Smiley Law Firm April 2018

April 2018

365 Canal Street, Suite 1680, New Orleans, LA 70130

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504-894-9653

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www.SmileyFirm.com

A CLASSIC RACE RUNNING IN THE CRESCENT CITY

April is here, spring is in the air, and Jude and Luke have already finished off their Easter candy. Putting the kids’ baskets together and watching the excitement on their faces Easter morning never gets old. The chocolates and treats may go quickly, but I make sure I get my fair share! I don’t feel as guilty about indulging my sweet tooth on this particular Sunday, thanks to the Crescent City Classic. If you’ve never attended the Classic as either a runner or a bystander, I strongly recommend putting it on the calendar for next year. It’s held the Saturday before Easter, so the weather is almost always perfect. It truly is a local gem. If you see me at the finish line, feel free to come by and say hello. Just let me catch my breath first. I’ve competed in some great races all over the country, but nothing beats the Classic. It’s so unabashedly New Orleans. One of the oldest road races in the nation, the 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) course literally encompasses our city’s history. Competitors run past the Superdome, through the French Quarter, and into City Park, making it a tour of New Orleans’ beauty and resilience. “I’ve competed in some great races all over the country, but nothing beats the Classic. It’s so unabashedly New Orleans.” Plus, there’s nothing like crossing the finish line into a full-blown Louisiana festival. As soon as the first runner comes in, City Park comes alive with jazz, Cajun barbecue, and cold drinks. The Classic is often credited with pioneering the whole idea of the “party race” and continues to be one of the best. Admittedly, I’m biased toward this event. A few years ago, I was among the top 500 finishers at the Classic. It was one of the proudest moments in my racing career. There’s just something about doing well

at a hometown race that makes the accomplishment feel that much more special. I’d like to do that well again, but this is one of those events where everyone has a blast no matter when they finish. The Crescent City Classic is just one more reason I love this town and this time of year. Between the race, Easter, and the Jazz & Heritage Festival later this month, there’s no shortage of opportunities to get out and enjoy the weather before the summer heat sets in. My family and I are lucky to call such a beautiful, vibrant community home.

From our family to yours, have a wonderful spring,

–Seth Smiley

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A Boutique New Orleans Law Firm Resolving Your Legal Matters

Do You Need a Media Detox? THE DANGERS OF OVERSTIMULATION

Another benefit of a media detox is that you’ll have more time to pursue new and dormant hobbies. Because most of us consume media in small chunks throughout the day, it’s easy to overlook how much that time adds up. All those hours you spend on Facebook could be used to start a garden, knit a quilt, or join a soccer league. Unless you have an unlimited supply of leisure time (and who does?), you need to be selective in the way you spend it. Remember, media isn’t the cause of all your ills. Used mindfully, it can actually increase happiness and satisfaction. The problem is that we are so mired in the media muck that we can’t get a perspective on how much is too much. A detox will allow you to reassess the media you’re consuming and build a better plan for the future. You can still keep up with your grandkids on Facebook, but it shouldn’t be the only way you interact with the world.

With the current trend of getting TV, social media, and news alerts sent to our phones, we have access to more media than we could ever consume. While constant connectivity is a boon for many aspects of our lives, researchers are discovering that too much stimulation is cause for concern. One study in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology found that too much social comparison, spurred by the likes of Facebook and cable news, can lead to an increased risk of depression. If you find yourself pressured to live up to the public lives of friends and family, or if you feel like you’re being bombarded with too much news and entertainment, consider a media detox. A detox doesn’t require you to unsubscribe from social media services or unplug your TV forever. Instead, think of it as a vacation from the overstimulation so many of us experience. Ask yourself which aspects of your media diet are causing more stress than they’re worth, and take a break from them for a little while. “In the same way we think about what we eat, we should think about what we read, what we’re seeing, what we’re engaging in, and what we’re interacting with every day,” Emma Watson told CNN in an interview about her selective social media use. If you’re not mindful of your media consumption and participation, it tends to pile up. When you detox, it’s a lot easier to identify which parts of your media diet are essential and which are only a burden.

THE RIGHT WAY TO GROW

Why Referrals Make Us a Better Firm When we hear about a referral, we reach out with a thank-you phone call. We know this personal touch matters; it’s why many of you chose Smiley Law Firm in the first place. We don’t want to be another stuffy, cold firm, with robot calls and stock messages. The world has enough of those as it is. Still, we know sometimes these thank-you’s slip through the cracks. Maybe a client forgets to mention what led them to us, or we reach out to you on an old phone number. If this has happened to you, we humbly ask your forgiveness. The drawback of putting a human face on the way we operate is that we sometimes make human mistakes. If you have referred a friend, relative, or client to us in the past and haven’t heard from us, please reach out. We’d love to thank you in person. The way our network of friends and family has flourished over the years is incredibly humbling. It takes a lot of trust to ask a law firm to represent a loved one after a catastrophic injury. As we move into spring, we strive to continue to make this a mutually fruitful relationship worthy of your trust and respect.

As spring rolls in and the azaleas

come into bloom, we’d like to again express our gratitude to everyone who has helped our

firm grow over the years. Since the beginning, we’ve wanted to keep ourselves firmly rooted in the community, where we can do the most good for the most people. Thanks to the many clients and attorneys who have referred folks to our services, we are thriving. That’s why we love referrals — they ensure we grow naturally with the needs of the people we represent. Building those grass roots relationships keeps us focused on what matters: you and your loved ones. It also keeps us sharp. We want to remain worthy of the trust you’ve put in us. We’ll continue to nurture this growth with care, and we promise to never take it for granted.

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DON’T LET YOUR TEEN BECOME A STATISTIC Keeping Teens Safe Behind the Wheel

Teens driving with other teens: Just having other teen passengers increases the risk of an accident and death. They can prove distracting to the driver, who is still learning how to handle the vehicle and other drivers. Newly licensed teens: The risk of a crash is notably higher during the first few months after a teen gets his or her license. They typically have less parental supervision and are still very inexperienced. The best drivers have a lot of experience under their belts. Teens shouldn’t be discouraged from driving, but they should be aware of the risks that come with getting behind the wheel or into a car with other teens. Here are a few ways to make the drive safer: • Seat belts should always be worn. • Eliminate as many distractions as possible, including the radio, food, and phones. • Teens, or anyone for that matter, should never drive after consuming alcohol. • Parents should actively supervise their teen, even after the teen is licensed to drive, to instill good driving habits. HOW CAN WE MAKE ROADS SAFER FOR TEENS?

Car accidents are the leading cause of death among teens in the U.S. In fact, about 35 percent of all teen deaths can be attributed to motor vehicle crashes. For example, in 2013 alone, 2,163 teens aged 16–19 died as a result of a car wreck. During that same time period, 243,243 teens were admitted to emergency rooms due to injuries sustained in a car wreck. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that teens are the most at-risk group for motor vehicle crashes. Drivers aged 16–19 are about three times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than those over 20. A lot of risk stems from inexperience behind the wheel and on the road. Teens are still learning how to handle unpredictability and how to interpret potentially dangerous situations. This can take the form of heavy traffic, navigating busy or confusing streets, or dealing with poor road conditions.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE MOST AT-RISK GROUPS AMONG TEENS:

Teen males: The CDC reports that male drivers and passengers are twice as likely to die in a car wreck than females in the same age group.

TAKE A BREAK!

PASTA WITH TURKEY AND BROCCOLI

This simple, delicious recipe only takes 20 minutes from start to finish. It’s also a great way to encourage kids to eat their broccoli. The next time you make pasta, leave the canned sauce in the pantry and make this instead!

Ingredients

• 2 cloves garlic, chopped • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper • Salt • Parmesan cheese

Instructions • 3/4 pounds pasta (shells or orecchiette) • 2 cups broccoli florets • 3 tablespoons olive oil • 1 pound ground turkey package directions. Add broccoli when pasta is 1 minute from done. Drain both and return to pot. 2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the turkey, garlic, crushed red 1. Cook the pasta according to

pepper, and a pinch of salt. Cook while breaking up meat with a wooden spoon for 3–5 minutes.

3. Combine turkey with pasta

and broccoli mixture, adding the remaining olive oil as you stir. Serve in bowls topped with Parmesan.

BASEBALL BEES BLOSSOMS

GARDENING GREEN KITES

PUDDLES RAINBOWS RAINDROPS

SPRING TULIPS UMBRELLA

Recipe inspired by realsimple.com

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A Boutique New Orleans Law Firm Resolving Your Legal Matters

365 Canal Street, Suite 1680 New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: 504-894-9653 Fax: 866-761-8934 www.SmileyFirm.com OPEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Seth and the Crescent City Classic Why You Should Consider a Media Detox How We Grow With New Orleans Keeping Teens Safe on the Road Pasta With Turkey and Broccoli This Season’s Best Family Activity

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SEARCHING FOR SPRING FAMILY SCAVENGER HUNTS MADE EASY Spring is in bloom, and there’s no better time to get some fresh air. If you are looking for a way to get your family outside and away from their screens, why not plan a spring-themed scavenger hunt? More than just a fun way to spend the afternoon, scavenger hunts build problem-solving skills, encourage teamwork, and get your family to exercise their minds and bodies. Here are some tips on how to plan a memorable family scavenger hunt. PLAY IN TEAMS Your whole family can participate together, but it can also be fun to strike up some friendly competition with teams. Have at least one parent or an older, responsible sibling on each team to make sure everyone stays safe and follows the rules. TAKE PICTURES Since everyone has a camera on their phone, why not use it? By taking pictures, you don’t have to worry about losing anything you find, and your teams can more safely collect certain items. For example, bird feathers are a great item for a spring scavenger hunt, but you don’t

want your kids to touch them. Make a rule that a team member must appear in every picture so no one can cheat by finding photos online.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR LIST There are plenty of scavenger hunt lists online, but it’s more fun to brainstorm with your family. Have everyone think of three to five spring-related items, like yellow flowers, a kite, or a rabbit-shaped cloud. Do some research into your local flora and fauna. If you put a bluebird on the list, you might want to make sure there are bluebirds in your area. DON’T FORGET THE PRIZES! Prizes don’t have to be elaborate to be fun. It can be something simple, like Popsicles or fake medals, or maybe the winning team gets to pick a restaurant for dinner. Scavenger hunts are one of the best ways to create lasting family memories this spring without breaking the bank. Just get your list, gather your family, and have fun. Happy hunting!

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