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STICKING TO YOUR RESOLUTIONS TIPS FOR SUCCESS IN 2024
FIND AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER. Share your resolutions with a friend, family member, or colleague. Having someone to hold you accountable can help to ensure that when Jan. 12 (and later months throughout the year) rolls around, you are still on track and far from throwing in the towel. STAY POSITIVE. Maintain a positive attitude and mindset, and remind yourself why your goals are important to you. This mindset will help you persevere through the curveballs and challenges along the way. This New Year, let’s strive to defy National Quitters Day together. Remember, the journey to achieving your goals is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay positive and enlist the help of others! Here at Lewis AMFAM, we are committed to supporting you every step of the way. I look forward to the upcoming year with enthusiasm and optimism, knowing that with your trust, we can conquer any challenge that comes our way and help you protect your life, loved ones, home, vehicle, and assets. I wish you a joyful and prosperous holiday season and a New Year filled with success and fulfillment! —Travis Lewis DON’T FORGET! Life insurance protects those who count on you! Contact us at 309-512-7118 to receive our FREE parenting guide and life insurance resource.
As the holiday season descends upon us and the streets are flooded with lights, decorations, and cheer, we feel a sense of joy, togetherness, and a sense of renewal.
This time of the year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to
all of you. Your trust, loyalty, and unwavering support have been the cornerstone of our journey, and for this, I am grateful. 2024 is just around the corner, and now is when many of us reflect on the year we are wrapping up and plan for the year ahead. Resolutions are made with the best intentions, but sticking to them can be challenging. Did you know that Jan. 12 is widely recognized as National Quitters Day, when many people abandon New Year’s resolutions? But fear not! I have insights and tips to help you stay on track and accomplish your goals. SET REALISTIC GOALS. Start with achievable goals that are specific, measurable, and attainable, then break larger goals into smaller, manageable steps. CREATE A PLAN. Outline a clear and detailed plan for how you will achieve your goals. Having a road map in place makes it easier to stay focused and on track.
TRACK YOUR PROGRESS. Regularly monitor your progress by setting individual milestones. This can help you stay motivated while focusing on smaller, more readily achievable goals.
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Don’t Let Your Teen Get Scammed
A Guide to Safe Concert Ticket Purchases
Is your teen ecstatic to purchase concert tickets for the first time? While they may be ready to hand over their savings to get front-row seats to Olivia Rodrigo or Ariana Grande, they should be well-informed on how to safely purchase tickets. With digital tickets now being the primary format for stadium events, selling counterfeit tickets is easier than ever. According to the Better Business Bureau, reports of ticket scams have spiked from 13,168 to 16,762 from 2020 to 2022 alone. With top-selling music artists going on tour recently, including Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, scammers have taken advantage of younger, inexperienced ticket buyers. These online swindlers use social media like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to offer ticket deals that are too good to be true. SAFETY TIPS EVERY BUYER NEEDS TO FOLLOW While you may know the tried-and-true signs of an illegitimate listing or scammer, your teen may not. Meanwhile, even the most seasoned concertgoers receive impressively realistic (yet fake) tickets and show up at the venue just to be turned away. For everyone to stay safe, there are some essential rules you should follow when purchasing tickets online. • Always buy tickets from official websites and double-check that the URL is correct. Some scammers create look-alike sites to fool buyers. • If buying tickets from a resale site, ensure they are part of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB), which confirms they are legitimate.
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Never purchase tickets through an individual on social media or Craigslist. If buying from a person, only do so from someone you know, like a friend, coworker, or relative. Don’t buy tickets with peer- to-peer payment services such as Zelle, Venmo, or CashApp. If the purchase is a scam, these platforms don’t have buyer protection like credit cards. Make sure the section and seat number really exist at the venue.
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If you and your teen follow these tips, you can ensure they are safely spending their money and will actually see the show of their dreams!
Branded Country Wear — Your One-Stop Western Shop Discover Peoria’s Hidden Gem
If you haven’t checked out Branded Country Wear in Peoria, Illinois, you’re missing out. From country hats to boots and belts, this western store has it all. This quaint Western-themed shop was first started by a local couple, Seth and Stacey Landwehr. One day, Seth couldn’t find a brown felt cowboy hat anywhere local without turning to Amazon. Thus, Branded Country Wear was born and has been in business since May 2014. The shop was originally located in the Metro Center and carried a variety of Western apparel, boots, accessories, hats for men and women, children’s boots, and a limited selection of small home decor items. The current owner, Erin Bourscheidt, entered the picture in January 2017 and, a few years later, partnered with Seth and Stacey.
In March 2017, they relocated the shop to Sheridan Road and added new brands and styles to their inventory. The positive response from the community was overwhelming — by early 2020, the 1,200-square-foot space was bursting at the seams to keep up with the customer demand for more jeans, shirts, hats, and boots. In March 2020, just five days before all “nonessential” businesses were shut down due to COVID-19, Branded Country Wear moved next door (in the same building) to double their retail space and allow for more products. Although the months after this move were uncertain for everyone, the community continued to be supportive, placing online orders and lining up to shop the second everyone was allowed back out. They continued introducing new products and brands, and Branded Country Wear grew into what it is
today. Seth and Stacey stepped away from the business to focus on family and other careers, so Erin is now the sole owner. In August 2022, the shop expanded again, taking out a section of wall and adding back the space next door, which had been the shop’s first home when moving to Sheridan Road. Their inventory continues to grow, now including a HUGE selection of denim for the entire family, work and fashion apparel and boots, accessories, a vast selection of cowboy and fashion hats, a splash of home decor, and even merchandise from Fast Back Ropes. A friendly, knowledgeable staff and an adorable shop pup, Josie, add to the experience to make it one you won’t find anywhere else nearby. The store is open Monday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or online 24/7 at BrandedCountryWear.com .
