http://www.insurancefast.com/blog/View Gilmore Insurance and Bonding's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.insurancefast.comInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:bf9c84ae-b19e-4f60-a66c-b6b9926daa24urn:uuid:68bc2125-2461-445e-b10c-0a1a551be2dcIf you've clicked onto any news channel or website today, chances are you're aware the Republican Party&nbsp;officially took control of the House today and that they are out for blood when it comes to health care reform. There is much speculation abo...Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:13:01 -0600If you've clicked onto any news channel or website today, chances are you're aware the Republican Party&nbsp;officially took control of the House today and that they are out for blood when it comes to health care reform. There is much speculation about whether they will or will not be able to repel the law with a Democratic Senate, President Obama in the White House,&nbsp;the cost, etc.&nbsp;What's funny about all the news channels and websites today&nbsp;is that, for the amount of coverage the health care reform act is getting from them, no one is actually explaining what it is!<br /> <br /> The majority of the reform act&nbsp;kicks into effect in 2014, but did you know some really cool reforms went into practice on Jan. 1? I didn't and the more I&nbsp;researched to find out what they were, the more confused I became...and I'm a life and health insurance agent! No matter how you feel about the new law, it is a law so we might as well understand it as best we can, right? <br /> <br /> After some world class Googling, I'm going to attempt to breakdown a few of the changes for you:<br /> <br /> <strong>1.) There's no hiding nutrition<br /> </strong>As of March 23, 2011 all restaurants with more than 20 locations will be required to post calorie counts and nutritional facts about all of their food and beverages <em>on the menu</em>. The FDA still needs to give the final ruling about how this is to be implemented, but as someone who has a serious love of french fries (and who needs to stop turning a blind eye!), I'm in favor of this part of the reform and so is my scale!<br /> <br /> <strong>2.) Rebates? Priceless<br /> </strong>Health insurance providers will now be required to spend a minimum amount of the premiums collected on actual health care for their customers. This means they can no longer justify keeping all your dutifully paid premiums with "administration fees". For large group plans, 85% of the premiums collected must be spent on actual health care and 80% for smaller group plans. According to PBS, the government estimates that up to 9 million (MILLION!) people could be eligible for rebates.<br /> <br /> <strong>3.) Flex Spending is not so Flexible <br /> </strong>Flexible spending accounts turned Walgreens and CVS into a playground, especially if it was strictly employer funded, but as of January 1, 2011, this is no longer the case. While you could once use these accounts for Kleenex, Nyquil and other over-the-counter cold and flu season supplies, you can now only use a FSA account for items prescribed for you by a doctor.&nbsp;You can, however, still use it to cover deductibles and co-pays. <br /> <br /> These are just a few of the changes that took place January 1, 2011. Other changes include that children can now remain on a parent's health insurance until the age of 26 and a bonus program for&nbsp;Medicare providers was also put into place. As I said before, finding concise, easy to understand information on this subject was no easy task. If you'd like to read the original articles referenced in this blog, click <a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/01/health-care-reform-in-2011-what-to-watch.html#" target="_blank">here </a>for PBS.org and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.latimes.com/features/os-pg-2011-health-care-changes,0,5775445.photogallery" target="_blank">here</a> for an article featured in the LA Times.<br /> <br /> The majority of the changes affect Medicare recipients. If you are currently on Medicare and have questions about your coverage, contact your provider. Medicare, with it's supplements and coverage options, can be different for everyone and you should seek advice from the professional who knows your situation and plan options the best.<br /> <br />urn:uuid:863b1adc-55ba-474e-a31f-a60648b43ab0As those of you who regularly follow the blog know, I was in a car accident back in September. While I walked away fine, my 12 year old, payment-free love, the 1998 Toyota, did not. Anyway, I have been driving my new car, the 2010&nbsp;Honda, for abo...Tue, 04 Jan 2011 11:41:00 -0600As those of you who regularly follow the blog know, I was in a car accident back in September. While I walked away fine, my 12 year old, payment-free love, the 1998 Toyota, did not. Anyway, I have been driving my new car, the 2010&nbsp;Honda, for about 2 months now. I'm in love with her but, I swear, I just got my mirrors perfectly adjusted about&nbsp;2 days ago. What&nbsp;a process! I went from driving a low to the ground sedan to a giant SUV and could not find the perfect spot! Everyone has a different opinion on how you "properly" adjust your mirrors too, so I wondered, what actually is the proper way?&nbsp; Then PJ, one of personal lines CSRs, shared with me this great <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwzUE6PHk4U" target="_blank">video</a>. Check it out and make sure your mirrors are&nbsp;positioned juuuuuuuuust right! It worked like a charm and I haven't had to touch my mirrors since!urn:uuid:e4105f83-a5b6-4792-b50d-8fbc8e82c977Happy Wednesday! First, let me apologize for a bit of an absence. It is Christmas which, inevitably, means Christmas cards and I have been hard at work on them! Look out for them in your mailbox soon. So, this recipe comes to you a bit early in the ...Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:26:57 -0600Happy Wednesday! First, let me apologize for a bit of an absence. It is Christmas which, inevitably, means Christmas cards and I have been hard at work on them! Look out for them in your mailbox soon.<br /> <br /> So, this recipe comes to you a bit early in the week, but, if you're like me, you're in prime Christmas baking prep mode. I've got my list of the Christmas regulars, the items requested year after year but have been looking for some different things to spice things up for myself (and my Mom, Chief of the Christmas baking). I am not a big sweets person, so I like to look for a few salty-sweet items to add to the list. This year I think it will be cheese straws and <a href=" http://www.lanascooking.com/2010/01/11/toffee-bars-a-k-a-redneck-toffee/" target="_blank">redneck toffee</a>!<br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:<br /> </strong>35 saltine crackers<br /> 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter<br /> 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar<br /> 8 oz. bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips<br /> 1 cup chopped, toasted pecans<br /> <br /> <strong>What to do:<br /> </strong>Place the pecans on a small baking sheet and toast for 5 minutes at 350 degrees. For the toffee, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and place the crackers in a single layer on a baking sheet. Cook brown sugar and butter in a saucepan over medium heat until the butter melts and the mixture comes to a rapid boil. Pour evenly over crackers. Use a wooden spoon to spread the mixture, if needed. Bake for 5 minutes. Immediately cover with chocolate chips and place back in the over for 1 minute to soften. Remove, use wooden spoon to spread chocolate over crackers and sprinkle with nuts. Once cool, break into pieces. Yum!<br /> <br /> The original recipe is provided by the link above and contains step-by-step instructions, with pictures, if you need any clarification. Oh, and if anyone has a great cheese straw recipe, or if you need anything else from Gilmore Insurance &amp; Bonding, send me an email at <a href="mailto:info@insurancefast.com">info@insurancefast.com</a>!urn:uuid:14286d26-ee32-4788-830d-3496cc75b221<img src='http://www.auto-owners.com/logo/AOLogo.png' align='left' />&nbsp; &nbsp; As the marketing director for Gilmore Insurance &amp; Bonding, I, obviously, create and distribute a lot of advertisements and marketing material. One company I am always sure to include in these ads is Auto-Owners Insurance, right n...Wed, 01 Dec 2010 10:18:26 -0600<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.auto-owners.com/welcome.aspx?ac=22035700" target="_blank">&nbsp;<br /> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="border: 0px solid;" alt="Auto-Owners Insurance" src="http://www.auto-owners.com/logo/AOLogo.png" /></p> </a></p> <p style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;<br /> <br /> As the marketing director for Gilmore Insurance &amp; Bonding, I, obviously, create and distribute a lot of advertisements and marketing material. One company I am always sure to include in these ads is Auto-Owners Insurance, right next to the logos for Nationwide and Progressive. And the top question I always hear from consumers is "What's Auto-Owners? Car insurance, right?".