Housewife Day recognizes the importance of stay-at-home wives and moms. This November 3 holiday is also referred to as “Retro” Housewife Day. These wonderful, caring creatures, build and enrich strong family environments. They help to instill family values and good character. Today, we celebrate and thank all of the ladies who choose to stay home and tend to the house and family! 

Housewife is an old term. It hails back to the days when one income could support the family in a manner of comfort. It was also a time when women did not have equal rights. While these days are long gone, women’s views of working or staying at home, fall on both sides of the fence. The decision to be a “housewife”, or stay-at-home mom, is still preferred by many. Unfortunately, income needs often necessitate going to work.

Bakers of the world, rise up and bake some bread, for today is Homemade Bread Day. On this November 17 holiday, you will enjoy the pleasant aroma of fresh homemade bread wafting through the house. Then, you get the pleasure of consuming warm bread, fresh out of the oven. I can almost smell it now!

Bread has been made for thousands of years. Estimates date its origin back to 5000-10,000 B.C. Modern-day lifestyles have relegated homemade bread to the world of specialty baking and holiday baking. People just don’t have time to bake homemade bread. We turn to a quick “run” to bakeries and grocery stores, for our bread needs. The arrival of automatic bread makers has created a small resurgence of homemade breads, especially specialty breads.

The purpose of this day is easy to make homemade bread, and to encourage you and me to make tasty and nutritious bread. So, take a little time out of your busy day, and bake some bread. Your nose, your taste buds, and your whole family will be glad you did.

Happy Homemade Bread Day!

Thought for the Day: Bread is a lot like the Sun. It rises in the Yeast and sets in the Waist.

When is Have a Bad Day Day, you ask!? It’s today. Isn’t this November 19 holiday just wonderful!? Years ago, as we began to research this day, we expected to find that this day was intended to recognize that everybody has a lousy day once in a while. Au Contrare!!!! Rather, as a greeting today, you are encouraging people to wish someone a lousy or terrible day. Then, watch the surprised look on their face.

Believe it or not, this day was created to encourage us to wish people to have a bad day. The intent is to have salespeople stop saying to their customers “have a good day” and replace it with “have a bad day”. Hopefully, they will do s with a smile on their face. I’m sure that will go a long way towards getting the sale.

At this point, we must remind you that we do not create special days or their meaning. We only report to you those that exist. And, this is truly the meaning and intent of this day, as stated by the creator.

Guy Fawkes Day and Gunpowder Day are one and the same. This November 5 holiday commemorates the infamous Gunpowder Conspiracy of 1605 in England. It was led by, you guessed it, Guy Fawkes.

Thought for the Day: Are we celebrating Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators, for attempting to eliminate religious persecution? Or, are we celebrating the government’s successful discovery of the plot, saving many lives?  …You make the call.   

Don’t you think it’s about time to give up the cancer sticks!? The Great American Smokeout Day is today. So, let’s finally kick the habit. The goal of this special day is quite obvious: to get people to quit smoking, resulting in fewer health problems, and fewer cancer and emphysema deaths resulting from smoking and secondary smoke.

Quitting smoking is not an easy task. As an ex-smoker, this writer certainly knows how hard it is to quit smoking. Usually, it takes repeated efforts to succeed. That’s okay, as long as you keep trying until you finally succeed. The health benefits and the prospect of a longer life are crystal clear.

The American Cancer Society emphatically encourages all smokers to give up the “butt” today. Join millions of other Americans today and take a big step to a happier, healthier, longer life.

Go For a Ride Day is today, a November 22 holiday. And, what a splendid time you will have! to enjoy the day, any means of transportation will do. But, perhaps the most enjoyable is a trip in the car with family or friends. As a matter of fact, make a day of it. You can ride through the city or enjoy the countryside.  A drive through the country is the most relaxing alternative. Also, plan to stop at some interesting destination along the way. And, select an interesting place to stop for lunch. 

As the holiday’s approach, life becomes chaotic, and perhaps a bit stressful. Take a breather and go for a relaxing ride. You will return much calmer and more refreshed. And, you will have pleasant memories of a day well spent.

The means of transportation can be anything. Sure, a car, bus, or motorcycle ride may immediately come to mind.

Whatever your means of transportation, have a happy Go For a Ride Day.

Aren’t you glad that today is French Toast Day? Without a doubt, this November 28 holiday is your opportunity to enjoy French toast, a delicious and tasty breakfast meal. Hold it right there! It’s not just for breakfast. You can have it for any mealtime: breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Have it your way. Try French toast with maple syrup, powdered sugar, cinnamon, whipped cream, or fruits. Better yet, use a combination of these.

Make plans to celebrate this special day, eating French toast for AT LEAST one meal today.

Did You Know? French toast has other names in its history. They include American toast, German toast, and Spanish toast.

It’s quick and easy to make, and inexpensive, too. Recipes were common back in medieval Europe, where eggs and milk were often used to soften and stale bread, then cook them. By and large, other leftovers were added. It’s real origin dates back to at least ancient Roman times, and probably before.  

National Forget-Me-Not Day is a day to remember family, friends, and loved ones.  People use this November 10 holiday to get in touch with family, friends, and loved ones, especially those who we haven’t seen in a while. Certainly, you don’t want them to forget you, do you!? This day is intended to remember the living. But, some people have used it to memorialize a loved one who is no longer with us. Of course, that’s perfectly okay.

Did you get some potted plants as a gift? Easy to grow Forget-Me-Not flowers are perennial. They come back year after year and readily spread out in a variety of landscaping conditions. Try them in rock gardens and as ground cover. Additionally, they look good in containers on your patio or deck. 

Flower of the Day: Why, it’s Forget-Me-Nuts….of course!!

• How to grow Forget-Me-Not Flowers

False Confession Day is today, a November 21 holiday. I bet you have been waiting for today, in eager anticipation. For some unknown, yet wacky reason, the creator of this day, thought it would be fun to encourage false admissions. Did you do it or not? If you did, mum’s the word today. But, if you didn’t do it, then today is your day to offer up a false confession.

Caution: While this day sounds like a lot of fun, use caution while participating. Making a false confession can have dangerous consequences. A false confession can get you in a heap of trouble in a hurry.  So, please don’t make any false confession that will cause injury or harm to you or others.

False Confession Day probably should be followed up with a new holiday titled “Face the Consequences Day“, or “Retract Your Confession Day”. Either way, the things you do or don’t do today, could read like a Whodunit Mystery.

Have a happy False Confession Day!!