National "Get Out of the Doghouse" Day!

 National Get Out of the Doghouse Day!

Why do we use this phrase, and where did it even start?

I'm so glad you asked. I'm going to fill you in soon. I have always been one of those people that like to know the how's and why's before I share any information. I have to at least try to dig into the history or facts about what ever it is. 

 E.g. Why do people say someone is "piss poor" or that it is "raining cats and dogs"?

Those are a couple of fun ones I looked up. You'll have to do your own digging on those and maybe some others.

Now, back to today's fun saying.

"Get Out of the Doghouse"

It is celebrated every year on the third Monday of July.

The phrase is known to be used when someone(spouse, friend, other), is in trouble or out of favor with the other. It is used as a punishment for their transgression. A shaming tactic.

I'm sure we all know what it means or how it is used, but do you know why we say it or where it started?

Would you believe it began in a classic children's book we all know, fairly well, I'd say?

It all started in 1911 in the story of Peter Pan, written by J.M Barrie.

That's right!

In chapter 16, Mr. darling is feeling guilty that the children flew away, and he consigns himself to the "doghouse" or kennel, as is the case in the book.

Quote:

"When the children flew away, Mr. Darling felt in his bones that all the blame was his for having chained Nana up, and that from first to last she had been wiser than he. Of course, as we have seen, he was quite a simple man; indeed he might have passed for a boy again if he had been able to take his baldness off; but he had also a noble sense of justice and a lion's courage to do what seemed right to him; and having thought the matter out with anxious care after the flight of the children, he went down on all fours and crawled into the kennel. To all Mrs. Darling's dear invitations to him to come out, he replied sadly but firmly:

"No, my own one, this is the place for me.""

This may be why we associate the phrase more toward men. Who knows?

This is where the phrase or the idea originated, but the first actual printed "in the doghouse" verses Mr. Darling consigning himself to the kennel; actually can be found in James. J. Finerty's 1926 glossary of the language of criminals, Criminalese, in which being "in the doghouse" is described as being "in disfavor"

Not a big gap between Children's class literature and Criminal language.

Funny how that happens. 

The next confirmed print of the term is found in 1933 in an Iowa newspaper, Waterloo Daily, in which the "poor French ambassador" is being described as "still in the doghouse."

Books used for references:

Peter Pan: With original 1911 illustrations

How to Stay Out of the Doghouse by Josh Rubin

Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms

I think the phrase has definitely become more popular, and widely used, over time.

We've probably all said it once or twice, whether we put someone there, or were there ourselves.

I hope you've enjoyed today's post and our fun facts about our National Fun Holiday.

National Different Colored Eyes Day!

 National Different Colored Eyes Day!

Y'all! I am so, so super stoked to do this one! 

If I had a dollar for every time someone has looked straight at me and asked, "Do you know your eyes are two different colors?"(Here's your sign!)

I would be one rich momma! Yup!

Yours truly!

This day was meant for me!

The medical term is actually Heterochromia. It means a variation in color of the iris. The word is derived from Ancient Greece where "heteros" means different and "chroma" means color. 

Heterochromia is determined by the production, delivery, and concentration of melanin(pigment). It may be inherited, or caused by genetic mosaicism, chimerism, disease, or injury.

According to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information center, most cases of heterochromia of the eye occur sporadically in people with no family history of the condition.

Most cases are present from birth and are called genetic heterochromia.

People who develop it later on in life due to illness, injury, or medication are considered acquired heterochromia.

There are 3 types of Heterochromia.

Central heterochromia:

It is when the irises match each other but have a ring of different color around the pupils. Although not as striking as the other two types, central heterochromia is the most common type. For instance, someone with blue eyes may have an inner brown ring around the pupil.

Segmental heterochromia:

It is also known as heterochromia iridis, occurs when a patch of different color appears in one iris. Most common is blue eyes, with one having a brown speck or patch in the iris. This type is usually the most noticeable do to the drastic difference from one eye to the other due to the patch of color showing in only one eye.

Complete heterochromia:

It is also known as heterochromia iridum, occurs when the two irises are completely different colors.

This is the rarest type and most likely to be genetic and born with the condition. Less than 200,000 Americans have been found to have complete heterochromia.

