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Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Spring Time Bedroom Decorating Tip
Cozy Country Getaway
Sunny walls and a grassy rug bring the outside in. Landscape photographs and a nature-themed print reinforce the garden vibe. Glass objects―the display on the dresser and the elegant but humble chandelier―lend a conservatory feel and bounce around light. Big floral prints on the bed are modern and fun (tinier prints run the risk of looking granny). Antiquey, feminine touches, such as the chandelier and the curvy bedside tables, afford old-fashioned charm and warmth. Unexpected accents fend off frumpiness. An appliquéd pillow gives the bed a cool focal point, and a bold white lamp adds a modern smile to the room.
To buy: Natura paint in Jasper Yellow 2024-50, $50 a gallon, benjaminmoore.com for stores. Rosemoor standard shams, $75 each; queen duvet, $290; and Leblond Moss throw, $205: designersguild.com for stores. Beaded birdcage chandelier by Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture, $625, shabbychic.com for stores. Swedish doe-leg tables, $549 each, wisteria.com. Color Reform rug (6 by 9 feet), $3,899, ABC Carpet & Home, 212-674-1144. Artichoke lamp, $525, Barbara Cosgrove Lamps, 816-221-3461 for stores. Linen appliquéd pillow, $100, 1891bysferra.com for stores.
Sunny walls and a grassy rug bring the outside in. Landscape photographs and a nature-themed print reinforce the garden vibe. Glass objects―the display on the dresser and the elegant but humble chandelier―lend a conservatory feel and bounce around light. Big floral prints on the bed are modern and fun (tinier prints run the risk of looking granny). Antiquey, feminine touches, such as the chandelier and the curvy bedside tables, afford old-fashioned charm and warmth. Unexpected accents fend off frumpiness. An appliquéd pillow gives the bed a cool focal point, and a bold white lamp adds a modern smile to the room.
To buy: Natura paint in Jasper Yellow 2024-50, $50 a gallon, benjaminmoore.com for stores. Rosemoor standard shams, $75 each; queen duvet, $290; and Leblond Moss throw, $205: designersguild.com for stores. Beaded birdcage chandelier by Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture, $625, shabbychic.com for stores. Swedish doe-leg tables, $549 each, wisteria.com. Color Reform rug (6 by 9 feet), $3,899, ABC Carpet & Home, 212-674-1144. Artichoke lamp, $525, Barbara Cosgrove Lamps, 816-221-3461 for stores. Linen appliquéd pillow, $100, 1891bysferra.com for stores.
(Tip from http://www.realsimple.com/, photo by Thomas Loof)
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Midwest Horse Fair 2010
The Midwest Horse Fair will be celebrating their 31st year and you can see anything and everything relating to the equine industry at this annual event. Shop the many vendors, attend the competitions and special events, including the World Blacksmith competition... you won't be disappointed at the 2010 Midwest Horse Fair!
Midwest Horse Fair 2010
April 16th, 17th, and 18th 2010
Alliant Energy Center
Madison, WI
Admission: Daily Pass is $10 in advance or $12 at the gate, and a 3-day pass is $27 in advance or $36 at the gate.
Tickets for the Friday night Rodeo will only be available through ticketmaster . Also available only through tickemaster is the Saturday evening "Jumping Grand Prix" event. Tickets for these events are on sale now!
FREE Home Buyers Fair 2010
FREE - 2010 Home Buyers Fair
March 20, 2010, 8:30am-3:00pm
Alliant Energy Center, Exhibition Hall
1919 Alliant Energy Center Way
Madison, WI 53713
The fair is FREE and open to anyone interested in learning about the home buying process. The fair will offer first time home buyer education classes, an opportunity to win one of two $1,500 down payment grants and there will be housing industry exhibitors on hand to answer any questions that you may have.
• Learn how to own a home for under $1,000/month.
• Earn a Home Buyer Education Certificate in one day.
• Learn how to qualify for the extended Home Buyers Tax Credit
• Win one of two $1,500 grants to put toward your down payment.
For more information about the fair, please contact:
Amanda Wilson, UW Credit Union / 608-232-5000 ext. 2060
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
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Freddie Mac losses mount, warns of foreclosures
Freddie Mac lost almost $26 billion last year, ominous news for taxpayers who are footing the bill to rescue the mortgage finance company and its sibling Fannie Mae.
Freddie Mac, which has lost a total of almost $80 billion since the housing crisis started in 2007, is bracing for more pain. The McLean, Va.-based company said a record 4 percent of its borrowers are at least three months behind on their payments and facing foreclosure.
Its chief executive, Charles Haldeman, warned Wednesday of a "potential large wave of foreclosures" still to come.
This is a major problem for the federal government, which seized control of Freddie and Fannie in September 2008. The two companies have already siphoned $111 billion from the government to stay afloat. That number is expected to hit $188 billion by fall 2011.
And while Freddie Mac didn't ask for any more bailout money last quarter, the company said it will likely need more financial aid and might never repay it.
"We now have unlimited taxpayer exposure to the bailout of Fannie and Freddie, a bailout nation where the big get bigger, the small get smaller and the taxpayer gets poorer," Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, said at a House hearing Wednesday.
Fannie and Freddie dominate the mortgage market, backing about 70 percent of the loans made last year. The two companies purchase mortgages from lenders and package them into securities. Investors are willing to buy the securities because they are effectively guaranteed by the U.S. government. That puts American taxpayers at risk.
But the fragile housing sector is so dependent on the government that officials say they won't have a detailed exit strategy until next year. Underscoring the market's weakness, the Commerce Department said Wednesday that sales of new homes unexpectedly plunged 11 percent from December to January to the lowest level on record.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told lawmakers Wednesday that the Obama administration will "make sure we bring about fundamental change in the housing market and get ourselves in a position where the government is playing a less risky, but more constructive role in supporting housing markets in the future."
Separately, Freddie Mac warned there is "significant uncertainty as to whether or when we will emerge" from government control.
