Check out our latest newsletter!
December 2023
AaronMillerLaw.com 214.292.4225
COOKIES, CRANBERRY SAUCE, AND ‘CHRISTMAS STICKS’ My Favorite Parts of the Holidays
Almost everyone loves Christmas, but few people love cleaning the decorations. As a kid, I certainly didn’t! So, mom had a rule — if you helped put the decorations up, you had to help take them down. I guess I was always meant to be a lawyer because I figured out quickly that I could avoid putting them away by not helping put them up! So, that’s what I did. When it came time to help put them up, I found something else to do. When it came time to clean up the Christmas decorations that year, I proudly recited the rule and declared that I didn’t help put them up, so I don’t have to help put them away! Mom was unamused by my budding legal prowess. To put it mildly. She quickly modified that rule — anyone who “enjoyed” the decorations had to pitch in. She didn’t even grandfather any of us (me) who didn’t help put up the decorations that year! I still had to help put them away. Nice try, I guess.
I always remember my family’s artificial tree when I think of Christmas. I’m unsure where it started life — my parents got it as a hand- me-down. The poor thing was practically bare. As we got a little older, we would sing, “Oh Christmas stick, oh Christmas stick!” as we put it up. Mom, again, was not amused. Later, Wendy and I had a different tree in disrepair when our cat, Tigger, would climb into it. She was a calico with orange stripes and was obsessed with the Christmas tree. You could see where Tigger liked to lay because the branches were bent out of shape. We eventually installed bells on the tree so we knew when she was being naughty. It rang a lot. One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the food. Naturally, I grew up with turkey for the holidays, though I’ve never been a fan. It’s too dry for me, and I will eat ham on Thanksgiving if I can get away with it! Waldorf
homemade cranberry sauce instead of the store- bought stuff I prefer. She still doesn’t understand why I like mine in the shape of the can. I’m the same way about canned green beans. I guess it just depends on what you liked growing up. Dinner is great, but the real reward comes afterward. There’s no dessert like Christmas cookies! Growing up, my favorite was the Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies Mom made using the super-secret recipe they printed on every bag. We also had a no-bake peanut butter, chocolate, and oatmeal cookie the family called “simple goodies.” Then there was the fudge with cherry liqueur; my father got the recipe from his boss. I thought it was the best fudge ever until I tried my mother-in-law’s with marshmallow cream. Fudge remains my kryptonite. I try to eat better these days, but I can’t resist the stuff and always end up eating far too many calories far too quickly. My mother-in-law makes many other Christmas desserts. I love her Polish tea cakes and small powdered balls of dough with nuts. She makes thumbprint cookies, too — you always know it’s the holidays when those come out! You can also count on her for a mean peanut brittle. And she has a raspberry cream cheese Jell-O salad that’s amazing. But, of course, the real meaning of the season is family. I hope you spend this December eating all your favorite seasonal food and being with the people you love. We only get this time once a year, so we should make the most of it. Merry Christmas!
salad was also a fixture, though we made ours with whipped cream instead of mayonnaise. A marshmallow and green Jell-O salad was another must-have for the holidays. My mom also created a frozen version with grapes and walnuts. My wife grew up with very different meals. Her family is Polish-Ukrainian, and my mother-in-law still makes Polish sausage, pierogies, and stuffed cabbage for the holidays. Wendy’s family was even fancy enough to have
A young Kaity helping with Christmas
-Aaron Miller
AaronMillerLaw.com | 1
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Winter Travel Tips, Hacks, and Reminders! Make Your Journey Merry and Bright
Now that Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror, we can turn our attention toward Christmas and New Year’s Day! Over the next few weeks, many of us will travel across the country to visit loved ones to celebrate the holidays. This is easily one of the busiest times of year for travel, as AAA estimated that more than 112 million Americans traveled during last year’s holiday season. This year looks to be equally busy. Traveling during the holidays can be hectic and frustrating. It takes planning and a little luck to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible. You might need to deal with more traffic or longer lines at airport security, but you can make this situation easier by implementing some helpful strategies.
precheck, but there’s no guarantee it will be faster during the holidays. Your best bet is to arrive at the airport early enough to check your bags, make it through TSA, and board your flight with ease. One of the most frustrating situations any frequent flyer can experience is lost or damaged luggage. Suitcases aren’t cheap! If you ever grab your luggage from the carousel and notice it’s damaged or scuffed, do not leave the airport. Instead, go to baggage services and explain the situation. They will gather your information before directing you to a link where you can choose a new suitcase to replace the broken one. If the bag is lost, you will need to fill out a claim as well, although it will likely be a couple of weeks before the airline considers your bag truly lost. Traveling by Car For many families, it’s tradition to pack the car full of gifts and visit the grandparents for the week or a long weekend. It’s a family road trip! Driving in the winter comes with more challenges than any other time of year. Before leaving the house, pack an emergency kit to keep you and your family safe if you get caught in a blizzard. Stock your vehicle with blankets, flashlights, water bottles, basic car maintenance tools, and kitty litter to help free your car from the snow. If you get stuck, turn on your ignition every hour for 10 minutes to warm up the car, and switch on your lights for visibility. Do not get out of your vehicle to look for help! You could get lost and end up in more danger. Traveling during the holidays isn’t only stressful for the travelers but for everyone working as well. Whether you’re traveling by plane, train, or automobile, consider purchasing some treats or gifts to give to those who are working the holidays. Sharing them with your flight crew or the attendant at the terminal will bring a smile to their face and could even result in them doing something nice for you. Hotel workers, gas station attendants, and retail employees are some of the many people who work diligently throughout the holidays and could use some extra recognition.
