NASCAR can sure get rowdy, and Sunday in Phoenix, the drivers had it out with each other due to what appears to be a long-simmering feud. Jeff Gordon and two other men were put on suspension by NASCAR after an event that happened during the second-to-last event of the season.

"Gordon intentionally slowed his car and waited for Bowyer on the track Sunday to wreck him on what was scheduled to be the final lap," said the Washington Post. "There had been contact between the two a few laps earlier, and Gordon viewed it as the final straw in an apparently escalating on-track feud with Bowyer."

Four-time champion Gordon was docked 25 points and fined $100,000. He was also put on probation until the end of the year for the intentional wreck. After the wreck, Gordon and Bowyer's crews got into a fight with each other.

"Things just got escalated over the year, and I'd just had it," Gordon later said in a statement, according to USA Today. "Clint has run into me numerous times, wrecked me, and he got into me on the back straightaway and pretty much ruined our day. I've had it, [I was] fed up with it and I got him back."

Bowyer's crew chief, Brian Pattie, was also fined $25,000 and put on suspension until the end of the year.

"I take responsibility for my actions on the racetrack," Gordon said. "I accept NASCAR's decision and look forward to ending the season on a high note at Homestead."

Racer Brad Keselowski was also suspended for a completely separate incident. He was accused of "in-race use of social media," a racing term for texting while driving. He was suspended until the end of the year and fined $25,000.

"Keselowski used his smartphone to tweet updates during a 15-minute red flag that followed the crash involving Bowyer and Gordon," said USA Today.

Photo courtesy Judy Eddy/WENN.com

If you ask Americans their opinion of Pippa Middleton's new book, most will probably have the same reaction:

"Pippa Middleton wrote a book?"

Celebrate was released Oct. 30 and has sold a disappointing 2,000 copies in its first week.

According to The Telegraph, Middleton was paid an advance of around $500,000–$600,000 for the book, which sells for $29.95 on Amazon.com. According to the website, the book is now ranked at number 318 for the week.

"Celebrate, my book on entertaining, has been a labour of love," Middleton wrote in an essay on TheTelegraph's website. "I have put my heart and soul into it, obsessing over every detail. I could have written a book that showcased the most extravagant or elaborate of occasions — after all, I spent three years working for an events company, planning parties — but I wanted to produce something that was achievable; something that people would have on their shelves for years; something that was not too fussy — just simple and comforting."

The essay seemed as though it was an attempt to reply to the bad reviews she had received for the book. The Irish Sun recapped some of her tips, including how to welcome children to your home for Halloween, then added its own thoughts.

"Fascinating tips — well worth the reported advance she is rumoured to have received for her services," said the paper. "It is clear that by writing the book, Pippa set out to prove that there is far more to her than her pert bottom. But the fact is, there isn't."

The Telegraph, the same paper that published Middleton's essay, printed a review that was also less than kind. It includes the tips, followed by an example showing how she doesn't seem to understand the common person. The Telegraph didn't hold back in its teasing of Middleton.

"Because of their size, turkeys are perfect for feeding larger gatherings," Middleton wrote, to which The Telegraph replied, "This could catch on at, say, Christmas."

Only time will tell if the book continues to sell, but one thing is for sure: Middleton made sure to get her advance in advance.

Photo courtesy WENN.com

For many singletons , reading about Bridget Jones is a rite of passage, and Friday, author Helen Fielding announced she is writing a third novel in the series. But Bridget Jones 2 was released 13 years ago, and the original Bridget Jones' Diary came out in 1996, so the story's fans have to hope that she is not still single.

However, Fielding is not sharing many details, only hinting that Jones' life will have happened in real time.

"The new novel is set in present-day London, with an entirely new scenario for Bridget," Fielding told The Guardian. "If people laugh as much reading it as I am while writing it, then we'll all be very happy."

Fielding added that while the first two books were based on her weight, alcohol units, cigarettes and other measurements, this new book would be based on more modern measurements.

"It's more like, 'Number of Twitter followers: 0. Still no followers. Still no followers,'" she told TheGuardian. "But she has grown up. My life has moved on, and hers will move on too. She's still trying to give up [drinking and smoking]; she's still on a diet. She's trying a bit harder and is a bit more successful, but she's never really going to change."

Fielding is working on a third Bridget Jones film, but she doesn't say how closely related it is to the novel. She is also working to bring a musical of the story to the stage. But overall, with the new book, she wants to stress how people date in the new world of technology and communications.

"In the same way as the first Bridget book was looking at the way a 30-something, single woman was branded as a tragic spinster, and then we got the new idea of a singleton, [the new book] will be looking at later phases in life when you get branded as a certain thing, and you don't have to be that at all, and it's all outdated and ridiculous. I'm having a lot of fun, and it's very funny, and it's making me laugh. It's a bit scary, bringing out another one, but I'm really enjoying writing it," Fielding said.

