Shoup Legal - February 2022

Shoup Legal - February 2022

Plan today for peace of mind tomorrow. FEBRUARY 2022

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING AND BEING A MENTOR ANYONE CAN DO IT! Throughout our lives, we come across some wonderful people who leave resounding impressions on us while relaying their wisdom and teaching us new things or how to do things better. They can be relatives, coaches, teachers, or just about anyone. Of course, I’m talking about the idea of mentors and mentorship. We all have the ability to be a mentor to someone else but should also make it our goal to find a mentor to help us through any difficult problems that may arise in our lives. I have been blessed with some truly amazing mentors throughout my life. They’ve been there to encourage, motivate, help, and challenge me in a number of ways. When I think back on some of the most influential mentors I have had in my life, I always return to a woman who visited my elementary school when I was a child. Everyone remembers the assemblies and guest speakers who came to our schools that were more special than the others. One year, we had an Olympic swimmer come and speak to our school. She explained her journey to reach the Olympics and detailed some of the challenges she faced and how she overcame them. Her words truly stuck with me and inspired me to do more and be better. After hearing her speak, I found out that she was giving another speech at my local library, so I begged and pleaded with my mom to take me. She gave in, and we were off to go see the swimmer speak once more. This time, I got up close and personal with her and she even signed a Post-it Note for me that says “Dream big dreams and go for them.” Little did this woman know that I would hold onto this note for the rest of my life and utter those words to myself every day. I’ve also had the luxury of being on the opposite side and have acted as a mentor for others. I even did a formal mentorship at one point where I worked with high school students who were interested in the law and

would help them navigate high school and college. Like the swimmer who inspired me, I tried to teach these kids to shoot for their dreams.

One of the greatest gifts that we receive in our lives is the gift of time. When we give our time to other people, we make a greater impact in the world at large or even in our communities. You never know what type of impact you will leave.

We all have the ability to be mentors or inspire others to achieve great things. It doesn’t have to be a traditional mentorship. Sometimes simple words of encouragement or advice can go a long way in motivating and helping people. Think about those that have left an impact on your life and try to emulate the experience with others. You could be completely changing someone else’s perspective for the better.

–Andrea Shoup

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A SNOWMAN Stuff Yourself and Your Wallet With Meal Prepping

Have you ever intended to eat healthy meals throughout the week, but as the days went on, you either ran out of time or patience and picked up unhealthy eating habits? We’ve all been there, but if you find yourself falling into this routine regularly, you might want to give meal prepping a chance. Meal prepping has gained popularity over the past few years, and social media has been flooded with images of fitness gurus’ meal-prepping habits. To properly meal prep, you need to plan and shop for your meals in advance. You then need to cook all of your meals for the week and store them for easy access. This way, you won’t be tempted to eat fast food or other unhealthy options since your meals will already be prepared and ready to eat.

While there are many benefits to meal prepping, there are three that stand above the rest.

meal prep, you can spend the time you would have spent cooking on hobbies or relaxation since your meals will already be cooked and prepared. It’s a great way to make more time for yourself. You’ll be eating healthier. Eating out at restaurants, especially if it’s fast food, can be quite unhealthy. You may find yourself putting on weight if you’re eating out every other day. By meal prepping, you can introduce more home-cooked meals into your diet. You can choose healthier foods, and your portion sizes will be limited since the food is already made. This way you won’t overeat, and you can enjoy fresh and delicious meals every day of the week.

You’ll cut food costs. Eating out at restaurants several days a week can get incredibly expensive. Even fast food can quickly burn a hole in your pocket. By going to the grocery store and getting the ingredients to prepare your meals in advance, you will be saving money. And you will never ask yourself, “What should I have for dinner tonight?” You’ll save time. Our days are already hectic and busy enough, and more often than not, cooking after working or running errands seems like just another chore. With

Making Sure You Feel Welcome in Our Office WITH MIKAEL FROM THE WELCOMING TEAM

When you walk into Shoup Legal, chances are you will be greeted by one of the most compassionate, friendly, and caring people you will ever meet. With a plethora of customer service experience, Mikael Feeney has become an invaluable member of our team. Mikael has a unique work history that’s been fueled by her ability to connect on a personal level with others. She once held a job where she would travel around Hollywood and find ideal contestants for a dating game show. She went on to work in the aerospace field before finding a role in education where she taught at a Montessori school. She loved education and still considers it close to her heart, but as her children grew older, she found that she wanted to work with adults once again. That’s what led her through our doors. As a member of our Welcoming Team, Mikael has her hands in just about everything. She’s one of the first people that our clients interact with — she takes phone calls and gets them started with whatever they may need. She connects with many different people and helps them put together any necessary action steps. Mikael knows that no day is the same at Shoup Legal and that helps drive her to be the best she can be.

