How to Help The Less Fortunate During the Holidays

If you are thinking about doing something to help those in need, the holidays are the perfect time to open your heart and wallet to give back. For advice and tips on how you can give back, see our page on How to Help The Less Fortunate During the Holidays.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, the holidays can be a time to reflect on all of the things that you have to be thankful for (Friends, Family, Food, Work, etc). But it can also be a great opportunity to turn your attention to individuals and families who may, for one reason or another, not be as fortunate as you. Here are some tips on giving back this holiday season.
Step 1: Find A Local Charity - The first step to volunteering is to find a charity that needs help during the holiday season. Since you're probably going to be volunteering in your free time, it's usually a good idea to find one relatively close to your home. Here are some tips for finding a local charity: Start by doing an online search. Check out volunteer search services such as Network for Good, Volunteer Match and 1-800-Volunteer to help locate and identify charities in your area. Simply type in your state and zip code. Contact your local religious institution to find out if they have any volunteer opportunities available for the holiday season. Make a list of 4 or 5 charities in your area that you might want to volunteer for.
Step 2: Contact Those Charities - Start by calling each of the charities or organizations on your list. Ask to speak to whoever coordinates their charitable programs. Find out if they actually need volunteers. Some organizations may have all of the volunteers that they need or can handle, so it's always good to find out beforehand. If they do need help, inquire about how you can go about signing up to volunteer.
Step 3: Decide How You Want To Help
While most people picture volunteering as helping serve a large buffet dinner, soup kitchens and food banks usually need help in a number of areas. Here are some other areas you might want to think about helping out with: Pick up food or clothing donations and/or do an inventory of the items. If you have cooking skills, offer to help cook the meal. Help set up for and clean up after the meal. Put up promotional flyers for the event. Donate Food If you don't have enough free time to volunteer, another great way to help out is to donate food to a local charity or food bank. Food donations are welcome any time of year, but are especially helpful during the holiday season. Here are a few tips for donating food.
Things to Keep In Mind - Call your local charity or food bank and inquire about exactly what types of food they need. Each organization is different and may have different needs. Most food banks prefer non-perishable canned food items, such as canned vegetables, soups, sauces, etc. Organizations that serve free meals may appreciate perishable food items as well. If you're feeling really ambitious, you can hold a food drive and invite others to help you collect food. Donate food to your local food bank Take any food that you have collected directly to your local food bank. Make sure that you check the expiration dates on any food items you will be donating. Bad food is worse than no food at all. Adopted from www.mahalo.com

Monthly Stress Reducer - MAD GIFT GIVING GUIDE

Exchanging gifts, while fun in theory, offers endless potential for aggravation: Thronging crowds, ransacked stores, confusion, indecision, cash depletion and, finally, the belated knowledge that you bought the wrong thing.
And even worse, perhaps, is receiving a spousal gift that you wouldn't buy for your worst enemy. Well, maybe for your worst enemy, but only if it's on sale.
But there is a cure for the holiday gift blues. Just substitute this agreement for those subtle hints -- the ones that are always either missed or misconstrued. Then kiss that Returns Counter good-bye. This year's gifts are for keeps.

GIFTS FOR WIFE:

1. Self-serving gifts shall be avoided. For example, Husband shall not buy Wife the following:
a. Chocolate when Wife is on a diet.
b. Tight clothing meant to encourage Wife to diet.
c. Anything transparent.
2. Husband shall not give Wife practical gifts such as an iron, a dish washer, or a vacuum cleaner... unless husband plans to use them.
3. Husband shall keep track of Wife's clothing sizes, except those Wife refuses to divulge.
4. Husband shall not give Wife anything that can be bought at an airport.
5. Husband shall not buy Wife earrings that weigh more than her head.
6. Husband shall remember that gifts should be personal. Gift certificates, checks, and wads of cash are not personal...unless large enough to buy a diamond watch.
7. Husband shall avoid all of the following:
a. His former girl-friend's favorite fragrance.
b. His mother's favorite fragrance.
c. Anything Wife admires on someone else, unless Husband confirms candor of compliment.
8. Husband is encouraged to buy Wife gifts in the following categories:
a. Anything Wife specifically requests.
b. Catalogue items discreetly circled by Wife.
c. Any object containing silver, platinum, and/or gold.

GIFTS FOR HUSBAND:

1. Wife shall not give Husband anything that smells like perfume...no matter how macho its name or spokesman.
2. Wife shall not buy Husband home repair manuals.
3. Wife shall not give Husband anything "cute" or containing the word "organizer."
4. Wife shall not get Husband anything used in a gym.
5. Wife shall not buy Husband silk boxers, unless she agrees to wear a matching pair.
6. Wife shall not give Husband anything that's for Husband's own good.
7. Wife is encouraged to buy husband items in the following categories:
a. Anything Couple's twelve year old son would like.
b. Sporting equipment, provided Husband can exchange it for something with a better feel.
c. Stereo and electronic equipment, provided Husband can exchange it for something with more oomph. Adopted From www.madkane.com

Recipe Of The Month - Chocolate Raspberry Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened


• 1 cup sugar


• 1/2 cup lightly packed brown sugar


• 2 large eggs


• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract


• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour


• 1/3 cup Dutch process cocoa


• 1 teaspoon baking powder


• 1 (6-ounce) package raspberry creme filled dark chocolate baking pieces (recommended: Hershey's Premier Dark Chocolate Baking Pieces Filled With Raspberry Creme)
  Raspberry Icing, recipe follows
  

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease baking sheets.
With an electric mixer, beat butter and sugars together at medium speed until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, beating well.
In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa, and baking powder; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in baking pieces. Drop cookies by tablespoonfuls onto prepared baking sheets. Bake 12 to 14 minutes.
Remove to wire racks to cool. Once cool, drizzle with Raspberry Icing.

Raspberry Icing:

• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar


• 2 tablespoons milk


• 1 tablespoon seedless raspberry preserves
  In a small bowl, combine all ingredients, stirring until smooth

Don't Get Bit By The Clutterbug!

here's a clutterbug going around. It starts with a sticky note, then evolves into boxes here, stuff there. Pretty soon, it's taken over. Swat the clutterbug and organize your life.

It starts off as small as a sticky note. Soon, it's a pile of stuff. Then, just when you least expect it, you discover that the Clutter bug is running amuck, all over your home and office. If you don't watch out, you'll get bit. The consequences are stress, lost time, lost productivity, embarrassment, arguments, depression and environmental chaos--just to name a few. Swat that Clutter bug now, and take back control!

• LOOK AROUND - What damage has the Clutter bug already caused? Do you see piles of paper? Are there magazines all over the place? Is your laundry out of control? Do you have 10 times more stuff than what you really need? Consider yourself bitten! Assess your situation. Make a written list of the specific problem areas. Don't just say, 'everything is disorganized.' That's too difficult a problem to solve. Instead, list things like, 'coffee table has 3 piles of paper on it' or '2 hamper's full of laundry to be washed.'


• FOCUS - The Clutter bug is strong, and needs to be attacked with very focused efforts. Choose the problem area that bothers you the most, and then focus your time and efforts on that one area. Once that area is taken care of, you can then move on to your next focus area.


• CHECK YOUR FRAME OF MIND - The only words that should be going through your mind are, 'I'm going to get that Clutter bug, no matter what it takes!' By the way, a little bit of bribery helps. Bribe yourself. Promise yourself a nice lunch out, or a visit to a movie you've been meaning to see--WHEN you're done attacking the clutter bug.


• PLAN OF ATTACK - Be sure you know how to attack the Clutter bug Read organizing books from the experts. Visit organizing forums. Hire someone to help, or ask a family member, friend or associate to assist you. The Clutter bug has a trick he plays on us. He makes our clutter seem insurmountable--too much to tackle at once. It's easy to outwit the Clutter bug, if you simply break your organizing project up into small pieces. For instance, if you want to organize a table full of paper, mentally break that table up into 4 sections (upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left) and focus on one section at a time.


• DATE OF ATTACK - Don't think you're going to deal with the Clutter bug, 'when you get around to it.' That time rarely comes. Set a specific date, mark it on your calendar, and wake up prepared and ready to fight.


• CHARGE - When the scheduled date arrives, play some motivational music, grab all your weapons (trash bags, donation boxes, cleaning sprays, etc.), eliminate distractions (ask someone to watch the kids for you, switch your phone so calls go directly into your answering machine, etc.) and charge right into attacking the Clutter bug with all your might.


