Your 2010 Money Calendar

Key dates to bookmark for the year ahead.

JANUARY

1 - Parents of college-bound high school seniors: Fill out Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

4 - First trading day of 2010.

7 - Set financial goals, update your budget and resolve to pay off holiday debt 8 - Convert traditional IRA to a Roth; income limits for conversions are gone.

15 - Estimated federal taxes for the fourth quarter of 2009 are due.

20 - Consult with a financial planner.

21 - Seniors: If you're over 70½, talk to your IRA administrators about resuming regular required minimum distribution payments.

26 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.

FEBRUARY

2 - Think taxes: Your 1098, 1099 and W-2 statements should arrive by today. Finish gathering tax documents and put them in a folder for later.

4 - Your Money Bus stops in Charleston, S.C.

7 - Billions of dollars in bets will be riding on Super Bowl XLIV.

12 - Investors: Standard & Poor's 500-stock index has gone down 15 of the past 18 years on the day before Presidents Day weekend. You could pick up some cheap shares.

15 - Presidents Day. Before you hit the sales, take our quiz to find out what kind of spender you are.

22 - New credit-card rules go into effect.

22 - Your Money Bus stops in Palm Beach, Fla.

MARCH

1 - Shoulder season starts today and runs through May. Look for bargains on travel.

3 - Keep an eye out for proxy forms. They'll let you vote on shareholder issues without being present at the annual meeting.

6 - Think taxes: Assign value to stuff you donated to charity if you itemize deductions.

9 - Your Money Bus stops in Birmingham, Ala.

14 - Daylight Savings Time begins. Spring forward.

15 - Deadline to empty your 2009 health-care flexible spending account (if your plan allows the 2½-month grace period).

16 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.

19 - Triple Witching Day for the stock market: Contracts for stock-index futures, stock-index options and stock options all expire together. Brace for volatile trading.

APRIL

1 - It's Financial Literacy Month.

1 - Seniors: Deadline for taking your first required minimum distribution from IRAs and other retirement accounts.

2 - Your Money Bus stops in Cleveland.

3 - Prepare your income-tax return this weekend.

12 - First-quarter earnings announcements for the Dow Jones industrials begin with Alcoa.

15 - File your tax return or request an extension. Estimated federal taxes for the first quarter are due.

16 - Expect a big tax refund? Adjust your withholding.

22 - Earth Day. Save money and the planet by switching to compact fluorescent bulbs.

27 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.

MAY

1 - Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting, in Omaha. Treasury announces semiannual I-bond rates.

2 - Mother's Day is May 9.

6 - Your Money Bus stops in Fort Worth.

11 - Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Glacier National Park. A visit to one of the 58 national parks is a great idea for an inexpensive summer getaway.

12 - Book a tune-up for your air-conditioning or sprinkler system before summer sets in.

19 - Start planning your summer vacation (use a booking site such as Kayak.com).

27 - College-bound high school grads: Complete student-loan applications, including those for federal Stafford loans and federal PLUS loans for parents.

30 - Use your tax refund to pay down credit-card balances or seed an emergency fund.

JUNE
1 - Investors: The stock market historically dips the week after Memorial Day. Look for cheap buys.

3 - Your Money Bus stops in San Diego.

7 - Recent college grads: Consolidate student loans. Make a money-smart plan for what to do with your graduation cash (start an IRA, create an emergency fund).

12 - Shop for Father's Day on June 20.

15 - Estimated federal taxes for the second quarter are due.

17 - Your Money Bus stops in Portland, Ore.

21 - Investors: Dow down 17 of the past 19 years-don't sell this week.

22 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.

JULY

2 - Midyear financial checkup: Update the goals you set in January and rebalance your portfolio, if necessary.

4 - Independence Day. Break free from debt by tallying up what you owe and making a plan to pay it off.

7 - Your Money Bus stops in Colorado Springs.

12 - Second-quarter earnings announcements for the Dow Jones industrials begin with Alcoa.

21 - Reshop your auto insurance (www.insweb.com), homeowners coverage (www.accucoverage.com) and life insurance (www.accuquote.com).

26 - If you're over 50, find out about long-term-care insurance: Take our quiz to learn more.

