Photo: SXC

So, what to do on June 25th? Why not make a list of giftees and start planning out your gift giving strategy? Starting early means big savings, especially if you are usually in the last minute shopping crowd. You’ll be able to make at least some of your gifts because you have six months ahead of you and you’ll be able to look for great deals, like the annual August toy clearance at Target! (We are so loving the exact same sandbox we got last summer for 75% off that is back in Target at full price this year.)

Or you could have a mini Christmas celebration without all the commercialism. Make some fresh cookies and create a few homespun ornaments for December’s tree and then sit down on the couch together to eat the cookies and watch some classic Christmas movies.

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The Halfway Hallelujah

June 12 is Philippine Independence Day, a public holiday in that country. It commemorates that day that the Philippine “Declaration of Independence” was signed following the defeat of the Spanish army by Philippine revolutionary forces under General Emilio Aquinaldo (who would become the Philippines first president).

The date is marked by patriotic speeches and parades throughout the Philippines. In the United States, a large parade is held in New York City, a city with a large Filippino population.

b5media has a number of bloggers who live in the Philippines. I wish them and other Filippino readers a very happy Independence Day!

^{(photo © Newscom)}

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Philippine Independence Day

June 11 is Kamehameha Day in Hawaii, a public holiday that celebrates the life of the first king of a unified Hawaii. Kamehameha I, who ruled from 1782 to 1819, united the various Hawaiian islands into one kingdom in 1810. Known as the “Napoleon of the Pacific,” he is known for his advances in the judicial, social, and educational systems of the islands.

Kamehameha Day celebrates ancient Hawaiian traditions. The day is marked by a floral parade from the Iolani Palace in Honolulu through the city to Kapiolani Park, which hosts an all-day party, with arts & crafts, traditional foods, cultural exhibits, and live music and dance. The bronze statue of Kamehameha I, which stands in front of the Hawaiian judicial building, is traditionally draped with colorful, floral leis on June 11.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

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Kamehameha Day

June 10 is Portugal Day. It is the Portuguese national holiday and commemorates the day the poet, Luís de Camões died in 1580. Camões penned “Lusiads,” an epic poem telling the history of Portugal.

The day is marked by music, parades, and other festivities. The celebration is not limited to Portugal. Countries with sizeable Portuguese populations, including Brazil, Macau, India, Canada, and the US also celebrate Portgual Day.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

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Portugal Day

June 8 is World Ocean Day. This holiday started in 1992 and gives everyone an opportunity to celebrate our world ocean and our personal connection to the sea. According the the World Ocean Project, reasons to celebrate the world’s oceans include that the ocean:

• Generates most of the oxygen we breathe
• Helps feed us
• Regulates our climate
• Cleans the water we drink
• Offers us a pharmacopoeia of potential medicines
• Provides limitless inspiration

There are events all over the world to commemorate World Ocean Day. To find an event near you, click here.

^{(logo courtesy of World Ocean Project)}

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World Ocean Day

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In the Spirit of Daniel Boone Day

June 6 is Queensland Day in Australia. The holiday marks the anniversary of the day that Queen Victoria signed the letters patent in 1859 that created a separate state of Queensland from New South Wales.

An official holiday since 1981, Queensland Day is celebrated with parades, cook-outs, and by honoring the achievements of Queenlanders during the past year.

^{(map © martynam/cc license)}

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Queensland Day

June 6 is National Doughnut Day and to mark the occasion, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is offering customers who visit one of their more than 400 retail locations on Friday a free doughnut of their choice. Say Krispy Kreme Senior Vice President, Stan Parker, “National Doughnut Day is one of our most anticipated days at Krispy Kreme. We get to give back to our loyal customers by offering a doughnut on us and celebrating everyone’s favorite sweet treat.”

National Doughnut Day was established in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army to help raise funds during the Depression and to honor the Salvation Army workers who prepared doughnuts for thousands of soldiers during World War I.

National Doughnut Day is the first Friday of June each year.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

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Free Doughnuts for National Doughnut Day

National Cheese Day is June 4. To me, that even better than National Chocolate Day (December 28). What’s more: a friend of mine has just taken a job as a cheese store manager and we’ve been tasting cheese for a month now: sheep’s cheese, goat cheese, blue cheese, Italian cheese, firm cheese…

Of all of the cheese we’ve tasted, one stands out from the crowd–at least for me. It’s from a family farm in Point Reyes (Marin County), California–Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company.

Their Original Blue ™ is made from hormone-free raw cow’s milk and is all natural (no preservatives). The cheese is creamy and mild, similar to a Danish blue cheese and it spreads rather than crumbles. It is the only cheese the company makes and the only blue cheese made in California. You can read more about it on the company Web site. Trust me: it’s yummy!

^{(photo of Point Reyes Original Blue on an apricot © Newscom)}

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In Honor of National Cheese Day: Point Reyes Original Blue

June is National Candy Month in the United States. What a great idea for a holiday!

I’m kind of picky about candy, but I love chocolate coconut candy. Here’s a recipe from CDKitchen to help you celebrate National Candy Month:

Chocolate Drop Candy
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup shredded coconut

Directions:

Combine sugar and buttermilk. Cook to softball stage (110-degrees). Add vanilla, beat until mixture thickens. Add coconut stirring to coat. Quickly drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper. Cool until set. Makes two dozen.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

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National Candy Month