Your kids are off for winter break, however you're not.  What are you going to do with the kiddos? What about taking them to the Winter Break Day Camp at Ramsay Park? The Ramsay Park Family Center is operating the day camp at Ramsay Park.  Children from 5-12 years old are welcome to attend, and we will have a ton of fun filled activities! We are open from 7:45 a.m.-6:00 p.m. January 6th-10th. You only need 3 days from 12:00-4:00?  We can do that too!  We also offer a variety of enrollment options to suit  your specific needs for child's daycare. Call PCS at 768-3240 today to find out more information. Content provided by Transformer Marketing.

 

 

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." - Burton Hillis, columnist and author” It all starts with Black Friday, Cyber Monday and spills over daily through Christmas Day.  Shoppers toughing out the crowds, beating down the doors to get the best prices they could get their hands on.  You spend your time and money (and sanity) to get everything on your loved ones’ list. But what happens after Christmas? The credit card statements start trickling in one by one.  All those wonderful things you had purchased for your family need to be paid in full.  You silently wonder, ‘Did I go overboard?’ and that little voice in your head says, ‘Nah, did you see their faces?’  And you go on about your day content that you had done the right thing. The excitements of those gadgets wear off before you have paid off your credit card.  This holiday season we have listed a few tips so that you don’t break your bank.

1. Cut up those credit cards.  You will be paying much more than the $18.99 you paid for that doll in the long run.  Use your debit card or plain hard cash.  You’ll save yourself the interest rate payment.
2. Budget…and stick to it!  You don’t have to go overboard.  Your wallet will feel better in the long run if you say to yourself, “I’m sticking to this budget.  Everyone will enjoy what they get.”
3. BOGO Combo Deals!  I just purchased a pair of much needed winter boots and then I saw the sign, “Buy 1 pair of shoes and get the 2^nd pair for $1!”   Needless to say, I took them on their offer.  Finding deals like that means you can buy two gifts for one.
4. Compare prices!  There are several shopping apps that you can easily download and do comparison shopping before making any purchases.
5. Nothing says LOVE like a homemade gift.   Get your creativity on and have some fun.  Knit those sweaters, bake that incredible dish, host a huge party, or design a beautiful portrait.  Your hard earned time means more to your loved ones than anything your hard earned money can buy.

This Christmas make sure that Santa’s bank is as satisfied as your loved ones are. Content provided by Transformer Marketing.

 

Jennifer's Gift Shop in San Jose boasted one of the two lucky winners of Tuesday's Mega Millions Jackpot which rose to $636 million.  Thuy Nguyen, owner of Jennifer's Gift Shop had a bright smile this week as his Christmas season started early.  In California, as the owner of the store which sold the winning lottery ticket will receive $1 million. The mystery winner is still unknown at this time.  California allows a full year for the winner to come forward. Gateway Newsstand, in Georgia, is the store selling the other winning ticket. Congratulations to the store owners and this year's newest millionaires!

 

Laughing appears to bring health benefits, but not always — for some, a fit of giggles can have serious consequences, according to a new study that reviewed the effects of laughter. The researchers reviewed studies on laughter published between 1946 and 2013. They found much evidence that laughing really is good for you. For example, laughing has been shown to improve blood-vessel function and reduce stiffness of the arteries, which is a risk factor for heart problems such as heart attacks. One study found that people who laugh easily have a reduced risk of coronary heart disease. Laughing may also be good for your waistline. A 2006 study suggested that 10 to 15 minutes of genuine laughter a day may burn up to 40 calories. Another study, published in 2011, found that laughing increases a person's tolerance to pain, which the authors suggest is due to the release of endorphins. But in rare cases, laughing can be risky, the review found. One woman with a condition that causes a hole in the heart experienced a stroke after laughing uproariously for three minutes, the researcher said. And some people have accidentally breathed in foreign objects while trying to catch their breath during laughter. Laughing can even dislocate the jaw, studies show. And just like a cough or a sneeze, laughter has the potential to spread infectious diseases, the researchers said. "Laughter is no joke," the researchers wrote today (Dec. 12) in a special Christmas issue of the British Medical Journal (BMJ) — a lighthearted edition of the journal that includes real research. While laughter carries a low risk of harm, "our review refutes the proposition that laughter can only be beneficial," said the researchers, from City Hospital Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Still, it remains to be seen whether "sick jokes make you ill, dry wit causes dehydration or jokes in bad taste [cause] dysgeusia (distortion of sense of taste)," the researchers joked. Content provided by http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/13/laughter-health-risks_n_4440214.html

 

The new U.S. farm bill is already a year behind schedule so what's one more month?  Negotiators said that the work for the legislation to cut food stamps for the poor and expand crop insurance for farmers won't be completed prior to Congress adjourning for the year.  This farm bill will cover topics from farm exports and food aid to crop subsidies. The delay is nothing new for the farm bill.  Since mid-2012 Congress has asked for massive cuts in the food stamp program.  The House is asking for the largest amount of cut with a $40 billion cut over the course of the next ten years.  The Senate is a little more liberal with a recommended cut of $4.5 billion. According to Insurance Journal, “We will be ready to vote in January,” Debbie Stabenow, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, told reporters." Many components of the farm bill are up in the air, including food stamps.