For taxpayers, stabilizing Freddie and Fannie Mae has been one of the costliest consequences of the financial meltdown. Freddie Mac has received about $51 billion from Treasury to date, and the Obama administration has pledged to cover unlimited losses through 2012.
Freddie Mac said Wednesday it lost $25.7 billion, or $7.89 a share, for all of 2009. Of those losses, $4.1 billion went to dividends paid to the Treasury Department, which holds a nearly 80 percent stake in the company.
In the final three months of last year, Freddie Mac posted a loss of $7.8 billion, or $2.39 a share. The results, however, were a marked improvement over the fourth quarter 2008 when Freddie lost $23.9 billion, or $7.37 a share.
During the most recent quarter, Freddie suffered $7.1 billion in credit losses and a $3.4 billion write-down in low income tax credit investments. Also Wednesday Fannie Mae said in a regulatory filing that it plans to take a $5 billion charge when it reports its fourth quarter results later this week.
(Article from http://www.madison.com/, by Alan Zibel)
Freddie Mac, which has lost a total of almost $80 billion since the housing crisis started in 2007, is bracing for more pain. The McLean, Va.-based company said a record 4 percent of its borrowers are at least three months behind on their payments and facing foreclosure.
Its chief executive, Charles Haldeman, warned Wednesday of a "potential large wave of foreclosures" still to come.
This is a major problem for the federal government, which seized control of Freddie and Fannie in September 2008. The two companies have already siphoned $111 billion from the government to stay afloat. That number is expected to hit $188 billion by fall 2011.
And while Freddie Mac didn't ask for any more bailout money last quarter, the company said it will likely need more financial aid and might never repay it.
"We now have unlimited taxpayer exposure to the bailout of Fannie and Freddie, a bailout nation where the big get bigger, the small get smaller and the taxpayer gets poorer," Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, said at a House hearing Wednesday.
Fannie and Freddie dominate the mortgage market, backing about 70 percent of the loans made last year. The two companies purchase mortgages from lenders and package them into securities. Investors are willing to buy the securities because they are effectively guaranteed by the U.S. government. That puts American taxpayers at risk.
But the fragile housing sector is so dependent on the government that officials say they won't have a detailed exit strategy until next year. Underscoring the market's weakness, the Commerce Department said Wednesday that sales of new homes unexpectedly plunged 11 percent from December to January to the lowest level on record.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told lawmakers Wednesday that the Obama administration will "make sure we bring about fundamental change in the housing market and get ourselves in a position where the government is playing a less risky, but more constructive role in supporting housing markets in the future."
Separately, Freddie Mac warned there is "significant uncertainty as to whether or when we will emerge" from government control.
For taxpayers, stabilizing Freddie and Fannie Mae has been one of the costliest consequences of the financial meltdown. Freddie Mac has received about $51 billion from Treasury to date, and the Obama administration has pledged to cover unlimited losses through 2012.
Freddie Mac said Wednesday it lost $25.7 billion, or $7.89 a share, for all of 2009. Of those losses, $4.1 billion went to dividends paid to the Treasury Department, which holds a nearly 80 percent stake in the company.
In the final three months of last year, Freddie Mac posted a loss of $7.8 billion, or $2.39 a share. The results, however, were a marked improvement over the fourth quarter 2008 when Freddie lost $23.9 billion, or $7.37 a share.
During the most recent quarter, Freddie suffered $7.1 billion in credit losses and a $3.4 billion write-down in low income tax credit investments. Also Wednesday Fannie Mae said in a regulatory filing that it plans to take a $5 billion charge when it reports its fourth quarter results later this week.
(Article from http://www.madison.com/, by Alan Zibel)
Monday, February 22, 2010
8 Dream Homes for Sale in the Madison, Wisconsin Area
7326 Black Hawk Road in Middleton, WI
$2.46 Million
MLS #1566722, Courtesy of Bunbury & Assoc.
4 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, 9502 sq ft, 4.3 acres
2295 Spring Rose Rd in Springdale, WI
$2.8 Million
MLS #1572037, Courtesy of Bunbury & Assoc.
6 bedrooms, 5 baths, 8255 sq ft, 20 acres
26740 Cooper Hill Rd in Richland, WI
$2.9 Million
MLS #1566191, Courtesy of Restaino & Assoc.
4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 6200 sq ft, 40 acres
W6500 Hwy B in Burnett, WI
$3.3 Million
MLS#1573293, Courtesy of First Weber
7 bedrooms, 7.5 baths, 6945 sq ft, 272 acres
W6138 Hwy J in Jefferson, WI
$3.5 Million
MLS #1463050, Courtesy of Stark Company
4 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, 15,124 sq ft, 19 acres
3387 Timber Lane in Cross Plains, WI
$3.83 Million
MLS #1545264, Courtesy of RE/MAX Preferred
5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 14,126 sq ft, 26 acres
659 Farwell Drive in Maple Bluff, WI
$5.95 Million
MLS #1537504, Courtesy of Restaino & Assoc.
5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 7219 sq ft, 2 acres and 300 ft of Lake Mendota frontage
5750 Hwy Z in Wyoming, WI
$6.3 Million
MLS #1572013, Courtesy of Bunbury & Assoc.
5 bedrooms, 7 baths, 13,600 sq ft, 217 acres
Monday, January 25, 2010
Why You Should Move to Madison, WI: We've Won All These Awards!
Top 10 Outdoor-Oriented Towns
Yahoo! Real Estate, Fall 2007
Best Farmers' Market in Nation
Eating Well, August 2007
Top Medium-Sized Metro in the Arts
Creative Class Group, May 2007
#1 Walking City
Prevention, April 2007
Top 20 Children's Museums in America
Grand Magazine, March 2007
Best Road Biking Town in America
Outside, August 2006
#1 City for Cycling
Bicycling, March 2006
Most Romantic U.S. City
USAWeekend.com, February 2006
Top 10 Places for Outdoor Activities
Spearling's Best Places, Fall 2005
Top 10 Places to Live the Athletic Life
geezerJock, Fall 2005
2005 Award for Garden Excellence, Olbrich Botanical Gardens
American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta, Summer 2005
Best Game-Day Atmosphere
Sports Illustrated on Campus, September 2005
Top 10 Best Places for Families
Richard Florida and the Creative Class Exchange, May 2008
Top 10 Most Livable Cities
2007 Places Rated Almanac, Spring 2007
Top 30 Best Towns in America
Outside, August 2007
Middleton: Best Place to Live
Money, August 2007
Top 25 Best Cities to Live
Kiplinger's Personal Finance, June 2007
Top 10 Greenest Cities
Yahoo! Real Estate, May 2007
Top 100 Best Places to Live
Money, August 2006
Top 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live
50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live, Gregory A. Kompes, Fall 2005
#3 in 100 Healthiest Cities for Pregnancy
BabyFit.com, December 2005
(Information from Madison Magazine, http://www.madisonmagazine.com/)
Yahoo! Real Estate, Fall 2007
Best Farmers' Market in Nation
Eating Well, August 2007
Top Medium-Sized Metro in the Arts
Creative Class Group, May 2007
#1 Walking City
Prevention, April 2007
Top 20 Children's Museums in America
Grand Magazine, March 2007
Best Road Biking Town in America
Outside, August 2006
#1 City for Cycling
Bicycling, March 2006
Most Romantic U.S. City
USAWeekend.com, February 2006
Top 10 Places for Outdoor Activities
Spearling's Best Places, Fall 2005
Top 10 Places to Live the Athletic Life
geezerJock, Fall 2005
2005 Award for Garden Excellence, Olbrich Botanical Gardens
American Association of Botanic Gardens and Arboreta, Summer 2005
Best Game-Day Atmosphere
Sports Illustrated on Campus, September 2005
Top 10 Best Places for Families
Richard Florida and the Creative Class Exchange, May 2008
Top 10 Most Livable Cities
2007 Places Rated Almanac, Spring 2007
Top 30 Best Towns in America
Outside, August 2007
Middleton: Best Place to Live
Money, August 2007
Top 25 Best Cities to Live
Kiplinger's Personal Finance, June 2007
Top 10 Greenest Cities
Yahoo! Real Estate, May 2007
Top 100 Best Places to Live
Money, August 2006
Top 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live
50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live, Gregory A. Kompes, Fall 2005
#3 in 100 Healthiest Cities for Pregnancy
BabyFit.com, December 2005
(Information from Madison Magazine, http://www.madisonmagazine.com/)
Friday, January 15, 2010
Madison Area Beer and Wine Tours
- Ale Asylum
3698 Kinsman Blvd.
aleasylum.com
Price: Free
Dates/times: Saturdays, 6 p.m.
Describe it, 10 words or less: Industrial meets chic. Plus, $2 pints after the tour.
Don’t miss: The labels—owner Otto Dilba says their label artwork has to pass the “tattoo test.” “A design won’t go to press unless it’s something … a person [would] want to get tattooed on their body.” - Botham Vineyards
8180 Langberry Rd., Barneveld
bothamvineyards.com
Price: $3
Dates/times: By appointment for groups of fifteen or more. But the tasting room is open March through December (check the website for days and times).
Describe it, 10 words or less:
A friendly, unpretentious mingling of wines, automobilia and gorgeous scenery.
Don’t miss: The Vintage Celebration in August, when vintage automobiles are
showcased at the peak of the growing season. - Capital Brewery
7734 Terrace Ave., Middleton
capital-brewery.com
Price: $3
Dates/times: Fridays, 3:30 p.m., Saturdays 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Describe it, 10 words or less: Island Wheat, Wisconsin Amber, Supper Club. Need we say more?
Don’t miss: We all know about the outdoor Bier Garten, open May–September. But drop by during the cooler months for a drink in the lesser-known Bier Stube, a cozy bar that’s open Tuesday–Saturday year-round. - New Glarus Brewing Co.
2400 State Hwy. 69, New Glarus
newglarusbrewing.com
Price: Free self-guided tour.
Dates/times: Mondays–Sundays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Describe it, 10 words or less: You can’t get their brews outside of Wisconsin—literally.
Don’t miss: Three things: the renovated hilltop facility, the tasting room where you can sample brews daily from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Wisconsin Cran-bic, part of brewmaster Dan Carey’s limited-edition “Unplugged” beer series. Carey will roll out a new set of Unplugged beers in 2010, too. - Wollersheim Winery
7876 State Rd. 188, Prairie du Sac.
wollersheim.com
Price: $3.50
Dates/times: Tours start daily at 10:15 a.m. and run until 4:15 p.m.
Describe it, 10 words or less: California vistas in Wisconsin.
Don’t miss: The west coast views are more than mere coincidence at this Midwestern winery: the first owner of the vineyard, Hungarian Count Agoston Haraszthy, left Wisconsin in 1849 for California and is known as the founder of that state’s wine industry.
(List from http://www.madisonmagazine.com/, article titled "Seize the City! 62 things every Madisonian should do in 2010" by Brennan Nardi, Shayna Miller, and Katie Vaughn. Photo from http://blog.wisconsinbrewerytour.com/)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Madison, WI: Home Value Trends
This chart compares home values over the last several years in the Madison, Fitchburg, Middleton, Mount Horeb, and Waunakee areas.
Send Your Name to Mars!!
http://marsparticipate.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/participate/sendyourname/
Follow the above link to send your name to
Mars
on a microchip carried by
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover!
NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover!
Video: Cross Plains' St. Francis Football
It's the little Catholic School that could. It has 200 kids that play football and that's the same as the entire population of the school. The program has such a great reputation kids from all over the area come to play for St. Francis Xavier in Cross Plains. They have a rich tradition of sportsmanship and winning. It's viewed as a feeder program for the perennial powerhouse Middleton High School Football Cardinals. One of their players has even gone pro. Patty Loew reports on the secret to their success.
