Nutcracker

Did you know…?

Now a Christmas classic, Tchaikowsky’s Nutcracker premiered on December 18, 1892 less-than-favorable reviews. Poor casting and the audience’s unfamiliarity with the plot kept the performance from being considered a success. Happily, the music and the story have endured, and audiences worldwide now look forward to this beloved ballet every holiday season.

~~ Emile Barnes - The 12 Teas of Christmas

Celebrate Power of a Smile Day

 
Power of a Smile Day - observed June 15 ever year

On June 15th, smile at everyone you see all day long, find ideas for crafts, games, and other activities.

Crafts to make:
- Make a collage using pictures of smiles cut out of magazines.
- Create some Happy Face Beaded pins you can wear or give.
- Make smiley face masks using yellow paint and paper plates.
- Draw faces with different expressions.
- Make yourself a Smiling T-shirt.
- Try make a Happy Face Ring.


Other Things to do:
-Talk about how you feel when someone smiles at you and when you smile.
-Have a smile-off. See who can smile the longest. To make it harder, see who can smile the longest without laughing!
-Talk about emotions and facial expressions.
-Have a Biggest Smile Contest.

Gray skies are gonna clear up,

Put on a happy face!

Brush off the clouds and cheer up,

Put on a happy face!

Take off that gloomy mask of tragedy,

It's not your style.

You'll look so good that you'll be glad ya decided to smile!

Pick out a pleasant outlook,

Stick out that noble chin,

Wipe off that full-of-doubt look,

Slap on a happy grin!

And spread sunshine all over the place,

just Put on a happy face!

Put on a happy face!

Put on a happy face!

revised 15 June 2008

June Weddings

"June Wedding" is known for marriage that occur over the entire of the month.  June is named after the Juno. Juno was the goddess of marriage and a married couple. Some consider it good luck to be married in this month."

June Pearl

Birthstone of the month is Pearl. It is the birthday gem for June.

National Bike Month

 

Did you know May is National Bike Month.  

I have learned one or two things from my friend.  He is a bike enthusiast and cycle-a-holic.

Here is the link for you to read on:
 http://www.nhtsa.gov/Bicycles

 http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/out/bike_safety.html

I have secretly always wanted to try riding a tandem but...

Tea Time

Prayer For Safety

"Lord, protect us from harm as we go on this bike ride.
Guide us away from accidents.
Instill in us a level of awareness to thwart others who are inconsiderate to our vulnerability on the roadways.
In your name we pray...
Amen. "

Keep America Beautiful

Did you know April 23rd is Keep America Beautiful Day?

Girl Scout Day

Did you know April 21st is Girl Scout Leader Appreciation Day. So drink a cup of tea for all leaders of United States to celebrate that day.  

I baked cupcakes. This is my final bake cupcakes and cakes for the summer. Too hot to bake.

Girl Scout Lemonade cookies.

Girl Scouts Daisy Cookies

I (heart) Straw Hat

Did you know?
April is National Straw Hat Month.

Quotes
- I consider that without hats, an intrinsic part of fashion, we would have no civilization.
Christian Dior


- Why mind the fashion? Wear a big hat, and be comfortable!
Little Women


- When I was six I made my mother a little hat – out of her new blouse.
Lilly Dache


- There is not so variable of thing in nature of a lady’s head-dress.
Joesph Addison


Hat Glossary

Boater - A stiff, straight-brimmed, straw hat with a flat crown and a ribbon band. Introduced about 1864 for children, then worn by women. Also called Sailor.

Bowler - In 1850, William Bowler made a hard felt hat. It was created to protect the head while riding horseback. The hat has a low melon-shaped crown and a rounded brim that turns up at the sides. The hat shape was adapted for women and children. Also called Derby.

Brenton Sailor - Woman’s hat with a brim that turns up evenly all around.

Chapeau - French word for outdoor head covering. A chapeau has a crown and a brim.

Cloche - (Klosh, French word for bell.) Soft style of the 1920’s, fashioned from a hood of chiffon or handkerchief felt. Hat that covered the head to the neck in back; it came to the eyebrows in front. A flapper age, boyish style.

Cowboy Hat - Originally a felt hat worn by cattle herders. The 1980's “urban cowboys and cowgirls” were wearing straw and felt versions of this wide, rolled brim hat with high creased crown. Also called Stetson.

Derby - stiff, hard, brown felt hat that had dome-shaped crown and a narrow, a slightly curled brim. Also called Bowler.

Fedora - Men’s soft felt hat with brim and lengthwise crease in crown, adopted by women. The name Fedora was after the heroine of Victorian Sardou’s drama presented in Paris in 1882.

Newsboy Cap - Soft fabric cap with full crown and visor that snaps to crown. Cap worn by children around 1920, who were also newsboys. Adapted for women’s wear in 1980’s.

Panama - Hand woven straw hat from leaves of the jipijapa (he-pi-ha-pa) plant that grows in Central and South America. Takes its name from Panama where it is sold.

Pillbox - Small cap that has a flat crown with straight sides. Fashion made popular in 1960’s by Jackie Kennedy.

Pork Pie - Men's hats with a low crown with telescoped flat top. Adapted for women.

Sailor - Flat-crowned, straight brimmed hat, usually made of straw. Grosgrain headband trimmed with flat bow at the side. Also called Boater.

ASPCA Day - Go Orange!

Paint the town ORANGE 
for Animals!

April 10th is America Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.


Click below for more information:
http://www.aspca.org/


"WHAT IS ASPCA DAY?
Every year on April 10, the anniversary date of the founding of the ASPCA in 1866, the ASPCA will be celebrating ASPCA Day and encouraging animal lovers of all ages nationwide to GO ORANGE FOR ANIMALS! Going Orange on ASPCA Day is a tribute to the work of the ASPCA and a celebration of compassion and kindness for all living things everywhere. (Orange is the official ASPCA color and what better to celebrate than our love of animals?)....."

National Garden Month

 
April is National Garden Month

Planting a garden is good for the plant and for your soul.

 

A garden is where the soul feels at home – Unknown 

Plant seeds of Friendship and grown a garden of delight

Friends are flowers in life’s garden Little acts of kindness are like flowers along life’s way – Anonymous

National Find-A-Rainbow-Day!

 

 Today is National Find-A-Rainbow Day!

Have you fellow come across any rainbow themed picture lately? If so, please share!

I received e-mail from my dear friend. Thought this was pretty awesome and I just wanted to share it with you all.

"A Child's Rainbow of Virtues"

Red is for LOVE, friendship and caring.

Orange is for JOY with laughter for sharing.

Yellow is for HOPE to brigten each day.

Green is for FAITH to follow God's way.

Blue is for PEACE in our world and our heart.

Violet is for PRAYER every day from the start.

 

April

Did you know April is
 - National Garden Month
 - National Volunteer Month
 - National Wildflower month
 - National Fly a Kite month
 - National Frog month
 - National Poetry month

Greeting Card

Did you know?

The Greeting Card Association estimates that, worldwide, approximately 1 billion Valentine's Day Cards are sent each year. In spite of the impressive number, it comes in second to the Christmas holiday, when an estimated 2 billion cards are exchanged.

National Apple Month

Did you know Apple Month is a 3 months promotion, 

September to November.