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Burned Biscuits are Okay~ A story from www.truthbook.com

When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!

All my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing ... never made a face nor uttered a word about it!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I’ll never forget what he

said, “Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then.”

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, “Your Mom put in a hard day at work today and she’s real tired. And besides--a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!”

As I’ve grown older, I’ve thought about how life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people.

I’m not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I’ve learned over the years is that learning to accept each other’s faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

v Fourth of July Fun Factsv Jump In and Cool Offv Driving Gas Savingsv You’re in Good Companyv Money Mistakes to Avoidv Have you Read This?v 6 Ideas for Family

Summer Funv Katherine & William’s Corner

What did that house down the street sell for?

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Garcia GazetteNews & Views for Haymarket, Virginia & Beyond from Bryan Garcia

The Garcia Gazette is published monthly by Bryan Garcia,

Associate Brokerwww.EXITgarcia.com

Inside This Issue

EXIT HERITAGE REALTY

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July 2014 Call or text Bryan at 703-517-2574

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Fourth of July Fun FactsAfter just celebrating the Fourth of July, you may find these eight facts about our national holiday interesting ...

• Most signers of the Declaration of Independence actually signed the document on August 2, 1776.

• Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July Fourth.

• Three of the first five presidents died on the Fourth of July: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. Adams, the second president, and Jefferson, the third, died on the same day in 1826, the 50th anniversary.

• Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, was born on the Fourth of July in 1872.

• There are other countries that celebrate Fourth of July—they are Denmark, England, Norway, Portugal and Sweden. Denmark Danes and Norwegians celebrate American Independence Day because thousands emigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900s. Other European countries, like England, Portugal and Sweden, hold celebrations near American military bases and or spots frequented by American tourists to boost travel during early July.

• The Nathan’s Fourth of July Hot Dog Contest started after a disagreement among four immigrants over who was the most patriotic.

• Fourth of July become a legal federal holiday in 1938.

• Is there something written on the back of the Declaration of Independence? Yes. It might not be a treasure map as Nicholas Cage’s character claims in “National Treasure,” but there is apparently a message written upside down at the bottom of the signed document: “Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776.” It’s not known who wrote it or when. Since parchment was usually rolled up during the Revolutionary War years, it’s thought this memo served as a label.

Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, posted an 8.8 percent rise in May compared to last year, with 10 states soaring to new highs in home prices, according to CoreLogic’s Home Price Index for May.

When excluding distressed sales, all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia showed year-over-year home-price appreciation in May 2014.

Did YouKnow?

First Friday Manassas Friday, August 1st

5 PM to 9 PM Historic Downtown Manassas

Celebrating all things Surf, Sun & Sand at First Friday

in August. Get your team to-gether for a cornhole

tournament and enjoy a dance party on Main Street

courtesy of R&R Records. Lots of fun games and activities

for the kiddies at the Harris Pavilion.

AroundTown

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Send us your best water photo from the pool, beach, sprinkler,

etc. and enter to win a $25 Gift Card for

Dicks Sporting Goods.Winning photo will be

published and shared in blogs.Email photo to:

bryangarcia@exitheritage.comPlease include your name

and address. Contest runs until 7/31.

Twilight Polo at Great Meadow

Saturday Nights through September 13th

7 PM 5089 Old Tavern Road

The Plains, VAGreat for families, girls night

out, date night or entertaining clients. Twilight Polo is a

fun, exciting way to spend a Saturday night!$30 per carload

Gates open at 6:30Visit greatmeadow.org for more information.

Water Photo Contest

Jump In and Cool Off! If you’re looking to cool down and have fun at the same time, try a local water park! For more information and links to these Northern Virginia Water Parks visit www.virginia.org/waterparks.

SplashDown Waterpark, ManassasFive water areas spreading over 11 acres with “funbrellas” and pavilions, SplashDown is one of Northern Virginia’s favorite summer chill destinations. Enjoy the 770-foot Lazy River, two fast slides and a beach with more than 250 tons of sand.

Signal Bay Waterpark, Manassas Signal Bay is a 27,000 square foot aquatic fun zone boasting slides, a lazy river, water cannons and a beach volleyball court.

Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole, RestonThe Water Mine isn’t just any old-fashioned swimmin’ hole. This one takes you back to the Wild West with covered wagons, mountain slides and Pete the Prospector lookin’ to strike gold!

Waterworks Waterpark, Dale CityWaterworks is all about climbing, sliding, sprays and splashin’ good fun! Kids can climb on the hippo, take a ride down the enclosed speed slide, or take it easy by the beach pool entry.

Great Waves, AlexandriaThere’s fun for everyone at Great Waves! Catch a wave in the Wave Pool or twist and turn down four-story water slides. Little tykes can enjoy the tad pool.

Atlantis Waterpark, CentrevilleMake a day of it! Multiple pools, a giant dumping bucket, waterslides, decks, pavilions, and a snack bar are all you need.

Volcano Island Waterpark, SterlingThis Polynesian themed park includes a giant pool, two waterslides, a separate kids’ pool with a 500 gallon dumping bucket, water cannons, slides, sprayers and a sand play area.

Ocean Dunes Waterpark at Upton Hill, ArlingtonOcean Dunes takes visitors to the Outer Banks with dune grasses, rustic beach theming and a relaxed, laid back attitude.

Pirate’s Cove Waterpark, LortonCool off under the mega 300-gallon dumping bucket, fire the water cannons and splash down the waterslide!

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Minorities will account for more than one-third of U.S. households by 2025 and make up nearly half of first-time homebuyers, according to a study released in June. Source: The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University

Did YouKnow?

Driving Gas SavingsLike death and taxes, rising gas prices are unavoidable, especially in the summer. Here are some tips for saving money at the gas pump:

• Drive more slowly on the open road. The most fuel-efficient speed may be the point at which your car shifts to high gear, somewhere around 50mph/80kph. Going faster in high gear will further reduce efficiency.

• Avoid drag. Get rid of roof racks. Avoid carrying equipment outside of the car on long trips. If buying a new car, consider the sleeker models rather than boxy models. Drag can reduce gas mileage significantly.

• Avoid slow and go driving, where you race up to a stop or behind another car, brake, then accelerate again.

• Don’t be idle. Letting your car run when you’re not going anywhere wastes fuel—you can burn through one-eighth of a gallon idling your motor for 10 minutes. Turn off your engine if you expect to be stationary for more than 30 seconds.

• Stay in tune. Change air filters, motor oil, and spark plugs, regularly.

• Inflate tires correctly. Check your tire pressure often when the air temperature fluctuates. Hot air will have higher pressure, and cool air will have lower pressure. If you make radical adjustments based on air temperature, be sure to recheck the pressure again frequently.

• Fill up on gas often whenever you see a low-priced gas station rather than waiting until you’re down to your last drops and can’t look for the best price.

Here are some of the new clients who became

members of our “EXIT Heritage Family”

this past month. I’d like to welcome you!

Carol Jones (Warrenton, VA)

Referred by Candy GlascockGuillermo & Nancy

(McLean, VA) Referred by Martha Delgado

and Romi ChapilliquenPamela & Paul (McLean, VA)

Referred by Guillermo Balcazar and Nancy Delgado

The greatest compliment I can receive in a referral

from my past clients.

Welcome New Clients

You’re In Good CompanyYou may know how and why the company you work for was founded, but do you know where the word “company” comes from? According to Charles Earl Funk’s book Thereby Hangs a Tale (HarperCollins), the word comes from a combination of the Latin word con, meaning “together,” and panis, which means bread. Thus, “company” originally described a group of people who shared their bread with each other. Think of that the next time you’re eating lunch with your co-workers.

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Jiffy Lube Live Concerts Bristow, VA

Visit Livenation.com for tickets.July 25

Kiss & Def LeppardJuly 26

Dave Matthews BandJuly 27

Wiz Khalifa & TygaJuly 31

James Taylor

AroundTown

Have You Read This?Following is a list of the 10 bestselling books over the last 50 years. Have you read any of them?