Click here to watch the video from Wisconsin Public Television.
Click here to volunteer to help support Wisconsin Public Television.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Good News, Sellers!
Sick of dirty footprint trails around your home after a Showing to potential Buyers? Well now you can leave your Swiffer in the closet, because we've ordered a huge supply of "Disposable Shoe Covers" that will easily stretch around your guest's shoes and keep the mess off your floors!
(Photo by Abs, Modeled by Miss Mahliss)
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
All Star Rodeo Challenge 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin
- When:
Friday, January 15, 2010 and Saturday, January 16, 2010 from 7:30 pm to 10 pm - Where:
Alliant Energy Center Coliseum - Description:
This rodeo event will surely be a hit with the entire family! There will be bulls, broncs and babes to entertain and amaze. All cowboys in each event will be matched up against the rankest bucking horses and bulls in the nation. And some of the most talented women in the Midwest will compete on some of the fastest horses in the Midwest. Punkintown, one of the funniest rodeo comedians you'll ever see, will introduce you to Diamond and bust some moves like you have never seen before! Admission - $37 (Gold Buckle), $27& $18.50 Kids 1/2 price day of show, or $5.00 in advance (Excludes Gold Buckle Tickets). Tickets on sale now! For more information visit http://www.allstarrodeochallenge.com/.
(event information from www.alliantenergycenter.com)
Isthmus Beer and Cheese Fest 2010 in Madison, Wi
- When:
Saturday, January 30, 2010 from 1 pm to 5 pm - Where:
Alliant Energy Center Exhibition Hall - Description:
Taste Wisconsin's finest beer and cheese at this event while learning about what beers go best with what cheeses, chocolates and everyday foods from the experts! You can dance to great live music from the Cork n' Bottle String Band while mixing and mingling in the beer garden. Tickets are limited and can be purchased in advance for $40 at www.TheDailyPage.com/beercheese. Time of event is from 1pm to 5pm. Tickets also available at the Isthmus office (101 King Street), and at Star Liquor, Fromagination, The Malt House, and Steve's Liquor locations. Save $5.00 on tickets at Star Liquor and Fromagination with qualifying purchase. See store for details. Take Union Cab to and from the festival! Show the driver your ticket for a FREE ride to the festival, and/or $5.00 off your ride home.
(event information from http://www.alliantenergycenter.com/)
Notes from Nicole
New Year’s Resolutions. I feel like they’re the same every year: spend more time with my kids, lose weight, become more organized. This year they’re very similar, but with a different twist.
Many of you know that I have a prosthetic leg. Many of you also know that I’ve been struggling for years to lose weight. For the past couple of years I’ve been fantasizing about running a marathon. This last summer I started working out on a regular basis and really watching what I’m eating. So far I am down 44 pounds, but still have quite a ways to go. I started running (more like a glacially paced slow jog) and am able to go a couple of miles (still have a long way to go!), but it’s quite an improvement from even just a few months ago. This year I will be running the ½ marathon in the Madison Marathon on Memorial Day weekend. Towards the end of 2010 my goal is to be in good enough shape to run a full marathon. Along with my training and diet/exercise regimen, I have started to journal my progress. I plan to write a book called “The One Legged Fat Girl Runs a Marathon”, have already started a blog (not publically published yet), and started a YouTube series to chronicle the journey.
This time next year I hope to be writing to you in review of the journey from couch to marathon, and telling lots of exciting tales in between. Hmmm, maybe next year’s resolution will include an Ironman?
Happy New Year!
Foreclosures, Short Sales, and REO: Sorting Out the Confusion
It seems that hardly a day goes by that there isn’t a report on the news about the rising foreclosures and the current state of the housing market. While it is unarguably a great time to purchase a home, there seems to be a lot of confusion amongst buyers and sellers on what foreclosures, short sales, and REO’s mean, so here I hope to sort them out.
When you purchase a home that is financed by a lender, you sign a note and mortgage which is your promise to repay that loan. When you stop making payments on that loan, the lender can foreclose, meaning they can take the property back from you. Foreclosures can take a really long time to complete, so it’s usually at least about a year after someone stops making payments on their property until the property goes to Sherriff’s Sale. The bank typically buys it back at the Sherriff’s sale and then the property then becomes owned by the bank. The bank sells the property, known as a REO (Real Estate Owned) listing. The bank typically sells the property as-is and will not make any warranties or representations as to the condition of the property. A buyer is usually able to get a really good price on REO properties as the banks slash the list price in order to get the property to sell quickly and off of the bank’s books.
A short sale is when a lender accepts short of the balance due on the mortgage in exchange for release of title so a person is able to sell their property. This typically happens when the homeowner is already a few months behind on their mortgage, however we are seeing more and more short sales where the owner is still current on their payments but knows they won’t able to be current for much longer. Let’s say you owe $200,000 on your house, the market has declined or you took out mortgages that ate up all the equity in your property and your house is only worth $150,000. With a short sale, after buyer and seller reach an accepted offer, the offer goes to the bank for their approval. So the offer of $150,000 gets submitted to the bank, and the bank approves the $150,000 price, but technically the bank is still owed $50,000. At this point the bank will do one of a few things: 1) Sue the borrower for the deficiency, 2) Reserve the right to sue for deficiency but not actually do it, or 3) Waive the deficiency completely (basically forgiving the difference). Clearly, the third option is the best one for the borrower, and we are seeing more and more banks waive deficiency judgments completely. The beauty of the short sale is that it helps the Seller avoid a foreclosure all together, buyer gets a great deal on the property they are purchasing, and the Seller also is able to avoid the nasty impact that a foreclosure would have.
