That special time of year is creeping up quickly – tax time. If you’re like most Americans, you’re likely not looking forward to filing your taxes. It can be an arduous process for some, even if you’re expecting a welcome return.

 

There are ways, however, to make filing your taxes easier and less stress-inducing. Let’s take a look at what you can do to prepare to file your taxes.

Gather Early

Why push filing to the April deadline when you can get the ball rolling early in the year? Gather any necessary documents you’ll need for your specific situation in January – or better yet, keep a separate folder for receipts, documents, letters or on your computer for digital files throughout the year.

 

If you are also a business owner, make sure to keep up with your income and expenses regularly (and file quarterly). Use software programs like Expensify and Quickbooks to make this process even easier.

Find Your Preparer

Hop onto the IRS website to find out how to choose the best authorized preparer for you and your circumstances. Solidify your preparer early for the best chances in making the most out of your return and benefits for the rest of the year.

Read up on Changes

While your preparer should be aware of the different tax law changes that apply each year, it is good practice to keep current yourself. This will help you maximize your return and potentially prepare for future benefits in the coming years.

Make the Most of Deductions

Are you taking advantage of potential deductions to increase you tax return? Consider any charitable donations, car/travel expenses, work-related items (including clothes, special products, or services required in your field), educational expenses, and any costs incurred from working from home.

Extend Early

If you think you’ll need an extension, apply early and pay an estimated amount of what you may owe. The extension deadline gives you until October 15th to finalize your submission.

Dedicate Your Return

To make the most of your return, put a plan in place before you receive the check. Savings is always a great option, but you can also request to have the return applied to future tax payments.

Banish Tax Woes

Staying organized year-round and diligent about receipts and necessary documents will make filing your taxes smooth and easy every year. Start thinking about filing early in the year to avoid the April rush. Early and organized is the name of the game!

 

Love is in the air. That can only mean one thing…Valentine’s Day is here. Has cupid struck your household? If so, share that love with your home. Not sure where to begin? Let us help you get in the spirit. Show your home some love this Valentine’s Day with these practical ideas.

Declutter Your Space

Are you really showing your home some love if you are suffocating it? In order to open yourself to all the positive vibes that come with the holiday, you need to clear out the white noise. That white noise is your stack of mail that’s toppling over, the clothes littering your bedroom floor, and the dishes forming a Leaning Tower of Pisa in your sink. Not only will you feel better after you declutter, but the honey you share a house with will too!

Show Your Hearts with Cork

Who doesn’t love love…and love wine? Marry these two swoon-worthy concepts together. Save your corks from wine bottles and create an awesome DIY project for Valentine’s Day. Glue the corks side-by-side to form a heart-shaped decoration. From there, place these decorative pieces around the house. You should have plenty of room following all the decluttering you just did!

Kiss Art

Seal your holiday with a kiss. Create kiss art. Everybody in the house can participate. All they need to do is apply some lipstick, and kiss a canvas. Voila! Instant art made with heart. Mix and match the colors and kiss sizes for a truly unique piece.

Fix Up Around the House

Showing your house love isn’t just throwing decorations up all over the place. If you want to truly exhibit love around your house, you’ll fix up the little things that have been bothering you. Has a weatherstrip gotten worn out and it’s letting cold air into your house? Did a light sconce get cracked? Perhaps you need new windows? Whatever the project is, now is the time to do it! After all, your decorations will stand out much better when your house is no longer in disarray!

Make Centerpieces

There are so many ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This holiday boasts so many iconic images such as Conversation Hearts, flowers, and gemstones. Use these Valentine’s Day staples to create a gorgeous (and festive) centerpiece. Grab a see-through vase and have it. Let your creative flare takeover as you create one-of-a-kind pieces that are unique to your home. Infuse romance into your home this Valentine’s Day season with these five love-bolstering tips!

 

Southern California doesn’t have a prayer for a White Christmas, but it makes up for any possible lack of holiday cheer with amazing light displays all around the area. It’s a great tradition to pack up your family and friends, and head out for an evening of twinkly magic that you can see from your car or on foot.

 

Here are some of the best places to visit – perfect for that holiday-themed Instagram story, or an awesome selfie for your cards this year.

 

 

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Newport Beach and the Parade of Lights

As seen on TV – really! – the Newport Harbor area lights up with decorated boats and some of the best viewing via The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and a cruise along the harbor. There’s nothing like the sight of lights reflected on the water! There are multiple cruise departures, and they last anywhere from 60-90 minutes.

 

 

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Rodeo Drive

Take a stroll along the street and you’ll see some of the most amazing window displays – and the people-watching isn’t bad either!  The Regent Beverly Wilshire offers decorated grounds and some special tea events for adults and kids throughout the holiday.

 

 

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Griffith Park

Head over to Griffith Park and discover the hidden gem of the Holiday Train. It follows over a mile of track, and spins riders past a whole series of holiday scenes and tens of thousands of lights. The kiddos will love it – and you’ll enjoy a chance to sit down. The Holiday Train runs after Thanksgiving, from 5 pm nightly.

 

 

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Descanso Gardens

Located in La Canada, The Decanso Gardens “Enchanted: Forest of Light” spectacular is an immersive experience that sends visitors along a mile-long path of lights and gardens. It runs all the way through January 6, and has a ticket package that includes dinner at their Maple Restaurant.

 

 

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Altadena’s Christmas Tree Lane

Finally, don’t miss the experience of driving through along Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena. The streets have been lit up every year since 1920, making it one of the oldest traditions in the US, as far as holiday displays. Turn off your lights, and enjoy the ride!

 

There are many more holiday light displays throughout the area – one of them is perfect for your budget, schedule, and type of group attending. Enjoy!

 

As much as we all love the great year-round weather in southern California, it can sometimes not feel like winter during the holiday season. We kind of go about our everyday lives like usual and forget to get swept away in all the winter cheer. Luckily, SoCal isn’t too far removed from all the wintery action. You want to have a winter wonderland this holiday season? Check out these long weekends outside of LA.

 

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Lake Tahoe

Everything you need for snow sports is available at Lake Tahoe. This Sierra Nevada location hosts sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, and snowmobiling. Of course, it also has some of the best backcountry ski trails in all of the west coast. During the winter season, kids will have a great time being pulled by a pony in a sleigh. Lake Tahoe is an excellent vacay for all ages during the winter months!

 

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Big Bear

Snuggle up with your family in a cozy cabin at Big Bear! Relax with their year-long fishing season or take it to the slopes for an out-of-this-world ski experience. Events are happening almost every day during the winter season at Big Bear.

 

Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, go through cave mazes, and embark on snowshoe eco-tours. Big Bear has all the variety in the world you need for a memorable long weekend outside of LA.

 

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Brian Head

Have little ones in tow and want to get some ski-time in? Head three-hours from Vegas and end up Brian Head, Utah. This is a very small, family-friendly ski town that boasts some of the best snow in the state.

 

We highly recommend this for the kiddos because they have many learning programs at Brian Head. Newbies are taken to the mountain and guided by instructors until they are comfortable on their own. One perk of Brian Head is they even have night ski sessions for advanced riders!

 

While in Brian Head, head over to the National Park. This time of the year, Bryce Canyon and Zion are bright red canyons with a white dusting. It’s a once in a lifetime photo-op!

 

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Yosemite National Park

Speaking of National Parks, we’d be remiss not to be mention Yosemite. You can partake in all the snow sports adventures you want here. However, the sights are worth the trip alone.

You will be in awe of the breath-taking snow-capped mountains and precious wildlife still burgeoning during this colder season. It’s a great experience to behold, especially in the winter months.

Every house provides a lifetime of happy memories for kids that will follow them into adulthood. There will come a time where each child leaves the nest. At first, you may want to hold onto the house your little ones grew up in. What if they fall hard on the bottom and need a place to crash? And besides, this house has all of your happy memories too!

 

However, there will be a point where the house becomes too much to handle. Downsizing might seem daunting or pointless right now. Just keep an open mind as we try to help you look at the pros of cutting back. Here’s how and why you should start thinking about downsizing.

 

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Why You Should Think About Downsizing

Getting older is not fun. Therefore, you need to have fun as you get older. Upkeeping a house that was meant to serve an army will serve you (and your spouse) no good as it starts to fall apart. Let’s face it. The best years of the house have already happened. Now comes the repairs you never thought your house will need.

 

Upkeeping your house can be costly. Trying to make your way to retirement and enjoying the fruits of your labor doesn’t typically include reno projects. Get out before the house gives out.

 

Also, you want to leave your large house before you can’t. Nobody wants to live in a big area where you can’t reach the kitchen promptly or the bathroom is up a flight of stairs you can’t ascend. Start thinking about how the conveniences in your life will become inconvenient. Then come up with a plan to find a place that can accommodate your needs.

 

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How to Start Downsizing

Downsizing is a monumental decision. It’s one that should never be taken lightly. Therefore, take as much time as you need. However, there are a few things you can do to get the ball rolling.

 

For every new item you bring into the house, chuck one out. When you are finally ready to sell, you are going to have to get rid of so much stuff. There’s going to be your belongings, your spouse’s, your children’s, and anyone who’ve you inherited from. That’s a lot!

 

If you know there’s no monetary value to an item that you no longer feel a nostalgic pull toward, then get rid of it now. That warm feeling will most likely not return and you have a bunch of other items that will fill that void.

 

Bring in appraisers if you are unsure of the value of anything. If they don’t purchase your unwanted costume jewelry or fine China set, have a tag sale. There’s nothing more rewarding than getting compensated for items that once brought you happiness. Now they’re going to enrich the lives of others.  

 

Lastly, if you are curious about downsizing, talk to those who have. You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t find it a cathartic process. Then, give it a try yourself!

 

Buying a new home will not be the cheapest thing you ever do. Interest rates and taxes alone are enough to make you feel the need to get three jobs. To save in the long run, many people pay extra on their down payment. Paying as much upfront on the principle as possible means you are taxed and charged interest on a smaller dollar amount going forward. Now, let’s face it. Nobody has a few extra thousand sitting around. You’ll probably need every penny you can get to make a down payment on your new home. So, if you are looking to save for a down payment, look out for these costly customer hoaxes that will leave you penniless.

 

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Free Trial Offers

You’ll see many ads on the internet claiming to give a “free trial,” “first month free,” or “free product.” This lesson is as old as time. Nothing in life is for free.

 

Anytime a service asks for credit card info (even to cover the shipping and handling), read the fine print. There’s a darn good chance you signed up for a subscription service.

 

It’s the oldest marketing trick in the book. They give you a free product, hope you forget to cancel in the next month, and then a product shows up again a month later. Then another charge is added to your account.

 

That’s how these businesses make their money. Each month they hope you don’t cancel. Sadly, a lot of people don’t.

 

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Don’t Go Hot Spotting Just Anywhere

Think you hit the Wi-Fi jackpot when someone doesn’t lock their signal? Think again. They hit the jackpot.

 

Scammers will set up an open Wi-Fi signal in hopes that someone will sign on. This is an unsecured line. Your device even tells you when you are choosing to link up to it. ANYONE can access your information on your phone when you’re on their unsecured line. That includes your contacts, passwords, and pictures. This is especially common in popular places like airports and downtown areas.

 

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Computer Is Infected Messages

 

Scamming has gotten pretty intricate…and believable. These con artists can even hack your computer to generate a message that looks like a legit Microsoft virus prompt.

 

On it, they will tell you to call them to fix the issue. From there, they will remote into your computer and voila. You are hacked. Now your once clean computer is loaded with Trojans and malware that will not only slow down your computer’s performance but siphon your info as well.

 

To avoid this, don’t call anyone. Don’t click the link. Either ignore it, or restart your computer. Also, contact the real Windows or Apple (or whatever) support. Look them up yourself. Don’t go by the prompt on your computer.

 

If you are planning a visit to a wildlife attraction in Los Angeles or Orange County you will not have a hard time finding the perfect place based on your desires. There is a large assortment of wildlife attractions in both areas and they all come with unique experiences and advantages. Any attraction that you choose will offer the right packages and experiences for you and whoever you are taking with you. Each and every one of these spots is also suitable for both adults and kids. Planning a trip can be overwhelming because you have to consider all the factors that might affect the outcome of your day. This is why we have compiled some of the best attractions in these cities to help you decide where to go for your visit.

Attractions in Orange County

 

 

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The Zoomars Petting Zoo

The Zoomars petting zoo offers a fun-filled adventure for adults and children alike. Patrons get a chance to interact with all the animals including the llamas. There are also gold mines and little trains to ride on and this makes for the ultimate fun experience. The zoo accommodates parties for its visitors and there are many exciting events held throughout the year that kids will absolutely enjoy.

Website: http://www.zoomars.com/

 

 

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Ocean Institute

This educational establishment teaches visitors about life in the ocean among other things about the environment. This educational experience is done in a fun way so it is suitable for kids, since they will be engaged and thus will fully grasp the information. Parents are usually welcomed to take their kids so that they may develop a love for the sciences from a very tender age.

Website: https://www.ocean-institute.org/

 

 

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The Reptile Zoo

The Reptile zoo is completely dedicated to exposing visitors to and teaching them about a wide range of reptiles. Kids and adults are able to look at and interact with the animals. They may feed them, touch them etc. visitors are guaranteed to have a fun time as there is so much for them to see and do.

Website: http://thereptilezoo.com/

 

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Orange County Zoo

When you visit The Orange county zoo, you will be overwhelmed with the many activities that you can take part in. This is a family adventure where the family can view many animals of all types, shapes and sizes. There is much more to do other than viewing animals such as boat and bike rides and riding ponies.

