15 things to see, do and celebrate this month

All month: Re-electing the first African-American president to another term in office certainly brings more meaning to February, which is Black History Month. It was officially recognized in 1976 by President Gerald Ford and honors notable African-Americans who have changed the course of American history.

All month: Don your favorite red clothing to bring awareness to heart disease—the leading cause of death among American women. And in addition to dressing the part, why not set a reminder for a cholesterol and blood pressure check too?

Feb. 2: Punxsutawney Phil has made his prediction and the outlook is good: Spring is coming early! (Now if the weather on the east coast would just cooperate.)

Starting Feb. 7: Just as we get caught up with spring styles, Fall 2013 Fashion Week has begun in New York City. Stay tuned for news on the front-row celeb sightings, most over-the-top trends and more runway hoopla.

Feb. 10: Target's latest designer collaboration arrives today and this one is big, as in 80 pieces big. (Past fashion collabs have included about 50 pieces.) Prices for clothes start at a wallet-friendly $20 and include vibrant photo-print tops and dresses, along with flirty ruffled dresses and a luxe leather jacket in light blue.

Feb. 10: You might think you don't like zombie TV, but that's only because you haven't seen The Walking Dead yet. (We, too, were once skeptics.) If the fast-paced and suspenseful story lines aren't enough to keep you interested, then officer Rick Grimes should hold your attention.

Feb. 10: Where will you find Taylor Swift, Mumford & Sons and Rihanna on the same stage? The Grammys, of course. Music's biggest night of television, hosted by LL Cool J, will feature performances by the aforementioned artists as well as first-time Grammy performances by fun. and The Black Keys.

Feb. 10: Find a Chinatown near you or hang a red lantern outside your door in celebration of Chinese New Year 2013: The Year of the Snake. Those born during this year are said to be great thinkers and very intuitive. If you are a snake, then wear more red. It's said to be one of your lucky colors.

Feb. 12: Even if you're unable to get to New Orleans, finding a spot to celebrate Mardi Gras shouldn't be too hard. The official slogan of Mardi Gras: Laissez les bons temps rouler—let the good times roll. So break out those metallic beads and beignets and live it up before those 40 days of repentance start.

Feb. 14: Whether you choose to celebrate the Hallmark holiday or not, it's an excuse to eat chocolate all day, so why not enjoy it? Some offbeat Valentine's Day traditions around the world: Germany trades the chocolate for large heart-shaped gingerbread cookies; the Philippines tries to break the record each year for the most people kissing at once; groups in India gather to burn Valentine cards out of protest. (We don't recommend that last one—just go have some more chocolate.)

Feb. 14: Calling all Notebook fans. Another steamy Nicholas Sparks love story debuts on screen today: Safe Haven, starring Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel. To sum it up, girl runs from her mysterious past, girl encounters a handsome stranger in small town, girl falls for handsome stranger, but... we don't want to ruin it for you.

Feb. 17: Let your inner do-gooder shine today. A few ideas: Hold the door open for someone, bring some goodies to work or tell the customer-support person you've spent 60 frustrating minutes talking with to have a nice day—and mean it.

Feb. 18: So maybe the highlight of this occasion is having the day off from work? That doesn't mean you can't pay tribute to past presidents. Honor our nation's leaders by partaking in a presidential hobby such as napping (Calvin Coolidge's favorite), horseback riding (Ronald Reagan's pick) or doing a crossword puzzle (Bill Clinton's choice).

Feb. 24: The 85th Annual Academy Awards airs tonight starting at 4p.m. PST. While the night is now full of surprises, it wasn't at first. Newspapers were told the winners the day before, which means the sealed envelopes used today are a result of the L.A. Times publishing the results too early in 1940.

Feb. 24: The Great American Race (otherwise known as the Daytona 500) revs up today. For those hosting NASCAR-watching parties, the sport gives plenty of crafty ideas to work with—from checkered napkins to tire-shaped chip bowls—that can be easily reused for a future kiddie birthday party.