A review of an awareness holiday for everyone who has ever enjoyed a day at the beach.
National Beach Day
Having spent a great number of years living near beaches of many kinds, from ponds to lakes to oceans, National Beach Day ‘speaks’ to my soul.
I spent some of my growing up years in ‘beach’ communities, from my birthplace of Canandaigua, NY (one of the Finger Lakes) to Rochester, NY situated on Lake Ontario (one of the Great Lakes). My adult married life brought me to communities on the Gulf of Mexico, the California Central Coast and the Southeastern Shores of South Carolina and Georgia. So beaches have been an integral part of my life.
Between beach community times, I have also lived as a ‘landlubber’ in the Midwest, but this quote keeps me going away from the beaches:
"The beach is not a place, it's a feeling"
So I can truly say: The beach is my ‘happy’ place.
Origin of this Holiday
Begun by animal activist, Colleen Paige, in 2014, National Beach Day is designated as a day to clean up the natural resources of the beach. Keeping beaches beautiful and sustainable allows everyone to enjoy them for a long time into the future.
Summary
So if you enjoy lying around soaking up the sunshine on your favorite beach, with access to salt-water oceans or fresh-water lakes, and love outdoor activities such as swimming, walking on the beach and building sandcastles, use National Beach Day on August 30 to participate in a ‘beach clean-up’ to keep your favorite places enjoyable for all. Then reward yourself with a 'fun-in-the-sun beach day’.
My favorite beach picture, taken (at the request of our daughter) at dawn on the first day of the new millenium (January 1, 2001) on Tybee Island, Georgia.
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On August 2nd we celebrate the fun food holiday, National Ice Cream Sandwich Day. It is the perfect cool treat for a hot summer day. It is a delicious summertime follow-up to July’s National Ice Cream Month.
Some Fun Tasty History of National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
On National Ice Cream Sandwich Day, we celebrate a delicious delight that is over a century old. We know this to be true because of an article published in the New York Mail and Express (a daily New York City newspaper) in 1899 to verify that there were ice cream sandwiches for sale by street vendors in New York at that time. For one penny!
The article said the following:
There are ham sandwiches and salmon sandwiches and cheese sandwiches and several other kinds of sandwiches, but the latest is the ice-cream sandwich.
How to Celebrate National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
In my day, the ice cream sandwich I remember (and enjoyed) the most as a child was the traditional brick of vanilla ice cream placed between two soft chocolate wafers. Ice cream and cookies - always a child-favorite!
Over time, many variations of the ice cream sandwich have come about and many can even be created in your own kitchen.
There is the creation invented by an ice cream vendor in 1928 in San Francisco who used two oatmeal cookies instead of chocolate wafers. He even had a version of this that he dipped into chocolate before he served it.
Maybe you could add some chocolate chips around the edges of the ice cream. Or use chocolate chip cookies with chocolate chip cookie ice cream! :)
How about chocolate ice cream between vanilla wafers?
Making ice cream sandwiches can be as simple or as difficult as you choose them to be. Just select your favorite flavor of ice cream and the cookies/biscuits/wafers you like best and come up with your favorite version.
If you want a challenge and enjoy ‘fun in the kitchen’, try making your own cookies and your own ice cream for a tasty homemade impressive creation!
Summary
This wonderfully simple frozen dessert is an extremely tasty and delicious ice cream treat. So be sure to be ready with your favorites on National Ice Cream Sandwich Day on August 2.
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In days gone by, many Southern towns had boarding houses, places where you could find a simple quiet room and enjoy, usually, two meals a day in a communal dining room.
The Wilkes House, built in 1870, began operation as a boardinghouse in 1943, run by Sema Wilkes.
History
Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room is a lunch only restaurant in Savannah, Georgia located in what was originally the dining hall of the boardinghouse begun by Sema Wilkes in the historic Wilkes House. She owned and managed the restaurant for 59 years, and today her family continues the tradition.
Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room is only open for lunch Monday through Friday, from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm. It is closed on weekends and holidays. It offers popular Southern US home cooking. There is no menu; instead, there are specific offerings each day. These usually include their famous southern fried chicken, along with a variety of vegetables such as black-eyed peas or okra gumbo, plus bowls of fluffy mashed potatoes and the absolutely delicious Wilkes’ macaroni and cheese* dish, along with corn muffins and biscuits. Other days you might find meatloaf or stew as the main dishes.