<br /> <br /> Yes and no. Like Nationwide and Progressive, Auto-Owners is a terrific&nbsp;car insurance provider, but they also provide great life and business insurance in the state&nbsp;of Florida. They have an A.M. Bests Company rating of A++ (Superior) and have received the J.D. Power &amp; Associates award for Highest Customer Satisfaction&nbsp;with the Auto Insurance Claims Experience three years in a row. They also boast a top 50 ranking in Ward Financial Group's list among insurance companies for outstanding finanical results, in addition to being a Fortune 500 company.<br /> <br /> Auto-Owners began writing insurance in 1916 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. They expanded to other states in 1935 and opened shop in Florida in the 1950's. Gilmore Insurance &amp; Bonding began writing business with them during&nbsp;2003 and they have been a top&nbsp;carrier for us ever since. While I don't write auto or business insurance for the office, I am the Mary Esther locations go-to girl for life insurance. Auto-Owners provides every type of life insurance someone could want, with complete coverage and extremely competitive prices. According to our CSR's in auto and business, they are hard to beat in those arenas as well. Their service, products and pricing are always a top option for our customers.<br /> <br /> This is the end of my little introduction to Auto-Owners Insurance. They really are such a great company, both to it's customers and it's independent agents, that I didn't think it was fair to be hearing "What's Auto-Owners?" on a weekly basis. At Gilmore Insurance &amp; Bonding, we have the pleasure of representing 3 top insurance companies: Nationwide, Progressive and Auto-Owners among many other great providers, and we want our customers to know we represent companies that will provide them great price <em>and </em>service.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.insurancefast.com/contact.aspx" target="_blank">Call us </a>today to learn more about this great company, or any of our other wonderful providers. Information and quotes are always free. Let us see what we can do for you!</p>urn:uuid:5b9544cc-bdf0-4f0c-a0e7-52dc3cf218e9Happy National Sandwich day! It has been a few weeks since I posted a recipe blog but I was feeling a little uninspired in the cooking department and nothing I have made lately has been up to blog level. Anywho, today is national sandwich day and san...Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:02:12 -0500Happy National Sandwich day! It has been a few weeks since I posted a recipe blog but I was feeling a little uninspired in the cooking department and nothing I have made lately has been up to blog level. Anywho, today is national sandwich day and sandwiches are a staple in my household. We even go so far as to have a weekly "Sandwich Night", I kid you not, for optimal comfort during Survivor. The best part of that night? No one has to clean.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;So, as you can probably imagine, a LOT of new bread, meat and cheese combos get tried in my house. One of my family's latest, and definitely greatest, sandwich discoveries is the Pepperoncini Roast Beef sandwich. It's super simple, cost effective and the leftovers get better every day!<br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:<br /> </strong>3 pound beef chuck roast <br /> 4 cloves garlic, sliced <br /> 16 ounce jar pepperoncini's (substitute banana peppers for a milder taste)<br /> Hoagie rolls<br /> Provolone cheese, sliced<br /> Mayo, if desired<br /> <br /> <strong>What to do:<br /> </strong>Here's the greatest part of this recipe: all you have to do is throw the roast, pepperoncini's (with liquid!)&nbsp;and garlic in the crock pot before work. Cook on low for six to eight hours or until done. When you're ready to eat, drain the juice and chop up roast with the pepperoncini's. Pile the meat on a hoagie roll, with that mayo and cheese if you'd like, and toast in the oven. DELICIOUS!<br /> <br /> As always, I hope you're having a wonderful week and Happy Sandwich Day!urn:uuid:b1453591-0aad-4d93-ae3d-ec27325b02eeDuring my daily scan of the day's latest and greatest insurance news I ran across the grand opening of a very cool research center. We all have so much trouble finding affordable home insurance because we live in Florida and Florida has hurricanes. T...Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:08:50 -0500During my daily scan of the day's latest and greatest insurance news I ran across the grand opening of a very cool <a href="http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2010/10/20/114204.htm" target="_blank">research center</a>. We all have so much trouble finding affordable home insurance because we live in Florida and Florida has hurricanes. This is not news, but while a lot of companies are making excuses about the weather, I wondered if anyone was really researching ways to solve the problem. Now, obviously, we can't create some huge machine to blow hurricanes back to where they came from but we can build better houses. That's where the research facility comes in.<br /> <br /> The facility, operated in North Carolina by The Institute for Business &amp; Home Safety, built two homes. These homes appeared identical but one was built by today's regular construction standards while the other was built&nbsp;with the institute's recommended fortifications. They subjected both homes to the standard coastal wind conditions of a strong category three hurricane. Guess which one was flattened and which one escaped with scant damage? The institute is also working on improvements that will resist hail and wind-driven fire and water. <br /> <br /> This is great news for those of us struggling with home insurance payments or, for that matter, finding a company that will insure our homes at all. The future looks a little brighter. But while we all wait to when the lottery so we can afford to build or buy these Super Homes, I will also share a few money saving tips from the Personal Lines Girls. These are things you can do in the long-term to save money where you can.<br /> <br /> 1) <strong>Make your home more disaster resistent<br /> </strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes, even without the institute's new fortifications there may be things you can do to improve&nbsp;your home and lower insurance costs. This is especially true for older homes that haven't seen many modern improvements. Call your agent to find out what improvements will get the most bang for your buck.<br /> <br /> 2) <strong>What you paid for your house is not associated with rebuilding it<br /> </strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When you initially purchased your home you also paid for the land it sits on. The land is not at risk for theft, windstorm, fire, etc so if you include the land value when deciding how much home insurance to buy, you could be paying too much in premiums.<br /> <br /> 3) <strong>Bundle where you can<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>Ok, so the ever-present bundling system does not really apply to homeowners. Companies insuring homes these days are not really insuring much else you need. However, you probably have car, health, life, boat, etc etc insurance, right? Talk to your agent about placing those policies with one company. Many offer a multiline discount, usually in the neighborhood of 5%. That kind of savings won't make you a millionaire, but if your homeowners shoots up the discount might, at the very least, keep your budget steady!urn:uuid:481a1ea8-8315-4cb9-90ef-5cbc9302e40cThis morning I was on&nbsp;twitter sending out my usual morning updates when I caught myself using a dreaded industry-specific term. Every job comes with it's own lingo, most of which is all easily recognizable to some degree to the layman. With insu...Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:09:00 -0500This morning I was on&nbsp;<a href="http://twitter.com/GilmoreIns" target="_blank">twitter</a> sending out my usual morning updates when I caught myself using a dreaded industry-specific term. Every job comes with it's own lingo, most of which is all easily recognizable to some degree to the layman. With insurance, however, not understanding what your CSR (Customer Service Representative) or Agent is telling you can cost you money and probably a lot of your time. I took a poll in the personal lines department and these are just a sample of the most misunderstood&nbsp;insurance terms they hear:<br /> <strong><br /> Binding Restriction:</strong> If you happen to be shopping your homeowners insurance during Hurricane season, you will want to know this. When any part of the state, even that last little Key way down at the bottom, goes under any kind of tropical warning, insurance companies stop issuing all new policies and coverage cannot be increased. Don't wait until a storm threatens to check your coverage or pay up on any lapses!<br /> <br /> <strong>AOR:</strong> This stands for Agent of Record. If an agent tells you they are going to 'AOR' your policy over to&nbsp;them&nbsp;in promise to get you a better deal or change your coverage, beware. All an AOR will do is move your policy from your current agent to a new agent. It does not automatically change any coverage or premiums, as can be a common sales ploy. If you are happy with your current agent and agency, don't let anyone offer to AOR your policy. If the company offering to do so is trying to sell you a better deal, call your current agent and check it out first. They can probably do the same thing and with less paperwork.<br /> <br /> <strong>Wind coverage:</strong> Most people think of wind coverage as hurricane insurance. While it will cover you in the event of a hurricane, it is not strictly limited to these storms. For example, if there is a freak wind storm with 80 mph winds in&nbsp;March, completely unrelated to any major system, and a tree is&nbsp;blown onto your house, your standard homeowners coverage may not repair the damage. If you have a yard full of large trees close to your home, or any other wind related hazard, talk to your agent about adding wind coverage to your homeowners insurance. It's one of those things you don't need&nbsp;until you <em>need</em> it.<br /> <br /> <strong>Liability Only Coverage:</strong> Some customers want to elect for liability only coverage because they want to pay less. Just remember that when you do this you are not protecting your assets. If you are in an accident the damage you do to someone else is covered but damage done your vehicle, for example,&nbsp;is not! So unless you are prepared to repair your vehicle or buy yourself a new one at any given time, do not opt for liability only.<br /> <br /> <strong>Full Coverage:</strong> On the opposite end of the spectrum we have full coverage. This phrase is usually uttered in every conversation between agent and client in regards to auto insurance and, yes, agents are guilty of throwing it around too. Full coverage is great but remember that "full" just means up to a certain dollar limit, such as $10,000. This means your insurance will pay damages up to, but not exceeding, $10,000. If you have taken a lower limit to save money, be sure you could cover&nbsp;anything your insurance company won't. &nbsp;Either way you decide to go on your limits, higher or lower, just be sure to know what they are! <br /> <br /> Again, these are just a few of the terms we hear on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis. If you are buying any type of insurance and are unsure of what your agent is telling you, stop us and ask. When you do this everyday, you tend to assume everyone knows what you're talking about. We took very long classes and a big, hairy state exam in order to be able to explain it properly to you though, so don't be afraid to test our knowledge!<br /> <br /> If you have any questions about your coverages, <a href="/contact.aspx">call us </a>today. Whether you are our customer or not, we'll be happy to help!<br /> <br />urn:uuid:fc74ee05-a7a8-458c-b5d0-d8f62fb38d7aHappy Friday! And in this office it truly is a very happy Friday, as we have a birthday in the office today. This means there is cake and ice cream downstairs, as well as 24 Krispy Kreme donuts, since they were apparently buy one, get one this mornin...Fri, 08 Oct 2010 11:34:04 -0500Happy Friday! And in this office it truly is a very happy Friday, as we have a birthday in the office today. This means there is cake and ice cream downstairs, as well as 24 Krispy Kreme donuts, since they were apparently buy one, get one this morning. If you're in the area of the Mary Esther office today, stop by, have a chat&nbsp;and help us eat all of this!<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Since I have pretty much OD'd on sugar this morning, and our last two blogs were delicious sweet treats, let's talk about a&nbsp;main dish today.&nbsp; How about <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Smoky-Potato-Cheese-Soup/Detail.aspx" target="_blank">Smoky Potato Cheese soup</a>? It's always a cold-weather favorite. While the weather will be getting back up into the 80's this weekend, this might be a nice, easy recipe for next week when the temps dip back down.<br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:<br /> </strong>1 onion, chopped<br /> 1/4 cup margarine<br /> 2 (14.5 oz) cans chicken broth<br /> 1 pound smoked sausage<br /> 6 potatoes, cubed<br /> 1 pound processed cheese, cubed<br /> 2 (12 oz) cans evaporated milk<br /> Black pepper to taste<br /> 1 tablespoon cornstarch<br /> <br /> <strong>What to do:<br /> </strong>Saute the onions in butter/margarine in a large pan. Add the chicken broth, cubed potatoes and sliced sausage into the pan and simmer over medium heat until the potatoes are soft. Use a patato masher to lightly mash the mixture to break up any cubes still remaining. Then add in the cheese, stir until melted and add in evaporated milk. Season with black pepper to taste. The soup should be pretty thick by this point, but if you like your soups hearty, stir in cornstarch 1 tablespoon at a time until desired thickness is reached. If you'd like some additional smoky flavor, smoked gouda would make an excellent topper for this soup. Just shredd and sprinkle on top when served!<br /> <br /> <br /> Just a quick reminder that we will be OPEN for normal business hours Monday. Other than that I hope everyone has a wonderful (potentially 3-day) weekend!urn:uuid:26f841d8-4606-48c1-a342-6626292f814eHappy Friday! It's officially my favorite month: October. The weather cools off,&nbsp;the trees lose their leaves&nbsp;and my favorite ghoulish holiday is right around the corner.&nbsp;I have a special place in my heart for Halloween. My neighborhood...Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:23:38 -0500Happy Friday! It's officially my favorite month: October. The weather cools off,&nbsp;the trees lose their leaves&nbsp;and my favorite ghoulish holiday is right around the corner.&nbsp;I have a special place in my heart for Halloween. My neighborhood always went all-out with the decorations, haunted houses and the best candy, and I love continuing the tradtion myself. I also never miss a chance to dress up!<br /> <br /> So, for this week I've decided&nbsp;on a decadently sweet treat&nbsp;perfect for nibbling on with a hot cup of coffee. Even the colors in this <a href="http://www.glamour.com/sex-love-life/2010/09/the-barefoot-contessa-teaches-you-how-to-cook?currentPage=2" target="_blank">White Chocolate Bark </a>scream Fall. And it's easy too!<br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:<br /> </strong>1/2 cup whole, shelled pistachios<br /> 16 oz white chocolate, finely chopped<br /> 1/4 cup&nbsp;dried cranberries<br /> 1/4 cup medium-diced dried apricots<br /> Parchment paper<br /> <br /> <strong>What to do</strong>:<br /> Bake pistachios at 350 degrees in a single layer for 8 minutes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Place three quarters of the white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and heat on high for 30 seconds. Stir. Continue to heat chocolate in 15 second increments until melted. Once melted, stir in remaining chocolate immediately until completely smooth (if you need to reheat, go another 10 seconds). Lay parchment paper on a baking sheet and pour chocolate inside. Sprinkle pistachios, cranberries and apricots throughout and gently press into chocolate. Set aside for 2 hours or refrigerate for 20 minutes. Once the chocolate has set, break into pieces. Depending on how precise you are, it should make about 16 pieces of candy.<br /> <br /> If you're like me and white chocolate is a little <em>too</em> sweet for you, melt dark chocolate chips in the microwave as well and swirl in throughout the white chocolate once it is on the parchement paper. I plan to make this over the weekend, tie it into pretty clear packages and bring some into work Monday to usher in Fall for my coworkers! I told you Fall makes me happy.<br /> <br /> As always, let me know if you try this! I would love some <a href="mailto:info@insurancefast.com?subject=White Chocolate Bark">feedback</a>. Have a great weekend!urn:uuid:fd3f2a4a-ba90-455d-9c56-f0a425148144You may soon be receiving a letter in the mail from me regarding picking up additional policies from either Progressive or Auto-Owners insurance. We've been working recently to identify potential discounts for our customers since times are tough and,...Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:12:53 -0500You may soon be receiving a letter in the mail from me regarding picking up additional policies from either Progressive or Auto-Owners insurance. We've been working recently to identify potential discounts for our customers since times are tough and, surprisingly, adding coverages or switching carriers is the simplest and most effective method of doing just that!