Top 10 Most Wanted Christmas Presents of 2011

Deck the halls! Christmas is just around the corner. If you are running a little bit late with your Christmas shopping, these will definitely wow whoever you are shopping for. If you've already made your list and checked it twice, you should cross reference this list of gifts that will surely be on your loved-one's list.

Apple iPad 2 ($500+)

The only thing that would be more popular than the original iPad last year, would be the iPad 2 this year. With a slimmer design, curved edges, and weighing in at a dainty 1.3 pounds. It is the best tablet out there, no comparison.

Amazon Kindle Fire ($199)

The Kindle is still the best e-Reader out there, and is completely compatible with the Android App store which offers huge variety of useful apps. It is extremely functional at a price that is less than half of the iPad 2, and it is extremely user-friendly. Enjoy incredibly fast web browing with Amazon Silk and free cloud storage for Amazon content.

Angry Birds Merchandise ($10-$80)

What's not to love about everyone's favorite app turned into merchandise? From kids to adults, Angry Birds merchandise will surely be a hit. There are pillows, clothing, phone cases, and plush toys. Although the toys seem like a gag gift, their cultural relevance will surely be the talk of your kids' next play date, or your next dinner party.

Cloth Bound Penguin Classic Novels ($7-$14)

Who says paper books have become obsolete? For your cultured friend who loves to collect books on their shelves, buying them the cloth bound Penguin classic novels is a perfect idea. The books are hardcover, but each come with a vintage cloth design encompassing authors from Jane Austen and Emily Bronte, to Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde. If your loved-one is a reader, these books will undoubtedly make them smile, and it will add a vintage pop to their bookshelf. We recommend buying two or three so that they know it's a set.

SleepTracker Watch ($179)

They say "waking up has never been easier" with a SleepTracker watch. Although the device itself is a bit awkward and bulky, it monitors your sleep and will wake you up at the best time so that you feel the most rested and productive. There is the SleepTracker, the SleepTracker Pro, and the SleepTracker Elite (which comes complete with a snooze button in case you need a few more z's). It's also water resistant and works as a standard watch.

Droid RAZR (starting at $299.99)

For Android lovers, the Motorola Droid RAZR is the sleekest, thinnest on the market. The screen is still large, but it has a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 4G LTE speed, Gingerbread software, and an 8MP camera all packed into a 0.28 inch thick smartphone. Motorola also guarantees that it won't snap in half because it is made of Kevlar and Gorilla Glass.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 ($38 for PlayStation 3)

The ultimate video game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (COD) is on every video game enthusiast's wishlist (if they don't already own 4 copies themselves). Call of Duty actually beat James Cameron's Avatar in the race to earn $1 billion. Avatar took a whole 17 days to reach $1 billion, whereas Call of Duty did it in 16 days.

LeapPad Explorer ($84)

Parents rejoice! The LeapPad Explorer Tablet has a built-in camera, video recorder, and more than 100 games and activities for kids to learn by playing. If you're looking to buy this for your kids, you better buy it quickly because it is flying off the shelves. Why wouldn't it? There are skill levels that automatically adjust to the learning curve of each child.

Diamond Edition 4-Disc The Lion King Blu-ray 3D and DVD ($33)

Before it goes back into the Disney vault, you should probably consider scooping up the Lion King 3D edition, even if you don't have a 3D television yet. The Lion King is one of the most popular movies in the Disney franchise. This 4-Disc edition includes the digitally restored picture, high definition sound, and bonus features.

Apple TV (around $100)

Apple TV is an easy way for you to stream movies and shows from iTunes, as well as content from your Netflix, YouTube, Flikr, etc. accounts. It runs on very low power in a sleek 4 inch square and connects with your PC or Mac. You can also control it from you iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or your 7 button Apple remote.

Deck the Halls with Energy Efficient Lighting

With our heaters cranking, hot plates heating, crock pots bubbling, ovens warming, and televisions blasting, it's no wonder that America's electric bills are highest around the holidays. We don't even take into account the multiple lights in multiple rooms that we leave on despite the necessity due to the big groups of family and friends we host for our holiday parties.

How much energy do Christmas lights use?

Christmas presents already cause most people to max out their credit card bills, so why waste money on extra electricity when you don't need to? We have some tips to lower your electric bills with energy conscious lighting strategies that won't take away from the effect of your home.

Replace your Indoor Lightbulbs

With so many lights on indoors, you should replace all of your old lightbulbs with LED or CFL energy efficient lightbulbs. Not only do these lightbulbs last longer, but they take up less energy than your standard lightbulb which means a lower electricity bill. (Plus the lighting is more flattering for those family photos.)

Use Energy-Conscious Practices when Decorating the Home

When hanging the lights outside, there are tactics to make sure that you save energy. Use a timer, minimize the quantity of light strings you use, and use energy efficient light strings. Check out our video on energy conscious holiday lighting for more details on how to save money this holiday season.

Easy Holiday Exercise Plans to Help You Stay Trim

The tree isn't the only thing worth trimming this holiday season. With Thanksgiving around the corner, and Christmas about a month and a half away, we have our eyes set on delicious desserts, creamy side dishes, and lots and lots of food.

While you may be eating twice the amount of calories that you normally would, there is no reason for you to skimp on your exercise regime. In fact, it is more of a reason to make sure that you get some exercise so that Grandma's stick-to-your-ribs casserole, doesn't literally stick to your ribs. Here are some simple tips to help you stay active throughout the holiday season.

Wake Up Early

Try waking up before everyone else. This may seem like a no-brainer, but if you wake up an hour before the majority of your holiday guests wake up, you will be able to get in a nice 45-minute jog around the neighborhood and still have time to take a quick shower without missing out on anything. Figure out how to exercise without visiting the gym in order to make this work best for your lifestyle.

