Forget buying a new snowsuit or warm, waterproof gloves.  There has not been snow to play in during school vacations in a long time.  I just want to wake up around Christmas time and have even a dusting of snow- just SOMETHING to make it feel like winter.  Oh well, maybe next year.

Brought to you by your Amherst RV insurance company.

“What do you want to do?”

“Where do you want to go?”

“I do not want to spend a lot of money.”

“How many people want to come?”

No one ever wants to take the reins on planning this night because it always is stressful and frustrating.  I always wonder why we want to build up a day so much when it is super expensive and the excitement ends at midnight, when the day becomes just a normal day.  Every year I still love dressing formal, drinking champagne, and blowing those annoying noisemakers, but I wonder why we all love it.  But I guess who doesn’t love a good party?

So my question to everyone is do you think New Years Eve is overrated?  Leave a comment a let us know your thoughts!

Brought to you by your Western Massachusetts auto insurance firm.

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Working at this wonderful Western Mass insurance agency for about a year has been a great experience and made me feel slightly less worrisome because I have had a little taste of what balancing work and another part of life is like.  Also, living in the number one college town in American has given me one of the best experiences of my life.  I will have memories that will stay with me forever.

Being a marketing major, I should pay more attention to business magazines and articles, but UMass Amherst can be its own little bubble and I sometimes forget to check in with what is happening in the real world.  Our economy is crappy- that we all know.  Finding a job is going to be difficult, and not to mention trying to find a job you actually LIKE, but it is doable!  This I have been telling myself.  You do not have to use traditional methods of applying for jobs anymore. It is not all about the one interview that makes or breaks you.  And grades are not everything, though they do help.  There are far more resources and opportunities to find something you may never have thought of now than even ten years ago.

Use the people you know.

Networking with friends and family can be one of the most essential parts of finding a job and making the transition from five day weekends to five day work weeks a little bit easier.  I have surprised myself many times by some of the conversations I have had just by asking questions and mentioning that I am a senior in college.

So yes, gr- gra- GRADUATING is a scary thought because we have been in a comfortable place for so long, but now I can look at it as the start to a new chapter of my life.  Hopefully one filled with more new friends, great learning experiences, and new surprises.

Congrats to all those who are graduating from the Five Colleges in December! And for those like me who are finishing up in May, we can do this!

Brought to you by your aging intern at Dale Frank Financial Group.

When weighing the options about insurance plans, you want to consider properties, family, businesses, payment options, liability, etc. We here in the Sunderland office can show you what you need to consider while looking at all of your options.  You want your policy to be solid and cover you properly.  Choosing a policy should be a simple and stress-free process  like going to a tree farm and choosing the best tree.  If you have multiple policies and want extra liability coverage to cover possible gaps, an umbrella policy is a great choice for you.  It acts like a shield to give you extra protection just as the Christmas tree covers all of the presents underneath!

Just like a tree that warms a room and makes everyone happy, you want your coverage to make everyone feel comfortable without having to thinking about it.  It’s just there and doing its job. You want to be able to go about your every day activities being comfortable knowing all of your belongings are safe.

On another note, be sure your tree is not near anything flammable, but just in case your policy can come in and save your house from paying in full for fire damage!

Brought to you by your Hadley insurance group.

GREAT FOODS:

Sweet Potato Pie: sweet potatoes, brown sugar, walnuts, flour… this sounds good with just the ingredients.  But after letting it bake and having the top become caramelized, that makes it even better.  Marshmallows can be used as well.  I can close my eyes and smell this baking right now!

Any type of fudge.  Chocolate and Christmas seem to go hand in hand. End of story.

Snowballs: orange concentrate with crushed vanilla wafers rolled into balls with powdered sugar and coconut as a covering.  This just makes my mouth water.

Candy Cookies: sugar cookie wafer with a caramel drop on the center and melted dark chocolate drizzled on top with a walnut.

Ice cream pie: vanilla ice cream, creme de menthe mixed in an Oreo cookie pie plate with chocolate sauce on top.  If you are going to make these, make sure to have multiple as they go fast.

NOT SO GREAT FOODS:

Brie in a pastry with fruit topping.  Apparently this sounds good, but does not taste like it looks.

Giblet gravy:  The ingredients may make a few people uncomfortable and the taste is nothing to jump around about.

Nuts in shells: if you are going to put nuts in a bowl for all to munch on, please help everyone out and crack them beforehand. No one wants to be fumbling with a nutcracker and making risque jokes with family around.

So whatever you do this holiday season, carefully decide which foods you would like to have at your party and be associated with for family parties for years to come!  It could make or break your gathering.

Brought to you by your food savvy Western Mass umbrella insurance group.

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To honor those who gave their lives, thank a soldier or make a donation to a veteran’s fund because we can never forget the “a date which will live in infamy.”

