The best defense in the NFL meets the best offense in the NFL this weekend for what is going to be nothing short of an electrifying, on the edge of your seat Superbowl game. The hype with surrounding whether or not Peyton can play in cold weather (which he proved to everyone he can when he led the Broncos to a 58-21 win over the Titans in 15 degree weather), is adding so much more to this game.
Create your own Supperbowl!
We have all seen them. The huge party platters in the shape of a football stadium. We have the recipe here for you.
Denver is on a mission. Last year, they were knocked out of the race for the Superbowl when the Ravens beat the Broncos in double overtime. This year, Peyton and Company’s offense boasts more points scored and yards gained than any other team. In the past, Denver has been to the Superbowl six times and have won twice.
Seattle is looking for retribution. The last time Pete Carroll led the Seahawks to the Superbowl was in 2005 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. At Ford Field, the Steelers beat the Seahawks 21-10. To this day, calls the referees made that day were nothing short of questionable and may have cost the Seahawks the game. This will be the second appearance for Seattle at the Superbowl.
The match up:
Content provided by Transformer Marketing, NFL.com and http://www.buzzfeed.com/emofly/how-to-build-a-snack-stadium?bffbfood
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“What’s the point?” I sometimes ask myself. It’s such an uncertain world out there. I mean, “It all looks so bleak. Why should I even bother to try to move forward in life or my career? Why should I try to improve my circumstances when I don’t think it will lead to anywhere? Why should I try anything in this crazy, uncertain, unpredictable and difficult environment?”
Over the last few years as I have worked through trying to deal with uncertainty of life, the unpredictability of a career, chaos at work and the complex nature of things, I have come to some realizations that have helped me to keep going and move forward in life.
For me, embrace the chaos means: to accept the uncertainty of life and move forward anyway! Take action despite not knowing how things will turn out. To stop over-thinking, stop over-analyzing, stop trying to predict. To go ahead, take action, move forward in life, move forward in a new career, take new action, start a new business, get into a new relationship and stop over thinking whether or not it will work.
But self-doubt arises in all of us. No matter how strong we might be, the question of WHY always comes up:
Why should I embrace the chaos? Here are my own reasons to get unstuck and move forward in life…
12 Reasons to Embrace the Chaos Next Year!
1. Accepting the chaos of life is better than trying to fight it
Life has always been in unpredictable and full of uncertainty. We just didn’t realize it. Accept it. Don’t fight it. Accepting the reality of our world today is the most important way to learn to live in it. Let go of your ego. Let go of trying to force order and perfection to an imperfect life full of ups and downs and uncertainty. Often, stress, anxiety and tension occurs when you fight hard to change something you cannot change. You can’t control the chaos. You can only change you… your thoughts and your actions. And that’s really good news… to focus on what you CAN control… you!
2. You cannot predict the future
Uncertainty about how things will turn out tomorrow holds a lot of us back from pursuing our life ambitions, relationships or business ideas. We waste so much time trying to make sure the path we take is the “right one,” when the reality is that there is no right path… just the one you’re on! No one knows what’s going to happen tomorrow. That’s a good thing in some respects because the walls around us are malleable and move constantly. You and I have just as good a shot as anyone at success and happiness. Stop trying to figure out the future and CREATE moments by working towards your purpose in the here and now. This moment right now is the only one you can be certain of.
3. You will feel better doing than not doing
Taking a step forward in any direction makes you feel like you have some level of control of your life. When you take action, you stop over thinking and get less anxious because in some sense, you are creating your own future in the here and now. You get a rush when you’re consumed with activity geared towards pursuing a goal, irrespective of how tough the goal. You feel like you’re in charge again because you are… of your thoughts and your actions. The positive energy generated by movement of hands and body in forward motion towards the pursuit of a higher purpose, a life-long trip, a business goal or to raise a child, is often what keeps us energetic, youthful and feel alive.
4. One thing always leads to another
Like a stone thrown into a pond of water, somehow one tiny little step forward puts in motion other pieces, rippling away, leading you to places, people and opportunities that you can never have imagined. You didn’t get to where you are right now by your perfectly laid out plans years ago. So many of us arrived where we are through the zig zag motion of life, through stepping stones that were laid out all over the place. Some of the greatest things in your life right now, came to you by chance, randomness and luck.
5. You will become a better person… faster, stronger, leaner and sharper
The mind is a muscle and like any muscle sometimes the mind needs resistance and tension to grow and develop as much as it needs nourishment and positive energy. Use the chaos of life to learn and develop. Adversity forces you to dig down deep inside to make you rediscover your inner strength or to fire synapsis in your brain that create new learnings. Moving forward in uncertainty forces the potential energy that is already within you to come out.
6. You are resilient and know how to adapt
You don’t know what real strength lies within unless you’re put in a situation that forces you to bring it out. You have an innate ability deep within to adapt and improvise to our new environment. You can handle it because your DNA has gone through a history of difficult times and has progressed ever since. As human beings, we have this awesome ability to persevere in really difficult times with nothing more than what you’ve been given: an able body and a strong mind. The resiliency inside all of is dormant but kicks in when you move forward in life.
7. You are meant for bigger things
Within each of us lies a potential for great things. Think about the possibility of becoming who you really want to become… a better parent, a more successful business person who creates jobs for many, a better spouse or partner or simply contribute more to society. This great person will never be realized unless you take steps to move forward in life and do something different… to accept the chaos and move forward anyway. All of us are meant to create positive impact to all those around us, in our own unique way.
Read the entire article here.
Content provided by http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-miglani/embrace-chaos_b_4433876.html
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Pricing for workers compensation insurance continued to harden in California during the first half of 2013, according to a report published Wednesday by SNL Financial L.C.
California’s 10 largest workers compensation insurers by premium volume, which account for roughly 60% of the state’s marketplace, increased their rates an average of 4.3% during the first half of the year, based on filings for new business effective between Jan. 1 and July 1, according to SNL Financial’s report.
Excluding a 7% decrease filed in March by the State Compensation Insurance Fund, which is the state’s largest workers comp insurer, the average rate increase among California’s market leaders through July 1 was 5.9%. Within that group, the largest rate increases belonged to American International Group Inc. and Liberty Mutual Holding Co. Inc., which submitted rate hikes of 10.0% and 10.9%, respectively.
Statewide, rates for new workers compensation accounts were at their highest in February, when insurers in California filed average rate increases of 9.8% on $1.1 billion in premiums written, according to SNL Financial’s report.
At least 20 insurers in California included in SNL Financial’s analysis filed rate increases of 15% or more for new business in the first half of the year. Seven firms — including units of Liberty Mutual, CNA Financial Corp. and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. — filed rate increases of 20% or more, while units of Hanover Insurance Group Inc. and American Financial Group Inc. filed rate increases in excess of 30%.
Few decreased rates
Only a handful of companies included in SNL Financial’s analysis reported rate decreases in the first half of 2013. Among them was Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange, Church Mutual Insurance Co. and units of Nationwide and Utica National Insurance Group.
California’s workers comp market has been particularly bothersome for Tower Group International Ltd., SNL Financial said in the report.
Tower Group cited market conditions in California, where roughly 44% of the company’s workers compensation premiums are written, as one key driver behind the $326.7 million reserve charge it reported in its second-quarter earnings statement. Several of the company’s operating units in March were granted rate hikes of 6.2% for new business in California, and one unit — Preserver Insurance Co. — filed a rate increase of 17.1%.
Read the entire article here.
Contact Scurich Insurance Services today at 831-722-3541 to find out how we can assist you with all of your business insurance needs including workers compensation.
Content provided by http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20131218/NEWS08/131219828?tags=%7C338%7C309%7C305%7C87%7C304%7C92
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Identity theft is moving a lighting speed. Credit scores get destroyed, bank accounts and investments get heisted, and people’s lives are ruined. And it’s so swift, it’s practically unnoticeable until you get to the bank.
Unfortunately, you may be giving the thieves everything they need to take everything you have. Here are a few tips that you can start doing today to protect yourself from identity theft.
- Log off all public computers. Using the public library’s computer is a good tool if you don’t have your own computer. But be cautious while you are using it. Make sure you log off from all of your programs and applications. Staying logged in may give the person who uses the computer after you, all the information they need.
