Brauns Law's online newsletter for July2018
404-418-8244 July 2018 WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330, DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096
Summer Days What Makes Up Summer Vacation?
From the time I was old enough to push a lawn mower, summertime meant work. As a kid, I would go door to door, offering to mow my neighbor’s lawns in exchange for cash. When I got a little older, I would get a summer job every year, making my own money and saving up for college. After my family moved to Ocean City when I was 15, summer also came to mean tourist season. While crowds of people flocked to the beach and played in the ocean, I worked in retail stores and restaurants, grilling up hot dogs or helping tourists find aloe for their sunburns. Summer is when I built my work ethic. This isn’t to say I never enjoyed my childhood summers. When I wasn’t on the clock, I had just as much fun as any other kid out of school for three months. In those days, I was an avid bodyboarder. I loved the feeling of swimming out into the ocean and waiting for the swells to come in. When you catch a wave, it’s the most unreal feeling. Gliding over the ocean forces you to be in the moment, focusing only on yourself and the water around you. Everything else washes away and you are living in the present. In Ocean City, the best time to bodyboard is August, because that’s hurricane season. Yes, that’s as dangerous as it sounds. The largest wave I ever rode was way over my head, at least 10 feet high. That one was
“These days, you won’t find
me working in a hot dog stand or bodyboarding after a hurricane.”
awesome, until I wiped out and almost drowned. If you remember my kayaking story, you’ll notice this is the second water-based activity that almost killed me. But what can I say? I love my water sports. These days, you won’t find me working in a hot dog stand or bodyboarding after a hurricane. When I want to relax over summer vacation, I’m reaching for a book. I look at downtime as an opportunity to learn more, so I’m usually in the nonfiction section. Right now, I’m reading a great biography about John D. Rockefeller, though usually the books I read cover business management, addressing sales, marketing, and operations. The office tends to slow down a bit during the summer, so I like to read up on strategies to help us ramp things up and get ahead of the curve. It’s crazy how your summer vacations change as you get older. When I was mowing my neighbor’s lawn, I never
would have guessed one day my summers would involve finding better ways to fight for clients at my law office. Summer is a time of possibility, and I enjoy taking advantage of every opportunity. days doing something you enjoy. -David Brauns Here’s to a great summer vacation. I hope you’re able to spend your sunny
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Is Your Child Being Bullied? Warning Signs You Can’t Ignore
Change in Friends There are bound to be changes in friend groups throughout your child’s life, but that doesn’t mean parents shouldn’t take notice when this happens. When a child expresses disinterest in spending time with specific people, it could be a sign of bullying. Connecting with other parents who have children in the same circle could be a way to gauge the pulse of your child’s friend group. Confidence Issues Bullying has the potential to drop kids into a volatile cycle of confidence-killing self-talk. Bullying may produce external damage, but what goes on internally can be catastrophic for children. The continually progressing, technology-based environment our children live in nearly outpaces their ability to adjust and cope. Children often internalize their emotions, and when they are being bullied by someone online, their distress can be even harder to detect. The best way to be aware of how your children are feeling is to talk to them openly about their social interactions both online and offline. Summer is the perfect opportunity to discuss these issues with your child because they likely will be relaxed, comfortable, and out
Somewhere along the line, our society accepted bullying as a social norm for children. “How can kids learn to cope with the real world if they can’t handle a bully?” is a common misguided justification. Kids who don’t meet the standards of what they are socially expected to be aren’t accepted among their peers. Rather, they are treated like emotional punching bags for anyone deemed more culturally acceptable. But the life of a child is truly a special force in this world, and just because someone differs from physical, social, or cultural normativity doesn’t give anyone the right to treat them poorly. Differences should be celebrated, and bullying needs to be eradicated. The best way we can start is by making an effort to notice bullying and put a stop to it. Here are three warning signs. Headaches and Stomach Aches Anxiety is a complex emotion that tends to manifest itself in physical ways. If you notice your child has stress-related symptoms like headaches, ask them about their emotional well-being. An open-ended question like, “I’ve noticed you haven’t been feeling well a lot lately — can you tell me more about that?” will help open lines of communication.
of school, where bullying often occurs. Then they can approach the new school year with confidence and self-worth. What parent doesn’t want that?
DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT
Testimonial
“Brauns Law was very professional with handling my case. Their entire team handled all phases of my case and relieved me of all the stress and worry in dealing with the insurance company. I will highly recommend David and his entire team to all my friends and family. Thank you so much!” –Myra
“Great office to work with. You are treated like family by the staff of Brauns Law and they show they truly care about you as a person — you’re not just a number. Helpful staff willing to answer all your questions and give you guidance during the stressful time after an accident. I highly recommend Brauns Law if you need an accident attorney.” –Tiffany M.