If a homeowner is late on their mortgage, or is currently struggling with their payments, it’s best that they speak with their Realtor as soon as possible. Realtors like myself, who are CDPE’s (Certified Distressed Property Experts) are extremely familiar with negotiating with banks and the intricacies of the short sale process. It is important that a distressed property owner have the best representation possible. If you, or someone you know is struggling with their monthly housing payments, please don’t wait to have them call. In the world of foreclosures, judgments, and financing, timing is everything!
Madison, Wisconsin: A Trusted and Creative Wedding Planner
By Miranda Walker of
Marry Us Miranda
(608) 772-7802
mwalker@marryusmiranda.com
www.marryusmiranda.com
There are girls that grow up dreaming of finding their soulmate, falling in love, and planning the perfect wedding day. What does your dream wedding look like? Is it a black tie affair in a childhood church? Are there gorgeous flowers and stunning photographs capturing unforgettable moments with family and friends?
Organization, creativity, and coordination are essential to planning the perfect wedding day. Often times I’ve found that brides who try to plan every detail on their own are stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious that some important detail was forgotten. But with a little bit of help and guidance from an expert, the planning process can be fun. It is my goal to take any anxiety out of the special moments leading up to your important day and to have a successful and memorable event.
In the event planning business, professional connections are priceless. I value the knowledge and ideas I have gained while working alongside a variety of other creative professionals. I have been involved in event planning for six years and hold both a general event planning and wedding planning certificate. No party is too big or small. I have planned and coordinated everything from small parties for five to grand banquets for 500, and I love what I do. No matter the occasion, I always get excited to meet new people and plan the perfect event, incorporating the tastes, personalities, and styles of all those involved.
Your wedding day will be one of the most important and memorable days of your life. It’s a time to let yourself get lost in. While you are happy living in those moments, Marry Us Miranda will have the rest of the details taken care of.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Homes for Sale: Average List Price and Sales Price in Madison, Wisconsin
Information from SCWMLS (South-Central Wisconsin Multiple Listing Service). Averages calculated from homes sold between September 28, 2009 and December 28, 2009.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Upcoming residential development in Verona, WI
Here is a rundown of the residential developments that are currently in the City of Verona’s pipeline, in order from “most complete” to “earliest in the process.”
Hawthorne Hills (between Whalen Road and the US 18/151 bypass) and Westridge Estates (between North Nine Mound Road and Northern Lights Road) each still have a limited number of single-family home sites available. They also have some higher-density housing yet to be built.
South of the US 18/151 bypass, Scenic Ridge (west of Locust Drive) and Cathedral Point (east of Locust Drive) are both platted and have completed streets and utilities in their early phases. Each subdivision has home sites currently available, along with a large quantity planned for eventual construction.
Cross Point is located adjacent to Epic, to the west of North Nine Mound Road and along Northern Lights Road. This subdivision is platted and graded but has not yet moved forward on utilities and streets. It is presumed that the developer is holding off for economic reasons.
The northern portion of the former Zingg Farm, the next chunk of land north of Kettle Creek, is in the process of being annexed in to the City of Verona. This is a 66-acre area that appears to be a continuation of the existing neighborhood surrounding Country View Elementary School, proposed to provide 117 additional single-family lots.
The Southwest Neighborhood, a 246 acre area along Hwy 69 to the south of the US 18/151 bypass, is tied up in a lengthy process of being added to our Urban Service Area. Only 79 acres of the area will be developable, and a smaller portion of this will include residential development. It is a particularly sensitive area due to adjacency to both the Badger Mill Creek and Sugar River.
Farthest on the horizon is the Midthun land, which includes the four 40-acre quarter-quarter sections between Stony Ridge Circle and the gravel pits along North Nine Mound road. It also includes one 40-acre quarter-quarter section to the east of Windswept Way. (It does not include two quarter-quarter sections along CTH PD closest to the CTH M intersection.) Out of Midthun’s 200 gross acres, about 134 net acres of residential development is anticipated.
The preliminary concept put forth by Midthun’s developer includes small-scale commercial/retail closest to CTH M and CTH PD, blending through high and mid-density residential development toward the south and west. Finally, the southwest portion includes “estate” lots to help diversify the City’s housing stock with “higher-end” single-family housing. This land will face unique challenges for storm water management due to its “closed kettle” geography.
(Article from Hometown Hawk, a blog by Jeremy Charles)
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Jeremy Charles for Alder in City of Verona, District 4
Excerpt from http://www.jeremycharles.us/:
"My family and I are residents of the Hawthorne Hills neighborhood, near Glacier Edge Elementary school. Since high school, the majority of my hobbies have consisted of community service. In recent years, I have added to my long history of volunteer work by serving the City of Verona. My service to the City has been highly rewarding because I make a direct, positive impact on the community in which I live. Additionally, I have enjoyed the people that I have been serving with. I view the role of Alder as the best and most logical way that I can continue to serve my community."
Article from the Verona Press:
Charles announces candidacy
After three years, Verona might finally have another contested local election.
Plan Commissioner Jeremy Charles has announced he will run for the District 4 aldermanic seat currently held by Ken Harwood. Harwood's term ends in April.
Nomination papers can't be circulated until Dec. 1, but Charles, who has been following Verona politics closely and attending meetings regularly for about three years, was ready to go last week with a news release. The 33-year-old Charles is an employee of Epic and a resident of the Hawthorne Hills neighborhood on the city's southeast side.
"I'm not a politician," Charles said in his release. "My family loves living in Verona, and I sincerely care about promoting the best long-term interests of our City. Becoming an alder is simply the best way that I can serve my community."
After about a year of attending Common Council, Plan Commission and Finance committee meetings regularly, Charles joined the Comprehensive Plan Committee in late 2007. He also has served on the Zoning Board of Appeals and joined the Plan Commission - a common stepping stone to the council - in 2008.
Harwood, a Realtor who joined the Common Council in 2006 and earned another two-year term in 2008, said last week he intended to run again as long as he remains a resident of Verona.