AUGUST

1 - Shop early for an end-of-the-model-year car deal. You'll get the best combination of price and selection as dealers clear inventory.

3 - This is the month for statewide sales-tax holidays for back-to-school shopping.

5 - Your Money Bus stops in Omaha.

9 - Investors: Prepare to hunker down. From 1988 to 2005, August was the worst month for the Dow and the S&P 500.

10 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.

24 - Investors: Look for the market to gain strength. The end of the month has been strong for the past five years.

26 - Renegotiate the rate on your credit card.

SEPTEMBER

1 - Fall marks open-enrollment season for employer health-insurance plans. Review your options, even if you can keep the same coverage.

2 - Start scouting for deals for holiday travel. Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly, with the exception of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

3 - Investors: Watch for stock-market instability. Triple-digit Dow moves are commonplace leading up to Labor Day.

9 - Your Money Bus stops in Milwaukee.

15 - Estimated tax payments for the third quarter are due. Deadline for submitting corrections to your FAFSA.

21 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.

30 - Your Money Bus stops in Washington, D.C.

OCTOBER

1 - If you're self-employed, deadline to establish a Simple IRA.

2 - Financial Fitness Workshop, in New York City.

7 - Third-quarter earnings announcements for the Dow Jones industrials begin with Alcoa.

8 - If you've lost money on a Roth IRA conversion, you can still recharacterize. Contact your Roth sponsor ASAP.

15 - Deadline to file your tax return if you requested an extension in April.

21 - Get Smart About Credit Day. Buy your FICO scores at www.myfico.com.

22 - Investors: Look for good buys on depressed stocks; October has marked the end of 11 post-World War II bear markets.

NOVEMBER

1 - Treasury announces semiannual I-bond rates. Buy candy on the cheap after Halloween.

2 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.

7 - Daylight Savings Time ends.

8 - New college grads: First student-loan payments are due this month.

15 - Open enrollment begins for Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans, and continues through December 31.

17 - Investors: Time to sell? The Dow has been up 13 of the past 16 years in the week before Thanksgiving.

24 - Log on to www.gottadeal.com to plan your Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping strategy.

29 - Cyber Monday: Save on sales at most online retailers.

DECEMBER

1 - Investors: Before you buy a mutual fund in a taxable account, check the fund's Web site for its ex-dividend date and purchase shares after that date to avoid a tax bill.

5 - Make year-end donations to a charity or your alma mater and lock in a tax deduction.

13 - End of 2010 is your last chance to make energy-efficient home improvements and get a 30% tax credit up to $1,500 (deadline: December 31).

14 - Federal Open Market Committee meets to review interest rates.

18 - Best time of the year to buy a computer-deals range from 15% to 50% off, or you could score a free printer or software package.

31 - Deadline for taking annual required minimum distributions from your retirement accounts, setting up a solo 401(k) plan and enrolling in a Medicare prescription-drug plan.

Get in Shape for 2010: BootCamp

Bootcamp


January 4th to January 30th

3 Times a Week:

You choose the days and times that work best for you!

9:00am - 10:00am - Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

6:00pm - 7:00pm - Monday, Wednesday & Thursday

Weekly Weigh-In, Monthly Body Fat Testing & Measurements

4 Week Program $150

Custom Meal Plan - $40 one time fee - *optional
Re-evaluated each month

*Refer a friend and receive 2 FREE one-on-one personal training sessions.

Location - The Trails neighborhood park
Off Queen Creek between Cooper and Gilbert Rd. - Turn south onto Wilson and you will see the park

*Bring your own mat
Future Bootcamp Dates:

• February 1st - 27th
• March 1st - 27th
• March 29th - April 24th
• April 26th - May 22nd
  

Felicia Romero
AZ Pro Physiques
felrome480@aol.com
azprophysiques@yahoo.com
Cell (480) 363-1723

New Years Eve Safety Tips for your Pets

New Years Eve is a great time for everyone to celebrate the coming of a new year and the memories of the old. Thought filled with celebration and fun for humans, it can often be a rough night for a lot of animals. Below are some things to keep in mind while you celebrate this wonderful event!

