#national cupcake/lemon cupcake day

[murderousink23]

12/15/2024 is International Tea Day 🫖🇮🇳, Bill of Rights Day 🇺🇸, Cat Herders Day 🐈‍⬛️🇺🇸, National Cupcake/Lemon Cupcake Day 🧁🇺🇸

[doctorfriend79]

🍋 Happy National Lemon Cupcake Day! 🍋

[subby-sab]

Today is 15th of December.

Today is National Cupcake Day, National Lemon Cupcake Day, Bill of Rights Day.

[bunny-lovers]

🌟 and 🪩? -@hades-beloved

Hope you & your f/os have a great day & thank you for the ask! 😊 @sunandmoonships @goodmorningawfulbye

🥀 - has your f/o ever given you a bouquet of flowers? what kinds of flowers do they include?

Yes, she has & the kinds of flowers are pink carnations, red roses, pink orchids, & red anthuriums. She'll also give me sunflowers & red roses.

🎉 - have they ever made a big, grand gesture for you? say, throw a surprise party, or go on an impromptu vacation?

Yes & it was a impromptu vacation.

💖 - what's the nicest compliment they've ever given you? what's the nicest compliment you've ever given them?

The nicest compliment Rumi ever given me was when I was feeling insecure about my deep voice, but Rumi told me that she loves my deep voice. It made me feel a lot better. The nicest compliment I ever given Rumi was how beautiful her red eyes that I've ever seen.

🌟 - have you ever stargazed with them before? if they're interested in it, where would you two like to go to see them?

Yes & we would go to a national park to see them.

🌲 - whats your f/o's ideal date spot to take you to? what's your ideal date spot to take them?

Her ideal date spot to take me to is visit the zoo or aquarium. My ideal date spot to take Rumi is hit the beach.

🦑 - would you two ever go on an aquarium date together? who's idea was it, and which fish is their/your favorite to look at?

Yes, it was my idea, & my favorite fish to look at is arc-eye hawkfish. Rumi's favorite fish to look at is orange fairy basslet.

🥪 - picnic time! what do you guys bring? do you pick them out together, or pick them out separately and surprise each other?

We would bring egg salad sandwiches, broccoli pasta salad, caprese skewers, lemon cookies, vegetarian club sandwiches, cucumber salad, & brownies. We pick them out together.

💍 - you two go pick out matching lockets to keep a picture/piece of hair/memento of the other in! what do they look like? what picture of theirs do you keep?

It would be gold heart locket necklaces. I keep a picture of Rumi smiling in my heart locket necklace.

🧁 - you bake something together! what do you bake? how does it turn out? is it the best thing you've ever tasted? or does it suck ass?

Chocolate cupcakes! It turned out great & it's the best thing we've ever tasted.

🎃 - have you guys ever carved pumpkins together? do you visit a pumpkin patch, or buy one from the store? or maybe you grew it? what would your pumpkins look like?

Yes, we have & we buy one from the store. My pumpkin would be a smiling pumpkin. Rumi's pumpkin would be a rabbit.

🎄 - if you celebrate Christmas, what does your tree look like? what kinds of decorations would your f/o prefer? do you decorate it together, or does just one of you do the decorating?

Our tree is a rainbow & we put white Christmas ornament sets on it. One of us do the decorating.

🍝 - you guys go to a nice fancy restaurant together! what does your f/o order? what do you order? do you guys order a dessert? perhaps, to share?

Rumi order Filet Mignon while I order Eggplant Parmesan. Yes, we do order a dessert to share.

🪩 - you guys attend a party together! perhaps it's formal, maybe a ball? perhaps a masquerade? what are you wearing? do you/your f/o enjoy it?

We would both wear black suit blazer, a white shirt & a black dress pants. Yes, we do enjoy it!

🧸 - it's valentine's day! what stereotypical valentine's day gift does your f/o give you? a box of chocolates, perhaps a stuffed animal?

Rumi gives me a heart pendant necklace, a box of chocolates & red roses.

📺 - what movies do you guys like watching together? is there any specific movie that comes to mind?

We watch any movies that has action, adventure, comedy, romance, & animated. Yes & that would be Zootopia.

[choicesjunechallenge]

Choices June Challenge Prompts

Nature

Vacation | Staycation

Hike | Walk (or run)

Ski | Skate (ice or roller)

Boating | Fishing

Cycle | Surf

Garden | Forest

Beach | Mountain

Sunshine | Rain

Honeysuckle | Rose (any flower)

Long days | Long nights

Summer | Winter

Food

Berries | Lemon

Watermelon | Tomato

Pineapple | Peach

Cook | Bake

Picnic | Gala

Cupcake | Donut

Ice cream | Chocolate

Salad | Cake

Cocktails | Mocktails

Folklore

Midsummer night's dream | Fairies

Zodiac signs | Birthstones

Romance | Fantasy

Myths | Superstitions

Stories | Poems

Love | Loathing

Happenings

Proposals | Weddings

Global Day of Parents | Children's Day

World Environment Day | Solstice (summer or winter)

Father's Day | Juneteenth

International Yoga Day | National OOTD Day

World Music Day | Social Media Day

National Selfie Day | National Kissing Day

Pride Month | Pet Appreciation Week

For national or world days, the fanwork doesn't have to focus on the day itself; the theme of that day or celebration will be enough.

Check out the submission guidelines here.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.15

Holidays

Army Day (Indonesia)

Bill of Rights Day

Birdland Day

Cat Herders’ Day

Coonskin Cap Day

Court Workers’ Day (Ukraine)

Cricket Day (French Republic)

Esperanto Day

Greek Operation Victims Remembrance Day

Homecoming Day (Alderney, Channel Islands)

Human Rights Day (Kiribati)

Koninkrijksdag (Kingdom Day; Netherlands) [Unless a Sunday, then 16th]

Local Charities Day (UK)

Men’s Society of Piu Festival of Mirth, Peace, Honesty, Joyousness and Love (14th Century London)

National Headband Day

National HST Day (UK)

National Play Minecraft Day

National Regifting Day

National Wear Your Pearls Day

Navidades begins (Puerto Rico; until Three Kings Day)

North Wind’s Prayer (Elder Scrolls)

Pakistan-Turkey Friendship Day

Power Engineer’s Day (Kazakhstan)

Remembrance Day of Journalists Killed in the Line of Duty (Russia)

Rugby World Cup Victory Day (South Africa)

Second Amendment Awareness Day (South Carolina)

Sleep Comfort Day

Trivial Pursuit Day

World Ice Skating Day

World Martial Arts Training Day

World Otaku Day

World Strengthened Immunity Day

Yuletide Lad #4 arrives (Þvörusleikir or Spoon-Licker; Iceland)

Zamenhof Day (Esperanto)

Food & Drink Celebrations

International Tea Day [also 5.21]

National Cupcake Day

National Gingerbread Latte Day

National Give a Wine Club Day

National Lemon Cupcake Day

Olmeca National Tequila Day (South Africa)

Independence & Related Days

New Massa (Declared; 2015) [unrecognized]

Prudentianopolis (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

3rd Sunday in December

Hammock Day (Australia) [3rd Sunday]

Hang the Mistletoe Day [3rd Sunday]

Serene Sunday [3rd Sunday of Each Month]

Seven For Sunday [Every Sunday]

Smörgåsbord Sunday [3rd Sunday of Each Month]

Story Sunday [3rd Sunday of Each Month]

Sundae Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sunday Funday [Every Sunday]

3rd Sunday in Advent [2nd Sunday before Xmas] (a.k.a. ... 

