How to
Celebrate The Holidays Without Going
Broke!!!
Do
the Holidays always seem to put you
major dent in your wallet each year?
Well, you’re not alone. Many
Americans spend way too much than
they can realistically afford to
spend on holiday gifts.
There are steps you can take today
to help you spend less money on
gifts for your family and friends.
By using these steps you might even
be able to avoid using credit cards
all together for any of your
purchases. Careful shopping and
planning throughout the year will
have you well on your way to an
affordable Holiday season.
Step 1: Start saving money for the
Holidays throughout the year. Start
saving as soon as you can after the
previous year's Christmas. An easy
way to save money is to save dollar
bills and change throughout the
year. Cash your change and count
your dollars a few weeks before
Christmas to see how much you have
saved.
Step 2: Start shopping for the
Holidays two or more months before
Christmas. This will give you time
to shop around for the best deals.
You will not find yourself in a
situation where you are rushing to
find gifts at the last minute.
If you still need to do Holiday
shopping just a few days before
Christmas, you might spend too much
in your haste to buy items.
Step 3: Look for gift ideas
throughout the year. If you see an
item that would make a great gift at
an even greater price, consider
purchasing it to save for Christmas.
You can save considerable money by
having an eye for potential
Christmas gifts throughout the year.
Step 4: Watch for Christmas sales
and coupons. Search through the
advertisements for the local stores
to find the best prices on products
to give as Christmas gifts.
If you have coupons for items that
will make excellent Christmas gifts,
watch for days when stores are
offering to “double” the value of
coupons for even greater savings.
Step 5: Use your talents to give
gifts that cost very little or that
do not cost any money at all. If you
are an excellent baker, you can
create personalized goody baskets
for your friends and family.
Write a special poem for a loved one
if you are a talented writer. Draw
or paint unique pictures if you are
an artist.
Thank You So
V-E-R-Y Much For Telling Your Family
And Friends About Us!
The highest
compliment you could give our law
firm is the referral of your loved
ones and friends. Over the years our
practice has been built upon the
trust you place in our ability to
take care of those you care the most
about. Our major purpose is to
provide OUTSTANDING legal service to
everyone who comes to us in need. We
would like to thank you in advance
for all your support, and the trust
you place in our firm.
Thank YOU!
Franks & Rechenberg, P.C.
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Low-Stress
Gift-Shopping Tips For Those Who
Wait Until The Last Minute!
All of my ultra-organized,
non-procrastinating clients and
friends, please bear with me for
just a few minutes. You just might
be able to use the following
information to help someone you
love! Deadline-pushers, stop
despairing. These quick easy tips
can help you survive another holiday
season while delighting your friends
and family as well.
1. Do your online shopping TODAY. If
it’s important to you that people on
your gift list have actual items in
their hands on or before Dec. 25,
then today’s the day to start
clicking.
Many online retailers promise to
deliver presents by Christmas Day if
you place your order by Dec. 20
using two-day shipping. Some lenient
retailers will continue to guarantee
on-time delivery if you use
overnight shipping by noon Pacific
time on Dec. 22. You can quickly
check the shipping sections of
stores’ Web sites to find out which
deadlines you’ll have to hit.
2. Send electronic gift certificates
or gift cards. Another option is an
online gift certificate that gets
sent out via e-mail.
Many retailers offer them, and their
convenience to you is unparalleled –
so long as you feel reasonably
comfortable that your recipient
won’t mistake your electronic gift
for spam. You’ll often have until
around noon on Dec. 24 to order the
e-gift cards and guarantee their
timely arrival.
3. Buy tangible, plastic gift cards.
Everybody from the drugstore to the
electronics store to the coffee shop
is offering gift cards these days,
so you have plenty of opportunities
to look thoughtful by tailoring your
gift-card purchases to certain
individuals. Just be sure to read
the fine print before you buy.
Some cards have onerous expiration
dates and fees, particularly those
bearing the logos of major credit
card companies. Fees have become
less common with gift cards sold by
specific retailers, though. If
you’re not comfortable just handing
over a card, wrap it inside a mug or
put it in the arms of a small
stuffed animal.
4. Shop on Dec. 24. Most
non-procrastinating types relax on
Christmas Eve day – meaning traffic
at the malls should be thinner then.
Of course, this approach only will
work for presents you can give in
person locally, not for gifts that
need to be mailed.
5. Think food and drinks. Consider
“splurges” that your loved ones
might not get for themselves – and
that also won’t require you to step
foot into a crowded mall. Some
ideas: nice bottles of booze and
liqueur; a case of wine; caviar;
prosciutto; gourmet cheeses; fine
chocolate; premium olive oils;
hard-to-find hot sauces.
David
N. Rechenberg recently settled a
automobile liability case for
197,500.00 against a large
corporation! The company denied the
claim right up to mediation. If you
were injured in a car crash or by
the negligence of another, call
today to schedule an appointment for
a free audit of your case!
Thank You! Thank
You! Thank You!
Special thanks go out to all of our
clients and friends who graciously
referred our law firm to their
friends and neighbors last month!
Our practice is built based on
positive comments and referrals from
people just like you. We just
couldn’t do it without you.
What You Should Do In Case Of A
Car Accident - Safety Tips To
Remember!
If you’re ever in
a car accident here are some safety
tips that can save your life and
protect your family.
1. DON’T make any sudden moves to
your head and neck. You may have
sustained a serious injury that
could be aggravated by sudden
movements.
2. TURN the engine off IMMEDIATELY!
3. MAKE sure that everyone in your
car is conscious and hasn’t
sustained any cuts or lacerations.
4. IF you have small children in the
car make sure
that they’re OK.
5. IF you have a cell phone call 911
for help.
6. IF you smell gas fumes get out of
your car at once.
7. BEFORE getting out of your car
make sure that no other car is
coming.
8. IF you’re OK to get out of your
car check on the other driver.
9. IF you don’t have an auto
accident handbook, please contact
our office and we’ll send you a FREE
copy! Make sure to call TODAY!
Know a friend who was arrested for
DUI? Offer them great advice! Tell
them to call David Franks at (847)
854-7700 NOW! Learn about the
Monitoring Device Drivers Permit (MDDP).
www.McHenryCountyDUILawyer.com
“The New Do’s and
Dont’s For
Your Good Health Starts Here!”
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To give a loved one a free
subscription please call our office
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Great Trivia With
Questions and Answers
What famous
document begins: "When in the course
of human events..."?
A: The Declaration of Independence.
What current
branch of the U.S. military was a
corps of only 50 soldiers when World
War I broke out?
A: The U.S. Air Force.
Who said: "I'm the
president of the United States and
I'm not going to eat any more
broccoli"?
A: George Bush.
What so-called
"war" spawned the dueling slogans
"Better Dead Than RED" and "Better
Red Than Dead" in the 1950's?
A: The Cold War.
What president was
shot while walking to California
Governor Jerry Brown' office?
A: Gerald Ford.
Who earned infamy
for noting: "A billion dollars isn't
worth what it used to be"?
A: J. Paul Getty.
What ethnic group
was largely responsible for building
most of the early railways in the
U.S. West?
A: The Chinese.
How To Get Over A
Breakup During The Holidays – (Part
1)
Without a doubt if you're living
life to the fullest, you're going to
experience heartbreak. Sometimes
you're leaving, sometimes you're
left. But if you were truly in love
the loss of your mate can cause
heartache, but no matter who did the
leaving, if you're looking for some
help getting through it during the
holiday season and want some
suggestions to make it easier, read
on...
The first thing that you should
already know is that it’s okay to
cry. Examine what had really
happened, and ask yourself why.
Consider that this situation is
probably not entirely your fault -
or maybe it's not your fault at all.
Thinking about the reasons why it
ended can make it much clearer to
you that it takes two people to
start a relationship, but just one
discordant person is enough to end
it. It may also help you avoid many
missteps in the future if you can
identify areas where you contributed
to the demise of the relationship.
1) Don't Rethink Your Decision. If
the breakup was your decision, keep
in mind that only thinking about all
the “good” times you had with your
partner may cause you to forget the
reasons why you broke it off. By the
same token, try not to second guess
the situation if the decision to end
things was not yours.
It's very common to romanticize the
good parts of the relationship,
convincing yourself that maybe the
bad parts weren't so bad after all,
that maybe you could just live with
them. Or that maybe if your ex would
know just how you feel, he/she
wouldn't want to break up after all.
