NATIONAL PLAN FOR VACATION DAY

January 26, 2026December 19, 2025Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

National Plan for Vacation Day, on the last Tuesday in January, reminds us to plan our vacation at the start of the year for the rest of the year. The early bird gets to pack their bags and fly away to a little fun and relaxation!

With the frigid temperatures and growing snow piles, it’s easy to start daydreaming of sunny skies. Who else is dreaming of sandcastles and the vacation days to come? But, for many Americans, those vacation dreams turn out to be just that: a dream.

Each year, Americans leave more than 600 million vacation days unused. Our work martyr attitudes combined with a culture of silence in the workplace is keeping workers at their desks instead of using their time off.

To change this, National Plan for Vacation Day reminds us to plan our vacation at the start of the year for the rest of the year. When it comes to taking a vacation, it is the planners of the world who get the job done. Planners are more likely to take all their vacation time in a given work year and take more extended vacations than non-planners. They are also happier with their jobs, relationships, and health. So don’t knock the planners who get out the door to vacation! Get planning!!

50 States, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do#PlanForVacation — 50 States, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do

The Definitive Florida Bucket List Guide Book: Over 110 Incredible Journeys and Amazing Spots to Turn Your Travel Aspirations into Unforgettable Memories! | + Florida Map & Journal Log Section#PlanForVacation — 50 States, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do

NATIONAL PLAN FOR VACATION DAY HISTORY

National Plan for Vacation Day, celebrated on the last Tuesday of January, is a day to encourage Americans to plan their vacation days for the rest of the year at the start of the year. Launched by the U.S. Travel Association’s Project: Time Off initiative in 2017, National Plan for Vacation Day provides an opportunity to come together at a single moment to rally around the importance of planning for a vacation. In its inaugural year, more than 600 organizations, representing all 50 states, came together to encourage Americans to plan for vacation.

About the Founder
Project: Time Off has uncovered an alarming trend over the last 40 years: Americans are taking fewer and fewer vacation days. To reverse this trend, we aim to prove that vacation travel is valuable and necessary for strengthening personal relationships, inspiring creative thinking, improving professional performance, and promoting better health.

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HOW TO OBSERVE PLAN FOR VACATION DAY

Stay-cation is a vacation you take but you stay home during your time off. You may choose to work on projects that you find enjoyable, sleep in, or tour your cities sights. It’s an excellent opportunity to pamper yourself. Sometimes these stay-cations or simply a long weekend. Other times, they incorporate some serious time off.

Even though a stay-cation may be less detailed than a get-away vacation, it still requires planning. You’ll need to request time off from work. Schedule lunch dates with friends and family. Check the hours of the local museums, book stores, and historical sights. Either way, get planning!

Three Easy Steps to Planning a Vacation

Planning a vacation does not have to be a monumental task. Here are three easy steps to make it happen:

Determine how much time off you earn. Look up the number of vacation days you earn by checking with your finance or HR team. Don’t forget to make a note of any office closures.
Coordinate calendars. Plot out your year—enter the number of days you earn, put your vacation dreams on the calendar, and use your custom link to get your family and friends involved in the planning.
Share your plans. Once you have your days determined, use the calendar to export your plans to Outlook, Gmail, or other electronic calendars to share with your boss, co-workers, and family.

As we close out a month of resolutions, make this the year you focus on your bucket list—not your to-do list.

Get ready to plan your vacation and use #PlanForVacation on social media. Be sure to check out our Travel Board too.

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NATIONAL FLORIDA DAY

January 24, 2026December 19, 2025Jensperspectiveblog

National Florida Day on January 25 recognizes the 27th state to join the United States.

The Sunshine State is home to the oldest established city in the country. With over 400 years of history, St. Augustine’s streets and colonial architecture have stories to tell. Founded by Spanish explorers in 1565, visit the city and walk in the same footsteps as 16th-century bishops, ponder the escapades of pirates and the whereabouts of lost gold and learn about the lives of European settlers.

East and West Florida became the 14th and 15th British Colonies after the end of the French and Indian War in 1763. However, in 1783, after the end of the American Revolutionary War, The Treaty of Paris returned Florida to Spain.