• CELEBRATE - Reward yourself for all of your efforts. Tell the world about your victories.Give yourself a 'chore free' day. Do something nice for yourself. You deserve it! Adopted from http://lifeorganizers.com/

Vitamins For The Mind! - Staying Positive In A Struggle When Others Are Frustrated!

“What can you do to enable positive attitudes as the struggle continues so those around you don’t get frustrated with your struggle recovery?” Here are a couple of ideas for you:

Be an example and have the attitude you want others to have. Those who are around you the most will respond to whatever attitude you have the most. If you are going through a struggle and they see you embracing it, moving forward, looking for the bright side, and working hard to improve the situation, this will encourage them.

Express gratitude. Let those around you know that you are thankful for many things, including their support, love, and encouragement.

Understand you can’t change everybody. Some of the people around you may continue to react negatively and remain frustrated. By being the right kind of person and doing the things you need to do to help the situation, you have the peace of mind to understand that they are not frustrated with you, but with the situation. They may “take it out” on you from time to time, and after this occurs you may want to have a talk with them. The purpose of this talk will be to ask them, “Are you frustrated with me, or the situation?” Then listen. Chances are good that it will be the situation, especially if you are doing all you can. If they say it is you, then you will need to understand why. Perhaps you are doing something that they see as making the situation worse that you have not considered. If they are right, this is great news because you have more room to improve. Maybe you just need a time of forgiveness and reconciliation. Or maybe they are the ones with the problem. In any case, you need to find out if they are part of your struggle and recovery. Embrace The Struggle! Adopted From http://www.ziglar.com/

What Breed Of Dog Suits Me Best?

How much time can you spare to exercise a dog each week? How long can you spend grooming? The Dog Breed Selector is a quick and easy way to decide, from the many pedigree breeds available, which are best suited to your likes, needs and lifestyle.

To create a breed selection all you need to do is answer a few quick questions. The Breed Selector will compare your priorities with our library of breed profiles and display a list of suitable dog breeds. You can click on to learn more about each individual breed.

Of course cross- and mixed breed dogs make excellent and rewarding pets too, but as they are so variable we are unable to make any general comments about their characteristics. Adopted From http://www.purina.com/.

Go To http://www.purina.com/dog/breed-selector/default.aspx
To Find Out Which Dog Works For You!

Best Holiday Safety Tips For Kids & Pets!

Even if the house is kid-proof or pet-proof the rest of the year, holiday decorations pose special hazards. Those vintage bubble-lights from Grandma might have a frayed wire. Christmas trees are laden with choking hazards and sometimes also fire hazards. To a playful dog, some extension cords look like chew toys. And of course, a lit Hanukkah menorah is an accident waiting to happen.
No need to be a party-pooper, though! Just follow these basic holiday safety tips to keep small kids, dogs and cats safe:
— Avoid decorating with real plants like holly, poinsettia and mistletoe, which are all poisonous when ingested. Choose fabulous fakes instead.
— Place candles and menorahs out of reach of kids and pets. If a toddler is especially fascinated with the candles, consider setting up his or her playpen near them but not close enough to touch.
— Placing a screen around the tree keeps curious kids and pets out of the decorations - and the presents!
— Choose decorations carefully. Tinsel is a choking hazard (and something cats love to eat - which can be very dangerous for their digestive system), angel hair is spun glass, and these decorations almost always find their way off the tree and around the rest of the house. Better to choose different decorations altogether than to take a chance!
— Be sure adults know not to leave hot drinks where curious kids or playful pets can reach them or bump into them.
— Practice kitchen safety. Make sure pot handles are turned inward on the stove, and that pans of hot food aren't on the edge of the counter within reach of a small child. And of course, store food safely and promptly when the party is finished!
— Clean up the night after the Christmas or Hanukkah party or family gathering. A whole house-cleaning isn't necessary, but do make sure that all cups of alcoholic beverages and random cigarette butts are disposed of before going to bed - because the kids will probably wake up earlier than the grown-ups and might sample these forbidden items.
— Make sure dogs and cats have a quiet place to go in the house - they can get stressed out by large crowds and run out. Of course, a collar with a name tag on it is a good idea any time of year!
— Many accidents involving small children happen when everyone thinks someone else is watching the kids. If Mom needs to work in the kitchen and Dad's running a holiday errand, they should designate another responsible family member to watch the kiddos.
Keeping kids, dogs and cats safe during the holidays requires extra vigilance, but taking steps to ensure their safety ahead of time means a happier, more relaxed holiday for everyone! Adopted From http://www.suite101.com/

10 ways to dump your debt in 2011

A great deal has changed in the past year, and even more has changed over the decade since we ushered in 2000. I recall that the world as we knew it might have ended due to us being unprepared for the dreaded Y2K bug, lurking in our computer networks!

Well, that never materialized and neither did our more positive resolutions to cut back on our debts. Now that we are a decade into the new century, it is appropriate to offer 10 new tips for the next year that will help you get that debt devil under control.

Here are my top 10 ways to get rid of consumer debt in 2011.

• Know what you owe. - To get where you need to be, you need to know where you are starting. Gather up all your statements and determine how much you owe in total. If you don't like the answer, this negative exercise can give you the oomph to get going.


• Yes, you can, with a plan! - Having a spending plan for your income is the best way to ensure that you are spending your hard-earned money in the way you want and most importantly, in the way that assures your financial success.


• Make your own Treasury stimulus plan. - Review your income tax withholding. If you are receiving a tax refund of more than $600, you are providing an interest-free loan to the IRS. A better idea is to adjust your withholding -- have less money taken out for income taxes -- and use those funds earning zero percent interest to help pay down your high interest consumer debt.


• Save like there is a tomorrow. - Start an automatic savings plan. The simplest way to avoid unwanted debt is to have money set aside for those unexpected or large expenses that we all have. When you have money taken from your paycheck or checking account and automatically deposited into a savings account, you will hardly notice. But you will be building a very important financial tool -- liquid savings. Your savings goal should be six months to a year of living expenses.


• Half of nothing will be something. - Commit money you don't have yet to paying down your debt. Use at least 50 percent of any new raises, bonuses, tax refunds or other source of additional income to give yourself a boost in paying off expensive debt.


• Beam my payments up, Scotty. - Set up automatic electronic banking payments. A late payment can trigger a hefty late fee, and may result in an increased interest rate on future credit card purchases. Electronic payments will help avoid a payment arriving late and increasing the cost of your debt.


• Debtor beware. - Take some time to review your credit reports to make sure they contain accurate information. Get a copy of your reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. If you have ugly credit caused by errors, this will hurt your credit score. If you find inaccurate information, dispute the item with the credit bureau that reported it.


• If it's too good to be true, it is. - Don't fall for debt settlement scams or schemes. Lenders don't want to settle. If you must, use an attorney or don't do it at all.


• Jingle bills, jingle bills - Don't forget to plan for 2011 holiday expenses. Every year, people seek help after the holidays because overspending on gifts, travel and other holiday expenses pushes them over the financial edge. Set a limit, fund it with yearlong savings and enjoy the season for a change.


• Don't call the Ghostbusters. - Ignoring a financial problem will only make matters worse. Get professional help now if you need it. You can find a trusted, nonprofit, free credit counseling agency at Aiccca.org or Nfcc.org. Card issuers will be required to include a toll-free number for credit counseling on statements after February.
  Adopted From www.bankrate.com.

Reel Partner Of The Month! Reel Painting & Flooring

Are you getting ready for Christmas? Do you want a couple of rooms painted in time for the holidays? We will get it done before your guests arrive and it will look fantastic! We believe paint goes on the walls. Not on the floor. Not on the ceiling. Not on the furniture. Paint lines should be straight and professional looking. Holes repaired, not painted over. We are also “lead-based certified” for homes built before 1978.

We set the same kind of high standards in regards to the beautiful hardwood, laminate and tile work that we do as well! We are detail oriented and satisfaction guaranteed!

Call Zach Today To Arrange For A Free Estimate At (317) 946-8017

Ask The Reel Team A Questions:Special Rules for Members of the Military, the Foreign Service & the Intelligence Community

Congress has acknowledged the unique circumstances affecting members of the military, the foreign service and the intelligence community by making the following exceptions that apply to both the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers and the $6,500 tax credit for repeat home buyers.

