I spend most of my life chained to a laptop. Though it wouldn't seem like a physically demanding lifestyle, I've got the burn marks (from overheating computers resting on my legs) to prove that technology can be a little rough sometimes. So to soften the burden of carrying around a hunk of metal at all times, I thought I'd round up 35 of my favorite ways to dress up technology: laptop covers!

The Flip is a popular handheld digital video camera used by many to capture precious family moments and create stunning viral videos for display on the web. While the cameras themselves are super simple to use, the results are often less than glamorous. With the help of the experts, we share 6 ways to make your Flip (or any other brand of camera) clips look like a pro handled them!

Modern technology makes home automation an easy task for just about anyone. From the basics of controlling lights and appliances to more advanced home automation, your life can be easier than ever before. Kipkay for Make Magazine, a DIY (Do It Yourself) technology magazine, shows you how to automate your home in this video.

Your iPad is so shiny and delicious, until you trip and it skids across the sidewalk. Here are a few of our favorite options for protecting your iPad without ruining the pretty.

The garage sale is the classic low-tech moneymaker: put your stuff on the curb, sell it to passersby. Success has everything to do with weather, location and the effectiveness of homemade signs nailed to telephone poles.

With over 400 million active users around the world, Facebook has become for many people the go-to place for managing both personal and work connections. But the site's tendency to change their privacy policies every few months makes it difficult to ensure that information you want to keep private (or semi-private, at least) isn't shared with everyone who has an Internet connection.

With all the noise online these days, it's tough to know who you can trust when it comes to recipes that work. There are few things more frustrating than searching for a recipe, shopping for the ingredients, and putting the time and effort into making it, only to discover that it doesn't deliver as promised. As a professional recipe developer, it's my business to know the (mostly) friendly competition. Here are the online sources you can count on for consistently great recipes and ideas.

The Android Market may not be quite caught up to its Apple App Store counterpart just yet, but it's certainly no slouch either. Gamers looking for a free fix on the go won't be disappointed, as a number of fun and entertaining apps are available, with more being introduced all the time.

Frankly, there's no reason for a boring iPad case. Not with the amazing and unexpected assortment of cases out there. Don't get me wrong, there are a bunch of boring sleeves, zippy things and more out there too - you know which ones I'm talking about. But let's forget about those for now and look at the awesome and inspiring options out there! From surprising materials - to even more surprising things to hide or transform your iPad...

In this first episode of an Epic Fu series on living your life on the web, we give you 7 simple steps to building your online identity. From the planning stages straight to your public internet presence, we show you how to construct an ID that will last in the constantly changing social web. We also show you examples of who's doing it right, so you can borrow some tried and true ideas.

 

Whether hopping time zones for business or pleasure, or both, you can beat the jetlag international travel brings with a few simple tricks ... and some help from your tech.
Fighting jetlag? There's an app for that! The Jetlag Fighter app by Virgin Airlines gives you a personalized daily calendar, a real-time graph of predicted adjustment, in-flight tips based on the length of your trip, a jetlag-fighting guide, and an alertness meter to see how you're actually doing. (Love the "alertness meter" ... how many times would we all score low on that in our own time zone!)

The web is a great place for film buffs, and there are thousands and thousands of sites and communities geared specifically toward movie goers.

Americans spend an average of 50 minutes a day commuting to and from work. That's about 200 hours a year wasted in traffic jams. With telecommuting, you can reclaim that time, get work done anywhere, protect the environment, and help your employer save some big bucks.

It's been a long year, but summer is finally here. For many of us, the warm weather brings the perfect time to rest, kick back, or take a much-needed vacation. Fortunately there's lots of ways to relax while going light on the earth, and we've assembled several green tech goods that are designed to help you unwind. Read on for our picks of the best technologies to help you relax.

Is the laptop case the new briefcase? It's starting to seem that way, at least in certain (high tech) circles. We've noticed a proliferation of sleek, stylish storage (and toting) options for your laptop, whether you're a Mac maven or a PC loyalist. Here are five great options for toting your laptop in style.

When it comes to organizing my desktop computer, cleanliness is usually the least of my worries. In fact, I've been known to wipe down my keyboard with a baby wipe every six months and call it a day.

YouTube is a great source for web savvy fashionistas looking for style tips, as it's host to thousands of videos about everything from the basics of looking presentable to the most avant-garde trends.

Staying connected and making your gadgets work for you no matter where you are is no easy task. On the move, commuting or on a field trip ... sometimes these gadgets are even more useful when paired in unexpected ways.

As a professional blogger married to a film editor, technology is a must in my household. And sometimes, I lose my head in the mix. Hard drives, wires, power cords and endless beeping devices--where does it all end?

Read any good books lately? Maybe you're actually reading MORE since you've gotten that new smart phone? We've got a few super apps designed to help you read more on the go, get more from the text you do read, and make each juicy word more enriching. 

Working is typically a lot of, well, hard work. With all the responsibilities everyone has on their plates every day, it's easy to understand why we live in such a stressed-out society. But necessity is the mother of invention, and there's been a ton of innovation in technology that can help you work more efficiently while also lessening your carbon footprint. From iPhone apps to web sites to gadgets, several new products and services can help worker bees save time, money and the planet. Read on for our top picks for eco-friendly tech that can help you work smarter and greener.

These days designers are branching out from traditional home goods to put their mark on the world of technology as well. As much as we all use our cell phones, it makes perfect sense that they would eventually become an additional outlet for expressing our personal style.

Some folks feel that savoring nature requires leaving all material possessions at home. Others need a little help from technology. If you fall into the latter category (and let's face it, most of us do), you're in luck: A number of iPhone apps are designed to enhance our experiences in the wild. No matter what outdoor activity you prefer, there's an app for that.

There are few things that I consider myself an expert in, but finding great home goods online is one of them. I've spent the last 6 years building a design blog based entirely upon the idea that great design is right is just a mouse click away from your front door. Whether you're looking to shop, decorate, or renovate, the internet has got you covered these days. There are sites to help you build online inspiration and mood boards, apps for you phone to help you match paint colors, and entire websites dedicated to coming up with color palettes that fit your mood.

Bring an organic note to your workspace with wooden desk accessories; here's a roundup of 10 items for the home (or office) workspace.

What does it take to be a positive thinker? Some swear by meditation, the laws of attraction, or daily prayer journaling. For others, it's a combination of deep self-analysis and some good, clean fun. Join us on this journey to find the upbeat in the every day, as we share 7 apps designed to help you keep your chin up and your spirits bright!

Everyone gets their favorite graduate something for the dorm -- a mini coffee pot, a travel-sized iron. And while the travel iron might make a mean grilled cheese, it probably won't make it out of the box. 

No matter what type of home business you're running, it's crucial to be able to leave the house sometimes. Whether you're heading out for client meetings or something more fun like an afternoon at the park, the problem is always the same: who's going to take care of things while you're gone?

The proliferation of cords and chargers has given birth to a new group of accessories to help detangle this mess; here's a roundup of our favorite contraptions that do the job of controlling unsightly cord entanglements.

After a long day at the office, you may think the last thing you want to do is chop, steam, and stir, when that microwave dinner is two minutes in the making. But cooking can be therapeutic.  And whether you're a certified foodie or a comfort food connoisseur, the web is a bountiful resource of recipes and cooking how-tos.

Most people think that consumerism is the enemy of environmentalism. And while there may be some truth in that statement, there's no reason folks can't be green while spending some green. Read on for a list of handy tips to lessen your shoe purchase's carbon footprint.

One of the greatest things about the iPhone is the App Store. The slogan, "there's an app for that" exists for a reason -- there is an app for almost everything. Sometimes the hardest part is actually finding the best applications in a certain category.

Do you sometimes feel as if time is moving faster than ever?

The downside of the efficiency and immediacy of today's technological advancements is that we can cram more tasks in our day than ever before. While this results in days that are much more productive, the downside is that they are often less meaningful. Workday memories are a muddle of e-mail alerts, scheduled appointments and microwaved lunch breaks, while our weekends are spent trying to recuperate from the speeding bullet that has become our lives. 

What do you get an animal who gives you unconditional love? We've got a few ideas.

You know how you put a pillow on your lap so your computer doesn't burn you while you work on the couch, but then your laptop fan wheezes and sucks in pillow dust? Stop doing that.

Most people peg techies for indoor types. But in actuality, much of the latest technology is meant to improve user experience in the great outdoors.

Most of us clean our computers about as often as we spill something on the keyboard. But to keep your computer in good working order, you should scrub it down about twice a year--more often if you like to eat chips at your keyboard. Before you start, you'll need some supplies: a large microfiber cloth, a can of compressed air, and a solution of 50 percent isopropyl rubbing alcohol and 50 percent mineral water, and a pair of tweezers. Once you have everything together, shut your computer down (if you're cleaning a laptop, remove the battery as well).

I've been doing my own taxes for about 5 years now. Even as my needs have changed (I've gone from a simple 1040EZ to a more complex small business partnership structure), I've found that the tax software available on the commercial market has grown to meet my needs. While many of us DIY'ers love the control we can have over our filing, there are many other valid reasons to giving it a try. With over 36 million people using tax software for last year's taxes, we're convinced it may be a good investment for you, too. Here are the most compelling reasons to break out of your rut and give it a go!

With the budding leaves of spring comes the desire to clean. We all want to enter the warmer seasons feeling refreshed, reinvigorated and renewed, right? Fortunately, the internet offers a host of resources to transition into the flower season more organized than ever.

