Valentine’s Day is exactly a week away and while there’s a plethora of stuffed animals, boxed chocolates, and long-stemmed roses to purchase, consider spending this year’s day of love out on the town! Below is an extensive list of places to go, and great food to eat, this Valentine’s Day:

Valentine’s Day Dinner Special @ Panorama Grill & Lounge

February 10 – February 14

Dinner Special includes choice of soup or salad, entree, dessert, and beverage

Panorama Grill & Lounge is located at the Holiday Inn Airport, 2640 N. Lakewood Blvd. in Long Beach

For reservations, call (562) 597-4401, ext. 2390

Day of Love Jazz Concert

February 11 @ 7 p.m.

Tickets range from $40-$125

Terrace Theatre, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach

For more information, call (562) 436-3661

Sweetheart Sunday Brunch @ Fuego @ The Maya

February 12, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Hotel Maya, 700 Queensway Dr. in Long Beach

For more information, call (562) 435-7676

Valentine’s Weekend 2012 @ Sevilla

February 12 – February 14

Valentine’s menu will be featured for $49 per person, in addition to live music and Flamenco dance shows

Sevilla Restaurant, Tapas Bar & Club, 140 Pine Ave. in Long Beach

For more information, call (562) 495-1111

Queensview Steakhouse Valentine’s Day Special

February 14

Four-course dinner for $85 per person, in addition to live jazz music

Queensview Steakhouse,  435 Shoreline Village Dr. in Long Beach

For reservations, call (562) 432-6500

Parkers’ Lighthouse Valentine’s Day Special

February 14

Three-course dinner and shared dessert for $60 per person

Parkers’ Lighthouse,  435 Shoreline Village Dr. in Long Beach

For reservations, call (562) 432-6500

Valentine’s Day @ The Aquarium of the Pacific

February 14 @ 7:30 p.m.

Four-course meal and exhibits for $52 (adult member) and $42 (child member); and $62 (adult non-member) and $52 (child non-member)

The Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way in Long Beach

For more information, call (562) 590-3100

Valentine’s Day @ The Laugh Factory

February 14 @ 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.

Sweethearts package includes 2 VIP admission tickets, VIP entry, chocolates, a bottle of Veuve Cliquout, and $200 in Laugh Factory gift certificates

The Laugh Factory, 151 S. Pine Ave. in Long Beach

For more information, call (562) 495-2244, ext. 1

Whether you take in the views from a penthouse restaurant, or laugh the night away at a comedy club, we hope your Valentine’s day is spent with those you love most!

Filed under: Uncategorized ]]> http://ernstandhaasblog.com/2012/02/07/all-we-need-is-love/feed/ 0 ernstandhaas valentines-day-dinner Ernst&HaasLogo Email & Blog http://ernstandhaasblog.com/2012/02/02/the-most-over-looked-tax-deductions/ http://ernstandhaasblog.com/2012/02/02/the-most-over-looked-tax-deductions/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:05:18 +0000 ernstandhaas http://ernstandhaasblog.com/?p=1653 ]]>

Children aren't the only tax deductions these days! Check out the list below of the most commonly overlooked tax deductions.

Every year, the IRS dutifully reports the most common blunders that taxpayers make on their returns. And every year, at or near the top of the “oops” list is forgetting to enter their Social Security number at the top of the tax form – or making a mistake when entering those nine digits.

But think about it for  a minute: Do you think that’s the most common mistake…or simply the easiest to notice?

One thing we know for sure is that the opportunity to make mistakes is almost unlimited, and missed deductions can be the most costly.

Yes, friends, tax time is a dangerous time. It’s all too easy to miss a trick and pay too much. The IRS estimates that millions of taxpayers overpay their taxes every year by overlooking just one of the money-savers listed below (provided by www.kiplinger.com):

1. State Sales Tax – Although all taxpayers have a shot at this write-off, it makes sense primarily for those who live in states that do not impose an income tax. You must choose between deducting state and local income taxes or state and local sales taxes. For most citizens of income-tax states, the income tax is a bigger burden than the sales tax, so the income-tax deduction is a better deal. The IRS has tables that show how much residents of various states can deduct, based on their income and state and local sales tax rates. But the tables aren’t the last word. If you purchased a vehicle, boat or airplane, you get to add the sales tax you paid to the amount shown in the IRS table for your state.