Website: https://www.irvineparkrailroad.com/rides-attractions/orange-county-zoo/

 

Attractions in Los Angeles

 

 

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Cabrillo Marine Aquarium 

This aquarium displays the lively sea living within the region of south California. The aquarium displays a wide range of marine animals and their livelihood to its visitors. This is the perfect place for families and school trips. Young children are sure to be fascinated by the display of the aquarium.

Website: https://www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org/

 

 

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The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens has thousands of organisms of all types including endangered species that are rarely seen in attractions of this kind. The botanical gardens display innumerable plants. One visit will take hours because there is so much to learn about and so many things to take in.

Website: https://www.lazoo.org/

 

Los Angeles and Orange County together have some of the most exciting wildlife experiences in the country. There are so many to choose from, all offering exciting and educational experiences for visitors. You may even to schedule multiple trips so that you can get to experience more than one of these attractions. There is nothing better than learning about the environment in a fun and engaging way.

 

Home resale value should be at the forefront of every home renovation or upgrade decision you make. The modern home buyer often looks for a house that already has what they want in a home in place, so upgrades and renovations are not required once the purchase is completed.

 

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Home buyers also want a home that is energy efficient, limiting the need for expensive system upgrades. One efficient upgrade that will help improve your resale value: solar panels. Solar panels are gaining popularity and their design has rapidly improved in the last decade.

Once upon a time, solar panels were garish and large – looming atop a home or on poles in the yard somewhere. Now, designs are low profile and dark, creating a sleek and at times almost invisible look.

 

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Solar systems are far more efficient now and do reasonably impact the overall cost of electricity. On average, a good solar system will cost between 10 and 18 thousand dollars to install. Solar users can anticipate saving around $1,500, per year. Thus, homeowners with a quality solar system can anticipate paying for itself in around ten years.

Simply put, buyers are drawn to the cachet of solar systems. Even if a system does not promise to save the potential home buyer much money, the distinction of purchasing a home with one seems to stand out to prospective buyers. Realtors quickly tout that a home has a solar system, as it may pique the interest of buyers.

A recent study by the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory offers the opinion that a solar system, on average, will increase the value of a home by some $14,329. This amount alone is enough to cover the cost of many systems, without adding the value of any savings accrued by the system itself. The study also found that the size, or sophistication, of the system had little impact on the amount of home value increase – so, even a small system pays dividends.

 

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With this study, and the additional benefits of a good solar system, it is reasonable to conclude that the addition of a solar system is a great idea for anyone looking to sell their home. It will increase home value and the marketability of your home.

The kids are back to school. Everything pumpkin is hitting the shelves. That means the holidays are here. Blink and before you know it, it’s Thanksgiving. Then it’ll be time for Christmas. Before you know it, you’re exhausted…and broke! So, why not get ahead of the hysteria? It’s never too soon to start decorating for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here are some great decoration ideas for the holidays!

 

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Pine cones

Whether they’re falling from the trees in the autumn or taking center stage on a wreath during the winter, pine cones are festive for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. All you need to do is go outside and pick some up from the ground. Put them in a basket with pumpkins and other gourds in the fall. Then when Christmas rolls along, take out the squash (eat it) and throw in some bells and ornaments. Fan of Jack Frost? Add some canned snow frost to the pine cone for a winter wonderland effect!

 

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Vases of Nuts

Nothing says the holidays like a big bag of shelled nuts. Pour these holiday faves into a vase. Fill out the vase with orange, marigold, and red flowers for Thanksgiving time. Swap the fall hues for Madonna lilies and roses for the Christmas season. Maybe even go the extra mile and change up the mixed nuts for chestnuts. Just be sure to put individual water tubes on each stem so that you can keep the flowers alive longer but still eat the nuts when the holidays are over.

 

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Use Gold Ornaments and Decorations

There’s only one color that you can use to get your family into the spirit for Thanksgiving and keep that excitement going all the way through the New Year. That color is gold. Gold compliments the rustic and outdoor hues that comes with autumn. However, it also captures the purity and majestic vibe that the spirit of Christmas delivers. Little accents like gold tea lights, copper village houses, and gold star decorative pieces can bring the joy of the holidays to your home for months on end.

 

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Cinnamon

If one scent can capture both Thanksgiving and Christmas, cinnamon might take the cake. From apple pie to gingerbread houses, this spice will liven up any home. Actual cinnamon sticks also make for great decorative pieces. Put them in a container with some potpourri or inside of a mason jar wrapped in holiday-themed bows like an all-natural reed diffuser. Cinnamon sticks are also great to stir hot chocolate, tea, or cider as well!