2689 Monument Bl. #F Concord, CA 94520 925-356-0683 Dave, Mary and Jack Get ready for winter — Bring your vehicle in for a courtesy 52 point inspection 5 Lies We Tell Ourselves The Ultimate How to Miracle Weight Loss System Page 3 Page 7 The 25¢Football Game Why Do We Say “Get one’s goat”? Page 3 Page 7 All rights reserved. Reproduction is forbidden without written permission. Auto Insights is published by PageOnePublishingLLC.com © Auto-Insights - Keeping you on the road to better living D&H Enterprises 2689 Monument Bl. #F, Concord, CA 94520 Holiday and Events 2010 Book Blitz Month Celebration of Life Month Family Fit Lifestyle Month Financial Wellness Month Get Organized Month International Creativity Month International Wealth Mentality Month National Blood Donor Month 1 New Year's Day 3 Fruitcake Toss Day 4 Trivia Day 4 National Thank God It's Monday Day 4-10 Women's Self-Empowerment Week 7 I'm Not Going to Take It Anymore Day 8 National English Toffee Day 7-10 Elvis Presley 75th Birthday Celebration 8-14 Universal Letter Writing Week 10 National Cut Your Energy Costs Day 10 United Nations Day 11 National Clean Off Your Desk Day 15 Get To Know Your Customer Day 17 Customer Service Day 17-23 Hunt for Happiness Week 24-31 Week of Christian Unity 18 Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday 21 National Hugging Day 22 Celebration of Life Day 24 National Compliment Day 25 Better Business Communication Day 29 Freethinker's Day January 2010 2010: Make This Year Truly New and Happy Every January, besides recovering from the holidays, we settle back into the “normal” routine of life and the beginning of a new year. Renewed and motivated, we set goals, make resolutions, determined that this year will be better. Some of us write those goals down, some of us simply think about them. One popular theory has convinced many of us that if we want something strongly enough, all we have to do is believe we will get it. All we have to do is visualize it in our minds, feel and act as if we already have it, and this magic genie will appear to grant your every wish. Who wouldn’t want to believe this were true? No hard work, no plan, no long lines. Just pass go, collect $200.00 and believe that every roll of the dice will grant you Board Walk, Park Place and a Get Out of Jail Free Card. This is not to discredit positive thinking, the power of inspiration, a strong desire and absolute belief in yourself to achieve great things. These attitudes are essential to success. But so is a specific plan, a focused commitment, unwavering perseverance and hard work. Passive vs. Active: Active wins. If it is change we want, we must change. We must have courage to take risks, for without courage, without risks, what we have is what we get. And that’s exactly what we’ll have next year, and the year after that. It’s your life. You make your own choices, your own success, your own happiness. Wish all you want, drop your coin in the well, then roll up your sleeves, get to work and make it happen.. Start the New Year right with a $10 savings from Jack valid until 01/31/10 D&H Enterprises 925-356-0683 — www.DandHautorepair.com Page 2 Awesome Crunchy Catfish 4 catfish filets (6 oz. each) 1 cup cornflakes smashed into crumbs (this is about 1/2 of a 12 oz. box) 1/4 tsp. celery salt 1/2 tsp. onion powder 1/4 tsp. paprika 1/8 tsp. pepper 1 egg white 2 Tbsp. buttermilk (you can use regular milk) Pat fish dry and set aside. In glass pie plate, combine crumbs, celery salt, onion powder, paprika, and pepper. In a shallow bowl beat egg white. Add milk. Dip fillets in egg white mixture, then dip into crumb mixture, coating well. Place in greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Makes 4 servings. Fruits and Vegetables to Buy in Season and Save Money too! • • • • • • Oranges Grapefruit Tangerines Tangelos Lemons Papayas January: • Cabbages: red, white and green • Leeks • Broccoli • Cauliflower Overweight is something that just sort of snacks up on you. Back by popular demand The Best Butternut Squash Soup Five Cooking Secrets 1. Baking powder goes flat, so buy in small containers and check the expiration date. 2. Fresh broccoli doesn’t smell. If it does— don’t buy it. 3. When buying acorn, butternut, or any winter squash, pick the ones with dull skin. Shiny skins means the squash was most likely picked green. 4. Do not store chocolate in plastic wrap—it will give it an unpleasant taste. Wrap it freezer paper, then foil, and store in a dark, cool, dry place. (Away from other foods with strong odors) 5. Store soft cookies and crisp cookies separately, or crisp cookies will soften, too. 2 pounds packaged, pre-cut butternut squash 2 tablespoons peanut oil or butter 1 cup chopped shallots 2 ½ teaspoons chopped garlic 2 thinly sliced carrots 1/2 heaping teaspoon ground cumin (smells “odd” while cooking—but the flavor is awesome!) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste) 2 cups regular Swanson’s chicken stock 1/4 – 1/2 cup heavy cream In a large pot, heat peanut oil or butter over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until they begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the carrot, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, then add squash and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15- 20 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Remove from heat, transfer to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. (If you have an immersion blender, puree in pan.) Return to heat, stir in the cream and cook 5 more minutes. Reheats well if you have any left over. (We never do, darn it!) So simple, and a true taste of culinary heaven. Enjoy! D&H Enterprises 925-356-0683 — www.DandHautorepair.com The Lies We Tell Ourselves Page 3 There are as many different lies told as there are reasons for telling them. They range from harmless, to kindness, to manipulative, to just plain mean. But the worst lies, the ones that do the most damage, are the ones we tell ourselves. Every lie we tell ourselves, every lie we believe, cuts away a piece of who we are and who we can be. We trim away at ourselves, snipping and clipping, until what I call “The Bonsai Effect” takes over. There is no growth, no joyous spread of branches, no reaching for the sun. Our roots are restricted, our spirits stifled. Here are just a few of the liew we tell ourselves: 1. It is easier to avoid problems than to face them. Procrastinators and non-confrontational personalities fall into this category, hoping if they ignore or avoid a problem, it will simply go away or resolve itself. The fact is, in the long run, avoiding problems not only tends to make them worse, it increases your lack of self-esteem and confidence. Learn to face your problems and fears and develop a plan to solve them. 2. To get ahead, I must be perfect. If you measure your sense of self-worth and success by your productivity or your accomplishments, you will be in a constant struggle. Your need for perfectionism is a losing battle. No matter how well you do, you will not believe it was “good enough.” You lose the joy of the journey, and in your heart, no matter how great the accolades, you will feel like a fraud. Your fear is that people will see the person who you believe is the “real” you—the fraud. If this is you, it’s time to be realistic about your expectations and standards, stop worrying, and focus on the sheer joy of just “being.” A parent, your occupation, your hobbies, your relationships. Lighten up, learn to laugh at yourself, banish the critic and just have a good time. 3. Money will make me happy. Cont’d on page 6 January Means Football! Empty Seat A Denver Broncos fan was enjoying himself at the game in a packed Mile High Stadium, until he noticed an empty seat down in front. He went down and asked the guy next to it if he knew whose seat it was. The guy said, "Yes, that's my wife's seat. We have never missed a game since the Craig Morton days, but now my wife is dead." The fan offered his sympathy and said it was really too bad that he couldn't find some relative to give the ticket to and enjoy the game together. "Oh no." the guy said. "They're all at the funeral." Her First Football Game A guy took his girlfriend to her first football game. Afterward he asked her how she liked the game. 'I liked it, but I couldn't understand why they were killing each other for 25 cents,' she said. 'What do you mean?' he asked. 'Well, everyone kept yelling, 'Get the quarter back!' D&H Enterprises 925-356-0683 — www.DandHautorepair.com Page 4 Convenient Appointments Email Mary at [email protected] with your email address and be entered into a drawing for a lunch/dinner certificate to La Tapatia in Concord. We are collecting your email addresses so we can contact you with service and appointment reminders via email And the next time you’re on line, check us out on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/auto.repair.shop#/ pages/DH-Enterprises/211113671501?ref=mf We are trying to set a goal to reach 200 fans by 2/10/2010! Vehicle Donations Don’t forget…….we are your source for tired vehicle donations. Call Dave and he will arrange your donation for you. The 12-part series, “Make 2009 Your Best Year Ever” is available.You can download a copy from our website, www.DandHautorepair.com Do Orange Tires Have Appeal? The Yokohama Tire Corp. has figured out how to use oranges to make a greener tire. Nearly 20 gallons of petroleum are used to make a set of tires. By adding oil extracted from orange peels in with the natural rubber, Yokohama has cut the amount of petroleum in its dB Super E-spec tires by 80%. The tire is produced in an emissions-free plant using peels discarded by orange juice manufacturers. The Super-E-spec is about $30 more per tire. Wear and braking performance is on par with standard tires. They have a 22 percent lower rolling resistance, which means improved fuel economy. Currently, the tire is available for Mini Cooper, Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and Insight, and the Nissan Versa. And for the curious: They don't have a citrus scent and they aren't orange. Client Spotlight: Sara Swafford We met Sara Swafford of Sky high Software through our “BNI”, business networking affiliation. Watching Sara’s presentations at BNI made us realize just how outdated our Web Site was. We wishfully wanted to redesign our website but with the economy slowing we just could not justify the expense. Fortunately for us Sara was the owner of a Ford Explorer that had been sadly neglected as Sara struggled to start her business. Thankfully Sara agreed to “trade services” and we immediately began work on her vehicle and you can see the incredible job she did for us by checking out www. dandhautorepair.com. Sara’s an amazing lady, her knowledge and talent with website creation are incredible. Whatever we want on the site, she makes it happen. Thank you Sara