About Home: Tips for a Prosperous New Year

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor With a hard economic year behind us, most of us are looking forward to a more abundant 2013 whether that's in the form of a new job, a new home, or simply having our lives be a little more stable and secure. With the new year beginning today, we welcome it with open arms and provide these tips for ensuring the upcoming year brings you all you wish for and more. Happy New Year from all of us at About.com Home. Top 11 Ways to Start Living a Frugal Life As we move from the holiday season into the new year, we're often left with credit card bills that can take months to pay off. Personally, I always start the new year by stating that this year we'll be better with our budget. But before long, we slip back into old habits. This time I'm determined to keep a tight hold on our future goals and start living a more frugal life. And it starts here, with this informative guide to doing just that. Search Related Topics:  couponing  frugal recipes  saving energy How to Keep New Year's Resolutions We're all guilty of not following through on our New Year's resolutions. In fact, I rarely keep even one. While trying to figure out why I constantly fail, and what I can do to ensure I succeed, I turned to our About Guides. Check out these tips to creating and achieving your resolutions so you can keep your goals and wishes for 2013. Search Related Topics:  feng shui tips  feng shui for love  health feng shui Stay Organized with a Daily Routine I lack a daily routine and I swear if I had one, I'd find my entire life a whole lot easier to manage. With everything from what tasks to include to a task checklist, this guide to staying organized is by far the best tool I found to achieve just that. Search Related Topics:  daily routines  time management  productivity 8 Green New Year Resolutions Why not help both your pocketbook and the environment by adding these steps to a greener and healthier new year? Even if you adopt just one of these ideas, you'll find your life less complicated. My favourite? Line dry sheets and towels! While it seems simple enough, you'll find if you do, not only will your energy bills be lower, but your bedding will smell oh-so fresh. Search Related Topics:  green shopping  organic food  energy use Related Searches New Year E Card New Year 'S Events Happy New Year 2013 Frugal Living Tips Moving House Featured Articles Host an Open House Brunch for the New Year Holiday Pet Emergencies The Best Day to Buy a Home Cold Rooms and How to Warm Them How to Care for Over-Wintering Plants Free Scrapbook Pages and Patterns   More from About.com The Perfect Engagement Ring How to find a gorgeous ring with a style and price that suit your needs. Read more...> Hometown Holidays Discover the best holiday events near your hometown. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2012 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: Prepare Your Home for Holiday Guests

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor Since it's the last Christmas we'll spend in our current home and because we're moving to another country, away from family and friends, this year we're hosting a huge get-together, bringing all those we love under the same roof. While I'm looking forward to the fun we'll have, I'm not looking forward to all the preparation we need to do. So that's why, this week, we're offering the best of the best when it comes to preparing your home for holiday house guests. How to Decorate for Christmas Fast I admit I haven't finished my holiday decorating. In fact, I haven't really even started yet. So I was very excited to find this guide to decorating your home - fast. We're talking 5 minutes fast! Search Related Topics:  christmas decorating  holiday organization  holiday decorating 50 Activities to Entertain your Houseguests This is a must read for anyone who's entertaining any number of guests over the holidays no matter how long - whether it's for two hours or two weeks. Search Related Topics:  houseguests  holiday houseguests  entertaining guests 5 Essentials for a Guest Room If you're having overnight guests like we are, then you'll need to make sure your guest room is ready for their arrival. Or, in our situation, that I somehow magically transform my working office into a cozy room for two. That's where this easy-to-follow guide comes in. It can take your room from drab to fab with just five simple pieces. Search Related Topics:  guestroom furniture  decorating rooms  9 Ways to Clean When You're Hosting Guests This is always my dilemma whenever we have guests for an extended period of time: how do I clean around them without them realizing what I'm doing? Nobody wants their guests to feel like they're causing the hostess more work than usual. But there are ways to make sure your home stays tidy and clean even when it's filled with family and friends. Find out how. Search Related Topics:  entertaining  holiday guide  Related Searches Holiday Decor Ideas Office Holiday Gift Holiday Decoration Holiday Events Decorating Ideas Featured Articles Make Your Own Bows Tips and Tricks for Christmas Gift Wrapping Aquariums For Bettas How to Pick and Care for Holiday Poinsettias Infusing Vodka with Herbs Do I Need Snow Tires on My Car?   More from About.com The Perfect Engagement Ring How to find a gorgeous ring with a style and price that suit your needs. Read more...> Hometown Holidays Discover the best holiday events near your hometown. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2012 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: Gift Giving Ideas for the Whole Family