Seating is family-style at large tables for ten shared by whoever you were in line with when the doors open. The popularity of this restaurant is such that long lines begin to form long before the 11:00 a.m. opening. In its homestyle tradition, guests are escorted in shifts of ten into the dining room where tables are already set with steaming bowls and platters of yummy Southern food. Guests sit together and pass the food around like family.
Location
Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room is located at 107 West Jones Street in Savannah, Georgia, which is close to Chatham Square, one of the 22 famous squares of Savannah. Jones Street is a cobblestone street in the Historic District that's lined with trees and near the Design District's shops.
*Favorite Food
My favorites served at Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room the day I took my mom was the delicious fried chicken and the outstanding macaroni & cheese. I am not much of a cheese fan, and my idea of mac & cheese is with butter and milk (without cheese). So ordering macaroni and cheese in a restaurant is not something I would normally do. The exception is the dish served at Mrs. Wilkes. It has cheese (cheddar), but the cheese takes second place (taste-wise) to the milk & butter ingredients, along with the 4 eggs.
There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of macaroni and cheese recipes out there, but the best by far (in my opinion) is the version served at Mrs. Wilkes.
After a trip south a few years ago, Laurie of Northern Minnesota, posted on her Cookin’ Up North recipe blog her adapted version of the Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room she got from the cookbook she bought at the restaurant.
In addition to running Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room for many years (from 1943 until her death at the age of 95) Sema Wilkes wrote several cookbooks filled with the traditional Southern recipes she served at her restaurant.
Along with the recipes, the cookbooks delightfully include remembrances of Mrs. Wilkes, her family and friends, and include some fascinating tales of her most unusual regular customers over the years. The cookbooks are extremely entertaining and read rather like a memoir. This Boarding House Cookbook is one you will enjoy.
Summary
In a brochure about Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, this line is found:
"Stop by and enjoy the special pleasure of a meal shared with neighbors and strangers."
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I always look forward to Spring and summer, It is so lovely to get some sunshine and enjoy lovely weather,
but too much or too strong sun exposure can be harmful so I look for ways to enjoy the sun safely.
One way we can protect ourselves is to wear a hat. However although we can
wear any ordinary hat, if we want the best sun protection it is better to
buy one with added sun protection built in to the fabric. Most are factor 50 which
is excellent sun protection.
Sun safety is very important and a Sun Hat with built in sun protection can be very helpful. As summer arrives and the temperatures rise and the Ultra violet (UV) factors also rise we should all be more aware of keeping ourselves safe in the sun.
My husband and I always wear a Sun Protection Hat now and it really makes a huge difference to how we feel when out about about in the sun, we feel much more protected and cooler.
What Are UPF Protection Sunhats?
UPF sunhats are designed with tightly woven materials and special
treatments to block harmful UV rays. They are better than a standard hat in
this respect and offer more protection.
A short explanation is that we are used to hearing Sun Protection Factor SPF in sunscreens, but in clothing and sun hats you may see UPF which means Ultraviolet Protection Factor.
UPF measures the level of Ultra violet radiation the fabric permits to get through to our skin.
UPF 50 in a sun hat blocks 98% of the sun’s rays and protects us from UVA which are the ones that age us and UVB which are the ones that burn. You may still see them advertised as SPF or UPF and should look for factor 50 ideally.
They are available in a very wide variety of styles for men, women and
children. Styles include wide brimmed which are my favourite, baseball caps, bucket hats, beach hats, travel hats, stylish hats and some corded to keep them on in windy conditions. Some are plain,
some pretty, others two tone so you can have a two in one hat, some
very practical, others more decorative but all offering you added sun
protection.
A range of colours are available from blues, pinks, creams, greens, black
and many others so there is sure to be a colour that you
like.
Most offer sun protection to our scalp, hair and face. If the brim is
wide enough it can also give protection to our eyes, ears and neck.
Sunscreen on the face and head needs reapplying often, can cause allergic reactions and can rub
off during the day. For many people it is more difficult to apply to your head and not perhaps very comfortable and may be greasy or tacky. If you can wear sunscreen on your face and neck you should. However, by wearing a Sun protection hat as well, we cover all bases by being sun safe and maybe a little cooler. Yes hats can
blow off or be taken off, but as long as the person keeps the hat on,
perhaps with an adjustable chin strap, it gives all day
protection.