2. Reinvested Dividends – This isn’t really a tax deduction, but it is an important subtraction that can save you a bundle. If , like most investors, your mutual fund dividends are automatically used to buy extra shares, remember that each reinvestment increases your tax basis in the fund. That, in turn, reduces the taxable capital gain (or increases the tax-saving loss) when you redeem shares. Forgetting to include the reinvested dividends in your basis results in double taxation of the dividends – once when they are paid out and immediately reinvested in more shares and later when they’re included in the proceeds of the sale. Don’t make that costly mistake!

3. Out-Of-Pocket Charitable Contributions – It’s hard to overlook the big charitable gifts you made during the year, by check or payroll deduction (check your December pay stub). But the little things add up, too, and you can write off out-of-pocket costs incurred while doing work for a charity. For example, ingredients for casseroles you prepare for a nonprofit organization’s soup kitchen and stamps you buy for your school’s fundraising mailing count as a charitable contribution. Keep your receipts and if your contribution totals more than $250, you’ll need an acknowledgement from the charity documenting the services you provided. If you drove your car for charity in 2011, remember to deduct 14 cents per mile plus parking and tolls paid in your philanthropic journeys.

4. Student-Loan Interest Paid by Mom and Dad – Generally, you can only deduct mortgage or student-loan interest if you are legally required to repay the debt. But if parents pay back a child’s student loans, the IRS treats the money as if it was given to the child, who then paid the debt. So, a child who’s not claimed as a dependent can qualify to deduct up to $2,500 of student-loan interest paid by mom and dad.

5. Job-Hunting Costs – If you’re among the millions of the unemployed Americans who were looking for a job in 2011, we hope you kept track of your job-search expenses…or can reconstruct them. If you’re looking for a position in the same line of work, you can deduct job-hunting costs as miscellaneous expenses if you itemize. Such expenses can be written off only to the extent that your total miscellaneous expenses exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income. Job-hunting expenses incurred while looking for your first job don’t qualify.  Deductible job-search costs include, but aren’t limited to (1) food, lodging and transportation if your search takes you away from home overnight; (2) cab fares; (3) employment agency fees; and (4) costs of printing resumes, business cards, postage, and advertising.

6. The Cost of Moving for Your First Job – Although job-hunting expenses are not deductible when looking for your first job, moving expenses to get to that job are. And you get this write-off even if you don’t itemize. To qualify, your first job must be at least 50 miles away from your old home. If you qualify, you can deduct the cost of getting yourself and your household goods to the new area. If you drove your own car, your mileage write-off depends on when during 2011 you moved. For moves from January 1 through the end of June, the standard mileage rate is 19 cents a mile; for moves during the second half of the year, a 23.5 cents a mile rate applies. IN either case, boost your deduction by any amount you paid for parking and tolls.

7. Military Reservists’ Travel Expenses – Members of the National Guard or military  reserve may tap a deduction for travel expenses to drills or meetings. To qualify, you must travel more than 100 miles from home and be away from home overnight. If you qualify, you can deduct the cost of lodging and half the cost of your meals, plus an allowance for driving your own car to get to and from drills. For qualifying trips during January through June, 2011, the standard mileage rate is 51 cents a mile; for driving during the second half of the year, the rate is 55.5 cents a mile. In any event, add parking fees and tolls.

8. Deduction of Medicare Premiums for the Self-Employed – Folks who continue to run their own businesses after qualifying for Medicare can deduct the premiums they pay for Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D and the cost of supplemental Medicare (medigap) policies. This deduction is available whether or not you itemize and is not subject to the 7.5% of AGI test that applies to itemized medical expenses. One caveat: You can’t claim this deduction if you are eligible to be covered under an employer-subsidized health plan offered by your employer (if you have a job as well as your business) of your spouse’s employer.