Advent Sunday

Detinjci (Serbia)

Gaudete Sunday

Joy Sunday

Rose Sunday

Zoology Day [3rd Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning December 15 (3rd Full Week of December)

Gluten-Free Baking Week (thru 12.21) [Week before Xmas]

Festivals Beginning December 15, 2024

Christkindlmarkt (Lancaster, Texas)

Cocktails at Christmas (Middletown, Virginia)

Night of the Proms (Bremen, Germany)

Feast Days

Alcyone (Greek Kingfisher Goddess)

Betty Smith (Writerism)

Candlenights begins (pan-religious, pan-sexual, personal pan pizza winter holiday; from Adventure Zone & My Brother, My Brother, and Me)

Centipede Boot-Making and Shoe-Repair Season Starts (Shamanism)

Consualia (Ancient Roman festival to Consus, god of the harvest and stored grain)

David Teniers the Younger (Artology)

Drina Martyrs (Christian; Saint)

Drostan (Aberdeen Breviary; Christian; Saint)

Dumanios (Darkest Depths; Celtic Book of Days)

Edna O’Brien (Writerism)

Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Winter Veil begins (World of Warcraft) [thru 2.2]

Feralia: Day of Purification (Pagan)

Francesco Zahra (Artology)

Friedensreich Hundertwasser (Artology)

George Romney (Artology)

John Horden and Robert McDonald (Episcopal Church; USA)

Joseph "Le Petomane" Pujol Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Kurt Schaffenberger (Artology)

Lagrange (Positivist; Saint)

Maria Crocifissa di Rosa (Christian; Saint)

Mesmin (Christian; Saint)

Muriel Rukeyser (Writerism)

Navidades (Puerto Rico; Everyday Wicca) [until 1.6]

Nicholas P. Dallis (Artology)

Nino (Christian; Saint)

Othmar the Grouch (Muppetism)

Sattar Bahlulzade (Artology)

Stupid Inventions Day (Pastafarian)

Stupid Toy Day (Pastafarian)

Valerian of Abbenza (Christian; Saint)

Virginia Centurione Bracelli (Christian; Saint)

Virgin of Cotoca (Roman Catholic) [Bolivia]

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Full Moon [12th of the Year] (a.k.a. ... 

Beaver Moon (Amer. Indian, Colonial, Traditional)

Dark Moon (Celtic, North America)

Digging Moon (Traditional)

Flower Moon (South Africa)

Freezing Moon (Alternate)

Frost Moon (Alternate)

Hunter’s Moon (North America)

Ill Full Moon Poya Day (Sri Lanka)

Loy Krathong (Floating of the Lamps Festival; Thailand)

Palden Lhama Festival (Tibet)

Rutting Moon (Traditional)

Sassafras Moon (Choctaw)

Snow Moon (England, Wicca)

Southern Hemisphere: Corn, Flower, Hare, Milk

Tazaugmone (a.k.a. Thasaung Mong; Festival of Lights; Myanmar)

That Luang Festival (Theravada Buddhism; Laos) 

Trading Moon (Cherokee)

Tree Moon (Neo-Pagan)

Whitefish Moon (Traditional)

White Moon (China)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [48 of 53]

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [30 of 32]

Prime Number Day: 349 [70 of 72]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Unglückstage (Unlucky Day; Pennsylvania Dutch) [30 of 30]

Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [59 of 60]

Premieres

Alaska (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1930)

Alice in the Jungle (Ub Iwerks Disney Cartoon; 1925)

Alice the Piper (Ub Iwerks Disney Cartoon; 1924)

BBC incorporated (UK Broadcast Network; 1922)

Beatles ’65, by The Beatles (Album; 1964)

Birdland (NYC Jazz Club; 1949)

Buddy the Dentist (WB LT Cartoon; 1934)

Carol and the End of the World (Animated TV Series; 2023)

Charlotte’s Web (Film; 2006)

Choclat (Film; 2000)

The Chronic, by Dr. Dre (Album; 1992)

The Concept of Mind, by Gilbert Ryle (Science Book; 1949)

Driving Miss Daisy (Film; 1989)

Dude, Where’s My Car? (Film; 2000)

The Emperor’s New Groove (Animated Disney Film; 2000)

Ferdinand (Animated Film; 2017)

Folsom Prison Blues, by Johnny Cash (Song; 1955)

Gabriel Churchkitten (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1944)

Gone With the Wind (Film; 1939)

The Ice Pond (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1939)

In Venice (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1933)

Jumanji (Film; 1995)

Little Buck Cheeser (Happy Harmonies MGM Cartoon; 1937)

Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (Animated Film; 1979)

The Machiavellians: Defenders of Freedom, by James Burnham (Political Theory; 1943)

Madame Curie (Film; 1943)

Mothership Connection, by Parliament (Album; 1975)

Never Say Never Again (UK Film; 1983) [James Bond non-series]

One Piece Film: Z (Anime Film; 2012)

One, Two, Three (Film; 1961)

Out on a Limb (Disney Cartoon; 1950)

The Pink Panther Strikes Again (Film; 1976)

Pollack (Film; 2000)

The Rachel Papers, by Martin Amis (Novel; 1973)

Revolutionary Road (Film; 2008)

Sabrina (Film; 1995)

Schindler’s List (Film; 1993)

Sense and Sensibility (Film; 1995)

Silent Night, Holy Night (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1976)

Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (Film; 2017)

Stormy Weather, recorded by Lena Horne (Song; 1941)

Superman (Film; 1978)

To Hare Is Human (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith (Novel; 1943)

Tweet Tweet Tweety (WB LT Cartoon; 1951)

Two-Gun Mickey (Disney Cartoon; 1934)

War Is Over ad campaign, by John Lennon & Yoko Ono (Peace Advertising; 1969)

The Who Sell Out, by The Who (Album; 1967)

Wonka (Film; 2023)

Woody the Giant Killer (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1947)

Young Frankenstein (Film; 1974)

Today’s Name Days

Carlo, Christiane, Nina (Austria)

Marin, Valerijan, Viktorija (Croatia)

Radana (Czech Republic)

Nikatius (Denmark)

Kalli, Kelli, Killu, Kulla (Estonia)

Heimo, Nooa (Finland)

Ninon (France)

Christiane, Nina, Paola (Germany)

Anthea, Eleftherios, Elevtherios, Lefteris, Sossana, Sylvia (Greece)

Valér (Hungary)

