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NORTON NEWSLETTER
THE REAL ESTATE TAX PRO ™
NortonAccountingServices.com 985-690-4498 Info@NortonAccountingServices.com JULY 2024
EASE OF MIND • AVAILABILITY • FLEXIBILITY • INDIVIDUAL APPROACH • EXPERIENCE • TAX SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES
HOW THE 5 ‘Fs’ SHAPE MY LIFE The Blueprint for Balance
One can evaluate the important things in life in many ways. For example, gurus and monks spend their lives in introspection, contemplating the universe and the meaning of life. It sounds peaceful, but I don’t have that kind of time on my hands. For me, the easiest way to live a meaningful, stable life is to maintain a healthy balance of the five “Fs,” which are family, finances, fun, fitness, and faith. Let’s break them down.
things off. However, staying complacent rather than striving to improve your professional capabilities is easy. What do I mean by that? Well, how often do you set aside time to learn something new on behalf of your work or business? It’s important to set aside at least a couple of hours a week to focus on things that can help us get ahead, like working on marketing, studying new facets of your industry, or creating a system to help improve your efficiency. Fun Recently, a friend asked how I am doing now that the tax deadline has passed. I jokingly told him, “I’m doing great! I am back to working half- days — which 12 hours is my choice!” Realistically, given how many of my clients extend, it’s always tax season for me. Yet, considering how much time business owners, entrepreneurs, and investors spend on their work, it’s important to unplug every once in a while. Whether it’s with your spouse or family or something you prefer to do alone, you should spend a day doing whatever you want. Indulge in your hobbies, hunt, fish, see a movie — anything that refreshes or rejuvenates you! Fitness We can’t spend quality time at work, with family, or having fun if we don’t invest in our own personal fitness. Our overall health determines how effective we are physically and mentally. You will be amazed at what a difference it makes when you eat properly and get enough exercise. It helps you think clearly and live longer, so give it a try. Faith Neglecting spirituality can lead you down a dark road. Becoming overly selfish, career-driven, and focused on instant gratification is a surefire
Family Work is how you make a living, but a family makes living great. An essential component of maintaining a healthy work-life balance is to spend quality time with those you love. We never know how long we will have with them, and we should never take them for granted. Take a look at your calendar, and pick a time for family night. It could be a simple outing to a restaurant, a ball game, or a cozy night at home playing board games. The important part is that you are connecting with them and disconnecting from work. Finances Love it or hate it, we all have to work to make a living. Various things will always hold us back and bug us during the work week, or we put
way to see all your hard work go down the toilet. What you believe in is less important than the actual merits of faith. It is important to embrace the focus, perseverance, and morality it provides and the lessons it conveys to us.
–Bob Norton
985-690-4498 • 1
From Book Club to Big Business How Celebrities Influence Reading Culture for Profit Since Oprah Winfrey debuted her famed book club in 1996, many celebrities have followed suit, recommending books on their websites and social media feeds. While a celebrity recommendation is a boon for an author’s sales, it also profits the person suggesting it. Here are three celebrities using their influence to boost book sales — and their own businesses.
Navigating a world where beauty ideals are ever-changing and expectations continually shift can be challenging. From ingenious makeup techniques to DIY skin care remedies, beauty hacks enable the seekers of effortless glamour to save money and cut down on time in front of the mirror. If you are a seasoned beauty enthusiast or a novice looking to up your game, these four hacks can up your beauty game. 1. Silk pillowcases and bed sheets can be a game-changer for your skin and hair. Silk pillowcases are much more comfortable than regular sheets and can even help prevent wrinkles or aging skin because they don’t pull on your skin as you move when you’re asleep. 2. Avoid wrapping your hair in a towel after showering. This can cause breakage or split ends because hair is more fragile when wet. Instead, wrap it in a cotton T-shirt, which is gentler on delicate hair and supports overall health and growth. 3. If you want to grow your eyebrows and eyelashes, grab a spoolie (a very small brush, like a mascara wand), dip it in castor oil, and put a few drops on your eyebrows and eyelashes every night. 4. Start dermaplaning your face with a small facial razor (available in many inexpensive brands and formats) to remove the hair. Despite the allegations that this can create thicker or darker hair, it eliminates peach fuzz and exfoliates your skin, leaving a healthy glow. Beyond the practical benefits, beauty hacks can significantly boost your confidence and self-esteem. Learning to enhance your natural features and address specific beauty concerns makes you feel more comfortable in your skin. Cultivating habits for a new and improved beauty routine will enhance your outward appearance and nurture your self-esteem — transform your looks by incorporating these simple yet effective practices into your daily regimen. Easy and Effortless Chic FROM DRAB TO FAB
Gwyneth Paltrow The Oscar-winning actress owns a lifestyle and supplements brand called Goop, which is estimated to be worth around $250 million. Taking heed of other celebrities’ examples, Paltrow started her book club to promote books through her company’s website and on her Instagram profile. The titles complement the aims of her business, including guest opportunities and content for her podcast. The book club helps catapult Paltrow’s business beyond the fashion and film industries.
