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NOV/DEC 2023
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Spread Joy and Connect With Others Beyond Gifts HOW TO PRIORITIZE MEANING OVER MATERIALISM
As a kid, the holiday season is filled with magic and merriment, but as an adult, it is easy to get stuck in the whirlwind of deadlines, shopping, traveling, and juggling countless tasks. There is no holiday break for most of us, so we continue to work as we navigate the festive frenzy that November and December bring. Unfortunately, that means we often lose sight of what these holidays are truly about and may even lose our sanity along the way! How can we balance it all? Well, I cannot truthfully say I have perfected the holiday balancing act, but I have learned a few things throughout the years. As a busy person myself, I know full well that ignoring work responsibilities and family obligations is not an option. But in our fast-paced world, there is one sure way you can bring some tranquility to your life: put down that phone! Endless scrolling and email scanning will keep your brain in work mode when your focus should be on those around you. Especially as Thanksgiving comes closer, we should all be connecting with our loved ones in whatever way we can. One activity that can be helpful to do with loved ones is have a sharing circle. This is where we all take a moment to share what is meaningful to us, what we are grateful for, and what we hope for in the future. This conversation alone can help you connect with your family and better understand what matters most to them.
Another way I like to connect with others is through uplifting our community. As you may already know, the Eagle & Fein team strongly supports the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, but we also do our best to help families have a warm and happy holiday season. Our team partners with the Woodland Country Club to volunteer our time to provide Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to families in need. “Of course, when Black Friday and Christmas loom closer, gift shopping can quickly lead to a spending downward spiral. Sometimes, in the guise of gifting, we make financial decisions that are not in our best interest.” In the Christmas Club program, you can host a family and deliver their holiday meal and gifts right to their doorstep. Our firm has been participating in this special program for quite some time now, and being able to directly help others is such an incredible way to connect with our community. Of course, when Black Friday and Christmas loom closer, gift shopping can quickly lead to a spending downward spiral. Sometimes, in the guise of gifting,
we make financial decisions that are not in our best interest. I remember attending a workshop led by Nathan Dungan over 15 years ago that changed how I look at spending. Nathan founded Share Save Spend, an organization that promotes financial literacy and shifting how we look at money. Nathan introduced the idea of adding meaning to our money. What would happen if we started prioritizing saving and sharing over spending? As the holiday season approaches, how we value our finances should be similar to how we value what matters most to us. Saving can do a world of good for yourself and your family. This Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Hannukah, I hope we can all take time to put our phones down and be present. Focus on what matters most, not gifts or expensive feasts, but family. You can visit ShareSaveSpend.com to learn more about Nathan’s incredible resources. Let us all practice Share Save Spend this season and be grateful for everything we have, not everything we want. Happy holidays from my family to yours! – Brian Eagle 317-726-1714 1
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MAYO MAGIC: THE SECRET TO JUICY THANKSGIVING TURKEY
The turkey undoubtedly takes center stage among the many culinary delights that grace the Thanksgiving table. While there are plenty of methods for cooking a turkey, many chefs and home cooks swear by the “mayo method” as the best way to achieve a moist and flavorful Thanksgiving turkey — here’s why! Moisture Lock One of the biggest challenges when roasting a turkey is maintaining its moisture. The mayo method involves slathering the turkey with a layer of mayonnaise
a subtle and rich flavor, the result doesn’t taste like mayonnaise at all! (Mayo haters can breathe a sigh of relief.) Even Browning Applying mayonnaise to the turkey creates an even and beautiful browning effect on the skin. This enhances the visual appeal and contributes a succulent and slightly crispy texture. Spice Kick Don’t worry — you’re not using only mayonnaise on your turkey. The mayo method serves as an excellent base
powder, sage, cayenne, and rosemary are all great options.
Simple Preparation The mayo method streamlines your preparation process — here’s what to do:
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Allow your turkey to thaw. Create your custom mayonnaise by mixing it with your seasonings of choice. Dry the turkey with paper towels and season it with salt and pepper. Gently separate the skin from the bird and slide in cubes of butter. Rub the entire turkey with your mayonnaise mixture, inside and out. Bake at 450 F for 30 minutes. Then lower the temperature to 325 F and cook for 15 minutes per pound.
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before roasting. Because mayonnaise contains oil, it helps lock in moisture during cooking, resulting in a juicy and tender turkey.
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for your choice of seasonings. You can create your own mixture before applying it to the turkey. Thyme, parsley, garlic
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Flavor Infusion If you’re a mayo lover, you’ll agree it’s delicious! While it gives the turkey
This Thanksgiving, give the mayo method a whirl — you and your guests won’t be disappointed!
Navigate Our Complex History with Gratitude and Respect
As we prepare for our Thanksgiving feasts, it is essential to look back at the history of the holiday and all the unique traditions that have developed over the years. Today, we celebrate with an extravagant turkey dinner and share what we are grateful for. While the origin of Thanksgiving has many myths, the act of uniting with our loved ones in harmony amid a delicious dinner will always be a pivotal practice in the United States. Even so, remembering the true history and culture of Native Americans is just as important. History of Harmony or Hardships In school, we all remember wearing pilgrim hats or even handmade feather headdresses as we sang and celebrated a peaceful partnership. We were taught that the pilgrims were welcomed by the Native Americans (without detailing which specific tribe), and that the two
groups celebrated their joyful alliance with the first Thanksgiving feast.
As the months passed, the Wampanoag people taught the pilgrims how to harvest and hunt. In November 1621, after the pilgrims had their first successful corn harvest, Governor William Bradford planned a celebratory feast and invited their Native American allies. How We Celebrate Today This first feast created an American tradition and the holiday we all celebrate today. We were once thankful for our first harvest, and now, we show gratitude for all we have today. However, we should still be mindful of the past. We can preserve and celebrate the positives of this holiday while also remembering the history of our Native Americans. Let us celebrate this Thanksgiving while remembering the contributions of Native American culture, our families and all that we have in our modern world, including the plentiful foods on our table today!
While this retelling has some truth, it glosses over an abundance of unsavory realities. In fact, the tribe that the pilgrims actually dined with was the Wampanoag, and the tribe has made it clear for many years that this cheerful version isn’t true to their history. The True Story of Thanksgiving When the colonists first set foot in New England in the spring of 1621, they suffered from a treacherous journey across the Atlantic where almost half the passengers perished. The Wampanoag tribe observed their arrival, and to protect themselves, they proposed an alliance. This union allowed the pilgrims to learn how to survive from the Wampanoags and, in return, have the colonists as an asset against other tribes — a mutual commitment to help one another survive.
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Word Search
Smart Social Media BUILD BETTER HABITS FOR YOUR TEENAGER’S BRAIN
BALLOT CORNUCOPIA CRANBERRY DISTRICTS MAIZE
PILGRIM POLITICS RAKING
SHOPPING STUFFING THANKSGIVING VETERAN
Social media is a great way to stay in touch with friends and family, stay updated on current events, and cool off after work or school. But, using social media has drawbacks, especially for the developing minds of teenagers. It’s been proven to distract them, disrupt their sleep, and negatively impact their mental health.
Luckily, you can implement a few simple rules with your teens to make social media better for their brains.
Rule No. 1: No social media when they wake up. When we wake up in the morning, our brain is still producing a lot of alpha and theta brain waves. These brain waves are associated with deep rest and an almost meditative state, making our brain more suggestible. So, suppose your child uses social media and sees a post that may suggest negative thoughts or behaviors. In that case, they’ll be more likely to absorb and accept that information. Our brains balance out these waves 5 -15 minutes after waking, so it’s a good idea for them to avoid using their device until then. Checking social media first thing in the morning also triggers a fresh dopamine reward, creating a cycle of craving throughout the day that keeps your child constantly scrolling for more. Rule No. 2: Keep notifications turned off! The sound of a notification triggers our brains’ stimulus-response behavior, which is why even you may become antsy when you hear your child’s phone buzzing through dinner. This behavior is also driven by dopamine, meaning your brain rewards you for responding to the stimulus, or in this case, the sound of a notification. And, just like the morning social media, it creates a habit of constantly checking our phones to receive more of the reward. Rule No. 3: Limit aimless scrolling. In a study of 460 participants, researchers found that aimlessly scrolling through social media resulted in psychological distress, decreased overall life satisfaction, and diminished mental well-being. If possible, give your children structured time on social media so their scrolling won’t continue for hours. You can also educate your teen on these risks so they can hopefully break themselves out of endless scrolling when they realize it’s happening.
Just like Grandma made!
INGREDIENTS
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2 9-inch unbaked pie crusts
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3/4 cup granulated sugar
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6 cups thinly sliced peeled apples
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2 tbsp all-purpose flour
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2 tbsp butter
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1 tsp cinnamon
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 425 F.
2. Place 1 pie crust in a 9-inch pie plate.
3. In a large bowl, combine apples, cinnamon, sugar, and flour.
4. Spoon mixture into pastry-lined pie plate and dot with butter.
5. Cut remaining crust into 1/2-inch-wide strips, then arrange strips in a lattice design over top of pie.
6.
Trim, seal, and flute edges.
7. Bake for 35 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.
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317-726-1714
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. 2.
Find Balance Amidst the Holiday Hustle
Tips to Make the Best Thanksgiving Turkey
Celebrate Thanksgiving While Acknowledging the Past
3.
Help Your Teen Thrive in the Social Media Age
Tasty Apple Pie
4.
The Top 5 Tax Saving Tips of 2023!
Just because the year is coming to a close does not mean your tax bill is finalized. While your options might be more limited, there are still ways you can lower your tax bill, save money, and even secure better tax options in the future. Add to your retirement accounts. You still have time to contribute to a retirement account as long as you are funding a traditional IRA or Roth IRA. You have until the tax filing due date to make a deductible contribution, ultimately lowering your tax bill. You should speak with your tax professional to understand your options and what retirement contribution would be best for you. Itemize your tax deductions. Standard deductions are certainly the easiest route when filing your taxes, but itemizing your deductions can save you money. Itemizing would be an excellent choice for those who are self-employed, homeowners, living in a high-tax area, or those that make significant charitable contributions. If your expenses add up to more than the 2023 standard deduction, then itemizing your deductions is most certainly worth it. Include dependent taxpayer IDs. Always ensure you include taxpayer IDs for your dependents. If you forget to put your
child or other dependent’s ID or Social Security number on your tax return, you could be denied dependent credits that you rightfully deserve. An example would be the child tax credit, which can reach a maximum of $2,000 per child. Check your eligibility for the home office tax deduction. Most people seem to be wary of claiming a home office tax deduction, but if you are eligible, this can save you a significant amount of money. The requirements for this deduction were even loosened in the past year to support those who are self-employed. This deduction allows you to write off any expenses in your home office as long as this office is used exclusively for business. Valid expenses include rent, utilities, insurance, and even housekeeping! File electronically. Lastly, while filing electronically might not save you money, it will always get you your refund faster. When you file online instead of through the mail, you can expect your refund to arrive 3–6 weeks earlier. The IRS also checks electronic returns, leaving fewer chances for errors, delays, and penalties.
MAXIMIZE YOUR TAX SAVINGS BEFORE YEAR-END
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