Spending Time With Your Family

Spending time with family is important. We often get so wrapped up in the importance of money or other things in life that we sometimes forget about the most important little things. How many times can we as adults remember when our parents or perhaps relatives were too busy to spend time with us? We always remember those times during our childhood. Perhaps it made you sad from time to time. What can we do about it? Nothing except for to not make the same mistake within our own family.

It is more important than we realize to spend time with our family to bring them closer together while it is also spending quality time together. Spending time with your family over the year is something you can't replace cause time goes by quickly. Time goes by more quickly than we realize at times. It seems like yesterday an individual was a child now years later they are an adult.

We often take things for granted. Please don't take spending time with your family for granted cause its one of those things that you don't realize those happy memories you missed out on until later on in life. We often look back and wish that we could of spent more time with our immediate family or other family members, but we didn't cause of whichever reason it was at the time. It is one of those things that you can never really make up for due to time. I think it affects children when they grow up more than the parents. Children notice it when their parents don't spend time with them or they are simply too busy due to work. They might not say much due to not wanting to cause problems if they notice you are stressed out due to work or some other issue. Some parents sometimes think it doesn't bug children when you don't spend time with them.

The more family time you spend together the more you will notice a reduction in the stress in the household and less arguments among each other. Sure, you may say that you don't spend enough time with family because of being constantly busy due to working to earn money. Perhaps both parents work outside the home. Money doesn't always make people happy. Sometimes you need to ask yourself would you rather have less stress in your household and have less arguments or constantly be busy working with more stress all around you. It is a personal choice. You decide. It is possible to spend time with your family and also make money from home. There are a variety of options for working at home even for people who love to work constantly. All we can do is the best we can do. The important thing is to spend more time with our family if possible. Adopted from http://www.associatedcontent.com/

Gifts for Someone Who Has Everything!

If you are tired of giving someone the same exact gift year after year but are too embarrassed to give out gift certificates and yet you are still stumped as to what to buy this person, STAY TUNED! Here are some gifts for that person on your list who seems to have everything. What you will want to do here is pick a personal gift, a hobbies related gift and a little bit of food and place it in a colorful gift, complete with a fancy ribbon.

Personal Gifts

Here are some ideas as to what can fit into this category in your gift basket:

1. Woman - you could put together some candles, homemade soap and bubble bath.

2. Teenage girl - you could give her some hair ties or clips, shower gel, and shampoo and conditioner.

3. Mother - you could provide her with a spa day complete with comfortable slippers and a big fluffy towel or robe.

4. Grandparent - you could give them a box of soothing herbal teas and a nice mug.

5. Father - a child could provide a coupon booklet offering to do a variety of things that the father might enjoy.

Hobby Related Gifts

1. Woman - you can provide her with some nice cookie cutters, a set of colorful oven mitts, a cute timer, a set of fancy cake tins, some mixing bowls, and a cookbook.

2. Teenage girl - you can give her some folders, binders, line paper, notebooks, a diary, and some fancy, colorful pens in a nice pencil holder that you have also purchased for her.

3. Mother - you can provide her with scrap booking supplies, storage boxes, rubber stamps and embossing powder.

4. Grandparent - you could give them an interesting piece of pottery, some kitchen utensils, a set of cute salt and peppershakers and an apron with a matching pot holder.

5. Father - you can give him a set of tickets to his favorite game along with an imprinted t-shirt or sweatshirt for them to wear to that game.

Food Gifts

1. Woman - you could get her some chocolate dipped spoons.

2. Teenage girl - why not bake her some chocolate chip cookies and then dip half of the cookie into some chocolate.

3. Mother - you could simply make her a breakfast treat basket with some pancake mix in a small jar with a piece of pretty cloth over the top of it and tied with a ribbon. Of course, you will also want to include the recipe. You could also add some small zip-lock bags with chocolate chips, walnuts, raisins, almonds and pecans in them so that she can make a unique treat for herself one morning. As an added bonus, include a small, personalized size of syrup for her to enjoy.

4. Grandparent - who is always baking great treats for you, why not return the favor by simply filling a 1 or 2-quart Mason jar with your favorite muffin recipe. Decorate the jar with a scrap of fabric and tie it with a piece of pretty ribbon. Make sure that you include the recipe and a muffin tin, a wooden or plastic spoon tied with a pretty bow, a bag of fancy paper muffin cups and at least one pretty oven mitt.

5. Father - who is always busy and on the go but never too busy to forget about that morning cup of coffee. You could make a set of small tins that are filed with his favorite coffee flavors. There are lots of recipes available online and in cookbooks that you can use. Once you find one and place it in the tin, do not forget to create a tag for each one telling what it is and how much hot water they will need to make their cup of coffee. Of course there are all kinds of other great gifts that you can come up with. Hopefully, this will give you something so that you can start figuring out the “perfect” gift for that someone special, who seems to have everything, this year
Adopted From http://www.associatedcontent.com/

Reel Parnter Of The Month! Carpet Cleaning Concepts

The holidays are coming, and your guests will soon arrive. You’ve done everything you can think of to prepare, or have you? Before you answer, take a look at your carpet. Notice anything? Remember the day you moved in how bright and vibrant your carpet was? You want to recreate that look, and you want your guests to be impressed.

This year, save yourself the trouble of dragging out the vacuum, and pushing it around the house in a frantic panic to get your home presentable, only to find yourself on your hands and knees scrubbing a mysterious stain on your carpet minutes before guests arrive.

Also, don’t fool yourself into thinking you can rent a spot lifter, and do the job yourself, only to find that you’ve soaked your carpet, you’re out 50 bucks, and your carpet is still stained. Do yourself a favor this year and hire the best, hire Carpet Cleaning Concepts to get your carpet holiday ready.

Please Give Us At Call At 317 979-7777

Kids' Letters to Santa Claus

What do kids ask Santa Claus for Christmas? Here are some of their letters...

• I am trying to talk nice, and not say words I shouldn't say. I am very good to my sister, Hannah - Sara, 4, Alaska.


• Can you please help the homeless children have a good Christmas with at least something really good to eat and maybe a small toy for them to love. - Andrew, 7, Mass.


• What type of fuel do you use for your sleigh or are your reindeers just hyper? Either way, I hope you won't miss our house. - Matt, 11, Greenfield, Ohio


• I was at the mall today and I was waiting forever in line to tell you what I want for Christmas. So I really like that I can email you right away without lining up.- Nichole, 8, Tucson, Arizona


• Santa, you know how it is nowadays, my parents are divorced, so please put me on your special delivery list to come 2 nights, Christmas Eve at Mom's and Christmas night at Dad's. Thank you! - Ashley, 7, Granite Springs, New York


• It is really cold here. Make sure Rudolph wears his sweater :) and Reindeer mittens.- Donna, 9, Pennsboro, West Virginia


• Dear Santa, I would love all the presents I asked for but my mom deserves them more. I have been getting presents all year from my mom and she works hard to get them for me. My mom doesn't know how much I love her that's why I want her to have all my presents. Love, Victoria - Victoria, 12, Syracuse, New York


• I saw reindeer “footyprints” on the roof last year! - Chris, 6, Moncton, New Brunswick


• Thank you for waving at me at the mall. You really do love me! - Marisa, 4, Ogden Dunes, Indiana


• I heard you in my house this morning, but I could not find you. I heard you twice. - Candice, 9, Statesboro, Georgia


