Clocks should go back an hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5. Cell phones and other smart devices update automatically, but analog and digital clocks not connected to the internet will have to be set back an hour manually.

When did Daylight Saving Time start?

Daylight Saving Time was established by Congress with the passage of the Uniform Time Act in 1966, according to the Baltimore Sun. The law standardized the length of daylight saving time from March to November in an effort to save energy.

What states observe Daylight Saving Time?

Most of the U.S. observes Daylight Saving Time, with the exception of Arizona and Hawaii — those states observe permanent standard time. Americans of all persuasions, however, revile the biannual practice of changing clocks, prompting several states to pass legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent. Similar legislation has been introduced at the federal level, but no action has been taken on those bills.

How can I prepare for Daylight Saving Time?

The end of Daylight Saving Time means residents in the states that observe it will have more morning light — but feel as if the days get darker much earlier. At this time of year, the time change – or fall back – is more welcome because it gives people a perceived extra hour of sleep when Daylight Saving Time ends. When it’s time to spring forward, sleep experts recommend gradually adjusting sleep times in advance to prepare for the change, particularly for young children.

The biggest adjustment to “falling back” will be the earlier sunsets, which gives way to longer nights. The longer nights can trigger seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, a type of depression, according to the Mayo Clinic. The easiest ways to treat seasonal affective disorder include light therapy and exposure to sunlight — which is in abundance during the mornings after the end of Daylight Saving Time.

Most of the contiguous United States will experience a partial eclipse this Saturday, Oct. 14. The eclipse is expected to begin at 9:13 a.m. PST in Oregon, and pass through Northern Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico, before reaching Texas just before noon CST. Only the communities along this path will experience totality, when the moon will align with the sun at its farthest point from the Earth, creating a ring of fire effect in the sky.

RELATED: What to look for and where to buy solar shades for safe eclipse viewing

Even without totality, a partial eclipse is still a sight to see with a pair of solar eclipse glasses that adhere to the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard, of course. This is where NASA’s interactive eclipse explorer comes in handy – it loads as a map of the mainland United States, with the path of the eclipse clearly marked from Oregon to Texas. It also gives the viewer a chance to compare the paths of past and future solar eclipses – including the one that will occur in April 2024. The explorer also shows which areas will experience the least and most amount of eclipse in terms of totality and time.

Several national parks are preparing for an influx of visitors looking to experience the eclipse in an open area. National parks in the path of totality include Crater Lake in Oregon, Great Basin in Nevada, and the Padre Island National Seashore along the coast of Texas. Several national parks in the Four Corners region where Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Colorado meet are in the path of totality.

RELATED: “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse headed to Colorado. Here’s everything you need to know.

RELATED: How will the “Ring of Fire” be in Massachusetts?

Saturday’s annular solar eclipse will be the last one visible in the contiguous U.S. until June 21, 2039, when the celestial sight will only be visible from Alaska, according to NASA. 

However, skywatchers won’t need to wait 16 years for another spectacular sight in the sky. A total solar eclipse, in which the moon will completely block the sun from Earth’s view, occurs on April 8, 2024, less than six months from Saturday.

According to the American Astronomical Society, all 49 continental states will experience at least a partial eclipse. NASA, which has created an interactive eclipse explorer that tells users what phase the eclipse should be at a certain time and place, says the eclipse will begin in Oregon at 9:13 a.m. PDT and end in Texas at 12:03 p.m. CDT.

Eager to take in this special sight? Then you will need to prepare with special viewing equipment.

Do I really need special eyewear to view the eclipse?

There is no safe time to look directly at the sun, even when it is partially eclipsed. Doing so can damage the retinas and expose your eyes to UV rays. A total solar eclipse will be about as bright as the moon and as safe to look at, according to AAS. But not all states will experience totality, so a safe way to view the celestial sight is still needed.

Is there a do-it-yourself way to view the eclipse?

Standard sunglasses are not safe for viewing an eclipse. Solar glasses or a solar viewer require a filter that complies with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. However, there are ways to indirectly view an eclipse, including building a pinhole projector or a sun funnel (PDF).

What should I look for in solar glasses and filters?

Solar eclipse glasses can be purchased online, but buyer beware – some sites may sell eyewear that doesn’t conform to the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. The AAS has an extensive list of suppliers that sell safe solar glasses, filters, and viewers, but not all of these suppliers are able to ship in time for the Oct. 14 eclipse. The list also includes national retailers like Home Depot, Lowes, and Walmart, but consumers should call ahead to confirm they have solar eclipse glasses in stock. 

Photography enthusiasts should also consider purchasing a filter to place over the lens of their smartphones, cameras, and telescopes. Telescopes and binoculars magnify the field of view, so looking at a partial eclipse through one of these devices  – even with solar eclipse glasses on – can still damage a viewer’s eyes.

Solar eclipse glasses are relatively inexpensive. For example, Woodland Hills Camera and Telescope in the Los Angeles area had solar eclipse glasses in stock for under $3 each. A pack of four, along with an observing kit and guide book, cost about $12. If your library participates in the STAR Library Network, you might even be able to get them free. Most of the resellers listed by the AAS take online orders, but order as soon as possible to allow time for shipping.

And buying solar eclipse glasses now is a good investment because the next eclipse happens in less than six months. A total eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024, when most of the contiguous United States will experience at least a partial eclipse.

Hopefully, skywatchers will get a chance to take in at least one or both eclipses. Because after the April eclipse, there won’t be another one for more than 20 years. The next solar eclipse viewable in the United States won’t take place until August of 2044, according to NASA.

The movie theater celebration happens Sunday, Aug. 27. At participating theaters, the $4 price is good for all movies, all formats – even IMAX and 3D screens – and all showtimes, including post-midnight screenings.

More than 3,000 theaters across the nation are participating in National Cinema Day, which was launched last year by the Cinema Foundation, the nonprofit affiliate of the National Association of Theater Owners. The inaugural National Cinema Day saw an estimated 8.1 million moviegoers buy discounted tickets on Sept. 3, according to Cinema Foundation. The movie theater holiday set a single-day attendance record for 2022, according to Cineworld Group CEO Eduardo Acuna.

Major movie theater chains are also joining in by offering concession deals. Regal is offering a $4 small popcorn and soft drink combo that day, while AMC Theatres is offering a similar deal for another dollar. At Cinemark Theatres, ticket holders can get $1 off any size popcorn, soda, or candy.

This year’s National Cinema Day will have many more offerings compared to last year, when movie makers held some films back or delayed their opening dates due to the pandemic. This means people can take in this summer’s hits like “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” and “Blue Beetle” for just $4. Moviegoers can also watch this weekend’s new films like “Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story” and Liam Neeson-thriller “Retribution” for the same discounted price.

For more information, visit NationalCinemaDay.org.

A cottage industry of custom stamps, labels, and more has sprung up, particularly on social media, catering to parents looking to easily personalize their children’s belongings. But for parents with multiple children, or those simply looking to save money, all you need is Mod Podge.

The glue is beloved by crafters for its ability to seal and dry clear, with either a matte or gloss finish, on a variety of surfaces. And it’s dishwasher safe.

A previously purchased bottle of Mod Podge recently came in handy as I shopped online for stickers I could use to personalize the blank surface of the new gray water bottles I bought for my children going back to school. Not only did the bottles need to be labeled to set them apart from their classmates’ water bottles, no one needs incessant arguing over whose water bottle remains when one inevitably gets lost.

With letter stickers in a variety of colors purchased for a long-forgotten project, I was able to spell out each child’s first and last name on the bottom of each water bottle. Once each child’s name was aligned along the bottom of the bottle, I used an old paintbrush to smooth two layers of Mod Podge over the letters of each bottle.

No stickers? No problem. Parents with a steady hand could also simply print their child’s name with a marker on an item, and use Mod Podge to seal it.

Mod Podge is inexpensive – ranging from $5 to $8 for an 8-oz. jar at stores such as Walmart, Target, Michaels, Joann Fabrics or Amazon – and can be deployed for multiple uses. Since I already had all the materials on hand, I didn’t spend anything else to label my children’s water bottles. That saved money can now go toward the exorbitant cost of Picture Day photos.

Water bottles are now a must-have item during the back-to-school shopping season. But children are not always consistent when it comes to bringing an item like a water bottle to school, and then back home, every day. They also don’t always bring water bottles out of the depths of their backpacks to get washed regularly. 

And to make matters worse, water bottle makers seem more preoccupied with getting the right licensed characters on the bottle than making it durable enough to withstand the inevitable beating a child will inflict on it. So what’s a parent to do?

RELATED: Pa. students invent device to secure water bottles to classroom desks

Please allow me to share some hard lessons learned from supplying three boys with a parade of water bottles.

Material doesn’t matter. Either stainless steel or plastic will work. Parents who are buying the thick glass bottles covered with silicon webbing – well, I salute you and your gambling ways. One advantage to most plastic bottles is that they can be thrown in the dishwasher, unless you have the expensive stainless steel ones that are dishwasher safe. Kudos.

Parts need to be attached. The cap or top of the lid should be firmly attached. Hinges are not great for kids. There should also be some sort of handle – and a hard material that’s integral to the bottle’s body is better than a silicon leash that can snap off with enough regular use. This is also why I dislike straws in reusable water bottles; they have to be detached in order to wash them, and are too easy to lose in the process.

Cleaning it should be easy. I once had a travel coffee mug that never leaked, but its auto-seal mechanism got incredibly disgusting after regular use. Bottles with a complicated lid are not great for kids.

More expensive is not better. I have one child who has lost five water bottles in one year. Replacing water bottles can get pricey real fast, so if you can find one that’s cost efficient, your wallet will thank you.

With these lessons in mind, I was seriously considering buying my children the stainless steel version of a straw-less Contigo water bottle with a locking mechanism that I already own, but they are priced at about $14 each. Plus, a hinged lid that works for an adult like myself would likely get destroyed by one or more of my children sooner or later.

All credit goes to my husband who spied a trio of nondescript water bottles at Target. They fit all my requirements – a hard material (stainless steel), screw-on lid and handle that are both attached, no straw, and the cheapest price tag we’d seen at $5. These Room Essentials water bottles come in gray and pink – and while they don’t sport any trendy or popular licensed cartoon characters, more often than not, my kids – like so many others – always slap stickers on them anyway.

Materials needed:

• Cash – the newer the bills, the better.
• Candy – any fun-sized candy works, but you can also use smaller, compact hard candies.
• Curling ribbon – you can use your graduate’s favorite colors, or match with their school colors.
• Clear plastic that can be wrapped around the candy – this guide uses 2-inch clear poly plastic tubing purchased from eBay, but clear cellophane or cling wrap can also be used if necessary.
• Scissors
• Tape
• An iron, if available

Step one: Sort out the bills. Break out an iron for any that are slightly less than crisp, then set them aside by tucking them into a heavy book.

Step two: Cut the preferred length of poly plastic tubing. The right length will vary, but loop it around your own neck so that the middle falls to about mid-chest.

Step three: Break out the candy. Use a paper or binder clip to close one end of tubing and start dropping candy into it. The candy placement can be alternated by brand or color. Separate each candy by tying each section of tubing off with some curling ribbon.

Step four: There are many ways to fold cash in fun shapes to add to a lei, but this method uses an accordion fold. Fold at least 12 bills to a relatively consistent width.

Step five: Take two of the accordion-folded bills and tie them together securely with curling ribbon on each side so you’ll be able to fold each accordion in half, away from each other.

Step six: Spread out the accordion of each bill so the two bills make an accordion circle. A little bit of tape on the edges helps the bills look like a flower. Then take each $2 “flower” and tie it onto the tubing between the candy. Repeat for each break between candies.

Step seven: Once each accordion dollar bill flower is tied onto the lei, use the scissors to curl the dull side of the curling ribbon tails. Secure the openings of the tubing, where it would go behind your graduate’s neck, with tape, and tie on some curling ribbon to hide it.

Congratulations to your graduate!

Elementary and middle school

Consider making a candy-and-cash lei. Flower lei are now ubiquitous at high school and college graduations, but the cost of fresh tropical flowers for such lei can make them less suitable for young children. DIY lei with candy, cash, satin ribbons, charms, or other age-appropriate items are much more fun for kids.

Clear, poly plastic tubing that will hold your candy of choice can be difficult to find, but there are sellers on eBay who are reliable and won’t force you to buy 1,000 feet at a time. Clear gift cellophane and cling wrap can also work in a pinch. Any type of snack-size candy package can be part of the lei, and you can customize the candy choices by type of candy (Chocolate bars? Hard candies? Fruit chews?) or by color. And what kid doesn’t love cash? The gift giver can fold crispy dollar bills to weave into the lei, or tie them on with curling ribbons in the school’s colors.

High school

Handmade lei are still a good option for high school graduates, who will be dazzled if it’s made up of all cash, and especially if it’s made with bigger bills.

Dr. Seuss’ “Oh the Places You’ll Go!” is a classic book gift for graduates going off on their own. But consider also tucking a gift card into the book – either to their favorite book retailer, or to the bookstore of the college they are attending.

Going away to college is exciting, but it can also be scary. Poster-sized photos of the graduate’s hometown can help ease homesickness, while family or pet photos in picture frames, on magnets, or on coasters can remind them of their loved ones.

College

Graduating college is the end of school as most students know it, so memorialize the major milestone with a photo book. While everyone has photos on their phones now, a photo book is a curated collection of photos in physical form. A photo book gift for a college student can look back at some of their best school moments and memories, or even be a book of recipes with photos of some of their favorite, homemade dishes.