The author doesn't hint at which characters may remain, but she does say things will change with the new book. Renee Zellweger did sign on for the third film last year, but it sounds like the new novel may be a completely different idea from the film.

Photo courtesy Jonny Forsyth/WENN.com

Taylor Swift's lyrical brilliance comes at a heavy price. The stuff that inspires pen to meet paper can be hard to live through, and at times, those pesky blogs even bring the Red songstress to tears!

Speaking to Harper's Bazaar, Taylor Swift revealed what she needs in a partner is for him "to be equal."

"If I feel too much like I'm wearing the pants, I start to feel uncomfortable, and then we break up," added Taylor Swift, seen here performing at the MTV EMAs on Nov. 11.

Taylor Swift tortured by Ellen over boyfriend history>>

"Some combinations of people are toxic, you know? You have to find the right one that isn't just going to explode into fiery ash and destruction," the 22-year-old continued.

"Despite all of that and how unpleasant it is, as a writer, you get a lot from it. It's a crazy justification system. You know that guy you really wish you could erase from your memory? But then, the answer is track six, eight, 12, and 13."

Taylor Swift doesn't want space but does want babies>>

Though she's tough enough to turn her personal pain into professional success, Taylor Swift isn't completely invulnerable when it comes to what's published about her dating life.

"What I had to learn to do, in order to maintain a general happiness in my life, was to stop reading everything,"the "Dear John" singer confessed. "And then, it gets really bad if you go through a breakup and those blogs have these polls asking, 'Who should they date next?' And you're just sitting there, staring at the laptop, bawling."

"But you can live in a normal world, where a breakup is just a breakup, if you don't expose yourself to what's being speculated about yourself. That's where I live now."

Image via WENN

Adding fresh paint to any room will give the space an instant face-lift -- but without proper tools, your newly painted room might make you blue. Keep these helpful tools ready for the next time you pick up the roller.

While most of your paint can be applied with a roller, you’ll need a good standard brush that’s designed for detailed work. Look for a brush with an angled tip to reach even the tightest spaces.

• We love: Purdy’s 2-1/2-inch XL-Glide Paint Brush

Get clean lines in half the time with this time-saving tool. Just hold it firmly against the edge of your trim to keep paint from seeping through -- no tape needed!

• We love: Warner’s 12-inch paint trim guide

Choosing a color becomes easy when you know your color options. Paint chips get lost and come in no particular order. A paint deck, on the other hand, keeps your samples organized and allows you to see color families in relation to one another.

• We love: Valspar’s paint colors deck

It’s time to ditch plastic tarps that slide, tear and crumple beneath your feet. Instead, use canvas drop cloths. The thick material absorbs paint drips and stays in place.

• We love: Blue Hawk’s 15-foot-by-12-foot 8-ounce canvas drop cloth

Adhere 2-inch-thick painter's tape to baseboards, but don’t fold the edge to cover the face. Instead, leave an overhang to tuck your drop cloth beneath. You’ll avoid drips and keep your tarp from sliding.

• We love: Scotch Blue’s 2-inch painter’s tape

There’s no need to shy away from a little power! Tools with a pulse will make any job easier. Just follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions, crank up the amps and go!

An air compressor kit that includes multiple attachments is a great tool for any renovation. Use the nail gun attachment to fasten molding, the staple gun attachment to reupholster your dining chair cushions or the air nozzle to clear off dust after sanding.

• We love: Powermate’s 2-gallon portable electric air compressor

Many do-it-yourself projects start with a good sanding. Save yourself time and energy by taking off worn finishes with a light sanding. For the best look when sanding wood, be sure to follow the grain with swift, steady motions.

• We love: Milwaukee’s 5-inch random orbit sander

We all know this tool is a handy-man’s dream come true, but you don’t need to be an expert to reap its benefits. Put your cordless drill to work to hang artwork, install shelves and even attach hardware.

• We love: Black & Decker’s 12-volt lithium drill/driver with two batteries

If you’re looking for a tool that can do almost anything, look no further than a dremel. These versatile tools can cut, buff and trim a variety of materials, including wood, tile and metal. Plus, their compact size makes them great for those hard-to-reach places.

• We love: Dremel’s trio tool kit

Owning a table saw isn’t always an option, but these portable saws are both compact and affordable. Try the circular saw with small wood-working projects to achieve custom shapes and sizes.

• We love: Ryobi’s 12-amp 7-1/4-inch circular saw

Mom always said, “Look before you leap,” and these helpful tools will let you do just that. Before you pick up the hammer or drill the first hole, use these online resources to help guide your path. They’ll leave you with a roadmap and compass to help you navigate your project to a successful end.

• Mythic Paint's Room Visualizer: This handy tool offers a room visualizer that will help you compare paint colors to determine what you love -- and what you don't.