for giving us one of the hottest web sites on the internet! Check Sara out at www. skyhighsoftware.com Source: Automotive News D&H Enterprises 925-356-0683 — www.DandHautorepair.com Page 5 A Special Thanks to: Bill Schaaf of “We The People” for referring Doug Holmes to D&H. Dave and Staff Thank you for all the wonderful service you have provided for our jeeps! Sincerely Cecelia and Jim Gutierrez Win A $20 Starbucks Gift Certificate. Be one of the first 20 callers with the correct answer to the Readers Quiz and you’ll be entered into our monthly free prize drawing. Someone has to win. Why not you? Here’s this month’s question: Fresh broccoli smells. True or False Call us at 925-356-0683 with your answer. You just might be our next lucky winner! Don Hayes was last month’s winner. Don knew the longest fruitcake toss was 1,420 feet. Dave and Mary’s Corner... “We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.” –Edith Lovejoy Pierce I love this quote from Edith Lovejoy Pierce. The start of a new year always makes me feel energized. Dave always looks stunned as I move through the house cleaning out closets and filling bags for donation. Later I will catch him searching through the donation bags making sure that I have not given away a shirt that is perhaps 25 years old but is full of happy memories. The Holidays were wonderful as always. The family gatherings brought all of us together for a day full of laughter and reminiscing. Every holiday I say “this was the best Christmas ever”, this year was no exception. Jack managed to behave beautifully Christmas Day. Derrick and Taunia have two cats, one will hide the entire time we are at their house and the other loves Jack to pieces and tries to play with him. Although he usually terrorizes any and all cats, this cat is his friend. To see a dog and a cat touching noses in friendship is incredible. As I am writing this, we are looking back upon 2009 and thinking of the struggles we went through as the economy faltered and came to a crashing halt. "We know that change is rarely a smooth process. It can be intimidating and chaotic. In fact, transition has the potential to either launch an organization to the next level, or dump it into the deepest pit. That's why wise leaders look out for change, then manage it, and lead their people through it." -John Maxwell As the quote above states, change is rarely a smooth process. We made many changes to our business plan as the year progressed. Dave and I spent many sleepless nights wondering if we could make it through this downturn. Looking back at 2009 I have to say that conversations with my customers helped me to get through the really dark times. I realized that I was not alone, that many of you were experiencing the same chaos and transition. Whenever I felt that life could not be more difficult I would remember a previous conversation with one of you and knowing that I was not alone helped tremendously. 2010 is here and as the economy (hopefully) grows stronger let’s remember the lessons we have learned in the past months and build upon them. In closing,my wishes to all of you for a happy, healthy New Year. Mary D&H Enterprises 925-356-0683 — www.DandHautorepair.com Page. 6 How to Save Time, Money and Your Sanity H aving to search through the clutter on your desk for that important file, report or phone number not only wastes our time (our most precious commodity) but it’s also stressful, and in the worst scenario, could cost you an account, a client, or even your job. “I realize my office is messy,” you say, “but I know where everything is. I have a system.” The only “system” you have are excuses. The human brain is designed to like order. We function and think better when the world around us is neat and tidy. Lost keys, schedules and cell phones create stress, inconvenience and once again, sucks away our precious time. Also, a messy desk sends several messages to the people around you: You’re a slob; you lack discipline; lazy; complacent and less capable of performing a task or job efficiently or professionally. Don’t believe me? Take a picture of your desk and be objective. Would you hire you? As a reminder, and a motivator, keep this picture where you can look it. If you want to “clean up your act,” not to mention your image, here are a few suggestions to get you started. Clean out old files. Either box up and label or toss them out. Sort the papers, letters, notes, files, reports, etc. into separate piles that belong together. Articles, client information, bills, immediate “to-do,” potential ideas or projects, etc. Keep tossing papers you don’t need. Now sort these piles again into an order—date, name, importance, area. NOW FILE THEM. Make a list and buy items you need to help you organize. Additional file cabinets, files, label maker, book shelves, office supplies, shredder, desktop organizers and Rolodex. Keep a list of office supplies and as they dwindle, make one trip to restock. One last word of advice. Deal with paperwork as it comes in, in order of importance, and be diligent until neat becomes habit. Now take another picture and compare it to the “before.” Odds are, you won’t recognize your own office! from “Lies” page 3 Few would argue that being rich is much better than being poor. External comforts and material possessions can certainly bring pleasure. But the pleasure is fleeting, leaving an emptiness that feels as if it can only be filled by more. Newer, better, bigger. And still that sense of joy seems to elude you. Happiness, joy and true satisfaction is achieved internally, it’s a sense of awareness, a contentment with who you are on the inside. Kindness, compassion, loving, selfless, giving. Happiness is having the ability to step outside yourself and feel gratitude and appreciation for the things money cannot buy—from a baby’s laugh, the sun on your face, a roof over your head, a loving spouse, or a good friend. 