Forgiveness

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
~Colossians 3:13

~Lean on each other's strenghts; forgive each other's weaknesses~

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Mother Day bracelet or anklet

See Simply Vintage 1969  At Etsy.com

Multicord Organizer

Multicord Organizer

A tangle of cords behind a TV or desk is enough to make you short-circuit, especially when you need to move components around. Know your task lamp from your hard drive by clipping on these tags, which feature icons to identify each cord's origin. If you want to customize the clips, they can also be labeled by hand.

Multicord identifiers, $5 for a set of 10, crateandbarrel.com.

Spring Cleaning Tips

Chalk Dehumidifier

A bundle of chalk hung in a closet will absorb extra moisture and keep clothing fresh and dry, and takes up much less room than an electric dehumidifier. Mount a hook in the closet, out of the way of clothes or linens. Fasten a rubber band around a dozen pieces of chalk, and cover band with ribbon, allowing enough loop to hang chalk

-Courtesy of Martha Stewart

Tax Tips with Aaron D. Witherspoon-CPA-Associates

Are you on the go but need the latest tax information at your fingertips? There’s an app for that. The latest version of the innovative IRS2Go app is now available.

Aaron D. Witherspoon CPA & Associates

Aaron-D-Witherspoon-CPA-Associates

Do you need to file a federal tax return this year? Perhaps. The amount of your income, filing status, age and other factors determine if you must file.

Aaron-D-Witherspoon-CPA-Associates

Save on your Electric Bill

How to Save on Your Electric Bill

You may know to turn the lights off when not in use, but with these tricks, you can save even more.

 

Save a Little

• Use your curtains. During cold months, leave them open during the day to allow sunlight in; in the summer, keep curtains shut in rooms where the sunlight hits.

• Install motion detectors on lights in kids’ rooms. The lights will never be left on by accident.

Save a Little More

• Insulate your hot-water heater. If it’s more than seven years old, wrap it in a precut jacket or blanket (available at hardware stores).

• Use a programmable thermostat. Set it to raise or lower the temperature setting automatically when you’re not home. Monthly

• Use electronics wisely. Unplug them when not in use; they draw power even if they’re off. And use a laptop on a hard, flat surface, rather than a soft, cushy one, such as a bed or a carpet. The latter can block airflow and lead to overheating.

• Clean your electric heating system or air conditioner’s filter and fan. It’s best to do this once a month, but even once a year will make a difference.

• Launder everything in cold. Ninety percent of the energy used by a top-loading washing machine is for heating water.

Save a Lot

• Use a low-flow showerhead. A low-flow head uses less than 2 1/2 gallons a minute, compared with a whopping seven gallons for old models, which means less water to heat.

• Enroll in a “cycling” program. Your utility company will use a radio signal to shut off your heating system or air-conditioning periodically during peak-usage times on weekdays―say, for 15 minutes over a three-hour period.

-Courtesy Of Real Simple

Home Safety Checklist

 

                               Make yours a home sweet, safe home.

 

Electrical Cords and Outlets

• Check for frayed wires.

  Repair or replace any loose or frayed wires on all electrical devices.

• Follow the path of cords.

  No cords should run under rugs or across doorways.

• Baby-proof.

  If you have any small children in your house, place plastic safety covers over unused outlets.

  Related: Childproofing Checklist

• Rethink extension cords.

  Consider adding electrical outlets where you currently rely on extension cords.

• Check for a faulty electrical system.

  Feel all outlets and plugs to see if any are warm; if so, have an electrician check them.

• Don’t overload the system.

  Make sure that you’ve followed manufacturers’ directions about maximum wattage of lamp bulbs and outlet requirements for plugs.

• And don’t overload any one outlet.

  Be certain that you have no more than one high-wattage appliance plugged into a single outlet.

Home Heating

• Examine the outside vents.

  They should be properly sealed and clear of obstruction to prevent carbon monoxide buildup in the house. Recheck during and after a snowstorm.

• Pick the right wood.

  If you use a fireplace or a woodstove, stock up on dry seasoned wood, which burns without producing a lot of creosote. A buildup of creosote—soot—in the chimney or flue can be dangerous, causing chimney fires.

• Hire a chimney sweep.

  Have flues and chimneys inspected and cleaned by a professional annually.

