Top Ten Recipients of August 2015 Happiness Happens Awards

 “Top Ten Recipients of August 2015  Happiness Happens Awards” by Linda Martin Andersen

 

Poster created at http://www.quozio.com  Happiness Happens Awards (selected by me for this site only)

August is…

• Happiness Happens Month–How does happiness happen?  What are some things that make you happy?  Which of the awards posted here is your favorite?  Why?
• What Will Be Your Legacy Month–What is a legacy?  Check out definition 2a here:  http://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/legacy

Special Days in August:

• Respect For Parents: 1–How do you show respect for your parents?  Name ways they show respect for you. 
• Sandcastle Day: 1–What memories come to mind when you hear “sandcastle?”  Write or draw about that memory.  Where have you built sandcastles?  Have you ever built one in your backyard?  What materials would you need?
• Take A Penny/Leave A Penny Day: 2–Have you ever left a penny in a dish at a store or restaurant?  Have you ever taken one?    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_a_penny,_leave_a_penny
• Watermelon Day 3:–Do you eat watermelon with a fork, spoon, knife, or by biting into the slice?  Where do you like to eat watermelon?  Inside, outside, at a picnic, or anywhere?  Does your family buy watermelon by the slice, half, or whole melon?
• National Chocolate Chip Day: 4  What would you do with melted chocolate chips?  Sometimes people say, “It’s hot enough to fry an egg on a sidewalk.”  What image comes to mind if chocolate chips melted on the sidewalk instead?  Would you want to turn it into a cookie, sidewalk art, etc.  Would you taste it?  (not recommended, but then neither are mud pies)
• Hiroshima Day: 6–When I read of this special day, I thought of an author friend–Kathleen Burkinshaw.   Check out her website and you’ll know why.   https://kathleenburkinshaw.wordpress.com/
• Lighthouse Day: 7–Name three or more lighthouses.  Where are they located?  What lighthouses have you visited?  Which is your favorite and why?  Where have you seen lighthouse art?  On a mug?  On a keychain, on earrings, etc.  List three or more examples.
• Tomboy Tools Day: 7 I don’t hear girls called “tomboys” much anymore.  Do you know what the word means?  Why do you think the word might not be used so often today?  Write about a time you or someone you know was teased for “acting like a boy.”
• Twins Day: 7-9  How many twins do you know?  Do their names rhyme?  Are they identical or fraternal?  Name a favorite story, book, poem, or memory about twins.  
• Middle Child Day: 8  What’s it like to be in the middle of a huddle?  The middle of the car?  Other middles?  What do you think it would feel like to be a middle child in a family?  Are you a middle child?  Name some advantages and some disadvantages of being a middle child.
• Skyscraper Appreciation Day: 10  What cities do you think of with skyscrapers?  Have you ever ridden an elevator to the top of one?  What skyscraper stories can you tell?
• Smithsonian Day: 10  Where is the Smithsonian?  Name some of the buildings or displays found there.  What would you like to visit there?  How far is the Smithsonian from where you live?
• S’mores Day: 10 Have you ever eaten S’mores?  Have you ever prepared them to serve?  What makes this food special?  Is it one of your favorites?  Why or why not?
• Sewing Machine Day: 12 What is a treadle machine?  What is a portable sewing machine?  Name three items that can be made on a sewing machine.  Name five supplies used when sewing.  Have you ever sewed anything by hand?  On a sewing machine?  Tell about it.  Do you know what a Cricut machine is?  Name items it can create.
• Vinyl Record Day: 12 What is a vinyl record?  What is an album?  What piece of equipment is needed for these?  Have you ever seen any of these things?  Write about it.
• International Lefthander’s Day: 13  What is a” leftie?”  Who do you know who is one?  What might be more difficult to do if you’re a “leftie?”  Do you anyone who was forced to do things right handed?  Name a famous “leftie” if you can.  What does it mean to be ambidextrous?
• Cupcake Day: 17  Cupcakes have become popular recently.  Why do you think that might be so?  Have you ever seen cupcakes served instead of a wedding cake?  Tell a favorite cupcake memory.
• Senior Citizen’s Day: 21 What joy can you bring a senior citizen today?   How can you show a senior respect?  How can you give a senior recognition today?  What way can you share love and caring for a senior today?
• Be An Angel Day: 22 If someone says, “Be an angel and get me a glass of water,” what does that mean to you?  If someone says, “Be an angel and sit down,” what does that mean?  Give other examples.  See the definition for this idiom here:  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/angel
• International Tongue Twister Day: 22 What is your favorite tongue twister?  Name others.  If I begin one, can you continue it?  Peter Piper picked a…   For more check here:  http://www.grandparents.com/grandkids/activities-games-and-crafts/tongue-twisters-for-kids
• Tug-of-War Day: 26 When was the last time you played tug-of-war?  Have you ever played at school?  Maybe for Field Day?  Can you name a TV show, movie, book, or story with a game of tug-of-war?  Tell about a time when you played this game.
• National Toasted Marshmallow Day: 30  Name your favorite toasted food.  What way do you like to eat marshmallows?  Do you like them in hot chocolate, on top of sweet potatoes, melted in rice krispie treats, tossed in fruit salad?  Other ways?  Name a favorite memory that includes a marshmallow treat.
• Pony Express Day: 30  Imagine you received a letter delivered by Pony Express.  Who do you think might have sent it?  How long do you think it would have taken to receive it? For more information check here:   http://www.nps.gov/poex/learn/historyculture/index.htm    Would you have wanted to be a Pony Express driver?  What caused the end of Pony Express delivery?

Special Weeks in August:

• Simplify Your Life Week: 1-7 Name a way to simplify your life.  Is it something you can do?  Why or why not?
• Exercise With Your Child Week: 2-8  Name a time you and your parents exercised together.  What were you doing? Did you enjoy it?  Would you do it again?
• National Farmers’ Market Week: 2-8  Does your town have a local Farmer’s Market?  Do you buy fresh fruits and vegetables there?  Have you learned to eat something new from the market?
• Weird Contest Week: 10-14 Name a weird contest.  I was in a $1.98 Beauty Pageant once as an adult at a school fundraiser.  Contestants were not supposed to spend over $1.98 on their costumes.  The object wasn’t to be beautiful.  It was to have fun.
• National Aviation Week: 15-21  Orville Wright’s birthday was August 19.  This celebration falls on the week of his birthday.  Do you remember what this famous person did?  Two hints:  he had a brother.  Check the name of the special week for your second clue.

For more August celebrations, check here:  http://www.brownielocks.com/august.html

I hope you’ll leave a comment.  Thanks for stopping in.  Come again soon and bring a friend.  Please remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them. Thank you! 

For more calendar fun, sign up to follow my blog.  Thanks so much.

Happiness Happens…

“Happiness Happens…” by Linda Martin Andersen

“A Writer’s Playground”–A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.

August is Happiness Happens Month

Do you believe that happiness happens… or that you make happiness happen…or both?  Think on it while you read a few famous quotes about happiness. 

• It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.”  Charles Spurgean

• “It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy.  It is what you think about.”  Dale Carnegie

• The journey is what brings us happiness…not the destination  Dan Millman

• “Happiness is not something ready made.  It comes from your own actions.”  Dalai Lama

• “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”  Abraham Lincoln

• “Be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both, and you won’t have to hunt for happiness.”  William E. Gladstone

• “For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

• “Happiness is a warm puppy.” Charles M. Schultz

• “It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.” L.M. Montgomery–Anne of Green Gables

• “Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get.” W.P. Kinsella

• “Whoever is happy will make others happy.”  Anne Frank–The Diary of a Young Girl

Articles about Happiness: 

Anna A. Simpkinson “August is Happiness Happens Month.” http://www.guideposts.org/norman-vincent-peale/august-happiness-happens-month-0

Marc and Angel Hack LIfe “10 Actions That Always Bring Happiness.”   http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/08/31/10-actions-that-always-bring-happiness/

“Four Ways to Bring Happiness Into Your Life With the Law of Attraction”  August 11, 2010. https://www.facebook.com/notes/mind-movies/4-ways-to-bring-happiness-into-your-life-with-the-law-of-attraction/150913458257885

Happier Than Commercials:  GEICO Insurance Comapnay”How happy are folks…?”

“Happier than…”

Here are two of many GEICO commercials that are “selling” happiness in a humorous way:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3btVEGC00Ns&list=PL3A31C28AB4727F75&index=9

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWBhP0EQ1lA&list=PL3A31C28AB4727F75

Posters Promote Happiness–Here’s one:

7 Steps-to-Happiness http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5186/7-Steps-to-Happiness.html (Poster)

Sing About Happiness:

“If You’re Happy and You Know It” 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPFhRwsLuwk

What do you say happiness is?  Happiness Happens…Agree or Disagree?  Why?

Readers, please leave a question or a comment.   And be sure to visit “A Writer’s Playground” again soon.  Bring a friend.

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen

Activities for August

“Activities for August” by Linda Martin Andersen

“A Writer’s Playground”

A place to find wordplay, writing, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart.

