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DECEMBER 2021
I have a confession to make: I’m not a big fan of Christmas. I’m no Grinch, but a couple things about the holiday just ruin it for me a little bit. Buying gifts is a big one. I hate spending hours browsing things online or schlepping to and from stores! Especially because Christmas isn’t about me, or you, or anyone else I can get a present for — it’s about bigger, more abstract things that will never fit under the Christmas tree. With all of that in mind, my family has come up with what I think of as a “better” way to do Christmas. We still give each other gifts — and, of course, I send presents to the children I sponsor through Compassion International — but we do it in different ways. Here are a few “updates” we've made that I love. Feel free to steal them for your celebration! • Make ‘giving back’ the present. I discovered Compassion International through my parents. There was always a photo of a sponsored child on the fridge at home and my mom faithfully wrote letters to them. She no longer sponsors children in the program, but she still donates every year. My sister and I have also made it a tradition to donate on her behalf for Christmas! The organization sends out a catalog with fun donation options, like buying chickens for a family who can use them for food, eggs, and/or help neighbors build flocks, or buying bees for a similar cause. Every year, my sister and I purchase a donation item for my mom and buy an ornament representing what we donated. That’s why you’ll find a chicken and a bumble bee on her Christmas tree! A BETTER WAY TO DO CHRISTMAS WHY MY FAMILY SAYS ‘NO’ TO NORMAL PRESENTS
their birthday gift. My sister does the same for my kids! This allows us to spread the financial burden of Christmas out through the year and gives the kids the option to treat themselves to a truly fantastic present, like a bike or barbecue, on the day that’s truly about them. • Play Rob Your Neighbor. One gift I don’t mind buying at the holidays is my present for our family’s game of Rob Your Neighbor (another name for a white elephant gift exchange). The game is hilarious, especially when the whole group is bent on stealing a particular gift. We cap the amount each person can spend at $10 and encourage fun, funky presents. Because of the price limit, food is almost always the main event! I like to buy our contributions from Jungle Jim’s International Market in Cincinnati, but once, someone had two specialty ice cream sundaes made in St. Louis for the game. They stashed them in the freezer and blew the winner’s mind when it was their turn to unwrap their gift. My family finds these traditions much more fulfilling than sitting in a circle and opening up unequal numbers of gifts we may or may not want. Plus, they’re more fun! I still chuckle when I think about those sundaes hidden in the freezer and feel warm and fuzzy when I spot the chicken ornament on Mom’s tree. If you’re tired of all of the consumerism around Christmas, it might be time to upgrade your celebration. Saying “no” to normal presents could be the trick to avoid getting Grinchier each year!
• Double up on birthdays . I don’t buy gifts for my sister and her kids. Instead, I add all the money I would have spent on them for Christmas to
-Melissa Emery
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5 EASY DIY TIPS FOR A LOVELY HOLIDAY TABLE
It’s been a crazy year, so if you’re hosting, you might feel tempted to go all out and make your home as beautiful and cozy as possible. But there’s no need to make your decoration receipts any longer — make your holiday table setting even fancier without spending a ton of money.
clear salt shaker (or a couple) and put a mini plastic, snowy evergreen tree into it, and bam! You have an adorable, festive touch to any holiday table. It’s so simple and creative, it’ll be a surefire conversation starter. No. 5: AMistletoe-Topped Party Favor Creating small wrapped party favors? Instead of a bow, tie a sprig of mistletoe to the gift! It’s a fun holiday touch and easy to find around the holidays at big box and home improvement stores. You can also visit a local tree farm for cuttings! These ideas are super easy, but we know it might not always feel easy to pull off a beautiful holiday party on a dime. However, it’s definitely worth it and can be a lot of fun! We hope you enjoy giving these ideas a try.
No. 1: Painted Ornaments as Seating Labels Who needs boring cardstock seating labels when you can make them out of festive decorations? These days, you can find affordable ornaments anywhere. Use some paint to decorate your ornaments with an elegant white or pearl background, then green and red tinsel and leaves beside your guest’s name or initials. It’ll be a perfect, elegant touch and one they’ll take home to hang on their tree! No. 2: Napkins With Mini Bells You don’t have to be an expert seamstress to buy a packet of small mini bells and attach them to the
ends of a colorful cloth napkin! It’ll add a magical, musical touch to any meal.
No. 3: Fresh Cranberries for a Unique Centerpiece If you found fresh cranberries at the farmers market, why not spend a few dollars extra for another bag or two, rather than an $80 flower arrangement? Fresh cranberries have beautiful greenery that can be easily arranged using mason jars, Epsom salts, and tea lights! Best of all, you can eat or cook with them after the party’s over.
No. 4: Snowy Salt Shakers Alongside your table salt and pepper, get another
BRING ONE OF OUR TEAM’S FAVORITE BOOKS! READY TO CURL UP BY THE FIRE?
December is Read a New Book Month, and our team has a month’s worth of suggestions for you! Some of the picks below are holiday-related and some aren’t, but they’re all perfect to curl up by the fire with. Lorie M. Fullerton - Paralegal My recommended holiday read this year is "In a Holidaze" by Christina Lauren. It’s a sweet romance novel that’s a bit like “Groundhog Day,” Christmas style! Stephanie Parrott - Receptionist I have three books! “The Last Mrs. Parrish” by Liv Constantine is a thriller about an ambitious woman who tries to steal the life of a socialite she admires. “Blue Like Jazz” by Donald Miller is a moving reflection on his journey with Christianity, and “Please Don't Sit on My Bed in Your Outside Clothes” by Phoebe Robinson is
a comedic book of essays about topics ranging from motherhood to race.
seasons the author spent working as an elf at Macy's Department Store in New York City. It's dark with adult themes (so not recommended for kids), but it is hilarious and easily my favorite holiday read. Andrea Whittam - Legal Assistant I am old-fashioned and still cling to books from my own childhood. I like to give classic children's books for Christmas, such as “ ' Twas The Night Before Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “The Polar Express,” and “The Grinch.” For adults, I love “The Christmas Cookie Club” by Ann Pearlman. We’d also love to hear what you’re reading. Message us or post a photo of your book to our Facebook page, Facebook.com/ EmeryLawOffice.
Joel Franklin - Attorney I’d have to suggest the "Scot Harvath" series by Brad Thor, which focuses on the adventures of an ex-Navy SEAL and Secret Service agent. The most recent one was “Black Ice,” and it was great. Libby Thorngate - Operations Manager I just finished “The Warmth of Other Suns,” a book about the Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson. I know I'm late to the party, but the prose is just stunning. Even those who don't typically enjoy reading about history will lose themselves in her storytelling. Travis Dalhoff - Paralegal I would recommend “SantaLand Diaries” by David Sedaris. It's an account of two Christmas
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HAVE A LAUGH!
4 BOOKS TO GIVE (OR READ!) THIS CHRISTMAS As I said on Page 1, I’m not a huge fan of buying presents on Christmas — but I make an exception for books! It’s always a pleasure to give and receive knowledge. If you’re looking for a last-minute gift or just a holiday read for yourself, check out one of these four options. I’ve read them all, and they’re great! ‘The Autobiography of Santa Claus’ by Jeff Guinn This book combines fact and fiction to tell the “real” story of Santa Claus, and it’s perfect for older elementary school kids. If you have kids or grandkids at home, I’d suggest buying a copy before the holidays and reading it together! You can read a chapter each night leading up to Christmas, finishing the magic on Christmas Eve, just in time for Santa’s arrival. ‘Too Many Toys’ by David Shannon I adore all of the David Shannon books, but both “Too Many Toys” and “It’s Christmas, David!” are great reads for small kids during the holidays. In “Too Many Toys,” a little boy named Spencer learns how to give up the toys he no longer needs for the greater good. ‘Too Small to Ignore: Why the Least of These Matters Most’ by Dr. Wess Stafford If you love kids, then this book will touch your heart. In it, Dr. Wess Stafford tells the story of his life growing up in West Africa while also explaining why it’s critical that we help vulnerable children around the world. As he puts it, “Children are too important and too intensely loved by God to be left behind or left to chance. … We must invest in children — all across the world.” I promise you’ll close the book inspired. ‘Hope Rising: How Christians Can End Extreme Poverty in This Generation’ by Scott C. Todd Like “Too Small to Ignore,” “Hope Rising” is an important story about kids told through a Christian lens. It dives deep into the issues of child poverty and how we can eradicate it around the world by thinking big. Scott Todd is the senior vice president of global advocacy at Compassion International, and reading his book made me even more proud to work with them.
Inspired by TastesBetterFromScratch.com
DIY HOLIDAY EGGNOG
Making your own eggnog is easier than you think! This creamy, delicious drink will be a hit with your holiday guests.
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • •
6 egg yolks
•
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 cups milk
•
Cinnamon and whipped cream, for garnish
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 pinch salt
DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until light and creamy. Set aside. 2. In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the
4. When most of the milk is whisked in, add the egg mixture to the saucepan. 5. Whisk until the liquid
thickens slightly or reaches 160 F. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. Pour the eggnog into a glass container and cover. Refrigerate.
cream, milk, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to a simmer.
6.
3. Add a spoonful of the milk mixture to the egg
mixture. Whisk vigorously and repeat, one spoonful at a time.
7. When the eggnog has thickened, pour it into
glasses, garnish, and enjoy!
WE WANT YOU TO THINK OF US AS YOUR LAW FIRM. If you have a legal matter that needs attention, let us know. If we can’t handle the matter, we will refer you to a firm that can. Please feel free to refer us to your friends and family for their legal needs. We welcome the opportunity to help.
-Melissa
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INSIDE
IS YOUR CHRISTMAS READY FOR AN UPDATE? 1
A FESTIVE DIY TABLE SETTING
OUR TEAM’S TOP HOLIDAY READS 2
4 BOOKS FOR YOUR HOLIDAY WISH LIST
DIY HOLIDAY EGGNOG 3
READING TO YOUR CHILDREN REAPS BENEFITS GALORE! 4
THE BENEFITS OF READING TO YOUR CHILDREN
Even at a young age, reading to your children is an important tool to help them grow and learn while sparking their creativity. Your child will help develop their early literacy skills and ability to focus, plus increase their social skills and communication skills. When you begin reading to your child, they gain a greater understanding of the world, which allows them to make sense of the things they see, hear, and react to in their daily lives. But the benefits of reading don’t stop there. Improving Language Skills Reading to your child when they are an infant can help strengthen their language acquisition skills. If you continue reading as they get older, these skills will only grow. They begin to latch on to spoken communication. Improving their vocabulary and grammar skills through hearing the written word is even more effective than what they gain from everyday conversation. Why? Because the human brain comprehends written communication differently than spoken communication. Preparing for Success in School According to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 1 in 3 American children enter kindergarten without the necessary reading skills to succeed in school. But if you read to your children, you expose them to new
words and help develop their listening skills as they listen to you read. You can also ask questions about their reading comprehension along the way to ensure they understand what is happening in the story. These skills are vital to academic success. Improving Your Relationship The best way to create a special bond with your little ones is simply by spending time with them, and reading to your child on a routine basis is a great way to do that. Plus, reading stories provides a positive and educational experience where they can talk to you and vice versa. This will help you learn more about your child’s developing interests so you can find new ways to encourage them to learn and explore their passions.
No matter which way you look at it, reading to your children provides a positive experience that will help them grow.
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