The Season of Slush

Did you know that there are actually 5 seasons?  It’s true!  There is spring, summer, winter, fall and slush.  A little confused?  You should be, as the season of “slush” is completely made up, but we think it should be honored by all Midwesterners.  Before the joy of spring can set in, a brief stint of cool slush sets over our fine lands.  Parking lots, baseball fields, lawns and roads fill with slushy water and ice that seeps into our shoes.  Is there anything good about the season of slush?  Yes there is!  The season of slush is a sign that good weather is coming, hopefully quickly.  Even though this time of year is quite annoying as you have to tiptoe in and out of your vehicle, remember that the joys, and warmth, of spring are just around the corner.  So, that next time you accidently step into that puddle you thought was a half an inch deep, but ends up going up to your shin, put a big smile on your face.  You can grin because even though that puddle won the battle, you will win the war.  In just a few short weeks that puddle will be gone until next year.

Happy Slush Season!

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

Aspirin, Not Just for Pain: Helpful Household Tips

Aspirin has been around for over a hundred years and has helped millions of people deal with daily pain, but did you know that some of aspirin’s best uses fall outside the body?  It’s true!  Aspirin is a great item to have around the house as it is helpful in more than one area:

·       Remove Perspiration Stains- Crush a few aspirin, mix them in ½ cup of warm water and soak the stained portion of the garment for 2-3 hours.

·       Restore Your Hair Color- After a pool day, your hair color may begin to fade.  Dissolve 6-8 pills in warm water and rub through your hair.  Let it sit for roughly 15 minutes before washing out.  

·       Control Insect Bites- Dampen mosquito or bee stings with water and rub an aspirin over it.

·       Extend Flower Life- If you have cut flowers in your home then add one crushed aspirin to their water source every time you refill it.  Your flowers will love you for it!

Unbelievable Use of the Week

We have not tried this use, but according to Reader’s Digest, if your vehicle’s battery is dead and jumper cables are nowhere to be found then you may be able to start your vehicle by dropping an aspirin directly into the battery.  The chemical reaction may give you one last jumpstart.  Be sure to have your vehicle checked right away though!

These uses and many more were found on the following Reader’s Digest site.

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

Quick Dinner: Turkey, Corn & Sun-Dried Tomato Wrap

Wraps are great.  Adults love em’, kids love em’, everyone loves em’!  This week’s quick dinner recipe is the Turkey, Corn & Sun-Dried Tomato Wrap.  These are easy to make and unbelievably delicious.  Give these a try tonight!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup corn kernels, fresh (see Tip) or frozen (thawed)
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh tomato
• 1/4 cup chopped soft sun-dried tomatoes (see Shopping Tip)
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar or cider vinegar
• 8 thin slices low-sodium deli turkey (about 8 ounces)
• 4 8-inch whole-wheat tortillas
• 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce

Directions:

1. Combine corn, tomato, sun-dried tomatoes, oil and vinegar in a medium bowl.
2. Divide turkey among tortillas. Top with equal portions of the corn salad and lettuce. Roll up. Serve the wraps cut in half, if desired.

Extra Tips:

• Tip: To remove corn kernels from the cob, stand an ear of corn on one end and slice the kernels off with a sharp knife. One ear will yield about 1/2 cup kernels.
• Shopping Tip: Look for soft sun-dried tomatoes (not oil-packed) in the produce section of most supermarkets. If you can only find dry (and hard) sun-dried tomatoes, soak them in boiling water for about 20 minutes before using.

This information was found at the attached site.

Enjoy!

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

Secret to a Perfect March Madness Bracket

 

March is finally here which means this month will be filled with historic triumph, crushing loses and last second buzzer beaters.  Sports analysts stay up late for weeks trying to determine how to build the perfect bracket.  Fans from around the nation pick their winners based on jersey colors, mascots, gut feelings and their hearts.  What is the secret to this madness?  How can you successfully determine who will run the table and walk away with the national title?  We will tell you: there is not secret.  What March Madness has taught us over the years is that no matter how many games you watch or how many stats you analyze there will always underdog stories, unbelievable blowouts and undefinable moments.  This year we should see the same as the reigning champion did not even make the tournament.  Good luck this year with your bracket and may your favorite team win it all!

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.



The Importance of the World Baseball Classic

 

The World Baseball Classic, or WBC, is a baseball tournament founded in 2005 that features a host of teams from around the world.  Various countries put together their best players and compete for WBC title every 4 years.  Much like the Olympics, players put it all on the line for their nation.  Why is this event for important?  Well, for starters, it only happens every 4 years, which makes it all the more rare, but when the Olympics dropped baseball from their summer events, it made it nearly impossible for the countries of the world to play one another in the great game.  The WBC also gives young players the ability to watch the best players in the game.  Lastly, the World Baseball Classic is much like the Olympics in that it instills a sense of unity throughout the world.  Regardless of a country’s situation, they can still root for their boys as they compete for the world title.  Even if baseball is not your favorite sport, you can still appreciate countries sending their best players overseas to compete.

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.



