What to Celebrate October 15 to 21, 2018
Celebration Ideas for October 15 – 21, 2018
As October marches on and we’re getting the garden ready for winter (all those overgrown tomato vines have got to go!) we’re a bit sad the “fresh herbs & veggies from the garden” season is over.
But we’re also happy to be able to work on the garden without the hot sun beating on our heads. And of course the upcoming holiday season means lots of fun & activities.
Not that we’re waiting for the “official” holidays to start. We love all the unofficial ones we have to choose from … which shouldn’t surprise you at all! From cats & reptiles to brandied fruits & pizza, the upcoming week offers plenty of variety again.
There’s sure to be something here for almost everyone.
So as usual we present you with a list of celebratory possibilities. And we invite you to take a peek and plan your week.
And most of all …
Enjoy!
Celebrate All During October
At the mid-point of October pet sitters across the country work to help homeless pets in their communities. Won’t you consider helping them as you marvel at magnificent birds, munch on pizza and/or peruse your favorite cookbooks?
Wishbones for Pets Month: This 6-week charity drive starts on October 15 & runs through November 30. Pet sitters collect money & supplies for their favorite local pet shelters/charities. They may simply set up donation locations or hold raffles/other events. If you’re a pet sitter, consider getting involved! If not, help out your pet sitter by donating.
Raptor Month: Celebrate the birds of prey—eagles, hawks, vultures, etc.—all month long. These magnificent and beautiful (mostly) birds are truly fascinating.
National Pizza Month: Go crazy for pizza this month! Have your favorite of course. But try something different at least once too. Who knows, you might discover a new favorite.
National Cookbook Month: The season of cooking is almost upon us! So it seems like the perfect time to pull out the cookbooks (or buy a new one!) and try some new recipes. Because while tradition is great, adding a new dish to your usual holiday meals is also allowed (and often welcomed). But you’ll want to try them out ahead of time. So get celebrating!
Weekly Celebrations for October’s 3rd Week
During the 3rd week of October we’re thanking the people who help keep our pets healthy, learning how we can all prevent infection, and fueling it all with sauerkraut on our sandwiches.
National Veterinary Technician Week (October 14 – 20): Vet techs are critical to a smoothly running veterinary practice. If you’re a pet parent, thank the vet techs that keep your pets healthy & happy. And if you’re a vet, make sure your techs know you appreciate them!
National Kraut Sandwich Week (Oct. 15 – 21): The Reuben is probably the 1st thing you think of when you think of sauerkraut on a sandwich. And they are fantastic. But they’re not the only way to enjoy kraut on sandwiches. Get a whole list of recipe ideas here. And then try a different one each day!
International Infection Prevention Week (Oct. 14 – 20): Preventing infections helps keep everybody safe. Medical professionals need to take steps to avoid infecting patients, of course. But patients themselves, and their friends & family, also need to know how to stay safe. Get more information here.
And then get ready to celebrate wolves. Wolf Awareness Week starts on the 21st.
Celebration Days coming up for Oct. 15 thru Oct. 21
We start the week off grouchy (Mondays & decluttering will do that to ya!).
But the week improves quickly from there. After all it’s hard to be grouchy while helping cats, drinking liqueur, and eating chocolate cupcakes.
While there’s plenty of fun & deliciousness, there’s also a bit more seriousness than usual. This week includes days devoted to mammograms, menopause, fighting hunger, and helping young people grow up with confidence.
So let’s make the upcoming week a productive and fun-tastic one.
October 15:
National Grouch Day: Celebrate Oscar the Grouch and all the other grouches you know. And help them celebrate by being as cheerful as possible … which will make them as grumpy as can be (which is their favorite way to be!).
National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day: Do you have digital clutter? Of course you do! Anyone who uses any digital devices does (some more than others, of course!). And some of that clutter is in the form of desktop icons/shortcuts you never use. So for this day, evaluate your virtual desktop(s) and delete all unused items. Simple! (The rest of your digital clutter can wait for another day).
National Cheese Curd Day: Mmmmm … delightful little balls of deep-fried Wisconsin cheddar cheese. They deserve their own day! Culver’s created this scrumptious day, and through October 28 you have the chance to win a year’s supply of their cheese curds.
October 16:
Global Cat Day: Raise awareness of feral cats (also called community cats) & our responsibilities toward them. With responsible caretakers, these cats are no more of a “menace” than any other wildlife. Maybe even consider learning how to care for feral cats in your neighborhood?
