Work + Money

Have you been putting off buying that wedding gift? You know, that wedding from last summer? Well, it’s no surprise, everything the couple has registered for… is now gone! Anja Winikka, site editor for theknot.com has some great suggestions. She recommends choosing a gift based on the couples interests. Think outdoor activities and hobbies.  For example, if they enjoy tennis, buy them a lesson at a local tennis club. If the newlyweds are theater lovers, tickets to a Broadway show. But if you’re really stuck, Winikka says, buy a wedding gift for their kitchen. According to the theknot.com, the kitchen is the number one area that newlyweds like to upgrade.

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By Cindy Perman, CNBC.com

Do you check your work email on an iPhone, BlackBerry or other smartphone after-hours?

Join the club: More than 80 percent of workers say they continue to work from home even after they leave the office, according to a recent survey from mobile-research firm Good Technology. Nearly two-thirds said they check their work email before 8 a.m., and a whopping 40 percent admitted to checking email at the dinner table!

"All you have to do is go out to a nice restaurant and look at all the people checking their emails in between courses to see how pervasive it is," said Michael Crom, the chief learning office at the Dale Carnegie Institute, a corporate training organization.

Some people say checking email after-hours helps them get organized, get through the crush of email and better balance their work-family life. Others say it's becoming a huge problem - one that's masking other issues.

[Related: Best Jobs for Loners]

"Checking, sending and receiving wo

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Etiquette expert Peggy Post's tipping guidelines - whether you're staying at a hotel, motel, or B&B

Doorman
Takes luggage from your vehicle to the front desk, hails you a cab and opens the door; particularly at luxury hotels.
Tip: $1 to $2 for carrying luggage; $1 to $4 for getting a taxi (the higher end if it's raining or if the doorman had trouble flagging down a cab); none required for opening the door.

Front-desk clerk
Checks you in and out and can also provide help with very brief requests: directions, information about the city, etc.
Tip: None required.

Bellhop
Takes your luggage from the front desk to your room; also runs errands like delivering faxes and packages to your door.
Tip: $1 to $2 per bag, depending on the quality of the hotel, but not less than $2 total; $2 to $3 for bringing a requested item.

Related Link: 15 Tips for Traveling with Pets

Concierge
Provides an array of services - from giving directions to making d

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Aries (March 21 - April 19) Your words are inspirational to others today, in both good and bad ways. Don't complain too loudly or you may spark a riot. And don't brag too loudly either, or you'll find plenty of competition where you're used to having the field all to yourself. Today's Aries Reading: Free Sample Life Path Reading

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) It feels good to have a few extra chips for a change. In fact, it's a downright sensual experience! Don't luxuriate in it, though -- they won't last long, and the memories will hardly seem worth it. Be sure to sock most of this windfall away. Today's Taurus Reading: Free Sample Love Meter

Gemini (May 21 - June 21) You and an old friend have some catching up to do. Unfortunately that involve

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Most people think they know the keys to career success: Keep your head down and nose to the grindstone. Avoid personal, emotional, or awkward subjects (in fact, any elephant in the room) at all costs. Well, guess again. Here, experts reveal five on-the-job maxims that are worth challenging.
By Patrick Doyle

Stay Away From Emotional Topics
In my opinion, you should always bring a problem out into the open, even if it's personal, difficult, or awkward. Say you and a colleague have different work styles or have clashed over a project, and as a result there is serious tension between the two of you. Tiptoeing around the issue may cause your productivity to suffer, so it's crucial that you confront your coworker. You can say, "You seem to dispute every point I make, and I don't understand. Did I do something to upset you?" If you talk about it, the situation won't spiral out of control or become a pattern.
Sean O'Neil is a management consultant based in Pelham, N

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