May today fill your heart with happiness and your house full of cheer. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

On this Christmas Eve, Western Mutual, Arizona Home and Residence Mutual would like to wish you and your family a healthy and festive holiday weekend.

Skip the chocolate bark this year and gift your loved ones a healthier treat that can be eaten all day long. This granola is specially designed to break apart into large clumps (so it’s easier to grab a handful as you pass by the jar, of course.)

• 1 large egg white
• 1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/3 cup chopped almonds
• 1/4 cup pepitas
• 1/4 cup flaxseeds
• 2 tablespoons fine or super-fine almond flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• Step 1: Preheat oven to 325°F. In a large bowl, whisk egg white until frothy; whisk in brown sugar, maple syrup, and oil. Add oats, coconut, almonds, pepitas, flaxseeds, almond flour, cinnamon, and salt; stir to combine.
• Step 2: Firmly press mixture evenly into bottom and all the way to edges of a parchment-lined 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet or pan.
• Step 3: Bake, rotating once, until golden and crisp, about 45 minutes. Let cool completely; break into pieces. Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week or freeze up to 3 months.

Today we enter the fourth and final season of the year as we have reached the winter solstice. While many have already experienced snow and frigid temperatures, the cold season is just starting. The Winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year.

Bundle up and Happy Winter!

With only a couple of weeks left in 2021, one might start planning how they will take on 2022 with some new year resolutions. Though it might seem cliché to make a list of ambitious goals, accomplishing even one is a major victory.

Challenges are what make life interesting but overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

With that being said, we hope you challenge yourself to accomplish even a small goal for the following year. We are all cheering you on, you got this!

We’ve officially made it to the last two weeks of the year, by now your strands of lights should be sparkling, tree dazzling and gifts wrapped. What was that? Your gifts are still in the box they were shipped in! Have no fear… Western Mutual is here.

Wrapping Christmas gifts could be a drag and staring at them for days at a time before addressing them only makes it more agonizing of a project to complete. The following tips will allow you to successfully tackle the gift list and wrap the presents like a pro.

1. Leave them in the box they were shipped in, yes you read that right. Open to confirm the gift was received correctly and intact but then seal it back up and wrap the box it came in.
2. If wrapping multiple small gifts, wrap them in tissue paper and place them in a large enough gift bag with some more tissue paper on top. Simplicity!
3. Look for the option on most retailer sites that’ll wrap the gift for you. Usually the option will say “this is a gift” or “gift” and your items will arrive ready to give.
4. Oddly shaped gifts are typically known for being put into bags but you can also recycle boxes from around your house and place items inside to then wrap.
5. When cutting wrapping paper, cut off more then you need. You can always trim away excess.
6. Use bows and ribbon to not only add pizazz to a gift but also to cover up any mistakes like rips in the paper or spots where the wrapping paper wasn’t enough to fully cover.

We hope these tips and tricks help you tackle those boxes that have been hiding in your room for days now! Happy wrapping and Merry Christmas!

Interested in saving money and insuring your home with a preferred insurance company? Look no further!

Visit us online to obtain a free 30 second quote and unlock some big savings. One of our experienced agents will contact you and help you switch and save. There is no commitment or contract!

Give is a call at 1-877-968-8825 or visit us online at http://www.westernmutual.com to obtain your quote today.

We offer coverage in California, Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico.

With our competitive rates, there’s no reason for waiting on getting that quote.

Talk to you soon.

The holiday season is here! Here are some safety tips for decking your halls with holiday decor.
When purchasing a tree, check for freshness and avoid purchasing dry brittle trees. A dry holiday tree can be extremely dangerous for a home fire, so check the water levels in your tree base daily, and make sure there is always water in it.
If you choose to purchase an artificial tree, make sure it is labeled “fire resistant”.
When placing your tree in the perfect spot, avoid areas where heat sources are felt, such as directly under a heater vent, near a space heater, or a fireplace.
Decorate with plastic or material base tree ornaments and low lying decor, especially if you have little ones or pets.
Avoid using lit candles for holiday home decor. Consider battery operated, flameless candles.
Check your outdoor lights each year for frayed wires or excessive use.
We hope these tips ensure that you will have a safe and festive holiday!

Western Mutual and Arizona Home insurance are excited to participate in this year’s Toys for Tots toy drive. Our staff members have been purchasing toys and gifts for infants, children and teens online all month long and the company will match their contributions.

Collecting millions of toys each year, Toys for Tots has helped underserved children and teens throughout the country since 1947.

This year donations will be done online at www.toysfortotsbox.com where we can all choose a small gift that we can pay forward. 2021 has been hard, let’s take this time to spread some holiday cheer!

The mortgage industry is going through a significant change. For mortgage origination professionals, it’s a struggle to keep on top of all the changes, and to keep your sales strategies and marketing initiatives at their peak. You need to keep your pipeline filled, and you need the tools and directions to stay profitable, efficient, and effective.

Because of the ever-changing landscape of the mortgage industry, Western Mutual is happy to announce that Originator Connect is bringing their show which has been hailed as the top gathering for mortgage pros to Irvine California!

Western Mutual would like to invite all mortgage professionals in and around Orange County to the annual mortgage expo being held at the Hilton across from John Wayne Airport. This event will take place on Thursday December 9, 2021 from 12PM to 4PM. Along with many other exhibitors, we will be there to show you industry trends and one of a kind programs that’ll make your loan process efficient and profitable. If you are interested, please visit: https://originatorconnect.eventsmart.com/events/california-mortgage-expo-irvine/       

You can also call our Affinity department for more information at 1-800-234-3659.

Now that we got your attention…before you grab your ladder and boxes of lights, review our list of do’s and don’ts for hanging holiday lighting strands safely. If installed incorrectly, your sparkling lights may lead to your electrical system being damaged or even cause a house fire.

DO:

Examine light before hanging: Throw away any holiday lighting sets with cracked or broken sockets, loose connections or frayed or bare wires. Replace burned-out bulbs promptly with bulbs of the same wattage.

Use appropriate lights for indicated areas: Each box of lights will indicate whether they’re meant for outdoor or indoor display.

Consider using LED over incandescent bulbs: LED lights are about 75 percent more efficient than conventional incandescent lights. This makes your electrical load more than seven times smaller, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

DON’T:

Power too many lights with the same outlet: Each standard circuit breaker is able to handle about 15 amps of current. However, when you add too many strings together, it is easy to overdraw power. This has the potential to cause some serious damage to your electrical wiring.

Never use staples, tacks or nails: They can damage the electrical wiring and cause frayed wires, which have the potential to shock or cause electrocution if mixed with water.

Connect LED and incandescent light strands: Simply because the power current that incandescent lights need is much larger of LED lights. So one connected to use the same current the LED string will burn out due to electrical overloaded.

We know strands of sparkling lights make your home feel merry and bright, especially on a gloomy December day but we implore you taking the recommended steps above to make it a safe and festive season.