Jubilant in July

July arrives in a blaze of sunshine, backyard gatherings, and patriotic pride. As the heart of summer, this vibrant month invites us outdoors to enjoy long days, warm evenings, family vacations, and community celebrations. From fireworks lighting up the night sky to beach trips, barbecues, and festivals, July captures the spirit of adventure and togetherness that makes summer unforgettable.

This year, July carries special significance as Americans continue commemorating the historic America 250 celebration, marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Communities across the nation are hosting special events, educational programs, concerts, historical exhibits, and patriotic gatherings leading up to and surrounding Independence Day on July 4. The milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s history, honor those who shaped it, and celebrate the enduring ideals of freedom and democracy.

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Property of Freedom250

Celebrating All Month

Independent Retailer Month
National Blueberry Month
National Contract Sewing Month
National Anti-Boredom Month
National Baked Bean Month
National Cell Phone Courtesy Month
National Culinary Arts Month         
National Grilling Month
National Hemp Month                         National Watermelon Month
National Horseradish Month
National Hot Dog Month
National Ice Cream Month
National Fragile X Awareness Month
National Picnic Month
National Peach Month
World Watercolor Month                         Ruby The Passion and Power of July’s Birthstone

July’s birthstone is the radiant ruby, a gemstone long associated with passion, courage, and prosperity. The month’s birth flowers are the larkspur and water lily, both symbols of positivity, grace, and joyful living. Those born from July 1 through July 22 belong to the nurturing and intuitive sign of Cancer, while birthdays from July 23 onward fall under the confident and charismatic sign of Leo. Famous July birthdays include author and activist Helen Keller (June? Actually June 27—not July, avoid), astronaut Neil Armstrong (August), so use: author Ernest Hemingway (July 21), artist Frida Kahlo (July 6), actor Tom Hanks (July 9), inventor Nikola Tesla (July 10), and former President Gerald Ford (July 14).

Summer fun reaches its peak in July. Families flock to beaches, lakes, and parks while communities host outdoor concerts, farmers markets, county fairs, and sporting events. It is the perfect month for camping under the stars, watching fireworks, enjoying fresh seasonal produce, and creating lasting memories with friends and loved ones. Whether you’re exploring a new destination or simply relaxing in your own backyard, July offers countless opportunities to embrace the season.

As the nation celebrates independence, honors history through America 250, and enjoys the pleasures of summer, July reminds us to appreciate both our heritage and the simple joys of the present moment. So grab your sunglasses, gather your family and friends, and make the most of every sun-filled day. Here’s to a jubilant July filled with celebration, discovery, and unforgettable summer memories.

If you need some fun activities here’s a page out of my book….

Jubilant July is here!
IS Here!

National Camera Day

Everything comes into focus on June 29th each year when we recognize National Camera Day. The day commemorates photographs, the camera, and their invention. A camera is an irreplaceable tool used to record and replicate memories, events, and people/places. Before the invention of the camera, the only resource to document a vision was a painting. Capturing an image of a person or place in a drawing took time and skill. Very few people can perfectly draw the likeness of someone, let alone capture the essence of an event.

The power of a camera provided many with a simple, inexpensive, and fast solution. George Eastman, also known as “The Father of Photography,” brought the camera to the masses. While he did not invent the camera, he did develop many additions improving the use, ease, and production of the camera. His developments made the camera widely available to homes around the world.

While the first cameras were large and bulky, each later design evolved until some cameras were as small as a pen. Today’s digital cameras have many features and variations, making them appealing to people of all ages for personal and professional use. The portable and easy-to-use features not only allow us to take photos quickly, but we can also edit them on the fly. Smartphones with built-in cameras include features that allow us to share photos instantly, too. 

Taking photos has become so easy. According to Business Insider, in 2017, we took over 1.2 trillion digital photos! From a large boxy camera to one that fits in our pocket, cameras have come a long way.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL CAMERA DAY

Whether photography is a hobby or your profession, celebrate the day by taking photos. Snap a picture of something or someone you enjoy and cherish the memory. But taking pictures isn’t the only way to celebrate.

  • Take a photography class.
  • Teach someone how to take outstanding photos.
  • Expand your photography skills by learning more about your camera.
  • Try a different style of photography or camera.

Post photos on social media using #NationalCameraDay.

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.

More to Explore…

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.

NATIONAL COCONUT DAY

Summer starts in earnest on June 26th when National Coconut Day arrives! The coconut offers sweet support for our bodies in several ways.

Coconut oil alone falls into the superfood category due to its medium chain triglyceride (MCTs) content and all that they seem to do. Whether supporting a weight loss program, moisturizing skin, and hair or metabolizing into energy, coconut oil plays a significant role for your body.

We use the whole coconut in many different forms for our body and everyday cooking. From shredded coconut to milk, cream, water, and oil, each provides essential nutrients and flavor. Its anti-viral and anti-microbial properties are notable as well.

Coconut is rich in fiber, Vitamin B6, iron, and minerals like magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc. The oil from coconut moisturizes our skin and also help keep our skin clear and hair silky, too.

Of course, in the kitchen, we love coconut! Beyond baked goods, coconut infuses sweet flavor to our cooking, and because the MCTs in coconut oil don’t absorb in the body as fat, it is an ideal alternative to other oils and fats.

The flavor of coconut oil makes the best air-popped popcorn. Add coconut milk to your curry recipe and win rave reviews! Those who are lactose intolerant and craving ice cream know that coconut milk also makes an excellent substitute for creamy homemade ice cream. And of course, it’s not summer without a piña colada!

Beyond the fruit and water of the coconut that we consume, the husk and shells are used as a potting medium, carbon filtration, charcoal, bio-fuel, and even organic cat litter. The husks are also used to make coir, which is used in making mattresses, doormats, and more.

HISTORY

The Coconut Coalition of the Americas founded National Coconut Day to celebrate the mighty coconut and increase awareness of its benefits. It’s more than just a baking staple.

Learn about the benefits of coconut by visiting Coconut Coalition of the Americas (CCA).

The Coconut Coalition of the Americas (CCA) was founded in 2017 when coconut industry stakeholders realized there needed to be one unified voice for the North American coconut trade. Industry members came together to steward the category and promote the facts about coconut oil and coconut products.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Enjoy the benefits of coconut and share your favorite ways to use coconut. Whether it’s a recipe to taste or one to make our skin or hair shine, we want to know.

Follow National Coconut Day by using #NationalCoconutDay on social media.

Summersgiving Menu

For a delightful Summersgiving celebration, consider a menu that blends the best of summer and Thanksgiving flavors. Start with refreshing appetizers like watermelon feta skewers and grilled corn salad. For the main course, try a smoked turkey breast alongside barbecue ribs, offering a mix of traditional and seasonal tastes. Pair these with vibrant sides such as roasted sweet potatoes with a maple glaze, grilled asparagus, and a quinoa cranberry salad. Finish the feast with desserts that highlight summer’s bounty, like peach cobbler and berry pavlova. To complement the meal, serve a selection of chilled beverages including iced herbal teas and citrus-infused water.

These are some of my Summer time favorites…

Hawaiian Holiday
Hawaiian Holiday
Cucumber, Tomato Salad
Tomato, Cucumber Salad
Easy Broccoli Bacon Salad
Easy Broccoli Bacon Salad
Fall off the bone Baby back ribs
Fall off the Bone Baby Back Ribs
Turkey Bacon Wraps
Turkey Bacon Wraps
Black & Blue Burgers
Black & Blue Burgers
Iced Tea