NATIONAL TV DINNER DAY

National TV Dinner Day is observed annually on September 10th.  In 1953, C.A. Swanson & Sons changed the prepackaged meal business forever. Introducing the TV Dinner revolutionized frozen food.

In 1962, Swanson stopped using the name TV Dinner. However, in the United States, the term remains synonymous with any prepackaged dinner purchased frozen from a store and heated at home.

The first Swanson TV Dinner consisted of a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, cornbread dressing, peas, and sweet potatoes. Originally, Swansons made the tray of aluminum. They separated each food item into individual compartments, too. At home, the cook heated the dinner in the oven. The cooking time was usually 25 minutes. Today, nearly all frozen food trays can be cooked in the microwave or a conventional oven. 

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When Swanson’s first sold TV dinners, they priced them at 98 cents. In the first year, production estimates reached 5,000 dinners. To their surprise, Swanson far exceeded that amount. In the first year, they sold more than 10 million of them.

TV Dinner Facts
  • 1960 – Swanson added desserts to a new four-compartment tray.
  • 1964 – Night Hawk name originated from the Night Hawk steak houses that operated in Austin, Texas, from 1939 through 1994. The original diners were open all night, catering to the late-night crowd. The restaurants produced the first frozen Night Hawk TV dinner in 1964.
  • 1969 – The first TV breakfasts were marketed. Great Starts Breakfasts and breakfast sandwiches followed later.
  • 1973 – Swanson markets the first Hungry-Man dinners. The meals included larger portions of its regular dinner products.
  • 1986 – Microwave-oven safe trays debut on the market. 
  • 1986 – The Smithsonian Institute inducted the original Swanson TV Dinner tray into the Museum of American History.

Much has changed since the original TV Dinner. They also remain a popular choice for a fast and convenient meal, fun to eat in front of the TV!

Looking for something to watch?  Check out some of my favorites here.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalTVDinnerDay

Get out a TV dinner, pop it in the microwave or oven, and enjoy! Use #NationalTVDinnerDay to post on social media.

Turkey Bacon Wraps

These are a great lunch or dinner. They are easy on carbs and will have you begging for more. Best of all they are easy and not to pricy for a family meal. I made 13 and they fed 8 people and we had leftovers.

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Turkey Bacon Wrap

16 oz Spinach Artichoke dip

1 small red bell pepper (cut into small strips)

1 small bag tri-color slaw mix (I got my stuff at Walmart so we just had to pick it up).

1 pkg bacon

1 8oz pkg cream cheese

1 pkg fresh chives (I minced mine)

1 16 oz pkg extra sharp cheddar cheese

1 32oz pkg lean turkey breast sliced

1 10 CT pkg tortillas (we had 3 leftover from an open pkg that o used first)

Place about 1 1/2 Tbsp spinach Artichoke dip and smooth over totilla. We discovered they are easier to roll if you place ingredients to one side.

Next sprinkle with 1/8 cup shredded tricolor mix.

Add 3 to 4 slices of turkey (o use deli thin slices).

Place 3 or 4 slices of red bell pepper, add cream cheese. (I used 1/8th thick slices from the boxed pkg).

Sprinkle with fresh chopped chives. Add handful of extra sharp shredded cheese then place single cooked slice of bacon.

Roll tortilla like a burrito tucking in the ends.

They are even better if made a little ahead and allowed to sit in refrigerator for 45 minutes to an hour. The flavors meld making them taste even better. We served ours with fresh veggie platter with leftover Spinach dip. We added fries for the kids involved but you can just as easily add veggie tots instead.

We feed a mixed dietary family. These are a great easy meal. Easy and cool on the taste buds as the thermometer outside continues to climb.

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WORLD PARTY DAY

World Party Day on April 3rd encourages a coordinated effort of joyful human celebration around the globe. 

The world gathers to celebrate for many reasons. Forming a party often includes food, beverages, music, games, and other festivities. Hosts often create a theme or the theme generates the party. Several common modern-day party themes include bachelor and bachelorette, birthday, retirement, anniversary, graduation and welcome home. Many other party themes focus on specific foods. 

In our modern world, parties can also be virtual. We don’t always have to gather in the same location to celebrate a specific event or day. Technology brings us together through video and the internet allowing us to connect long-distance and celebrate all our favorite ways. Here’s a Playlist to get your Party Started…

The novel Flight: A Quantum Fiction Novel, by Vanna Bonta published in 1995, which concludes with a synchronized worldwide celebration that occurs on April 3, 2000, is the inspiration for World Party Day. Gatherings can be small or large organized festivals.

WORLD PARTY DAY HISTORY

World Party Day was first observed in 1996 after the publication of Flight: A Quantum Fiction Novel by Vanna Bonta. Since then, the sentiment explored by the novel has spread around the world.

