The bottom line? What might’ve looked cute in the pages of your private journal could be a one-way ticket to Tacky Town on Facebook.

Need some examples of things to avoid? Let’s start with…

1. Photos of everything you eat

Pictures of your breakfast, lunch and dinner are not for Facebook—and if you must post an update about your latest meal, make sure it’s witty, informative, funny, purposeful, or at least … well, something.

A photo of your morning coffee, sans commentary, simply doesn’t make the cut, even if it has a heart-shaped dash of foam.

2. Too-frequent changes to your relationship status…

…particularly if you’re only doing it because you’re mad at a special someone.

A real breakup is one thing, but if you’re constantly changing your status to send a message to your significant other, you’ll be also be sending a message—a rather unflattering one, actually—to dozens, hundreds, or even (gulp) thousands of annoyed Facebook friends.

3. Group photos of your feet in a circle

Yes, I know, it’s the latest trend on Facebook—and sure, it’s fun to show off your cute new Manolos. But most of the time, all we see are sausage toes and chipped polish. Enough is enough.

4. Cryptic messages that fish for replies (e.g. “I AM IN SHOCK”)

It elicits more eye rolls than comments and sets you up to be the boy (or girl) who cried wolf.

5. An emoticon as a condolence for a grieving Facebook friend

A simple “:(” just isn’t the most thoughtful way to pay your respects.

6. Hackneyed, overused Internet slang…

…like “LOL” (Laughing Out Loud) and “LMAO” (Laughing My A** Off). “LOL” once too often, and don’t be surprised if your friends start unsubscribing from your posts and comments.

7. Too many photos in which you’re clearly tipsy

I love a great happy hour as much as the next person, but please, take another look at your photo albums.

If you see too many snapshots where you’re holding a lime wedge, wearing a crown, or carrying your shoes, go ahead and start deleting or de-tagging.

You don’t need your godparents and elementary school teachers getting the play-by-play of your Cinco de Mayo.

8. Ultra-personal diary entries

Always ask yourself: do you really want to announce that super-secret thought or deep, dark confession to all your friends, family, and co-workers on Facebook?

Sure, you can always delete a post later—but when it comes to Facebook, “later” is almost always too late.

9. Guilt trips about your latest cause.

Activism is everywhere on Facebook, and if you want to turn your Timeline into a virtual soapbox or create a page for your favorite cause, more power to you.

But writing something along the lines of “I know 97% of you won’t repost this, but my real friends will” isn’t so much convincing as it is manipulative and obnoxious.

10. Cell-phone photos of yourself pouting in a mirror

These self-shots may look like art to you, but all everyone else sees is someone standing alone in a badly-lit bathroom taking photos of themselves.

Even worse, your more revealing photo shoots may wind up in the seedier corners of the Internet—and good luck trying to take them down. Just don’t do it.

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We’ve come up with nine nifty gifts for your favorite tech addict, from a heart-shaped, USB-powered mug warmer to a “Star Wars” lightsaber candlestick. In the mood yet?

Click a thumbnail to start the slideshow…

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Santa’s Bag & Hanukkah Gift List are essentially two versions of the same holiday-shopping app.

Santa’s Bag & Hanukkah Gift List (99 cents each)
This pair of handy apps (which, by the way, were built by the same developer) will let you set a shopping budget, add pictures for each person on your shopping list and keep track of whether a particular gift has been bought, wrapped, or given. There’s even a place where you can jot down those fleeting gift ideas that always manage to slip your mind just when you need them.

Pic2shop (free)
Finding the best price on a gift for someone you love is icing on the cake. I use this app to scan the bar code of something I’ve found in a brick-and-mortar store and immediately find out where I can buy it for less. Most of time (you guessed it), you’ll find cheaper prices online. You can also use Pic2shop to keep track of great gift ideas while browsing the aisles; just scan the bar code and tap a button to save the item to your wish list.

Share your shopping ideas with fellow Pinterest users by “pinning” your picks to a virtual pinboard.