Help in the Kitchen

It's amazing how many calories you actually burn in the kitchen. Baking alone, can burn up to 200 calories per hour, and usually when you're cooking, you're less likely to eat more at the table because you're taking little tastes here and there in the kitchen. Have you ever been in the kitchen during holiday preparations? They don't lie when they say that blood, sweat, and tears went into preparing this meal. Try to keep it healthy by incorporating omega-3 fatty acids into your meal.

Volunteer to Play with the Kids

If you're someone who's good with kids, volunteer to play with them. Kids are by nature active, hyper, and are constantly moving. Surrounding yourself with active people, much less children who require your attention and keep your heart rate up, will make sure that you're burning those extra calories. Figure out some fun activities that promote physical fitness.

Encourage the Family to Partake in Activities

Flag football? Family walks? A quick game of hide-and-seek? Encourage your family to avoid the after-dinner naps and to get out and do something active. Even a 20 minute walk after a big meal can make the heavy food less likely to go straight to your thighs, stomach, or wherever else you are prone to gaining weight.

Beat Cabin Fever this Winter by Redecorating Your Home

Winter is around the corner. Thanksgiving is in a few weeks, and then after that the winter holidays and New Years Eve is just around the corner. However, with the cold weather, we will find ourselves indoors more often, which means that we need spaces that we want to be in.

Experts123 offers a lot of fantastic interior design articles that give you insight around re-decorating your home on a budget, in specific themes, or even for specific holidays.

Space-Conscious Designs

Whether you are struggling making a large room look intimate or making a small room look bigger, our interior design experts can give you insight how to decorate your room with the room size in mind. Did you know that in large rooms if you group your furniture together, the room will seem more intimate? In small rooms, if you use lighter colors the room will seem bigger. The tips are endless, and will really help you achieve the effect you are looking for.

Chic Storage

When it comes to storage, it's always about style and affordability. Whether or not you are looking to organize your kitchen, your living room, or your bedroom, we have a lot of great ideas to stash the clutter while still making the room look cohesive. Try adding some storage to your room during the winter for your blankets, shoes, and sweaters, so that they're accessible, yet don't clutter your room. Adding hidden storage is also a great way to give a room a face-lift when you're looking for something refreshing to do during the cold seasons.

Change Your Room's Theme

Is your current home's theme modern and are you looking to make it more homey by incorporating some country aspects? Country-themed homes are easy to achieve, and add a simple, yet comfortable, aesthetic. You can also heat up your room by adding tropical aspects to your home. When it's snowing outside, it's easy to escape into a tropical room and teleport yourself to a warm, sun-drenched island. (Hint: Make the room colors a lot warmer to start!)

Halloween Costumes for 2011: From the Creative to the Controversial

2011 has been the year of controversies, and undoubtedly the clever people who create the most popular Halloween costumes will apply them to the line-up. We recap our favorites and the ones that we think will create the most waves this year for Halloween.

Dress Like a Celeb for Halloween 

Katy Perry's cupcake bra can be purchased at stores.

Charlie Sheen - He may have lost all of his custody battles, but Charlie Sheen is #winning as the predicted most popular Halloween costume of 2011. Charlie is the self-proclaimed "warlock" who dines on "tigers blood." Make your hair and clothes disheveled. A tiger striped bandana would add a funny touch and make your costume more recognizable.

Katy Perry - Katy Perry never strays from controversy. She wears some of the most outrageous outfits that we've seen on the red carpet. You could wear anything from latex dresses to a cupcake bra and a blue wig and people would believe you're Katy Perry. 

Lady Gaga - Yes, Lady Gaga topped our list last year, but she keeps upping the ante. This year a predicted awesome Halloween costume will be the Lady Gaga meat dress. You can wear raw meat (if it's sanitary...) or just find fabric that looks like meat, and cut it so that it drapes like her dress. Raw meat could get smelly so if you plan on being authentic, you should either celebrate outside or in a well air-conditioned room.

Costumes Inspired by Television

Don Draper looks dapper in his 1960's suit.

 Pan Am - One of our favorite television shows this fall is Pan Am. The blue flight attendant suits leave just enough for the imagination, and you can talk to your guests and fellow party-goers in character. "Can I refill your drink sir?"

Mad Men - Dressing like Betty or Joan for women is a fun blast from the past with form flattering dresses and a bold lip. Men can sport a Don Draper suit with a fedora. You will undoubtedly be the most dapper person at the party.

Dancing with the Stars - These costumes are sure to turn some heads. Men can wear the tight dancer pants and a silk shirt, and women can wear the skimpy costumes from DWTS. You can always turn heads by dressing up as a famous contestant - like Chaz Bono or Kirstie Alley.

Most Controversial Halloween Costumes of 2011

The Casey Anthony mask sold on eBay for $24,000.

Casey Anthony - The most hated woman in America's mask sold on eBay for $24,000. You don't need to buy that - instead dress up as trailer trash with a beer bottle in your hand and maybe some other famous paraphernalia associated with Casey. This costume is very controversial and will for sure turn some heads.

Dr. Conrad Murray - The man who is on trial for killing Michael Jackson is definitely going to be one of those parody costumes making waves at parties. Wear a doctor's coat and carry around a syringe to make it believable. When people ask you if you're a doctor, just say yes, Dr. Conrad Murray.

Osama Bin Laden - Too soon? We predict that this costume will be relatively popular since this year was the iconic year where he was captured and killed by US forces. Create a makeshift turban and grow a beard to make this costume perfect.

Pumpkins Aren't Just for Carving Jack-O-Lanterns Anymore

Pumpkins aren't just for carving jack-o-lanterns anymore. People are putting this savory-yet-sweet squash in anything they can get their hands on. From baking with it, to roasting it and eating it plain, to drinking it, to using it as their vegetable serving, whether you are an expert chef, domestic diva, or cooking beginner, we have all the easy and delicious recipes for you to incorporate into your fall dishes.

