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S iblings by C hance , F riends by C hoice APPRECIATING MY SISTER, ROSALIE, ON SIBLINGS DAY
APRIL 2023
Throughout our lives, we develop relationships with a wide variety of people. Some only enter our lives briefly, such as coworkers or classmates, while others stick around for the long haul. These people are usually childhood friends, cousins, and siblings. I’ve been fortunate enough to have an amazing sister who is always there for me when I need her. This month, I get a special opportunity to spend time with my sister, Rosalie, when we celebrate Siblings Day on the 10th. Even though Rosalie and I grew up very close, we’re still wildly different from one another. There are superficial things like the fact that she’s taller than me and we have different colored eyes, but our differences are more than skin-deep. Rosalie was always an incredibly generous, funny, and go-with-the-flow person, while I was the typical older sister. I was bossy and had to have things my way. We fought a lot when we were younger, but we always knew we were best friends. We’ve changed quite a bit since those days. Yet, we’re still very close. We even have kids who are similar in age and go to the same school together. They’re becoming just as close as we are. There are few people I rely on more than my sister. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since we last talked or saw each other, I know we’ll always be there for each other. At the same time, nobody can
push my buttons quite like my sister, but it never gets in the way of our friendship. Our relationship has been strong ever since we were children. When we were young, our family lived in a two-bedroom apartment, so Rosalie and I had to share a bedroom. Eventually, our parents bought a house that allowed us to have separate bedrooms. It took a long time for us to get used to this idea. Personal space felt foreign to
us, and we often spent our nights sleeping in the same bed. Over time, we got used to being apart and having our own bedrooms, but it was challenging for those first few months. Thankfully, we had each other to help us through it. That bond didn’t break once we got older, either. I can remember being in college when my first real boyfriend broke up with me. I was devastated. Everyone was tired of hearing me talk and cry about it, but my sister was a trooper and helped me get through it. Not long after, I was able to help her with a relationship problem of her own. Rosalie was going to make dinner for a former boyfriend, but she wasn’t the best cook. I absolutely love to cook, so I offered to help, but we had to be slick. I made the meal while my sister pretended to cook it. Our plan worked, and her boyfriend was none the wiser. Sibling relationships are different from any other because your siblings are some of the few non-authoritative figures who have been in your life since you were small. You were raised by the same people, have shared life experiences, and possess intimate knowledge about each other that others will never know. Sometimes these experiences make you best friends, while other times, it turns siblings into adversaries. I think most of us experience both sides with our siblings.
I’m thankful to have such a loving, caring, and compassionate sister. I wouldn’t trade her for the world!
- Esther Vayman
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I ntroducing ‘I nfladating ’ NORMALIZING A CHEAP DATE
WATCH THE SUNSET. Head to the local park, beach, or lake to watch the sunset. It’s free, romantic, and simple. Even if you just hold hands and take in the views, it’s a great way to connect and relax. VOLUNTEER TOGETHER. Volunteering is one of the best ways to help others and stay active in your community. It’s also a great way to learn about someone. It reveals their passions, strengths, beliefs, and skills. TAKE A HIKE. Spending time in nature is a great way to bond. Whether it’s a relaxing walk on a flat trail or breaking a sweat on a more challenging route, hiking in the great outdoors is a perfect date idea to unleash your adventurous side. You may even see beautiful wildflowers or wildlife. Infladating allows you to become more creative, intentional, and thoughtful with your date ideas! So, think more carefully about how you can get creative with your date ideas and save money at the same time!
Dating isn’t cheap! Dinner and a movie, along with the cost of gas, ride services, drinks, and flowers, can quickly burn a hole in your wallet, especially when you factor in inflation. Even though a steak or lobster dinner may be unrealistic during these uncertain times, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy a date! It’s called “infladating,” a term coined by the Plenty of Fish dating app, and it aims to save you money on date night. To avoid going broke while searching for love, here are five financially savvy infladating options! HAVE DINNER IN. Ordering takeout and cuddling up on the couch under a fuzzy blanket while watching a movie is a great way to bond and learn more about each other — not to mention it’s romantic! You can pause the movie for bathroom and ice cream breaks, too! GO OUT FOR BREAKFAST. Instead of a dinner date, why not make it a breakfast date? It’s usually less expensive than dinner and is a great way to start the day. After all, who doesn’t love pancakes, bacon, and eggs?