4. My problems are not my fault. Even if this statement is sometimes true, the underlying response is one of a victim mentality. The blame game. Finger pointing. Whatever the situation, it is critical to take responsibility, if not for the problem, then for how you react, or don’t react. Accepting responsibility takes self-awareness, courage and brutal honesty with yourself. If you truly believe you have no control and cannot change an unpleasant situation, or your response to that situation, that you have fallen into the “I feel sorry for myself ” rut. Learn to take action, face problems, solve them, or at least change how you react. You will not only respect yourself, so will others. There are more lies we tell ourselves: I’m not young enough, smart enough, attractive enough, and so on and so on. There’s simply no room to address them all, though they are all equally important. Learn to recognize that inner critic, the one sitting on your shoulder constantly whispering negatives in your ear. This critic is your own worst enemy—you. Know that he is wrong, then smack him off your shoulder and be your own best friend. This article was submitted by Barbara McCauley, an award-winning author whose novels have appeared on USA Today and Borders Best Seller Lists. D&H Enterprises 925-356-0683 — www.DandHautorepair.com The Annual Ultimate How To Miracle Weight Loss System We are a culture obsessed with body image. No surprise, considering the overwhelming attention from a media designed to emphasize skinny, welltoned beautiful men and women who “have it all.” The promise is if you use their product, you can be just as skinny, just as well-toned, and you can have it all, too. You’ll be happier, have more friends, get that promotion and all your problems will simply disappear. When it comes to weight loss, there are two kinds of people. Those who want to lose weight, because you believe you will look better and be happier, and those who need to lose weight (health issues.) Maybe you’re both. But whatever your reason for shedding those extra pounds, here are five tips to start you on the path to a healthier, happier, slimmer you. • A realistic attitude. Forget the “Lose 20 Pounds in One Week,” the “Ultimate Secret Formula to Melt Pounds Away.” Forget the pills, fad diets, the sucking and tucking. Get your head out of the clouds and your feet on the ground. You can’t think or wish away pounds, no matter how much you want to believe it. • Portion control. We were taught to clean our plates, so just train yourself to put less on your plate. Less food, less calories. When you eat out, ask for a to-go box when you order and pack half your meal to take home. Avoid buffets! • Chew and eat slowly. This really does work. When we eat fast, we tend to eat more. (The brain doesn’t have time to receive the message we’re full.) • Don’t deprive yourself. Just try and tell yourself you don’t want that piece of cake or ice cream. That’s all you’ll think about, until you give in. Guilt and shame and a sense of futility can set you back. Allow yourself treats, but smaller portions and once again, eat slowly and savor. • Give yourself a makeover. If you’ve been neglecting yourself because you don’t feel attractive, it’s time for a little pampering. First, Page 7 Why Do We Say It? Bone to Pick People who are in disagreement over a point can be compared to two dogs picking on one bone, thus the expression, “I have a bone to pick with you.” Get One’s Goat This expression comes from horse racing, when a goat would be placed in a stall with a nervous horse, who once accustomed to the goat, would find it comforting. A rival race horse owner would sometimes steal the goat, making the horse more nervous and hopefully lose the race. G. I. Where did American Soldiers get the nickname G. I.? G. I. stands for “Government Issue,” and the term originally applied to articles issued by the government. The term has evolved to now mean practically everything in army life that is standardized—including the soldiers themselves! Miracle Weight Loss, cont’d buy a few articles of clothing that are pretty, slimming and just make you “feel” good. This goes for men, too (just substitute handsome for pretty). Learn what looks best on your body type, and the colors that perk you up. Men and women, get a stylish, salon haircut. Ladies, a little makeup can do wonders to make you feel more attractive. When you feel more attractive, you’ll be more motivated to stick with a healthier lifestyle. You might have noticed there is no mention here about eating healthy or exercise. You’ve already been told, and told, and told again, about the benefits of fruits and vegetables and thirty minutes, three days of working out. You’ve also been told to see a doctor before any changes in diet or exercise. There’s no point in telling you these things again. You know what you need to do. Now do it. D&H Enterprises 925-356-0683 — www.DandHautorepair.com
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