Check out our September newsletter!
September 2023
AaronMillerLaw.com 214.292.4225
CHERISHED MEMORIES OF CANINE COMPANIONS
I can barely imagine life without a pup; many other dog lovers feel the same way. Hug Your Hound Day on Sept. 10 is as good an excuse to celebrate our pets as any. I was born into a family with dogs and have had them more often than not since then. The first two were a husky named Kelsey and a cairn terrier named Jocko. If you have seen Toto from the Wizard of Oz, he was a cairn terrier.
While Ranger was my dog, Ryan, another cairn terrier, belonged to my sister. After I graduated from college, got married, and we had Grace, Ryan lived briefly with us while my parents were in the process of moving back to Alaska. I decided to build a doghouse, and I wanted it sturdy to ensure that Grace, who was still a toddler, wouldn’t cause it to break if she climbed up on it. To say the doghouse was extremely well-built would be an understatement. I think an elephant could have stood on that. When Dad came to pick up Ryan and head up to Alaska, Dad strapped it, roof first on the top of his trailer. He looked like a traveler in an old caravan before
My mom grew up with Jocko, so he was probably old when I came around. But I remember that as a husky, Kelsey was from a line of sled dogs and he really loved to pull hard. Dad would take her for a walk by getting on his bike and letting Kelsey pull him along.
the “Grapes of Wrath” era. That thing not only made the trip, but it eventually was given to a rescue shelter up in Alaska.
My next dog was Kayla, a Labrador puppy I adopted to keep my wife company while I was in law school, because you know, two kids wasn’t enough, I guess. Kayla was a great dog, though not terribly well-disciplined until we
My next dog was Abby, a miniature Doberman pinscher. I was in second or third grade when we adopted her, and
we had a lot of fun with our favorite game. I’d put on my winter coat and hold my arm in the air parallel to the ground. Abby would jump up, grab onto the fabric with her teeth, and hang on for as long as she could. We both thought it was the most entertaining thing ever, but my mom didn’t quite agree because it shredded my jacket.
took her to Man’s Best Friend in Carrolton. Best money we ever spent. She came back almost a different dog and was so well- behaved! After she passed, it took a few years to get over it, but eventually, we got our current dog, Oliver, and added Penny during the COVID lockdown. They’re both pugs, but Penny is a mix — we call her a Pug Plus. She’s very sweet, but demanding and is unafraid to ask for attention. If you don’t pet her immediately, she’ll scratch your arm with her paw until you do. Stop petting Penny too soon, and she’ll go back to scratching.
Sadly, Abby died of parvo while she was still a puppy. She was followed about a year later by a beagle named Ranger. He was practically glued to my side and slept with me every night. The problem was that if he was startled or woke up in the middle of the night when I’d move, he’d whip his head around and bite the bottom of my foot. I couldn’t tell you how many times he did that. Every time it happened, I’d limp around for several days not putting weight on that foot. I would wake up, realize that he was sleeping between my feet, and remain perfectly still until a leg cramped or began shaking from holding the muscle tight for so long — then I moved and it was 50/50 whether I moved fast enough to avoid getting bit. I loved him so much that I hated the idea of shutting him out of my room. Eventually, I got tired of having my foot bit and kept him out while I was sleeping. Ranger also had a lot of energy. He loved to run so much that he created little trails of packed dirt in our yard from repetition, and they became little canals any time it rained. There was one makeshift path around the inside perimeter of the fence, another that went from the door to the tree, and a few shortcuts from the back porch to the edge of the yard where he liked to bark at children headed to the nearby creek.
Meanwhile, Oliver is the Miller Law Office Director of Fun — but it’s an honorary title only. Some clients are bummed when they can’t see him. I wish I could take him to the office, and Oliver would love to come, too. We’re best buds. Sadly, we couldn’t negotiate him coming to the office in our lease. Hopefully next office! It just doesn’t feel like home without paw prints. If you love your dogs like I love mine, be sure to give your hound a hug and maybe an extra belly scratch for all they give us.
-Aaron Miller
AaronMillerLaw.com | 1
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
We were skeptical once too, but the results are in: Positive self-talk and affirmations can indeed shift your mindset more than you think. But what exactly is self-talk? Well, it’s the thoughts and internal dialogue that pass through your mind throughout the day. These thoughts can range from positive to negative, and both sides affect our emotions. It’s normal to have negative self-talk — in fact, it’s too normal. A few years ago, a jaw-dropping study from the National Science Foundation found that out of the 12,000–60,000 thoughts we have every day, about 80% of them are negative. Harness the Power of Positive Self-Talk for a Happier Life!
or admire how beautiful the morning sun looks streaming through your windows.
Thanks to this single sentence, you’ll likely find yourself subconsciously making your day great or noticing positive things you would have originally ignored.
‘What went well today?’
Now that you have started your day strong, ending it just as positive is critical. Before you fall asleep, ask yourself, “What went well today?” Think about all the positive occurrences that day, nice things someone said, and whatever else stood out
This is a serious problem because too much negativity can affect your confidence, mental health, and even
physical health. You can easily imagine the damage that can take place when you’re constantly telling yourself you’re not good enough, people are judging you, and so on. Fortunately, you’re in charge of your mindset — which means you can make a change! With just a few tweaks to your thinking, you can start practicing positive self-talk and improve your daily life. Try these three adjustments to significantly improve your emotional well-being and outlook.
as a highlight. You can even write it down to help you better realize your day wasn’t as tiring or stressful as you once thought. Over time, you’ll appreciate more and see your life in a brighter light.
Got negative thoughts? Challenge them.
While you may be starting and ending your day on a positive note, there are times when you find yourself with negative
thoughts. The key is knowing that not all your thoughts are the truth. Our thoughts can lie, especially when we start doubting or criticizing ourselves.
