NATIONAL MORTGAGE PROFESSIONAL MONTH

NATIONAL MORTGAGE PROFESSIONAL MONTH

Every September, National Mortgage Professional Month recognizes the professionals who play a role in helping people finance the dream of homeownership. 

Since 2011, home sales in the United States have steadily grown, meaning each year more and more people are buying a home. Whether it’s a first home or the next home, mortgage professions understand how exciting and stressful the process can be. A mortgage professional takes on the task of making sure everything is in place by closing day. They may be loan officers, processors, underwriters, servicers, insurers, or other mortgage professionals, but all of them work hard to make your home loan a reality. 

Their varied roles may include:

  • Reviewing loan applications
  • Verifying credit
  • Processing loan applications
  • Appraising the property
  • Examining the title
  • Verifying the purchase price, annual percentage rate, and term of the loan
  • Preparing the loan

Most people are not aware of the number of people and amount of work involved between the moment someone decides to buy a home and the day the final contracts are signed. 

NATIONAL MORTGAGE PROFESSIONAL MONTH HISTORY

In 2015, United Guaranty founded National Mortgage Professional Month to honor all mortgage professionals.

HOW TO OBSERVE #MortgageProfessionalMonth

During September, give a mortgage professional you know a shout-out. Recommend them to someone who is looking for a new home. Let them know you appreciate all they do to help people achieve homeownership. If you’re considering purchasing a home, learn about the process and what to expect. 

Use #MortgageProfessionalMonth to share on social media. 

NATIONAL THOUGHTFUL DAY

August 28th brings with it an opportunity to demonstrate how we value each other. National Thoughtful Day sets aside a celebration meant to bring goodwill in a variety of ways. By serving the day with a spirit of generosity toward others, a ripple effect takes place.

What encompasses a thoughtful day? Sometimes it’s an awareness of fulfilling another’s needs. Whether they are celebrating something already or need a pick-me-up, being aware generates a multitude of thoughts that result in thoughtful acts. It can be a small token or an inspirational word. Either way, your thoughtfulness makes others feel special.

And many times, those special people in our lives will reciprocate in kind. While it is usually not expected when we’re being thoughtful, it tends to happen anyway.

Being thoughtful also creates an interchange of thoughts and ideas that spur even more thoughtfulness. One simple act or word can generate new friendships, cause a plan to develop or a garden to grow. Who knows where your thoughtfulness will lead!

A thoughtful day also gives us perspective. We pause a moment to think of another and not ourselves. Our consideration for others brings kindness to the world that would otherwise be missing.

And while all these reasons matter, one of the most important reasons to celebrate National Thoughtful Day is that it is necessary. Imagine all the lives we touch and how a single thoughtful act can impact them for a lifetime. Thoughtfulness is a necessity we cannot live without.

NATIONAL THOUGHTFUL DAY HISTORY

Thoughtful Pinch founded National Thoughtful Day to celebrate all the ways being thoughtful brings beauty, inspiration, and empowerment to our lives. According to the creator of Thoughtful Pinch, Barb Paton, “By being thoughtful, one size does not have to fit all. In fact, the more unique the celebration, the better!”

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalThoughtfulDay

Put your stamp on the day – your own style of thoughtful. Then put it into practice. Maybe you’ll become the aunt known for her sweet treats or the friend known for surprise coffees at work. Some other thoughtful ideas include:

Mail cards to several people in your address book. A handwritten note means so much since they are rare these days.

Deliver small treats to friends and family. They won’t be turned away, we promise!

Bring fresh flowers to your neighbor. They will brighten the day and make a connection.

Surprise someone with a new book. Inspirational stories bring comfort and joy.

Take a child to the park. Children always appreciate one on one time.

Visit Pinterest for inspiration or Thoughtful Pinch for more ideas.

Most importantly, share your thoughtful day on social media. Include your inspiration and plans while tagging them with #NationalThoughtfulDay.

NATIONAL MASSACHUSETTS DAY

National Massachusetts Day on August 17th recognizes the first New England colony and the sixth state to join the Union. Named after the indigenous people who populated the area when explorers (and later the pilgrims) first arrived, Massachusetts became an incubator for independence, education, and industry.

Cradle of Liberty

It should come as no surprise that the state earned the name of Cradle of Liberty. After all, Massachusetts hosted the founding of the Sons of Liberty and the Boston Tea Party. The list of notable names from history grows long from Massachusetts. Of course, their stories and the historic events leading up to the founding of a country make for fascinating tales.

