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Fun Facts About Ice Cream

16 Thursday Jul 2020

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Photo Credit to Priscilla Du Preez

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! We understand that this summer feels different from those of years past, but there is one frozen dessert that is still available and ready for you to enjoy on a hot summer day.

Sunday, June 19, is National Ice Cream Day. We thought there was no better way to commemorate this delicious unofficial holiday than sharing a collection of fun facts:

  • New Zealanders consume more ice cream per capita than any other country in the world. Americans hold the second slot.
  • Thomas Jefferson is credited with having written the first ice cream recipe in the United States. You can see a copy from the Library of Congress.
  • Vanilla is the most popular ice cream flavor in the country.
  • Chocolate syrup is the world’s favorite ice cream topping.
  • It takes about 3 gallons of milk to make one gallon of ice cream.
  • About 9% of all milk produced in the US is used exclusively for ice cream.
  • According to Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Gurus, 8 degrees to 10 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature for serving ice cream.
  • 87% of Americans have ice cream in their freezer at any given time.
  • “Brain freeze” happens when something cold touches the roof of your mouth, causing the blood vessels that run between your mouth and brain to tense up. You may be able to reduce the tension by placing your tongue on the roof of your mouth to warm up the surface.
  • NASA has said that ice cream ranks in the top three most missed foods when astronauts leave for space missions; pizza and soda also make the list.
  • 1 in 10 Americans admit to licking the bowl clean.
  • It is believed that it takes about 50 licks to finish a single scoop ice cream cone.

There you have it – a dozen fun facts about America’s favorite frozen treat. Now, we encourage you to celebrate with a scoop, whether it comes from the freezer or your favorite local shop. What do you like best about ice cream? Let us know in the comments below.

Happy National Ice Cream Day from Lions Pride!

Supporting Nurses and Other Healthcare Workers

30 Thursday Apr 2020

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Next Wednesday, May 6, is the start of Nurses Week. Now, you may be asking yourself, shouldn’t this type of celebration start at the beginning of the week? It’s, of course, customary to commemorate these types of events on a Sunday or Monday, but this celebration is a bit different. Each year, Nurses Week takes place from May 6 to May 12, regardless of the day of the week, so the final day always lands on May 12, the birth date of Florence Nightingale, who is known as the Founder of Modern Nursing.

As the number of coronavirus cases continue to spread across the United States and impact the everyday lives of residents all over the world, we can’t think of a more appropriate time to recognize nurses putting their lives on the line to save others.

In the last month, Google released a video reporting that now more than ever before, people are looking for ways to help nurses and others involved in the medical community. To help answer this question, we have a few ideas to actively support our nursing community during this uncertain time:

  1. Donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The need for Personal Protective Equipment grows as we discover new COVID-19 cases. Sadly, we are seeing that many facilities are ill-equipped with the gear necessary to protect our nurses and healthcare workers from catching and spreading the virus. A group of doctors started a grassroots organization to determine which facilities are in most desperate need. Remember that supplies save lives. Visit their site to see if you can help.

  1. Send a Thank You Card

If you ever received extraordinary care from a nurse at a hospital or healthcare facility, we encourage you to let them know – even if it was years ago. Although many nurses might say that they were just doing their jobs, we, as patients, know that tender care can make all the difference in the world during times of ill health. Consider sending a thank you card or handwritten note expressing your gratitude. During this pandemic, nurses are working overtime and making a number of sacrifices in their personal lives to get through the present situation, so we would be willing to be a little appreciation would help boost their morale.

  1. Stay home (if you can)

It’s been 37 days since Wisconsin issued the “Safer at Home” order, and we know that many of us are coming down with cabin fever (ourselves included). Still, it’s critical to remember the origin behind stay-at-home orders. Right now, we need to ensure that hospitals can effectively manage the number of COVID cases. Although we all miss seeing our family and friends, we encourage you to continue limiting non-essential trips to keep our healthcare workers ahead of the virus.

We don’t know where we’d be at a time like this without the dedication of our hard-working nurses. To the nurses who wear their hearts on their sleeves, run nonstop throughout long, 12-hour shifts, and continuously put others before themselves, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Please stay safe out there!

Coronavirus remain a bit of a mystery to the medical community, but experts continue to learn more and more about coronavirus each day. Here at Lions Pride, we’d like to remind you to stay up to date with the latest information by visiting the CDC Website

Celebrating National Park Week with Virtual Tours

16 Thursday Apr 2020

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Each April, the National Park Service (NPS) teams up with the National Park Foundation to celebrate America’s natural treasures. The week encourages Americans to get out and enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer than through exploration, education and discovery. This year, of course, is different than any other year in recent memory due to the novel coronavirus.

Like many other organizations all over the country, the NPS has modified its operations by following the CDC as well as other state and local public health experts. At this time, the majority of national parks have closed their facilities and canceled their events to prevent the spread of COVID-19; however, operations are decided on a park-by-park basis.

Luckily, despite the current social distancing limitations, we all still have an opportunity to commemorate National Park Week. In 2020, NPS has placed its focus on digital experiences.

That’s right, it is still possible to visit the parks during National Park Week (April 18 to April 26); that is with the help of technology and a little imagination. Review this list of available virtual tours:

  • Clara Barton National Historic Site
    You can visit the home of founder and first president of the American Red Cross. Clara Barton’s house in Echo, Maryland, served as the first national headquarters of the organization, and was her home for the last 15 years of her life.
  • Crater National Park
    You can take a virtual trip to the deepest lake in the US. Crater National Park. Located in Southern Oregon, Crater Lake was formed by a volcanic eruption and collapse and currently holds the honor of the ninth-deepest lake in the world with the deepest measured depth coming to 1949 feet.
  • New Bedford Whaling National Park
    New Bedford, Massachusetts, was known as the capital of the 19th century whaling industry and a prominent safe haven along the Underground Railroad. You have the opportunity to take an interactive or video tour of the Nathan and Polly Johnson House, a home that welcomed and helped those traveling along the Underground Railroad.

If you don’t have time for an entire tour but are interested in a change of scenery, you might be interested to know that NPS also has live webcams placed all over the country. You can catch glimpses of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, Yellowstone National Park, Katmai National Park & Preserve and more.

We understand that life feels challenging right now, we must keep reminding ourselves that the social distancing is just a temporary setback. Before long, this period will just be a distant memory that we can look back on and be proud that we got through it together. But until that day comes, be sure to keep looking for joy – it might be right outside or in a virtual tour.

Happy Early National Park Week from Lions Pride!

 

 

 

Start of Women’s Heart Week

30 Thursday Jan 2020

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We are 30 days into the New Year, are you still working toward your resolution? Don’t worry; we’re not here to shame you into staying committed unless, of course, your goal is related to good heart health because Saturday is the start of Women’s Heart Week.

The Women’s Heart Foundation has dedicated the next seven days to promoting prevention, education, symptoms awareness and early intervention of heart disease. You might be surprised to learn that heart disease is the number one threat to women over the age of 34. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death of women in the United States. In 2017, heart disease killed approximately 299,578 women – amounting to about 1 in every 5 female deaths. Most women are unaware of their high risk and fail to recognize symptoms.

Women today are, arguably, busier than ever before. They are continually juggling careers, community service, family life as well as many other caregiving responsibilities. Sadly, because of the lack of downtime, women’s symptoms go unnoticed, especially if they are mild. Next week is the perfect opportunity for women to take time for themselves and learn more about the disease.

The first line of defense is to schedule a doctor’s appointment. When meeting with your doctor, discuss getting your cholesterol checked and determining or not a diabetes check would be beneficial. The following tips can also help you reduce your risks:

  • Know your blood pressure – there are no symptoms associated with high blood pressure, so it’s essential to have it checked regularly. Uncontrolled blood pressure is more likely to lead to heart disease.
  • Quit smoking
  • Limit your alcohol intake
  • Make healthy food choices
  • Effectively manage stress levels

We were also shocked to learn about the prevalence of heart disease among women in our society. Whether you are a woman or care deeply for a woman, we encourage you to take some time next week to learn more about the disease. As one of the hardest-working muscles in the human body, the heart is too important to ignore.