The iPod Touch is known for two things: its ability to store and play back music, and its large library of apps. The iPhone is the same device but with phone functionality and a 3G data connection. If you have either, you've probably guessed that they're great for apps that enhance your music-listening experience.

There are at least hundreds or maybe thousands of music apps for the iPhone and iPod touch. Some of them are fantastic -- some not so much. Consider this list of 10 apps a sampler of the best the Apple App Store has to offer.  Each one is both popular and highly rated by iPhone and iPod Touch owners like you, but we'll admit we've also selected some personal favorites!

This list wouldn't be complete without feedback from you, our readers, so be sure to tell us which apps you'd add in the comments.

I rent a little writing office, and I recently acquired an office mate. She was all set to move in when I realized I was embarrassed to have anyone see my workspace, let alone share it. At the time, it was a barren closet packed with boxes and junk I'd dragged in from the car.

There are many of us who are bound to a Dilbert-like office setting and only occasionally get a chance to stretch our legs and work outside of the break room. If you're lucky, however, you may be able to freelance, telecommute, work from the road, or manage an occasional "work from home" afternoon. These 7 tools can help make that dream a reality - and may put your productivity on par with those who never leave their desks!

Everywhere we look, it seems like "there's an app for that," and while many apps can help you save money, many more are just a reason to pay for yet another download.  Which ones are destined to cut your budget in a significant way?  We test drove six of the best and found that there really was money to be saved!

Whether you have jetsetting down to a science or you haven't been on a plane in years, airport security is a fact of life if you want to fly. And while you can't avoid it altogether, there are things you can do to make it quicker and easier.
  

Personal finance and money management is one of the most complex things you simply have to do.  Nobody wants to deal with taxes, credit scores, budgets, and bills, but they are necessary parts of life.  Luckily, it's become a whole lot easier for individuals to take control of their finances without having to hire professional help.

There's no longer an excuse to sabotage your diet when away from home: Smart phones go with you everywhere, and can even be used to encourage, educate, and hold you accountable to your fitness goals. So what tools are worth the hype? We share the eight downloads you'll want to check out before you start pursuing those ambitious diet objectives.

When winter hits hard, many in its path are barraged by snow, sleet and freezing winds. Even in the comfort of your home or office, many still feel the effects of winter's bite; drafts permeate through cracks and ice gathers on your sidewalk, creating an intense desire for spring's warmth.

Whether you're a small business owner or an individual, there are tons of social media and web resources that can help get you up and running quickly. Here are some of the best resources out there to make tax season, well, less taxing.

It's easy to take for granted the technology that makes our lives fun, productive and efficient. But there are products coming out every day that soon will be the things we just can't live without! So from the super fun to the super practical, here's a roundup of tech finds that will make life easier ... while also adding a little style and fun. Some of these won't be available for another few months, but they're worth the wait!

Cinemin Swivel Portable Projector
This projector weighs six ounces and is not much bigger than a cell phone, yet it can project a crisp image over five feet tall. It connects to all sorts of media devices ~ iPods, iPhones, Flip Video, PSP, netbooks and more. You can project movies, TV and images anywhere on to practically anything. Sure, it means carrying less on vacations or business trips. But the random possibilities are what get me excited! Crazy art projections at your party ... scary movies projected on the ceiling of your tent while camping ... inspirational designs swirling on the floor of your office.

It would be great if everyone could work from home - think of all those greenhouse gas emissions we'd save by not commuting! Alas, to prevent the economy from falling into an even deeper recession, most of the American workforce needs to schlep to and from the office every day. Luckily, a slew of new technology can make your journeys a little more eco-friendly. Read on for tips to help you green your commute.

Spring is coming, and with the inevitably warm weather comes the need for spring cleaning. This is often easier said than done, especially when it comes to your wardrobe. From too-small jeans to mementos from past trysts, our closets are often filled with things we can't (and shouldn't) wear. In 2010, it's time to give your closet an overhaul, and there are many resources online that can help you do just that. Here are a few notables:

Raising kids and building a business don't instinctively go hand-in-hand. It takes a certain amount of savvy, perseverance, and a unique amount of creativity to mesh your personal life with your professional life. While Moms have moved beyond the days of working in their pajamas and scheduling important calls only during naps, the struggles still exist. These three tech solutions can help a Mompreneur expand her working potential, without sacrificing her precious role as Mommy.

It's the season for love.  While long walks on the beach and romantic visions under the stars are stuff movies are made of, some of us have come to love partners that are a little less Mack Daddy and a little more McFly.  Isn't it about time we embrace our geeky significant others with a gift that shows we truly appreciate them?  Check out this list of 10 innovative and heartfelt gifts to give this Valentine's Day.  (We're pretty certain that they'll <3 them).

Last year we saw a flurry of green innovation in consumer electronics, but that's nothing compared to what's in the pipeline for 2010. From chargers that harvest energy from human movement to street-ready electric vehicles, oh-ten is sure to revolutionize the eco-friendly tech sector in a big way.  The Greener Gadgets Conference that is coming up on February 25th will highlight some of the latest and greatest green gadgets that are coming down the pipeline to a store near you.  Until then, check out our picks for the top five greener gadgets to look for over the coming months:

nPower PEG (Personal Energy Generator)

Tremont Electric is currently developing a charger that harvests kinetic energy, the power produced by movement, to generate electricity. Not only does the device eliminate the need for coal and fossil fuel-based power for charging small electronics, but it's especially useful for outdoors-y types who may not have access to electrical outlets. Users can simply plug the small charger into handheld electronics like cell phones, GPS units or MP3 players, and place the charger and device vertically in a backpack or purse. As people walk, run, kayak or engage in basically any type of movement, the PEG will bounce up and down, harvest that energy and charge the attached device. Tremont Electric plans to launch the PEG commercially later this year, but pre-ordering information is available online.

I often hear about fun things going on about town, but I'm not ready to schedule them into my day/week/month. Other times, I find myself and my kids with a free hour or afternoon and wonder, "What can we do with this little snatch of time?" After years of stumbling along with both of these problems, Google Calendar (and a little no-duh thinking) has presented me with a solution: my own personal events calendar which I call "Possibilities."

I love Alton Brown's approach to food in general, but in particular I love his take on kitchen gear that makes any passionate eater/home cook's life easier and simpler. In his terrific book Alton Brown's Gear For Your Kitchen he has a funny and smart (just about everything Alton says and writes is funny and smart, isn't it?) chapter titled "Small Things with Plugs." It wouldn't be a stretch to call this post my interpretation of "Small Things with Plug's Greatest Hits."

Inspired by a Rocketboom Tech segment 11 Useful Web Apps, I thought it was time to pay homage to the 25 (or so) key applications and services helping me get the most out of the Internet. These apps help me be super productive, connect to important sources of information and they allow me to be mobile so I can devote myself to family, work and life when and where I'm needed most. These are the applications and services I use, ones that fit my personality and needs. Most are free, and some offer premium services if you pay a subscription.

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto

The Internet is a boon for doing all kinds of things -- including getting a better job and/or getting paid more at your current job. Technology helps us stay connected, learn something new, and make new connections quickly and efficiently. Here are 6 ways to use technology to upgrade your career.

From helping us find and buy quality, fresh ingredients to helping us figure out what to make and find friends to share it with, social media is simplifying and revolutionizing the way we cook food.  While social media hasn't quite replaced the cookbook, anyone armed with a little web savvy and a smartphone app or two could easily shun the grocery store in favor of easier-to-find-than-expected locally grown foodstuffs, and ditch the heavy recipe book in favor of a searchable social cooking site. 

Here are just a few web-based, social media applications and web sites that are available to home cooks to make food preparation simpler.

Staying healthy and fit takes willpower - but online you'll find inspiration from a community of other people exercising along with you, and lots of great blog resources. At VitalJuice, sign up for a free daily e-mail or check out online content, including reviews of products like the post-gym "shower in a bottle," and fitness books (zumba, anyone?) Take This Class is a social network for sharing info about and reviews of gym classes nationwide (so you can find out where to take a live zumba class); plus, there are useful interviews with celebrity trainers. That's Fit provides tons of Fit at Home DVD reviews. At FitSugar, keep your mind as well as your body in shape when you take interactive quizzes like "How Well Do You Know Your Arms" (name that muscle) and "identify the produce." Glamour's Vitamin G polls readers with a health question of the day (share your spa experience from hell).

I'm trying yet another task management system and I think I've found a keeper. I've been on a search for quite some time, and while many people have strong opinions on their favorite apps, the best one for you will serve your particular needs and lifestyle. You may need to try a few before finding the right one for you -- I've tried at least a dozen. I've settled on Toodledo for the five specific problems it solved for me.

One of the biggest myths of sustainable design is that you have to spend lots of green in order to go green. Fortunately, there's a plethora of great gadgets out there that stand to cut down your bills while reducing the amount of electricity you consume. From active solar solutions and energy monitoring systems to ultra-efficient appliances, read on for our top 5 green gadgets that save energy and money.

Everyone says, "It's not the camera, it's the photographer," but come on. Most photographers have some pretty fancy toys to supplement their expertise. Why? Because it makes their photos look better.

If you just want to take snapshots that look a little cooler, these simple tools will let you experiment without investing thousands in a new DSLR.

In many ways, technology has made our lives more cluttered. Just think for a moment: how many chargers and unused gadgets are sitting around your house? We're guessing more than a few. On a larger scale, improved technology has led to massive amounts of waste-for example, the switch to digital TV in the U.S. caused a 70% rise in e-waste earlier this year. But this doesn't mean we should all become Luddites and throw away our beloved electronics. Technology can, in fact, help cut down on the amount of unnecessary stuff in our lives-if you know how to use it. Check out some of our tips.