The present-day borders of Florida were absorbed through two transactions: The Louisianna Purchase in 1803 brought East Florida with it (but not without dispute from the French) and through a U.S. intervention in an uprising in West Florida in 1812 causing West Florida to join the Mississippi Territory.

With an average high temperature of 79.5°F, it should be no surprise that Floridian John Gorrie brought refrigeration and air conditioning to the world in 1851.

Add to that, more than half the year with partly cloudy to sunny days, the invention of sunblock would be a necessity, too. Hungary born pharmacist, Benjamin Green, invented a sunscreen in 1944 which later became a tanning lotion known as Coppertone.

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Launching astronauts into space, Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center in Brevard Country, is a fun and unique visit. While Disney, Universal, and others have rides, themes, and shows. This place makes both history and the future a tangible experience. We just happened to be there on a day they launched a new satellite!

Nasa Kennedy space center cape Canaveral

Cape Canaveral and the home of the Kennedy Space Center in Brevard County has come a long way from its first launch in 1950. From Appollo missions to Hubble Telescopes and Mars Rovers, Cape Canaveral continues missions well into the future. Missions include commercial ventures including SpaceX launches.

Florida offers more than enough to do and see. From man-made worlds and relaxing beaches to long, colorful and intricate history, the Sunshine State’s open spaces and sunny faces require more than one visit.

Official Florida

State Capital – Tallahassee
State Nickname – The Sunshine State
State Motto – In God We Trust State Song – Old Folks at Home
State Bird – Mockingbird
State Reptile – American Alligator
State Flower – Orange Blossom
State Wildflower – Coreopsis
State Animal – Florida Panther
State Fish – Largemouth bass
State Beverage – Orange Juice
State Stone – Agatized coral
State Shell – Horse Conch
State Tree – Sabal Palm
State Song – Swanee River, Old Folks at Home
State Gemstone – Moonstone
State Butterfly – Zebra Longwing Butterfly

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Florida is also home of the oldest noncontinuous settlement in America. The City of five flags know as Pensacola is actually older than St Augustine. The original settlement was wiped out by a hurricane. So St Augustine claims the oldest continuous city.

In Florida or not most of us are experiencing cold weather so why not indulge yourself and pay tribute to Irish Coffee Day.

For more information about us ask a local. Here are some of my picks, and I haven’t even come close to listing them all.

Hot, Hot, Hot!

For a complete list of Florida State and National Parks & Historic Sites visit www.floridastateparks.org and www.nps.gov. Check out a few of the featured sites around the state below.

T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park – St. Joseph Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center – Mayo Manatee Springs State Park – Chiefland Colt Creek State Park – Lakeland Highlands Hammock State Park – Sebring Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park – Okeechobee Don Pedro Island State Park – Cape Haze Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park – Naples Hugh Taylor Birch State Park – Ft. Lauderdale Big Cypress National Preserve – Ochopee Canaveral National Seashore – Titusville & New Smyrna Beach Everglades National Park – Miami, Naples & Homestead MUSEUMS Salvador Dali Museum – St. Petersburg Museum of Florida History – Tallahassee John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art – Sarasota Castillo de San Marcos – St. Augustine Bok Tower Gardens – Lake Wales Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse – Ponce Inlet Villa Vizcaya – Miami

Notable People

James Weldon Johnson – Author – (June 17, 1871 – June 16, 1938)

The Essential Writings of James Weldon Johnson (Modern Library Classics)#NationalFloridaDay — The Essential Writings of James Weldon Johnson (Modern Library Classics)

A. Philip Randolph – Political Leader – (April 15, 1889 – May 16, 1979)

A. Philip Randolph: The Religious Journey of an African American Labor Leader#NationalFloridaDay — A. Philip Randolph: The Religious Journey of an African American Labor Leader

Reframing Randolph: Labor, Black Freedom, and the Legacies of A. Philip Randolph (Culture, Labor, History Book 12)#NationalFloridaDay — A. Philip Randolph: The Religious Journey of an African American Labor Leader