Patriots come to mind first, but don’t stop there! Poets, inventors, authors, politicians, architects, activists, athletes and those who have managed the amazing. It’s much too long for these pages. So, we encourage you to explore them further during National Massachusetts Day!

With her numerous bays and abundant shorelines, Massachusetts offers many seaside escapes. Discover mountain exploration inland, and for those who seek urban adventure, encounter adventures there, too. Everywhere you go, there’s history, beauty, and perhaps a bit of an adjustment to the New England language. Either way, dive into the food, the past and the future of Massachusetts.

Explore More States

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalMassachusettsDay

During National Massachusetts Day, explore all the adventures, history and more the state has to offer. Share your favorites by using #NationalMassachusettsDay on social media.

Massachusetts Flavor

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Boston Cream Pie
Cranberry Juice
Corn Muffin
Cod
Fried Clams
Fluffernutter
Boston Cream donut
Clam Chowder
Cranberry

Massachusetts Day Flavor

We’ll start with the obvious when the topic of Massachusetts food comes to the table: Boston Cream Pie. What other states would this layered, hot milk cake hail from? Well, to be specific, it was created in 1856 in the kitchen of the Omni Parker House Hotel in Boston and is still made there today.

Next, we turn to the salty sweet combination of Fluffernutter. A blended combination of marshmallow fluff and peanut butter, Fluffernutter became a household name in New England in the 1960s.

On July 3, 1916, Lawrence and Bessie Woodman fried the first clam at their roadside concession stand in Essex, Massachusetts. The rest, as they say, is history. Massachusetts has been in love ever since. Speaking of clams, don’t forget the chowder.

For those who like a less fishy flavor of the sea, cod is the way to go. Massachusetts celebrates the Sacred Cod. A notable cape is named after it. Also, it’s their state fish.

Finally, and tastefully, Massachusetts is one of five states known to grow cranberries. It’s their state berry and juice, too! Of course, each state has a wide list of favorite combinations of flavors. Share with us your Massachusetts favorites!

Massachusetts State Symbolism

State Capital – Boston
State Nickname – The Bay State
State Motto – Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem
State Bird – Black – Capped Chickodee
State Flower – Mayflower
State Animal –
State Folk Dance – Square Dance
State Fish – Cod
State Dessert – Boston Cream Pie
State Fossil – Dinosaur Tracks
State Mineral – Babingtonite
State Tree – American Elm
State Song – All Hail to Massachusetts
State Gemstone – Rhodonite
State Folk Hero – Johnny Appleseed
State Heroine – Deborah Samson Shurtleff
State Insect – Ladybug

Notable People

Squanto- Native American Guide – (c.1585 – November 1622)

Squanto (The Inside Guide: Famous Native Americans) Library Binding – August 15, 2020

by Ann Byers  (Author)
Squanto (The Inside Guide: Famous Native Americans)

by Ann Byers  (Author)

Benjamin Franklin – Founding Father – (January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790)

The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin Kindle Edition

by H. W. Brands  (Author) 
The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin Kindle Edition

by H. W. Brands  (Author) 

John Hancock- Patriot – (January 23, 1737 – October 8, 1793)

John Hancock: Merchant King and American Patriot Kindle Edition

by Harlow Giles Unger (Author) 
John Hancock: Merchant King and American Patriot Kindle Edition

by Harlow Giles Unger (Author) 

Eli Whitney – Inventor – (December 8, 1765 – January 8, 1825)

Eli Whitney
Eli Whitney

Susan B. Anthony – Activist – (February 15, 1820 – March 13, 1906)

Susan B. Anthony (Illustrated) Kindle Edition

by Alma Lutz  (Author) 
Susan B. Anthony (Illustrated) Kindle Edition

by Alma Lutz  (Author) 


Theodore Seuss Geisel – Author – (March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991)

Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American Imagination Kindle Edition

by Brian Jay Jones  (Author) 
Becoming Dr. Seuss: Theodor Geisel and the Making of an American Imagination

by Brian Jay Jones  (Author) 
Dr. Seuss's Beginner Book Collection (Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, Fox in Socks) Hardcover – Box set, September 22, 2009

by Dr. Seuss  (Author)
Dr. Seuss’s Beginner Book Collection (Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, Fox in Socks) Hardcover – Box set, September 22, 2009

by Dr. Seuss  (Author)
Dr. Seuss's Second Beginner Book Collection (Beginner Books(R)) Hardcover – Illustrated, September 27, 2011

by Dr. Seuss  (Author), Random House (Illustrator)
Dr. Seuss’s Second Beginner Book Collection (Beginner Books(R)) Hardcover – Illustrated, September 27, 2011

by Dr. Seuss  (Author), Random House (Illustrator)

