Has anyone ever gone to this tiny spot right on Main Street? Well last year after going to the Komen Race for the Cure downtown Milwaukee, we were all starving and as we were getting closer to home I realized I had nothing semi-ready to prepare a nice meal. So we decided to stop at M&M, right here in Sussex, WI

As we walked in, my first impression was a good one as just about everyone looked at the door to see who was walking in and all were smiling. Now that is a very nice way to feel welcomed. A lady came straight to us and helped us with a table and a high chair for our little one. The establishment itself is very plain, simple but you right away notice it is one for locals to enjoy a nice breakfast or brunch while reading a paper, chatting with family or with whomever is sitting right next to them.

I cannot recall everything we ordered. I do remember I asked for eggs benedict. The sauce was not a hollandaise one, but a cheese based yet very good. The lady was very truthful about it as we ordered. I enjoyed every bite and so did both my daughters!

A fun place to check out and meet the locals!

Ste 1, N64W23316 Main St
Sussex, WI 53089-5307
(262) 246-6300

 How and where to recycle and re-use

Thankfully nowadays there are so many ways to do such, there is not reason to help Mother nature and the generations to follow. It would be awesome if everyone could add info they may know in their own area as how to recycle all the "stuff" we buy and have around.

What can be recycled? Just about everything, such as cell phones, yogurt containers, chips and cookie packages, shoes, crocks, clothes, ink cartridges, batteries, motor oils, tires and the list goes on.

Sites to check on where to recycle your "stuff" beyond the usual that you can recycle from the curb.

Batteries

Call2Recycle

Inkjet and laser cartridges

Recycle Free Inc - Home Page

Milwaukeepc.com

Cell phone

Recycle My Cell Phone

Recycle Free Inc - Home Page

Office Supplies, Furniture, Technology at Office Depot

Call2Recycle

Motor oil, car batteries and tires

Recycling Programs - Advance Auto Parts

All tech equipment such as computers, printers, etc.

Office Supplies, Furniture, Technology at Office Depot

Shoes

Nike's Shoe Recycling  Sustainability Program | Reuse-A-Shoe & Nike Grind

Chip bags, drink pouches, candy wrapper, cookie wrappers, energy bar wrappers and so on. PLUS they will donate to your favorite non-profit organization

TerraCycle

Grocery Plastic Bags

make an effort to bring re-usable bags to the grocery store. Places such Pick and Save will actually take $0.50 out of your bill for each bag you bring.

Christmas Lights

Home Depot will recycle them

Check what you can recycle in your area:

Recycling Center Search - Earth911.com

No longer need something? Do not throw it in the trash. "One man's trash is another man's treasure"

Take it to Goodwill, salvation army or post it for free on the following sites, you will be surprised how many people will respond to a free item:

craigslist: wisconsin classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

The Freecycle Network

TheBubbler Classified

Waukesha County Residents - Plastic #5

For those of us who live in Waukesha County. I just noticed that Good Harvest Market does have a few bins in the store to recycle, on being for plastic #5 which your local recycle company will not take.

If you compost

Use all veggies, fruit, egg shells, paper towels, shredded newspaper, coffee grounds. Here is a great site all about composting:

Smell Like Dirt

Ever heard of it? Well I had not until I started to receive google alerts about Sussex, WI. I decided to follow the link and there it was.

TheBubbler - http://TheBubbler.com. A fantastic Wisconsin online community, started and maintained by Keith Klein, a Wisconsin native and owner of OnYourMark, LLC, a Sussex-based company specializing in web design, production, programming, web site hosting, Internet marketing, digital video and digital photography.

So what makes TheBubbler so awesome? Let's see, there are all types of forums, from politics, to plain simple chit chats, blogs to free advertisements, personals to all sort of information about Wisconsin. If you want to voice your opinion in the political arena, there is a place for you there. If you are trying to sell your stuff, you can do it - in the FREE classifieds. If you want to post an event, you can do that too. FREE. Looking for a recipe? Or perhaps you want to share one? You will find a forum for such. Have a question? Someone will surely answer you.

Are you originally from Wisconsin yet moved away from the area? Guess what? You will find your group there too! But perhaps all you want to do is just hang out, check what people are saying, research, pass time. The possibilities are endless. You will "meet" people from your own community or afar from another point of this State.

Do check it out and let me know what your thoughts are. I think you will enjoy it!

I always had a tremendous respect for teachers as they are the foundation of our children. Those of us who work, should even have more respect for them as they end up spending more time with our kids than we do.

When we moved from NC, our older daughter had some trouble adjusting and to that her grades slipped a little. Thanks to Woodside Elementary and a fantastic teacher she had, Mrs. DeShong (whom I cannot say enough great things about), our daughter started improving. During the past summer she also had some tutoring from yet another fantastic teacher, Mrs. Pierner. Still today she meets with Mrs. Pierner once a week and I thank her for making the time to help out our daughter.

What I like about Mrs. Pierner is above all her very positive attitude, how approachable she is, how she relates to the kids who absolutely love her and her teaching skills. How many middle schoolers do you know out there who actually WANT to be tutored? I can say I do not know many. I am sure that even my daughter would not if it was not for Mrs. Pierner.

Throughout the time I have known this tremendous Teacher, I have grown to like her a lot, call her not only my daughter's friend as well as mine too and will always do anything in my power to be there for her as she has been for our daughter.

So let's all remember to thank our kids teachers, tutors, not just on those special days but on a daily basis. Also if anyone in the Waukesha, Sussex, Lisbon, Lannon, Menomonee Falls, Pewaukee area is looking for a tutor who will make a difference in your child's academic life, feel free to contact me and I will pass along Mrs. Pierner's contact.

Prior to posting I decided to send this writing to Mrs. Pierner to make sure all I wrote about her was ok to be published. Just to see how she is, here is what she wrote back:

"I know how hard it can be to give the attention to those students that need just a little more when you have a full class and so many school responsibilities.  However, these kids can't be lost in the shuffle.  I enjoy tutoring because it is relaxed, we can focus on a few things during such a short time and I can watch them work, comment, instruct, and guide all at the same time.  How many teachers can say that they have this opportunity?  not many

Just on time for Valentine's Day, here is a favorite one do do it with your kids. I love making this anytime we have guests over. Children with love this. 

INGREDIENTS

12 oz of semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup of milk

2 tbsp of butter

all types of fruits such as strawberries, kiwi, oranges, banana, mango, grapes

wax paper

DIRECTIONS

1. in a double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter
2. Once the chocolate and butter are well melted and mixed add the milk and stir it until you get a nice creamy consistency
3. Spread wax paper on the table and start dipping each piece of fruit onto the chocolate and lay it on the wax paper
4. Once the chocolate hardens, start decorating a serving plate with all of the fruit

Walgreens 24-hour stores and Take Care Clinics will be offering free blood glucose testing tomorrow, Friday, February 5, 2010, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

If you don't live near a 24-hour Walgreens location or can't get tested on February 5, 2010, you can still receive a free glucose test before February 18, 2010 . Visit Walgreens.com/diabetes for specific testing hours at a Walgreens store or Take Care Clinic near you where they will be accepting walk-ins during the next two weeks. Or, call 1-800-Walgreens to make an appointment. This offer is valid through February 18, 2010.

 All around us there are dance schools, but the Sussex, Lannon, Lisbon area. Of course being the parent of a pre-teen who loves to dance, that was one of the first things I researched in the area. Luckily we did find an awesome group/dance group that she joined, even though in Menomonee Falls. It is called Center Stage and classes are help at various MF schools.

What attracted us, but especially my daughter to this group was the fact that everyone felt very informal, people, especially the kids seemed to have fun and they got well along. My daughter was one of the few that did not attend the MF school district, yet she was felt very welcomed.

After a year of being with them, I have to say that she enhanced her dancing techniques, grew her love for dance and everyday does her stretching and count exercises! This alone tells me she not only loves being part of Center Stage but she is growing and learning with them. Center Stage offers Poms, Jazz, Cheer and Hip-Hop classes which is the perfect combination for our girls in the Hamilton School district to be ready when they will want to be part of the Hamilton High School Dance Team. I am saying High School as Templeton does not have a dance team. All they have is a cheer leading team, which by the way is very good and just not that long won first place at a State competition!

So for those who want to check out Center Stage, go ahead, visit their site!

Above all we should feel blessed with the fact we do have an awesome Pick-N-Save with a nice selection of organic products. As I will keep on posting you will realize I am an avid of organic products, or at least non pesticide, non added hormonal, non junk crap in our food.