 

 

Airport Fun

 

 

Stuck at an airport with nothing to do?  That was my situation this last weekend as a blizzard rolled through the upper Midwest and I had to find different ways to stay busy.  Here are some ideas for your next lengthy airport layover:

1.    Sketching- Grab pen and paper.  Try sketching the different things around you: people, signs, planes, etc.

2.    Workout- This may seem a little weird, but pickup your bags and walk around for about 20 minutes.  You don’t have to sweating like crazy, but if you are stuck there, you might as well do something positive for your health.

3.    Stretch- Most of us never have time to stretch on a daily basis, but you should try whenever you get a chance.  Stretching can reduce muscle cramps, increase flexibility and could improve your overall health.

4.    Guess Their story- If the kids are getting restless then tell them to make up scenarios for why random people at the airport.  See who can be the most creative.

5.    Hot Wheel Car- Take a windup car from home and twist it until it is fully wound.  Before you walk to your gate, set the car down and watch it go!  The kids will get a huge laugh watching people step out of the way for the little car.

Happy Tuesday!

At Ryan Motors, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

Why You Need Vitamin C

You probably hear a lot of about Vitamin C as it appears in many health articles and studies, but what exactly does it do for your body and health?  We did some research to find out why you need Vitamin C in your daily diet.

·       Stress- According to Webmd, Vitamin C was beneficial to individuals whose immune system was weakened due to stress.

·       Colds- There is no proven research that links Vitamin C to a cure for the cold, but some studies do show that it helps with other complications that often occur during a minor cold.

·       Skin Aging- Studies show that a diet with sufficient Vitamin C could lead to a lower likeliness of wrinkles, decreased dryness and better aging skin.

How can you get your Vitamin C?  Fruit is typically the way to go.  Frozen or fresh fruit (oranges, berries, melons), raw veggies and other over the counter supplements are always a good idea. 

This information was found on the following site.

Stay healthy and warm out there!

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

Quick Dinners: Sautéed Shrimp Tacos

Fire up the stove and grab your favorite shrimp for this week’s awesome dinner recipe.  These delicious Sautéed Shrimp Tacos are ready in minutes and are sure to please any hungry family member!

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 white onion, sliced
• 1 1/2 pounds shrimp, peeled, deveined, and cut lengthwise
• Kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 jalapeño chile, stem removed, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic (from about four garlic cloves)
• 1/2 bunch Italian parsley, stems discard, leaves chopped
• 16 corn tortillas
• 1 lime, quartered

Directions:

1.      Pour the canola oil into a large skillet set over high heat. When just starting to smoke, add the onions and stir. Cook until they just start to turn soft, stirring constantly, about one minute. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are mostly pink.

2.      Add the butter, jalapeño, and garlic, and cook, stirring often, until the garlic is very fragrant, about one minute. Season with salt, and cook until the shrimp are completely cooked, about 30 seconds. Turn off the heat, and stir in the parsley.

3. Heat a second skillet over medium heat. Add as many tortillas as will fit in one layer, and warm them a few seconds on each side until soft. Set aside and cover with a towel. Repeat until all the tortillas are warm.

4.      Spoon a little of the shrimp filling into each tortilla. Serve with the lime wedges.

This recipe was found at the following site.

Enjoy!

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.

Saving Money 101

One of the hardest things to do each month is save money.  Groceries, kids, bills, rent, gas and entertainment are not cheap, and it has become quite difficult to save a substantial amount of money every year.  We gathered data from successful business professionals, bankers, financial advisors, single parents, large families and others to find the top 5 ways to save money each month.

5.) Prepare yourself to live off of 80% of your pay.  What does that mean?  If you make $1,000 a month, you should try and live off of $800.

4.) Create a budget.  This is not easy.  It takes time and thought.  Lay out your expenses for the month based on 80% of your take home pay;  Groceries, gas, rent/ mortgage payments, utilities, cell phone, etc.  Include in that budget some room for entertainment (movies, gadgets, name brand products, etc).

3.) STICK TO THE BUDGET.  We know, this is almost impossible as things come up.  Do everything you can to not exceed your monthly budget.  If that means not eating out for lunch, or saving instead of buying, then do all you can to live within your budget.

2.) Save 15-20% each month.  As state above, living off of 80% of your monthly income, means that 20% will be left over.  Place anywhere from 5-10% in a savings account and leave the other 10% in your checking or non-interest accounts.  Even if you are saving $100 a month, that is $100 you did not have at the beginning.  Trust us, it can add up!

1.) Avoid adding extra debt.  It is hard to put a “want” on the backburner, especially when you have a credit card handy, but that extra debt can become a burden down the road.  Try to save then buy, instead of buying right now.  For example, if there is a new TV for $500 dollars, but you only have $400 in your budget, wait until you accumulate an extra $100.  It is ok to use credit cards, that is what they are there for, but make sure you have the funds available to pay it off immediately.

Bonus Tip.) Don’t become so worried that you don’t enjoy life.  It is ok to spend money on yourself.  Enjoy each day and live with no regrets.

At Ryan, vehicles may be our profession, but people are our passion.