Author Archives: Cathy Burnham Martin

About Cathy Burnham Martin

Author of 20+ books, and counting! A professional voice-over artist, dedicated foodie, and lifelong corporate communications geek, Cathy Burnham Martin has enjoyed a highly eclectic career, ranging from the arts and journalism to finance, telecommunications, and publishing. Along with her husband, Ron Martin, she has passions for entertaining, gardening, volunteering, active and visual arts, GREAT food, and traveling. Cathy often says, "I believe that we all should live with as much contagious enthusiasm as possible... Whether we're with friends or family, taking people along for the ride is more than half the fun."

National French Fried Shrimp Day

I love shrimp… chilled with cocktail sauce, stir-fried with veggies, baked and stuffed with crabmeat and buttery Ritz cracker crumbles, grilled with anything, and fried in a variety of manners… including coconut shrimp. I recall enjoying some big round fried … Continue reading

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National Sangria Day

  We often think of red when we think of sangria, perhaps, especially at Christmas. And yet, my favorite sangrias, even when visiting Barcelona itself, are the white ones. So, today, in celebration of National Sangria Day, I share with … Continue reading

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Woo-Hoo!!!

I just scored another great review for my Armenian heritage story! The holiday issue of the Oakland, California magazine “Affaire de Coeur” has a review that calls “Destiny of Determination” : “an incredible story of the faith and determination endured … Continue reading

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National Bake Cookies Day

For many years, baking delightfully decadent, colorful cookie assortments as holiday gifts was a treasured annual tradition. I especially loved the planning of each year’s recipes. Naturally, many delightful cookie options dance through my mind on National Bake Cookies Day. … Continue reading

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National Maple Syrup Day & Canadian Maple Syrup Day

Maple syrup has been favored in North America for hundreds of years. It’s widely produced in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Up until the 1930s, the United States led in maple syrup production. Canada leads … Continue reading

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National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day

So, you like chocolate! Perhaps you have a particular preference for dark chocolate, semi-sweet, milk, or even white (which contains no chocolate at all). There is something decidedly decadent about dipping a bit of something into chocolate before letting it … Continue reading

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Bill of Rights Day

This day celebrates the ratification of the first 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The Bill of Rights was introduced by James Madison, who later became the 4th President of the United States. In recognizing this day, in 2021 President … Continue reading

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National Bouillabaisse Day

  Bouillabaisse is a hearty seafood stew that harkens back to ancient Greece, where Marseille was founded in 600 BC. To be authentic, the classic French soup must include Provence, France’s indigenous red scorpion fish.   However, in the United … Continue reading

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National Cocoa Day

There are moments in life when nothing is quite as satisfying nor comforting as a toasty warm cup of cocoa. Straight up? Served with large or mini marshmallows? Topped with the decadence of whipped cream? Pick your style, and then … Continue reading

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National Gingerbread Decorating Day

  Perhaps you enjoy making, seeing, or eating decorated gingerbread houses or cookies. Dad and Mom taught my sister and me to love decorating (and eating) spicy, chewy gingerbread cookies, both large and small.         Before he … Continue reading

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Visiting Mom

Just returning home from a delightful, though brief 1-week visit with Mom. She is one dynamic person and classy lady. Never mind that she is active and healthy and vibrant at 92½ years young! As “President of my fan club,” … Continue reading

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The Hall Sisters

Do you know of a musical quartet known as The Hall Sisters from Garner, North Carolina? These extremely talented sisters have played everywhere from the Grand Old Opry to Carnegie Hall. Mom and I had the pleasure of watching them … Continue reading

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Trust Yourself

Dare to be you, because you are “enough.” Easy to say, but it is not always easy to do. Trusting in ourselves can be quite a challenge. A dear girlfriend, Janice Gilbert, gave me a bracelet of hers… a bracelet … Continue reading

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Exciting News!

I have learned that my latest book, “Destiny of Determination: Faith & Family” has just been recognized with a lovely honor! The Literary Titan Award recognizes authors for “expertly delivering complex and thought-provoking concepts, vivid scenarios and characters, and original … Continue reading

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Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

  “May we never forget our fallen comrades. Freedom isn’t free.” — Sgt. Major Bill Paxton U.S. Marine Corps, retired   On this day we honor all who lost their lives on December 7, 1941, in the bombing of Pearl … Continue reading

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Happiness Cannot Be Bought

  “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” — Dalai Lama   To me, these are great words at any time of year. Their meaning grows at this time of year, however, because money will not … Continue reading

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Enjoy!

Life does not always seem fair… not even close. And yet, who are we to judge what is fair? One minute we can feel as high as a kite, and the next we can get dashed deep into the ground. … Continue reading

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So Smart!

“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” — Alvin Toffler (1928 – 2016) American writer, futurist, and businessman (Image by Brett Jordan)

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Memorable Moments, Silly Sidebars, and Terrific Takeaways

  Although Paradise is powerful, we could not stay forever, utterly absorbed in our visit there… although it is tempting.     We so enjoyed our trip to the Hawaiian Islands and our visit with my sister Deborah in Kaua’i. … Continue reading

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Cheery-Oh!

