As October draws to a close and the post-Halloween sugar high begins to wear off, many of us face the exam-season blues thinking we have to wait all the way until Thanksgiving before we really have a chance to celebrate relaxation again. However, there is a wealth of holidays before then that are simply begging for our attention. You are about to learn about a select group of national events celebrated (by very few) throughout the month of November. Some of these holidays are front and center every year, while others are pushed to the side to be forgotten. Now though is a chance for them to be recognized and get just a bit of appreciation from us all.

November 1: National Cook for Your Pets Day

We are constantly worrying about our own diets, with our cleanses and plans. We take ourselves out to a nice restaurant, or cook a beautiful meal at home. Or we pop some cookies into the oven, if they make it that far, but we don't stop to consider how we can include our most beloved family members into this equation. The first of the month is the perfect day to make Fido the biscuits he has always been dreaming of. As long as the vet gives you the go-ahead, you are about to make your furry friend the happiest pet out there.

November 5: National Doughnut Day

This is a day that should honestly be celebrated on a daily basis, but I suppose just once will have to do. Whether you have mastered making outstanding cake doughnuts at home, or prefer picking up a fritter with your morning latte, this day is about to be delicious. My recommendation, share the doughnut love. Bring a box of chocolate glazed to the office to cheer up your half-asleep co-workers. Surprise your roommates with some cinnamon twists and then eat the last one without asking. Or maybe just give a strawberry-filled doughnut hole to a special someone after class.

November 14: National Pickle Day

While I realize this may seem incredibly random, who doesn't enjoy a crunchy pickle every now and again? Personally, dill is the only way to go, but we can still be accepting of those of you who enjoy the sweet variety. Whichever side you fall on, most of us know that one person who eats endless amounts of baby pickles straight from the jar, and then probably drinks the juice. And if no one came to mind, you, I'm sorry to tell you, are the weirdo eating pickles from the jar.

November 19: National Play Monopoly Day

That's right! You finally have an excuse to play the longest and most cutthroat board game possible. You can buy hotels, secretly steal from the bank, scream when you go one spot past Park Place, and laugh childishly in your friend's face when you send them into debt with all of your little green cottages. Just don't be surprised if you are still playing on the 29th.

November 23: National Espresso Day

As the weather gets colder and the semester gets increasingly stressful, we all face the dilemma of never wanting to leave our beds. However, a steaming cup of espresso might be just the thing to get you out from underneath your duvet. Even if you tend to be a bigger fan of the Starbucks orders that take five minutes to complete compared to a simple espresso lover, you can still celebrate this caffeine-filled day.

November 26: National Cake Day

This day will become the absolute perfect excuse to indulge yourself and anyone you care about enough to actually share a piece of your cake with. It will be your chance to try out your Betty Crocker baking skills (even if it is just with the box mixes). Whether you go step by step with the back of the box, or mix it up with one of the Pinterest-inspired recipes, you are about to become incredibly popular with anyone within smelling range of your apartment.

November 28: National French Toast Day

Seriously though, this sounds like it is going to quickly become my favorite day of the year. French toast is completely appropriate for any time of the day, whether it is a way to drag yourself out of sleep, a way to brighten the horrible mood history class always manages to put you in, or the perfect way to stay awake at three in the morning, a piece of sweet bread drowning in syrup is an amazing creation. Take full advantage of this excuse to eat this delicacy from sun up to sun down without shame.

While November may contain holidays known by the masses, such as Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, there are more than enough national days to allow you to celebrate to your heart's desire all month long.