Health Benefits of Pumpkin

In the winter, a lot of nutritious foods are unavailable, especially fruits. Pumpkin is jam-packed full of disease-fighting vitamins and also gives you a lot of health benefits. It is rich in antioxidants, and low in fat and calories.

Pumpkin has a lot of alpha-carotene and beta-carotene which are antioxidants that are pro-vitamin A carotenoids. This means that the body converts them into vitamin A to strengthen the immune system and create healthier vision. Alpha-carotene is supposed to slow the aging process, reduce cataract development and prevent tumor growth. Beta-carotene has been proven to reverse skin damage and act as an anti-inflammatory. The carotenoids that both have also lessen the risk of heart disease.

There are 5 grams of fiber per serving and a lot of vitamin C. This reduces bad cholesterol levels, fights against heart disease, and controls blood sugar levels. There is also a lot of potassium that can control blood pressure.

Pumpkin seeds contain vitamin E, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids.

How to Prepare a Pumpkin for Baking

Baking with pumpkins is easy, but you have to do a little bit of prep work first. First you want to cut the pumpkin in half and get rid of the stem and the stringy pulp and seeds. You can save the seeds for later!

Now, you can either bake, boil, or microwave your pumpkin.

To bake your pumpkin, place the two pumpkin halves face down and cover with foil. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for one and a half hours, or until you are able to scoop up and mash the pumpkin flesh.

To boil your pumpkin, peel it and cut it into chunks. Place it in a saucepan and cover it with water. Bring it to a boil and cook it like you would boil a potato. You want to let the chunks cool and then mash or puree them.

To microwave your pumpkin, microwave the half a pumpkin on high power for seven minutes per pound. You want to cover them and make sure to turn them every few minutes.

Cooking with Pumpkins

You can incorporate pumpkin into almost any type of cuisine. It pairs great with sweet flavors as well as savory dishes. It is a favorite in baking. Try baking a pumpkin spice cake, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin pudding, a pumpkin mousse, or gluten free pumpkin muffins. You can even incorporate it into a penny-wise pumpkin pasta recipe for vibrant color and a satisfyingly creamy sauce.

Nothing goes to waste when it comes to pumpkin. You can even toast the pumpkin seeds. These are surprisingly salty and meaty and can be thrown on top of a salad or even eaten plain.

Don't leave out the cocktails! Pumpkin has a not-too-sweet, cinnamon flavor that goes well in a delicious pumpkin martini. Your guests will be surprisingly satisfied with the seasonal twist on a classic favorite.

Your Guide to the Best Fall 2011 TV Shows

Every fall the primetime networks premiere shows that they hope will engage you and make you loyal fans. From reality television, to hilarious sitcoms, to gut wrenching dramas, viewers like you are the people that keep these stations, actors, and the people behind the scenes in business.

Watch or Skip: Your Guide to the Best Fall 2011 TV Shows

So which shows should you catch? Our pop culture expert outlines each of the shows she finds to be worth watching, and spares you the time you spend on shows that you should have just skipped. Each day, new shows and new versions of old shows premiere. Experts123 helps you find a way to best spend your time on shows that are worth it.

7 Movie Stars You Must See on TV This Fall

We always love to see someone that wows us on the silver screen doing great things on the small screen. This year is the year of the movie star turned television star. Will they live up to their big screen expectations or surpass them?

Fall TV Faceoff

Having a difficult time deciding which show to watch? Do some of these shows seem too similar? Our video helps you discern the difference between similar TV shows, and pick the winner.

10 New TV Shows We Can't Wait to Watch This Fall

Another one of our correspondents lists the top 10 new TV shows that we can't wait to watch this fall. Check this one out to see which ones you should watch!

Experts123 Quizzes Test Your Knowledge and Help You Make Decisions

Experts123 is proud to introduce the launch of our new quiz feature. These quizzes are specially tailored in order to help you make important decisions, and test your knowledge about various subjects and about yourself. It is a fantastic way to learn while still having fun.

The quizzes are dynamic - interact with other users, share your results, and learn. You will be connected to many new opportunities at Experts123 through these quizzes.

Browse our selection of quizzes below.

Are you as smart as a plumber?: Do you feel like you are a naturally gifted at making home repairs? Have you ever thought about doing at-home plumbing fixes on your own to save some cash? Take this quiz to see just how knowledgeable you are about plumbing. This quiz will help you to decide whether or not you should try to fix your plumbing problems yourself, or to hire a professional.

What kind of car should you get?: If you have problems trying to figure out which type of car you should buy, this quiz will help you decide based on your lifestyle and preferences. Are you small and sporty or are you practical and busy? This quick 10 question quiz will lead you to the perfect car match for you!

How green is your thumb?: Are you thinking about starting a garden? Can't explain why your plants keep dying? Take this quiz to determine just how green your thumb is! Answer simple questions that an avid gardener should know, and gain some insight as to how to make your garden the best it can be.

How well do you know your rights?: What should you do if a police officer approaches your car? When do you not have the right to remain silent? These answers might surprise you. Take this quiz to see how well you know your rights and how to avoid any unwanted conflict with the law.

Test Your Early Childcare Knowledge: How well do you know how to care for a newborn baby? Whether you already have a child or are thinking about it, this quiz will help you prepare for the years ahead.

At What Kind of Restaurant Should I Eat Tonight?: Hungry but confused as to where you should eat for dinner? Bit date tonight? Reuniting with an old friend? Take this quiz to help you figure out what kind of restaurant you should eat at tonight.

Which Sex in the City Character are You Most Like?: Are you a Carrie, a Charlotte, a Samantha, or a Miranda? Each woman from Sex in the City is fabulous in her own way, but extremely unique at the same time. Take this quiz to see which one you are the most like!

What Type of Spa Should You Go To?: Are you looking to get some relaxation and escape the real world for a bit? Take this quiz to see which spa getaway you should take based on your needs, the amount of time you have on your hands, and your idea of relaxation. Find your serenity with this quiz.

What Type of Pet Should You Get?: Are you not sure about what kind of pet you should get? This quiz will not only help you figure out what kind of pet fits best in your lifestyle, but also will help you determine whether or not you are truly ready for a pet.

What Nightlife Scene Best Fits My Style?: Going out tonight? Different venues are better for different moods. Take this quiz for a fool-proof and amazing night on the town.

Which Coffee Shop Beverage Best Suits You?: Want the caffeine kick, but not sure what to get at the coffee shop? Take this quiz to help you decide which drink best suits you based on your personality, temperament, and how you handle your daily tasks.

What Type of Exercise Is Right For You?: Not sure what you should pick up at the gym? Take this quiz to figure out what gym activity best suits you based on your needs and fitness goals.

What Type of Vacation Best Suits You?: Can't figure out where to go on your next vacation? This quiz will help you narrow down which destination is best suited for your interests and what you want to get out of your vacation. Bon voyage!

Finding Your Ideal Company: Are you motivated to find the right type of company for you? Are you determined to find out if you're working in the right type of environment? This quiz will tell you what kind of company ideally fits you based on your goals, dreams, and personality.

Test Your Chef IQ: Are you fit for the kitchen? This quiz will test your Chef IQ to see if know the kitchen basics. Find out how fit you are to work in a kitchen!

How Prepared Are You For An Emergency?: In the event of an emergency do you take charge or follow the direction of others? Take this quiz to see how prepared you really are for an earthquake, a flood, a tsunami, or any other disaster that comes your way! It may be a wake up call for you to educate yourself!

Which Musical Instrument Should You Play?: Do you have a drive to learn a new musical instrument? Take this quiz to see which one is best for you based on your personality and interests.

What Type of Computer Should You Get?: With all of the options out there, it can be pretty confusing as to which computer will best fit your needs. This 10 question quiz will help you find the perfect computer.

The Impossible Diet Quiz: How well do you know about diet and exercise? Take the Impossible Diet Quiz to test your knowledge and see just how much you know about health and nutrition. You may even learn something that you didn't already know!

Revealing Jackie Kennedy Tapes Show a Different Side of "Camelot"

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis is undoubtedly one of the most beloved and famed First Ladies of the White House. Although her stay in the presidential residence was cut short with the assassination of her husband President John F. Kennedy, she managed to record eight hours of audio just four months after the tragic event.

WATCH: Jackie Kennedy Tapes Full of Surprises

These audio tapes have been saved in the Kennedy presidential library and recently were released by her daughter Caroline Kennedy to mark the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy presidency, despite Jackie's request that the tapes were private until 50 years after her death.

Jackie O's Reveals a Skewed Perception of Self

Jackie Kennedy reveals at the beginning that she felt as though she was a political liability to the Kennedy campaign for presidency referring to herself as a "dud" and feeling depressed about being made fun of for her pillbox hat and bouffant hairstyle which later became trends once she established herself as a style icon for women in the 1960s... Read More About Whom Jackie O. Critiques.

Your Guide to the 2011 NFL Season

Football fans and players alike were worried that they wouldn't have their Sunday Night Football fixes this year when the NFL lockout was yet to be resolved. But starting last night with the Packers vs. the Saints, two recent Super Bowl champs, the 2011-2012 NFL season kicked off with a bang.

How Do I Get to Watch All of the Games?

Local games and most big games will be broadcasted on your basic cable stations assuming that you aren't in a blackout area. A lot of cities will blackout the game in the surrounding area of the stadium in order to encourage fans to actually go to the games.

The NFL Network is the NFL's dedicated channel to all things NFL. Check your local listings or contact your basic cable provider in order to figure out how you can access this channel. For football enthusiasts who watch games religiously, this package is a must-have

Want access to every single game, prime time and otherwise? Splurge a bit and get the NFL Sunday Ticket where you can view all of the non-prime time games in HD, assuming your television permits. If you live in Nebraska, but are a dedicated Jacksonville Jaguars fan, never fear! You will be able to access these games on the NFL Sunday Ticket channel.

Throw the Best NFL Viewing Parties

You don't have to be an avid tailgater to be able to throw fantastic viewing parties. Our Super Bowl Party Guide tells you exactly how to throw a great tailgate as well as a great viewing party that will satisfy all of your guests.

From pre-game snacks to halftime games to keep your guests occupied, you will not only entertain your guests thoroughly, but you will keep them coming back for each football party you throw!

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Fingers crossed that your team makes it to the big Super Bowl game in 2012, but until then, crack open a cold beer and enjoy the start of the season that almost wasn't! It's a great way to meet new people and have a good time with old friends.

Spend Labor Day With Experts123

Holidays that require a long weekend are definitely occasions to look forward to. Experts123 helps you relax and take in the last bits of summer.

Try throwing a Labor Day party at home or planning a quick week-end Labor Day getaway. Enjoy the sun, your friends, and your family.

The Great Labor Day Fashion Debate

What do you think: Should you wear white after Labor Day?

Is this just a fashion trend or does it have a deeper meaning? The story is that supposedly it is only proper etiquette to wear white shoes and clothing between Memorial Day and Labor day because it is summer attire. Wearing white keeps people cool.

But fashion rules are meant to be broken. Regardless of whether or not white is "permitted" after the long weekend, Experts123 teaches you how to tastefully wear white after Labor Day.

Staying Healthy as Summer Reaches an End

Summer is reaching an end, but all of the hard work that you've done getting in shape for swimsuit season doesn't need to go to waste. Experts123 has a lot of knowledgeable contributors that can teach you to eat right, exercise with a little bit of time, get the right minerals and supplements in your diet, and find a healthy lifestyle regardless of pre-existing conditions.