1. Be observant of your animal’s response to loud noises. Thunderstorms and fireworks are the best known causes for pet anxiety, but celebration party favors and popping champagne corks can be just as traumatizing. If you are hosting a New Years Party, make sure your pets are placed in a comfortable area that is separate from the activities. Make sure they have plenty of water and are comfortable. When possible, refrain from keeping them outside, as fireworks and other neighbors celebrating can lead to the same ruckus and worry.

2. Always keep your pet’s tags on. In the case they do get spooked and bolt for an open door or gate, an ID tag will be imperative to getting them home safely.

3. Beware of alcohol! Many pets can be drawn to glasses of beer or liquor that has been left behind after the celebration is over. Consumption of alcohol can be highly dangerous for animals, and even deadly. Make sure to thoroughly clean up the area before you allow your pets to enter. Always keep a close eye on them, and never give them any alcohol as a treat or joke.

4. Be aware of party decorations. Balloons, streamers, party hats or confetti can be unhealthy for an animal if ingested. While decorating for your party, keep the animals in a separate area where they do not have access to the decorations. If they do get into them, consult a veterinarian immediately.

Merry Christmas!!

From My Arizona Home Team

Merry Christmas Eve

Will Lenders Begin Cutting Mortgage Principal Balances?

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and specifically its Chairman Sheila Bair may ask lenders to begin to cut principal balances on up to $45 billion worth of mortgages. The FDIC has taken over 124 failed banks this past year and now may ask lenders entering into loss-sharing agreements when acquiring the assets of these failed banks to not only cut interest rates, but also agree to possibly reduce principal loan balances.
"We're looking now at whether we should provide some further loss sharing for principal write downs," Bair said. "Now you're in a situation where even the good mortgages are going bad because people are losing their jobs. So you have other factors now driving mortgage distress."
Thus, the FDIC is now considering whether lenders that acquire banks should share a larger portion of the losses on loans whose principal is cut and whether the FDIC will recover the additional subsidy through reduced foreclosure rates.
The FDIC insures deposits at 8,099 institutions with $13.2 trillion in assets. The agency is charged with dismantling failed banks and manages an insurance fund it uses to reimburse customers for deposits of as much as $250,000 when a lender collapses.
This is the first time that a government agency has come out and said that they are willing to seriously consider and look into principal reduction for troubled homeowners. Whether this will happen or not is still to be decided, but as always we will provide information and analysis on any such program should it become available.

Last Minute Gift Ideas that Won't Cost Yout Money

Gift your services

You may decide to give a loved one the gift of your services.

If you're particularly good with a camera, gift your skills. Offer to take photos of a birthday party, anniversary or other event. If video is your thing, offer to record an event with your camcorder.

If you have a scanner, you can convert old photos to digital. That's a gift anyone would love. After all, everyone has old photos.

Or, you may have a USB turntable or cassette deck. You can convert a loved one's record or cassette collection to CD.

Computer assistance is also a great gift, particularly for newbies. You can help set up new Christmas presents like computers or security cameras.

You can even offer to provide tech support in the future. Just be careful. It could end up as an open invitation to solve computer woes!

If you decide to give your services as a gift, print up a coupon. You can also use the coupons for nontech services like cleaning or a massage.

Good Luck and Happy Holidays from My Arizona Home Team

Phoenix Area Months of Inventory-November 2009

The Legend of the Candy Cane

The Legend of the Candy Cane


Many years ago, a candymaker wanted to make a candy at Christmas time that would serve as a witness to his Christian faith. He wanted to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry and death of Jesus.

He began with a stick of pure white hard candy. The white symbolized the virgin birth and the sinless life of Jesus.

He made the candy hard to symbolize the that Jesus is the solid rock and the foundation of the church. The firmness also represents the promises of God.

The candy maker made the candy in the form of a "J" to represent the name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior. He thought it could also represent the staff of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

The candy maker then added red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received, by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could be forgiven and have the promise of eternal life.

The flavor of mint is similar to hyssop. In Old Testament times, hyssop was associated with purification and sacrifice. It was also used at the cross as they gave Jesus a drink of vinegar before He gave up the Ghost.

