Give gifts from the heart this Valentine’s Day

 Everyone knows the standard Valentine’s Day gifts: flowers and chocolates. But if you really want to express what’s in your heart, think a little harder about what you’re going to give.

While those tried-and-true gifts are certainly nice, think of them as an accompaniment to the main event - a gift that reflects the personality of the recipient, and which shows that you put thought and creativity into your gift.

Before you set out on a shopping trip, take a moment to think about your gift recipient’s favorite things, whether it’s a charitable cause, an author or a hobby. If you can, try to plan an afternoon with your loved one and, over lunch or an excursion, see if you can pick up some ideas. Make mental notes, write them down when you have a moment, and then hit the shops. But if you aren’t able to connect for some time together, consider using these ideas and adapting them to your fit your Valentine.

Put a spin on the standards
The easiest thing in the world is to get a bundle of red roses with baby’s breath and a pre-made chocolate sampler - you can even pick those up at gas stations. Make the sentiment say more by putting a little extra thought into it. You could consult traditional Victorian flower meanings (for example, asters are symbols of love, freesia indicates trust) or choose a bouquet done in your Valentine’s favorite color. If your sweetheart is a chocoholic, check your area for artisanal chocolatiers. A small sampler of chocolates and candies made with the finest ingredients will be more flavorful and memorable than your standard assortment.

Give the gift that gives back
Valentine’s Day is the time of year when the feelings of your heart are given the most attention - why not let that lead you to think of heart health? According to the American Heart Association (AHA), heart disease kills one person every minute, and it is the No. 1 killer of women of all ages. To raise awareness of the risks of heart disease and also to raise critical funds for the AHA, Yankee Candle Company has continued its annual “Light a Candle for Your Heart” program which coincides with the AHA’s Heart Health month and “Go Red” movement each year.

“By giving selected red Yankee candles to your loved one this Valentine’s Day, you not only are giving America’s best loved candle, you also will be giving a gift which directly benefits heart research,” says Yankee Candle’s Rick Ruffolo. “A dollar is donated to the AHA with every purchase.” You also can include a card to tell the recipient that they can raise more money for the AHA on Facebook. “Become a fan of the company and send virtual candle gifts to all of your friends - for each candle you send, we will donate to the American Heart Association,” Ruffolo adds.

Make it an experience
Going out to dinner is a Valentine’s Day tradition - that much is clear to anyone who tries to get a reservation at a nice restaurant on Feb.14. To avoid the crush of diners and the often inflated menu prices, opt for something a little different. If you’re spending time with your sweetheart, try something that requires you to work together - maybe try out a climbing wall at a local gym - or something that will make you want to cuddle up together, like ice skating or sledding. If your Valentine is more platonic, opt for going to see a movie - or plan a game night at home. No matter what you do, spending time together is a gift that always warms the heart.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Buying a home or making green home improvements? Don’t miss out on these tax credits

 A wide range of tax law changes over the last year will result in considerable savings for millions of Americans on their 2009 federal tax returns. Homebuyers and homeowners have some of the most to gain from the changes. 

Understanding the qualifications for home-related credits can be confusing and intimidating. Jessi Dolmage, spokeswoman for 2nd Story Software, the makers of TaxACT, breaks them down.

“If you’ve never owned or haven’t owned a principal residence during the three years prior to the purchase date, you may qualify for the First-Time Homebuyer Credit. The purchase date must fall after April 8, 2009 and before May 1, 2010, with closing to take place before July 1, 2010. It’s equal to 10 percent of the purchase price, up to a maximum of $8,000. You only have to repay the money if the home ceases to be your primary residence or is sold within three years of purchase,” says Dolmage.

Property cannot be acquired from a relative, and married taxpayers must both qualify as first-time homebuyers if filing jointly. The credit can be claimed on a 2009 return or an amended 2008 return.

The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 extended the credit’s closing date from Nov. 30, 2009, to April 30, 2010, and added rules for homes purchased after Nov. 6, 2009, including:

* You must be at least 18 on the purchase date (only one spouse must be 18) and cannot be claimed as a dependent.
* Purchase price cannot exceed $800,000.
* If the sale doesn’t close by April 30, 2010, you may still qualify if there’s a binding contract to purchase by that date. The sale must close before July 1, 2010, and the credit cannot be claimed before the closing date.

Purchase date and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) determine credit phase out. If the purchase date was before Nov. 7, 2009, full credit is available to those with an MAGI up to $75,000 ($150,000 for joint filers). If you have an MAGI between $75,000 and $95,000 ($150,000 and $170,000 for joint filers), you’re eligible for reduced credit. Higher incomes do not qualify.

If the purchase date is after Nov. 6, 2009, full credit is available to those with an MAGI of up to $125,000 ($225,000 for joint filers). If your MAGI falls between $125,000 and $145,000 ($225,000 and $245,000 for joint filers), you could receive a reduced credit. Higher incomes don’t qualify.

“Current homeowners looking for a different or new home may also qualify for the First-Time Homebuyer Credit,” Dolmage says. “The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act modified the credit to allow for up to $6,500 if you purchase a replacement home before April 30, 2010. You must have lived in the same principal residence for a five-consecutive-year period during the eight-year period that ends on the purchase date of the replacement home.”

In addition:

* You must buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy, a principal residence after Nov. 6, 2009, and before May 1, 2010, and close on it before July 1, 2010.
* The credit phases out for those with an MAGI between $125,000 and $145,000 ($225,000 and $245,000 for joint filers).
* 2009 purchases must be claimed on a 2009 return; 2010 purchases can be claimed on a 2009 or 2010 return.