9. Child-Care Credit – A credit is so much better than a deduction; it reduces your tax bill dollar for dollar. So missing one is even more painful than missing a deduction that simply reduces the amount of income that’s subject to tax. You can qualify for a tax credit worth between 20% and 35% of what you pay for child care while you work. But if your boss offers a child care reimbursement account – which allows you to pay for the child care with pre-tax dollars – that might be a better deal. If you qualify for a 20% credit but are in the 25% tax bracket, for example, the reimbursement plan is the way to go. In any case, only expenses for the care of children under age 13 count.

10. Estate Tax on Income in Respect of a Decedent – This sounds complicated, but it can save you a lot of money if you inherited an IRA from someone whose estate was big enough to be subject to the federal estate tax. Basically, you get an income-tax deduction for the amount of estate tax paid on the IRA assets you received. Let’s say you inherited a $100,000 IRA, and the fact that the money was included in your benefactor’s estate added $45,000 to the estate-tax bill. You get to deduct that $45,000 on your tax returns as you withdraw the money from the IRA. If you withdraw $50,000 in one year, for example, you get to claim a $22,500 itemized deduction on Schedule A. That would save you $6,300 in the 28% bracket.

11. State Tax Paid Last Spring – Did you owe tax when you filed your 2010 state income tax return in the spring of 2011? Then, for goodness’ sake, remember to include that amount in your state-tax deduction on your 2011 federal return, along with state income taxes withheld from your paychecks or paid via quarterly estimated payments.

12. Refinancing Points – When you buy a house, you get to deduct in one fell swoop the points paid to get your mortgage. When you refinance, though, you have to deduct the points on the new loan over the life of that loan. That means you can deduct 1/30th of the points a year if it’s a 30-year mortgage. That’s $33 a year for each $1,000 of point you paid – not much, maybe, but don’t throw it away.

13. Jury Pay Turned Over to Your Employer – Many employers continue to pay employees’ full salary while they serve on jury duty, and some impose a quid pro quo: the employees have to turn over their jury pay to the company coffers. The only problem is that the IRS demands that you report those jury fees as taxable income. To even things out, you get to deduct the amount you give to your employer.

14. American Opportunity Credit – This tax credit is available for up to $2,500 of college tuition and related expenses paid during the year. The full credit is available to individuals whose modified adjusted gross income is $80,000 or less ($160,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return). The credit phased out for taxpayers with incomes above those levels. This credit is juicier than the old Hope credit – it has higher income limits and bigger tax breaks, and it covers all four years of college. And if the credit exceeds your tax liability, it can trigger a refund.

15. Deduct Those Blasted Baggage Fees – In recent years airlines have been driving passengers batty with extra fees for baggage and for making changes in their travel plans. All together, such fees add up to billions of dollars each year. If you get burned, maybe Uncle Sam will help ease the pain. If you’re self-employed and traveling on business, be sure to add those costs to your deductible travel expenses.

16. Credit for Energy-Saving Home Improvements – Although this credit has been scaled back, it still exists and might save you some money if you made energy-saving home improvements during 2011. The credit is worth 10% of the cost of qualifying energy savers including new windows and insulation. The maximum credit is $500 and, if you claimed this credit in the past, you’re probably out of luck now. That $500 is the maximum credit allowed on all tax returns from 2006-2011.

17. Additional Bonus Depreciation – Business owners can write off 100% of the cost of qualified assets placed in service during 2011. This break applies only to new assets with recovery periods of 20 years or less, such as computers, machinery, equipment, land improvements and farm buildings. So don’t miss out on this big tax benefit if you placed business assets in service during 2011.

18. Break on the Sale of Demutualized Stock – Taxpayers won an important court battle with the IRS over the issue of demutualized stock. That’s stock that a life insurance policyholder receives when the insurer switches from being a mutual company owned by policyholders to a stock company owned by stockholders. The IRS‘s longstanding position was that such stock had no tax basis, so that when the shares were sold, the taxpayer owed tax on 100% of the proceeds of the sale. But after a long legal struggle, a federal court ruled in 2009 that the IRS was wrong. The court didn’t say what the basis of the stock should be, but many experts think it’s whatever the shares were worth when they were distributed to policyholders. If you sold stock in 2011 that you received in a demutualization, be sure to claim a basis to hold down your tax bill.

19. Home-Buyer Credit – Most people think this credit expired in 2010…and it did for most homeowners. But, there’s a special rule for members of the uniformed armed services, the foreign service, or the intelligence community who were on extended duty outside the United States at least 90 days during the period after December 31, 2008, and ending before May 1, 2010. If you qualify and you bought a home before May 1, 2011, you may qualify for a tax credit worth $8,000 (for home buyers who didn’t own a home in the three years leading up to the purchase of a new home) or $6,500 (for longtime homeowners who continuously owned a home for at least five of the eight years leading up to the purchase of a new home).

So as you prepare to file your taxes this year, look over this list for any possible deductions you may have. After all, any deduction is better than none!

Textbooks are just one of many items that can be rented instead of purchased!

When it comes to renting versus buying, the first thing that usually comes to mind is real estate – renting a home versus buying one. But apparently there are more options out there in regards to renting versus buying. It may be a buyer’s market when it comes to real estate, but there are still many things you’re often better off renting. Of course, there’s no substitute for ownership if you truly need an item for repeated use, but if you’re only going to use something once in a while, why pay full price when you can borrow it for a lot less? Provided by Kristin Colella of Yahoo! Finance, here are 10 things you should rent instead of buy:

1. Designer Dresses: Designer gowns and dresses were once out of reach to most of us, affordable only to glitzy celebrities and those with a healthy cushion of disposable income. Now thanks to some hip rental companies, women with more modest means can wear red-carpet-worthy pieces for a fraction of the retail price. Wear Today Gone Tomorrow, for example, rents out dresses and accessories by top designers, many for 90% off the retail price, such as a Kay Unger strapless silk ruched dress for $57 for a 7-day rental (retails for $570). Just keep in mind that the company tacks on a $10 cleaning fee for all dresses. Rent the Runway also lends out dresses by more than 100 designers, including Vera Wang, Missoni, and Diane von Furstenberg, plus accessories such as jewelry and shawls. Both companies send the rental dress of your choice of mail, and Rent the Runway throws in a second size for free just in case the first one doesn’t fit.

2. Tools: While everyone should probably own a basic toolbox, when it comes to bigger power tools that you may only need for a special project, you can save money by renting. The Home Depot rents out a variety of tools for the occasional home repair or maintenance project. For instance, you can rent a 20-inch gas chainsaw from your local Home Depot for $63 a day – a good value, considering that buying one from the store can cost anywhere from $200-$570, according to homedepot.com.  You can also rent a carpet cleaner from most Home Depot locations for $18 for 4 hours, or $24.97 for the day. According to homedepot.com, most carpet cleaners at the store cost $150 or more to purchase.

3. Handbags: Like dresses, you can rent designer handbags for a considerable amount less than the retail price. Bag Borrow or Steal rents out handbags by hot designers like Tory Burch, Prada, Michael Kors, and Fendi on a weekly, monthly, or seasonal basis. Another service is Handbag Envy, which rents bags for the week or month by designers such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Gucci.

4. Caskets: The only thing spookier than a funeral is the price tag that comes along with it. Purchasing a casket alone can cost an arm and a leg, with the average metal casket priced at $2,295 and the average wooden casket costing $2,865, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. Believe it or not, though, buying a casket isn’t your only option – many funeral homes actually offer casket rentals for the funeral services, which can save you a good amount of money. Rental caskets look like any other to the casual observer, but inside they contain an insert where the body is placed that is removed after the services.

5. Textbooks: As if college tuition fees aren’t high enough these days, the cost of books can also make a dent in your savings. According to the College Board, books and other course materials at a 4-year public college cost students $1,168 on average for the 2011-2012 academic year. One way to save money is by borrowing textbooks by services such as campusbookrentals.com, which rents new and gently used textbooks for a good amount less than the cost of buying the book new and, in many cases, used. For instance, the Longman Anthology of British Literature, Volumes 1A, 1B and 1C rents fro $23.12 for the semester – about a third of its list price of $66.67. Other sites that offer book rentals include half.com and chegg.com.

