Bliss Gifts & Décor launches its monthly “Family, Friends and Fans Day” on Feb. 18, and every third Saturday of the month thereafter.

    The specialty boutique shop located at 7th Street and Oregon Avenue will host a raffle draw in-store only. Customers interested in participating in the raffle should drop by on the day of the event and register. No purchase necessary; one entry per customer. There will be freshly made popcorn and beverages served on the house for all shoppers.

    In 2007, Bliss Gifts & Décor was founded. It is a spin-off of another company, which started as a designer of handcrafted jewelry and decoupage old cigar box purses and memory boxes.

    Today, Bliss Gifts & Décor is a specialty boutique shop that offers upscale gifts items, collectibles, baby layettes, plush toys, French-inspired and shabby chic home décor and French soaps. In October 2011, it opened its first brick-and-mortar storefront at 5202 N. 7th St. in the Windsor Square historic district.

    For more information, visit www.blissgiftsanddecor.com or call 602-354-3373

By Harvey Amwake, C.P.A.

    The tax law requires that certain tax numbers be adjusted for inflation each year. Here are some of the 2012 tax numbers you’ll need to use as you get started with this year’s tax planning.

     The standard mileage rate for business driving remains at 55.5¢ per mile for 2012. The rate for medical and moving mileage decreases from 23.5¢ per mile to 23¢ per mile. The general rate for charitable driving remains at 14¢ per mile

     The maximum earnings subject to social security tax increases to $110,100. The earnings limit for those under full retirement age is $14,640. For those at full retirement age, there is no earnings limit.

Fascinations, one of the premier romance retailers in the southwest, is partnering with Phoenix nonprofit Packages From Home (PFH) this Valentine’s Day to give back to the U.S. Armed Forces.

    Through Feb. 14, Fascinations offers a special chocolate box featuring Lindor truffles. All proceeds from the sale of the chocolate boxes, decked out in Valentine’s Day finery, will be donated to PFH. Boxes will be sold for $5 at all Fascinations retail locations, including the one on 19th Avenue just south of Peoria Avenue (602-943-5859), and online at www.funlove.com. As an added bonus, customers will receive a $5 coupon towards their next purchase in store or online.

    Packages From Home sends boxes of much-needed hygiene supplies and much-appreciated food for soldiers. Many U.S. soldiers don’t have the support of family and friends back home to send them items that are desperately lacking in the field. From razors to toothpaste and from soup to chocolate, the soldiers are limited in what they are rationed while overseas.

    For more information, visit www.PackagesFomeHome.org.

Cheap Thrills wraps ups its “Second Saturday Artist Market,” from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 11. This last event of the season features a fashion show of Valentine’s Day and vintage outfits, being modeled by some of the Valley’s best drag queens. The show will begin at 12:30 p.m.

    You also will find a variety of local artist selling their wares, as well as snacks and drinks for sale and local musicians providing entertainment. Shop for some great deals inside both of the stores as well.

    Cheap Thrills is located at 2536 and 2540 E. Indian School Road. Regular hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, and 12 to 4 p.m. Sundays. The “Second Saturday” events resume in October.

    For more information, call 602-944-2542 or visit www.shopcheapthrills.com.