Brauns Law July 2019

404-418-8244 JULY 2019 WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330, DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096

GET FIT What Does a Healthy Lifestyle Look Like?

You may not know it with how often the media bemoans how badly we eat or the rates of childhood obesity, but the United States is a nation obsessed with fitness. According to the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association, over 60 million Americans are members of a gym or health club. In Georgia alone, there are 1,082 health clubs, and over 1,890,000 Georgians visit these clubs regularly. While I know a lot of people are guilty of signing up for gym memberships in January and never going back after March, I believe it’s never too late to make your health a priority again. Americans have come a long way in terms of fitness culture. It wasn’t so long ago that regular exercise was considered strange. In 1968, the Chicago Tribune wrote a piece detailing a new phenomenon: jogging. At the time, running for fitness was reserved for boxers and other professional athletes. There are plenty of stories about regular folks who were tailed by the cops simply because they went for a run. As Americans grew more interested in fitness, they sought out ways to effectively work out. Before the internet, this meant scouring libraries for books and relying on word of mouth. The science itself was also in its infancy. Nobody had studied different exercise types or how much exercise we needed. Unsurprisingly, an approach that favored heavy weights and big muscles was one of the first trends to emerge. Released in 1977,

the documentary “Pumping Iron” explored the world of bodybuilding and introduced Americans to a muscle-bound Austrian named Arnold Schwarzenegger. Not long after its debut, an increasing number of people — usually young men — began showing up to places like Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach looking to get jacked. Five years later, Jane Fonda released the first of her many aerobics videos, providing fitness instruction to a much wider audience. As the ‘80s progressed, America’s appetite for exercise grew to epic proportions. You couldn’t turn on the TV without seeing an ad for a program designed to make you look and feel great. Bodybuilding and aerobics are the best forms of exercise for everyone. In fact, for some people just trying to build muscle can lead to serious injury. This is why figuring out how to get fit has become such a preoccupation in academia. In 2016, more than 25,000 undergraduates received a degree in kinesiology, aka exercise science. These folks and their professors research the safest and most effective ways to approach fitness. As our “... It’s never too late to make a change and make your fitness a priority.”

understanding of how to work out grows, exercises have become more diverse and accessible. Walk into a gym and you’ll find runners, swimmers, rock climbers, weight lifters, and yogis all doing different things but with the same goal of being fit and healthy. As we start the second half of 2019, I think it’s a good time to evaluate what we’ve done so far this year and where we want to be next January. Maybe you’ve fallen off the fitness bandwagon, but that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. In 1960, nearly 50% of American adults regularly smoked. Our idea of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle has transformed radically since then. It’s never too late to make a change and make your fitness a priority. -David Brauns

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3 Foods Made for Grilling Get More Out of Your Grill This Summer

Bread There’s nothing like making your own artisan bread at home, and you can do it right in the grill. You can create your own flatbread, rolls, or full loaves with just about any bread recipe. It all comes down to time and temperature control. 500 F tends to be

During the summer, the backyard grill becomes the place to be. It’s the best site for sharing grilled meat and memories. But as you grill this summer, why not take a step out of your “meat comfort zone?” Whether you prefer gas or charcoal, just about any backyard grill can be transformed into an all-purpose, high-temperature oven. Get ready to kick some of your favorite foods up a notch! Here are three foods that are great for grilling. Pizza Making your own pizza at home is incredibly easy. You can make your own dough or buy it at the grocery store. Roll it out, add all your favorite toppings, then toss it on the grill. Just make sure your pizza will fit on the grill first! You may need to make smaller personal pizzas if you have a smaller grill. Pro Tip: The hotter you can get your grill, the better. At 500–600 F, it may only take a few minutes to completely cook the pizza, so don’t leave the grill. This is the best time to use a pizza stone (if you have one) to ensure a golden-brown crust, but you can place the pizza directly on the grill.

a safe bet. If it’s too hot, you’ll overbake the outside while the inside remains raw.

Salsa You can kick up the flavor of any

homemade salsa by first grilling each ingredient you want in your salsa, such as tomatoes, jalapeño, onion, or garlic. This includes salsa with fruit, such as mangoes or peaches. Allow each ingredient to get a light char, but be sure to remove the charred skin of the tomatoes after grilling. Leaving it on can result in a burnt flavor rather than a smoky one.

Testimonials DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

“From the first day I contacted Brauns Law, they have been professional, helpful, and prompt about every questions or inquiry. I had an auto accident, and after seven months, the insurance company still didn’t settle with me and stopped answering my phone calls. Brauns Law took my case and took care of everything. I am very happy with the outcome of it all! I highly recommend them.” –Shifa Scott

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Celebrate in Style Safety What Georgians Need to Know About Fireworks

There are three ingredients for the perfect Fourth of July celebration:

towns but still allowed statewide fireworks on Jan. 1, the Saturday and Sunday before Memorial Day, July 3–4, Labor Day, and New Year’s Eve.

