Category: Lifestyle

June is National Camping Month

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Pack your bags and your tent and get ready to sleep outdoors. It’s National Camping Month!

The outdoors has always given us a sense of wonder. After all, humanity spent the first 150,000 years of our species’ existence outdoors (approximately 75 percent of all human existence). Now, we live indoors and have used our smarts to shelter ourselves from the environment. So much so that it seems that we have completely severed our connection to nature. But that doesn’t have to be the case, especially during National Camping Month this June!

Sleeping in a tent allows us to hear the wind blow, the roar of the river, or the crashing of the waves. It removes this mask which blinds us all and puts us back on a more equal footing with all the species with which we used to share the planet. Experiencing nature as it was intended may give us a bit more respect for the land and the critters, which will undoubtedly make the world a better place.

The light source at any gathering usually come from light bulbs or televisions or phones. When you go camping, leave your phone behind and let the only source of light be the blaze of a warm fire. Share stories, cries, and laughs all in the same night. When you don’t have the distractions of a screen in front of your face, it’s amazing what is said around these campfires!

If camping has never been your thing, however, be sure to take advantage of this time to get to know the planet you are living on because it’s the only one we have.

A camping trip isn’t without its own set of risks, and to easily take care of the consequences that are tied with these risks you need a proper RV, Boat, Jet Ski or ATV insurance plan. To learn more about the different ways your insurance policies can protect you this summer, contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency in California.

Learn How to Get the Best Deals on Your Summer Vacation

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Planning for your summer vacation doesn’t have to be financially stressful.

Summer vacations mean school is out, and your family vacation has finally come! If you were smart, this trip means you can splurge because you looked for the best deals that were available to you when you booked your trip. If not, it sounds like you’re going to have to dig deep into your pockets for any change that may be lying in there somewhere. Planning a summer vacation doesn’t mean you have to have monetary anxiety. On the contrary. Planning a summer vacation can be easy with the proper, planning, and research. Here are 3 things you can do to get the best deals on your summer vacation.

  1. Time it Right – Hotel rates fluctuate with supply and demand, so it pays to go against the flow of other vacationers. High-peak vacationing happens between the 4th of July to mid-August. So planning on early June or late-August can mean better savings.
  1. Don’t leave empty handed – Before you depart, order the Entertainment Book or such other coupon books. These editions are packed full of discounts and attractions. You’ll likely recoup your investment within the first few days.
  1. Meals don’t have to break the bank – Dining at restaurants for every meal can add up real fast, so make restaurants a singular daily thing. Keep a cooler in your car and plan picnics at least once a day. Make sure to stay at hotels that offer free breakfasts to cut down on costs. And, when you treat yourselves to a restaurant make sure to go during lunch when costs are lower, and to make sure your restaurant offers a lunch special.

If you want to save money, contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency for that perfect summer vacation. As California insurance experts, we can help tailor your coverage to meet your exact needs – including your budget. For the best coverage at the best price, call us today!

What You Can Do to Be More Eco-Friendly for Earth Day

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April 22nd is Earth Day: Learn how you can reduce your carbon footprint.

Earth is a lovely place. It sits at comfy in its orbit at 93 million miles from the sun, water can be liquid, our atmosphere has enough oxygen, and plenty of other things that make Earth great and habitable. Nature, for the most part, is always in perfect balance. So when there’s an external force acting upon nature, disruptions are bound to happen which can have an effect on species as small as plankton all the way up to the food chain to us humans.

For over 100 years, humans have been pumping greenhouse gases into our atmosphere without a care, and for over 30 of those years, scientists have been warning these corporations about the very real effect it’s having on the planet. Only recently have we seen strong efforts to reduce our emissions, and some have hope that if we keep our efforts the point of no return will be kept at bay. Here is what you can do to help our planet remain sustainable for human this Earth Day (and every day).

  1. Walk or Bike

If you’re going to be travelling to the grocery store or somewhere that’s within 5 to 10 miles, ride your bike to that place. Not only will it get your heart-rate going, but it will also keep CO2 emissions down. You won’t be the only one to ride your bike this day, so this effect will be multiplied world wide.

  1. Meatless in the Heat

Believe it or not, cows are actually among the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions as a direct result to our obsession with eating meat; their methane byproduct actually retains more heat than CO2. On Earth Day, make dinner that includes no meat products, and maybe make a permanent switch in your diet to go from eating meat 7 times a week, to only 6 times a week.

  1. Don’t Go With the Flow

If you absolutely need to take a shower in the morning, make sure it’s a short one! Play a song on your phone and try to finish before the song finishes—14 minute LCD Soundsystem songs are not encouraged. Water running uses a lot of precious water and even more fossil fuels to keep it running and to keep it hot.

No matter if you are looking to make your home, vehicle, or business more environmentally friendly, working with the right insurance professionals will help to ensure that you are receiving any discounts you qualify for. To learn more about the different ways your insurance policies are protecting you, contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency in California.

4 Gardening Tips to Beautify Your Garden

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Love to garden, or going to do it for the first time? These tips will help you be faster, cleaner, and more efficient.

Gardening can be fun if you know the proper techniques to see your garden blossom from tiny green leaves sticking out of the ground to full flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables ready to impress everyone on the block. Here are four great gardening tips that are sure to help your garden be the best garden on the block.

Create a non-stick shovel

Picking dirt off shovels is something no wants to do. Spray your shovel with a silicone or Teflon lubricant to make shoveling way easier. A good coating will make any kind of soil slip right off without a hassle.

Heavy pots don’t have to be heavy

Filling half of the pot with packing peanuts will significantly reduce the weight of your big pots. Just remember to put some landscape fabric to keep the soil from sinking to the bottom.

Blemish-free roses

When you plant roses, pruning is a must to keep the roses as open and as beautiful as possible. Pruning increases the amount of light that reaches the roses which will inhibit proper growth. Careful pruning will keep the moisture out, and will prevent black spots and other blemishes from ruining the petals of the flower.

Assist root-bound plants

The problem with potted plants is that the roots will eventually run out of room to grow, so they will begin to form tight circles in the pot. This can prevent water and essential nutrients from reach all parts of the plant—especially the leaves. To fix this, gently guide roots outward using your fingers. If they are especially tough, make cautious vertical cuts in the roots with a knife.

Contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency for all of your California insurance needs. Whether you are looking to insure garden or other parts of your landscape, we will be your one stop shop for everything insurance related! Allow us to provide you with summer insurance in California that allows you to enjoy your fun in the sun without a worry in the world.

Free Apps That Will Save You Money

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Working on your budget? Download these free apps to make saving easier.

Here’s a list of apps that will make saving money a snap.

  1. Hopper: This app helps you get low airfares by predicting when the prices will be high and low. It first predicts when the cheapest time to fly will be and then shows you the cheapest time to buy the ticket. It also alerts you when ticket prices drop.
  2. Raise: Bid your unused gift cards with this app. Card goes to the highest bidder.
  3. OneReceipt: This app helps keep track of your receipts all in one place so you don’t have to worry. It’s great for tax write-off time.
  4. Goodbudget: Create a budget and stick to it with this app. Save up for a trip or a new couch. This app will help you stay on track!
  5. BestParking: This app is a revolution. It will tell you the location and price of the best parking around.
  6. GasBuddy: Use this app to find the best gas prices in your area.
  7. WiFi Finder: Guess what this app does! It also helps you find locations where you can use wifi for free.
  8. Hotel Tonight: Find cheap deals on hotels for tonight with this app. Many of these rooms are very upscale and beautiful.
  9. Roomer: Find someone to take over your hotel reservation if you have to suddenly leave.
  10. Campus Special: Find deals on food and stores near your school when you’re a college student strapped for cash.
  11. RepairPal: Protect against getting overcharged for your car repair with this app that helps you estimate costs for your car damage.
  12. Apples2Oranges: Use this simple and effective app to price compare at the grocery store.
  13. Goldstar: This app helps you find half-price tickets to great shows all over the world.

If you want to save even more money, contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency. We can help you get the best California insurance coverage at the best price!

3 Apps to Help Your Kids Become Financially Savvy

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Your kids won’t even know how much they are learning with these fun apps!

It is never to early to teach your children about the importance of being financially savvy. Sitting your kids down and explaining your retirement plan to them may be enough to put them to sleep, though. Luckily, there are plenty of fun, kid-friendly apps that can give your kids more financial know-how. Consider downloading these apps to get them on their way to financial stability.

For learning to balance a bank account

Bankaroo. This free app is designed for kids ages 5 to 13 and helps your kids keep track of their allowance and other money through a virtual bank. Your kids can enter their virtual allowance amount, set savings goals, and debit any money that they spend. Parents can also make one-time virtual gifts, match their kid’s savings, or schedule allowance payments.

For teaching the value of a dollar

Renegade Buggies. Kids ages 13 and up can race shopping carts down the street of this game, picking up dollars, coins, and products. Once they make it through the course, they have to figure out which of the items they picked up will give them the best bang for their buck. If they miss a money saving opportunity or take too long, a message will help steer them in the right direction.

To encourage entrepreneurship

Motion Math: Cupcake. Kids ages 9 to 11 are able to set up their own virtual cupcake shop that is open to the “public.” Those customers place orders phrased as word problems to help kids work on their math skills. Teaching money skills using something that kids find exciting, like cupcakes, helps to keep them engaged.

When it comes to keeping your finances stable, having the right insurance policies can help you reach your goals. Contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency for all of your California insurance coverage needs.

Slow Cooker Spiced Nuts Recipe to Spice Up Your Holiday!

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Make your holiday as delicious as it is easy with this recipe for slow cooker spiced nuts.

The holidays are the most delicious time of the year, but they can quickly get old if you’re tired of slaving away in the kitchen. We want you to be able to enjoy the tastes and smells of the holidays without breaking your back over a hot stove, so we’ve hand-picked this surprisingly simple holiday recipe. You’ll be a favorite at every party you attend in the coming weeks if you bring these slow cooker spiced nuts!

Ingredients

  • Heavy-duty foil and cooking spray
  • 3 tablespoons of melted, unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup of pure maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons of finely grated orange zest
  • 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of kosher salt
  • 2 cups of unsalted roasted cashews
  • 2 cups of raw pecans

Make cleanup as easy as this recipe by lining your slow cooker with heavy duty foil and spraying it with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk the butter and maple syrup with the orange zest, cinnamon, cayenne, and salt. Pour in the nuts and toss until they’re coated. Pour the nuts into your lined and sprayed slow cooker, move them around until you have an even layer, and cover and cook on high. Cook for about an hour, just until you have a light syrup at the bottom of your slow cooker. Stir the nuts.

Turn the heat down to low and let cook until the bottom of your slow cooker is dry (about an hour), stirring every 20 minutes.

Turn off your slow cooker, take off the cover, and let your nuts harden. Stir them every once in a while so they don’t get too clumped together. You can store these spiced nuts in an airtight container for up to five days, so make a big batch!

Happy holidays from Stromsoe Insurance Agency! For all of your insurance needs throughout California, contact our dedicated team today.

Thanksgiving Recipe: Make Ahead Cranberry Sauce

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Make Thanksgiving easier on yourself with this make ahead recipe for cranberry sauce.

When you think about Thanksgiving a few weeks in advance, it probably leaves you with a warm feeling. On the holiday, friends and family gather to share a traditional meal, express gratitude, and enjoy each other’s company.

On the day of Thanksgiving, you might be feeling differently. If you’re the chef to whom the bulk of the cooking falls, this day can get pretty crazy. Between preparing a fairly large bird, crafting plenty of side dishes, and still being expected to turn out a decent looking pie or two, Thanksgiving isn’t easy in the kitchen.