G et to K now A ssociate A ttorney J ulia University of Georgia and chose to major in political science and anthropology to improve her chances of getting into law school. While studying anthropology, Julia gained insight into how different groups and families interact, which has helped her immensely in her legal career. After graduating from the University of Georgia, Julia immediately enrolled in the University of South Carolina’s law program. They were launching the first children’s law program at the time, and Julia got to be a part of it. She graduated in 2016 and took a job working as a juvenile law attorney, which gave her great experience but became emotionally draining. After three and a half years in that role, Julia took a job with a family law firm before eventually walking through our doors. Julia is incredibly passionate about what she does. She is committed to reaching positive outcomes for families and children so they can experience comfort going forward in their lives. Julia is always trying to do things to improve herself and is currently working toward receiving her child welfare specialist certification. She wants to better herself so she can provide improved assistance to her clients. Outside of work, Julia spends time with her husband and three pets. They’re looking forward to hiking and having a beer on the patio as the weather becomes nicer. She was recently nominated and accepted into the Georgia Association for Women Lawyer’s Leadership Academy and looks forward to learning new skills. PREPARING OUR CLIENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE
We’re not solely focused on the current situation when assisting our clients. We want to help them reach their long-term goals and devise a plan that helps our clients and their families well into the future. It’s not always easy, and sometimes we need to have difficult conversations to understand your situation better, but it’s all part of a strategy to put you in the best position moving forward. Our associate attorney, Julia Spitler, is a master strategist who consistently helps clients meet their long-term goals. Julia has always known that she wanted to be an attorney. She grew up wanting to help people and quickly learned that the legal field was her best avenue to help as many as possible. After graduating from high school, she attended the
We’re happy to have Julia on our team and know that she’ll continue to leave a positive impact on our clients for years to come.
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Q: If you could only eat one dish for the rest of your life, what would it be?
QUESTION AND ANSWERS: FOOD EDITION
Ashlyn Pasta Kendall Cheese dip! Morgan McDonald’s McDouble Loni
Julia Sushi Stephanie Everything bagel breakfast sandwich with scrambled eggs, cheese, and sausage Tom Gyro Maggie Steak burrito with everything on it, including guacamole Sara BBQ! Elyssa Spaghetti with lots of Parmesan cheese Bella Crab legs Mari Unas empanada de queso, pollo, y cazón
Caprese salad Amanda D. Village Tavern chicken marsala Emily A Cava lamb meatball bowl Amanda H.
Lasagna Andrea Filet mignon
Jennifer Spaghetti
C od and A sparagus B ake
BRAIN BREAK
ingredients • Oil for baking pan
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 4 4-oz cod fillets
• 1 1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
Inspired by TasteofHome.com
• 1 lb thin asparagus, trimmed
• 1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
This recipe is quick to make and perfect for busy weeknights when eating healthy seems impossible. The buttery cod is low-fat and a great way to include healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in your diet.
directions 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. In a 15x10x1-inch baking pan brushed with oil, place cod, asparagus, and tomatoes. 2. Brush cod with lemon juice, then sprinkle with lemon zest. Sprinkle cod and vegetables with Romano cheese. Bake until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 12 minutes. 3. Remove pan from oven; preheat broiler. Broil cod mixture 3-4 inches from the heat source until vegetables are lightly browned, about 2-3 minutes.
A LITTLE HELP
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EXPLORING ESTHER’S ADMIRATION FOR HER SISTER
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NEW TREND ALERT: ‘INFLADATING’ HELPING CLIENTS REACH LONG- TERM GOALS
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FOOD WE CAN EAT FOR A LIFETIME COD AND ASPARAGUS BAKE
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HOLD THE CHEESE, PLEASE!
M c D onald ’ s C ustomers S ue for B eing F orced to P ay for C heese CHEESE AND DESIST!
In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, things got a little crazy! Two McDonald’s customers sued the fast-food chain for $5 million, alleging they were unfairly charged when they ordered Quarter Pounders without cheese.
These customers ordered Quarter Pounders but asked for no cheese on their burger, and they did not receive cheese on their burger but were charged the same price as a Quarter Pounder with cheese. Their lawsuit states that they, and other customers who do not want cheese on their burgers, are forced to pay for two slices of cheese anyway, and they sued for damages as a result of being overcharged and required to pay for American cheese when they did not want or receive it on their burger.
According to the lawsuit, the fast-food restaurant chain historically had four menu options: a Quarter Pounder with cheese, a Double Quarter
Pounder with cheese, a Quarter Pounder, and a Double Quarter Pounder. The “with cheese” options were roughly between 30 cents and 90 cents more expensive than the “without cheese” burgers. At some point, McDonald’s discontinued the “without cheese” options.
According to USA Today, a McDonald’s spokesperson advised that the company does its best to allow customers to customize their food orders. If someone doesn’t want cheese as it is listed on the menu, the fast-food chain will not include cheese, thus they didn’t think the lawsuit has any merit.
Only a Quarter Pounder with cheese and a Double Quarter Pounder with cheese were available at the time these two customers visited the restaurant. The ingredients listed on McDonald’s website for these items include a
sesame seed bun, quarter- pound 100% beef patty, ketchup, onions, pasteurized processed American cheese, and pickle slices.
And because the McDonald’s customers failed to prove they were damaged by an overcharge, the case was dismissed!
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