Clearing out the cupboards and sprucing up the garden aren’t the only things that need a little attention this season; you do too. These 10 self-makeover tips can put a little spring in your step and a smile on your face.

1. Create a date night. It’s hard to drag yourself out the door when the mercury is low, but warmer temps mean you’ve got no excuses. Give yourself something to look forward to each week with a standing date with friends or a significant other.

2. Indulge in fresh fashion. If “black is the new black” is your signature style, brighten up your look with one key piece in spring’s hottest shades. Think updated pinks, teals and yellows. Start with accessories, like bangles or a clutch, for an instant, less expensive pick-me-up.

3. Give yourself 10. Science is finally proving what Eastern medicine has been advocating for centuries: Meditation is a mood elixir. It beats stress, recharges creativity, boosts energy and improves your disposition. If you can’t completely power down for 10 minutes a day, steal some quiet time for yourself -- in the shower, on the way to work, or before everyone in your house wakes up in the morning.

4. Rekindle a resolution. You may have lost a step or two in landing your 2011 goals. If so, why not recommit? Take another look at what you’d still like to accomplish, and set a new plan for making it happen. Start by creating mini targets that are easier to meet, and help fuel long-term success.

5. Revamp your workout. Spring is the perfect time to freshen up your exercise routine with a new class or regimen that recharges your energy levels and re-engages you in your fitness goals. Opt for something  you can do outdoors: Try bicycling, rollerblading, yoga or a boot camp class in your local park.

6. School yourself. Learning is the perfect Rx for boredom. Stay engaged, mentally challenged and creatively stimulated by soaking up some self-education. Catch up on current events, subscribe to a book-of-the-month club, watch movies that inspire you, or take a class at your local college. A fresh POV is the perfect way to shine up that attitude for spring.

7. Engage in the great outdoors. For some of us, becoming one with nature means taking an all-day hike or having a leisurely picnic in the park. For others, a patio brunch followed by an afternoon of window-shopping is just what the mood doctor ordered. Get some fresh air and feel the sun on your UV-protected face. It’s uplifting after a season of being snowbound.

8. Treat your feet. After endless months of slogging around in boots, it’s likely your pedicure has become somewhat neglected. Book an appointment for your salon’s spa service, complete with exfoliation, deep hydration and a mini massage. Follow with a spring polish with pop. When the weather breaks, you’ll be ready for those peep-toe sandals.

9. Meet and greet. Expanding your social network is an easy way to mix it up. Join a group that shares a hobby with you, start your own regular get-togethers, or host a dinner for friends and ask everyone to bring someone new to the party.

10. Dust off your resume. Get out your red pen and give that CV a good makeover. Add new responsibilities, incorporate power language and rebrand your skills. You’ll give yourself a shot of confidence and a leg up for a new position or promotion.

As a parent, part of your role is to be an ambassador -- to give a nuanced, intimate portrait of what it means to be Latino. Fortunately, there are small touches that you can incorporate into your daily home life that will help your child feel connected to you and your culture.

Stories at Bedtime
Goodnight Moon and The Cat In The Hat should be staples of every little one’s childhood library, but so should Abuela and Chato’s Kitchen. Build a selection that covers a variety of topics, from authors of various backgrounds, to introduce children to multiculturalism -- a key facet of what it means to be American.

Break Time in the Playroom
Create songs and games in Spanish to keep your little one engaged in the language or your padres. You can also set your DVD language so that, with the right programming, you can turn Disney’s Cinderella into Cenicientas -- without having to wave a magic wand.

Connect in the Kitchen
Food is one of the major transmitters of culture, so make sure the meals you share with your child are a cultural and culinary smorgasbord of ethnic delights. Urge your kids to identify what their favorite family foods are so you can share in the preparation and enjoyment together.

Learning Together in the Living Room
Look for opportunities to sit down together and personalize the lessons your child is learning. For example, if he or she recently studied Women’s History Month, discuss why Sonia Sotomayor made history, as well as other trailblazing American women. This will keep you connected and help you engage with your children in a relevant way.

Giving your child the gift of an affirmed and informed cultural identity is key to helping them navigate their identities in the larger world. As you confidently and easily blend American and Latino cultural traditions, they will as well.

Want to spice up your home for spring? Here are our top five tips to help you get started.

1. Bless Your Home

Give new meaning to the phrase “spring-cleaning” by sweeping out the mala energía and making way for light and happiness. “Using sage, cedar or frankincense, light up your offering and walk from room to room,” says Robyn Moreno, author of Practically Posh: The Smart Girls’ Guide to a Glam Life. “Wave your stick against the walls from the corner of every room and sweep out the bad energy toward the door.”

2. Painting 101

Change the mood in your crib by splashing some color on your walls. “Make a claustrophobic room seem larger by painting it in a soft landscape hue, like Caribbean blue,” says Moreno. “A natural panoramic color like blue, green or violet will seem to make the room stretch.”

3. Change the Bedding

The bed is the focal point in your boudoir, so dress it up in fun, bright colors. Take inspiration from Frida Kahlo’s vibrant rebozos and try Honeysuckle Pink, Pantone’s color of the year. “I have bright-orange sheets that always speak summer to me,” says Moreno.

4. To the Kitchen’s Aid

Use your collection of stored family treasures to add personality to your kitchen. “Showcase your abuelita’s teacups or hang a retro plate collection on the wall,” says Moreno. Glam up your cabinets by changing the knobs. Trawl vintage stores and flea markets or visit Anthropologie.com for their vintage-inspired collections.

5. Wall Art

Add unexpected glam to a frequently used room. “Hang beauty ads featuring screen sirens -- like Rita Moreno -- from vintage magazines to create a pink boudoir-inspired bathroom.” Or turn your photos into wall art. Websites like CanvasOnDemand.com create cool canvas prints in color, black-and-white or even moodier sepia tones in poster size or smaller.