Pinterest (free)
Here’s a site I never knew I needed. Once you sign up (Pinterest is still in “invitation-only” mode, but feel free to ask us for an invite), your “profile” is like a collage of themed bulletin boards. See a product online (anything from, say, a cell phone to a sweater) that would make the perfect gift? Just “pin” it to one of your boards using a bookmark in your browser, or with the free iPhone app.

Once you start pinning, your friends and “followers” on Pinterest can “like” or “re-pin” your picks; likewise, you can browse and favorite the pinned products of the Pinterest users that you’re following.

Related: Visit the here’s the thing Holiday Gift Guide on Pinterest

Simple Soiree ($1.99)
Holiday parties can be exhausting to plan, but this easy-to-use app helps me keep track of tons of miscellaneous details, from the RSVP list and the menu to the glass-to-guest ratio and which guest brought which gift.

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I’ve found a few top-notch, easy-to-use sites that’ll help you design, compose, and send the perfect holiday card, which you can send via email, post on Facebook, or print at home. You can even arrange to have your custom card land in a loved-one’s physical mailbox, all without touching an envelope or licking a stamp.

Want to send a video greeting instead? I’ve got you covered.

Just pick a holiday card, upload an image, and Hallmark will mail your card automatically—for a price, of course.

Hallmark (prices range from free to $15 for an annual subscription)
The granddaddy of greeting-card companies has kept up with the times thanks to its excellent online options. Choose to have Hallmark personalize, print, stamp and send your cards for you (hint: enter either “FREESTAMP” or “FREESHIP” at check out for a great discount) or go with digital e-cards (after all, digital stationary is the new black, right?), complete with your photos and choice of music. Don’t forget to check out the online invitations tab to skip the awkward RSVP phones calls.

Evite (free to $4 for a one-month subscription, or $20 for a year)
Nope, Evite isn’t just about invitations anymore. Sure, you can still use it to get the word out about your upcoming Christmas party, Hanukkah celebration, Secret Santa gift exchange, or New Year’s Eve bash. (As always, guests can see who’s invited, ask the host what they can bring, check the time and address online and get directions via smartphone.) Thanks to its partnership with American Greetings, though, Evite now offers personalized greeting cards, too. Add familiar faces to elves or snow angels, paste in a slideshow of the kids around the hearth, or even embed a video of that Thanksgiving snowball fight.

Paperless Post offers some surprisingly tasteful, low-key choices in its holiday-card selection.

Paperless Post (receive 25 free “stamps” and cards at sign-up, then pay $5 for 30 additional stamps)
This e-card site boasts a lovely, contemporary collection of invitations and greeting cards, à la Martha Stewart or J. Crew. Your recipient opens a virtual envelope and drags out the card and/or save-the-date with a click of their mouse. Banana Republic gift cards are also available to personalize, as well.

Bubble Joy (free)
Got a webcam for your PC or an iSight camera on your Mac? If so, you’ve got everything you need to spread a little Yuletide cheer with Bubble Joy, a free service that lets you upload and send instant videos with personalized holiday backgrounds to friends and family. Warning: Bubble Joy’s user experience isn’t exactly stellar (I’m talking to you, pop-up instruction guy) and you’ll have to set up a free BubbleComment account before creating a video, buy hey … that’s the price you pay for free.

Care2 (free)
Send an e-card and make the world a better place at the same time. Care2 (a name that makes a bit more sense once you read its tagline: “Make a difference”) is a green-lifestyle site that lets you send free e-cards with ads that generate donations for over 350 non-profit organizations. Care2 also offers the option of making a donation in lieu of gifts, a great last minute option.

Bonus: Some Cards
Looking for something completely different? The choices at Some Cards range from hilariously bizarre to deadpan, and be warned: you may find a swear word or two.

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Read on for six iPhone apps that’ll help you get that bird ready, mix some much-needed cocktails, or simply pass the time during Uncle Bob’s favorite story from Thanksgiving, 1987.

Just don’t let anyone catch you peeking at your iPhone while you’re sitting at the table.

Turkey Calls App (free)
Who doesn’t love a good turkey call? We’re talking clucks, purrs, cackles, and of course, gobbles. Gets funnier after a glass of egg nog or two, I’m told.

How to Cook Everything

How to Cook Everything ($4.99)
The classic cookbook by Mark Bittman comes to the iPhone, complete with 2,000 recipes, hundreds of illustrations, cooking timers, and more.

Whack-A-Turkey Game (free)
Give Angry Birds a break with 15 levels of free, feathered fun.

Ultimate Charades ($2.99)
Dinner’s over, the kids are restless, but (unfortunately) there’s still a few hours of visiting to endure—er, enjoy. Yes, it’s time for charades, and this handy iPhone app comes armed with a timer, plus dozens of suggestions ranging from movies and TV shows to songs and famous people.

Cocktails HD

Cocktails HD ($0.99)
Get creative this year, impress your friends, and liven up the party with holiday-themed cocktails like the Candy Cain Martini and the Green Grinch. You can even surprise your thirsty relatives with the app’s “Random Shake” mode.

ESPN ScoreCenter (free)
Want to check the score during dinner without getting in trouble? Duck under the table with the free ESPN mobile app, complete with live scores and real-time alerts. Before you arm any alerts, though, be sure to activate your iPhone’s “silent” mode.

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Heat Sensitive iPhone 4/4S Backing

Heat-sensitive iPhone backing ($12)
Not your usual protective film for the iPhone, this stick-on backing changes color depending on the temperature of whatever happens to be touching it—so yes, get ready for groovy, multicolored palm prints.

Flying digital alarm clock ($22)
Got perfect aim when it comes to the “snooze” bar? Try this on for size: a digital clock that gets you out of bed with a detachable propeller that takes off at the appointed hour. To snooze the alarm, you must snatch the propeller out of the air and snap it back onto the base of the clock. Mean, but effective.

GorillaMobile flexible smartphone tripod

GorillaMobile flexible smartphone tripod ($20 and up)
You’ve never seen a tripod quite like this. Complete with a trio of knobbed, flexible legs that you set on a flat surface or wrap around a tree branch, a pair of handlebars, or just about anything it can get a grip on, the GorillaMobile tripod looks more like an octopus than a furry primate—but hey, it’s still nifty. Specific models are available for the iPhone 4, 4S, and the iPad.

Solar smartphone charger ($160)
Charge your phone in about two hours (in direct sunlight) with the tiny solar charger. Great for travelers or hikers and campers.

Eitech Solar Powered Airplane and Helicopter Construction Set ($49)
Build them, and they will fly—and they run on solar power, to boot.

UP by Jawbone

UP by Jawbone ($100)
Perhaps the snazziest-looking “lifestyle bracelet” now on the market, the so-called “UP” by Bluetooth headset-maker Jawbone features a silent alarm that gently rouses you at the end of your sleep cycle, a calorie tracker, an cutting-edge pedometer, and reminders to drink water and move from your desk every hour.

X-mini II capsule speaker ($30)
This little, sweet-sounding, go-anywhere pod is perfect for tailgates, picnics, or a personal concert right on your desk.

Zoku Quick Pop Maker

Zoku Quick Pop Maker ($50)
Your little ones can pour their own treats and watch them freeze in under 10 minutes.

Square credit card reader (free)
This free reader attaches to your smart phone and takes payment in a snap, perfect for the small-business owner on your list. Let’s just keep the price tag (or lack thereof) to ourselves, shall we?

Biography of Steve Jobs ($18)
Give the inspiring story of the groundbreaking, iconic innovator.

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In spite of what you might think, many of the best early-bird and door-buster deals are actually available online. Last year, for example, Wal-Mart warned anxious shoppers that it wouldn’t have the same deals online as it did in stores; by late Friday, however, almost all of the same sales appeared on Walmart.com.

That said, there’s still an art to sniffing out the best post-Thanksgiving (or even pre-Turkey Day) deals online. Follow these six steps to save time, gas, and money on Black Friday, starting with…

1. Jot down ideas using online gift lists
Stumped on what to put under the tree for that special someone? If you’ve hit a brick wall, you may find inspiration from the gift lists on sites like Daily Candy and Gifts.com.

