Here are some tips to make your life a little easier while entertaining.

1.  Label glasses with a grease pencil at your next party---the names will wipe right off later.

2.  Dunk champagne bottles in ice water instead of ice for a faster chill.

3.  Maximize a supermarket bouquet by dividing stems among a few old wine bottles.

4.  Place candles in the fridge for an hour before a party.  They will burn more slowly and evenly.

Written by Jeff Mackey

Say "Hi" to Tyson, one of the newest recipients of a custom-built doghouse from PETA, along with lots of straw bedding to help keep out the cold. As you can see from the "before" picture below, he desperately needed it. All four (!) of Tyson's previous (flimsy) "shelters" had broken. But now he has a sturdy, custom-built doghouse for cold, wet winter nights—and since it's built to last, he can count on it for years to come. Tyson's family agreed to have him neutered, so PETA will take care of that too.

Of course, we'd much prefer that everyone allow their dogs indoors—and PETA's Community Animal Project caseworkers have persuaded many animals' guardians to do just that. But since some people refuse—and since many localities still don't prohibit chaining dogs—PETA builds and delivers hundreds of rugged doghouses each year to provide dogs with protection from snow, wind, and rain. In the winter, PETA also gives away free bales of straw for cold dogs forced to live outdoors in the Hampton Roads area in Virginia.

You can change a life like Tyson's. If you know of any "outdoor dogs," try to persuade their guardians to allow them indoors. Encourage your city or county legislators to ban chaining. And if you can, sponsor a doghouse so that one more dog will have a refuge from the cold.

My name is Kristin Johnston of Remax.  My market report gives you the real estate activity for Waukesha County, WI for the last 30 days. I strongly encourage any seller that is looking to market their property this year to get a sound feeling for what it is worth.   Real estate in Waukesha County is now an excellent investment, prices of superb, selection is great, and the rates are outstanding. If you are looking for a BUYERS AGENT, BUYERS REPRESENTATIVE to assist with your home sale, contact me!  I have my ABR Certification and look forward to representing YOU and YOUR NEEDS in the real estate transaction!

Please feel free to call me for any of your real estate needs, including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home in Waukesha County.  The following MLS information is for the last 30 days from 12/24/11 to 1/24/12.  Kristin Johnston Gives You The Real Estate Activity For Waukesha, WI For the Last 30 Days: Real Estate In Waukesha County, WI.

In Waukesha County,Wisconsin Real Estate market 190 homes sold; 40 were listed and sold by the same company, and 150 were sold by co-brokes.

In Waukesha County,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 573 new listings.

InWaukesha County,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 151 pending listings.

In Waukesha County,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 7 withdrawn listings.

In Waukesha County,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 0 canceled listings.

In Waukesha County, Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 784 expired listings.

In Waukesha County,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 160 back on market listings.

In Waukesha County,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 523 extended listings.

In Waukesha County,Wisconsin Real Estate market there are 3783 currently active listings.

Ants Never Cry "Uncle"
Charles Ghigna

Consider the little ant.
He never says, "I can't."
And so it comes as no surprise,
He carries things ten times his size.

The Art of Start
Charles Ghigna

Don't search for inspiration when
You have a task to do;
Just start your work and you will see
That it will soon find you.

Best Laid Plans
Charles Ghigna

A plan is only good if it
Is one that gets recruited;
For good intentions soon will die
Unless they're executed.

Diamond Mind
Charles Ghigna

The promise of our dreams comes true
When patience minds our goal;
Remember that the diamond once
Was just a piece of coal.

Dreams Allowed
Charles Ghigna

Don't be afraid to dream aloud
The things you want to do;
Just saying what is in your heart
Will help your dreams come true.

Dream Catcher
Charles Ghigna

Allow yourself to fish each day
Within life's little streams
For that is where we often find
Just how to catch our dreams.

Written by Jeff Mackey

There's good news today in a case we told you about in May 2010: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has hit the Texas Biomedical Research Institute—formerly the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research—with a fine of more than $25,000 over serious violations of the Animal Welfare Act. The facility has repeatedly allowed primates to escape from their cages and injure themselves and others, including humans.

The stiff fine comes after PETA filed a formal complaint with the agency in 2010 after two baboons imprisoned at Texas Biomed escaped from their cages, injuring an employee in the process. The fine also covers an incident from 2009 in which a juvenile rhesus macaque monkey escaped from a cage and then spent the night in below-freezing temperatures. He suffered from hypothermia and had to be euthanized. 

But quite apart from the satisfaction of seeing these primate torturers pay at least a small price for their misdeeds, these penalties are an important reminder to heartless experimenters everywhere that abusing animals can cost them more than karma points. 

But since karma is on our side, let's keep the momentum going. Texas Biomed is notorious for being one of the last laboratories in the world that still torments chimpanzees in cruel and invasive experiments.

You can do your part to help protect primates—just click here to ask your congressional representatives to cosponsor and support the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act today, which would end experiments on chimpanzees at Texas Biomed and elsewhere.

FEATURED EVENT
Waukesha Janboree: Cool Your Paws at HAWS!
Calendar: Special Events
Date: Saturday, January 21, 2012
Time: 11:00 AM

HAWS joins Waukesha County's Winter festival weekend with special activities at the shelter from 11am - 3pm.  HAWS events are FREE and family friendly - pets also welcome (on a leash or in a carrier, please).

EXTRA SPECIAL GOINGS-ON:

11:30:  Canine Cuisine with Dr. Claudeen
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUESTED:
See separate event listing or call 262-542-8851, 112.
$5 donation/attendee requested to cover cost of food.

Noon - 2:30:  Dog sled rides!
(weather permitting)
Signup will begin at HAWS at 11:30am on 1/21.
First come/first served, while they last!
$5/per run - 1 person per ride.

We'll also have Adoption Specials, snacks, contests for kids and pets...and prizes!


WIN A GREAT RAFFLE PRIZE:
- A flat screen TV (donated by Subaru City)
- A paw-accented Fire Pit
- A February Dogsled encounter
$5/ticket, 5 tickets for $20 - on sale beginning January 2, 2012.

Or, enter our "bucket" raffle for a special Pet-themed goody basket ($1/ticket)!

FEATURED EVENT
K9 Cuisine with Dr. Claudeen
Calendar: Special Events
Date: Saturday, January 21, 2012
Time: 11:30 AM

*A SPECIAL JANBOREE EVENT AT HAWS*

Poodle Parfait! Beef Bedlington Terrier!
Learn from Dr. Claudeen E. McAuliffe, HAWS Behavior Dept. Manager and pet nutritional behaviorist, how to make some healthy and fresh additions to your dog's diet - out of ingredients you probably have right in your kitchen. Get free samples and take recipes home to try.

 

Registration for this event is requested to ensure correct amounts of food.  
Use the form below, or call 262-542-8851, x112 to register. 
Recommended donation is $5 per participant.

 

My name is Kristin Johnston of Remax.  My market report gives you the real estate activity for Pewaukee, WI for the last 30 days. I strongly encourage any seller that is looking to market their property this year to get a sound feeling for what it is worth.  Furthermore, I can't think of a better time for a buyer to purchase a home!   Real estate in Waukesha County is now an excellent investment, prices are superb, selection is great, and the rates are outstanding. 

Please feel free to call me for any of your real estate needs, including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home in Waukesha County.  The following MLS information is for the last 30 days from 12/20/11 to 1/20/12.  Kristin Johnston Gives You The Real Estate Activity For Pewaukee, WI For the Last 30 Days: Real Estate In Waukesha County, WI.

In the Pewaukee,Wisconsin Real Estate market 13 homes sold; 2 were list and sold by the same company, and 11 were sold by co-brokes.

In the Pewaukee, Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 42 new listings.

In the Pewaukee,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 9 pending listings.

In the Pewaukee,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 1 withdrawn listings.

In the Pewaukee,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 0 canceled listings.

In the Pewaukee, Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 73 expired listings.

In the Pewaukee,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 13 back on market listings.

In the Pewaukee,,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 48 extended listings.

In the Pewaukee,Wisconsin Real Estate market there are 288 currently active listings.

More than 20 clinical trials show that St. John's Wort, an herbal remedy, treats mild to moderate depression.  For some it works as well as prescription medications.  The typical dosage is 300 mg three times a day.  Talk to your doctor before taking it, and for severe depression, it's best to stick with prescription meds.

Brain Freeze, a term coined in 1994 by 7-Eleven to explain the head pain you get from drinking a Slurpee too fast, is an actual medical condition!  The scientific term is sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, and it's a quick hitting headache triggered by a chilling of nerves in the roof of the mouth.