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FEBRUARY 2018
BADMUSMONTHLYDIGEST
Happy February! I’m so excited about our new newsletter and hope you will be too! Every month you’ll receive fun and educational information you can use. Of course, as your lawyer, I can’t resist talking law, so every month I’ll include a legal topic. This month, let’s talk about protecting your family legacy. You’ve spent your whole life building a secure financial future for your family that you want to protect and pass on to your loved ones. To get it right, you need an estate plan. Estate planning is not just for the rich and famous! Most of us have something of value, such as a home, automobile, or retirement account. If that is true for you, then your family deserves an estate plan. After all, don’t you want to say where your property goes, rather than the government? And there are so many worries that can be eliminated with a properly written estate plan. For example, proper planning can keep your minor or adult children safe from bad decisions, outside influences, creditor problems, and divorcing spouses. So don’t delay. Get peace of mind in 2018 and contact me today for a complimentary family legacy planning meeting. FROM THE DESK OF Ann Badmus
In the United States, Valentine’s Day, the most romantic of holidays, is often referred to by cynical souls as a “Hallmark holiday.” It’s hard to argue with that dismissal when the same pink and red greeting cards line the shelves of every department store. If you’re tired of the same old heart-shaped candies and restaurant reservations, it’s time to bring the romantic spark back to Valentine’s Day. Take a trip around the world and see how other countries celebrate the day of love. DENMARK In the U.S., red roses are the go-to Valentine’s Day flower thanks to their connection to Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love. However, in Denmark, couples are more likely to exchange snowdrops. These lovely white flowers rarely wait for the warmth of spring to bloom, instead pushing right through the snow, which makes them a wonderful symbol of love that triumphs in harsh conditions. Poems are also popular among Danish couples on Valentine’s Day. Called“gækkebrev,” these anonymous poems are romantic or humorous in nature. If the person who received the poem is able to correctly guess the sender, they are rewarded with an Easter egg later that year on Easter Sunday. SOUTH AFRICA Some people tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves, and on Feb. 14 in South Africa, they do so literally. Women, and sometimes men, will write the name of their sweetheart on a piece of paper and pin it to their sleeve. This is inspired by the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was held on Feb. 15. In South Africa, it’s not uncommon to discover you have a secret admirer by seeing your name written on their sleeve. WHATMAKES THE WORLDGOROUND? V alentine ’ s D ay C elebrations F rom A cross the G lobe
–Ann Badmus
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Cover story, continued ... JAPAN
married simultaneously in a free ceremony in Caloocan City. Three years later, 4,000 couples decided to tie the knot on Valentine’s Day 2013. FRANCE You may consider Paris the ultimate romantic destination, but when it comes to Valentine’s Day, a small village 160 miles south of the City of Lights is where you want to be. Saint- Valentin is home to less than 300 people, and on Valentine’s Day, they do their namesake proud. During the week leading up to Feb. 14, locals decorate their homes with hearts and flowers and cover trees with love notes. Many couples come to be married in the village’s “Jardin des Amoureux,”or “Lovers’Garden.” Whether you’re married or single, there’s always a reason to celebrate Valentine’s Day. This year, why not try your hand at crafting homemade chocolate, write a humorous poem, or eat black bean noodles with your single friends? You might just find a new tradition to fall in love with. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
Asia, and South Korea has taken it a few steps further. In South Korea, the 14th day of every month is a special day for love and romance. In addition to Valentine’s Day in February and White Day in March, South Koreans celebrate Diary Day on Jan. 14, Black Day in April, Yellow Day in May, Kiss Day in June, Silver Day in July, Green Day in August, Photo Day in September, Wine Day in October, Movie Day in November, and Hug Day in December. Each holiday signifies a special way to celebrate love. Don’t worry; single folks aren’t left out of the festivities. Black Day on April 14 is a holiday for single people to wear black and eat “jajangmyeon,” a Korean black bean noodle dish. Depending on how you look at it, this holiday is either for people to mourn being alone or to celebrate their independence. THE PHILIPPINES In the Philippines, Valentine’s Day isn’t just a day to say “I love you.” It’s a day to say “I do!”Mass weddings on Feb. 14 have become incredibly popular. In 2010, over 1,500 couples dressed in white and were
