Deck The Halls With Fresh Ideas
Rachel Cummins • November 9, 2020
Pretty ideas to make your holiday merry and bright!
Glamourous Gold Tones
Using gold in your holiday décor will add subtle glamour to your table. This classic metallic pairs well with traditional crimson red and evergreen shades that will give your home a timeless holiday feeling. Feeling adventurous this year? Gold tones play well with unconventional holiday colors like purple, blue and pastel pink. Using gold will anchor any holiday color palette you create this season.
Delightful Details
Life is in the details! This is especially true if you’re creating a Christmas village in your home. Taking the time to add a special touch to your miniature world will breathe life into it. Placing a mirror underneath an ice skater to mimic a frozen pond, spreading cotton for the look of snow or adding a tiny version of your favorite store will make it that much more special this year. Look for pieces that light up like streetlamps or items that move, such as a train that circles the town. Movement and lighting create atmosphere and personality. Running low on space? Stage your town on stacked wall shelves or a bookcase, which also creates an easy view of your Christmas village.
Wintry Wreaths
Are you hesitant about a DIY project? This may be the easiest one yet. Designing your own holiday wreath is easy, cost friendly and fun! Visit your local craft store for a foam ring, artificial stems, ribbon and ornaments. Buying these items individually allows you to control the cost of the supplies, while also customizing the look and feel of your wreath. To save on the price of artificial stems, buy green tinsel to mimic the look of a full evergreen branch. Take a nature walk to collect pinecones and berries to add texture and dimension. When assembling the wreath, use garden wire or a hot glue gun to secure your pieces in place.
As we move into the second quarter of another exciting year, I want to take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments and share some of the new initiatives we are implementing in the realms of sales, marketing and community engagement. Over the past year, GBU Life has reached significant milestones thanks to the dedication and hard work of our team and the trust and support of our members. Our sales department has exceeded targets, and we have expanded our reach to more communities than ever before. We have launched several successful marketing campaigns that have not only increased our visibility but have also strengthened our brand's presence in the industry. For this year, our focus will be educating potential new members on the importance of securing their financial futures through life insurance and annuity products while serving their communities as part of our great Society. Looking ahead, we are committed to enhancing our sales strategies to better serve you. We are introducing some tools for our agents to enhance our products. One new tool is our Defined Benefit Annuity program which combines the Future Flex Fixed Index Annuity (FIA) with a software tool that can help determine retirement savings needs and break them down into contributions over time to help you meet your retirement goals. Be sure to keep in touch with your GBU agent to review your plans and products to see how adding an FIA to your retirement planning can help boost your savings efforts
GBU members between the ages of three and nine years old can enter their colored page in this year's contest, which is themed Pawprints on My Heart. Three age categories will be judged as follows: Category I: Ages three and four Category II: Ages five and six Category III: Ages seven, eight and nine Entrants may use crayons, colored pencils, markers or watercolor paints. Entries will be accepted through Monday, August 18, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST. The picture on the next page can be reproduced, or copies can be obtained by calling the Community Engagement Team at the GBU Home Office (800-765-4428) or by printing the image above. Cash Prizes for Each Category First prize: $75 Second prize: $50 Third prize: $30 How to Enter Send the three- to nine-year-old GBU member's coloring contest entry with their name and address on the colored page to: GBU Life ATTN: Member Benefits 4254 Saw Mill Run Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15227-3394. Or email contest@gbu.org with "Coloring Contest Entry” as the subject line. General Information Judges reserve the right to accept or reject any or all entries. Their decisions will be final. Artwork will be handled at the GBU Home Office with the utmost care. GBU reserves the right to reproduce entries for whatever use it wishes, provided proper credit is given. Permission does not include the sale of such work.
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