Emery Law Office - November 2020

Emery Law Office - November 2020

NOVEMBER 2020

THANKSGIVING ISN’T CANCELED!

3 WAYS TO ADAPT YOUR CELEBRATION FOR 2020

M y family is used to having a certain kind of Thanksgiving celebration. Usually, we plan a big gathering at my parents’ house, and 25–35 people show up. They fly or drive in from six different states, and we all sit around for hours talking, laughing, sharing food, playing games, and — a more frightening prospect these days — just breathing the same air. When I realized that Thanksgiving was inevitably going to be different this year, I couldn’t help but feel sad. It’s my absolute favorite holiday, and I immediately thought of all the traditions that would have to change and all the people I likely wouldn’t see. Then, though, another feeling started creeping in. As I thought more about the year we’ve had, it dawned on me that when times are tough, Thanksgiving is more important than ever. So, here we are. I’ve decided that no matter what, my family will figure out a way to sit down together and share what we have in our lives to be thankful for. Here are a few ideas I came up with that you are free to steal for your own Thanksgiving. Plan a Recipe Swap Just because you might not be able to sit around one table with your family this year doesn’t mean you should give up your favorite Thanksgiving dishes! If you’ve been looking forward to Grandma’s pumpkin pie or Uncle John’s green bean casserole for months, this is your opportunity to plan a family recipe swap. On Thanksgiving, you’ll be able to recreate your favorite dishes at home and feel closer to your family with every bite. Make Game Night Virtual My family loves to play games on Thanksgiving. That includes board games, card games, and even games on apps! For the last few years now, we’ve played

virtual games like Trivia Crack, Words With Friends, and Heads Up to include family who couldn’t make it to the meal in person. Using this technology, you can play together even when you’re not nearby, making it perfect for cross- country Thanksgiving! Use Zoom to Share Your Thanks Writing a list of the things you’re thankful for is pretty traditional, but you can mix it up by using a paper tablecloth or paper place mats as a canvas instead of lined paper. If your family is artistic, get creative by making your lists colorful or even illustrating them. Then, have the whole family share their creations by sending a photo in a group chat or filming a video on Zoom. This is a sweet way to get everyone involved in the same activity and share some joy from afar. Hopefully with these ideas and more, we can all find ways to keep the spirit of Thanksgiving alive while also making sure our vulnerable friends and family stay safe. Above all, I’m going to be focusing on all the things that I’m thankful for this year. Sometimes, when there’s a lot of bad in the world, like there is now, it can be difficult to see the good. But it’s out there. I’ll find it, and I know you will, too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Melissa Emery

WWW. EMERYLAWOFF ICE .COM | 1

TOP 5 HEALTHY LIFE HACKS TO HAVE AN AWESOME MORNING

G etting your day started with coffee isn’t always enough. Sometimes, you need to give yourself an extra boost, especially when you have little energy or trouble focusing. For an awesome start to your day, here are five tips to get you going right off the bat. Wake up 5 minutes early. What’s the power of five minutes? It can be more than you think. Spend this time doing simple breathing exercises or a quick meditation so you can get focused for the rest of the day. If that’s not your style, you can prepare a quick to-do list for your day ahead. Either way, it’s always nice to have a little extra time for yourself without losing too much sleep. Start with green tea, then coffee. A cup of coffee at 7 a.m. can leave you burned out by 10 a.m. Try swapping it with green tea for a gentler wake-up call. After that, you can brew your favorite coffee to keep you going strong. This practice also might help you consume less caffeine overall!

Take a quick morning walk — and have your meetings on the go. Morning meetings can make us want to fall asleep again. Don’t spend all of them sitting down if you don’t have to! Not only will morning walks help you wake up, but they can also add some extra physical activity to your day. Write in your journal. Who says you have to journal at the end of the day when you’re tired and ready to sleep? You can journal in the morning about what happened yesterday and the things you’re looking forward to that day. Journaling can remind you of your daily goals and motivate you to stick to your commitments. Pack your lunch (or snacks!). Staying on track with your goals starts with having the energy to do them. Plan a healthy balance of fats, vegetables, carbohydrates, and proteins. This can be as simple as assembling dips, carrots, wraps, and salads each morning.

It’s time to try these tactics to jump-start your day!

CHECK OUT THIS YEAR’S THANKFUL LISTS OUR OFFICE IS OVERFLOWING WITH GRATITUDE!

Libby Thorngate Administrative Assistant

Because of Melissa’s overwhelming love for Thanksgiving, it’s become something of an office tradition for our team to share what we’re thankful for in the newsletter each year. This year is no exception! Even though 2020 has been tough, we’ve all found plenty of things worth our gratitude. Below, you’ll find the thankful lists of a few members of our team! Maddie McCutcheon Legal Assistant

I am thankful for my husband, puppy cuddles, evening drives with the windows down, morning coffee, good books, my family, and tacos. Joel Franklin Attorney This year, I am thankful for family, health, and employment.

The things I am thankful for this year include successfully completing my master’s degree, being close to home while my mother fights breast cancer, my health, and my amazing new job at Emery Law Office! Audra Seng Senior Paralegal

We’d love to hear your thankful list, too! If you want to spread some holiday cheer, head to our Facebook page, Facebook.com/ EmeryLawOffice, and share a few things you’re thankful for this year. If you’re lucky, you might even win an organic Thanksgiving turkey for your efforts! Check out Page 3 for more details on that giveaway.