‘Today’s going to be a great day.’
When you wake up, it’s easy to start thinking about your responsibilities and everything that may be stressing you out. The best way to change your outlook on life is to start each day with positivity. Instead of mulling over your daily duties, tell yourself, “Today’s going to be a great day.” This simple statement directs your mind to a new way of thinking, and you’ll find yourself noticing the best parts of your day rather than the worst parts. You might notice that traffic isn’t as jammed as usual, take the time to cook yourself a particularly delicious breakfast,
When you have a negative thought, challenge it! Ask yourself if this is factually true and if others would agree with this thought. You’ll soon realize this
thought is false and simply harmful self-talk. Once you learn this, you won’t become attached to it and allow the thought to dictate your emotions and behavior. Does this all sound too good to be true? Give it a try! Over time, you’ll notice your negative self-talk will head in a more positive direction. With practice, you can change your outlook on life. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.
2 | 214.292.4225
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Be Sure to Follow These Steps! GROW A THRIVING GARDEN WHILE SAVING MONEY
While it may be the fall season now, the temperature is still warm enough to encourage root growth for a garden! During the fall, you can plant blueberries, broccoli, garlic, radishes, spinach, lettuce, and several flowers such as asters, calendulas, and cosmos. However, planting can become expensive, especially if you have large metal raised beds for your garden. It may take several bags of soil to fill your garden bed, which can quickly put a dent in your wallet. Is there anything you can do to save money?
Step 3: Sprinkle grass clippings and shredded leaves. Nitrogen and carbon are essential to any garden because plants need nutrients to grow. While you can purchase nitrogen fertilizer at the store, recycling grass clippings and shredded leaves is a cheaper and environmentally friendly alternative. You can also toss food scraps on this layer for additional nutrients! Step 4: Top with soil and compost. Finally, you can begin adding your soil. Because the bed is filled with other materials, you won’t need as much! After applying a good amount of soil, you can add compost to the mix if desired.
Yes! Follow these four steps and watch your garden — and greenbacks — flourish.
Step 1: Lay down cardboard. After setting up your raised garden bed, add a layer of cardboard (any type of cardboard will do) to the bottom of it. This layer will prevent weeds lurking in the dirt underneath the cardboard from sprouting and growing in the soil you will add later. Step 2: Add sticks and small logs. Similar to cardboard, adding sticks and logs will prevent weeds and other invasive plants from growing in your garden. And these limbs and twigs will provide much-needed bulk, minimizing the amount of soil needed to fill your containers.
Once everything is to your liking and your beds are full of soil and nutrients, you’re ready to plant. Happy harvesting, everyone!
TAKE A BREAK
Walnut and Blue Cheese Tomato Salad Inspired by FeastingAtHome.com
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup walnuts • 2 lbs ripe heirloom tomatoes • Kosher salt, to taste • Black pepper, to taste • 1/4 cup smoked blue cheese, thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp fresh dill • Chopped fresh Italian parsley, to taste • 3 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp red wine or balsamic vinegar • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. On a baking sheet, toast the walnuts in the oven for 12–14 minutes. 2. Wash and slice the tomatoes. Place slices on a platter, slightly overlapping. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. 3. Scatter toasted walnuts and blue cheese on top, followed by dill and preferred amount of parsley. 4. In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, wine or vinegar, and garlic to make the dressing. 5. Spoon dressing evenly over salad and serve.
AaronMillerLaw.com | 3
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
214.292.4225 www.AaronMillerLaw.com 1400 Preston Road, Suite 118 Plano, Texas 75093
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Why Aaron’s House Isn’t ‘Home’ Without a Dog
2
Shift Your Mindset for a Happier Life
3
Money-Saving Hacks for Your Fall Garden
Walnut and Blue Cheese Tomato Salad
4
Simple, Affordable DIY Projects You’ll Love
Get Your Home Fall-Ready SIMPLE, AFFORDABLE DIY PROJECTS YOU’LL LOVE
Housewares stores are currently full of cute autumn decor, but the cost of refreshing your house’s look each season adds up quickly. Fortunately, you can do a lot for less. Many DIY crafts are not as complicated as you might think. In addition to saving money, you’ll create personalized charm none of your neighbors can match.
top of your pumpkin, you can set wax and a candle wick to create something unique. If you’re bored with pumpkins, try the same with acorn caps. An even simpler idea involves glazing real or fabric leaves on the outside of mason jars with craft glue. Then add decorative stones and a wax or battery-operated tealight for a seasonal twinkle.
Repurpose your pumpkins. Small gourds are incredibly versatile. Just sprinkling a few around your dining room table or mantle makes it feel like fall. But you can quickly elevate them using metallic paint to add cute designs, phrases, or names. Another option is to wrap seasonal fabric around them like a pouch, gathered at the stem. If you feel more ambitious, you can also use pumpkins to make succulent planters. Cut a crater in the top of the pumpkin, pop in the succulent and soil, and press the dirt until snug. Light up the night. The soft glow of a lantern or candle is the perfect way to get the cozy vibes started. Instead of succulents in the
Decorate your door. Wreaths are a DIY staple for several reasons. They’re easy for beginners to make and can set the tone for your home by offering visitors an autumnal focal point. You can buy a variety of starter wreaths at the craft store, so find one that suits your taste. Then pick up other supplies like leaves, pine cones, dried corn, and ribbon. Now you’re ready to hot glue to your heart’s content and create something distinctive. If you need further ideas, look closer the next time you shop. Many of the fun fall items for sale aren’t very difficult to make yourself with a few minor adjustments and a little creativity.
4 | 214.292.4225
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator