Kiss and Make up Day

Let go of resentment, grudges, anger, and indignation. August 25th is Kiss and Make Up Day. This unofficial holiday encourages people to make up and reconcile with anyone they are estranged with – at work, school, or in their family. 

Conflicts happen in life. Disagreements are a big part of our relationships with others. Best friends, friends, families, and co-workers, may all experience them.

Kiss and make up is an English language idiom that means to forgive someone and be friends again with them.

A Second Chance

Kiss and Make Up Day provides a second chance – it is a day to set aside all difference and let people in our lives know that despite all the quarrels and the disagreements, they mean a lot to us.

Explore More…

How to Celebrate?

Did You Know…

…that in many cultures kissing on the cheek is a sign of respect and friendship?

Kiss and make up day

NATIONAL RUM DAY

Join National Rum Day on August 16th as blended beverages and cocktails create a delicious celebration. Rum is a distilled clear alcoholic beverage which is a byproduct of sugar production. It can also be made directly from sugar cane juice. After the fermentation and distillation process, most rum ages in wooden oak barrels.

Rum The Manual Kindle Edition

by Dave Broom  (Author) 
Rum The Manual

by Dave Broom  (Author) 

RUM FACT: In 1764, the British Crown placed a tax on sugar, molasses and rum on the American colonies. This tax was called The Sugar Act of 1764. It was instrumental in the unrest that finally became the American Revolution.

Rum is the third most popular spirit in the United States. Only vodka and all the whiskeys combined beat it for first and second-rankings. The spirit finds its way into citrusy mixed drinks, and cool blended summer cocktails. So much so, that rum stirs up images of sandy beaches and brightly colored umbrellas in fruity drinks.

Try these popular mixes…

And a Bottle of Rum, Revised and Updated: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails Paperback – June 5, 2018

by Wayne Curtis  (Author)
And a Bottle of Rum, Revised and Updated: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails

by Wayne Curtis  (Author)

However, rum also conjures up sailors and pirates. The reason for that is how rum came to be. In the West Indies during the 1600s, large plantations grew sugar cane. When they extracted the sugar, they created a by-product called molasses. For years, the molasses was a waste product until it was discovered it could be distilled – into rum. Then, rum became not only a commodity for trade but also a ration on the ships delivering the product. Even in the modern Royal Navy, British sailors received an allotment of rum until 1970.

Explore More…

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalRumDay

There are many ways to enjoy rum. On a hot summer day, a great way to celebrate is with this recipe for a Strawberry Pineapple Cooler. Use #NationalRumDay to post on social mediaRemember always to drink responsibly and never to drink and drive 

Enjoy all of Prime
Get millions of items, unlock exclusive deals every day, and stream endless entertainment.
Enjoy all of Prime
Get millions of items, unlock exclusive deals every day, and stream endless entertainment.

NATIONAL BOOK LOVERS DAY

National Book Lovers Day on August 9th harnesses all the excitement bibliophiles feel about books into one celebration. 

A day for all those who love to read, National Book Lovers Day encourages you to find your favorite reading place, a good book (whether it be fiction or non-fiction) and read the day away.

As we are celebrating Romance Awareness in August, try a romance novel. I know, once upon a time I made that face too. I’m not talking about your grandmother’s books. There are a great many romance authors out there. With so many genres available picking just one might become a challenge. I listed some of my favorites below. This is in no way a complete list of what’s out there.

Romance

Julia Quinn
Diana Galbaldon
Suzanne Brockmann
Sherrilyn McQueen (a.k.a  Kenyon)
Lisa Kleypas
J.M. Madden
Suzanne Enoch

Fiction

James Patterson
Patricia Cornwell
David Balducci
Janet Evanovich

Steven King
John Grisham
Dean Koontz
J D Robb
Michael Connelly
Agatha Christie
Tolkien
George R. R. Martin
Harper Lee

Bibliophile – a person who has a great appreciation for or collects books.

Step back in time
  • The very first books used parchment or vellum (calf-skin) for the book pages.
  • The book covers were made of wood and often covered with leather.
  • Clasps or straps kept the books closed.
  • Public libraries appeared in the Middle Ages.
  • Public libraries often chained the books to a shelf or a desk to prevent theft.
Moving forward

Along with several recent developments, book manufacturers use digital printing. Book pages are printed using toner rather than ink. As a result of digital printing, print-on-demand opens up a whole new realm of publishing. In this case, distributors don’t print the books until the customer places the order.

Related Days to Celebrate

More and more, people read E-books. E-book (electronic book) refers to a book-length publication in digital form. They are usually available through the internet. However, they can also be found on CD-ROM and other systems. Read an E-book on a computer or via a portable book display device known as an e-book reader, such as a Kindle.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalBookLoversDay

Sit back, relax and READ! Don’t forget to share the joy of reading with young people in your life. Inspire them with your favorite novel or find out about the last book they took off the shelf. Read to the littlest of the up and coming readers, too. And share what your reading with us, too! Need more ways to celebrate? We’ve got them!

  • Shop for a new title to read or explore the shelves for one you would like to give.
  • Explore the shelves of used book stores. You might find an out of print tome that might become the highlight of your collection.
  • Discover the world of online book stores. Their stock includes a variety of subjects and collectible items, too. 
  • Record a video of you reading a story for a child in your life. 
  • Randomly give a book to someone. 

Use #NationalBookLoversDay to post on social media and spread the word.

Audible membership
You are getting a complimentary 30-day trial from Audible!

National New Jersey Day

On July 27th, National New Jersey Day recognizes the third state to join the Union. Find out what’s unique and captivating about the Garden State!

Early History

When Giovanni Da Verrazzano first explored the shores of the Atlantic coast, he explored lands that included New Jersey. Da Verrazzano discovered diverse communities of people who were later called the Delaware Indians.

In 1160, the Dutch founded New Jersey’s first European settlement, but in 1664 the British took control. At this time, the land was divided into half and named New Jersey after the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel.

New Jersey State of Mind Hardcover – June 12, 2020
by Peter Genovese  (Author)
New Jersey State of Mind Hardcover – June 12, 2020

by Peter Genovese  (Author)


Revolution

Leading up the American Revolution, the colony as a whole was equally divided in its loyalties to the crown. Colonists who remained undecided were just as likely to support the rebel cause as they were to support the king. The same applied to colonists in New Jersey.

Due to New Jersey’s central location among the thirteen colonies, more battles during the Revolutionary War took place here than any other state.While the state was the third to enter the union, New Jersey signed the Bill of Rights before any other state.

  • State Capital – Trenton
  • State Flower – Common Violet
  • State Nick Name – The Garden State
  • State Song – none
  • State Tree – Red Oak
  • State Mineral –
  • State Fossil -Hadrosaurus
  • State Motto – Liberty and Prosperity
  • State Fish – Brook Trout
  • State Fruit – Blueberry
  • State Hero –
  • State Heroine –
  • State Bird – American Goldfinch
  • State Insect – Honey Bee
  • State Folk Dance – Square Dance
  • State Animal – Horse

Industry and Innovation

During and after the war, New Jersey industry grew. Rapidly, innovation and technology took place in New Jersey. One well-known innovator found a home in Menlo Park. There, Thomas Edison nourished his ingenuity. While industry and innovation grew, so did the state’s population.

The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World Kindle Edition

by Randall E. Stross  (Author)
The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World Kindle Edition

by Randall E. Stross  (Author)

Today New Jersey’s population density thrives at the highest of any state in the United States.While it may be an industrial powerhouse, its nickname the Garden State is precise. New Jersey supplies the world with cranberries, blueberries, and tomatoes.

New Jersey Flavor

While we thank New Jersey for a few delicious foods we can enjoy anywhere, the state produces a large number of dishes travel is a must.During the summer months, enjoy the fresh blueberries from New Jersey. At the turn of the 20th century, the intuitive Elizabeth White helped domesticate the wild blueberries found along the Eastern seaboard. Today, blueberry production in New Jersey is a global business.

Dishing Up® New Jersey: 150 Recipes from the Garden State Paperback – May 17, 2016

by John Holl  (Author), Amy Roth (Photographer), & 1 more
Dishing Up® New Jersey: 150 Recipes from the Garden State Paperback – May 17, 2016

by John Holl  (Author), Amy Roth (Photographer), & 1 more

Pork roll is to New Jersey as carrots are to Bugs Bunny. The cured, smoked pork product creates debates between residents of the state. Trenton loves their pork roll so much, in fact, they hold an annual Pork Roll Festival. However, pork roll does exist west of the Delaware River.Now, for most of these other dishes, come visit or pay for postage.

The Pork Roll Cookbook Hardcover – February 24, 2015

by Jenna Pizzi (Author), Susan Sprague Yeske (Contributor)
The Pork Roll Cookbook

by Jenna Pizzi (Author), Susan Sprague Yeske (Contributor)

Folks from New Jersey have a different idea about what a sloppy joe is. Tomato. To-mah-to. This one sounds delicious. Their version places slices of pastrami or corned beef (or both), coleslaw, Russian dressing, and swiss cheese layered between three slices of rye bread.

The Jersey Shore Cookbook: Fresh Summer Flavors from the Boardwalk and Beyond Hardcover – April 12, 2016

by Deborah Smith  (Author), Thomas Robert Clarke (Photographer)
The Jersey Shore Cookbook: Fresh Summer Flavors from the Boardwalk and Beyond

by Deborah Smith  (Author), Thomas Robert Clarke (Photographer)

Also, New Jerseyan’s make their pizza pie on the flip side. That is to say – they like their sauce on top. Its called tomato pie with seasoning crushed tomatoes on top of the other ingredients. Crust on the bottom, of course.

Lastly, saltwater taffy, sandy beaches, and long boardwalks of Atlantic City all go together. Both saltwater taffy and America’s boardwalks got their start there.

Sweet's Original Salt Water Taffy Assortment 4.5 Pound

by Sweet's Saltwater
Sweet’s Original Salt Water Taffy Assortment 4.5 Pound

by Sweet’s Saltwater

HOW TO OBSERVE

#NationalNewJerseyDayJoin us in recognizing this unique and captivating state on National New Jersey Day.

Use #NationalNewJerseyDay to share on social media.

You can also celebrate National Scotch Day, today. Will these days quench your thirst?

Hidden Treasures

The Hindenburg Crash Site – Lakehurst
War of the Worlds Crash Site – West Windsor Township
Paranormal Museum – Ashbury Park
Diggerland USA – West Berlin
Navesink Twin Lights – Highlands
Basto Village – Egg Harbor City
Northlandz – Flemington
Amatol Ghost Town – Hammonton
Princeton Cemetery – Princeton

Famous ?

Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley- Revolutionary Hero – (October 13, 1754 – January 22, 1832)

Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley- Revolutionary Hero - (October 13, 1754 - January 22, 1832)
Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley- Revolutionary Hero – (October 13, 1754 – January 22, 1832)
Continue reading “National New Jersey Day”