Holidays

October Holidays and Observances

/

It’s hard to believe September is almost over. The school routines should be in place by now and hopefully running smooth. The cooler weather (at least in the northern parts of the country) is setting in plus the daylight hours are getting shorter and shorter.

There are only a couple of holidays during the month of October but there are many, many “observances” for either a day, a week, or the month. Here are two sites that list lots of these special observances. It’s amazing how many different things can be celebrated during this month. I have not check out many of them but you can Google any that interest you.

http://www.brownielocks.com/october.html

http://www.gone-ta-pott.com/OctoberCalendar.html

I’ve listed some of the more common observances below. The one that has the most significance to me is “Breast Cancer Awareness Month”.  I’m a breast cancer survivor along with my mother and sister.  I have done a little more research for links to help educate you on the subject. Most people know at least one person or family that has dealt with breast cancer. Learn how to reduce the risks for yourself and your family members. Give generously (money and/or time) to the charity of your choice. The more we all contribute to finding a cure the sooner we won’t have to live in fear of cancer.

Ok, I’m getting off my soap box. Check out the links below. October is not only a month to educate yourself on a variety of topics (see above links) but to have lots of fun!

Holidays

October 11, (Monday) Columbus Day

This is a Federal Holiday so most Federal buildings and the post office will be closed.

http://www.history.com/topics/columbus-day

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/columbus/

October 31, (Sunday) Halloween

I’ll add more links as the month goes on so be sure to check this blog often. If you have any suggestions for Halloween fun please let me know in the comment section. Thanks.

http://www.history.com/topics/halloween

http://www.allfreecrafts.com/halloween/index.shtml

http://www.halloween.com/

Other Observances

October 3 – 9, National Fire Prevention Week

October 1-31, Breast Cancer Awareness Month

http://ww5.komen.org/

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast

 

Janice

 

October Holidays and Observances Read More »

Important Dates in September

/

When I started this blog a few years ago I had a separate newsletter that listed all the special dates for the current month. I discontinued that newsletter and added the information to my Tip newsletter. Then I got away from putting that information there also. So now I’ve decided to put it on the blog.

I know a lot of readers liked getting these dates and links so they could plan ahead to celebrate the holiday or event. Getting organized by planning ahead for things is the key to enjoying them with a lot less stress.

If you have any links or know of special dates of interest for the current or upcoming months, please let me know in the comment section. To avoid spam I have to approve the comments before they are posted but I check often for new comments and post them as soon as possible. Thank you.

September 11, (Saturday)

http://www.butlerwebs.com/tragedy/default.htm

http://voicesofseptember11.org/dev/index.php

September 12, (Sunday) National Grandparents Day

http://www.grandparents-day.com/

http://holidays.kaboose.com/grandparents-day.html

September 21, (Tuesday) International Day Of Peace

http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org/

http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/2010/

September is National Apple Month.

Although this is an event that the apple industry takes part in to promote the sale of apples they also want to educate the consumer on the benefits of apples. As the weather gets cooler and the days shorter the taste for crisp, cold apples or the smell of apple pie baking comes to mind. Here are some links that give you information on the benefits of eating apples plus loads of recipes. Enjoy and get healthy!

http://www.usapple.org/index-c.cfm

http://www.applerecipes.us/

http://www.foodnetwork.com/topics/apple/index.html

If you have a problem controlling the paper piles in your home or office be sure to check out what tips and ideas are offered in my new eBook,

3Debook_Clutter8 “Cut Out The Paper Clutter”.

Janice Scissors

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

Important Dates in September Read More »

Have a Fourth of July Parade

/

A great way for kids and parents to celebrate the holiday is by having a Fourth of July Parade. Let the children decorate their bikes, wagons, big wheels, and themselves to march down the street or sidewalk. Make sure there is plenty of adult supervision especially if they parade down the side of a street. When my children were young we lived on a cul-de-sac. Most of the families on that street had young children so it worked out great for everyone.

11-30-2007-16-53-23-91_edited-1 06-29-2010-15-00-41-765_edited-1

Below are several sites with ideas on decorating bikes and/or the children. It doesn’t have to cost much. Use items you already have around the house, a few store bought craft supplies, and a whole lot of imagination and fun!

image http://crafts.kaboose.com/bike-decorations.html

image http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/a-star-spangled-ride-674243/

image http://www.familycorner.com/family/kids/crafts/patriotic-flip-flops.shtml

image http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Crafts/Stars-and-Stripes-Cap.html

Don’t forget the red, white, and blue balloons. They always make a parade fun!

If you have ideas for a parade please let me know. I’ll share them with all my readers.

Thanks,

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

Have a Fourth of July Parade Read More »

Fun Things to Do For Fourth Of July

/

In every store you go to there is red, white, and blue displays enticing you to buy all kinds of things to get in the spirit of the holiday. You could spend a fortune on these things. Or you could spend quality time with your children or the creative child in yourself and have fun making your own decorations.

Here are several websites with ideas and instructions to help you get started.

Kaboose.com has a bunch of crafts and other activities.

image image image

http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/july-4/

Disney Family Fun site has plenty of ideas.

image image image

http://familyfun.go.com/4th-of-july/4th-of-july-crafts/

HP Creative Studio has projects you can print on your printer.

image image image

http://www.hp.com/hho/hp_create/themes_holidays_4th_of_july.html

I will check out more sites and ideas and post them here in the next few days. If you have any fun, inexpensive, and easy projects please let me know so I can share them with all my readers. Thanks.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

Fun Things to Do For Fourth Of July Read More »

April Showers Bring May Graduations

/

I was talking to my neighbor this morning and he mentioned how he was getting ready for all the parties he expected to have in May. Why the parties? Because his daughter was graduating college and his son was graduating high school. Each has their own friends and then there is all the family and friends of their father and late mother.

This got me thinking about the graduation gifts I need to buy. Oh, and Mother’s Day is May 9th so I also have to think about what to buy my mother and mother-in-law. Usually I get them flowers (cut flower bouquet – no vase) plus take them out to brunch or dinner. Both are non-clutter gifts.

But what do I get a high school boy and a college graduating young lady? Since the boy will be staying at home while going to a local college he won’t need anything for a dorm room. His sister may be moving out of state for a job so I don’t want to give her anything she would have to worry about moving to her new home. So the best solution will be to either give them money or a gift card. This way they can use it for things they need without me adding any clutter to their young lives.

Before you buy any gift for your mother or a new graduate think about how it will affect their life in the long term.

  • Will it be nice in the short run but clutter in the long run? (a cute decorative wall hanging, silly/joke items, plants or flowers in a decorative vase – how many vases does one person need?)
  • Is it something that is practical and they need or will improve their life?
  • Is it something that is fun but won’t add clutter? (Tickets/gift card for a concert, amusement park, theater, or restaurant)

On the Flylady site there are some good ideas for the college bound teenager. The list is about halfway down the page. Check it out.

http://www.flylady.net/pages/ClutterFreeGiftsC.asp

While we are on the subject of school it’s time to honor all the teachers that help our children reach that great day of graduation. Next Tuesday, May 4 is National Teachers Day.

“The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.”
~Khalil Gibran

“Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.”
~John F. Kennedy

http://www.nea.org/teacherday/index.html

http://www.teacher-appreciation.info/

******

Cinco de Mayo is Wednesday, May 5

http://holidays.kaboose.com/cinco-de-mayo/

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/cinco-de-mayo/

http://www.theholidayzone.com/cinco/

******

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 9

http://www.holidays.net/mother/

http://holidays.kaboose.com/mothers-day/

******

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://twitter.com/jlscissors

April Showers Bring May Graduations Read More »