Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Giving Thanks


Thankful 


I am Thankful for my salvation and eternal life.  We are so Thankful for our health and family.  I am Thankful for the well being of my children and wife.  I am Thankful for my clients and friends.  I am Thankful for our staff, Liane and Leticia, Jenifer and Lexie.  I am Thankful for Addison, my son, who has allowed me to learn grace.  I am Thankful for Amanda creating this message and for her hard work as school and home.  Without you, I would not have a business to provide for my family.  You are the lifeblood of my business and without you, I would not be able to assist in protecting your life, your property, your cars and your business.  I am so grateful that you trust Jenifer and I with your children as they drive to school, or to a friends home.  With so many changes to our world today, let us focus on our local community.  Share with peace and love.  Always remember that the little things we do count.  I am Thankful for being able to share this message with you and for  allowing me to always strive to improve and better our relationship.  Be Thankful that we live in a country that allows us to choose.  Right or wrong, I am Thankful for my ability to choose.  Many, many blessings from our Family to you.  

Peace and Love, The Domingo's


Autumn is finally here. The fall season in New York sure is different than the steady weather in Carlsbad, California. Our leaves are changing, the wind is blowing, and the air is getting more crisp. There isn’t a better time to reflect than the month of Thanksgiving on all the things and people we are thankful for. Sometimes I get caught up and consumed in my own busy daily life and I forget about all the the small things in life that I have to be thankful for. It’s always good to reflect and remember the things we take for granted, and let the people who we are thankful for know that they are appreciated. A simple thank you can go a long way for a person.

My Top 5 Thank You's:

My Family

Without them I have no clue where I would be. Thank you for all answering my never ending calls to rant about random things and the never ending love that each and every one of you show me daily

My Health
Fortunately, I am an athlete and I have the health and well being to be able to continue to be.
     
Softball
Thank you for giving me an endless escape. I cannot thank this game enough for shaping me into the person I am and giving me my competitive edge, work ethic, and passion in life.
    
My Friends/Teammates
I appreciate each one for helping me through daily struggles, providing me with countless laughs, and teaching me life lessons. Whether they know it or not, I’ve learned more valuable lessons from being with them on and off the field than I probably ever will in a classroom.
     
My Boyfriend
He probably hears thank you the least, but he is my "go-to". He provides me with the feeling of family and security while I am away from home, and I know he would do anything for me. For that, I am forever thankful for helping me during the most stressful time in my life thus far.

Mid-Terms Management 

As mid-terms have just passed and the end of the semester is finally approaching, I know how stressful school can get. Having to balance athletics and academics is one of the most challenging things. It is hard to find time and give 100% of your effort into both. I know how stressful some days can get, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Here are my go to tactics I use when I am struggling with stress. 

Breathe. 
Take 5 deep breaths and tell yourself it will all be okay. 

Get active.
Whether it is a walk outside, a jog around the block, or some jumping jacks in your dorm room, staying active will keep your endorphin's pumping.

Call a friend.
My go to calls are my sister and brother. Venting always helps, not matter how hard I like to think I am fine and can handle everything inside. Letting things out with people we are close to, and with people who are willing to listen can lift a huge weight off your shoulders. 

Make a list.
When I feel like I have a million things to do, I find it helpful to organize my thoughts on a sticky note. Then when i accomplish something I feel rewarded by crossing it off. 

Keep doing the "little" things right. 
Everything can get so overwhelming at times, and when it does I just keep telling myself it will all pay off in the end. Don't let a stressful couple of days throw you off. I always like to remember this simple quote, "hard work beats talent". 

NYC ft. Mom and Me 

Speaking of being thankful... I was fortunate enough to have my mom come out for a quick visit this fall. It was just the motivation I needed to me push through this fall semester. Although we only had a weekend together, I made sure to take advantage of all the time we had. It is always nice to have a hug from home. Mom, thank you for coming all the way out here- I appreciated it more than you know. 


Restaurant Review 

While my mom was visiting we went to a new place we found just walking to Prospect Park called Healthy Nibbles. It is an all organic, vegan, and gluten free restaurant that serves fresh juices, smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, salads, wraps, and burritos. If you are looking for something on the healthier side that tastes delicious, I highly recommend! 


Black Friday

Here is a little background on Black Friday.  All information is provided by history.com. 
"The true story behind Black Friday, however, is not as sunny as retailers might have you believe. Back in the 1950s, police in the city of Philadelphia used the term to describe the chaos that ensued on the day after Thanksgiving, when hordes of suburban shoppers and tourists flooded into the city in advance of the big Army-Navy football game held on that Saturday every year. Not only would Philly cops not be able to take the day off, but they would have to work extra-long shifts dealing with the additional crowds and traffic. Shoplifters would also take advantage of the bedlam in stores to make off with merchandise, adding to the law enforcement headache. 
By 1961, “Black Friday” had caught on in Philadelphia, to the extent that the city’s merchants and boosters tried unsuccessfully to change it to “Big Friday” in order to remove the negative connotations. The term didn’t spread to the rest of the country until much later, however, and as recently as 1985 it wasn’t in common use nationwide. Sometime in the late 1980s, however, retailers found a way to reinvent Black Friday and turn it into something that reflected positively, rather than negatively, on them and their customers. The result was the “red to black” concept of the holiday mentioned earlier, and the notion that the day after Thanksgiving marked the occasion when America’s stores finally turned a profit. (In fact, stores traditionally see bigger sales on the Saturday before Christmas.) 

