Check out our December newsletter!
All Family Law. All Around the World.
D ecember 2023
T he B ig -P icture P erspective on S uccess
Making the Passage of Time More Productive As 2023 draws to a close, we prepare to celebrate the end of a calendar year and the start of a new one. During this time, it’s also natural to reflect on what the passage of time means in each of our lives.
It can be easy to overestimate what can be done in a small time frame and underestimate what can be done over time. By focusing each day on what we can do to move the needle forward, even in small ways, we can be well on our way to the results we want. “We only have a limited amount of time to accomplish what we have in mind, so we must make the most of the time we have.” I believe that journey begins with having a clear vision of the outcome we are working toward. The greater the clarity, the more likely you’ll be able to reach it. In the process, it’s important to remember that each step we take toward our goals is a milestone worth marking. With that in mind, I remind myself constantly that my progress isn’t necessarily about being busy but about being productive. We can apply the same goal-oriented approach to our personal lives and relationships as well. For example, if we have the goal of strengthening our bonds, we look at the things we can do each day to enhance that closeness. That may mean welcoming our spouse home after a long work day. Or it may mean taking time to eat breakfast together or taking other steps to be intentional about that time and sense of connection we build. Winter is a perfect time to reflect and focus on what we want to achieve. At the end of the day, it’s worth asking if you’re where you want to be. And if you’re not, what should you do about it? As you celebrate this season, we wish you and your family the happiness you want to achieve in the new year. As you make your way forward, please remember we’re here to answer any questions you may have and support you through the opportunities that lie ahead of you!
The simple truth is that we only have a limited amount of time to accomplish what we have in mind, so we must make the most of the time we have. I think the key is being intentional about what we want to accomplish. I remember growing up and benefiting from the organizational influence of my mom. She was always big on creating to-do lists, and that has passed on to me as well. I look over the quarters and years to come and set goals for myself, no matter how big or small. For large goals, it may take a number of years for plans to come together and progress to be made. While that can be a daunting thought, remember that it won’t all happen at once. As it has been said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” That’s why I try to keep my mind and energy focused on the steps I can take each day that will lead me toward progress on my goals.
Happy Holidays! Founding Attorney Michael Manely (center), Business Manager (and Michael’s wife) Shelia Manely, and Marietta Managing Attorney (and son) Bill King at the Firm’s holiday party two years ago - how time flies!
–Michael Manely
1
Call for a Consultation: ( 866) 245-5685
D on ’ t L et Y our T een G et S cammed : A G uide to S afe C oncert T icket P urchases
Is your teen ecstatic to purchase concert tickets for the first time? While they may be ready to hand over their savings to get front-row seats to Olivia Rodrigo or Ariana Grande, they should be well-informed on how to safely purchase tickets. With digital tickets now being the primary format for stadium
events, selling counterfeit tickets is easier than ever. According to the Better Business Bureau, reports of ticket scams have spiked from 13,168 to 16,762 from 2020 to 2022 alone. With top-selling music artists going on tour recently, including Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, scammers have taken advantage of younger, inexperienced ticket buyers. These online swindlers use social media like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to offer ticket deals that are too good to be true. Safety Tips Every Buyer Needs to Follow While you may know the tried-and-true signs of an illegitimate listing or scammer, your teen may not. Meanwhile, even the most seasoned concertgoers receive impressively realistic (yet fake) tickets and show up at the venue just to be turned away. For everyone to stay safe, there are some essential rules you should follow when purchasing tickets online.
•
Always buy tickets from official websites and double-check that the URL is correct. Some scammers create look-alike sites to fool buyers. If buying tickets from a resale site, ensure they are part of the National Association of Ticket Brokers (NATB), which confirms they are legitimate. Never purchase tickets through an individual on social media or Craigslist. If buying from a person, only do so from someone you know, like a friend, coworker, or relative. Don’t buy tickets with peer-to-peer payment services such as Zelle, Venmo, or CashApp. If the purchase is a scam, these platforms don’t have buyer protection like credit cards. Make sure the section and seat number really exist at the venue.
•
•
•
•
•
If you and your teen follow these tips, you can ensure they are safely spending their money and will actually see the show of their dreams!
M eet D ina K hismatulina
Passion for the Profession
When you talk with Dina Khismatulina, it’s easy to see the passion she has for what she does and the people around her. For nine years, Dina has played a vital role in The Manely Firm’s success. Today, she is a partner and manager of two of the firm’s offices, leading the efforts in Midtown (Atlanta) and downtown Lawrenceville. Dina was born and raised in Russia and earned her law degree there before moving to the U.S. in 2003. After moving to the States, she earned her master’s in law and sat the bar exam.
In the meantime, she had applied to join The Manely Firm.
“My plan was to work in international family law. That appealed to me since I had my background being in another country. In turn, the fact that The Manely Firm worked internationally appealed to me,” Dina remembers. “I was in the middle of my interview process here when I learned that I had passed the bar exam. I was excited when Michael offered me a position. Before long, I had started my new role in Marietta.” Dina kept learning and growing. In time, she became head of the Atlanta office and was eventually asked to cover the Lawrenceville office. “I really like working with both offices and experiencing how each has its own style and feel,” she explains. “One of my favorite parts of what I do is the chance to work with my team members … I’m surrounded by amazing professionals. They are such a bright group of individuals. I have some team members who speak five languages. I learn something new every day.” Dina’s world is made richer by her family: her husband, Alexander, who is also from Russia; their daughter, 15-year-old Sasha; and their son, 5-year-old Marat. In her free time, she enjoys time with their dog, Scout. She also loves playing tennis, cooking and traveling, spending time with her family and friends, and engaging with community organizations that support families and children. Looking to the future, Dina is eager to continue building success for others with her passion for what she does. She emphasizes, “I love what I do and coming to work each day and making a difference with international family law as we work with people all over the world.”