Click Here to Visit Jeremy Charles' Campaign Site
Click Here to Visit
Jeremy Charles'
Facebook Page
Click Here to Visit Jeremy Charles' Blog
Contact Jeremy Charles by email or phone-
E-mail: jeremy@jeremycharles.us
Phone: 608-848-0633
"My family and I are residents of the Hawthorne Hills neighborhood, near Glacier Edge Elementary school. Since high school, the majority of my hobbies have consisted of community service. In recent years, I have added to my long history of volunteer work by serving the City of Verona. My service to the City has been highly rewarding because I make a direct, positive impact on the community in which I live. Additionally, I have enjoyed the people that I have been serving with. I view the role of Alder as the best and most logical way that I can continue to serve my community."
Article from the Verona Press:
Charles announces candidacy
After three years, Verona might finally have another contested local election.
Plan Commissioner Jeremy Charles has announced he will run for the District 4 aldermanic seat currently held by Ken Harwood. Harwood's term ends in April.
Nomination papers can't be circulated until Dec. 1, but Charles, who has been following Verona politics closely and attending meetings regularly for about three years, was ready to go last week with a news release. The 33-year-old Charles is an employee of Epic and a resident of the Hawthorne Hills neighborhood on the city's southeast side.
"I'm not a politician," Charles said in his release. "My family loves living in Verona, and I sincerely care about promoting the best long-term interests of our City. Becoming an alder is simply the best way that I can serve my community."
After about a year of attending Common Council, Plan Commission and Finance committee meetings regularly, Charles joined the Comprehensive Plan Committee in late 2007. He also has served on the Zoning Board of Appeals and joined the Plan Commission - a common stepping stone to the council - in 2008.
Harwood, a Realtor who joined the Common Council in 2006 and earned another two-year term in 2008, said last week he intended to run again as long as he remains a resident of Verona.
Click Here to Visit Jeremy Charles' Campaign Site
Click Here to Visit
Jeremy Charles'
Facebook Page
Click Here to Visit Jeremy Charles' Blog
Contact Jeremy Charles by email or phone-
E-mail: jeremy@jeremycharles.us
Phone: 608-848-0633
Obama Ups Pressure on Banks to Help Homeowners
Loan servicers must detail plans to assist borrowers long-term. Laggards could face penalties and sanctions.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Struggling to stem the swelling foreclosure tide, the Obama administration announced new steps Monday to pressure banks to help homeowners long term.
The administration said it will require top loan servicers to report their plan to reach a decision on each loan for which they have all the needed documentation. Also, these servicers must explain to Treasury how they will communicate the decision to borrowers.
Servicers will also be required to report the status of each modification. Those failing to meet their obligations could face penalties and sanctions.
To help borrowers through the process, the administration is providing more information on the documents they need to submit to be considered for a permanent modification. Federal, state and local officials will increase outreach to delinquent homeowners.
The administration's move is its latest attempt to jumpstart its $75 billion loan modification plan, which many fear will fall far short of its goal to help up to 4 million delinquent homeowners.
A growing number of borrowers are complaining that they are stuck in trial modifications. Some 650,000 homeowners are currently in this preliminary phase, but only a small fraction have received permanent assistance.
About 375,000 people should receive long-term relief by year end, said Treasury officials in their first estimate of how many permanent modifications would be made this year. The administration is set to release its first report on the conversions in coming weeks.
Under the president's plan, delinquent borrowers are put into trial modifications for several months to make sure they can handle the new payments and to give them time to submit their financial paperwork.
Borrowers that qualify for long-term modifications can keep making the lower payments for five years. At that point, the interest rate will be set at the rate at the time of the adjustment, currently about 5%.
Loan servicers, however, say they are having trouble getting the necessary documents from borrowers, while homeowners maintain that their financial institutions are repeatedly losing the paperwork.
And once homeowners send in their forms, servicers may find these borrowers don't have enough income or have too much equity or savings to qualify. It also may be more profitable for the bank to foreclose on the home than to modify the mortgage.
(Article from Money.CNN.com)
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Slap Chop Remix
Well, I think it's funny. Watch this, and be prepared to have this song stuck in your head.
"You're gonna be in a great mood all day, cuz you're gonna be slappin your troubles away with the Slap Chop."
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Christmas Tree Farms near Madison, Wisconsin
- Summers Christmas Tree Farm
4610 Rocky Dell Rd., Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 831-4414
http://www.summerschristmastreefarm.com/
Pine, Spruce, and Fir Christmas Trees, wreaths, garland, boughs, Christmas gift shop
Map - Paoli Tree Farm
6445 Sun Valley Parkway, Belleville, WI 53508
(608) 424-3936
Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, Canaan Fir, Norway Spruce, and White Spruce Christmas Trees, Pre-cut or cut-your-own
Map - Hann's Christmas Farm
848 Tipperary Rd., Oregon, WI 53575
(608) 835-5464
http://www.hannschristmasfarm.com/
Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and Scotch Pine Christmas Trees, Pre-cut and cut-your-own, Christmas Decorations, Lights, Ornaments, Wreaths, Tree Skirts, Tree Bags, Fresh Holly and Mistletoe
Map - Paul's Tree Farm
16239 W. Beloit Newark Rd., Brodhead, WI
(608) 897-2569
http://www.paulstreefarm.com/
Scotch Pine, White Pine, Norway Pine, White Spruce, Norway Spruce, Blue Spruce, Serbian Spruce, Balsam Fir, Concolor Fir, Canaan Fir, Fraser Fir, Large Spruce up to 14 ft. Christmas Trees, Pre-cut or cut-your-own, Christmas Ornaments, Handmade Scarves, Wreaths, Snacks,
Map - The Tree Farm
8454 Highway 19, Cross Plains, WI
(608) 798-2286
http://www.thetreefarm.net/
White Pines, Scotch Pines, Norway Pines, Spruce, Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, and Douglas Fir Christmas Trees, Cut-your-own
Map - The Bruce Company Garden Center
2830 Parmenter Street, Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 836-7041
http://www.brucecompany.com/
Map - Jensen Trees
7507 Valley View Road, Verona, WI 53593
(608)239-3722
Map - Tree City
5501 W. Beltline Highway, Madison, WI 53711
(715) 533-0241
www.tree-city.net/treecity.htm
Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, White Pine, and Scotch Pine Christmas Trees, Pre-cut
Map - CaPaul's Country Place Christmas Tree Farm
5895 River Road, Waunakee, WI 53597
(608) 849-4276
http://www.capaulschristmastreefarm.com/
Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, and Scotch Pine Christmas Trees, Cut-your-own, Apple Cider, Christmas Ornaments, Wreaths, Garland
Map - Ridgetop Trees
8498 County Highway PD, Mount Horeb, WI 53572
(608) 437-8810 or (608) 692-1297
http://www.madison-christmas-trees.com/
White Pine, Scotch Pine, Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Colorado Blue Spruce, White Spruce, Black Hills Spruce Christmas Trees, Cut-your-own
Map - Christmas Treeland
E10861 Terrytown Road, Baraboo, WI 53913
(608) 356-3307
www.christmastreeland.com/locationcontactinfo.html
Balsam Fir, Spruce, Scotch Pine, Norway Pine, White Pine, and Fraser Fir Christmas Trees, Cut-your-own, Wreaths, Holiday Crafts including Stained Glass Decorations, Garland, Hot Apple Cider
Map - Green Thumb Farms Inc.