Some medications can make your skin very sensitive to sunlight and you may
be advised to keep your skin covered while taking them. Always check with
your doctor, but if advised to avoid the sun, a wide brimmed SPF sun hat may
be a very useful accessory to protect you while going about your
day.
Some health conditions make exposure to the sun inadvisable. Your doctor is
the best person to advise you, but if they approve wearing a wide brimmed
SPF sun hat may be useful to help you go about your day more
safely.
Sun Protection hats can really help us by protecting our skin from the sun, helping to shield us from burning or damage by the suns rays and even serious cases of skin cancer on the head and neck. My friend got skin cancer on her head despite having thick hair. She never wore a hat all summer both home or abroad. After having surgery for the skin cancer, she does now.
If you cannot wear sun screen due to allergies and still want to go out during summer, a sun hat is essential to protect your scalp, face and neck. Due to allergic reactions to sun creams and other creams and cosmetics I am unable to apply sunscreen. I have very fair sensitive skin which does not tan easily, so it is vital to me to wear a SPF sun hat at all times when the sun is out from Spring to Autumn to protect my skin.
Many sun creams contain chemicals which not only can irritate the face, eyes and skin but the chemicals may affect marine life too. A UPF/SPF sun hat may be an option if this affects you. Also look for sunscreens kinder to you and the environment.
There is a SPF sun hat for any occasion. Whether its gardening in your own
garden yard, going for a walk, days out sightseeing, dog walking, hiking,
beach days or exotic holidays.
A UPF/SPF Sun Hat can make enjoying the heat and suns rays a little safer for
everyone.
Sun Hats With SPF Benefits for Teenagers And Adults
A sunhat with added sun protection can be fashionable, sporty, practical,
even stylish. You can always add a ribbon or brooch to the hat if its too
plain for you or you like to individualise it.
If the brim is wide enough, it can protect your face against sun skin
ageing and from the skin going red and sore or getting burns.
A sun hat may help make up look better for longer.
AN SPF sunhat is very helpful for people with fine or thinning hair as it
offers protection for the skin on the scalp, as well as the face.
UV exposure can fade hair colour so if you colour your hair it is worth
wearing a good sunhat.
If you have short hair or neck coverage is important to you there are
styles with back flaps to guard the neck. It is often a difficult place to
apply sunscreen thoroughly and can feel tacky or greasy if it gets in your
hair.
An SPF sun hat is great for people who like to be active and outdoors.
There are hats suitable for hiking, gardening, fishing and many sports. I
always wear a Sun Protection hat while I am gardening and out walking in
nature in the summer.
I find an SPF sunhat with a wide brim also keeps me cooler.
Children have more delicate thinner skin and it is important to protect
it from the suns rays.
It might not be the easiest task to keep reapplying sun screen especially
to a child's scalp, neck and face, although of course we should try, but a hat with a strap to keep it on
may work and be a good double form of protection.
Children generally like to be active and a SPF Sunhat will help to
protect their face, eyes, head and neck from sun damage and burning while
they have fun, play or watch sport.
If a child grows up to feel that it is normal to wear sun screen and protective hats
and clothing, they will hopefully continue to wear them. It keeps their
skin protected from damage now and also perhaps guard against serious skin
damage and cancers later in life.
Ensure it has UPF factor fabric, ideally Factor 50.
Check the brim width is suitable for your protection needs and your activities.
Choose the colour and style
Choose the size - for this you will likely need to measure around the head
above the ears then check with the size charts.
Is the Hat adjustable to your head
Especially if you travel a lot does it fold up or lie flat for
packing
Is it reversible - useful for travel, or if you want to buy only one
hat.
When it arrives is it comfortable for you to wear for long periods of
time.
Does it have a chin strap, a detachable one is useful to make it more
versatile.
Is it washable or wipeable to keep it clean.
My favourite features in a sun hat include a wide brim to give some shade
and more protection, an adjustable chin strap so that there is less
likelihood it blows off in the wind and also gives me the strap to hold it
with over my wrist if I don't need it on.
I like a choice of colours and I
do like a two tone reversible so I get two hats in one which is great for
travel. I like when they are packable and foldable as well or at least lie
flat.
There is a Sun Protection Sun Hat that will suit every person and they do make a thoughtful gift.
Reviewing The Benefits of Sun Protection Hats for Adults and Children by
Raintree Annie
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This is a review of National Macaroni Day, which is celebrated each year on July 7th.
What is Macaroni?
Macaroni is a variety of pasta which gets its name, not from its shape, but from the type of dough used to make the noodles. Made with durum wheat, the flour is made from a type of ground semolina, resulting in a softer dough that works best for use with a pasta maker.
After the noodles are made, they are then formed into shells, spirals, straights, and other shapes. The elbow macaroni is the most common form found in the United States.
Macaroni Uses
Macaroni is used in a wide variety of dishes, including casseroles, soups and salads. It is used in both hot dishes and cold dishes. It works equally as well in cheese dishes and meat dishes, perfect for both meat lovers and vegetarians.
Macaroni’s usefulness works especially well for dishes for a large group of people, or simply as a dish to make ahead, making mealtimes easier. A general favorite is the simple Macaroni and Cheese, as there are so many delicious recipes for this family favorite.
My personal very favorite macaroni and cheese dish is one I have had several times at and from Mrs. Wilkes Dining Room, a delightful and delicious restaurant found in the historic district of Savannah, Georgia.
*Personal Story about macaroni involves the kid-favorite Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. I have never been very fond of cheese and ever since my teens I have eaten this Mac & Cheese prepared with simply milk and butter ~ no cheese. My family thinks this is very weird, but it is what I prefer. For homemade macaroni & cheese, I like the way Mrs. Wilkes makes their tasty dish seem less ‘cheesy’ then most. It is truly delicious and the only one that really appeals to me ~ cheese-wise!
My very favorite cold macaroni salad is my family’s favorite ‘Shrimp Macaroni Salad’. It is basically made with cooked (and chilled) elbow macaroni, shrimp, diced onions, and a sauce made with mayonnaise, mustard, spices and sour cream. There are several recipe variations, but it is really quite simple to make and very delicious to eat. Traditionally, our family always requests it for several summer holidays, such as Memorial Day and the 4th of July!
Outside the Kitchen!
Macaroni has more uses than just food. It can also be used for fun craft projects for kids. Let the kids play with a box of dry uncooked macaroni for arts and crafts projects. Create such things as necklaces and bracelets, suncatchers, and DIY art projects. Here’s a list of ideas online to get you started. Some call these arts & crafts projects “Pasta Art”.
A Delicious List of Pasta-Related Celebrations
National Spaghetti Day: January 4
National Fettuccine Alfredo Day: February 7
National Tortellini Day: February 13
National Ravioli Day: March 20
National Carbonara Day: April 6
National Macaroni Day: July 7
National Mac & Cheese Day: July 14
National Lasagna Day: July 29
National Noodle Day | October 6
National Pasta Day: October 17
World Pasta Day: October 25
National Parmigiano Reggiano Day: October 27
National Noodle Ring Day: December 11
National Pasta Month | October
To Sum Up this Fun Food Holiday.....
So, on July 7th, choose your favorite macaroni dish and enjoy a delicious meal on this pasta holiday. As you can see by the list above, there are many pasta days throughout the year to enjoy each dish you like best.
+All images in this review are compliments of Pixabay
*National Macaroni Day Review is written by Wednesday Elf
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Is My YouTube Channel Growing or Am I Just Going Through the Motions? What I Found Out
Like many content creators who have committed serious time and effort to YouTube, I reached a point where I had to ask myself: Is this going anywhere? Am I building something, or am I just talking into the void?
After uploading hundreds of riddle niche videos and slowly gaining subscribers, I started wondering whether my pace was "normal" or a sign that maybe YouTube just wasn't going to work out for me.
So, I did what many creators do when they feel stuck: I started researching.
What I found was a mix of relief, validation, and renewed motivation.
If you're in the same boat, asking the same questions, here's what I've learned from digging into YouTube growth patterns, expert opinions, and honest feedback from others in similar situations.
Why I Started—and How My Goals Changed
Initially, my motivation for creating a YouTube channel was straightforward: I needed a platform to host short riddle videos that I could easily embed on individual pages of my website, StumpedRiddles.com.
Initially, YouTube was just a functional tool—not a platform I had planned to grow.
But as I kept uploading and people started interacting—leaving comments, liking videos, even subscribing—I realized YouTube could be more than a support feature. It could actually become its own avenue for discovery, branding, and connection.
That's when I started treating my channel as a long-term creative project.
Here's a Typical Riddle Creation For Both YouTube and My Website:
So… Is My Growth Normal?
At the time I asked myself this, I had uploaded over 400 videos, built several themed playlists, and reached 155 subscribers—with a 90.9% like ratio on my videos. Naturally, I wondered: Is this respectable? Should I be further along by now?
What I experienced isn't unusual at all. Here's what I found:
1. Niche Channels Grow Slower—but Stronger
One of the first takeaways that jumped out during my research is that niche content takes longer to grow.
Whether you're posting riddles like I am, or offering tutorials, educational content, or deep-dive commentary, your audience is smaller by default, but often more engaged.
Unlike general entertainment or viral content, niche creators often build deeper connections with their audiences over time.
The slower pace doesn't mean failure—it means focus.
2. Most Successful Channels Take 3–5 Years to Build
This one surprised me. I found multiple sources and creator testimonials suggesting that it can take three to five years for a YouTube channel to gain significant traction—especially without shortcuts like trending content, reaction videos, or influencer collaborations.
In hindsight, this made me feel a lot better. What I thought was "slow progress" was actually typical progress.
Understanding that YouTube is a long game, not a sprint, shifted my mindset and helped me let go of some unrealistic expectations.
3. Consistency Builds More Than Numbers
I used to wonder whether uploading hundreds of videos with modest views was overkill. But here's what I learned: each video adds to your footprint. On YouTube, volume matters—but only if the content is consistent and aligned with your niche.
Evergreen videos, such as riddles or how-to guides, can attract new viewers long after they're uploaded.
Some of my earlier videos continue to attract attention months after they are posted. I realized that every upload isn't just a performance—it's a deposit into your future visibility.
4. Playlists Aren't Just for Organization—They're Strategy
I'd built playlists on my channel mostly to keep things tidy—organizing riddles by themes like health, holidays, and emotions.
However, what I didn't realize until I delved into the research is that playlists actually aid YouTube's algorithm.
They signal consistency and intent, guide the viewer's experience, and can improve watch time.
Creating a series called The Riddle Sisters, with fun character-based riddles, also helped give my channel a personality—which matters more than I thought.
One of My Many Playlists:
5. Engagement Rate Is a Quiet Win
When I saw that my like ratio was over 90%, I wasn't sure if that meant much.
However, experts say that the engagement rate is one of the most important signals of viewer satisfaction. It may not skyrocket your subscriber count overnight, but it shows that the people who do watch your videos are finding value in them.
That told me I wasn't just yelling into the void—I was actually connecting with the right viewers, even if the crowd was small (for now).
So viewers could see that I'm actually a real person (lol), I created a playlist section where I personally read my riddles. Here's one of them from the playlist: I upload these as shorts:
What YouTube Creators Should Expect (and Accept)
Here's the big picture I walked away with after all that digging:
YouTube growth is often slow, especially in niche spaces.
Most creators see meaningful growth only after years of consistent effort.
Engagement and audience retention are more valuable than raw view counts.
Creating structure through playlists, themed content, and branding helps both your viewers and the algorithm.
Uploading regularly—without burning out—is more important than chasing virality.
So, Should I Keep Going?
That was the big question for me. And after reading what I did, the answer became clear:
Yes, I should.
If anything, the research validated that I wasn't behind—I was right on track.
The hours I've put into editing, theming, scripting, and uploading are not wasted. They are foundational. According to the experts, they are precisely what a channel like mine should be doing at this stage.
Meet one of My Latest Creations From The Riddle Sister Series:
Final Thoughts: Questions Are Good—Just Don't Let Them Stop You
If you've been quietly wondering whether it's worth continuing, whether your results are "respectable," or whether your numbers are normal, you're not alone.
I asked all those questions, too. And while there's no one-size-fits-all answer, what I found out is this:
YouTube is a long-term platform. Niche creators need patience. But persistence really does matter.
If your channel has heart, structure, and consistency—even with just a few dozen or hundred subscribers—you're already doing better than you think.
👉 Curious how all this looks in action? You can visit my channel, Stumped Riddles on YouTube, to see how I've structured playlists, themed content, and kept at it—one riddle at a time.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
