National Hot Chocolate Day

Today is National Hot Chocolate Day

 Humans have been drinking chocolate for a long time. The Mayans likely created the first chocolate beverage 2000 years ago. The Aztecs also included a cocoa beverage as an essential part of their culture by 1400 AD. When Europeans began exploring Central and South America, explorers brought chocolate and the beverage back with them to Europe from Mexico. In the early 1800s, Casparus van Houten Sr. developed a process to separate the cocoa solids from the butter. His son, Coenraad Johannes made those fats more soluble in water. Together their processes made cocoa powder possible.

There are health benefits to drinking hot chocolate. Cocoa contains significant amounts of antioxidants that may help prevent cancer. Studies have shown the flavonoids in chocolate may have a positive effect on arterial health and memory. That's a great excuse for me to drink more of the stuff. I could benefit in both ways. I encourage each of you to enjoy a nice warm cup today to celebrate. In this snowy weather it's just the thing to make us feel warm and cozy. I also

I encourage you to make a card to go along with the theme. Here's mine And I'd love to see yours!!

National Puzzle Day

 Today is National Puzzle Day. 

To me that means a jigsaw puzzle. I love doing them and wish I could say that I often have one out to work on but I do not. I will blame it on little space and little time. 

Mapmaker John Spilsbury created the first jigsaw puzzle in 1767. Since then scientists have discovered that when we work on a jigsaw puzzle, we utilize both sides of the brain, improving memory, cognitive function and problem solving skills in the process. By utilizing puzzles, people can stimulate the brain improve a number of skills. It became quite a craze in the United States. Then on December 21, 1913 the first crossword puzzle was created by Arthur Wynne and published in the New York World Newspaper? It was diamond shaped and contained no internal black squares. However, it was so popular with readers that within a decade crossword puzzles were featured in almost all American newspapers. They have their own date to celebrate though. I do at least two a day on my phone. Just trying to keep the old brain vital. I cant say that I see much evidence of it working but I push on. In 2002, Jodi Jill created National Puzzle Day as a way to share her enjoyment of puzzles. As a syndicated newspaper puzzle maker and professional quiz maker, Jodi Jill developed classroom lesson plans especially for the observance and the popularity has grown year after year. 

When I was a junior in high school my parents split. I ended up living with my mom in a one bedroom apartment furnished with all we needed except a television. I don't remember missing it at all. What we did have was a card table on which my mom very often had a jigsaw puzzle going. We would work on it together and I loved spending that time with her. When finished she would add tape to the back to keep them together and they became the art on her walls. I created this card to celebrate the day. I wish I could send it to her. She would have loved it.

International Lego Day

Well AllToday is International Lego Day. 

The colorful plastic bricks have entertained children (and adults) around the world for nearly 70 years. Thevbricks are used to make toy buildings, vehicles, creatures, machines, anything imaginable — and they can be taken apart and put back together as often as you’d like. That means endless creative play. National Lego Day, on January 28, celebrates these incredibl ingenious and enriching toys.

Lego blocks originated in the workshop of Ole Kirk Christiansen, who started producing wood toys in 1932 in Billund, Denmark. A few years later he officially named the company LEGO® – after the Danish phrase “leg godt”, meaning play well. 

International LEGO Day — January 28 — marks the day when Godtfred Kirk Christiansen (Ole’s son) submitted the patent for the original LEGO bricks in 1958. They were the first of their kind with a sophisticated interlocking system that creates bigger and stronger building projects. And not only did Godtfred patent the individual brick, but also the concept of the bricks being used as an interdependent, interlocking building system! 

I'm sure many of you, like me, have seen some absolutely amazing things built with these colorful little blocks. I myself only build with them while playing with my grandkids. Actually only with Lyla now since the boys have far surpassed my building talent. All I build are simple houses. They are nice houses though. 😁

National Paper Crafting Day

 Oh my goodness!

I just got an email that said that today is National Papercrafting Day! I had no idea. 

It just so happens though that it's what I've been doing all day. I'm getting everything ready to go out for the very first technique in the new Technique Club.  I've been having a great time with this first technique. I wish I could show you but it's only for those who joined. 

If you ever feel you're missing out you can join at any time. It's only $12 per month. 

Now That's a Laugh!

 Today January 24th is Global Belly Laugh Day. 

I myself hear great jokes but NEVER remember them, BUT lucky for you, I was driving by the Adlantis and saw this.....

"A polka dot is just a dot with no one to polka with." 

Did you at least get a little giggle? 

You're welcome. 

As it turns out today is also National Compliment Day. Just in case you all want to compliment me on my superb joke telling. LOL

Pop Goes the Weasel

 Hi All

Today us National Popcorn Day!

It was my intention to post a cute card with a popcorn theme but it's not going to happen today. 

I'm still trying to get my life back in order from the several things that have hit me hard already in this first two weeks of the year.

If you're up for a Popcorn celebration, you could head to the movies. Century theaters are offering 50% off on 🍿 Popcorn and at the price of snacks at the theater, that's a good savings. 

 I myself will spend the day here at home catching up but when I finally pause with some hand work this evening I will put a movie on TV and open up a bag of Angie's Boom Chicka Pop and toast the day. 

March Crop

 The next two day crop is coming up on March 11th and 12th. 

Here's a link to the flyer:

https://1drv.ms/w/s!AsV6sc7sOPuhlyrvhBlDeGbSz66u

Hope to see you there. 

It's 2023

 Well it was to be my goal to pay attention to my blog this year and I find myself stuck in a hotel room with not much to do, so it seems like a good time to start. 

I woke up New Year's Eve morning with an ugly cold and the power, which is still not restored, went of that day.  I took it as long as I could and then bailed. I checked into a hotel yesterday. The latest estimate for power is tonight but we'll see. They've changed it many times. 

I look back and find that January 1st is Commitment Day and this first week of the year is Resolution Week. So I will commit to being a better blogger and resolutely try to keep it up. We'll see how it goes. 

January 2nd through the 8th is "Someday We'll Laugh About This Week" What I've been going through this week has not seemed very funny but I think I may be able to look back and find something to laugh about. Maybe not this week though. 

My plan is to add something funny, tell a story, report on the many crazy holidays, or incorporate my card and craft making into the blog this year so I hope you'll keep checking in and comment. I'd love for you to interact with me.