A new year brings opportunity for a new you

(BPT) - The new year is widely accepted as a time to start fresh, and every year people make resolutions to better themselves. For many, this means vowing to make lifestyle changes to improve how they look and feel. However, sticking to restrictive die...

How to simplify holiday gift giving

(BPT) - Overwhelmed by your holiday shopping list and short on time? Not to worry – here are a few tips to cut costs, stay organized and still buy presents that your friends and family will love.1. Stick to a budget. Arrive at the dollar amount a...

Don’t lose sleep over holiday gift buying

(BPT) - Is holiday gift buying causing you stress? Searching for a gift that is practical, yet personal? You are not alone in the struggle to find the “perfect gift.”The National Retail Federation estimates that holiday sales will reach $58...

Using your garage as a gym

Have you ever looked in your garage and thought “I really should make more of this space?” You’re not the only one – people now convert them into anything from bedrooms to utility rooms. If you’re looking for an alternative to your local gym, it might be time to bring your exercise regime into the home …

Easy money for your holiday shopping lists

(BPT) - How many people do you have on your holiday shopping list? And how much are you planning – or able – to spend on gifts?The average American will spend slightly more than $700 on holiday gifts this year, ABC World News with Diane Saw...

Commitment is the new resolution

(BPT) - The tradition of new year’s resolutions has been around 4,000 years, when Babylonians saw fit to start the year off right by making promises to the gods. Today, such promises are a media phenomenon, designed to be broken.“One reason...

A guest-friendly home is easier than you think

(BPT) - One of the many exciting and sometimes stressful parts of the holiday season is entertaining at home with friends and family. To prepare for their arrival you may be tempted to just clean the kitchen counters, toss a few extra towels in the gue...

A year in review: top searches of 2012

(BPT) - This year marked a time of change, innovation, trials and hope. But what was the most memorable moment of 2012? A great place to look is online searches, as they mark the people, places and events that mattered most in a given year.According to...