Who Knew?!
Hello Kitty has been around for a long time. She was created in the 1960's in fact. What is surprising to learn is that while she was created in Japan, Hello Kitty is actually British! British culture was trendy in Japan at the time and so there you have it, she's British.
Time To Leave The Clocks Alone
We just changed the clocks, again, and we are over it. It takes a toll on us and most of us flat out want it to stop. A poll last fall found only 25% of people want to keep switching the clocks twice a year. Everyone else wants to make Daylight Saving Time permanent or ditch it altogether. The biggest argument against leaving the time alone seems to be the unknown effects. Although, as we know, switching the clocks twice a year has an effect too.
You're Stressed!
It's no surprise but new report by the American Psychological Association found we are all more stressed out than ever right now. While it's not uncommon for most of Americans to feel stressed out, experts say it is rare to see everyone this stressed about the same things all at once. In an effort to help, try getting some relief from the following tips.
- Force a laugh or smile — even anticipating a laugh can boost your mood.
- Make sure you're not slouching, as posture can affect mood.
- Mute all your phone notifications.
- Give someone a hug.
- Play a happy song, or a song that makes you happy.
(List credit Healthline)
Another Reason To Get A Dog
The positive impact a dog can have on a human life seems endless. Now, a new study discovered spending time with a dog works as a pretty good pain reliever. Researchers let E.R. patients spend 10 minutes with a therapy dog and it significantly lowered the amount of pain they were experiencing. Adding that dogs are medicinal is another bonus to a fur friend in your family. Find your next pal on the Wet Nose Wednesday page.
Miracle League Ball Field is Back
It's time for baseball and the Miracle League will be ready to take the field in April. The Miracle League serves children and adults with disabilities. They use a "Buddy" system, pairing each player with a volunteer buddy who may assist in hitting, running, catching - or just cheering on! Summer Stevens will be part of their Buddy system. If you'd like to help, learn more at The Parkboard to get started.
See The All The Springfields
If you want to take your family on a cross-country road trip this summer, here's a neat way to see the country. Travel to every Springfield in the US! While there isn't a Springfield in every state, are 36 Springfield townships in the US across 25 states, including 11 in Ohio alone. A fun way for any Simpsons fan to see the lay of the land.
To help you make your route, this map, posted by Redditor GreenMobius, shows the most efficient route between every Springfield in the United States. The route takes you from coast to coast and touches all the major regions of the country except the Southwest. Here are a couple links that might be helpful for your Springfield journey.
Springfields in the US
Springfield FLT Design
Relax with a Chore
Over a lifetime, the average person spends about 10 days doing household chores. In a poll, people were asked to name the chores they find the most relaxing. Here's the breakdown:
1. Vacuuming. (Is it like white noise? Or maybe it has something to do with making those even lines on the carpet, like you're mowing a baseball field.)
2. Wiping down the kitchen.
3. Laundry. At least you can watch TV while you fold.
4. Doing dishes.
5. Tidying up. So, just putting stuff away and organizing.
6. Cleaning the bathroom, or the toilet. (???) (Yeah, I'm never more zen than when I'm scrubbing the commode.)
7. Ironing.
8. Mopping.
9. Dusting.
10. Cleaning windows.
(List credit: SWNS)
Missouri Votes Coconut Cake
Dessert is a seriously delicious topic. So why not take a poll to see what's most popular per state? The insurance company Coventry Direct did it and you can check out the map. A bit surprised by Missouri's choice with coconut cake.
Mr. Elmo Monster Went To Washington
Elmo testified before a Congressional subcommittee on behalf of music education in 2002. He was the first, and only non-human, who has ever testified before Congress. Elmo shared his learning experience with the Subcommittee. He explained,
"Elmo learned all kinds of things about music, like anyone can make music. The whole world is full of music … music helped Elmo learn the alphabet. If it wasn’t for the ABC song, Elmo would be lost, people."
You can read Elmo’s testimony by clicking here.