Lately I've been striving to be a better cook. I want to impress my friends with my mouthwatering homemade meals. I want to beat out my cousins for the title of "Favorite Grandson" with the exquisite dishes I bring to family reunions. I want to be known as a culinary mastermind, a ninja in the kitchen whose creativity and resourcefulness is unmatched and unparalleled.

Though delicious food is a frighteningly powerful motivator, I've found that, frankly, cooking is hard work! After subjecting myself to hours of Pancake 101, my capability of making them from scratch is still amateur at best. Though my friends and I often have potato parties — social gatherings where everyone brings a potato-based dish to share — my typical mash of red skin potatoes, cheese and bacon isn't exactly mind blowing.

Marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers. That's all you need. It's a beautifully simple formula, yet it holds opportunities for you to creatively make it your own.Fortunately for me, there are some recipes that are nearly impossible to mess up, and one of my all-time favorites in this category is the recipe for s'mores! Marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers. That's all you need. It's a beautifully simple formula, yet it holds opportunities for you to creatively make it your own.

Here are 5 interesting facts about s'mores from Real Simple:

1. The Merriam-Webster dictionary suggests the first known use of the word "s'more" was in 1974.
2. Despite the dictionary's claims, the first known s'more recipe was published in a Girl Scouts handbook in 1927.
3. The world's largest s'more weighed 267 pounds and was comprised of 140 pounds of marshmallows, 90 pounds of chocolate and 90 pounds of graham crackers.
4. Many restaurants have tried to capitalize on the popularity of s'mores, and this has led to s'more French fries, martinis, macarons and other unique creations.
5. Americans buy 90 million pounds of marshmallows every year. Additionally, during the summer it is estimated that 50 percent of marshmallows sold are used for s'mores.

​
Who wouldn't want a piece of the world's largest s'more? Sure, it would make your hands sticky, but it would certainly make your heart happy too!

content courtesy of Foremost Insurance

​When the air feels crisper, the leaves start changing and the pumpkin spice products make their reappearance in stores … you know the best time of the year has arrived: fall! One of the best parts of fall in Livingston and Deep East Texas is the food, the warm cider and of course … decorating your home! Changing up your home décor is always fun reminder to enjoy the seasons changing and can make your space feel a little cozier. However, it can get a little pricey if you don't take advantage of DIY projects. Here's some easy and inexpensive ways to brighten up your home for autumn!

• Collect pinecones from outside and place them around your house where it makes sense. Places like on a table, built in shelves, or place them in a mason jar and put it on display. If pinecones aren't an option, you can also collect acorns!
• Buy affordable faux decorations at a local crafts store or thrift store. Look for leaf garlands, plastic pumpkins or silk flowers that go with your fall theme.
• Place a stack of hay next to your mailbox or porch railing.
• Lay some seasonal gourds on a tray for a unique table centerpiece.
• Shop for your pumpkins locally! Generally, pumpkins are very affordable and a perfect display piece for your porch or inside your home.
• DIY your wreath. Get a wreath form and some colorful, artificial flowers to attach to it, using a glue gun or florists wire you can create a welcoming addition to your front door.
• Place a cinnamon broom in the entryway of your home. This will make your house smell like autumn without spending money on expensive candles. Along with the pleasant smell, it goes well with the rest of your fall décor!
• Collect colored leaves, then cut two equal pieces of wax paper and brush them with glue. Arrange the leaves onto the glue on one piece of wax paper. Then cover with the other sheet and press together to stick. You can frame it for your wall or hang in a window.
• No need to go out and buy new throw pillows -- switch out your pillow cases for a more festive look! You can look for pillowcases that will fit the season online or at your local thrift store. Then, when autumn is over, all you need to do is swap the pillowcases out again.

Once you've redecorated your space, don't forget to relax and enjoy this time of year!

content courtesy of Foremost Insurance

Each year, many people look forward to carving pumpkins for Halloween! Scooping out the slimy guts, cutting out a scary face, and baking the seeds to eat as a snack is a fun experience your entire family can enjoy. But if you're not careful, carving a pumpkin can lead to painful cuts and injuries.

According to the ASSH (American Society for Surgery of the Hand), thousands of people hurt themselves carving pumpkins every year during Halloween. Some of these injuries require surgery, but there could be worse cases.
Following these safety tips can help you and your family avoid injuries while carving your pumpkins this year.

1. Use the Right Tools Using a specially designed pumpkin carving tool can be safer than using a kitchen knife. Carving saws, stencils and scoops are less likely to have sharp edges, meaning they are less likely to create deep, penetrating cuts.
   According to Jeffrey Wint, MD, "a sharper knife is not necessarily better, because it often becomes wedged in the thicker part of the pumpkin, requiring force to remove it." If your hand is in the wrong place, this force can easily transfer to an injury when the knife is finally dislodged.
2. Do Decorative Work Before Removing the Inside of the Pumpkin Unless you're a carving pro, don't freestyle your design! Create a pattern on the surface of the pumpkin before you start carving. Draw or create a stencil with a sharpie that you can follow with your carving saw. This will help to decrease the likelihood that you'll need to make corrections, which create more opportunities for injuries.
3. Be patient Take your time and make sure you are carving with control. After all, carving a Halloween pumpkin is meant to be a fun activity. There's no need to rush! Plan on budgeting a few hours at least for this activity. If you take a little extra time to carve the pumpkin, it will probably look better, and it's still going to be faster than recovering from a nerve or tendon injury.
4. Don't Burn Yourself! When putting a candle in the pumpkin after your design is complete, make sure the flame stays far away from your skin. Consider cutting the bottom out of the pumpkin instead of the top. That way, you can just lower the pumpkin down onto the candle without having to reach your hand inside. Also, remember to blow the candle out before you go to sleep. As you know, forgetting to blow the candle out can cause a fire. As an alternative, consider using battery-operated candle-shaped lights.

content courtesy of Foremost Insurance

tail·gate /'tālˌgāt/
Verb Informal/NORTH AMERICAN

1. host or attend a social gathering at which an informal meal is served from the back of a parked vehicle, typically in the parking lot of a sports stadium.
   "Lot 16E is reserved for alumni who wish to tailgate before the game."