Eating Well

Snacking can be one of the biggest busts to a diet. Health expert Lakeyia Thompson offers insightful information about Healthy Snacks. From healthy fruit, to healthy granola bars, Lakeyia helps you learn which foods are healthy for the mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack that are generally unhealthy. Avoid the donuts at the break room, and avoid the sugary sodas. Stick to these basics.

Getting the Right Nutrients

Experts123 offers many articles that show you the health benefits of different vitamins, minerals and supplements.  Know the health risks and benefits of many common nutrients. Here is a list of recently featured vitamins and minerals:

Health Benefits of Chromium
Health Benefits of Selenium
Health Benefits of Vitamin A
Health Benefits of Vitamin E
Health Benefits of Vitamin K
Health Benefits of Zinc

Unfamiliar with any of these? Read the articles to figure out how they can fit into your health and fitness regimen.

Exercise Even When You Don't Have Time to Go to the Gym

With the busy lifestyles that many of us lead, a lot of gym memberships go untouched, and exercise routines get overlooked. Krystal Williams teaches you How to Exercise Without Visiting the Gym to maintain an active lifestyle. From bodyweight training to buying fitness equipment, Krystal teaches you how to get creative and shed a few extra pounds (or keep them off with the winter hibernation around the corner!).

You also need to learn When Exercise Can Be More Harmful Than Helpful. Over-exerting yourself at the gym or at home can often create new injuries, or even make pre-existing injuries worse. Read Tonya Jones' advice as to how to avoid making exercise counter-productive.

Exercising with Obesity

With more than 34% of Americans living life in obesity, a lot of people see it as an excuse not to work out. Obesity can lead to a lot of other health consequences like cancer, heart disease, and can worsen pre-existing conditions.

Mark Applegate teaches you How to Exercise with Obesity. He suggests that a mix of diet and exercise can help shed unwanted pounds, while also suggesting avoiding fad diets. Easing into an intense exercise routine is the key. Read the article for more information.

Create and Share Polls on Experts123

Experts123 is proud to introduce our new polls feature where you can create and share polls! Now Experts123 users are able to browse through our selection of polls as well as create their own to share with their friends.

Share your opinion!

Experts123 already has a large collection of polls available for you to try out. Tell us who is your favorite sports villain? or which type of wine do prefer? Not only can you share your opinion, but you can see how others weigh in as well.

All of our polls are tailored to the Experts123 community. We are interested in seeing what interests you, what makes you tick, and what your opinion is on certain issues. Select from one of the categories to get started!

See Where Your Friends Weigh in on the Issues that Interest You

Not only can you take polls that Experts123 provides, but also you are able to create your own polls to see other people's opinions on the issues that interest you the most!

1. Visit My Polls
2. Create your question. What interests you? Create a short, clear question where people can weigh in on their own opinions.
3. Add at least two answer options. Use the arrows on the left to change the order. You can allow users to select multiple answers, vote more than once, or keep your poll private to only people with whom you share the link.
4. If your poll is time sensitive, you can add a start date and an end date. This is optional, but a great option for polls that are about current events and other time relative issues.
5. Tag your poll. If you want your poll to be easily searchable to the Experts123 community, add one of the tags from the polls homepage. New polls will be added to the top of the queue and searchable through the same Experts123 tags.

Share these polls you create with your friends, on your website, and in your blogs. It is a great way to see other people's opinions as well as weigh in on your own opinions.

We hope that you enjoy this new feature! It's just another way that the Experts123 can come together to share ideas, information, and opinions.

Have a Personal Question? Submit it Anonymously!

Experts123 now allows people to submit their questions anonymously. You now do not need to log in to submit your questions! If you have a personal question that you would like to ask without it being linked back to your profile, simply submit the question anonymously before you log in.

The Process of Getting Your Anonymous Question Approved

While you are able to submit a question anonymously, these questions will now go through an approvals process. This means that your anonymous question may not be published live to the Experts123 website.

To ensure that your anonymous question gets published, follow these simple steps.

1. Use proper spelling and grammar.
2. Capitalize the appropriate words.
3. Ask an appropriate question, general enough that it will benefit the community as a whole. (See How to Ask a Question.)

The best way to ensure that your question will be published to Experts123 is to just log in and submit it through your account. Soon we will have a feature where you can ask your personal question to a selected expert for individual support.

The Experts Directory Makes it Easy to Connect and Find Information

Find Experts to answer YOUR questions.

Have you noticed the new Experts link at the top of the Experts123 tool bar? Experts123 is proud to announce the new Experts Directory where you can search for and connect with experts in the Experts123 community and distinguished professionals on the internet.

You may be wondering why we decided to create this new feature. At Experts123, we are all about connecting people to the information that they seek. Now, through the Experts Directory, you are able to directly connect with the top experts in their fields.

Navigating the Experts Directory

The first step to having all access to the Experts Directory is to log in with your Experts123 username and password. If you don't have one, it is easy and free to sign up. Not only will you get all access to the Experts123 Experts Directory, but also you will have all access to all of the other Experts123 features including the information on the site as well as the paid contributors program.

Search for Experts by Expertise/Occupation, First Name, Last Name or Location. You can also select from a list of top categories to browse experts.

Clicking on the expert's first and last name takes you to either their Experts123 profile (if they are a member), or to a contact page that gives you more information how to get in touch with this person. Remember, you must be logged in to access this information!

As always, we are open to feedback about this new feature. Feel free to shoot an email to feedback@experts123.com with your comments and concerns!

Introducing the New and Improved Experts123 Profile

Here at Experts123, we are constantly looking how to make your user experience better and more enjoyable. We are proud to announce our new and improved Experts123 profile. We wanted to walk you through all of the new features that we have added to facilitate this transition for you.

Existing Users Can Choose When to Switch Over to the New Profile

We give you the control as to when you want to switch over to your new profile. Below the main toolbar you will be given the option to switch. Experts123 will walk you through the steps to easily transition to a new profile.

