Take a Leap This Leap Day!
February 29, known as Leap Day, is a special day that comes around once every 4 years. An extra day is added to the calendar to keep it in sync with the Earth’s rotation around the sun. But this day is about more than math: it is a bonus day that you can make all your own! Here are 5 ideas to make your Leap Day special.
Leap Day Party
A day that comes around only every 4 years is worth celebrating! Host a party and invite over your friends and family to bring joy to the extra day. Toast the number “4” with food like 4-cheese pizza, 4-berry pie, and petit fours. Try this recipe for 4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies:
Ingredients
1 Cup creamy peanut butter*
1/2 Cup sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Mix all the ingredients until well combined. Drop tablespoons of dough on the baking sheets. Use a fork to flatten the cookies. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the centers are set and the edges are slightly browned. Cool before serving. Makes 12.
*Substitute with the same amount of any nut butter if your group includes someone with a peanut allergy.
Try Something New
Leap Day is the perfect day to take a leap! Take a chance and do something you’ve always wanted to try. That cute little restaurant you’ve always wanted to visit? Make a reservation. Have you thought about picking up a craft like knitting or candle making? Now is the time to take a class. If you need adventure, how about ziplining, an off-road tour, or snowshoeing? Use this “bonus day” to get outside your comfort zone a little. You may find a new hobby or make new friends, too.
Ask Him to Marry You
According to Irish tradition, Leap Day is the only day when women can propose to men. Legend has it, St. Patrick granted the privilege to St. Bridget after she pointed out that it is unfair women must always wait on men. If you think the time is right, Leap Day could be a fun time to pop the question. Gentlemen, be prepared: part of the tradition is a man must financially compensate a woman if he turns down her Leap Day proposal. The penalty varies from the cost of a silk dress, several pairs of gloves, or a fur coat.
Give Your Home a Hoppy Update
It’s hard to think of the word “leap” without hopping bunnies coming to mind! Get your home ready for springtime with décor featuring and inspired by our cottontail friends. Hang a bunny wreath on your door or a window. Makeover your bedroom with carrot-themed linens. Snuggle up on the sofa with a throw with a rabbit design.
Change Your Life (Even Just a Little)
Author Antoine de Saint-Exupery once wrote, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Why not make the extra day on the calendar a productive one by taking stock of your life? Then, set some new goals and plan steps to make them reality. Explore your intentions for the next month, year, or even 4 years. With a solid plan and a little work, who knows where you could be next Leap Day!
Leap Day is a rare and special time that you should make the most of. Whether you decide to try something new, get romantic, or just have a little fun, celebrate it in your own way and create memories to treasure. Happy Leap Day!