Lions Pride continues to be grateful for the giving hearts of our donors.

The Start of the Little League World Series

15 Thursday Aug 2019

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There’s no better time to grab some peanuts and Cracker Jack. All of you baseball fans out there know that are nearing the end of the season, but today, is the start of an extraordinary period, the Little League World Series.

From now until August 25, young athletes from all over the globe will compete to earn the coveted World Series Trophy. The tournament includes eight US teams and eight international teams. The series kicks off today with four games, featuring the following regions: Australia, Caribbean, New England, Southeast, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Midwest and Great Lakes. The remaining regions, Mid-Atlantic, Northwest, Southwest, West, Canada, Europe-Africa, Japan and Mexico will get their start tomorrow. See the complete schedule.

If you’re not overly familiar with little league baseball, you may be interested to learn about its rich history. The league was first formed back in 1938 by Carl Stotz in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Eight years later, the league had not gained a lot of traction as there were only 12 active leagues. Many believe World War II deterred its growth because many fathers had enlisted in the military. The following year, the board of directors decided to organize a tournament for all known programs and named it the National Little League Tournament. It was changed to the Little League Baseball World Series later on.

Over 2500 visitors came to Williamsport to watch young stars play in the first championship game. Its publicity spread throughout the county, and Little League Programs began forming in every US start. Today’s LLBWS includes seven tournaments played in various divisions.

Many modern-day Major Leaguers got their start in Little League Baseball; some names you may even recognize. Charlie Hayes, Jonathan Schoop and Gary Sheffield were all Little Leaguers who went on to play in the MLB with brief period as Milwaukee Brewers.

Hawaii took home the trophy in the 2018 LLBWS, so it will be interesting to see if they can do it again! Will you plan on watching the 2019 Little League World Series? Let us know in the comments below.

On behalf of Lions Pride, we’d like to wish the best of luck to all of the athletes participating in this year’s LLBWS. Let’s play ball!

National Cupcake Day

13 Thursday Dec 2018

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The past few weeks, we’ve taken a more in-depth look at several December holidays.

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Photo Credit to Bakerella

Two weeks, ago, we learned more about the Celebration of Lights, and just last week, we met St. Nicholas of Myre. This week, we’ll again look at an event that is a little more light-hearted in nature – National Cupcake Day. Unlike Hanukkah and St. Nick’s Day, National Cupcake Day, which is taking place on Saturday, December 15, is an unofficial national holiday, but we thought it’d be fun to celebrate everyone’s favorite portable dessert with a brief history and less-known facts to impress all of your friends.

Although cakes have been around for centuries, the child dessert has much a “shorter” history. The idea of the cupcake arrived in the United States in 1796 after making its debut in Amelia Simmons’ cookbook. At that point, it did not have a unique name
but was sometimes known as the 1-2-3-4 cake. One of the most significant advantages of this recipe was it was easy to remember; it merely called for 1 cup of butter, 2 cups of sugar, 3 cups of flour and 4 eggs (plus 1 cup of milk and 1 spoonful of baking soda.)

The word, “cupcake” did not come to be until the recipe was first documented by Eliza Leslie in her 1828 called “Receipts.” Of course, the rest is history. Today, there seems to be a cupcake available in every theme, color and flavor. But did you also know?

  • The first cupcakes were not frosted, but instead flavored with dried fruits and spices.
  • The cupcake industry first started gaining popularity when Hostess began mass-producing their famous cream-filled “Cupcake” in 1919.
  • The world’s largest cupcake weighed over 1200 pounds and contained more than two million calories.
  • The Food Network has a show dedicated exclusively to cupcakes called “Cupcake Wars,” and has over 1.6 million viewers.

There’s just no denying that people love cupcakes. The best way to observe this unofficial holiday is to bake a batch and share them with people you care about. It’s just one more way to make life a little sweeter.

Happy National Cupcake from Lions Pride!

