30 Reasons to Celebrate in April

As always, April Fool's Day falls on the first, so you can kick off the month with some lighthearted pranks. Remember that pranks can sometimes escalate, and not everyone enjoys being the butt of a joke, so take care to respect the wishes of those people who don't want to participate. A practical joke that everyone can enjoy? Prep some fake-out foods like a mashed potato "sundae" or "fried egg" cake. 

Peanut butter and jelly is a lunchroom staple, so it's no wonder the sweet and savory sammie gets its own day of celebration. Browse our favorite ways to enjoy this flavor combo.

Both airy and decadent, chocolate mousse makes for a romantic dessert, whether you're prepping dessert for two or looking to impress a crowd. This particular chocolate mousse recipe originated in Hungary and has a backstory as seductive as its flavor. 

Though you may shudder at the thought of them lurking in your kitchen, rats actually make great pets! They are intelligent, social animals that are easily tamed and trained. Still not convinced? Learn more about Rattus norvegicus and find out if they are the right pet for you.

On this day we celebrate a classic chewy candy. Learn how to make classic caramels from scratch or try your hand at one of our favorite, more unusual, caramel candy recipes.

Believe it or not, Twinkies have been around for nearly 90 years (and some folks claim that Twinkies actually last forever). Despite Hostess filing for bankruptcy in 2012, it looks like Twinkies are here to stay. Looking for a more decadent version of this 1930s treat? Find out how to deep fry Twinkies, just like the ones available at country fairs. 

Beer has come a long way from its early days as a watered-down, bitter beverage and the craft beer movement has introduced people to varieties beyond the standard American lager. To celebrate National Beer Day, skip your go-to six-pack and opt to try a new brew. From stouts to sours, there are 90 different styles, and thousands of different beers to sample. For those of you who "don't like beer", we ask that you give the humble brewski one more shot, and try a style of beer with characteristics like your favorite beverage.

Spring means more green, more flowers, and more birds! Whether you're an enthusiastic backyard birder or a dedicated hobbyist, almost everyone enjoys catching sight and sound of a pretty bird. Put your pencil to paper to capture the moment today. You don't have to be artistic to enjoy this activity—this moment can be just about taking some time for yourself—you deserve it!

Forget the saying, "Out with the old and in with the new." April 9 is meant for celebrating the older, refined items of years past. Whether you're an antique collector or simply like admiring items of previous decades, take some time to shop for antiques, read up on the history of them, or sort through family heirlooms.

They may have annoyed us when we were younger, but few people know us as intimately as our siblings. Take a moment today to call your brother or sister and reminisce about all those times you drove each other (and your parents) crazy.

From the humble goldfish to towering quadrupeds, pets are there to comfort us when we're feeling low, provide unconditional love and often entertainment. Sure, they might be a little weird and sometimes misbehave, but they're part of our families. Give your furry (or scaly, or feathered) friend a little extra love (and some treats!) today.

Whether we're talking about a simple slice of American cheese on white bread or aged brie on sourdough, grilled cheese always makes lunchtime awesome. Whip up one of these grilled cheese sammies for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert to celebrate.  

"Wait, is 'quijibo' really a word?" Over the years, we've had our fair share of surprise triple word scores, heated dictionary deliberations and maybe some tile throwing (see: National Siblings Day). To pay homage to this game for logophiles, we've got some high-value words to help take your Scrabble game up a notch, plus some essential tricks from self-proclaimed Scrabble nerds. 

People have been enjoying pecans since the 16th century—George Washington was even reported to have been a fan! What better way to celebrate than to whip up a batch of pecan candies, a classic pecan pie, or some other pecan desserts. 

There's more than one way to glaze a ham! Soda, maple syrup, pineapple,​ and honey are all tried and true ways to sweeten up a classic baked ham. Find out how to use up leftovers in a breakfast casserole or whip up a savory ham sandwich. It's also a nice way to spoil yourself after having to file taxes.

What's brunch without Eggs Benedict? Rich Hollandaise sauce, a perfectly yolky egg, a fluffy biscuit, and thick slices of Canadian bacon make up the classic dish that'll have you licking your lips before noon.

A form of poetry originating in Japan, Haikus usually consists of three lines, the first and third containing five syllables and the middle line containing seven. Celebrate this beautiful form of art by writing some of your own, checking out a book of them at the library, or finding a few online.

Do you own a pet? Then this holiday is all about celebrating YOU! Whether you're a cat lady, a dog dad, or have a whole family of tail-wagging, purring, all-around cuddly friends, you'll surely enjoy taking a day to lounge in a sunny spot, walk in the park, or do whatever it is that your pet loves doing, too!

After butter and salt, this vegetable ranks among our favorite ways to add flavor to a dish. Garlic is surprisingly simple to grow and can thrive in a vegetable garden or planters.

April is National Garden Month, and what better way to celebrate than by planting some flowers or veggies. For those folks born without a green thumb, try your hand at low maintenance perennials like coneflowers or these hard-to-kill houseplants. No yard? Learn how to create an indoor herb garden or grow your favorite plants on your balcony or porch in containers. 

​Spring is in full swing, but even warmer days are right around the corner. Today marks sixty days until the first official day of summer, so plan ahead: get your grill in tip-top shape, start pulling lightweight clothes out of storage, prep your pool and brainstorm some fun summer activities.

Our Mother Earth may only officially get one day a year, but we should try to protect our planet every day. See our favorite ways to live greener today, creative ways to upcycle old items and simple tips to start composting. Learn some interesting facts about Earth Day and plan some fun activities with your family.

Pack a picnic lunch and soak up some early spring sunshine today. This sandwich is perfectly portable and these desserts are great for eating on the go. Add some lemonade and you've got a feast fit for spring.

Pigs-in-a-blanket may feel a bit dated, but adding a few tweaks to the hot dog + wrapper formula totally changes the dish.

Forever dressed in formal attire and waddling around, penguins are charming oddities of the bird world. There are actually 18 distinct penguin species which are found on four different continents. 

Pretzels may a go-to snack for modern-day sporting events, but origins of this baked good can actually be traced back to monks in the Middle Ages. Delicious dipped in mustard or chocolate, wrapped around a hot dog or shaped into a roll, this salty baked good is a bit tricky to make from scratch but well worth the effort. 

There's no better excuse for bookworms to go out and buy a new read than Independent Bookstore Day. These bookstores tend to have used books too, so you'll not only be fueling a passion, but you'll also be helping out the environment. Support your local shops and pick out a few novels to work on throughout the next few months!

April 28 gives you the perfect excuse to indulge your sweet tooth thanks to National Blueberry Pie Day. Make a blueberry pie and share it with friends, family, or coworkers. Add a scoop of ice cream and you've got yourself the perfect spring treat!

A popular hybrid tea rose, the Peace rose certainly will bring beauty to any garden. Find some time to get outside today (and bring the kiddos along!) and plant these beauties while the sun is shining.

If you're looking to add a pet to your home, visit your local shelter or use a service like PetFinder to see what animals are available for adoption in your area. Shelters often deal with an influx of kittens and puppies in the spring and may even offer reduced adoption fees to help place more animals in homes. If you don't have the space for another critter you can still help—by volunteering to walk dogs or by donating old linens, newspapers and other items.   ​