Find the Top Tools for the DIYer on Your Gift List

The holidays are around the corner, and now’s the time to decide what to buy the do-it-yourselfer on your list. According to a recent survey commissioned by Kelton Research and Craftsman (www.craftsman.com), more than three-quarters (77 percent) of men plan on tackling some sort of DIY project next year.

Additionally, 69 percent of female respondents admit to having “a laundry list” of projects they’d like their spouse or significant other to take on around the house in the new year. Therefore, it’s safe to say that buying a new tool will hit the nail on the head.

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Don’t Condemn Your Digital Images to Hard Drive Solitude

In the past, Americans visited drug stores and photography shops to get their vacation pictures developed. Whether the resulting photographs landed in a scrapbook or a shoebox, they were, at least, a physical reality. Today, many people choose to carry lighter digital cameras – and many of their vacation photos end up languishing on laptops forever.

But Americans can find things to do with their vacation photographs. Here are some more unique ideas that go beyond online scrapbooks or digital photo frames:

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Little Boy Survives Trip to Heaven

In March of 2003, Todd and Sonja Burpo were living a nightmare. Their then four-year-old son, Colton, had suffered a burst appendix and developed a life-threatening infection. Doctors told the Burpos that surgery was Colton’s only option.

Colton narrowly survived the surgery. His survival, while miraculous, was not as spectacular as the journey he took while doctors worked to save his life – while Colton’s body was in surgery, his consciousness ascended to Heaven.

That’s right. Heaven.

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Employee-Friendly Office Cultures Improve Retainment

Today’s economy isn’t just frustrating for those without jobs – limited budgets can do a number on employed workers’ morale as well. Exemplary employees might not be awarded with raises, no matter how much effort they put into their projects. Employers unable to afford larger salaries may find their best employees looking elsewhere.

But some companies are finding way to keep employees happy by cultivating employee-friendly office cultures. For example, in the fall of 2010, Washington, D.C.’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer implemented a Results Only Work Policy (ROWE), which pays employees  for results, not the hours  that they work. This means that employees are able to work when or wherever they want, so long as their work gets done. In places where it has been tried, ROWE not only boosts morale and retention, but also improves output.

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Holiday Shopping? Experiences Trump Boxes This Season

As the holiday season approaches, shoppers face the annual challenge of finding the perfect gift in the right size at the best price. Shopping online can save both time and money but can also overwhelm consumers with the endless list of options to choose from.

This year, experts recommend harnessing the national trend of collective buying to ease shopping woes and save money in the process.

Collective buying sites streamline the holiday shopping process by connecting users with creative gift suggestions at unbeatable discounts. It has become just as easy to give someone the gift of a great unique experience as it is to send them a sweater.

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This Holiday, Give a Personalized Photo Gift

There’s a reason that photographs are such popular gifts; they preserve a moment forever and remind viewers of good times. But why settle for just a frame? Today, you can transform a memorable photograph into personalized photo gifts of all shapes and colors.

Snappy Photo Gifts, a company that prints photographic images onto a wide variety of items, offers the following suggestions:

•    Customized jigsaw puzzles. If you have puzzle fans in the family, why not allow them to assemble a favorite photograph? They’ll have fun putting it together, and, when they finish the puzzle, they’ll have a unique, framable piece of art.

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Helpful Tips for Giving Watches as Gifts

Watches make a treasured gift during the holidays. When shopping for mens’ watches or ladies’ watches, there are a few simple tips to follow:

•    Go for an established watch brand. A true watch “manufacturer” that produces their own movements in-house ensures the highest quality. Leading Japanese watch brand SEIKO offers craftsmanship on par with top Swiss companies for a fraction of the price.

•    Stainless steel is always a good metal choice. It’s durable, chic and can easily go from day to night. The Coutura Collection from Seiko offers both ladies’ and men’s styles in stainless steel or stainless steel with sophisticated gold-tone accents. Each piece is water resistant to 100 M.

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Need a Hot Holiday Gift Idea? Try Steam Cleaners

No matter what gift you give a loved one – a new set of golf clubs, a gold necklace, a teddy bear – it’s going to need proper care and cleaning. So why not give your loved one a way to care for their present?

Whether you give a stylish sweater or a new recliner, a steam cleaner or steam iron will clean, deodorize and disinfect without using harsh chemicals. Steam cleaners generally produce steam that is 220 degrees Fahrenheit or more at the tip. When the steam meets a surface, it penetrates its pores and breaks the bond between the surface and any dirt. Because the steam is so hot, it also kills mold spores, dust mites and bed bugs and bacteria.

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Tips to Find Unique Gifts to Celebrate Your Love

Couples who stay together deserve to celebrate their enduring commitment, but anniversary gifts can be difficult to choose. Sure, there are traditional gifts. But what modern couple really wants wool or copper for their seventh anniversary? And what would you do with the silver plates traditionally given on a couple’s 23rd?

Today’s young couples prefer more personalized gifts. For some some unique gift ideas, consider the following list provided by PlaqueMakerPlus.com, maker of customized awards and recognition products:

•    Make a video showcasing your life together. Contact friends and family members for home videos, then edit them together to show your story as a couple, from childhood to wedding to current day.

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