For me personally in 2010 , I'm afraid that I am focusing on two seemingly contradictory things: growing the Serious Eats community while losing weight. Consider the following New Year's resolutions I made on the site:

1. No more empty calories. Bad chocolate chip cookies, bad potato chips, and bad ice cream have no place in a serious eater's life. I'm going to save my calories for seriously delicious things that are worth the calories.

2. I'm going to try not to give in to the "I may never get here again"
rationalization for senseless binging. When it comes to food there is invariably a next time. That extra piece of perfect fried chicken is not necessary. It's in fact detrimental to my health.

3. Increase my exercise frequency to five days a week. Squash three times a week is not enough exercise for a serious eater like me. Whether it's weight training or biking or fast-walking I've got to pick up the pace.

4. Avoid participating in the Serious Eats at the outset. Carey and I seemed to figure out a system that worked for everyone by the end of her month long search for the best chocolate chip cookie in New York. Now it's up to me to make sure we implement that system in the taste tests to come.

5. Stay the course on my serious diet. My weight has been creeping up in the last few months. I have no excuses. The trend line is going to change.

To those I want to add the following:

1. I want to have more serious eaters discover the joys of logging on to Serious Eats.

2. Figure out a way to write my reviews without over-indulging.

3. I want to figure out a way to make better use of the technology we have at our disposal at Serious Eats, as the other serious eaters at World HQ have.

What do I want the new year to bring to serious eaters everywhere? Lots more passionate, inclusive, discerning conversations on Serious Eats about the pleasure, culture, and business of food.

I love the fact that on Serious Eats a food lover can find a recipe, the best taco truck in Los Angeles, the best restaurant in the country to have a shockingly inexpensive fancypants Italian lunch in, the best chocolate chip cookies in New York, and most of all, a warm welcome and an opportunity to chew the fat with like-minded folks.

And you know what's totally cool? It doesn't matter where you live. Whether you live in London, New York, Singapore, Hawaii, Oklahoma, or California, in a big city. a small town, or a growing suburb, I think you'll find something to whet your appetite for life on Serious Eats.

So bring on 2010, serious eaters. I hope we'll be ready for you with tons of new stuff to keep you coming back to Serious Eats.

Though working remotely is becoming more commonplace as web applications and social media tools shrink our world, the vast majority of people around the globe still need to wake up every morning and go to work in some location that isn't their living room or home office.  For those of us that have to suffer through the pain of commuting, social media applications are making life at least a little bit simpler.  From helping us to avoid traffic during our commutes, to making it easier to hook up with a buddy for the HOV lane, to assisting us in navigating the city subway or bus system, social media is making commutes easier in a number of clever ways.

The applications and web sites in this post are just a glimpse at the ways in which social media is revolutionizing how people get to and from work.

Photo courtesy of iStock Photo

We all want to work better, faster, and smarter. Thanks to the ever-changing tech landscape - we can! We've highlighted some of the best tools available to help you make a good impression and meet your goals in 2010. Here are our top seven solutions for making next year - "your" year!

Related: Top ways to supercharge your career.

Since joining Mashable in 2009, I have written several hundred posts about social media and technology. Many of my favorite posts have been those that manage to bridge social media and other industries together. As we saw in 2009 - and will continue to see in 2010 - social media is really transitioning from being just another buzz word and niche alternative to becoming an increasingly common - and important - part of how individuals, consumers and businesses communicate.

I can't wait to see what new and innovative uses are in store for social media in 2010.  When companies like Pepsi are foregoing Super Bowl ads for their beverages and instead concentrating on social media, it becomes impossible to write-off social media and networking as just a fad. In 2009 we saw mainstream adoption of Twitter and Facebook and its quick and almost invisible assimilation into popular culture as a whole. Going forward, recognizing and highlighting the convergence of culture and what we think of as social media is something I find both exciting and interesting. At the end of day, behind all the hype, social media is about sharing and communicating. Here's to making that communication easier and more barrier-free in 2010!

Exclusive LifeScoop Video - A Mashable Writer's New Year's Resolution from My LifeScoop on Vimeo.

It's obviously an understatement to say that internet is changing both the publishing industry and the way that people consume media.  We've all read the stories about newspapers and print magazines bashing blogs while they quickly rush to start their own and try to overhaul their advertising models. The story that is perhaps getting less attention, however, is how even the blog model of 2004, 2005, 2006 is rapidly shifting as social networking takes a firm root in online culture.  Back when I started Inhabitat.com in 2005 it was novel enough just to publish a blog about sustainable design - I didn't need to do anything fancier - as I was one of the very few voices on the web talking about this stuff.  My main goal was just to get the word out about sustainable design, build awareness, and start conversations.  Of course we always had some element of "conversation" going in the comment section of our website - but aside from the comment section - traditional blog publishing is really not that interactive, and not that different from magazine publishing in its basic approach: I write a story, I publish it, you interact with it, and if you have feedback, you let me know in the comments.  This model is slightly more "conversational" than a magazine perhaps, but still a very one-sided conversation.

