Fun Finds: National Ice Cream Day!

Tomorrow, July 15, is National Ice Cream Day in the United States. There really is only one way to celebrate this national holiday - kick back with a cone (or cup, if you prefer as I do) and enjoy this tasty summer treat! But before the official celebration begins, take a look at these ice cream fun finds and facts. Highlights are below, the full collection can be found on Etsy. And, I won't tell if you sneak an early treat :)

Thank You Notes by paperinkandearth

FUN FACT #1-- National Ice Cream Day was established in 1984 by Ronald Reagan, as the third Sunday of July, also designated as National Ice Cream Month.

Print by ZUUCAZU

FUN FACT #2 -- About 9 percent of all dairy milk produced in the U.S. goes towards ice cream production (but don't forget about the yummy soy and other non-dairy varieties out there!)

Felt Kawaii Ice Cream by MySweetieBean

FUN FACT #3 -- The ice cream cone, as we know it today, gained popularity during the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. The legend is that an ice cream vendor ran out of cardboard dishes, so he asked a neighboring waffle vendor, who had low sales due to high temperatures, to create dishes out of his unsold waffles.

Lucky Penny Day

Penny Keychain by AlwaysAMemory

Shine up those pennies in your spare change jar because tomorrow is Lucky Penny Day! Stop by a fountain to make a special wish and keep your eyes glued to the sidewalk for a heads up penny to take advantage of this extra lucky day! (As someone who's childhood nickname was Jenny Penny, I'm hoping for even an extra dose of luck.) While you're waiting for the lucky day to roll around, enjoy these penny-themed fun finds!

Penny Ring by NinaGibsonDesigns

Lucky Us Keychain by KeeferStyleCreations

Fun Finds: PB&J

I know National PB&J day was yesterday, but seeing as how this delicious sandwich was my main source of sustenance from ages 5 to 15 I just couldn't let the occasion go unmarked. Here is a collection of fun finds celebrating everybody's favorite - peanut butter and jelly. Highlights are below and check out the full collection. Enjoy!

You Complete Me PB&J Card by ColettePaperie

Mug Cozy by knotworkshop

Stitched Peanut Butter and Jelly Cards by polkadotshop

Plant A Flower

Upcycled Homco Wall Flowers by BeautiSHE

Did you plant a flower yesterday? I hope so, since it was National Plant A Flower Day! I confess I didn't. But I'm hoping to score some points back with Mother Nature by sharing my favorite gardening website/book/gruru: You Grow Girl. In my neck of the woods it's still a bit early to think about gardening, but it's never too early for a little inspiration. Whether you're dreaming about rose blooms or actually getting some dirt under your fingernails, here are a few  of my favorite You Grow Girl articles (plus super cute matching handmade/vintage goodies!):

Growing Edibles on the Stoop

Bunting Planter by oneeyedog

Grow a Mixed Strawberry and Herb Container 

Vintage Strawberry Gift Tags by AubreeLane

What Makes a Good Gardener?

Vintage Pink Watering Can by Swede13

Save the Polar Bear

Polar Bear Illustration by AlicePotter

Today is International Polar Bear Day! Now, despite my negative feelings toward cold weather, the polar bear is my favorite animal (kind of strange, huh?) so clearly this is a holiday I take to heart. The polar bear is classified as a threatened species, and experts believe they could be extinct by mid-century. Global warming and the related loss of arctic sea ice have been detrimental to the polar bear's habitat. To raise awareness of this issue, Polar Bears International is asking everyone to Bundle Up for Polar Bears by lowering the thermostat by two degrees today, helping to lower carbon emissions and honor the polar bear. 

So, after you've adjusted your thermostat and put on a sweater, take a look at this collection of polar bear artwork I've put together to honor the adorable, but deadly polar bear. Highlights are below (and above), and be sure to check out the full collection. Enjoy, and spread the word - save the polar bear!

Polar Bears Print by studiotuesday

Polar Bear in Hibernation by augustwren

Fun Finds: Cherry Pie!

Cherry Pie Cross-Stich by thegreatnorthern

The natural thing to post about today would, of course, be Fat Tuesday. However, my boyfriend was very upset when he discovered that yesterday was National Cherry Pie day and, given my affinity for wacky holidays, I failed to acknowledge it on my blog. Now cherry pie is not my favorite of pies but it's still an American tradition (almost as much as good ole' apple pie) and deserves it's due. So to make up for this grievous oversight (sorry honey!), today's post is all in celebration of the cherry pie!

Thankfully, it seems I was the only one who forgot the holiday, because there are tons of wonderful treasuries themed on that tasty red fruit. Here are a few of my favorites for your viewing pleasure:

Sweet as Cherry Pie by auntysams

Sneak Peek:

Cherry Pie Felt Hair Clip by lulusnest

Love You Like Cherry Pie by maclancy

Sneak Peek:

Crochet Cherry Pie by NadiasPlace

Sweet as Cherry Pie by QuiltinCats

Sneak Peek:

Cherry Felt Toys by PipandOliver

Grab Your Umbrella

...because tomorrow is Umbrella Day! February is chock-full of fun holidays like Thank a Mailman Day (Feb. 4), Kite Flying Day (Feb. 8), International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day (Feb. 20) and Tell a Fairy Tale Day (Feb. 28), just to name a few. Seriously - I'm not making this stuff up. Of these fantastic, wacky February holidays we'll be honoring two on my blog (no, the second one is not listed above - it's a surprise!). Right now, it's all about the umbrella. Impress your friends with these umbrella facts and enjoy these beautiful umbrella works of art!

Yellow Umbrella Illustration by osioandalfred

Umbrella Fun Facts

1. Other names include parasol, brolly, parapluie, rainshade, sunshade, gamp and bumbershoot (clearly, the last is my favorite).

2. Nearly all ancient cultures - including the Aztecs, Greeks and Egyptians - have records of umbrellas being used in some form.

3. Pocket umbrellas first appeared in 1928.

4. The modern folding umbrella was patented in 1969.

Umbrella Paper Wall Decor by goshandgolly

Original Crayon and Aryclic Painting by alyxscalf

Happy National Rubber Ducky Day!

Organic Felted Baby Soap by EngelFelt

My regular readers may have noticed by now that I'm a fan of wacky, under-appreciated holidays. Today's is one of my favorites...National Rubber Ducky Day! Here are some fun facts you may not know about this much beloved children's toy...

• Rubber ducks were first created in the late 19th century. 
• In German-speaking countries, rubber ducks are known as 'squeaky ducklings'
• In the US, the largest rubber duck race is the annual Freestore Foodbank Rubber Duck Regatta in Cincinnati, Ohio. Over 100,000 rubber ducks participate. 
• In 1992, 29,000 plastic bath toys, including rubber ducks, were swept off a freighter in the ocean. The ducks' were tracked by oceanographers and ended up on the shores of Indonesia, Australia and South America. Many were also trapped in Arctic ice in Alaska and Russia, and were sighted as recently as 2000 still slowly following the track of the Arctic ice. 

Banana Rubber Ducky Soap by LoveLeeSoaps