Importing your Information from Facebook

Experts123 and Facebook make it easy for you to import your information. Upon logging into your new Experts123 Profile, you will be offered a choice to either import your information from Facebook or to manually type in your information yourself.

Importing your information from Facebook makes it incredibly simple. Since you have already filled out your employment history and your education on your Facebook profile, upon logging into Facebook through Experts123, these forms will be automatically filled out on your Experts123 profile saving you time.

Language Proficiency

This is a new feature that we have added to Experts123 that we are really excited about. Now you can choose from our list of languages and declare your level of proficiency. A graph will appear next to your declared languages graphically displaying how fluent you are.

The new Experts123 language bars show your proficiency in the languages you speak.

Areas of Expertise

If you are a new user, you will be asked to fill out your #1, #2, and #3 areas of expertise upon signing up to Experts123. This establishes you on the site as an expert in the subjects that you are knowledgeable about. Sign up to be an expertise columnist to get paid to provide short articles in these areas of expertise.

If you are a returning user, these areas of expertise will be automatically populated with what you have declared as your expertise via your expertise column. Add more areas of expertise to create a complete profile.

Education

Your education is something you should boast about! Add the university you attended easily in the education section of your new Experts123 profile.

When searching for your university type out the full name. For example, "University of California, Los Angeles" is in the system, but "UCLA" is not quite yet. We are working to add these aliases, but for now use the full names.

Can't find your university? It may not be listed in the database. You can add your university with all of the information that you have about it. This makes it easier for future Experts123 users that went to your college to find it in the database.

Your Articles, Questions, and Answers

Easily accessible in the left side under your profile picture are links to your Articles, the Questions you have asked, and the Answers you have provided. In the far right column is a tally of all of your contributions to Experts123 with links to your content. The answers that you rank #1 on will be noted with a #1 icon.

Easy Access, Easy Sharing

It will now be incredibly easy for you to access your Experts123 profile. The new link to your profile will be http://www.experts123.com/FirstName-LastName. The first name and last name will be whatever you register as on Experts123 when you sign up. If you decide to change your name due to errors or other reasons, your profile URL will also change and you will be notified.

If you have any questions, tweet us @Experts123, or email us at customerservice@experts123.com.

How to Prepare for a Tsunami after the Japan Earthquake

On March 11, 2011 at 2:46 pm local time, the largest earthquake to hit Japan within the last 100 years struck offshore. The earthquake was a record 8.9-magnitude on the Richter Scale. This provoked a tsunami over 30 feet high to sweep across Japan demolishing everything in its path. Hundreds of people are reported dead with hundreds to thousands more missing. Thousands are displaced, and Prime Minister Naoto Kan said that the earthquake caused "tremendous damage over a wide area." Tokyo Disneyland has officially been covered completely by the tsunami.

What is a tsunami and what causes it?

The earthquake's epicenter was about 230 miles (370 kilometers) offshore from Tokyo. More than 30 aftershocks took place after the initial quake with the biggest aftershock measuring at 7.1-magnitude. The most sensational images include patches of fire floating on top of the waves and a gigantic whirlpool taking place out in the ocean.

Japan Dominates Social Media

As of 9:30 am Pacific, Twitter has blown up with trends about the Japan disaster. Japan occupies 7 of the 10 spots of the WorldWide Twitter Trends. 

• #tsunami
• #prayforjapan
• #japan
• Text REDCROSS (donate $10 to Japan by texting REDCROSS)
• Sendai (coastal city where the tsunami hit)
• Tokyo Disneyland (which is now underwater)
• Fukushima (where Japan has declared a nuclear emergency)

The United States Google Trends searches are mostly focused on news sites and coastal cities in states like California, Hawaii and Oregon. Crescent City, CA tops the hot searches in the United States since officials have issued the tsunami warning sirens.

Tsunami Warnings in the United States: How to Prepare

Reports have been shown saying that the western coast of the United States is at risk for aftershocks and mild tsunamis. Check to see if you are living in a tsunami zone and if you are at risk. The best way to avoid a tsunami is to move to higher ground. Geographers suggest that the oceans will only rise 2-6 feet, but if you are living on the coast, you probably would want to move inland and keep an eye on the news. Keep a stash of clean water whether you have bottled water or some sort of filter. In times of a tsunami, there is plenty of water, but hardly any access to clean water.

Also, see our article about how to prepare for an earthquake to make sure you are ready in case an earthquake and potential tsunami hits like it did in Japan on March 11 in the United States.

Experts123 Presents our New Videos Section

Experts123 has been working on something new and exciting for quite some time. Finally, we can show you our Experts123 Videos Section! Like our articles, these videos are an example of expert how-to's, information, and advice compiled together to connect you with information that suits your needs.

Organized by categories, the information you are looking for is extremely easy to access. Our videos will offer you anything from fitness tips and fashion advice to astrology predictions and extreme sport clips.

On the home video page, you will find our featured videos which highlight popular topics that we have encountered. Right now the featured videos are:

• Five Things The Social Network Got Wrong
• 2011 Nissan GT-R Preview
• The Benefits of Investing in the Stock Market 2011
• Tips to Perfect Ski Carving
• Rag & Bone Fall 2011 Runway at New York Fashion Week
• How to Do Downward Dog and Puppy Dog in Yoga
• Bacon Wrapped Shrimp with Chipotle BBQ Sauce
• Settlers of Catan

The best part about our instructional videos is that you will be able to see examples of what food you are trying to cook, what sport you are trying to attempt, or what video games you are trying to play for example. Visit our video homepage to take a look around.

Make the Most of Your Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is the February holiday that celebrates love and relationships. But how can you make the most of your Valentine's Day? Whether you are single and dreading the holiday, or coupled and looking forward to this romantic occasion, Experts123 has the key tips that you need in order to make the most of your Valentine's Day regardless of your situation.

