'Tis the season to shop for others, so until the end of the year, I'll be sharing some seasonal present picks that are sure to be health-conscious hits with those you're gifting, starting with one of my favorite items to ward off winter blues: The Philips goLITE BLU ($189), a portable form of light therapy that is getting rave reviews from people worldwide!

I'm due for a new water heater -- mine is vintage 2001 -- and I've been seriously considering a tankless water heater. My existing water heater is tied into a solar hot water heating panel (good stuff) so I will require more than the usual amount of plumbing work (read -- $) to replace it. That puts the onus on me to make a good decision.

After the fold, a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of tankless water heaters.

What should I get the person who has everything? That's an age-old question that many people face during the holiday shopping season. If you're having trouble finding a gift for them, check out these quirky gift ideas -- all under $35.

Portable electric heaters are a great convenience. They provide comfortable heating in spots, in your home or office, that the building heating system just doesn't quite reach. They are portable, inexpensive, and remarkably efficient.

Below the fold, a survey of some portable electric heaters.

Mark your calendars, and remember to change your clocks! Daylight savings time ends, in most areas of the U.S., at 2 AM on Sunday, November 1. Folks in Hawaii, most of Arizona and a few other select places can skip the clock change, since their time stays the same all year round.

It's great getting more daylight in the evening, but it can be hard to remember to change your clocks on time. How many times have you been late or early to work or an appointment? Save yourself the trouble, and get some extra sleep this year by getting an atomic clock, it automatically updates the time to reflect Daylight Savings.

You've heard it all: drink tons of water because the human body is over 2/3rds water, ailments such as asthma and arthritis become less problematic, skin looks better and feels softer when you're hydrated, and many more bits of trivia that might make you want to put down your fruit juice. But there's a tasty tip that many water-hating people aren't aware of that can easily help to increase what you imbibe....

Veronica Harley
AOL Shopping
Photo Credit: Flickr, bigaila



It's National Fire Prevention Week -- a time to focus on ways to prevent home fires. There are plenty of little-known fire safety facts. Did you know that according to the National Fire Prevention Association, a fire department responds to a home fire every 81 seconds? That's a lot of fires! Check out a few more interesting facts from the National Fire Prevention Association ...

* Cooking is the leading cause of most home fires.
* Last year, the U.S. fire department responded to 386,500 home fires.
* About 1/3 of home fires occur from December through February -- when candles and space heaters are often used.

Fire prevention doesn't have to be a chore. Follow these top four tips to help fireproof your home:

1. Check your smoke detector and replace the batteries once a year.
2. Don't leave food cooking unattended.
3. Have a fire escape plan and practice it regularly.
4. Don't use an extension cord to power a space heater.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Show your support and shop for a good cause. All of the fabulous pink products below donate a portion of their sales to cancer related foundations. There are a wide variety of pink products, from laptops to lipstick, you're sure to find something that fits you.

Pick up a pink product for yourself, and maybe a gift for a loved one. There's never been a better reason to shop!

Brandi Smith - AOL Shopping

Have you been holding out on making kitchen upgrades? Did you miss the Back-to-school sales on computers? Have no fear, October is the season to harvest huge discounts on big appliances, cookware, toys, lawn mowers, grills and computers. There's an ideal time to buy just about anything. Why pay full price? Be sure to check back next month to discover an all new batch of savings.

Well, it's officially fall (sigh). Time to put away your barbecue and get ready for cooking indoors -- especially the joys of using slow cookers (aka crock pots).

Slow cookers can be used throughout the year but are particularly popular during the fall. They're perfect for holiday parties. In addition, they can be very efficient when you have to prepare a dish with a long cooking time. All you have to do is add in your ingredients in the morning, set it to a low temperature and by the time that you get home, your dinner is ready. You can't get much simpler than that.

I like to use mine for making chili and soup but you can use a crock pot for just about everything. For example, a friend of mine likes to use hers for making macaroni and cheese (which comes out pretty good). I've also seen recipes for desserts like Apple Crisp and Pudding Cake.