Embracing a Meatless Thanksgiving and Holiday Season

 

Mouth Watering Thanksgiving Stuffing: Click image to license. © Evan's Studio, 2017

The Benefits of A Meatless Thanksgiving and Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, the family gatherings and meal preparation take center stage. Traditionally, this time of year has been synonymous with large parties centered around meat-heavy dishes. A growing movement towards sustainability, health, and ethical compassion has paved the way for a meatless Thanksgiving and a more plant-based approach to the holiday celebrations. Many more of your guests are likely to have meatless diets so it is important that you don't alienate them. In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits of offering a meatless Thanksgiving and share tips on how to put your best foot forward this holiday season.

A Meatless Thanksgiving: A Celebration of Gratitude

1. Delicious Meatless Thanksgiving Recipes:

   • Explore a variety of plant-based recipes that capture the spirit of Thanksgiving and the holiday season. From Butternut Squash Risotto to home-made stuffing, there are limitless plant-based options that will be sure to keep your guests happy.

   • Browse recipes for vegan pumpkin pudding, vegan pumpkin pie, and vegan pecan pie for your Vegan guests.

2. Health Benefits of Plant-Based Diets:

   • There are many health benefits associated with meatless diets.

   • There is evidence that plant-based diets can help protect against cardiovascular disease, obesity, type-2 diabetes, and hypertention.

Extending Meatless Feasts Beyond Thanksgiving: A Meatless Holiday Season

1. Inclusive Holiday Entertaining:

   • Whether it's Hanukkah, Christmas, or New Year's Eve, learn how to prepare meatless feasts for your Vegetarian and Vegan guests.

   • Ask your guests if they have any diet restrictions before the festivities to ensure that everyone feels welcome.
     

2. Ethical Considerations:

   • Many people consider themselves Moral Vegetarians and don't eat meat because they believe that it is wrong on some level eg. causing unnecessary harm to animals and polluting the environment. 

    

   Do you have a favorite meatless holiday recipe that you would like to share? If so, leave a comment below!
   

    

Where is Your Unclaimed Money? The Best Ways To Claim Your Cash Online

 

 

Detailed view of a $1 dollar bill at an angle, representing unclaimed money discovery in our blog post. Click image to license.

© Evan's Studio, 2023

Unclaimed Money: Your Treasure Hunt for Hidden Cash

Introduction

Most of us can use some extra cash and there is a relatively quick and painless way to find some. The good news is that you are likely to have a hidden treasure waiting for you in the form of unclaimed money. In fact, according to CNBC, about 1 in 7 people have unclaimed property and there are close to $70 billion in unclaimed assets. In this blog post, we'll give a brief overview of unclaimed money and introduce you to valuable resources like MissingMoney.com that can help you uncover funds you didn't even know you had.

Defining Unclaimed Money

Unclaimed.org defines unclaimed money as "property or accounts within financial institutions or companies—in which there has been no activity generated (or contact with the owner) regarding the property for one year or a longer period." After a period of dormancy the property is designated as unclaimed, and by law, has to be turned over to the state. These assets can include forgotten bank accounts, annuties, unclaimed paychecks, stocks, dividends, abandoned safe deposit boxes, security deposits and more. Over time, these assets must be transferred to the custody of the state, where they wait to be claimed by their rightful owners.

The Importance of Reclaiming Unclaimed Money

Finding and reclaiming unclaimed money is relatively easy and can make a significant difference in your financial situation, especially for the people living paycheck to paycheck. It's simply put - free money - that can be used to pay bills, cover unexpected expenses, or go on a shopping spree. Why leave money on the table with the state when you can put it to good use for yourself and your family?

The Role of MissingMoney.com

MissingMoney.com is a user-friendly website sponsored by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) and the National Association of State Treasurers. There are 48 states, including California, that partner with missingmoney.com. It is designed to help individuals search multiple states at once and aggregates information from state agencies and organizations. Using this platform, you can quickly conduct a comprehensive search to see if any unclaimed funds are associated with your name.

How to Search for Unclaimed Money on MissingMoney.com

1. Visit the Website: Enter the URL MissingMoney.com.

2. Put In Your Information: Type your name in the search box.
   

3. Search: Click the search button, and the website will scan its database for any matches.

4. Review the Results: The website will display potential matches. Review the details carefully to make sure that they are correct. Tip: enter maiden names and name variations as well.
   

5. Claim Your Money: Follow the instructions listed to claim your unclaimed money. The process usually involves verifying your identity and providing some documentation.

More Resources

• Treasury Hunt: allows you to search for bonds that are older than 30 years, have matured and have not been cashed.
  
• Bureau of the Fiscal Service: tells you how to claim money from HUD, credit unions, US courts, and more.
  
• The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division: you can search to see if you are owed back wages by a former employer.
• TreasuryDirect.gov: provides links to various agencies where you can conduct more in-depth searches.
  

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Have you been able to claim money using any of these methods? Leave a comment below!

Top 5 Spooktacular Halloween Costumes for 2023: Unleash Your Inner Monster!

 

A plump orange pumpkin in an Irvine pumpkin patch. Click image to license. © Evan's Studio, 2021

It is about that time of the year again! Halloween is in less than two months, and it's time to prepare using this Halloween costume guide for 2023! Whether you're planning a spine-tickling haunted house party or going trick-or-treating with your little devils, the perfect costume is paramount. This blog post lists the top 5 Halloween costumes for 2023!

The Top 5 Halloween Costumes for 2023

1. Barbie and Ken from the Barbie movie: 

   The Barbie movie was a big box office hit this summer and there are many ways you can customize these costumes to make them unique. Embrace your inner Barbie and Ken with ready made costumes or make your own!
   

2. Wednesday Addams: 

   What better way to celebrate Halloween than with an Addams family costume! Wednesday is the Netflix series that focuses on the gothic life of Wednesday Addams starring Jenna Ortega. You can find some inspiration for this costume here.
   

3. Harley Quinn from the Suicide Squad: 

   Join the ranks of supervillains this Halloween as Harley Quinn! The Suicide Squad is the DC Comics movie featuring Harley Quinn, a former psychiatrist turned evil. There are many different colorful outfits available for this idea.
   

4. Paw Patrol Costumes: 

   Paw Patrol is a TV series featuring a group of superhero dogs who work together to protect the community. There are many different dogs that you can dress up as including: Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Rocky, Zuma, Skye, Coral, Everest, Tracker, Tuck, Ella, and Rex!
   

5. Squid Game Costumes: 

   Squid Game is the popular Netflix shows where contestants are invited to participate in dangerous games with deadly consequences. The contestants wear track suits with numbers while the staff wear jumpsuits and masks. Check out this Seventeen article for Squid Game costume inspiration!

   
   A green pumpkin, or gumpkin, in an Irvine pumpkin patch. © Evan's Studio, 2021
   

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That is it – the top 5 Halloween costume ideas for 2023! What are you going to dress up as this year? Leave a comment below!