John F. Kennedy -President – (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963)

John F Kennedy
John F Kennedy

George H. W. Bush – President – (June 12, 1924 -)

George W. Bush: The American Presidents Series: The 43rd President, 2001-2009 Kindle Edition

by James Mann (Author), Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (Editor), & 1 more
George W. Bush: The American Presidents Series: The 43rd President, 2001-2009 Kindle Edition

by James Mann (Author), Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (Editor), & 1 more


Donna Summer – Singer/Songwriter – (December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012)

Ordinary Girl: The Journey Kindle Edition

by Marc Eliot (Author), Donna Summer (Author)  Format: Kindle
Ordinary Girl: The Journey Kindle Edition

by Marc Eliot (Author), Donna Summer (Author)  Format: Kindle

Last Dance one of my favorites.
Last Dance
One of my favorites.

Emeril Lagasse – (October 15, 1959 -)

Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse

Season 1
Eat the World with Emeril Lagasse

Season 1
Sizzling Skillets and Other One-Pot Wonders (Emeril's) Kindle Edition

by Emeril Lagasse  (Author)  
Sizzling Skillets and Other One-Pot Wonders (Emeril’s) Kindle Edition

by Emeril Lagasse  (Author)  


Martha Ballard – Midwife – (1735 – May 1812)

A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 Kindle Edition
by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich  (Author) 
Midwife’s Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 Kindle Edition

by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich  (Author) 




Hidden Treasures

Salem Witch House – Salem  Hammond Castle Museum – Glouster  Franklin Park’s Overlook Shelter Ruins – Boston (See National Connecticut Day Notable People, Frederick Olmsted for more information).  Fort Standish – Hull  Dr. Seuss Museum – Springfield

NATIONAL CONNECTICUT DAY

Woven into the fabric of this state’s historic landscape, we find revolutionaries, innovators, and philosophers. On August 10th, National Connecticut Day recognizes the contributions of the fifth state to join the United States of America.

Connecticut Icons: Classic Symbols of the Nutmeg State Kindle Edition

by Charles Monagan  (Author) 
Connecticut Icons: Classic Symbols of the Nutmeg State

by Charles Monagan  (Author) 

Like other colonies of the region, the Dutch first explored and founded trading posts in Connecticut. In 1633, Puritans from Massachusetts established the first permanent settlement.  From the outset, the industry established a means to prosperity in the colony. Production of brass buttons and munitions placed the colony in a position to later supply the Revolutionary Army. The colonial governor of Connecticut, Jonathan Trumbull, was the only governor who supported independence.

All three Connecticut delegates to the first Continental Congress continued their representation of the colony at the Second Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence.

Creating Connecticut: Critical Moments That Shaped a Great State Kindle Edition

by Walter W. Woodward (Author) 
Creating Connecticut: Critical Moments That Shaped a Great State

by Walter W. Woodward (Author) 

In fact, Roger Sherman is the only person to have signed the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution. Eliphalet Dyer served the state of Connecticut as chief justice after the revolution.

Silas Deane served as a spy during the war and was for a time branded a traitor along with another Connecticut native, Benedict Arnold. He died penniless, but decades later in 1840, his granddaughter would petition Congress to review his records. His name would be cleared.

Connecticut’s small but full landscape holds countless revolutionary stories and adventures along New England’s National Scenic Trail. Through every season and every era, there’s something for every generation to enjoy!

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalConnecticutDay

Explore all the adventures Connecticut has to offer and share your favorites by using #NationalConnecticutDay on social media.