<br /> <br /> For example, customers who have their&nbsp;car insurance through Auto-Owners, but no other coverages with the company,&nbsp;will be receiving a letter offering them a one-year term life insurance policy valued at $10,000. I'm sure you're wondering how adding yet another insurance policy could possible <em>save</em> you money. Well, it's simple. Some of these life insurance policies are available for the premium of only $20.00 for the whole year. Some customers are eligible for the policy at only $10.00! By adding this policy you are then eligible for the multiline discount valued at 5% off. For our commercial clients, by picking up a personal product, such as life or auto, you could save 3% off your business insurance. A lot of times this discount covers the cost of the additional policy, and then some, and provides additional protection for your family. Can't beat that.<br /> <br /> Progressive offers a similar discount so if you have a boat or motorcycle insured with us, you might be receiving a letter inquiring if you have additonal vehicles to insure, including RVs and travel trailers. Not only could Progressive possibly beat the current premium you're paying, but you then become eligible for a 5% discount off of&nbsp;each of your policies with them.<br /> <br /> These are just a few examples of how bundling your insurance under one carrier can save you money. Many of our great carriers offer this discount. If you haven't received a letter from me just yet or if you don't use these particular carriers, call us today to find out if you're eligible. It will only take a few moments and could save you big money!urn:uuid:c583b789-425e-4eaf-976d-d318f909349dHappy Friday! I don't know about you guys, but I am SO thrilled fall is nearly upon us. While I dream of and long for summer starting in about January, this summer has been long, hot and more than a little taxing (what with the oil spill and all). So...Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:25:24 -0500Happy Friday! I don't know about you guys, but I am SO thrilled fall is nearly upon us. While I dream of and long for summer starting in about January, this summer has been long, hot and more than a little taxing (what with the oil spill and all). So, I'm ready to turn the page to cool weather, cute scarves and indulgent, warming desserts. Summer desserts need to be kept on the light and fluffy side but fall desserts are get to be creamy and have a little bit of weight to them. That's why this week I bring you a great in-between the seasons treat: Carrot Cake with Honey-orange frosting!<br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>4 eggs<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2 cups flour<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2 cups sugar<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2 teaspoons baking power<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2 teaspoons ground cinnamon<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1 teaspoon ground cardamom<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1/2 teaspoon baking soda<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1/2 teaspoon salt<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1/2 cup pecan pieces, toasted<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3/4 cup vegetable oil<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3 cups finely shredded carrots<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Or you could just buy a carrot cake mix<br /> <br /> What to do:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>Allow eggs to stand at room temp for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, grease and flour 3 loaf pans and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine carrots, pecans and oil. Add the eggs to the dry mixture. Combine the wet and dry mixes and pour even amounts into each pan. Bake about 25 minutes.<br /> <strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>For the frosting, combine 2 8-ounce packages of softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup of butter, 1 cup powered sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel and 3/4 cup of honey. Beat with a mixture until light and fluffy and refrigerate for about 20 minutes before frosting cakes.<br /> <br /> Yum! I'm already looking forward to the weekend. But, I'll be honest, I'm probably going the boxed-cake route with homemade frosting. It sounds like the best part. If anyone tries this too or if anyone bakes the whole thing from scratch, let me know! The original recipe, and yummy sugared orange slice garnish for the real overachievers, can be found <a href="http://www.bhg.com/recipe/layer-cakes/carrot-cake-with-honey-orange-frosting/" target="_blank">here</a>. Have a great weekend!&nbsp;urn:uuid:be948758-486d-4e54-947b-757b40be2b60Let me start off by saying I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day and enjoyed our spectacular weather this weekend! My Labor Day holiday, unfortunately, did not start out so well. The boss man was kind enough to let us out a few minutes early Frid...Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:50:39 -0500Let me start off by saying I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day and enjoyed our spectacular weather this weekend! My Labor Day holiday, unfortunately, did not start out so well. The boss man was kind enough to let us out a few minutes early Friday to avoid the crazy holiday traffic. I left here headed down Hollywood Blvd when I saw someone pull into traffic and felt them&nbsp;hit me on my passenger side and spin me around into traffic. Luckily, no one was headed toward me and/or had time to stop. I am fine, the other driver is too. My car is not. Regardless, I'm happy everyone was able to walk away.<br /> <br /> I'm sharing this little story because the other driver was not insured and, while they got to drive away with their 2 tickets, I'm the one without a car, about to be out a deductible and dealing with a lot of paperwork. This isn't a sob story though. This is a plea to&nbsp;anyone who may be reading this blog&nbsp;that does not have insurance coverage or has let it lapse: Please get insurance! Yes, I'm mad that I have to pay my deductible for my crumpled rear axle, but what if the accident had been worse? What if someone had been hurt? What if you're the one who is uninsured and without a car to get to work everyday?&nbsp;<br /> <br /> Ok, we've covered the damage/injury side of not having insurance, but did you know you can be <strong>arrested</strong> in the state of Florida for not being insured? The cop really did offer me the option of having this woman arrested. Knowing she was already getting two tickets, I elected not to have that happen. I was hot, mad and just simply wanted to act like it didn't happen for the duration of my 3 day weekend.&nbsp;But if you&nbsp;don't have insurance and hit someone, they get the&nbsp;option to have you arrested. How many hurt and angry people are going to say no?<br /> <br /> This is not a blog I wrote to scare people into calling Gilmore Insurance for a car quote. This is a blog I wrote to get people to call <em>anyone</em> for a car insurance quote. Luckily this car accident is just about a damaged car, a headache and the hassle I have to go through, but it could be so much worse. It is the mission of this office, and I'm sure most other independent agents, to get you&nbsp;insurance coverage&nbsp; you can afford, even if it's just&nbsp;the minimum coverage required. Minimum coverage trumps no coverage every time. Call us, call our competitors or&nbsp;go online, I don't care. Think about the consequences and get insured!urn:uuid:f321c873-d62f-49d8-a03b-2841a211f03eHappy Friday! Sorry to have missed last week. We were having another battle of the lost internet connection. But I'm back and I have a craving for buffalo sauce. I am one of those junk-foodies who is never not in the mood for something with wing sauc...Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:06:20 -0500Happy Friday! Sorry to have missed last week. We were having another battle of the lost internet connection. But I'm back and I have a craving for buffalo sauce. I am one of those junk-foodies who is never not in the mood for something with wing sauce on it. Or pizza. I truly will eat either one anytime, anywhere. So, on this lovely rainy Friday, I thought why not combine my two favorites and have a comfort food bonanza?<br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:<br /> </strong>3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves-cooked and cubed<br /> 2 tablespoons butter-melted<br /> 1 (2 ounce) bottle hot sauce<br /> 1 (8 ounce) bottle blue cheese dressing<br /> 1 prepared pizza crust<br /> 1 (8 ounce) package of shredded mozzarella cheese<br /> <br /> <strong>What to do:<br /> </strong>Preheat oven to 425 degress and prebake the crust for a few minutes. In a bowl, combine cooked chicken, butter and hot sauce. Spread entire bottle of salad dressing on crust, top with chicken mixture and sprinkle with cheese. Bake until gold and bubbly!