Now with the advent of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Digg, Reddit, I think many publishers are realizing that there is so much more we can do with our online communities.  Certainly at Inhabitat we're anxious to build communities that go beyond screens and keypads into real physical space. We know that the old adage 'Think globally, act locally' is a apt description of the dynamic power of local community, and we want to get into the business of building locally-based communities of people who are passionate about socially-responsible, good design.  Watch our video to find out more about our New Year's resolution for 2010 and how we plan to connect the global and the local through the power of the social web.

In 2009, I spent a lot of time thinking about the easiest way to make a better life for myself. I like the idea of being active in shaping my own life, instead of letting things happen to me. I didn't read a big pile of self-help books, I didn't have some grand epiphany, I just sat down and made a list of things I wanted to do -- and then I started crossing things off.

Then I did what I always do, I posted about it. The response was pretty overwhelming. Over the last year, hundreds of people wrote me to say that they were making their own lists, and I started to see them popping up everywhere online. I'm still pretty gobsmacked by how many people sat down with a pen and started making things better for themselves. It's such a simple idea, but making time for anything in an already full life can be a challenge.

Anyway, in 2010, I have another simple idea that I hope will have us all dreaming a little bigger for ourselves. Have a look.

Exclusive Mighty Girl LifeScoop Video - Living Better from My LifeScoop on Vimeo.

With the holiday season upon us and New Years resolutions pending, for many people it is a time for reflection. As an Intel Insider, I am thankful for all that Intel has offered this year as I was able to attend CES in Vegas, Computex in Taipei and Portland to see how chips are made. Thank you Intel.

Studies have shown that gratitude is the "forgotten factor" in happiness. Through highly focused studies, thought leaders Robert Emmons at University of California Davis and Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami were able to shed some light on the nature of gratitude, its causes, and its potential consequences for human health and well-being.

"Getting organized." Pretty general and diffuse as New Year's resolutions go, isn't it? And yet so many of us make that our Number One goal for the next year. I find myself resolving to be more organized next year (as I do most years), but this time, I've got a specific motivation in mind which I think will make all the difference.



I turned 41 a few weeks ago, and I'm well settled into my mid-life...not crisis, exactly...more curiosity. I'm more aware than ever that letting time mindlessly slip by is about as smart as throwing money into the ocean. The kids are growing. The grandparents are getting older. It's time to get moving on those hopes and dreams. And to not lose sight of what makes me...me.

What about you? What will you do next year to get closer to your dreams?

Technology and media professionals today are besieged by an increasingly blurred boundary between life and work.  The downside to the wonderful technology that has allowed us to take our laptop (or blackberry) everywhere we go and work remotely from any location has led to precisely that - people working from anywhere and everywhere - at all times - to the detriment of their families and personal lives.  The upside of the 1990's model of being chained to an office cubicle meant that when you left your desk at 5pm you were psychologically free to shelve work thoughts until the next morning and enjoy the rest of your life without a thought for work's problems.  Today's increasingly mobile workforce don't have that luxury of a physical divide between life and work, and this is manifesting in an increasing erosion of screen-free personal time.

As the publisher of the Inhabitat family of blogs and a work-from-home entrepreneur, I know all too well how easy it is to get sucked into round-the-clock work.  The laptop is always there, and every time I look at it there seems to be some new email or AIM message requiring my attention -- whether or not it is 4pm in the afternoon or 11pm at night. It is not just me who is suffering the consequences of my perpetual distraction by laptop and phone.  My family needs more of my time and energy, and I know it's important that I break the addiction to my laptop.  So this year I'm resolving to break the psychological shackles of 24-7 access to technology... but you might be surprised about how I plan to do it!  Watch this video to hear my plan for how technology can help me log off.

For many, resolutions are about aiming for bigger and better accomplishments, but my hopes for 2010 lie in less, not more.

At this point, the "less is more" mantra may sound pretty tired, but I've never felt it so keenly. As my children get older, the needs of my family are only getting more complex. (And here I thought things were supposed to get easier.) The "I can't do it all" wall, which used to loom far off in the distance, is now smack dab in the middle of my path, and I'm on a collision course. I need to pare down, simplify, clarify. Now.