S9891 US Hwy 12, Prairie du Sac, WI 53578
1-800-222-2538
http://www.gtfarms.com/
Map - Miller's Christmas Trees
N3763 Otsego Road, Rio, WI 53960
(920)992-3221
http://www.treerex.com/
Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir, Canaan Fir, Concolor Fir, Scotch Pine, White Pine, Red Pine, Blue Spruce, White Spruce, and Serbian Spruce Christmas Trees, Pre-cut and cut-your-own Trees, Wreaths, Gifts and Crafts, Stocking Stuffers, Hot Apple Cider, Candy Canes
Map - Smokey Hollow Farm
N3056 Smokey Hollow Road, Poynette, WI 53955
(608) 635-2046
http://www.smokeyhollowfarm.com/
Fraser Fir, and Balsam Fir Christmas Trees, Pre-cut, Gift Baskets, Ornaments, Potpourri, Holiday Candles,
Map - Swan Lake Tree Farm
W6892 Breneman Road, Pardeeville, WI 53954
(608) 429-3176
www.gorsetr.com/Swan_lake/Swan_lake.html
Colorado Blue Spruce and White Spruce Christmas Trees, Pre-cut or cut-your own trees
Map - The Paint Farm
W6958 King Road, Poynette, WI 53955
(608) 635-8037
Fraser Fir Christmas Trees, Cut-your-own trees, Wreaths, Mistletoe, Specialty Shaped Wreaths, Garland, Tree Stands, and Tree Bags
Map - Winterberry Christmas Trees
N8220 Smith Road, Brooklyn, WI 53521
(608) 455-2040
Pre-cut and cut-your-own Christmas Trees, Wreaths, Boughs
Map
Friday, November 13, 2009
8 Best Neighborhoods in Madison, WI!
Eight Great Neighborhoods
By Neil Heinen, Brennan Nardi, Shayna Miller, and Katie Vaughn
Home is where the heart is, as the saying goes. And you could definitely fall for these eight beautiful, friendly, charming, historic, quirky – and, yes, great – Madison ‘hoods.
By Neil Heinen, Brennan Nardi, Shayna Miller, and Katie Vaughn
Home is where the heart is, as the saying goes. And you could definitely fall for these eight beautiful, friendly, charming, historic, quirky – and, yes, great – Madison ‘hoods.
- Williamson-Marquette
Year Established: 1857 – oldest home in the neighborhood
Icons & Landmarks: Yahara River bridges, Marquette and O’Keeffe schools, Machinery Row, Orton Park. Brick wall advertisements: Gardner’s Purity Bread, King Midas Flour, Madison Candy Company. Festivals: Waterfront, La Fete de Marquette, Orton Park, Willy Street. Retail: The Kitchen Gallery, Rick’s Olde Gold, MadCat. Restaurants: Eldorado Grill, Weary Traveler, Jolly Bob’s, Lao Laan-Xang, Willy Street Co-Op.
Why It’s So Special: Known affectionately as “Wil-Mar,” the Williamson-Marquette neighborhood is a “forever ‘60s” kind of place. With one sandal-clad foot firmly in the past and the other in the present, Wil-Mar has established itself as more than a crunchy ‘hood. Whether you’re a young, hip urbanite or an old hippie, festivals invite everyone to celebrate, and residents depend on them to support the community. While we all love Wil-Mar for its eccentricities worn as badges of honor, businesses you won’t find anywhere else – Hempen Goods, Grampa’s Gun Shop, A Woman’s Touch, and Ford’s Gym – are weathering a shaky economy, proving that funky or not Wil-Mar marches to a healthy, here-to-stay beat. –SM - Westmorland
Year Established: 1916 – the first subdivision plat filed
Icons & Landmarks: Beatty & Strang International Style House, Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Usonian House, Glenway Golf Course, J.H. Findorff & Sons’ “Lustron” steel-built homes, Midvale Community Lutheran Church, Midvale School and Community Gardens, Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Sequoya Commons, Stone Pillars at Westmorland Blvd. and Mineral Point Rd., Otto Toepfer House, Village Bar, the annual “Weed Feed” invasive species recipe fest, Westmorland Park.