We like to think of Mikael as a superhero around the office. She’s able to slip on her red cape and help people with things that will change the trajectory of their and their family’s lives. She’s a big believer in goal setting and gets upset when she can’t help as many people as she desires. If there’s one thing she always tries to do, it’s to wake up with a smile because that helps set the tempo for the day.

When she’s not at work, Mikael is usually spending time with her 9- and 11-year-old daughters. She takes her dogs on nature walks and always finds time to go to the library and get some reading done. When you set foot in our office or call in, be ready for Mikael to take excellent care of you. She’s here to help you with whatever you may need and is available to answer any questions you may have. Most importantly, she’ll do it with a big smile on her face!

Plan today for peace

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It’s Important to Talk to Your Family About Estate Plans Conversations about long-term care and estate planning can be difficult for some, but if you have a parent that’s in their golden years, it’s a conversation you need to have. No matter what the situation is, waiting until the last minute to prepare will cause more trouble than it’s worth, especially with estate planning. If your parent were to pass away or become incapacitated tomorrow, do you know if they have an estate plan? If they do, do you know the details of their estate plan? If a parent passes away without an estate plan, it can leave you trying to figure out what’s happening with their finances and possessions when you should be simply grieving. You are also likely going to have to spend quite a lot of money if you have to go to probate — and issues between siblings can arise. If you’re looking to avoid these situations, you need to discuss estate planning with your loved ones.

Vegan Red Velvet Cake Inspired by LovingItVegan.com

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour • 1 cup white granulated sugar • 1 tsp baking soda • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder • 1 tbsp lemon juice • 1 cup soy milk

• 2 tsp vanilla extract • 1/2 cup canola oil • 1 tbsp distilled white vinegar • 1 tsp red food coloring (gel works best) • Frosting of choice

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease baking pans of choice. Line bottoms with parchment paper. (Two 8-inch round pans work best.) 2. In a large bowl, sift flour and mix in sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. 3. In a small bowl, combine lemon juice and soy milk. Leave the mixture to sit for about a minute so it can curdle into buttermilk. 4. Add milk mixture, vanilla, oil, vinegar, and food coloring to the flour mixture, stirring well to break up large clumps. 5. Pour batter into pans and bake for 20 minutes. 6. Cool cakes completely before frosting with icing of choice.

If you’re planning to have that conversation, you should familiarize yourself with the documents involved. This way you can help answer any basic questions they have and see if they are already familiar with each document. You’ll want to get your siblings or any other essential family members involved and on the same page. Set a time to talk with your parents and stick to it. The conversation will probably not go according to plan if you bring it up out of the blue. Once you’ve had the conversation with your parents or loved ones, reach out for professional help. Estate planning is not something you want to tackle head-on without any experience. If you want to make sure that every situation is taken care of and grant your loved ones’ peace of mind, give us a call. We know the ins and outs of estate planning and will make sure that every scenario is covered.

TAKE A BREAK

e of mind tomorrow.

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Plan today for peace of mind tomorrow. 39755 Date St., Ste. 203 | Murrieta, CA 92563 (951) 445-4114 | www.shouplegal.com

1 | The Importance of Having and Being a Mentor 2 | 3 Major Benefits of Meal Prepping 2 | Making Sure You Feel Welcome in Our Office 3 | It’s Important to Talk to Your Family About Estate Plans 3 | Vegan Red Velvet Cake 4 | Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Your Kids Inside This Issue CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY WITHYOUR LITTLE SWEETHEARTS Valentine’s Day isn’t just for adults. Let your kids know they are the most

out your skills with heart-shaped cookie cutters and sprinkles. It can get messy, but it’s certainly worth it!

important loves in your life with these sweet, inexpensive ideas that the whole family can enjoy! Your children will remember these traditions for years to come.

Make a special Valentine’s Day breakfast. Guess what? Pink pancakes, pink milk, and even pink eggs are a thing! With strawberry milk, food coloring and strawberries in the pancakes, and food coloring in the eggs, you’ll have an effortless and special breakfast for the little ones.

Wrap up a small Valentine’s Day gift.

Whether it’s a Valentine’s Day outfit, candy, a teddy bear, or a necklace, it doesn’t have to be big or costly! Your children will enjoy feeling the love, and they’ll be excited to get something new. Don’t forget to have fun with the wrapping! Most stores have Valentine’s Day gift bags and wrapping paper around this time of year. Your baby valentines have stolen your heart — make sure they know it by spreading the love! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Tip: Set the table the night before after the kids go to bed to make serving Valentine’s Day breakfast easier the next morning.

Create Valentine’s Day cards for each kid. Tell your children all of your favorite things about them with their own personalized cards. There are so many ways you can get crafty with construction paper and glitter. Your kids are sure to love getting mommy-made or daddy-made one-of-a-kind valentines. Bake Valentine’s Day goodies together. What’s better than baking with your little ones? If you are short on time, you can find premade dough, usually with a Valentine’s Day theme. Or, you can try

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