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November 2020 Soto’s Chronicles
DeDe Soto
Protecting your most valuable asset — your family
FROM THE DESK OF DeDe Soto
Bring Disney Home for Mickey’s Birthday! No Pixie Dust Required On Nov. 18, 1928, the world’s most famous mouse made his big-screen debut aboard Steamboat Willie. Since that cinematic introduction, Mickey Mouse has become a household name, figure, and even presidential candidate. (By the way, write-in votes for non-registered candidates like Mickey, his friend Donald Duck, or other celebrities, usually don’t count.) Today, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and other theme parks across the globe have become destinations for family adventures and fun vacations. I’m sure many of us have our own stories about Disney adventures. Whether they include seeing that “magic” in person for the first time or screaming all the way down Space Mountain, nearly everyone has a Disney story thanks to that 92-year-old mouse. However, vacations look a lot different this year than in the past. Because of the pandemic, more families are opting for local road trips or staycations. But sometimes, you just need a little magic! So, I asked my team to help me create a list of Disney-inspired activities the whole family can enjoy at home. I know nothing can replace the excitement of the world’s most famous theme parks, but hopefully, you will find a way to bring some of that magic into your home this November.
Happy Thanksgiving! Happy November!
I hope it will be a wonderful holiday season this year. Thanksgiving is my favorite time of the year, and I always look forward to spending time with my family and friends in Palm Desert. This year is no exception, although it may be a little different. November is a perfect time of the year to share my gratitude. I am thankful for all of the wonderful people who have crossed my path and touched my life in one way or another this year. As always, I am grateful for my health and the ability to serve all of you. To each of you, I simply say thank you for your trust in the Soto Law Group; it is greatly appreciated. I know many of you have procrastinated about planning, either because you don’t want to deal with estate planning or because you are too busy! I am here to say that we will make a difficult topic easy for your family and friends so that no matter what your age, you can have peace of mind knowing you have checked this difficult topic off your list. Then you can enjoy the holiday season knowing you have protected yourself and your loved ones.
COPY THE PARK’S MOST FAMOUS RECIPES.
I can already smell the sweet, savory combination of those honey corn dogs! Disney enthusiasts have perfected copycat recipes of everyone’s favorite Disney dishes — you might even feel like you’re in the park. The best part? Many of these recipes are easy to recreate for the whole family. For example,
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a three-ingredient pineapple ice cream recipe will bring you back to a hot, summer day of digging into Dole Whip. The smoked turkey leg and soft pretzels will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters in your home. Create a menu with family favorites and make those delicious Disney dishes that are sure to be nothing short of magical.
idea your own. For starters, I just learned about a video game called Disneyland Adventures (for Xbox or PC). In it, users actually go to the park — virtually, of course — and complete various missions while in the park as a visitor! You can even meet with the characters and get their autograph. Sounds pretty cool, right? But if video games aren’t your family’s style, you could also host a movie marathon. Have each member of the family choose their favorite Disney movie and dedicate one night to that movie. Whether you go all-out with themed snacks in the family room or everyone snuggles up on the couch for a Disney classic feature, I’m sure this will be a hit for the whole family. I already can’t wait until we can go on a real vacation again. But until then, I’m thankful to live in the era that we do. The technology of 2020 makes it possible to turn your home into “the most magical place on Earth.” I can’t wait to hear about your celebrations!
BRING THE THEME PARK INTO YOUR HOME.
All you need for this idea is a computer, some speakers, and your imagination. Start by streaming Disney’s park collection on Spotify or Apple Music. Once the perfect soundtrack is pumping into your living room, jump over to YouTube where you can find numerous point of view videos of classic and new rides. (By the way, you can also find videos for virtual reality devices! They feature the fun of a theme park without the crowds.) Plus, you can even tour recent additions to prepare for your next adventure — when it’s safe to travel again! I can’t guarantee that your little thrill-seeker will think this matches up to the real thing, but it can get you a little closer to the scenery.
EXPLORE ANOTHER WORLD.
There are a few ways you can pull this off, and depending on the kind of adventurers you have in your family, you can make this
Ice, Ice, Lawsuit
WOMAN SUES STARBUCKS OVER ‘TOOMUCH ICE’
Sometimes, there is such a thing as “too much ice.” You’re sipping your cold beverage when suddenly, it’s gone far quicker than you expected. All you’re left with is a cup full of ice. It’s disappointing, for sure, but is it so disappointing that you would want to file a lawsuit against the company that supplied the beverage? That’s exactly what Stacy Pincus did in 2016. She ordered an iced coffee from Starbucks, only to find “too much ice” in her drink. The lawsuit, filed in Chicago, alleged that the drink was advertised as a 24-ounce beverage, but once the ice was factored in, Pincus and her lawyers claimed the drink was really only “14 fluid ounces.” “Starbucks’ advertising practices are clearly meant to mislead consumers when combined with the standard practice of
filling a cold drink cup with far less liquid than the cup can hold,” the suit claimed. NBC News reported that Pincus sought damages to the tune of $5 million against the coffee chain. “The plaintiff would not have paid as much,” her lawyers stated in a court document, “if anything, for the cold drinks had she known that they contained less, and in many cases, nearly half as many, fluid ounces than claimed by Starbucks. As a result, the plaintiff suffered injury in fact and lost money or property.” Starbucks’ response: “Our customers understand and expect that ice is an essential component of any ‘iced’ beverage. If a customer is not satisfied with their beverage preparation, we will gladly remake it.” The company also
reaffirmed that you can order any iced beverage with “light ice” and receive half the ice normally included. Interestingly, a second lawsuit against Starbucks popped up in Los Angeles a few months later, but both cases were thrown out. Pincus never saw a cent of that $5 million, nor did she recoup her attorneys’ fees. The case went on to be called “one of the most frivolous lawsuits of 2016.”
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Black Friday: COVID-19 Edition
A string of retail stores, including JCPenney, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, have declared they won’t be open for the traditional Thanksgiving and/or Black Friday shopping this year. But that doesn’t mean the annual shopping holiday is canceled! If you’re an avid Black Friday shopper, you can keep the tradition going and involve the whole family by using the day to shop online. Here are a few tips to get everyone involved in the fun and turn the holiday into an overnight party.
and let everyone loose to bargain hunt. While you’re shopping, remember to use store apps, websites like RetailMeNot and Groupon, money-saving browser extensions like Honey, and price- comparison apps like Flipp to score the best deals.
CELEBRATE WITH A BIG BREAKFAST.
REFUEL WITH CAFFEINE.
When you’ve finally dropped the last item into your virtual cart, it’s time to celebrate! Depending on how long your spree took, it might be 3 a.m., or you might be able to see the sunlight peeking through your blinds. Either way, you deserve to reward yourself with breakfast. Try cooking your favorite breakfast foods as a family or, if it’s late enough, order home-delivered pancakes and hashbrowns from your favorite local restaurant. Once you’re stuffed, you can crawl into bed knowing that you had a fantastic family night.
No all-night shopping spree is complete without a coffee run. To keep your family fueled, make sure to stock up on your favorite coffee in advance and set a time for a coffee break. It’s not quite the same as taking a break at the mall’s Starbucks, but it will help you power through the night. For an extra bit of fun, you can even try to recreate your favorite Starbucks drinks at home. ChowHound. com is a great resource for DIY recipes and has hacks for the caramel frappuccino, pumpkin spice latte, and more.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
Does your whole family love shopping? If they do, it’s time to break out the laptops, cellphones, and tablets. Take the list of items you’re hoping to snag and divide them up so that each person has things to browse for. Then choose a start time — midnight is always good —
Take a Break!
Sinfully Sweet Butternut Squash
Ingredients • 1 large butternut squash,
• 1 3/4 tsp kosher salt • 3/4 tsp cinnamon • 1/2 tsp black pepper • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil • 1 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400 F, placing the two oven racks at the top and bottom of the oven. Then grease two baking sheets. 2. In a large bowl, combine squash cubes, olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and spices. Toss to coat, then spread mixture in a single layer over the baking sheets. 3. Place both pans in the oven and bake 15 minutes. Turn the cubes with a spatula and return them to the oven, swapping them to different racks. Continue baking 10–15 minutes until tender. 4. Sprinkle with rosemary and serve!
Inspired by WellPlated.com
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of DeDe PAGE 1 Celebrate Mickey Mouse’s Birthday With Disney at Home PAGE 1 Woman Sues Starbucks Over ‘Too Much Ice’ PAGE 2 Black Friday: COVID-19 Edition PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Sinfully Sweet Butternut Squash PAGE 3 Top 5 Healthy Life Hacks to Have an Awesome Morning PAGE 4
Top 5 Healthy Life Hacks to Have an Awesome Morning
Getting 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 more gentle 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 superboost your day!
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