Author: Lisa Mungovan

Today is Cappuccino Day, a delicious version of coffee made with espresso and foamy steamed milk. Speaking of steam, it’s also National STEAM Day, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. The day was created to inspire kids to explore those subjects, for possible careers in the future.

Do you like dancing? How about video games? Szabolcs Csepe, aka GrassHopper, played Dance Dance Revolution for 144 hours straight, setting a new world record for longest video game marathon. He danced to more than 3,000 songs during the 6-day dance session, and burned 22,000 calories in the process.

Cotton-top tamarins are small monkeys weighing only 1 pound, with a crest of white fur on their heads. Native to Colombia and highly endangered, many zoos are helping the species survive with breeding programs. The Lake Superior Zoo in Minnesota, announced a new baby tamarin, born to parents Mira and Dino.

Police investigating reports of a lion on the loose in Ireland, found it was actually just a dog. A big brown Newfoundland named Mouse, had gotten a fresh haircut, with longer fur around his head resembling a lion’s mane. Mouse was very friendly, but probably didn’t appreciate being mistaken for a cat!

Gather all your teddy bears, and start hugging. It’s Hug A Bear Day! Although wild bears also look cute and fuzzy, it’s best to leave them alone! It’s also Bittersweet Chocolate With Almonds Day. It’s not the most common candy bar, so today would be a good day to make your own delicious treat!

As you get dressed today, wear your favorite sports jersey. It’s Jersey Friday! Today is also Fountain Pen Day. It might be less convenient, but an old-fashioned fountain pen, with a refillable ink reservoir, makes your writing look elegant. Try using a calligraphy fountain pen for an even fancier style!

Are you excited for Eat Smart Month? It’s not only about eating foods that are good for your brain, like blueberries, pumpkin seeds, broccoli, dark chocolate, and nuts. It’s also making your nutritious eating choices, a habit for life. Don’t forget to add some exercise to your healthy plan, by celebrating Basketball Day.

Could you find your way out of a forest? Learn some survival skills, like navigating by the stars, or making your own compass, for Marooned Without A Compass Day! Practice walking straight lines, by following 3 lined-up objects. Ancient Vikings used the Sun’s shadows to navigate, as well as glowing crystals called sunstones.

Today is Saxophone Day, in honor of the mellow brass woodwind instrument. Adolphe Sax developed the instrument in 1846. What would you name an instrument, if you invented one? It’s also Nachos Day, so start with a plate of tortilla chips. Melt some cheese on top, and add jalapenos, salsa, or whatever else you’d like!

Laurence Watkins wanted to break a world record, so he scoured the record book looking for possibilities. He settled on having the longest name, and legally added a bunch of middle names. His full name is now 2,253 words long. It took 20 minutes to say his name during his wedding ceremony!