Exemption From Tax Credit Recapture Rules

Typically, homes that are sold or that cease to be used as a principal residence within three years of the initial purchase are subject to recapture of the tax credit.

However, qualified service members who sell or move from a tax credit home within three years of the initial purchase due to official extended duty are exempt from the recapture rule.

Extension of Tax Credit Deadlines

For qualified service members who are ordered on a period of official extended duty, these dates are extended. For these home buyers, the tax credit applies to sales with a binding sales contract in place on or before April 30, 2011 and closed by June 30, 11.
A person who is forced to return to the U.S. for medical reasons before completing an assignment of at least 90 days of qualified official extended duty outside of the United States may qualify for the one-year extension.

Definitions

“Qualified service member” means a member of the uniformed services of the U.S military, a member of the Foreign Service of the U.S., or an employee of the intelligence community.
“Official extended duty” means any period of extended duty outside of the United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning after December 31, 2008 and ending before May 1, 2010. Adopted from www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com

Reel Free Classifieds

$60 Pets 317-327-1397 They have over 100 pet option. Some highlights:

— Ferris(Beagle Mix) - He going to make some lucky person so happy! ID:A155580
— Wheezy(Tabby) - She is about a year old now & big, beautiful eyes. ID:A147922
— McKenna(Jack Russell Terrier/Shepherd Mix) She is a wiggly, snuggly, happy puppy, about 5-6 months old ID:A155807
— Wesley(Australian Shepherd/Collie Mix) - he is about 1 year old, and a nice medium size. ID:A156520
— Lola(Calico Mix)-she is not quick to give her love away ... you have to earn her trust. ID:A147326
— Felton(German Shepherd Mix)-knows how to sit and shake. 2yrs old ID:A156410
For More Pets Go To http://www.indy.gov/egov/city/dps/accd/Pages/home.aspx

Reel Deals

— CHAIR/RECLINER- good condition. $50. Call (317)791-7101
— CLAW FOOT TUB-Old, iron, in great shape. NW side of Indy. $99. Please call (317)460-7500
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— DINETTE- 5 piece, formica top, $60. (317)791-7101
— DOG HOUSE X-X-Large -Custom Built Painted & Trimmed. $99. (317)549-3618

Charities Events

— Jingle Bell Run and Walk Saturday, 12/11/2010, 9:00 AM.at Conseco Fieldhouse. A 5K run and walk to benefit the Arthritis Foundation. call 317-879-0321.
— Toys for Tots Program at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Sponsored by the YMCA and the US Marine Reserve Corps. In the Champions Pavilion, Dec. 18, 8 AM to 1 PM. Free for pre-registered families. Info: See Web site below or call 317-713-8549.
— Operation Comedy -Athenaeum Theatre.1/8/2011 A comedy tour to benefit members of Indiana's military and the Wounded Warrior Project. $15 ($10 with military or student ID). VIP meet-and-greet at 7 PM, show at 8 PM. Call 317-294-9755.

Selection of Funny Thanksgiving Stories

Turkey Tight End?

A professional NFL team, the Philadelphia Eagles, had just finished their daily practice session when a large turkey came strutting onto the field. While the players gazed in amazement, the turkey walked up to the head coach and demanded to be given a chance to play at tight end.
Everyone stared in silence as the turkey caught pass after pass and ran right through the defensive line. When the turkey returned to the sidelines, the coach shouted, 'You're superb. Sign up for the season, and I'll see to it that you get a huge bonus.' 'Forget the bonus,' replied the turkey, 'What I want to know is, does your season go past Thanksgiving Day?'
What Your Are Thankful For?
A little girl was told by her teacher to write an essay about why she was thankful, and what she was thankful for on Thanksgiving. Upon reading it, her teacher burst out in laughter. The title: "I'm really glad I'm not a turkey."

Family Together At The Holidays

A man in Tampa calls his daughter Sue in California before Thanksgiving and announces to her that he and his wife are getting a divorce after fifty years of marriage. "What? You can't do that!" exclaimed the daughter. "Yes, we can't stand each other. Irreconcilable differences and all. We really hate even seeing the other. We're glad to be done and I don't want to talk about it. Please let your sister and brother know since I don't want to talk about it any more." The daughter frantically calls her sister and brother, both of whom also explode and vow that their parents won't be getting a divorce now. Sue calls back her father and tells him "There's no way you're getting divorced. We're coming there tomorrow to sort this thing out. Don't do or say anything to mom before we get there." As she hangs up the phone, her father turns to her mother and says, "Okay, they're all coming for Thanksgiving and we don't even have to spend a dime."

Those Ancestors!

The Taylor's were proud of their family tradition. Their ancestors had travelled to America with the Pilgrim Fathers on the Mayflower. They had included Congressmen, successful entrepreneurs, famous sports people and television stars.
They decided to research and write a family history, something for their children and grandchildren. They found a specialist genealogist and writer to help them. Only one problem arose - how to handle Great Uncle Jefferson Taylor who was executed in the electric chair.
The writer said she could handle the story tactfully. When the book appeared the section about Jefferson read:
— Great Uncle Jefferson Taylor occupied a chair of applied electronics at an important government institution, he was attached to his position by the strongest of ties, and his death came as a great shock. Adopted from www.suite101.com

Socializing an Adult or Older Dog with Other Dogs

Dogs in the wild grow up in packs and they are socialized almost from birth. A dog becomes socialized by interacting with other canines and learning their verbal cues and body language. The boundaries in the pack are very clear and each pup learns to understand their elders or get thrown out.

Domestic dogs also begin socialization in their litter and when they come into a human family, socialization with humans begin. The initial socialization period of a dog is four to 12 weeks. It is during this time that social skills are imprinted on them and their interaction with other dogs and humans is, hopefully, positive. The socialization then should continue into adulthood. But many dog owners choose to adopt older dogs who sometimes were not socialized during this time.

When a dog owner brings an adult dog into their home, it's important to find out early on how socialized he is. His initial interaction with you will be telling - is he fearful or aggressive? Does he back away when you approach or send warning signals such as raised hackles? When you take him on walks, is he nervous around different sounds and sights? Does he shy away from people or other dogs? If you see any of these signs, it's likely he was not socialized well in his early days. But there are several things you can do to socialize your adult dog with other dogs and humans.
Socializing an Adult or Older Dog with Other Dogs

Take Your Dog Out to Observe

Go to a dog park but don't go in. Allow your dog to watch the other pups and observe their behavior. Everytime a dog comes near the fence, give your dog a treat. This creates a positive association with other dogs. If your dog reacts aggressively towards the dogs in the park, move further away and slowly move up until he is quiet.

Resist Tugging While Walking

When out walking and another dog comes into view, resist jerking on the lead and yelling at your dog. This reinforces seeing other dogs as a negative experience. Instead, distract your dog with a treat or toy, use the command "Watch me!" and praise him when he pays attention to you.

Go to Obedience Class

This is a great way to help socialize an adult dog before attempting going into dog parks or having playdates. Because your dog is learning commands, he is distracted most of the time. Speak to your trainer about the issue and she can help you introduce your dog slowly to other dogs in the class. This is also a safe place for your dog to learn to interact with other humans.

Socializing an Adult Dog with Humans

The first step is to socialize your dog with your family. This is best done slowly and patience is a virtue here. Dogs and humans speak a different language so you'll both be learning how to communicate.

Ignore Your Dog

When your dog runs to hide from you, don't go after him and pull him from under the bed. Ignore him and do something that will persuade him to come out like playing with his toys or frying up some bacon. Dogs are curious and social creatures and they'll eventually become bored and lonely by themselves. Reward him with a bit of that bacon when he comes out.

Be Casual

It's sort of like when your teenager comes down the stairs with an enormous pimple on her forehead. You don't mention it and act as if there's nothing wrong. By acting as if your dog's behavior is no big deal, you're creating a calmer environment and, thus, a calmer dog. So when he streaks under your legs because the postman is at the door, go on about your business as usual.

Introduce People Slowly

Only add one person a week at the most into your dog's life. When they meet your dog, have them offer a treat and speak in a happy, low, encouraging voice. You don't want to use a high pitch which could excite him. Keep your dog on a leash at first but do not force him to go near the person. Let him take his time.