Phoenix Area Sales Comparison-November 2009

Phoenix Area Average Sales Price-Nov 2009

Phoenix Area MLS Inventory thru 12/1/2009

Federal Recession Aid - Get It While You Can

Give us a call today t osee how we can help! 480-889-1424

Las Noches de las Luminarias 2009

Las Noches de las Luminarias, the Valley’s premier holiday event, returns for 20 nights of musical entertainment, delicious food and of course, 7,000 hand-lit luminarias. Tickets for Las Noches de las Luminarias are on sale now.
WHAT’S NEW! This year, guests will be able to view Allan Houser: Tradition to Abstraction, aninstallation of the work of Apache master sculptor, Allan Houser as well as take a turn on the Garden’s Holiday Skate rink. Located on Boppart Courtyard, the rink featuressynthetic Hybrid-ice® and skating is included with the Luminarias admission. Skates are provided. The Dickens Carolers and DJs dk.strikler & World Famous Rani “g” will mix it up providing a musical backdrop for the skaters. Ten musical groups perform each night of Luminarias: Mariachi Corazón de Phoenix, BadCactus Brass Band, Anthony Wakeman, Chris Burton Jacome Flamenco Ensemble, Chele, The Swingtips, Will Clipman, The Hey Boyz and the Dickens Carolers along with DJsdk.strikler & World Famous Rani “g”. Luminarias would not be complete without the best of the Valley Handbell Choirs in Webster Auditorium. The new Berlin Agave Yucca Forest, which opens November 21, 2009, will be lit for the first time. Intimate gathering areas will be available throughout the Garden so guests can sit and enjoy a musical performance, a warming fire, a cup of cider or a glass of wine.

Las Noches de las Luminarias culminates on December 30, 2009 so don't miss out.

This is the perfect holiday event to share with family, friends and out-of-town guests. The Garden’s distinctive and world-renowned plant collection provides the ideal setting to enjoy more than 7,000 hand-lit luminarias that line its trails, buildings and courtyards. A sumptuous buffet dinner is available at an additional cost from Fabulous Food Fine Catering and Events and the Garden’s Patio Café will also be open for ala carte items. The Garden’s gift and plant shop will be open each night of Luminarias and is the ideal place to find unique gifts for the holiday season.

Meal tickets are $16.50 for adults and $8.95 for children. Las Noches de las Luminarias is presented by The Arizona Republic, and sponsored inpart by US Airways, Fabulous Food Fine Catering and Events and Phoenix Coca-Cola Bottling Company. SRP EarthWise Energy is the entertainment sponsor. December 3, 4, 5, 6, (Garden Members and their Guests Preview)December 10, 11, 12, 13, (General Public) December 17, 18 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 (General Public)December 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 (General Public) 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Desert Botanical Garden 1201 North Galvin Parkway (in Papago Park) Phoenix, AZ 85008

Members: Adults $20
Children: $10 (ages 3-12)
General Public: Adults $25
General Public: Children $12.50 (ages 3-12)
Children 2 and under are admitted free.
Dinner and beverages available at an additional cost.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

1. Order tickets on-line at http://www.dbg.org/
2. Call 480-481-8188 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m., daily)
3. Visit the Admissions Box Office (8 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily)

For additional information, a full list of entertainment and a detailed menu, call 480-481-8188 or visit http://www.dbg.org/.
A “Phoenix Point of Pride”, the Desert Botanical Garden is one of only a few botanical gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums. It is a privately funded, non-profit organization and depends on revenues from admissions and gift shop sales, as well as contributions from individuals and businesses to fund its programs of environmental education, plant conservation and research.

Send a thank you to our Troops!!!

Send a thank you and holiday message to our troops;

XEROX IS DOING SOMETHING COOL

If you go to this web site, http://www.letssaythanks.com/ you can pick out a thank you card, choose a message and Xerox will print it. It will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! It is FREE and it only takes a second.

This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you. Please take the time to send one and please take the time to pass it on for others to do. We can never say enough thank you's.

Is now a good time to buy a home?

