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Tivoli Fest Graphic

Tivoli Fest – May 24-26

By Everyday Living

Food, Live Music, a 5K and Fun Run, Bike Ride,  Viking Encampment, Parade, Danish Folk Dancing and more!  The 40th Annual Tivoli Fest is taking place Memorial Day weekend and we are looking forward to attending this fun event in Elk Horn.  New this year is the Tivoli Team Trivia challenge, where you can test your Danish and American knowledge in teams of four.  

Which food do you like most?  The smorrebrod, medisterpolse, or aebleskiver?  That’s open-faced sandwiches, sausage and spherical pancakes.  Why not enjoy all three?

In addition to the great food and live music, you can also tour local sites and shops in our community like the Danish Windmill, Bedstemor’s House and the Museum of Danish America.

Did you know that proceeds from Tivoli Fest will go towards “Kids in the Village”?  Kids in the Village formed in 2018 for the purpose of offering child care services to working parents in the Elk Horn and Kimballton areas.  

A full schedule of events can be found on the Danish Village’s website here.  We hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and make it out to the Tivoli Fest!

BBQ Month

May is National BBQ Month

By Everyday Living, Safety & Maintenance Tips

National BBQ Month is here! It’s time to clean off the grill, grab your favorite apron, and get your grill on. This is the month where the kitchen gets a break, the house can cool off and everyone can enjoy the nice weather outdoors while smelling some delicious food on the grill.

Before firing up your gas or charcoal grill, keep in mind a few grilling safety tips from the NFPA:

  • Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.
  • The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
  • Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.
  • Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
  • Never leave your grill unattended.
  • Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.

Having a cookout is a great way to celebrate the beginning of summer with friends and family. May your National BBQ Month start with some delicious BBQ on the grill.  In addition, always remember safety first!

spring cleaning graphic

Spring Home Inventory

By Everyday Living, Insurance

Have you begun the much-anticipated spring-cleaning? The winter holidays are over and your house could probably use a fresh start. As you weed through the nooks and crannies and dig out outdated items that could probably stand to be donated by now, you may just feel a weight you didn’t know was there start to lift off of your shoulders. The sun is starting to come through the windows and you need to make some space. You don’t necessarily have to rid your household of everything that doesn’t bring you joy, but maybe consider tossing the items that no longer function. If you are able to part with items, do so, and do it before you change your mind. If you’ve bought new furniture, donate the old furniture so someone else can enjoy endless movies nights with your pre-worn in the already loved couch. Once you’ve purged your house and renewed for the spring you’ll feel like a brand new you.

Do you know what you should do after a renewal; after you’ve just regrouped your entire house and switched up the contents a little? Can you guess?

That’s right!

You should update your home inventory! An up-to-date home inventory is vital in the event a major claim occurs. After the holidays, your household has probably acquired a few new things and you’ve probably just gotten rid of a few items. Updating in the spring is usually the easiest because it involves mostly removing items and maybe adding only one or two. Either way, you should definitely review your inventory and update as necessary, just in case.  Happy spring cleaning and get to that home inventory today!

Love Your Pet Day Graphic

Love Your Pet Day

By Everyday Living

Today is National Love Your Pet Day, as if we don’t love our pets most other days of the year, except that one day (you know what they did). Regardless of the tough days, most days with pets are full of snuggles, fetch, fun, and love. Today we get to love our pets a little extra and show them just how much we care by giving them extra treats or buying a new toy.

There are tons of ways to show your pet you care. Even if you don’t have a pet, you can visit a shelter and spend some time with those animals so that they can be a pet for a day. Take them for walks or donate food or treats to help out the shelter.

Do you have a dog?  If so, this next insurance related tip is for you.  You can help your dog reduce the risk of biting someone with these recommendations from the ASPCA website, like spaying or neutering your dog, socializing your dog, taking your dog to humane, reward-based training classes and making your dog a part of the family.

No matter what type of pet you have, we hope you enjoy this special day together!

Holiday Baking Time

Holiday Baking Time is Here

By Everyday Living

Ahh, December.  This is the month of holiday baking and what fun it is to have that special fresh baked cookie scent throughout your home. Yes, there are candles that try to replicate that bakery smell, but there is nothing like making cookies in your kitchen for the holidays.  

What are your favorite holiday cookies?  Frosted sugar cookies? The peanut butter blossoms with a Hershey Kiss in the middle?  Crescent-shaped cookies shaken in powdered sugar once they are cooled off?

What about other baked goods besides cookies?  Fudge perhaps. Or Oreo Cookie balls? Simple things like dipped pretzels are fun to do as well.  

No matter what you bake (or make) in the kitchen this holiday season, we hope your time is filled with not only that wonderful cookie smell, but also filled with good memories too.  Whether you are baking with loved ones or gifting your holiday baked goods to others, it’s those memories that are such fun to reflect back on this time of year.