2
www.allfamilylaw.com
“T o live is the rarest thing in the world . M ost
people exist , that is all .” –O scar W ilde
G rowing O ur L evel of L egal C are
S killet C hicken P ot P ie
Unleashing the 5 Secrets to Lasting Relationships
Inspired by TheModernProper.com
In our recent issues, we’ve talked about the importance our team places on continuing to grow in our capacity to give you the best results possible.
As you may recall, we’ve discussed the book “The Go-Giver Marriage: The 5 Secrets to Lasting Love” by John David Mann and Ana Gabriel Mann and applied that to our work as a team, including our vendors and clients. Now, we’re in the process of going through team training with the authors themselves, and as part of this, we put a lot of emphasis on the fifth secret outlined in the book: Growth.
When it comes to growth, each of us should invest in our own self-care. When we make that a priority, we are in a position to build strong relationships.
I ngredients
In the end, it’s all about working to be better and grow yourself. That’s what we’re doing as an organization while we expand our understanding of relationships.
• • • • • • • •
1/2 cup butter
• • • • • •
1 tsp garlic powder
1 cup chopped onion 1 cup sliced celery 2 cups sliced carrots
1 cup milk
It’s a fantastic feeling to hone our abilities to serve you through the personal growth of our team members, which feeds our organizational growth. Our focus on this isn’t self-serving. We’re investing in this growth to help more people like you receive the best legal care possible. Thinking more about “The Go-Giver Marriage,” there are universal elements that apply to each of us. We all want to be appreciated, and when you attend to the needs of others, they naturally gravitate toward you. Growth — the act of becoming our best — is so important. It starts from the time we are born and continues throughout our lives. And, of course, this is a journey we take with others along the way through relationships. Engaging in relationships is the ultimate test of simultaneously being fully committed and existing as an independent, evolving adult. One of the most powerful expressions of love is when you can say, “I love you so much that I want to be my best self to better serve you.” With that in mind, we care enough about our employees, business partners, and clients that we want to be the best legal care providers and family law attorneys we can be for you.
2 cups chicken stock
2 cups peas
1/2 cup flour
4 cups cooked chicken 1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp celery seed
•
1 egg
D irections 1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. In 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat, melt butter, then add onion, celery, and carrots. Sauté for 5 minutes. 3. Add flour, salt, pepper, celery seed, and garlic powder to pan and stir. Sauté for 2 minutes. Slowly incorporate milk. 4. Add stock and bring to a simmer, whisking until mixture thickens. Add peas and chicken. 5. Roll out pastry sheet into 16-inch square on floured surface. Cut into 3-inch squares and place overlapping onto chicken mixture. 6. In a small bowl, whisk egg with 1 tbsp water. Brush egg over pastry and place in oven for 25 minutes or until golden and bubbling.
3
Call for a Consultation: ( 866) 245-5685
211 Roswell St. NE Marietta, GA 30060 (866) 687-8561 www.allfamilylaw.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
1 2 3 4
Making the Most of Time
A Guide to Keeping Your Teen’s Concert Experience Scam-Free Spotlight on Dina Khismatulina
Growing Forward Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
Discover the Most Enchanting Christmas Towns in the US
E xplore A merica ’ s M ost M agical C hristmas T owns
FROM SNOWY VILLAGES TO YEAR-ROUND HOLIDAY CHEER
Solvang, California A slice of Denmark right in sunny California, Solvang brings endless holiday cheer, especially with their annual Julefest. Pronounced “Yule-fest,” this month-long festival takes place every December and features picturesque events, including a ballerina-filled tree lighting ceremony, visits from Santa, culinary delights, traditional Danish celebrations, and much more! Woodstock, Vermont During Woodstock’s Wassail Weekend, you’ll find the town in peak Christmas mode, where you can experience parades, horse-drawn carriages, carolers, and the Billings Farm, a local favorite of the season. Stroll down Main Street to witness an idyllic Christmas spot filled with cozy small-town shops and restaurants. North Pole, Alaska If you ever feel like celebrating Christmas in the middle of summer, we know the perfect destination. North Pole, Alaska, offers Christmas decor
It may be too late for less spontaneous travelers to start planning a Christmas vacation. But that shouldn’t stop you from planning next year’s holiday journey! The good news is you don’t need to venture to another continent to find a Christmas wonderland. There are countless picture-perfect Christmas towns across the country. Make your next Christmas trip feel like a Hallmark movie at one of these festive towns! Leavenworth, Washington Many have dubbed Leavenworth the most Christmas-centric in the U.S., and it’s easy to see why. This Bavarian-style village experiences nearly 96 inches of snowfall every year, and they certainly don’t hold back when it comes to the holidays. The town lights up and decorates almost 21 miles, where you can find reindeer farms, carolers, gingerbread competitions, and Christmas markets. Every step of the way offers an Instagram-worthy photo opportunity!
and festivities year-round! Here, you can get up close and personal with Santa’s reindeer, meet the man himself, and enjoy the snow that covers the entire town. Be sure to check out their ice sculpture competition, which features artists from all over the world!
Ready for the Christmas celebration of your dreams? Start planning your next holiday vacation at any of these destinations, and we promise your dreams will most definitely come true!
4
www.allfamilylaw.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator