The Holidays Are Coming! 7 Things to Do This Weekend
It’s time to stock up for festive drinks, flip through some cookbooks, and choose a great DIY gift to make this year
This week, we’re flipping the calendar page to a new month, and setting our clocks back an hour as daylight saving time comes to an end. Make the most of your weekend with some fall meal planning, bird feeding and maybe a peek ahead to upcoming holidays. Need a reward yourself for being up early and getting so much done? National Doughnut Day on Sunday, Nov. 5, is just begging to be celebrated.
2. Give that jack-o’-lantern a second life. Instead of tossing carved pumpkins out right away, why not repurpose them into something more useful — like a bird feeder for our feathered friends? Crisscrossed chopsticks make a handy perch, and the hollowed-out center can hold a lot of birdseed. When the birds are finished, throw the pumpkin in your compost pile or bury it in the garden.
3. Stock up on festive drinks. Believe it or not, the holidays are coming around the bend. One small thing you can do now to prepare is pick up a selection of go-to festive drinks, alcoholic or non-, so you always have something on hand for drop-in guests.
A Cocoa Cocktail for Your Bar Cart
A Cocoa Cocktail for Your Bar Cart
4. Organize your cookbooks. Browse through your cookbooks and pull out ones you haven’t used or no longer enjoy, to donate or sell. Then get in the mood for fall cooking by flipping through your favorites and making a list of recipes to try this month.
Your Guide to Stress-Free Thanksgiving Prep
Your Guide to Stress-Free Thanksgiving Prep
5. Get started on DIY holiday gifts. Planning to make your own bath scrub or knitted scarves this holiday season? This is the time to get started. Even if the project you’ve chosen can be completed in a weekend (think big-batch granola or chocolate bark), you’ll thank yourself for purchasing the supplies and packaging well ahead of time. And knitters — you already know it’s time to get those needles clicking!
Holiday DIY: 25 Ideas for Make-Your-Own Decor and Gifts
Holiday DIY: 25 Ideas for Make-Your-Own Decor and Gifts
6. Set clocks back an hour. Nov. 5 marks the end of daylight saving time this year. This means we can look forward to sunnier mornings, but an earlier sunset also means it’s dark sooner after work.
Whether you’re a fan of daylight saving time or not, don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour before bed on Saturday night.
Whether you’re a fan of daylight saving time or not, don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour before bed on Saturday night.
7. Treat yourself. If you’re up early the next morning, you might as well take advantage of extra time for an indulgence — Nov. 5 also happens to be National Doughnut Day. Why not treat yourself to your favorite kind? To make them feel extra special, put them on a cake stand you can make with dishes you already have.
Tell us: What are you looking forward to this weekend? Please let us know in the Comments.
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Simple Pleasures: Fall Traditions for a Special Season
Browse holiday decorations
Tell us: What are you looking forward to this weekend? Please let us know in the Comments.
More
Simple Pleasures: Fall Traditions for a Special Season
Browse holiday decorations
Get ideas for fall wreaths, centerpieces and more