- Change your passwords. Don’t write your passwords out for everyone to see. Keep your passwords in a safe location that only you know of. Every so often, change out your passwords. Hackers can get your information if you have a weak or the same password for everything.
- You fall for phishing scams. Phishing scams are commonly seen in your email. You receive a notification from your bank telling you that you have a problem with your account, and they need you to sign in. Don’t fall for it! Those are scams trying to get your information. You may also find emails that say you’re entitled to a large sum of money when some unknown relative in a distant country died and left you all of their fortune. If you don’t know this unknown relative, chances are they never existed, along with this large inheritance.
- Get that paper shredder out. Don’t just throw out papers with your personal information on it. Shred them.
- Shop on secured sites. Make sure when you do your online shopping the address starts with https://. Make sure your anti-virus program is up to date.
- Don’t give out information over the phone. If you get an unsolicited call from your bank or credit card company chances are, they are scammers.
- Hold on to your belongings. Keep your bag and your phone with you at all times. It may seem like a quick trip to the store and, “Why not? I’ll be out in a jiffy.” Problem is, it takes just a jiffy for thieves to break into your car and grab your belongings. It’s not worth it.
- Don’t text confidential information. Your phone can easily be hacked by hackers. Keep your confidential information off the phone.
- Don’t store your personal information on your computer. If your computer gets stolen, so does all of that information.
- Public WiFi. Don’t use public WiFi to do transactions. It’s never a good idea, your information is out there and ready for others to grab a hold of.
Keep your personal information safe and out of the hackers grasp.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
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Seven principles lay the foundation for effective wellness. The principles are think, breathe, drink, eat, sleep, exercise, detox and environmental. Within these principles are the keys to a well-balanced wellness program. Here are just ten tips to get you started.
- Pay attention to your thoughts. It’s real easy to get caught up in the negativity with this world today. Don’t let that happen to you. Stay positive. Positive thoughts include gratitude, forgiveness, courage, happiness and there’s so much more I haven’t even touched on.
- Learn to breathe. Breathing exercises have been proven to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, heart rate, circulation, digestion and many more!
- Drink lots of water. Water helps maintain the body’s fluid levels, helps control calories, energizes muscles, water helps your skin maintain a good look and many more! Water is essential to your overall healthy lifestyle.
- Get in touch with your spiritual side. Pray, meditate, and go for a walk in the labyrinth.
- Eat organically. Fresh fruit, vegetables, little starch and carbohydrates. Blueberries, beans, broccoli, oats, oranges, salmon, pumpkin, soy, spinach, tomatoes, turkey, walnuts, tea (green and black) and yogurt are just a few of the super foods. Olive oil is another favorite of mine. I use it exclusively for everything.
- Get plenty of sleep. Sleep helps improve your memory, sleep can help you live longer, spurs creativity, sharpens attention span and helps you maintain a healthy weight.
- Get out and move. Yoga is great for stretching the tired muscles, going for a brisk walk benefits your heart, running helps your relieve stress and even can eliminate depression, do a high impact cardio workout. Twenty minutes a day three days a week and you’ll be seeing a change in yourself.
- Get rid of all the junk. Throw out the processed macaroni and chesses boxes, pass by McDonald’s and see how differently your body will react. It’s a known fact that the fast and processed foods that we eat everyday drag us down. Get rid of it and feel more energized.
- Get away from it all. Go up the mountains and surround yourself with peace or go to the beach and soak up the sun. The concrete jungle is not going to cut it. Make a monthly effort to get away from it, even if it’s for a nice long day hike.
- Have fun. Anything and everything that you do, make sure that you have fun doing it.
Content provided by Transformer Marketing.
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“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.
- 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.
- 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.”
- 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 2nd pair for $1!” Needless to say, I took them on their offer. Finding deals like that means you can buy two gifts for one.
- Compare prices! There are several shopping apps that you can easily download and do comparison shopping before making any purchases.
- 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.
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The best defense in the NFL meets the best offense in the NFL this weekend for what is going to be nothing short of an electrifying, on the edge of your seat Superbowl game. The hype with surrounding whether or not Peyton can play in cold weather (which he proved to everyone he can when he led the Broncos to a 58-21 win over the Titans in 15 degree weather), is adding so much more to this game.