Augusta Savage – Sculptor – (February 29, 1892 – March 27, 1962)

Women Artists of the Harlem Renaissance
#NationalFloridaDay — Women Artists of the Harlem Renaissance

Florida Sculptors and Their Work: 1880–2020#NationalFloridaDay — Women Artists of the Harlem Renaissance

Lillian Smith – Author – (December 12, 1897 – September 28, 1966)

Strange Fruit #NationalFloridaDay — Strange Fruit

Memory of a Large Christmas#NationalFloridaDay — Strange Fruit

Jacqueline Cochran – Aviator – (May 11, 1906 – August 9, 1980)

Jacqueline Cochran: Biography of a Pioneer Aviator#NationalFloridaDay — Jacqueline Cochran: Biography of a Pioneer Aviator

George Smoot -Astrophysicist – (February 20, 1945)

Wrinkles in Time: Witness to the Birth of the Universe#NationalFloridaDay — Wrinkles in Time: Witness to the Birth of the Universe

Joseph Kittinger – Aviator – ( July 27, 1928 – )

Come Up and Get Me: An Autobiography of Colonel Joe Kittinger#NationalFloridaDay — Come Up and Get Me: An Autobiography of Colonel Joe Kittinger

Janet Reno – Attorney General – (July 21, 1938 – November 7, 2016)

Janet Reno: A Life #NationalFloridaDay — Janet Reno: A Life

Tom Petty – Musician – (October 20, 1950 – October 2, 2017)

Tom Petty: A Life from Beginning to End#NationalFloridaDay — Tom Petty: A Life from Beginning to End

Greatest Hits#NationalFloridaDay — Tom Petty: A Life from Beginning to End

Betty Mae Tiger Jumper – Seminole Chief – (April 27, 1923 – January 14, 2011)

Sidney Poitier – Actor – (February 20, 1927 -)

Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon#NationalFloridaDay — Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon

A Raisin In The Sun#NationalFloridaDay — Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon

Florida Flavors

Cuban Sandwhich
Conch Fritters
Stone Crab
Key Lime Pie
Strawberry Shortcake
Apalachicola Oysters
Craft Beer
Gator Bites
Orange Juice
Kumquats

HOW TO OBSERVE

Join a local as we dig into Florida’s sunny beaches and rich history. Seek buried treasures and explore all Florida’s fascinating culture! Look to the past or look to the future and use #NationalFloridaDay to share on social media.

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NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER DAY

January 23, 2026January 10, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 1 Comment

National Peanut Butter Day on January 24th recognizes an American staple in our pantries. Whether creamy or chunky, with chocolate or with jelly, peanut butter gets the recognition it deserves each year on this day.

The early peanut butter made by the Aztecs and Incas around 1000 BC was more of a paste and not nearly as creamy as the peanut butter we know now.

Peanut butter didn’t become widely used until the 20th century. First, the peanut had to be considered more than animal feed, which was until the late 1800s. At the turn of the century, inventions that made planting, cultivating, and harvesting the legume (the peanut isn’t a nut at all) made it possible to see the peanut as a retail and wholesale food item.

Peanut Butter Comfort: Recipes for Breakfasts, Brownies, Cakes, Cookies, Candies, and Frozen Treats Featuring America’s Favorite Spread

101 Things To Do With Peanut Butter

SKIPPY Creamy Peanut Butter, 5 Pound

PBfit All-Natural Peanut Butter Powder, Powdered Peanut Spread From Real Roasted Pressed Peanuts, 8g of Protein 8% DV, 30 Ounce

Peanut butter is a good source of vitamin E, B6, niacin, calcium, potassium and iron, is packed with protein and is rich in healthy monounsaturated fat.

Bringing Peanut Butter to the Masses

We can thank four men for the inventions and processes that bring us the creamy, smooth peanut butter we enjoy today: Marcus Gilmore Edson of Canada, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, Dr. Ambrose Straub of St. Louis, Missouri, and chemist Joseph Rosefield.