The Story of Hanukkah

29 Thursday Nov 2018

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Thanksgiving has come and gone, then without skipping a single beat, it seems that Jewish holiday hanukkah celebration with vintage menorahChristmas has arrived. Now, we are being bombarded with TV commercials, online ads and emails letting us know that December 25 will be here soon. While there’s no denying Christmas is one of the most popular holidays celebrated in the United States, it’s important to remember that there are several other celebrations also taking place in December. In the next series, we will explore a handful of the holidays – starting with Hanukkah.

Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah, is an eight-day celebration of light takes place this year from December 2 to December 10. The story dates back thousands of years ago to 200 BC. At that time, the land of Israel was under the control of Antiochus III and the Syrian Greeks. During his reign, Antiochus allowed Jewish people to continue practicing their religion, but when his son, Antiochus IV assumed power, he outlawed Judaism and forced the Judeans to worship Greek gods.

In 168 BC, soldiers of Anthiochus III invaded Jerusaleum where they killed thousands of people and destroyed the city’s sacred Second Temple. Within the temple’s holy walls, soldiers slaughtered pigs and erected a statue of Zeus. After the desecration, a Jewish priest named Mattathias started the Maccabean Revolt. Immediately following his death in 166 BC, his son Judah took charge of the rebellion. Finally, after three long years of battle, the war came to an end, and the Judeans successfully drove the Syrians out of Israel.

Following the victory, Judeans wanted to light the menorah to rededicate the Second Temple but discovered that they only had enough oil to keep the candles burning for one day. They decided to take a chance and light the candles. Then a miracle happened. The candles continued to flicker for the following eight days, leaving them plenty of time to find a fresh supply of oil. Jewish sages then proclaimed an annual eight-day festival.

Today, the Hanukkah celebration is centered on the lighting of the menorah. After sundown each night, another candle is lit. The menorah is then displayed in the window to remind others of the original miracle.

A common question that many people ask is whether or not Chanukkah is a gift-giving holiday. You may be surprised to learn that there are no biblical or Talmudic roots connected to the idea of giving gifts during the Hanukkah season, but there is a timeworn tradition of instilling the value of charity. Many families have adopted the tradition of giving gelt (or money) to their children each weeknight of Hanukkah. Children then give a portion of their gift to charity. What an inspiring concept!

This year, let’s make an effort to remember all of the December celebrations, not just Christmas. We may not have the same beliefs or traditions as our neighbors, but it’s our differences that make our world all the more interesting.

Happy Holidays from Lions Pride!

 

Celebrating Women’s Equality Day

23 Thursday Aug 2018

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The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the Hands InUnited States or by any state on account of sex.

Did you know that Sunday is Women’s Equality Day? On August 26, 1920, the United States passed the 19th Amendment allowing women the right to vote. It’s hard to believe that less than 100 years ago, women were not able to enjoy many of the same rights as their male counterparts. But although the amendment was passed that year, the fight for women’s rights began nearly an entire century prior.

In the late 1840s and early 1850s, women began protesting in public. They started group meetings in places like Seneca Falls, New York. Many influential women like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were active in the fight against slavery and their efforts would help get them included in the 14th and 15th Amendment, but they were sadly mistaken.

The women reorganized themselves as the National Woman Suffrage Association in 1869. They started a newspaper called “The Revolution” and began protesting in silent sentinels. Meanwhile local groups were popping up at the state level. Finally, after years of struggle and hardship, the United States Congress endorsed the proposed 19th Amendment.

To commemorate this historic event, let’s celebrate by honoring the inspiring women in our lives. Here are a few ideas on how to participate in Women’s Equality Day:

  1. Write a thank you letter to a woman you admire

    This one is self-explanatory but consider writing a note to an influential woman in your life. The letter doesn’t need to be long, just a few words of gratitude and appreciation can go a long way.

  1. Voice your opinion on issues and organizations that you care about

    There’s no doubt that times have certainly changed over the past 200 years but follow in the footsteps of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton by taking a stance on an issue close to your heart. With the recent birth of social media, we all have the opportunity to talk about topics that matter. Use social media to help enact change. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind, but please remember to mindful of other opinions.

