Medlin Law Firm - December 2021

Smoothies Aren’t Just for Summer Anymore! 5 Holiday Ingredients to Toss Into Your Blender

The drinks of choice for winter are usually warm and cozy — apple cider, hot chocolate, and wassail all have their place on the table. But no rule says you have to drink something hot when it’s snowy outside. In fact, a cold beverage might keep you warmer! A study from the Thermal Ergonomics Lab at the University of Ottawa found that when you drink something hot, it can cause you to sweat more and, as a result, will actually cool you off more than a cold drink! Crazy, right? Of course, you could probably reverse the heat loss by bundling up in a sweater so your sweat doesn’t evaporate. But if you’re in your warm, cozy home, why not go for a cold drink like a smoothie? You can even add some holiday cheer to your healthy(ish) treat with one of these five seasonal ingredients. 1. Peppermint — For a protein-rich smoothie that tastes like a candy cane, blitz together almond milk, yogurt, almond butter, mint leaves, ground cinnamon, and a few drops of peppermint extract. 2. Cinnamon — If you love chocolate chip cinnamon rolls, you need to try the smoothie version! Frozen bananas, coconut milk, vanilla yogurt, cacao powder (which is packed with antioxidants), vanilla extract, and cinnamon are the secrets to a healthy version of your favorite Christmas breakfast.

3. Cranberries — Cranberries are both festive and packed with vitamins and antioxidants that may help fight heart disease and cancer. To cash in on those benefits, whip up a smoothie with frozen cranberries, pear slices, goji berries, orange juice, coconut milk, and flax seeds. 4. Ginger —What screams Christmas more than gingerbread? You can make a delicious smoothie version of the cookie with rolled oats, chia seeds, yogurt, nutmeg, cinnamon,

ginger, ground cloves, vanilla extract, and molasses to reap the anti-inflammatory and nausea-fighting benefits of ginger.

5. Eggnog — Eggnog is far from a healthy drink, but it’s a holiday favorite! To enjoy it in a new way, blend it up with a scoop of vanilla protein powder and ice after your workout.

5 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE NEWEST GUN LAW

You’ve probably heard of the House Bill 1927 Legislation, which came into effect on Sept. 1, 2021. The primary purpose of the bill was to give Texans the legal right to carry a handgun in non-prohibited public places without having a license to carry. Prior to the implementation of the bill, only individuals with permits were allowed to carry their handguns in public, regardless of whether their handguns were concealed or unconcealed. However, if individuals choose not to conceal their handguns, they are required to keep their guns in holsters and are not permitted to carry a gun in their hands in public. Without further ado, let’s dive into some important facts about the bill. No. 1: Open Carry Age Restrictions Under the new bill, only individuals ages 21 years or older are permitted to carry a handgun in public. No. 2: Locations Where Firearms Are Prohibited Some of the key locations where individuals are prohibited from carrying handguns currently include schools, college campuses, courts, racetracks, hospitals, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and amusement parks. Firearms are also prohibited from high school, college, and professional sports events and bars.

It’s worth noting that the state currently classifies any establishment which obtains 51% or more of its profit from the sale of alcoholic beverages as a bar. Lastly, civilians aren’t allowed to carry handguns past the security section of any airport in the state of Texas. Any individual who carries a handgun into prohibited locations and events will be subjected to harsh penalties. No. 3: Private Businesses’ Rights to Ban Handguns While individuals may now freely carry handguns in public without a permit, under the bill, all private businesses still have the right to refuse entry to individuals carrying handguns under Penal Code Chapter 30.05. However, any business that opts to prohibit their customers from carrying firearms on their premises must place a clearly visible sign stating their rules at the entrance to their premises. No. 4: The Exceptions Not all individuals are able to carry a visible or concealed gun in publicly permitted locations as a result of the bill. For instance, individuals who have been charged with specific misdemeanors in the past five years, such as assault which has caused injury or any disorderly conduct with a firearm, are explicitly prohibited from carrying a handgun in public.

https://www.MedlinFirm.com | Pg. 2

Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator