Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
April 2023
THE TRUSTED ADVISOR Wide Open Spaces
Appreciating the Nature Around Us
We only have one planet, and Earth Day on April 22 is the day to celebrate it. In that spirit, we want to share how we both enjoy the great outdoors and feel responsible for caring for the planet we call home.
I’m glad we make an effort to limit our impact on the environment here, and hopefully, we’ll just keep improving. Nick: My childhood was similar to Zac’s. My dad would kick us out of the door at 7:30 or 8 a.m., and we usually stayed outside until it got dark. I got used to the outdoors and the fresh air, so being outside is a habit that has stuck with me. We make nature a part of every family vacation we go on, whether it’s skiing in the mountains or hiking in a national park. You miss out on a lot of the beauty of nature living in a city, so I want my children to appreciate how stunning the world is — especially those precious places that haven’t been touched by human development.
Zac: You might imagine I spent a lot of time indoors growing up in the cold Colorado weather, but that wasn’t the case. Despite the frigid temperatures, Colorado is almost always sunny, so I spent most of my childhood playing outside. The clear skies of my childhood are why my stint in the Midwest didn’t last — I couldn’t take all the gray, cloudy days. I’ve traded the mountains of my youth for the beaches of Florida,
I also echo Zac’s thoughts on caring for the world around us. When I took my wife to Rome to celebrate her graduation from medical school, she was shocked by the city’s state. There was trash covering the street. Around us was all this stunning architecture and history, but garbage was everywhere outside the Vatican and Colosseum (and not in its proper receptacles).
Zac and his family
but not much else has changed. I still spend most of my free time outside: biking, jogging, surfing, golfing, or playing tennis. I also make a point to go back to the mountains as much as possible, just like I always found ways to make it to the ocean when I lived in Colorado. (Having a grandfather in Hawaii helped!)
I think we have a responsibility to be good stewards for the planet, and while we’re hardly perfect in the U.S., traveling has taught me that we’re doing better than many places in the world. A few years back, I visited Honduras, a stunningly beautiful country with crystal blue water and gorgeous reefs. But as we went out on the boat one day, we found the water’s surface completely covered in trash.
There’s always more we can do, but I’m grateful we respect the world around us more than that here. I like to think we’re getting better all the time, and I hope we can leave behind the environment we’ve all enjoyed for the next generation. Nick and his family
NordenLeacox.com | 407-801-3000 1 –Zac Leacox & Nick Norden
Nick and his family
Hold the Cheese, Please!
McDonald’s Customers Sue for Being Forced to Pay for Cheese
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.
According to the lawsuit, the fast-food restaurant chain historically had four menu options: a Quarter Pounder with cheese, a Double Quarter
NIPPING SPRING ALLERGIES IN THE BUD When Pollen Strikes Spring has arrived! However, rebirth and renewal aren’t the only things in the air. During spring, trees, weeds, plants, and grasses release small grains of pollen into the air to fertilize other plants. Because the pollen is small and light, it travels through the wind and frequently causes allergic reactions. Symptoms of seasonal allergies include congestion, sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, an itchy throat, watering eyes, and irritation in the roof of your mouth. If you’re prone to experiencing allergies all spring long, here are some useful tips to keep them at bay. Reduce your exposure. During spring months, keep the windows in your home and car closed. On particularly windy or dry days, avoid spending time outdoors, and do not hang your clean laundry outside to dry. After you have been outdoors, remove your clothing and wash your hair and skin to remove any traces of pollen. Do not cut the grass, pull weeds, or do any gardening. Remove pollen from indoor air. It’s inevitable that pollen will get inside your home and vehicle. To combat this, utilize your air conditioning or invest in a certified allergy air filter! A dehumidifier and/or an air purifier will help to lower the pollen spore count in the air. Rinse out your sinuses. When pollen overwhelms your sinus passages, one of the best things to do is to rinse out your airways. A sinus flush with a saline solution is one of the easiest and most effective ways to eliminate the pollen that irritates your respiratory system. Take over-the-counter medications. After checking with your doctor or health care provider, choose an over-the- counter medication that is right for your symptoms. Medications like oral antihistamines, oral decongestants, and corticosteroid nasal sprays are all beneficial in reducing the effects of seasonal allergies.
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.
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. 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 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.
And because the McDonald’s customers failed to prove they were damaged by an overcharge, the case was dismissed!