Delectable Flovors of Connecticut

Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library – New Haven

Wild Bill’s Nostalgia Store

Grave of XYZ – Deep River

Mystic Seaport – Mystic

Hogpen Hill – Woodbury

Louis’ Lunch – New Haven

Capital building in Hartford

Official State of Connecticut

  • State Capital – Hartford
  • State Flower – Mountain Laurel
  • State Nick Name – Constitution State
  • State Song – Yankee Doodle
  • State Tree –
  • State Mineral – Almondine
  • State Motto –
  • State Fish – American Shad
  • State Hero – Nathan Hale
  • State Heroine – Prudence Crandoll
  • State Bird – American Robin
  • State Insect – Praying Mantis
  • State Folk Dance – Square Dance
  • State Animal –

NOTABLE PEOPLE

Noah Webster – Educator – (October 16, 1758 – May 28, 1843)

Noah Webster: The Life and Times of an American Patriot Kindle Edition

by Harlow Giles Unger (Author) 
Noah Webster: The Life and Times of an American Patriot Kindle Edition

by Harlow Giles Unger (Author) 

Nathan Hale – Patriot – (June 6, 1755 – September 22, 1776)

Spies, Patriots, and Traitors: American Intelligence in the Revolutionary War Kindle Edition

by Kenneth A. Daigler  (Author)
Spies, Patriots, and Traitors: American Intelligence in the Revolutionary War Kindle Edition

by Kenneth A. Daigler  (Author)

Charles Goodyear – Chemist – (December 29, 1800 – July 1, 1860)

Charles Goodyear - Chemist - (December 29, 1800 - July 1, 1860)
Charles Goodyear – Chemist – (December 29, 1800 – July 1, 1860)

PT Barnum – Entertainer – (July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891)

The Life of P.T. Barnum (Collins Classics) Kindle Edition

by P. T. Barnum  (Author) 
The Life of P.T. Barnum (Collins Classics) Kindle Edition

by P. T. Barnum  (Author) 
The Greatest Showman
The Greatest Showman

Harriet Beecher Stowe – Author – (June 14, 1811 – July 1, 1896)

Harriet Beecher Stowe: A Life Reprint Edition

by Joan D. Hedrick  (Author)
Harriet Beecher Stowe: A Life Reprint Edition

by Joan D. Hedrick  (Author)

Uncle Tom's Cabin: With Original 1852 Illustrations by Hammett Billings
by Harriet Beecher Stowe  (Author), Hammatt Billings (Illustrator)
Uncle Tom’s Cabin: With Original 1852 Illustrations by Hammett Billings

by Harriet Beecher Stowe  (Author), Hammatt Billings (Illustrator)



Samuel Colt – Manufacturer – (July 19, 1814 – January 10, 1862)

Samuel Colt - Manufacturer - (July 19, 1814 - January 10, 1862)
Samuel Colt – Manufacturer – (July 19, 1814 – January 10, 1862)


Frederick Law Olmsted – (April 26, 1822 – August 28, 1903)

Frederick Law Olmsted - (April 26, 1822 - August 28, 1903)
Frederick Law Olmsted – (April 26, 1822 – August 28, 1903)

William Gillette – Actor and playwright – (July 24, 1853 – April 29, 1937)

William Gillette, America's Sherlock Holmes Kindle Edition

by Henry Zecher  (Author) 
William Gillette, America’s Sherlock Holmes Kindle Edition

by Henry Zecher  (Author) 


Edith Roosevelt – (August 6, 1861 – September 30, 1948)

Edith Kermit Roosevelt: Creating the Modern First Lady Kindle Edition

by Lewis L. Gould  (Author)
Edith Kermit Roosevelt: Creating the Modern First Lady Kindle Edition

by Lewis L. Gould  (Author)

Katharine Hepburn – Actress – (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003)

Me: Stories of My Life Kindle Edition

by Katharine Hepburn  (Author)
Me: Stories of My Life Kindle Edition

by Katharine Hepburn  (Author)

The Philadelphia Story (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Cary Grant (Actor), Katharine Hepburn (Actor), & 1 more
The Philadelphia Story (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Cary Grant (Actor), Katharine Hepburn (Actor), & 1 more

Bringing Up Baby
Bringing Up Baby

George W. Bush – President – (July 6, 1946 – )

George W. Bush: The American Presidents Series: The 43rd President, 2001-2009 Kindle Edition

by James Mann (Author), Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (Editor), & 1 more
George W. Bush: The American Presidents Series: The 43rd President, 2001-2009 Kindle Edition

by James Mann (Author), Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (Editor), & 1 more


Annie Leibovitz – Photographer – (October 2, 1949 -)

Annie Leibovitz. The Early Years, 1970–1983 Hardcover – Download: Adobe Reader, December 10, 2018

by Luc Sante (Author), Jann S. Wenner (Author), & 1 more
Annie Leibovitz. The Early Years, 1970–1983 Hardcover – Download: Adobe Reader, December 10, 2018

by Luc Sante (Author), Jann S. Wenner (Author), & 1 more
Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens
Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens



NATIONAL WHATABURGER DAY

Today is August 8 on the National Day Calendar and we are celebrating the rich history of fresh, made-to-order burgers on National Whataburger Day. This National Day celebrates Whataburger’s food, fans and employees, otherwise known as Family Members, who are the heart and soul of the brand.

