#22 Sidewalk Egg Frying Day

#22 Sidewalk Egg Frying Day
July 4, 2013

Bet you didn't know that the fourth of July is home to another, not quite some popular holiday, called 'Sidewalk Egg Frying Day'. Sometimes I just have to wonder how these holidays came about, but it sounds like the beginnings of many conversations my friends and I have, we just don't go so far as to make our strange curiosities into national holidays - we simply move to different continents. ;)

Since sidewalks aren't really a thing here, we gave our sidewalk egg frying attempt a try on our friends' patio (Yes, at their suggestion). I'm just now realizing that this picture looks like it was taken inside, but I can guarantee that that egg was cooking on the patio.

Patio Egg Frying Success! Less than 2 hours!

On a complete different note, we've noticed that there aren't many products made of wood around here, but marble and tile are abundant and relatively inexpensive. That's one more thing that isn't a big deal but it is different. The good thing is we don't really have to worry about the house burning down, right? ;)

Independence Day!

Happy Fourth of July to all fellow Americans, at home and abroad! Today I want to take a moment to thank the men and women who served and protected our country, making the freedoms we enjoy today a reality!

Yummy food was, of course, involved in our celebration!

We had two varieties of patriotic cupcakes: Dark Chocolate with Peanut Butter frosting and Red Velvet with Cream Cheese frosting! They were both delicious, although next time I may put the cream cheese frosting on the dark chocolate cupcakes.

Patriotic me!

Thanks to my lovely family for sending fun decorations to make today more festive!

A little fun with the fireworks!

USA! LOVE the fact that this picture came out!

Wrapped in red, white, and blue forever!

Sweet friends!

#21 Eat Beans Day!

#21 Eat Beans Day!
July 3, 2013

Today our friends had already arranged a game night for us all, so we packed up some bean salad/salsa and headed over to play a new game nicknamed, The Bean Game (and no, Dad, it doesn't include loud farting).

Snacks and games = a successful evening!

The actual name of the game is Bohnanza. You can find a game review here. It was a fun, albeit long card game with 6 players. Jordan took us all to town tonight, but it was fun to relax with friends.

Now on to the holiday preparations! So excited about the Fourth tomorrow, but it may be one of the hardest days to be away. On American holidays like this (and it doesn't get much bigger than Independence Day), I become keenly aware that I'm living in a different culture. But we'll be getting together with other countrymen and there may even be some works of fire in the mix!! :) 

#20 Happy "I Forgot" Day

#20 Happy "I Forgot" Day
July 2, 2013

Yesterday was "I Forgot" Day, but I forgot to blog about it. ;) Apparently this is a real holiday where everyone is provided with a reminder to write all those cards they forgot to write this year or, if you want to work preemptively, the cards you will most likely forget to write in the future.

It appears that there are even entire websites with templates such as these for writing those forgotten notes:

Dear [insert name of the forgotten here]:

Please forgive me for having forgotten to acknowledge your [birthday, anniversary, graduation, etc] this year! It was thoughtless of me to have missed such an important event, and I'd like to make it up to you by [baking some cookies, buying you a drink, writing you a poem].

In my case, being forgetful is [part of my charm, especially unusual, an all-too-common occurrence]but know that [you're in my thoughts, I care for you more than life itself, I adore you] and I can hardly wait to [celebrate with you, acknowledge your special day in style] … next year.

[With much love, in all sincerity, yours truly…]

[Your name]

p.s. Also, thanks for the [birthday, anniversary, graduation] gift. I forgot to send a thank you card this year, but it was really great! Exactly what I [needed, wanted, was too cheap to buy for myself].

So, be expecting some lovely cards in the mail soon! ;) Unless I forgot that I forgot your big event...

#17 National Waffle Day

#17 National Waffle Day
June 29, 2013

We've been saving our Waffle Day celebration and today was the day! Our friends let us borrow their waffle maker to create some tasty treats!

The waffles were quite the delicious treat and enjoyed by all! Thanks again to our amazing friends for putting all this together!

#19 Joke Day

#19 Joke Day
July 1, 2013

It's no joke that today is National Joke Day. Our special treat, today (besides a note filled with cartoon jokes) was Chinese Fortune Cookies filled with jokes). I can't wait to open them up!

Any favorite jokes? Tell me about them! I've recently opened the comments section, so anyone can comment! So drop a line! Meanwhile, enjoy a few cheap shots.

This one would particularly funny if you could see the insane sunburn I  managed to get yesterday when we went swimming. Attempting to be thankful for the annual reminder of the Sun's strength and why God made me a human, not a lobster!

#18 Meteor Day

#18 Meteor Day
June 30, 2013

Today was Meteor Day and, of course, our challenge was to go star gazing, but after an island adventure we were pretty tuckered out. So Beth is planning on the next meteor shower for us to see the stars. I also learned today that a meteor becomes a meteoroid when it makes it to earth. Learn something new everyday!

The stars always remind me of our awesome God, who created all of this world with His words! So thankful to know and be loved by One so big and powerful, so far above yet not in the slightest removed or detached.