Save the Date! March 16th – 18th, 2012 ~ Southwestern Michigan Home, Garden and Leisure Show

Don’t Be Stupid, Cupid!

“I don’t understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine’s Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.” ~ Author Unknown

Many people ridicule Valentine’s Day as a “Hallmark Holiday,” implying that it was created and encouraged by greeting card companies, but Valentine’s Day is much more than that. Known as the most romantic day of the year, here are some interesting Valentine’s Day facts:

Why Chocolate? Thanks to famous lovers, during the 19th century, chocolate became known as an aphrodisiac. Famous lovers like Casanova and Madame DuBarry supposedly used chocolate to add excitement to their love lives. Richard Cadbury produced the first box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day in the 1880s and the rest as they say, is history.

Why Red Roses? Another Valentine’s Day fact that’s both fun and interesting is that of red roses. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is probably the one responsible for the red rose craze for Valentine’s Day. Red roses are associated with Aphrodite and so have come to symbolize love and romance. The red rose we know today was specifically bred in the 1800s and every year, nearly 200 million men give red roses to their special ladies on Valentine’s Day.

Why Valentine’s Day Cards? Many people begrudge giving Valentine’s Day cards complaining they were invented by greeting card companies. Not so. Valentine’s Day cards got their start in the 1800s because so many people wrote love notes on Valentine’s Day. It became such a popular tradition that greetings cards developed because of it.

Why Cupid? Cupid, the little fat guy with the bow and arrows, is the Roman god of desire, erotic love, and affection. He is the son of the god Mars and the goddess Venus.

Why Red? The color red got its start because it symbolizes the blood of the Christian saints whose blood was shed when they were executed. There were many Christian martyrs named valentine.

So this Valentine’s Day don’t be stupid, Cupid! The most amazing gift you can give someone is your heart. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be just one day a year. Love with all of your heart and soul. Cherish your time together and make every day Valentine’s Day!

A Celebration of Achievements…

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.” ~Rosa Parks

Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history.

During this month of celebration we, at Coldwell Banker Anchor and Coldwell Banker Town & Country, take time to recognize the many ways African American have enriched our communities, culture and history by honoring the remarkable contributions they have made in perfecting our Union.

The story of African Americans is a story of resilience and perseverance. It traces a people who refused to accept the circumstances under which they arrived on these shores, and it chronicles the generations who fought for an America that truly reflects the ideals enshrined in our founding documents.

The 2012 theme pays tribute to the ways in which black women have shaped the United States and its history. During National African American History Month, we pay tribute to the contributions of past generations and reaffirm our commitment to keeping the American dream alive for the next generation.

In honor of those women and men who paved the way for us, and with great expectations for those to follow, let us continue the righteous cause of making America what it should be — a Nation that is more just and more equal for all its people. 

                (Presidential Proclamation — National African American History Month, 2012)

 

Tax Credits and Deduction Tips for Home Improvements in 2012

With the New Year under way, you may be thinking about needed home improvements and how you’ll use your credit to fund them. While it’s important to understand your credit before making major home improvement decisions, you should also consider another kind of credit – tax credits for energy efficient home improvements.

For the past few years, the federal government has offered tax credits for certain home improvements aimed at increasing a home’s energy efficiency. While the most popular and generous tax credits, such as the one that allowed you to claim up to 30 percent of improvements such as a new roof or hot water heater, have expired, you can still get credit for other significant energy-efficient improvements.

According to EnergyStar.gov, you can claim a tax credit for 30 percent of the cost of installing a geothermal heat pump, small wind turbine or solar energy system in your home. The credit has no upper limit and applies to both existing homes and new construction, but not to rental properties. This credit is good until Dec. 31, 2016.

You can also get a credit of up to 30 percent of the cost of residential fuel cells, up to $500 per .5kW of power capacity, EnergyStar.gov says. This credit is also available until Dec. 31, 2016.

While the initial cost of these improvements may seem significant, they can dramatically decrease home energy bills in the long run.

Depending on the type of home improvement or repair you undertake, you may also be able to claim a deduction on your taxes. Before launching a significant home repair or improvement, it may pay to consult with your tax accountant to see what, if any, portion of the cost may be deductible. And, as you do home repairs throughout the year, keep receipts and discuss the improvements and possible deductions with your accountant when he or she is preparing your tax return.

Knowing ahead of time which, if any, tax credits or deductions your home improvement may qualify for can help you make a better decision about how to use credit to fund the work. Since how you use credit affects your overall credit score, knowing the cost of a project before starting it can help you better manage your credit.

If you’re unsure how a home improvement project may affect your credit score, websites like freecreditscore.com can help you understand your credit. The site offers members a Credit Score Estimator that can help you understand how big financial decisions, like applying for a home improvement loan, may affect your credit score.

To learn more about tax credits for energy efficient homeimprovements, visit www.EnergyStar.gov. To learn more about tax deductions, visit www.IRS.gov. You can find a list of regional tax credits, rebates and savings at energy.gov/savings.                     (ARA)

Ring in 2012 with Renewed Home Decor

 

New Year’s is a time when many people commit to starting fresh or developing some positive changes in their lives. As you consider what you will change in 2012, think about where you spend the majority of your time. Your surroundings can greatly influence your mood and actions, and a refreshed interior can help you step forward into a new and improved lifestyle. Enjoying life more in 2012 could start with just a few simple updates to your home.

Color: Home decor trends are constantly evolving, and one of the most obvious aspects of changing style is color. An easy, cost-effective way to instantly modernize your home is to update your walls to a posh hue. Try a shade from a color trend palette, which features a broad range of colors to fit any style. The 2012 color trends forecast five palettes: Essence, Instinctive, Enough, Echo and Expressive. From shimmering ethereal shades, to rich earth tones, to bright vibrant hues, are the hottest color options to update every room in the home. Use colors as inspiration for other decorating elements as well to create a cohesive, modern atmosphere.

Accents: Whether your taste is classic and elegant, natural and rustic, or clean and modern, accessories have a huge impact on the feel of any room. Mirrors, wall hangings, table art, pillows and floral arrangements are just some examples of accents that can completely change the look and feel of a space. Don’t be afraid to combine materials and styles, either. An ornate brass mirror can work well to complement the clean lines of a modern end table or the intricate fabric of an antique footstool. Avoid clutter as you add visual accessories by using baskets, chests and other storage pieces to conceal magazines, books and other common items.

Rearrange: Replacing your current furniture may not be in your budget, but don’t underestimate the effect rearranging your current pieces can have on your space. Simply changing the layout of a room costs nothing and can have a dramatic impact on the functionality and atmosphere of your home. Place larger furniture pieces against the wall to open up floor space and avoid blocking walking paths. Or, you might arrange your sofa or elongated pieces of furniture at an angle in the corner of the room to give the illusion of a longer wall and also instantly create hidden storage opportunities. This update is as temporary as you want it to be, so don’t be afraid to try something new. You might even rearrange every few months to keep things fresh throughout the year.

Lighting: To instantly give your space a new look, consider changing the lighting. Whether it’s a large hanging fixture, wall sconces, standing lamps or recessed can lights, adjusting your current lighting will have a significant effect on the ambience of any room. A mixture of light sources works best for most spaces, and a visit to a local lighting store will confirm the options are endless. While many lights will serve functional purposes, others may serve as pure decoration to highlight an aspect of the room, such as a piece of artwork. And, like furniture, remember that simply adjusting the locations of table and floor lamps can have a dramatic impact your room’s feel.

Bring your home into the New Year in style and update your color, accents, layout and lighting to start fresh in 2012. By focusing on a few key areas, you can enjoy an improved living space easily and affordably.

(ARA)

You know it’s a Family Christmas when…

Toy and gift catalogs begin arriving while the kids are still in their bathing suits.

You try cutting back on your list and add three more names.

Every morning over breakfast the question is asked, “How many more days?”

Teen-agers begin smiling, acting human and helpful, as Christmas get closer.

Grandpa sits in the mall for an hour and says, “You mean you’re not done yet!”

Susie Floozie, your son’s newest girl, opens up a diamond pendant while Ma opens up a Tupperware bowl.

You bake Christmas cookies, wrap them in foil, and label it ‘liver’ so they’ll stay in the freezer.

Everyone in the house wants a beautiful Christmas tree, decorated by someone else.

You welcome college kids home with a big hug and by December 26^th you’re asking, “So, when does class start again?!”

You hide presents in the bottom of the hamper because no one ever looks there.

You park the car in aisle 47 B and as you struggle later with boxes, shopping bags and falling snow your mind is saying “Now I know I parked it here…or was it 74 B or 47 A?!”