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BURNING QUESTIONS
Safety Tips for Small Fires
Fire is one of mankind’s greatest tools, but it can also be a deadly threat if not handled with care. The U.S. Fire Administration reported that there were over 1.3 million fires in 2016 and over 3,000 deaths. Here are a few safety tips to help you deal with small fires. Campfire Once the s’mores are all gone, drown your campfire with a bucket of water and then mix the ashes and embers with soil. Add more water, then feel the coals, partially-burned wood, and rock fire ring, making sure everything is cool to the touch. Before you walk away, drench everything in water again. Campfires are the second leading cause of forest fires, and it just takes one stray ember to start a fire. Grease Fires If a fire starts while you’re cooking in the kitchen, it’s probably a grease fire. Never put water on a grease fire! The high heat will cause the water to boil instantly, creating an inferno that will
WORD SEARCH July Electrical Fires Frayed wires or overloaded circuits result in hundreds of electrical fires every year. Much like grease fires, you do not want to pour water on an electrical fire, as it can result in you getting electrocuted or the fire spreading. Instead, if possible, turn off the device causing the fire and unplug it safely. Then try to put out the fire with baking soda, smother it with a heavy blanket, or use a fire extinguisher designed to deal with class C fires. These are tips to address small fires, but if a fire is large or doesn’t go out right away, then evacuate the area and call 911 immediately. In an emergency situation, the sooner you contact professional help, the better the outcome will be. splatter grease out of the pan and send flames everywhere. The best solution for a grease fire is to smother it. If a fire starts on the stove, turn off the burner, put an oven mitt on your hand, and slide a metal pot lid over the flames. After the fire is out, leave the lid on and let the pan cool.
BLUE CHEESE BUFFALO DOGS AND CELERY SLAW
No matter where you stand on the great ketchup versus mustard debate, you’ll love these spicy, tangy, easy-to-make buffalo dogs. They’re the perfect way to elevate your Fourth of July cookout.
Ingredients • 1 package of your favorite hot dogs • 1 package hot dog buns • 1 bottle Frank’s RedHot sauce • 4 ounces crumbled blue cheese
For Celery Slaw: • 4 celery stalks, very thinly sliced • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice • 1 teaspoon olive oil • Celery salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Directions 1. For slaw, toss all ingredients together and season with celery salt and pepper. 2. Grill hot dogs and toast buns. 3. Assemble hot dogs, douse with hot sauce, and top with celery slaw. 4. Top with blue cheese, add another splash of hot sauce if you’re feeling extra spicy, and serve. Inspired by Bon Appetit magazine
INDEPENDENCE DAY BARBECUE FREEDOM AMERICA
WASHINGTON REVOLUTION PARADE FIREWORKS
COLONIAL JULY USA CONGRESS
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404-418-8244 | WWW.BRAUNSLAW.COM 3175 SATELLITE BOULEVARD, SUITE 330 DULUTH, GEORGIA 30096
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Big Plans This Summer?
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How to Tell if Your Kids Are Being Bullied
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What Some of Our Clients Are Saying
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Why Can’t You Put Water On a Grease Fire? Blue Cheese Buffalo Dogs and Celery Slaw Should You Stop Eating Raw Cookie Dough Right Now?
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Is It Real ly Bad for You? Cookie Dough: We all do it. You make a batch of chocolate chip cookies and spoon yourself a sample of the dough. Then the kids clamor for a taste. By the time the first batch of cookies comes out of the oven, everyone’s had their fill.
The danger, instead, comes from raw flour. Dry flour, as it sits in your kitchen cabinet, can harbor harmful bacteria, including E. coli . Research by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the dangers present in flour. Both organizations have investigated illnesses across the country that have been traced to raw flour. What makes flour problematic? The flour you buy in the supermarket is minimally treated from the moment the grain is harvested to the moment you add it to your favorite cookie recipe. Bacteria in the wheat field can travel all the way to your home. The FDA recommends you avoid eating raw dough or batter and use proper kitchen hygiene — wash your hands, utensils, and work surfaces before and after contact with raw flour. Wait until the cookies are fully baked and cooled before enjoying their amazingness. If you or your kids really love cookie dough — never fear! There are many recipes available online for flourless (as well as eggless) cookie dough. These
But is eating raw cookie dough, or even cake batter, a bad idea?
We’ve all heard about the dangers of eating raw cookie dough, but how many of us actually know someone who has gotten sick after eating it? Years ago, conventional
wisdom suggested that the raw eggs in cookie dough harbored bacteria that would make you sick. Everyone seemed to worry about anything that had to do with raw eggs.
As it turns out, raw eggs are surprisingly safe. If the eggs are properly handled and stored, chances are they won’t make you sick, even if consumed raw. The danger of salmonella poisoning is negligible.
recipes are great for anyone with food allergies and anyone who loves to indulge in raw cookie dough but doesn’t want the risk. Check them out!
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