In addition to insurance policies for auto and home, we also offer insurance policies for things you hitch to your vehicle like campers, boats or recreational vehicles. We know that in addition to being useful for towing things, your vehicle's tailgate can also be the location for a fantastic gathering of family and friends before a big game!

To help you plan, we've gathered some tips on how to throw a great tailgate party.

• Tickets  --Seasoned tailgaters likely don't need the reminder, but if you're new to tailgating or are traveling to a new venue to see your team, make sure you have the proper game day ticket or tailgate ticket in addition to a parking pass for the designated tailgate area for the big game.
• Safety and first aid gear  --While there may be medical personnel stationed nearby for the game, bring your own first-aid kit, so you're prepared for any minor injuries or ailments. Make sure you also have a fire extinguisher.
• Generator and grill check  --If it's allowed at the venue and you plan on bringing a grill and/or a generator, it's a good idea to check both prior to your event to make sure they are in safe, working order. Also, make sure you have enough fuel for your grill and the generator so you can run them for as long as you'll need.
• Weather check  --Nobody wants to be soggy or cold, so check the weather leading up to game day and plan for the weather conditions, including any inclement weather. Think layers for warmth, raincoats, rain ponchos, suitable footwear for cold or wet conditions, gloves, hats, etc. Don't forget the sunscreen. And obviously, whatever you wear, be sure you're sporting your team colors!
• Chairs, tents and team swag  --Once you know what the weather forecast is, you can plan what you'll need in terms of your tailgate party set up. Some people use their RV as their tailgate vehicle (make sure you check with the venue to see if RVs are allowed), some use their car, SUV, van or truck as the main gathering point. Whatever vehicle you use, you can easily position chairs, a portable table with your grill, coolers, and any other gear you may want like a canopy tent around the back of the vehicle. And don't forget to bring along your team's flag or other team paraphernalia so you can properly rep your team on game day!
• Snacks  --According to Foremost snack enthusiasts, this might be the most important element to a tailgate party! Think of foods that are easily prepared in advance and that travel well, like handheld and small-bite snacks that you and your guests can enjoy with minimal mess. If you're meeting friends or family at the game, you can organize and assign who will bring what snacks, so you have all your food and beverage bases covered. There are plenty of recipes to check out online - here's a round-up of over 50 tasty-looking tailgate recipes from the Food Network. Maybe you'll find a new recipe to try.
• Enjoy  --Finally, it's game day and all your planning will pay off. Once you arrive at the designated tailgate area and get set up, it's time to enjoy the festivities and the game.

Restoring a classic car can be a tall task. Whether your beloved classic car has withered over the years, or you've just bought a basket case as a passion project, there's a lot that goes into getting it back in pristine condition.
But the following tips can help your classic car restoration DIY project go smoothly and help make all the work worth it!

1. Exercise patience.Even if you have every piece laid out in front of you - with a set of detailed instructions - restoring a classic car can take a lot longer than you expect.
   There are countless things that can go wrong. And many times, they do.
   Sometimes you might find that it's difficult to source some parts you need.
   Other times, the parts can be delayed.
   Further, as you become more proficient throughout your classic car restoration project, you may start to notice some of your earlier efforts don't match your updated standards.
   If (or when) that happens, you may decide to redo a few things - which can be a whole day's worth of work, or longer.
   If you go into the project expecting unexpected delays, you might not get as frustrated when they inevitably happen. You may even embrace them!
2. Know your skillset.Classic car restoration requires a diverse skillset. And it's very rare for one person to be able to complete every job at the highest professional standards.
   If you're one of those people, great!
   If not, that's ok.
   Do as best as you can. And remember, there's nothing wrong with outsourcing a few tasks to experienced professionals.
   But if you're confident enough to literally do it all yourself, cut yourself some slack if some of your work is average.
3. Stay organized.Your classic car restoration can get hectic. If you aren't keeping track of everything, you can easily double the amount of time it takes to complete the job.
   When you strip the car down, consider labeling each part.
   Additionally, it may help to take pictures of everything so you can see how all the various components fit together, as well as how all the wires and pipes are run.
   For small parts, consider placing them in freezer bags (and labeling them).
   Labeling everything and taking pictures is well worth the time you'll spend doing it.
4. Have fun!If you're taking on a classic car restoration yourself, you're probably exceptionally passionate about your vehicle.
   But once you start experiencing the ups and downs that come with the process, you can easily get frustrated and stop enjoying the process.
   Remember that there's always someone out there that has solved the problem you're facing now.
   There are countless tools, quality parts, tutorials and even trainings to help you out.
   And once you finally get your classic car out on the road, your sense of fulfillment will likely far outweigh any frustrations you experienced during the restoration process.

Good luck with your classic car restoration!

content courtesy of Foremost Insurance.