Don't play these kinds of mind-games
with yourself. Accept the situation
and then work towards moving forward
QUICKLY.
2) Keep Your Space. Even if you and
your ex have decided to stay
friends, break away completely from
each other right after the breakup.
This seriously means not seeing each
other, not being around his/her
family members, no phone calls, no
e-mails and no IMs - not necessarily
as a permanent measure, but until an
ulterior motive (and yes, wanting to
get back together counts as an
ulterior motive). If he/she tries to
convince you to see him/her, ask
yourself honestly what’s the point.
If you're reliving the past by
seeing him/her, it's not hard to get
caught up in the moment and it will
be harder to let go again.
The longer you put off the end, the
harder it is to stick to it and
maintain your resolve, and the
longer it will take to really get
over it. Your pain will hold on as
long as you do. Practice letting go
– starting today! Let go. Let go.
And now... let go. You may have to
have some contact in order to deal
with the practical aspects of things
like moving out, signing papers,
etc., but try to limit this to
what's absolutely necessary, and
then keep such calls/meetings short
and civil.
3) Accept your pain. Have good long
cries. It's okay to be hurt and sad,
and it's okay to be alone. It's okay
to feel like you have messed up -
accepting responsibility for your
mistakes or shortcomings is healthy.
On the other hand, you must also
accept that you are a good person,
and that you did your best and
you're not the only one who made
mistakes. Of course, a stage of
denial is completely natural, but
acceptance is the key to being able
to begin to move on, and move
forward in life.
4) Think through everything
thoroughly, but not obsessively. Go
ahead and mull it over, as many
times as necessary, within reason.
Consider all the reasons you broke
up. Even if it sometimes seems as if
there wasn't a good reason, there
certainly was one - and probably
more than one.
Understand that you enjoyed being
together for a while, but if the
relationship was not what both you
and your partner wanted out of life,
it would have ended eventually, no
matter what. In this case, better
sooner than later.
(Continued in the January 2010
issue)
INJURED ON THE JOB ? Need to get
your Bills PAID? Want to Know what
your Case is Worth?
CALL David N.
Rechenberg at (847) 854-7700 for
answers to your questions
and so he
can start working on your case right
away!!
www.IllinoisWorkInjuryLawyer.com
Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies In
A Jar (As A Holiday Gift)!
Makes about 36
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
3/4 cup raisins
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix together flour, ground cinnamon,
ground nutmeg, baking soda and salt.
Set aside. Layer ingredients in
order given in a 1 quart "wide
mouth" canning jar. It will be a
tight fit, make sure you firmly pack
down each layer in place before
adding the flour mixture.
Instructions to attach to jar:
Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookies:
1. Empty jar of cookie mix into
large mixing
bowl. Use your hands to thoroughly
blend
mix.
2. Add: 3/4 cup butter or margarine
softened at room temp. Stir in one
egg, slightly beaten. Add in 1
teaspoon of vanilla.
3. Mix until completely blended. You
may need to finish mixing with your
hands.
4. Shape into balls the size of
walnuts. Place on a parchment-lined
cookie sheet 2 inches apart. DO NOT
USE WAXED PAPER.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175
degrees C) for 11 to 13 minutes
until edges are lightly browned.
Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet.
Remove cookies to baking racks to
finish cooling.
Makes 3 dozen cookies.
How to Decorate a
Christmas Tree!
Chances are that
decorating a Christmas tree is no
mystery to you. But wouldn't you
like to know a few designer tricks?
How about ways to get more lushness
and drama? The secret is in the
layers.
Sparkle and shine comes primarily
from the tree lights. Faceted glass
bulbs will refract more light and
appear brighter. Small twinkle
lights and colored lights also have
impact when you layer several
strands and pair them with ornaments
having reflective surfaces.
To illuminate the tree from the
inside out, string lights around the
trunk and the branches. Starting at
the base of the trunk and working
up, wrap the lights around every
major branch, moving from the trunk
to the tip and back. Don't skimp on
lights! For every vertical foot of
tree, use a strand of 100 lights.
And don't be afraid to mix and match
lights.