• Christmas in Australia is very hot, so remember to put on some sunscreen. - Katie, 6, Sydney, Australia


• Mommy is helping me gather together all the toys that I don't play wth anymore to give to the children that don't have any. - Rebecca, 4, Cheektowaga, New York


• Dear Santa, I have been I good boy this year, but I have had quarrels and even fights with my brother and I'm going to try and be better about stopping a fight instead of adding to it. - Austin, 10, Middleburg, Virginia


• I want everyone in the world to play nicer with each other. Mommy wants everyone to take better care of the world and Daddy just wants to read his Sunday paper in peace. - Ellis, 7, Swindon, United Kingdom


• Does your Mommy make you stop and brush your “toothes” after you have milk and cookies at each house?- Celine, 4, Wilmington, Delaware


• If my brother has been bad, do I get all his gifts? - Bradley, 8, Frederick, Maryland Adopted From http://www.greatdad.com/tertiary/

Holiday Diet

The following diet is designed to help you cope with the stress, paranoia, depression and delusion that builds during the holidays…

RULES FOR THIS DIET:

1.) If you eat something and no one sees you eat it, it has no calories.
2.) If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, the calories in the candy bar are cancelled out by the diet soda.
3.) When you eat with someone else, calories don't count if you do not eat more than they do.
4.) Food used for medicinal purposes NEVER count, such as hot chocolate, brandy, toast and Sara Lee Cheesecake.
5.) If you fatten up everyone else around you then you look thinner.
6.) Movie related foods do not have additional calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel. Examples: Milk Duds, buttered popcorn, Junior Mints, Red Hots, Tootsie Rolls.
7.) Cookie pieces contain no calories. The process of breaking causes calorie leakage.
8.) Things licked off knives and spoons have no calories if you are in the process of preparing something.
9.) Foods that have the same color have the same number of calories. Examples are: spinach and pistachio ice cream; mushrooms and mashed potatoes.
10.) Chocolate is a universal color and may be substituted for any other food color.
11.) Anything consumed while standing has no calories. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.
12.) Anything consumed from someone else's plate has no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to his/her plate. (We ALL know how calories like to cling!)

AND REMEMBER! - STRESSED spelled backwards = DESSERTS - Adopted from http://www.corsinet.com/braincandy/hdiet3.html

How Can I Find Relief From Holiday Stress?

"Every year as the holiday season approaches, I feel a sense of dread mixed in with all the excitement. It's not that I don't love the holidays, but this time of year, I find myself so frazzled by the end of December that it's difficult to enjoy myself. How can I find relief from holiday stress and still enjoy the season?"

Answer: If you find yourself more stressed than you'd like to be during the holiday season, you're not alone. According to a poll that was conducted, around 80% feel the same way. It's no wonder; all of the baking and entertaining, shopping and wrapping, relatives we don't often see (sometimes for good reason), and holiday cards can add up to a schedule packed with extra activity and responsibility. Pair that with the high expectations that most of us carry for the season, as well as the debt that often lasts for months afterward, and you have a recipe for stress -- a "stressipe," if you will -- that has many people starting off the new year already wishing for a break, and in need of some serious holiday stress relief.

This year can be different, though, if you try a combination of cutting back on activities, taking shortcuts, and adjusting your own expectations for the season. You can enjoy the holiday to the fullest without maxing out your energy, schedule and credit cards. Here are some tips that can provide relief from holiday stress.

• Make a Plan - Your first line of defense from holiday stress is to think about what it is about the season that has felt so stressful in the past. Do you always have a conflict with your spouse about whose family to see, or a conflict with the family once you all get together? Do you end up working on your holiday card list up until the last moment, agonizing over what to write, or trying to weigh whether you should send them late or at all? Do you end up spending too much? If you can make specific plans to better handle these situations, you'll be less stressed when you face them. For example, making a spending plan and sticking to it can eliminate much of the stress that comes with holiday shopping, making the whole season and the following months less stressful.
  

• Just Say No - Next, you should cut out unnecessary activities. That means anything that doesn't provide an emotional payoff that far outweighs its hassle should be crossed off the calendar. You don't need to try every activity offered, go to every party thrown, or do everything the 'Martha Stewart' way in order to make your holiday special. Really enjoying the things that you do end up doing is what will make the holiday something you'll want to remember.

• Simplify - Our society has certain expectations about what makes the season special. The good thing is that most of the activities we associate with this time of year are fun. However, it's easy to become so overwhelmed by all this activity that we become too busy to actually enjoy what we're doing. For those activities that are important enough that you'd really miss them if you didn't include them in your celebrations -- holiday cards, holiday parties, baking for friends and family -- there are ways to cut corners or otherwise simplify the experience without sacrificing what makes these activities fun. Trying a simplified version frees up your energy so you can do more, or enjoy more of what you're doing.
  

These are some general guidelines on finding some relief from holiday stress. See this article for more information on the causes and prevention of holiday stress, or check out our Holiday Survival Guide. Adopted From http://stress.about.com/

Recipe Of The Month - Caramel Soaked French Toast

Make this delicious recipe the night before and slip it into the oven Christmas morning. You will have a tasty Christmas breakfast that didn’t cause you to miss any of the excitement!

Ingredients:

• 1.) 1 1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar, 2/3 c. butter, 1/4 c. + 2 Tbsp. light corn syrup
• 10 (1 3/4” thick) slices French bread
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 2 1/2 c. milk or half & half
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 c. melted butter

Directions:

Combine ingredients in number 1 in a medium saucepan: cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until mixture is bubbly. Pour syrup evenly into a lightly greased 13”x9”x2” baking dish. Arrange bread slices over syrup. Combine eggs, milk, vanilla & salt stir well. Gradually pour mixture over bread slices. Cover & chill at least 8 hrs. Take out 30 min. before cooking. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine: the 3 Tbsp. of sugar & cinnamon & sprinkle over bread. Drizzle the 1/4 c. melted butter on top. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes. Enjoy! (P.S. If you are worried about the calories apply rule #11 on page 4!)

Ask Mike Your Mortgages Questions: Why Should You Be Excited About Indy’s Housing Market?

• Mortgage rates are at a 62 year low! - Mortgage rates haven’t been this low in 62 years. Rates are around 5% on a 30-year fixed mortgage. Mortgage money IS available and no one knows how long rates will stay this low. By the time you realize rates are going up, you will have missed your opportunity.



• Now is a good time to sell your home! - The tax credits are driving more buyers into our market every day. As the buyers purchase, this allows the move-up buyer to sell and take advantage of this market.



• It’s a great time to build! - With less demand for new homes, lumber prices are at their lowest rate in 30 years. Vendors and suppliers are being very competitive resulting in lower cost to the builder. If you are considering buying a new home, now is the time. When demand increases the prices will go up radically.



• You can buy a home with no money down! - You can still buy a home with no money down if you have VA benefits. Benefits are for full time or retired military. There is no PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) to pay with a VA loan, and the current loan limits in our area are up to $417,000. With the current opportunities in our housing market you don’t want to miss out.



• Home prices are affordable! - Falling home prices, favorable mortgage rates and the $8,000 tax credit are all contributing to phenomenal housing affordability in the Indianapolis metro area. Indianapolis was just ranked as the most affordable major housing market in the country for the 14th consecutive time.
  You can get tax credit for buying a home! (See last month’s newsletter online for more info http://www.reelestate.com/)



• Home sales are up! - In 2008 there were more than 27,000 homes sold in the Indianapolis metro area. From February to March 2009, the number of homes SOLD rose 25%, and the number of homes under contract rose 39%. In the same time frame, the number of new home permits rose 25%.