Photo books are not necessarily the glossy items made to order from an online service. Photos can be printed at a nearby photo service, and placed in a scrapbook or a photo album from your nearest craft store, along with notes, keepsakes, ticket stubs, and other memorabilia.

This year’s Earth Day theme is “Invest in Our Planet.” EarthDay.org, which works with more than 150,000 partners in 192 countries, is inviting people to pledge online to take actions like growing more trees, supporting sustainable fashion, or helping end plastic pollution.

When is Earth Day?

Earth Day is observed every year on April 22.

When was the first Earth Day?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the first Earth Day was created in 1970 by Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin as a way to force environmental protection issues onto the national agenda. Twenty million Americans demonstrated peacefully in support of the environment on that first Earth Day. By the end of that year, Congress authorized the creation of the EPA to tackle environmental issues. Since then, Congress has passed important regulatory legislation such as the Clean Air Act, the Water Quality Improvement Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Related: Is it possible to have an environmentally friendly warehouse? Yes, and here’s how

Earth Day became a global campaign in 1990, observed by 200 million people in 141 countries, according to EarthDay.org.

Why is Earth Day important?

Earth Day is an opportunity to bring attention to the deteriorating state of the planet. The day is a reminder for people of all ages to reduce their usage of unsustainable products, that ending the use of pesticides can save threatened species, and clean water is an increasingly precious resource around the world. Earth Day’s expansion beyond the U.S. has also spurred efforts to decrease emissions internationally and keep the planet from warming beyond repair.

How to celebrate Earth Day

Today, Earth Day is most typically an opportunity for people to volunteer to clean up a beach or local park, help plant trees or make their way to a community event festival to learn more about helpful insects, composting or other green activities.

Related: From flights to road trips, here are tips for traveling more sustainably this year

But when individuals make small changes to live a more sustainable life – and not just on Earth Day – it can have a big impact. And the icing on the green cake is that a lot of these small acts also help save money.

The EPA has a list of tips that anyone can use to celebrate Earth Day everyday.

• Lower your carbon footprint by biking or walking, and get some exercise and fresh air at the same time.
• For longer distances, carpool or take public transportation. If a car trip is absolutely necessary, make fewer trips by combining errands and drive smart – keep your car maintained, and lay off the brakes and gas pedal.
• Reuse or repurpose containers, clothes and grocery bags. Those fresh salsa jars and thin-sliced ham packages with lids make great to-go or storage containers. Paper bags from the grocery store can be recycled or composted, but if you have a big collection of plastic bags you don’t need, reach out to local non-profit groups who might want those bags for food pantry distribution or used book purchases.
• If you have clothes you don’t need anymore or other items in your home that are about to be thrown into the garbage, offer them up to Freecycle or mom groups on Facebook or other social media. Chances are, someone is looking for exactly what you have!
• Keep your home tight – seal cracks in doors to keep in heat or cooled air, and repair leaky faucets.
• No one wants to waste food and have it rot in a landfill, emitting methane. Store fresh fruit and vegetables up front in your refrigerator so they can be consumed before they go bad. If you find you are frequently throwing out food scraps, look into collecting them for a composting service in your neighborhood. More cities and municipalities are taking food scraps, even cheese-covered pizza boxes, in their green bins in order to keep them out of landfills.

If the ice cream is free, then maybe so. Dairy Queen and Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard are giving away cold treats Monday to welcome spring and, theoretically, warmer temperatures.

IT'S FINALLY HERE! Say goodbye to winter and hello to GETTING A FREE SMALL CONE TODAY!!! Grab your free cone only at participating DQ locations pic.twitter.com/hwukUFsLbJ

— Dairy Queen (@DairyQueen) March 20, 2023

Dairy Queen fans can make their way to any non-mall location in the U.S. for a free small vanilla soft-serve cone. The celebration lasts all day but is limited to one cone per person while supplies last, and may not be available on delivery or mobile orders.

Everyone's favorite First Day of Spring FREE Ice Giveaway is back, today only! (No app needed.) Plus, enter for a chance to win FREE ICE FOR A YEAR when you download the Rita's Ice mobile app and enter promo code SPRING23

Official rules: https://t.co/pJXy8Xjimp pic.twitter.com/v9NBv0LwV0

— Rita's Italian Ice (@RitasItalianIce) March 20, 2023

Rita’s is offering a free Italian ice to all customers who visit one of their more than 550 locations across the country Monday. Customers can choose any flavor, including Rita’s newest offering – Gummy Bear Ice. Rita’s, which has locations in Apple Valley and Eagan, says they expect to give away about 1 million cups of Italian ice.