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