• There are incredible home buying opportunities available today! - For home purchases up to $281,000 you can get a fixed rate mortgage with only a 3.5% down payment. You can buy more home today because of a great inventory of affordable homes and historically low interest rates. Remember, real estate outperforms the stock market.
  

Reel Free Classifieds

Automobiles

• 2006 Suzuki Boulevard Motorcycle - 5,400 miles. The motorcycle also comes with 2 helmets. Price $5,900. Please call Joe at 765-215-7129.

Free Pets

• Lab Mix - I have a 5 month old lab mix beautiful dog house brokin! great dog! I’m never home so I need a family for this very loving puppy! Text me at (317) 201-1036
• 2 Black & White Cats -Free to anyone who would like them. Can take 1 or both. Please call (317) 738-9321 or (812) 343-9639

Holiday Events

• Angels Sing' at St. Luke's United Methodist Church. Featuring the Indianapolis Children's Choir as part of the 'Tapestry of Song' 2009-2010 concert season. Dec. 18-19: Fri/Sat at 3-8 PM. 317-940-9640 www.icchoir.org
• 'Food for Fun' Charity Event at Xscape. Bring canned goods and get up to $10 in free game cards, which can be used on go-karts, laser tag, bumper cars, XD Theatre, arcade games and more. Proceeds benefit Gleaners Food Bank. Nov. 13 - Dec. 11. 317-295-1782. www.thexscape.com
• 'Christmas at the Zoo' Dec. 4-30 5-9 PM. Zoo opens at noon with regular zoo activities, then the full Christmas at the Zoo activities begin at 5 PM, highlighted by the huge light show. Call 317-630-2001. www.indyzoo.com
• 12 FREE Days of Indy Christmas -
  Dec. 13 - Music & Lights in Indy with the Circle of Lights and several free concerts
  Dec. 14 - Rhythm! Discovery Center (10 a.m.-8 p.m.)
  Dec. 16 - History at home for the holidays with visits to historically significant homes in Indy
  Dec. 17 - Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA), J.K. Lilly, Jr. House
  Dec. 18 - NCAA Hall of Champions (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)
  Dec. 19 - Conner Prairie Interactive History Park (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) / Indiana Medical History Museum (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) / Indianapolis Artsgarden concert (1 p.m.) / Tommy Wills Orchestra performs (Christmas jazz, blues and classics).
  Dec. 20 - President Benjamin Harrison Home
  Dec. 21 - Indiana State Museum's Celebration Crossing (9 a.m.-5 p.m.)
  Dec. 22 - Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)
  Dec. 23 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum (9 a.m.-5 p.m.)
  Dec. 24 - The Children's Museum of Indianapolis (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)
  More Info - http://visitindy.com/12free
  

How to Avoid Thanksgiving Stress

Are you getting stressed just thinking about the Holiday season approaching? There are quite a few reasons why Thanksgiving may give us the jitters. From the stress caused by having to plan a 3-course meal for 20+ people to being questioned again by your aunt when you will start having kids or why you’ve gained 10 lbs. Fortunately, there are a lot of things you can do to reduce this kind of holiday stress.

Plan as much ahead of time as you can

From getting an early head count to planning the menu well in advance, you’ll feel much better knowing that you have at least one part of the day under control.

Lists are your best bet to avoid getting stressed out. Keep a master list of everything you need to do, along with smaller daily to-do lists and of course grocery lists. And, don’t forget the “Honey Do” list, which brings us to…

Ask For Help

Get your family to help clean and get ready for the big day. They can run errands for you, help set the table, decorate and cook along side with you.
Ask every guest to bring a single dish. With everyone chipping in it will quickly add up. Ask those family members and friends who are “culinary challenged”, to bring some chips, drinks, or even napkins and paper plates.

And, get them to help clean up afterwards.

No one expects you to handle everything on your own. If you try and feel frazzled, they’ll feel uncomfortable and won’t enjoy the day as much.

Are you worried about getting drilled about the same questions?

Practice in advance how you’ll answer those questions. If you know you’ll get questions about weight gain or your husband’s lost job, prepare yourself in advance with answers.

Practice your answers to some of the questions you’ll be getting. If you can repeat the answers out loud enough before the event, you’ll feel more confident answering them when the time comes.

If you still feel uneasy about the event, tackle it with a friend or hang out with a likeminded family member. Or, have a secret signal with your husband for “help” so he knows to come rescue you. Adopted by http://www.apples4theteacher.com/

Be Thankful!

You have interesting things happen when you have kids. Things that you are really grateful that your kid did not do—such as...

1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.
2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.
3.) A 3-year old boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant..
4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9.) A six-year old kid can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.
10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4 year old boy.
11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12.) Super glue is forever.
13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15.) VCR's do not eject "PB&J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20.) The fire department in Austin, Texas has a 5-minute response time.
21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24.) 80% of women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
25.) 80% of men who read this and try the brake fluid and Clorox mix.....(but, boys, it's toxic, so wear a mask) Adopted From http://www.surfersam.com/funny-stories/mischief.htm

Recipe Of The Month - Green Bean Cashew Casserole

If you are tired of making your usual green bean casserole you might want to give this one a try this year! It has a few different ingredients that really make this traditional holiday dish stand out! (You might want to take this recipe along with you to your family get-together. Everyone will be asking you how to make this easy and great dish!)

• 4 cans cut green beans—drained
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• 1 pound of cooked bacon-crumbled
• 1 1/2 cup shredded Velveeta Cheese
• 1 cup cashews
• 1/2 soup can of milk
  

First, mix the two cans of soup and milk together. Gently add in the rest of the ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to your taste.
Pour into a 9 x 13 dish that has been sprayed with Pam.
Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
Then top with French bread croutons that have been covered in butter. (I soak mine with butter—it is better that way.) Then bake about another 15 minutes or so until the mixture is bubbly and the bread crumbs are golden brown.
Delicious!

Reel Parnter Of The Month! Reel Painting & Flooring

With the holidays approaching fast, have you been thinking of the many things you need to do to get your house ready for that holiday gathering of friends and family.

Would the family room or kitchen look better with a fresh coat of paint? Or is it finally time to get rid of that ugly carpet and put in that gorgeous wood or tile floor you have been wanting?

Now is that to get a free estimate and schedule your job so that your home will dazzle your guest this holiday season!

Ask Us About The Reel Team 10% Project Discount!

Please Give Us A Call At 317 946-8017

Black Friday Survival Guide

Just as soon as you finish putting away the pumpkin pie Thanksgiving night, you will be getting ready for your Black Friday/Day After Thanksgiving strategy session. Here are some suggestions that will help make it a productive morning.