• La-Z-Boy 3-D Room Planner: Use this planning tool to visualize rooms in your home in 3-D before you make significant changes. You can customize furniture styles and fabrics, change the room shape, add windows and doors, change the flooring, change the paint color and more.

• DIY Blogs: Chances are these chatty homeowners have experimented with a project just like yours, and blogged about every little detail. Put the trial and error of others to good use by including their hands-on descriptions as a part of your project research.

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If you want your home to speak of your personal style, then spell it out. Literally -- with words and letters as artwork and accessories. Use monograms to initial bed linens, towels and coffee mugs. Create art from the lyrics of your favorite song or hang a vinyl wall decal of your favorite quote. For inspiration, check out Wall Words.

Find creative ways to display family photos in your home. Collect old photographs from your parents and grandparents to create a heritage display, or include your own baby photos with the baby photos of your children. Take the entire family for group portraits, and then order enlarged canvas prints to display throughout your home. Personal Creations has a wide variety of custom canvas photo ideas to personalize your decor.

Consider not only what you display, but also how you display it. Hang art arrangements and accessories in groupings. Take your digital camera along on your next walk through town, snapping photos as you go. Hold your camera at different angles to capture interesting lines and lighting. Once you have a selection to choose from, use free editing software like Picasa to change your favorite images to black-and-whites. Then simply frame your images for a custom art display with a personal touch.

For one-of-a-kind artwork that reflects your personal style, seek the assistance of a local artist. When commissioning artwork, try to meet with the artist personally to discuss your style, color preferences and overall expectations for the piece. A commissioned art piece doesn't have to cost a fortune. Seek out talented artists who are just starting out. Chances are they'll be more interested in building their portfolio than charging high prices for their work. You could also check the local college to see if any art students are interested in creating a piece for you at a reasonable price.

Hold on to the family heirlooms you've collected over the years, and put them to work in your decor. Use smaller-sized heirlooms as accessories on shelves and side tables, and feature large furniture pieces as focal points throughout your space. To modernize an antique piece, try repurposing it. For example, rather than using an antique dresser in the bedroom, use it as a credenza in the dining room. Or use a large china cabinet as a bookcase. If you don't have any heirlooms, check out a local antique store or check an online site like Etsy, which offers unique pieces and vintage items.

Even with stunning home decor, the first thing guests notice when they enter your home is the scent -- especially if you're a pet owner. Luckily, there are several air-freshening products that eliminate odors. Experiment with available scents until you've found your favorites. Check out wickless candle products such as Scentsy, which offers a bazillion different scents and ways to display them. Change the scents each spring, summer, fall and winter to coincide with seasonal festivities.

Check out this video on how to personalize any space instantly>>

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To create an in-home getaway, you won’t need a complete room makeover -- or even anything exceedingly drastic. Making a few inexpensive changes can make all the difference in how you feel about a space that belongs to you. Just find a spot that’s interruption-free -- like a guest bedroom, den or even a large closet -- and claim the space as your personal sanctuary.

Color is a huge factor in setting the mood and tone for a space. Designers and psychologists agree greens and blues have the most calming effect, but soft tones of lilac, coral and even shades of white can also set the stage for a relaxing environment. While trends may come and go, a soothing color scheme will stand the tests of time.

If picking a relaxing color scheme gives you color-anxiety, take the guess-work out of the equation by using a color palette tool like Sherwin Williams Chip It. The Chip It tool allows you to use inspiring photographs from the web to identify the perfect paint color for your space.

Use existing furniture to create a cozy nook on a dime. Place your favorite chair near a window with a good view and add a small side table with a decorative lamp. Top it all off with a plush throw and a few soft pillows, and you’ll have a comfy place to sip your morning coffee, read your favorite book or even enjoy the evening sunset.

1. Dupioni throw pillow with piping  2. Medallion flocked lumbar pillow  3. Ivory herringbone throw

Candles are a great way to inexpensively and easily set a tone for a room. Scents like jasmine and sage are typically calming and soothing because they have warm undertones. Even cinnamon can be soothing in the right context. Citrus scents are known to be invigorating and give a fresh, summery feel to a room.

Find creative ways to incorporate your fragrance into your decor. Place candles in a group atop a decorative dish or fill a beautiful glass bowl with colorful potpourri. You can even use products like Glade oil diffusers or Scentsy flameless candles that fit seamlessly with your home decor, no matter your style.

1. Glade Expressions oil diffuser  2. Honey-suckle candle  3. Timber candles in slate blue   4. Scentsy silhouette warmer

In a relaxing environment, the less clutter, the better. This means no stacks of paper or anything that distracts you with work, bills, your schedule or pressing deadlines. Use decorative bins, boxes and racks to keep your things tidy and out of sight. For some extra glam, look for storage items with luxurious finishes, such as jeweled, mirrored, beaded and glossed. 

