Day: December 13, 2011

Remember when the family was together for all those Christmases past? You don’t need to go any further than your photo album to take a stroll down memory lane. But why is Uncle Frank out of focus? Did Cousin Amy really cut herself out of that photo because she thought it was unflattering? And you can’t see anyone in the photo taken in front of the picture window – they’re all backlit.

Do you find yourself in the last-minute-gift-buying category this year? Maybe time got away from you, or you just don’t know what to get for the gift recipients on your list. Even though the clock is ticking, the good news is there’s still time to find great gifts with special deals attached.

Whether it’s preparing for a holiday gathering, watching the big game or planning a dinner party with friends and family, it can be difficult to decide what food to serve. A cheese course is a simple, elegant solution that also saves much-needed kitchen prep time.

In the current tough job market, it’s understandable that you might be tempted to take just any position. However, there are numerous factors to take into consideration when deciding to work at a company. If you look beyond the usual set of parameters, you may find yourself far happier and more secure in your new position once you arrive.

Restaurant owners know what few diners understand – that keeping a restaurant running smoothly is a juggling act of epic proportions. From the front of the house to the back of the house, a successful business depends on managing staff, facilities and everything in between. While there are plenty of reasons to keep things running smoothly, one that restaurant owners have to be particularly vigilant about is inspection.

There are many things that bring college students together, making college one of the most special times of your life. You meet hundreds of peers who are in a similar place, as you try to forge your own identity and decide how you want to spend your adult life.

There’s nothing more beautiful than the coming of spring after a long winter. As grass grows green and the air warms, nature puts on a spectacular show that manages to impress year after year. Nowhere is spring’s beauty more vibrantly on display than at the National Cherry Blossom Festival Celebration in Washington, D.C. This year marks a storied and once-in-a-lifetime event, the 100 year anniversary of the arrival of Japanese flowering cherry trees in D.C.’s West Potomac Park.

Are you looking for gift ideas this holiday season that are more than just a gift? How about enhancing a tasteful gift with culture and knowledge to enhance your loved one’s stature?

Although the latest Brides American Wedding Study shows the average cost of a wedding in 2010 was $26,501, a decrease of 5 percent from 2009, weddings continue to be big business. But many couples are opting to cut the guest list instead of big ticket items like wedding gowns.

The gift of donated human tissue meant that Susan Cossabone was able to avoid leg amputation and return to her passion of horseback riding following a devastating accident. Cossabone will join 27 other float riders from around the country Jan. 2 on the Donate Life float in the Tournament of Roses Parade. The float, now in its ninth year, is a tribute to the millions of people touched by organ, tissue and blood donation.

“I’m really starting to get into couponing and enjoying it! But I can’t help but feel I would do better if I had more of the same coupons. One of my friends is a big couponer and picks up an extra newspaper or two if the coupons are really good. What are your thoughts on this? How many newspapers do you get each week just for the coupons?”

With home values plunging in many markets around the country, it seems only logical that most homeowners today would pay lower property taxes.

I own a home and paid for it in cash. I have paid all the bills on time. No problems with the property. Based on these factors can I sign my house over to anyone? Can I sign a house over for less than I paid for it? After a house is purchased, how long is it before it can be signed over? Are there other issues that might arise from signing a house over?

The housing market is in a slump, but the basic need for shelter is a constant. Enter Habitat for Humanity International – which placed sixth in Builder magazine’s survey of the largest U.S. homebuilders, with 6,032 home closings last year.