Brauns Law - November 2021

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NOVEMBER 2021

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Leaving a Legacy WHY MY DAUGHTER MAKES ME PROUD

Writing these monthly cover articles can either be really fun or a chore — depending on the month or the topic. This month, with Thanksgiving just weeks away, I could write about the time I got sick on Stove Top stuffing and had to avoid it for two decades. But instead, I think I’ll opt for something a little more fun (and a lot more special). Thanksgiving always prompts this idea of gratitude and asks us to consider what we are most appreciative for. Ironically, shortly after Thanksgiving is Family Day, which perfectly coincides with what I’m most grateful for every year: my wife and my daughter. They are my entire world. My wife and I have been together since we were 18 years old, and she has been my greatest rock for years. With our daughter, we have our own little support system and routine that I wouldn’t trade for anything else! We may be small, but we always lift one another up. My daughter just turned 16 years old, which means we now have another licensed driver in the house. As she inches closer to young adulthood, I’ve been thinking a lot about how she’ll function in the world when she grows out of childhood. I turn 50 in less than six months, and that has me contemplating this and the concept of a family legacy. I want to leave my mark on this world. And equipping my daughter with the tools she needs to excel is part of that. This all began when she was young. As Aristotle once said, “Give me the child until he is 7, and I’ll show you the man.” So many of our impressions and personality traits are formed in those early years. For our daughter, when she was little, this meant sticking up for those who were being bullied or labeled as the outcast. As parents, we were incredibly proud of her but

worried that she would become a target. She didn’t care. She had this strong sense of empathy that she still possesses today.

Now that my daughter is 16, it’s more about nudging her in the right direction. I try to listen to what she has to say, make a statement about what she’s observing, and drop little nuggets of wisdom where I can. It’s difficult to make a full personality correction for a teen, but our daughter doesn’t need that. I’m proud of her the way she is.

She has a cool head on her shoulders and rarely gets upset. I’m not sure where it comes from, but it’s calming. Plus, she’s smarter than me, which is what every parent wants. She’s a great student and is contemplating a career in law, finance, or business. As an entrepreneur, I see her strong business sense. She has the spirit of an entrepreneur! With her cool demeanor and strong sense of empathy, I know my daughter will go out into the world and do great things. She is a self-starter and driven to do the tasks she sets out to accomplish. I’m proud of her in many ways, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store. This Thanksgiving, I’m appreciative of who my daughter has grown into and the family unit she, my wife, and I have together. At the end of the day, it’s most important to have a family — through blood relation or chosen — who can support you when you need it most. I hope you’ll show appreciation for your family this November. P.S. I can eat stuffing again. I guess I’m thankful for that, too! -David Brauns Happy Thanksgiving!

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Have a Low-Stress Holiday 3 TIPS FOR A MERRIER TIME

The holidays are right around the corner, and while many people can’t wait to eat turkey and swap presents, others only see stress on the horizon. Especially for those hosting parties, between decorations, big dinners, excited kids, and visiting family, it can all feel overwhelming. If celebrations are happening at your house this year, here are three tips to lessen the strain and keep up the holiday cheer. Recharge First Ensure you’re rested and recharged before the holidays by taking time to relax, getting enough sleep, and engaging in activities that make you feel good. When you’re rushing to get everything done, it can be tempting to skip self-care routines, but that will cost you in the long run. Your daily exercise and other health activities

keep you balanced and ready to face challenges head-on.

Get Started Early Holidays always arrive faster than we expect, so begin preparing early. If shopping for presents is a pain point, don’t wait until the last minute. Decorate earlier than you need to — or better yet, get the kids to do it for you. There’s only so much cooking you can do ahead of time, but ensuring you have all of the equipment and nonperishable ingredients you need a few weeks in advance will reduce both your workload and anxiety. Don’t Expect Perfection The sooner you let go of the idea of a “perfect” holiday, the sooner you’ll be able to have a happy one. Face it: Something

will go wrong. Whether it’s an overcooked dish, a child throwing a temper tantrum, or your uncle talking politics at the dinner table, nothing will ever go just how you planned. So, embrace the imperfections. Whether you’re celebrating this year with a group of two or 20, holidays can be a stressful time — but they don’t have to be. With these tips, your festivities may not be picture-perfect, but they will be a lot of fun.

Testimonial DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT

“I hired Brauns Law after a car accident in mid-November 2018. From the time I decided to hire Brauns Law to represent me to the time my case was settled, I was beyond satisfied. My attorney, Nick Connelly, and my case manager, Haley, were very prompt and thorough! I was very pleased with the process of how my case was handled and my settlement. If you want a professional law office that will answer all your questions and/or inquiries promptly, treat you with respect, and really have your best interest at heart, BANK ON BRAUNS! I highly recommend Brauns Law.” –N. Benson

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pain. If your turkey is still frozen come Thanksgiving Day, bake it in the oven instead.