• Save Your Receipts - Sometimes getting up at daybreak isn't the best way to get a deal on that must have present. In fact, sometimes you can purchase the same gifts for cheaper throughout the month of December. Keep your receipt, and return the more expensive purchase. Whoever is getting the gift will be just as happy, and you can save a few dollars.
• Ask For Gift Receipts - Gift receipts can be a touchy subject with the registers at some stores. If you want a gift receipt, tell the salesperson right away. This can save time—and a headache—for the both of you.
• Compare Online - A lot of retailers offer the same sale or promotions in both their physical store and their online store. Before you head out to the mall, check the store's website to see if you can order it over the internet.
• Don't Worry About Little Things - Let's be honest. If you are getting up early to get a bargain on that super large television set you have had your eyes on for months, should you really be wasting time picking up laundry detergent? Black Friday can be a very traumatic experience for the shopper, so don't waste your strength on things you can pick up any other time.
• Bring A Friend - It may sound like a rehashing of your kindergarten days, but bring a friend. That way, you can have someone get in line to save your space which can help you get home for leftovers that much quicker.
• Go Out Later - Many stores have their Day After Thanksgiving Sales throughout the whole day—sometimes even the whole weekend. As a plus, going later in the day is much less stressful, as more parking spaces are available and the checkout lines will be shorter.
• Be Nice To Sales People - Let's face it; the people in the store are people too. If they don't have anymore of the sweaters you wanted to get for grandma, it isn't their fault. Being pleasant to department store workers is important; if they feel you are being nice, chances are they will be more willing to look in the stockroom for you. It's the golden rule; treat others the way you want to be treated. Adopted from www.associatedcontent.com

Holiday Pet Hazards and How to Prevent Them

Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas may be among the most festive and joyous in your family, but these holidays are among the most dangerous for pets. Treats, decorations and other goodies kept in your home during this time often prove irresistible to your pet, often resulting in more emergency vet visits during the holidays than any other time of year. This is why extra vigilance is required to keep your pets safe during the holidays. Below is a list of some of the most common hazards pets often face during the holidays, and what you can do to prevent an emergency from occurring.

Chocolate is among the most toxic substances a pet can consume. Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, a compound very similar to caffeine. Theobromine can be toxic to dogs and cats even in small quantities, causing vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, seizures, rapid heartbeats, muscle tremors, coma and even death. Therefore, chocolate should never be given to your pet, in any amount. If you feel that your pet deserves a little indulgence during the holiday, be sure to stick with treats made specifically for pets. These goodies are not only safe, but they are made with the ingredients your pet will love.

Aluminum or plastic wrapping candy wrappings can also be a potential pet hazard. Many pets (especially cats and puppies) are naturally drawn to the texture, bright colors, and crinkly sounds of these wrappings and often consume them unintentionally while playing with them. Consumption of these items can cause intestinal upset or even an intestinal obstruction. It is important to remember to keep all candy dishes, Easter baskets, Christmas stockings and Halloween treat bags out of your pet's reach at all times.

In addition to chocolate, many other human foods can be dangerous for pets to consume, including those high in fat and sugar. Candy or food containing nuts is also something that should not be given to pets, as nuts pose a potential choking hazard and can also cause a severe intestinal upset. Anything containing sugar should also be avoided, as excessive sugar consumption can upset the insulin levels in dogs and cats, leading to diabetes. Also, remember that alcohol and animals don’t mix; alcohol should never be given to pets, as it can prove toxic.

Many ornamental household plants popular during the holidays are poisonous to dogs and cats, including poinsettias, mistletoe, Easter lilies, daffodils, and tulip bulbs, to name just a few. In fact, cats are extremely sensitive to Easter lilies; even ingesting a small piece of the blooming plant could cause renal failure in cats and kittens. Always keep these plants out of your pet's reach or away from your home entirely.

Decorations also prove tempting for pets to play with, but can also pose an intestinal hazard when ingested. Among the most dangerous and most likely to catch your pet's curious eye are tinsel, glass ornaments, light strings, Easter basket "grass", and small plastic toys. Make sure to keep all decorations, Easter baskets, Christmas stockings, etc. out of your pet's reach at all times.

Consider backyard Easter egg hunts very carefully, making note of where all boiled eggs are hidden and hiding only a few at a time. Many pets have become sick after stumbling across and consuming a rotten Easter egg, often forgotten from a previous hunt days or weeks before. If possible, use plastic eggs instead of real eggs, making sure your pet can't get inside and consume any of the contents.

Finally, if you are planning a big gathering of friends and family at your house, make sure to consider your pet's safety and comfort before the party begins. Many pets become extremely agitated or anxious around large gatherings of people and may react unexpectedly. In addition, with lots of company in your home, the odds are greater that your pet will accidentally become stepped on, tripped over, get into something he shouldn't or accidentally let out of the house. It is a good idea to lock your pet in a quiet room away from all the activity for the duration of the festivities. Your pet will be much happier and the potential for disaster will be greatly diminished.
The holidays are meant to be a fun and joyous time for your family. By considering your pet's safety and taking the proper precautions before the festivities begin, you can head off potential disasters, reducing the likelihood of spending your holiday making an emergency vet visit.

If you suspect your pet has consumed any of the above items, please contact your veterinarian immediately. Your vet can advise you on what to do or whether you will need to bring your pet in for further evaluation and/or treatment.. Adopted from http://www.petsmart.com/uc/

Holiday Travel Guide

Whether it's just a long weekend away or a planned vacation, I absolutely love traveling and seeing other parts of the world. This time of the year is my favorite. Traveling during the holidays is a great experience for anyone. It is unique in that you get to see sites and sounds that you don't get to see any other time of the year. But travel during the holidays can also be very expensive. Here is some information on traveling during the holidays that will help to give you the most out of your trip without having to spend a fortune.

Locating the Best Airfare

Locating the best airfare can be tough this time of year. As the demand for airfare goes up, so do the prices. Listed below are a few tips on getting the cheapest airfare possible.

1. Plan your trip ahead of time - You may want to go ahead and plan your trip now. As the holiday season gets closer the prices will only go up. If possible, try to purchase the tickets for your flight about 15-20 days in advance. Never buy a ticket within 7 days of the departure unless it's an emergency because the prices tend to sky rocket.
2. Try to depart during the week - If at all possible, book your flight sometime in the middle of the week. Normally the weekend departures have a much higher demand than your mid week flights so you will find better prices if you can leave on say a Tuesday or Wednesday.
3. Think about late flights or red eyes - I have taken a few red eyes during my travels and have been on a few flights that are pretty close to empty. Airlines usually offer much cheaper airfares for you to take a flight later in the day or at night. They need to fill these flights!!
4. Compare round trip to one way - Sometimes it is actually less expensive to book one way than to do the preferred round trip fare. Booking your flight one way gives you the flexibility once at your holiday destination to decide when you want to fly back home. I prefer the round trip tickets but have found in the past that it is better for me to go one way.
5. Use the internet - I always book my flights on the internet and I almost never book it through the airline. You can find many great deals online with many travel agents such as Travelocity or Orbitz (or www.reeltravelblessing.com) Also, research "cheap airline tickets" and see what you find.

Get Better Hotel Rates

1. Use the internet - Now days you can book your flight and hotel all at the same time. Search the internet for hotel deals. There are many travel agents to choose from so compare all of them. The above mentioned sites also work well for your hotel needs.
2. Negotiate - In my travel cities there is a hotel on every corner or right next to one another. Get a price in your head and see if the hotel manager can come close to that price. If they will not come down on their price, walk away and see what happens. Many times the hotel staff is not going to risk losing you to a competitor. Hey, it's worth a shot and has worked for me.
3. Search for coupons - If you go to any search engine and type in "hotel coupons" you will get many results. Before booking anything online see if there are any coupons out there that may lower your rate. Be patient because there are many coupons out there that are expired or simply do not work.

