Although Tracie was born in Ontario, OR, she doesn’t remember much of it because she moved to the Tri-Cities area in WA when she was just three. She has fond memories of those first few years when her little family was living with her grandmother. When she turned eight, her mother remarried, and their family moved to the Kennewick area. …
Four Benefits of Incorporating Your Business
What does it mean to “incorporate” your business? Answer: You can incorporate your business by forming a separate legal entity, typically a corporation or limited liability company, through your State. If you are already conducting business when you incorporate, then you are converting either your sole proprietorship (if you are doing business alone) or your partnership (if you are doing …
Keep Your Car and Home Safe from Thieves During the Holidays
Christmas is the season for giving, but in the insurance world, we see that unfortunately, it is also sometimes the season for taking. On the bright side, there are a few things you can do to prevent thieves from targeting you, your car, and your home. Prevention Tips for Your Car: Do not leave gifts and valuables in your car, …
Martha Washington Candy
Ingredients 1 cup butter, softened 4 cups confectioners’ sugar 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 cups sweetened shredded coconut 2 cups chopped pecans, toasted 6 cups semisweet chocolate chips 1/4 cup shortening Directions In a large bowl, beat butter, confectioners’ sugar, milk and vanilla until blended. Stir in coconut and pecans. Divide dough in …
Marinated Beef Tenderloin
Ingredients 1 beef tenderloin (3 pounds; preferably center-cut), silver skin trimmed 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce Juice of 1 lemon 2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic 2 teaspoons coarse salt 2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper 1 teaspoon safflower oil 1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened, divided Directions Place beef in a resealable plastic bag. Whisk together Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, …
Gourmet Sweet Potato Classic
Ingredients 5 sweet potatoes ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ cup butter 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ cup white sugar 2 tablespoons heavy cream ¼ cup butter, softened 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour ¾ cup packed light brown sugar ½ cup chopped pecans Directions Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease …
Big Soft Ginger Cookies
Ingredients 3/4 cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 large egg, room temperature 1/4 cup molasses 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon salt Additional sugar Directions In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and molasses. Combine …
2021 Halloween Spooktacular Costume Contest
Ghouls, goblins, and all things that go bump in the night! At The Insurance Store, we had a spooktacular competition of fabulous, scary, creative, and funny costumes. Who would take the prize? As it turns out, Fast Food Junkies, consisting of Jack-in-the-Box, Wendy’s, McDonalds, Chick-Fil-A, and Burger King, heading to In N Out for a burger was too funny and …
Client of the Month: ABC Child Care Center
In 1991, Malinda Margiotta recognized the need for major changes in the way children were cared for in the US, and she rose to the challenge. She designed and built a state-of-the-art facility, compiled a staff of quality professionals led by a fabulous management team, and ABC Childcare Center was born. Ms. Malinda built a lasting legacy in the childcare …
What is so Important About Employee Benefits?
Employee benefits are common in most businesses, but why is that so? I suspect a lot of employees are looking for more than just taxable income. If you have a small business and a tight budget, you might ask yourself if employee benefits are worth the cost and hassle. In a one-word answer to the question – yes, benefits do …
Staff Spotlight: Kate Maavich
Growing up as a Navy brat had many positive effects on Kate Maavich. After making her grand entrance as the very last baby born in the Groton, Connecticut Naval Hospital before it was decommissioned, she began making her mark on all who knew her. She, along with her sister Kim, spent most of their young childhood in New England; however, …
Client of the Month: Orizon Trucking
Josh Sardina is the proud owner of Orizon Trucking based out of San Diego, CA. Josh was born into a racing family, so the love of cars started early. He has driven everything from a go-kart, limo, bus, motorcycle, and a semi. The family joke is that Josh is always on the road whether he is working, driving with the …
Pumpkin Cake Recipe
Ingredients 1 can (15 ounces) or 1-3/4 cups solid-packed pumpkin 1 and 1/2 cups white granulated sugar 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed 4 large eggs 1 cup vegetable oil 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose white flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon …
Cauliflower Soup Recipe
Ingredients 1 medium head cauliflower, broken into florets 1 medium carrot, shredded 1/4 cup chopped celery 2-1/2 cups water 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon or 1 vegetable bouillon cube 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper 2 cups 2% milk 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 to 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, optional Directions In …
Michelle’s Place Charity Event
In October, The Insurance Store participated in our “Friday, We Wear Pink Events” to support the ongoing effort of those seeking help at Michelle’s Place. As a company, we donated $5 to the foundation for each staff member who participated by wearing pink. Bringing awareness to those struggling with diseases such as breast cancer is a small act of service …
How do I understand the declarations page of my insurance policy?
One of the most important pages in any insurance policy is commonly referred to as the “declarations page” (or “dec page” for short). There is not always just one, so your “dec page” may actually have multiple pages. Within these key pages, you will find critical information that will let you know if your policy has been written properly and …