<br /> <br /> This is truly one of my favorite pizzas. To make it a bit easier, you can always buy pre-cooked chicken and use a store bought buffalo sauce instead of mixing the chicken with butter and hot sauce. For an extra&nbsp;decadent and spicy pizza, use a little bit of buffalo sauce and cream cheese on the crust, along with the blue cheese dressing. And don't forget the celery and carrot sticks on the side!<br /> <br /> Hope you have a great weekend! See back here Monday.<br />urn:uuid:d4b49cb4-4fc6-4cea-997e-20904ba0a988Happy...Wednesday? Yes, the recipe is a little early this week. Tomorrow morning, Jackie and I will set off to Jacksonville, FL for a conference. We'll be learning about our operating system and how to more effectively use it to serve you! Just becau...Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:27:20 -0500Happy...Wednesday? Yes, the recipe is a little early this week. Tomorrow morning, Jackie and I will set off to Jacksonville, FL for a conference. We'll be learning about our operating system and how to more effectively use it to serve you! Just because I'll be out of the office Friday is no reason to leave you hanging on our weekly recipe though.<br /> <br /> It's almost the weekend and you're trying to decide what to feed the fam or make for your weekend BBQ. By this time of the summer hamburgers, hotdogs and grilled chicken have lost all appeal for me, so I looked up something a little different: Wasabi Tuna Burgers! This recipe is surprisingly simple and also light on the calories. It comes from Bethenny Frankel of The Real Housewives of New York and I will, somewhat sheepishly, admit that I love her and her recipes.<br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:</strong><b><br /> </b>For the burger<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4 pounds sushi-grade ahi tuna<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5 basil leaves, chopped<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4 scallions, chopped<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2 heaping tablespoons black sesame seeds<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4 table spoons low-sodium soy sauce<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4 tablespoons honey<br /> <br /> For Wasabi Mayo:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2 tablespoons wasabi paste (a little less if spicy isn't your thing!)<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3 tablespoons mayo<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Salt and Pepper to taste<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Juice of 1/2 lemon<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Juice of 1/2 a lime<br /> <br /> <strong>What to do:</strong><b><br /> </b>Combine all burger ingredients and form into patties. Recipe should make about 12 patties, so cut it in half for smaller gatherings. Grill each patty until medium-rare. For the mayo, combine all ingredients and use to top the tuna burgers. If you're pressed for time or just don't want to have a bunch of wasabi paste laying around the house, pre-made wasabi mayo is commercially available in some supermarkets and taste great on regular burgers too!<br /> <br /> Hope you all have a great end to your week and a happy weekend! For the original recipe, click <a href="http://www.bethenny.com/2010/06/21/wasabi-tuna-burgers/">here</a>.urn:uuid:0e3938ee-e723-4fe9-bfe2-348d27984794I was doing my after-lunch Twitter check this afternoon and came across an article from the Insurance Journal. It was regarding whether or not vacant homes need insurance and if homeowners policies&nbsp;are sufficient. I retweeted their link, but in ...Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:42:01 -0500I was doing my after-lunch Twitter check this afternoon and came across an article from the Insurance Journal. It was regarding whether or not vacant homes need insurance and if homeowners policies&nbsp;are sufficient. I retweeted their link, but in case you missed it or don't tweet, I have a little synopsis below. With everything going on in the economy, job market and housing market, it's a question we should all know the answer to.<br /> <br /> While the economy might be improving, the housing market has been slow to follow leaving many with homes they cannot sell. While some consumers can decide to live in the home until the market improves or their luck changes, many cannot. For a good number of consumers, the improving economy has provided them a job--but not in their current city. This poses the question: Does a vacant home need insurance? In a word, yes! And homeowners insurance is not enough.<br /> <br /> Unfortunately, homeowners insurance doesn't cover some of the added risk that comes along with a vacant home. These risks included break-ins, emergency response, and property liability just to name a few. It's evident when a home isn't being lived in. There is never a car in the driveway, the house is too quiet and there may be the obvious "For Sale" sign in the yard. For those persons looking to vandalize property, these are telltale signs.&nbsp;And who will&nbsp;be there to call a plumber if a pipe bursts in the night?&nbsp;If there is any work being done on the home to improve it for sale or for general upkeep so the house can be shown, the owner of the home could be found liable for any accident or damage when they aren't there.<br /> <br /> So, what do you do if you have to move and can't sell your home? Check your homeowners policy first. You may have a predetermined time frame in which&nbsp;your homeowners insurance will still pay any claims. Your homeowners insurance may also have a "vacany clause" that can be put to use if you will be gone for a significant amount of time. You can also call your insurance agent and find out if there is an additional type of policy they can provide you to cover these types of events in case your homeowners will not. Unfortunately, these types of policy tend to be more expensive than traditional homeowners coverage. But, then again, not being covered could potentially cost you a lot more in the long run if your home is damaged.<br /> <br /> For more information, please <a href="/contact.aspx">call us </a>today. You can also check out the original article from the Insurance Journal&nbsp;<a href="http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2010/08/09/112285.htm">here</a>.urn:uuid:3d526e9f-4519-4e21-9240-d78aba09961aHappy Friday! It's hot. And raining. And all I can think is how nice it would be curl up in front of the TV with some good comfort food and take a nap! But it's too hot. Vicious cycle. I will admit I am already craving fall. It seems every year I can...Fri, 06 Aug 2010 10:48:25 -0500Happy Friday! It's hot. And raining. And all I can think is how nice it would be curl up in front of the TV with some good comfort food and take a nap! But it's too hot. Vicious cycle. I will admit I am already craving fall. It seems every year I can't wait for it to be warm enough for the beach, but, inevitably, about 2 months in I'm ready for it to be cool. I want to sit outside in the&nbsp;night air and make soup for dinner.<br /> <br /> While I cannot have my favorite comfort, cool weather food just yet, I did find a nice alternative. Ice cream is one of my all-time favorite go to "feel better" foods. However, right now, even that sounds too heavy. What's a girl to do? Sorbet! Sorbet has been a big topic of conversation around the office this week. CSR Pam G. and I have been looking for a good sugar-free recipe, which led to the discovery of so many delicious, although not sugar-free, options. My favorite? Pineapple!<br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:<br /> </strong>1 small pineapple, peeled and cored<br /> 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice<br /> 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar<br /> Mint sprigs (optional)<br /> <br /> <strong>What to do:<br /> </strong>Cut the&nbsp;pineapple into 2-inch pieces. Place pineapple and lemon juice in a food processor; process until smooth. Add sugar; process for 1 minute or until sugar dissolves. Pour the mixture into the freezer can of an ice-cream freezer; freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. Spoon sorbet into a freezer-safe container. Cover and freeze 1 hour or until firm. Garnish with mint sprigs, if desired.<br /> <br /> Ok, so not all of us own an "ice cream freezer" or maker, myself included. My very best friend lives in the world's tiniest apartment in Spain. She has no space to keep an ice cream maker or even air conditioning (YIKES) so she had to get creative when it came to staying cool in 99 degree temps. She took a metal bowl, loaded in the sorbet from the food processor and stuck it in the freezer. Stir every 30 minutes until the entire mixture is frozen/slushie. Then package in a more convenient freezer safe container!<br /> <br /> Let me know how the sorbet works out! We'll be back next week with more informative insurance blogs, I promise! We've been working hard getting everything up and running with our great new carrier Nationwide, but I'll be back on track and telling you all about each of their products starting Monday, so check back. Have a great weekend!