And once you’ve found some great picks, keep ’em organized using an online shopping list; try the one on Wishpot.com, for starters, or go mobile with The Christmas List for iPhone.

2. Find the best price
Make sure to take advantage of comparison-shopping sites like PriceGrabber.com. And when you do, make a point of selecting any necessary parts for gadgets, household appliances, and toys—like, say, essential attachments, batteries, or even power cords. That way, you can prevent retailers from masking the true price of a given item by skimping on those not-so-optional extras.

3. Find out when the sales begin
It’s called “Black Friday,” but that doesn’t mean the best deals won’t start early—as in, say, on Thursday, Wednesday, or even earlier. To keep up with who’s slashing prices on what—and when—check out Black Friday Ads, which keeps tabs on the biggest sales during Black Friday week.

4. Get a head start
Yes, even online, the early bird gets the worm when it comes to nabbing the best gifts before they’re swept off the shelves by frenzied Black Friday shoppers.

To keep fellow shoppers from beating you to the punch, check out your fave sites before Friday and add items to your shopping cart. When the starting gun goes off, just click the “checkout” button.

5. Grab some coupon codes
Don’t forget about sites that offer coupons and discounted prices on all types of gifts. I suggest trying RetailMeNot and CouponCabin, for starters.

6. Shop on your phone
Online stores are now offering mobile-only deals aimed at those waiting in long lines at the mall. Stay a step ahead by staying on the couch this Friday.

Bonus tip: Relax
All your shopping is finished, you got the very best deals, and now you can kick back on Black Friday rather than get into a fist fight in the mall parking lot or lose your kid in Target again. Congratulations!

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1. Nike Training Club (free)

This free app has all the kinks worked out—and as far as I’m concerned, it’s close to perfect.

Celeb athletes, ranging from U.S. soccer player Hope Solo to Li Na (the first Chinese tennis pro ever to win a Grand Slam title), team up with Nike fitness trainers to guide you through a range of workouts at the difficulty level you choose, with no superfluous steps.

Every workout completed unlocks a bonus workout or tip. The app looks intense, what with its gunmetal-gray splash page and fierce-faced trainers, but beginners and fitness buffs alike will find workouts tailored to their needs. And while it is geared toward women, I don’t see why Nike Training Club wouldn’t appeal to health-minded men, too … after all, Maria Sharapova is one of the trainers.

Bonus tip: I use Nike Training Club while traveling because the workouts don’t require equipment. If I need weights, I’ll use water bottles from the hotel fridge.

2. Fitness Pro (free)

Armed with a database of more than 450 exercises, complete with photos, Fitness Pro is a great free app for beginners because it outlines how to do every exercise step by step. For the experienced gym-goer, Fitness Pro makes for a handy way to learn new moves and review classics. Check out the anatomy tab to focus on specific muscle groups, or try the tracker, which charts your progress over a month or through an entire year.

3. My Fitness Pal (free)

This app is basically a calorie counter. If you’ve never kept a food journal or counted calories, this is a perfect place to start. You can learn how to gauge your caloric intake and your output. (For example, did you know you burn around 500 calories, just in your sleep?) There’s a huge database of foods to pull from, but beware: you might find out your favorite salad has more calories than a Whopper! The app even has a bar code scanner that I use in the grocery store.

4. Lark (free, $100 wristband required)

A silent alarm that wakes you gently at the end of a sleep cycle via an armband, Lark can help you wake up feeling refreshed, not jolted out of a deep sleep into a groggy morning. I set the timer for the 30-minute window when I want to wake up and Lark tracks my quality of sleep, including time I spent in REM sleep, and nudges me awake with a gentle vibration when I am closest to conciseness.

Nice, but what’s the catch? Well, Lark isn’t cheap.

Sure, the Lark app itself is free, but it won’t do you much good without the $100 armband that goes with it.

From my experience, though, you get what you pay for—and personally, I prefer Lark to cheaper silent-alarm apps that work (well, more or less) by sticking your iPhone under your pillow.