All homeowners can claim tax credits for green improvements. The Residential Energy Property Credit is worth 30 percent, up to $1,500, for improvements such as adding insulation or installing energy-efficient windows, doors, or heating and air conditioning systems. Bigger improvements involving alternative energy equipment, like solar hot water heaters, geothermal heat pumps and wind turbines can be claimed under the Residential Energy Efficiency Property Credit. This credit is equal to 30 percent of the cost of the qualified property, with no limit on the maximum amount of the credit available.

New tax laws also include breaks for children, college expenses, new vehicles, unemployment and several other areas. Information about all 2009 tax law changes can be found at www.IRS.gov.

 ”You can see exactly how the changes will affect your 2009 taxes with TaxACT Free Federal Edition,” Dolmage adds.”  With TaxACT, all taxpayers can prepare, print and e-file their IRS return for free. Go to www.TaxACT.com to get started.”

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Take The Chill Out Of Heating Costs

(NAPS)—Making smart decisions can have a big impact on your heating bills.

That’s a good thing, since, according to the Department of Energy, homeowners can expect to spend an average of $1,442 on heating bills this year, and with the turbulent economy and rising energy costs, most people are closely watching their dollars these days. Here are two low-cost tips to help you take the chill out of your house—and a bite out of your heating bills:

1.  Use a programmable thermostat. With a programmable thermostat, you can set the temperature higher for when you are home and awake, and lower at night when you are sleeping or for when you are away. “Setting and forgetting” will allow the thermostat to do the work for you, and allow you to reduce heating costs when you don’t need the heat operating at full blast.

In fact, according to the Alliance to Save Energy organization, lowering your thermostat by just one degree can save you 4 percent in heating costs. Based on this information, if every household in the U.S. turned their thermostat down two degrees, they could save up to 8 percent on heating costs—depending on the type of heating and where they live. Nationally, savings could total more than $11.1 billion a year.

2.  Purchase a portable heater. With portable heaters, you can turn down your central heating and save hundreds of dollars in heating bills annually. Just turn on a portable heater in the room you’re in.

To quickly and easily view how much you could save on heating costs if you turn your thermostat down and turn a portable heater on, use the free, interactive “savings calculator” at www.honeywellheat savings.com. The site also provides a guide for how to buy a portable heater, safety tips and additional energy-saving information.

With a couple of easy steps, you can help to keep your house warm and comfortable while taking control of your heating costs.

Check out his short video on a fully functional boiler from the early 1900’s. Old Boiler Heating System

Check out this short video on working but outdated knob and tube wiring. If you have this in your home it should be updated by a qualified electrician. Outdated Knob and Tube Electrical Wiring

Check out this short video. You will be amazed at the location of this main electric panel. Main Electric Panel in Bathroom

Send us your questions or concerns about your home. We love to help our clients solve there home issues and concerns.

Cut Your Costs And Your Carbon Footprint

(NAPS)—Living in an energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable home is now more easily attainable.

Here’s How

Here are a few hints that may help from the experts at the United States Department of Energy:

1.  Keep appliances clean and in good repair; clogged air vents or worn-out parts make motors work harder, which wastes energy.

2.  Insulate your water heater and hot-water pipes.

3.  Plant trees, shrubs and hedges around your home so they shade your home in summer and let sunlight right in, in winter.

4.  Change your lights to energy-saving compact fluorescent lights (CFL). If every American home replaced just one lightbulb with a CFL bulb, we would save enough energy to light nearly 3 million homes. We’d also save more than $600 million in annual energy costs and reduce greenhouse gases by the equivalent of nearly 750,000 cars. The average CFL lasts 6,000 to 15,000 hours, and when you replace it, you can recycle it.

5.  Use solid-state lighting (SSL) for holiday tree lights, nightlights and walkway illumination. They’re durable and long lasting and use about a tenth as much energy as incandescent bulbs.

6.  Turn off power strips or unplug electronics. Electronics—computer, TV, VCR, even your phone chargers—use energy even when they’re turned off. Standby power can account for as much as 20 percent of home energy use.

7.  Caulking your window seals around the glass can provide insulation.

8.  Air seal and insulate your attic and ventilation ducts. More than half the energy used in a typical American home is for space heating and cooling. Much of that conditioned air escapes through poorly sealed, underinsulated attics.

The Department of Energy and homebuilders are working together to combine advanced building techniques with renewable energy sources to minimize energy needs from outside providers.

When you live in a “green” home you reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, the building block of greenhouse gases, that you add to the environment, otherwise known as your carbon footprint.

 Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a lot to do so. New homes built green from the ground up can cost the same as a conventional house, as homebuilders incorporate innovative technologies directly into new homes.

Take, for example, Trilogy by Shea Homes, eight active lifestyle communities located across the country.

The company uses a number of technologies and products designed to reduce the carbon footprint of each home by up to 48 percent. These include dual-pane, low-e windows, solar electricity systems, solar-powered attic fans, high-performance insulation, wood from sustainable forests, weather-responsive sprinkler systems, Energy Star appliances and more. As a result, Trilogy homes exceed the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code by 45 percent.

Learn More

You can find energy-saving and eco-friendly tips and other information online at www.trilogylife.com or by calling (800) 685-6494.

Energy costs don’t have to go through the roof if you live in a “green” house.

Follow this link to see if your microwave/oven is a potential fire hazard
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08110.html