Five months after the coronavirus shut down the NBA season, the playoffs have finally arrived. Taking place in Bay Lake, Florida in what’s known as the NBA bubble, the NBA’s most prized award is up for grabs.

As one of the first sporting events to come back during this pandemic, the series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat is sure to be a highly viewed finale.

With an estimated 15 million fans watching the final game each year, let us know which team you think will take the trophy this year.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. As the leading cancer affecting women in this country, we would like to emphasize the importance of yearly screenings to find cancer in its early stages. Below are some facts about breast cancer and the incredible remission rate when caught early.

• 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime
• Every 2 minutes a women will be diagnosed with breast cancer
• 3.5 million have won the fight
• 99% survival rate when detected early in yearly screenings

Take action now and know there is hope, you aren’t alone.

As an attorney, Thurgood Marshall argued 32 cases before the Supreme Court and won 29. As the first black justice, he played a vital part to ending segregation during the Civil Rights Movement. And as a human, he was instrumental in shaping society as we know it today.

Marshall was sworn in to the nation’s highest court on this day in 1967 and we thank him for his service and lifetime commitment to our country.

When it’s been a long day, the weather outside is chilly, the family is gathered watching sports and you want an easy meal to make that everyone will enjoy, look no further!

A crowd favorite: Enchiladas, but with buffalo chicken and scallions.

Here’s how;

4 cups of shredded chicken

8 oz. room temperature cream cheese 

2 cups of shredded cheddar

3 Tbl. of melted butter

¼ Tsp. of cumin

1 bunch of scallions

1 bottle of buffalo sauce

12-16 corn tortillas

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and set aside a deep baking dish, preferably 9-by-13 inches

In a large bowl mix chicken, cream cheese, cheddar, half of the scallions, cumin, butter and 1 cup of buffalo sauce.

Heat tortillas and keep wrapped to maintain them soft.

Spoon a generous portion of chicken mixture down the middle of each tortilla and roll up. Place them side by side, seam side down. Pour remaining buffalo sauce over and top with more cheddar cheese and remaining scallions.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Enjoy!

Since Covid-19 made its appearance and stopped what we knew as normal back in March, we adjusted into becoming avid and expert online shoppers. This meant having everything delivered such as our groceries, gym equipment and even office supplies right to our front door.

Although it was convenient not having to leave the house and having everything brought to you, this in return created a steep increase in package thefts. And with the holiday season approaching, more packages means more opportunity.

Here are 3 simple ways we can avoid being victims of theft.

• Installing cameras and recording devices. Most smart home systems connect directly to your phone and enable 24-hour surveillance from wherever you’re located.
• Ask the delivery drivers to place your packages behind porch plants, under mats or in other hidden locations.
• Opt to have your items delivered to a locker where only you have access to retrieve the item.

Take the time to plan your orders and track them so that you don’t become the target of unwanted porch pirates. Happy shopping!

“Every Friday I like to high five myself for getting through another week on little more than caffeine, will power, and humor.” – Nanea Hoffman

Happy Friday!

With colder and more unpredictable weather on the way, we would like to take this time to help you prepare for a power outage with some safety tips.

It’s important that you take action as prolonged power outages can not only impact you but your community. They can disrupt communication channels, close retail stores, gas stations and banks. With no electricity your food could spoil and you could find yourself unable to use needed medical devices.

The following are steps to help you prepare now;

• Take an inventory of the items you need that rely on electricity and plan for batteries and other alternatives to meet your needs should the power go out.
• Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines. Find out how long medication can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any medications that are critical for life.
• Sign up for local alerts and warning systems. Monitor weather reports.
• Determine whether your home phone will work in a power outage and how long battery backup will last.
• Have enough nonperishable food and water to last a minimum of 3 days. Keep Ice bags in freezer so that you can keep perishable items in cooler or sink.
• Use a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so that you can know the temperature when the power is restored. Throw out food if the temperature is 40 degrees or higher.
• Keep mobile phones and other electric equipment charged and vehicle gas tanks full.

Cool mornings, hot drinks, cozy sweaters and spooky movies are tell-tale signs that fall is here. During this time of year we celebrate some of our favorite holidays and even gain an hour of sleep. From Halloween to Thanksgiving all the way up to the winter solstice, it’s easy to argue fall as your favorite season. What are some things you’re most looking forward to do this autumn?

On this day in 1947 the United States Air Force was established as one of the eight uniformed services, independent and equal to the Army and Navy. Serving as the aerial warfare branch, the USAF was created by President Truman when he signed the National Security Act demanding that a new form of defense be made. Since then it has become the 2^nd largest service branch with over 500,000 enlisted.

Also, fun fact about the air force…they serve as the official Santa tracker during Christmas Eve.

So to all the airmen, past, current and future, we thank you for your service.

Are you looking to save a few more dollars before the mayhem of Christmas shopping and black Friday deals? Well then, we have the solution for you and there’s no reason to wait.
Give us a call to get your new homeowners insurance quote and see how much you can save. Even if you have an existing policy that hasn’t expired or is in the middle of its term, you can simply cancel and get a refund. We would be more than happy to help you switch and save.

If you prefer to speak to a sales representative about getting a quote or on how to switch carriers mid-term, please call us at 877-WMUTUAL (877-968-8825), extension 5344. Available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST/PDT.