Don’t just take our word for it…See why others are saying yes:
 CNN-Now is a Good Time to Buy (11/19/2009)

Wall Street Journal-Buying a Home in Time to Get Credit (11/15/2009)

Time Magazine – Downsizing: Today’s Homebuyers Are Thinking Small (9/28/09)

USA Today – Survey Shows Spike in First Time Home Buyers (11/19/09)

Give us a call today...we can help you get into your dream home! 480-889-1424 or e-mail us at MyAzHomeTeam@aol.com

Entertaining this Holiday Season? Great Ways to Reduce Your Energy Costs.

In the oven

• Double-up on dishes. This can be as simple as baking foil-wrapped potatoes while another dish is in the oven. The baked potatoes can be stored in the refrigerator and added to other recipes throughout the week. Plan your meals ahead of time, choosing a main dish and a side dish that can both be baked in the oven, both at the same oven temperature. That way, you can cook them at the same time and save energy.
• Choose pans wisely. Glass or ceramic pans need 25 degrees less heat than metal pans, which means you can turn down the temperature on your oven.
• Skip the preheating. Unless you are baking something that needs precise temperatures, like bread or cookies, preheating wastes energy when nothing is in the oven. Just allow for a few extra minutes on bake times to make sure food is thoroughly cooked.
• Don’t peek. It can be difficult to resist the urge to check up on your meal, but every glance into the oven allows heat and costly energy to escape.
• Turn off the oven a few minutes before your dish is done. The leftover heat will continue cooking the dish, and the oven won’t have to produce any more energy.
• During the winter, leave the door open after your pan is out of the oven.  The heat from the oven will add extra warmth to your home.

On the stove

• Steam vegetables instead of boiling them. Steaming means there’s less water to heat, and more nutrients are left in the veggies, an added benefit. If you have to boil, use as little water as possible. Extra water has to be heated along with the food.
• Keep the lids on your pans at all times. Cooking without lids uses three times more energy than cooking with them, according to Mother Earth News.
• Match pot size to burner size. Pots that are smaller than the burner aren’t using all the energy the stove is putting out.
• For flat cooktops, use flat-bottomed cookware. The best pan is one with a slightly concave bottom. The metal will flatten out when heated. The more contact between the cookware and the burner, the more efficient the heating process.

The little things

• Whenever possible, use smaller appliances like microwaves, toaster ovens and crock pots instead of the oven. According to Flex Your Power, using the microwave costs 6 to 18 cents an hour, while the oven costs 30 to 60 cents per hour. You can save a lot of money by forgoing oven time.
• Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator. It will take less time and energy to cook.
• Make double portions of a recipe, and freeze the extras. It takes less energy to reheat a dish than to make it a second time.
• When baking holiday treats, have more cookie sheets than can fit into the oven at one time. Have a filled cookie sheet ready to pop in the oven as you soon as you pull one out. This keeps the oven filled at all times.

… and more

• Turn down the heat before your friends and family arrive. You won’t freeze your guests because all those bodies in the house will raise the temperature naturally.
• Don’t feel guilty about using the dishwasher for all the extra dirty dishes. You'll actually use less water and energy than washing by hand.
• Decorate for the holidays with LED decorating lights instead of incandescent bulbs.

Just a little effort can end up saving you a lot of money in the kitchen and around the house. Happy holidays, and happy entertaining!

Beautiful Eyes

Your eyes are rather amazing. Did you know they can differentiate between 500 shades of gray? Or that they blink more than 10 million times a year? But as strong and powerful as they are, your eyes need a little help to stay healthy.


To help keep your eyes healthy and strong, take a look at today's Health Tip Video featuring an eye exercise from Ingo Logé. And make sure you follow these three precautions:

Protect Your Eyes

This is one of the most important steps to maintaining strong eyes and clear vision. Your eyes are defenseless when it comes to sharp objects and chemicals. So make sure you always wear eye protection when operating power tools; playing sports like racquetball, hockey, and even paintball; and when using chemicals like household cleaners.

You also need to protect your eyes from the sun. Just like your skin needs protection, your eyes need help deflecting the sun's harmful rays–even on overcast days when the sun isn't as noticeable. So make sure you wear sunglasses to shield your retinas and help prevent cataracts. As an added benefit, sunglasses can also help hide the skin around your eyes from the sun, which means you'll have less chance of developing wrinkles and skin cancer around your eyes.