In 1884, Edson developed a process to make peanut paste from milling roasted peanuts between two heated plates. The famous cereal maker and health food specialist of the time, Kellogg, patented a process with raw peanuts in 1895. Dr. Straub is responsible for patenting a peanut butter making machine in 1903.

Peanut butter was introduced to audiences at the 1904 Universal Exposition in St. Louis at C.H. Sumner’s concession stand.

But the man who brought us the peanut butter we know and love today was Joseph Rosefield. In 1922, through homogenization, Rosefield was able to keep peanut oil from separating from the peanut solids. He later sold the patent to a company that began making Peter Pan peanut butter. Rosefield then went into business for himself selling Skippy peanut butter through Rosefield Packing. He also supplied peanut butter for military rations during World War II.

More To Explore…

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPeanutButterDay

Make your favorite peanut butter recipes. Whether it’s a sandwich or a baked good, someone is sure to enjoy it with you. Be sure to share a photo or recipe using #NationalPeanutButterDay on social media.

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Amazon Fresh, Creamy Peanut Butter, 16 Oz

Jif Natural Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Honey, 16 Ounces, Contains 80% Peanuts

REESE’S Peanut Butter Sauce Bulk Jar, 4.5 lb

NATIONAL POPCORN DAY

January 18, 2026November 14, 2025Jensperspectiveblog 3 Comments

On January 19th, National Popcorn Day pops onto the scene with a crunch we all love to enjoy! The annual celebration recognizes a treat that satisfies munchies, day or night.

This time-honored snack can be sweet or savory, caramelized, buttered or plain, molded into a candied ball, or tossed with nuts and chocolate. However it is enjoyed, enjoy it on National Popcorn Day, January 19th.

The word “corn” in Old English meant “grain” or, more specifically, the most prominent grain grown in a region. When Native Americans introduce their most common grain, maize, to early Europeans, they aptly applied the word “corn.”Advertisement

As early as the 16th century, the Aztecs used popcorn in headdresses worn during ceremonies honoring Tlaloc, their god of maize and fertility. Early Spanish explorers were fascinated by the corn that burst into what looked like a white flower.

Popcorn started becoming popular in the United States in the middle 1800s. It wasn’t until Charles Cretors, a candy-store owner, developed a machine for popping corn with steam that the tasty treat became more abundantly poppable. By 1900 he had horse-drawn popcorn wagons going through the streets of Chicago.

At about the same time, Louise Ruckheim added peanuts and molasses to popcorn to bring Cracker Jack to the world. Then in 1908, the national anthem of baseball was born. Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer wrote Take Me out to the Ballgame. From that point onward, popcorn, specifically Cracker Jack, became forever married to the game.

Nostalgia Popcorn Maker, 12 Cups, Hot Air Popcorn Machine with Measuring Cap, Oil Free, Vintage Movie Theater Style, White & Red
#NationalPopcornDay — Nostalgia Popcorn Maker, 12 Cups, Hot Air Popcorn Machine with Measuring Cap, Oil Free, Vintage Movie Theater Style, White & Red

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At the Movies

Another romance connected to popcorn may have had a slow start but eventually took off. Today, who can imagine going to the movies without getting a box of buttered popcorn? While popcorn was an economical choice for snack food, the expense of installing a machine and adequately venting the building didn’t seem worth the effort. If it weren’t for Glen W. Dickson, we would be purchasing our popcorn from a vendor on the street before taking in the show. Dickson put in the effort and expense of placing machines inside his theaters. After realizing how quickly he recouped his costs, other theater owners followed suit.

The microwave oven spurred the next big advancement for popcorn. With the invention of the microwave, a whole new market opened for the snack food. Magnetrons, a technology produced by Raytheon Manufacturing Corporation for the military during World War II, were later used to develop microwave ovens. Percy Spencer was the man who made it happen. He used popcorn in his initial experiments during the microwave’s development.

Today, Americans consume 13 billion quarts of popcorn a year, more than any other country in the world. A majority of the popcorn produced in the world is grown in the United States. Nebraska leads the corn belt in popcorn production.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPopcornDay

Pop your favorite popcorn and share a bowl with a friend. Please take a photo and share it on social media using #NationalPopcornDay.