1. Shagreen boxes  2. Marcella tote  3. Wall-mount magazine rack

This is your place to get away, so leave it all behind, even if it’s only for a few moments. If possible, keep this space free of technology that keeps your mind consumed with tasks. Leave your smart-phone at the door, the television turned off and the phone off the hook! They’ll only interrupt your time to relax.

For an additional soothing touch, surround yourself with nature. Plants are a good way to induce relaxation. Despite size, their presence in a room is invigorating. Every room should have something earth-themed to merge nature with the indoors.

1. Potted papyrus  2. Potted grass  3. Potted butterfly succulent  4. Potted Phaelanopsis

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Time to retreat

In today's hectic world, everyone needs a place where they can go to relax and unwind. Fortunately, you don't have to join a posh spa to enjoy a soothing atmosphere. Instead, create a personal sanctuary in the comfort of your own home.

Accessories that soothe

Most people find that keeping things simple is the best approach when accessorizing a personal sanctuary space. Avoid visual distractions, which can detract from the relaxing atmosphere you're trying to create.

Instead, add only the essentials that enhance your relaxation and enjoyment:

A cozy blanket, like the D-Constructed throw from CB2

A cushioned chaise lounge, like the Ainsley chaise from World Market

A soft pillow, like the scalloped, felt pillow cover from West Elm

Think only in terms of your overall comfort, and what would bring you the most pleasure and relaxation. Most times, you'll find that small or simple things are what you'll enjoy the most. Remember: this space is all about focusing on yourself so that you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the world for a little while. A few little added touches to personalize your sanctuary space will go a long way toward letting you enjoy it even more.

Home decor blogs can be a great source of inspiration when creating your personal getaway. When asked about her own personal retreat, blogger Jules Kendall of Pancakes and French Fries, said, “My retreat is the family room, which acts also as a home library. The space has evolved over time as our family has changed.”

Photo credit: www.pancakesandfrenchfries.com

She goes on to explain, “What was once a den turned into a play room and then back to a den. Now it's a true family room, a place where each of us is represented.”

When asked about the personalized touches she included in the space, Kendall responded, “My love of books is no secret. I needed a place to store them, so we created a wall of books with simple Billy bookcases from IKEA.”

Photo credit: www.pancakesandfrenchfries.com

She continues, “I'm slowly building a wall of family pictures too. I like to think the gallery wall and the room both reflect who we are. The pictures are candid, not posed. What I love most about this room, and what makes it so refreshing to me, is that it's ‘us,’ not what some magazine or decorator or trend is telling us to be. Honesty is refreshing.”

Kelli Uhrich, of A Happy Place Called Home, explains that your personal haven can be more than just a place to relax. She describes, “A personal retreat can also be the place in your home where you do the things you love. Recently, I transformed an extra bedroom in my parents' house into a sewing room and office for my mother. My mom is a quilter, so when she wants to get away from it all, chances are you’ll find her sewing.”

Photo credit: www.ahappyplacecalledhome.com

When asked about the personal touches that went into the space, Uhrich explained, “I took the idea of quilting, and I just ran with it. There are two pieces of artwork in the space that were inspired by quilt blocks I found online, and I even framed a print of the different stitch settings on a sewing machine. Also, the fact that the room’s decor is various shades of turquoise is no accident. It’s my mom’s favorite color.”

Photo credit: www.ahappyplacecalledhome.com

When creating your own personal haven, Uhrich recommends, “Find an equilibrium between form and function. You don’t want a space that is too pretty to actually live in, but you also don’t want to skip out on the things that make life beautiful. If you surround yourself with the things you love, then there’s no better getaway than that!”

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Has running around endlessly left you spent? Between errands, soccer practice and parent-teacher conferences you may be losing control. Keep your busy schedule in check with these helpful gadgets.

Flash drives are great, but their tiny size makes them hard to keep track of. Put an end to the tireless game of hide-and-seek by keeping your critical files close at hand. Literally. This silicone bracelet memory drive goes where you go, so you’ll always have what you need, when you need it.

Tired of writing notes, only to retype them later? Save yourself a step with the Livescribe Pulse Smartpen. Not only does it capture what you write, it also records audio -- which means you’ll never have gaps in the information you need.

If your office is starting to look like a recycling plant, regain control with the Doxie document scanner. It scans directly to your favorite applications, like Evernote, Flickr and cloud services, or creates PDF files right on your desktop. With just a few clicks of the mouse, you’ll have a digital filing system and a clean desk!

Your iPad keeps you organized, entertained and productive, but its flat design is not ideal if your hands are covered in cookie dough. Problem solved. Install this cabinet mount in the kitchen as convenient storage for your iPad. As you cook, you’ll have your favorite recipes right at your fingertips, no hands necessary.