Avoid Smoke

Smoke isn't just bad for your lungs; it's also bad for your eyes. Why else do you think your eyes water and burn when you walk into a smoky room? So it shouldn't come as a surprise that smoking can damage your eyes. The reality is, if you smoke you are much more likely to develop eye problems. So keep your eyes healthy by avoiding tobacco smoke and smoke-filled rooms.

Give Your Eyes a Break

So many of us today stare into computer screens for hours, either for work or for leisure. And while computers can make us operate more efficiently or help us connect with friends and family instantly, those bright monitors slowly strain our eyes. The best way to minimize that strain and help prevent eye problems in the future is to simply take regular breaks from the computer screen. All you have to do is step away for a few minutes throughout the day.

By following these simple steps, you can help prevent the risk of damage to your eyes and help keep your eyesight strong and clear. And for more great tips from Ingo Logé, and to learn more about his products and services, visit www.thewellnesscsi.com.

Give a Gift to the Environment this Holiday Season with ENERGY STAR

This holiday shopping season, consider gift options that give more! EPA is recommending numerous ENERGY STAR gift-giving ideas that will help your friends and family give back to the environment and make an important difference in the fight against global warming—all while saving money. The typical household spends more than $2,200 a year on energy bills, and with ENERGY STAR, you can save more than 30 percent, or about $700. Over the lifetime of ENERGY STAR products, a household can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 120,000 lbs and save more than $10,000 in energy costs.
Read on below for ideas on how to incorporate energy savings into your holiday season:

Home Electronics

Office Products

Power Tools and Appliances

Fun Holiday Ideas

December Travels

Get Comfy Indoors

Wrap It Up

Home Electronics

If a television, DVD player, stereo, or cordless phone is on your list, looking for the ENERGY STAR is "on the money," since EPA points you to the most energy-efficient product models. Today's ENERGY STAR qualified TVs meet new, stricter requirements and offer up to 30 percent energy savings over standard models. An ENERGY STAR qualified TV uses less energy when it is both on and in standby mode. Also look for the ENERGY STAR on the external power adapters that come with cell phones, cameras, and MP3 players for more energy-saving gifts!

Office Products

This holiday, help someone get a home office up and running with ENERGY STAR qualified office products. The ENERGY STAR label is on a number of office products from computers and monitors to fax machines, printers, and copiers—everything you need to make a home office work energy efficiently. Make sure you remind your gift recipient to keep the power management features enabled on the new computer or monitor. Power management places computers and monitors into a low-power "sleep mode" when not in use and allows them to awaken within seconds, saving more than $25 per year. You can save even more by plugging electronics into a power strip and turning the strip off when not in use.

Power Tools and Appliances

For that handyman or handywoman on your list, consider power tools with ENERGY STAR battery chargers, which means that they are the most efficient available. EPA now qualifies products from popular brands such as Black & Decker, Makita, Bosch, and others. You can also choose from a number of other ENERGY STAR gifts such as appliances—clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators—and residential lighting, such as ceiling and wall fixtures, table lamps, and more.

Fun Holiday Ideas

Decorate your home or tree with more style and less energy by using ENERGY STAR qualified decorative light strings. Featuring LED technology, qualified light strings use 75 percent less electricity than conventional incandescent light strings; are available in a variety of colors, shapes, and lengths; are more durable and shock-resistant than other light strings; and emit less heat.

Smaller, less expensive gifts can make surprising stocking stuffers! An ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) is a unique gift if you want to get someone started on energy savings. You'd also never expect to think about caulk and weather-stripping as gifts, but these useful energy-saving home project ideas are perfect to protect against the winter chill.

December Travels

If you are going to be staying in a hotel this holiday season, consider staying at one of the more than 400 hotels nationwide that have earned the ENERGY STAR for superior energy efficiency. If your hotel has earned the ENERGY STAR, its energy performance rates in the top 25 percent of hotels nationwide. You can even look for the ENERGY STAR label on buildings where you shop for gifts or groceries!