<br /> <br />urn:uuid:3bffa390-ee86-4ddc-b82d-b2b12239e0daHappy Friday! I would like to apologize to those following us for the lack of a recipe for last weekend. We're currently experiencing phone/internet issues most every afternoon, most likely heat related. For further information on our current situati...Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:14:16 -0500<p>Happy Friday! I would like to apologize to those following us for the lack of a recipe for last weekend. We're currently experiencing phone/internet issues most every afternoon, most likely heat related. For further information on our current situation, click <a href="http://www.insurancefast.com/blog/If_Youre_Trying_to_Call_Us_and_Cant_Get_Thru.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /> <br /> Speaking of the heat, it looks like another hot one here on the Gulf Coast with the heat index expected near 110! With this in mind, I picked a nice cool, yet hearty, salad for this week. No one wants to stand over a hot stove in sweltering heat! This recipe does call for grilling chicken, but if the thought of getting out there to the grill alone breaks you out in a sweat, saut&eacute;ing the chicken in-doors should work just fine too!<br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:</strong></p> <li class="plaincharacterwrap">1/2 cup orange juice </li> <li class="plaincharacterwrap">1/4 cup lime juice </li> <li class="plaincharacterwrap">2 shallots, minced </li> <li class="plaincharacterwrap">2 cloves garlic, minced </li> <li class="plaincharacterwrap">1 teaspoon chili powder </li> <li class="plaincharacterwrap">1 teaspoon ground cumin </li> <li class="plaincharacterwrap">1 teaspoon white sugar </li> <li class="plaincharacterwrap">4 (4 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves </li> <li class="plaincharacterwrap">8 cups torn romaine lettuce </li> <li class="plaincharacterwrap">2 oranges - peeled, segmented, and chopped </li> <li class="plaincharacterwrap">2 stalks celery, sliced </li> <li class="plaincharacterwrap">4 green onions, chopped </li> <p class="plaincharacterwrap" style="margin: auto 0in;"><strong>What to do:<br /> </strong>Whisk together orange juice, lime juice, shallots, garlic, chili powder, cumin, and sugar. Pour 1/2 of this mixture into a large, resealable plastic bag, and add the chicken breasts. Seal, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Refrigerate the remaining dressing. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat. In a large salad bowl, toss romaine lettuce with oranges, celery, and green onions.&nbsp; Lightly oil grate, and place chicken on grill. Discard the marinade from the chicken. Remove chicken from grill, and slice into thin strips. Toss salad with reserved dressing<br /> <br /> Let me know what you think and have a great weekend!!</p>urn:uuid:ee98cbb7-6afa-453e-9628-2b7f61980f4b...we sincerely apologize!! As some of you may have experienced, our Mary Esther location is currently having extreme phone issues, i.e. dropping calls or just generally being dead. This is also greatly effecting our internet connections, hence my ra...Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:18:51 -0500...we sincerely apologize!! As some of you may have experienced, our Mary Esther location is currently having extreme phone issues, i.e. dropping calls or just generally being dead. This is also greatly effecting our internet connections, hence my radio silence for the past week and the absence of my usual&nbsp;blogs. We are making every effort to switch our services as soon as possible since we seem to be unable to resolve the issues with our current carrier.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> If you need us and cannot get through, please, please, please email me at <a href="mailto:Kerry@insurancefast.com">Kerry@insurancefast.com</a> or <a href="mailto:info@insurancefast.com">info@insurancefast.com</a>. The internet issue is effecting our email so if you email me and don't hear anything back, message me through our&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Esther-FL/Gilmore-Insurance-Bonding-Inc/124583377567932?ref=sgm" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/GilmoreIns">Twitter</a> pages. Despite the office internet being down, these accounts will alert me via my cell phone and allow me to get back with you promptly.<br /> <br /> Again, we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you, but please know we are working to resolve the issues as quickly as we can!urn:uuid:04f50c66-a5ec-4049-8b97-b4736d9bf3a9It's Friday! And it's summer time, so undoubtedly, a few of you will be firing up the grill this weekend. I love anything cooked on a grill: chicken, fish, ribs, shoe leather... My problem lies in side dishes. It seems no matter what is prepared on t...Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:20:29 -0500It's Friday! And it's summer time, so undoubtedly, a few of you will be firing up the grill this weekend. I love anything cooked on a grill: chicken, fish, ribs, shoe leather... My problem lies in side dishes. It seems no matter what is prepared on the grill, the side dishes remain the same. Since you can't be two places at once, in the kitchen and at the grill, it's always a matter of "What can I make ahead of time?". This usually ends up being some sort of cold salad or baked beans and that gets pretty tired after a long summer.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> A good friend of mine recently introduced me to grilled potato chips, specifically salt-n-vinegar chips. I know what you're thinking, but stay with me here. They're <em>really</em> good and when paired with a grilled veggie, like zucchini or asparagus, your meal is complete, cooked in one place and still warm when served.<br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:<br /> </strong>2 cups white wine vinegar<br /> 1 pound waxy potatoes; cut in 1/4-inch slices<br /> 2 tablespoon olive oil<br /> 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt; extra for seasoning<br /> 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper<br /> <br /> <strong>What to do:<br /> </strong>Pour vinegar into saucepan and layer in the&nbsp;potatoes so they are completely covered by vinegar. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Let the potatoes cool in the vinegar for about 30 minutes (or while you're heating up the grill and getting the meat!). Drain well and then gently toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill the potatoes for roughly 3-5 minutes per side or until golden brown. Salt to taste and serve!<br /> <br /> For the original recipe, courtesy of Martha Stewart, click <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/grilled-potato-slices-with-salt-and-vinegar">here</a>. If salt-n-vinegar isn't your thing, here's a recipe for <a href="http://bbq.about.com/od/vegetablerecipes/r/bl51221e.htm">plain chips</a>&nbsp;and even one for <a href="http://www.yesyoucangrill.com/nachochips.php">grilled nachos</a>. We hope you have a great weekend and we'll see you back Monday morning, bright and early. Happy grilling!urn:uuid:ad818861-8f5a-46e8-bd54-aad28a57e6f4I've been hinting around to a big announcement on our twitter and&nbsp;facebook accounts recently and even let the secret slip out, but I am now proud to officially announce that we are a proud provider of Nationwide Insurance! Nationwide is an&nbsp;...Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:28:46 -0500I've been hinting around to a big announcement on our <a href="http://twitter.com/GilmoreIns">twitter </a>and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mary-Esther-FL/Gilmore-Insurance-Bonding-Inc/124583377567932?ref=sgm&amp;__a=14&amp;ajaxpipe=1">facebook</a> accounts recently and even let the secret slip out, but I am now proud to <em>officially</em> announce that we are a proud provider of Nationwide Insurance! Nationwide is an&nbsp;A.M. Best Company A+ Superior rated insurance provider. They partner with over 4,000 independent agencies in 33 states and we are thrilled to be their newest addition to the state of Florida.<br /> <br /> Some of our current customers (thank you!) may be receiving communications from "Nationwide", but we want you to know it's really Gilmore Insurance. We're currently looking through our customers to see if our newest carrier could be saving you money.&nbsp;Please call us with any questions you may have regarding anything you receive from Nationwide.<br /> <br /> For many, Nationwide automatically makes&nbsp;us think of car insurance, and they offer great auto programs, but they also offer outstanding commercial business products. In addition to personal auto, motorcycle, RV and a wide range of other products, we are also able to offer complete packages for your business.&nbsp;Our commercial coverage's through Nationwide&nbsp;include property insurance, a&nbsp;range of&nbsp;liability coverage's, commercial auto and many, many more. <br /> <br /> The details are too many for&nbsp;one simple blog, but I'll be back each week spotlighting the coverage's our agency offers,&nbsp;both from Nationwide and all our&nbsp;carriers.