I am thankful for my family and friends who have been with me throughout all the tough times that I have been through this year.

2 | call or text ( 502 ) 77 1 - 1LAW ( 1529)

WWW. EMERYLAWOFF ICE .COM

POST A COMMENT, WIN A TURKEY

ZESTY ORANGE CRANBERRY SAUCE

HowWe’re Passing on the Kindness of Concerts for Hope

Skip the can-shaped cranberry sauce this year and bring a jar of homemade sauce to Thanksgiving instead. This easy recipe can be made ahead of the big event and keeps for 10 days in the fridge.

Earlier this year, our team stumbled across an incredible foundation called Concerts for Hope. It’s run by Eric Genuis, a world-class composer, pianist, and inspirational speaker. Eric is so good at playing the piano that he could easily spend all of his time wowing paying guests at big venues and private parties. However, instead, he chooses to bring music to people in tough situations. Along with other musicians and his partner Andre Norman, Eric performs concerts, gives music lessons, and tells stories in places like veterans rehab centers, memory care facilities, inner-city schools, and prisons. It all happens under the Concerts for Hope umbrella. This year, Eric will perform his 1,000th prison show — a number we think is pretty incredible.

INGREDIENTS

•

1/2 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed

• •

1/2 cup water 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar

• • •

12 oz fresh cranberries

2 tsp orange zest

Salt to taste

Eric told Melissa, “I have learned that in many geographical areas, prison has become culture. My hope is to change that culture.”

DIRECTIONS

Andre has an equally amazing background. According to Concerts for Hope, he “overcame gangs, poverty, a 100-year prison sentence, and two years in solitary confinement” to become a motivational speaker. He also founded The Academy of Hope, an organization working to decrease violence in prisons. As you can imagine, our team here at Emery Law Office couldn’t resist donating to Concerts for Hope when we heard about Eric and Andre’s mission! In an unexpected gesture, when we made our donation Concerts for Hope gave us something, too: an organic, free-range turkey raised just half an hour away in Shelbyville. To continue the chain of giving, we want to pass this delicious turkey on to a reader for their Thanksgiving table — and the winner could be you! All you have to do to get a shot at the turkey is visit our Facebook page, Facebook.com/EmeryLawOffice, and post about something you’re thankful for. Everyone who leaves a comment before Nov. 15 will have their name entered into the drawing. We can’t wait to hear your 2020 blessings!

1. In a medium saucepan, heat the orange juice, water, and sugar to a boil. Add other ingredients, then bring mixture back to boiling. 2. Reduce the heat to medium and cook gently for 10–12 minutes, until the cranberries burst. 3. Transfer the sauce to a bowl or jar, cover, and refrigerate until serving.

Inspired by OnceUponAChef.com

WE WANT YOU TO THINK OF US AS YOUR LAW FIRM. If you have a legal matter that needs attention, let us know. If we can’t handle the matter, we will refer you to a firm that can. Please feel free to refer us to your friends and family for their legal needs. We welcome the opportunity to help.

call or text ( 502 ) 77 1 - 1LAW ( 1529)

WWW. EMERYLAWOFF ICE .COM | 3

WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

4610 OUTER LOOP LOUISVILLE, KY 40219

INSIDE

3 WAYS TO ADAPT YOUR THANKSGIVING FOR 2020 1

TOP 5 HEALTHY LIFE HACKS TO HAVE AN AWESOME MORNING

WHAT OUR TEAM IS THANKFUL FOR THIS YEAR 2

ENTER TO WIN AN ORGANIC TURKEY!

ZESTY ORANGE CRANBERRY SAUCE 3

5 THANKSGIVING MOVIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY 4

After a giant Thanksgiving meal, it can be tempting to sink down onto the couch and never get up — so embrace it! This Thanksgiving, try planning a family movie night to enjoy while the turkey settles. BORED ON THANKSGIVING? PLAN A MOVIE MARATHON!

2. ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’ — This old-school television special from 1973 is a Thanksgiving classic. In it, Charlie Brown and Snoopy navigate football, an ever-growing Thanksgiving guest list, and a backyard feast of junk food. 3. ‘Garfield’s Thanksgiving’ — Everyone loves Garfield, and this 1989 television special starring Jon, Odie, and the fat cat himself is another Thanksgiving mainstay. The vet puts Garfield on a diet at the worst possible time: right before Thanksgiving. 4. ‘An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving’ — This 2008 period drama is based on a short story by Louisa May Alcott and tells the tale of an estranged family who find themselves back

Movie nights are about as low maintenance as family hangouts can get. According to Elle magazine, actress Angelina Jolie credits family flick marathons for helping her survive quarantine with six kids at home. Her secrets to success are comfortable clothes like pajamas and robes, along with plenty of movie snacks. This Thanksgiving, plan your marathon around these holiday-themed films. 1. ‘Free Birds’ — This hilarious 2013 animated film stars Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson as turkeys who have escaped the Thanksgiving table. Together, they go on a mission back in time to break up the first Thanksgiving and get turkey off the menu for good.

together just in time for the holidays. It’s historical, heartwarming, and fit for all ages.

5. ‘A Family Thanksgiving’ — This Hallmark comedy is a funny combination of “A Christmas Carol” and “17 Again.” A high-powered lawyer is transported to an alternate universe and gets a look at what her holiday life could have been like if she’d made different choices.

With these five films on your watch list, you won’t need any other Thanksgiving entertainment!

4 | WWW. EMERYLAWOFF ICE .COM