July 31st - National Mutts Day

Mutts. You either love em or hate em. They can either be a smelly, hairy mess who slobber on everything to you, or the most loyal, best friend who will love you unconditionally. Regardless of your views, there is a good chance that you either have a mutt or know someone who does, so why not grab a nice treat or toy to give to him because July 31st is "National Mutts Day".

July 30th - National Cheesecake Day

The cheesecake has been revered as one of the most decadent dessert dishes you can indulge in. With its rich and creamy texture and its savory, sugary flavor, the cheesecake has been satisfying sweet tooth's everywhere for many years. And not only can this delicious dessert be topped with fruits, chocolate sauce, nuts, whip cream or just about any other sweet treat you can think up to compliment this dish, there are also varying flavors of cheesecake that exist. Some of which include, lemon, chocolate, toffee, strawberry, key lime and even a peanut butter cup version. So whichever is your favorite, cut yourself a double because July 30th is "National Cheesecake Day".

July 29th - National Lasagna Day

Get your utensils and appetite ready for this holiday because July 29th is "National Lasagna Day". You would think that this dish would be fit more for the fall or winter since it is such a warm comfort food, but let's be honest, a meal that is packed with meat, cheese and pasta and smothered with tomato sauce and even more cheese can and should be enjoyed year round. Best served with some garlic bread with a little olive oil dipping sauce and a glass of Pinot Noir, lasagna is one of those meals that you can't help but go back for seconds even if you are stuffed to the brim and have zero room for more. Just look at Garfield, he was a cat and he could polish off pan after pan of lasagna with no problem. And he never even thought to share a bite with Odie.

July 28th - National Milk Chocolate Day

Ah milk chocolate. Has there ever been a better comfort food? I mean seriously, a food that is known to release similar chemicals in the brain as an orgasm that tastes like heaven on a stick makes this delectable treat so above and beyond anything else that it's not even fair. And with it's sweet, light and fluffy texture that goes with just about any food or to compliment any meal, it simply is the best. Just think about it, milk chocolate is the base ingredient for 90% of the candy bars in the market. You can dip fruit or even vegetables in it, add its powder form to milk for hot cocoa or chocolate milk, melt it and drizzle it over some ice cream or a sundae, put it in chocolate chip cookies or just eat it by the handful. There is no wrong way to eat milk chocolate so that is why we make July 28th "National Milk Chocolate Day".

July 27th - National Take Your Pants For A Walk Day

With a day as unusual as "National Take Your Pants For A Walk Day" you may be wondering exactly how one goes about taking their pants for a walk. I'd like to think that if you wear a pair of jeans long enough without washing them that will become so stiff and take on a life of their own that they eventually just get up and walk out your front door on this day. There have been multiple occasions when I woke up in the morning only to notice that my pants had gone missing, and now that I see that a day like today exists I know exactly what happened. And to think, all those years my friends had me convinced that I drank too much whiskey, tore my pants off of myself and ran around telling everybody there was a pants off dance off. Quite the pranksters those guys.

July 26th - National All Or Nothing Day

July 26th is "National All Or Nothing Day" and I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. Is there something you always wanted to do? A dream job, vacation, talk to someone who might not know you exist, act on Broadway, make a record, run a marathon, whatever really. Today is a day about making no wrong decisons because you are afraid of failing. Life is about trying and failing and learning a lesson from your trial so that next time you can go at it with a better idea of what you're doing and succeed. Without failure there would be no success. So what is it that is really holding you back. Most of the time it's just excuses you've built up in your head and made yourself believe that you are unable to achieve something great. This world wasn't created by people that make excuses, so get off your ass and completely go at it not only today, but each and every day. Just let today be the day you start it. It's like the old Chinese Proverb says. "Those that say it can't be done, should get out of the way of those doing it".

July 25th - National Culinarians Day

July 25th is "National Culinarians Day". And for those of you who are scratching your heads wondering what the hell that means, culinarian is simply a fancy word for chef most likely thought up by the French to give themselves a more important title than what they actually are. And if your not sure what a chef is, then you are most likely a female born after 1982 because none of you know how to cook. Only kidding of course, chefs can be called whatever the hell they want as long they keep serving me delicious food on end and enjoy every bit of it. Hell I even have one of those cheeky "Kiss The Chef" aprons with the arrow pointing down that I rock every time there is a grill out even if I'm not cooking. Culinarians are artists and my stomach is the judge, so whenever they feel the need for critique there is a very simple formula to follow. Don't overcook the steak and never under cook the chicken. Easy enough...

July 24th - National Tequila Day

It's happened to all of us. You wake up in the morning, look at your friends and utter the always infamous phrase "I remember everything until we started doing shots of tequila." And after your buddies finish telling you about how you managed to recreate all of the Twilight movies after you swore to everybody you never watched them, you realize that tequila might not be the liquor for you. OK, that was only one time, but it's no excuse to stop drinking this elixir fit for the gods. Tequila always seems like the go to drink when the party is getting dull or when you are trying to get up the nerve to do something you will most likely regret but at the same time won't remember, so it all seemingly works out in the end. So splash in a little tequila with your orange juice this morning and raise your glass because July 24th is "National Tequila Day".