Music will make your heart sing. But stacks of unsightly CDs: that’s a different story. You can show off your music collection in a sleek, modern fashion with this stylish MP3 dock. Let your favorite tunes stream from your iPod or phone, or tune in to your favorite radio station.

"His and hers" towels, "his and hers" robes... why not "his and hers" tools? No more arguments over who lost the hammer. You’ll have just what you need, right where you need it, since he won’t go near these pretty tools!

You just never know when you might need a good pair of needle-nose pliers. From crafts to plumbing work and everything in between, you’re bound to put this handy kit to good use.

Safety first! No project is worth an injury, so protect your beautiful blues, browns and greens with this chic pair of safety goggles. Bring sexy back by looking pretty in pink, all while wielding power tools! 

This tool kit does more than just fix leaky faucets -- it helps in the fight against cancer. When you buy the tools you need from Little Pink Tools, 10 percent of every purchase is donated to breast cancer research.

If pink isn’t your thing, then how about some flower-power? These fun tools boast womanly flare with bold, blossomed prints in vibrant colors!

Now that you have the tools you’ll need for working around the house, don’t forget the garden! Keep weeds at bay with this garden bucket kit. This 2-gallon pail has everything you’ll need to prune, trim, weed and plant.

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How to personalize your home decor

Too often, the word compromise is viewed in a negative light. But in the world of home decor, compromise means blend, rather than sacrifice. Neither you, nor your spouse, should surrender your personal style to that of the other. Instead, learn what draws you to the style you each love, and then merge the best of both worlds into a custom style that’s all your own.

Here are a few examples:

Her pick:Platinum grey Dupioni clear glass vase table lamp

His pick:Possini Euro Design open frame gourd base table lamp

The compromise:Possini Euro Design black table lamp

Her pick:Morgan arm chair

His pick:Victor chair

The compromise:Tess chair

Her pick:Waterfall ruffle duvet cover

His pick:Magical thinking zigzag stitch quilt

The compromise:Circle chain chenille blanket

Michelle Hinckley, blogger at 4 Men 1 Lady, is no stranger to feeling outnumbered at home. As a wife and mom to three boys, she shares her home with four men. She says, “Training my husband and little men to not treat our home like a bachelor pad is a challenge. Plus, there is the fact that I’d like to splash pink all over, but my men seem to have an allergic reaction to the color.”

When asked how she represents both decor preferences throughout her home, she responds: “What I’ve learned is that neutral colors work really great for men and women.”

Photo credit: 4men1lady.com, photo by Michelle Rasmussen of WondertimePhoto.com

Hinckley’s neutral of choice may surprise you, especially for a house filled with men. She explains, “I have kids , so you would think white would be the worst color ever to use in our decor. Surprisingly, it’s more family-friendly than you would think.”

After recently renovating the kitchen and family room within her home, Hinckley goes on to defend her color choice. “With the chaos that goes on in a busy family, white calms the space and doesn’t cause sensory overload. By using white slipcovers you can also wash and bleach them, to not only keep them clean, but kill all the germs that might be brought into the house.”

Since creating a gender-neutral space requires give-and-take, keep a few pieces of gender-specific decor on hand to conquer your mood swings. Hinckley suggests, “You can always add pops of color with accessories, throws, pictures and pillows. I have some cool gray graphic pillows that live on our sofas. However, I do also have pink pillows. When I feel like a pink mood, I can change my throw pillows and completely change the look and feel of the space.”

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Update your heating and cooling

Properly heating and cooling your home can be one of the most important decisions you make as a homeowner. Luckily, there are many options that are both energy-efficient and perfectly powerful.

Heat and cool your home in a new way

Stay cool with these new heating/cooling solutions.

What makes an A/C unit efficient?

The efficiency of a central unit is rated two ways. One is the energy efficiency ratio , which reveals your unit's energy consumption while cooling a prescribed volume of 95-degree air over the course of an hour in a specialized laboratory. The second is called the seasonal energy efficiency ratio -- a more complex level of efficiency testing that considers the average amount of energy being used at different temperatures as well as humidity levels. Units running with both of those ratings are considered to be 14 percent more efficient than those without the ratings, according to ENERGYSTAR.

Out with the old

Central A/C units can become inefficient over time. According to ENERGYSTAR, central units over 12 years old can be costing you 30 percent more in energy costs than ENERGYSTAR-rated units.

Whole room heating/cooling unit

Heating or cooling one room just got a whole lot cooler. If a ceiling fan or window unit isn’t meeting your temperature needs, check out a whole room heating/cooling unit like the Dyson AM04 Fan Heater which is designed with Air Multiplier™ technology to provide long-range and even heating. It also has intense cooling power without the use of a fan blade.