• Inspect wood-burning stoves twice monthly.

  Make sure the door latch closes properly. The room should have a working smoke detector. And never let a child use the stove unattended.

• Inspect water heaters annually.

  The temperature should be set at no higher than 120 degrees to prevent burns. Never leave children alone near a water heater, and keep combustible and flammable materials well away from it.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

• Install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors generously.

  These should be on each floor of the house, covering all sleeping areas.

• Test alarms monthly.

  Replace any that don’t work. (In any case, alarms should be replaced every 10 years.)

• Replace batteries annually.

  Or sooner, if the alarm chirps.

• Clean all detectors.

  Vacuum each grille.

• Post the fire department’s carbon-monoxide-reporting emergency number.

  If it differs from 911, keep the number by every phone.

• Demonstrate the sound of each detector.

  Family members need to know the difference.

Fire Extinguishers

• Place extinguishers strategically.

  Keep one in the kitchen and one on every floor. And learn how to use them.

• Replace extinguishers when necessary.

  Follow the schedule suggested by the manufacturer, and always replace an extinguisher that appears damaged.

  Related: When to Replace a Fire Extinguisher

• Consider installing a sprinkler system.

Escape Plans

• Create an escape plan with two exit routes in case of fire.

  Practice it twice a year (once at night) with the whole family. For details, see the National Fire Protection Association’s website, nfpa.org.

• Choose a meeting place.

  Set a plan for meeting up in case of a local or national disaster. See nfpa.org.

• If you live in a two-story house, buy a rescue ladder.

  It should attach to an upper-level window casing to provide an alternate escape route.

In Homes With Small Children

• Lock the cabinets.

  Install safety latches and locks.

• Install window guards on every window.

  Make sure one window in each room can be used as a fire exit.

• Install safety gates .

  Bar the top and bottom of stairs.

• Lock up hazardous materials.

  Place any poisonous or hazardous products in locked cabinets. Post the poison-control hotline’s number (800-222-1222) by every phone.

• Make sure all your medicines and vitamins have childproof caps.

  Store them out of children’s reach.

• Stow away sharp knives.

  Scissors and cosmetic tools, too, as well as matches and plastic bags, should be kept out of children’s reach.

• Lock up any guns.

  Be sure they are unloaded and separate from ammunition.

• Install padding on furniture with sharp edges.

  And put doorknob covers on entry doors so kids can’t get out unattended.

• If you have a pool, fence it in.

  A pool should be enclosed with a four-sided fence and a childproof gate.

• Teach children their address and how to dial 911.

  As early as possible, children need to know these fundamentals.

Burglarproofing

• Install a sturdy deadbolt lock on every door to the outside.

  This should include the door into the house from the garage.

• In any room with window bars, make sure at least one has a quick-release mechanism.

  Replace or retrofit as needed.

• Install motion-sensing floodlights in the backyard.
• Keep your house looking lived-in when you’re away.

  Arrange for the lawn to be mowed, stop mail delivery, install timers for selected lights, leave a car in the driveway, and leave drapes or shades open at least a bit.

• Advertise prominently any home security system you have installed.

  You might think about putting up signs even if you don’t have a system.

• Examine your landscaping.

  Trim shrubs and trees near windows and doors that provide hiding places for burglars, and prune limbs that serve as ladders to upper windows.

• Purchase a metal bar or a solid-wood dowel to insert in the tracking of sliding glass doors.

  This will prevent anyone from opening them.

• Put your street number, not your name, on your mailbox.
• Give a spare key to a trusted neighbor or nearby friend.

  Thieves know all about fake rocks and other hide-a-key tricks.

Miscellaneous

• Make sure your house number is visible from the street.

  It should be easily spotted, in case an emergency vehicle needs to look for it.

• Store flammable liquids away from any flame source.

  It’s preferable to store them outside the house.

• Keep flammable objects away from the kitchen stove.
• Plug a rechargeable flashlight into a socket by your bed.

  You’ll be able to light the way through smoke in a fire or signal to firefighters.

• Install nonslip decals or a nonskid tub mat in your tub.
• Put lights and light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs.

  Prevent falls in the dark.

• Paint the bottom basement step white so it’s more visible.

         You’ll be less likely to mistake it for the floor

* Courtesy of Real Simple

Front Porch Appeal

Your answer to successful planting......... Thriller, Filler, Spiller............Happy Planting

Thriller

The Thriller is the show-stopping centerpiece of your container design. It adds height, drama, and movement. Thrillers can be flowers, ornamentals or even grasses, just as long as they are the focal point of your container garden arrangement.
If your container will be visible from all sides, place the Thriller in the center of your container for maximum impact. If your container will only be visible from one or more sides, place the Thriller toward the back of the container.

courtesy of Home Depot

Filler

Filler
The Filler does exactly what its name implies – fills the space. It adds medium-height structure and color.
If your container will be visible from all sides, place Filler plants around the Thriller, keeping them toward the middle of your container. If your container will only be visible from one or more sides, place Fillers between the Thriller and the visible sides.
Courtesy of The Home Depot

Spiller

Spiller
The Spiller is a trailing plant that will drape over the edge of the container. It adds low-growing dimension and softens the edges of your container garden design.
Place Spiller plants around the outer edges of the container on all visible sides.
Great spillers include: Snowstorm Giant Snowflake Bacopa (pictured left), Snow Princess Lobularia, and Sweet Caroline Ipomoea (Sweet Potato).
Plant selection will vary by location, but no matter where you live, the Proven Winners Container Style Solution Center means that you will find beautiful, hardy options that are hand-picked to grow perfectly in your region.
Courtesy of- The Home Depot

Happy Planting

Spiller

Spiller

The Spiller is a trailing plant that will drape over the edge of the container. It adds low-growing dimension and softens the edges of your container garden design.

Place Spiller plants around the outer edges of the container on all visible sides.

Great spillers include: Snowstorm Giant Snowflake Bacopa (pictured left), Snow Princess Lobularia, and Sweet Caroline Ipomoea (Sweet Potato).

Plant selection will vary by location, but no matter where you live, the Proven Winners Container Style Solution Center means that you will find beautiful, hardy options that are hand-picked to grow perfectly in your region.

Courtesy of- The Home Depot

Filler

 

Filler

The Filler does exactly what its name implies – fills the space. It adds medium-height structure and color.

If your container will be visible from all sides, place Filler plants around the Thriller, keeping them toward the middle of your container. If your container will only be visible from one or more sides, place Fillers between the Thriller and the visible sides.

Courtesy of The Home Depot

Thriller

The Thriller is the show-stopping centerpiece of your container design. It adds height, drama, and movement. Thrillers can be flowers, ornamentals or even grasses, just as long as they are the focal point of your container garden arrangement.

If your container will be visible from all sides, place the Thriller in the center of your container for maximum impact. If your container will only be visible from one or more sides, place the Thriller toward the back of the container.

 

courtesy of Home Depot

Why You Need to Groom Your Todo List

http://timemanagementninja.com/2013/04/why-you-need-to-groom-your-todo-list/

Tax Tips

You must include all unemployment compensation you receive, as income on your tax return. Form 1099-G will show the total amount paid.

 

Aaron D. Witherspoon, CPA & Associates

Tax Tips

You can deduct medical and dental expenses that are more than 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income.

 

Aaron D. Witherspoon CPA & Associates

FISCAL CLIFF AVERTED

Aaron D. Witherspoon, CPA & Associates

Fiscal Cliff Averted:

 (1) Current income tax rates retained 

(2) Child tax credit extended to 2017 

(3) Expanded EITC extended to 2017

 (4) AOT education credit extended to 2017 

 (5) The 2% payroll tax holiday has ended - FICA increase in next pay check.

Give your Hall Closet A Make Over…….

Bring Order to the Hall Closet

Take storage to new levels with shelves below a row of jackets. Install shelves near the base of your closet, and you'll no longer have to rifle through items strewn across the floor. Here, each family member has his or her own bin for hats and scarves.
The lower shelf is lined with shoes, and boxes tucked underneath hold dog toys, tennis balls, and the like. Leave a foot of space between shelves and the door frame, and you'll have room for boots and a metal bucket for umbrellas. Long hooks keep handbags neat.

Space Saving Ideas from Pottery Barn

Tuesday tip! Vertical storage is a space saving option and a chic way to compose an artful arrangement of things you want nearby.