Cristiana, Nino, Valeriano (Italy)

Jana, Johanna (Latvia)

Gaudenė, Gaudenis, Kristijona (Lithuania)

Hilda, Hilde (Norway)

Celina, Fortunata, Iga, Ignacja, Ignacy, Krystiana, Nina, Walerian, Waleriana, Wolimir, Żegota (Poland)

Antia, Elefterie, Suzana (Romania)

Ivica (Slovakia)

Valeriano (Spain)

Gottfrid (Sweden)

Adlai, Adler, Carney, Mirella, Mireya, Tanner (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 350 of 2024; 16 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of Week 50 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 22 of 28]

Chinese: Month 11 (Bing-Zi), Day 15 (Gui-Chou)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 14 Kislev 5785

Islamic: 13 Jumada II 1446

J Cal: 20 Black; Sixthday [20 of 30]

Julian: 2 December 2024

Moon: 100%: Full Moon

Positivist: 14 Bichat (13th Month) [Isaac Newton]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 84 of 90)

Week: 3rd Full Week of December

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 24 of 30)

[kendalldimeglio]

An Overview of Cupcakes in the United States

Cupcakes were invented in 1796 by Amelia Simmons, who developed a recipe that described the treat as “a light cake to bake in small cups” in the book American Cookery. The first recorded use of the term “cupcake” can be traced back to a cookbook from Eliza Leslie published in 1928. Before the widespread use of “cupcake,” the desserts were alternatively referred to as number cakes, or 1234 cakes, because the basic recipe called for one cup of butter, two cups of sugar, three cups of flour, and four eggs, along with a cup of milk and spoonful of baking soda.

Cupcakes grew in popularity during the early 20th century, particularly after 1919, when the Hostess company began mass producing a variety of cupcakes and similar dessert food products, sometimes called snack cakes. Over the years, Hostess introduced numerous cupcake options, including orange-flavored and chocolate cupcakes.

There have been various surges in the popularity of cupcakes over time and trends within the dessert marketplace. Local New York City shops such as Magnolia Bakery gained national attention after being featured in episodes of Sex and the City in the early 2000s. Sprinkles Cupcakes opened in 2005 as the first bakery dedicated solely to cupcakes. The store has opened a second location and now produces upwards of 25,000 cupcakes each day. Crumbs, also in New York City, has reported over $23 million annual cupcake revenue.

The earliest examples of cupcakes were simple in design. Hostess mass-produced cupcakes for over a year before introducing frosting as a staple ingredient. Chocolate and vanilla frosting were standard cupcake toppings for many decades, but newer varieties include red velvet, coffee, pumpkin spice, and lemon, to name only a few.

While cupcakes have a long history in the United States, the popularity of the dessert option has hardly plateaued. Cupcake consumption throughout the US increased by 52 percent between 2010 and 2011. In 2015, 14 percent of respondents to a national survey named cupcakes their favorite dessert, just 5 percent behind cake. Less than 10 percent of respondents said they did not like cupcakes. In recent years, Americans have consumed more than 770 million cupcakes yearly.

Cupcakes are so beloved in America that they have their holiday. National Cupcake Day is observed by baking enthusiasts in the United States and a few other countries around the world on December 15. There are even sub-holidays for the dessert, such as National Chocolate Cupcake Day on October 18.

The largest cupcake ever baked belonged to GourmetGiftBaskets.com. They set the World Record in 2009 with a 1,224-pound cupcake that measured 4 feet tall and 10 feet wide. The giant cupcake contained 2 million calories. Indeed, while cupcakes are a popular tasty treat in America, it is important to remember they are a dessert item and should be consumed sparingly.

A standard cupcake provides little to no nutritional value. Unless a person is living with a specific medical condition, accepting a cupcake at a birthday party or after dinner is fine, but limiting the dessert to a single serving is best. Individuals planning a dinner or party can look for healthier cupcake recipes or mini-cupcakes.

[brookston]

Holidays 12.15

Holidays

Army Day (Indonesia)

Bill of Rights Day

Birdland Day

Cat Herders’ Day

Coonskin Cap Day

Court Workers’ Day (Ukraine)

Cricket Day (French Republic)

Esperanto Day

Greek Operation Victims Remembrance Day

Homecoming Day (Alderney, Channel Islands)

Human Rights Day (Kiribati)

Koninkrijksdag (Kingdom Day; Netherlands) [Unless a Sunday, then 16th]

Local Charities Day (UK)

Men’s Society of Piu Festival of Mirth, Peace, Honesty, Joyousness and Love (14th Century London)

National Headband Day

National HST Day (UK)

National Play Minecraft Day

National Regifting Day

National Wear Your Pearls Day

Navidades begins (Puerto Rico; until Three Kings Day)

North Wind’s Prayer (Elder Scrolls)

Pakistan-Turkey Friendship Day

Power Engineer’s Day (Kazakhstan)

Remembrance Day of Journalists Killed in the Line of Duty (Russia)

Rugby World Cup Victory Day (South Africa)

Second Amendment Awareness Day (South Carolina)

Sleep Comfort Day

Trivial Pursuit Day

World Ice Skating Day

World Martial Arts Training Day

World Otaku Day

World Strengthened Immunity Day

Yuletide Lad #4 arrives (Þvörusleikir or Spoon-Licker; Iceland)

Zamenhof Day (Esperanto)

Food & Drink Celebrations

International Tea Day [also 5.21]

National Cupcake Day

National Gingerbread Latte Day

National Give a Wine Club Day

National Lemon Cupcake Day

Olmeca National Tequila Day (South Africa)

Independence & Related Days

New Massa (Declared; 2015) [unrecognized]

Prudentianopolis (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

3rd Sunday in December

Hammock Day (Australia) [3rd Sunday]

Hang the Mistletoe Day [3rd Sunday]

Serene Sunday [3rd Sunday of Each Month]

Seven For Sunday [Every Sunday]

Smörgåsbord Sunday [3rd Sunday of Each Month]

Story Sunday [3rd Sunday of Each Month]

Sundae Sunday [Every Sunday]

Sunday Funday [Every Sunday]

3rd Sunday in Advent [2nd Sunday before Xmas] (a.k.a. ... 

