Mother, May I

April showers bring May flowers…..well hopefully depending on where you live. In my part of the world, Yes the flowers are blooming. I love to look out each day to see what new growth and blooms Mother Nature has brought forth.

May is just full of wonderful occasions to celebrate and show appreciation to the special people in our lives, Teachers, Nurses, and that all important day, Mother’s Day, May 10. The phone company and florists will tell you that Mother’s Day is their biggest holiday of the year.

What special memories do you have of your Mother? I lost my Mother to cancer many years ago. A few days ago I had the chance to visit with one of her brothers and see some of my cousins, aunts, and uncles. We all had a good little laugh as we were sharing one of her ‘secret recipes’ for a favorite southern dish of ours. It seems the ‘made from scratch’ recipe had been modernized over the years and Mother had shared it with a few of us who had pumped her for the information. It’s those memories that we share that make us smile or have a good laugh that hold those who are so special to us close to our hearts and keep them part of our lives. So remember those special ‘moms’ in your life this Mother’s Day whether it’s an aunt, sister, teacher, neighbor, etc. Let them know how special you think they are.

Here are the holidays and special occasions for May (including the quirky ones too):

Holidays -

May-1 Law Day
May-1 Lei Day
May-1 Loyalty Day
May-1 May Day
May-1 Save the Rhino Day
May-2 Brothers and Sisters Day
May-5 Cinco de Mayo
May-6 National Nurses Day
May-8 V-E Day
May-10 Mother's Day
May-10 National Receptionist Day
May-12 Fibromyalgia Awareness Day
May-15 Peace Officer Memorial Day
May-19 Malcolm X Day
May-21 National Waiter/Waitress Day
May-22 National Maritime Day
May-25 National Missing Children's Day
May-25 National Tap Dance Day

Monthly Observances -

Ultraviolet Awareness Month Prevent Blindness America

Allergy / Asthma Awareness Month Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America

Arthritis Awareness Month Arthritis Foundation

Better Hearing and Speech Month American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Better Sleep Month Better Sleep Council

Breath Easy Month American Lung Assoc.

Correct Posture Month American Chiropractic Assoc.

Digestive Diseases Awareness Month American Gastroenterological Assoc.

Hepatitis Awareness Month Hepatitis Foundation

High Blood Pressure Awareness Month National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

Melanoma / Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month American Academy of Dermatology

Mental Health Month Mental Health Assoc.

National Barbeque Month Barbeque Industry Assoc.

National Bike Month League of American Bicyclists

National Comfort Month Country Living Magazine

National Community Action Month National Coalition for the Homeless

National Egg Month American Egg Board

National High Blood Pressure Education Month National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute

National Photo Month Photo Marketing Assoc.

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month Presidents Council on Physical Fitness & Sports

National Salad Month The Assoc. for Dressings & Sauces

Neurofibromatosis Month National Neurofibromatosis Foundation

Older Americans Month Administration on Aging

Osteoporosis Prevention Month National Osteoporosis Foundation

Stroke Awareness Month National Stroke Association

Trauma Awareness Month American Trauma Society

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month KQED


First Full Week

Arson Awareness Week US Fire Administration
Be Kind to Animals Week The Humane Society
Goodwill Industries Week Goodwill Industries International
National Pet Week American Veterinary Medical Assoc.
National Postcard Week Postcard Historical Society
PTA Teacher Appreciation Week National PTA
Small Business Week Small Business Administration
Week of the Classroom Teacher Association for Childhood Education International


Second Week

National Nurses Week American Nurses Assoc.
Hospital Week Advanced Health in American
MCS Awareness Week Ecological Health Organization
National Travel & Tourism Week National Travel & Tourism Awareness Council
Herb Week International Herb Growers & Marketers Assoc.
National Historic Preservation Week National Trust for Historic Preservation
Canadian Immunization Awareness Week (Canada) Canadian Immunization Awareness Program


Third Week

Alcohol & Other Drug-Related Birth Defects Week National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
Emergency Medical Services Week American College of Emergency Physicians
Hurricane Awareness Week (see website for sponsors)
National Bike Week League of American Bicyclists
National Police Week American Police Hall of Fame Museum
Medical Transcriptionist Week American Assoc. for Medical Transcription
National Salvation Army Week Salvation Army
Nursing Home Week American Healthcare Assoc.