HOW TO OBSERVE #WorldPartyDay

  • Where ever you are, celebrate with friends and family. Pick a theme that best fits the day. We’ve created a list of fun ideas to invite friends to join you virtually. Go online and create a video chat or an event on social media to share your party.
    • Make your own pizza party – Everyone makes their own creative pizza. Share the recipe with other party participants.
    • Movie night party – Pick a movie that all your party invitees will be watching. Pop popcorn and grab your drinks. Everyone starts the movie at the same time and lets the comments fill the online event page. 
    • Trivia party night – Play online trivia in a video chat with friends and family. 
    • Dance party – Challenge friends to record their best dance moves and share them with each other.
    • Game party – Hook up the gaming systems and invite friends and family to join you in the virtual world of games. 
    • Art party – Do it Bob Ross style and invite a local artist to demonstrate techniques for a group of your friends all through the power of the internet. Schedule your events around their already scheduled ones to show your support and appreciation.
    • Take-out party – Pick your favorite restaurants and do a take-out party. Pick just appetizers or your favorite desserts. Everyone meet back at your respective homes and tune in to the event to share where you ordered from. Celebrate good times and good friends while giving a shout-out to the restaurants you love the most!
  • Join the crowd and use #WorldPartyDay to share on social media.

INTERNATIONAL GUITAR MONTH

International Guitar Month in April inspires the world to strum and pick their way through chords to sweet serenity.

Celebrated each April, is not just a tribute to the instrument itself but a homage to the rich tapestry of music and culture it weaves through our lives. From the resonant depths of classical compositions to the electrifying highs of rock and roll, the guitar has proven to be an incredibly versatile medium for artistic expression. It’s a symbol of rebellion for some, a tool for storytelling for others, and for many, a lifelong companion on a journey of personal growth and discovery. This month offers a moment to reflect on the impact this humble instrument has had on the world, shaping genres, inspiring countless artists, and bringing people together in shared appreciation and love for music.

The evolution of the guitar, from its early ancestors in the 15th century to the modern electric marvels, mirrors the evolution of music itself. Each era brought with it innovations that expanded the instrument’s capabilities, inviting musicians to explore new sounds and techniques. The development of the guitar has been a collaborative effort between craftsmen and artists, a dance between the possibilities of technology and the boundless creativity of the human spirit. International Guitar Month celebrates not only the instrument but also the countless individuals whose passion and innovation have propelled its evolution.

Throughout International Guitar Month, communities around the globe host concerts, workshops, and events aimed at fostering a deeper appreciation for the guitar. These gatherings are a testament to the instrument’s ability to connect people across diverse backgrounds. Beginners may find themselves strumming their first chords, while seasoned musicians delve into the complexities of composition or the subtleties of a new playing style. The atmosphere is electric with the shared joy of discovery and the palpable sense of belonging to a global family united by the love of guitar music.

As we celebrate, let’s also look forward to the future of guitar music. With advancements in technology and a continuously evolving musical landscape, the possibilities are endless. New genres will emerge, and with them, new ways of playing and experiencing the guitar. This month is a reminder of the guitar’s enduring legacy and a prompt to contribute to its ongoing story. Whether through picking up a guitar for the first time, attending a live concert, or simply exploring a new genre, each of us can play a part in honoring this versatile instrument’s place in our hearts and history.

Whether you play guitar or your talent is in listening, the month is wide open to ways to celebrate. Guitars bring joy whether we play them or listen to the music they produce.

INTERNATIONAL GUITAR MONTH HISTORY

In 1987, GAMA and NAMM founded International Guitar Day to promote retail guitar sales and stores around the world.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #InternationalGuitarMonth

There are several ways to play this month.  Whatever you do, make sure there is a guitar involved.  Use #InternationalGuitarMonth to share on social media.

  • Dust off the Fender and get in tune. See if those old calluses remember how to play.
  • Vynal is back. Visit the local music shop and find your favorite guitar solo.
  • Classical, electric, steel, acoustic, bass, no matter what your style of guitar is, stop by the local guitar shop.  You know you want to.
  • Get a custom guitar tattoo.
  • Write a new song.
  • Go to a concert.
  • Schedule your OWN concert.

NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY

Across the country on January 9th each year, citizens take the lead to show support on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. 

Law Enforcement Officers of every rank and file have chosen a profession that puts their life on the line every day for their communities.  They’ve answered a call to public service that is demanding and often unappreciated.

From local, state, and federal, their duties command dedication. The jobs are often thankless and take them away from their families for long hours. Rarely do they know what their days have in store for them. Often law enforcement are the only paid emergency resource a community has. More often they work in coordination with other local, state, and federal organizations to make communities safer.

On National Law Enforcement Day, we have an opportunity to thank them for their service and offer a token of respect.

NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION DAY HISTORY

Several organizations came together to create National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in 2015 to thank officers across the country for all the daily sacrifices they make for their communities. Some of the organizations supporting the observance include:

  • Concerns of Police Survivors
  • FBI National Academy Associates
  • Fraternal Order of Police
  • International Association of Chief of Police
  • Officer Down Memorial Page
  • Law Enforcement United
  • National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
  • International Conference of Police Chaplains
  • National Troopers Coalition

Since then the inaugural celebration, nationwide many more organizations have joined forces to support National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.) to spread encouragement and respect to these dedicated men and women.

HOW TO OBSERVE #LawEnforcementAppreciationDay

There are several ways to show your support. Send a note of thanks to your local, county or state police agency. Wear blue, turn your social media channels blue or shine a blue porch light to show your support. Find more ideas at Concerns of Police Survivors and share your support using #NationalLawEnforcementAppreciationDay to share on social media.