Fill your week with smiles

Fill your week

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15 NATIONAL HAT DAY Spread warmth !

Make someone’s day (and your own!) by donating a hat to those in need. The nonprof it organization Knit for Kids (KnitForKids.org) provides patterns to help you create cute and cozy hats for kids who don’t have winter gear. Not a knitter? Consider donating gently used or new hats (snag them for a steal at Target’s Dollar Spot or Dollar Tree) to a coat drive—many will gladly accept hats and other warm-weather accessories. Log on to OneWarmCoat.org/give-warmth/ donate-coats to f ind a coat drive near you.

I help you from your head to Dial in on the answer RIDDLE OF THE WEEK ??? your toe. The more I work, the smaller I grow. What am I?

Answer in lower-right corner

JANUARY 9 – JANUARY 15 NATIONAL PIZZA WEEK WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12 STICK TO YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION DAY

Dig into mmm !

Celebrate with a pizza loaded with pepperoni—America’s favorite topping, per a YouGov.com survey. To get the fun started, we asked Nick Banker of Upper Crust Pizza in Akron, Ohio, winner of the 2021 International Pizza Challenge’s Pizza Maker of the Year, for advice. His top tip? “I prefer old-world pepperoni, or ‘cup and char’ pepperoni. They curl up into crispy cups inside the oven and add a nice crunch to your pie.” Try Battistoni Cup & Char Spicy Pepperoni or Hormel Cup n’ Crisp Pepperoni (at supermarkets). For more ways to celebrate, check out the pizza party on page 28.

You can do it !

Whatever your resolution, the key to success lies in how you phrase it, say researchers in PLOS ONE. In their study of 1,066 people, those with approach goals (which involve introducing something new into your life) were more likely to achieve them than those with avoidance goals (which involve quitting something). “Approach-oriented goals give you clear instruction on what to do,” says researcher Per Carlbring. “If your goal is to stop eating sweets to lose weight, you’ll likely be more successful if you say, ‘I’ll eat fruit several times a day’ instead. You then replace sweets with something healthier, which probably means you’ll lose weight and keep your resolution! ”

Share gif t cards!

Do you have any extra gift cards to spare? If so, consider sending them to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The nonprofit will use the cards to help loved ones of firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. Mail to: National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, P.O. Drawer 498, Emmitsburg, MD 21727.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 11 NATIONAL HOT TODDY DAY

MONDAY, JANUARY 10 HOUSEPLANT APPRECIATION DAY

Get cozy !

What better way to warm up on a chilly day than with a hot toddy? Featuring cranberries, cinnamon and honey, this recipe from the mixologists in the Woman’s World test kitchen is a f lavorful twist on the classic cocktail.

To make a Spicy Apple Rum Toddy: Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Add 4 cinnamon apple spice tea bags. Remove from heat; steep 5 minutes. Remove tea bags. Add 2 cups of apple juice, 6 Tbs. of dark rum, 6 Tbs. of apple-flavored brandy and 2 tsp. of honey. Divide mixture among 4 glasses. If desired, garnish with apple slices, cranberries, star anise and cinnamon sticks. Makes 4 drinks

Watch them thrive !

Today is the perfect day to show your houseplants some love ! Not only do they beautify your home, they can keep you healthy, says Gretchen Mason, a plant specialist with Modern Foliage Designs: “Studies suggest that having plants in your home may help boost immunity to colds and other respiratory illnesses and may lessen the duration of these illnesses.” Looking for new easy-care plants? “The Fittonia or ‘nerve plant’ is a favorite—it has striking foliage and can even f lower. It prefers bright light and will remind you to water it by dramatically wilting if it gets too dry.” Dracaena “Jade Jewel,” snake plant and echeveria are also low-maintenance , says Mason. “And if you have experience with keeping plants in your home, the Alocasia polly is a fun one to try! ”

Snake plant

Adobe Stock (3); Getty (4). Text: Shay Trotter Dracaena Jade Jewel

Nerve plant Alocasia polly

Start your week with a Laugh!

What really happened to Humpty

QWhat is the best kind of food to eat in the winter? A Frosted Flakes !

“It’s like a Kindle, but you never have to recharge it !”

Kids are fUnNy! One day, I was going over state capitals with the third-graders I teach. When it was Timmy’s turn and we’d run out of states, I asked him if he knew what the U.S. capital was. He answered, “That’s easy: Washington, D.C.” When I asked him if he knew what the D.C. stood for, he answered, “Of course: Da Capital! ” —M.H., Brick, NJ