The main thing to remember when socializing an adult dog is to be positive and to make each new experience a good one with praise and treats. Corrections do not work well here and will likely will create a more nervous dog. In time, your new companion will become at ease at home and in public and will truly be a member of the family. Adopted From

You Can Find A Friend At (Only A $60 Adoption Fee)http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/IN113.html

Recipe Of The Month - Pumpkin Crisp

This is a great dessert to have in the fall or to take to your family get together this holiday season.

• 1 16 oz. can of plain pumpkin
• 3 eggs
• 1 15 oz. can of condensed milk
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cake mix (yellow or lemon)
• 1 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
• 2 sticks (1/2 pound) melted butter

Directions:Mix pumpkin, eggs, condensed milk, sugar and pumpkin pie spice until smooth.Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan. (I use a glass pan.)Sprinkle dry cake mix over the pumpkin mixture.
Sprinkle nuts on top.
Drizzle butter over nuts.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for approximately one hour. And, be sure to have some Cool Whip or ice cream on hand to go along with it.
(I have had people tell me that they do not like pumpkin pie, but they really like this dessert. So, don’t be surprised if you get rave reviews!)

Healthy Foods - Power Couples

Whoever coined the phrase "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" might as well have been talking about the nutritional potential of food. "When we eat certain foods together, their components work in sync—they produce health-promoting results that far outweigh what you'd get from eating either food alone," says Elaine Magee, R.D., author of Food Synergy. To get the most punch from your plate, try these dynamic duos.

Chickpeas + Red Peppers MORE ENERGY One out of five women doesn't get enough energy-boosting iron. But eating more iron-rich food won't do much if your body can't process it. "The kind of iron that comes from plant foods is difficult for our bodies to absorb," says Heather Mangieri, R.D., owner of Nutrition CheckUp in Pittsburgh. So all that iron from beans like chickpeas goes to waste? Not if you add some delish red peppers. The vitamin C in the scarlet veggie acts as a key and unlocks plant-based iron so your blood cells can get to it. Simply toss in roasted red pepper when making homemade hummus (or use red pepper as your primary dipping vehicle), and top salads with red peppers and chickpeas. 25 Superfoods for your body.

Spinach + Avocados BETTER VISION Spinach is packed with lutein and vitamin A, which are both amazing eye protectors. Avocado not only supplies even more lutein and A but also delivers the healthy fats your body needs to soak up these nutrients, says Hope Barkoukis, Ph.D., R.D., an associate professor of nutrition at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. So top quesadillas and tacos with spinach instead of shredded iceberg, and then add the guac. Or mix up a spinach salad with avocado dressing (puree chunks of avocado with lemon juice, olive oil, and your favorite seasonings—even a simple combo like garlic, salt, and pepper).

Broccoli + Eggs LESS PMS If you suffer from a major case of the crankies every month, relief could be as easy as a trip to certain supermarket aisles. An Archives of Internal Medicine study found that women who downed the most calcium and vitamin D were 30 to 40 percent less likely to suffer from PMS crabbiness. Two foods to reach for? Broccoli and eggs. Broccoli boasts one of the most easily absorbed forms of calcium found in food, while eggs are one of nature's best sources of vitamin D. Pair up these two foods in a broccoli frittata or an omelet.

Tomatoes + Olive Oil SMOOTHER SKIN Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant found mostly in tomatoes, can help prevent sun damage. But for supple skin, don't eat them plain. First coat them in olive oil, says Mangieri. The healthy fats in this Mediterranean staple allow lycopene to be better absorbed by your body. And olive oil has its own skin-saving secrets. A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people who take in more olive oil are less likely to have wrinkles, possibly because it protects against the oxidative stress that causes skin to age. These two foods were destined to be eaten together in Italian dishes such as bruschetta or Caprese salad. Get even more of a beauty bang by slow-roasting plum tomatoes in olive oil at 225°F for three hours. (Heating helps release more lycopene.) 10 Healthy things you can do with a tomato.

Yogurt + Ground Flaxseed BETTER DIGESTION Your gut is home to more than 400 kinds of bacteria, some friendly, others not so much. When the bad bugs outnumber the good ones, things slow down digestively and your bowels become, er, sluggish. Yogurts that are specially designed for digestive health can help by providing probiotics, good-for-you bacteria that get things moving again. But you can't just eat those buggers and forget about them. Probiotics need to feed on prebiotics—specialized fibers found in foods like flaxseed—to survive and thrive. When you eat them together, you restore and then maintain the healthy balance in your belly. It doesn't get any easier than this: Sprinkle a tablespoon of ground flaxseed onto your probiotic yogurt. To dress it up, make a fruit and yogurt parfait with flaxseed granola to add some crunch.

Oatmeal + Apples A HEALTHIER HEART Oatmeal houses two superstar ingredients that help protect your ticker: beta-glucan, a cholesterol-lowering fiber, and avenanthramides, compounds that shield LDL cholesterol from harmful free radicals. Pump up your breakfast bowl's heart-health quotient even more by tossing in a chopped apple. (Keep the skin on—that's where all the nutrients live.) Apples are filled with flavonoids, major-league antioxidants that also zap free radicals and take on inflammation to boot. Saute slices in a touch of butter and ground cinnamon, then chop and mix into your hot cereal. 5 Steps to a healthier heart.

Chicken + Sweet Potatoes A STRONGER IMMUNE SYSTEM It's hard to find a food that packs more infection-fighting vitamin A than sweet potatoes. But getting A without enough zinc—found in meats like chicken, beef, and pork—is like trying to start a fire without a match. "You need zinc to metabolize and carry vitamin A throughout your body," explains Barkoukis. "You won't be able to use that A if you don't have enough zinc to get it where it needs to go." So microwave a sweet tater and top it with some precooked chicken and cheese, serve up sweet potato fries (baked, of course) as a side with roast chicken, or seek out chicken and sweet potato soup recipes.

Pasta + Balsamic Vinegar A TRIMMER TUMMY When you down some pasta, are you hungry a few hours later? Try tossing it with some vinegar. "Vinegar's acetic acid slows down how quickly you digest and absorb glucose from starchy foods, so your blood sugar rises and falls more gradually," says Carol Johnston, Ph.D., R.D., director of the nutrition program at the College of Nursing and Health Innovation at Arizona State University in Phoenix. "That helps control hunger, so you're less likely to overeat later." Adding two tablespoons of vinegar to a starchy dish can slash postmeal blood-sugar surges by 20 percent, according to a study at Arizona State. Toss whole-wheat pasta with olive oil and balsamic, or shake up your pasta salad by experimenting with flavored vinegars.

Green Tea + Lemon Juice CANCER PROTECTION Green tea is a primo source of cancer-fighting catechins. But while these nutrients may be tough on cancer cells, they're total wimps in your stomach— only 20 percent survive the digestive process and make it out to your body to do it any good. A Purdue University study found that squeezing lemon juice into your green brew toughens up catechins, boosting the number you digest up to 13 times. For even more cancer protection, stir in sugar (a teaspoon contains only 16 calories). The sweet stuff morphs catechins into a form that's three times easier to absorb. Adopted From http://health.yahoo.net/

Vitamins For The Mind! - Fear!

“It has knocked me sideways. I am struggling with unemployment. What do you recommend? ‘Cause I need to change!” asked Greg This question came in from a Success 2.0 Webcast.

Greg, first, you have to understand it, and separate the good kind from the bad. A little bit of it is good, because it gets you focused and, hopefully, moving in the right direction! You can’t let it grow or consume you though. Your answer to that “fear” in your heart should be an action plan followed up by action. This transforms the fear into motivation. You are now motivated to take action because you have a good plan, and you don’t like the consequences of doing nothing.

The second part of FEAR is where we all get in trouble. FEAR is really False Evidence Appearing Real. In other words, we allow our mind to play the “what if” game and we start to focus on all of the things that could go wrong. This ends up paralyzing you and robs you of your energy and creativity. This is why having an action plan and then acting on it is so critical. When you start to doubt or worry, you need to literally tell yourself “Stop! I have a plan, and I am working 100% to get it done, and that is all I can do.”

Also, remember that Fear and Faith are close cousins. They both believe that something is going to happen in the future, one Bad, and one Good. When you have your action plan in place, and you are working it, you then need to transform your thought life from one of fear to one of faith. Adopted From http://www.ziglar.com/

Holiday Shopping on a Budget

The holiday shopping season is almost here, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, wants to help you get ready. Whether you’re shopping at the mall, online, or by phone or mail, our tips can help you shop smart and stay on budget.

• Make a list and set a budget. List the people you plan to buy gifts for, the type of gifts you plan to buy, and how much you plan to spend. Include the cost of cash gifts, holiday travel, extra food, wrappings, decorations, greeting cards, and postage. If it relates to the holiday season and it costs money, add it to your budget.


• Shop around. A “sale” price isn’t always the “best” price. Some merchants may offer a sale price on the item you want for a limited time; other merchants may offer items at a discount everyday.


• Look for price-matching policies. Some merchants will match, or even beat, a competitor’s prices.


• Go online. Check out websites that compare prices. If you decide to buy from an online merchant, keep shipping costs and delivery time in mind.
  Carefully consider bargain offers that are based on purchases of additional merchandise. For example, “Buy One, Get One Free” or “Free Gift with Purchase.” If you don’t really want or need the item, it’s not a deal.


• Clip coupons. Coupons are useful when they save you money on what you’re already planning to buy. Check coupons for any restrictions. For example, do expiration dates apply, or do you have to spend a certain amount before you can use the coupon? Some retailers will accept expired coupons, and even coupons from their competitors. Check with the retailer before you leave home to learn their policy.


• Ask about sale adjustments. If you buy an item at regular price and it goes on sale the next week, can you get a credit or refund for the discounted amount?


• Consider layaway. Layaway purchase plans are designed for people who want to buy merchandise without using credit or paying the full price immediately. When you use layaway, you typically make a deposit – usually a percentage of the purchase price – and pay over time until you have paid for the item in full. In exchange, the retailer holds the merchandise for you. To avoid problems, get the store’s layaway policy in writing.


• Keep an eye on your wallet. Don’t flash cash. Keep an eye on your credit or debit card during transactions, and get them back as quickly as possible. If your cards are lost or stolen, report the loss or theft immediately to the card issuers.


• Use credit and debit cards with care. Save your receipts. You need them for returns and exchanges. Check credit and debit card sales and return receipts against your monthly bills and statements, and report any problems to the credit card issuer promptly.


• Ask about refund and return policies. Many merchants may have different refund and return policies for sale items. For example, clearance merchandise may be on final sale, meaning no refunds or exchanges.


• Keep good records. Whether you’re ordering by mail, phone, or online, it’s important to keep detailed information about the transaction, including your order number, shipping costs and dates, warranties, and refund and return policies.


• Ship early. If you’re sending gifts to out-of-towners, factor in extra time for shipping. If you wait until the last minute, you may pay a hefty price for express or overnight shipping. Adopted From www.ftc.gov

Thanksgiving Word Search

How to Avoid Winter Weight Gain

The temptation to overeat during the holiday season is strong, thanks to goodies at the office, cookie-baking at home, and traditional meals with all the trimmings. "The holidays can be a hard time for people who are trying to lose weight and eat healthily," says Boston-based nutritionist Carolyn Hintlian, MPH, RD, LDN. "It can also be a very emotional time of year, and this can trigger increased eating." However, with the right holiday eating strategy, it's possible to make it through family feasts and parties without gaining weight.

Simple Ways to Fight Holiday Weight Gain
— Be realistic. Don't try to lose weight over the holidays. "I advise my clients to focus on maintaining your weight, rather than losing weight, during this time of year. You don't want to feel deprived. Instead, look for ways to eat smart and in moderation," Hintlian says.
— How to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner without guilt? "Eat small servings of foods you do like, and pass on the ones that don't really appeal to you," Hintlian advises. After dinner, do something active, like taking a walk, to work off the caloric damage.

More Ways to Curb Winter Weight Gain
— Plan ahead to avoid food temptations at the office. "It's easy to gain weight just from eating the extra calories from treats in the office," Hintlian notes. "Keep healthy snacks available to help you avoid temptation, like walnuts, almonds, or soy nuts.
— When it's cold outside, it feels good to warm our insides. "Try soup, such as pasta and beans, and add winter vegetables," Hintlian says. "Start your day with a high fiber cereal, like oatmeal. Add a sprinkle of walnuts for added protein."
— Try to work in some exercise. "Maintain some kind of physical activity, like walking," Hintlian says. An added benefit: "Taking time to exercise relieves holiday stress and helps burn extra calories from holiday eating," she adds.

Reel Partner Of The Month! Carpet Cleaning Concepts

C3 believes in quality, knowledge and honor. Their Mission is to provide exceptional cleaning services to residential and commercial customers through quality cleaning products and professionally trained employees. We are a locally owned company with over 450 residential clients, and look forward to showing you the secret of our success!

Carpet/Upholstery - We clean and restore most carpets and upholstery, including area rugs. We use the industry standard methods of hot water extraction to clean dirt, pet stains or odors and water damage.

Water Restoration - If your house or business has been damaged by water, we can bring dehumidifiers and air moving equipment to dry your space in a short time.

Contact Us At (317) 979-7777

www.carpet-cleaning-concepts.com

Ask Mike A Mortgage Question: Mortgage Rates Return to Record Low Territory

RISMEDIA, November 9, 2010–Mortgage rates revisited record lows this week, with the average rate on the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate returning to 4.42 percent, according to www.bankrate.com’s weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.37 discount and origination points.

The average 15-year fixed mortgage hit a new low of 3.81 percent, and the larger jumbo 30-year fixed rate did as well, sinking to 5.04 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages were mostly lower, with the average 5-year ARM falling to 3.57 percent and the average 7-year ARM retreating to 3.87 percent.

Mortgage rates fell back into record low territory this week. The Federal Reserve has announced another injection of $600 billion over the next 8 months, but it remains to be seen if this is enough to push Treasury yields and mortgage rates lower, and if so, by how much. Even if the Fed is successful in pushing rates lower, it doesn’t alter the fact that many would-be borrowers are upside-down, living on a reduced income, or concerned about a lack of job security.

The last time mortgage rates were above 6 percent was Nov. 2008. At that time, the average rate was 6.33 percent, meaning a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of $1,241.86. With the average rate now 4.42 percent, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $1,003.89, a savings of $238 per month for a homeowner refinancing now.

SURVEY RESULTS
— 30-year fixed: 4.42% — down from 4.51% last week (avg. points: 0.37)
— 15-year fixed: 3.81% — down from 3.90% last week (avg. points: 0.28)
— 5/1 ARM: 3.57% — down from 3.67% last week (avg. points: 0.34)

Bankrate’s national weekly mortgage survey is conducted each Wednesday from data provided by the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 markets. Adopted From /southsidehousingalliance.com

Reel Free Classifieds

$60 Pets Call: 317-327-1397

• Beagle Mix - sweet little girl. Tulip is a 4-year-old adult. Good with other dogs. Pet ID: A080350


• Boston Terrier/Boxer Mix - Felix is a playful pooch (2 years old) Pet ID: A154833.


• Foxhound Mix - Tess has a sweet disposition & loves dogs Pet ID: A149290


• (Lola) Domestic Medium Hair - Buff And White Mix. sweet, gentle kitty. Pet ID: A149452


• Shepherd/Boxer - Kirby is a lively, inquisitive pup who just wants to explore the world! ID:A152211


• Rhodesian Ridgeback Mix - she is shy; and the most in need of a patient, loving adopter who will gently challenge her to build her confidence ID:A154330


• Muffin is a pretty tabby with white booties on her little feet. ID:A147342


• Roscoe - Black Labrador Retriever: This bouncy bundle of joy is looking for a new home. He is a big, active dog who loves to play. ID:A155286
  

Reel Deals

• DRYER , GE, electric, real nice, must see, $99. will de liver. (317) 281-2044 or (317) 664-3162


• AIR HOCKEY TABLE $99. (317)442-1228


• ANTIQUE DESK CHAIR Swivel, wood. $40. Please call (317) 846-0779


• Med. CART Heavy Duty Ware House Cart, Rolling. $35.00. Please call (317)846-0779


• CEILING FAN Complete and in good condition. $20. Call (317)846-0779


• CHAIN SAW McCulloch, 24 inch bar. $99.00. 317-549-3618 or 317-519-9669


• CHAIR/RECLINER, good condition. $50. Call (317)791-7101 or (317) 695-7646


• China set & matching serving pcs. Noritake #7566 Miyako pattern. 68 pcs. plus 5 serving pcs. Think Thanksgiv-ing! $99.00 317-846-1159


• DRESSER Large Bedroom Dresser, 6 large & 3 small drawers, good condition. $40. (317)846-0779
  

Indy Events

• Drumstick Dash Fundraising Event in Broad Ripple. November 25, 2010, 9:00 AM.A 4.5 mile run/walk and 2.5 mile short course. Proceeds benefit Wheeler Mission. $25 until Nov. 22, then $30. Call 317-635-3575.