Before you book any hotel I recommend you check out http://tripadvisor.com. This site is nothing but reviews for people just like yourself and you will get the most honest report on a particular hotel. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Ask Mike Your Mortgages Questions: What are the requirements for the new tax credits?

$8,000 First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance

• The $8,000 tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.


• The tax credit does not have to be repaid.


• The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.


• The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.
• The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.


• For homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before November 6, 2009, the income limits are $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.


• For homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010, single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
  

The $6,500 Move-Up / Repeat Home Buyer Tax Credit at a Glance

• To be eligible to claim the tax credit, buyers must have owned and lived in their previous home for five consecutive years out of the last eight years.


• The tax credit does not have to be repaid.


• The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $6,500.


• The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less.
• The credit is available for homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, the home purchase qualifies provided it is completed by June 30, 2010.


• Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit. Adopted for www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com
  

Reel Free Classifieds

Automobiles

• 2006 Suzuki Boulevard Motorcycle—It is in excellent condition, with several up grades, including saddle bags, windshield, light bar and passenger back rest. 5,400 miles. The motorcycle also comes with 2 helmets. Price $5,900. Please call Joe at 765-215-7129.
  

Free Pets

• Sharpia/Shepard mix. Fixed w/all shots current and chipped. She really needs a fenced in yard to run in. She is a great dog with a great personality. Will deliver, as I want to meet the new owners and make sure she will be all right. Call (317) 876-7600
  
• 10 month old beagle mix - He is neutered. Buster is a great dog he loves other animals & children. He has all his shots and papers will be given too. He has a crate that you can have too. Email:ramgreen@umail.iu.edu
  
• Free Cats male/female - gray one is a female and the fluffy one is a male..believed to be 2-3 years old. Call Zach at 317-603-9458 Thanks!
  

Reel Deals

• DOG KENNEL 12’ X 6’. Never used. $99. (317)496-2045
• NINTENO DS Game Guitar Hero, with cartridge and controller. Good condition. $25. (317)205-4165
• PRESSURE WASHER .6hp, gas, works good, but needs spray gun. $99. Please call (317)786-1108
• PROPANE HEATER Radiant type, tank mounted, 24,000 Btu, good condition. $28. (317)786-8342
• TABLE SAW Craftsman 10 inch, metal, 27” x 40”, stands 32½” tall, works great. $99. (317)319-2847
• TREADMILL Cadence 2300, good condition. $75.00. (317)888-2738
  

Holiday Events:

• Seventh ANNUAL Drumstick Dash this Thanksgiving Day in Broad Ripple! This event is sure to get you in the mood for Thanksgiving day. The event is hosted by The Running Company on Thursday, November 26th at 9:00AM and will benefit Wheeler Mission Ministries. We are also having a food drive this year hosted by All My Sons Moving and Storage. Bring your canned food and look for their truck! Your entry will in turn help feed the hungry in central Indiana!
• Circle of Lights Live entertainment, chosen from statewide auditions and national acts, begins at 6 p.m. with the televised show running from 7 – 8 p.m. The actual Monument light-up will occur at approximately 7:45 p.m. Nov. 27, 2009
• Sunday, Dec. 13 On the first FREE day of Christmas in Indy, Downtown gives to you …
• Monday, Dec. 14 On the second FREE day of Christmas in Indy, Rhythm! Discovery Center gives to you …
• Tuesday, Dec. 15 On the third FREE day of Christmas in Indy, the Indy Wine Trail & Downtown restaurants give to you …
• Wednesday, Dec. 16 On the fourth FREE day of Christmas in Indy, the Morris Butler House and James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home give to you …Check our website (www.reelestate.com) for more info
  On the eighth FREE day of Christmas in Indy, the President Benjamin Harrison Home gives to you …
• Monday, Dec. 21
  On the ninth FREE day of Christmas in Indy, the Indiana State Museum gives to you …
• Tuesday, Dec. 22
  On the 10th FREE day of Christmas in Indy, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art gives to you …
• Wednesday, Dec. 23
  On the 11th FREE day of Christmas in Indy, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum gives to you …
• Thursday, Dec. 24
  On the 12th FREE day of Christmas in Indy, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis gives to you …
  
• More Info At http://visitindy.com/indianapolis/web/jsp/article/detail.jsp?c=10020698:static&p=1
  

Fun Halloween Activities - Ideas for Families

Autumn and the Halloween season offer so many options for families to spend quality time together. Here are just a few ideas.

Visit A Local Pumpkin Farm. During the month of October, pumpkin farms usually have attractions like live music, hayrides, and crafts, not to mention the opportunity to hand select your very own pumpkin right off the vine.

Write A Halloween Story Together. This is a great activity to make an annual family tradition. The entire family gets to choose the characters, sometimes making inanimate objects like pumpkins and candy corn come alive. Once you create the characters, the setting and the story line, you’ll be surprised how much each family member wants to contribute to the story.
Save each year’s story in a scrapbook and read the stories from past seasons. It’s a great memory maker.

Watch Halloween Movies Together. Share an annual movie night together by renting “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” “Bednobs & Broomsticks,” “Monsters Inc.,” or “Nightmare Before Christmas.” Make some popcorn with orange popcorn salt. Serve it with an orange drink. You could even put orange or black light bulbs in the lamps just for the special occasion.

Go On A Nature Walk. Take a walk together through a hiking trail or park. As you walk, collect leaves, rocks, pinecones and other bits of nature to bring home and display in a large glass bowl. It makes a gorgeous and memorable centerpiece.

Have A Monster Mash Dance Party. There are many Halloween-themed CDs available during this time of year. Have an all-family Halloween Dance Party and dance to all the popular Halloween songs. Your kids will watch you dance and think they have crazy parents, but maybe without admitting it, they’ll also have the time of their lives.

Play “Clue”. Since Halloween is all about mystery, playing the game of Clue will reinforce the season and provide a lot of family fun at the same time.

Paint Pumpkins. Pumpkin Painting is the newest range in Halloween crafts. Carving jack-o-lanterns is a Halloween tradition, but the process is messy, dangerous and the jack-o-lanterns only last a few days after Halloween night. Painting Pumpkins is an activity everyone in the family can enjoy, even the littlest goblins.

By having each family member paint their own pumpkin, you will have a fun and memorable family of pumpkins to proudly display in your home or on your front porch.. Adopted From www.apples4theteacher.com

Fall House Cleaning Tips Make A Plan

In the past, once-a-year cleaning tasks were done in the spring. Over the years, I’ve gradually moved many of them to the fall. It just makes more sense.

If you have friends or family over for Thanksgiving or winter holidays, fall is the perfect time to do these things. It will ensure that you have a cleaner house and don’t end up putting things off until the last minute. It makes the holidays a lot less stressful!

This is a great time to organize your home. Once you get the basics out of the way, then concentrate on specific areas.