The Bible: 3.9 billion copiesQuotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung: 820 million copiesHarry Potter series: 400 million copiesThe Lord of the Rings: 103 million copiesThe Alchemist: 65 million copiesThe Da Vinci Code: 57 million copiesThe Twilight Saga: 43 million copiesGone With the Wind: 33 million copiesThink and Grow Rich: 30 million copiesThe Diary of Anne Frank: 27 million copies

Money Mistakes To AvoidUnless you’re incredibly rich, you probably worry about money. That’s natural, but you’ll feel better about your financial situation if you avoid these basic money mistakes:

Not tracking your spending. Pay attention to where your money goes. Your credit card statement will help you do this, but don’t forget all the incidentals you pay cash for. With this data, you’ll find it easier to stick to your budget.

Not setting up a budget (and sticking to it). This advice may seem elementary, but many smart people don’t take it seriously. Determine how much money you realistically need to pay bills and buy supplies for a week or month, and don’t exceed it.

Not shopping around. Take the time to look for the best prices, and avoid buying on impulse. Stock up on essentials on sale, and always look for opportunities to negotiate a better deal.

Borrowing too much money. Don’t put more on your credit card than you can pay off at the end of the month. Resist the urge to buy more house than you can afford, and don’t be seduced by reward programs that entice you to buy extravagances in order to get bonus points.

Not watching your credit rating. You should be aware of your overall credit score to avoid problems when you really need to borrow money. Make sure all the information is correct, and watch out for signs that your identity has been lifted by con artists.

What is the new First Time Home Buyers

Savings Plan all about?Virginia approved a new law that allows first-time home buyers to invest

up to $50,000 in financial institutions that can be

earmarked as a first-time homebuyer savings plan. As such, any earnings or gains on the investments

would not face state taxes.The tax-free proceeds can used for a down payment or closing costs on their first home purchase in

Virginia.Call Bryan to learn more:

703-517-2574

Just Ask Bryan

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5 Ideas for Family Summer Fun1. Go on a local photo safari. We take our surroundings for granted, which means we miss a lot of the interest in our own backyards, so to speak. Give the kids disposable cameras and challenge them to come up with the best photo. Offer prizes for everyone.

2. Have a series marathon where you watch all the episodes in a given TV or Movie series, getting the whole family involved. This is good for rainy days.

3. Do a book reading challenge, where kids earn points for every book read. The points can be redeemed for whatever they like most ... money, video games, special treats, etc. Plan to discuss the books with the kids, too.

4. Take short road trips to places you have not been in your area. Make it an event, not a destination.

5. Get ready now for a fall yard sale. Have the kids clean out their old toys, games and clothes and start to price them. Get them excited about the money they might earn. Have different colored dots for each family member’s item so the earnings can be distributed accordingly.

EXIT HERITAGE REALTY

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All You Have to Do is Ask Bryan...Simply complete this form and check which Free Reports and/or Information you’d like to receive.

Email this form or fax it to: 703-753-5828. You can also mail it to:Bryan Garcia, 15030 Washington Street, Haymarket, VA 20169

or just call or text me and I’ll send it right out.www.EXITgarcia.com • BryanGarcia@ExitHeritage.com • 703-517-2574

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Bryan Garcia15030 Washington StreetHaymarket, VA 20169

www.EXITgarcia.comBryanGarcia@EXITheritage.com Call or Text: 703-517-2574

This newsletter is intended for entertain-ment purposes only. Credit is given to the authors of various articles that are reprinted when the original author is known. Any omission of credit to an author is purely unintentional and should not be construed as plagiarism or literary theft.

Copyright 2014 Bryan Garcia, Exit Heritage Realty. This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for medical, legal, financial or tax advice.

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It’s That Time of Year Again ...WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE! You may be familiar with “Best of Haymarket” Survey put out by Haymarket Lifestyle Magazine. Last year, EXIT Heritage Realty made Honorable Mention for “Best Real Estate Agency” in the area. This year, with your help, we’d like to try for the top slot.It’s easy, just follow these simple online steps:1.Go to www.HaymarketLifestyle.com2.On the lower left part of the home page, click the Best of

Haymarket 2104 Logo and start your survey.You can only vote once. There are several categories and if you vote for over 15 you are eligible to win $300.00! Please select EXIT Heritage Realty under the Real Estate Category (#50).Survey must be taken by August 8, 2014. THANK YOU!