Got a friend who just moved into a new place? You know you should give them something special to commemorate the event, right? Well here are some ideas for housewarming gifts that really stand out. They are beautiful and could be considered a new piece of art for your friend’s home. Ornament Display This gem was created by Julie and Ken Giarardini, and has a steel stand signed on the bottom by the artists. The stand goes for $150. Pair it with an art glass ornament, like this one called the Murrini Sphere created by Mary Mullaney and Ralph Mossman. It has little murrini patterns in crystal and also a small “2009″ in some of the designs. Very sharp. Retails for $95 from Artful Home. Photo Coasters Normally when I... [Read more]

You know how it is. You’re out there, dating, and finally meet someone great. You’ve gone out a couple times and are probably wondering when to share that part of your life you wish you didn’t have to talk about. Perhaps it’s the fact that you have a child you haven’t mentioned before, an illness, financial problems, or the like. When should do it? Don’t Spill on a First Date Ideally, you should get to know someone for a few dates before you spill the details of the more personal parts of your life. Things like health or financial problems, the fact that you can’t have children, or the fact that your ex-wife stalks you. (And yes, these were all mentioned to me on a first date once!) First dates... [Read more]

Thrift stores are an amazing resource for all kinds of great household items, but sometimes people are at a loss for how to figure out the deals versus the junk. (Yes, I know one person’s trash is another person’s treasure….) If you’re someone that likes getting a good deal but hasn’t stopped by the thrift store lately, here are great things to do look for. Dishes Do you collect dishes? Want to find a piece to your mom’s old china? Or how about just getting a funky turkey or Santa plate for the holidays? Thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army are your place. Look for things that are in good condition (no chips, cracks, or crazing) because if it’s dirty you’re going to clean it when you... [Read more]

Online dating is a great way to meet someone new, but one step daters sometimes struggle with is the profile. What to write? What to leave out? Here are some tips especially for the gals. Write a Paragraph That Shows Your Personality Instead of a list (such as “I like horse shows, football games, and French food”) add more description to it. WHY do you like these things? (”My favorite weekend days are spent making some great French food so the house smells awesome, then I can sit back and watch the game. There’s nothing better than an afternoon of football where I can yell at the top of my lungs – in the comfort of my own home, of course.”) The more description you give something, the more your personality... [Read more]

The Christmas holidays are fast approaching, and you know that means food, gifts, faith, and great times spent with family. Unfortunately, it also can mean some added stress. To help combat this, here are a few strategies to deal with the more “annoying” moments and people you may have to deal with. Don’t React As difficult as it is, try not to react to people that try and bait you into an argument. Sometimes the holidays brings out the worst in people, and they can’t help but to purposefully be contradictory. The more you ignore their jibes, the more they will probably move on to someone else. Get Some Rest As simple as it sounds, sometimes we just plan too much around the holidays. We cram in too many visits,... [Read more]