For seven decades, Whataburger has been serving up bold flavors, extraordinary hospitality, meaningful community celebrations, charitable efforts, and passionate fan recognition. It’s a place where families gather, memories are made, and strangers become friends as they bond over great food. Whataburger is known for its 100% fresh, made-to-order burgers that millions of customers love to customize, just like they like it.

National Whataburger Day celebrates the employees, customers, and many contributions Whataburger makes to the communities it serves.

Whataburger Beginnings

Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger restaurant on August 8, 1950, in Corpus Christi, Texas. His goal was to simply serve a burger so big it took two hands to hold, and so good, customers would say, “What a burger!” after one bite.

Harmon did succeed on both counts and his little burger stand became a legend throughout Texas and the South. A second Whataburger location was opened in Kingsville, Texas in 1952. Joe Andrews Sr. became the first Whataburger franchise owner in 1953. Between 1953 and 1967, Whataburger began expanding restaurants across Texas, Florida, and Tennessee.

Founder Dobson was more than just an entrepreneur. He was also an oil driller, a diamond courier, and an avid pilot. His love for flying would be the inspiration to design the iconic A-frame restaurant we know today. In fact, Dobson specifically designed the bright orange-and-white A-frame so it would be visible from both the air and the ground.

Whataburger Buns

Dobson’s goal was to not only create an amazing restaurant, he also wanted to create a delicious burger, too. He had a vision to create a burger large enough it required two hands to hold it. In order to do this, Dobson would work with a local Corpus Christi bakery to make a five-inch hamburger bun. However, the bakery did not have baking pans big enough to make the five-inch buns. Determined to serve a large burger, Dobson would then seek a manufacturer to have baking pans specially made.

Dobson’s determination to invent the 5-inch hamburger bun yielded a one-of-a-kind product that created a fandom that spans generations and lives on to this day.

6 Facts on National Whataburger Day

  1. Whataburger is the first restaurant to serve the quarter-pound hamburger patty.
  2. In July 1999, the Space Shuttle Columbia STS 93 crew brought Whataburger cookies on their space mission.
  3. Whataburger ketchup, mustard, and mayo are proprietary, meaning you can only get their famous flavor by eating at Whataburger.
  4. There are nearly 38,000 ways to order your Whataburger.
  5. Whataburger is one of the only restaurants to sell its ketchup in stores.
  6. The first Whataburger “all the way” sold for 25¢ in 1950. Whataburger made $50 on its first day of operation.

Whataburger knows their greatest assets are its Family Members and passionate fans. Every day they make extraordinary moments with Whataburger, creating a cult-like following that is rivaled by no other burger brand. Many customers wrap their babies in Whataburger taquito paper, propose marriage over fries, bring their prom dates for after-prom shakes, and even create beautiful art inspired by their orange-and-white stripes.

Harmon Dobson had a bold idea: to provide a burger so big that it took two hands to hold, and so good that after a single bite customers couldn’t help but exclaim, “What a burger!”

2025 Cebrates 75th Anniversary

Brief Whataburger History

Harmon Dobson began Whataburger more than 70 years ago with the intention of serving a burger big enough for two hands. Dobson opened his first burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas and named it “Whataburger.”

Today, Dobson’s original vision still inspires everything Whataburger does. Each and every Whataburger® is still made to order. In fact, they use 100% pure, never-frozen beef and serve it on a big, toasted five-inch bun. They still greet their customers with a smile 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They serve hot, fresh food at every Whataburger restaurant across the country. However, the original burger stand in Corpus Christi is never far from their hearts.

Visit the Whataburger website to learn more about the history of the company.

How to Observe #NationalWhataburgerDay

  • Show your Whataburger love by wearing the iconic Whataburger orange.
  • Wish Whataburger employees happy National Whataburger Day.
  • Discover a new Whataburger favorite by ordering something you’ve never tried before or customizing a tried and true in a new way.
  • Be the trivia hero of your group and learn about Whataburger’s rich history and fun facts.
  • Grab your family and friends and snap a picture at Whataburger and share it on social media tagging #NationalWhataburgerDay.