Cinco de Mayo

It's National Girl Scout Cookie Day

To my mind, there are few things as wonderful as Girl Scout cookies.  Don't get me wrong, there are better cookies (sorry, Girl Scouts), but there's just something wonderfully old-school about neighborhood girls knocking on your door asking you to purchase a box or two and then having to wait weeks and weeks (oh, the anticipation) for them to arrive.

There was a time when I bought lots and lots of cookies (an embarrassing amount, actually), as I shipped some overseas to a relative and to cookie-loving grandmothers far away and saved some for my own family, but these days I try to limit my purchase to just a few favorites. And, I always freeze a box or two so that about 7 or 8 months from now, everyone is delighted when I break out the Trefoils or Samoas or, let's face it, the Thin Mints.

At this year's Texas State Fair, the Girl Scouts had an entire exhibition hall celebrating the organization's 100th birthday. Despite the fact that I was a Brownie for just one short season, and here's the proof,

The Christmas ornament I made in Brownies. (You would have thought
40 years would have been long enough for me to replace the ribbon!) 

the exhibition was terrific, a real tribute to the past and founder Juliette Low, the present and the future.

I must admit I was pretty nostalgic as I took a glimpse of the orange paperback Brownie Handbook and the adorable uniform with its brown elastic belt.  I remember being particularly taken by the faux leather  tiny purse (I'll call it a pursette, for lack of a better word) that attached to the belt. It was so small, I'm not even sure what it was meant to hold.  Coins? A membership card, perhaps?  But that would be sort of silly wouldn't it, given that you were already wearing the uniform. Anyway, I was clearly sans my pursette when the photo above was taken, so here's a photo in case you are unfamiliar. Just to be clear, I did have my beanie on in the photo, it's just a little hard to see against the lovely hedge in my troop leader's back yard.

At the State Fair in July, any woman/girl  touring the exhibit who was ever a Girl Scout (or a Brownie) even for a very, very short while, as I was, received a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies.  Now that was something to celebrate.

National Coffee Day

I've already confessed my love of doughnuts, so it might not come as a surprise to learn I'm also a coffee lover (as is my husband, which is one thing I love about him).  Not that we need a day to celebrate, but today is National Coffee Day so I'm off to Krispy Kreme to get my free 12 oz. cup.  

State Fair

The State Fair by artist Dahlia Woods

The Texas State Fair, the largest state fair in the United States, opens today.  Over the next 24 days, almost 3 million people will pass through the entrance of Fair Park, to experience the midway, eat a [Fletcher's] "corny" dog (delicious I  might add and I was skeptical), see the auto show (the only state fair with that feature) and ride the largest ferris wheel in North America.  

Presiding over it all is Big Tex, the sixty-year-old, 52 foot tall symbol of the fair.  His hinged jaw moves and announcements about the fair seemingly come from him (reminders to not miss the auto show, for example).  It's like Gulliver's Travels meets some sort of weird ventriloquist act.  In my opinion, it's a little bit (okay, maybe a lot) creepy, but people seem to love it (him).   

Last year, our family made our first ever trek to the State Fair (on what was no doubt the hottest Saturday, on record, in any October, ever, in Texas). We're going to try to take our cue from the weather man this year and attempt a visit on a cooler day.  Believe it or not, many local schools and some businesses give their students/employees a day off (my husband's company gives every employee 1/2 day off and two free tickets) during the fair so that everyone can attend. This year my son's school says October 8th is Fair Day.

One hundred and twenty six years of Texas tradition - the Texas State Fair is not to be missed.  

Postscript: On the morning of October 19th, just two days after our family made a Wednesday evening pilgrimage to the Fair, Big Tex burned to the ground as the result of an electrical fire. Despite the comments above, I assure you, I had nothing to do with it.  Tex's demise prompted much sadness as well as the funny refrain "Tex is toast."  Fair organizers are promising to rebuild the Fair's iconic symbol.

National Doughnut Day

Krispy Kreme, Dunkin' Donuts, a bag of cheap powdered Hostess Donettes? Who needs an excuse to eat a doughnut?  So, they're not the healthiest breakfast option around?  They are delicious and celebrating today even has historical significance. 

"National Donut Day was created in 1938 to honor a group of wartime heroes: women working with the Salvation Army who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I."  (It's apparently no coincidence that the holiday is preceded by Memorial Day).  

I love doughnuts (or donuts - as I'm told either spelling is correct).  Not just because soft, sweet, deep fried dough with a glaze is so delicious (I'm not sure I've ever had a bad donut), but also because I have fond recollections of: my husband taking our young daughter to the local Dunkin' Donuts on Saturday mornings - giving me some much needed alone time; of taking green frosted doughnuts to my daughter's preschool class on her St. Patrick's Day birthday (here's a tip, the milk I tinted with green food coloring - not a hit);

and, several summers ago, introducing our French foreign exchange student to the miracle that is the "Hot" light at Krispy Kreme. 

Doubt my donut love?  Here's a set of salt & pepper shakers that
my sister gave me as a gift one year.

Enjoy your doughnuts!

Purim

I've always loved the Book of Esther in the Old Testament. It reads like a fairy-tale, yet testifies to God's faithfulness.  If you're not familiar with the story, it celebrates the Jews victory over their enemies.  The story continues to be observed in the Jewish community to this day in the Festival of Purim.  


It's my understanding that Purim is like Halloween or Mardi Gras, a celebration that calls for children to dress up and disguise themselves.


Another fun aspect of the holiday is the jeering of the story's bad guy - Haman.  In fact, at the reading of the story of Esther in Jewish synagogues today, when Haman's name is mentioned, the crowd is directed to boo and make noise to "eradicate" Haman's evil name.  A special (usually, poppy-seed filled) pastry called hamantashen (Haman's hats or ears) with a three corned crust is a traditional Purim food.  I found these in the kosher bakery section (no small task in Dallas, Tx, where the Jewish community is quite small) of my local grocery store:  

There are also many recipes online, if you're so inclined.  Hamantashen taste somewhat like a fruit Danish or perhaps like a doughy version of the Pop Tart.  


With or without the pastry, The Book of Esther is totally worth the read.  

"And who knows but that you have come to 

your royal position for such a time as this?”

~Esther 4:14

National S'mores Day

Today we celebrate the most famous of finger-licking campfire treats - the s'more.  That's right it's National S'more Day so I thought I'd share one fun idea for the great teachers in your life (just in time for back to school).  Here's a shout out to domesticatedlady for this fun printable.  Visit her site for this and other great creative ideas.   


In May, I created these end-of-school year favors for the teachers at my son's school, so I can personally attest to their adorableness.  (I used the extra large campfire marshmallows for an added measure of fun).  Trust me when I say they were a hit.  

Sundae Sunday

It's National Ice Cream Day (aka Sundae Sunday) - not that my son (a real vanilla fan), my father-in-law (butter pecan), my dad (any flavor) need a special day to mark the occasion.  Personally, I'll never forget the taste of High's Lemon Custard, a flavor my grandmother introduced my sister and I to when we were children.

Ice cream and a hot summer day . . . what could be better?

Cinco de Mayo

I've always loved Cinco De Mayo though, in truth, for a long time I thought today commemorated Mexican Independence Day (the equivalent of the American 4th of July) but that's apparently in September.  

Actually, Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico's unlikely victory over the French Army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.  (Something I don't remember ever learning in my 4 years of high school Spanish). 

Here is a photo of me and a few friends in college celebrating Cinco de Mayo at Chi Chi's (remember those?)  because college is an excuse to celebrate everything, right?

Facts:

1) My husband 's middle name is Carlos  (though he is zero percent Latino). 
2) My husband does not speak Spanish.  
3) My husband loves Mexican food. 
4) My two favorite words in Spanish are "bicicleta" (bicycle) and "paraguas"  (umbrella, which literally translates into "for water") 
5) the extent of my celebration today may be the drive thru at Taco Bell
6) there is nothing wrong with Taco Bell

However you celebrate, and I hope you will, Feliz Cinco de Mayo!  

Clover Cookies

Holiday enthusiast that I am, family and friends are often suggesting great ideas to me. My sister, in particular, also a holiday aficionado, has great recommendations for celebrations, events and party themes and is always on the lookout for topics for my blog.

Just recently she introduced me to these sanded clover cookies:

  
Of course, I was delighted.  Not only are these cookies adorable (and delicious), they sing to my Celtic roots and, most importantly, bring focus to  a very special day in my life -- the birth of my firstborn on St. Patrick’s Day, 1993. 

When the anesthesiologist mentioned in labor and delivery, “looks like you’re going to have a little leprechaun,"  I have to admit I was excited.  Granted, that was mostly because that indicated that my 20+ hour labor must be drawing to a close, but also because it meant our daughter would be born on March 17th; a fun, merry-making day for everyone, Irish or not.  Consequently, I love all things St. Patrick's Day including these:
 

These cookies are made in California but were purchased, all the way across the country at my local Whole Foods.  They can also be ordered online.   When I checked out Gianna's website I was delighted to discover they make other great holiday cookies too -- hello Easter bunnies and eggs and carrots! The dove is my favorite.   I love the baseball, basketballs and soccer balls, too. 

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to find a great Irish Coffee!