Get the proper setup. Far too many at-home turkey frying stations are not up to code! Again, this can cause great fire danger. Your turkey fryer should be more than 10 feet away from your home, according to PBS, and it should be set on flat, even ground. (If your driveway isn’t slanted, it’s a perfect spot.) Children and pets should not be allowed in the “frying zone,” as a simple end zone leap or game of fetch could become disastrous, should anyone run into the fryer. Be prepared. Frying a turkey can take up to an hour, but this is not an hour you can spend away from the turkey! You have to be prepared should any oil bubble over or other issues arise. Have heavy blankets and a fire extinguisher nearby, as water will not put out an oil fire. In fact, it only exacerbates it. (See our first point again!) Wear proper clothing when operating the turkey station, including covering your limbs and wearing eye protection. Don’t let the fryer scare you! With proper planning, preparation, and understanding, you can deep-fry a turkey so good your family will beg for seconds, and everyone gets to keep their eyebrows.

AVOID THANKSGIVING TRAGEDIES 3 Tips for Deep-Frying a Turkey Few culinary skills are as coveted by amateur cooks than the ability to deep- fry a turkey well and safely. As you attempt to conquer this culinary feat this Thanksgiving, don’t forget to keep a few safety measures in mind. Only use thawed turkey. Remove your turkey from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator for a few days prior to frying it. Turkey must be completely thawed or dry in order to properly and safely fry. If it’s not thawed, the excess water that escapes while it’s frying will cause the oil to sizzle and spill over. This can start a fire, burn off a few eyebrows, or — worse — cause some serious damage and

Learn more safety tips and compare a few recipes at FoodNetwork.com.

WORD SEARCH

BAKED CORNBREAD AND CHORIZO STUFFING

Ingredients • 1 lb Mexican chorizo • 1 white onion, chopped • 1 carrot, chopped • 1 celery rib, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, chopped • 2 cups premade cornbread, crumbled Directions 1. Preheat your oven to 350 F.

• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped • 1/2 cup chicken stock • 1 tbsp unsalted butter, for greasing • Cilantro, for garnish • Cotija cheese, for garnish

2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chorizo for 5 minutes. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Cook for 10 additional minutes. Stir in the cornbread and cilantro. 3. While stirring, slowly add the chicken stock. Stir until absorbed. 4. Butter a small casserole dish, then add the stuffing in an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes, garnish as desired, and serve!

CIDER CORNUCOPIA FEAST GALES

GATHERING PIES

SCORPIO THANKFUL TRADITION VETERANS

PILGRIMS STUFFING

Inspired by FoodNetwork.com

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The Power of Family

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Lowering Holiday Stress Our Clients Say It Best

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What You Need to Know About Deep- Frying a Turkey! Baked Cornbread and Chorizo Stuffing

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Dog Dials 911 to Save His Owner

BY DIALING 911 HOW ONE DOG SAVED HIS OWNER

Dogs can be trained to obey a lot of commands: sit, stay, roll over, play dead. But how about “dial 911”? Well, that would probably be a foreign command for most dogs. Luckily, it wasn’t for Buddy, an 18-month-old German shepherd who remembered his training and saved his owner’s life.

Cause when the pup was just 8 weeks old. Paws with a Cause trains assistance dogs, and after adopting him, Joe trained Buddy to dial 911 until an operator was on the line in the event that he had a seizure. A year and a half later, that training saved Joe’s life. One day, Joe began seizing when he was home alone with Buddy. Buddy rushed to the phone and dialed 911, whimpering to the dispatcher. Even if they don’t hear anyone on the line, dispatchers are required to send police. When police arrived at Joe’s home, they found him and Buddy, who was barking loudly. They took Joe to the nearby hospital, where in a few days, he made a full recovery. Some might say that Buddy was just following his training, but this heroic act goes far beyond just sitting and rolling over for treats. Even the veteran dispatchers hadn’t heard of a dog dialing 911 before. Buddy knew it was his mission to keep his owner safe, and thankfully, he knew exactly what to do under pressure — because that’s what heroes do.

Joe Stalnaker of Scottsdale, Arizona, sustained a head injury during a military training exercise 10 years prior to the incident.

Because of that injury, he suffered from seizures. Normally, a condition like that would make it unwise for him to live alone, but Stalnaker valued his independence and wanted to find a way to lead as normal a life as possible.

Joe adopted Buddy from a Michigan- based organization called Paws With a

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