Think:  What does the word “August” bring to mind?  Hot summer days.  Last minute family vacations before school starts back. 

Other things we remember in August:  Steam rising from asphalt after an afternoon rain shower.  Record breaking temperatures.  Listening for the ice cream truck driving through the neighborhood.  Summer reading assignments due when school starts back.

Special Days in August: 

• Respect for Parents:  1  Brainstorm things your parents have done for you.  Now brainstorm things you could do for them.  Decide how you’ll show them respect today. 
• Spiderman Day:  1  Name qualities you admire about Spiderman.  How many of the qualities do you possess?  Name one you’d like to strengthen.  Set a goal.  How will you accomplish it?  Check yourself each month to see if you’ve met your goal or if you need to reset it. 
• World Wide Web Day:  1  How do you think this day should be celebrated?  Would you want to visit your favorite web sites?  Before you begin, seek parental permission, if you are a child.  Would you want to visit 3-5 new sites?  Name the countries you have visited while on the web.  Do you email people in other countries?  What are good memories you have from internet use?  What is one problem you have had while on the web?  How did you resolve it?
• Friendship Day:  4  Who is your best friend?  What do you like to do together?  What special thing can you do for this friend today? 
• National Doll Day:  4  Visit a toy store or toy department.  Look at the variety of dolls for sale.  If you could buy one, which one would you choose and why?  Which one reminds you the most of yourself?  Why?  Which one reminds you the most of your best friend?  Why?
• Hiroshima Day:  6  List what you know about Hiroshima Day.  Research and check your list of facts.  Were you right?  Find at least one new fact to add to your list.  Check your library for books on this topic.  Are they fiction, nonfiction, or some of both?
• Lighthouse Day:  7  Count the number of lighthouses you have visited in your life.  How many have you toured?  How many have you climbed ?  Which was your favorite?  Why?  Name as many lighthouses as you can.  Which is your favorite name?  What are some lighthouse facts?  Research for additional ones.
• Smithsonian Day:  10  Where is the Smithsonian located?  Have you ever visited it? If so, what exhibits were your favorites?  What other sites could you visit in this area? 
• International Youth Day:  12  How old is a “youth?”  What things have you done with other youth?  What are some service projects youth participate in?  Have you ever gone out-of-state on a mission project?  Tell someone about things you have done to help others.  It is not essential that it all be out-of-state or country.  Many service projects can be in your own hometown.  Be sure to attend with an organized group or with a parent.
• International left-hander’s Day:  13  If you are right-handed, spend an hour today doing things  as if you are left-handed.  What was fairly easy to do?  What was extremely difficult?  How did you feel while you were trying things?  How did you cope?  If you are left-handed, try these suggested activities with your right hand.  Discuss your feelings with someone. 
• National Navajo Code Talkers Day:  14  What war used Navajo Code Talkers?  How did they help?  Research to learn more.  http://www.natgeoeducationvideo.com/film/835/war-code-navajo
• Look for a copy of Navajo Code Talkers by Andrew Santella or other books on the topic.