Use water

Want to go green when it comes to your heating and cooling needs? Try a geothermal heat pump, which is said to be both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. In fact, a study of energy efficiency by the EPA found geothermal energy to be the "most environmentally friendly heating/cooling system." Geothermal energy is accessible nearly everywhere in the U.S. Check out WaterFurnace for more information about having a geothermal heat pump installed for your home.

Don't supersize

You may think buying a larger A/C unit will be more effective for heating and cooling your home… but that’s not the case. According to a statement by The Consumer Reports magazine, "An oversized air conditioner may cool a space too quickly, then shut off before it has completed the slower work of reducing humidity."

A compact heating and cooling system may be exactly what you need to stabilize the temperature in your home without purchasing an oversized unit that will ultimately be inefficient. Have a contractor evaluate your home to determine the most efficient unit.

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Too toxic for trash

Advances in technology hit us at an astounding rate. As soon as we buy a new electronic device, a newer, even better version appears on the shelves. But don't just trash your old electronics -- recycle or reuse them!

The amount of toxins that can accumulate in landfills from a variety of electronics is frightening. The following hazardous materials are an example of common components of a PC that can leach into the environment, creating a cumulative impact upon humans, animals and plant life. Keeping these potentially dangerous materials out of landfills and incinerators by recycling them just makes plain sense!

• Lead
• Barium
• Beryllium
• Mercury
• Cadmium
• Plastics
• Brominated Flame Retardants
• Hexavalent Chromium

• Donate -- That old computer might be garbage to you, but a blessing to someone unable to afford the newest and the best. Whether it's a computer, VCR, cell phone or other piece of electronic equipment, it can possibly be upgraded or refurbished for someone else's use. If you've recently upgraded to a TV with HD capabilities, your old TV can still be used by someone else with an inexpensive converter box added on. Schools, retirement communities and non-profit organizations are only a few examples of groups that might be thrilled to receive your electronic hand-me-downs.
• Sell -- Companies like Gazelle will pay decent money for your old iPhone and other smart phone brands. Post your old electronics on Craigslist or sell them at a garage sale. But before selling or donating your old items like computers and phones, make sure all of your content is deleted.
• Recycle -- You know how your baby loves to reach for your phone? Why not give him your old phone as his own to use as a toy? Paint it a fun color and let your baby push the buttons and pretend to talk on his very own real life cell phone! Consider handing down your old computer to your older children when you decide to upgrade.

Examples of items listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency include:

• TVs
• Computers/monitors/hard drives
• Cell phones
• Printers
• Copiers
• Radios
• Telephones
• PDAs
• Video games
• Fax machines

Consider donating to local schools, retirement communities and non-profit organizations -- many have programs to collect old electronics. You may want to post working and non-working items on Craigslist. Also, the EPA points us in the right direction for recycling or donating through the following outlets:

• Local recycling programs
• Manufacturer or retailer programs
• Government-supported donation and recycling programs

United States

• EPR2 Project: Electronic equipment recyclers contact list
• Electronics recycling: Database search
• EPA: Wastes-Partnerships-WasteWise Program
• EPA: Where can I donate or recycle my old computer and other electronic products?
• Recycle It America

International

• International Association of Electronics Recyclers
• Metech: Consumer Computer and Electronic Recycling Program

Check out this video on how to decorate with recycled items>>

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Decorate your laundry room

Let's face it: though you use your laundry room to clean your clothes, the room itself may be in need of a little tidying. We have some fun and easy ways to makeover your laundry room in under 10 minutes.

You likely spend a lot of time in and out of your laundry room, so why not make it a stylish place to be? Decorate your laundry room with stylishly designed laundry hampers , storage bins or baskets that fit your personal taste.

Having these items on-hand will help you quickly organize your work area before, after and in-between loads. Use storage bins to sort clothes according to color or designate hampers to hold whites/brights/darks and teach your family to sort before they toss their dirties. Organize your detergents, dryer sheets and stain removers neatly on an accessible shelf.

Not everyone has a giant laundry room, but you can make your existing space seem larger with the addition of vertical space solutions -- adding shelves up and down the walls. Make sure you only put things you don’t need to access on a daily basis on the top shelves .

Tired of sock pairs becoming solo acts? Clorox suggests placing a small basket on the dryer for missing socks to help you match them to mates that eventually reappear. Whenever you unload your dryer, place your missing socks in the basket and perform sporadic inventory checks during your next laundry load.

The laundry room may be the smallest area in your home, but it easily can become the messiest. Tidy up after your throw in a load by keeping some simple supplies in a basket in the room. Stock the basket with a small broom and dustpan for those getaway lint balls as well as clean rags to wipe down the machines. Then tuck a small wastebasket into the room to trash those lint balls.

Accessories quickly spice up an area. Dress up the bare walls in your laundry room with colorful signs, clocks or artwork that fit the laundry/cleaning theme, and your laundry room will have a fresh new look. We love this fun sign we found on Amazon for a mere $17.