The Proposal

The new farm bill would spend some $500 billion over five years, three-quarters of it on food stamps. Specifically, the Insurance Journal reports, "Both chambers would trim spending on traditional farm subsidies, conservation programs and food stamps, while expanding outlays for crop insurance by up to 10 percent. One crop insurance proposal would assure grain and soybean growers of up to 90 percent of average revenue from a crop." Read the entire article here. Content provided by http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2013/12/11/313908.htm

 

This December 14th Second Saturday features a wide variety of old-fashioned holiday crafts for kids and adults, caroling, hayrides, hot cider and popcorn. Come hear carolers between 12pm – 2pm. Kids will be able to drive the tractor, pump water, and play with hoops at the Agricultural History Project. Our Gift Shop and Museum and all exhibit buildings will be open as well! Tractor driving and hayrides are available weather permitting. Activities for kids will be ongoing 11am – 3pm. String cranberries, popcorn, create paper chains, puppets, bird ornaments and all kinds of other fun decorations. Who:  Family How much:   FREE!

Happiness is not elusive.  In fact, it's pretty easy to attain.  Follow the steps below to happiness.

1. Take time to just breathe.  In this crazy world, we are trying cram 1,000 things into our lives.  The one thing we really need to do is take 15-20 minutes out of your day and just sit and meditate and breathe.
2. Sitting down all day.  It’s no secret that sitting down all the time isn’t healthy.  It restricts blood flow, doesn’t burn any or very little calories, and increases your chance of cardiovascular disease.
3. Be a social butterfly.  People with strong social connections tend to be much happier.  That’s what life is all about, so get connected.
4. Join a spiritual community.  Religion has played a huge role in a person’s happiness by offering a place to share their struggles and joys.   Not holding onto life’s stressors and giving them over to a higher power releases stress and anxiety.
5. Feed your creativity.  Take time out and paint a picture, write a story, enjoy an art museum, whatever feeds your creative soul.
6. Get outside!  Not getting fresh air can make a person grumpy.  Just ask any of the kids today that never leave their X-Box.  They are cramped, unhappy and need to get out and play.
7. Love your job or quit.  When you have a job that you love, you’ll be happier.  Considering you have to spend 8 hours of your day at your vocation.
8. The more the merrier!  Italians love to eat together and they know that eating together makes people happy.
9. Believe in yourself!  You deserve happiness, yes, it’s for you.  Believe that you are entitled to be happy.  Because you are entitled to have joy in your life.

So go on and choose to be happy! Content provided by Transformer Marketing.

Homeowners insurance coverage can be tricky.  Some claims that one would think would be considered in the original homeowners insurance policy, are not (i.e. earthquakes, floods, etc.).   Here are a few of the possible scenarios that are covered: 1. The sky is falling! Chicken Little was onto something there.  If meteors or UFO’s fall from the sky and crash into your house, your homeowners policy will have “open perils” policies to protect you from anything that isn’t specifically excluded.  Falling objects are included in the policy.  So if Marvin the Martian crashes into your home, theoretically, you are covered. 2. The volcano is going to blow! We love the “open perils,” policies.  Should Dante’s Peak destroys your house, aside from tremors or earthquakes, your homeowners policy should theoretically, cover your loss.  Including if your house gets swallowed in a lava flow. If you live in Hawaii, chances are you will also have a state-run volcano insurance coverage that you will need to look into. 3. It’s a Stampede! We are being invaded by goats and cows!  The cows just ran through home but the goats came and ate our sofa, gnawed on our furniture and well, destroyed everything. Your homeowners insurance can over stampeding animals, as long as the animals do not belong to you.  The animals must be wild and not domesticated. 4. Your loved ones tombstones. Tombstones are a reminder of the loved ones we once lost.  However, there are pranksters that will deface and defile tombstones, especially around Halloween. Your loved ones tombstones are covered by your homeowners insurance. 5. The truly frightful Some homeowners policies will cover certain costs related to a murder, suicide or an unattended death in your home.  Not all homeowners policies have this option, best bet is to get a policy review and make any necessary adjustments. Give us a call today for a complete homeowners policy review. Content provided by Transformer Marketing.

 

The Corralitos Festival of lights kick off Saturday, December 7th at 10:00 a.m.  It's a family-friendly fun filled day and the best part?  It's FREE! The Corralitos Festival of Lights will feature a country kitchen, a "Baked for Books" bake sale, live music, bounce house and a petting zoo!  From 3:00 pm-6:00 pm, we will be serving a tri-tip dinner and have Christmas caroling! So come on down for some family fun! Where:  Corralitos Convention Center Date & Time:  Dec. 7th starting at 10:00 am Cost:  FREE! Kids:  Yes!  This is a family-friendly event for all ages! Content provided by Transformer Marketing.