Here is the AP Lifestyles Digest for the week of Feb. 2.
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GARDENING
Gardening-Nature Nooks: One warmly lit corner of a room, a cozy chair and some plants are all you need to create an indoor “nature nook” -- tiny wellness sanctuaries that calm the mind, body and spirit, says interior and plant stylist Hilton Carter. By Jessica Damiano. UPCOMING Tuesday, photos.
Be Well-Climate Choices-Vegetable Garden: The healthiest and most climate-conscious food is local, and organic, and in-season. A vegetable garden in the backyard ticks all of those boxes. For many, it sounds like a cool idea, but without a green thumb it can feel intimidating to start. Tips on how to start a garden, what to plant to maximize yield and why it’s a good idea for the planet and for your body. UPCOMING Wednesday, photos, video.
Orchid Show Chicago: The Chicago Botanic Garden hosts its annual orchid show, showcasing more than 10,000 of the vibrant flowers and ther blooms. UPCOMING Friday, photos, video.
SUPER BOWL
FBN—Confetti Storm: Noah Winter, the mastermind behind the confetti blizzard at the end of every Super Bowl for nearly 30 years, discusses what goes into planning and executing the annual tradition. By Donna Blankinship. UPCOMING Friday, photos, video.
Food-Super Bowl-Crispy Chicken Strips: For Super Bowl snacking, a recipe for Crispy Chicken Strips with Apricot Mustard Dipping Sauce. By Katie Workman. SENT Monday, photos.
Super Bowl Visitors Guide: Super Bowl week sightseeing and adventure goes well beyond football in the San Francisco Bay Area. SENT Sunday, photo.
MORE FOOD
Food-Voracious-Slow Cooker Chili Mac: Is it chili? Is it mac and cheese? It’s the best of both worlds, and it’s surprisingly healthy and packed with veggies! By Brittany Mullins, from her cookbook “Mostly Veggies.” SENT Monday, food.
Immigration-Kebabs: A New Jersey kebab shop was beloved in its community before its owners were detained on immigration charges in 2025. The area rallied to its support and by the end of 2025, it opened in a bigger space. And it has an even bigger sign in its window offering free meals to those in need. UPCOMING Thursday, photos.
VALENTINE'S DAY
Galentines-Giving: Valentine’s Day may be for celebrating the romantic love in your life but the unofficial holiday Galentine’s Day is an opportunity to recognize the power of female friendships. From bonding activities to small gifts, here some ways to express your appreciation for your bestie. By Alicia Rancilio. UPCOMING Saturday, photos.
Valentine’s Day Flowers: Ahead of Valentine’s Day, millions of flowers will make their way into the U.S. through the Miami International Airport. UPCOMING Friday, photos, video, broadcast.
WORKING
Be Well-Working Well-Generation Gaps: A baby boomer teaches younger colleagues who started working during the COVID-19 pandemic how to network in-person and read a room. A group of Gen Z colleagues share the latest memes and audio trends to teach older colleagues how to reach a broader audience. With five generations in the workforce, workers can experience frustration at the varied approaches people take. But those differences in knowledge can become strengths when organizations create reverse mentoring programs or skill-sharing sessions. UPCOMING Thursday, Illustration.
BE WELL
Bidets: Once considered a rare fixture in American homes, bidets are becoming increasingly common as a more hygienic and sustainable alternative to toilet paper. Doctors recommend bidets for older adults and others with limited mobility, for people with hemorrhoids or other rectal issues, and for those prone to urinary tract infections. But experts say bidets are not best for everyone and need to be used properly. SENT Sunday, photos.
Cortisol-Explainer: Cortisol has the attention of the internet, with influencers encouraging people to lower their levels and companies marketing supplements purported to help control the so-called stress hormone. But doctors say cortisol disorders are rare. Patients should not take treatment into their own hands, they say. SENT Monday, photos.
HOMES
Rent Now-Pay Later: Rent can eat up an entire paycheck at the start of the month, so a growing number of renters are turning to a new kind of financial product that promises relief by letting them split the bill — for a price. UPCOMING Tuesday, photos.
WINTER
Climate-Winter Weather-Out of Practice: Winter’s bone-chilling cold hitting most of America right now is extreme, but not near unprecedented. But over the last 50 years – and especially the last 25 years – much of America has experienced fewer days of intense cold because of climate change. And because of that we have become “rusty” in dealing with the cold, psychological experts tell The Associated Press. UPCOMING Tuesday, photos.
PETS
Westminster Dog Show: Continuing coverage of the 150th Westminster Dog Show, which concludes Tuesday, photos, video.
TV-Puppy Bowl: Preview story on this year’s Puppy Bowl show. UPCOMING Tuesday, photos.
OLYMPICS
Speedskating-The Pink Backpack: Fun and goofy off-ice bonding is no guarantee of Olympic success, of course, but the U.S. Speedskating team competing at the Milan Cortina Olympics finds that a ridiculous plastic foot attached to a phone case and a schoolkid’s pink backpack might be a helpful distraction. By Howard Fendrich. 600 words. UPCOMING Thursday, photos.
TRAVEL
Italy Trevi Fountain Fee: Tourists will have to pay to visit the Trevi Fountain starting Feb. 2. SENT Monday, photos, video.
RELIGION
Women Rabbis: Today, rabbis and rabbinical students in the United States are more diverse than ever, with increasing numbers of women and LGBTQ+ people. Women from earlier generations who became rabbis marvel at the greater opportunities available today for those pursuing clergy roles. SENT Sunday, photos.
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In case you missed it:
GARDENING: Indoor Desert; Snow; Farmers Almanac.
TRENDS: Back to 2016.
BE WELL: Losing Things; Breast Exams; Sleep Tracking Devices; Eating Snow; Music for Dogs; Eating Snow; Night Owls-Heart; Snow-Heart Health.
HOMES: Friendly Humanoid.
FOOD: Food-Voracious-Tortiglioni; Starbucks-Future.
PETS: Westminster Dog Show-Agility.
WORK: Polling-AI in Workplace.
TECH: One Tech Tip: AI Slop.
TRAVEL: Southwest Airlines Changes; Britain-Subway Poems.
The AP
