About Home: Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays & Farewell

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor As this is my last newsletter as the About Home Editor, I'd like to extend my thanks to you for your readership. Starting off the new year, you'll be in the very capable hands of Christina. So, to end my time with you, this week we're bringing you tips for creating a happy space, a sound financial future and ways to brighten up your home with handmade quilts and color-rich gardens. From everyone at About.com, we wish you and your family a safe and love-filled holiday. Feng Shui Steps To A Happy Home Heading into the New Year, why not make a resolution to increase the happiness level in your home? With these tips on everything from connecting to your space to creating a more peaceful environment using Feng Shui elements, you'll find greater harmony in 2014. Search Related Topics:  feng shui home  feng shui tips  feng shui cures Smart Year-End Money Moves Once the holidays are over and before the credit card bills arrive, check out this detailed guide to getting your finances in order by taking these smart money steps that will see your wealth increase while your stress recedes - the perfect way to start off the new year. Search Related Topics:  frugal money management  getting out of debt  taxes Christmas Quilts Photo Gallery Take a peek at these quilts that will not only spark your creativity, but will ensure the holiday spirit remains present in your home long after the stockings are stored, the decorations boxed and the tree taken to the curb. Search Related Topics:  folded fabric star ornament  fat quarter stars  christmas quilt patterns Winter Container Garden Gallery If you think your gardening days are over until spring, think again. Find inspiration with these pics of container gardens that will add some color and life to a sunny spot on your back patio or front porch or as a centerpiece on your dining room table. Related Searches Money Wealth Christmas Quilts Feng Shui House Money com Money Guide Featured Articles How to Choose Your Carpet Color Special Needs Cats How to Furnish a Small Dining Room Fire Safety Systems Popular Web Sites for Finding an Apartment Create a Beautiful Nursery on a Budget   More from About.com Run Your First 5K Even couch potatoes can be ready for a 5K with just a couple months of training. Read more...> Help! I'm Too Busy Time and stress management tips to help you feel as though you have more time. 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: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2013 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: Stressfree Hosting & Last Minute Holiday Tips

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor I can't believe Christmas is a week away and I still haven't put up the lights or decked the halls and have yet to figure out where everyone is going to sleep. My in-laws arrive on Sunday and with them comes the first of the holiday crowd. Don't get me wrong - I love having guests. I just don't know how I'll get it all done in time. So, this week, it's all about last minute stuff, including how to be a great host without too much stress. Get Organized for the Holidays I know what you're thinking - if I haven't organized my holiday hosting yet, I have no chance of getting it all together by the time my guests arrive. And that's what I thought until I saw this incredibly helpful and detailed guide to getting our home in shape, in time. Whew! Search Related Topics:  holidays  time management  tips Bedeck Your Bath For Holiday Guests While I'm grateful to have three full bathrooms, our guest bathrooms are pretty boring, mostly because we focused our decorating attention on the master. So now that all the bathrooms will be in full use, we need some help to make them warm and inviting and functional,too. Search Related Topics:  bathroom decorating  holiday decorating  guest bathrooms How to Survive the Stress of Holiday Entertaining I'm now pretty confident that I'll be ready for my guests' arrival, but I'm not sure I can do a week of hosting without some stressful moments or hours and maybe even days. So when I came across this guide to de-stressing my hosting duties, I knew I could not only make it through but actually enjoy every moment. Search Related Topics:  christmas parties  holidays  entertaining mistakes Christmas Craft Ideas and Activities Last, but certainly not least, is this list of fun things for the little ones to do while we adults lounge in front of the fire with eggnog in hand. The other great thing? Most of these crafts and activities don't require a lot of preparation or stuff. In fact, a lot of things you'll already have around the house. How easy is that? Search Related Topics:  holiday crafts  christmas  Related Searches Holiday Gift Ideas Easy Holiday Crafts Holiday Entertaining Holiday Party Games About Christmas Featured Articles 5 Feng Shui Tips for Christmas Poinsettia Picture Gallery The Cost of Caring for a Rabbit Santa Postcard Collection Treating Ice on Sidewalks and Driveways How to Unclog a Drain   More from About.com Run Your First 5K Even couch potatoes can be ready for a 5K with just a couple months of training. Read more...> Help! I'm Too Busy Time and stress management tips to help you feel as though you have more time. 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: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2013 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: Holiday Gift Giving Made Easy

