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FEBRUARY 2025 YOUR MEDICARE PLAN PRO
Life as a Girl Dad LESSONS, LOVE, AND CHEERLEADING SIDELINES
I never imagined having all girls, but here I am, a very proud dad to four amazing daughters. As a parent, I often find myself a little speechless trying to express how much I love my kids and all the lessons they have taught me. Parenthood changes everything from your hobbies to your entire perspective on life. It’s a big responsibility, and the love shared between parent and child differs from anything else; it’s unconditional and drives you to be your best self for them. March 16 is Absolutely Incredible Kid Day, and March 21 is National Teenager Day. As I think of my absolutely incredible daughters, I’m so grateful for them. So much of what I do is for them, to help them have the greatest lives. My parenting style has changed over the years. I was a bit hard-nosed initially; that was just how I was raised. My dad — one of the biggest positive influences in my life — was pretty strict himself, and I remember seeing his approach to parenting shift, too, when I was younger. I’m the oldest of my siblings, and I saw him move into a more laid-back approach with my younger siblings. You have to let your kids experience things independently, as much as you want to intervene sometimes. You have to keep loving them unconditionally and do your best to be an example for them as they grow. As a dad, you live for your kids in many ways, and I’m my daughters’ cheerleader. Our whole family is actually a cheer family. Two of my daughters, who are in high school now, are cheerleaders — following in the footsteps of their older sisters — with a busy schedule of practices, games, and national cheer competitions. They have been doing gymnastics and tumbling since they were little, so now is
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their time to really shine. My oldest daughter loved tumbling and cheer, too, but she excelled in softball. I was lucky enough to coach all my girls for middle school softball, which was a wonderful experience. As a family, we’ve always been active in our girls’ activities, and we try to go to as many football and basketball games and practices as possible to cheer them on. I’m a huge football fan, and I love what cheer brings to the table. Watching my daughters pour their
hearts into something they love and learn teamwork is one of my greatest joys. I’m incredibly proud of my daughters’ athletic accomplishments, and I’m in awe of how smart they are. They are great young women who are fun to be around, constantly popping off jokes. It’s incredible how witty my kids are; they never lack for words. I just love how inclusive and friendly they are to others. As much as I want to be a role model to my children, they inspire and teach me, too. They have a clear direction for what they want in life, with aspirations to be a hair stylist or a dental hygienist. None of this could have been possible without my wife. I give her so much credit for the great girls we have raised together. As I think about the fantastic young women my daughters have become, I’m thankful for every moment — from the late-night drives home from practice to watching them from the sidelines or just sitting around the dinner table together, sharing jokes. To my daughters, wife, and all the incredible kids out there, thank you for reminding us parents why we strive to be our best every day.
WORD SEARCH
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LINCOLN PIZZA ROSES SUPER BOWL VALENTINE WOMEN
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HOW TO ‘SHUFFLE’ YOUR WAY TO RESTFUL DREAMS Goodbye, Sleepless Nights
A good night’s rest is one of the keys to a healthy life, but if counting sheep isn’t working for you, a psychology-based sleep hack can help quiet your most intrusive thoughts. Cognitive shuffling is a technique that aims to disrupt your thought patterns by focusing on random words to help your mind relax. It’s like shuffling a deck of cards — rearranging all the ideas to quiet the noise so you can sleep. Get ready to finally catch some z’s with this clever strategy to take you into dreamland. Shuffle Off to Sleep To turn this trick into a sleep triumph, get into bed, turn off the lights, and try to relax. As you lie there, think of a non-emotional word, like “rest,” or a similar word around five letters long and doesn’t cause an emotional reaction. Now, think of three words that start with
the first letter of the word — like rain, road, and rosy. Repeat this for each letter until you finish the word you first chose. As you think about the words, spell them out slowly and visualize them. This practice resets your mind as you focus on something other than thoughts or feelings that keep you awake. Mind Movies
Another method of cognitive shuffling involves conjuring
word random, going with the first image that comes to mind. Cognitive shuffling gently nudges your brain away from worries and wandering thoughts that cause insomnia, easing you into a calm state. When you embrace random words and images that distract you from intrusive thoughts, you give yourself permission to get the rest you need. Sweet dreams are just a shuffle away!
different imagery in your mind to help you escape random thoughts or leftover anxieties from the day. As you lie in bed, think of random words like “cow” and imagine them. Create visuals in your mind so you can drift off to sleep. You can also use your heartbeat as your guide. Think of a non-emotional word like “horse,” and on each heartbeat, think of a word that starts with the first letter. The trick is to keep each
WINNER WINNER POTLUCK DINNER
Ingredients • 1 lb ground beef • Salt and pepper, to taste • 3 tbsp butter
• 1 cup finely chopped onion • 1 cup water • 2 cans (10-3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted • 1 can (5 oz) chow mein noodles, divided • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cups sliced, peeled potatoes • 2 cups finely chopped celery • 1 cup finely chopped carrots • 1/4 cup finely chopped green pepper
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook and crumble beef until no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper and set aside. 2. In the same skillet, add butter and sauté potatoes, celery, carrots, green pepper, and onion for about 5 minutes. Add water, cover, and simmer for 4–5 minutes. Stir in soup and beef until well incorporated. 3. Sprinkle half the chow mein noodles into a greased, shallow 2-qt baking dish, and spoon meat mixture over noodles. Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Top with cheese and remaining noodles. Bake, uncovered, another 10 minutes or until heated through.
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Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
YOUR MEDICARE PLAN PRO 3521 E. Brown Rd., Suite 101 • Mesa, AZ 85213 MedicareInsuranceAZ.com • 480-442-9498
Jesse Goodman
Stephanie Marino
INSIDE
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A Tribute to My Daughters and Every Amazing Teen The Sleep Hack Your Brain Will Love Winner Winner Potluck Dinner
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Fun Ways to Plan Your Weekly Menu!
Tips to Level Up Your Home Cooking! BREAK FREE FROM BORING
Do you regularly make meals for yourself or your family? Have you ever struggled to decide what to make? Are you tired of your regular menu of recipes and dishes? If you answered yes to these questions, know that you’re not alone. Many individuals grow tired of cooking the same dishes, especially if they get on a routine of making the same five dinners every week. However, you don’t need to feel this way. Trying something new in the kitchen is easier than ever! Here are two ways to revitalize your passion for cooking while discovering new recipes. Get out of your comfort zone. How many different cultures do you know recipes from? You are probably familiar with Italian, Mexican, and even some Chinese dishes, but how often do you explore dishes from cultures you know
little about? Trying out recipes from new cultures can be incredibly fun. However, it can be challenging to know where to start. Simply pick a country with a cuisine that interests you and Google what they eat for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You’ll receive a few different options to choose from. Want to get even more adventurous? Consider combining ideas from multiple cuisines to
create a unique fusion dish! Deviate from the recipe.
Many amateur cooks follow each recipe without missing a step. However, if you’re making the same things every week, these recipes can grow stale quickly. Instead of trying to find something brand-new to make, consider swapping out ingredients. Change out the spices, sides, or even the proteins to create something entirely new and delicious.
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