Before you run out and buy all new items for your laundry room, consider what you already have that you can reuse. If you have a tired old hamper, think about covering it with a super-cute fabric. Check around the house for extra bins/baskets that are not being used. You can use the same fabric for the hamper to tie the room together.

Check out this video for more tips on maximizing space in your laundry room>>

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If your home boasts earthy color tones, ornate trim and traditional prints, chances are these fans will blend right in. Traditional decor is known for its comfortable tone and layered look. To find the perfect fan for this design style, look for oil-rubbed-bronze finishes and curved lines!

Melody textured bronze wall-mount fan

Casa Tribute ceiling fan

Raleigh floor fan

If clean lines and slick finishes light up your day, your design style is likely modern. Modern decor is simple, minimalistic and sleek, and is typically finished in chrome, lacquer or left raw. Look for fans with similar finishes to perfectly blend with your style. Use floor and desk fans as room accessory items by placing them near an arrangement of artwork, plants or storage boxes.

Propello desktop fan

Modern Fan Company Velo ceiling fan

AM04 Fan/Heater

Industrial finishes, loft-like space plans and vintage furnishings are key elements within urban design. If you’re on the hunt for urban decor, second-hand stores and vintage shops are the perfect spot. But if fans are hard to come by, look for designs featuring mixed finishes like iron and wood. Or browse through Etsy shops to find vintage options.

Fanimation Arden oil-rubbed bronze floor fan

Stadler Form O-001 Otto Wooden Electric Table Fan

Craftmade Union oiled bronze ceiling fan

Vintage fan

For style that’s known for its warmth and charm, look no further than country decor. This style is all about casual living and cozy living spaces. For the perfect fan to match this style, look for painted finishes in white or black and decorative detailing -- like twists or beading. You can also find fans featuring country motifs or themed in Americana.

Blackwood high tabletop fan

Hunter Beachcomber ceiling fan

Deco decorative rooster fan

Providence high floor standing fan

Fans are a great way to regulate temperatures throughout your home and to reduce energy costs, but a mismatched fan is a painful eyesore. Before you start shopping, take a few moments to evaluate your room. Identify the colors, textures, patterns and finishes for the items you already own. Understanding your personal style is the first step to finding the perfect fan for your space. The fan that’s right for your home will fit seamlessly with your decor. Look for fans with similar finishes to the items you already own, and you’ll soon have a cool home -- in more ways than one!

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Put a shine on your imagine online

Did you hit "send" a second too soon? Did your lingerie show for two end up on YouTube? Here is the solution to cleaning up your online reputation.

In today's world of faster-than-the-speed-of-light social media, every step we take and every key we press can be recorded. Maybe you had an extra glass of wine and tweeted out a photo that would have been better off deleted, or you emailed your boss instead of your best friend. There is a new online service called Reputation Changer that can help you go from risque to riding the straight and narrow before you can dictate your public apology.

Cliff Stein, CEO of ReputationChanger.com, tells us more about how we can save ourselves from social media demise:

SheKnows: What made you decide to create ReputationChanger.com?

Cliff Stein: My colleagues and I were not always reputation management professionals; many of us got our start in the world of direct response online marketing. What we learned, throughout that experience, was that the online community is a cutthroat place, and as soon as you accrue any kind of success, your rivals are going to start coming after you, defaming you and dragging your good name through the mud.

And that's not only a problem for online marketers. Businesses and individuals from all industries and all communities can find their reputations impugned, through negative reviews, consumer complaints or simple acts of defamation. And the results of that can prove devastating.

But back to our own story: After we began to develop the strategies and tools necessary for countering negative publicity and online defamation, we realized that this was something with widespread appeal. We created ReputationChanger.com with the desire of sharing those tools and strategies with others and helping businesses and individuals to take control of their online image.

SheKnows: What do you feel are the most beneficial features of the service?

Cliff Stein: Reputation Changer's campaigns are truly complex and multifaceted — the better to serve our clients. We have a Strategy Team that works directly with the client and formulates a customized approach to reputation defense. There is nothing cookie-cutter here; we find out what you want your online reputation to be, and we try to make it happen as promptly and effectively as possible.

On that same note, we have both highly effective backend technology, but also a control panel through which clients can monitor the progress of their campaign and also ensure that the content we create for them meets their approval. The client is always in the driver's seat here.

Reputation Changer leads the reputation defense industry in its access to diverse media outlets, meaning we can get the story about your company out there in front of the general public. Finally, we only use reputable, Google-approved strategies — nothing that is going to backfire or be seen as duplicitous or deceptive. This emphasis on “White Hat SEO” makes us fairly unique within this space.

SheKnows: How easy is it to use?

Cliff Stein: Our desire is to make this process very hands-off for the client, by which we mean only that we want to fix your reputation for you. We do the work on your behalf. With that said, we do offer a backend control panel that gives users total control over their campaign. It is not at all difficult to use, and no particular level of technological acumen is needed. The control panel simply allows users to monitor their campaign, see the kinds of progress being made and approve of the content we create on their behalf.