  2. Get informed on local and state-level elections

    Have you ever gotten to the poll booth and felt like you didn’t recognize any names on the ballot? Of course, we’ve all been there, but it’s never too late to make a change. This November marks the 2018 midterm elections. Spend some time preparing for the polls by educating yourself on the candidates and the issues important to you. Your future self will thank you!

  3. Mentor a young girl

    Women may have made long strides in the past two centuries, but there is still a wide road ahead. Think about becoming a positive influence in the life of a young girl. Your experience and support could mean all of the difference in the world.

How do you plan to celebrate women’s rights? Tell us in the comments below.

Happy Women’s Equality Day from Lions Pride!

 

Get Ready for the 2018 Winter Olympics

08 Thursday Feb 2018

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Looking for a way to display your American spirit? Tune in to the 2018 Winter Olympics, airing on NBC tomorrow night.Ice Skates

It seems like only yesterday we were cheering on our teams at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio. This year, the games are taking place in Pyeongchang, South Korea, a city approximately 80 miles east of Seoul.

To get ready for the action, we’ve compiled a list of fun facts to commemorate this year’s competition:

  • The first Winter Games took place in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The 2018 Games will mark the 23rd Winter Olympics.
  • Four new events have been added to the competition. This year, viewers will be able to watch big air snowboarding, freestyle skiing, mass start speed skating and mixed doubles curling.
  • Lee Suk-Woo designed the 2018 medals that feature lively diagonal lines and 3D consonants from the Korean alphabet. The design was inspired by tree trunks that were made to symbolize the “the work that has gone into developing Korean culture and the Games themselves.”
  • The 2018 Mascot is a white tiger named Soohorang. The tiger is an animal that is highly regarded in Korean mythology and culture; the white tiger is seen as a symbol of trust, strength and protection.

    Here at Lions Pride, we like seeing Soohorang as the mascot, but Pride the Lion from the 2012 Summer Olympics will always hold a special place in our hearts!

South Korea may be 15 hours ahead of Chicago, but Americans will be able to stream all of the events in real time. The first figure skating competition will begin tonight at 6 pm.

Will you be watching the 2018 Winter Olympics? Which event do you enjoy watching most?

Enjoy the winter games!

Fun Facts about Wisconsin Cheese

18 Thursday Jan 2018

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When you first think about January, what are the first words that come to mind? 02J16331If you’re like many of us, most of those topics are related to the New Year – terms like resolutions, exercise and healthy diet. You may be surprised to know, however, that there are several other holidays taking place.

In addition to our official holidays like New Year’s Day and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, there are dozens of unofficial holidays on the calendar – Houseplant Appreciation Day, National Nothing Day and the upcoming National Cheese Lover’s Day. Cheese Lover’s Day takes place on Saturday, January 20, and we can’t think of a better holiday for our very own dairy state to celebrate.

Of course, you already know that Wisconsin produces a lot of cheese (it just comes with the territory, right?), but do you have any idea about just much “a lot” exactly is? We thought it’d be fun to celebrate the unofficial holiday with compelling facts about Wisconsin cheese.

  • Pioneering farm wives began making “kitchen” cheese from that of their herds in the 1830s, but the first official Wisconsin cheese wasn’t made until 1841 by Anne Pickett of Lake Mills when she added milk from her neighbor’s cow to that of her own small herd.
  • If Wisconsin were a country, it would come in 4th place in world cheese production, following the rest of the United States, France and Germany.
  • Wisconsin leads the rest of the country in the development of the following types of cheese: Limburger, Feta, Romano, Provolone, Parmesan, Muenster and Cheddar.
  • Wisconsin makes over 600 varieties, types and styles of cheeses (including more than 65 originals.)

Who knew cheese came in so many varieties and had such a rich history? It should come as no surprise for us to learn that there is a day dedicated to sharing their passion with others.

Don’t think one day is enough? You’re not alone! Cheese lovers will be happy to learn that there are 18 other cheese-related holidays that happen throughout the year, (but we’re not sure that they all count.)

Will you make plans to celebrate the day of cheese? Let us know in the comments below. Happy National Cheese Day from Lions Pride!