July 23rd - National Hot Dog Day

Has there ever been a food that is more of a staple to picnics, grill outs, and just meals everywhere in general than the hot dog? It's almost always the perfect compliment to a juicy burger, some great side dishes like pasta salad or even just all by itself at the local hot dog stand that has the buns perfectly toasted in the tin foil wrappers. I mean think about it, how many times do you go to a sporting event and grab a dog for a quick snack, or eat a couple of hot dogs while you're waiting for the main course to come out? It's such a simple yet diverse food that can be enjoyed in so many ways. The hot dog just seems to go with everything (probably because it has a little bit of everything inside of it) and has more than earned its spot for July 23rd to be known as "National Hot Dog Day".

July 22nd - National Hammock Day

Is there ever any reason to not enjoy a nice relaxing afternoon in the sun gently swinging back and forth in the wind? Well if you ever needed an excuse to get away from the family and just be at peace for a few moments, today you have the best excuse possible. That's because July 22nd is "National Hammock Day". And even if most of your memories of hammocks are of being spun around as far possible while hanging on for dear life through the little string holes or waking up with a deep checkered pattern on your face that seemingly lasts for days, they're still a lot better times then doing yard work or hanging with your in laws. So grab a nice cool glass of lemonade, a magazine or your iPad and just enjoy a few moments to yourself.

July 21st - National Junk Food Day

July 21st is "National Junk Food Day" and what better way to celebrate such a day then by just completely overdoing it. And I'm not just talking about reaching for another handful of doritos when you've already had enough or buying the king size version of a peanut butter twix bar. No I'm talking about making a bowl out of deep fried pizza crust, filling it up with every type of your favorite candy, layering on cheetos and whip cream with bugles and twizzlers on top kind of overindulging. Too much? Well man up and just do it, I'm pretty sure it's mandatory on a day like today. And if you get the urge to eat something healthy, some deep fried, cheesy broccoli bites should have more than enough nutrition in it to balance out the bad.

July 20th - National Moon Day

I know what you're thinking, so before you go around dropping trowel while proclaiming that July 20th is "National Moon Day", you should probably realize that I am talking about the big old hunk of cheese that hangs out with the stars in the sky at night and not your derrière. Now that we got that out of the way let's discuss why such a holiday exists in the first place. The moon plays a fairly important role our daily lives, ranging from influencing ocean tides with it's gravitational pull to impacting a few crazy people's moods according to its lunar phases. Not to mention that the moon is the only natural satellite to the earth and has been the basis for tales told throughout history for most likely millions of years. These reasons alone should be enough to bask in it's nighttime glory and celebrate its presence every single day.

July 19th - National Daiquiri Day

Now here is a holiday that we can all fully get behind and celebrate properly. With the perfect mixture of sweet, sour and alcohol, the daiquiri has been a favorite of party goers and beach dwellers year round to give that tropical vacation feel to any party. With base ingredients of rum, lime juice, and sugar, the daiquiri can take on any fruity flavor your palate desires from the smooth strawberry daiquiri to the tangy banana daiquiri and can be served straight up or as a frozen mixture with crushed ice. The daiquiri is also one of the few beverages where it is acceptable to drink from a cocktail glass, so you can feel somewhat classy while you're sucking down your rum infused slurpee.

July 18th - National Caviar Day

July 18th is known as "National Caviar Day" around the world, or more notably, in upper class neighborhoods who feel that eating little baby fish fetuses truly cements their status in society. Known for its salty flavor, caviar is actually non-fertilized, processed and curated roe (fish eggs) that can be eaten on it's own with some crackers or bread or served as a garnish to give food that little extra something to really standout. Normally black in color, true caviar is said to come from the wild sturgeon in the Caspian and Black Seas, but can also be orange or red in color and come from many other species of fish such as the salmon, steelhead, whitefish, trout or lumpfish.

July 17th - National Yellow Pig Day

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that there are no yellow pigs in existence and that celebrating "National Yellow Pig Day" makes about as much sense as two bald men fighting over a comb. Don't worry though, there is a reasonable explanation to all of this madness, sort of...

July 16th - National Corn Fritters Day

July 16th is also known as "National Corn Fritters Day" here in the bizarre holiday world. And what could be more appropriate then to head to your local restaurant and eat up a batch of these savory fried biteables that are a perfect side dish with any barbeque or southern-style meal. Made up of a mixture of corn, egg, flour, milk and butter, these tasty treats can be fried or baked and served with pretty much any dipping sauce that suits your palete or topped with fresh fruits and syrup to make one delicious dessert.

July 15th - National Gummi Worm Day

July 15th is officially "National Gummi Worm Day" and what better way to celebrate then by seeing how many gummi worms you can stuff into your mouth at the same time. My personal best is 47, good luck beating that. With multiple different colors, sizes, and flavors, the gummi worm has been a favorite scare tactic for older brothers everywhere who try and convince their younger siblings that they are actually putting a real worm down their pants. Either that, or trying to impress the girl they like by eating one in front of them and saying that it was a real worm they just ate. That tactic was always a good one and still works to this day...

