Is your house and garage cluttered with things you no longer need or will likely never use again? Is it a candidate for the television show “Hoarders”? Are you getting a case of claustrophobia, as you sit in your living room? Could you use a little extra cash? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, then it’s time to hold a garage sale. You’ll be happy to know that today is National Garage Sale Day. To participate in this special day, you can either hold a garage sale or attend a few of them. And, we’ve got some tips for garage sales to help you have a successful sale.

Whether you are looking to create a little extra room in your living room or closet, or you need to create space for your teenager’s garage band, a garage sale will help you to meet your goals of having a little breathing room and making a few bucks at the same time.

There are 100,000 – 165,000 garage sales every week! Whether you hold a garage sale, a street sale, a moving sale, or an estate sale, you are among those who hold 100,000 – 165,000 garage sales every week! Most sales are two to three days. The most popular day is Saturday. Sundays are the least popular, often with disappointing sales.

Did You Know? The root of garage sales comes from “rummage sales” in the 16th century. Ship captains would hold “rummage sales” to get rid of unclaimed freight.

Today’s Theme: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

Today is like a day of fresh air, as it is National Fresh Breath Day. No halitosis (bad breath) is acceptable on this August 6 holiday. Rather, the objective of this day is for all of us to have minty fresh breath. It doesn’t take a lot to maintain healthy oral hygiene. And, when you’re on the go or in a rush, a supply of breath mints in your pocket or purse can clear the air around you. 

Both Men and Women have worried about bad breath for eons of time. The use of mouth-freshening herbs dates back to around 2,700 B.C. Whether on the dating scene, interviewing for a job, working closely with others, or for countless other reasons, most of us care about how our breath smells……. or doesn’t smell. If you don’t care about your breath, we can assure you that the people around you do. And so, we turn to a variety of methods to freshen our breath and keep it fresh all day and night long.

Did You Know? 50% of the bacteria in your mouth promotes bad breath.

Other Names: This day is sometimes called Halitosis Day. That’s odd, as Halitosis is the technical term for bad breath, which is the opposite of fresh breath.

Ahh, the last day of August! Summer is almost over, yet you can’t get enough of the great outdoors. The sun is still bright and warm. The weather is great. National Eat Outside Day couldn’t come at a better time. So, on this August 31 holiday, enjoy every meal, snack, and beverage outside.  

People have been eating outdoors since the days of the caveman. Nowadays, people eat most, if not all, of their meals indoors. Eating outdoors has become more of a special event, than a regular occurrence. National Eat Outdoors Day, is an opportunity to change that, if only for a day.

Celebrating this special day is very easy. Find a picnic table, a park bench, or an outdoor restaurant. You can also spread a blanket out on the lawn. Use one of these special places to eat all of your meals, snacks, popsicles, and ice cream, outside in sunshine and fresh air. You will be glad you did!

Did You Know? Sidewalk cafes first appeared in the early 1900s in Manhattan in New York City.

Today is a day that you can go ape over. It’s a very ape-pealing day. This August 25 holiday is called National Banana Split Day!!

On August 25, 1904, the banana spilt was first created in the small town of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. David Strickler, a 23-year-old pharmacist apprentice was working in the soda fountain section of the Tassel Pharmacy at 805 Ligonier Street. Strickler liked to experiment with different combinations of ice cream flavors and toppings. He created the banana split on this day and sold it for 10 cents, which was a lot at the time. As a matter of fact, it was twice the price of other sundaes.

The banana split quickly caught on with students from local Saint Vincent College, and from there, its popularity spread. Walgreens gets recognition for spreading the banana split across the nation when they added it to their soda fountain menu.

Today, Banana splits are a standard item on the menu of just about anywhere ice cream is sold around the country. It became so popular, that there was a television show for kids called “The Banana Split Adventure Hour”. It aired from 1968 – 1970.

Did You Know? Banana Splits have 850 – 1500 delicious calories, and about 95 great-tasting carbs. I guess we will all get back to our diets tomorrow.

You will absolutely love to know that the best way to celebrate this sweet, carb-filled holiday, is to enjoy a banana split. It’s as simple as that!

Set your sights high on a lofty goal. Everyone should climb a mountain at least once in their lives. It is an exhilarating experience, with a huge reward at the peak… a big sense of accomplishment for reaching new heights. Today is National Mountain Climbing Day. Take the day off on this August 1 holiday and hike up a mountain. The views are simply exhilarating. They’ll take your breath away.

Fresh air and magnificent scenery, only adds to the joy of climbing a mountain to the summit. You might climb just one mountain, and attain pride and bragging rights to family and friends. Or, you might find the experience so rewarding, that mountain climbing becomes a new hobby, as you seek the challenge of conquering one peak after another.

National Mountain Climbing Day was established in honor of this author’s son, Bobby Matthews, and his friend Josh Madigan, for successfully climbing the 46 High Peaks of New York State’s Adirondack Mountains. These two young men, climbed the 46th peak, Whiteface Mountain, on August 1, 2015. They were formally inducted into the Adirondack 46er Club in May 2016.