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Unwrap the Magic
A Unique Holiday Gift Guide for Your Loved Ones
The holiday season is the perfect time to express your love and appreciation for the special people in your life. Choosing the right gift can be a great way to make their eyes sparkle with joy. This year, why not go the extra mile and explore a unique holiday gift guide that promises to leave your spouse, family, and loved ones in awe? PERSONALIZED FAMILY PORTRAIT Immortalize cherished memories with a custom family portrait. Whether it’s a traditional painting or a modern digital artwork, this gift celebrates your unique bond and creates a stunning piece of art to hang in your home. STAR MAP OF A SPECIAL DATE Create a personalized star map that displays the night sky as it appeared on a significant date in your life. This could be your wedding day,
It could be a hot air balloon ride; a spa day; or tickets to a concert, show, or sporting event your friend or loved one has been longing to attend. CUSTOM JEWELRY Jewelry isn’t only for the ladies! Personalized jewelry, such as a bracelet, chain, ring, or necklace, can be for anyone. Try a birthstone, name, initials, or a meaningful date to create a timeless and heartfelt gift. ADVENTURE-THEMED GIFTS For adventurers, consider gifts like a world map with pins to mark their travels, a camping hammock, or a high-quality backpack for their next journey. SUBSCRIPTION BOX Give the gift that keeps on giving with a subscription box tailored to their interests. Options are endless — gourmet food, book subscriptions, wellness and beauty, and even unique hobbies like gardening or woodworking. HOME-COOKED DINNER KIT Send your loved ones a kit with the ingredients needed to prepare a gourmet meal at home. Include a detailed recipe and make a date night out of it! Or you can gift “coupons” for a home-cooked meal … made by you!
the birth of a child, or the day you first met. It’s a beautiful way to commemorate a shared moment. EXPERIENCE-BASED GIFTS Instead of a physical
COACH’S CORNER
“The only way to prove that you’re a good sport is to lose.” -Ernie Banks “You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is real joy.” -Arthur Ashe “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather, a lack of will.” -Vince Lombardi “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose,
item, consider gifting an unforgettable experience.
Tasty Holiday Chocolate Mousse
INGREDIENTS
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10 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
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2 tbsp granulated sugar 1/2 cup heavy cream
4 tbsp butter
4 large eggs, separated
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DIRECTIONS 1. In a medium heatproof bowl, add
3. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Then gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. 4. In another bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form; fold egg whites and then cream into the chocolate mixture. 5. Pour into individual serving dishes and chill for 3 hours or until set.
chocolate and butter. Set the bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water and stir until chocolate and butter are melted and blended, then remove from heat and let cool slightly.
we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” -Vince Lombardi
2. In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks
until thick. Then gradually add melted chocolate mixture, stirring until blended.
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
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WHAT’S INSIDE?
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Resolutions Made Simple: Setting Achievable Goals for the New Year A Guide to Keeping Your Teen’s Concert Experience Scam-Free From Cowboy Hats to Decor — The Story of Country Wear Your Guide to Unique Gift-Giving This Holiday Season
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Coach’s Corner
Tasty Holiday Chocolate Mousse
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Discover the Most Enchanting Christmas Towns in the US
EXPLORE AMERICA’S MOST MAGICAL CHRISTMAS TOWNS From Snowy Villages to Year-Round Holiday Cheer
It may be too late for less spontaneous travelers to start planning a Christmas vacation. But that shouldn’t stop you from planning next year’s holiday journey! The good news is you don’t need to venture to another continent to find a Christmas wonderland. There are countless picture-perfect Christmas towns across the country. Make your next Christmas trip feel like a Hallmark movie at one of these festive towns!
Julefest. Pronounced “Yule-fest,” this month-long festival takes place every December and features picturesque events, including a ballerina-filled tree lighting ceremony, visits from Santa, culinary delights, traditional Danish celebrations, and much more! WOODSTOCK, VERMONT During Woodstock’s Wassail Weekend, you’ll find the town in peak Christmas mode, where you can experience parades, horse-drawn carriages, carolers, and the Billings Farm, a local favorite of the season. Stroll down Main Street to witness an idyllic Christmas spot filled with cozy small-town shops and restaurants. NORTH POLE, ALASKA If you ever feel like celebrating Christmas in the middle of summer, we know the perfect destination. North Pole, Alaska, offers Christmas decor and festivities year-round! Here, you can get up close and personal with Santa’s reindeer, meet the man himself, and enjoy the snow that covers the entire town. Be sure to check out their ice sculpture competition, which features artists from all over the world! Ready for the Christmas celebration of your dreams? Start planning your next holiday vacation at any of these destinations, and we promise your dreams will most definitely come true!
LEAVENWORTH, WASHINGTON Many have dubbed Leavenworth the most Christmas-centric in the U.S., and it’s easy to see
why. This Bavarian-style village experiences nearly 96 inches of snowfall every year, and they certainly don’t hold back when it comes to the holidays. The town lights up and decorates almost 21 miles, where you can find reindeer farms, carolers, gingerbread competitions, and Christmas markets. Every step of the way offers an Instagram-worthy photo opportunity! SOLVANG, CALIFORNIA A slice of Denmark right in sunny California, Solvang brings endless holiday cheer, especially with their annual
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