12 New Years resolutions suggested by my dog…

Did you know that 41% of folks make New Years resolutions each year?  And the month of January is just full of determined individuals who are striving towards their goals!  Then February happens.  Less than half of those folks keep their resolutions for six months and only a small percentage manage a whole year.

So why make them?  Well, it certainly doesn’t hurt to try and better yourself!  Here are some great ideas suggested by my dog, Ralph, who insists that resolutions don’t have to be difficult!

Yep, Ralph has a point.  Why make life so difficult?

Here are the top ten most common New Years resolutions and some humor to go along with them.  Since I write two blogs, it seems I have written about all of them!  And if you are truly serious about sticking with your resolutions this year, be sure to check out my post on 10 Easy Steps to Work Towards Your Goals!

1. Lose Weight

Every now and then I wake up in the middle of the night after falling asleep in front of the television and am confronted with the latest infomercial. Something about being freshly wakened makes me more susceptible to these middle of the night ads. See what happens when I respond to a weight loss ad in For all us “Skinny Wannabees”.

2. Volunteer to Help Others

Random acts of kindness can be a rarity.  You can change your world with one simple act of kindness!   I put together 60 great ways to be kind.  Make it a great day for someone! Check out: World Kindness Day- 60 great ways to be kind!

3. Spend More Time with Family

Is this one of your goals this year? How about a humorous look at the 15 things we learned at our Family Reunion! 

4. Travel

Take a trip to the mountains!  Here is a look at the Top Ten Ski Resorts for 2014 according to Forbes!

5. Get a Better Job

Ever thought about earning money by blogging?  Here are a few tips from this crazy-eyed craft blogger that might help you out!

6. Save Money

Reality television over the past few years has taken a look at saving money coupon shopping.  The show, “Extreme Couponing“, is just one of the reality shows out there following a “coupon lady” from store to store.  But what happens when the reality of real life competes with reality tv? 14 Thoughts on the Reality of Coupon Shopping

7. Get Fit

Is one of your new years resolutions getting more exercise?  Mine definitely is.  Currently, I work two full time jobs.  I’m an executive assistant by day and a blogger by night.  Both jobs entail me sitting on my butt.  Due to that fact, I have developed a severe case of “blogger butt”.  The solution?  Get off my butt and walk! Here is a fun idea to create a Jar ‘O Exercise!

8. Eat Healthy Food

Originally sponsored by the United Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Association, Eat Your Vegetable Day is meant to bring awareness to healthy food options; particularly vegetables.  Children are notoriously picky eaters, and I have put together 7 veggie lunch ideas that kids will love!

9. Manage Stress

A great way to manage stress is a relaxing trip to the spa.  Today we are looking at some great ways to pamper ourselves, and the nice folks at Etsy do not disappoint!  Come see what I found! Great Spa Gifts from Etsy!

10. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

Have you been collecting recycled toilet paper tubes to use for a cool winter project?  No?  Well, start collecting now.  The Sitcom offers four great DIY crafts and instructions for creating amazing things out of those formerly unappreciated pieces of tubular cardboard.

So make your resolutions and then go for it!  Happy New Year to all my awesome readers!

Source : dailyholidayblog[dot]com

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Big changes are coming!

Daily Holiday Blog is briefly on hiatus and will have fresh new posts starting on January 1.  I am totally in the midst of selling my house and moving into my RV. It has always been our dream to travel and we are just about to the point of living our dream!

In June of 2010, my husband and I made a major life decision.  With the kids grown and gone, we were ready to begin a new chapter in our lives.  But we really weren’t sure what that change would be.  Both of us have jobs in the city.  I’m an Executive Assistant in a huge corporation, and my husband is a Fleet Manager in another large company.  

Both of us were tired of the major commute (an hour and a half each way).  Both of us were tired of our jobs; tired of city life; tired of the crowds.  Let’s face it, we were just plain tired.  We needed to come up with a new plan. 

I had just created my arts and crafts website, Suzy’s Sitcom, at that time.  A new blogger, I really didn’t realize the potential of a website with creative content.  But I tackled a blog like I tackle most things; head on and running.  My father always said that I could accomplish anything that I set my mind to.  If I truly believed that something would be a success, then it would be.

It was also at that time that my husband and I watched a television show that ultimately pointed us in the direction we wanted to go.  It was a documentary about a couple who bought a RV, sold their house and everything they owned and set out on the road to travel, document their journey and live full time on the road.

Our five year plan was set in motion.  We would be doing the same.  We just needed to follow the plan.  After all, anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

This week, the house went on the market and I quit my day job.  EEEK!

So life is pretty crazy right now.  Keep an eye on Suzy’s Sitcom if you are curious about progress in December.  I am updating that website, but cannot currently handle both websites at the same time.

Daily Holiday Blog will be back and running in full form on January 1 with a new free downloadable calendar and lots of fun holiday news!  Have a fabulous holiday season!

Source : dailyholidayblog[dot]com

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12 Fabulous Fish and Seafood Recipes!

Today we are celebrating National Catfish Day!  It is a day set aside to observe the value of farm raised catfish!  Here at Daily Holiday Blog, we thought that we would extend the celebration to all fish and seafood and bring you some great recipes!  Because we are hungry today…

In the United States, catfish are definitely a favorite! They are the third most popular fish consumed in the US.  A southern favorite, the most popular cooking method is to coat it with cornmeal and fry it.

I found some great catfish recipes for you and then since we were all into fish, I’m sharing with you some yummy seafood and fresh fish recipes too!  Oh, and some fun catfish facts to go along with them!  Ready?

from Taste of Home

The catfish is a ray finned fish that in the wild generally is a bottom feeder. Catfish are named for their prominent barbels, which look a whole lot like cat whiskers. Those whiskers are actually loaded with taste buds!  Over 27,000 of them to be exact!

from The View from Great Island

Did you know? Catfish are nocturnal.

  from Design + Life + Kids

Fun Fact: Catfish can get pretty darn big.  The largest catfish caught in the U.S. was a blue catfish weighing 150 pounds in 1879. The largest known blue caught in Tennessee was a 130-pounder, fished from the Fort Loudon Reservoir in 1976.

from Grandparents.com

Did you know that some catfish can walk?

The walking catfish can travel across land from one body of water to another. It uses its pectoral fins like legs and has a modified gill chamber to get oxygen from the air.

Why did the catfish cross the road?  To get away from Long John Silver!

I saw a peanut stand, heard a rubber band,
I saw a needle that winked its eye.
But I think I will have seen about everything
When I see a catfish walk by…

Author unknown

from Mooshu Jenne

There are also Electric Catfish!

A native to Africa, an Electric Catfish is capable of generating up to 350 volts!

from Parenting Chaos

But let’s get back to the fish in the US.  Most of the farm raised catfish in the US (about 95%) are raised in the states of Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama and Louisiana.

And they aren’t electric…

from Momma Lew

from Amanda’s Cookin’

#CATFISH

A new term that came with the new age of technology that has absolutely nothing to do with the actual fish.  To “Catfish” means to pretend you are someone else on the internet.  Ever been “Catfished”?

from Momma Lew

from The Thrifty Couple

from The View from Great Island

from Live Outdoors

Hungry for a little fish?  Enjoy National Catfish Day with a yummy fish recipe!  And watch out for those walking catfish…

Source : dailyholidayblog[dot]com

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National Watermelon Day- 8 great recipes!

Today is National Watermelon Day!  The heat of summer is a great time to celebrate this sweet fruit.  I found some great recipes and fun facts to help the celebration along!  Come see what I found!

Watermelon is not only a healthy food, but it is pretty cool to look at too!  So along with these great watermelon inspired recipes, let me show you a cool way to serve one up!

by She Knows

Did you know? Watermelons are more than 90% water. That’s the secret behind the name! In ancient times travelers used watermelons as a replacement for water and explorers used them as canteens.

by That’s What Che Said

Did you know? You can find out if a watermelon is ripe (of course, without splitting it open), by knocking on it. If it sounds hollow, then it is ripe.  Folks always look at me funny when I’m knocking on the watermelons, but it definitely pays off!

by Our Footprints

Did you know?  An interesting thing about a watermelon is that it can be a male or female watermelon. A female watermelon is larger and sweeter while having fewer seeds. A male watermelon is smaller.

by Glorious Treats

Did you know? Square watermelons are a new development by the Japanese.  These square watermelons were created to save space. The farmers put the watermelons in a square tempered glass box when the watermelon is still growing on the vine. The watermelon then grows into a neat square.  The square watermelons are generally priced at a very high premium.

by Eat Yourself Skinny

Did you know? According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest watermelon, weighing 262 pounds, was grown by Bill Carson of Arrington, Tennessee in 1990.  That’s a heck of a lot of watermelon!

by Bird on a Cake

Did you know? Watermelon is the most-consumed melon in the U.S., followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.  The first cookbook published in the U.S. in 1776 contained a recipe for watermelon rind pickles. Umm… okay.

by Taste of Home

Did you know? The United States currently ranks fourth in worldwide production of watermelon. China is number one.  Forty-four states grow watermelons with Florida, Texas, California, Georgia and Arizona consistently leading the country in production.

by One Perfect Bite

So enjoy some sweet watermelon today in celebration of Watermelon Day!  I know I will!

Source : dailyholidayblog[dot]com

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Face Your Fears Day- are you scared yet?

Today is Face Your Fears Day.  It is a day to try and better yourself by facing any fears that you might have that are holding you back.  Of course, here on Daily Holiday Blog, it is a great chance to show you some things that might be a little scary, and hilarious at the same time!  BWAAAHAAA!

You know, everyone is a afraid of something.  Some fears are justified.  Some are not so much.  But all are very real to the person who is fearful.  Me?  I’m afraid of crowds, closed in spaces, spiders, snakes, bugs with more than a dozen legs, bugs with bulgy eyeballs, bugs with stingers, things that might get caught in my hair, and noises in the night.

Oh, and styrofoam cups…but that’s a whole other story!

by Rachaek

What are the top ten fears of folks in general?

Number 10 Top Fear – Mysophobia- Fear of Germs or Dirt.  This could be a form of obsessive compulsive disorder.  Or you could just be tired of getting sick every time you travel.  Me and my hand sanitizer can attest to that.

Number 9 Top Fear – Pteromerhanophobia- Fear of Flying.  Another reason to hate traveling.  Ha!

by Stuff of the Dead

Number 8 Top Fear – Social Phobias.  Fear of social situations like handling crowds, speaking to an audience, even going to a party.  Gee, I’m starting to think I’m afraid of everything!

Number 7 Top Fear- Trypanophobia- Fear of Injections.

from The Pineapple Catz

Number 6 Top Fear- Astraphobia- Fear of Thunder and Lightening.  Personally, I think this is a healthy fear.  My dogs, on the other hand, take this one to a whole new level.

Number 5 Top Fear- Cynophobia- Fear of Dogs.  Well…speaking of dogs.  Fortunately this is not one of my fears. Otherwise, I’d be afraid of my own website!

from Little Missy Bell

Number 4 Top Fear- Agoraphobia- Fear of crowded areas, open spaces or things that might trigger a panic attack.

Number 3 Top Fear- Acrophobia- Fear of Heights.

from Monsterpaks

Number 2 Top Fear- Ophidiophobia- Fear of Snakes- A totally reasonable fear in my opinion.

And the Number 1 Fear of most folks?

Arachnaphobia- Fear of Spiders!  

You bet ya!  I have my own personal spider nightmare story on my other blog, if you want a laugh.  You can find it here.

  by Moji Moji Design

And here are a few not so common fears.  Are you afraid of any of these?  If so, there is a name for that fear, believe it or not…

• Ablutophobia – the obsessional fear of bathing
• Adipophobia – the fear of appearing too fat
• Agyrophobia – the fear of crossing roads
• Arachibutyrophobia – the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of one’s mouth
• Ephebiphobia - the fear of teenagers

by AKA Applique

What about these?

• Genuphobia – the fear of knees
• Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia – the fear of long words
• Levophobia – the fear of objects to the left
• Nomophobia - the fear of being out of cellular/mobile phone contact
• Peladophobia – the fear of bald people
• Scuirophobia – the fear of squirrels
• Triskaidekaphobia - the fear of the number 13

  by StaRose Creations

I guess there are lots of things to be scared of!

Nightmares Fear Factory in Niagara Falls, Canada set up a camera inside their haunted house to capture the reactions of visitors at a particularly terrifying moment. The results? Priceless!  The background music is one of the best parts!

So take a bit of time today, figure out which fear you would like to work on, and confront it!

Happy Face Your Fears Day!

Source : dailyholidayblog[dot]com

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