SheKnows: Can you give us an example of a specific situation that Reputation Changer can help resolve?

Cliff Stein: Sure. Any company that has been beset with bad reviews can come to us for assistance. Online reviews can ruin a brand's chances of success, and, in many cases, those reviews are actually fake, planted by rival companies or disgruntled employees. We can help companies to suppress negative reviews and ensure that the reviews people see are the positive, honest ones.

We can also help companies to recover from the damage done by bad publicity of acts of online defamation. The list goes on and on. We can also help individuals to regain their reputation after being saddled with embarrassing Facebook photos or perhaps an online arrest record.

The bottom line is that our passion is to give people and businesses the final say in how they are presented on the internet.

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Classy Volturi

Instead of going gothic-inspired with the long cape to achieve the Volturi look, go subtle and believable with a touch of sexy. The Volturi family is dangerous, mysterious, and above all, their looks aim to kill. Their presence is always unexpected and unwarranted. From a distance, you should appear to be gorgeous and elegantly dressed, but up close, people will be dangerously impressed.

• Find a tight fitting black dress that makes you feel sexy but comfortable.
• Wear an elegant black petticoat or fitted trench over your dress.
• Yes, black heels are another staple for this look.
• Style your hair into a serious look — we’re thinking sleek ponytail or high bun.
• Purchase a pair of Volturi-inspired red contact lenses.

Where wolf?

Twilight isn’t complete without the gorgeous Jacob Black and his character’s werewolf subculture, but who wants to dress up like a werewolf? Face it, it’s hard to show you’re team Jacob when you can’t look chic in the process — that is until now. Here is how to achieve the Twilight series’ werewolf look while remaining fashionable and posh.

• Embrace the current faux fur trends and invest in a faux fur jacket— they are in right now and can be recycled in future looks outside the movie premiere.
• Pair your fur over a black shirt and leggings/dark jeans — keep your look slim and agile looking.
• Don’t forget the Indian spiritual element. Add some fashionable hair feathers to your hair and wear dreamcatcher-inspired earrings.
• For shoes, aim for faux snake-skin pumps to get that Indian tribal touch. Pump up your confidence and get your wolf on — if Jacob were there, he would want to date you .

Beautiful Bella

The second half of Breaking Dawn is when Bella transitions into a sultry and flawlessly gorgeous vampire. Time to put those sneakers, sweater and jeans to the side and vamp yourself up to the max if you want to achieve Bella’s stunning new look. Here is how you do it.

• Wear a medium to long fitted dress and heels that accentuate your figure and make you feel powerful and in command of your beauty.
• If you’re brunette, simply deep condition your hair and add some light curls. If your hair is blonde, invest in a glossy wig or stick to your natural color — beauty comes in both colors in the vampire world.
• Be sure to pay attention to every detail of yourself — from scent to eyebrows — and try best to achieve that “no hair out of place” demeanor.
• Wear a tinted foundation a few shades lighter than your own for that “pale face” but vibrant look.
• Go online and order Bella’s replica wedding ring and colored contacts for accessories — they are surprisingly inexpensive and bring you to Bella’s level.

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Ingredients:

Directions:

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If you and your partner don’t have Thanksgiving plans with a group, the holiday can actually be pretty romantic. Forget the stress of slaving over a hot stove and indulge in one of our holiday ideas for two.

Thanksgiving for two

Order in

Cooking for two can be fun, but this Thanksgiving why not let someone else do the work? Forget the pizza place and put down the Chinese food menu; look into ordering up a sumptuous Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings for two. You’ll have to order in advance, though, since companies that offer holiday meals to go get busy, so start calling around now. Pick up some nice wine, dress up for dinner and toast to how thankful you are to have each other.

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An easy way to use up that leftover chicken, this curried chicken salad was made with grilled boneless, skinless chicken thighs that had marinated in a bit of olive oil and lots of fresh herbs.

Thigh meat works well in a curried chicken salad as the rich, dark meat of the thigh pairs well with the complexity of curry powder. Raisins, almonds, celery, scallion, a touch of lemon and herbs completes the dish. This one is even better the next day.

Curried chicken salad

Ingredients:

• 3 large boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cooked and cooled
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon hot paprika
• 1/3 cup celery, finely diced
• 1/4 cup scallion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• A handful of raisins
• A small handful of sliced almonds
• Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Chop up your chicken into bite-size pieces.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together mayonnaise, yogurt, curry powder, turmeric powder, paprika, celery, scallion, cilantro and lemon juice.
3. Fold your chicken into the mayonnaise-yogurt mixture.
4. Add your raisins and almonds and salt and pepper to taste.

Try it cold the next day!

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