In Japan, women take responsibility for gift- giving onValentine’s Day, and chocolates say more than words. On Feb. 14, women in Japan give the men in their lives gifts of“giri choco”or“honmei choco.”Giri choco translates to“obligation chocolate,”and, as the name would suggest, tends to be cheaper and store- bought. Usually given to friends, colleagues, or bosses, this chocolate comes with no romantic notions attached. Honmei choco is“true- feeling chocolate.”Often homemade, honmei choco is given to romantic partners, including husbands and boyfriends. The ladies of Japanmay do all the work on Valentine’s Day, but one month later, on March 14, the country celebratesWhite Day. This holiday gives men the chance to reciprocate by giving presents to the women in their lives. Typical White Day gifts include cookies, jewelry, white chocolate, white lingerie, and marshmallows. SOUTH KOREA Japan’s Valentine’s Day andWhite Day traditions have spread to other countries in
HowYoung Minds Absorb a 2nd Language And the Benefits of Learning Early
your little one to different sounds in their first year, the more they’ll pick up those sounds as their brain creates new neural circuits. If you speak a second language and have a child at home, now is a great time to share it with them. Your child is especially ready to pick up new sounds and words, with the added benefit of learning their heritage. If you’re ready to teach your child a second language, here are a few ways to incorporate new words. Take time to talk with your child in a second language during playtime. Research shows babies need personal interaction to learn, so switching on the TV in another language won’t suffice. Increase vocabulary by giving options in a second language. Try questions like “Do you want juice or milk?”or “Do you want to play on the swings or by the tree?” Find a language exchange group or bilingual daycare to increase your child’s exposure to a second language. If you don’t know a second language but want to give your child a head start, you can begin by learning new words together. How fun would it be if you become bilingual as a family?
If you speak a second language, you have the unique ability to set your child up for a lifetime of advantages. Not only does a second language benefit your child in adulthood, but learning another language also strengthens multiple parts of their developing brain, according to Michigan State University. You may not want to overload your kids with two lexicons, but this is really not the case. Children quickly adapt to dual languages. The brain is a muscle, and like any other muscle in our body, the more it’s exercised, the stronger it becomes. With all the research floating around about how beneficial it is to teach your child a second language, you might wonder why youngsters pick up languages so easily. According to NBC News, the answer lies in their flexible minds. Children’s brains develop in response to external stimulants. Did you know that babies are born with the ability to distinguish the sounds of all languages? As they get older, even before their first birthday, they lose that ability. Kids are able to take in sounds, intonation, and language structure more easily than adults who have to painstakingly memorize verb structures and grammar. Children under 8 are especially primed to pick up a new language thanks to flexible ear and speech muscles. As they take in new words, it increases their ability to focus on one thing or change their responses, a skill called cognitive flexibility. The more you can expose
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Valentine’s Day is for fancy dinners, heart-shaped boxes packed with subpar chocolates, and fantasizing about the magical places you and your beau would have escaped to— if only you had the PTO. So, grab a glass of bottom-shelf cab sauv, cuddle up next to your special someone, and try tomake them feel bad for taking you to Chili’s instead of whisking you away to one of these picturesque fantasy lands. The Best Valentine’s Getaways to Fantasize About
UDAIPUR, INDIA These days, meandering through the cobblestone streets of Paris with your loved one is très passé. All the real high-rolling romantics are migrating southeast to the famous Oberoi Udaivilas hotel in western India. Set in a traditional Mewari palace, visitors will feel like royalty as they stroll around the labyrinthine gardens that surround the elaborate cream-colored structure. Travelers can relax beside one of the many glassy pools sprinkled throughout the estate, all of which are enthusiastically tended by an unparalleled service staff. POSITANO, ITALY More than perhaps anywhere in the world, this place looks like it was lifted straight from a sappy romance novelist’s imagination. You and your partner can kick back on a balcony overlooking the entirety of this seaside town, taking in the century-oldmulticolored Italian architecture perched precariously on the verdant mountainside. Too small to accommodate swarms of tourists, it’s the perfect place to while away the hours ambling from shop to shop, sampling the delicious local cuisine, andmaybe taking a dip along the 300-meter beach. THE MALDIVES From a water villa smack dab in the midst of the glassy, ultra-blue Indian Ocean, you and your main squeeze can enjoy utter seclusion. Sip champagne in the shade of a palmoverlooking an otherworldly sunset or get a little more adventurous, strap on a mask, and check out the abundant aquatic wildlife. Many hotels in the area even include access to an array of boats, perfect for your own private excursion along the mild waves. Of course, you could also always just stare, dumbfounded, into the horizon, wondering how such a place could actually exist on Earth.
Take a Break!
Hong Kong
EGG TARTS
Celebrate Chinese NewYear in stylewith these egg tarts! Originally a Portuguese delicacy, thesemarketplace treats were influenced by British custard tarts and eventually became a Hong Kong staple.
Ingredients
1 cup confectioners’ sugar 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup butter 10 eggs, beaten
vanilla extract 2/3 cup white sugar 1 1/2 cups water 1 cup evaporated milk
Directions
bring to a boil. Simmer until sugar is dissolved, then let cool. Strain remaining 9 eggs through a sieve, then whisk in sugar mixture. Stir
1. In a medium bowl, mix
confectioners’ sugar and flour. Mix in butter with a fork until crumbly. Stir in 1 beaten egg and a dash of vanilla until doughy. Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls and press into tart molds. Use 2 fingers to fold down edges of dough.
in evaporated milk and a dash of vanilla. Strain the mixture again and fill tart shells. 3. Bake 15–20 minutes, until golden brown.
2. Heat oven to 450 F. In a
medium saucepan, combine white sugar and water;
Recipe courtesy of AllRecipes.com.com
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Call now! 214-472-2161
AnnMassey Badmus Attorney at Law 2600 Network Boulevard Suite 400 Frisco, TX 75034 M-F 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Ann Badmus PAGE 1 How the World Says ‘I Love You’ PAGE 1 The Brain on 2 Languages PAGE 2 The Most Romantic Destinations on Earth PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Craving Dessert for Chinese New Year? PAGE 3 3 Holistic Remedies Hiding in Your Kitchen PAGE 4
NEED A LITTLE SPICE IN YOUR LIFE?
Spices and herbs add much more than flavor and aroma to your favorite beverages and treats. They also offer many health benefits. When properly utilized, these spice rack staples can ease a variety of symptoms. Ready to find your new holistic health kick? Read on. NUTMEG
supplement, in tea, or in baked goods. Ginger is most effective when it’s ingested raw or in capsule form. If you have morning sickness, raw ginger might do the trick. Just ask the people of ancient China. Like many spices, ginger’s use as a supplement goes back centuries. Southeast Asian countries used it to ease their own common ailments. Call it tried and true. PEPPERMINT You can use peppermint as an essential oil, steep the leaves for tea, or take a supplement capsule. Each form comes with its own benefits. As an essential oil, peppermint is great for treating colds. It’s a mild decongestant, and it helps with coughs and stuffed-up noses. It also soothes sore throats and headaches. Rub one or two drops under your nose, on your temples, or over your
This spice, known for its earthy, nutty flavor, has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Want to calm nagging pain? This spice has been used to treat joint pain and arthritis. It can even be used to remedy bad breath. Nutmeg is most potent when it’s freshly grated, so it’s recommended you purchase whole nutmeg seed, found in most specialty food stores. You can incorporate nutmeg into your diet by taking it as a supplement in capsule form or simply sprinkling it into your next chai tea. Your achy joints will thank you. GINGER This root is an essential natural anti- inflammatory. It can help ease an upset stomach and finally tame your nausea. You can safely eat it raw, candied, as a
sinuses and feel the relief wash over you. Even further, a study published by The BMJ found that when administered as a capsule, peppermint helped reduce the symptoms of IBS in a majority of patients.
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