Hegwood Law - October 2020

Hegwood Law - October 2020

HEADLINES HEGWOOD

HEGWOODLAW.COM • 281.218.0880

OCTOBER 2020

LET US CELEBRATE COOKBOOK MONTH TOGETHER

Share Your Favorite Recipes With Us!

Gifts are one of the best ways to offer each other comfort and reprieve in these times.

This year, my grandkids and I are really getting our money’s worth out of their Halloween costumes. I bought them Spider-Man suits back in August, and they have been wearing them around for months. Each of them is a different version of Spider-Man, but they watch Spider-Man clips on YouTube all the time. I have loved seeing them enjoy their costumes, even when it is not time to go trick-or-treating. It makes me think: This season of giving might be more important than ever. It has been a tough year for nearly everyone. Taking a moment to pause and give extra time and care to loved ones might be just what we need right now. My daughter always dresses up in a matching costume with her sons and goes all out to give her kids a good Halloween experience. Even though I am not exactly sure what we are doing for Halloween this year, I am sure she will keep going the extra mile like she always has. Kids are smart: They can tell she really cares, and I can tell her effort has always meant a lot to them. Cooking for our loved ones is another classic way of showing we care about others — it is a very tangible way of tasting and measuring someone’s effort in supporting our well-being. And, with the holidays coming up, there is no better time to consider doing this! Food made by someone you love always tastes better than when you make it yourself. Personally (and many people may share this opinion), my favorite recipe is one I do not need to make myself. However, I do have a simple, interesting recipe that got me through law school when I barely had any time to cook. First, I slice potatoes fairly thin, like scallops, and lay them on an oven tray with butter, salt, and pepper. Then, on top, I put link sausages. It cooks at 350 F for about 20 minutes, allowing the sausage juices to sink into the potatoes before I remove the sausages. But we are not

done yet — I layer some slices of American cheese on top and leave it for another couple minutes. You could be fancier with the cheeses, but this was always a perfectly filling comfort food for me. What is your favorite recipe? Maybe you have your own quick fix or a recipe that has especially influenced you from your grandma’s cookbook. We would love to peek at one of the delicious recipes in your life! Send us your favorite at [email protected], and we may include it in an upcoming cookbook edition of the newsletter!

I hope you get a chance to gift someone you love with food or candy this month. Thank you so much and have a lovely October, everyone.

-Kim Hegwood

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HOWTO STOP PROCRASTINATING AT BEDTIME And Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Though there are very real medical conditions, such as insomnia and sleep apnea, that deprive people of sleep, the reason most of us probably do not get enough sleep is simply because we put off our bedtime. Instead of getting into bed, we opt to check off another item on our to- do list or watch another episode of our favorite show. This is sometimes called “bedtime procrastination.” We all know a good night’s sleep is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, so how can we stop putting it off? A good place to start is by keeping track of your day. The human mind is not meant to internalize checklists and task reminders, so use your phone or journal as a scheduling assistant. However you decide to keep track, make sure to give yourself a set amount of time to accomplish your tasks, like letting yourself watch TV for just one hour or blocking out three hours to help your kids with their homework. It might even help to set alarms on your watch or on your phone to let you know when your time is up on any of your activities. Another big part is creating an environment that is conducive to a good night’s sleep, and that starts with turning your electronic devices off well before you get under the covers. Smartphone screens, computer screens, and even some energy-efficient lightbulbs emit blue light, which reduces the production of melatonin, the hormone that tells your body it is time to go to bed. Instead of looking at your phone, try reading a

book before going to sleep. If your screens prove to be too big of a draw for you when bedtime comes, it might be a good idea to move your devices to another room so they are out of sight and out of mind. Finally, do not get discouraged if you do not start getting better sleep right away. Setting up good bedtime routines takes time. But if you stick with it — and maybe have someone else in your household you accountable to your commitments — you will start to get better sleep and have more energy to take on the day in no time.

DO NOT FORGET THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAST CANCER RESEARCH

When was the last time you were checked for breast cancer? In 2018, 2 million new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed worldwide, but that does not mean there were only 2 million people with breast cancer overall. Without speculating on numbers, it is fair to say that breast cancer is not only a widespread disease, but it can also develop very slowly. Although many people think cancer could never happen to them, it is a lot more common than many suspect. If your cells do not control their life cycle correctly (creation, growth, and death), then they do not die at the rate they are supposed to. This excess cell growth can form a tumor. According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, by the time you can feel a lump, it may have been growing for over 10 years. Some tumors are very aggressive and grow faster, while others do not. Between 50%– 75% of breast cancers begin in the milk ducts, 5%–15% begin in the lobules (the sacs that produce milk), and few begin in other breast tissue.