(This is the type that I have)

There are quite a few celebrities that actually have heterochromia. Some are extremely noticeable, as in David Bowie(complete), while another like Simon Pegg's(segmental) are not as extreme.

A few more to list are:

Mila Kunis

Jane Seymour

Dan Aykroyd

Joshua Henderson

Kiefer Sutherland

Elizabeth Berkley

and 

Christopher Walken

There are several more you can read about and learn the types they have, which were born this way and which acquired it from injury or other.

Celebrities with Heterochromia

I learned that even with all of these well known people, and myself having heterochromia, it is still considered a rare condition. 

Heterochromia affects less than 1% of total human population!

I know some of you are thinking...because, I have heard this a million times.

"Wow, I've seen dogs with that!"

Yes, I'm sure we've all seen a dog or cat with different colored eyes. It definitely is more common in animals. I just didn't want to get into a whole other part of DNA and genetics with this post. You can learn more about heterochromia in animals by clicking the link a little farther down the page.

Since, I do actually have this, I wanted to learn more and share what I found.

You can always do some extra digging to find out more.

Here are just a couple refs. I pulled up.

American Academy Ophthalmology(AAO)

Heterochromia in Animals

I hope you've enjoyed today's post and maybe even learned something new.

I know I found a few statistics I didn't know and a few celebrities I wasn't aware had heterochromia.

Do you know anyone with this condition?

I'd love to hear about it.

Share pics/email or just comment and let me know!

Here's my little selfie collage!

National Sugar Cookie Day!

 Ohhhh, Sugar Sugar... Cookie

Today is National Sugar Cookie Day!

To celebrate National Sugar Cookie Day, I thought I would share a little about myself and my family before getting into our history and fun facts' part of the post.

I don't know about anyone else, but sugar cookies are a staple food in my family! We have a secret Mamaw recipe. Don't ask for it, I won't give it out, but I guarantee you, if you come over on ANY holiday, there will be sugar cookies to taste!

I'm not even kidding. My Mamaw has 3 of those Christmas variety popcorn tins absolutely full of cookie cutters. She also has given a few to the grandkids to use in their homes. I could easily guess, she has 100s of cookie cutters.

If she is rockin' her shower cap and whips out the rolling pin, it is on!

Go time!

It is such a special time for all of us. Not only is it fun and yummy, it is a great time to be with family. It is also a pretty good skill to know. Baking!

Well, I didn't exactly master that one. If it was my job to bring cookies to the school party, you'd be getting store bought. I just cannot do it! I, either end up with one huge pancake cookie or they are dry and burnt.

I'll leave the baking to the family pros and stick with the easy, cheater kind if we aren't having a family cookie party soon.

Pilsbury Ready to bake* Sugar Cookies

The sugar cookie is believed to date all the way back to the mid-1700s in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

German Protestant settlers created round, crumbly and buttery tasting cookie that came to be known as the Nazareth Cookie. The sugar cookie is, basically, what I call the "original cookie". It really is amazing just as it is. Warm, sweet, and just soft enough to melt in your mouth.

Don't look at it as a plain, basic cookie. Look at it as the base or starting point of a ton of cookies!

Take your "basic" sugar cookie dough and add to it.

Add peanut butter= peanut butter cookie

Add chips=Chocolate chip cookie

Add cinnamon=Snickerdoodle

Add oats and raisins= Oatmeal/raisin cookies

You get the idea. One other way to jazz up your sugar cookie is icing it.

Today, sugar cookies have become an art form, with making and decorating for people of any age.

Cookie decorating dates even farther back than the sugar cookie. It seems around the 14th century, Switzerland had cookie molds that they used to impress biblical designs into cookies.

If you are the type to put "icing" on your cookie, it may be fun to know that icing actual came before frosting.

Icing was first used around 1683, while frosting was first attested in 1750.

I am a fan of old-fashioned buttercream icing.

It could be, just nostalgia, but it will always be my favorite.

What type do you prefer? Frosting, icing, buttercream, cream cheese, whipped.

If you aren't a baker, be sure to click the highlighted link above to grab some easy break and bake sugar cookies!

Do you have a certain holiday that brings out your baking skills?

I'd love to hear about it. Any tips for the non-bakers out here?

Have a great day and go celebrate National Sugar Cookie Day!