&nbsp;Each of our Customer Service Reps and Agents are up and running with this new addition to our agency and ready to quote you a great price! <a href="/contact.aspx">Call us </a>today, shoot me an&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Kerry@insurancefast.com">email</a> or request a quote&nbsp;<a href="/get_a_quote/default.aspx">here</a> to see if&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nationwide.com/">Nationwide</a> is on <em>your</em> side.urn:uuid:311a8c8a-291b-4616-9697-85e420404fe5It's Friday! Unfortunately, it's a Friday without breakfast for me&nbsp;since I walked out of the house with it sitting&nbsp;on my&nbsp;counter. Now, of course, I'm sitting here thinking about bacon and eggs and hatching big plans for lunch. In the s...Fri, 09 Jul 2010 11:04:32 -0500It's Friday! Unfortunately, it's a Friday without breakfast for me&nbsp;since I walked out of the house with it sitting&nbsp;on my&nbsp;counter. Now, of course, I'm sitting here thinking about bacon and eggs and hatching big plans for lunch. In the spirit of homecooked breakfast though, this week's recipe is a Cinnabon copycat I had the pleasure of eating last week. &nbsp;It's doughy and delicious and even calls for cream cheese icing (my favorite!). <br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:<br /> </strong>1 cup warm milk<br /> 2 room temp eggs<br /> 1/3 cup margarine, melted<br /> 4 1/2 cups bread flour<br /> 1 teaspoon salt<br /> 1/2 cup white sugar<br /> 2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast<br /> 2 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon<br /> 1/3 cup butter, softened<br /> <strong>Icing:<br /> </strong>3 oz cream cheese, softened<br /> 1/4 cup butter<br /> 1/2 cups confectioners sugar<br /> 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract<br /> 1/8 teaspoon sale<br /> <br /> <strong>What to do:<br /> </strong>Place dough ingredients in bread machine in order recommended by manufacturer (don't have a bread machine? Click&nbsp;<a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Clone-of-a-Cinnabon/Reviews.aspx?SortBy=Helpfulness&amp;Direction=Descending">here</a> for instructions!). Allow dough to rest and double in size or about 10 minutes. While waiting, combine cinnamon and brown sugar. Roll dough into a rectangle, spread with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar combination. Roll up dough and cut into 12 pieces and allow it to rest about 30 minutes. Now would be a good time to beat together all of the icing ingredients and refrigerate. After the rest period, which you might need as well, bake in a 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes. Spread warm rolls with icing and serve. Yum! I'm so hungry!<br /> <br /> That's it for today but we'll be back with more insurance news Monday. Stayed tuned to our&nbsp;<a href="http://twitter.com/GilmoreIns">twitter</a> and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Esther-FL/Gilmore-Insurance-Bonding-Inc/124583377567932?ref=sgm">facebook</a> for the latest in insurance news, especially next week when we will have a HUGE annoucement!urn:uuid:cccbe96a-24fe-4d74-bf4f-2e284886cdcdHappy Friday! This week's recipe is a patriotic delight in the spirit of this weekends holiday, Independence Day, courtesy of CSR Sonya. Not only will it make a great addition to your Fourth of July BBQ, but it's easy and can be a healthy dessert opt...Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:20:31 -0500Happy Friday! This week's recipe is a patriotic delight in the spirit of this weekends holiday, Independence Day, courtesy of CSR Sonya. Not only will it make a great addition to your Fourth of July BBQ, but it's easy and can be a healthy dessert option too. Speaking of the holiday, just a reminder that our office will be closed Monday in observance but we'll be back here and in the office on Tuesday! Without further delay, on to the recipe!<br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:<br /> </strong>4 cups blueberries<br /> 4 cups pitted cherries<br /> 4 cups sliced strawberries<br /> 1 large tub of cool whip<br /> <br /> <strong>What to do:<br /> </strong>In a large trifle or glass bowl, layer fruit along the bottom. Cover the fruit with a layer of cool whip. Repeat until you have used all of the fruit, saving enough cool whip for the final layer. If you would like to turn this berry delight into a truly delicious dessert, add sliced pound or angel food cake to your layers. Refrigerate until you're ready to serve. It's as easy as that!<br /> <br /> Again, we will be closed on Monday but we'll see you back here on Tuesday. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July!<br />urn:uuid:2b0b2be7-01c6-4ac8-937b-b16aba3ec734Local or not,&nbsp;we have all been impacted in some way by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Whether your business has lost revenue, you have lost your job or you can simply no longer enjoy our beautiful coastline, we are all feeling the effec...Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:31:07 -0500<p>Local or not,&nbsp;we have all been impacted in some way by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Whether your business has lost revenue, you have lost your job or you can simply no longer enjoy our beautiful coastline, we are all feeling the effects of this incredible disaster. While I was sitting on our remarkably clean beaches Sunday evening enjoying the Doobie Brothers concert, surrounded by my friends and neighbors, I was struck&nbsp;by the sudden need to do something to keep our beaches beautiful.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> I started&nbsp;looking into&nbsp;clean-up opportunities in the area and it's&nbsp;utterly confusing! Never mind that I'm completely unqualified to do anything, but the time it would take to become qualified would have me volunteering sometime in late 2011. After that you also have to watch out for scammers. Yes, as with anything else, there are people out there scamming information and money from people who simply want to help make a difference on the Gulf Coast. So, after&nbsp;a little research, I compiled a list of 5 simple things you can do to help; some as simple as buying Dawn dish soap!</p> <ul> <li><strong>Yes, buy Dawn dish soap!</strong> For every bottle purchased, Dawn will donate $1.00 (up to $500,000.00) to the International Bird Rescue Research Center and Marine Mammal Center. Be sure to go online and activate your donation after purchase. </li> <li><strong>Eat gulf seafood: </strong>Ok, so we're all a little leery of eating the seafood caught in our backyard right now, but about one-third of the Gulf is still open for fishing and those fishermen need all the help we can provide. Don't want to take a chance? Eat crawfish and other freshwater seafood. Either way you choose, you're helping keep a captain and his crew employed! </li> <li><strong>Text: </strong>Our cell phones are one thing most of us always have with us, so take a moment and text 'Wildlife' to 20222. This is a verified number that donates $10.00 to the <a href="http://www.nwf.org/Oil-Spill/Ways-To-Help.aspx">National Wildlife Federation </a>allowing them to provide support to the agencies working locally to save our birds and sea life. </li> <li><strong>Donate: </strong>We all know BP is, and rightly so, footing the bill for this cleanup but getting funding and resources can be a tedious process and supplies are needed now! Some items being requested are&nbsp;liquid dish washing detergent (Dawn, perhaps?), towels, animal kennels and large portable pools. Cash is also always appreciated. Click&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ecwildliferefuge.com/Content.asp?s=8&amp;ID=44">here</a> to view the wish list for the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge located in Destin, FL.&nbsp;&nbsp; </li> <li><strong>Become a Virtual Volunteer: </strong>If&nbsp;you have special&nbsp;expertise in the areas of fundraising, grant writing, web design or any web/marketing area and a little time, you can help from your home office. Many organizations working to preserve beaches and wildlife are currently in an all-hands-on-deck state, leaving the less important functions of fundraising and awareness behind for the task at hand. Use your skills to keep these organizations at the forefront of the community's mind, ensuring they receive the assistance and support they need. Visit <a href="http://www.idealist.org">www.idealist.org</a> to learn how you can help. </li> </ul> <p>Of course, if you do hold all the required certifications to go out and physically help with oil spill clean-up efforts, do so! Just remember that if you're fortunate enough to be gainfully employed, a lot of the "volunteer" opportunities may also be positions that can be contracted to fishermen who need the income. <br /> <br /> For additional volunteer opportunities, please visit <a href="http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org">www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org</a>. </p>urn:uuid:79d72adc-49eb-49df-884b-669f5b0890a7Happy Friday! When it came time to put together the recipe for the weekend this week, I was craving Mexican food! Since the kitchen is not one area I especially excel in, I'm always looking for simple recipes that can be thrown together quickly but m...Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:47:05 -0500Happy Friday! When it came time to put together the recipe for the weekend this week, I was craving Mexican food! Since the kitchen is not one area I especially excel in, I'm always looking for simple recipes that can be thrown together quickly but make a big splash. I have not yet made this recipe personally, but I am trusting it's 5-star rating and making it Wednesday for my weekly girls night. These Easy White Chicken Enchiladas from Allrecipes.com look creamy, cheesy and contain one of my favorite ingredients-green salsa! If you haven't ever tried this spicy alternative to traditional red salsa, pick some up. It will freshen up any trusted mexican favorite. Anyway, onto the enchiladas!<br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:<br /> </strong>4 ounces cream cheese, softened<br /> 1/2 cup sour cream<br /> 1/2 cup green salsa<br /> 2 (6 ounce) packages seasoned cooked chicken cubes (or browned chicken breast)<br /> 1 cup shredded mexican style cheese blend<br /> 1.5 cups white cheese sauce or queso dip<br /> 6 8-inch flour tortillas<br /> <br /> <strong>What to do:<br /> </strong>Preheat&nbsp;your oven&nbsp;to 375 degrees. Lightly spray an 8x8-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray. Stir together the cream cheese, sour cream, and salsa until blended. Fold in chicken and cheese blend. Spread a small amount of white cheese sauce onto the bottom of the baking dish. Evenly divide the filling among the tortillas and roll into firm cylinders. Place in baking dish and cover with remaining cheese sauce. Bake until gold and bubbly or about 30 minutes. Allow the enchiladas to rest 5 minutes <br /> (if you can wait!) after baking.<br /> <br /> Sounds yummy to me! Try this recipe this weekend and let me know what you think at <a href="mailto:Kerry@insurancefast.com">Kerry@insurancefast.com</a>. For the original recipe&nbsp;click&nbsp;<a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-White-Chicken-Enchiladas/Detail.aspx">here</a> and check out the comments for additional ways to spice up this dish!&nbsp;urn:uuid:130a43c9-58a8-49a6-9f42-36bd622ecdbeThis weeks Gilmore Gals Recipe for the Weekend is my go-to chicken dish to impress the impromptu guest. It's an easy but impressive dish that can be put together quickly and thrown in the oven allowing you to return to spending time with your guest o...Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:17:02 -0500This weeks Gilmore Gals Recipe for the Weekend is my go-to chicken dish to impress the impromptu guest. It's an easy but impressive dish that can be put together quickly and thrown in the oven allowing you to return to spending time with your guest or family until dinner time!<br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:<br /> </strong>4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts<br /> 8 pieces of prosciutto (bacon is an easy substitute!)<br /> Pesto sauce<br /> Shredded cheese<br /> <br /> <strong>What to do:<br /> </strong>Butterfly each chicken breast and spread a teaspoon of pesto sauce on each; sprinkle with shredded cheese. Fold each piece securing pesto and cheese inside. Wrap the chicken in two pieces of of prosciutto covering as much of the chicken as possible. Place the chicken in a baking pan and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Bake the dish for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.<br /> <br /> The prosciutto will crisp up nicely but the chicken will remain nice and juicey! This recipe is sure to get rave reviews every time. Make it this weekend or as a nice treat after a workday and, as always, let me know how it turned out!urn:uuid:23e7e318-b716-499b-8f70-0e818919908aThe county commissioners of Okaloosa County unanimously voted to give the county emergency management team the power to take whatever actions necessary to protect Choctawhatchee Bay from oil coming in through the East Pass. Dissatisified with state r...Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:25:46 -0500The county commissioners of Okaloosa County unanimously voted to give the county emergency management team the power to take whatever actions necessary to protect Choctawhatchee Bay from oil coming in through the East Pass. Dissatisified with state response times in regards to issuing permits and approving plans, County commissioners made this decision knowing they could face prosecution for taking such actions.The emergency management team has been given the power and budget&nbsp;to take action without waiting for approval from state emergency operations or the unified spill command. <br /> <br /> Check out the Northwest Florida Daily News website for the full story, photos and video of the plan to protect the Bay and close the pass: <a href="http://bit.ly/9VxRWB">http://bit.ly/9VxRWB</a><br /> <br /> What do you think of the county's plans?urn:uuid:4303871e-259d-4eb1-bd71-947f108609b6Happy Friday everyone! It looks like this weekend will be a beautiful and, mostly, oil free one here on our section of&nbsp;the Emerald Coast. This weeks recipe is a&nbsp;dessert a friend of mine fixed for her Memorial Day BBQ. It was the perfect swe...Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:26:21 -0500Happy Friday everyone! It looks like this weekend will be a beautiful and, mostly, oil free one here on our section of&nbsp;the Emerald Coast. This weeks recipe is a&nbsp;dessert a friend of mine fixed for her Memorial Day BBQ. It was the perfect sweet, yet light, end to a meal served on her back patio during sunset. If you have weekend plans, this&nbsp;angel food toffee cake&nbsp;is a somewhat homemade treat that can easily be made before heading out to the beach or jumping on the boat for a fun-filled day with friends and family.<br /> <br /> <strong>What you need:<br /> </strong>2 cups whipping cream<br /> 1/2 cup caramel or butterscotch ice cream topping<br /> 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract<br /> 1 prepared angel food cake<br /> 9 Heath candy bars (crushed)<br /> <br /> <strong>What to do:<br /> </strong>In a mixing bowl, beat the whipping cream until it begins to thicken. Gradually stir in the topping and vanilla extract; beat until soft peaks form. Cut cake horizontally into 3 layers and place the bottom layer on a serving platter. Spread layer with 1 cup cream mixture and sprinkle with 1/3 cup crushed candy. Repeat process while stacking each layer. Once cake is stacked, frost the top and sides with cream mixture and sprinkle with the remaining candy. Store the cake in the refrigerator until you're ready to enjoy!<br /> <br /> That's this Gilmore Gals recipe for the weekend. For the&nbsp;original recipe, click <a href="http://bit.ly/bXKi7l">here</a>.&nbsp;I hope everyone has a great weekend and we'll see you back here Monday!urn:uuid:20f1eaf0-7af2-478f-9139-a4a9298002b2Great news this morning! FEMA has confirmed that the National Flood Insurance Program will pay claims on damages to homes and contents from oil brought onshore during hurricanes. Check out the article here:&nbsp; http://bit.ly/93ELyIThu, 10 Jun 2010 10:15:06 -0500Great news this morning! FEMA has confirmed that the National Flood Insurance Program will pay claims on damages to homes and contents from oil brought onshore during hurricanes. Check out the article here:&nbsp; <a href="http://bit.ly/93ELyI">http://bit.ly/93ELyI</a>urn:uuid:d27807eb-9c9f-463a-bec5-9703bef9ce9fWelcome to our agency blog! At Gilmore Insurance &amp; Bonding, we strive to keep you up to date with the latest in insurance news, trends, insurance tips and news of our local area. This blog, as well as our Twitter and Facebook accounts, is primari...Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:22:48 -0500<p>Welcome to our agency blog! At Gilmore Insurance &amp; Bonding, we strive to keep you up to date with the latest in insurance news, trends, insurance tips and news of our local area. This blog, as well as our Twitter and Facebook accounts, is primarily managed by Owner and Principle Agent, Duane Gilmore.<br /> <br /> Feel free to submit your suggestions about the type of information you'd like to see featured, or any questions you may have, on our Twitter and Facebook pages. You can also email&nbsp;us directly at <a href="mailto:info@insurancefast.com">info@insurancefast.com</a>. </p> <p>Today I leave you with some great information provided in PIA's latest hurricane preparedness brochure that CSR Pam G. sent me yesterday. The brochure offers great advice on preparing your family and home in case of a hurricane and what to do after the storm. Check it out <a href="http://images.magnetmail.net/images/clients/NAPIA/attach/hurricanecolor2010.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>