Here are some tips to help you reach your destination with as little stress and trouble as possible, regardless of your mode of transport.
Heading to the Airport There’s no secret strategy to help you get to your terminal quicker or ensure you make your connecting flights on time. You could enroll in TSA
The holiday season is full of joy and excitement. Don’t let traveling take the fun out of your experience!
2 | 214.292.4225
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
THINK OUTSIDE THE GIFT BOX Christmas is built on tradition. Many families celebrate the holiday by waking up bright and early to open presents, attending church, having a delicious meal, and closing the day with “How the Grinch Stole books, movies, and other small gifts you know your family or friends will love. Refill the box with different versions of these items every year. Start a New Tradition This Christmas
Christmas,” “Elf,” or another Christmas classic. Some families have been doing this for so long that they’re starting to look for new traditions to throw in the mix to spice up the season a little more.
You can also do this with your friends in place of a Secret Santa gift exchange. Set a budget and draw names to determine who each person will give their box to. From there, you go to local garage sales, dollar stores, and thrift shops to fill the box with things the person will like.
There are plenty of ways to change your holiday traditions without losing the meaning of the season! You could go caroling or try out a white elephant gift exchange with the entire family. If you’re looking for something unique, try one of the following activities this year. The Christmas Box One of the most exciting parts of Christmas is when everyone gathers to open gifts. The
A Reminder of Past Christmases Do you buy a real tree every Christmas? Most of us will bring our old trees out to the curb when the holiday passes. Before
you do so, cut off the very bottom of the tree trunk. Write the date on it and include any extra information you want, such as a child’s or pet’s first Christmas. After a few years, you’ll have a collection of tree trunks that help you reminisce about one of the happiest days of the year and all the memories you made.
Christmas box gives you an opportunity to create a new tradition around gift-giving. Fill a medium or large-sized gift box with smaller items you like to give each year. You can stuff it with Christmas pajamas, mugs,
TAKE A BREAK
SKILLET CHICKEN POT PIE Inspired by TheModernProper.com Ingredients Directions
• 1/2 cup butter • 1 cup chopped onion • 1 cup sliced celery • 2 cups sliced carrots • 1/2 cup flour • 1 tsp salt • 1/2 tsp pepper • 1/2 tsp celery seed • 1 tsp garlic powder • 1 cup milk • 2 cups chicken stock • 2 cups peas • 4 cups cooked chicken • 1 package frozen puff pastry, thawed • 1 egg
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.
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
Gather Around the ‘Christmas Stick!’
2
Your Ultimate Holiday Travel Guide
3
Fresh Traditions to Make Your Holiday Sparkle
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
4
From Your Heart to Theirs: Handcrafted Christmas Cards for Loved Ones
Deck the Halls With Handmade Cards 3 Easy Ideas You Can Make With Kids!
Sending Christmas cards is a great way to tell people you’re thinking of them during the holiday season. However, like everything lately, buying enough Christmas cards for your loved ones is expensive. Store-bought cards can also feel too stiff and formal for our friends and family. That’s why you should consider making Christmas cards this holiday season! It is more cost-effective and a great way to give your cards a personal touch that lets friends and family know you care. The best part is that making holiday cards doesn’t have to be laborious or stressful — it’s quick, easy, and fun! Don’t believe us? Check out these three easy Christmas cards you and your family can make at home. Each card idea is built upon plain white cards! Washi Tape Cards All you need for this card is a roll of washi tape with any design you wish. Simply cut strips of the washi tape, starting with a longer piece (about 2–3 inches), and place it horizontally across the
card near the bottom. Then, build upward using gradually smaller pieces of tape to make a triangle — and that’s it! You’ve successfully created a washi tape tree! You can also draw a tree stump under the longest strip or a star on top. Handprint Cards This Christmas card variation is a favorite for kids to make and family members to receive. Have your child place their hand on the blank card stock and trace their hand with a pencil. Then, cut out the shape of their hand using scissors. Finally, with the cut-out hand facing down (fingers to the ground), have your child decorate it as if it were a tree, drawing ornaments, lights, candy canes, or other decorations. Pipe Cleaner Cards For this card, you need green pipe cleaners and gold stars (like the ones you’d earn in school). Simply twist a pipe cleaner into a tree shape using a zig-zag pattern to form the widest branches at the bottom to the smallest boughs at the top. Glue the pipe cleaner to the card. Finish with a gold star as a tree topper!
4 | 214.292.4225
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator