| How to Fit a Hot Breakfast Into Your Weekday Routine
As
the crisp fall mornings give way to the dim and frosty daybreaks of
winter, cravings of comfort food for breakfast begin before braving the
chilly commute to work or school. Unfortunately, many busy families
fall prey to the myth that a hot breakfast is a luxury that can only be
indulged on a leisurely weekend morning. But just because you don’t
have much extra time before heading out the door doesn’t mean that a
hot meal is beyond your reach!
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| Easy Ways to Personalize Gifts for Your Loved Ones
This
holiday season, children and adults alike are putting more thought into
gift giving with personalized presents. From scrap booking to memory
quilts, ornaments and holiday cards, the “memory” theme continues to be
a strong holiday component in 2007.
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| Gift Trends for the Casual Sophisticated Man
The
modern and contemporary man strives for casual sophistication in all
aspects of his life. A large part of this trend is the new rugged, yet
chic, movement in male fashion, and focus on individual style and
personality. This holiday season, take the guess work out of gifting by
following these dominant and influential trends. From grooming products
to accessories and clothes, here are some gift ideas that will help you
think outside the box to find that perfect something.
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| Traditional Pumpkin Pie Goes Organic
What
would the holidays be without pumpkin pie? It’s an American tradition
and it may be hard to imagine how one could improve on such a classic
dessert. By using organic pumpkin, you can give your family the pure,
rich taste and wholesomeness the settlers enjoyed on that very first
Thanksgiving.
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| Jingle, Jangle, Jewelry: What to Give the Girl Who Has Everything
This
holiday season, don’t get your mother, girlfriend or wife another tired
potholder set or a vacuum cleaner. A beautiful piece of jewelry will
put a sparkle in her eye and a smile on her face.
Diamond stud earrings or a simple tennis bracelet are classic and
always in style, but for the girl who has everything, try something
breathtakingly different. The experts at Jewelry Television recommend
their favorite gift ideas for this holiday’s hottest finds.
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| Do's and Dont's of Buying Diamonds Online
Holiday
season is diamond-buying season, whether you’re looking to get engaged,
upgrade your wedding set or just give a gift that will leave her
gasping in delight. More holiday shoppers than ever are eschewing long
mall lines in favor of online shopping, and diamond buyers are no
exception.
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| Delicious Butter Recipes Maximize Holiday Flavors
At
holiday time, butter isn’t just something you spread on your bread.
Just a few ingredients can turn butter into a versatile sauce, perfect
for drizzling over vegetables and turkey. Flavored butters are ideal
for spreading on freshly baked bread and melting over mashed potatoes.
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| Tech Toys Will Be Hot This Year
Realizing
that the Internet can enhance the way children play, toy makers
launched a whole new category of products for all ages at the American
International Toy Fair in New York City earlier this year. The toys all
interact with the Internet and provide greater play value.
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| Best Ways to Organize Your Kitchen for Holiday Entertaining
Shopping,
wrapping, prepping, cooking and cleaning are time-consuming activities
any time of year, but these tasks reach a new level of intensity as
harbingers of the holiday season. But, if you get a jumpstart now,
devoting a day or two to preparing your home, you’ll ease into the
celebratory cycle with a lot less stress than ever before and enjoy the
festive mood that permeates the atmosphere October through January.
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| Luxurious and Customized: Specialty Food Gifts are the New Trend
Retailers
are predicting another big holiday season for online shopping. After
spectacular growth, online commerce has now become a regular part of
the holiday shopping routine for a record number of Americans. An
online gift option that is becoming more and more popular is gourmet
food.
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| How to Bring Tradition Back to Your Holiday Decor
Somewhere
between the recent explosion of blow-up lawn Santas and twinkling light
displays choreographed to an orchestral rendition of “Joy to the
World,” many traditional home décor elements have been siphoned out of
the modern holiday season.
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| Don’t Let the Grinch Steal Your Laptop
The
scheming, green sourpuss is not the only villain who is hard at work
over the holidays. As we approach the celebrations and festivities, a
host of everyday thieves find the lure of loot too strong to resist;
high-tech gear, including laptops, are certainly no exception.
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| Special Scents Make the Holidays Bright
Nothing
tugs at your emotions and memories quite like the Christmas season.
The wide-eyed anticipation on Christmas morning, the reverence of a
silent, holy night, the festive music of a bygone era, yummy treats to
share with friends, and the
smell of baking cookies, crackling fire, fresh pine needles and the
cool, crisp winter air. Of all those wonderful images -- you may be
surprised to know that nothing has a more direct impact on your
memories and emotions than your sense of smell.
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| Chase Away Those Winter Blues and Morning Blahs with Flowers
The
change from daylight-saving time to standard time is nearly upon us,
which means fewer daylight hours, with the reduced amount of light
during the winter months cited as a contributing factor for depressed
moods. For those who already experience morning blahs, the joy and
cheer of the holiday season can be tough to muster. But rather than
hide under a blanket until spring, there’s an easy way to boost spirits
and decorate for the holidays at the same time.
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| Feast on the Flavors of the Season
Sure
spring and summer get the credit for being the seasons of bountiful
fresh produce. But don’t discount the plentiful harvest of pleasurable,
fresh fare that accompanies autumn and the holiday season.
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| Tips for Welcoming Holiday Guests with Special Needs
There’s
nothing quite like a house filled with family at the holidays. But if
your family includes a diverse mix of guests – such as elderly parents,
expecting mothers, or even a relative with an injury – you might have
concerns about how to make them feel at home. However, it’s easier than
you think to make your home accessible to your whole family, thanks to
a few simple fixes.
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| How to Beat Holiday Travel Stress
The
holidays are one of the busiest times of the year for air travel. While
long lines, road-weary passengers and hard-to-find parking are
inevitable, here are few things you can do to make your trip less
stressful despite the endless crowds.
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| New Service Takes the Work Out of Holiday Shopping
Holiday
shopping can be a stressful time for frazzled consumers with little or
no time to shop as they face the daunting task of finding -- and
purchasing -- the perfect gift. Sure, buying online is a timesaver, but
it can also further complicate the matter. Now there's an option
available that combines the best of both worlds.
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| Easy Home Improvement Ideas ‘Wow’ Holiday Guests
As
the holidays approach, many people begin to think about welcoming
friends and family into their home to celebrate the season. Whether
your cousin is flying from across the country or your in-laws are
spending a day to exchange gifts, you want your house to look its best
for your guests, especially the ones you only see a couple times a
year. Minor home improvements can make holiday visitors think you’ve
remodeled. Here's the tricks you need to know.
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| Top Five Ways to Cut Holiday Entertaining Stress
If
the thought of holiday entertaining creates more stress than
satisfaction, here’s help. Cut down on holiday hassles with these five
timesaving tips for simple but sensational holiday cooking.
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| Lighter Holiday Baking with Palm Oil
Holiday
entertaining without some scrumptious baked goods would be like Santa
sans beard. It makes sense to try to lighten your holiday meals and
many Americans are doing just that. But while it’s relatively easy to
trim fats by serving your family turkey breast instead of the leg, or
substituting skim milk for whole in your mashed potatoes, even the most
dedicated fat-cutter can be flumoxed by holiday baking.
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| Great Gifts for the Guy on Your List this Holiday Season
As
the holiday season approaches, you once again find yourself with the
daunting task of finding the perfect gift for the guy on your holiday
wish list. Getting a helping hand to navigate through the endless list
of products is always a welcome relief. Here is a list of products, in
a variety of price ranges that might just be perfect for the guy on
your list this holiday season. After all, how many pairs of jeans does
he really need?
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| Tis’ the Season to Enjoy the Holidays Stress-Free
The
holidays can be a joyous time of year. But, as the social calendar gets
hectic, holiday menus are sorted, and shopping lists get started, it
sometimes becomes challenging to get through the holiday season
stress-free. In fact, according to an Opinion Research Survey, almost
half of all women suffer more stress during the holidays.
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| Fresh Gift Ideas for Frenzied Holiday Shoppers
The
holiday season always brings both cheer and frenzy as everyone tries to
find perfect last-minute gifts for those on their list. This year, plan
ahead and get your loved ones something they’ll actually use. Here are
some ideas.
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| Making Coffeehouse-quality Java in Your Own Home
When
it comes to holiday entertaining, don’t overlook the impact of a great
cup of coffee. A top-notch cup of America’s favorite beverage can add
an unexpected and much appreciated quality touch to a festive gathering.
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| Joy to the Bath
‘Tis
the season for turkey, eggnog, mistletoe … and holiday guests. While
many homeowners will deck the halls with festive decorations or make
minor home repairs, most will concentrate on traditional areas such as
dining rooms, family rooms and living rooms. However, they often
overlook the one room where holiday guests frequent most -- the powder
room.
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| Secrets to Stocking Stuffer Success
Each
year Americans spend more and more money to get into the Christmas
spirit only to find they are less than jolly by the time the bills
arrive. A good place to start reining in on holiday expenditures is the
traditional stocking hung over the fireplace.
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| Don’t Let Back Pain Ruin the Holiday Season for You
Between
carrying heavy bags around the mall, heavy packages to the post office,
and heavy carry-ons to and from your holiday destination, not to
mention those heavy bookbags the kids carry around at school, there are
a lot of opportunities to hurt yourself. Here's how to prevent back
pain from ruining your holiday plans.
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| Make Your Own Unique Holiday Gifts - Pen Turning
With
everyone shopping at the same time during the holidays, it can be a
challenge to find something that people haven’t already seen. And if
you do dream up a great gift idea, it’s hard to settle for less than
what you had imagined. Now woodworkers are dealing with this problem
with an easy homemade gift that presents endless opportunities for
customization -- turned pens.
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| How to Create Personalized Holiday Postage Stamps
The
next great American to be featured on a postage stamp could be you --
or a family member, friend or virtually anyone else you know. That’s
because people can now create their own customized, usable U.S. postage.
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| The Key Ingredient for Healthy Holiday Meals
One
of the most memorable things about the holiday season is all the
delicious food that goes with it. This holiday season, show your guests
how much you care about them by offering dishes that are good for them
as well as tasty.
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| A Magical Holiday Gift Idea for the Kids
They
are the loneliest gifts of the year. The guitar that sits in its case.
The skis that remain stacked in the closet. Skill-based gifts seem like
a great idea during the holiday season, but are often too challenging
for children to learn and are pushed aside for the latest digital
goodies. This does not mean parents should shy away from skill-building
gifts, as they can be excellent developmental aids and a lot of fun for
kids.
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