Advent Sunday

Detinjci (Serbia)

Gaudete Sunday

Joy Sunday

Rose Sunday

Zoology Day [3rd Sunday]

Weekly Holidays beginning December 15 (3rd Full Week of December)

Gluten-Free Baking Week (thru 12.21) [Week before Xmas]

Festivals Beginning December 15, 2024

Christkindlmarkt (Lancaster, Texas)

Cocktails at Christmas (Middletown, Virginia)

Night of the Proms (Bremen, Germany)

Feast Days

Alcyone (Greek Kingfisher Goddess)

Betty Smith (Writerism)

Candlenights begins (pan-religious, pan-sexual, personal pan pizza winter holiday; from Adventure Zone & My Brother, My Brother, and Me)

Centipede Boot-Making and Shoe-Repair Season Starts (Shamanism)

Consualia (Ancient Roman festival to Consus, god of the harvest and stored grain)

David Teniers the Younger (Artology)

Drina Martyrs (Christian; Saint)

Drostan (Aberdeen Breviary; Christian; Saint)

Dumanios (Darkest Depths; Celtic Book of Days)

Edna O’Brien (Writerism)

Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Winter Veil begins (World of Warcraft) [thru 2.2]

Feralia: Day of Purification (Pagan)

Francesco Zahra (Artology)

Friedensreich Hundertwasser (Artology)

George Romney (Artology)

John Horden and Robert McDonald (Episcopal Church; USA)

Joseph "Le Petomane" Pujol Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Kurt Schaffenberger (Artology)

Lagrange (Positivist; Saint)

Maria Crocifissa di Rosa (Christian; Saint)

Mesmin (Christian; Saint)

Muriel Rukeyser (Writerism)

Navidades (Puerto Rico; Everyday Wicca) [until 1.6]

Nicholas P. Dallis (Artology)

Nino (Christian; Saint)

Othmar the Grouch (Muppetism)

Sattar Bahlulzade (Artology)

Stupid Inventions Day (Pastafarian)

Stupid Toy Day (Pastafarian)

Valerian of Abbenza (Christian; Saint)

Virginia Centurione Bracelli (Christian; Saint)

Virgin of Cotoca (Roman Catholic) [Bolivia]

Lunar Calendar Holidays

Full Moon [12th of the Year] (a.k.a. ... 

Beaver Moon (Amer. Indian, Colonial, Traditional)

Dark Moon (Celtic, North America)

Digging Moon (Traditional)

Flower Moon (South Africa)

Freezing Moon (Alternate)

Frost Moon (Alternate)

Hunter’s Moon (North America)

Ill Full Moon Poya Day (Sri Lanka)

Loy Krathong (Floating of the Lamps Festival; Thailand)

Palden Lhama Festival (Tibet)

Rutting Moon (Traditional)

Sassafras Moon (Choctaw)

Snow Moon (England, Wicca)

Southern Hemisphere: Corn, Flower, Hare, Milk

Tazaugmone (a.k.a. Thasaung Mong; Festival of Lights; Myanmar)

That Luang Festival (Theravada Buddhism; Laos) 

Trading Moon (Cherokee)

Tree Moon (Neo-Pagan)

Whitefish Moon (Traditional)

White Moon (China)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [48 of 53]

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [30 of 32]

Prime Number Day: 349 [70 of 72]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Unglückstage (Unlucky Day; Pennsylvania Dutch) [30 of 30]

Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [59 of 60]

Premieres

Alaska (Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Cartoon; 1930)

Alice in the Jungle (Ub Iwerks Disney Cartoon; 1925)

Alice the Piper (Ub Iwerks Disney Cartoon; 1924)

BBC incorporated (UK Broadcast Network; 1922)

Beatles ’65, by The Beatles (Album; 1964)

Birdland (NYC Jazz Club; 1949)

Buddy the Dentist (WB LT Cartoon; 1934)

Carol and the End of the World (Animated TV Series; 2023)

Charlotte’s Web (Film; 2006)

Choclat (Film; 2000)

The Chronic, by Dr. Dre (Album; 1992)

The Concept of Mind, by Gilbert Ryle (Science Book; 1949)

Driving Miss Daisy (Film; 1989)

Dude, Where’s My Car? (Film; 2000)

The Emperor’s New Groove (Animated Disney Film; 2000)

Ferdinand (Animated Film; 2017)

Folsom Prison Blues, by Johnny Cash (Song; 1955)

Gabriel Churchkitten (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1944)

Gone With the Wind (Film; 1939)

The Ice Pond (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1939)

In Venice (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1933)

Jumanji (Film; 1995)

Little Buck Cheeser (Happy Harmonies MGM Cartoon; 1937)

Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (Animated Film; 1979)

The Machiavellians: Defenders of Freedom, by James Burnham (Political Theory; 1943)

Madame Curie (Film; 1943)

Mothership Connection, by Parliament (Album; 1975)

Never Say Never Again (UK Film; 1983) [James Bond non-series]

One Piece Film: Z (Anime Film; 2012)

One, Two, Three (Film; 1961)

Out on a Limb (Disney Cartoon; 1950)

The Pink Panther Strikes Again (Film; 1976)

Pollack (Film; 2000)

The Rachel Papers, by Martin Amis (Novel; 1973)

Revolutionary Road (Film; 2008)

Sabrina (Film; 1995)

Schindler’s List (Film; 1993)

Sense and Sensibility (Film; 1995)

Silent Night, Holy Night (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1976)

Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (Film; 2017)

Stormy Weather, recorded by Lena Horne (Song; 1941)

Superman (Film; 1978)

To Hare Is Human (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith (Novel; 1943)

Tweet Tweet Tweety (WB LT Cartoon; 1951)

Two-Gun Mickey (Disney Cartoon; 1934)

War Is Over ad campaign, by John Lennon & Yoko Ono (Peace Advertising; 1969)

The Who Sell Out, by The Who (Album; 1967)

Wonka (Film; 2023)

Woody the Giant Killer (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1947)

Young Frankenstein (Film; 1974)

Today’s Name Days

Carlo, Christiane, Nina (Austria)

Marin, Valerijan, Viktorija (Croatia)

Radana (Czech Republic)

Nikatius (Denmark)

Kalli, Kelli, Killu, Kulla (Estonia)

Heimo, Nooa (Finland)

Ninon (France)

Christiane, Nina, Paola (Germany)

Anthea, Eleftherios, Elevtherios, Lefteris, Sossana, Sylvia (Greece)

Valér (Hungary)

Cristiana, Nino, Valeriano (Italy)

Jana, Johanna (Latvia)

Gaudenė, Gaudenis, Kristijona (Lithuania)

Hilda, Hilde (Norway)

Celina, Fortunata, Iga, Ignacja, Ignacy, Krystiana, Nina, Walerian, Waleriana, Wolimir, Żegota (Poland)

Antia, Elefterie, Suzana (Romania)

Ivica (Slovakia)

Valeriano (Spain)

Gottfrid (Sweden)

Adlai, Adler, Carney, Mirella, Mireya, Tanner (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 350 of 2024; 16 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 7 of Week 50 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 22 of 28]

Chinese: Month 11 (Bing-Zi), Day 15 (Gui-Chou)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 14 Kislev 5785

Islamic: 13 Jumada II 1446

J Cal: 20 Black; Sixthday [20 of 30]

Julian: 2 December 2024

Moon: 100%: Full Moon

Positivist: 14 Bichat (13th Month) [Isaac Newton]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 84 of 90)

Week: 3rd Full Week of December

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 24 of 30)

[bestmessage]

National Lemon Cupcake Day Messages and Quotes

Wish your family and friends with the cute cupcake love quotes. Share with everyone around you the wonderful National Lemon Cupcake Day messages. This post unfolds the collection of Happy National Cupcake Day Quotes, Sayings, Greetings and Wishes.

