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T he F ight for I ndependence MY LONG JOURNEY TOWARD ADULTHOOD
JULY 2023
At the end of summer, many recent graduates will be taking their first steps toward adulthood and gaining independence. They’ll move out of their parents’ house to start a career or attend college. As many of us know, no time period or special event determines when we officially gain our independence. Instead, independence is something we feel deep inside, and each of us experiences this feeling at different points in our lives. Growing up, I felt like I was always striving for more independence. Maybe this is something that all kids experience, but compared to my sister, I was always fighting for and seeking freedom more than she was. This ideology didn’t necessarily sit well at home. My parents were strict and wanted me to listen up, get in line, and follow the rules, but that’s not how I function. This clash of beliefs left me frustrated, and eventually, I tried to run away from home at an early age. I remember packing up my Barbies with plans to sell them so I could raise money to run away
with a neighbor to South America. I mean, who wouldn’t want to buy my Barbies for a small fortune, right?! My sister found out and told our parents at the last moment, which was probably a good thing in retrospect. My fight for independence continued as I grew older, but it didn’t come easy. Most people attended college, graduated, and got a job; that was how they entered adulthood and gained independence, but I fought this path. The college part was a no- brainer, but I didn’t want to settle for a 9-5 job where I earned a paycheck and lived a boxed-in life. I wanted a career that I felt passionate about and actually enjoyed doing. It took time for me to figure out what I wanted my life to look like. I waited three years before going to law school, and even after graduating, I worked some jobs I didn’t fully enjoy until I started a business. After working in the field for a few years and starting my own business, I should have felt like I had finally reached adulthood, but that wasn’t the case. It wasn’t until I had a child that I truly realized that next stage of life. I had another human who depended on me, so I couldn’t make any more excuses or explore other options. My children aren’t the only ones dependent on me, either. I also have employees who depend on the work from my business to maintain their livelihoods and support their families. I don’t take my role lightly! I can already see that one of my children has the same drive for independence that I had while growing up. He’s marching to his own beat and doing things his own way. He’s loving, intelligent, and hilarious, but his teacher has already told us he will never be a follower; it’s not how he’s built. Like all my kids, I love everything about him, but I know how challenging this experience is and will continue to be for him, me and especially my husband, who has more traditional views on conformity and behavior. With time, my husband will learn what our son needs to be successful, and I have no doubt he’ll continue to provide him with excellent support. If you’re a high school graduate leaving home for the first time at the end of summer, I encourage you to give yourself time and space to do well in school. It will help give you more options. And don’t focus solely on getting an A; focus on finding your passion and what you want your career to look like.
- Esther Vayman
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For many, the biggest hurdle to exercise is how much time you spend doing it. Finding an hour to hit the gym can be impossible between work, family, and other endless daily obligations. While this is true for all of us, it’s even more so for celebrities, but somehow, they manage to stay in shape despite their busy schedules. According to celebrity trainer Luke Worthington, their secret is the “micro workout.” A micro workout is just how it sounds — an exercise completed in a very short time, possibly within five minutes. ARE MICRO WORKOUTS EFFECTIVE? If you’re wondering if working out for only five minutes makes a difference, a 2021 study found that even four seconds of intense exercise can improve your health. In this study by the University of Texas at Austin, a group of individuals cycled at maximum effort for four seconds on a stationary bike, then rested for 15–30 seconds. Participants repeated these four-second intervals 30 times three days a week. This totaled to about two minutes of exercise each day, or six minutes total for the entire week. The results? Participants all showed G et F it in 5 M inutes ! THE CELEBRITY FITNESS TREND THAT WORKS
improved cardio and anaerobic power, meaning they could output more physical energy while using less oxygen.
Another study by Nature Medicine found that for people over the age of 60 (who did not exercise regularly), small bursts of energy for even two minutes showed a 50% decrease in death from cardiovascular complications and a 40% decrease in risk of dying from cancer compared to those who did not incorporate a micro workout. These bursts of movement even included climbing stairs or walking fast. HOW CAN YOU INTEGRATE MICRO WORKOUTS INTO YOUR SCHEDULE? Just find 2–5 minutes in your day for a micro workout and perform any exercise you feel comfortable with — even just walking at a fast pace will do the trick!
So, next time you have a few extra minutes in your day, get moving! Your health will thank you.
A RISING STAR IN THE FIELD
O ur A ttorney , A manda
such a dedicated effort into our hiring practices. We want to hire the right people so we can provide you with the assistance you need. At the beginning of the year, we added Amanda to our team as an attorney. Over the past few months, she’s proven to be a reliable and knowledgeable source of support for our clients in their time of need. Amanda began her journey toward a law career while still young. She had a high reading level early on and grew very bored with books aimed at her age group. Her mom was a paralegal who decided to challenge her then-8-year-old daughter’s reading ability by giving her a John Grisham novel, which Amanda loved. From that point on, she was hooked on the legal profession. Amanda got her bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech before starting law school at the Charleston School of Law. After obtaining her Juris Doctor degree, Amanda worked for a large family law
firm for nearly eight years before seeking a change of scenery, which brought her through our doors.