5. Runmeter ($4.99)

Any competitive person will tell you that beating yourself is the sweetest victory. Maybe that’s why I’m so addicted to Runmeter, a $5 app that lets me race against myself. When race training or even jogging gets boring, I fire up Runmeter to see how I’m stacking up against my previous runs. That always inspires me to pick up the pace, so I can kick my own butt.

Bonus App!

Missile Wars is a (free) game rather than a wellness app, but it makes for a weird, crazy workout. You send and dodge virtual “bombs”’ with players around the world, and using your iPhone’s GPS, you run away from missiles heading your way. You look a little strange doing it, but it sure gets you off the couch.

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Sometimes the hassle just isn’t worth it.

But here’s the thing: daily deals are everywhere and if you’re not using them, you may be spending more money than you should. It only takes a few minutes to get set up and start buying at discount prices.

Here are 10 tips that can save you cash on daily deal sites, starting with…

1. Find the sites that work for you
There are five well-established and organized sites you may want to consider: Groupon, livingsocial, BuyWithMe (BWM), Bloomspot, and HomeRun.

Most sites offer a wide range of products, while others are a bit more tailored. If you are looking for deals on vacations or airfare, then Bloomspot and BWM would be a good match. For spa services, try Living Social and HomeRun. And Groupon has a variety of deals, including great restaurant and drink specials.

Other top sites you may want to try include Gilt City, Lifebooker (New York and Los Angeles only), Social Buy, Scoutmob, The Dealmap, 8coupons, Yipit, and Tippr.

2. If you feel like it’s a scam, it probably is
You can’t get something for nothing. If the deal seems too good to be true, well … it probably is, so beware.

3. Beware of price inflation
Some companies are all too willing to boost their prices purely to sweeten the deal for a given coupon. If a deal promises 50% off of a $100 service, make sure the service really is worth $100—and not, say, fifty bucks.

4. Don’t skip Yelp (or another customer review site)
So, got a coupon promising half-off for the best sushi in town? Don’t just take the restaurant’s word for it. Read customer reviews of the places offering the deal before you plunk down your credit card. It only takes a few minutes to read some reviews and get a flavor for whether people love it or hate it.

5. Read the fine print
The devil’s in the details, particularly when it comes to coupons. For example…

• The quoted prices on your coupon typically don’t include tax (but don’t expect these deals to be tax-free), so make sure to factor that into your budget.
• Look out for “New customers only” or “Limit one per person,” since you don’t want to end up with five massage sessions when the spa will only allow you one. (Although these extras can make great gifts!)
• Don’t forget about the expiration date. There is some ambiguity here and laws vary from state to state but most of the time, the customer is refunded the value by the merchant, not the daily deal site.
• Some deals have specific instructions (e.g. call ahead to reserve a spot), so make sure you’re up to speed with their policies. This will save you time and headaches.

6. Manage your inbox
Daily email blasts from your favorite coupon sites are a nuisance, no question. Unfortunately, you can’t really avoid them unless you opt out of all e-mails—and that means you might miss out on some good deals.

Carefully setting your email preferences and signing up for only the sites you like can cut down on the spam. Another option: consider creating a separate email account devoted just to coupon deals.

7. Complain if you’re not happy
The best coupon sites generally have a large network of customer service reps, and they know unhappy customers will destroy their business. So if you’re not satisfied, let them know! Often they’ll offer another coupon, voucher, or a credit.

8. Don’t buy something only because it’s an amazing deal
Whitewater rafting for 80% off? Great! But if you don’t know who’d want to go with you, or you’re not quite sure how you’d get there—or maybe you’re not much of a swimmer—you might want to pass, regardless of the savings. After all, just because it’s a good deal doesn’t mean you need to buy it.

9. Don’t let the ticking timer scare you into an impulse buy
If you’re not sure about it, don’t click “buy” just because you’re short on time. There are always similar deals out there, you won’t be missing out.

10. Get a do-over on your coupons
Having buyer’s remorse about a deal, and customer service isn’t being sympathetic? Never fear; you can always trade or sell your coupon at sites like Lifesta.com, DealsGoRound.com and CoupRecoup.com.

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