[rockislandadultreads]

November 20th is... National Peanut Butter Fudge Day!

The Ultimate Peanut Butter Book by Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough

Peanut butter makes everything better. Think about Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. Cold Peanut Noodles. Peanut Butter Fudge. Still not convinced? Try Peanut Butter Waffles, Pad Thai, or Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Centers. In The Ultimate Peanut Butter Book, the tenth addition to their Ultimate series, Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough offer up hundreds of recipes and variations for America's favorite spread. From comforting Peanut Butter Sticky Buns to decadent Peanut Butter Cheesecake to outrageous Elvis Spread (peanut butter, bacon, and bananas), The Ultimate Peanut Butter Book takes Peanut butter way beyond the same old PB&J.

The Sweet Book of Candy Making by Elizabeth LaBau

Create your own delicious, gorgeous, and professional-quality candies with The Sweet Book of Candy Making. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned candy maker, you will find mouthwatering recipes and expert tips to inspire you—and satisfy your sweet tooth. Inside, you'll find:

—Candy-making essentials: all you need to know about equipment, ingredients, and techniques, including step-by-step lessons on pulling taffy, rolling truffles, filling peanut butter cups, and more

—More than 50 recipes for sugar candies, fondant, caramels, toffee, fudge, truffles, chocolates, marshmallows, and fruit and nut candie

—Troubleshooting tips for each type of candy

—How to perfect the classics you love, from English Toffee to Chocolate Fudge to Peanut Brittle

—Try your hand at something new: Pistachio Marzipan Squares, Passion Fruit Marshmallows, Mango-Macadamia Nut Caramels, Lemon Meringue Lollipops, and more

—Decorating techniques to show off your tasty results

Candy is Magic by Jami Curl

This game-changing candy cookbook from the owner of Quin, a popular Portland-based candy company, offers more than 200 achievable recipes using real, natural ingredients for everything from flavor-packed fruit lollipops to light-as-air marshmallows. Jami Curl, candy-maker extraordinaire and owner of the candy company Quin has been called the "new Willy Wonka" by Bon Appetit. Her debut book, Candy is Magic, includes the recipes that have made Quin a favorite with local and national media, foodies, chefs, and bloggers.

But Candy is Magic is not just a candy book.

Instead, Jami's approach to candy forms the foundation for a world of other confections - from bacon glazed with maple and black pepper caramel to a clever Chocolate Magic Dust that can be turned into chocolate pudding, chocolate sauce, and even a chocolate lollipop. This volume is packed with more than 200 recipes for totally original confections like Whole Roasted Strawberry Lollipops, Bergamot Caramels, Fig & Coffee Gumdrops, and Pinot Noir cotton candy, as well as serious tips and advice for making amazing candy at home.

Peanut Butter Comfort by Averie Sunshine

Chock-full of decadent cakes, cookies, and candies, Peanut Butter Comfort is a delicious departure from your mother’s PB&J. Here are recipes that showcase the rich, unmistakable flavor of peanut butter that we all love, as well as treats that highlight its subtlety and undeniable baking value. Averie Sunshine is a peanut butter aficionado; her easy-to-make recipes are imbued with her passion and creativity. Her vibrant, mouth-watering photographs bring each dish to life and will entice the casual snack-seeker and professional foodie alike. Recipes include:

• Peanut Butter-Filled Chocolate Brownie Cookies • Coconut Carrot Cake and Cream Cheese Cookies • Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse • Chocolate Peanut Butter and Jelly Milkshakes • Savory Peanut Butter Hummus • Peanut Butter and Chocolate Snack Mix • Spicy Peanut Butter and Jelly Sweet Potato Fries • And More!

[murderousink23]

12/15/2023 is International Tea Day 🍵🇮🇳, Bill of Rights Day 🇺🇲, Cat Herders Day 🐈🇺🇲, National Cupcake/Lemon Cupcake Day 🧁🇺🇲, Underdog Day 🐕🇺🇲

[nationaldaycalendar]

December 15, 2017 - NATIONAL UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER DAY - CAT HERDERS DAY - NATIONAL WEAR YOUR PEARLS DAY - FREE SHIPPING DAY - NATIONAL CUPCAKE/LEMON CUPCAKE DAY - NATIONAL UNDERDOG DAY - BILL OF RIGHTS DAY

December 15, 2017 – NATIONAL UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER DAY – CAT HERDERS DAY – NATIONAL WEAR YOUR PEARLS DAY – FREE SHIPPING DAY – NATIONAL CUPCAKE/LEMON CUPCAKE DAY – NATIONAL UNDERDOG DAY – BILL OF RIGHTS DAY

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.91″ background_layout=”light”] DECEMBER 15, 2017 | NATIONAL UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER DAY | CAT HERDERS DAY | NATIONAL WEAR YOUR PEARLS DAY | FREE SHIPPING DAY | NATIONAL CUPCAKE/LEMON CUPCAKE DAY | NATIONAL UNDERDOG DAY | BILL OF RIGHTS DAY NATIONAL UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER DAY National Ugly Christmas…

[artonmainstreet]

[thiswasinevitableid]

Found (Sternclay)

One of the bonus prompts was: Halloween Wedding

Halloween comes to Kepler on the first cold week of the year. A summer that lingered too long means the trees are still changing color, splotches of green, yellow, and orange painting the hillsides as a few off-season visitors weave through them. 

In the town proper, citizens of Kepler put the final touches on haunted yards and run to the store for a few more bags of candy, just in case. At the Cryptonomica, Ned Chicane, still moving much slower than he’s used to, posts up a sign reading “closed for the day” on the front door. 

Topside, Mama posts the same on the doors of Amnesty Lodge. The statement is not entirely true; they’ll still have guests in the rooms tonight, but they won’t be coming off the highway or over from the National Forest. Many of them will arrive this afternoon from a stone arch a mile away, smoothing down unfamiliar hair and studying their newly human faces. 

The Lodge lobby and porch are far more active than on a usual morning. Moira carries a tray of mugs through the main doors, passing them out to the residents who are busy slicing into pumpkins and dumping mounds of seeds and orange innards onto newspaper. There was initially a system but, as with so many plans, some degree of chaos is inevitable and their assembly line has become a circle for trading stories and predictions as they work. No one is all that worried by slowing pace; they’ll still have the Jack’O Lanterns spelling out “Congratulations Joseph and Barclay” long before the other guests arrive.

—----------------------------------------------

Barclay knows from his years of watching rom-coms that if people daydream about their wedding day, the dress is the focus. But for him, it’s always, always been the cake. The flavor changed depending on the object of his affection; strawberry and lemon for the man he met when he first came to the Lodge. A play on Boston Cream Pie for another, a member of the Pine Guard who predated Mama and was lost to them soon after Barclay began helping with the hunts. 

The size and color shifted too, from towering with pink and white roses to a single layer with a chocolate mirror glaze. For a while he thought cupcakes could be fun. The only part of the daydream that never changed was that, the morning of his wedding, he’d be in the kitchen making it. And here he is.