6. Camping Gear: Ahh, the great outdoors. Many of us daydream about spending more time with Mother Nature, but few of us get around to actually going on regular camping trips. For those who can only go camping once or twice a year, it’s probably best to rent your equipment. The popular sporting goods store REI offers rentals for a variety of camping essentials, including tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, paddling gear, and camping stoves. At most REI locations, for instance, you can rent a 4-person tent for $45 the first day and $10 for every additional day – which equals $55 for a weekend. Meanwhile, most 4-person tents on rei.com cost in the $200 and $300 range.

7. Trucks: When it comes to that occasional home improvement project that requires you to transport a heavy load, it’s probably not worth it to buy your own pickup truck – and you certainly don’t want to risk damaging the car you already own. The Home Depot lets you rent a pickup truck for $19 for the first 75 minutes, or $69 for a day, which is available at most of its retail locations. All you’ll need is a driver’s license, a valid vehicle insurance card, and a major credit card.

8. Parking Spots: One of the most frustrating things about driving is finding a place to park, especially in a busy city city or a congested town square. Luckily, there are a variety of services out there that allow you to rent spots, often at a rate significantly lower than commercial car parks or on-street meters. You can book a spot with the click of a mouse through sites such as parkatmyhouse.com and craigslist.org – whether you need a spot on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

9. Bikes: If you only go biking once in a while, or are an avid cyclist but don’t feel like transporting your bike every time you travel, renting could be a good option. You can rent bikes at low rates from services such as rentabikenow.com, which partners with more than 250 bike shops around the country to help people find a bike near their current location.

10. Furniture: If you’re decorating a house you plan on living in for years to come, we won’t argue with you if you choose to buy your furniture. But if you are hosting a special event at your home that requires some additional seating and tables, are living somewhere temporarily, or are selling and want to stage your home with fresh pieces, renting might make the most sense. Cort provides a host of stylish choices, including sofas, accent chairs, dining tables and rugs, as well as complete sets for your living room, bedroom and dining room. The living room set, for instance, includes a sofa, accent chair, cocktail table, end table, and silver tear-drop table lamp for $265 per month.

Wikipedia is one of numerous web sites to go black today in protest of SOPA and PIPA.

You may have already noticed by now, but some of our favorite Web sites such as Wikipedia, Craigslist, and Google have gone black today, protesting the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). There’s a lot to be said about both bills, and surely a lot more to protest. Lifehacker.com couldn’t have said it better:

SOPA and PIPA are two bills that sound like they have a mildly positive aim but, in reality, have serious potential to negatively change the internet as we know it. Both SOPA and PIPA put power in the hands of the entertainment industry to censor sites that allegedly ‘engage in, enable or facilitate’ copyright infringement. This language is vague enough to target sites you use every day, like Facebook and Google, making these bills a serious problem.

The idea behind these bills sounds reasonable. They came about in order to try and snuff out piracy online, as the entertainment industry is obviously not excited that many people are downloading their products without payment or permission. The issue is, however, that it doesn’t really matter whether you’re in support of piracy, against it, or just don’t care. The methods are ineffective. Here’s what they are and why they’re problematic:

1. SOPA and PIPA were initially designed to make it possible for companies to block the domain names of web sites that are simply capable of, or seem to encourage copyright infringement. This would have been bad for everyone because such a measure doesn’t actually prevent piracy. The reason that blocking a domain name isn’t effective is because any blocked site can still be accessed via its numeric IP address. In fact, before the bills were even supposed to come to a vote, tools were created to automatically route domain names to their IP addresses to completely render this measure of SOPA and PIPA useless. As a result, the IP-blocking provisions have been removed from both bills.

2. The other, still-active measure present in the SOPA and PIPA bills would allow rights holders to cut the source of funding of any potential infringing web site. This means any other companies doing business with this site would have to stop. Whether that means advertising, links in search engines, or any other listings would have to be removed.

While the Obama administration has come out against SOPA, effectively shelving it indefinitely, the very similar PIPA bill is still alive and well.