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor No matter which holiday you're celebrating, it usually means buying gifts for family friends and sometimes people you really don't know very well - your child's teacher, for the dreaded gift-exchange at work or the plumber who made that emergency house-call in the middle of the night. Give a gift that will bring joy to the receiver instead of collecting dust in the spare-room closet. Inspired Gift Ideas for the Hobbyist Everyone has a hobby. But not everyone receives a gift that supports that inner passion. Check out this extensive list of gift giving suggestions that will inspire, spark their creativity and tell them just how much you care. Search Related Topics:  gifts  hosting  appliances Gift Ideas for the Woodworker or Handy Person I bet if you asked people on your list if they like to work with wood, a resounding number would say that they do. Like my physiotherapist. After knowing him for almost two years, I was surprised when he told me about his hobby. But now I know what to get him for Christmas thanks to this list of gift ideas worth giving. Search Related Topics:  woodworking safety  finishing  jigsaws What's Hot and Not in Home Theater Gift Giving Every year, I'm stumped by what to get my father-in-law for Christmas. He has everything he needs and if he doesn't have it, he goes out and buys it. But this time, I think I've found the perfect gift on this list of what's hot (aka, he doesn't have it yet!) this holiday season. Search Related Topics:  holiday shopping  blu-ray disc players  home theater systems Fun Gift Ideas for the Gardener (or Would-be) Even though I consider myself a novice gardener, I always appreciate garden gifts that keep me thinking of spring and all things green. My favorite from these extensive lists? The garden kneeler seat that would be oh-so helpful once the garden is planted. Search Related Topics:  gifts for gardeners  garden tools  containers Related Searches Holiday Gift Ideas Gifts for Gardeners Wedding Shower Gifts How to Gift Wrap Christmas Pet Gift Featured Articles Dog Gift Guide Ergonomic Tips for Christmas Gift Wrapping Why is My Car Shaking? Best Low Light Plants for that Shady Corner How to Deal with Bad Neighbors Winter Pest Control   More from About.com Run Your First 5K Even couch potatoes can be ready for a 5K with just a couple months of training. Read more...> Help! I'm Too Busy Time and stress management tips to help you feel as though you have more time. 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: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2013 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: Holiday Decorating Ideas to Inspire and Celebrate

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor I haven't had a chance to put up our Christmas lights yet, so our house is the only one on the block that's sad to look at, especially because we live right next door to Dave. Dave's house is the brightest, jolliest house I've ever seen, with enough lights to shine all the way to the North Pole. At least, that's what his kids are hoping for. Be Inspired with Outdoor Light Displays If you're looking for some inspiration, check out these incredible displays of lighting magic that span from the West to the East and everything in between. Search Related Topics:  christmas lights  holiday lighting  outdoor holiday lighting Decorations and Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah With everything from decorating ideas to recipes and activities for children, you'll find what you need to make this Hanukkah a special time of sharing with family and friends. Search Related Topics:  hanukkah decorations  celebrating hanukkah  hanukkah menus Budget Christmas Decorating Ideas With so much money tied up in presents and parties, there's very little left in our household budget to ensure our home is cozy and welcoming. So to welcome in the Christmas spirit, I've turned to this decorating guide for ideas that are beautiful, festive and yes, frugal. Search Related Topics:  christmas decorating  christmas tree decor  holiday decorating Great Choices for Living Christmas Trees Every Christmas tree we get seems to require some shaving of branches or decapitating of tops just to make it fit into our already-cramped living room. But this year we've made a tree-hunting plan thanks to this guide to finding the perfect holiday evergreen. Search Related Topics:  christmas trees  palm trees  pine trees Related Searches Christmas Tree Ideas Home Décor Ideas Room Decor Ideas Christmas Decoration Ideas Featured Articles How to Light a Furnace Pilot Light Top 10 Automatic Fish Feeders 5 Reasons Why You Should Send Holiday Cards Woodworking Tips and Tricks 10 Creative Toy Storage Ideas How To Install Carpet   More from About.com Run Your First 5K Even couch potatoes can be ready for a 5K with just a couple months of training. Read more...> Help! I'm Too Busy Time and stress management tips to help you feel as though you have more time. 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: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2013 About.com   Advertisement