The holidays are joyous times but stressful too. There is so much to do in preparation that often it's easy to get caught up in the hoopla and miss out on the opportunity to actually enjoy friends and family and all that the holiday season brings. Here are tips for being proactive so that you can actually avoid the stress and enjoy the holiday season this year.

With today's technology, it's easy to forget about taking safety precautions when help is a phone call or the push of a button away. But when you're on the road, technology can sometimes fail, or help could be hours away. That's why it's a good idea to keep your car stocked with an emergency kit.

Your appearance - from what you wear, to how you style your hair, to how you carry yourself - sends a message to the outside world. When you exude confident style, that message stays consistent across all of your style "personalities," going from your work attire to your casual outfits to your most glammed-up evening wear.

Have you gotten a ticket for careless driving, speeding or some other traffic violation recently? If so, the fine you have to pay isn't the only impact your minor law-breaking infraction is going to have on your life.

Due to advancements in technology like digital cinematography cameras and internet distribution, artists in both the movie and music industries have been producing their work independently for decades now. Now, in that same independent spirit, writers also have the freedom to bypass the traditional conventions of publishing to achieve their goal of becoming a published author.

Does it ever seem like the more things new technology can do, the more complicated using it becomes? And sometimes it's so complicated you don't feel like using it at all? If so, you're not alone. If you have a place in your life for uncomplicated technology, here are five tech tools that are both easy to use and elegantly useful.