My website, Parent Hacks, has had to take a back seat at times as I've tended to my family. This site, which started as little more than an idea for what I myself wish I had as a new parent, means so much more to me than "my business." It's a place of grounding and conversation in the often hectic, isolated world of parenting. And while it goes without saying that the needs of my family come first (Parenthackers would be the first to agree with me on that), setting Parent Hacks aside, even for a few days, feels like missing an important connection to the world. Not just for my readers...for me.

I know I'm not the only one with a complicated and busy family life. Most of us are in the struggle to juggle, and it's a lot to handle. Hopefully my resolution for Parent Hacks, which I share in my video, will resonate with those of you who are trying to see your way to a simpler 2010 as well.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I'm not what you'd call efficient. The idea of Inbox Zero makes me want to do a spit take. The last time I bothered to check, I was at inbox 2,000. This is not a point of pride.

In 2010, I only seem to be increasing the pace. I have so many lists, projects, plots, schemes, but I don't seem to have grown any more hands. Evolution is stupid slow.

So in addition to slowing down enough to prioritize the mountain of lists, I have another resolution for the year.

 

Exclusive Mighty Girl LifeScoop Video - Smarter, Faster, Stronger from My LifeScoop on Vimeo.

As 2009 comes to a close, it's natural to look back over the year's accomplishments and pitfalls and to think about what we want to achieve in the new year. I've never been one for resolutions, and I used to think it was because it felt so cliche. But I'm starting to see that it was because I had no idea how to set goals.

Oh, sure -- I knew how to say "this year I'm going to get organized!" But moving beyond that generalized wish? I'd often get stuck. I needed a plan for "making a plan"!

I've read plenty of books on getting organized, but, for some reason, this year, it finally sunk in. To set goals and actually accomplish them, you need to focus your attention on the small steps that will take you all the way to the finish. Here's what's working for me:

It's that crazed travel, shopping, family filled time of year, and if anything, that means a lot of waiting, standing around, multitasking, and it never hurts to be over prepared with forms of amusement ready for kids and adults of all ages (yourself included). So, here are 5 of my favorite iPhone apps I can't imagine living without this holiday season.

See also: Free iPhone Apps to Survive Holiday Cocktail Parties

This time of year is all about surrounding yourself with the people you love. Between friends and family this means a lot of get-togethers. Adding a personal touch to your celebrations makes them that much more meaningful.

See also: Handmade Gift Ideas for Everyone

See other BurdaStyle posts on MyLifeScoop.

Since nobody wants to receive a box full of crumbs (well, it's probably better than coal, but still) follow these tips for shipping baked goodies.

For Cookies
Bar cookies and drop cookies travel best, especially in smaller sizes (greater threat of crumbling in big cookies). Try Molasses Cookies or the Classic Sugar Cookies. Avoid fragile creations and those that crumble easily.

Wrap each cookie, or a pair of them touching bottom-to-bottom, in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Place cookies in a sturdy box lined with extra waxed paper and fill any empty air spaces with tissue paper or newspaper. Cookie padding is KEY--they should not be rolling around. To maintain moisture, try throwing in a slice of fresh bread. The moisture from the bread will migrate to the cookies via cookie osmosis.

Somewhere on your holiday lists this year--either your personal wish list or the list of gifts you've yet to buy--is bound to be some kind of tech. Maybe it's an iPhone for your spouse or a gaming system for the kids. Perhaps it's a sassy new netbook for your mother or a Keurig coffee maker for the dorm-living college student in your life. No matter the gadget or device, one thing's for sure: tech is a lot more expensive than, say, a nice hardcover book or a cozy pair of slippers.

If the requested gadget or gizmo is a budget buster for you, but you know someone else in the extended family is giving or getting one, I've got a few ideas for gifts that go beyond the gadget.

We're all media cre­ators now, from blog­gers and pod­cast­ers to the most wet-behind-the-feathers Twitterer. Along with the new free­dom to cre­ate comes more respon­si­bil­ity: The new media ecosys­tem places an increased bur­den on all of us to become more per­cep­tive con­sumers and dis­sec­tors of media. In the age of We Media, it's impor­tant that we be able to dis­cern fact from fic­tion, to sep­a­rate reportage from spec­u­la­tion and to not become unwit­ting par­tic­i­pants in the lat­est spam scam.

In short, we need to sharpen our online media smarts. Every day, when we take a ride on our favorite search engines or tune in to our favorite news sites, we seem con­fi­dent that we know how to spot the good stuff and weed out the non­sense. But do we?

Here's a guide to help you opti­mize your BS detec­tor to deal with the new real­i­ties of demo­c­ra­tic media.

This past year people have come to realize that it is not how much the present costs, but how much love and thought is put into it. What better way to show someone how much you care for them than by making them a present! We have here 5 sites that have complied lists of great gifts you can make for a loved one.

I'd gotten along just fine for years without a digital candy thermometer. For plenty of purposes in the kitchen--just trying to get a bubbling pot of sugar to a certain range, like the soft ball or hard ball phases, or just trying to get oil hot enough for frying--a standard candy thermometer, giving temperatures on an old-fashioned analog dial, is just fine. This Taylor Classic or Polder 511 will do the trick nicely. 