The Three Big Fall Jobs

• Clean The Carpets - According to carpeting industry experts, you should have your carpet professionally cleaned every 6-18 months depending on traffic. If you do it once a year, fall is the perfect time. Your carpet will be beautiful for holiday family gatherings and parties. Most carpet cleaning companies offer a special deal where they will come back and take care of any stain within so many months of cleaning. If you clean in the fall and one of the kids spills cranberry sauce on the carpet at Thanksgiving, you’re covered. You should also let them professionally vacuum your carpet before cleaning. They can remove more dirt than your vacuum.
• Clean The Attic - When the weather cools down, it’s the best time to get up there and get rid of your dust and mildew breeding factory! All you have to do is take a vacuum up into the attic, start at the ceilings, and work your way down. If you’ve never been in your attic or just don’t want to try this project yourself (some attics require some dangerous maneuvering), you can hire someone to do it for you. The benefit is that you will increase the air quality in the whole house. You’ll also have a clean place for storage. Be sure to use a dust mask and protective eyewear, especially if you’ve never cleaned your attic. You are going to create a lot of particle clouds floating around up there! Check for wet areas caused by roof leaks.
• Clean The Chandeliers And Light Fixtures - The beginning of fall is the best time to clean chandeliers, light globes, and light diffusers. You are probably going to have people over for the holidays, and let’s face it – that’s the only time you notice how dirty your lights are! The easiest way to clean a chandelier is to leave it where it is. Taking apart the chandelier creates a much larger job, and you might not know how to put everything back together again! Get a step stool or a ladder and clean with a damp cloth. Another method is to use two cotton gloves – one sprayed with window cleaner and one dry.

Next you should tackle the light globes on ceiling fans and other fixtures. You should do a room at a time. Detach the globes carefully and let them soak while you are cleaning that room. Rinse and wipe them clean and replace them afterward. It’s not difficult, but most people have a lot of light fixtures. You’ll notice a change in lighting immediately. Don’t forget your porch lights! Adopted From http://www.mrscleannw.com/tips

Recipe Of The Month - Crescent Mummy Dogs

INGREDIENTS

• 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations™ refrigerated flaky dough sheet


• 2 1/2 slices American cheese, quartered (2.5 oz)


• 10 large hot dogs


• Cooking spray


• Mustard or ketchup, if desired
  

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 375°F.


2. If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate at perforations, creating 4 rectangles. Press perforations to seal. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough; cut into 4 rectangles.


3. With knife or kitchen scissors, cut each rectangle lengthwise into 10 pieces, making a total of 40 pieces of dough. Slice cheese slices into quarters (1/2 slice cheese, cut in half).


4. Wrap 4 pieces of dough around each hot dog and 1/4 slice of cheese to look like "bandages," stretching dough slightly to completely cover hot dog. About 1/2 inch from one end of each hot dog, separate "bandages" so hot dog shows through for "face." On ungreased large cookie sheet, place wrapped hot dogs (cheese side down); spray dough lightly with cooking spray.


5. Bake 13 to 17 minutes - dough is light golden brown & hot dogs are hot. With mustard, draw features on "face."
   

Use Fall Sports to Teach Healthy Competition

'Tis the season for Fall sports - at the game, parents enthusiastically cheer their child's team and discuss the game on the car ride home. While most parents have good intentions, they can inadvertently discourage a child and promote unhealthy competition if they don't choose their words carefully.

First, let's define the difference between "healthy" and "unhealthy" competition:

Healthy competition focuses on doing one's best, having fun, and learning skills. It promotes teamwork and positive participation. Those who give a strong effort and strive to improve themselves usually advance. If learning or improving is the goal, children always reach it. If they happen to win, it's icing on the cake.

Unhealthy competition focuses on winning, being the best, or being better than others. The pressure to win is more important than the fun of playing or learning skills. If children put forth their best effort but still "lose," they may still feel like a failure. They miss important lessons losing can teach them, because winning is the goal.

There are three ways parents tend to promote unhealthy competition:

"Let's race!" Many parents encourage racing to motivate children into action.

Comparisons: All comparisons promote unhealthy competition. Negative comparisons, like "I wish you could be more like John," are not motivating. They make children feel inferior and are discouraging. Children usually resent the other child, even if the child did not participate in the comparison.

Positive comparisons are also problematic. When we try to build children up by putting others down, we increase the child's ego, not his self-esteem. Children may feel sorry for the inferior child or feel better than the child in a conceited way. Children could also feel pressure to always be better than others.

Even when parents don't compare them, children may compare themselves as they compete for a place in the family or peer group. If one child is good in some area, another child might believe that role is taken and pursue something else - even if they are interested in that activity!

When children compare themselves, focus on the child's feelings, interest or performance, not the comparison. For example, if a child says, "Susan's such a good violin player. I'll never be as good as she is," the parent can say, "How Susan plays has nothing to do with whether you should play or not. If you want to play the violin, do it!"

Being a poor role model: Most parents know that unhealthy competition promotes selfishness and poor sportsmanship. Unfortunately, in their enthusiasm, some parents model poor sportsmanship by standing on the sidelines yelling insults at their children and the referees. These parents teach their children to make excuses or blame others for their mistakes.

If you yell during a game, make it encouraging: "Way to go!" "Nice kick!" "Keep it up!" After an event, restrict your comments to descriptions of how the child or team did well, made an effort, or improved. Don't focus exclusively on the score or outcome. If children bring this up, acknowledge their feelings and comment on their effort or improvement. In the long-run, families who focus on competition usually increase the differences and resentment among family members. Families who encourage best-efforts, focus on skill improvement and doing one's best usually have children who are more confident and cooperative with others. Adopted From http://ezinearticles.com

ATM - MALE /FEMALE PROCEDURES

A new sign in the Bank Lobby reads:

"Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through ATM machines enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles. Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts.

After months of careful research, MALE and FEMALE procedures have been developed. Please follow the appropriate steps for your gender:

MALE PROCEDURE

• Drive up to the cash machine.


• Put down your car window.


• Insert card into machine and enter PIN.


• Enter amount of cash required and withdraw.


• Retrieve card, cash and receipt.


• Put window up.


• Drive off.

FEMALE PROCEDURE

• Drive up to cash machine.


• Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.


• Set parking brake, put the window down.


• Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.


• Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up.


• Attempt to insert card into machine.


• Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car.


• Insert card.


• Re-insert card the right way.


• Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.


• Enter PIN.


• Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.


• Enter amount of cash required.


• Check makeup in rear view mirror.


• Retrieve cash and receipt.


• Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.


• Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of checkbook.


• Re-check makeup.


• Drive forward 2 feet.


• Reverse back to cash machine.


• Retrieve card.


• Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot provided.


• Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.


• Restart stalled engine and pull off.


• Redial person on cell phone.


• Drive for 2 to 3 miles.


• Release Parking Brake. Adopted From http://www.onlyfunnystories.
  

Helpful Tips For Getting Kids To Help Around The House.

There’s no doubt that downloading videos to an iPod or text messaging requires more technical skill than loading a dishwasher. But kids who manage technology with ease struggle when asked to run a home appliance.

Clearly, they’re capable, but we often don’t do enough to engage their help. It’s sometimes easier to quickly load the dishwasher yourself than to teach your child how to do it. But with some training and reinforcement, you can not only enlist helpers, but reduce your own energy deficit in an effective parenting way.

What can we do to get kids to help?

Set up your kitchen for success. Think about putting plastic cups in low cabinets, so your kids can get their own drink at a young age. Put safe utensils & paper plates within arms’ reach; keep sharp knives on higher shelves.

Add some fun. Play music after dinner while everyone helps with clean-up. Set a timer in the morning, and reward chore completion before school with a special snack in the backpack.

Say “thank you” on occasion. I’m not saying you should be going overboard every time your kid does something to help out. A family needs teamwork to succeed, and everyone should participate daily. But kids aren’t born knowing how to help, and this is a trained and reinforced skill. By being appreciative, you are likely to reinforce a repeat performance. Also, it’s an excellent model for thankfulness, which hopefully will be reciprocated.

