

Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
New Year's Eve Toasts, Quotes & Sayings to Ring in the New Year
It’s hard to believe another year is almost over. Whether you are planning to attend or host a great big holiday bash or a small family get-together, say goodbye to the old and welcome the New Year in style this year with a fabulous toast. Toasts, verbal expressions of sentiment, goodwill or good cheer, commemorate special occasions such as weddings, graduations, retirements or holidays. The best toasts do not need to be rambling, long-winded sentiments. In fact, the best toa


Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
20 New Year's Eve Movies: Best Flicks to Watch on New Year's Eve
Bring on the champagne, appetizers and noisemakers - another new year is right around the corner and it's time to celebrate! Dec. 31 is New Year's Eve and millions of people around the world are getting ready to ring in the New Year in style! Whether you will be hosting a great big bash or a small, intimate get-together with family or a few friends, say goodbye to the old and hello to the New Year with some wonderful movies. Whether you prefer romantic comedies, who-dun-its o


Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
Tick Tock Day
As millions of Americans prepare to ring in a brand New Year, time is running out for those end-of-year projects, goals and unfulfilled dreams. Dec. 29 is Tick Tock Day. This annual holiday, created by the fine folks at Wellcat.com, serves as a gentle reminder the clock is ticking and the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1 is only a few hours away. While some may have quite a few things left to do on this year’s to-do list, it’s time to start thinking about new resolutions, aspirat


Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
Card Playing Day: Are you ready to play a game?
Go grab the dice - it's time to play a game! Dec. 28 is Card Playing Day, an annual "holiday" that celebrates card games. No matter how old or young you happen to be, almost anyone can play cards. While some games can be played all alone, others require more than one player. But regardless how many people play, all of them are just plain fun! While the weather outside may be frightful and after the hustle-and-bustle of another hectic holiday season, today is the perfect time


Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
Mmmm - It's National Chocolate Candy Day: Sweet!
If your sweet tooth has been aching for a few sweet treats to eat, you’re in luck! Dec. 28 is National Chocolate Candy Day! Sweet! This annual “food holiday” provides the perfect excuse for chocolate lovers to indulge in some decadent chocolate goodness. After all, who can resist a few pieces of decadent, melt-in-your mouth chocolate candy? And with New Year’s Eve right around the corner, why not ask the kids to perform a scientific taste test on one or two new chocolate cand


Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
National Fruitcake Day
Although another Christmas season has come and gone, chances are good you are still nibbling on holiday leftovers. Whether it's turkey or ham or sweet treats to eat, Dec. 27 is a food holiday that celebrates a food synonymous with the holidays. It's National Fruitcake Day! Whether you spell it "fruitcake" or "fruit cake," this dense yet moist “cake” is typically loaded with a variety of delicious nuts and candied fruits. Some are even soaked in a variety of liquors! Whether y


Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
National Candy Cane Day
What’s red and white and sweet all over? Why candy canes, of course! Dec. 26 is National Candy Cane Day, an annual “holiday” that celebrates the swirl-icious holiday treats that are loads of fun to eat! Whether you lick them, suck 'em or bite them, children and adults have been enjoying candy canes for centuries. While there is some debate as to their origin, French priests are often credited as inventing the all-white candy cane stick back in the 1400s. In 1670, a Cologne Ca

Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
Christmas sayings: 33 sentimental and humorous holiday quotes and toasts
With the hustle-and-bustle of the busy holiday season, it is important to reflect on the many blessings we have in our lives. While we are busy buying and wrapping gifts, cleaning and decorating the house and preparing the holiday feast, we have so much to be thankful for. Whether it is the possessions in our lives or the people we hold near-and-dear to our hearts, Christmas serves as an important reminder of just how blessed we are. But while the holidays can be a magical an


Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
Ho Ho Ho: Happy Santa Claus Day
To millions of children around the globe, one of the biggest, most important days of the entire year is hours away! While Christmas is tomorrow, another annual event that celebrates one of the most beloved men in the entire world. Dec. 24 is not only National Eggnog Day, but it is also Santa Claus Day! Santa, also referred to St. Nicholas, Kris Kringle or Father Christmas, is a jolly ole' soul who dons a red suit, black boots and belt and has a ginormous white beard. And


Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
National Eggnog Day: Cheers!
Hip hip hooray - today is National Eggnog Day! While its origins are unknown, National Eggnog Day, is an annual holiday celebrated every Dec. 24, which just so happens to be Christmas Eve (and Santa Claus Day.) Whether you spell it “egg nog” or “eggnog”, this popular holiday beverage is traditionally made out of milk, cream, sugar, eggs and a blend of delicious spices. But some people prefer their rich-and-creamy beverage to include a bit more holiday "spirit" with an added s


Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
Christmas Cocktails: Festive Drinks to Get You in the Holiday 'Spirit'
Have you heard the big “buzz?” ‘Tis the season – the holiday season, that is. With Christmas and New Year’s Eve right around the corner, it’s time to start planning that special menu. Whether you plan on ringing in the holidays with family, a few of your favorite BFFs of that significant other, you can’t celebrate the holidays without a few tried-and-true and perhaps one or two brand new cocktails, right? Whether you will celebrate by attending or hosting a great big bash or

Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
Happy Festivus: It's Festivus for the Rest of Us!
With the big holiday just days away, some folks are celebrating another lesser-known holiday. Dec. 23 is Festivus, an annual, non-denominational “holiday” made famous by one of America’s best-loved television sitcoms. Cotchety Frank Costanza, played by actor/writer/producer Jerry Stiller, first celebrated Festivus during “The Strike” episode that aired on Seinfeld back in 1997 and folks have been celebrating Festivus ever since! While this quirky holiday really took off after


Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
National Cookie Exchange Day: Enjoy sweet treats to eat at a holiday cookie swap
Talk about a sweet day! Dec. 22 is National Cookie Exchange Day, an annual event created by me, the Queen of Holidays. Whether you host a party in your own home or have one at the office, cookie exchanges/swaps/parties are loads of fun and pretty simple to put together. Save the date, invite your guests and whip up a batch or two of your favorite tried-and-true homemade cookie recipes or try that brand new recipe you’ve been eyeing and share/trade with your guests. How to Ho


Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
Winter is here: Winter solstice marks shortest day & longest night of the year
With Christmas just days away, another special day of the year is here. Today marks the end of a season. While the days are shorter and the temperatures are colder, autumn is officially o-v-e-r. It’s the Winter Solstice, an annual event that occurs in the Northern Hemisphere between Dec. 21 and Dec. 23. Today is the shortest day, and the longest night, of the entire year. Many Americans will only get about nine hours of daylight today. But folks in Alaska will only enjoy abou


Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
National Sangria Day: Cheers!
If you need a little something extra to get in the holiday “spirit,” go grab a glass! Dec. 20 is not only Go Caroling Day, but it's National Sangria Day, too! Derived from the Spanish word “sangre”, which means blood, sangria is a delicious chilled beverage containing a variety of ingredients including all sorts of fruit, honey, red or white wine, brandy and/or liqueur. Although this holiday comes smack dab in the middle of the winter, this refreshing drink is guaranteed to