Check out our latest edition!
JULY 2023
THE MORE WE GIVE, THE MORE WE GET
I CLEANED MY CLOSET AND CHANGED A FRIEND’S LIFE!
Most people don’t know this, but in 2018, I invested in bariatric surgery. I lost a ton of weight and felt fantastic, but there was one problem — none of my clothes fit! My favorite dresses and T-shirts hung off my shoulders like curtains, and my pants looked comical. Honestly, I was a little bit heartbroken. I loved some of those clothes (especially my red fit-and- flare dress with sleeves just the right length), and I’d invested good money in them. But there was no point in keeping them around to gather dust. So, I went on a mission to find a new home for my nice things. I didn’t want to offend any of my friends or family by guessing their size, so I quietly spread the word at church that I had an entire wardrobe to give away. My sneakiness paid off! One day, a friend pulled me aside and said, “Melissa, I know a local art teacher just your old size, and I think she would really enjoy your clothes. Here’s her phone number.” We connected and scheduled a time for her to come over. I couldn’t wait! Beforehand, I purged all my bigger clothes from my closet and set them out in the guest bedroom. It was like a plus-sized
boutique, and when the teacher (I’ll call her Jennifer) arrived, she went “shopping” through all of my things. She took a bunch of the nicer pieces — including my red fit-and-flare dress. Later, I heard through the grapevine that my outfits boosted Jennifer’s confidence. My friend told me, “Melissa, she’s like a different person when she’s wearing your things!” Jennifer herself even said she’d gotten positive comments from the kids at school: “They all think I’m the cool teacher now!” Whenever I saw Jennifer at church in one of my dresses, I couldn’t help but smile. It’s amazing what can happen when you find the courage to give things away. Not only did I end up with a cleaner closet, but I also got to watch Jennifer stand taller. Something similar happened when I handed off my children’s baby clothes to the parents of little kids at church. I had great memories of my little ones in those clothes, and it was hard to give them away. But I knew that many of the parents in our church were seminary students who didn’t have two nickels to rub together. A beautiful thing happened when I gave them the clothes: Every Sunday, I arrived at church to a parade of babies and toddlers dressed
in our hand-me-downs! It was an adorable fashion show that let me relive my memories of the clothes all over again. I’m sharing these stories because July 15 is National Give Something Away Day, and I think everyone should celebrate it. Clearing out your clutter can be a win-win for you and the person who receives your things. Plus, it’s healthy — just like saying “no” when you’re overwhelmed. When I declutter my kitchen, I cook more, and when I clean up my living room, I stay home and enjoy my space more. If you’re also dealing with clutter, giving something away this month could be the key to gaining a little more peace, sanity, and comfort in your space while helping others. If you’re not a clutter person like me, that’s okay; you don’t have to give away physical things! You can pass along encouragement or gift your time, skills, or resources to a worthy cause. Check out Page 2 for a few ideas to help you get started.
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IN FORKS WE TRUST
HOW EUROPE EVENTUALLY STOPPED EATING WITH THEIR HANDS
If you attend a dinner party, go on a date at a restaurant, or eat a plate of pasta, you’ll use a fork without thinking twice. This is proper etiquette — and the cleanest and most efficient way to eat a meal! Could you imagine trying to eat a plate of spaghetti and meatballs without one? Wealthy people in other parts of the world, such as the Byzantine Empire and the Middle East, have been using forks since the 17th century. However, before that, forks were considered to be sacrilegious and rude to use at the dinner table in Europe! In fact, in the 11th century, a Byzantine princess was ridiculed for bringing forks into her new husband's home. Maria Argyropoulina, the Greek niece of Emperor Basil II of Byzantium, arrived in Venice, Italy, prepared to marry Giovanni, the son of Pietro Orseolo II, the Doge of Venice. She brought all of her belongings with her to move into her new house, including a case of golden forks. At the wedding, she
pulled out one of her golden forks to partake in her wedding feast, and the reaction she got took her by surprise.
The clergy lambasted her, saying things like, “God in his wisdom has provided man with natural forks — his fingers. Therefore, it is an insult to him to substitute artificial metal forks for them when eating." However, this didn’t urge the princess to eat with her hands, and she stuck with her forks. Shortly after the marriage, the Byzantine princess, unfortunately, contracted the plague and passed away. Many believed this was “karma” for refusing to eat with her hands and bringing a fork to her husband’s home. But thanks to Maria Argyropoulina, Europe was introduced to the fork and never had to worry about eating spaghetti and meatballs — or any other dish — with their hands again.
Use These Resources to Declutter and Help Others! GIVING MADE EASY
Year to an Organized Life” by Regina Leeds or “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown. As you declutter, remember to prioritize finding new homes for your things with family members, friends, church groups, or local charities. Ideally, your “trash” can be someone else’s treasure. Give Your Time, Skills, or Resources If you don’t already have a go-to charity or cause, check out JustServe.org to find service opportunities near you. You can search by zip code or sign up for the site and fill out a short survey sharing the skills and experience you have to give. Then, it will match you with a cause! If you’re a great cook, JustServe.org might point you to a local soup kitchen, and if you’re handy with a hammer, it could connect you with a church that needs storm repairs. The site even offers virtual
National Give Something Away Day is coming up on July 15, and there’s no better time to declutter your home and give away time, skills, and encouragement to your community! Here are a few resources to help you along the way. Give Your Stuff When you’re overwhelmed by clutter, it can be tough to figure out where to start, so we recommend turning to the experts. Marie Kondo’s book “The Life-Changing
Art of Tidying Up” is a home organization classic for a reason; it’s definitely worth the read. You can also check out the “A Slob Comes Clean” podcast hosted by Dana K. White. She talks about the ongoing process of “deslobification” in
volunteering opportunities. If you’re short on time, you can always donate money or buy items for those in need.