To pay or not to pay. There are arguments on both sides. Try to get the kids to see work as a value, and it will have value to everyone without a price tag attached. Do Mom and Dad get paid for doing work at home? Also, doing work together and sharing the burden is part of being a family. Adopted From http://parenting.thestateonline.com/

HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE?

Let's say it's 6.15pm and you're driving home (alone of course) after an unusually hard day on the job. You're really tired, and frustrated……

YOU ARE REALLY STRESSED AND UPSET ….Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw.

You are only five miles from the hospital nearest your home. Unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far.

WHAT TO DO ??? YOU HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN CPR, BUT THE GUY THAT CONDUCTED THE COURSE DID NOT TELL YOU HOW TO PERFORM IT ON YOURSELF !!!

HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE? SINCE MANY PEOPLE ARE ALONE WHEN THEY SUFFER A HEART ATTACK, WITHOUT HELP, THE PERSON WHOSE HEART IS BEATING IMPROPERLY AND WHO BEGINS TO FEEL FAINT, HAS ONLY ABOUT 10 SECONDS LEFT BEFORE LOSING CONSCIOUS. WHAT TO DO ???

ANSWER: DO NOT PANIC, BUT START COUGHING REPEATEDLY AND VERY VIGOROUSLY.

A DEEP BREATH SHOULD BE TAKEN BEFORE EACH COUGH, THE COUGH MUST BE DEEP AND PROLONGED, AS WHEN PRODUCING SPUTUM FROM DEEP INSIDE THE CHEST.

A BREATH AND A COUGH MUST BE REPEATED ABOUT EVERY TWO SECONDS WITHOUT LET-UP UNTIL HELP ARRIVES, OR UNTIL THE HEART IS FELT TO BE BEATING NORMALLY AGAIN.

DEEP BREATHS GET OXYGEN INTO THE LUNGS AND COUGHING MOVEMENTS SQUEEZE THE HEART AND KEEP THE BLOOD CIRCULATING. THE SQUEEZING PRESSURE ON THE HEART ALSO HELPS IT REGAIN NORMAL RHYTHM. IN THIS WAY, HEART ATTACK VICTIMS CAN GET TO A HOSPITAL

TELL AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THIS.

IT COULD SAVE THEIR LIVES !!! DON'T EVER THINK THAT YOU ARE NOT PRONE TO HEART ATTACK AS YOUR AGE IS LESS THAN 25 OR 30. NOWADAYS DUE TO THE CHANGE IN THE LIFE STYLE, HEARTATTACK IS FOUND AMONG PEOPLE OF ALL AGE GROUPS. Adopted From JOURNAL OF GENERAL HOSPITAL ROCHESTER

Ask Mike Your Mortgage Questions?: Should I Have A Pre-approval Letter Before I Start Looking?

While many buyers are aware that a mortgage pre-approval letter increases their buying confidence and power, most may not understand exactly why pre-approval is so important. Why should you jump through the application hoops before even beginning your home search?

First, you'll know exactly how much loan you can afford, making your initial home search much easier. Why waste your time looking at homes either out of your reach or well below your financial grasp?

Second, pre-approved buyers stand on solid negotiating ground with sellers. Sellers working with well-qualified buyers are more likely to accept the offer and less likely to stall on terms and conditions.

Notice that the topic of this column is "pre-approval," and not " pre-qualification." What's the difference? Pre-qualification is easy - you provide basic information to a lender, and in a few short minutes, you have an answer. Pre-approval requires strict verification of documentation relating to your employment, credit history, sources of income, etc. It takes more time, but is more accurate and carries more weight.

Understand that pre-approval is not binding, and is still subject to a satisfactory appraisal on the prospective purchase. If your financial situation changes, interest rates rise or fall, or the deadline passes, a recalculation will be necessary; but a little legwork now will pay off handsomely as you approach the finish line on your contract.

Please Call Mike At 317-437-5182 For The Details.

If you have a mortgage that is at a 6.00% or higher interest rate it might be time for you to refinance. Please contact Mike for a free analysis. Most customers are saving over $100 per month by reducing their interest rates!

Reel Free Classifieds

Children and Cholesterol - National Cholesterol Month!

Compelling evidence shows that the atherosclerotic process (buildup of fatty plaque in arteries) begins in childhood and progresses slowly into adulthood. Then it often leads to coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

Despite substantial success in reducing deaths from coronary heart disease in the past two decades, this disease is still responsible for over 450,000 deaths a year in the United States. Over 43 percent of the people discharged from hospitals for coronary heart disease are under age 65. Many of these adults have children who may have coronary heart disease risk factors that need attention.

Evidence shows that:

• Atherosclerosis or its precursors begin in young people.


• Elevated cholesterol levels early in life may play a role in the development of adult atherosclerosis.


• Eating patterns and genetics affect blood cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease risk.


• Lowering levels in children and adolescents may be beneficial.


• Cigarette smoking should be discouraged.


• Regular aerobic exercise should be encouraged.


• High blood pressure should be identified and treated.
  

Overweight should be avoided or reduced.
Diabetes mellitus should be diagnosed and treated.
Cholesterol levels in children and adolescents 2–19 years oldTotal cholesterol (mg/dL)Acceptable — less than 170Borderline — 170–199High — 200 or greater
LDL cholesterol (mg/dL)Acceptable — less than 110Borderline — 110–129High — 130 or greater
The American Heart Association endorses these guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program’s Expert Panel on Blood Cholesterol in Children and Adolescents. Adopted from http://www.americanheart.org/

Get To Know People In Indy & Greenwood! - Meetup.com

Meetup is the world's largest network of local groups. Meetup makes it easy for anyone to organize a local group or find one of the thousands already meeting up face-to-face. More than 2,000 groups get together in local communities each day, each one with the goal of improving themselves or their communities.

Meetup's mission is to revitalize the local community and help people around the world self-organize. Meetup believes that people can change their personal world, or the whole world, by organizing themselves into groups that are powerful enough to make a difference. Go To: http://www.meetup.com/cities/us/in/greenwood/groups/

How to Improve Your Outlook on Life!

Becoming cynical and jaded is common in a world where murder and death is on every television and news cast every day. It is possible to improve your outlook on life by taking stock of the good things, and learning to take care of what you have.

Instructions:

Step 1 - Eat a balanced diet. Eating healthy, and not weighed down with high fat, greasy foods, can help you improve your outlook on life. A healthy body feels better, and does not get tired and run-down as quickly.

Step 2 - Exercise regularly. The endorphins alone help to boost mood and give a feeling of euphoria. Your outlook on life is improved when you get your blood flowing and your heart pumping on a regular basis.

Step 3 - Keep your emotions under control. When you are feeling down, or exhausted by life and stress, give yourself a boost of hope to improve your outlook on life. Instead of having a self-pity party, list the things that give you hope to snap yourself out of your low mood.

Step 4 - Try new things. Stagnation can make you bored and sluggish in life. Try something new every day to help keep life interesting and give yourself a different perspective on the world around you.

Step 5 - Share your loving feelings with the people you hold close to you. Become conscious, on a daily basis, of the amount of love and companionship you have in your life, and thank those you love for being there for you.

Step 6 - Give yourself a better outlook on life by taking time out to do the things you truly enjoy doing. Don't get bogged down with work and responsibility constantly. Take time to read a book, go for a walk or talk to your family.

