plates. We can get back to the grind tomorrow.

The word soufflé is a French word meaning to puff or to breathe.  And many Americans hold their breath while making a soufflé, because frankly they can be hard to master.  This is probably because there are so many ways to fail when baking one.  You might whip the egg whites too much or too little.  And don’t even think about opening the oven door too soon or making a loud noise while they bake.  The first recipe for soufflé appeared in 1742, and this culinary masterpiece is still regarded as a worthy challenge.  On National Cheese Soufflé Day, celebrate the sublime by breathing new life into an old recipe that’s sure to win over a crowd.

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

Sure You Know That Walnuts Are Good For You, But We Bet You Never Guessed They Would Be Good For This!

Welcome to May 17th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a nutty cleaning hack and a sweet substitution. 

Walnuts are a baking staple. When paired with apples or maple flavor, they are truly divine. Think maple walnut ice cream. But there’s another use for walnuts that most people are unfamiliar with. Cleaning jet engines. In this process, known as abrasive cleaning, crushed up walnut shells are thrown into an idling engine. As they pass through the turbines, the shells rub off any debris that has built up on the blades. Sort of like using Comet to clean your tub. However, doing this too often can damage the blades, so it’s not done very frequently. Celebrate National Walnut Day with a muffin or maybe some brownies. But leave the jet engine cleaning to a mechanic.

They say that necessity is the mother of invention and in the case of cherry cobbler that need was for a pudding.  I’m talking about British settlers in the American colonies who were longing for a taste of their hometown favorite, suet pudding.  The problem was a lack of ingredients and the rudimentary ovens which most people had in the New World. But this episode of Dessert Impossible had a very happy ending.  Clever bakers opted for stewed cherries instead of suet and when topped with biscuit dough, the substitutions were quite delicious!    On National Cherry Cobbler Day, celebrate the ingenious results of making due with what you have on hand. 

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

Did You Ever Buy A Sea Monkey Kit From The Back Of Your Comic Book?

Welcome to May 16th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a classic case of “buyer beware” and a beautiful day in the neighborhood. 

Artemia salina are a species of brine shrimp that go into a state of hibernation when they become dried out. But when you reintroduce water, they spring back to life. If you read comic books in the 60, 70s, or 80s, you know these tiny animals by another name: Sea Monkeys. The ads showed them as smiling, mermaid-like creatures living in castles. But when you got them in the mail, things were…a bit different. Yes, it was cool to add water and watch them come to life, but any dreams of itty-bitty sea monsters went right down the drain. On National Sea Monkey Day, celebrate these amazing aquatic wonders and the first dose of “buyer beware” we experienced as kids.

Nothing brings people together like a good old fashioned barbecue.  Fire up the charcoal briquets and you instantly conjure memories of Summer days and backyards full of fun.  What’s cooking on the grill doesn’t matter as much as the company you invite, because food that’s cooked outdoors just seems to taste better! Not only is it National Barbecue Day, it’s also National Do Something Good For Your Neighbor Day.  So if you’re looking for the ultimate way to celebrate, why not have a block party? All it takes is a little sunshine, some burgers and potato salad and it really is a beautiful day in the neighborhood. 

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

Some Kids Dip Their Toes In The Pool Early, And Others Take It To A Whole New Level.

Welcome to May 15th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate making waves and a chip off the old block. 

At the age of 10, most kids are thinking about video games and homework. But not Carson Foster. At 10 years old, he was an avid swimmer and had been competing for a few years, aspiring to be like his idol—Michael Phelps. In 2012, he beat Phelp’s record for 50 meter butterfly by a full second. Phelps was so impressed that he sent Carson a selfie holding a sign that said “Congratulations Carson!” A few years later, at age 16, Carson broke another of Phelps’ records. And since he’s on the short list for the Olympics in Tokyo, Carson Foster may break a few more records, but this time on the world stage. Celebrate National Learn to Swim Day by dipping your toes in the water. Who knows where this fun pastime might lead.

Chocolate chips are so commonplace today, that it’s hard to imagine they weren’t invented until 1937.  That’s when Ruth Wakefield chopped up pieces of chocolate and added them to her cookie dough.  Hoping to add a new spin on her baking, the cookies were a huge success.  A few years later Nestle bought the recipe, and it has graced their packages of chocolate morsels ever since.  On National Chocolate Chip Day, celebrate by sprinkling these magic morsels anywhere you please.

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

Did You Know There's A Whole World Right Underneath Your Feet?

Welcome to May 14th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate living like a prairie dog and dancing like poultry. 