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NATIONAL USE YOUR GIFT CARD DAY

January 17, 2026January 10, 2026Jensperspectiveblog Leave a comment

National Use Your Gift Card Day reminds Americans to use the $1 billion in gift cards left unused each year. On the third Saturday in January, take stock of the gift cards you received over the holidays. Make the most of each one of them before they’re forgotten for good!

Amazon Top 100 gifts — Amazon Top 100 Gifts

We all do it. Stash away gift cards thinking we will have more time later to use them. They collect dust and disappear into an abyss somewhere. We discover them as we clean and often don’t remember how much was on the card or if we used a portion of it. Those partial balances add up, too! The first step is to collect the cards together and see what you have. You know where to look.

Every pocket of every purse and wallet you have
The infamous junk drawer
Glove compartment of the car
Bottom of the toy box (it may have been used to scrape goo off a toy)
The other junk drawer
A gift bag with the tissue paper still in it
The toolbox (we know what happens when a flathead screwdriver can’t be found)

Once you have your gift cards, get organized. Where do the gift cards work? Restaurants, retail, and services all offer gift cards. Some gift cards are designed to be used just about anywhere.

Coach Women's Katy Satchel#UseYourGiftCardDay — Coach Women’s Katy Satchel

Dooney & Bourke Handbag, Quincey Beacon Tote#UseYourGiftCardDay — Coach Women’s Katy Satchel

Maximizing Your Gift

Check for deals to maximize your gift cards. In most cases, gift cards work just like cash and can be used with coupons. There are exceptions, however, so it’s always good to check first.
Is the card to a place you don’t shop? You have a few options:
- See if the card is good at a companion location
- Check to see if the gift card can be cashed out
- Have a gift card swap party or sell your gift card for cash
- Donate your gift card to a charity fundraiser like a silent auction
Plan to overspend the amount of the gift card to avoid having small balances lying around. Even if you add a small useful item (lip balm is always handy) to go a penny over the amount, you’ll be able to hand the card over to the retailer to recycle the card.

NATIONAL USE YOUR GIFT CARD DAY HISTORY

Tilson PR founded National Use Your Gift Card Day in 2020 to make sure everyone gets the most out of their gift cards. Leave no gift card unturned and find tips, ideas, and deals by visiting useyourgiftcard.com, too.

HOW TO OBSERVE #UseYourGiftCardDay

Collect your gift cards. It’s time to use them. Don’t let them sit for a year and risk losing your gift altogether. Maximize your gift cards with deals and get the most out of your gift cards, too. Have a shopping spree or a spa day with your gift cards. Don’t let those gifts and savings pass you by! Use #UseYourGiftCardDay to share on social media.

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Category outdoors

NATIONAL PLAN FOR VACATION DAY HISTORY

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HOW TO OBSERVE PLAN FOR VACATION DAY

Three Easy Steps to Planning a Vacation

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Official Florida

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Notable People

James Weldon Johnson – Author – (June 17, 1871 – June 16, 1938)

A. Philip Randolph – Political Leader – (April 15, 1889 – May 16, 1979)

Augusta Savage – Sculptor – (February 29, 1892 – March 27, 1962)

Lillian Smith – Author – (December 12, 1897 – September 28, 1966)

Jacqueline Cochran – Aviator – (May 11, 1906 – August 9, 1980)

George Smoot -Astrophysicist – (February 20, 1945)

Joseph Kittinger – Aviator – ( July 27, 1928 – )

Janet Reno – Attorney General – (July 21, 1938 – November 7, 2016)

Tom Petty – Musician – (October 20, 1950 – October 2, 2017)

Betty Mae Tiger Jumper – Seminole Chief – (April 27, 1923 – January 14, 2011)

Sidney Poitier – Actor – (February 20, 1927 -)

Florida Flavors

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Bringing Peanut Butter to the Masses

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPeanutButterDay

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At the Movies

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalPopcornDay

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Maximizing Your Gift

NATIONAL USE YOUR GIFT CARD DAY HISTORY

HOW TO OBSERVE #UseYourGiftCardDay

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