Though, he’ll admit the bat stencils are a bit of a surprise.

When he and Joseph first sat down to plan, his fiance set a calendar on the coffee table along with a blank, bulleted to-do list and a cup of colored pens. Then he’d slid next to Barclay on the couch, writing things down as Barclay described all the things he wanted or thought might be sweet to include. It was only after forty-five minutes that he realized Joseph was using his professional skills to perform the world's most loving interrogation. So he stopped himself midway through a tangent on music and asked Joseph what the important parts were for him. 

“I…I’m not really sure. I spent years assuming I’d be married to my work so I never put much thought into how a wedding would look.” He pauses, eyes on some distant point, the murmurs, “not that I didn’t want one. I wanted a life with someone. But imagining it just made it all the more obvious why I’d never have it.”

“Baby..” Barclay murmurs, nuzzling his cheek, and Joseph smiles at him. It’s a dreamy smile, one he only does when it’s just the two of them, often when Barclay has done or said something especially corny.

“All I know right now is that I want us to be married at the end of it. Oh, and to break a glass. Sterns aren’t the most religiously observant but apparently we’ve done that one at every wedding.”

“Anything else?”

“Nothing comes to mind.” Joseph kisses his cheek, “like I said, the most important thing about the wedding is right here with me.”

“You’re sweet, babe. Are there, like, more out there things you think you’d want?”

Joseph thinks a moment. Then he chuckles, “It’s silly, but I’ve always thought it’d be amazing to get married on Halloween.”

So here he is, getting cream cheese frosting to just the right shade of dark blue. It’ll frost his four tier pumpkin spice cake, as well as the five tray pumpkin spice cakes he made just to be safe. Once the frosting is on, he’ll stencil bats swirling up the cake towards the moon iced on the very top tier. That tier is just for the two of them: espresso cake with a layer of chocolate ganache.

They both enjoy that flavor on its own merits. But for Barclay there’s the added affection of it being the recipe he was working on one of the first times Joseph really talked with him. The agent was the only person left in the restaurant on a slow, winter night. Barclay was tinkering with the batter, measuring out the espresso when a friendly, professional voice asked, “could I trouble you for a cup of that?”

He’d nearly burst out laughing. Because no, sharing coffee was no trouble. It didn’t even crack the top one hundred of the troubles that swirled around them, troubles that only escalated the longer Joseph was in his life.

The trouble is you’re hunting me

The trouble is I like you

The trouble is I can’t stop thinking about kissing you

The trouble is the world is ending and I’ll never get to tell you the truth

And then he’d said “fuck it” and one look on Joseph’s face told him all the trouble had been worth it.

The kitchen door whuffs open and closed, and he can tell without looking that it’s Mama. 

“Still can’t believe you went this way instead of payin someone for a cake.”

“I like making cakes. And I wanted to make this one.”

Mama fondly shakes her head “I know, you wanna show your fella just how much he means to you.”

“I mean, yeah, but…this is for everyone. I love him, but I love you all, too. I made this for my family, new and old.”

His friend rests a hand on his back, studying the cake, “I’m so goddamn happy for you. You got the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known. Glad you found someone who’ll treat it the way it deserves.”

He leans far enough to the side to rest his cheek on the top of her head, “Thanks, Mama.”

She ruffles the back of his shirt, “Aw, don’t mention it. I’ll leave you to it, gotta go help Thacker with the decorations. You need us, you know where we’ll be.”

A swell of emotion hits him right under the ribs, and he turns to bear hug her, muffling her resulting laugh while novelty Halloween songs drift over from the lobby. 

—------------------------------------------------------------

“This really isn’t necessary.” Joseph sits back down on the bed as Lily, his oldest sister, lays her make-up out on the dresser. 

“It absolutely is.” Amy, his other sister, slides a DVD of Creature from the Black Lagoon into the player, “we’ll have some nice, family bonding while we get ready and–Joseph Michael Stern I see you eyeing those windows. Keep your butt inside.”

“I should just check to make sure-”

“Joseph, you told us yourself that you had everything planned to a T and that you trusted your friends, and our parents, to get things ready today.”

“And” Lily adds, “that our jobs for today were a) stand with you during the ceremony and b)keep you from spending your entire wedding day fussing.”

“Okay, okay. I’m relaxing, see?” He lays on the bed, “I’m completely calm. I feel like my heart is trying to tunnel out of my chest but I’m calm.”

“That’s pretty normal, wouldn’t you say Lil?”

“It’s how I felt when I married Carlos.” 

His sisters flank him as fake smoke fills the screen. Amy is still in pajama pants and a sweater, Lily is already sporting her pantsuit, the same midnight purple as the shirt Joseph will be wearing in a few short hours. They chose that and copper as the wedding colors to be on theme while still allowing for some semblance of sophistication. Joseph knows that, for all his comfort with the woods and the rougher side of life, his husband-to-be also craves elegance. 

That’s why Joseph arranged the catering to be a surprise. Barclay okayed the menu, but Joseph hasn’t told him it’s coming from his favorite, fancy, big city restaurant. 

“I’m glad you’re letting kids skip out on the reception to go Trick or Treating. Ellie was going to be pissed, excuse my french, if she had to miss that.”

Joseph nods; he’s not sure what favor Barclay called in to get Kirby to agree to chaperone a bunch of visiting kids through the Main Street Trick or Treat, but he’s grateful all the same. 

Amy nudges him, “Speaking of family, guess what dad gave to Barclay’s…mom? And sister?”

“Oh christ, not the ducks.”

“Yes, the ducks.”

He sighs; of all the traditions floating around, he doesn’t know why his dad’s family is so attached to giving little wooden ducks to the family members of anyone who marries in. Still, he’s glad they’re so accepting of his somewhat unconventional life in Kepler. 

(Who is he kidding, after the first time he brought Barclay to Chicago his parents decided the cook was their future son in law and made no secret of it).

“I think I’ll get changed-”

“The ceremony isn’t for another four hours. Now” Lily passes him a sparkling water from the mini fridge, “sit back and enjoy the fact this is the one day I’ll watch this kind of movie with you two.”

He takes the can with a grin, “I love you, too.”

—----------------------------------------------------

The clock ticks down the minutes until five p.m as the sun clicks closer to the horizon, creating a golden hour that renders the entire Lodge glowing as more guests pull into the parking lot. Wine red dahlias and deep purple roses bunch together at every door with orange coneflowers and remarkably metallic poppies. Black pansies sit in small, skull-shaped vases at every table, and guests are welcome to take bottles and cans from ice-filled coffins as they wait for the ceremony to begin. With the exception of the coffins, Dani grew them all (with a little help from Aubrey).

The ceremony is in the garden, and as the guests walk the path of purple rose petals to their seats, they speculate as to what the grooms are up to. 

Jake whispers to Aubrey that they’re probably getting in a little make-out session before things start. 

Mrs. Stern tells her mother that Joseph is no doubt going over things for the hundredth time so everything will be just right. 