  “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” — Mark Twain; pen name for Samuel Clemens (1835 – 1910) American writer, humorist, and entrepreneur  

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Na’Aina Kai Sculpture Park

I find it fitting that bronze sculptures of founders Ed and Joyce Doty now grace the Na’Aina Kai Botanical Gardens and Sculpture Park in an area where she often sketched out her ideas, as her husband would sit with her … Continue reading

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Botanical Wonderland

I cannot possibly end my ramblings about visiting Kaua’i without taking you to the North Shore and delving into horticulture. For Ron and me, experiencing all this alongside my sister, Deborah, gave us wonderful insights and up-close, local experiences one … Continue reading

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Big Island Eruption Time

With Mauna Loa on the Big Island erupting again for the first time since 1984, she has been long overdue. Volcanoes are interesting. Officially, there are 161 volcanoes that are considered “potentially active” in the U.S. 48 are in continuing … Continue reading

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National French Toast Day

While visiting Hawaii, we were treated to French Toast prepared in a variety of ways. There was Pineapple French Toast, Chocolate French Toast, and Traditional French Toast. And yet, I saw nothing “traditional” about it. (Just an observation; not a … Continue reading

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Kauai Movie Buff Alert!

  While visiting Kauai, we learned of many places that have served as perfect settings for film and video. More than 70 movies and television series have used the island of Kauai for settings that have depicted a vast array … Continue reading

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Encourage Someone Today

    “Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” — Oprah Winfrey (1954 –  ) American talk show host, television producer, author, and philanthropist   When my book entitled, “Encouragement: How to Be and Find … Continue reading

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Gratitude and Friendship

Our table was blissfully filled with a dozen fabulous friends. Feasting and frivolity were the order of the day. I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving.    

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Happy Thanksgiving!

One of the most influential voices in the 19th Century was born in Newport, New Hampshire in 1788. Sarah Josepha Hale was born to parents who believed in education for both boys and girls, so she was encouraged to study … Continue reading

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Lessons and Learning

While visiting the island of Kauai, we stayed at the Marriott Waiohai Beach Club on the south shore in the Poipu Beach area.   The grounds are simply gorgeous… so much so that hubby says he wants to marry the … Continue reading

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National Cranberry Relish Day

Leave it to cranberries to get two official days back-to-back. Because my cousin, Barbara Cote asked if I make our Grandmother Burnham’s Cranberry Orange Relish, I knew I needed to post a recipe today in celebration of all the marvelous … Continue reading

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National Cranberry Day

Cranberries are easily one of my favorite fruits. I get caught popping these fresh, tart little berries into my mouth all Fall. Being Thanksgiving week in the U.S.A, cranberry sauce, cranberry bread, and even cranberries in stuffing become wildly popular. … Continue reading

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National Absurdity Day

This is a day to be zany and do silly things as if we need a specified day. History is full of examples of human absurdity. For example, in 1913, when the U.S. postal service launched, children falling within shipping … Continue reading

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Be Positive

    “Positive anything is better than negative nothing.” — Elbert Hubbard (1856 – 1915) American writer, publisher, and philosopher   (Photo by Joshua Earle)

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Adoption Update

Because November is National Adoption Month, I thought you might enjoy a little adoption update. Back on June 10th, I posted about our friends Rick and Claire Johnson watching over two tiny, twin fawns that had been orphaned when their … Continue reading

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The Oldest Hawaiian Island

Cruising toward Kauai, our final island on our Hawaiian tour, I spied where the Kalalea Mountain range stretches to the sea in the northeastern portion of the island.     I later learned that the two jagged peaks at the … Continue reading

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National Fast Food Day

Yikes! Who knew??! Popularized in the U.S. in the 1950s, fast food is here to stay. Drive-thru, take-out, or dine-in… we all have our favorites and those we love to hate. Seriously, have you ever gotten a fast-food sandwich that … Continue reading

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National Hermit Cookie Day

I love the zesty fresh taste of spices. A particular fondness lingers for ginger and clove, both of which are usually prominent in the hermit cookie recipes. If you like a spicy, chewy, melt-in-your-mouth bar cookie, this could easily become … Continue reading

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National Homemade Guacamole Day

Everyone has their favorite guac, and this is your day to enjoy it your way. If you haven’t made it at home, give it a go! Super Simple Guacamole Guacamole is so easy and fast to prepare you’ll find yourself … Continue reading

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Life!

I pause from my typical postings on this day for a brief look at Life as it has been affecting me over the past couple of months. Life. We are not in charge.   Yesterday, we attended two precious gatherings … Continue reading

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National Happy Hour Day

Before we can enjoy Happy Hour, we must dance our way through several other hours first. Let me begin with a little Big Island info.     Of the 13 distinct climates found on Earth, 11 are right here on … Continue reading

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