Quirky Holidays –

May 6 No Homework Day -- Millions of kids, all of them overloaded with homework, get a much-needed night off tonight. Give 'em a break, teachers! These young folks are working harder than Mom 'n' Dad.

May 8 No Socks Day -- If we give up wearing socks for one day, it will mean a little less laundry, thereby contributing to the betterment of the environment. Besides, we will all feel a bit freer, at least for one day.

May 11 Eat What You Want Day -- Here’s one day you may actually enjoy yourself. Ignore all those on-again-off-again warnings.

May 21 I Need a Patch for That Day -- They have patches for nicotine and they have patches for heart patients. How about a patch for runny noses or bad hair?

May 28 The Slugs Return From Capistrano Day -- It’s a little known secret that slimy slugs spend their winters in lovely Capistrano, and return to our patios and gardens on this date. Bare feet are not a good idea.

Have fun celebrating!

In gratitude,
Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises
Gifts, Greeting Cards, and Promotional Products
www.PaintedLadyEnterprises.com
“Helping You and Your Business Look Good”

Happy Easter - Happy Spring!

In my endless search for positive and inspirational material, I found the following which I thought was appropriate for Easter and Spring. Easter is interpreted for many as 'Re-birth.' To me Spring time is a re-birthing of all that the beautiful things in nature that the Universe has given us. And it brings thoughts of the seeds we plant in our lives and how they grow and manifest. Enjoy.

Springtime – The Seeds we Plant

Farmers are planting the seeds for their spring and summer
Crops. What are you planting for your life?

What is it that you want to create this spring, summer, year?
Now is the time to begin planting the ideas of what you
desire.

Be definitive, not necessarily in details but know exactly how
you will feel when you have arrived at your desire.

"Manifestation Rides of the Fuel of Emotion"

It is your emotion, how you feel that will help to manifest your
Goals and Dreams.

From Annette Pieper, Explore the Power of Possibilities http://www.annettepieper.com

Jewels of Life:

The past couple of weeks have been spent preparing our inner garden for planting by fertilizing and working the soil. Now is the time to seed your dreams. When we plant a seed, we set the intention that it will mature into a plant that will bear fruit or grow to maturity, re-seeding itself at the end of its life. We plant a seed expecting it to sprout, take root and grow into something magnificent. Our dreams and desires become manifest when our intentions are planted into the soil of our inner gardens. We begin by setting an intention to move towards our dreams and then take action on our intention. True intentions are stated in the present moment. They are not the “I should, I have to, I must, I will, I will try, or I would like to’s”. Intentions are the “I am” statements we make to ourselves that move us forward on our path. With “I am” messages we tell ourselves that we are committed to do the work now, to take a step. With “I will” messages we put our thoughts and actions to the “someday in the future”. Our intentions are small beginnings towards the bigger picture of our dreams, the seeds from which our dreams grow. Unfortunately, many of us are fearful of planting the seed or setting intentions. We live in barren landscapes, afraid to take the risks necessary to fulfill our greatest desires. Is there an intention that you could set that would step you towards a desire, goal or dream? Call on the vibration of Petrified Wood and plant the seed that will grow to maturity. Set that intention today…I am making that phone call, I am exercising for health, I am cooking a new and healthy recipe, I am saving money towards my dream vacation, etc.

You can’t harvest what you don’t sow. So plant your desires, gently nurture them, and they will be rewarded with abundance. –Vivian Elisabeth Glyck

In gratitude,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"