• St. Nikolaus 5K Lauf at The Athenaeum.December 4, 2010, 9:30 AM. A 5K run and walk for Riley Children's Hospital and other area charities, co-sponsored by the Athenaeum Foundation and the Indiana German Heritage Society. $23 with shirt ($20 no shirt). Call 317-655-2755.


• Franklin's 'Hometown Holiday' in Johnson County. Saturday, December 4, 2010, 8:00 AM. An all-day event featuring choral performances, carriage rides, courthouse tree lighting, 'Elves with Bells' Kids Run, Santa at the museum, holiday lighting parade, and more. Info: See Web site below or call 317-736-3602.
  

Must See Halloween Movies for All Ages!

Halloween is my favorite time of year. The leaves are changing color, the air is crisp and the wind makes eerie noises as it blows over the land. It is the perfect time for a Halloween movie that is family-friendly or a dark Halloween horror if you can get a babysitter. Family friendly horror movies are great because the whole family can watch or you can put them on during a Halloween party since it they are appropriate for all ages.

Here is my list of the top family friendly Halloween movies that you can buy, rent or download.

• Corpse Bride (PG)- Tim Burton is the master of storytelling via the movie world. Corpse Bride is a love story based in the underworld. With the voices of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson and Tracey Ullman you really can't go wrong with this family-friendly Halloween movie.

• Casper (PG)- Father and daughter happen to sleep in an abandoned house only to find out it is not abandoned but has four ghosts. Three of the ghosts happen to be mischievous and one happens to be Casper the Friendly Ghost. This is a classic family friendly Halloween movie.

• The Nightmare before Christmas (PG)- Another Tim Burton film which has become a cult classic for Halloween. Jack Skellington, King of Halloweentown, finds himself in Christmastown after deciding he is bored with Halloween all the time. He gets everyone in Halloweentown to help him put on Christmas but things aren't quite right. A must see on Halloween.

• Ghost Busters!- Rick Moranis, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis and Bill Murray star in this classic movie that is very suitable and family-friendly for Halloween.

• Addams Family Values (PG-13)- Among the ultimate Halloween families is none other than the Addams Family. Addams Family Values is a comedic horror movie where the family must rescue Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd) from the grasps of a gold-digger.

• Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie (G)- This should be a classic family-friendly Halloween movie if you have children or are an adult with the love of everything Pooh. Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie is meant for all ages. Pooh's friend Lumpy the Heffalump is celebrating his first Halloween and scared witless. Pooh and his friends decide to catch an imaginary monster they call the Gobloon but scare themselves silly in the process.

• Garfield's Halloween Adventure (G)- Garfield's Halloween Adventure comes in two parts and is or should be a family friendly classic shown on Halloween. Garfield and Otis find themselves dressed as pirates and confronting ghostly pirates after hearing a scary tale.

• The Witches (PG)- Angelica Huston as the Grand High Witch is bent on transforming all the world's children into mice in this Jim Henson produced movie. In fact, it was the last movie Jim Henson produced and happens to be a great family- friendly Halloween movie.

• "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" (G)- If you have never seen this movie then you may not be human. This Charlie Brown special is the ultimate family-friendly Halloween movie in existence and thus ranks number one on my list. Adopted from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/…
  

Stop Junk E-Mail

The man that sent this information is a computer tech. He spends a lot of time clearing the junk off computers for people and listens to complaints about speed. All forwards are not bad, just some.

He wrote: By now, I suspect everyone is familiar with snopes.comand/ or truthorfiction.com for determining whether information received via email is just that: true/false or fact/fiction. Both are excellent sites. Advice from snopes.com:

1) Any time you see an email that says "forward this on to '10' (or however many) of your friends", "sign this petition", or "you'll get bad luck" or "you'll get good luck" or "you'll see something funny on your screen after you send it" or whatever --- it almost always has an email tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and emails of those folks you forward to. The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' email addresses to use in SPAM emails or sell to other spammers. Even when you get emails that demand you send the email on if you're not ashamed of God/Jesus --- that is email tracking, and they are playing on our conscience. These people don't care how they get your email addresses - just as long as they get them. Also, emails that talk about a missing child or a child with an incurable disease "how would you feel if that was your child" --- email tracking. Ignore them and don't participate!

2) Almost all emails that ask you to add your name and forward on to others are similar to that mass letter years ago that asked people to send business cards to the little kid in Florida who wanted to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most cards. All it was, and all any of this type of email is, is a way to get names and 'cookie' tracking information for spammers -- to validate active email accounts for their own profitable purposes.

You can do your Friends and Family members a GREAT favor by sending this information to them. You will be providing a service to your friends. And you will be rewarded by not getting thousands of spam emails in the future!

Do yourself a favor and STOP adding your name(s) to those types of listing regardless how inviting they might sound! Or make you feel guilty if you don't! It's all about getting email addresses and nothing more. You may think you are supporting a GREAT cause, but you are NOT!
Instead, you will be getting tons of junk mail later and very possibly a virus attached! Plus, we are helping the spammers get rich! Let's not make it easy for them! ALSO: Email petitions are NOT acceptable to Congress of any other organization - i.e. social security, etc. To be acceptable, petitions must have a "signed signature" and full address of the person signing the petition, so this is a waste of time and you are just helping the email trackers.

Recipe Of The Month!

It Will Be Up And Running On The 15th

Monthly Stress Reducer - You Have to Be a Schoolteacher If…

• You have no time for a life from the end of August until Mid-July.

• You want to slap the next person who says, 'Must be nice to work from 8.30am to 3.15pm and have your summers and weekends free.'

• When you're out in public you feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behaviour.

• You refer to adults as, 'boys and girls.'

• You encourage your spouse by telling them they are a 'good helper.'

• Meeting a child's parents instantly answers the question, 'Why is this child like he is?'

• You believe 'extremely annoying' should have its own box on the report.

• You know hundreds of 'good' reasons for being late.
  You don't want children of your own because there isn't a name you can hear that wouldn't raise your blood pressure

Halloween Pet Safety

It's Halloween night and the door bell is continuously ringing. This may be very frightening to your dog or cat or other pets. You need to have a game plan for them, as well, on Halloween night. Have a room set up for them and keep them behind closed doors during trick-or-treating hours. Have food, water, a toy or two and a litter box if needed all set up for them.

You saw the cutest costume for your pet! Just because you think a certain Halloween costume for your fur person is cute doesn't mean that they will enjoy wearing it! Try it on them in advance and see how they react. If they don't like it, don't force them to wear it.

If you own a cat and let it go outside, remember that this a bad time of year for cats. Vicious people tend to find Halloween an excuse to hurt or kill them. Keep them inside for a few days and nights. While they may whine a bit because they are used to going outside, they'll be safer in the house where you can keep an eye on them. There's no need for a pet to run free anyway, keep it home where it's safe all year long.

Having an adult party? Remember, dogs, cats, birds and other animals do not like being intoxicated. Some people at the party may think it's funny to get an animal drunk or high but it can kill them. It's better to hurt someone's feelings by telling them to leave the party that to deal with a seriously ill beloved pet.

Here are some tips to keep your pets happy on Halloween.

• As much as your dog or cat may beg for some of your Halloween candy, always remember that chocolate is deadly to them in any amount. There's a chemical that naturally occurs in chocolate that they can not tolerate.


• The wrappers, such as tin foil, can get stuck in your pets digestive tract and make them ill or cause death. There are plenty of recipes for making home made dog and cat treats, you can always make them on a Halloween theme if you want to make something special for your pet.


• Large dogs can have lethal tails when it comes to wagging them. I've seen a German Shepherd that we used to have clear a coffee table in two seconds flat when she got excited. Don't leave any lighted candles or Jack-O-Lanterns where they could be knocked over by a swinging tail or by a curious cat. Not only could your pet start a fire but they could severely burn themselves in the process.


• If you are going to dress your pet in a costume, keep in mind that unless the dog or cat is extremely receptive to this kind of thing, you could be causing it discomfort and stress. Some animals don't mind at all but others do not want to be bothered with this kind of thing. They'll be under enough stress with the festivities going on outside and people constantly at the door so don't cause them any more stress then you have to. You may love to dress in costume but then, you aren't a dog or a cat.


