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 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.

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HAPPINESS HAPPENS MONTH

Once upon a time, a real group called the Secret Society of Happy People decided to dedicate a day to the pursuit of happiness. Members of the society wanted to let happy feelings linger inside them every day. In 2000, the Secret Society of Happy People expanded the celebration to Happiness Happens Month in August.

Power of Positive Thinking Hardcover – April 1, 2012

by Norman Vincent Peale  (Author)
Power of Positive Thinking

by Norman Vincent Peale  (Author)

Happiness is a choice. Remembering happiness does not mean you are problem free. That kind of life doesn’t exist. As the Stoics of Ancient Greece observed, happiness is all about the quality of your thoughts. Happiness is not a destination, but rather a life-long pursuit. Joy can be anywhere at any time. Don’t limit yourself to searching for pleasure. Enjoy everything and anything that makes you happy. Oprah Winfrey said it wasn’t until she learned to be happy that good things started happening to her.

Man's Search for Meaning Kindle Edition

by Viktor E. Frankl  (Author), Harold S. Kushner (Foreword), & 1
Man’s Search for Meaning Kindle Edition

by Viktor E. Frankl  (Author), Harold S. Kushner (Foreword)

Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.
― Abraham Lincoln

Need to get happy? Try out this playlist to lighten your day!

If you struggle with finding happiness, you can learn to be happy. There is plenty of helpful advice available to guide you in the right direction. Reading self-help material is an excellent place to start. Here are a few published works you might want to read to help you in your pursuit of happiness:

Meditations: The Philosophy Classic (Capstone Classics) 1st Edition

by Marcus Aurelius (Author), & 2 more
Meditations: The Philosophy Classic

by Marcus Aurelius (Author), & 2 more

Most of the best “how to be happy” books and videos boil down to variations of the Ancient Greek philosophy of stoicism (not to be confused with the modern use of the word). The essence of stoicism is this: no matter what is wrong with the world in general, and your life in particular, you can choose to be happy if you learn how.

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any set of circumstances, to choose one’s way.
-Viktor Frankl

HISTORY
The Secret Society of Happy People started celebrating happiness with “Admit You’re Happy Day,” on August 8, 1999.

HOW TO OBSERVE
Notice more happy moments and share them with others. Use #HappinessHappensMonth on social media.

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ROMANCE AWARENESS MONTH

February isn’t the only romantic month on the calendar.  Check your relationship’s pulse during Romance Awareness in August. If it needs a jump start, there are lots of ways to put some spark back into the relationship. 

Add excitement by planning the unexpected. Surprise your significant other with a date night with only a few clues as to the destination. None of it needs to be expensive or elaborate, but making an effort to make the evening fun, spontaneous and memorable will be worthwhile. Maybe it’s a note clipped to a single flower saying you’ll pick her up at 7 PM and to wear sandals. It ends up with a picnic on the beach; or it could be a text to him that you’re in the mood for takeout, be ready in an hour – a three-hour road trip later and you’re at the nearest drive-in theater eating hot wings under the stars.

The simple things mean so much more than elaborate gifts. A wrapped mint slipped into a pocket with an encouraging message on the day of big presentation sends waves of support and love when it’s needed most. Sharing our successes with those we love is another way of enhancing the romance. Toast each other’s success and bask in the glow.  

Spend quiet time with each other. Read books, do chores, sleep. Just be. Sometimes, just being together in the same room generates energy that may have been missing. 

Cultivate activities as a couple you enjoy doing together. Whether you enjoy games, biking, sports, antiquing, travel, music or haven’t discovered your interest yet, get out there and explore.  

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Visit the SMIRLY Store
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SMIRLY Charcuterie Boards Gift Set: Large Charcuterie Board Set, Bamboo Cheese Board Set – Unique Mothers Day Gifts for Mom – House Warming Gifts New Home, Wedding Gifts for Couple, Bridal Shower Gift

HISTORY

Celebrate Romance founder, Eileen Buchheim, created Romance Awareness Month to encourage couples to improve their relationships through romance all year long.

Explore More…

HOW TO OBSERVE

Being aware of and adding more romance into your relationship will be a win-win for both you and your significant other. Passion has always been an essential part of relationships. Sometimes it is the little things that make a big difference, such as; holding hands, a shoulder rub, a flower, making dinner together, playing your favorite song, leaving a personal note, or watching a movie together.

Romance Awareness Month is also a great time to catch up on some reading with the wide selection of romance novels that are available. 

If posting on social media use #RomanceAwarenessMonth.

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Alternating in August

August is a month of transition, marked by a blend of summer’s lingering warmth and the impending arrival of fall. As families prepare for the back-to-school season, August provides a unique opportunity to celebrate a variety of national days that capture the essence of this transitional period. From quirky observances to meaningful commemorations, the month offers a diverse palette of events that encourage reflection, creativity, and enjoyment.

One of the standout features of August is its rich array of national days that highlight different aspects of life. For instance, National Watermelon Day on August 3 invites families to gather and enjoy this refreshing fruit, perfect for summer picnics. It serves as a reminder of the joys of summer, encouraging people to take a moment to appreciate the simple pleasures. Similarly, National Relaxation Day on August 15 prompts individuals to take a break from their busy schedules, emphasizing the importance of self-care and mental well-being.

As August unfolds, the month presents opportunities for community engagement and awareness. National Dog Day on August 26 celebrates our furry companions and raises awareness about the importance of adopting pets from shelters. This day not only honors the bond between humans and dogs but also encourages responsible pet ownership and the significance of animal welfare. Engaging in activities such as dog walks or adoption events can foster community spirit and compassion.

In addition to these celebrations, August is also a time for personal growth and creativity. National Craft Month encourages individuals to explore their artistic sides, whether through painting, knitting, or DIY projects. This observance highlights the therapeutic benefits of crafting, promoting mindfulness and relaxation. By dedicating time to creative pursuits, individuals can find joy in the process of making, which can be particularly fulfilling as summer draws to a close.

Celebrating All August

National Dog Month
Black Business Month
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Family Fun Month
Get ready for Kindergarten Month
Happiness Happens Month
International Peace Month
MedicAlert Awareness Month
Motorsports Awareness Month
National Back to School Month
National Brownies at Brunch Month
National Catfish Month
National Crayon Collection Month
National Eye Exam Month
National Goat Cheese Month
National Golf Month
National Hair Loss Awareness Month
National Immunization Awareness Month
National Panini Month
National Sandwich Month
National Water Quality Month
National Wellness Month
Romance Awareness Month
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month                                                                  The Allure of August’s Birthstone: Peridot

August’s traditional birth flowers are the gladiolus (symbolizing strength and sincerity) and the poppy (rest and imagination); the birthstone is peridot, a bright green gem associated with vitality and protection; zodiac signs for August are Leo (July 23–August 22), noted for confidence and warmth, and Virgo (August 23–September 22), known for practicality and attention to detail.

Famous birthdays in August:
– August 4 — Barack Obama 
– August 4 — Meghan Markle 
– August 5 — Neil Armstrong 
– August 6 — Lucille Ball 
– August 7 — Charlize Theron 
– August 9 — Whitney Houston 
– August 11 — Chris Hemsworth 
– August 16 — Madonna 
– August 17 — Robert De Niro 
– August 23 — Kobe Bryant 
– August 29 — Michael Jackson

Ultimately, August’s alternating themes of celebration and reflection create a dynamic atmosphere for individuals and families alike. As the month progresses, it serves as a bridge between the carefree days of summer and the structured routine of fall. By participating in the various national days, people can not only enjoy the present but also prepare for the changes that lie ahead, making August a month of both fun and meaningful experiences.