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

October 2022

Happy Fall Y'all ! 

Officially starting to get colder (sort of)! School is in full swing, the leaves are changing, and we are preparing to fall back here very soon.  We hope you guys enjoy your Halloween and are ready for the rest of the year to just fly by.  Thanksgiving will be here before you know it and then Christmas is just around the corner. A perfect time with the season changing to check back in with your 2022 goals. Reflect and assess how far you have come and what changes you need to make as this year comes to a close to achieve them or get yourself one step closer to them. We hope you are all staying healthy and well and look forward to seeing you throughout the holidays! 

Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice 

It is officially the season of pumpkin spice. Wether you are a pumpkin spice fan or not, these recipes will put you right in the fall mood. 

Pumkin Spice Latte 

- 2 C milk of your choice 

- 2 TBSP pumpkin puree 

- 1 to 3 TBSP sugar 

- 1 TBSP vanilla extract 

- 1/2 TSP pumpkin spice 

- 1/2 C strong coffee

- Add whipped cream on top! 

- Add milk, pumpkin puree, and sugar to a saucepan over medium heat. Heat until hot, but do not boil. Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and the coffee.

- Divide the mixture between two mugs. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.

Pumpkin Bread 

      - 1 and 3/4 cups (219g) all-purpose flour 

• - 1 teaspoon baking soda
• - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg*
• - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves*
• - 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger*
• - 3/4 teaspoon salt
• - 2 large eggs, at room temperature
• - 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
• - 3/4 cup (150g) packed light or dark brown sugar
• - 1 and 1/2 cups (340g) pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)
• - 1/2 cup (120ml) vegetable oil, canola oil, or melted coconut oil
• - 1/4 cup (60ml) orange juice*
• - 2/3 cup (120g) semi-sweet chocolate chips

1. Adjust the oven rack to the lower third position and preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Lowering the oven rack prevents the top of your bread from browning too much, too soon. Grease a metal 9×5-inch loaf pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.

1. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and salt together until combined. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until combined. Whisk in the pumpkin, oil, and orange juice. Pour these wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently mix together using a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon. There will be a few lumps. Do not over-mix. Gently fold in the chocolate chips, if including.

1. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 60–65 minutes, making sure to loosely cover the bread with aluminum foil halfway through to prevent the top from getting too brown. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with only a few small moist crumbs. This may be before or after 60–65 minutes depending on your oven, so begin checking every 5 minutes around the 55-minute mark.

1. Allow the bread to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before removing and slicing. Cover and store leftover pumpkin bread at room temperature for up to 3–4 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Restaurant Review 

The mediterranean Chipotle, but better. Cava is a DIY quick and healthy meal that is so affordable and won't leave you hungry. You get to choose your base, greens or grains or both, then add a protein and all the veggies and topping of your choice. You can choose to make your own bowl or try one of their pre-designed tasty bowls. Next time you are looking for a quick healthy meal to feed the family after a long day, or need something to take on the go, give Cava a try! 

Cava Menu

Workout of the Month 

Boo! Burpees! 

Between each exercise, perform 10 reps of a full burpee. 

- Alternating Reverse Lunge 

- 10 Burpees 

- Push Ups 

- 10 Burpees 

- Squat Jump 

- 10 Burpees 

- Lateral Lunge 

- 10 Burpees

- Superman 

- 10 Burpees 

Beginner aim for 3 rounds, intermediate aim for 4 rounds, and advanced aim for 5 rounds. 

Take rest when needed and try to complete as quickly as possible! 

Healthy Halloween

Sometimes it can be tricky with Halloween candy everywhere in the store and having your kids candy around all month long. Here are a couple tips and tricks to keep you on track with your health and fitness goals. 

1. Balance. The more you tell yourself you aren't allowed to have any candy the more your body is going to crave it and the more likely you will over indulge when you do give in to the craving. Allow yourself to have your favorite and enjoy it guilt free! 

2. Don't buy a whole bag of candy. If you aren't giving the candy away to the neighborhood kids or bringing it to a Halloween party, then keep it our of sight to keep unnecessary temptations out of the way. 

3. Healthier alternatives or candy options are ones that have a little full fat and protein rather than full of a bunch of artificial sweeteners. For example, a fun sized Snickers will probably satisfy you and make you feel fuller for longer than a bag of Skittles. 

The biggest thing is to enjoy what you want in moderation! 

A Note from the Agency Owner

How did 2022 turn out for you and your family ?  

Did you pay for any upgrades to your home ?

Did you add solar to your home ?

Has an estate attorney advised on purchasing a personal umbrella policy ?

Have you reviewed your life insurance portfolio ?

Do you have any IRA rollovers still at your old company ?

Do you have a new driver that needs to be listed on your auto policy ?

Life changes happen constantly, sometimes we forget to update our records, insurance policy's and or accounting.  Please keep in touch and if any of the above questions are a yes, please give us a call for your Free Farmers Friendly Review.   Have a wonderful Holiday Season and talk soon.  

Your Agency for LIFE, Glenn and Amanda Domingo

September 2022

Fall Back, Florida Exit Just In Time

The sun is starting to go down a little bit sooner, the weather is cooling down (kinda), and you may be getting a couple hours of peace and quiet now with the kids back to school. Fall is officially here, and for some of you, you couldn't wait one more second for that over-priced Pumpkin Spice Latte. Mom and Dad took their first visit to Addison's new place in Vero Beach, Florida, just before the hurricane hit! I have officially started nursing school and I'm already done with midterms. Lex got a job promotion in New York and has been enjoying the new challenge. New seasons and new prayers being answered everyday. We are so very grateful. We hope you have found your back to school routine by now and haven't had too many tantrums trying to get everyone to school on time. 

Recipe of the Month - Warm Chocolate Chip Banana Bread 

My boyfriend claims this recipe is the "most moist banana bread he's ever had!" One secret ingredient besides extra love... greek yogurt! 

1. Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees. 

2. Have 2 separate mixing bowls for wet and dry ingredients. 

3. Combine: 

    1/2 c brown sugar

    1/2 c granulated sugar

    1/2 c melted buter 

Mix until a paste like consistency. Then add in: 

    3-4 mashed ripe bananas 

    1/2 c greek yogurt 

    1 tsp vanilla 

    2 large eggs 

4. In another bowl combine: 

    1 1/3 c flour

    1 tsp baking soda 

    1/2 tsp salt 

5. Fold in the dry ingredients to the wet bowl. 

6. Fold in 3/4 c chocolate chips. 

7. Pour ingredients into a 9x5 loaf and sprinkle with extra chocolate on top. 

8. Bake for 1 hour and 15 min. 

9. The best part, ENJOY! 

Workout of the Month 

This one is a burner! For time, so you are trying to finish as quickly as you possibly can. 

.5 mile RUN/JOG/WALK (personal choice) 

Start with each exercise at 30 reps, then 20, then 10. 

Reverse Lunge (RIGHT) 

Reverse Lunge (LEFT) 

Full Thruster 

Bicep Curl 

.5 mile RUN/JOG/WALK 

How quickly can you get done?! 

Restaurant Review

South of Nicks 

If you are looking for a little staycation or restaurant a little further away for a fun night out, I highly recommend Nick's on State! Food is amazing, drinks (look) amazing, and the service is top notch. The chef even brought our dinner out to us and we were just eating at the bar. There are a ton of other things to do in downtown San Clemente so feel free to make a day out of it! 

Hurricane Ian 

What is a hurricane? 

Hurricane Ian formed over the central Caribbean Sea late Friday, September 23, 2022, as a tropical storm, the ninth tropical storm of the 2022 season. Hurricane Ian made landfall at 150 mph on Wednesday off the shore of Fort Myers on the Gulf Coast of the state. Ian’s top maximum sustained winds of 155 mph had been recorded hours before landfall, when the Category 4 hurricane was 2 mph shy of reaching Category 5 classification.

How are they measured?

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane's sustained wind speed. This scale estimates potential property damage. Hurricanes reaching Category 3 and higher are considered major hurricanes because of their potential for significant loss of life and damage.

Statistics 

Fast facts: Hurricane Ian

• More than 2.5 million people in Florida were under evacuation orders before the storm hit.
• Hurricane Ian knocked out power to more than 1.5 million residents across Florida, according to PowerOutage.us.
• New tropical storm watches and warnings have been issued for North and South Carolina.
• Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Category 3 storm Tuesday in Cuba, knocking out the electricity grid and leaving the entire island without power.
• Ian strengthened to a powerful Category 4 storm, bringing severe flooding to Cuba and the Florida Keys.
• Only four Category 5 storms have made landfall in the U.S. with maximum sustained winds greater than 155 mph.
• Heavy, potentially flooding rain is expected to affect central Florida, southern Georgia, North Carolina, and the South Carolina coast, well beyond the hurricane’s path.
• Hurricane Ian follows Hurricane Fiona, a Category 1 storm that made landfall in Puerto Rico on Sunday, September 18, 2022.

How we can help! 

Prayers and donations to relief funds are always helpful and appreciated. I have left a link to World Vision where you can donate directly to the Hurricane Ian Relief Fund. 

Donate to Hurricane Ian

What is World Vision?

Dodgers vs. Padres - A Split House 

    The final series of the regular season of America's Pastime. My parents have always been die hard Dodger fans, and growing up here in San Diego I've always loved the Padres! They finally took me up to Dodger Stadium for the first time and we saw the Padres     lose. Last series of the two as they battle it out is tonight, and I        can't wait to go! Who are you rooting for? GOOOOO PADRES! 

                                                             

A Note from the Agency Owner

      

The Farmers^® organization and our agency are operating in unusual times. In fact, the current marketplace is unlike anything we’ve seen before. As you know, the global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic set off a chain reaction in our economy, with some of the downstream impacts being labor shortages, supply chain disruption, and inflation. Compounded, these issues are increasing the costs of claims, particularly in the Auto line of business, which in turn drives down profitability.

• In Auto, we’re seeing increases to used car prices and elevated rental car prices due to lower supplies.
• In Home, housing prices are increasing, and inventory supply and demand, lumber prices, and costs of labor are contributing to the increase.
• Catastrophe costs are at historically high levels, with 2021 being one of the costliest catastrophe years on record.

We recognize these are challenging times for the industry, and for our agency. We believe that together, we’ll emerge from this much stronger, and pave a new path forward.  It is times like this that allows our agency to stand out with claims management, customer service and assist in making changes to your policy for premium management.  As always, our Farmers Friendly Review is offered each year to our clients.  This offer is also available by asking our agency to review your personal insurance portfolio.  Wishing you all a great 4th quarter of 2022 and look forward to connecting soon.  

Kindly, Glenn & Amanda Domingo