• If a pet costume comes with a mask, don't use it. While some dogs will love dressing up, they usually aren't too keen on masks. If you do use a mask on your pet, make sure that it's eyes have plenty of room to see and that there is nothing covering it's nose or confining it's mouth.


• If you are having a indoor party, make sure that you put your dog or cat in a room where they won't be disturbed. Even if your pet is ultra friendly and doesn't mind loud noises, music and lots of people you should keep them separate for the night. Also, be careful your cat or dog doesn't dart out through the open door as you hand out candy. Best bet is to just put them in a room with some food and water for the night and check on them once in a while. Adopted From www.halloween-safety.com
  

Get To Or Got To?

Every morning for several years, promptly at 10:00 a.m., a prominent business woman visited her mother in a nursing home. She was close to her mother and loved her very much. Often she had requests for appointments at that time of day. Her response was always the same: “No, I’ve got to visit with my mother.” Eventually, her mother died. Shortly thereafter someone asked this woman for an appointment 10:00 a.m. It suddenly hit her that she could no longer visit her mother. Her next thought was, “Oh, I wish I could visit my mother just one more time.” From that moment on, she changed her “got to’s” to “get to’s.”

Her story makes us realize that pleasurable things are “get-to’s.” Burdensome things are “got-to’s.” I get to play golf today; I get to go on vacation this week, etc. We use the term “got to” when it’s not necessarily pleasurable: I’ve got to go to work at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow; I’ve got to clean house; etc. Since perceptions influence our thinking and performance, try this. Instead of, “I’ve got to go to work,” think about those who have no job. Then you can enthusiastically change it to, “I get to go to work tomorrow.” If somebody invites you to go fishing, instead of saying, “No, I’ve got to go to my child’s game on Saturday,” think about the fact that someday your child will grow up and you won’t be able to go to his or her games. Then it’s easy to change it to “get to.”

It’s amazing what that change in words will eventually do for your attitude. You’ll find yourself looking forward to doing those things instead of feeling as if you have to do them. With a difference in attitude, there’ll be a difference in performance. With a difference in performance, there’ll be a difference in rewards. So think about those things, change your “got-to’s” to “get to’s” and I’ll SEE YOU AT THE TOP! Adopted From http://www.ziglar.com/

Great Ways to Enjoy the Autumn Weather

As the temperature cools and children return to school, the common cold afflicts many, but it does not mean that the fall is not fun. Try these suggestions for inexpensive ways to enjoy the season.

• Apple Picking - Now is the perfect time to pick apples. Ripe apples are ready at farms everywhere. Apple picking is a great activity to do with family and with friends. Apple pie, apple crisp, simply baked apples or simply apples – the picking is only the beginning.



• Leaf Gathering - The trees are losing their leaves to the ground and it’s time to bring out the rakes. But before the leaves are raked, they are such an enjoyment for children especially. Raking them into a pile and jumping in them is an ever popular favorite.



• Brisk Windy Walks - A good fall breeze can be a refreshing way to put a smile on. Take a walk in the wind and the trees, but dress appropriately for the weather.



• Enjoy Fall Festivals - Many cities and small towns have their own festivals in the fall, celebrating autumn, the harvest and the changing times. These festivals can give a great homey, small town feeling to any place. They are full of attractions and good food and are enjoyable by young and old alike. They can be found on the internet & newspapers.



• Bike Riding - Yes, this is usually a summer activity, but during autumn the weather is mild and great for bike rides. The exercise is less strenuous when the air is cooler rather than warmer. If it is a little too cool, bike riding can actually warm the body up.



• Take a Country Drive - Taking a country drive is even better in the fall than it is in the summer. The changing fall colors will always be a joy to watch. Bring a camera along and try for some great candid shots of the trees and the falling leaves. Adopted From www.suite101.com
  

Sanitize Your Linens & Fight Off A Cold

We’re just at the beginning of cold and flu season, and now’s the time to put a little extra thought and effort into minimizing sickness-inducing germs and bacteria from spreading among your family members and throughout your home. And one of the simplest and most straightforward ways to do this is by keeping your linens spic-and-span.

• Though how often you wash your sheets is clearly a personal decision, there are scientific arguments for washing your bedding weekly to benefit your health. According to ehow.com and examiner.com, laundering sheets weekly (in hot, 130-or-more degree water) gets rid of the dead skin cells (fodder for bacteria) and allergy-inducing dust mites that accumulate after a few nights’ sleep. If you or someone in your family is prone to sweating - or if you’ve got Fido cozying up with your in bed - consider washing every couple days to rinse out dirt and pet dander. Mattress pad - it’s a good idea to wash it monthly.

• Pillows are another consideration. To ensure you’re not resting your head on a big pile of germs - you should be washing your pillows at least every six months. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when washing them, though generally you should be able to clean them in your home washing machine, and with down ones in particular, it’s a good idea to throw in a couple clean tennis balls while drying which helps keep feathers fluffy. Investing in zippered pillow protectors is also key: they act as a barrier between your pillow and its case to keep the former nice and sanitary.

• Comforters and blankets need proper maintenance as well. Your comforter should we washed monthly (and your duvet weekly). Read the care instructions on the label, since chances are you’re going to need a front loading commercial size washer to accomplish this. Make sure it’s dried properly to avoid mold and fungus from growing. Adopted From shine.yahoo.com
  

Reel Partner Of The Month! - Mark Wenclewicz

Our Products
We have the expertise and experience to proficiently meet all of your insurance needs.

Personal Auto Insurance - Are you taking advantage of the auto-home discount? Did you choose the appropriate limits? Don't underestimate jury awards...often they are astronomical. Consider liability coverage carefully. Is your driving record improving? We have multiple car discounts and safe driver discounts. We offer competitive premiums and complete coverage for all your vehicles.

Homeowners Insurance - Are your possessions fully insured? Saving a few dollars up front could cost you a significant amount of money at the time of loss. Unless you insure for the replacement cost of household possessions, you will be paid only the purchase price less depreciation for items even though they are covered in an insured loss.

Will your current policy cover the cost of rebuilding your home? Let us help you determine how much you need to rebuild from the ground up.

Business Insurance - We offer a broad line of products to meet your business insurance needs. Products and services include:

• The Commercial Package Policy is flexible to ensure comprehensive coverages tailored for specific businesses. It includes Property, Comprehensive General Liability, Crime, Inland Marine and Automobile coverages.


• The Commercial Umbrella Policy provides the extra protection every business requires with extra limits where general liability and automobile limits end.


• Loss Control Services that help you reduce loss severity exposure, provide information on reducing loss frequency, and identifies safety programs.
  

Life Insurance - We offer you a wide variety of products to meet your needs, the needs of your family and the needs of your business. Plans for your family include: Select Choice Term Series, offering you a choice of term lengths and coverage amounts and giving you the maximum amount of coverage for your premium dollar. Burial Insurance to protect your loved ones from the financial burdens of funeral, burial and final expenses.

Call:(317) 405-8005 www.wenc-insurance.com

Ask The Reel Team A Questions: Five Smart Reasons to Buy a Home Now!

The economy is stabilizing. Home prices are holding. It’s not just as good a time as ever to buy a house. It’s one of the best times ever. Below are five overlooked reasons why now is a great time to buy a house.
1. Low mortgage rates serve as an equity shock absorber. When buyers borrow at today’s record-low rates, they start building equity as soon as they close. That means they have a little give to absorb a few ups and downs as the still-recovering housing market gains traction.
2. Houses are in move-in condition. Homeowners have continued to spend on maintenance and repair, according to the Harvard Joint Center on Housing. Homeowners who have been holding back kept their houses in good shape while they waited. As those houses enter the market, they are in marked contrast to tattered foreclosures.
3. Terrific houses are coming on the market. Foreclosures are finally starting to clear the system - and this is just the opportunity that owners of many desirable properties have been waiting for.
4. Appraisal regulations are finally aligned with market realities. Fannie Mae has adjusted its appraisal guidelines…again. Now that appraisers have more flexibility to set values that reflect the current market, today’s deals will make it over the finish line.
5. Plenty of programs. Homes are more affordable than they have been for years, but communities have stuck by “workforce housing” programs that encourage middle-class families to buy houses. Buyers who qualify can get a big boost by combining one of these programs with today’s low mortgage rates. Adopted From /southsidehousingalliance.com

Reel Free Classifieds

Free Pets

• BEAGLE/RED HEELER 8MO. OLD - she loves other dogs, kids & cats! 3173836696


• White 4 Year Female Boxer - She loves kids and or other dogs. 317-403-8292


• Jack Russell to good home. Cherokee is about 7 years old Call 317-965-7844


• 6 beautiful kittens that are about 6 weeks old 765-602-5912


• 2 YEAR OLD MALE GOLDEN MIX NEEDS A HOME W/ FENCED IN YARD. Call 317 627-2836


• Two 4mo old kittens needs a good home. Call 317-222-6608


• AKC German Shepherd female - She is 6 yrs old call or text 7656988414


• 4 Kittens (westside/indy) weaned and adorable they have not had thier shots yet. 317 641-7780 ask for Bryan


• Pugle - 317 223 1837 he is an amazing dog named brutis. Don’t have $ to keep him.
  