Step 7 - Manage your stress like a pro. Those who manage their daily stress with a smile are usually friendly and fun to be around. Don't turn to substances to unwind. Instead get involved with a sports or social group to unwind and let go of stress. Adopted from http://www.ehow.com/how_2253223_improve-outlook-life.html

Recipe Of The Month - Texas Chili

Here is a little different way to fix chili that you might like to try for a change!

Ingredients:

— 2 pounds beef, round or chuck, cut into ½" cubes, all white removed
— 1 small onion, chopped fine
— 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
— Salt and black pepper to taste
— Water
— 2-3 tablespoons blended chili powder, (Adams preferred)
— 1 tablespoon ground cumin
— 1 8-oz. can tomato sauce
— 2 tablespoons flour
— ½ cup water
— Rice, cheese & soft shell tacos

Directions:

In a heavy skillet, sauté the meat in a small amount of oil or shortening until it is done. Transfer the meat to a stew pot and discard the juices.

While the meat is still hot, mix in the onion and garlic, salt and black pepper to taste. Cover and let set for 30 minutes.

Add enough water to cover the meat. Put in the spices and bring to a simmer. Cook until the meat is tender. You may have to add more water if the mix becomes too dry. Add the tomato sauce and simmer another 20 minutes.

If the chili is not spicy enough for your taste, add a small amount of cayenne.
Mix 2 tablespoons flour with one half cup of water. Raise the heat under the chili until you get a good boil. Stir in the flour/water mixture and continue stirring until mixture thickens. Reduce heat and simmer about 15 more minutes. Serve with rice & cheese on a soft shell taco. Adopted From http://www.texascooking.com

Reel Parnter Of The Month! - Stone By Design

Back to School Tips for Your Dog

When the kids go back to school everything changes for your dog, too. The stress on mom, dad, and the kids, can be enormous. But rarely do we consider how the change in routine affects our canine companions. Many think "our dog is as much a part of the family as we are – he can handle it." The facts prove differently. Dogs are creatures of habit and when the routine changes they can be seriously affected.

Below are the main areas of concern and tips that might help:

Separation Anxiety: A major issue that surfaces is that the family dog no longer has the kids to play with during the day. And, maybe he is left alone if mom and dad both work. The stress that accompanies being left alone can often result in destructive behaviors and endless barking. Complaints from neighbors increase significantly during this time of the year. Follow these tips to help reduce the stress of separation for your dog.

When you leave: As you and the family leave your home don't pamper the dog and nurture him by saying in a sweet voice something like, "Don't worry – we'll be home soon. Be a good boy". Dogs are pack animals and as such they expect their leader to be firm when they leave the pack. It is best to totally ignore your dog for about 10 minutes before you leave, and as you leave the house simply make a low "growl" with your voice. While this might sound peculiar, your dog will actually be relaxed by your voice. In the wild, the pack leader growls when she leaves the pack to indicate she will return soon and not to misbehave.

Boredom: Dogs sleep a great deal during the day. But, when they awake they want something to do. It doesn't take much to entertain a dog – even if you're not at home.

Follow these tips:

Scatter feed: Dogs are natural foragers. They love to look for food on the ground and will literally spend hours doing so. Before you and the kids leave the house, distribute dry food over a wide area of your back yard, (or other treats your dog likes). You might even try hiding some treats so your dog spends time looking for them. Also consider scattering vegetables, such as baby carrots. Also, be sure to provide lots of fresh clean water to keep you dog well hydrated.

Sandbox: Build a digging pit. Dogs love to dig, so rather than trying to eliminate that natural instinct, control where they dig by building them their own special place. Build a sandbox much as you would for a child and teach your dog that it belongs to him. Bury his favorite chew toy in the digging pit and when he digs it up praise him lavishly. Bury some treats, or pieces of cheese. When he finds them, pet him and tells him he's a "good boy". Very quickly he will learn where to dig – and, more importantly, where not to dig.

Toys: Dogs love toys. But, they quickly get bored with them, or they are destroyed. First, buy quality toys that your dog will always love. For example, the Buster Cube when filled with treats is a toy he will always love – and, it is virtually non-destructible. Second, rotate the toys. Use two toy boxes for his toys and rotate them every few days. This way he looks forward to his "new toys" when you leave.

Shelter: Dogs need to have their own "home". Just as we humans feel more at ease in our home, so do dogs. If your dog doesn't have a place of his own create one for him. Adopted From http://www.happycleanandsmart.com/

Make Your Workout Fun And Purposeful

Just as the fabled turtle outran the hare, consistent people reap the health benefits of regular physical fitness efforts, said Indiana University Bloomington fitness expert Carol Kennedy. How should a newly converted fitness enthusiast begin? How about 10,000 steps a day? Not necessary, Kennedy said. Twenty or 30 minutes of continuous, rigorous exercise? Take a break -- or two or three, she said.

Exercising with a buddy helps people stick with their plans.

The bottom line with any exercise program is that it needs to be fun, have a reasonable timetable and produce an enhanced quality of life. These are things that help make it a lifestyle habit, not just a New Year's resolution, she said. "If you begin a rigorous fitness program and you crash and burn, it's like yo-yo dieting. It doesn't work," said Kennedy, a lecturer in IUB's Department of Kinesiology in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. "It's about making a behavioral change in your life. It doesn't happen overnight. It starts with making it fun and purposeful." Home videos, swimming, walking, cardio machines -- Kennedy said it doesn't matter what fitness enthusiasts choose, as long as it's something they enjoy and will continue doing.

Here are some tips to try and fallacies to avoid on the journey to fitness:

The health benefits of exercise can be experienced with 20-60 minutes of continuous or non-continuous exercise, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. This debunks the notion that these benefits, such as a reduced risk of heart disease or lower levels of sugar in the blood, only come with continuous exercise. Exercise can occur in chunks throughout the workout or throughout the day, Kennedy said.

"Why don't we look at the gym like it's a playground?" she said. "Who spends the whole time on the slide? Why not spend 10 minutes on the elliptical cardio machine, go get a drink of water, talk to a friend and then return for another 10 minutes. Make it an enjoyable experience. Think of your fitness experience as you once thought of a playground as a kid."

Goals are important and can help define a workout. Weight goals, however, are not always productive. Exercising, Kennedy said, does not guarantee weight loss. She said goals should relate to quality of life. Fitness goals for some people might involve being able to play on the floor with their grandchildren without experiencing back pain, for example.

For other people, their goal could be climbing the steps to their office or apartment without huffing and puffing. These kinds of goals can bring about great self-esteem once accomplished, in addition to improving one's health. They can propel people to set further goals and to see their exercise program as important to their lives, Kennedy said.

The U.S. Surgeon General recommends 30 minutes of exercise on most days, Kennedy said. Some people accomplish this simply with an active lifestyle. They park a little farther from their office, walk to work instead of driving, or walk to lunch instead of ordering out.

Kennedy is a big fan of pedometers, but she said walkers receive substantial health benefits from 6,000 steps a day, rather than 10,000 steps a day, as commonly discussed. She said the amount of decline in the mortality rate is significantly less between 6,000 steps and 10,000 steps. Exercising with a buddy helps people stick with their plans. Adopted From http://newsinfo.iu.edu

45 Life Lessons And 5 To Grow On

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update (Adopted From http://www.cleveland.com/brett):

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14 If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living , or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: “In five years, will this matter?”
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.
41. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.