Why It’s So Special: The new library at Sequoya Commons, a condo and retail complex that woke up the sleepy west-side neighborhood, is the busiest branch in the city, and residents are fully engaged in community, environmental stewardship and revitalization. With a neighborhood association that goes back almost seventy years, there’s a deep-rooted sense of appreciation and belonging that crosses generations whether it’s eco-volunteering, attending social events, enjoying the bike path, donating to the neighborhood health charity fund that raises $12,000 annually, or simply gathering with friends in the park or coffee shop. –BN - University Heights
Year Established: 1893 – annexed by the city of Madison in 1903
Icons & Landmarks: Olin House, home to the UW-Madison chancellor, the Gilmore House by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Bradley House by Louis Sillivan, the Elliott House by George Maher, Randall School, First Congregational Church.
Why It’s So Special: Strolling through this neighborhood is literally a walk through Madison’s architectural heritage. Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, George Maher, Frank Riley, Alvan Small, and others made their mark here, popularizing the Prairie style and also furthering the Queen Anne, Georgian revival, Tudor and International traditions. And look no further than the street signs – marking roads such as Van Hise and Bascom – for proof that the neighborhood developed in tandem with UW-Madison in the early twentieth century. –KV - Dudgeon-Monroe
Year Established: How about 1909 when Madison’s first gasoline filling station was built at Spooner and Monroe streets? The Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhood Association was established in 1973.
Icons & Landmarks: Budd’s Auto Repair, Edgewood College (and the Pleasure Drive that runs behind it), the Southwest Bike/Pedestrian Path (or Bicycle Beltline to the locals), the “mini-arboretum,” Blessed Sacrament, Temple Beth El and the Friends House, David Maraniss, the real Arboretum, Mallatt’s and Neuhauser’s pharmacies, Michael’s Frozen Custard and the Laurel, Orange Tree Imports, and Parman’s.
Why It’s So Special: Are you kidding? Frozen custard, trustworthy car care, walkable, bikeable, pretty, practical, and politically active with a football stadium on one end and the home of the Madison Opera on the other. You’re surrounded by Vilas, Nakoma, and a cemetery with your own golf course. (Okay, you share the golf course.) You’ve got a good mix of businesses, outdoor recreation, restaurants, coffee shops, property tax bills and little red flags to help you get across Monroe Street. Life is good in Dudgeon –Monroe. –NH - First SettlementYear Established: 1837 – Madison’s first residential settlement
Icons & Landmarks: The Progressive magazine, the Isthmus newspaper, Essen Haus, Lake Monona, the State Capitol building, Café Continental, the Great Dane Pub and Brewing Co. (formerly the Fess Hotel), the Majestic Theatre, Marina condo building.
Why It’s So Special: Whether it’s at the top of the Marina condos, a sidewalk table at Café Continental, or even the Capitol rotunda, the First Settlement ‘hood has some of the most amazing views in the city – all different, all special. Cosmopolitan in some parts and residential in others, this downtown neighborhood has one of the most urban slices of the city within its confines. Walking down King Street, it’s a bustling cityscape with high-end men’s shop Context, live band venue the Majestic Theatre, stellar sushi place Muramoto, cheeky gay sports bar Woof’s, and chic cocktail haven Opus. Walk a block or two east and find peaceful, tree-lined residential streets with lake views and a beautiful bike path thrown in. –SM - Tenny-Lapham
Year Established: 1850 – the year the first building was constructed in the area
Icons & Landmarks: Annual Art Walk, Avenue Bar, Christ Presbyterian Church, 1909 Prairie-style City Market converted into apartments, East Johnson business district, Gate of Heaven public meeting house, James Madison Park, Lapham School and Community Gardens, Reynolds Park, Tenny Park and Locks, Tour de Coops, Yahara River Parkway.
Why It’s So Special: From mansions on Lake Mendota to two- and three-story flats along the busy Johnson and Gorham thoroughfares, you’ll find historic and contemporary housing stock of all kinds and people of all ages living in this close-knit community that organized its first annual neighborhood festival this summer. Residents are also raising $1.6 million for a beautiful new Tenny Park Shelter that hopes to open in time for the 2010 ice-skating season. –BN - Vilas
Year Estabilished: 1889 and 1896 – annexed by the city of Madison in 1903
Icons & Landmarks: Vilas Park, Henry Vilas Zoo, Bear Mound Park (also known as Vilas Circle), Lake Wingra, Edgewood College and Monroe Street lie along the neighborhood’s borders
Why It’s So Special: What kid wouldn’t want to grow up amid forests, houses painted in a rainbow of colors, a lake, parks, and a zoo? Indeed, Vilas has been a family-friendly neighborhood since developing as one of the city’s original “suburbs” as the electric streetcar line extended out from the isthmus at the turn of the century. Nestled in between the Edgewood and UW campuses, the neighborhood often finds students commuting by food or bike through the tree-lined streets. But an even more common sight is residents walking dogs, pushing strollers, or toting kids past tidy bungalows and lovingly tended gardens to Vilas Park or the adjacent zoo. –KV - Schenk-Atwood
Year Established: 1999 – Give or take a hundred years. The Schenk-Atwood-Starkweather-Yahara Neighborhood Association was established ten years ago. Fred Schenk opened his general store at the intersection of Atwood and Winnebago about ninety years before that.
Icons & Landmarks: Becky Steinhoff and the Goodman Atwood Community Center, Olbrich Botanical Gardens, The Harmony Bar, community gardens, Absolutely Art, United Way of Dane county headquarters, public murals and sculptures, Circle Park, the bike path, the Starkweather Solstice Celebration, Studio Paran, Bad Dog Frida, the Barrymore Theatre.
Why It’s So Special: When a young woman sustained a serious injury that restricted her mobility, her neighbors, including some she barely knew, simply stepped up and built a ramp to her home. This is a special place, aptly described in the neighborhood association brochure as a “diverse, friendly, and human scale village.” Schenk-Atwood has a chic urban hipness with a friendly, inviting warmth, punctuated by gardens, little parks, and one well-known river. And the mix works because people care, plain and simple. -NH
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