Reese Witherspoon As the star actress in numerous films like “Legally Blonde” and “Walk the Line,” Witherspoon was already a household name when she began recommending books on social media to her more than 2.5 million followers. In addition to being an actress and avid reader, Witherspoon also ran Hello Sunshine, a massively successful production company. After promoting books like Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild,” Delia Owens’ “Where the Crawdads Sing,” and “Daisy Jones & the Six” by Taylor Reid, her production company adapted them to the silver screen. In 2014, Witherspoon was nominated for an Oscar for her performance as the lead in the film adaptation of “Wild,” which she also produced. As a result of this lucrative business model, Witherspoon managed to sell Hello Sunshine for a reported $900 million in August 2021. Emma Roberts Roberts started her Belletrist book club in 2017 alongside her friend Karah Preiss. Then, in 2019, following Reese’s footsteps, Emma started an entertainment company, Belletrist Productions. Belletrist has since produced the hit shows “First Kill” with Netflix and “Tell Me Lies” with Hulu, with the goal of creating more literary adaptations in the future. It is great that celebrities encourage people to read, but they do not do so selflessly. In fact, the primary motivation, in many cases, is to bolster their own acting and production careers or to build upon their existing lifestyle brands. We shouldn’t feel guilty for reading what they recommend, but we should realize their picks aren’t always based on what makes the best read.
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FLUFFY’S HEROIC DEED SAVES A VETERAN
Fluffy to the Rescue One fateful day, at around 8 a.m., Ron slipped and fell on his way out of the shower. He landed on his arm, which became pinned under him. His Life Alert, which he had relied upon for situations like this, was charging in the other room. His cellphone, his only other means of calling for help, was on the bathroom counter, out of reach. The hours ticked away, and Ron lay in agonizing pain on the bathroom floor. At just past midnight the next day, Ron had an idea. Fluffy had wandered into the bathroom to check on his friend.
In 2020, Ron Williams, a Korean War veteran in his mid-80s, lived alone. His only lifeline was his Life Alert, a small device designed to alert health care officials if an emergency occurred. That was until he was gifted a black-and- white spotted cat named Fluffy. From the moment they met, it was clear the two would make a perfect pair. But what Ron didn’t know was that he had been given more than a companion — he had been given a savior.
Feline Friend While Ron did not have many people to talk to, he did have Fluffy. The two shared mostly one-sided conversations, likely interspersed with the occasional meow. Whenever Ron received a call on his
“Ring-a-ding,” Ron told him, and Fluffy knew to retrieve his phone and bring
cellphone, he got in the habit of saying, “Ring-a-ding.” While the two shared a deep bond, Ron never considered that Fluffy was actually listening. “I just fell in love with him,” Ron said of Fluffy in an interview with FOX17 in Michigan. As it turned out, Fluffy loved him back. Quinoa Veggie Bowl This recipe is packed with protein-rich quinoa and a colorful array of vegetables. It’s ideal for a healthy lunch or a quick dinner!
it to him. Ron was able to call for help in time to save his life. Fluffy’s quick thinking prevented tragedy. This heroic act is a great reminder that our pets care — and listen — more than we may ever give them credit for.
TAKE A BREAK
Ingredients
• 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 red bell pepper, diced • 1 yellow bell pepper, diced • 1 cup diced zucchini
• 1 cup diced mushrooms • 1 tsp dried oregano • Salt and pepper, to taste • 2 cups cooked quinoa
Directions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. 2. Add bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. 3. Add oregano, salt, and pepper and stir to combine.
Alien Ballpark Cherry Firecracker
Flag Independence Orchid Paddleboard
Patriotic Sundae
Sunscreen Trampoline
4. Add the cooked quinoa and mix thoroughly. 5. Cook for an additional 5 minutes, then serve.
985-690-4498 • 3
Norton Accounting Services, LLC
THE REAL ESTATE TAX PRO ™
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
NortonAccountingServices.com 985-690-4498 Info@NortonAccountingServices.com
1527 Gause Blvd. Ste. 132 Slidell, LA 70458
INSIDE 1
The Importance of the 5 ‘Fs’
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Exploring the Impact of Celebrity Book Clubs Beauty Hacks for Better Skin and Hair How a Cat Saved an Army Veteran in Need Quinoa Veggie Bowl Why Honey Is Gold for Your Health
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LIQUID GOLD
The Myriad Benefits of Honey Honey, the preferred snack of beloved children’s book character Winnie-the-Pooh, is a veritable superfood. Created in a bee’s unique crop-like organ known as the “honey stomach,” the natural product is often heated and distilled in a fashion similar to alcohol to improve its quality and whisk away microorganisms. If you want to build up your body’s immune system and try some flavorful new recipes, it may be time to incorporate honey into your diet. Natural Superfood Honey is one of the oldest known medicines and has a role in helping to manage disease. Bee-lieve it or not, honey is sweeter than sugar and packed with antioxidants to help combat cancer, arthritis, and heart disease! From a nutritional perspective, honey packs a punch. A single tablespoon of honey amounts to 64 calories and contains several helpful vitamins and minerals, including calcium, which helps maintain our bones and teeth, and potassium, which helps alleviate high blood pressure. Healthier Condiment Honey has myriad health-related benefits, from taming a sore throat to helping alleviate gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and stomach ulcers.
As a natural anti-inflammatory, honey is also effective at reducing pain and inflammation. Honey has less of an impact on your blood sugar and is rife with bioactive substances that can improve your bodily health, especially for people with Type 2 diabetes.
Medicinal Gold The ancient Egyptians understood the healing powers of honey. They used it as a topical treatment for burns and other wounds. In fact, using honey on diabetic foot ulcers, a serious condition that often leads to limb amputation, produces a 97% healing rate. Children (over 1 year old) with a cough see better results after drinking honeyed water than a typical over-the-counter cough medicine.
So, if you are looking for a way to incorporate more holistic treatments and enhance your diet, consider substituting sugar for honey. It is a medicinal and nutritional boon for the system!
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