2 NordenLeacox.com | 407-801-3000
Find More ‘You’ Time Developing a Self- Care Routine
Create large and small self-care options. You don’t need to do the same self-care ritual all the time, but make it a point to do something for yourself every day. On busier days, you may only have a moment to take a few deep breaths and mentally reset, but on other days, you may have time for a relaxing bath, massage, workout, or pedicure. Make time for hobbies. Most people find themselves constantly juggling countless tasks and obligations. With so much to do, making time for your least favorite activities likely won’t happen; instead, do something you enjoy. After all, self-care is about you! Yoga, reading, journaling, jogging, and meditating are just a few ways to get in some “you time.” If you like it, do it! Plan your self-care time. Without adding self-care to your schedule, your healthy behaviors may get placed on the back burner. Block off time for your favorite activities: Once it’s on your calendar, you’re more likely to work a routine into your day. Keep it simple. Complex rituals may create more stress or anxiety when you should be relaxing. Instead, keep it simple by focusing on relaxing, breathing, and recharging. Go for a walk in the park, take a nap, get a massage, stretch, or take a few moments to do absolutely nothing. Simplicity is the key.
Life isn’t easy — when juggling a career, family, children, social obligations, and housework, finding time for yourself can be difficult. Studies show that roughly 59% of individuals only make time for self-care after they’ve become stressed out. Here are some ways to develop a healthy routine that suits your busy life. Become intentional. When developing a self-care ritual, it’s essential to identify your reasons behind taking better care of yourself and to pinpoint your needs. With a clear vision and motive behind your efforts, developing healthy habits to nurture and incorporate into your everyday routine becomes easier.
Have a
One-Pan Chicken and Mushrooms With Egg Noodles Inspired by MarthaStewart.com
Laugh
Ingredients
• 3 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces • 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts, halved • Salt and ground pepper • 3 tbsp butter, divided
• 8 oz button mushrooms, trimmed • 8 oz shallots, peeled and halved
• 3 cups chicken broth • 1/2 cup heavy cream • 8 oz egg noodles • 1/3 cup chopped fresh dill
Directions
1. In a large pan over medium heat, cook bacon until browned, 7–9 minutes. Remove from heat, discard fat, and set aside. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Return pan to medium-high heat and melt 2 tbsp butter. Add chicken, skin-side down. Cook, turning a few times, for 10–12 minutes until browned. Transfer to a plate. 2. Place remaining 1 tbsp butter in pan to melt. Add mushrooms and shallots; cook 8–10 minutes. Add broth and cream; bring to a boil. Stir in noodles. 3. Add chicken (skin-side up), cover pan, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring once halfway through. Cook about 10–12 minutes. 4. Uncover and simmer until thickened. Stir in dill and top with bacon. Serve and enjoy!
3
NordenLeacox.com | 407-801-3000
Published by Newsletter Pro | www.NewsletterPro.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
407-801-3000 NordenLeacox.com 964 Lake Baldwin Lane, Suite 200 Orlando, FL 32814
Inside This Edition 2 1 It’s Earth Day!
Hold the Cheese, Please! Combating Spring Allergies
3
Putting Together a Self-Care Routine One-Pan Chicken and Mushrooms With Egg Noodles Illinois’ Sip and Spit Law
4
Check Out This Strange Illinois Law! Sip … but You Must Spit
By law, in the United States, the minimum legal drinking age is 21 years old. When an individual under 21 breaks the law and consumes alcohol, they are subject to arrest and hefty fines. However, there’s a loophole in Illinois. In 2012, the Illinois State Senate voted 48–6 in favor of passing a “sip and spit” law for Illinois culinary students over 18 but under the legal drinking age of 21. This strange law enabled these students to know their wine well without becoming intoxicated. The students can only sample the wines during their scheduled class times, and an adult that is 21 or older must supervise. Each sample of wine must be less than a shot’s worth in volume, and most importantly, they cannot swallow — they must just taste the wine, then spit it out. Culinary students nationwide rely on nonalcoholic wines to learn about the taste, color, and smell of wines and how to best pair them with their dishes, but unfortunately, virgin wines taste nothing like actual wines! This leaves a gap in many
culinary students’ education and may even force them to relearn the skill once they turn 21 and sample alcoholic wines.
According to CBS News, Emily Williams Knight, the president of Kendall College, a private Illinois university that focuses on culinary arts, says “taste training” is an integral part of culinary education for young students, which includes learning to pair dishes and meals with adult beverages. Understanding the different tastes and notes of various wines is essential to help these students succeed and prepare them for culinary arts and hospitality management careers. On Aug. 24, 2012, Governor Pat Quinn signed Senate Bill 758 into law so Kendall College students over 18 but younger than 21 could better develop their wine-tasting skills to enhance their culinary abilities. However, the rule is clear: Sip … but you must spit!
4 NordenLeacox.com | 407-801-3000
Published by Newsletter Pro | www.NewsletterPro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator