NATIONAL TOASTED MARSHMALLOW DAY

On August 30th, National Toasted Marshmallow Day celebrates one of America’s favorite fire-roasted treats. Be sure to stock up on marshmallows so you can celebrate! Get your friends together and gather up some firewood. Grab a few long sticks and a bag of marshmallows. Then, make plans for a great night!

TripWorthy 15469 Marshmallow Roasting Sticks & Bonus 10 Bamboo Skewers (Kid Friendly) - Set of 8, 32 Inches, Blue, Red, Green, Orange, Purple, Pink, Yellow, Black

Brand: Tripworthy
TripWorthy 15469 Marshmallow Roasting Sticks & Bonus 10 Bamboo Skewers (Kid Friendly) – Set of 8, 32 Inches, Blue, Red, Green, Orange, Purple, Pink, Yellow, Black

Brand: Tripworthy

Toasted marshmallows are a special part of summer evenings around a bonfire. Also, what better way to kick off a long weekend than to enjoy a delicious, warm, gooey, toasted marshmallow?

Add a pair of graham crackers and a chocolate bar – and ask for s’more! Depending upon personal preference, heat marshmallows to various degrees from gently toasted to a charred outer layer. To char the outer layer, ignite the marshmallow then quickly blow it out.

Marshmallows now come in a variety of flavors as well as sizes for maximum toasting opportunities. For a fun alternative, try roasting Marshmallow Peeps. Watch them closely as the granular sugar coating will burn more quickly.

Believe it or not, marshmallows date back to Ancient Egypt. The mallow plant provided a sap that the Egyptians used to create a candy with nuts and honey.

Ligonier, Indiana holds an annual Marshmallow Festival and is the marshmallow capital of the world.

Homemade marshmallows use sugar, unflavored gelatin, corn syrup, and flavoring. Try this recipe.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #ToastedMarshmallowDay

Toast up some marshmallows and enjoy. Have a marshmallow toasting competition. Who makes the best-toasted marshmallows in your circle of friends? Share recipes for homemade marshmallows or s’mores combinations, too. Share your best marshmallow toasting techniques and use #ToastedMarshmallowDay to post on social media. 

NATIONAL PEACH DAY

August 27 is National Peach Day, celebrate one of summertime’s most scrumptious fruits known as the peach! August is prime peach season in the U.S. and we want everyone to enjoy a few peaches, plus remember the hardworking peach growers who provide us with this delicious fruit.

Summertime brings plenty of opportunity to enjoy fresh fruits, especially a flavorful, juicy peach. Local farmers’ markets and orchids are busy picking peaches to deliver to anxious peach lovers. Whether you enjoy a peach by itself or use your peaches for canning and baking, National Peach Day is here to encourage you to celebrate this wonderful food holiday.

Brief History of Peaches in the U.S.

The history of the peach begins in China and Central Asia dating back 4,000 years. However, peaches were not just a delicious food, they were also an expensive and highly traded commodity along the ancient Silk Road in Asia. The Silk Road is one of the most important trade routes in history that allowed for goods to be transported between East and West Asia. Transporting peaches on the Silk Road led to introducing the fruit to other parts of the country, and eventually the world.

Peaches made their way to the U.S. some time during the 17th century. Settlers from Europe and Spain began cultivating peaches upon arrival. However, it’s uncertain who receives credit for introducing them first. Spanish explorers and missionaries were known to bring peach pits to Florida and Southwest and planting them. English settlers began cultivating peaches in Virginia around the same time. It’s possible both Spanish and English settlers receive equal credit because of the location they landed and began growing peaches.

Production of peaches happens along the south eastern and southern parts of the country. Peach farmers work to provide peach varieties that grow well in different parts of the U.S. Peach farming requires dedication, knowledge, and in-depth management to maintain healthy peach orchids. However, peach farmers are passionate about their work to provide delicious peaches to consumers. They work endless hours growing, managing, and harvesting peaches to transport to markets, grocery stores, and other destinations. Thanks to these hardworking people, we are able to use peaches in dishes, desserts, sauces, and preservatives daily.

Did you know?

In Chinese culture, peaches are a symbol of immortality and longevity.

6 FAVORITE PEACH VARIETIES

  1. Elberta peaches are one of the most popular peaches available. They are juicy and have a sweet, yet tart flavor. Some people say Elberta peaches are the best peaches for canning.
  2. White peaches are pale with creamy skin sweet flesh. They have a strong floral aroma and are often enjoyed in desserts and salads.
  3. Yellow peaches come in shades of orange and yellow and have a classic peach flavor. You can frequently find these peaches grocery stores.
  4. Clingstone peaches come in different sizes and colors. These peaches are a more common peach for making preservatives.
  5. Freestone peaches a popular peach for fresh eating because of their juicy flavor.
  6. Georgia Belle peaches are an early-season peach with a yellowish-red skin and sweet flavor. This peach is normally the first summer peach.

Peaches offer several health benefits. They are low in calories and are a good source of vitamins, including vitamins A and C. They contain beta-carotene and flavonoids, which are beneficial for fighting heart disease and anti-inflammatory disease. Peaches also promote healthy skin and boost the immune system, too. In fact, peaches contain high amounts of antioxidants to help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Best of all, eating peaches is twice as good knowing you are promoting good overall health every time you take a bite!

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NATIONAL PEACH DAY CELEBRATION

  1. Visit a peach orchid or a local farmers’ market. Picking your own peaches allows you to choose the ripest and most fragrant peaches.
  2. Try a few recipes using peaches. We recommend trying peach cobbler. It’s quick, easy, and tastes delicious!
  3. Find a peach festival and celebrate with other peach lovers!
  4. Host a peach party! Include a peach theme with as much peach inspired food as possible.
  5. Share your recipes, photos, and peach growing tips on social media and tag #NationalPeachDay to celebrate this yummy food day.

NATIONAL PINA COLADA DAY

July 10th recognizes a sweet, rum-based cocktail on National Pina Colada Day. Along with rum, a Pina Colada includes cream of coconut and pineapple juice and is usually served blended or shaken with ice.

Pina Colada means ‘strained pineapple,’ a reference to the freshly pressed and strained pineapple juice used in the drink.

Bormioli Rocco (Set of 4) Cocktail Glasses Tulip Shaped - 17 Ounce Pina Colada Glass, Hurricane Glasses for Drinking Full Bodied Beer, Water, Juice, Lead-Free Bar Glass Italian Crafted Beer Glasses  by Bormioli Rocco
Bormioli Rocco (Set of 4) Cocktail Glasses Tulip Shaped – 17 Ounce Pina Colada Glass, Hurricane Glasses for Drinking Full Bodied Beer, Water, Juice, Lead-Free Bar Glass Italian Crafted Beer Glasses

by Bormioli Rocco

While pineapple has been a part of the distillation history of rum, coconut didn’t show up until later. The first written reference to a pina colada was in 1922. However, two different claims to the invention of the pina colada in 1952 come from San Juan. Neither wavers from their story.

Escape (The Pina Colada Song)  Rupert Holmes
Escape (The Pina Colada Song)

Rupert Holmes

No matter who created the first creamy, sweet rum drink, it is forever infused with the ocean and beaches. The cocktail’s bright flavor suggests sunshine and vacation. Coconut alone makes us think of suntans while the pineapple’s freshness delivers a sparkling note of summer breezes.

Skinny Mixes Cocktail Mix - Pina Colada | Healthy Flavors with 0 Sugar | Gluten Free & Kosher | Keto Friendly & GMO Free | 32 fl oz  by Jordan's Skinny Mixes
Skinny Mixes Cocktail Mix – Pina Colada | Healthy Flavors with 0 Sugar | Gluten Free & Kosher | Keto Friendly & GMO Free | 32 fl oz

by Jordan’s Skinny Mixes

The beverage isn’t the only way to celebrate either. The day is dedicated to all things pina colada. Whether we make a dessert or snack on pina colada jelly beans, everyone can join in the day.

Put on your sunglasses, kick back, and enjoy a sip or a taste. It’s the best way to celebrate.

Mr & Mrs T Pina Colada Mix, 1.75 Liter Bottle (Pack of 6)  by Mr. & Mrs. T
Mr & Mrs T Pina Colada Mix, 1.75 Liter Bottle (Pack of 6)

by Mr. & Mrs. T

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPinaColadaDay

Try a frozen popsicle treat or a pina colada cake. You do not have to be sitting on a beach or the deck of a cruise ship to celebrate this holiday. You can enjoy a nice tall, cool Pina Colada where ever you are! (Remember to drink responsibly and never drink and drive!) Use #NationalPinaColadaDay to share on social media.

NATIONAL SUNGLASSES DAY

Celebrated each year on June 27th, National Sunglasses Day is becoming more and more popular, especially as organizations like The Vision Council inform people about the dangers of UV exposure and why wearing sunglasses should be more than to just make a fashion statement. So in honor of the holiday—and to help you pick out a pair of your own—we present the top 10 sunglasses styles that have stood the test of time.

Most known for their appearance in the 1963 Academy Award-winning Italian film 8 ½, these glasses are anything but old-fashioned. They were first introduced by Prada as Prada model SPR07F, but the design has undergone some changes since the 60’s. Regardless, these sunglasses might be one of the only designs that can not only be worn with a suit, but that makes a suit look so good.

Prada model SPR07F

The original folding glasses, the Persol 714 sunglasses were introduced in the 1960s when the iconic actor Steve McQueen wore them in the film The Thomas Crown Affair. These glasses were based on the Persol 649 model and adapted with 10 additional manufacturing steps to allow them to fold. In 2006, a pair of Persol 714’s from McQueen’s personal collection were auctioned off at nearly $70,000. Get suave with a—perhaps less expensive—pair for National Sunglasses Day.

Steve McQueen Persol 714

These yellow-tinted aviator shooters were not first worn by Johnny Depp in the film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but that is where they first became famous. The sunglasses, which have a small circle in between the lenses that is said to aid in hunting or shooting, were regularly worn by Hunter S. Thompson, the author of the novel that inspired the film. Shooters come in different color tints.

Ray-Ban Wayfarer

At their introduction in 1956, Ray-Ban’s Wayfarers were almost instantly popular because of the revolutionary plastic frame, a distinct diversion from the metal-framed sunglasses that were popular at the time. The sunglasses continued to be popular throughout the ‘50s and ‘60s but then slumped in popularity until the late 2000s when artists like Katy Perry and Bruno Mars wore them in their music videos.

Round and Oversized

Often known today simply as Jackie O’s, these sunglasses were popularized by former First Lady and fashion icon Jackie Kennedy during the years that her husband was president. They are instantly recognizable by their large round shape and still serve to make quite a fashion statement when worn today. It’s hard to wear these sunglasses and not channel some of the grace, style and elegance that Jackie was so famous for.

The history of the archetypal Ray-Ban Aviators begins in the 1930s when US Army pilots were reporting that the glare from the sun was giving them headaches and altitude sickness. American company Bausch & Lomb created what was originally known as “Anti-Glare,” sunglasses with plastic frames and green lenses. Just a year later they were remodeled with metal frames and rebranded as “Aviators,” how we still know them today.

Clubmasters are a type of browline sunglasses, which gets its name from the fact that the bold upper part of the frames frame the lenses like the eyebrow frames the eyes. Ray-Ban introduced the Clubmaster in the 1980s when Bruce Willis wore a pair of browline Shuron Ronsirs on the series Moonlighting. The Clubmasters gained popularity and quickly became the third best-selling sunglasses of the 1980s, after Ray-Ban’s Wayfarer and Aviator styles.

Not only did Gregory Peck win an Oscar for his role as Atticus Finch in the 1962 film To Kill A Mockingbird, but he also won a fair amount of acclaim for the glasses frames he wore in the film. These frames are once again popular today, thanks partly to their reintroduction in 2011 when Oliver Peoples released a new model to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the novel that inspired the film. Don these on National Sunglasses Day and channel your inner Atticus Finch.

Audrey Hepburn is one of film’s most well-known faces, and it was usually with a pair of Oliver Goldsmith Manhattans framing her eyes. These large, rounded-square sunglasses were first made famous when Hepburn wore them in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, a role that was originally supposed to be played by Marilyn Monroe. The glasses, instantly recognizable today, are still popular.

Rose-colored Glasses

“To see the world through rose-colored glasses” is a phrase that means to view the world in a perpetual optimistic, perhaps naive, and unrealistic way. It remains in question what the origin of the phrase is, though there are some interesting and possible theories. One theory suggests that early mapmakers used rose petals to clean the lenses of the glasses. Not only would the natural oils protect the glass, but they would also leave a rose-colored stain.

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HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL SUNGLASSES DAY

Wear your favorite shades and protect those beautiful eyes. Get out and enjoy summer, take a selfie and use #NationalSunglassesDay to share style on social media.