A few months ago I finally ventured myself to Trader Joe's thanks to a good friend from Iowa who came to visit me. I knew they had good products, I knew the prices were good, but go all the way to Bayshore, just for a supermarket? Well, I must admit YES! I have been going there every two weeks for specific products... well plus a few more I try each time! Now when living in NC, I had heard from the invasion of North Easterners to Charlotte, one could request a store near you. I do realize that Bayshore is NOT that far from Sussex, but... can you imagine the attraction from all over Waukesha coming to Sussex if we had a Trader Joe's?

If you have ever gone to Trader Joe's you know how absolutely fantastic it would be to have one right at our door steps. I also think that Sussex would be an ideal place as apart from the Sussex/Lisbon/Lannon communities, it would be just a hop away for people in Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, Pewaukee and even Brookfield and Germantown.

So, let's all contact Trader Joe's and request for them to open one right here at our door steps!

• Best snowman builders in the Village of Sussex until February 10th
  Contest Rules - Entry Rules
• Monday Night Book Club - 7:00pm to 8:30pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library's Small Meeting Room
• Crock Pot Cooking - 6:30pm to 8:30pm
  Quarry Coffee - Lannon, WI

• Storytime for 3-5 year olds - 6:30pm – 7:00pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI

• Next Steps Employment Network - 8:00am – 9:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Family Storytime - 10:00am – 10:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Playgroup - 10:30am – 11:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Retzer Nature Center Camera Club - 7:00pm
  Retzer Nature Center, S14W28167 Madison St, Waukesha
• Mystery Book Club - 7:00pm to 8:30pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI

• Music & More Storytime - 10:00am – 10:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Playgroup - 10:30am – 11:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Scott Burns Quartet - 8:00pm
  Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, 19805 W Capitol Dr, Brookfield

• Candlelight Ski/Hike - Call 262-646-3025 for more info
  Lapham Peak State Park - Delafield
• Wada Antiques Show and Sale
  Call 414-510-4441 fore more info
  Waukesha County Expo Center, 1000 N Northview Rd, Waukesha

• Wada Antiques Show and Sale
  Call 414-510-4441 fore more info
  Waukesha County Expo Center, 1000 N Northview Rd, Waukesha

• Town Board Meeting - Town of Lisbon - 6:30pm

• Wee Wonders "Animal Fiesta" (Ages 2 to 4) - 9:30am - 10:15am
  Register by Thursday February 7th - $3.00
  Retzer Nature Center, Waukesha
• Storytime for 3-5 year olds - 6:30pm – 7:00pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI 
• Just Teens - Teen advisory group - 4:30pm – 5:15pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI

• Next Steps Employment Network - 8:00am – 9:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Family Storytime - 10:00am – 10:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Playgroup - 10:30am – 11:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Guys Book Club - 7:00pm to 8:00pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI

• Valentine Candy Making  - 6:30pm - 7:30pm - Call 262-949-4232 for more info
  Registration required - Residents $20 - Non-residents $30
  Eagle Municipal Building,  820 E. Main Street, Eagle
  

• Music & More Storytime - 10:00am – 10:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Playgroup - 10:30am – 11:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Homeschoolers Brown Bag It! - 12:00pm to 1:00pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• All-Conference Honors Choir Concert - 7:00pm - Call 262-560-3172 for more info
  Oconomowoc Arts Center, 641 E Forest Street, Oconomowoc

• Winter Wildlife on Snowshoes - 9:00am - 11:00am & 1:00pm - 3:00pm
  Retzer Nature Center, Waukesha
• Basket Workshop: Muffin / Fruit Basket (for adults) - 9:00am - 4:00pm
  Register by February 8th - $28
  Retzer Nature Center, Waukesha
• Midwest Vocal Express Valentine's Show - 1:00pm
  For more info and buy tickets call 262-782-4430 - $40
  Sunset Playhouse, 800 Elm Grove Road, Elm Grove
• St. Joe's UNCORKED! 2nd Annual Wine & Beer Tasting Event 7:00pm
  Must be 21+, $30 single $50 couple. Call 262-662-2832 for more info
  St. Joseph Catholic Church & School, Big Bend
• Comedy with a Catch - 1:00pm- 2:30pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
  

• Valentine's Day
• Chinese New Year - Year of the Tiger

• D

• Storytime for 3-5 year olds - 6:30pm – 7:00pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI

• Next Steps Employment Network - 8:00am – 9:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Family Storytime - 10:00am – 10:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Playgroup - 10:30am – 11:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
  Afternoon Book Club - 2:00pm to 3:00pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI 
• Afterschool's Cool - 4:30 to 5:15pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI 
• 5K/1st grade Book Club - 6:30pm to 7:15pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI

• Hamilton High School Italian Dinner & Silent Auction - 5:00 - 6:30pm
  Tickets: Adults $8, Seniors, Students and Children under 18 $6
  Hamilton High School - Cafeteria -W220N6151 Town Line Road, Sussex, WI

• Music & More Storytime - 10:00am – 10:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Playgroup - 10:30am – 11:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI

• Glass Up Your Walls Art Show - Exhibit featuring glass art creations
  River's End Gallery, 380 W Main St, Waukesha
• Winter Wildlife on Snowshoes - 9:00am - 11:00am & 1:00pm - 3:00pm
  Retzer Nature Center, Waukesha 
• Village Sledding Party - 1:00 - 3:00pm
  Sussex Village Park - W244N6067 Weaver Drive, Sussex
• 3rd Annual Chilly Fest - Menomonee Falls
  10am - 4pm

• All Brahms - 2:00pm
  Tickets: $30 Call 262-781-9470 for more info
  Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, 19805 W Capitol Dr, Brookfield
• Route 66 & Beyond - 2:00pm
  Tickets: $10-20 Call 262-781-9470 for more info
  Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, 19805 W Capitol Dr, Brookfield

• Town board Meeting - Town of Lisbon - 6:30pm

• Village Board Meeting - Village of Sussex - 7:00pm
• Storytime for 3-5 year olds - 6:30pm – 7:00pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI 
• Just Teens - Teen advisory group - 4:30pm – 5:15pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI

• Next Steps Employment Network - 8:00am – 9:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Family Storytime - 10:00am – 10:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Playgroup - 10:30am – 11:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI

• Hometown Publications Home & Garden Show
  Call 262-896-8490 fore more info
  Waukesha County Expo Center, 1000 N Northview Rd, Waukesha
• Escanaba in Love by Jeff Daniels
  Through Saturday, March 20th
  Call for ticket prices and more info at 262-782-4430
  Sunset Playhouse, 800 Elm Grove Road, Elm Grove
• Music & More Storytime - 10:00am – 10:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Playgroup - 10:30am – 11:30am
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI
• Teen Gaming Tournament - Brawl - 5:00pm to 9pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI

• Hometown Publications Home & Garden Show
  Call 262-896-8490 fore more info
  Waukesha County Expo Center, 1000 N Northview Rd, Waukesha
• Winter Wildlife on Snowshoes - 9:00am - 11:00am & 1:00pm - 3:00pm
  Retzer Nature Center, Waukesha 
• Green Eggs and Ham - 1:00pm & 3:00pm
  Tickets: $5 Call 262-9667012 for more info
  Arrowhead High School North campus Theater, 800 Merton Avenue, Hartland
• Dreaming the Duke with Nnenna Freelon, Harolyn Blackwell and Mike Garson - 8:00pm - 2:00pm
  Tickets: $25+ Call 262-781-9470 for more info
  Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, 19805 W Capitol Dr, Brookfield
• Escanaba in Love by Jeff Daniels
  Through Saturday, March 20th
  Call for ticket prices and more info at 262-782-4430
  Sunset Playhouse, 800 Elm Grove Road, Elm Grove

• Boy Genius Waukesha Symphony
  For more info call 262-547-1858
  St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Waukesha
• University of Wisconsin Madison Varsity Band Show - 2:00pm
  Tickets: Adults: $20, Seniors: $18, Students:$10
  Hamilton Fine Arts Center, W220N6151 Town Line Road, Sussex, WI
• Escanaba in Love by Jeff Daniels
  Through Saturday, March 20th
  Call for ticket prices and more info at 262-782-4430
  Sunset Playhouse, 800 Elm Grove Road, Elm Grove
• Family Gaming Open Play - 1pm to 3pm
  Pauline Haass Public Library - Sussex, WI

I still do not have an answer for this one. I am actually hoping you can answer such. Since moving to Sussex I did notice the Lions Club does a lot in our area. But what about within the Village of Sussex? My husband is having an interest in joining one of the committees and went to the latest Village Board. He and I were shocked to learn he was the only "resident" attending. Wait, what? The only resident? Aren't the people of Sussex interested in finding out what the Village of Sussex is doing for us? Does no-one think we should have a word in what is going on? know what is discussed?

