Perez Halpern English - July 2018

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July 2018

LINCOLN MAKES AN APPEARANCE My Skepticism Is Put to the Test

In the summer, my family and I spend a lot of time outdoors. We enjoy swimming, and Josh often takes Jacob for a few rounds of golf. After two or three holes, Jacob’s decided he’s done golfing with Daddy, and it’s time for Mommy to come pick him up. Josh and Jacob often spend their one-on-one time playing sports, and Jacob and I usually spend ours at the pool or park. It’s our special time together. Jacob has less afterschool activities right now, which means that after work, I can spontaneously pick him up from camp and head to the pool. We go for a swim, work up our appetites, and order some food. It gives us a different pace to our day and quality time together.

the penny head-down into the tread of your tires. If you always see the top of Lincoln’s head as you go around the tire, your treads are worn out, and the tire probably needs to be replaced. If part of Lincoln’s head is always covered by the tread, you’re probably okay to stick with those tires. So I did the penny test. Turns out the people at the shop were just doing their jobs, and my skepticism had gotten in the way. As I performed the penny test on each tire, Lincoln’s head was always visible — I definitely needed new tires.

Apparently my car needed to be aligned because the tires weren’t wearing evenly. I called the shop and made another appointment. Here I was, worried about spending quality time with my people, and instead, I was spending it with pennies and tires. A healthy dose of skepticism can be helpful sometimes — you don’t want to pay for services your car doesn’t need. It can also pay off to do your own research. And sometimes, it’s okay to leave things up to the professionals. I may be an attorney, but it turns out I’m no tire expert. I

While it would be nice if I could spend all my evenings at the pool, there’s still a list

of things to get done, even in the summer. Recently, I took my car to the shop for its annual tune up. As they performed the checkup, the mechanic told me, “You need to get new tires.” Even in my line of work, I tend to be skeptical, so when I took my car in for a simple tune-up and was told that it needed four new tires, I was not convinced. I felt like I was being hustled — four new tires? Come on.

was so focused on using my time efficiently that I didn’t realize how much time this tire question was eating into it. Instead of picking up Jacob for a swim after work, I went back to the shop, tail between my legs, and got my new set of tires. At least I learned the penny test.

I texted Josh. He did what most of us do when we’re looking for a definitive answer — he

Googled it. “With your mileage,” Josh told me, “You’d be on the early side of needing new tires.” That wasn’t the definitive answer I was looking for. I was thinking, “I need to figure this out. Do I need them? Do I not need them?” Unconvinced that I needed the tires, I left the shop and went home. But I needed to solve this problem. There had to be a way to determine if I needed new tires without an upsell. After a little more Googling, I came to an answer.

Stay safe on the road, and enjoy your summer.

–Meliha Perez Halp ern

P.S. You might be wondering if the penny test really works. Now that I’m an experienced penny tester, give our office a call to schedule your free Pérez Halpern penny test.

It turns out, as you might know, that there’s a simple test to check how worn out your tires are. All you need is a penny. Put

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Learning That Doesn’ t Feel Like School

Every summer, parents across the country have to deal with the same delicate problem. They want to make sure their kids continue to learn without feeling like they’re being assigned tasks. After all, summer homework is every child’s worst nightmare. Luckily, you don’t have to rely on math problems and book reports to keep your child’s development from taking a two-month vacation. Here are a few mentally stimulating activities that are as educational as they are fun.

is simple: 1 part dish soap (Dawn or Joy work best) to 10 parts water. Optionally, you can also include 1/4 part glycerin. The process of making the solution will teach ratios, and finding creative ways to blow bubbles fosters problem-solving skills and creative thinking. Cooking teaches so many important skills: math, science, nutrition, concentration, cultural understanding, following directions, creativity, time management, and more. Even better, it doesn’t feel like learning; it feels like fun. Encourage your older children to take the reins for preparing regular meals throughout the summer. You can pick guiding themes, FOR TEENAGERS: FAMILY DINNER PARTY

like “a trip to Mexico” or “pasta party,” but let them choose the recipes and prep the meals on their own.

FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY: AN EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIP

Field trips always inspire excitement in students, and you’ll find the same goes for your family members. You can tailor your destination to the interests of your kids for maximum engagement. If you have a family of art lovers, head to a museum for some inspiration and discussion. Kids who prefer the outdoors will enjoy a nature walk or hike. You can bring along a field guide to identify flora and fauna. These trips may not pack the thrill of a water park, but they’re fun in an entirely different way.

FOR LITTLE ONES: HOMEMADE BUBBLES

Bubbles fascinate young children, so why not spend a day making your own solution and experimenting by blowing different types of bubbles? The formula

WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING

ASLEY SHARES HER EXPERIENCE AT PEREZ HALPERN

Here is what one of our clients had to say about her experience with Pérez Halpern: “I had an accident, and my cousin told me to call Pérez Halpern, LLC. I met with Andy, and he walked me through the process of all parts of my case. He handled the damages to my car quickly. He was very easy to work with. I then met Meliha when I finished my medical care, and she walked me through the settlement process. “I am so glad I chose Pérez Halpern to help me with my accident case. I would definitely recommend them to anyone! They are awesome! And they are bilingual, which helped when talking to my family about my case.”

Seeing messages like these makes our day. We are so grateful for the incredible clients we get to work with, and we put our all into finding a solution for them, from making sure they understand each part of the process to getting a fair settlement for their case. We understand how stressful it can be to figure out what to do after an accident, so we strive to take out the guesswork and make it a smooth process for you. We appreciate hearing about your experience with our firm, and we want to let others know how to find help, so if you’ve had a great experience at Pérez Halpern, please share it on our Facebook page.

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3 Car Hacks That Would Make MacGyver Proud

STOCKINGS FOR YOUR WINDSHIELD Your windshield wipers will wear out at some point, and sometimes you don’t realize it until that unexpected downpour. The wiper stops removing water, and if the rubber is missing, the metal of the blade can scratch your windshield. Fortunately, you might have a temporary fix on you — a pair of stockings. If you notice your wipers aren’t working properly, wrap a pair of stockings around the arm. They’ll help pick up some of the debris and keep the metal from scratching your windshield until you can get a replacement pair — of windshield wipers, that is. NAIL POLISH FOR CHIPS, SCRAPES, AND CRACKS When an unskilled parallel parker leaves a small scrape on your car, you may not need to take it in for a new paint job. Instead, try

While many repairs require a trip to the mechanic or auto body shop, some minor cosmetic car issues can be handled using common household items. Forget the umbrella — read on to learn why you’ll want to store stockings for a cloudy day. POOL NOODLES TO PREVENT DINGS This common pool toy might actually come in handy to protect your car from getting beat up by its gatekeeper, the garage. Does your car just barely fit through the garage door? Use a few noodles. Take an adhesive or staples and fix them horizontally to the wall of your garage to provide cushion for your car. You may also find it handy to put another few at the end of your garage so you don’t have to stress about dings to your bumper when you pull your car in a little too close.

a less costly method — nail polish. Using a shade that matches your car, apply a thin layer to the scratched area. And that’s not all nail polish is good for. For small windshield chips, clear nail polish may be an effective way to prevent the crack from spreading. Put a thin layer of clear polish on the crack and let it dry. Of course, these quick fixes don’t replace routine maintenance. Always speak to a professional if you have car issues, and don’t rely on these methods alone to keep your car in working order. And if you are in need of legal help following an incident, reach out to the knowledgeable team at Pérez Halpern. We are here to help.

sudoku

PUERTO RICAN GUAVA CHEESE APPETIZER

Ingredients • 1 22-ounce can guava paste, cut into 1-inch cubes (You can find this in a Latin American store.) • 1 16-ounce package sharp cheddar cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes • 20 toothpicks

Directions 1. Skewer one cube of the guava paste and one cube of cheddar cheese on a toothpick. 2. Repeat with the remaining guava paste and cheddar cheese cubes. 3. Refrigerate until serving time.

www.geniuskitchen.com

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Can I Have S ' ’ more?

STRAWBERRY S’MORE-CAKE If you really want to wow your guests at the next bonfire, try your hand at this creative take on the summertime classic. Gooey s’mores meet fresh strawberry shortcake in a dessert that’s as delicious as it is original. Find the whole recipe, including tips on making the perfect shortcake, at aspicyperspective.com/smores- strawberry-shortcake-recipe. S’MOREO A simple but memorable twist on the campfire classic. Grab a box of Oreo cookies, pull a cookie apart, and use that in place of your graham cracker. The cream filling will pair nicely with the chocolate and toasted marshmallow. S’MORES MILKSHAKE Too hot for a campfire? Cool down with a s’mores milkshake! The trick is to lightly toast the marshmallows in the oven so they mix well with the other ingredients in the blender. Get the recipe at spoonfulofflavor.com/2013/08/30/smores-milkshake to enjoy this sweet treat even in the heat of summer. It’s the simple recipe that opens the door for creative interpretations of the classic s’more. Be adventurous this summer and see what great new s’mores you can create!

You’re just three ingredients away from the perfect summertime treat: chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows. The s’more is a fan favorite on camping trips and at backyard bonfires alike. Though they say you can’t improve perfection, we’ve found a few creative twists on the classic treat that will make your summer a little sweeter.

JACOB ENJOYING SOME S’MORES

THE ELVIS A campfire snack fit for a king — of rock ’n’ roll, that is. This s’more pays homage to Elvis Presley’s love of peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Swap out the chocolate bar for a peanut butter cup candy and add a few slices of fresh banana between the graham cracker and marshmallow. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can even add some bacon. S’MORES IN A JAR Here are s’mores you can enjoy all year long. Layers of crushed graham cracker, melted marshmallow, and creamy chocolate turn a simple jar into a great dessert! Learn how to make the perfect s’mores on the go at family.disney.com/recipe/smores-in-a-jar.

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