Why not tell the State of Arizona exactly where to spend your tax dollars?  Arizona offers taxpayers an opportunity to donate toward Arizona Public Schools extracurricular activities and receive a dollar for dollar tax credit for that donation. That means if you make a donation, you will get every penny of it back on your tax return!

How much can you donate?  As much as you want of course...BUT if you would like the dollar for dollar tax credit there is a cap on that credit donation.  Taxpayers who are "married filing jointly" can donate up to $400.00 per calendar year.  For those filing  "Single", "Head of Household" or "Married, filing separately", a $200.00 donation per calendar year can be made.

If you'd  like to take advantage of this tax savings, and you're looking for a worthy extracurricular activity to donate to, please consider the Santan Band at Santan Jr. High in Chandler.  Band Director, Jeremy Kane says the contributions are an important part of their music program and funds will be used to help buy instruments and music along with many other musical education needs.  If you're wondering about the importance of band programs in our schools, Just check this out 10-reasons-to-stay-in-band.

Contributions eligible for tax credit are donated directly to schools, not to the state or school district. 

Making a contribution to the Santan Jr. High Band Program is easy.  You can contribute online using a credit card through the Chandler Unified School District Website. 

• Simply click on "Contribute Online",
• then click on "Make a Donation"
• select "Santan Jr. High" under the School Drop Down list
• select "Band" under the Activity Drop Down list
• input your contribution amount
• click continue and you will be taken to the credit card information page

OR~

If you're more comfortable writing a check and sending it by mail simply download the contribution form and mail it in.  That's all there is to it!

Some employers will match employees contributions, so make sure you check with your employer to see if your employer will match your contribution.

Your support of the Santan Jr. High Band is greatly appreciated.  Jeremy Kane and his students thank you!

Dad came home today exactly 50 days after we said good-bye.  He came home by special delivery...in a little black box. 

ScienceCare took good care of him and enclosed a certificate that said he was cremated on 10/30/2008.  Just as dad wanted, his body was used for medical research when his body could no longer be used by him.

I couldn't decide if I was happy or sad to see the little black box.  I thought dad needed to sit in his chair just one last time.  So we did...just him and me and that felt good somehow.  We talked...well, I talked, he listened...and that felt good too.  I turned on his beloved golf channel, but thought that was just a little over the border of sanity since I still don't like golf and I know dad understands that.  So we sat....just dad and me... in the quiet...in his chair.

We sat and I thought.  I thought about how mom came home much the same way after she died in 2001.  Mom still gets mail, mostly from fitness centers.  I thought about how Dad usually left mom's mail next to that little black box for a day because it made him smile.  He'd also tap on the box to wish her ‘Happy Birthday' and ‘Happy Mother's Day'.  Today I thought "I'll have to get a bigger box so they can share that space."  I think they'd like that.

And then I thought... "So, this is it, huh?" All those years of living, loving, laughing and crying...then ‘poof'...just like that, you're a baggie full of ashes in a little black box.

But then I heard it...faintly, but I definitely heard it...a giggle...dad's giggle.  A giggle that confirmed what I already knew...that the little black box is just the beginning.  With faith and by the grace of God, the little black box means we've made it.

Dad didn't come home today...the little black box did.  Dad's not in the box.  Dad made it home 50 days ago.  The little black box is just a reminder.  A reminder that dad and mom free.

So, I tapped dad's little black box and set it next to mom's....right next to the mail he got today....and with that, like dad... I smiled.

I've bragged about my dad, Richard "Mac" McGarrigle before and I'll probably brag about my dad until I draw my last breath.  Dad was a US Navy Veteran (20 years, Retired, Chief Boiler Technician, WWII) who lived with my husband, TJ, and I until he passed away last month after a long brave fight with Cancer. 

Dad taught me everything I know about patriotism...  He taught me that you could have 3 ships sunk right out from under you and never hold a grudge against anyone.  He taught me to salute our flag by putting my hand over my heart whenever it passes by in a parade or whenever the National Anthem is played.  He taught me you don't talk or chew gum when you're saluting our flag.  He taught me that you should never wear your hat when you're saluting our flag, either. 

Sometimes I wonder if the general population knows anything about flag etiquette?  It sure doesn't seem like it when I'm watching a crowd anytime the flag is presented or the National Anthem is played.  So many seem oblivious to our flag as it passes by and aren't even hearing the words of our National Anthem.  I know many feel it's not "cool" to salute our flag.  But really, it's not "cool" when you don't.

Maybe we should do a better job as parents teaching our children about patriotism.  Veteran's day is more than a day off work or school.  It's more than just a day when the mail doesn't come.  It's a day to remember those who have served our country.  It's a day to fly the American Flag.  

For the first time, Dad wasn't here to put the flag out today.  So with tears in my eyes I gently unrolled dad's flag.  The flag he had so carefully put away the last time he took it down.  Today I put the flag out for Dad and the tears fell.  Tears because I miss dad terribly and because I'm proud of him for giving 20 years of his life fighting for our country.  So, for dad and for Veterans everywhere.... I say "thank you" from the bottom of my patriotic heart.

Home prices in Gilbert, Arizona continue to fall however, the decline seems to be tapering off.  Good news for Sellers and a sign for buyers that it may be time to get off the fence!

Military families and the issues they face is something that's near and dear to my heart.  Not only are these brave men and women fighting to keep our country safe, my dad was a 20-year retired US Navy Veteran, so I know the sacrifices these families make.

The Arizona Military Family Relief Fund was established to assist Arizona military families with any financial crisis that may occur.

By donating to this worthy effort, not only will you benefit from feeling the "warm fuzzies" knowing you have helped, this year you can donate up to $400 and receive a dollar for dollar state tax credit for your donation.

It's simple to do.  Just download the contribution form.  Fill out the form and mail it in with your check attached and they will send you a receipt you can use to receive your state tax credit.

Don't wait too long if you want the tax credit.  According to their website, the total donation tax credits cannot exceed 1 Million Dollars. 

You have to pay your Arizona State Taxes anyway, so why not tell them where to use the money?  Oh...and don't keep this a secret.  Please spread the word!

I was shocked when I heard the news this morning that Brown Family Communities (BFC) had gone out of business effective last Friday.  It was especially concerning since I am currently representing an out of state buyer who is just a couple weeks away from closing on a BFC home being built in their Whispering Heights community in Chandler.  So, now what?  How do I break that to my buyer and what's going to happen to their thousands of dollars in earnest money?

I received a call from a representative from BFC this morning

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I grew up in a house in the midwest that was built in the early 1800's.  I guess that's why I laugh when a buyer tells me a house built in 1988 is too old. 

The house I grew up in on Lincoln Street in Waukegan, Illinois had a cellar, complete with dirt floor.  It had a coal bin with a shoot that led from the outside into the cellar so that the coal burning furnace could be stoked in the winter, until that was changed over to an oil furnace.  I still remember the oil truck coming to fill up the tank.  The cellar was shallow so that you had to bend over ever so slightly when you went down there to do the laundry.  It was creepy.  I miss it.

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I thought it would be a nice day out for my daughter and I to browse the San Tan Village shops in Gilbert.  I should have taken into consideration this is not your typical refrigerated mall.  It was hot the day we started our trek. Something like 112 degrees...in the shade.

I was excited at the prospect of a "downtown" shopping experience.  When I was growing up in Waukegan, Illinois, downtown was the only place to shop.  But, I don't think it was ever 112 degrees (in the shade) in Waukegan.

San Tan Village disappointed me.  Just a bunch of stores strung together.  Not much in the way of ambiance at the street either.    Read More