Celebrate! And 6 More Ways to Make the Most of This Weekend
Surround yourself with flowers, and take time to celebrate Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day
With Mardi Gras celebrations happening this weekend (Fat Tuesday falls on February 13) and Valentine’s Day coming up on Feb. 14, this is a good weekend to celebrate, socialize and laissez les bons temps rouler! Escape winter’s chill in a flower conservatory, host a cozy tea party or try your hand at a craft project for your Valentines. Seven fun weekend ideas are straight up ahead.
2. Visit a conservatory of flowers. I can’t think of many cheerier places to visit on a cold, gray winter’s day than a conservatory of flowers. Your local botanical gardens or arboretum probably has one, and even if there’s snow on the ground, inside the conservatory the air is steamy and the flowers are bright.
Conservatories of Longwood Gardens Inspire Awe
Conservatories of Longwood Gardens Inspire Awe
3. Bring home a hothouse orchid. If the mere thought of visiting a conservatory has you dreaming of flowers, get thee to the grocery store (or garden center) and pick yourself up an orchid of your very own.
Orchids 101: Get Started Growing Orchids at Home
Orchids 101: Get Started Growing Orchids at Home
4. Get crafty for Valentine’s Day. My grandpa always gave me treats and cards on Valentine’s Day, so I’ve always thought of this holiday as more about love and friendship than romance. Why not make a card or a sweet little craft to share with a friend, neighbor or family member this Valentine’s Day?
The bookmarks shown here are made from shapes cut from felt and stitched onto a length of grosgrain ribbon. If sewing isn’t your cup of tea, there are still plenty of ways to give something handmade — bake a loaf of banana bread, make a corsage or frame some printable art.
The Real Importance of Valentine’s Day
The bookmarks shown here are made from shapes cut from felt and stitched onto a length of grosgrain ribbon. If sewing isn’t your cup of tea, there are still plenty of ways to give something handmade — bake a loaf of banana bread, make a corsage or frame some printable art.
The Real Importance of Valentine’s Day
5. Tidy one closet or cupboard from start to finish. Facing down one cluttered closet and completely clearing it out can be a surprisingly satisfying task. Take every last thing out, put back only what you want or need to keep and bag up the rest to give away. To finish, decide whether you need any organizing tools to make the most of the space and set everything back in place neatly.
10 Decluttering Projects You Can Do in 30 Minutes or Less
10 Decluttering Projects You Can Do in 30 Minutes or Less
6. Celebrate Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is Tuesday, Feb. 13, but the main parties and parades tend to be held the weekend before Fat Tuesday. So it’s time to party! Many places outside of New Orleans celebrate Mardi Gras with parades and events, but if nothing is happening in your area (and you want to participate), why not host your own shindig? Play zydeco music, hand out beads and masks to guests and feast on jambalaya and king cake.
Get in the Mardi Gras Spirit With This New Orleans Neighborhood Tour
Get in the Mardi Gras Spirit With This New Orleans Neighborhood Tour
7. Add color to your home. If bleak midwinter weather is getting you down, fight back with a burst of cheerful color in your home: Spruce up your stairs with paint, put a colorful new tablecloth on the kitchen table or hang up a new piece of art.
Tell us: What are you looking forward to this weekend? Let us know in the Comments.
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Tell us: What are you looking forward to this weekend? Let us know in the Comments.
More
Improve Your Love Life With a Romance-Ready Bedroom
Easy Valentine’s Day Touches for Even the Least Romantic
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