Valentine's Day Traditions

The history of Valentine's Day originates in Rome around the reign of Claudius II. Claudius the Cruel banned marriage in order to get people to enlist the army. So Saint Valentine performed secret marriage ceremonies in order to preserve love and the sanctity of marriage.

Valentine's Day's traditions have transformed into a chocolates and greeting cards kind of Hallmark holiday, but the true message of Valentine's Day remains the same. We even still tie in Roman traditions. It is still celebrated in February, and the symbol of Valentine's Day is still Cupid.

Cherishing Your Valentine

Above all, Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate your significant other. Spoil your loved one with heartfelt Valentines gifts and a special Valentine's Day date. Make sure that everything you do comes from the heart. Showing someone you care for them with a heartfelt gift is more important than drenching them in diamonds or showering them with expensive, showy gifts.

Making Valentine's Day More Tolerable for Singletons

Valentine's Day doesn't need to be painful for all single people. Most of the time singles dread February 14th. However, with a change in perspective, singles can learn to actually appreciate Valentine's Day.

Singles' Awareness Day should be seen as a time to celebrate being single, not being tied down, and enjoying your freedom as a single man or woman taking on the town.

Flirt, have fun, and treat yourself. Instead of letting Valentine's Day get you down, try celebrating the holiday with your friends and the relationships you have there. Celebrating Singles' Awareness Day should be more upbeat and optimistic celebrating the cherished relationships that you have, rather than the significant other you do not have.

Understanding the Uprising in Egypt

The Egyptians are rioting and protesting in the streets against the current government presiding over Egypt. The current leader has been in power for more than 30 years and the citizens do not agree that the current leadership should remain in power.

The protests in Tunisia had a strong influence in the Egyptian protests. The Tunisians were effective at overthrowing the government of Tunisia, which encouraged Egyptians to follow suit. Since the military of Tunisia was underpaid and lacked a strong desire to quell the uprising, it was not an impossible feat to overthrow the Tunisian leadership. The Egyptian government is of a different situation, since the military is not as underpaid and lacking in will to carry out the current government’s authority.

The current Egypt leaders have a good relationship with the leaders of the United States. There is some concern that any new power taking hold in Egypt would be anti-American and present trouble for foreign diplomacy from the United States. In his State of the Union Address, President Obama neglected to specifically mention the Egypt riots, but later addressed them in a Q/A session with YouTube where he reaffirmed the United States’ standing ally relationship with the current Egypt leaders.

Fires and looting have already broken out, but are not completely out of control as with Haiti following the Earthquake. Looters attacked and ransacked the Cairo Museum, which is home to thousands of artifacts of Ancient Egypt, including the mummy of King Tutankhamun, but one of the bigger headlines has been the government killing the internet for Egypt.

The uprising in Egypt is not showing any signs of dying down, especially after the Egyptian government flipped the kill switch in order to prevent communications on social networks, websites, and blogs with details on the protests. More than 80% of the country is without internet, making resources such as ham radios, Morse code, and dial-up internet a necessity to communicate.

Which Blogging Platform Should I Use?

Tumblr vs. WordPress vs. Blogger

When deciding to start a blog, choosing which platform to use can be confusing and overwhelming. The three most popular free blogging platforms are Blogger, WordPress and Tumblr. All three are extremely useful, but extremely different. This simple quiz will help you decide which one of these platforms is perfect for you based on what results you ideally want to achieve.

Choose the answer that best represents how you feel about blogging and the goals you wish to attain. Keep track of the points of your answers to figure out which platform is best for you!

What kind of online community are you looking for?

• I want infinite opportunities to build a community. (3 points)
• I want to have access to a medium sized community - not too large and not too small. (5 points)
• I want to build a community based on the people who use the same platform as I do - it's safer and more centralized. (1 point)

What is the purpose of your blog?

• To present my entries in a simple blog format. (5 points)
• To share my videos, pictures and short excerpts quickly and easily. (1 point)
• To make my blog look like a Website! I want to make it as unique as I am and to have the tools to do so. (3 points)

How do you feel about people commenting on your blog?

• I like to hear feedback about my articles. (5 points)
• Comments are extremely important to have on my blog - I want people to be able to comment, like, and share my content. (3 points)
• I don't really care what people have to say about my blog. Isn't it my blog anyway? (1 point)

What kind of templates and themes are you looking for?

• I want simple templates that are great looking - but I'm not looking to modify them. (1 point)
• I want easily customizable themes that look fantastic. (3 points)
• Themes aren't my highest priority - I want people to read my blog for the content, not the color scheme. Simple themes are perfect for me. (5 points)

Are you looking to monetize your blog by ranking on search engines?

• Ranking and promoting my blog is secondary to writing and appearance. (3 points)
• My blog is for self-expression and expanding my online presence - not for making money. (5 points)
• Showing up in search results and getting traffic to my blog is extremely important to me. (1 point)

How important is it to you to have your blog accessible through mobile devices?

• A mobile format is not very important to me. (5 points)
• It is very important for my blog to have a functional, attractive mobile format because I'm always on the go. (1 point)
• A mobile format for my blog would be nice, but not top priority. (3 points)

Do you want your blog to have a user profile?

• All I need is an "About Me" page. (1 point)
• I want all of my blogs that are on the same platform to be linked to each other through a personal user profile accessible to anyone who views my blog. (5 points)
• I'd like a common area where I can organize all of my blogs on one platform, but not accessible to the viewer. (3 points)

What is your ideal mode of tracking the statistics of your blog?

• I want a basic built-in application. (5 points)
• I want an integrated stats system that is easy to understand but provides me with a lot of information. (3 points)
• I can use an application outside of my blog - I like Google Analytics and similar products better anyway. (1 point)

Do you prefer to have tags to categorize your blog?