I do realize it is so easy to get going in our lives, we have work, our children, their extra curriculum activities, but still. Is all that is important to elect people then we cross our arms and expect they know how we feel until next election? Isn't it out duty as residents to be part of this whole process?

This reminds me of when we lived in NC. We lived in your typical sub-division, with HOAs. There were altogether 197 houses. There were 7 committees. Now can anyone guess how many people run those committees? We were 14 altogether. Now even 10% of the amount of houses which in general have 2 adults. Then after a while the social committee ended as it never had help from anyone. Guess what happened? Everyone (yes... suddenly we heard from all those houses that were silent till then) started complaining. There was no more Christmas Carols, no more Easter Egg hunting for the kids.

Back to Sussex, what can we do to attract more community involvement?

Here is the first recipe I am writing in the blog. I decided upon this one, once I read the article about my cooking from this week's Sussex Sun. Above all I would like to thank Heather about an awesome job she did in the article. She made me chuckle comparing some of my cookings with Fear Factor. That being said, hopefully I will not scare anyone with this recipe.

To find octopus around the area, do go to Sendik's in Germantown or Brookfield. They have frozen baby octopus which is what we need for this recipe. Another fantastic place I love to go to buy fish and shellfish is the Asian market on North Ave with 50th st.

I absolutely LOVE this recipe. Apart from being extremely easy to make it is delicious. To those that eat squid, the taste is very similar, so... come on.. dare a little will you?

18 small octopus

1 onion with skin on

12 small potatoes

1 cup of olive oil

8 cloves of garlic

1/2 bunch cilantro

salt/pepper to taste

1. Boil the octopus in water with salt and the whole onion for about 20 minutes or until tender
2. Boil potatoes in salted water until cooked
3. In a oven-safe ceramic deep dish cover the bottom with 1 cup of olive oil, the garlics and a few leaves of cilantro
4. Put it in the oven at 350° F for about 10 minutes
5. Take the oven-safe ceramic and add the cooked octopus and potatoes
6. Put it back in the oven and broil in low for about 15 minutes
7. You can then chop a little more cilantro and sprinkle it on the top to decorate

For the past year I pass through Lannon everyday on my way to work after dropping off my younger daughter. I always wondered about Quarry Coffee, a place on my left side as I drive through main st. From the outside you barely notice it. So last week a person asked if I had ever stopped there. I found out they server Alterra coffee. Well that certainly sparkled my attention as I must admit, I am a coffee snob. Perhaps this is due to my Portuguese background!

So this morning I decided to stop in and get a cup of coffee. I was in absolute shock when I opened the door and ashamed of myself for never having made the effort to have stopped there before. Well let me tell you, never judge a book by it cover.

As soon as I walked it, there was a warm feeling not only from the nice smell of coffee, the welcoming people as well as the environment itself. What a nice surprise. To the left there is a seating area with a sofa and chairs, to the right a few tables. on the corner a bookcase with all types of books to enjoy. I went to the counter and ordered a coffee and an amazing slice of cranberry bread. And I paid less that $4. Wait what? Serious.... If you were to go to a Starbucks you would have easily paid over $6.

So what is my verdict?
I love supporting local business so they will be seeing a lot more of me as I become a frequent customer. Also I will be attending some of their cooking classes. Check them out!

So you already know I am a foreigner. I am originally from Portugal, but have lived a little all over the world and in various states within the U.S. of A. I am married and have two beautiful children one who attends Templeton Middle School and the other is at a local daycare downtown Sussex (Wee Welcome Inn) that I cannot say enough it. Both kids are very happy where they are and enjoy good friends and staff.

I and my husband work full time. We are both in the design / creative world, we love to entertain, work on home projects, play game, discover the area and, myself I LOVE to cook!

Every week I will try to compile a list of local happenings, so if you are part of an organization, church, school, etc feel free to contact me, or write a comment about your event. Also I will write (and hope others will too) comments about the events myself and my family attend. Food being such a big part of my life and culture I will also add recipes that are kid friendly yet not part of a typical kid menu! I will also write comments on the restaurants we have tried and will try around the area.

Hello to all,

The reason for us choosing Sussex over many other communities – and let me tell you we saw over 200 houses – was the house. As soon as we passed by our now home, we fell in love with it. It was exactly what we were hoping for, a mid-century home with lots of character and beautiful gardens surrounding it.