Golden Nuggets Blog

Summer Is Coming!

Summer is approaching.  June 21!  Doesn’t it feel like just yesterday you broke out the lawn chairs and barbeque?  It’s time to enjoy your summer again and make memories with your friends and family.  Here are some ideas to take you past Labor Day! Continue reading…

1.     Go to the beach

2.     Sip a drink

3.     Rent an RV and travel for a couple days

4.     Go fishing

5.     Go on a boat ride

6.     Practice yoga outside

7.     Go for a jog

8.     Go camping/hiking

9.     Go to an amusement park

10.  Go jet skiing

11.  Go to an island

12.  Go on an airplane

13.  Try new places to eat

14.  Go to concerts and listen to music

15.  Sleep under the stars

16.  Visit an old friend

17.  Volunteer

Now go enjoy your summer J

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Mother’s Day is approaching!

It’s about time to start thinking about Mother’s Day.  What is the perfect Mother’s Day gift for the special one?  Where are some great places to take her?  We always want to appreciate our mother but Mother’s Day is the day to go above and beyond J

·      What is the perfect gift for mom?

o   Take her for a wonderful massage

o   Canvas of her children to put on her wall

o   Birth stone necklace

o   Gift card to get her nails done

o   Bouquet of flowers

o   Anything CUSTOMIZED (It is more meaningful!)

·      Where is the perfect place to take for mom?

o   Brunch

o   Mother-daughter spa

o   Take her shopping

o   All inclusive trip

o   Winery

Let us know if this helped you get some ideas!

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What is the ketogenic diet?  Also, known as “keto”

I know you have been hearing more and more about “keto.”  What is it exactly?  What are the benefits?  Why do people do it?  It is beginning to become so popular this year!  The idea is that you can lose weight by replacing your source of energy (carbs) with FATS.  Yes, I said it… FATS!!  That means cheese, mayonnaise, butter. etc.  Keep reading our blog for more info about this hot new diet!  This may even change your life.

1.    What exactly is the “keto” diet?

This is basically a lifestyle change.  It is an eating plan that consists of 80 percent fat and little to no carbohydrates.  Pasta, rice, and other grains, potatoes, and fruits are prohibited!  Generally, during digestion, we break down carbohydrates.  When your body does not have carbs to break down, it looks for other forms of energy (fats).

2.    What are the health benefits?

“In the 1920s, epilepsy researchers found that increased levels of ketones in their patients resulted in fewer seizures, and the diet is still a widely accepted treatment for epilepsy today. There’s also some evidence that a ketogenic diet has therapeutic potential for a wide array of symptoms and diseases, including cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome, neurological conditions, diabetes, and even acne.” (www.thecut.com)

3.    What can I expect on the keto diet?

You will most likely experience a rough start.  As your body is changing and turning fat into ketones to be used as energy, you will notice various symptoms.  You might experience headaches, mood swings, fatigue, nausea, etc.  As your body adjusts over time, many of these symptoms will pass and you will experience a high level of energy.

Let us know if you have any questions or concerns.  Would you make this into a lifestyle change?

Sources:

https://www.thecut.com/2018/01/what-is-keto-diet-foods-carbs-safety.html

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2018 is the year of the dog.  What does that mean exactly?  The dog is the eleventh of all zodiac animals.  In Chinese astrology, each year is related to a Chinese zodiac animal according to the 12-year cycle.  Years of the Dog include: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 and 2030!  The most defining characteristic of the Dog is their loyalty.  They are known to never abandon their friends, family or work.  Let’s look further into some of the traditions of Chinese New Year…

1.    Family Reunion Dinner

Families will gather for a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve.  Steamed fish is one of the most popular dishes.  It is believed that eating fish will bring wealth in the new year.

2.    Red Envelopes

Cash are given in red envelopes most commonly to children from their parents or adults.  The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck and to ward off evil spirits.

3.    Fireworks and Firecrackers

It is believed that the loud noise of firecrackers scares away evil spirits for the new year.

4.    Lion and Dragon Dances

This colorful traditional dance is said to bring good luck and performed outdoors, just like a street parade.

Source:

https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/articles/10-chinese-new-year-traditions/

https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/dog.htm

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Tax season is here!  So lets get a little prepared… Times like this can be stressful but learning more about getting organized for this can ease the pain tremendously!

Here are several and simple ways to get organized before the deadline date (April 17, 2018):

1.    Getting Organized

a.     Have a designated space for your tax records (office, bedroom desk, basement, etc.).  Make sure everything is organized so you can review paperwork on a regular basis.

2.    Organize and Label Receipts/invoices By the Correct Categories

a.     For this, you can use envelopes to separate the categories.  You can also put a paperclip for each category and label it with a sticky note.  To make it more fun, you can color coordinate each section!

3.    Print Receipts From Emails

a.     When your receipts are emailed, it would be best to print them out when you get home rather than waiting until the end of the year to jam everything in.

4.    Change Your Mindset

a.     While tax season seems like a hassle, think about the benefits of getting your information together on time.  The earlier it is done, the earlier you will get your refund.

5.    Income Tax

a.     By the end of January, every employee should get Form W-2 from the employer showing how much was earned, how much was taxable and taxes withheld.  Of course, if you have more then one job then you will get more then one W-2 from your employers.  If you are an independent contractor/own your own business, the company you work for will send you Form 1099-MISC showing your gross earnings.

We hope this helps you get organized for tax season!  Let us know your input J

Sources:

https://www.bankrate.com/finance/taxes/7-ways-to-get-organized-for-the-tax-year-1.aspx#slide=3

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/lori-rochino/7-simple-ways-to-get-orga_b_6561828.html

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