July 14th - National Nude Day

There are not many holidays that will truly get me excited quite like this July 14th, which is officially "National Nude Day". How can you tell I'm excited? Well, we'll leave that be for now and move on to something else... As much as it may sound like some perverted holiday thought up by a group of teenage boys looking to see some boobs for free one day out of the year, National Nude Day is actually a very serious holiday started up by the many nudist groups around the world. The message they are trying to convey is that the human body is a beautiful thing, in all shapes and forms, and should not be something that you are embarassed about. It's how we come into this world and for the few lucky of us it's also the same way we go out of it, so what's there to be ashamed of? If you got it, flaunt it, and if you don't embrace it and celebrate it.

July 13th - National French Fries Day

July 13th is "National French Fries Day", or as we like to call it around these parts, Fryday. That joke only works about once every 5 years or so, so if you are reading this and don't get the joke, realize that this was written on a friday. What's not to love about the French fry though? They can be baked, fried, curled, seasoned, dipped in ketchup, ranch, bbq, thousand island or even mayonaisse (only if you have issues) and can accompany just about any meal. Paired best with hotdogs and hamburgers, the french fry has been a staple for summer cookouts and restaurants everywhere for quite some time now.

July 12th - National Pecan Pie Day

If you're a fan of nuts (and frankly who isn't) then today's holiday is catered directly to your liking. That is because July 12th is officially "National Pecan Pie Day" and what better way to celebrate then to stuff your face full of this sweet, crunchy treat. Made up primarily of corn syrup or molasses and pecan nuts on a flaky pie crust, the pecan pie is an American favorite during the holidays. Many other variations of the pie do exist, including putting whipped cream, some fresh fruit, chocolate sauce and even splashing a little bourbon or whiskey in with it can add quite a unique flavor.

July 11th - National Cheer Up The Lonely Day

July 11th is officially "National Cheer Up The Lonely Day". So how can you celebrate such a depressingly themed holiday you might ask? Well that's easy, if you are a happy, outgoing and cheerful person, then why not spread that good vibe with those around you. As they say, happiness is infectious (along with a few other things that we won't discuss here), so why not share it with the people who aren't. If there is someone in your family, a friend you've lost touch with or even an elderly person or someone in your neighborhood who looks like they could use a little cheering up, why not spend 5 minutes with them. You never know how much of an impact such a small gesture can have on both of you. Or if you're not exactly the type, just take a buddy out for a beer or go shopping with your girlfriends if that suits you more. The effort makes all the difference.

July 10th - National Piña Colada Day

July 10th is also "National Piña Colada Day" and what better way to celebrate a bizarre holiday than to kick back with a frosty adult beverage and enjoy a nice summer day. If you are not familiar with this Spanish cocktail, than you are either too young to indulge or have never been on a tropical vacation to the islands or the bar in your basement. Made up of rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice and served with blended ice and a pineapple wedge, this sweet alcoholic beverage is a treat for any day of the year.

Created on August 16, 1954 at the Caribe Hilton's Beachcomber Bar in San Juan, Puerto Rico by Ramon "Monchito" Marrero, the piña colada has been cooling down and refreshing palates for more than half a century now. Winning numerous awards over the years, the piña colada was named the official beverage of Puerto Rico in 1978.

July 10th - Teddy Bear Picnic Day

July 10th is officially "Teddy Bear Picnic Day" in which all participants should give their favorite teddy bear a little break from snuggling and fix up a nice lunch to share with their best buddy. Celebrated in classrooms, the park and backyards everywhere, these cute picnics are a tradition for many children and parents alike.

The origin of this joyous day can be traced back to many stories in history, starting with Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt and the creation of the Teddy Bear.  Popular account has it that in November of 1902 Teddy Roosevelt, President of the United States and also a well-known hunter, was presented with a bear tied to a tree since he had failed to shoot one on a hunt earlier in the day. When he refused to do so a popular cartoonist at the time, Clifford Berryman, recreated the scene in the Washington Post which then led to the creation of a stuffed bear nicknamed "Teddy's Bear" that instantly became an overnight sensation. Soon after Teddy Bears were mass produced as a novelty item with millions now sold worldwide.

July 9th - National Sugar Cookie Day

July 9th has come to be known as "National Sugar Cookie Day" over the years. The main reasoning for creating such a day is that everybody loves a good sugar cookie and it allows you to satisfy that sweet tooth in all of us. Even better, sugar cookies are a blank canvas that can be delicious on their own or dressed up with all types of designs, sprinkles or even icing that is perfect for any day, holiday or not, and served to people of all ages.

This delicious sugary treat was created in the mid-1700s by German Protestant settlers in the Nazareth area of Pennsylvania, but were most likely an expansion on an earlier unleavened cookie called a jumble that has been around since the middle ages.

Create the perfect sugar cookie and celebrate this tasty holiday with this simple recipe below!