Get Comfy Indoors

Give yourself the gift of a more comfortable home: Seal & Insulate with ENERGY STAR. Cold air leaking into your home around windows, doors, electrical outlets, light fixtures, and gaps in corners can cause rooms to feel drafty and uncomfortable. Properly sealing and insulating your home can help stop drafts and improve the comfort of your home during windy winter months. Read EPA’s DIY Guide to Sealing & Insulating with ENERGY STAR to learn how to get started, and save 30 percent with a tax credit in 2009 and 2010.

OPEN HOUSE in Phoenix

Open House is being held from 3pm to 5pm @

33 W Missouri Ave. #32 Phoenix, AZ 85013

http://tour.previsite.com/mls/0300/4282081.html

Please call Abbey Herr @ 480-433-8326

for details and information!

Las Noches de Las Luminarias 2009

Las Noches de las Luminarias, the Valley’s premier holiday event, returns for 20 nights of musical entertainment, delicious food and of course, 7,000 hand-lit luminarias. Tickets for Las Noches de las Luminarias are on sale now.

WHAT’S NEW! This year, guests will be able to view Allan Houser: Tradition to Abstraction, aninstallation of the work of Apache master sculptor, Allan Houser as well as take a turn on the Garden’s Holiday Skate rink. Located on Boppart Courtyard, the rink featuressynthetic Hybrid-ice® and skating is included with the Luminarias admission. Skates are provided. The Dickens Carolers and DJs dk.strikler & World Famous Rani “g” will mix it up providing a musical backdrop for the skaters. Ten musical groups perform each night of Luminarias: Mariachi Corazón de Phoenix, BadCactus Brass Band, Anthony Wakeman, Chris Burton Jacome Flamenco Ensemble, Chele, The Swingtips, Will Clipman, The Hey Boyz and the Dickens Carolers along with DJsdk.strikler & World Famous Rani “g”. Luminarias would not be complete without the best of the Valley Handbell Choirs in Webster Auditorium. The new Berlin Agave Yucca Forest, which opens November 21, 2009, will be lit for the first time. Intimate gathering areas will be available throughout the Garden so guests can sit and enjoy a musical performance, a warming fire, a cup of cider or a glass of wine.

Las Noches de las Luminarias culminates on December 30, 2009 so don't miss out.

This is the perfect holiday event to share with family, friends and out-of-town guests. The Garden’s distinctive and world-renowned plant collection provides the ideal setting to enjoy more than 7,000 hand-lit luminarias that line its trails, buildings and courtyards. A sumptuous buffet dinner is available at an additional cost from Fabulous Food Fine Catering and Events and the Garden’s Patio Café will also be open for ala carte items. The Garden’s gift and plant shop will be open each night of Luminarias and is the ideal place to find unique gifts for the holiday season.

Meal tickets are $16.50 for adults and$8.95 for children. Las Noches de las Luminarias is presented by The Arizona Republic, and sponsored inpart by US Airways, Fabulous Food Fine Catering and Events and Phoenix Coca-Cola Bottling Company. SRP EarthWise Energy is the entertainment sponsor. December 3, 4, 5, 6, (Garden Members and their Guests Preview)December 10, 11, 12, 13, (General Public) December 17, 18 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 (General Public)December 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 (General Public) 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Desert Botanical Garden 1201 North Galvin Parkway (in Papago Park) Phoenix, AZ 85008

Members: Adults $20

Children: $10 (ages 3-12)

General Public: Adults $25

General Public: Children $12.50 (ages 3-12)

Children 2 and under are admitted free.

Dinner and beverages available at an additional cost.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS: Tickets on sale October 1, 2009

1. Order tickets on-line at http://www.dbg.org/

2. Call 480-481-8188 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m., daily)

3. Visit the Admissions Box Office (8 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily)

For additional information, a full list of entertainment and a detailed menu, call 480-481-8188 or visit http://www.dbg.org/.

A “Phoenix Point of Pride”, the Desert Botanical Garden is one of only a few botanical gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums. It is a privately funded, non-profit organization and depends on revenues from admissions and gift shop sales, as well as contributions from individuals and businesses to fund its programs of environmental education, plant conservation and research.

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