Brought to you by your proud and patriotic Hampshire County auto insurance agency.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

This movie used to creep me out slightly, but as I got older and watched it more and more I started to appreciate Tim Burton and his crazy genius in this film about Jack Skellington, The Pumpkin King, who lives in “Halloween Town” and finds a portal that leads him to a new and fantastical place called “Christmas Town.”  He wants to share this new and exciting place with his town but no one wants to hear any of it!  He plans to take over Christmas by capturing “Sandy Claws” and assigning roles to the townspeople.  Obviously chaos ensues…

4. The Holiday (2006)

I just saw this movie for the first time last winter and fell in love.  Of course, it is predictable but makes you smile and sigh at the right moments. The plot line is simple enough.  Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet are two heart-broken women who switch homes across the Atlantic during the holiday season.  They each find someone who they would like to know better in their new countries. One thing that is a little off is that Jack Black plays a ‘romantic’ character but he does pull it off well.  I would put this in the chick-flick category but ladies, if you can convince your man to cuddle up for one night this is a cute movie to choose.

3. Home Alone (1990)

Who can forget the famous Macaulay Culkin face?  This is a fantastic film for people of all ages and makes for a great film for the family to watch on a gray, snowy day.  For those who do not know the plot line (shame on you!) it is a bout a boy named Kevin who gets left behind at his home while his large and dysfunctional family leave for Paris.  It is not until they are in the air that Kevin’s mom realizes Kevin is not with them.  At first, Kevin is confused then joyful that he gets the house to himself and can eat what he wants and use his brother’s toys.  Then then loneliness hits him and he also meets Marv and Harry, two sloppy robbers.  Little do they know how sneaky Kevin is!

2. Love Actually (2003)

It was difficult putting this move second instead of first.  I am in love with this film and will always push people to see it.  It is a British film that follows many different people and their love lives.  It can get a little confusing because everyone is related somehow through one relationship or another, but the underlying themes of romance and heartbreak will absolutely melt your heart.  You will find yourself yelling at the TV from joy and anger all throughout the movie. There are many famous names in this film and it is fun to watch them all. Whether it’s the charming British accents or the abundance of romantic gestures, Love Actually is always one of the first movies I watch during the holiday season.

1. Elf (2003)

If you have not seen this movie, you are missing out on a lot of laughs!  Will Ferrell does an amazing job and I find myself laughing just thinking about the movie.  Buddy the Elf is actually a human who is raised by elves in the North Pole.  He finds out that he is actually human and goes to find his biological father in New York City right before Christmas. He falls in love with Zooey Deschanel, meets his step-mother and step-brother, and helps save Christmas for all!

Brought to you by your merry Springfield personal insurance company.

The history of the word is from the Anglo-Saxon words “mistel” and “tan” meaning dung and twig.  It is thought to be named after bird droppings on a branch.  There are many theories as to how this plant got to be associated with Christmas.  The French believed that mistletoe is poisonous because it grew on a tree that was used to make the cross on which Jesus was crucified.

As a parasitic plant, you would not think that it seems cheerful and holiday-like but many people put it in their homes and offices to get everyone into the spirit.  I find it ironic that is a “sexual symbol” even as a parasitic plant.  The symbol may have derived from Viking association with Frigga, the goddess of love or related to fertility.

Fun Fact: The correct mistletoe etiquette is that when a man kisses a woman he is supposed to take a berry from the plant above them and when the plant is left with no berries, there is no more kissing allowed beneath the plant.

If a couple kisses under the mistletoe, they will have good luck but if they neglect to kiss, they will have bad luck.

Brought to you by your cheerful Western Mass auto insurance agency!

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A Little Background

Toys for Tots was started by Bill Hendricks in 1947 with 5,000 toys and became a nationwide Marine-sponsored organization the next year. Hendricks was a Reservist on weekends and the Public Relations Director or Warner Brothers during the week.  This allowed him to convince popular celebrities to help him make Toys for Tots an overnight success. Walt Disney designed the logo above that is still known today!  From the beginning through 1979, used toys were collected and the Reserve Marines would fix them on weekends.  From 1980 through today, only new toys have been collected due to the Reservists having to improve their combat skills on weekends.  Also, there was a stigma of hand-me-down toys and the Marines wanted to give off  a better reputation for the program.

In 1991, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation became the fundraising and support organization for Toys for Tots and has been working since then.  The foundation helped with five goals:

1. Provide toys that supplemented smaller Marine Corps units

2.  Promotional and support materials

3.  Individual and corporate donors could take a charitable deduction on income taxes

4. Could enter into contracts for promotions with corporations with royalties going to Toys for Tots

5. Ensures the organization obeys IRS regulations, state laws and regulations

Since its inception, Toys for Tots has helped 188 million needy children with 400 million toys.  Over the 18 years that the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has been around, it has supplemented the organization with $487 million of toys and $6.3 million of promotional materials.