You finally send out Christmas cards and they joyously read, “p.s. Happy Valentines Day.”

The only thing relatives ever agree on is they love Christmas at ‘your’ house.

Santa assembles toys at 2 a.m. only to discover parts C, D, and E are still in Hong Kong.

Children are taught, “Baby Jesus is the reason for this Christmas season.”

Carols are sung, friendships enjoyed, lights twinkle, gifts are shared, miles are traveled, and you’re wise enough to know…

When you have family, you have God’s greatest Christmas gift of all.

(Written by Alice Collins)

Five Handy Smartphone Apps for the Festive Holiday Season

 

“In this age of instant coffee, overnight rush deliveries, and 30-second media sound bites, it’s not surprising that children have discovered that their letters to Santa Claus can be sent by email.” ~ Patrick Flaherty

The holiday season is full of festivities from children’s plays to office parties to checking off shopping lists. That means many consumers are multitasking. Never fear, there are an array of apps for both the iPad and smartphones to help you accomplish your seasonal tasks on the go. 

Epicurious: Free  A staple of the holidays is food – and lots of it. Whether cooking up a feast for a dozen or assigned to bring a side to the family event, the Epicurious app has you covered. The app offers more than 30,000 recipes from publications like Bon Appetit and well-known chefs and cookbooks. Browsing is simple with specific categories – from party snacks to decadent desserts – and users can search by not only typing in keywords, but also using icons such as what’s in season and what holidays are approaching. The app automatically updates so you can be sure to snag the latest recipes and features a handy shopping list you can save for when you hit the supermarket. A newer feature lets amateur chefs share favorite dishes with friends via Facebook, Twitter and email. And when it comes to actually putting together your culinary masterpiece, Epicurious helps there too – offering cooking-friendly views that make it easy to follow a recipe step-by-step. For $1.99, you can also save favorite recipes and sync your Favorites list in the app with your online Recipe Box at Epicurious.com. A great feature for if you create a hit that the clan wants again next year. 

Amazon Price Check: Free In the store holiday shopping and think you just might find a better deal on online? Amazon Price Check helps you make sure. Use Price Check to scan a barcode, snap a picture, or type or say an item name to check prices on Amazon.com products and buy them directly from the app. You also can add items to your Amazon Wishlist and share via Twitter, Facebook, text message and email link. 

Camera +: 99 cents What’s the holidays without pictures to capture the memories? On sale for a limited time for less than a buck, Camera + lets you enhance your smartphone photos by zooming in (up to 6x) and out, cropping, editing, adding color filters and more. You can set exposure separately from focus for more control over your shots and use a flashlight to brighten up your photos – perfect for outdoor holiday snow scenes. It also comes with a stabilizer to steady your camera for sharper pictures and a built-in grid so you can line up your shots and avoid angled photos. Other features include borders, sharing via Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr and cool effects from professional photographer, Lisa Bettany, ranging from “Grunge” for that urban city feel to shimmer effects with “HDR” that are just right for shots by the tree.

 Orbitz Hotels App for iPad: Free Whether booking travel for the holidays or to escape afterwards, the Orbitz Hotels App for iPad makes it easy to book on the go. The app not only lets travelers book hotels at any of the global destinations available on Orbitz, it also allows consumers to find hotels nearby using the iPad’s GPS capabilities – particularly convenient for same-day bookings. Consumers can also search by city, address, zip code or landmark and filter and sort hotels by price, star rating, review score, distance and even neighborhood. The neighborhood feature is a handy tool if you want to book near relatives over the holidays but are unfamiliar with their area or if you want to be close to the slopes but avoid the high cost of staying right at the resort. Users also can compare hotels and prices on an interactive map while tiles alongside the map provide summarized hotel information that expands to show photographs, guest reviews, special offers, amenities and detailed hotel/room descriptions. And, if your holiday shopping has you on an extra tight budget, the app lets you toggle from a map view of hotels to an innovative matrix view to easily compare many hotel options (and prices) at once. 

Calculate Discount and Sales Tax: Free Stores are littered with so many discounts over the holidays it can be confusing to figure out what they all mean for your bottom line. Enter the Calculate Discount and Sales Tax App, a handy way to quickly know how much 25 percent off actually equals in a shopping trip and tally how much you’re spending. It also can calculate sales taxes for a specified area – a bonus for those out-of-town shopping trips.

(ARA)