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor With the holiday season now in full swing, it's time you tackled that gift giving list. You can start right here with these suggestions for every member of the family, including tips on card making and unique holiday wrap for an extra special touch. Gift Ideas for Every Member of the Family This is the most extensive list you'll find for holiday gift giving ideas. With every member of your family covered, your hunt for that perfect purchase has never been so easy. Check out the complete list right here. Search Related Topics:  housewares  gift ideas  appliances Quick and Easy Christmas Cards My favorite Christmas cards - the ones I keep year after year - are those I received that were made by hand. Nothing says you're worth the extra care than a card created with love. Search Related Topics:  scrapbook page sketches  christmas scrapbook pages  greeting card ideas Top 10 Best Gifts for the Farmer While these gift ideas are perfect for the urban or rural farmer in all of us, I found many of the things on this list are ideal for even the most dirt-shy people I know. Search Related Topics:  holiday gifts  gift giving guide  Inexpensive and Creative Gift Wrap Ideas I just love this list of non-traditional gift wrap that is not only inexpensive but far more unique than purchasing ready-made paper. My favorite? Old blueprints - perfect for my architecture-loving father-in-law! Search Related Topics:  diy projects  flea market finds  holiday decorating Related Searches Gifts Ideas for Men Christmas Gifts Kids Craft Ideas Xmas Card Ideas Wedding Gift Featured Articles Top Holiday Gifts for Bird Owners Woodworking Gifts for Under $50 Top 10 Feng Shui Gifts Give the Gift of Flowers Top 10 Gifts for First-Time Home Buyers Gift Ideas for Outdoor-Living and -Loving Guys   More from About.com The Perfect Engagement Ring How to find a gorgeous ring with a style and price that suit your needs. Read more...> Hometown Holidays Discover the best holiday events near your hometown. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2012 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: Thanksgiving Tables, Games & Black Friday Deals

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor Tomorrow is one of the biggest holidays in the US when families and friends gather to celebrate and be thankful for the fall harvest. If you're still scrambling to prepare for the festivities, here are some last minute tips to help you make the most of the holiday. Of course, with Thanksgiving comes the biggest shopping day of the year and we have the inside scoop on the best deals for your home. Quick and Easy Thanksgiving Centerpieces for Your Table Since Thanksgiving centers on the harvest, most of us equate the holiday with a bountiful table surrounded by people we love. To make your table the focus of the day, check out these easy-to-make and beautiful centerpieces that use found objects from your garden. Search Related Topics:  garden crafts  fall gardening  when to harvest Thanksgiving Games & Activities Most of us do focus on the Thanksgiving feast, but what about the fun? Check out these games and activities that will keep all your guests happy and entertained. Search Related Topics:  thanksgiving decor  decorating with kids  craft decor items Black Friday Deals on Furniture and Home Decor Black Friday is the perfect time to purchase those big ticket items that you've been putting off buying all year. It's also the perfect time to get a jump start on your holiday shopping. And with this list of deals on furniture and home decor you're sure to find the perfect gift. Home Theatre Black Friday Shopping Guide If you're looking for a home electronic, such as a big screen TV or a new sound system, then you need to check out this guide to home theater shopping. Find out what's on sale for how much and where - it's all right here. Search Related Topics:  black friday  holiday shopping  christmas shopping Related Searches Thanksgiving Ideas Thanksgiving Sale Black Friday Deals Thanksgiving Games Thanksgiving Gift Featured Articles Tips For Giving An Aquarium As a Gift Gifts for Candle & Soap Makers What is De Quervain's Syndrome? DIY Pest Control Compost for the Lawn Fix a Running Toilet   More from About.com Plan a Caribbean Vacation Whether you're planning a romantic escape, a girlfriend getaway, or an active family vacation we've got the resources you need. Read more...> How to Eat Locally Eating locally has many benefits, the food is fresher, tastes better, and has less environmental impact. But how can you get started? Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2012 About.com   Advertisement