• National Relaxation Day:  15  What do you picture when you hear the word “relaxation?”  Do you picture sleeping in, swinging in a hammock, sunbathing, or other scenes.  Describe it.  What other things are in the scene?  Name something in the scene for each of your five senses:  taste, touch, smell, hearing, and sight.   
• Serendipity Day:  18  What does “serendipity” mean?  http://www.thefreedictionary.com/serendipity  Is serendipity usually good or usually bad?   Give an example of serendipity in your life.  Name three events that could form an example of serendipity.
• Cupcake Day:  19  If you could dip your cupcake in any type topping you wanted, what would it be?  Think beyond icing.  Maybe you’d like hot fudge or ice cream, et.  What would you sprinkle on top?  Name your cupcake variety.  Ask a friend to try this activity and then describe your creation to each other.  The public library in my area sponsored a workshop called “Beyond Sprinkles” which demonstrated ways to decorate cupcakes.  Consider taking a baking class or gather with friends for one of your own.
• Poet’s Day:  21  Who is your favorite poet?  Have you ever seen one of the poet’s poems dramatized?  Have you ever seen a play about the poet?  Have you ever read a book of poetry by this poet?  How would you like to honor your favorite poet, if you could?  What about a poem for them?  After all, they like poetry.
• Senior Citizen’s Day:  21  How old is a senior citizen?  Ask three other people and see if they give the same age.  What benefits do seniors get?  What are some ways seniors are discriminated against?  How can you show a senior citizen respect today?
• National Second-hand Wardrobe Day:  25  Have you ever worn hand-me-down clothes?  Were you ever embarrassed because of it?  Today, consignment shops and thrift stores are popular places to shop.  There was a time when people were teased for owning hand-made clothing.  Now, having something sewn for you would most likely be considered a treat.   Why do you think  attitudes have changed? 
• National Dog Day:  26  Create a poster of three or more countries and assign a dog you think would make a good national  choice for each one.  Tell why.  Encourage a friend to join you.  If you’d prefer, create a poster for several different states in the USA.
• Slow Art Day:  27  What picture comes to mind when you read this:  Slow Art Day?  What could you create to represent this?  Would it be a project that is slow to finish or something that reminds you of a slow/lazy day?  Will you give away your project or keep it to remind you of “slow art?”  My family recently bought a new lawnmower.  It’s control shows a turtle for slow speed and a rabbit for fast speed.  I wonder if that makes the turtle the lawnmower company’s “slow art design.”  Would that make the rabbit a “fast art design?”  Thoughts, anyone?
• Radio Commercials Day:  28  When I was a child, a local grocery store used to advertise livers and gizzards for sale.  My brother and sisters got the silly giggles late one night and recited the store’s commercial, but said that they sold lizards and gizzards.  Every time we were corrected, we repeated our chant.  Do you recall a radio or television commercial or jingle that “stuck in your head” or left you with special memories?  Will you share? 
• National Toasted Marshmallow Day:  30  How do you like your marshmallows toasted?  Over a camp fire?  In the oven over a sweet potato casserole?  Will you eat them burnt?  Have you ever used a coat hanger to roast them over fire?  How many did you put on your hanger or stick at a time?  Did you let the marshmallow catch fire?

Special Weeks in August:

• Simplify Your Life Week: 1-7
•  Look around your bedroom. What things seem cluttered or unorganized? Is there one thing you’d like to simplify?  Make a chart listing things that need improvement and a suggested way to fix it.  Here are some suggestions.

Needs Improvement	Way to Fix It
Shoes covering the floor	Shoe caddy or shoe rack
Not enough drawers	Stackable,labeled plastic tubs with lids

• Old Fiddler’s Week:  4-10  What is a fiddle?  Have you ever been to a fiddler’s convention?  Do you know anyone who owns a fiddle?  Can the person play it?  Research the names of fiddlers.  What trivia did you learn?  Share with someone you know.
• National Bargain Hunting Week:  5-11 If you could set up a bargain hunting experiment to do with family members or friends, describe what you would do.
• Weird Contest Week:  11-17  Give an example of a what you consider a weird contest.  Tell about a time you entered a contest or read about one.  On a weirdness scale from 1-10 (Ten being super weird) how would your rate the contest?  What could have made it have a higher ranking?  Share your contest results with a friend.  Do you know anyone who attended a game show on television?
• National Aviation Week:  15-21  Who do you know who works for the airlines?  What is the person’s job?  What other jobs are available with the airlines?  Make a list.  Have you ever flown on an airplane?  Tell about going to meet someone at the airport or any another flight story you have.  In November 17, 2012, I spotlighted an airline pilot who is a children’s author.  If you’d like to learn about Mike Downs, check here:  https://lindamartinandersen.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/meet-a-pilot-who-is-also-a-childrens-author-mike-downs-the-spotlights-on-you-for-aviation-history-month/
• Little League Baseball World Series:  18-24  Do you know Little League trivia?  Research and share trivia with someone you know.  Congratulate any Little League player you know for playing ball.  Ask a player to share a favorite story about one of their games.
• National Safe at Home Week:  26-30  Check around your house for things that could be done to make it a safer place.  Make a list.  Share those suggestions with your parents. 

August is…

• American Artists Appreciation Month  I have chosen to spotlight Pete Lupo, a North Carolina wood carver I know.  I hope you enjoy his work as much as I do.  http://www.petelupo.com/index.html

Copyright by Pete Lupo

Even the basket is carved of wood.  Pete’s carving is so realistic, people touch it to be sure it’s wood.

• Cataract Awareness Month  Research cataracts.  Do you know anyone who has had cataract surgery?  Ask them about it.
• Children’s Vision and Learning Month  Have you had your eyes checked recently?  What habits do you have that help you to be a good learner at school?
• Happiness happens Month  What can you do to make happiness happen?
• National Runaway Prevention Month  If a friend is thinking about running away from home, what can you do?

*Thank you Brownie Locks.com for August celebration information.  For more August observances check out: http://www.brownielocks.com/august.html

I hope you’ll leave a comment before you go.  Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.” Please come again soon and bring a friend. 

Copyright © 2013 Linda Martin Andersen