Toys for Tots in Western Mass

If you wish to donate to this amazing cause, there are a few places to drop off toys.  The Coordinator for our area is Sgt Michael C. Pires.  This list is not exhaustive and if you wish to see the rest of the towns involved in our area, click here.

AMHERST: Bertucci’s-51 East Pleasnt St, Classic Chevrolet-Dickinson St, Veterans Services Office-231 Whitmore Bldg (UMass), Wilburn Chiropractic-379 College St

BELCHERTOWN: Belchertown VFW-41 Old Pelham Rd, Allure Studio 442-442 State St, Belchertown State Police Barracks-485 Ware Rd, Planet Fitness-10 Turkey Hill Rd, Quabbin Service Center-18 Sergeant St, Sunstruck Tanning Salon-RT-9, VFW-41 Old Pelham Rd

HADLEY: AAA-41 Russell St, Rt 9, Aubuchon Hardware-458 Russell St, Comfort Inn-237 Russell St, Country Nissan-Rt 9, Hadley Young Mens Club-138 East St, Hampton Inn-24 Bay Rd, Pier 1-RT-9, Planet Fitness-335 Russell St, Rocky’s Ace Hardware-299 Russel Rd, Sears-191 Russell St, Sleepy’s-335 Russell St

NORTHAMPTON: Hotel Northampton-36 King St, Alternative Health-243 King St, Big Lots-178 N King St, Breugger’s Bagels-96 Main St, Northampton State Police Barracks-555 North King St

SUNDERLAND: Blue Heron Restaurante-112 North Main St

Brought to you by your friendly Springfield RV insurance group.

Here at Dale Frank Insurance in Sunderland, we can help you create the perfect policy with flood insurance because water damage is not something you want to deal with around the holidays.  There are two types that can be added to a policy: Standard and Preferred. 

The standard policy involves communities that are a part of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).  If there is a flood, which is only considered if it covers two acres or two properties, your building and the contents inside can be insured. If you wish to have this coverage you have to apply for building coverage and contents coverage separately.

If your home or place of business is in a low-risk zone then you could apply for a low-cost preferred risk policy. If you live in an area that is low-risk you are not required to purchase flood insurance but you can be covered just in case with a preferred risk policy.  Many small flood claims are in low risk areas so it does not hurt to be safe.

Do not wait until it is too late.  Let your holiday season be joyful and fun-filled.  We can help.

Brought to you by your Hadley safety insurance agency.

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Poor Charlie Brown is always depressed!  Hopefully his friends and pets can help him enjoy his holiday.  He better be careful of the football…

Enjoy the food, friends, and family any way you like!  Even if it is with candy and mismatched tables and chairs.

Happy Turkey Day!

Brought to you by your thankful Amherst car insurance agency.

Have a game plan for how you would like to do your big purchase-shopping.  Shopping on Black Friday is a commitment to begin with and choosing a store can be difficult but is necessary in order to have a successful shopping experience.  Research which stores are open and at what times.

Is it worth it to go into the store or are there online deals for Friday?

How many of the items you would like to purchase are in stock?

What time are the deals for the items you want starting and ending?

Nothing would be worse than driving to a store late Thursday night or early Friday morning just to find out the store had opened an hour before you thought or that your item is not available at that store.  A bulk of expensive holiday shopping can be completed on Friday (or at least within this week) if you plan it out right.  One idea is getting a “team” together and getting some stores covered.  Maybe going to different Targets like the ones in Hadley and Holyoke.  Or checking different stores such as Best Buy, Target, and WalMart.  Have a list ready and lots of caffeine!

Leave a comment with your plan!

Brought to you by your savvy Greenfield renters insurance provider.

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1. Keep candles away from other decorations.  If you are using candles for extra lighting, centerpieces, or for the wonderful fall scents, be cautious of where you place them.  Fake leaves, other lights, hands, and food could all get in the way and make a great day the exact opposite.   Keep them sightly away from other objects as well as where people will not be reaching for food.  Make sure your home insurance policy is updated and we can help you here at our Western Mass office!

2. Watch the turkey.  It’s simple enough.  Try not to leave the house for too long while the turkey is cooking.  Get errands done beforehand and do things around the house that need to be done while the turkey is in the oven (if you choose to cook it that way).

3. Check with guests for allergies.  If you are hosting people for dinner, make sure everything you have cooked can be enjoyed by all.  If there are allergies, accommodate your guest as necessary.

4.  Have enough seating.  Whether you are doing a traditional sit-down dinner or buffet style, have enough room for guests to sit so no one has to eat while standing or walking.  It makes it harder to enjoy everything you have prepared.

5. Football.  If there is an important game on, make sure your guests are not going to throw a fit if the game cannot be played during dinner!  Nothing worse than hungry, grumpy football fans.

Brought to you by your thankful Amherst umbrella insurance.

I am happy that fast food restaurants have been told to list the nutritional information in plain view for customers to see.  I have looked at these a few times while getting my french fry fix and have second-guessed my decision to get a certain meal.  Trying to eat healthier is a great thing to do as a family or at least with another person.  If you can get your house or apartment to shop for better items, it will be a lot easier to eat better without temptation in the house.  This could stop your mind from wandering to fast food also.  Eating healthier does lead to a better lifestyle and smarter eating habits.  Try having “family dinners” at least once a week.  It will be a great time to catch up with family and friends while also instilling god eating habits.

Let’s get America back on track with food!

Brought to you by your food-conscious Western Mass life insurance group.

• Define Your Goals
• Devise a Comprehensive Strategy
• Refinement through Feedback
• Attorney Approval
• Estate Tax Assessments
• Possible Gifting Plans
• Client Approval
• Asset Allocation to Implement the Comprehensive Strategy
• Strategy Implementation
• Regular Review and Consultations

As an insurance and financial planning business, we know how to have conversations with our clients and perfect a plan that works for all who are involved.  It is our job to be sure that families are taken care of, not matter the circumstances.  Our door is always open and our agents are avialable to make an appointment to start planning for your perfect retirement- and then some.  We believe that regualr contact and meetings is the best way to saty on track with your money and your future.

Brought to you by your trusted Western Massachusetts financial planning/ insurance agency.

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Today, take the time to thank a veteran and let our country’s heroes know that we appreciate what they are doing for us at home.

Brought to you by your friendly Sunderland business insurance agency.

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We take it for granted that once we learn to drive that we do not need our full attention.  This is completely untrue.  I have been in the car multiple times with friends who text while they drive and I have had to yell to get them to pay attention.  I am guilty as well, but have definitely been better about it.  This is dangerous and parents should sit down with their kids who are starting to drive and explain that this should not happen.  Friends should encourage friends to stop.  Take their phone and text for them or just say you feel uncomfortable in the car with someone who texts and drives.

There is nothing that is so urgent that you must send a text.  Massachusetts has not done this yet, but some states have banned talking on the phone while driving which may come soon.  Blue tooth is one option but still can be distracting.  Some cars have phones hooked into the radio which is a nice way to talk.  But driving on highways like I-91 and the Mass Pike are a HUGE no-no for texting because the speeds are far too high to take those risks.  Even roads like Route 9 and Route 116 are dangerous.  Everyone just needs to make calls and send texts before getting into the car.

You may not think that it takes a long time to send a ‘quick message’ but your mind is focused on sending a message and not the road which is a danger to all around.  Averting your eyes from the road for even two or three seconds (but it is normally longer) is long enough for something to go wrong.

Massachusetts put the texting-while-driving ban into effect in September 2010 which also band 16 and 17-year-olds from using phones at all while driving.  Depending on the driver, each offense slams you with a hefty fine or license suspension.  This is a serious problem that needs to be stopped and our state will do what it takes to keep our citizens safe.  Read the whole law here.

Brought to you by Amherst personal insurance agency.

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A man was in a store purchasing flowers and as he walked out, he witnessed a camel kicking his car.  A TV camera caught this whole scene by chance and the man’s story was backed up.

A burglar robbed a family’s home and accidentally locked himself in the garage while doing so.  The family was on vacation and arrived home a week later.  The burglar went to jail and once he was out, he filed a claim against the family for undue mental anguish- and won!  What did he win?  Half a million dollars.

While a family was on vacation, the young children buried their parents video camera in the sand so it wouldn’t get stolen while the family went swimming, but when they went to look for the camera they could not remember where they buried it.  The insurance company paid out.

A couple on vacation in Malaysia came back to their room to find that monkeys had scattered their clothing all over the surrounding rain forest and the insurance company was sympathetic.

A skier tried to claim the cost of her skis because when she arrived at her ski resort in the Alpines, there was little snow.  Unfortunately she did not receive a pay out.

Gene Simmons has his tongue insured for $1 million.

Bruce Springsteen’s voice is insured for $6 million.

Through Lloyd’s of London (famous for giving out the most ridiculous insurance policies) gave Ben Turpin a policy for his eyes.  He is famous for his crossed eyes and has them insured for $25,000 in case they ever become uncrossed.

Okay, David Beckham.  Everyone knows you are an exceptional football/ soccer player.  But insuring your legs and feet for $70 million might be overdoing it!

Phil Jeffries, the owner of the basset hound named Knightsfollie Ladiesman Jeffries, bought insurance for the pup at $47,800. The dog is is the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest ears, measuring in at 11.5 inches.

Brought to you by your Springfield insurance agency.

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Enjoy the festivities and GO MINUTEMEN!

Brought to you by your Hadley motorcycle insurance group.

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