Reel Deals

• DINING TABLE, Antique drop leaf, w/ 2 chairs. Colo nial style, white wood. 42 x 36. $80 total (317)253-9719


• BICYCLE Special Tourer, 10 speed Fuji, 27 inch, exc. cond. $35.00 Call (317) 253-0074


• Cabinets - Used cabinets great for your garage. $25 317-745-1940


• DINING TABLE . Contempo rary. Walnut wood grain laminate top, chrome pedestal. $45. (317)253-9719


• COUCH La-Z-Boy, plaid w/burgundy, green, tan. Like New Condition. $100. Call 317-631-2827


• CAMPING STOVES 2 double burner. $60 (765)622-1379

Indy Events

• Saturday, October 23, 2010, 9:00 AM. Down Syndrome Indiana Buddy Walk(R) 2010 at White River State Park. call 317-925-7616. http://www.dsindiana.org/


• October 30, 2010, 8:00 AM. Lungevity 5K Fun Run at White River State Park. - A 5K Fun Run and walk to raise money to support the National Lung Cancer Partnership. Call 317-286-8467.


• October 30, 2010, 8:00 AM. Bob Gregory's 'Coats for Kids' at the State Fairgrounds. Call 317-637-5551. salvationarmyindiana.org


• November 6, 2010, 8:00 AM. Monumental Marathon in Downtown Indianapolis. A full marathon that starts and finishes near the Indiana State Capitol Building in downtown Indianapolis. Info. Call 317-733-3300.


• November 10, 2010, 10:00 AM. 61st Annual Christmas Gift and Hobby Show at the State Fairgrounds.The largest event of its kind in the Midwest with over 350 exhibitors selling 'something for everyone.' In the West Pavilion, Nov. 10-14: Wed-Thu 10-8, Fri-Sat 10-9, Sun 10-5. Call 317-576-9933.


• Indy Pet Expo - The mission of the Great Indy Pet Expo is to promote the health and well-being of Indy’s companion animals; to educate Indy pet owners on the importance of spaying, neutering, and regular veterinary care. Nov 13-14, 2010 greatindypetexpo.com
  

Cut Costs At Home

Millions are looking for ways to shave dollars and dimes from their daily expenses. To share your own tips, send us an e-mail telling us how you save. You can save money on everything, but here's how you can get started around your home.

• Lower your thermostat in the winter. For each degree that you drop, you cut your heating bill by 3 percent. To feel more comfortable at lower temperatures, place pans of water near heating outlets or radiators. Water-filled air retains heat better, and the added humidity reduces itching and dry skin.


• Save on a flush in an old toilet by putting a plastic bottle full of water, weighted with pebbles, in your tank.


• Get a rain barrel. Connected to your home’s storm gutters, it will collect water for later use on your lawn, vegetable garden or car.


• Stop that dripping faucet. Sixty drips a minute will waste about 6,428 gallons of water per year, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.


• Shower quickly and save. A 15-minute shower a day costs about $310 a year, even with a low-flow shower head. Cutting the time by a third will save about $100 annually.


• Buy torn bags of mulch. Home centers usually set these torn bags aside, then sell the day’s mishaps at a big discount. Your best chance to get these deals is at the end of a weekend shopping day. Bring duct tape to close them, and a tarp to keep your car trunk clean.


• Rent that extra room or space in your garage, basement, backyard. Visit sparefoot.com or storeatmyhouse.com to list its availability and your asking price for free. SpareFoot gets a transaction fee equal to half the first month’s paid rent (a spare bedroom can fetch $150 a month). The site also sells legally vetted lease agreements for $19.


• Save on printer ink by using the Century Gothic font, which a recent study showed consumes about a third less ink than industry-standard Arial. That saves about $20 a year for a home user printing 25 pages a week.


• Do it yourself or hire someone? You can get estimates of the difference in cost for a home improvement project at diyornot.com, as well as advice on whether you should go it alone.


• Get your castoffs picked up for free by more than 60 nonprofit furniture banks nationwide. (Your items generally need to be in good condition.) Find one near you at nationalfurniturebank.com.


• Boost your knowledge with free online college courses. (You may need to buy books or download special software.) Yale, MIT and Stanford are among dozens of universities offering no-cost knowledge. Visit education-portal.com and click on “OpenCourseWare” for a list of offerings by topic.


• Sell your junk, but first get an idea of what it’s really worth by going to itaggit.com, an online “blue book” for pack rats and collectors. The site analyzes recent sales at online markets.


• Free photo editing online is available at citrify.com, where your uploaded photos can be tweaked with nifty effects like teeth-whitening and wrinkle-removing. Pixorial.com provides free video online editing and up to 10 gigabytes of free storage.
  Sell your books. At cash4books.net or sellbackyourbook.com, you type in an unwanted book’s ISBN number to get an offer. If you like what you see, fill out a prepaid mailing label, box the books and send them off. Payment comes by check or as a credit to your PayPal account.


• Volunteer techies give free advice on common computer problems at fixya.com.
  Don’t dump, recycle. Join the local bulletin board at freecycle.org and post what you want to give away or something you’re looking for. No money changes hands, and your unwanted stuff won’t add to a landfill. If there’s no group in your area, the website tells how to set one up. Adopted from http://www.aarp.org/money/budgeting-saving/info-06-2010/home_saving_tips.html
  

Recipe Of The Month! - Texas Caviar

• 1 Can Black Bean, Drained


• 1 Can Black-Eted Peas, Drained


• 1 Can Pinto Beans, Drained


• 1 Cup Chopped Celery


• 1 Chopped Red Bell Pepper


• 1 Chopped Green Pepper


• 1 Chopped Bunch Of Green Onions


• 1/2 Cup Cilantro (I Don’t Like, So I Don’t Use
  

Dressing:

• 1 Tsp. Salt


• 1/2 Tsp. Pepper


• 1 Tbs. Water


• 3/4 Cup Cider Vinegar


• 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil


• 1 Cup Sugar
  

Directions: Add celery, green onions, peppers & cilantro (If You Use) to the drained can beans.

I make the dressing first and let it cool while I open cans, chop vegetables & mix the other ingredients. That is all the cooling time it needs. Mix together & bring to a boil the salt pepper, water, vinegar, oil & sugar. Cool slightly & pour over the beans & veggie mixture. Store in the refrigerator. Make a day ahead. Serve with Tortilla chips.
After we have eaten all the chips with this caviar, I have drained and used on tossed salad with a little cooked chicken

Money Talk

• Bills are made of a cotton(75%) & linen(25%).


• There is 293 ways to make change for a dollar


• If you toss a penny 10,000 times, it will be heads 49% of the times. The heads picture weights more, so it ends up on the bottom.


• Most people won’t bend over to pick up money lying on the sidewalk unless it’s at least a dollar.


• On an American one-dollar bill, there is an owl in the upper left hand corner of the 1 encased in the shield. There is a spider hidden in the front upper right hand corner of the bill.


• A Quarter has 119 grooves on its edge, one more than a dime. The reason the mint started using ridges was to prevent counterfeit and devaluing of the coin. At the time, coins were made of precious metals and people would shave the coin’s edges. Merchants had to start weighing the coins to determine the true value since so many coins in circulation were shaved. Now that the mint no longer uses precious metals, they still keep the ridges for the seeing impaired to be able to tell the differences between coins like the dime and penny.


• A person who drives 10 miles to buy a lottery ticket is 3 times more likely to be killed in a car accident while driving to buy the ticket… than… he is to win the jackpot. Adopted from the insider review