May 2023

Memorial Day 

A day to remember those who weren't able to return home and take their uniform off. It is important to remember Memorial Day isn't just an extra day off, but a day to honor those who gave up their lives for us and their families who grief and miss their loved ones every day. We thank all of those who make the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our country and our freedom.

Celebrating Mom 

Not only did we get to celebrate our hard-working mom for Mother's Day, but May is also mom's birthday month! Being a mother seems like the toughest job in the world. We all appreciate the sacrifice, love, and support that you show us each day. We might not always listen, but we do hear you. Mom spent her Mother's Day in New York City enjoying some time with Lexie. For her birthday, she was surrounded by family and friends for a quaint night at the house. Happy Mother's Day and Happy Birthday, Mom! We love you and admire your hard work! 

Nursing Tip - Hand Hygiene so important as Covid 19 cases surge

Most of you either have gotten the cold and flu going around or you know someone who has got it. The number one way you can prevent infection from spreading is by hand washing! We all wash our hands, but it is important to wash your hands intently. There are specifics to the task we have all done since we started potty training. 

Begin with getting your hands wet - rinse well. 

Apply soap and wash hands from wrist to nail bed. 

Wash your hands thoroughly singing "Happy Birthday" to yourself twice. 

Rinse hands thoroughly and dry from elbow to fingertips. 

Turn the faucet off with a paper towel in hand. 

No one wants to be sick as we enter the summer time! Protect yourself and those around you. 

Workout of the Month - THE MURPH 

A workout to honor the LT Michael Murphy: 

1 mile run 

100 pull ups 

200 push ups 

300 air squats 

1 mile run 

LT Michael Murphy was a Navy SEAL who was killed during Operation Red Wings—his story is told in the film and book Lone Survivor.

Dr. Joshua Appel, the chief of emergency medicine for the Southern Arizona Veterans Administration Health Care System served as an Air Force pararescueman in 2005.He was the team leader that helped rescue Marcus Luttrell and recover Michael Murphy and Danny Dietz. He kept the body armor he wore when he recovered Murphy’s body.Two years later he decided to gather everyone at his CrossFit gym to do the “Murph” on Memorial Day to recognize Michael Murphy and those who have lost their lives in active service.\They continued to do the workout every year until 2010, when Dr. Appel contacted Michael’s father, Dan Murphy and asked if he could start a national fundraiser.He then built a website and asked members to join in doing the Murph Challenge for a small fee. All the proceeds from the donations would go to the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation.Each year, the challenge has grown. In 2011, 7,800 people signed up and donated. The next year — with the help of Mike Sauers who founded the apparel brand Forged — the number was over 10,000 people.

The Murph

What A Summer

 

April 2023

NO April Fools This Year

Why are the business leaders of today trying to slow down the advance of Artificial Intelligence?  Because it is artificial.  Seriously, the concern is the spread of misinformation that is automated and can be harmful to humanity.  Think about it.  Have you ever texted someone and the outcome was a loss in translation?  Have you ever wished to stop a text or email from being sent because of one word in your sentence that allows the reader to misinterpret the real meaning of your message ?  I sure miss phone calls and face to face conversations.  One of my goals is to have more personal interaction and in person conversations to solidify our human wants of community.  Let's all try to be a bit more personal with our everyday lives.  

Celebrating Auntie Des - Birthday 

Our sweet Auntie Des celebrated her birthday with us this past month. The kindest soul and a heart of gold we are lucky to have such a thoughtful and caring aunt. My grandmother's spirit lives inside of her with her kindness and her ability to put everyone else above herself. Auntie Des has been training with me three days a week and is making progress and seeing results. She gives back to the community by serving at the Soup Kitchen every single week. She recently got started on social media (Facebook) and is learning how to navigate her new smartphone. She says her goals for this upcoming year are to get better rest, be happy, and be on time to things! 

Mother's Day Gift Guide 

Mother's Day is right around the corner! Most of us have trouble getting our mom's something that shows truly how much we appreciate them. Here are a few ideas that I hope will help! 

