When you don't want to slip your super, hairstylist, or babysitter an envelope of cash, it's appropriate to buy them a present instead, says Lizzie Post, coauthor of Lizzie Post's Etiquette, 18th Edition. Follow these guidelines:

1. Spend roughly the amount you would have given in cash.

2. Don't explain why you wanted to gift instead of tip. Just hand over the gift and thank them for their services.

3. If you know the person pretty well, pick out a gift for them as you would for a friend (in other words, get them something related to one of their hobbies or interests). If you don't know them well, buy a classic gift.

When it comes to holiday shopping, a lot of us are making things way harder than they have to be.

The Journal for Consumer Research, Inc. found that we tend to avoid getting people on our Christmas list the same gift, even if we think that person will really like the gift.

Apparently we look at buying the same gift for multiple people as taking the “easy way out.

MORE: The Hardest Person to Shop For This Holiday Season

For the study, researchers conducted a series of six experiments to see how participants selected gifts for others. Turns out, when picking a gift for one person, the participants were more likely to choose something they thought the recipient would genuinely like. But when shopping for multiple people, participants were hesitant to get more than one person the same type of present (even if they thought both recipients would like it).

MORE: Holiday Etiquette: When to Give Gifts, Rather Than Tips

"People will avoid getting the same gift for more than one person because it feels like the easy way out," says co-study author Mary Steffel, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of marketing at the University of Cincinnati. What's more, they'll do this even when they know the recipient might prefer something else.

The solution? Just focus on what you think each person on your list would like—and don't worry if that sometimes is the same thing for multiple people.

Source: http://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/ideas-for-christmas-gifts

As difficult as it is to admit, there are some things about life that will never change. Politicians will always do shady things. Your mom will always be slightly passive aggressive at the dinner table. Your feet will always hurt after an hour in high heels. Resist these truths if you want, but it’s futile. Life is so much easier when you accept the inevitable. Below are some things that you shouldn’t waste your energy fighting. The sooner you give in, the better. Trust us on this one.

1. People act weird in elevators.

2. Your parents will never stop annoying you.

3. Chicken soup does cure colds.

4. You should buy the size you wear and not the size you wish you wore.

5. Quick fixes and workarounds usually just make things worse.

6. Eating lots of junk food makes you feel like shit.

7. You sleep better with clean sheets and life makes more sense when you get enough sleep.

8. Women act like crazed wildebeests at sample sales.

9. You should call your grandparents even if you don’t feel like it.

10. Your partner will never be able to read your mind.

11. Public transportation brings out the worst in human nature.

12. Manicures chip.

13. You are going to get grey hairs.

14. Spring for the insurance coverage.

15. The chances of getting your period increase exponentially when you’re wearing white pants or when you’re about to go on vacation.

If you want the rest of the 50 click here  The Frisky

You know the people. The ones you block from your Facebook feed because their status updates are just so boring/annoying/attention-whoring that you can’t stand to read them, and for some social reason, you don’t want to unfriend them. Don’t be that person, mmkay? Take a moment to think about whether you really want to share a particular thought with the Internet, and the only way your friends and family will digitally drop you is if you steal the last slice of cake at your next get-together.

Here are 8 questions to ask yourself before you hit enter on that Facebook status.

1. What’s the purpose of your update? Are you conveying information? Sharing something funny? Make sure you actually have a reason for posting. No one cares if you had chicken for dinner unless it was the best chicken ever and everyone needs to try this recipe because zomg it’s to die for.
2. Who’s your audience? Your boss, your dad, and your friend’s 14-year-old daughter don’t need to know you did shots off the bar with your hands tied behind your back.
3. How many times have you updated today? If you need to update more than three to five times a day, sign up for Twitter.
4. Is it vague? I guarantee you’ll get more support and prayers if you actually tell people what you need the prayers for. Otherwise keep it off the net.
5. Is it passive aggressive? If you included the phrase some people, while thinking of someone specific yet not mentioning them, you’re being passive aggressive. Just hit delete and maybe work on your conflict resolution skills.
6. Is it something you’d be interested in reading in someone else’s feed? Chances are if you’re not interested in reading it about another person, they’re not interested in reading it about you.
7. Will your friends hate Jesus if they don’t repost it? Just no. Jesus doesn’t base His love for you on how many things you’ve re-blogged for Him.
8. Is it FarmVille? They have settings to only post to other people that play the game. Please use them

http://thestir.cafemom.com/technology/164406/8_questions_to_ask_yourself