• I don't need to categorize my blog entries. (1 point)
• I want to be able to tag and categorize my blog entries for easy organization and archiving! (4 points)

How would you describe yourself?

• Trendy, Young at Heart (1 point)
• Professional, Logical and Business-Minded (5 points)
• Artistic, Creative (3 points)

Which age demographic do you identify with the most (not dependent on your actual age)?

• 18-27 years old (1 point)
• 28-35 years old (3 points)
• 35 + years old (5 points)

Which blog is right for you?

	tumblr (10-23 points) If you scored between 10 and 23 points, the blog that is perfect for you is tumblr. This blog is easy to use with simple designs and little fuss - they don't call it "the easiest way to blog" for nothing! It is a great way to share your experiences and interests without being too wordy. Young, trendy celebrities enjoy using tumblr as a way of sharing their personal style with the world. Enjoy tumblr - it is perfect for you!
	WordPress (23-37 points) WordPress is a blog for people looking to share their artistic side. With a Website feel, WordPress allows for customizable templates that are perfect for any level of web user from newbie to developer. WordPress allows for the creative person to express who they are, and track who likes it. WordPress has a great statistics tracking device and gives anyone on the Internet an opportunity to see what you write.
	Blogger (37-50 points) You are a professional looking to share your expertise or start a company blog. Blogger is perfect for the straight-forward professional who wants to share information without distraction from a crazy template or embedded media. Blogger is also easy to use - a great tool for beginners. On the other hand, the HTML-savvy are able to customize Blogger to make it the perfect fit for their professional tone.

Best Online Coupon Sites

Online shopping is not only convenient, but also a great way to save money. Throughout the holidays, most consumers decided to flex their credit card via Amazon or Overstock.com instead of going and spending their hard-earned cash at department stores.

Whether you are a fan of driving to the mall, or buying that new pair of shoes with the click of the mouse, everyone loves a good discount. Online coupons offer discounted shopping, additional savings for repeat customers, high-end products at lower prices, convenience, and an early bird special on a lot of great buys.

But what are the top online coupon sites? Where should you browse in order to get the deals that you deserve at the stores that you want? We have the top 10 most visited online coupon sites.

 Top 10 Online Coupon Sites by Traffic (updated through 10/10)

Website	Unique Visits	Monthly Visits
1. Coupons.com	10,668,919	28,306,150
2. Groupon.com	8,550,945	16,762,680
3. ShopatHome.com	6,624,954	47,543,794
4. RetailMeNot.com	5,491,135	9,270,281
5. EverSave.com	5,343,286	1,885,213
6. MyPoints.com	3,102,632	53,104,629
7. CouponMountain.com	2,169,533	2,578,183
8. CoolSavings.com	2,135,098	4,415,182
9. CouponCabin.com	1,994,445	2,735,889
10.SmartSource.com	1,769,295	3,760,458

Groupon is probably the most well known coupon site. They don't have a very wide selection of coupons, but they are extremely convenient. You can sign up for emails that give you the daily deals based on your location (also convenient because you don't have to sort through coupons). You buy online, and get credit similar to a gift certificate. No fuss, just deals.

Groupon.com is a very popular online coupon site that you can
customize by city.

Coupons.com provides internet coupons similar to the Sunday paper, but more environmentally friendly and less black smudge all over your fingers after clipping your newspaper. However, the downside is that some retailers still will not accept Internet coupons. You definitely need to double check with the retailer before you shop.

Retail Me Not is a great way to get great deals. Users will say whether or not a discount works for them, making it extremely reliable. This filters out the bad deals and leaves you with the best deals tried by other users like you.

Coupon Cabin updates their deals three times a day and checks often to make sure each coupon works. It filters by the most used coupons and favorite deals to guide consumers to the best coupons on the site. Plus, you can even sign up for weekly email newsletters if you don't mind a crowded inbox.

SmartSource is unique because it notifies you of local store sales and offers printout coupons and online deals to maximize your savings. It's a great selection that you can filter by zip code. Like Coupons.com you want to make sure that the coupon works at the respected retailer.

2010: The Year Facebook Broke All Records

Undoubtedly, this year Facebook took the world by storm by practically dominating the entirety of the internet. 2010 was Mark Zuckerberg and the whole Facebook team's year. They broke records, made news, and created a website that the majority of society is addicted to.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook

But what made this year different from any other years? Facebook created this social networking empire that other online empires like Google should watch out for. This year was the year the Facebook's true goals came to fruition as we saw Facebook blow up all over pop culture, social media, and technology. Here are the top 10 reasons why the Facebook empire lead by Mark Zuckerberg became a force to be reckoned with in 2010.

1. Facebook passes Google as the most visited site of 2010.
2. Facebook reaches 500 million international followers in July, 2010.
3. Mark Zuckerberg is Time Magazine's Person of the Year for 2010.
4. Facebook hooks up with Skype to create a communication mega-monster.
5. Facebook reaches $2 billion in revenue for 2010.
6. Statistics show that over 250 million people use Facebook every day.
7. Facebook rolls out Facebook Places which adds an aspect of location-based-information-sharing to the social networking site.
8. 44% of all media sharing was through Facebook in 2010.
9. Facebook accounts for 25% of all United States pageviews.
10. The Social Network movie is one of the most popular movies of the year; although it portrays Zuckerberg potentially inaccurately, it gave the social networking site a lot of press and focused the public's eye on the young CEO.

The Facebook empire continues to grow with over 7 million likes, 4.6 million messages, 2.7 million photo uploads, nearly 2 million accepted friend requests, 1.5 million wall posts, 1 million shared links, and 10.2 million comments. If those numbers don't wow you, consider the artist pages on Facebook. Lady Gaga leads the pack with a measly 25,765,753 likes on her personal Facebook page.

2010 will go down in history as the year social media erupted with Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg leading the pack. Happy New Year, Facebook. We hope you impress us in 2011 as much as you did in 2010.