Middle Child’s Day, or Middle Children’s Day, gives a little well-deserved recognition to the wonderful and special middle child in the family.

For parents of three children or more, you likely know the “Middle Child Syndrome” all too well. If you grew up as a middle child with both older and younger siblings, you know the feeling a from a very personal perspective.

The first child is the first child. Beyond a doubt, the firstborn is a very special occasion. And he, or she, has all of mom and dad for a while before the second child comes along. The final child is and always will be the baby of the family.  

This author knows what it’s like to be a middle child. We won’t go into a dissertation about what Middle Child Syndrome is. Rather, we will focus on one aspect. Older and younger children tend to be more outgoing, or extroverted. The middle child tends to be more introverted, quieter, and perhaps a bit of a loner.

It is very fair and fitting that we celebrate, and place into the limelight, the middle child today. Go out and enjoy this day to the fullest. Tell the world about it. Be a little outspoken, and let the world know how great it is to be the middle child. You truly are a wonderful, talented, and special person!

Happy Middle Child’s Day to all of my fellow middle children!

All over the world, lighthouses are a guiding light leading boats to safe harbors. National Lighthouse Day is today, an August 7 holiday. This special day honors and commemorates a beacon of light that symbolizes safety and security for boats at sea.

On August 7, 1789, through an Act of Congress, the Federal Government took over responsibility for building and operating our nation’s lighthouses. The government recognized the importance of lighthouses to ships at sea to find safe harbor during fog and storms. Over the years, lighthouses have saved many ships and an untold number of lives.

Lighthouses are a nighttime navigational aid for all types of marine vessels. Throughout maritime history, Lighthouses have shined their powerful, sweeping lights through the fog and storms, allowing ships of all kinds to find their way back to port during inclement weather. With the advent of radar and GPS technology, lighthouses have taken a back seat in guiding ships to port. However, they remain the universal symbol of safe harbor to ships and communities that rely upon the sea for their livelihood.

There are numerous local and national lighthouse preservation societies and lighthouse organizations. They serve to preserve and promote lighthouses, and their historical significance to communities, and to the nation.

Life and work are busy and demanding. Did you ever get the urge to just take the day off, or to kick back and do nothing? Well, that day has arrived as today is Lazy Day. On this August 10 holiday, being lackadaisical is in vogue. We don’t cut the lawn, weed the garden, or even do the dishes. On this holiday people appear so lethargic, that you wonder if they are comatose.

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer! Lazy Day is your chance to goof off and do no work. And, it definitely comes at a good time. Hot, muggy weather makes it easy to kick back and be lazy for a day. If summer chores are not done by now, they can just wait one more day. It is best spent on a hammock, along with your favorite summer beverage.

Whoever said, “There’s no lazy days…just lazy people.” Well, we respectfully disagree. Today is proof positive. It is indeed a Lazy Day. And, we consider that a good thing.

Do you feel a chill in the air? Someone’s having an argument. Well, life is too short. It’s time to make amends. Kiss and Make Up Day is a great way to end a spat. Everyone has an argument, a fight, or a tiff once in a while. Family, friends, lovers, no one escapes without an occasional fight. Use this August 25 holiday to end the fight. Then, kiss and make up. Oh, what fun this day can be!

According to Jacqueline V. Milgate, who created this day: “Life is too short to hold a grudge. If someone is important to you, kiss and make up!”

Today is a day to end the fight, be it a short spat, or a long-standing feud. C’mon, get over the issues, and resolve your differences. Then, kiss and make up. After all, making up can be oh, so sweet. For lovers, it is the best part of the fight. Some might suggest that the kissing and the making up part makes fighting worthwhile.

BTW: Kiss and Make Up Day might be a good day to send flowers or candy. Or, both!

Have you held back from doing something you really want to do, something out of character for you? Are you afraid someone will challenge your decision or action? You’re ready to reply to the question with an excuse that’s valid today… Just because. This somewhat inane and quirky August 27 holiday is Just Because Day. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

Finally, you have a chance to do something without a rhyme or reason. Most often in life, we do things because we have to, or we want to, or it’s expected of us. None of those reasons apply today.  

Is there something you’d like to do, but there isn’t a reason or logic for doing it? Well, today is the day to go out and do something “just because”. It is most enjoyable if it is an uncommon, or unexpected activity or action. Perhaps, you have something in mind. If not, just go with the first thing that comes to your mind.  “Just because” activities often come from a “whim” or a “what if I” type of thought. We know you will quickly get the hang of this day and have a lot of fun with it. 

To get you started, here are some of our suggested activities for Just Because Day:

• Take an unplanned day of vacation.
• Visit someone you haven’t seen in a while.
• Knock on someone’s door and compliment them on their great lawn.
• Skip, don’t walk.
• Spin a wheel, and bicycle in the opposite direction of where the arrow points.
• Buy something you don’t need.
• Jump in a puddle.
• Walk backward.