There's no rule stating that you can
only use one kind. A "background" of
white or clear lights can be
highlighted with strands of colored
lights that wrap the outside of the
tree. Experiment with different
lighting schemes until you get one
you like.
ARRESTED FOR A CRIME? Worried about
what will happen? Need Answers?
Call David Franks at (847) 854-7700.
Give Your Pooch a
Happy Holiday!
Your pooch is by
far your BEST friend in the world,
so doesn't he/she deserve a great
holiday gift? You don't have to
spend a lot to give your doggie lots
of Christmas joy. Pick up a doggie
cookbook and make your best pal a
treat they’ll love. You can find
recipes for dog biscuits, dog cake
and cookies and even entire dog
meals. Your pooch will be “psyched”
when he/she sees that your Christmas
cooking is all about them.
Dog toys are inexpensive, and dogs
love them! You can find great dog
toys for a low price at any pet
store or anywhere that sells pet
supplies. Pick up a bunch for your
dog, and maybe even get a basket to
keep them in. Your dog will be
thrilled to be treated to new toys.
Does your doggie like to dress up?
Some dogs do, at least they love the
attention it brings. Get you pup a
Santa suit, a reindeer hat or at
least a fancy Christmas collar. Your
pup will get attention everywhere
he/she goes.
DRIVER’S LICENSE
PROBLEMS ? FOR SOLUTIONS TO YOUR
PROBLEMS
LOG ON TO THE WEB AT:
www.IllinoisTrafficTicketDefenseCenter.com
Involved in an
automobile accident and the
Insurance Adjuster is asking to take
your recorded statement and
requesting you to sign an
authorization? Find out what to do
by ordering our free Audio CD and
learn the 7 questions you must ask
the Claims Adjuster when he calls
demanding answers from you. Call
today (847) 854-7700.
INJURED ON THE JOB ? Need to get
your Bills PAID?
Want to Know what your Case is
Worth?
CALL David N. Rechenberg at (847)
854-7700 for answers to your
questions and so he can start
working on your case right away!!
www.IllinoisWorkInjuryLawyer.com
So You Want To
Know How To Lose
Belly Fat Before The New Year!
Continued
If
you're a male, the fat goes around
the middle which still gives you
mobility and a decent center of
gravity. If you're a female, your
hips and thighs will be the first
storage place of choice for your
body. The bad news is, because the
body thinks this is the perfect
place to store fat, it's also the
last place it burns it off. So what
does that mean to you and your belly
fat? It means that spot exercise
will do nothing to lose belly fat.
It means all those infomercials for
the latest abs sculpting gimmicks
will do nothing to reduce or get rid
of belly fat. Oh they might tone
your abs, but getting that rock
hard, cut, shredded six-pack ads
will be buried under by a layer of
fat. The fastest way to burn belly
fat requires a two prong approach.
Step 1: Muscles burn fat. Big
muscles burn fat faster than small
muscles. All your muscles together
will burn fat than a single large
muscle group. So, you need to work
all the muscles in a full body work
out. Not only that, you have to have
a combination of intense workout
coupled with a sound rest period.
Step 2: With aerobic exercise. This
is called interval training and it
consists of two minute jogging and
then a minute of sprinting and then
two minutes of jogging and so on.
With weight training it's called
circuit training. It's the same
basic concept of light resistance
followed by intense resistance.
Using these two techniques ignites
the hormones that drive the
metabolism and will keep driving it,
burning fat, well-after you stop
working out.
Couple this routine along with a
diet high in good protein and low in
fats and processed carbohydrates and
you can see results in a couple of
weeks and that is a really fast way
to burn belly fat.
Do you have a
friend who was injured in a car
crash, hurt at a construction site,
or as a result of a defective
product and they are wondering how
to hire a personal injury attorney,
and what questions to ask? Give that
friend great advice. Ask them to
order the FREE audio CD “How to
Choose an Illinois Personal Injury
Attorney” by calling (847) 854-7700.
You can also order one for yourself
to hand out to family and friends.
Mission Statement
It the mission of
Franks & Rechenberg, P.C. to
continuously earn our reputation as
a pre-eminent local law firm by
always providing our clients with
responsive, zealous, cost-effective
and highly competent legal service
and representation, in a
professional, courteous and
respectful manner.
www.FnRlaw.com
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