Duck asks Indrid what he thinks they’re up to, teasing that maybe Barclay got cold feet and Joe will have to hunt him down all over again. Indrid glances briefly at the ceiling and then smiles. When Duck raises a perplexed eyebrow, the seer simply says, “not all futures are mine to share.”

—--------------------------------------------------------

What Joseph is actually doing is pacing in a hallway just out of view of the guests. His sisters have already left to join the rest of the wedding party, and as he peeks through a window he can see they’re almost ready to begin. 

Everyone he loves is out there, dressed in their autumnal or gothic finery. The whole place looks amazing, everyone did what he asked them to. Yet his heart is still beating hard enough to break the world in half. 

A hand slips into his own and in an instant the beats return to a steady, quiet thump. 

“Thanks for giving me the morning to myself.”

“Thanks for letting my sisters more or less hold me hostage.” He turns to look at Barclay and lets out a breathless “oh.” His fiance is in a black suit with a copper pin-striped shirt and dark purple tie. Had he not clearly just brushed down his beard, Joseph’s fingers would already be in it, stroking him and telling him how gorgeous he is. 

“Not bad for a Bigfoot, huh?” Barclay rumbles.

“You put anyone, cryptid or human, to shame.”

“Right back at you, babe. But, uh, think you’re missing something”

Joseph looks down as Barclay takes his tie between his fingers. When he smooths it back down, there’s a silver tie pin in the shape of a Bigfoot.

“Perfect” they say as one just as Dani pokes her head around the corner and waves that it’s time. 

As per Sylph tradition, they walk arm in arm down the aisle. As per the online certification he got, Thacker is waiting between their respective grooms-people to act as officiant. Once everyone is welcomed, Thacker tells them it’s time for their vows.

Barclay holds his hands, looking at their joined fingers as he begins, “I, I know I don’t look it, but anyone who knows me can tell you I’m kind of a romantic. Which is why I asked about a dozen people if these vows were good or if they were too long and mushy.” He pauses for gentle laughter, “they told me it was fine, so here it goes.” This time he manages to meet Joseph’s eyes. Joseph doesn’t cry easily, but from the way Barclay is looking at him has him halfway there. 

“When I was younger I, I was kind of a wanderer. I felt like I was always far away from home, like there was somewhere waiting for me if I could just find it. I found a lot of it here, at Amnesty. Even then it always felt like there was a piece missing. Then you came into my life and little by little I realized my missing piece had found me. And that you made a life I already loved richer and fuller than I ever imagined.” His voice cracks, “I love you Joseph. I love you so much.”

Some of the guests are crying, and he tries not to join them as he takes a deep breath and grips his fiance’s hands, “Barclay, you are the kindest, smartest, most fascinating man I know. You’re an incredible cook and an even better friend. I spent so much of my life searching; searching for new challenges and for answers. But the funny thing about life is that what you’re looking for and what you find can be the same and be worlds apart at the same time. That’s how I feel when we’re together. You were, you are, everything I was looking for. And you’re so much more.”

He’s supposed to take the rings–two black bands shot through with orange crystal and obtained from Sylvain through a combination of favors, diplomacy, and updated trade laws–from his pocket so they can slip them on. 

But Barclay is wiping his eyes with the back of his hand and Joseph is close enough to hear the not quite human sounds rumbling from his chest. So instead he takes his husbands face in his hands and rests their foreheads together as he whispers, “it’s okay, big guy, I’m here.”

Barclay cups his face and kisses him so passionately he tastes fire on his tongue. The rest of the ceremony becomes a dim whirl of activity, and looking back he’s pretty sure they fumbled the rings onto their fingers during the embrace. Thacker pronounces them husbands, glass cracks, and all the while his world starts and ends with the man in front of him. 

By the time they’ve taken all the necessary family photos and joined their friends at the reception, he’s still walking on air but is at least able to take in new, complex information. Like how Barclay gasps when he sees that the black, bat-shaped ravioli and bloody heart fruit salads are from his favorite restaurant in the world. 

Jake already has the wedding playlist pumping through the speakers, songs about love, death, and monsters weaving through the air as they wind their way through the crowd of well-wishers. They find Ned, Aubrey, and Duck clustered near the drinks coffin, their Pine Guard patches replaced for the evening by matching, bat-shaped bow-ties. 

After congratulatory hugs (of Joseph as well as Barclay, something he’s still getting used to), Barclay smiles at Ned, “Y’know, this whole day is happening because of you. If you hadn’t shot that fucking video, my special agent would never have come here.”

“I would say it was my pleasure, but it did result in a non-zero number of threats directed at me from various parties, so that tempers things somewhat.” Ned smiles to show that whatever harm was done is water under the bridge. 

All the same, Joseph leans closer and adds, “I had a word with a few people in a few relevant counties. You have a remarkably clear record, Mr. Chicane.”

Ned barks out a laugh, “Being around us has rubbed off on you in the best possible way, dear boy.”

They excuse themselves to continue their circuit of the guests as more jack o lanterns magically flicker to life outside and caterers bring in crockpots of cider. 

“Did you really do that for him?”

“For the records I could find, yes.” 

Joseph can make polite conversation and accept compliments and congratulations all night, but as dinner time creeps closer he can tell Barclay needs a break from the noise. Luckily, they’ve both memorized all the side doors and stealthy exists in the Lodge. 

They wander to the edge of the hot springs, to a bench surrounded by plants that snuck over from Sylvain on the bottoms of peoples shoes (Duck found out and corralled all the errant sprouts into container gardens. 

Barclay leans against him, “Never thought this’d be my favorite place in the Lodge.”

Joseph slips his hand down Barclay’s pocket, “Even more than the bed in the room where I stayed?”

“That’s a close second. But nothing is gonna beat out our first kiss.”

“Can I say something a little sappy?”

“Any time you want.”

“I thought kisses were only that intense in the movies.” Joseph smiles, “it felt like the world was black and white when I closed my eyes and then I opened them to everything being technicolor. Did it feel like that to you?”

Barclay rumblepurrs and kisses him, “It felt like being found.”

[choicesjunechallenge]

Prompts to inspire creativity

The Choices June Challenge is all about Nature, Food, Folklore and Celebrations. Which prompt will inspire your Choices fanwork today?