Give Encouragement This is the easiest thing to give. On July 15, share a smile with a stranger, tell your kids you’re proud of them, or compliment your spouse. These small gestures have a big impact.
helpful episodes like “3 Moments When You Should Hesitate (and Declutter)” and “Sometimes Even Interesting Things Need to Go.” If you want to turn your decluttering day into a new lifestyle, read “One
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HAVE A LAUGH!
ARE YOUR FOURTH OF JULY PLANS LEGAL? The Smart, Safe Way to Enjoy Fireworks Fourth of July is a favorite holiday for many American kids, and 11-year-old Camrynn was no exception. In 2022, he spent the Fourth happily playing with fireworks — until a mortar shell flew out of control and collided with his head, ending his life far too soon. The tragedy happened less than two hours from Louisville, and it’s exactly the kind of horror story our state and local fireworks laws hope to prevent. Follow these local rules this summer to keep your family safe. Louisville Fireworks Laws 1. Kids younger than 18 cannot ignite fireworks in Louisville city limits. 2. Only ground and hand-held fireworks are legal for public use in Jefferson County, including novelties and trick noisemakers, snakes/glow worms, smoke devices, wire sparklers, cylindrical fountains, cone fountains, wheels, and ground spinners. 3. Fireworks that explode or fly are illegal for public use in Jefferson County. Safety Tips From the Fire Marshal In addition to following the law, the Kentucky State Fire Marshal offers these tips for safely lighting off fireworks at home. 1. Only ignite fireworks outdoors, and wear safety glasses while you light them. 2. Keep water on hand just in case a fire breaks out. (A hose or a bucket of water will do the trick.) 3. If you light a firework that doesn’t explode, wait 20 minutes before touching the dud. Then, dunk it in your water bucket to deaden it completely. Don’t try to relight it! 4. If you’re planning to drink during your Fourth of July celebration, pick a fully sober, designated firework lighter to handle all fireworks-related tasks. Will these laws and tips put a damper on your Fourth of July party? Maybe a little, but as Camrynn’s story shows, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Keep in mind that if the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) had its way, we’d skip at-home fireworks altogether! As the NFPA puts it, “The only safe way to view fireworks is to attend a professional show.” Fortunately, here in Louisville, there are plenty to choose from!
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • • •
1 lb skirt steak, fat trimmed 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tbsp light brown sugar
• • • • •
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large lemon, juiced 6 cups baby arugula
2 ripe peaches, thinly sliced
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese or feta
Kosher salt Black pepper
DIRECTIONS
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. 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.
-Bella
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INSIDE
THE BENEFITS OF GIVING THINGS AWAY 1
HOW A BYZANTINE PRINCESS INTRODUCED FORKS TO EUROPE
HOW TO DECLUTTER YOUR LIFE 2 FIREWORKS LAWS EVERY KENTUCKIAN SHOULD KNOW GRILLED STEAK SALAD WITH PEACHES 3
THE SWINE THAT DARED TO DEFY 4
AN UNCONVENTIONAL 'BACON' OF HOPE THE STORY OF THE DANISH PROTEST PIG
but they couldn't just publicly wave the Danish flag. So, they got crafty. Danish farmers began to crossbreed their pigs to create a new breed, one that had the same markings as the Danish flag. These pigs were red in color, with one white vertical stripe and one white horizontal stripe. The farmers named their new pigs Protestschwein, or the Danish Protest Pig. This protest pig quickly became the mascot of Danish cultural independence, and their efforts didn't go unnoticed by Prussian authorities. In 1881, a local Prussian police station sent communications back to the government in Berlin that farmers were breeding strange-looking pigs. However, while they could not prove that farmers were knowingly breeding the pigs to look like the Danish flag, "it was believed that the farmers were well aware of this and that this pig represented an affront to the Prussians," according to records from the Red Holstein Breeders Association.
In the 19th century, Denmark and Prussia couldn't agree on where to draw their border. Both countries refused to concede or couldn’t reach an agreement on which country would ultimately control Southern Jutland, which today is Germany's northernmost state called Schleswig-Holstein. This refusal to compromise ultimately led to war, and in 1848, Denmark won control. However, their victory was short-lived, as roughly a decade later, the Second Schleswig War was underway. This time, though, Prussia was victorious.
After their victory, the Prussian authorities slowly began to move into the peninsula, implementing new laws over the Danes living there. These new laws prohibited anything Danish, including all uses of
Today, the Danish Protest Pig is recognized as its own breed but has a different name: the Husum Red Pied. And, the now- German state of Schleswig-Holstein
the Danish flag. Needless to say, the Danes were not happy — especially the farmers.
supports the protection of this pig due to the cultural significance it offered its Danish ancestors so many years ago.
These Danish farmers knew they had to protest this oppressive Prussian government,
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