As stated before, there’s a ton of information out there in regards to SOPA and PIPA. The best way to protest these bills is to become informed and to contact your congressperson via phone or mail. Let your voice be heard and help keep the internet free!

Spending an hour a day technology-free can help improve anyone's quality of life!

It’s been a couple of weeks since we’ve made our New Year’s resolutions and while some of us are still going strong, the majority of us have probably already caved in. Good news is everyday can be given a new resolution, and even if the resolution isn’t life-altering, it can still make your quality of life better. Here are some simple ways to make your life – and 2012 – a little sweeter:

• Walk just 1/2 mile extra per day and log more than 180 miles extra a year. Mark it off and do it at the same time each day. Bring your dog along if you have one.

• Trim 100 calories per day. Cut down, don’t eliminate, a favorite snack. It will end up saving you 36,500 calories and more than 10 pounds each year.

• Go technology-free for one hour each day. Spend that 60 minutes relaxing and rejuvenating. By the end of the year, you’ll have spent more than 15 days in your calm place.

• Volunteer two hours weekly. Commit to the schedule – no more, no less. You’ll give more than four days of time in a year.

• Practice a new balance or stretching exercise for five minutes each day and get in 30 hours of extra activity a year. Try it when you get up or before you go to bed.

Happy 2012!

As this new year kicks into full gear, Ernst & Haas has its foot on the pedal! Although many changes were made throughout 2011, we are excited to start fresh with a new year, meaning new goals, new ideas, and new opportunities.

First, Ernst & Haas tenants are now able to submit maintenance requests online at www.MyRentalList.com. Tenants are now able to pay rent, submit and track maintenance requests, and view account information by logging into the Tenant Portal. This is a huge advancement on our Web site as it allows tenants access to their account without having to call or come in.

Next (if you haven’t already noticed), is our blog. We wanted to freshen up our blog and prepare for a year filled with informative and fun blogs. Have any blog ideas? Email them over to marketing@ernstandhaas.com. In addition to the blog, we will continue to produce quarterly newsletters, as well as update our Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channel.

Last, Ernst & Haas will be spending a lot more time out in the community in 2012, volunteering and helping out organizations that work for nothing more than to better our community. Check back in with our blog periodically for event updates – we’d love for you to join us!

We are confident this year will be full of growth and success and we look forward to continuing to serve you and our community in a variety of ways!

Ernst & Haas would like to wish you and your family a wonderful and safe holiday! We hope your day is filled with what makes you most happiest!

We will be closed tomorrow, December 24 in observance of Christmas Eve. We will re-open on Monday, December 26 with our regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Happy Holidays!

Thank you to those that participated in the Spark of Love Toy Drive! Because of our efforts, we were able to hand over a bin full of brand new toys to the Long Beach Fire Department!

It was a pleasure coming together and collecting toys for kids and families in need throughout Long Beach. Nothing gets us more in the holiday spirit than knowing we’ve helped others! Happy Holidays!

More than 12 tons of snow will cover the grounds of Veterans Park for this year's Snow Day!

Christmas is only 11 days away, and if you aren’t already stressed by the pressures of completing your shopping and hosting your annual holiday party, you most likely will be…very soon! So take a breather and enjoy the season! Here are some fun events in Long Beach that require nothing of you other than pure participation:

Naples Boat Parade

December 17, 2011, 6 – 8 p.m.

Napals Canals in Long Beach

www.naplesca.org

The Nutcracker

December 17, 2011, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m & December 18, 2011, 12 p.m. & 4 p.m.

Long Beach Terrace Theatre, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach

www.longbeachballet.com/nutcracker

Snow Day and Movie Night

December 26, 2011, 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. Movie

Veterans Park, 101 E. 28th St. in Long Beach

www.longbeach.gov/district7/daisyparade.asp

Filed under: Uncategorized ]]> http://ernstandhaasblog.com/2011/12/14/wrapping-up-the-season/feed/ 0 ernstandhaas snow Ernst&HaasLogo Email & Blog http://ernstandhaasblog.com/2011/12/13/what-to-do-before-you-travel/ http://ernstandhaasblog.com/2011/12/13/what-to-do-before-you-travel/#comments Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:08:32 +0000 ernstandhaas http://ernstandhaasblog.com/?p=1563 ]]>

Have a trusted neighbor collect your mail for you while you're out of town.

Last week, we shared ways you can travel stress-free this holiday season. But before you board that plane, here are some things you need to take care of before leaving your home:

-Let credit card companies and the bank know that you are traveling and that there might be strange purchases in strange places. This helps them track what’s fraud and what’s not.

-If leaving pets at home, make sure to make kennel reservations, or have a neighbor, friend, or relative tend to them.

-Notify trusted neighbors that you will be out of town so they can keep an eye out for any unwanted activity. Also have them collect your mail if you’re not having it forwarded.

-Unplug small appliances, televisions, and computers. Also be sure to close and lock all doors, windows, and garages.

-Plan ahead for prescription refills and make sure any bills that are due while you’re gone are taken care of ahead of time.

-Remove unneeded credit cards and debit cards from your wallet, and replace with a copy of your passport, just in case you’re out of the country and your passport gets lost or stolen.

-Set up an outgoing message on your voicemail and email stating how long you will be gone and when you’ll return.

Traveling during the holiday season doesn't have to be stressful!

Traveling over the holidays can be notoriously busy, expensive, and stressful, but the news isn’t all bad! Here are some tips – courtesy independenttraveler.com – to make holiday traveling a breeze:

• Avoid Peak Travel Dates. Because Christmas and New Year’s Day both fall on Sundays this year, be aware that the Friday before and the Monday after will be extremely busy travel days. Also keep in mind that with each successive day, it gets a little busier and more expensive.  Bottom line: Travel off-peak whenever possible.

• Know Your Airports. Checking alternate airports is a pretty standard tactic, but actually choosing to go with an alternate airport can prove to be beneficial as their parking, rental cars, traffic to and from, and nearby hotels can save both time and money. Also, remember that smaller airports see fewer flights and, typically, fewer delays.

• Plot Connections Carefully. When booking flights, check for sufficient time during layovers, and build in some time for flight delays and weather woes. Particularly during the winter months, peak travel times often bring peak travel delays, and your connection is more likely to be jeopardized.

• Leave Early. During peak travel times, much of the trouble you’ll face lies on this side of the security check-in, from traffic jams and full parking lots to absent shuttles and long lines. Leave for the airport early to anticipate all the peripheral delays you may encounter.

• Pack Wisely. If possible, try packing everything into your carry-on without having to check any baggage. Keep in mind that most airlines are now charging travelers a fee for checking any bags on domestic flights.

• Use the Web. The latest self-service developments in online travel can be tremendous time-savers during peak travel times. Whenever possible, print your boarding passes at home or use check-in kiosks.

• Travel Early or Late in the Day. As a rule, airports are least congested at times when normal human beings would rather be at home or even asleep. Delays are far less likely for morning flights, and airports usually unclog as the afternoon and evening peak passes.

• Additional Tips:

-Gas up the night before you travel and give your cell phone a full charge.

-Take along books, magazines, etc. to help you get through delays. This is especially important when traveling with children.

-Have phone numbers for everything: your hotel, car rental agency, airline, friends and family at your destination, etc. This will help you avoid the cost of using directory assistance.

-If you’ll be using long-term airport parking, be sure to reserve yourself a spot ahead of time at an off-airport lot.

-Don’t wrap gifts, especially if you intend to carry them on the plane. Even in checked baggage, there is a strong chance they will be unwrapped for inspection by security personnel.

• Important TSA Regulations:

-Liquids and gels that are packed in carry-ons must be in individual containers of 3.4 ounces or less and placed inside one clear, quart-size, plastic, zip-top bag (only one bag permitted per passenger). This also applies to perfume, alcohol, liquid and gel-based cosmetics (i.e. foundation, mascara, lip gloss, etc.), and any other liquid or gel item. If more than 3.4 ounces of any liquid or gel is needed, it should be packed in your checked luggage.

-The above regulations do not apply to prescription medications and formula, but the TSA does prefer that those items are packed in their original labeled containers.

Ernst & Haas wished you happy and safe travels this holiday season!

In an effort to collect as many toys as possible for the Spark of Love Toy Drive, Ernst & Haas will waive application fees in exchange for donations of new, unwrapped toys ($10 value or more)! The promotion will end Friday, December 16. Only 1 application fee will be waived per group.

The Spark of Love Toy Drive is in partnership with the Long Beach Fire Department and services families and children in need throughout Long Beach.

So if you were thinking about renting from us, this is the time to do it! Just don’t forget to stop by your favorite store on your way to our office to purchase your toy donation!

Donations of new, unwrapped toys are now being accepted for the Spark of Love Toy Drive!

Join the Long Beach Fire Department and Ernst & Haas Management Co. as we collect toys for the Spark of Love Toy Drive!

Donations of new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at any fire station and CVS throughout Long Beach, as well as our office – located at 4000 Long Beach Blvd. Ste. 105 in Long Beach – from now until December 19!

This is a great opportunity to give to those in need in our own community! We hope you partner with us in an effort to give kids the Christmas they deserve!

For more information, call our office at (562) 989-9835, or visit www.SparkOfLove.org.

The 29th Annual Parade of 1000 Lights will illuminate Long Beach this Saturday at 7 p.m.

‘Tis the season for joyful melodies, decorated trees, homemade goodies, and jolly gift-giving! December is just around the corner and before you fill your calendar up with White Elephant gift exchanges and family gatherings, here are a few things you can do in Long Beach (and surrounding areas) to kick-off the most wonderful time of the year:

Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade & Holiday Cruises 2011

December 1, 2011 – December 31, 2011, 5:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Adults: $30 & Juniors: $25

Newport Landing, 309 Palm St. #A in Newport Beach

www.christmasparadeboats.com

29th Annual Belmont Shore Christmas Parade

December 3, 2011, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

15th Block Stretch of Second Street in Belmont Shore, Long Beach

www.belmontshore.org

Long Beach Symphony Holiday Celebration

December 3, 2011, 6:30 p.m. & December 4, 2011, 2 p.m.

Terrace Theater, 300 E. Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach

www.lbso.org

29th Annual Parade of 1000 Lights

December 3, 2011, 7 p.m.

Downtown Long Beach Marina in Long Beach

www.shorelineyachtclub.com

Old Time Christmas Festival

December 4, 2011, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

$3 Doantion

Rancho Los Cerritos, 4600 Virginia Rd. in Long Beach

www.rancholoscerritos.org

There are many more events coming to Long Beach this month and Ernst & Haas will keep you in the loop each week! Have fun out there and don’t forget to spread some cheer!

Filed under: Uncategorized ]]> http://ernstandhaasblog.com/2011/11/30/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/feed/ 0 ernstandhaas 1000 Lights Ernst&HaasLogo Email & Blog http://ernstandhaasblog.com/2011/11/22/leftover-lowdown/ http://ernstandhaasblog.com/2011/11/22/leftover-lowdown/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:14:02 +0000 ernstandhaas http://ernstandhaasblog.com/?p=1536 ]]>

Thanksgiving Feast = Thanksgiving Leftovers!

Thanksgiving leftovers are the best kind of leftovers out there! But as with most leftovers, avoiding bacteria and spoiling is vital. Here are some helpful tips:

• Put food away within two hours. Bacteria rapidly begins to multiply at this point.

• Store leftovers in airtight, shallow containers. Containers should be 2-inches deep or less.

• Remove turkey from the bone. Store it separately from the stuffing and gravy.

• Use refrigerated, cooked turkey within 3-4 days. Use stuffing and gravy within one or two days.

• Leftover casseroles and cooked vegetables should be eaten within 3-4 days.

• Finish fruit and cream pies within 2-3 days.

• Reheat any leftovers to 165 degrees. Bring gravy to a steady boil on the stove before serving it a second time. Microwaving leftover gravy until hot is not enough to kill harmful bacteria.