Mama Necklace 

 

Mama Necklace - Amazon Find

Rep their Favorite Sports Team 

    

Oversized Dodger Tee - Amazon

Padres Hat - Amazon

Workout/Athleisure Set 

    

Short Set - Amazon

Black Zip Up

The Famous Stanley Cup - DUPE 

Stanley Cup Dupe

The Classic Shoe with a Trendy Twist 

Platform Converse

Spring Training - Workout of the Month 

AMRAP - As Many Rounds As Possible 

Set your timer for 24 minutes - complete as many rounds of all the exercises as you can. After each round give yourself 30 seconds of rest before starting from the top! 

Burpees to Lateral Hop x 12 total 

Renegade Row x 12 total 

DB Single Arm Clean to Press x 12 

Reverse Lunges x 12 total 

Front Loaded DB Squat x 12 

200m Run/Jog/Walk 

Rest 30 seconds

Beginner Level - 2 Rounds 

Intermediate - 3 Rounds

Advanced - 4 Rounds 

A sweaty one for sure! Get after it! Let's see how many rounds you can get in before the timer goes off! 

Restaurant Review - Cream of the Crop 

A small market located off the 101 on the border of Carlsbad and Oceanside. Easy access off the coast or off the freeway! A cute little health store with a small deli. A perfect local spot to stop for food on the go or to take with you for your long beach day. They have an incredible made-to-order deli and juice bar in the back.  Sandwiches are nice big portions. I like the Surfer and grabbing a bag of chips on the shelf and taking it to enjoy at the beach on a sunny day. Perfect spot to go as summer comes! 

Get Active - Why Steps Matter 

Did you know walking has a ton of health benefits? Some benefits include: 

1. Helps maintain a healthy weight & lose body fat.

2. Prevents and manages various health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, cancer, stroke, heart disease, and high blood pressure. 

3. Strengthen bones and muscles.

4. Increase energy levels.

5. Reduce stress levels.

6. Less impact on the body. 

I would recommend trying to spend at least 30 minutes daily walking. If time is an issue it's easy to break your daily walking up and receive the same benefits. An example would be 3 ten minute walks after meals would be a great way of incorporating walking and aiding in digestion. 

Happy Mothers Day to all.  Again, thank you for taking time and reading our Family Insurance Blog. 

Kindly, Glenn & Amanda Domingo

March 2023

Reflection, Respect, Rest and Revival 

As I reflect on the passing of my parents, the one constant that repeats itself is the love of GOD that shines through me.  I am a selfish person, we all have to be selfish to some extent in order to better ourselves, the people around us and ultimately and hopefully better the world before we pass.  By Gods Grace, His forgiveness for my sins and my belief that His Son died for our sins and rose from the dead is the foundation of my ability to honor my parents.  I found a respect for both parents as I wrote the obituaries for them.  Understanding where they came from, how they proceeded in life, and how they finished the race on earth helped me understand that GODS LOVE does conquer all.  As we celebrate their lives and place them in a final resting place, I find peace knowing I did my best of my abilities to respect their final wishes.  Because of the long waiting time from their passing, January 28th for Mama Fili and February 3rd for Lolo Ben, it was difficult anticipating the days ahead.  I do feel a revival coming in my life as I know that life will start getting back to normal.  It will never be the same without them, especially mom.  She lived right next door in our granny flat and I miss saying, "good morning or I will be right back mom, do you need anything ?"  I am determining the best two qualities my parents had and plan to carry on those traits to better the world, better my family and better myself. This will help me heal and be a better person before I leave this earth.  Mom and Dad, I will see you again in heaven.   

Honoring Our Grandparents 

As many of you know our grandmother, Filipinas Domingo, and our grandfather, Benedicto Domingo are now watching over us in heaven. They were both immigrants from the Philippines who sacrificed so much for us to be able to have the life that we do and instill the work ethic in my father to pave a way for a better life for himself and our family. We will honor both of them on April 6th in our hometown. We appreciate all your positive thoughts, kind prayers and well wishes. 

Filipinas Domingo

Benedicto Domingo

Spring in Full Swing 

Slowly but surely the weather is getting nicer and we can enjoy the San Diego sun. Getting Vitamin D is crucial for our health and well-being. The only way we can get Vitamin D is through sun exposure or ingesting it through things such as supplements. 

People think of movement as exercise and it is hard to get motivated. 

Here are some budget-friendly ideas to incorporate movement into your next sunny day. 