World Food Day: Help the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations achieve its goal of #ZeroHunger by 2030. The day’s official site offers simple suggestions anyone can do. Even kids can get involved by creating a poster showing what Zero Hunger means to them & entering it in the Poster Contest before Nov. 9.
National Liqueur Day: Wind down after a long day and celebrate this fun holiday at the same time. Slow down long enough to enjoy a sip of your favorite liqueur (also called schnapps or cordials). Enjoy ‘em neat or use as a mixer. See if one of these recipes might hit the spot.
October 17:
National Pasta Day: Enjoy your favorite pasta dishes in honor of this day. Or try something new. You can even have it for breakfast!
Hagfish Day: This day has been celebrating “the beauty of ugly” since 2009! WhaleTimes, Inc. created the day to highlight the fact that conservation efforts shouldn’t be limited to the popular or cute critters. Many obscure and even downright ugly critters are important to their ecosystems, including the hagfish. Not sure how to celebrate? WhaleTimes offers some ideas (Hagfish Haiku anyone?)!
National Fossil Day: Celebrate the mighty fossil, preserving the past for the future. Museums & national parks across the country are holding events on or near the day. Can’t make it to an event this year? Spend a little time learning more about fossils.
October 18:
National Chocolate Cupcake Day: Treat yourself to a chocolate cupcake (or two) in celebration of this day. Or bring chocolate cupcakes to work so everyone can celebrate. If you’re feeling ambitious, make them yourself. Consider this Chocolate Cream-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes recipe. They’re extra-chocolaty delights.
World Menopause Day: Stop sweeping menopause under the rug or talking about it in whispers. It’s just another stage of life (if a somewhat uncomfortable one at times). So learn how to manage symptoms and keep living your best life both as you approach it and after you’ve entered it.
Spirit Day: This day asks you to pledge to “go purple,” and speak out against LGBTQ bullying. Did you know that more than half of LGBTQ students feel unsafe at school? At school! It’s hard to learn if you don’t feel safe.
October 19:
Evaluate Your Life Day: This day is from Tom & Ruth Roy of Wellcat.com. But it’s not as wacky as many of their days. In fact, it’s even a bit serious, as they ask you to take the time to see if your life is actually going where you want it to.
National Mammography Day: While you’re evaluating your life, ask yourself if you’re taking care of your health the way you should. And if you’re a woman, ask yourself if you’ve had your annual mammogram. If not, schedule one today (or request a referral for one from your doctor).
National Seafood Bisque Day: Enjoy a rich, creamy seafood bisque for this day. Make it with your favorite crustacean (lobster, shrimp, etc.) and savor each silky mouthful. Don’t have a favorite recipe? Here’s 15 recipes for you to choose from.
October 20:
National Sweetest Day: Celebrate your sweetheart on this day … although that’s not exactly how it started. Back in 1916 the National Confectioners’ Association created Candy Day. Some newspaper ads called it “the sweetest day of the year.” It took a few years, but eventually the name changed & the focus became charity … in the form of candy for orphanages, shelters, etc.
National Brandied Fruit Day: Brandied fruit is sweet! So celebrate 2 holidays in one with this treat. You can buy brandied fruit (usually cherries). But making your own is so simple! It does take a few weeks to fully “brandy” the fruit, but you can start a batch for this day & wait impatiently for it to be done. Try this recipe.
National Youth Confidence Day: Celebrate young people and give them the guidance to grow and accomplish great things.
And if you plan to make a pumpkin cheesecake to celebrate Pumpkin Cheesecake Day on the 21st, get that done so you can chill it overnight!
October 21:
Reptile Awareness Day: How much do you know about reptiles? The more you know, the more you’ll like them. Really! So spend some time learning more about them for this day. And if you already love them, help others learn to do the same.
Celebration of the Mind Day: This day is for everyone who loves puzzles, games, math & magic. The date is Martin Gardener’s birthday. You may know him as the author of the Mathematical Games column in Scientific American. Or from The Annotated Alice, his best-selling book explaining Lewis Carroll’s use of math & other references. Find an event near you, or consider hosting your own!
National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day: Fall is pumpkin time! And while we’re not a fan of pumpkin-spice-everything, we are a fan of pumpkin. And adding it to cream cheese & sugar to create a creamy, pumpkiny pie? Yes, please! If you agree enjoy a slice of pumpkin cheesecake in celebration. It’s even better if you make it yourself. Try this simple recipe.
