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We always think of the end of the year as “the holidays.” Starting on January 1, as we recover from our New Year’s partying, we begin to think more about downtime and relaxation than about celebrations. But that hardly means that there is nothing to celebrate in January. Nearly every single day of this month is celebrated somewhere by someone. [Read more →]
Want to start the New Year in style? Here are some of the best parties happening around the globe:
- Times Square in New York. We’ve all been in the position of being home on New Year’s Eve and watching the ball drop on our television screens. If you’re getting off the couch and getting out on the town, this is probably the first place that came to mind as a New Year’s Eve destination. Just because it’s cliché doesn’t mean it’s not hot!
- Anywhere in Amsterdam. There is no party in the entire place that is a bad party to go to this year. Drink some absinthe, kiss some little green leprechauns and get ready to start your new year in a city known for its liberal attitude. Here are a few of their parties.
- Puerta del Sol, Madrid. Take the town square of a Spanish city, fill it with fun and get ready to ring in the new year.
- Mexico City. The streets of this largest of all cities come alive at the beginning of the day and don’t stop thriving and thumping all throughout the night. If you want to be in a huge urban area to start the new year, this is where the party is at.
- Anchorage, Alaska. If you don’t mind being a little bit cold, this is a unique destination for a New Year’s Party. It was recently approved for residents to shoot off their own fireworks for five hours on this night so expect to see all kinds of chaos in the sky.
- Fremont Street in Vegas. Vegas may be a place where time stands still but that doesn’t mean they forget when it’s time to ring in the New Year. Get off the Strip and head downtown for the big party. Who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky?
- French Quarter, New Orleans. The city is revived and wonderful and people are there to party.
- Sydney, Australia. Want to go somewhere warm where the party is happening on the beach? The southern hemisphere is the place to head and this down under location is where the party is at.
So I was online, searching for cool topics to write about when I came across this announcement about holidays and I got to thinking how weird some of them are and how crazy we are for following them and celebrating them and why some are national holidays and others are just word-of-mouth holidays and why in the world there are e-cards available for pert near every crazy funky holiday there is and…
Oops. Was I babbling? Hey, I was just getting a jump start on Babbling Day. [Read more →]
One of my favorite things as a kid was taking flying leaps into big piles of freshly-raked fall leaves. Of course, my parents didn’t think this was funny and I had to rake them up again, but somehow, the “punishment” never seemed to deter further crimes. [Read more →]
Time for Halloween already? Yep, that’s what the calendar says. It’s so hard to believe that we’re standing on the threshold of spooky parties laced with grape Jell-o shots, pretzels dressed as bats and sandwich spread intricately formed to look like brains. Ah yes, what a time for celebration.
So do you have a party to go to this year? You do? Great! What are you wearing? You know you have to have the best costume of all this year, because you will not be humiliated when the party’s judging committee (consisting of five heavily intoxicated revelers) laughs at the ghost costume you’ve tried to pass off for the last four years straight.
Sound stressful? Aww, don’t worry; that’s where we come in. Here, some of the top costumes available this season. No excuses, now. Make this your best year yet.
Want something funny? Maybe the Baby in a High Chair schtick would do the trick. Or perhaps the Chick Magnet (for a guy, of course) which is a gigantic horseshoe-shaped “magnet” with little rubber ducks attached to the ends.
A gamblin’ man might love the Slot Machine, whereas an outdoorsman might fancy the Outhouse. Also available are the Body Bag, Barrel of Monkeys, Pocket Knife, Statue, Royal Flush, Cockroach and more. Get ‘em while the pickins are good.
Feeling hungry? Well then dress up as food! Everything from Burger King to Wheaties, Peeps to Pez Dispensers, Frankenberry to Count Chocula, and Beer Kegs to Martinis are all on the menu to help curb the munchies (or at least hide your ever-expanding gut after you’re ravaged the snack table).
Want to dress as part of a couple with your honey this year? The old stand-by Salt and Pepper Shakers and Ketchup and Mustard Squirters are still good bets, but more creative options like a Brick Layer (man) and Brick House (woman) are way more fun. You can also find Super Beer Guy and Super Beer Girl, a crazy (albeit funny) twist on your traditional super heroes. Perhaps one of the best couples costumes making the rounds this year is the Bunmaker (man) and Bun in the Oven (woman). Too cute! Also hilarious are the Nut and Bolt, Bacon and Eggs, Plug and Socket, and Lock and Key sets.
Have fun partying down and be sure to take lots of pictures! A Happy Halloween and Hilarious Hijinx to all!
Marshmallows are very popular in the United States with nearly 100 million pounds purchased annually. Each year, we celebrate the marshmallow with National Toasted Marshmallow Day on August 30th.
