Our December 2022 Newsletter

In this issue

• Top Tree Tips

• Awful Last Minute Gift Ideas

• Reinventing Yourself All Over Again

Top Tree Tips

Tree troubles? Leaning limbs? Parched plant? Climbing cats?

Christmas trees are lovely additions for the holidays but can also be a pain to keep.

Don't worry, because we've got the tips and tricks to make your pine tree-mendous, whether it's a massive ceiling-scraper or a humble shelf-topper.

Use the following tricks to keep your holiday green:

• Recut - Give your new tree a new cut by sawing an inch off the bottom, ensuring a level base, and helping it absorb water.

• Daily Water - Once a week is a recipe for disaster. Top water daily and keep it clean.

• Screw Up - Don't break your wrist! Use a power tool to tighten the bolts on your tree.

• Based - Put a flat base under your tree if wobbly, and layer with an absorbing material underneath to avoid water damage.

Your tree will look better and last longer than ever. Enjoy the ambiance.

Awful Last Minute Gift Ideas

Let's face it. You're in trouble.

Whether you put it off. or just forgot, last-minute shopping is a part of every family's holiday tradition in one way or another.

And some terrible gifts are given every year that should never see the light of day.

Check out these holiday ruiners and avoid them at all (usually cheap) costs:

• Gift Card - Nothing says "Minimal Effort," the good old-fashioned, check-out line gift card.

• Pet - No one, and I mean no one, over the age of five wants a new bundle of responsibility from the local animal shelter.

• Car - If you're buying this last second, you probably got hosed at the dealership.

• Wedding Ring - Combining two gifts in one and adding the pressure of your surrounding family? Yikes.

With a little thought (and probably the internet), you can avoid these gift gaffes and stay in the "good books" for one more year.

Reinventing Yourself All Over Again

It's that time of year again! The end of the calendar on the wall, a new number to forget when writing something down, and another email from us about promises you won't keep.

But we know your favorite part of the New Year is hearing from us, so we don't want to disappoint.

Try these resolutions on for size - and discard them later without buyers remorse:

• Retreat! - Start your year off with that retreat time you've wanted to start but couldn't fit in.

• Got Om? - Try daily meditation and watch your shoulders unknot. Even five minutes a day can be revolutionary.

• One Thing - Change can be good, but don't try to become someone totally new; start small.

• Journal - For the small cost of a notebook and a pen, you can get your feelings out in a safe and surprisingly enjoyable way.

Greet the "Near" year with positivity, enthusiasm, and more chores to add to your list. Happy New Year!

Our November 2022 Newsletter

In this issue

• Wintering Your Garden

• "Fixing" Thanksgiving

• Get Creative for Holiday Shopping

Wintering Your Garden

If the cold isn't here already, it's coming. And your plants are going to do more than shiver.

It doesn't matter if you have a thriving garden or a humble planter box outside a window; plants need to be treated differently in the winter.

The good news is that there are so many tools to help budding green-thumbs like you.

Check out these tips to get your plants through the cold:

• iPhone - Siri can't dig up your struggling sage, but your iPhone can search for the plant by picture. Cool!

• Apps - Many gardening apps like "Planta" can help identify if your plants are perennials, annuals, or move-it-indoor-ials.

• Green House - Speaking of indoors, some plants can be potted and moved inside for safekeeping.

• Cover It - Optional materials like mulch for ground covering can help sensitive plants survive.

Doing the work now means a bright and verdant spring. Have fun digging

"Fixing" Thanksgiving

As you may have heard, Bird is the word, and that's never more true than during Thanksgiving.

The side dishes are just as important as the main course, of course. But what to make? Lumpy mashed potatoes? Weak gravy? Or the dreaded canned cranberry sauce?

Spice up your fixings with the following ideas:

• Cauliflower Stuffing - Absorbs delicious flavors, and it's low-carb!

• Roasted Greens - Wilted veggies are for rabbits. Try roasting root vegetables and Brussel sprouts for a yummy alternative. Hint: Add bacon!

• Mashed Sweet Potatoes - Replacing mashed potatoes and yams with something better? Yes, please!

• Green Bean Casserole Bites - Wrap your cheesy green beans in bacon for a hand-held delight.

Before you know it, your family will be devouring your sides and ignoring that juicy turkey. Bon Appetit!

Get Creative for Holiday Shopping

For many of us, holiday shopping is both a tradition and a necessity. Wandering the brightly decorated aisles and hearing holiday music can evoke the warmest of feelings.

But it's also crowded, hard to find a parking space, and the toy you wanted just got snagged.

It doesn't have to be this way. Being creative and using the internet can get you ahead of the game.

Try these ideas:

• Shop Small - Head to Main Street, USA, for smaller crowds and a free bag of the community feels.

• Craft It - Check out local artists and craftspeople for handmade gifts that won't disappear from a shelf.

• Etsy - Like a combination of the two we just mentioned, but they deliver!

• Box It - Get them the gift that keeps on charging with the first round of a box set service.

You'll be calm and relaxed, and not a little bit proud of yourself. Happy gifting!

Our October 2022 Newsletter

In this issue

• Storm Chasers

• Auto Rates and Inflation

• Halloween Party Hacks

Storm Chasers

Storms happen. We all have them, whether it's a late summer thunderstorm or a full-on hurricane. In some places, those storms cause secondary damage like fires or floods.

They also leave a different group in their wake: storm chasers. Storm chasers can be anyone who sees damaged homes or vehicles as a means to woo your business.

Keep these things in mind this storm season:

• Agent to the Rescue — If you have damage, call your insurance agent!

• Don't Assume — Trusting someone based on their card can get you into trouble. Vet them online, using trustworthy sources.

• Investigate — Check out their website, Google reviews, and BBB rating.

• Find Your Own — If you have doubts, find your own service for the work you need.

Don't let a terrible storm lead to a worse decision. Use your head and find the solution that is best for you.

Auto Rates and Inflation

The last time you looked at your auto insurance bill, it may have been a little surprising.

Many people are complaining about rising auto rates, and they have every right to be concerned.

But there are reasons this is happening, and they aren't because your agent is getting rich (trust me).

Keep these items in mind:

• Parts - The price of auto parts are higher than ever, which can mean higher prices for you.

• Transporation - From shipping to driving, moving can be expensive, adding to goods and labor costs.

• Market Factors - With other costs increasing, the whole chain is more expensive, raising insurance rates everywhere.

Halloween Party Hacks

Who throws Halloween parties anymore? That's right, you do. Say it proudly!

As you know, Halloween festivities aren't just for kids or young adults. They can be an opportunity to delight in silly fun while showing off your rocking costume of choice.

Here are some tips to make this frightful season a scream:

• Haunted Buffet - Be a kid again and dig your fingers into peeled grapes, cold spaghetti, and other tactile delicacies.

• Gamify - Bob for apples, hold a costume contest, pin the tail on the monster - you get the idea.

• Ghastly Tunes - Try listening to Monster Mash, Gothic Revival, or Silly Spooks, depending on your audience.

• Mandatory Costumes - There's nothing like fake hair, masks, or a gross couple's costumes to set the mood.

Get in the spirit and have a ball. Preferably with jack-o-lanterns and blood-red punch. Trick or treat!