Anyone can get breast cancer, regardless of gender. Testosterone often stops breasts from developing in men, but some milk ducts still exist despite being undeveloped. The risk is much lower, with 1 in 833 U.S. men at risk compared to 1 in 8 U.S. women, but that might make research even more important for male breast cancer patients.

Kim’s mother is a breast cancer survivor, and she feels especially passionate about organizations, like the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which aid breast cancer patients on their recovery journey by supporting treatments and research and gathering statistics that benefit both medical professionals and the public. You can do your part by visiting their donation page at ww5.komen.org. From everyone at the Hegwood Law Group, we thank you for your support!

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SEEING DOUBLE

Celebrity Couples Are Matching Masks and Staying Safe

Celebrity trends have a way of influencing the public, and the latest spotlight is on face masks. Some go big and bold with rhinestones and glitter while others opt for muted simplicity, but the newest trend to hit the tabloids is couples wearing matching face masks. The attention these masks are drawing is proving to be another great way to get citizens aboard the health and safety train. Starting all the way back in May, Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez have been matching masks. They have been seen biking through their Miami neighborhood wearing neon-accented gray masks, and they often take to Instagram for a couples photoshoot in them. Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas have spent all of 2020 perfecting their synchronized couple stroll. They are frequently spotted wearing masks to complement their respective outfits, but they have also been seen wearing matching versions featuring pastel prints. Chris Pine and his girlfriend Annabelle Wallis like to stroll through Los Angeles together sporting flashy bandanas tied around the lower half of their faces. They may not match patterns, but their cowboy-style face covering still screams “couple.” Justin and Hailey Bieber got a little goofy with an Instagram photoshoot to showcase twinning blue masks with cartoon mouths, proving that proper health and safety can be both entertaining and artistic.

This trend of celebrities finding ways to express themselves while staying safe and healthy is not just fun — it provides great examples for how others can do the same. Donning a mask does not have to feel like a chore or a burden if it is turned into an opportunity to get creative. As with these celebrities, standout matching sets of masks can garner attention, start conversations, and, most importantly of all, demonstrate that proper safety measures deserve extra dedication. Make mask shopping fun with your significant other or your family by finding masks that you will all enjoy wearing in public together. It is a great opportunity to show your personality as a collective unit and say “yes” to staying healthy!

ONE BOWL CHOCOLATE CAKE III

WORD SEARCH

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda • 1 tsp salt • 2 large eggs • 1 cup milk

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil • 2 tsp vanilla extract • 1 cup boiling water

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round pans. 2. In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla and mix for 2 minutes on medium speed of mixer. Stir in the boiling water last. Batter will be thin. Pour evenly into the prepared pans. 3. Bake 30–35 minutes in the preheated oven until the cake tests done with a toothpick. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

APPLES CALENDULA CANDY HALLOWEEN HORROR MASKS

OPAL POPCORN SCARY SCREAM

TREAT TRICK

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Source: Allrecipes.com/recipe/17981/one-bowl-chocolate-cake-iii/

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1 Let Us Celebrate Cookbook Month Together

2 How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep Do Not Forget the Importance of Breast Cancer Research

3 Celebrity Couples Make Face Masks Look Good One Bowl Chocolate Cake III

4 Medicaid Planning? Protect Your Assets and Be Covered

MEDICAID PLANNING? TIPS TOMAXIMIZE YOUR SECURITY SET YOURSELF UP AND PROTECT YOUR ASSETS!

Medicaid can seem complex and overwhelming for clients, but it is designed to protect and shield the assets of the elderly so they are not taken advantage of. Those who plan well enough for their future in Medicaid will feel safe and have more options available to them than those who delay making their decisions. Let us take a brief look at the worst mistakes people can make. First: Always get a lawyer while planning your Medicaid. There are lots of important details while arranging your asset protection, and an attorney who specializes in the field can make sure you do not miss a step. For example, if the Medicaid recipient has assets or wealth that has been moved or transferred within a fixed time frame, their eligibility can be denied. Second: Never ever delay your plans. The earlier you start planning, the more options you will have, and you would not have to wait until you are ill. Having a conversation with your loved ones and our expert Medicaid planning team in advance can help you overcome any potential health issues in the future.

Third: Learn about what you do not know. It is difficult for the average Medicaid recipient to know what they do not know — which is why many do not realize asset protection is available to them. Immediate annuities and spousal allowances go a long way to guard your assets in financially unstable times.

The field is always changing, so do not rely on armchair experts who may be using outdated information — get someone who is actively involved in the field like an experienced Medicaid planning attorney. And at Hegwood Law Group, we can work with you no matter where you are. Schedule a remote consultation with us today!

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