The history of marshmallow dates back to ancient Egypt when the pharaohs found that by squeezing the mallow plant, a sweet extract emerged. They flavored honey with the extract and it become a luscious delicacy reserved only for royalty. Over the years, marshmallow went through a lot of processing changes and in 1920’s became popularized as a delicious campfire treat.
Roasted on a stick over an open fire, marshmallows become gooey and delicious. The heating creates a carmelized outside with a melted layer underneath. These warm, sticky treats are extremely popular with campers across the U.S. and around the world. Today, you can rarely find a campground that doesn’t have someone toasting marshmallows.
A single roasted marshmallow and Hershey chocolate bars sandwiched between two graham crackers form what we call a S’more.The first official S’more recipe was published by the Girls Scouts of America in 1927 - “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.”
In the 1950’s, the process of infusing air into marshmallows was developed. This jet-puffed process gives marshmallows the light fluffy texture that we know today. On August 30th, celebrate National Toasted Marshmallow Day by taking a camping trip with family or friends and roasting marshmallows.
What’s more American than a good, old-fashioned summer barbecue? A Labor Day Weekend rib cook-off, of course! Between August 29 and September 3, Sparks, Nevada will host the Best In The West Nugget Rib Cook-off, featuring live music playing on six stages, children’s games and activities, cash prizes, and, of course, the best rib recipes in the country.
Today is Sandcastle Day, an appropriate holiday for the hottest of summer months. After all, who doesn’t want to take a bury their toes in sand and dip in cool waters on a hot day? So if you need a little inspiration in choosing your sandcastle destination of choice, we have some excellent beaches to recommend.
This world is filled with a fantastic assortment of black, pink, and white stretches of gorgeous sand. Some of them have simply amazing sandcastle competitions, and the Travel Channel’s number one pick is the Myrtle Beach Open Sand Sculpting Competition. With over $12,000 in prizes and serious sandcastle hobbyists, true masterpieces are created. If this kind of competition strikes your fancy, check out more of the Travel Channel’s Best North American Sandcastle Contests.
With the summer winding down and kids heading back to school soon, many families are planning their end of summer BBQ. Though some might wait until Labor Day, any weekend is a great time for a summer BBQ bash with family and friends.
If you don’t have much grilling experience, here are some tips for using a charcoal grill like a professional.
Lighting Up the Grill:
Cooking on the Grill:
Ideally, you should only have to turn meat once while grilling.
Use the following grilling guidelines for total cooking time for 1″ thick steaks and 1/2″ thick hamburgers. These estimates are for Medium. Cook slightly less for Medium Rare and more for Medium Well and Well Done.
Menu for an End of Summer BBQ:
Sample BBQ Menu #1
Sample BBQ Menu #2
Get more barbeque recipes and party planning tips.
Don’t forget the condiments, paper cups, paper plates, nakpkins and plastic utensils. Make sure to get strong paper plates, such as Chinet brand, that won’t soak through.
Games to Play at an End of Summer BBQ:
If you have a large backyard or planning your barbeque party at a park, consider putting together a game of softball.
If you don’t have enough people for softball, tossing a Frisbee, throwing a football or hoolahooping are fun for children and adults alike.
More Information BBQing:
Relaxing is one of life’s little pleasures. We all love to do it, and yet each of us has our own idea on the best method. Some enjoy a morning yoga session or love siting back with the paper and mug of steaming hot tea. Others like to tend the garden or take a sunset stroll. Your idea of the ideal relaxation technique simply depends on your personality.
Today is National Relaxation Day, though, and in honor of such a day, we need to devote at least a little time to art of relaxation. At the very least, take a moment in your favorite chair, treat yourself to a special meal, or sleep in an extra hour this weekend. Indulge a little. Or, even better, indulge yourself a lot.
What better form of relaxation exists than a well-planned vacation to place where you can get away from it all? For a slice of paradise not far from your front door, the Caribbean has your name written all over it.
Taking an all-inclusive cruise to several of the Caribbean’s impossibly beautiful islands will give you a taste of the sparkling aquamarine waters, flavorful cuisine, and lively culture.
If you’ve already had a taste of the Caribbean, take a more concentrated trip to just one island. There are more than 25 Caribbean territories today, ranging from the more-famous Bahamas, Jamaica, and U.S. Virgin Islands to the slightly more remote Grenadines and Netherlands Antilles. There are hundreds of islands to explore, each with its own personality. Relaxation, whether it be in the form of shopping all afternoon or just lying on a pink sand beach beneath warm sun, is sure to be achieved in this idyllic and gorgeous region.
