Ann Hayden~Real Estate Agent Wildwood e-PRO

I filled up my car yesterday in Union, Missouri. I paid $1.49 a gallon for regular. I could not believe I did not spend even $20. I was not on empty but I did not know if this price would be available tomorrow.

How long do you think this price will last? Everyday I pass the gas stations, I look at the price and wonder, is it going to rise tomorrow? Will I have missed the lowest price for a while? Then I think about my buyers. What are they waiting for? Prices are great. Interest rates are great. Are they waiting for the prices to increase?

My advice: Buy today! Tomorrow may be too late especially if you looked at a house you like. Someone else may decide faster than you. AND then what? The perfect house will be gone....

Information compliments of Ann Hayden Wildwood Agent for Prudential Select Properties. I am committed to your goals while educating you in the home buying & selling processes. For detailed information go to www.SelectAnn.com. or email me: ahayden@psphomes.com

© 2008 Ann Hayden, All rights reserved

Hannah, Alex and I took Sparky in late this afternoon to One Lucky Mutt in Wildwood, Missouri for his self-service bath. The trip was difficult since Sparky is not accustomed to riding in the car. My son drove us into Wildwood about 20 miles away from our house. Sparky was nervous and anxious the whole trip. Luckily, he was sitting in the front seat practically on my lap and sometimes on my lap. He was better behaved than I expected.

We made it to the parking lot and Sparky, as well as myself, was relieved to be out of the car. We went into the shop and Boomer gave us instructions on what to do and where to do it. They had a set of steps conveniently located next to the tub, however, Sparky refused to climb them. Good thing Alex was there. He picked Sparky up and placed him in the tub. I brushed this wonderful animal for nearly an hour before we proceeded with the bathing.... He does not like water and was more than happy to remind me of this fact. He almost jumped out of the tub five or six times. Yes, there was a tether but I think Sparky would have broken his neck to get away, so Alex and I held him in place while Hannah and I soaped him up and rinsed him off. At least this bath water was warm.

This went on for about 30 minutes then we began to dry Sparky. We tried the electric dryer. Hair was flying everywhere. I must have swallowed half a dog. Finally, he was dry enough to finish brush him. He did not stay in the tub for this final step. For about another 20 minutes, I brushed until we came to the conclusion he wanted to leave (Actually, I came to this conclusion before the car ride).

We paid our $15.00 and said thank you to Boomer. She was very nice and helpful. Tracy had disappeared to clean the tub we had used. So I will have to tell her thank you next time.

The ride home was great, since both Sparky and I were beat! He was content to sit between my knees and let me rub his ears. All in all it was an interesting experience. Next time, it should go better. I am going to visit the Wines of Wildwood before I start the bath. This way both Sparky and I can have a little wine with the bath.

Story compliments of Ann Hayden Wildwood Agent for Prudential Select Properties. I am committed to your goals while educating you in the home buying & selling processes.

© 2008 Ann Hayden, All rights reserved

The "Holiday Mail for Heroes" campaign is sponsored by the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes.

The idea is for all the "heroes" to receive a card for the holidays. The cards will be sent to veterans, service members and their families.

Here are the rules for sending the cards:

Send to: Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

The goal is to send one million cards to spread some holiday cheer.

Information compliments of Ann Hayden Wildwood Agent for Prudential Select Properties. I am committed to your goals while educating you in the home buying & selling processes.

Real Estate Needs www.SelectAnn.com

© 2008 Ann Hayden, All rights reserved

Did you know the UPS Store can help you with services other than shipping? In the UPS Store at 2469 Taylor Road in Wildwood, Missouri, you have the ability to send faxes, make copies, package your items for shipping with their expert help and even set up a mailbox service.

The people in the store are friendly and ready to help with all your holiday packaging and shipping needs in additional to the above mentioned services. The store is conveniently located in the Dierberg's Town Center at the front of the Dierberg's Market. So while you are doing a little bit of shopping you can also send those packages on their way.

This wonderful business is located very near the Prudential Select real estate office in Wildwood, so stop by and say hello to Ann Hayden, if you are in the neighborhood.

© 2008 Ann Hayden, All rights reserved

Looking for a way to relieve some of the stress of holiday gift purchasing? Consider a Christmas Gift Exchange alternative or a new low cost tradition. The game is called "Rob Your Neighbor". No, there is nothing illegal about it.

The game is played by a group in which everyone brings at least one gift, wrapped to share. It need not be expensive but interesting or decorated nicely helps. It can be anything you can think of or wrap.

You will need: the gifts in the middle of a table or on the floor in the middle of a room, a cake pan and/or cookie sheet, a set of dice or two sets depending on the number of people playing. Everyone gathered around the gifts.

How to Play: Everyone who rolls a six on one die chooses a gift. After all the gifts are out of the middle, you are then allowed to take/rob one gift from another person for each six rolled. When all the gifts are in the possession of a person, set a timer for between 5 and 10 minutes. With a younger crowd, you might need to adjust the time down. They have a tough time losing the gifts. At the end of the time, any person who is gift-less is allowed to take/rob a gift from someone with more than one. The idea is everyone will have at least one gift to open at the end.

If you think people will not like the game or get involved, just try it! I have never witness such chaos in a game.... Beware: there will be loud and selfish people "coming out" as the game progresses.

As many of you know, I have a huge family and it is impossible to purchase for everyone. I would definitely be in the hole financially.... So in our family, this is the alternative. Everyone has fun and goes home with something.

Christmas should be a simple time to share each others company. So this year try something different.

Drop me a line and let me know how it goes.

© 2008 Ann Hayden, All rights reserved