- Go for a walk or bike ride along the beach. 

- Grab some friends and play pickleball at an outdoor court. 

- Head to the driving range and hit some golf balls. 

- Walk to your favorite coffee shop or lunch spot and enjoy a meal outdoors. 

- Take your dog to the dog beach in Del Mar.

Even if you sit in the sun and enjoy a good book, it will do wonders for your mental well-being. 

March Madness 

Big shout out to our local San Diego AZTECS for making it to the final four in the NCAA basketball tournament. All of us kids played sports in college and it is cool to watch a hometown team make history. The pure emotion that sports bring out in people is always fun to watch. San Diego State University will be playing on Saturday, April 1st @ 3 pm. 

Green Eggs & Ham 

St. Patty's inspired ways to incorporate more greens into your diet! Nope, I'm not talking about adding food coloring to everything, but more nutrients to your diet in subtle ways. 

1. Add greens to your smoothies and protein shakes. So easy, a handful of spinach or kale blended in your smoothie or protein shake without even tasting it. 

2. Add lettuce and sautéed veggies to your rice bowls. I love rice myself and have it almost every night. But rather than making rice my main bulk of the base of my bowl, I do half the rice and then fill my bowl with leafy greens and sautéed veggies to add volume and nutrients with fewer calories. 

3. One snack a day should be veggie based. A great example could include some crackers, hummus, cheese, carrots, and celery. It does not mean to replace veggies for everything but adding them to your plate can increase the nutrients you are getting throughout your day.

4. The most convenient for many people include green drinks, powders, and juices. My rule of thumb on these is to save these for the rushed mornings or the days you don't get as many nutrient-dense foods in. Eating nutrients is always the first option, but these alternatives are great to have on hand when rushing to work, traveling, or eating on the go. 

Workout of the Month 

In the theme of March Madness, I have a basketball-inspired workout to get your heart rate up. All reps are performed body weight and agility inspired. Get after it and GO AZTECS! 

Round 1 

- Quick Feet x 30 sec 

- Push Ups x 30 sec 

- Burpees x 30 sec 

Round 2 

- Broad Jump x 30 sec 

- Lateral Bounds x 30 sec 

- Shuttle Shuffle x 30 sec 

Round 3 

- Floor Tap Jump Squat x 30 sec

- Mini Band Lateral Walk (3 ea side) x 30 sec 

- Plank Walk out to Push Up x 30 sec 

Complete each round a total of 3-5 times. Rest for 30 seconds between and rest for 90 seconds when switching to a new round. 

Get your heart rate going and enjoy! 

Restaurant Review - Coffee Edition 

Now that I am commuting up to Orange County for nursing school, I have begun to branch out and try some new restaurants and coffee shops. One of the best coffee shops in Anaheim is Phin Smith. They specialize in Vietnamese coffee and the coffee and customer service went above and beyond all the amazing Yelp reviews. Most of their coffees are iced and that is their specialty, but they do offer some versions hot as well. If it is your first time, they allow you to try the coffee after they make it and you can make any adjustments you'd like. Super friendly and somewhat crowded, a great place to socialize, but maybe leave your work at home. If you are ever up north, this is worth the stop for a great cup of coffee. 

Phin Smith

12921 Main Street Garden Grove CA 92840
Open: 8am-4pm   |  Closed On All Major Holidays

February 2023

The Month of Love 

What a past month it has been for our family. We lost my grandparents this month, the beloved Mama Fili and our Lolo Ben. After 29 years apart from each other, my grandfather followed my grandmother to heaven just 6 days after she passed peacefully at home. We have been surround by love and so supported by our dear family and friends. We will be holding a service for the both of them in the months to come.  We plan on having there services on Holy Thursday, April 6th 2023.  They were able to hold hands a couple more times before they left this earth and completed Gods commandment of forgiving one another and loving one another.  We are so grateful for the family and friends that have supported us through this difficult time.  We love you all.  

Happy 29 years of Marriage, Dedication, Challenges and Love

This month, February 5th, our parents celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary. In this day and age it is unheard of for couples to stay together this long; the average marriage in America last seven years. Thank you both for showing us that marriage is a combined effort that requires working at it every single day. Thank you for showing us how to lean on faith and not to give up when times get tough. Dad you live to take care of your family and understand that life is too short to not have fun, and mom you show an incredible amount of grace and a silent work ethic which we all strive for. Cheers to you and at least 29 more years! 

Glenn and Jen Enjoying A Blackberry Spritzer and Top Shelf Margi at Miguel's Cocina, Carlsbad 

The Importance of Life Insurance 

As we grieve our loved ones, we are fortunate that they had life insurance policies to help ease some financial stress that some have to go through while they are already dealing with a lot of emotions.  For most, we will have some type of debt when we pass in this life, we will want to have some type of funeral or celebration of life, we will not want to burden our family with these expenses and we will want to leave something to our family as an adjustment fund or inheritance.  Life Insurance is truly the only insurance product in the market place that we, as consumers, want to pay out.  As consumers, we pay insurance premiums hoping not to use it for protection in the work place, at home, with our possessions etc.  

For our family's specific situation, my dad had to purchase a final resting place for our grandparents, purchase a place for their services, purchase food for the celebration or life, buy flowers, buy programs, buy urns and so many other items.  Thank God that they had final expense policies to assist with these cost.  Farmers New World Life has been in existence of over 100 years, first starting off as a Catholic Life Insurance Company in 1910.

Our Family Insurance Practice offers many types of life insurance products.  Glenn, Jenifer, Lexie, Leticia and Liane are all licensed to sell and assist with this most important product.  My father also is a registered representative with Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC to assist with variable life insurance.  Please give us a call, message, email or text for any questions, concerns or need of a free Farmers Friendly Life Insurance Review.  

Sweet Treats 

Here are some cost friendly sweet treats that you can DIY for your friends and loved ones for Valentine's Day! 

Homemade Pazookie 

So easy to quickly make and a treat any Valentine will love! 

Grab pre made cookie dough tub from the local store or Costco. 
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. 
Lightly spread butter to grease the cast iron skillet. 
Flatten and kneed the dough with your hands in the cast iron. 
Bake for 15-20 minutes.  Top with ice cream of your choice! 

Strawberries & Creme 

Keeping it simple with the classic vanilla ice cream. 
Grab your favorite vanilla ice cream, I personally love Costco's vanilla. 
Cut 2 quarts of strawberries into quarters. 
Mix 1-2 tbsp of sugar in a large bowl with strawberries. 
Scoop ice cream and top with strawberries! 

Chocolate Covered Strawberries 

Maybe the most classic Valentine dessert that you can never go wrong with. 
Keep strawberries whole. 
Melt chocolate in 15 second increments, stirring occasionally. 
Once completely melted and hot, quickly dip strawberries into the chocolate and place on a lined baking sheet. 
Freeze for 2 or more hours. Store in air tight container. 
Serve right before indulging! 

Workout of the Month 

I have been training my 57 year old aunt 3 times a week and it has been challenging yet rewarding. I am training her with a new approach to exercise not just for health, but for functional movement and movement as medicine for mental well being as well as helping in disease prevention. She has been doing awesome and it is rewarding for the both of us to watch her progress. In the theme of Valentines Day this month's workout is around heart health with all the repetitions being the number 14. 14 different exercises, 14 repetitions each, set your timer for 14 minutes and see how far you can get. 

Exercises
1. Jumping Jacks 
2. High Knees 
3. Mountain Climbers 
4. Squat Jumps 
5. Lateral Shuffle 3x EA. 
6. Broad Jump     
7. Walk Out Push Up 
8. Star Jump 
9. Heisman 
10. Plank Jack 
11. Squat Alt Knee to Elbow 
12. Thrusters 
13. Bicycle Crunch 
14. Burpees 

Restaurant Review 

The Lab Collaborative  - Menu 

Location: The location is in the heart of downtown Oceanside. Walking distance from the pier with a fun and edgy/science themed vibe. 

Food: Food was really good! No complaints. For your starter we recommend sharing the pretzel and sausage! A little on the pricey side average dish around 25-30$, more of a place to grab dinner with friends or a date night. 

Drinks: Plenty of drink options on the menu, local beers, and signature cocktails were popular amongst our group. 

Would we return: Absolutely! Service was great. They were able to split checks multiple ways right at the table for a quick check out. Can't wait to go back and try something new! 

Nursing Tip of the Month 

A new section of the blog I have added throughout my time in nursing school will be a little tip of the month of my knowledge that I think is beneficial for everyone! 

This month I encourage anyone who is a smoker to quit! So many diseases are caused due to smoking. Exercise your heart! Reduce your stress levels and briskly walk for 30 minutes a day to decrease your chances of developing cardiovascular heart diseases. 

It has been a pleasure sharing some of our personal and family stories with you all.  Thank you always for your kind words, support and of course being our clients, family and friends.  We look forward to blogging for you next month.  Stay healthy, safe and kind.  

With gratitude, Amanda "Kiki Domingo and Glenn

December 2022

Christmas Cheer 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our lovely family, friends, and clients. We are fortunate to have survived another crazy, quick year. They say the days are slow, but the years go fast and that could not have been more true this year. We were blessed with the presence of Addison and Lexie both coming home for the holidays and spending Christmas and New Year's with us. We celebrated with everyone, ate too much, and shared lots of laughs. We appreciate the time we are able to spend as a family when we can and are re-charged and ready to take on 2023. We hope you and your families had a healthy holiday. Love and peace to all, cheers to 2023! 

Happy New Year - Cheers Without the Beers! 

What is the new trend of 2023? Less alcohol. As more and more people develop a healthier lifestyle the trends of dry January are lasting some people more than the 30 day challenge. A great time to detox and reset your body. Most people are social drinkers and now many places offer non alcoholic cocktails. Gen Z are leading the way to more sober curiosity. The rate of non drinkers has increased possibly due to the stigma and the socialization of drinking becoming less common. There are now groups even on TikTok to help people with sobriety. There are some great health benefits to being sober, but if you enjoy a causal beer or cocktail on a special occasion, have it! 

Goal Setting for the New Year 

Most of us have goals that we write down, maybe think about for the first couple weeks of the new year, then life happens and gets in the way. One big issue with goal setting is there is no "why" attached to your goals. I encourage you to answer the question why and write the answer next to each of your goals. For example, someone may have a goal of losing 20 pounds. That seems like a big goal but definitely achievable if your why is strong enough. I want to lose 20 pounds so I can play with my grandkids. Goals do not have to be huge, but they need to be measurable and a way you can hold yourself accountable. I encourage you to share your goals with someone who will hold you accountable. Remember goals can and will fluctuate throughout the year. Give yourself some grace and enjoy the process. 

The Ultimate Vision Board 

One of my favorite creative activities is creating a vision board of your goals for the new year. Get out all of your old magazines and anything that speaks to you cut out. Glue on a big poster board and arrange however you like. You can make it as simple or creative as you'd like and put it on display somewhere you can see it everyday. An aesthetic way to remind you of your goals and be intentional to do something everyday that gets you one step closer to achieving them. 

How to Create a Vision Board

Restaurant Review - Cooking at Home Edition 

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to cook at home at least Monday - Friday. Planning your meals is half the battle and shopping for the ingredients at the beginning of the week or the end of the weekend to set you up for success. I think one of my biggest struggles is finding the healthy alternative and money smart alternative when in a rush. I like having one or two go to meals and snacks during the week so when I am starving during a busy day I don't just go grab some food on the go or over eat because my eyes get bigger than my stomach. One of my favorite go to healthy meals in under 20 minutes is the Ultimate Taco Salad! 

Ingredients: 

- grass fed ground beef (can use turkey as a substitute) 

- chopped lettuce 

- chopped cucumber 

- chopped tomatoes 

- fire roasted corn 

- black beans 

- cotija cheese 

- cholula 

- ranch dressing 

- diced avocado 

- siete chips crumbled 

Chop all ingredients while the beef is cooking in the taco seasoning. 

Throw the lettuce on the bottom and portion out all ingredients however you'd like. Mix ingredients together and top with a mix of cholula and ranch! 

Now's the Time to Buy - Decor Edition 

Nothing like a Christmas sale. The best time to buy all the Christmas decor for next year is right now! Hobby Lobby is one of my favorites for all things decor. Below are a list of some good sale items to deck the halls of your hallway next year. If you are looking for fake trees, lights for the house, or anything to help Santa out, now is the time to browse. 

