the first snowfall of the season! (i say this as a teacher - whose students are way too distracted to try to learn on such days)

My husband says Super Bowl Sunday is a National Holiday but I'm not buying it! I'm not really a football fan so it doesn't do anything for me. I think it's a great day for shopping or going to the movies or out to dinner, except I'd have to do it by myself!

The day after Superbowl Sunday if your city's team is playing: even if you're not a football fan, chances are you're at a party!

Well, speaking of political things...I think we should get Election Day as a day off...then no one could claim that they didn't have a chance to vote, and people (like myself) who want to volunteer but can't, could. Australia does this (although they also fine people who don't vote), and I think it's a spectacular idea!

instead of watching who wore what and how cute Jill is, how about talking and worrying about what our new president stands for. 20 years at Rev. Wrights church, need I go on. this is not a celebrity, this is a man who has lied to get this position. Its people like you who make light of this instead of real issues, REAL family values instead of clothes, etc. This is not funny this is scary times. I am not happy to see so many people thinking they will now get from this election and not having to work for it especially after working 28 years and now loosing my retirement while so many are thrilled to have this new President share our wealth. sad day not a joke. so you keep watching who has stockings on.... real important not real simple. pathetic....

I think the day AFTER many holidays should be off. I mean, how hard is it to really celebrate if you know you'll be schlepping to work the next day?--as a teacher, I would opt for no work on Halloween OR the day after. And, certainly the day after one's birthday should be considered a holiday. I'm in agreement about inauguration day, and I think election day should be a national holiday, too--one's voting record should not be marred because of one's commitments at work. The day after presidential election days should probably be a holiday, too, since everyone is so bleary-eyed from staying up late to hear the acceptance speech. And, speaking of hearing winners speak, I agree that the day after the Oscars should be a holiday, too.

* Any day it rains REALLY hard.

* The first incredibly beautiful Spring day after a long New England winter.

Of course, there are more important issues, but can't we also enjoy (and comment on) the "extras?" Above all, let's not be mean-spirited--not to each other and not to those in office or leaving office. We ALL have a huge stake in the future---I think a positive spirit, prayers, and a willingness to work together is not optional, it's mandatory! Thanks, Kristin, as always, for your thoughts---

Lori, I was all revved up to comment but you said basically exactly what I was going to (and so articulately!). I don't think anyone us unaware of any of the implications of this inauguration, historically, politically, and for our own immediate future. We all share the same concerns and desires for ourselves and our country, and Kristin enjoying watching all of the surrounding hoopla doesn't diminish that at all. If anything, it humanizes the people that we have chosen as leaders and reminds us that they, too, have a stake in what happens during this administration. And all of us will have to work to get to where we want to be, just like we always have. Thanks for another great post, Kristin!

Kimberly you need to take a deep breath. If these blogs are so pathetic, stop reading them. I'm sure you have many more important things to do. Go save your little world dear.

I'm so relieved to hear someone else was transfixed on trying to figure out the mechanics of Michelle's dress! :-)

Kimberly, thanks for your comment, although I think you miss the point of my post. If you're a regular reader of this blog (or of Real Simple)--well, first of all, thank you. Second, you'll notice that we take great pains to be inclusive and to acknowledge that people who like Real Simple don't necessarily all share the same views. My observations in this post--like my observations in nearly every post on this blog, which really aims to do nothing more than delve into the minute details of a chaotic daily life--are not partisan. To be honest, no matter who got elected, I'd be obsessing over whether or not the First Lady was wearing stockings. Among other extremely important matters.

Love this post! In the spirit of fun new holidays, I would love.....
- National Holiday: Happy Me Day! A day spent focusing on ourselves and celebrating all of the positive aspects of our lives

- Completely agree with Charlotte -- the first spring day after our dreary New England winter!

Finally, what was the verdict? Did the First Lady wear stockings?

I think you should get an entire week off after you have your yearly gyn appointment or a mammogram!

Re: Sarah in LA
Election Day in Australia is always a Saturday - and nobody gets the day off because of the election. If that's your normal work day, you still have to work. And find a way to vote, because it is compulsory in this country.
But one holiday we do have in Australia that you don't in the US, but should - Boxing Day. HUGE post Christmas sales, lounging around the pool drinking beer and eat leftovers (hey, it's summer over here!) and just recovering from Christmas day. What's not to like?

Kids had Halloween off this year - many left town for long weekend so that wasn't quite as fun as not as many cute trick-or-treaters. I SO loved watching the ball coverage, too, along with Inaugaration and could have used a day off the next day as I stayed up WAY too late! Michelle's choices are always wonderful - I can't wait to find a long coat over a dress for Easter - I got cold watching Jill - I do tights with boots. Long boots keep you warm but no stockings - yikes - am guessing tights wouldn't cut it at an Inaugaration. Many friends from other countries loved watching too and asked if all the festivities happened for each Inaugaration. What a wondeful day even if it wasn't an official day off :-)

--Looks like Michelle was wearing stockings on inauguration day to me.
--I like to celebrate The Kentucky Derby, but luckily, that's always on a Saturday, with Sunday to recovery.
--And if companies can't afford to give employees the day after the Oscars off, can we at least come in late like at noon?
--The only other suggestion I have for a national holiday is Earth Day, with the pledge that if you take the day off, you have to spend the hours volunteering to clean up the environment in some capacity.

When I was a kid my mom would let my brothers and I take "mental health days" every once in awhile. Days where we weren't really sick, but just needed to stay home curled up in bed with a book. I'd definitely like to see a few of those scattered into my work year now as "holidays"..........

did you know that in some states they get the first day of hunting season off from school?

YES! YES! YES!!! Michelle should ALWAYS wear a color! She looked 25 feet tall in that picture too! And you....I sware you could be on Saturday Night Live as Jill Biden :)

You should get the day off after you get a new puppy---or at least a week until he decides he doesn't have to go outside every 2 hrs :(

Happy weekending to everyone :)

My fiance and I are college basketball nuts, so I would say the first day (or two) of March Madness....who can even think about work when there are basketball games on TV, all day long?!?! Last year they put it on the TV in the cafeteria of the plant where I work, and everyone kept making excuses to go down there and sneek in a few minutes of b-ball action...not much work got accomplished that day ;-). I'm not a betting girl but every year I fill out my bracket faithfully and adopt a different team to root for since my alma mater (New Mexico) rarely gets in :-( Last year "my team" won it all....go Jayhawks!!!!

HALLOWEEN!! There is just not enough time to get ready for that fun holiday! I call for no work!

I love it and totally agree!

Halloween (31 Oct) just happens to be Nevada Day... schools and government agencies get the day off in Nevada : ). Just an FYI for everyone voting for Halloween off. It is quite nice, so good selection.

The day after we "Fall Back" from daylight savings time.

And yes, I was also trying to account for the things hanging off of Michelle's outfit. I got: one scarf, the ties to the coat, and then there were those other skinny "strings"?

I'd also ask, how many of us with 2nd graders could honestly say that our children would acquit themselves as well as Sasha did during that long cold ceremony?