Happy Independent Bookstore Day! Hang the streamers, release the balloons, and head out to your local bookshop. Never heard of Independent Bookstore Day? Let's pop on over to IndieBookstoreDay.com to find out what this book-centric holiday is all about, shall we...

"Independent Bookstore Day is a one-day national party that takes place at indie bookstores across the country on the last Saturday in April.  Every store is unique and independent, and every party is different. But in addition to authors, live music, cupcakes, scavenger hunts, kids events, art tables, readings, barbecues, contests, and other fun stuff, there are exclusive books and literary items that you can only get on that day. Not before. Not after. Not online.

Independent bookstores are not just stores, they’re community centers and local anchors run by passionate readers. They are entire universes of ideas that contain the possibility of real serendipity. They are lively performance spaces and quiet places where aimless perusal is a day well spent.

In a world of tweets and algorithms and pageless digital downloads, bookstores are not a dying anachronism.  They are living, breathing organisms that continue to grow and expand. In fact, there are more of them this year than there were last year. And they are at your service."

Not sure where to find a bookstore near you? They've got your covered there too! To find a list of participating shops, just click here: https://indiemap.bookweb.org/

December is Dressember. Beginning December 1st, ladies all around the world commit to wearing a dress every day for the entire month in support of human trafficking causes. While the dresses act as conversation starters, the Dressember Foundation also believes they can use them as a way to reclaim and reappropriate them as symbols of freedom and power.

The primary function is to raise both awareness and money to end modern slavery so there is a fundraising element that is encouraged. Since 2013 Dressember advocates have raised $7 million in the fight against human trafficking. As with any such endeavor, if you can't afford to donate, wear your dresses anyway to help raise awareness - the site has all of the statistics necessary to have an enlightening conversation with someone. There are all different ways to fight for what you believe in.

www.dressember.org

What better way to celebrate the changing of the seasons than with a Bucket List? Here are 50 ways you can celebrate Fall.

1. Watch a film set in autumn
2. Read a novel set in autumn
3. Attend a fall festival or street faire
4. Visit a pumpkin patch
5. Host a chili cook-off
6. Go apple picking
7. Find your way through a corn or hay maze
8. Go on an evening hay ride
9. Bake a loaf of pumpkin bread
10. Rent a cabin in the woods
11. Build a scarecrow
12. Go tailgating
13. Have a backyard or beach bonfire
14. Jump into a pile of freshly raked leaves
15. Carve or decorate a pumpkin
16. Take a drive and admire the changing leaves
17. Make caramel or candied apples
18. Chop firewood and cuddle by the fire
19. Roast a batch of pumpkin seeds
20. Make a leaf wreath
21. Bake mini apple pies
22. Buy a new scarf or pair of boots
23. Learn how to knit (a scarf?!)
24. Drink apple cider (or a PSL)
25. Bundle up and enjoy a crisp walk
26. Spend the afternoon in a cozy coffee shop
27. Build a blanket fort
28. Roast corn on the cob
29. Cook a pot of soup and serve in mini pumpkins
30. Donate to your local food bank
31. Volunteer at your local homeless shelter
32. Listen to the leaves crunch under your feet
33. Paint colorful gourds
34. Put together a puzzle with friends
35. Play in the rain and jump in puddles
36. Start a Thankful/Gratitude Journal
37. Lay a blanket in the grass and gaze at the stars
38. Make a leaf/flower press for fall foliage
39. Share a favorite ghost story
40. Simmer cloves and cinnamon on the stove
41. Make pillow covers out of old sweaters
42. Create art with leaf rubbings
43. Pop popcorn on the stove top
44. Make popcorn balls
45. Stay at a country B&B
46. Stop at a roadside produce stand
47. Fill thermoses with soup and cider for a picnic
48. Take an afternoon bike ride to the farmers market
49. Cone on a pinecone collecting expedition
50. Make a hearty slow cooker meal

Looking for a fun way too spend the first Saturday in May? Well look no further than Free Comic Book Day!

Check out a few of their FAQs to learn more!

What is "Free Comic Book Day?"
As the name implies, Free Comic Book Day is a single day when participating comic book specialty shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their shops.

Are they really free?
Yep!

Is this the first Free Comic Book Day?
No! The first Free Comic Book Day event was held in 2002. In the past, thousands of shops around the world have given away millions of free comic books to interested readers. We're proud of the continuing success of FCBD and look forward to growing the event each year!

What's the big deal about comic books anyway?
Comic books are an original American art form, created in the early days of the twentieth century. They are fun to read, featuring a wide range of diverse story lines that capture the imagination of the readers. That's worth celebrating in our book - we're proud to be a part of this wonderful medium. To learn more about comic books and their history, go here.

Which comics are available?
Each year, the comics offered change.

Can I grab any comic I want?
Shops will be giving away special comics for the event - you cannot simply take any comic book from the rack. Click on The Comics to see the many choices of comics being given away for free this year.

We could try to explain Galentine's Day, but why not leave that to  the Deputy Director of Pawnee City Department of Parks and Recreation (and holiday inventor) Leslie Knope.  Leslie is the hardest working woman in government, but she's also an eternal optimist who knows how to celebrate life.

So once a year, thanks to Ms. Knope, we celebrate Galentine's Day.  February 13th has become the annual day for ladies to celebrate friendship.  In Pawnee that means eating a lot of waffles, but here are a few other Galentine's Day ideas to get you started.

Galentine's Day at the Pub
That's right.  Belly up to the bar and order a round of apps and drinks for you and your ladies for a night out that requires very little planning and no clean up.

Galentine's Day Breakfast
Leslie would heartily approve of this choice.  Pick your favorite local restaurant, make a reservation, and brunch your hearts out.

Galentine's Day at the Movies
A movie date with your ladies works best if there's a guilty pleasure film playing (Magic Mike, anyone?) because no one wants to celebrate by watching the year's best tearjerkers.  Have a little fun!

Galentine's Day Painting Party
Wine and painting parties are all the rage these days, but they're also one of the easiest events to duplicate at home.  Buy a stack of cheap canvases (or a pad of watercolor paper), a pile of cheap brushes (everyone's got at least a few lying around), a bunch of acrylics (not oil paints!), and have each lady bring a snack to share.  Painting can be freestyle or you can print out a few ideas for inspiration.

How will you celebrate Galentine's Day?

It’s a brand new year, which means there are at least 365 chances to do something awesome in 2016.  Let’s start off with some random January holiday inspiration, shall we? 
 
Random January Holidays
January is Independent Bookstore Month (and National Book Month… handy!)
January is also International Creativity Month
And Letter Writing Month (in conjunction with Universal Letter Writing Week for those with alien penpals)
And National Candy Month
And National Hot Tea Month
And National Polka Month
And National Skating Month
(We’re getting so many ideas our heads are spinning!)
 
Jan. 1 Betsy Ross’ birthday (Miss Adventure’s homegirl)
Jan. 1 US Bowling Day
Jan. 2 Swiss Cheese Day
Jan. 3 JRR Tolkein’s birthday (and the birthday of the drinking straw… coincidence? Probably)
Jan. 4 Trivia Day (now you know the answer to “When was JRR Tolkein’s birthday)
Jan. 5 Great Fruitcake Toss (we’re going to find out exactly where this happens!)
Jan. 6 Bean Day
Jan. 8 Elvis Presley’s birthday (uuh huh)
Jan. 10 Peculiar People Day (or Every Day at TDA Headquarters)
Jan. 13 Make Your Dreams Come True Day
Jan. 15 National Humanitarian Day
Jan. 16 National Nothing Day (?)
Jan. 18 Winnie the Pooh Day
Jan. 19 Popcorn Day
Jan. 20 Take a Walk Outdoors Day
Jan. 21 Squirrel Appreciation Day (poor, underappreciated rodents)
Jan. 22 National Polka Dot Day
Jan. 25 National Opposites Day
Jan. 26 Groundbreaking of Disneyland in 1954
Jan. 27 Mad T Party Day
Jan. 28 National Blueberry Pancake Day
Jan. 28 Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
Jan. 29 National Puzzle Day
Jan. 31 Backwards Day
 
Leave a comment below telling us which holiday you’re excited to celebrate!

We never turn down an opportunity to celebrate something.  Arbor Day?  Time to pull out the Jason Mraz concert tee of the pine tree riding a bicycle!  Mickey Mouse's birthday?  Let's head to Disneyland!  The anniversary of Luke and Laura's wedding?  Bring on the General Hospital binge marathon!

One of the main branches of Adventure is interaction.  Having an adventure together is probably the most fun way to connect with other people besides, you know, literally "connecting" (wink wink).  Every time you put on an Ugly Christmas Sweater you are actively participating in Adventure and thus, Life.  And, as an added bonus, you are entertaining the people around you.

Now let's talk about December.  We hear that there's this big holiday with, like, twinkle lights and candy canes?  Jolly guys and red-nosed reindeer?  Gingerbread houses and randomly singing it the streets?  Spending way too much time in Target because gifts?  Okay, just kidding, we love Christmas.  Like, A LOT.  But, guess what - there are a lot of other Random Holidays waiting to be celebrated in December too.  Don't let them suffer because they happen to occur in the same month as the Best Holiday Ever!  Support your favorite Random Holiday today... or on whatever day it happens to actually be on.  I think this paragraph is getting away from us.  CHRISTMAS!

Random December Holidays
December is Art and Architecture Month
December is also Learn a Foreign Language Month
And, of course, Cooked Grasshoppers Month

Dec. 1 National Pie Day (not to be confused with Pi Day)
Dec. 1 Eat a Red Apple Day
Dec. 2 Business of Popping Corn Day
Dec. 2 Play Basketball Day
Dec. 2 National Fritters Day
Dec. 3 The Birthday of Neon Lighting
Dec. 4 National Cookie Day
Dec. 4 Wear Brown Shoes Day
Dec. 4 National Dice day
Dec. 5 Bicycle Riding Day (this one must have originated on the West Coast)
Dec. 5 International Volunteer Day
Dec. 5 Walt Disney's Birthday
Dec. 7 National Cotton Candy Day
Dec. 7 Marshamallow Peeps Day (Really?  In December?)
Dec. 8 National Brownie Day
Dec. 9 National Pastry Day
Dec. 11 National Knitter's Day
Dec. 12 Gingerbread House Day
Dec. 13 National Cocoa Day
Dec. 14 First Miniature Golf Course opened
Dec. 16 National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
Dec. 17 Cookie Cutter Day
Dec. 18 Play Bingo Day
Dec. 21 Birthday of the Crossword Puzzle
Dec. 22 World Peace Day
Dec. 22 National Haiku Poetry Day
Dec. 26 National Candy Cane Day
Dec. 27 Visit the Zoo Day
Dec. 27 National Fruitcake Day (ew)
Dec. 28 Eat Vegetarian Day
Dec. 28 National Chocolate Day (we swear we're not making these up - although this one does sound like us)
Dec. 29 Opposite Day

Leave a comment below telling us which holiday you're going to celebrate!