Hobby Lobby

World Market Discounts

Target Discounts

November 2022

We are Thankful for You in our LIVES

The month of thanks. As we enter into the holiday spirt let's remember to be thankful for all that life has to offer. We are grateful for each and every one of you for being not just our clients, but our family and friends. We can not wait for Lexie and Addison to come home this month and celebrate Christmas as a family. November came and went too fast. We enjoyed Thanksgiving and Friendsgivng, celebrated some birthdays including our pups Winston and Lucy, and broke out the Christmas decorations. We hope you have a safe and healthy holiday season with your loved ones.

The Holiday Salad 

The salad that everyone will love. One of my favorites and extremely festive. A salad even the carnivores will love. Super simple and can be made the day prior or the day of. I never measure the ingredients out just kind of eye ball! 

Ingredients

-Cranberries 

-Walnuts/Pecans

-Kale

-Roasted Sweet Potatoes

-Feta/Goat Cheese 

-Sliced Apples 

-Quinoa 

Make the quinoa and the sweet potatoes either the night before or a few hours prior to the event so they can cool off before creating the salad. Wash and pat dry kale. Throw all your toppings together and top with dressing. We used champagne dressing with a balsamic glaze, but you can use anything you'd like! Toss together and enjoy. 

*Typically, if setting up for an event or making enough for leftover leave a few dressings out on the side so the salad doesn't get soggy and it gives people the option for which kind they would like and how much!

Skipping the Booze

I have been limiting my drinking since finishing 75 Hard because I realized how much better my body felt and how much more clear my mind was. With a holiday party or event every weekend between Thanksgiving and the New Year, you may want to take a couple nights off drinking but still be apart of the party, or maybe you want to avoid the questions and the peer pressure at the parties. Whatever your reasons are, my boyfriend and I have found a few alternatives to get you through the holiday season without a hangover every weekend. 

Athletic Brewing 

 

Hop Water 

Both can be found at your local Total Wine or sometimes you can get it delivered through Amazon! 

Holiday Gift Guide 

Unsure what to purchase this holiday season? Running out of time pretty quick? Here are a few items you can not go wrong with for men and women! 

Perfume & Cologne

You can never go wrong with some good smelling cologne or perfume. Something that no one wants to buy, but something that everyone needs. The link below will take you to a discounted site and I have provided a couple of my favorites! 

Outerwear - Vuori

The brand that everyone knows and loves, and if they don't they will! I got my whole family on Vuori and that is all I pretty much wear. They have clothing from athletics, casual day to day, to business. Free shipping on all orders over 75$ and 20% off your first order! Below are some of my favorite outerwear for men and women. 

For the Chef

Whether they love to cook or bake, or anything in between, a huge holiday sale at Sur La Table that you can not go wrong with. They also offer cooking classes which I have taken on a date night, a perfect gift for a couple! They have gifts of all price ranges and for all your cooking needs. They are located in Carlsbad as well so if you are local to the area stop in and shop around. 

Holiday Playlist 

Looking for a holiday ambiance as your are decorating the house or baking some Christmas cookies, maybe throwing a holiday party? Here is a holiday playlist to get you into the Christmas spirit! 

Also, no fire place? No problem put on YouTube on your TV on "The Calm Cafe" for a cozy holiday background! 

Christmas Holiday Playlist

Happy Birthday, Sir Winston & Lady Lucy 

Celebrating Winston and Lucy's 3rd birthday! We are grateful for how much joy they bring into our lives and all the nicknames we get to call them! Let's PAWty!!! 

Lady Lucy 

Sir Winston 

21 years old in dog years, rough pawty! 

A Note from the Agency Owner

As usual we come to the month of November to give thanks to all that have supported, promoted and have believed in our Family Insurance Agency.  Without you, we would not have a business to open each and everyday.  Without you, we would not be able to provide peace of mind and protection to our clients, family and friends, of their personal belongings, home and lives.  Without you, we would not be able to support our church and many other non profits and schools.  Thank you again for trusting our agency in your homes, business's and lives.  We are grateful that you are part of our Farmers Family and our personal relationships and sphere of influence.  God Bless you always and may He always grant you Protection, Prosperity and most of all Peace.  

Kindly, Glenn & Amanda Domingo, your Insurance Agency for LIFE