1. A parade 2. Apple pie 3. Fireworks

While fireworks are permitted throughout the state on certain days, be aware that the governor can ban the use of fireworks in any part of Georgia that is under a drought on any day of the year. That said, if local conditions are dry, we recommend refraining from lighting fireworks altogether, regardless of whether or not an official ban is in place.

This year, Americans are expected to spend around $900 million on fireworks for the Fourth of July. Nothing says independence like bright lights and grand explosions. But while fireworks are popular, these dazzling light shows still pose a serious danger to people and property. The Consumer Product Safety Commission found that in 2017, eight people died and 12,900 people needed medical attention due to firework-related accidents. These accidents were caused by everything from illegal or professional-grade fireworks to small sparklers. Many cities and states have their own laws regarding fireworks to address the danger. Over the last few years, Georgia has dramatically eased up on the restriction of fireworks. In 2005, lawmakers allowed the sale of “novelty” fireworks, including sparklers, and in 2015, the laws extended to include more kinds of fireworks, such as Roman candles, bottle rockets, and mortars. In March 2018, the General Assembly approved a law that allowed local officials to regulate the use of fireworks in their cities and

Some other tips to help avoid injury or property damage are:

WORD SEARCH July Fireworks are a beloved Fourth of July tradition, but it’s important to remember the dangers and not get carried away. With a little bit of caution and safety, fireworks can still be part of your celebrations. • Never try to relight malfunctioning fireworks or “duds” • Keep a hose or bucket of water on hand at all times • Never carry fireworks in your pocket • Never shoot off fireworks in or under glass or metal containers • Soak all used and unused fireworks in a bucket of water before discarding • Do not let children light fireworks unsupervised • Never light fireworks within 100 yards of an electric plant, gas station, jail, hospital, or nursing home

AUSTRIAN POTATO SALAD

Whether or not your friends are vegan, we’re willing to bet they’ll enjoy this mayo-free version of potato salad much more than the standard variety.

Ingredients • 2 lbs. small potatoes • 1 medium white onion • 1/2 cup pickled gherkins • 3 tsp whole grain mustard

• 3 tsp extra-virgin olive oil • 1/2 tsp garlic powder • Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions 1. Bring a medium stockpot of salted water to a boil. 2. Boil potatoes until fork tender, about 20–30 minutes. 3. In the meantime, finely chop onion and gherkins. 4. When potatoes are done cooking, strain and place in large salad bowl with onion and gherkins. 5. For dressing, whisk together mustard, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. It’s best to add oil gradually at the end. 6. Dress salad and let sit for 15 minutes to absorb flavor before serving. Inspired by ExceedinglyVegan.com

BARBEQUE CAMPFIRE CAMPING FIREWORK

HOT INDEPENDENCE JULY

SUMMER SUN SWIMMING TANNING UFO VOLLEYBALL WATERMELON

LEMONADE OUTDOORS

FISHING FRIENDS HIKING

SANDALS SKEWERS

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

404-418-8244 | WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330 DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096

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Do You Even Lift (or Run or Swim or Climb)? Get Even More Out of Your Grill This Grilling Season!

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What Some of Our Clients Are Saying

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Are Fireworks Illegal in Georgia?

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Austrian Potato Salad

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Avoid the Summer Heat Somewhere Cool

cool mountainous view, you’ll understand why it’s a popular summer voyage. Travelers can choose to fly or take a cruise ship, and many cities feature tourism-packed excursions. A few notable locations include Anchorage, the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and Denali National Park and Preserve. Iceland Just as its name suggests, Iceland can be the perfect destination for travelers yearning to get away from the unbearable summer heat. With temperatures rarely exceeding 60 F — the average high for the country — packing is easy for this relaxing vacation. Take a relaxing dip in one of the country’s many hot springs or enjoy tremendous views of the fjords. Even better, you can tour the country at any time because it’s sunny almost 24 hours a day. What could be better than a midnight hike around the fourth happiest country in the world? Norway Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean you have to give up your skiing hobby! Venture off to Norway and experience some of their most popular summer ski resorts. After a day or two shredding the slopes, experience the popular Norwegian Opera and Ballet in Oslo or choose between numerous outdoor and indoor exhibitions. Best of all, you won’t even break a sweat, as the average temperature in Norway’s hottest month barely hits 70 F. Bordering Sweden and northern Finland, Norway can even be the beginning to a cool European tour this summer.

Chill Out

Relax in These Cool Destinations This Summer

As the scorching summer sun beats down, it’s hard to remember that just six months ago you were shivering through the winter, whether that meant a chilly 50 F or bitter subzero temperatures. But if cooler temps sound like paradise, and a dip in the pool is no longer keeping you cool, it might be time to take a vacation somewhere chilly. Check out these three destinations to avoid the summer heat. Alaska No place says chilly quite like Alaska. Trips to Alaska can be expensive during this time of year, but when you step into that crisp air with a

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