Not long ago, my friends considered my texting habit part of my curious but slightly cool geek cred. (I use the term "geek" loosely; my husband works for Twitter where that term has a much higher barrier to entry. But I digress.) Now, texting is an accepted communication channel among non-techies. Friends who still wonder about blogs routinely text their kids after school.

But, while firing a quick text may now be second-nature, you may not know about several nifty things you can do with your regular, old cell phone -- no data plan required.

Workplace communication used to fall into two categories: email, which is clumsy, asynchronous, and gets messy if it involves more than two people, and face-to-face or phone meetings, which are often overly structured, time consuming, and hard to coordinate.  Social web applications are making workplace collaboration a much more fluid and easy prospect.  Using collaborative web apps in the workplace makes communicating and cooperating with colleagues much easier, whether they are in the same room, down the hall, or on the other side of the world.  The benefit of collaborative and social web apps in the workplace is increased productivity and enhanced communication.

The apps and web sites here are just a sample of the broad range of web-based, social media applications that are available to business users.

The holiday season is upon us, and we all know what that means: lots of eating, drinking, gift-giving and receiving, and travel. In other words, nearly endless consumption. But that doesn't mean holiday celebrations have to damage the environment. On the contrary, effective use of technology can make sure that this December is a green one-and not just because of that giant Christmas tree in the living room!

When most people hear the term open source they usually think one of two things: 1) what the heck is that or 2) it's something tech-related. Open source actually refers to sharing software code, a product or production methods to allow collaboration. This means people can take a raw material and improve on it by building off each other's ideas. Though open source typically describes technology, it's also a philosophy about collaboration and information sharing. While creating BurdaStyle, we were captivated by the open source model: sharing intellectual property and letting everyone adapt it to their specific needs. We took it to heart at BurdaStyle and removed the copyright from our patterns.

Here are a few other areas where open source can benefit all of us:

I love to take pictures... and lots of them. I like to look at them, hold them, and remember them. It doesn't matter if they are still photos or moving video... I love them just the same. So it's not surprising that I have a fondness for anything to make that easier or more fun. I'm not any kind of expert when it comes to photography. I don't even know what all the buttons on my camera do. But... I do know what I like.

From saving money to staying on budget, technology has made it easier than ever to stay on top of my personal finances. Here are 3 ways technology has helped me save money and time.

I've written a lot in the past about living in the age of being able to pause live television and how it's the most glorious time to be alive and living. There are few things greater than being able to pause the television to yell at my husband or children to please ZIP IT because two blonde imbeciles are about to argue over problems people living in the Third World would love to have, and if I don't hear that argument I won't know what to do with those extra 100 brain cells.

Over the past few years, craft has seen a major resurgence throughout the world. A lot of this has to do with people utilizing the Internet to gain knowledge and inspiration. Now this isn't just your grandmother's doilies, these are the coolest, most creative people coming up with incredible ideas.   There are many sites that have contributed to this groundswell of creativity, whether you want to learn a new hobby or start a career, there is a site for everything!  

If you're anything like me when it comes to recipes, then you have them scribbled down on paper in all shapes and sizes. I have them on note pads, printouts, my grandmother's handwritten recipe cards... they are everywhere. I haven't found an ideal way to manage them all. I like order, so I tried keeping them in binders filled with clear sleeves to protect them, but those just seem to overflow, too. I know you know what I mean. Please, if you have a system that works for you, do tell. 

There aren't many things I like more than sitting down for hours eating a multi-course Italian or Indian dinner.  Conversing, laughing, eating, drinking in good company...it satisfies my mind, body and soul. Less satiating but in many ways just as vital to actually arriving at the big meal...is the snack.  Snacks hit the spot and keep me going. And for my on-the-go lifestyle balancing (read: juggling) family and work, I'm finding that pint-sized computer devices are fulfilling my need for quick bites of the Internet.  

Gadgets are designed to make our lives easier, but these days it seems like the market is flooded with fancy electronics crammed with unnecessary features and are far from being eco-friendly. But the recent shift that many consumers are making toward living greener lives has caused companies to strip away many of the superfluous bells and whistles, resulting in some great new green gadgets. This list features the most useful green gadgets that help to do things faster and smarter and, most importantly, lessen our carbon footprint. 

I know I've been jet-setting too much when some of my closest friends at home haven't seen me for over a month. People are constantly asking me "Where were you? Have you recovered from Europing? Aren't you exhausted?" Honestly, there have been times when I have gotten sick from running my poor body ragged across time zones. But this last time, I felt amazing and came back ready to go! I figured out which new techniques and gadgets keep me sane, well rested, happy, energized, and on top of running my company.