The Black Friday story stuck, and pretty soon the term’s darker roots in Philadelphia were largely forgotten. Since then, the one-day sales bonanza has morphed into a four-day event, and spawned other “retail holidays” such as Small Business Saturday/Sunday and Cyber Monday. Stores started opening earlier and earlier on that Friday, and now the most dedicated shoppers can head out right after their Thanksgiving meal. According to a pre-holiday survey this year by the National Retail Federation, an estimated 135.8 million Americans definitely plan to shop over the Thanksgiving weekend (58.7 percent of those surveyed), though even more (183.8 million, or 79.6 percent) said they would or might take advantage of the online deals offered on Cyber Monday."
  • Although the deals may be great, don't forget to spend time with your family and friends over this holiday season. 
  • "Family is always going to be there, the material things, they come and go." - Romeo Miller 
Thanks for reading! God bless, and enjoy your holiday season.

XOXO,
Amanda 

Thursday, October 13, 2016

BOO!

Reset, Reboot and Ways to stay Fresh after 20 Years

As you can see, we seem to miss our September Blog each year because it is the time of the year to Set our Goals for 2017, get the young adults back into college and re evaluate the postives and the challenges of 2016.  Thank goodness for my daughters and their willingness to assist our family business as they start their own career paths soon.  This months blog is about Amanda's success with time management, Lexies visit to New York while still studying and setting even higher goals, a couple of sweet treat ideas, and finally giving back to our community.  

Below are 5 tips to review and get going for 2017, Reset, Reboot.

A.  Review your annual goals and target misses in order to reset your course for 2017.

B.  Reward the business if you have met 75% of your goals for the year.  Technologies, Lunch or Dinner with the Staff, new marketing materials. 

C.  Get rid of all the notes, plans, goals and to dos in order to consolidate on a single sheet.  A clean desk top always refreshes productivity.

D.  Stay focused on immediate goals, 1 month goals, annual goals and a 5 year or lifetime goals.       Really take time to establish 2017 with your planning.  

E.  Make certain to schedule your monthly review to stay on course or chart another path to reach your 2017 Goals.  

As I reflect on my 20 years with Farmers, I know one thing for sure, our customers are the life blood of our business, without my clients, we have no business.  For me, its FAITH, FAMILY and then my business.  This has created such an impact on my life and it works.  Coming in third is not so bad. Thanks for listening to this 20 year insurance and financial services agent.  Looking forward to what the next 20 years brings for our family and me with the wonderful company we represent.  

Kindly, Glenn P Domingo, LUTCF  CSP 


Back to School

I have been back at school in Brooklyn, NY for a little over a month now, and I have never been more busy. I am happy to say I am back from my injury just over a year ago. I am excited to be holding a bat again and finally be able to throw the ball. I look forward to really starting my collegiate career in softball. Time management is such a big factor while being a student athlete. Here are a few of my quick tips to help manage time and balance being a full time student and athlete. 

1. Always write it down! I use my daily planner to write my schedule and my "To-Do's" down in order of importance. 

2. Plan ahead. If you know you will be busy toward one particular day or part of the week, strategize on maximizing your time with longer projects. 

3. Make appointments. Whether it be time out for my homework, readings, or workouts, I think of it as a mandatory appointment with myself. 

4. Breathe. Take time for yourself, check in, and de stress. Mental health is just as important as anything else. Respect yourself, your body, and your health. 

5. Don't forget to smile. When I am having a stressful day or feeling overwhelmed a simple smile makes me feel a little bit better.

My Special Visitor 

October is the time of the year where I usually get the homesick "boos". My schedule gets a little more into a routine and I start becoming homesick after the hype of the new school year. I was fortunate enough to get a special visit from my best friend whom happens to be my sister, Lexie. I am grateful she took the time from her busy schedule and finances to come visit me at the perfect time. She was able to help me reorganize, cook, and we got to experience Brooklyn and NYC together. 

BOO off the Sweets 

Halloween time is just around the corner. I know I don't want to gorge out in candy and sweet treats, but I do want to be able to celebrate and satisfy my sweet tooth. Here are some perfect pumpkin and Halloween themed treats that are a little more on the "healthy" side. 

Boo-Nanas

1. Cut fresh banana in half.
2. Place cut side of banana as base.
3. Place 2 chocolate chips of your choice as eye balls.
4. Place 1 mini peanut butter cup as the mouth.



Option: For coconut lovers like myself, coat the banana in coconut flakes! 

Quick, easy, healthy! 

Pumpkin  Spice SBOOthie

What you need: 

1 Banana 
1/2 C Pumpkin Puree, Pure
1 TSP Agave Nectar 
3 TBSP Milk 
6 OZ Vanilla (Greek) Yogurt 
1/2 TSP Pumpkin Spice
Ice as needed
Optional: Pinch of nutmeg and whipped cream

Blend all ingredients in a blender, sip, and enjoy!

Restaurant Review  

If you are ever craving ice cream we just discovered a Thai ice cream shop called Blossom. It is rolled ice cream with an assortment of flavors, including vegan, and unlimited toppings. The perfect sweet treat for everyone to enjoy. 

Click on this link to see all the flavors, locations, and discover how this special rolled ice cream is hand made to satisfy you.



















Giving Back

Growing up in the Calavera community, my dad wanted to give back to the schools that helped our family while my siblings and I were growing up. Knowing how into fitness I am and how into sports my entire family is, my dad wanted to help the schools to ensure that physical education did not get away. Farmers and my dad will be teaming up to donate each month to Calavera Elementary and Calavera Middle School to help with school supplies, sports equipment, and a reward for the teacher of the month whom is voted for by their peers.















Until next month my friends.  Keep positive, set your goals for 2017 and most importantly, SMILE. Simple Magic in Living Everyday.  My dad learned that from his friend Byrd Baggett from Tennessee.

Peace out, your blogger from the East Coast, Amanda.