Amanda is incredibly passionate about her work and always puts her clients first. She loves working on cases that involve children and helping them get the support and assistance they need. Amanda is married to a man with two children from a previous marriage, so she fully understands the trials and tribulations of kids from separated families and wants to do her best to help them. We’re not the only ones who have noticed Amanda’s great work in the legal field. She’s received the Super Lawyers Rising Star award two years in a row. When Amanda is away from the office, she usually spends time watching sci-fi shows and movies with her family. We’re so glad to have Amanda on our team, and we know she will continue doing extraordinary things for her clients.
When you need an attorney for a family law matter, you want to ensure you get the best help available. In many instances, your and your children’s futures depend upon your case’s outcome, so it’s not surprising you’d want to work with the best. That’s one of the reasons we put
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WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT SUMMER?
Andrea Baseball season Amanda H.
Emily Lake and pool days Loni Kayaking down the river Sara Grilling out Esther The long days – lots of daylight Ashlyn Going to the pool! Mari The beach
Being at my happy place, the beach! Specifically, Orange Beach, Alabama! Katie Lake days Grace Longer days and South Carolina beaches Amanda D. My step-kids are here for the summer Julia Being on the water — beach, lake, river, it doesn’t really matter Bella Pool days and tanning! Morgan Going to Disney World
G rilled S teak S alad W ith P eaches
ingredients • 1 lb skirt steak, fat trimmed • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar • 1 clove garlic, minced • 1 tbsp light brown sugar • 1 tbsp vegetable oil • Kosher salt • Black pepper
BRAIN BREAK
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large lemon, juiced • 6 cups baby arugula • 2 ripe peaches, thinly sliced • 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese or feta
Inspired by Delish.com
This summer salad is both hearty and healthy!
directions 1. In a large resealable plastic bag or baking dish, combine steak, vinegar, garlic, and brown sugar. Marinate 20 minutes at room temperature. 2. Remove steak from marinade, coat with vegetable oil, and season generously with salt and pepper. 3. On a grill or pan set to high heat, cook steak until desired doneness. Rest 5–10 minutes, then thinly slice against the grain. 4. In a small bowl, whisk olive oil and lemon juice to make dressing. Season with salt and pepper. 5. In a large serving bowl, add arugula, peaches, blue cheese or feta, and steak. Drizzle with dressing and gently toss.
BARBECUE CONCERT
PARK POOL SHADE STARGAZING TRAVEL VACATION
FISHING FOURTH INDEPENDENCE LARKSPUR
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
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INDEPENDENT-MINDED SINCE DAY 1
SHORT ON TIME? TRY A MICRO WORKOUT! LEARN MORE ABOUT AMANDA!
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QUESTION AND ANSWERS GRILLED STEAK SALAD WITH PEACHES
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YOU CAN WRITE A CONTRACT ON A NAPKIN!?
W hat M akes a D ocument L egally B inding ? A TEXT OR EMAIL CAN BE A CONTRACT!
In the legal world, many firms rely on technology to communicate with clients. Processes and daily tasks have become seamless with the help of laptops and phones. But as tech continues to evolve, we must change how we view specific processes and legal steps. When most people hear about contracts, they think of formal agreements between two parties, usually involving lawyers. However, a contract can be a text, email, or napkin! Here’s what you need to know. WHAT IS A CONTRACT? A contract is a written or verbal agreement between two or more parties regarding exchanging items or services. Under the ESIGN Act, text messages and emails are considered legally binding. Furthermore, no signature is required for a contract to go into effect — all that is needed is for all parties to agree to the terms outlined in the document. WHAT ABOUT COURT CASES REGARDING CONTRACT DISPUTES VIA TEXT OR EMAIL? Over the past few years, several legal disputes have happened regarding if a text or email is considered a legitimate contract. For example, in the 2013 case of Forcelli v. Gelco . Gelco Corporation’s
insurance company offered Forcelli money to settle a case — this correspondence happened through email. Forcelli agreed to the settlement but tried to back out once the matter was resolved. The New York Appellate Division determined that emails were legally binding. In the 2017 case of St. John’s Holdings, LLC v. Two Electronics, LLC, St. John’s Holdings (seller) sent multiple text messages to Two Electronics, LLC (buyer) asking them to sign a letter to finalize their deal. After a few attempts, the buyer responded to the text and agreed to the terms and conditions. However, the seller later informed the buyer that they had accepted an offer from another party. When this issue went to court, the judge determined that since both parties agreed on the terms and conditions via text, it was a binding contract. So, what is needed to make a contract legally binding? You need four elements: 1) an offer, 2) an acceptance of the offer, 3) consideration, and 4) both parties agreeing to create a binding relationship. Because technology constantly evolves, we must understand how it can affect us from a legal standpoint. If you have any questions or concerns, allow us to assist you. Give our office a call anytime!
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