We know the struggle, and we want to help! That’s why we’ve handpicked this Thanksgiving recipe for cranberry sauce that you can make ahead. To take at least one thing off your to-do list, you’ll need:

  • 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons of freshly grated ginger
  • 1 cup of orange juice
  • ½ cup of dark brown sugar
  • 16 ounces of fresh or frozen cranberries
  • ½ cup of orange marmalade
  • 2 tablespoons of minced cilantro
  • ½ teaspoon of black pepper

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium. Add the ginger and cook for two minutes, stirring regularly. Add in the orange juice, sugar, and cranberries.

Cook until the cranberries burst open, forming a thick sauce. Stir in the marmalade and remove from the heat.

Right before you serve the sauce, stir in the cilantro and pepper.

You can make this sauce up to four days in advance; just keep it refrigerated!

Happy Thanksgiving from Stromsoe Insurance Agency. For all of your insurance needs throughout California, contact us today!

Combat Your Sleep Disorders Tonight

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You can sleep your way to better health and reap all of these benefits!

If you’re shorting yourself on sleep, you are not alone. The average American gets 6.8 hours of sleep every night, which is a full 60 minutes less than in the 1940s. These days, the pace of life has picked up to a detrimental effect on our health. Lack of sleep can put your physical and mental health at risk!

Sleep deprivation is considered consistently sleeping fewer than seven hours a night. The short-term effects include emotional instability and trouble concentrating. When people feel tired, they usually turn to caffeine or excess food to supplement their energy. This leads to an unhealthy reliance on coffee and sugary foods which can cause weight gain and eventually lead to stroke or heart disease.

If you aren’t getting enough sleep, follow these simple steps:

  • Re-evaluate your lifestyle. If you need to be at work at 6am, but hit the hay at 11pm, the chances of you getting a decent night’s sleep are slim.
  • Turn off the TV, phone, tablet, and computer at least an hour before you intend to go to sleep.
  • Relax by quieting your environment.
  • Try to get into a sleep routine, even on the weekend.

If you suffer from sleep apnea, you may have a higher health risk. Sleep apnea is when oxygen levels fluctuate widely during sleep, producing oxidative stress which generates free radicles, destroying your blood vessel linings. There’s good news, though! If you have a good health insurance plan, the cost of tests and treatments will be covered.

If you suffer from insomnia, your health insurance plan should cover the cost of medication. Do you have the correct health insurance plan for your needs? Contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency for a tailored policy to suit you in California.

Back To School Recipe: Watermelon Salad With Feta And Mint

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Make school nights easier with this recipe for watermelon salad with feta and mint.

It’s crazy but true: the summer is already over. If you’re getting ready to send the kids back to school—or perhaps you already have—you’re probably running a little ragged. Transitioning out of the summer and into the more rigorous schedule of the school year is always a little hectic.

We want to help make it easier for you, though! Make school nights a little less busy by whipping up this delicious and healthy back to school recipe for watermelon salad with feta and mint.  All you need is a few minutes, one serving bowl, and six ingredients!

  • ½ cup of lime juice (you should need between 4 and 6 limes)
  • ½ cup of chopped red onion
  • 8 cups of chopped, seeded watermelon (you should need about ¼ to ½ of a watermelon)
  • ½ cup of crumbled feta
  • ¼ cup of thinly sliced fresh mint
  • ½ cup of chopped fresh parsley

Toss the lime juice and onions together in a large serving bowl; let sit in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

Pull the onion/lime mixture out and add in the rest of the ingredients. Toss together and serve immediately! Easy peasy lime squeezy!

We hope this quick, easy, and healthy recipe makes school nights a little easier! If you want to get another thing taken off your plate to lighten your load during this busy time of year, contact Stromsoe Insurance Agency. We’re committed to helping California families get the insurance coverage they need, and can set you up with the most protection with the least amount of work and expense on your end. Call us today!