Nature

Vacation | Staycation

Hike | Walk (or run)

Ski | Skate (ice or roller)

Boating | Fishing

Cycle | Surf

Garden | Forest

Beach | Mountain

Sunshine | Rain

Honeysuckle | Rose (any flower)

Long days | Long nights

Summer | Winter

Food

Berries | Lemon

Watermelon | Tomato

Pineapple | Peach

Cook | Bake

Picnic | Gala

Cupcake | Donut

Ice cream | Chocolate

Salad | Cake

Cocktails | Mocktails

Folklore

Midsummer night’s dream | Fairies

Zodiac signs | Birthstones

Romance | Fantasy

Myths | Superstitions

Stories | Poems

Love | Loathing

Happenings

Proposals | Weddings

Global Day of Parents | Children’s Day

World Environment Day | Solstice (summer or winter)

Father’s Day | Juneteenth

International Yoga Day | National OOTD Day

World Music Day | Social Media Day

National Selfie Day | National Kissing Day

Pride Month | Pet Appreciation Week

New fanworks from all Choices/Pixelberry books will be accepted until July 2nd. Full guidelines here.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.15

Holidays

Bill of Rights Day

Birdland Day

Cat Herders’ Day

Coonskin Cap Day

Cricket Day (French Republic)

Esperanto Day

Homecoming Day (Alderney, Channel Islands)

Human Rights Day (Kiribati)

Koninkrijksdag (Kingdom Day; Netherlands) [Unless a Sunday, then 16th]

Local Charities Day (UK)

Men’s Society of Piu Festival of Mirth, Peace, Honesty, Joyousness and Love (14th Century London)

National Headband Day

National HST Day (UK)

National Play Minecraft Day

National Regifting Day

National Wear Your Pearls Day

Navidades begins (Puerto Rico; until Three Kings Day)

North Wind’s Prayer (Elder Scrolls)

Pakistan-Turkey Friendship Day

Remembrance Day of Journalists Killed in the Line of Duty (Russia)

Rugby World Cup Victory Day (South Africa)

Second Amendment Awareness Day (South Carolina)

Sleep Comfort Day

Trivial Pursuit Day

World Martial Arts Training Day

World Otaku Day

World Strengthened Immunity Day

Yuletide Lad #4 arrives (Pvorusleikir or Spoon-Licker; Iceland)

Zamenhof Day (Esperanto)

Food & Drink Celebrations

International Tea Day [also 5.21]

National Cupcake Day

National Gingerbread Latte Day

National Give a Wine Club Day

National Lemon Cupcake Day

Olmeca National Tequila Day (South Africa)

3rd Friday in December

Christmas Jumper Day (EU) [3rd Friday]

Mad Friday (UK) [3rd Friday]

National Holiday Party Day [3rd Friday]

National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day [3rd Friday]

Underdog Day [3rd Friday]

Independence Days

New Massa (Declared; 2015) [unrecognized]

Prudentianopolis (Declared; 2019) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Alcyone (Greek Kingfisher Goddess)

Consualia (Ancient Roman festival to Consus, god of the harvest and stored grain)

David Teniers the Younger (Artology)

Drina Martyrs (Christian; Saint)

Drostan (Aberdeen Breviary; Christian; Saint)

Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli (Christian; Saint)

Feralia: Day of Purification (Pagan)

Friedensreich Hundertwasser (Artology)

George Romney (Artology)

Hanukkah Day #8 (Judaism)

John Horden and Robert McDonald (Episcopal Church; USA)

Joseph "Le Petomane" Pujol Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Lagrange (Positivist; Saint)

Maria Crocifissa di Rosa (Christian; Saint)

Mesmin (Christian; Saint)

Nino (Christian; Saint)

Othmar the Grouch (Muppetism)

Stupid Inventions Day (Pastafarian)

Stupid Toy Day (Pastafarian)

Valerian of Abbenza (Christian; Saint)

Virginia Centurione Bracelli (Christian; Saint)

Virgin of Cotoca (Roman Catholic) [Bolivia]

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Fortunate Day (Pagan) [48 of 53]

Perilous Day (13th Century England) [30 of 32]

Prime Number Day: 349 [70 of 72]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Unglückstage (Unlucky Day; Pennsylvania Dutch) [30 of 30]

Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [59 of 60]

Premieres

Alice the Piper (Disney Cartoon; 1924)

Beatles ’65, by The Beatles (Album; 1964)

Birdland (NYC Jazz Club; 1949)

Buddy the Dentist (WB LT Cartoon; 1934)

Charlotte’s Web (Film; 2006)

Choclat (Film; 2000)

The Chronic, by Dr. Dre (Album; 1992)

The Concept of Mind, by Gilbert Ryle (Science Book; 1949)

Driving Miss Daisy (Film; 1989)

Dude, Where’s My Car? (Film; 2000)

The Emperor’s New Groove (Animated Disney Film; 2000)

Ferdinand (Animated Film; 2017)

Folsom Prison Blues, by Johnny Cash (Song; 1955)

Gone With the Wind (Film; 1939)

Jumanji (Film; 1995)

The Machiavellians: Defenders of Freedom, by James Burnham (Political Theory; 1943)

Madame Curie (Film; 1943)

Mothership Connection, by Parliament (Album; 1975)

Never Say Never Again (UK Film; 1983) [James Bond non-series]

One Piece Film: Z (Anime Film; 2012)

One, Two, Three (Film; 1961)

Out on a Limb (Disney Cartoon; 1950)

The Pink Panther Strikes Again (Film; 1976)

Pollack (Film; 2000)

Revolutionary Road (Film; 2008)

Sabrina (Film; 1995)

Schindler’s List (Film; 1993)

Sense and Sensibility (Film; 1995)

Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi (Film; 2017)

Stormy Weather, recorded by Lena Horne (Song; 1941)

Superman (Film; 1978)

To Hare Is Human (WB MM Cartoon; 1956)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith (Novel; 1943)

Tweet Tweet Tweety (WB LT Cartoon; 1951)

Two-Gun Mickey (Disney Cartoon; 1934)

War Is Over ad campaign, by John Lennon & Yoko Ono (Peace Advertising; 1969)

The Who Sell Out, by The Who (Album; 1967)

Wonka (Film; 2023)

Young Frankenstein (Film; 1974)

Today’s Name Days

Carlo, Christiane, Nina (Austria)

Marin, Valerijan, Viktorija (Croatia)

Radana (Czech Republic)

Nikatius (Denmark)

Kalli, Kelli, Killu, Kulla (Estonia)

Heimo, Nooa (Finland)

Ninon (France)

Christiane, Nina, Paola (Germany)

Anthea, Eleftherios, Elevtherios, Lefteris, Sossana, Sylvia (Greece)

Valér (Hungary)

Cristiana, Nino, Valeriano (Italy)

Jana, Johanna (Latvia)

Gaudenė, Gaudenis, Kristijona (Lithuania)

Hilda, Hilde (Norway)

Celina, Fortunata, Iga, Ignacja, Ignacy, Krystiana, Nina, Walerian, Waleriana, Wolimir, Żegota (Poland)

Antia, Elefterie, Suzana (Romania)

Ivica (Slovakia)

Valeriano (Spain)

Gottfrid (Sweden)

Adlai, Adler, Carney, Mirella, Mireya, Tanner (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 349 of 2024; 16 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 50 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 18 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Jia-Zi), Day 3 (Ding-Wei)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 3 Teveth 5784

Islamic: 2 Jumada II 1445

J Cal: 19 Zima; Fiveday [19 of 30]

Julian: 2 December 2023

Moon: 10%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 13 Bichat (13th Month) [Lagrange]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 5 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 83 of 89)

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 24 of 30)