The small town of Coober Peddy, Australia produces more opal than any other place on Earth. It’s also unique for another reason: Over half of its residents live underground. When the town was established in the early 1900s, miners flocked to the area to mine this precious gem, but found the climate to be too harsh. Temperatures during the summer are consistently over 100 degrees and there is little to no vegetation. The solution was to dig into the earth to create homes for themselves. And those dwellings are still used today. While the sun beats down on the desert outside, the dugouts as they’re called stay a comfortable 70 degrees year round. On National Underground America Day, check out the world that’s lurking, right beneath your feet.

As soon as you hear the upbeat Oom-Pah-Pah of the Chicken Dance song, you know what happens next.  Everyone heads to the dance floor and spends the next few minutes dancing in unison.  Since it debuted in the 1950s, this silly little song has become a mainstay at wedding and Oktoberfest celebrations.  In 1996, fans of the song took things to the extreme, setting the record for world’s largest Chicken Dance.  72,000 people were all flapping their arms and shaking their tail feathers at once.  On National Dance Like A Chicken Day, shake things up by pretending to be poultry.   

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

Did You Know That Today's All American Celebrations Did Not Originate In America?!

Welcome to May 13th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate two American classics. 

Americans didn’t invent frog jumping, but we know where the most celebrated contest originated.  That would be Calaveras County, California back in 1849.  Thanks to Mark Twain, these amphibian Olympics are still celebrated throughout the country to this day.  While his story had three different names, Twain landed on The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and his frog Dan’l Webster immortalized this curious event.  For the record it’s Rosie the Ribeter who holds the title for highest jump, coming in at a whopping 21 feet, 5-¾ inches.  On National Frog Jumping Day, join the fun at a local event, or take it easy on the couch with a good read that is still as American as…

Apple pie? That’s the dessert we all know and love, but did you know that the first printed recipe for apple pie was found in England in 1382?  Like any good thing, we brought this classic dessert over the pond as we migrated West.  Teddy Roosevelt pined for it while traveling abroad in Africa.  During World War II, soldiers claimed they were fighting for it, along with Mom of course.  Maybe you like yours served a la mode, or topped with a slice of cheddar cheese. On National Apple Pie Day celebrate this all American favorite and rest assured there is plenty for everyone. 

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

If The Way You Treat Your Staff Is The Way They Will Treat Your Customers, You May Wanna Celebrate This Day With Extra Gusto!

Welcome to May 12th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate first impression experts and going the extra mile. 

Any good business owner knows that the Director in Charge of First Impressions can be one of their most valuable assets.  That’s right we’re talking about the Receptionist.  The person who answers your phones and greets your customers is the gatekeeper to how your brand is perceived in the world.  So you may want to think about how you treat this important member of your staff and remember that this is likely the way they will treat your customers.  On National Receptionists’ Day, show a little gratitude for the voice of your business.  

Look how far you have come.  Not in the sense of evaluating your life.  I’m talking about the miles you have gone in your vehicle.  If you take a look at your car’s odometer, you may be surprised at the mileage you’ve racked up.  The odometer was invented in the 1600s to track how far horse drawn wagons traveled.  The first odometer for an automobile appeared in 1903, and it’s been helpful ever since for knowing when it’s time for an oil change or other maintenance.   On National Odometer Day, celebrate progress and the latest inventions such as watches that even keep track of our steps!  

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

We Have Entered A Dimension Of Sight And Sound Where You Can Pretty Much Eat What Ever You Want!

Welcome to May 11th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate pigging out and being in the zone.

For the past few weeks, we’ve probably all been eating a lot of comfort food. I know I have. And maybe you’ve felt a little guilty about it. Today it doesn’t matter what you have, gobble it up and don’t count the calories. Chips, cookies, pizza, or maybe some cake. Just enjoy yourself. If anyone asks why you’re on your second bag of potato chips, tell them to lighten up. It’s National Eat What You Want Day and you’re allowed to pig out if you choose, though getting crumbs on the couch is probably too far.

You are about to enter another dimension. A dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. The opening narration and theme music from the Twilight Zone make up one of the most iconic TV show introductions ever produced.  Think of how many times something weird happens and someone starts humming that tune.  It’s amazing that more than 50 years have passed since the show first debuted and it still holds up as a fan favorite to this day. Check out some classic episodes such as To Serve Man or Nightmare at 20,000 Feet to see what we mean.  But whatever you do, be on the lookout for weird twists and turns that may lead you into National Twilight Zone Day. 

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