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A good life is all about finding balance. After a long week of hustling at work and being diligent about your diet, there’s nothing like a treat to help you unwind. Are you looking for the ultimate treat for your “cheat” treat or just want to practice indulging yourself with moderation? Here’s a look at five food and drink items to indulge yourself with without an ounce of guilt occasionally! You deserve this!

1. Chocolate Lava Cake

Calling all chocolate lovers! While there are many desserts out there to splurge on when you’re calling a cheat day, not all of them offer the satisfaction of chocolate lava cake. Digging your fork in is an experience filled with anticipation. There’s nothing like the mixture of a moist, spongy cake with hot liquid chocolate. Also known as chocolate molten cake, this French dessert is made with chocolate cake with a liquid core of rich chocolate. You can even gild the lily by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Let’s call this the dessert you deserve after a grueling week.

2. Brandy and a Cigar

There’s a reason why cigar clubs were once the go-to spots for shedding off the stress of long, tiresome weeks. If you’ve been grinding your gears, it’s time to slow down with the perfect pairing of an alcoholic drink and a cigar. Nothing tops a good brandy with a premium-quality cigar if you want to get the full effect of matching flavor profiles. You get bonus points if you can find a comfortable chair to melt into as you savor every alternating sip and puff.

3. Flavored Popcorn

Who doesn’t love a movie night at home after a long week? If you’re looking to really indulge, swap your usual snacks for flavored popcorn. We’re talking about caramel, chocolate drizzle, chocolate peanut butter, kettle corn, and other sticky and gooey favorites. Of course, this treat isn’t 100% unredeemable from a nutritional standpoint. Popcorn is a whole-grain food that’s high in fiber and antioxidants.

4. Frozen Margarita

While you may not be getting to Key West or Cancún for a vacation this year, a frozen margarita is a party in a cup you can enjoy everywhere. This go-to drink at resorts and restaurants is sweet and refreshing. Frozen margaritas are made with tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and simple syrup blended together with ice. While frozen margaritas are traditionally flavored with lime, they can be made with strawberry, watermelon, guava, and whatever other tangy and tropical flavor you can dream up!

5. Loaded Nachos

If your idea of a treat is more on the “savory and salty” side, it’s time to load up on a giant plate of loaded nachos. This indulgent treat has it all! Crispy, delicious tortilla chips create a bedrock layer for an untold number of toppings. Make sure your nachos have the classic ground beef or pulled pork, refried beans, cheese, and sour cream. You can also dress loaded nachos up with onions, pico de gallo, jalapenos, and guacamole.

Workers’ comp is designed to offer compensation any time a worker suffers an injury on the job. It offers coverage for all medical costs and a portion of your lost wages while you recover from a workplace injury. If your workers’ comp experience isn’t going smoothly, you may need a lawyer to help you take full advantage of the available benefits.

Sign #1: You Can’t Get Approval for Needed Medical Procedures

Outside of emergency treatment for your injuries, workers’ comp often requires you to seek approval for medical care before you can have a procedure. Unfortunately, in some cases, that can significantly delay needed care, which means a longer road to recovery and more expenses for you. If you cannot get medical procedures approved in a timely manner, or if workers’ comp denies a procedure you need, contact a workers’ comp lawyer to discuss your options.

Sign #2: You Aren’t Getting Paid

It may take a few weeks after your injury before workers’ comp payments start. However, after that, they should arrive regularly. If your checks aren’t arriving on time, or if you aren’t getting paid at all, you need a workers’ comp lawyer to help you fight for the payment you deserve.

Sign #3: Your Workers’ Comp Claim is Denied

You have the right to seek workers’ compensation coverage any time you suffer injuries on the job, regardless of what led to those injuries. However, that does not mean that workers’ comp will pay out automatically. If you end up having to fight for coverage for the injuries you suffered as a direct result of your workplace responsibilities, let a workers’ comp lawyer fight on your behalf.

Sign #4: You Feel Pressed to Return to Work Without Clearance From Your Doctor

Your doctor will work with you to create a specific care plan that lays out the support you need, the procedures necessary to recover from your injury, and when you can return to work. However, some employers may attempt to circumvent that process. You may feel pressured to work sooner than your doctor has advised, which can leave you struggling longer to recover. Furthermore, an early return to work can exacerbate your injuries or prevent you from making a full recovery. A lawyer can help you fight to protect your right to time to recover after an injury at work.

Sign #5: You Cannot Get Needed Modifications or Assistance

Even once your doctor clears you to return to work, you may not be able to go back to your former responsibilities. You may also need accommodations from your employer to allow you to get back on the job, from a decreased workload to specialty equipment. If you can’t get those accommodations approved, but your employer wants you back at work anyway, a lawyer can help you fight for assistance.

Contact a Workers’ Comp Lawyer Today

After many workplace injuries, filing for workers’ comp won’t go as smoothly as you had hoped. Contact a workers’ comp lawyer as soon as possible for assistance with your case.

A criminal conviction can carry some serious penalties involving fines and jail time. If you’re being charged with a criminal offense, you should do everything possible to support an optimal case outcome and avoid the following mistakes.

1. Never attempt to represent yourself

The minute you find out you’re facing criminal charges, you need to contact an attorney. Don’t skip this step, and don’t put it off. There’s too great a chance that you’ll do or say something wrong that can hurt your case when you’re in the custody of law enforcement, and a criminal defense lawyer will ensure you don’t fall into this trap. 

2. Don’t talk to the police without a lawyer

There are many reasons you should never talk to the police without a lawyer present to guide you and protect you during the process. For example, it doesn’t matter if you’re going to plead guilty in the end because if you talk to police too soon, you could lose the chance to get your sentence reduced. Also, even if you share information the police already know, that can be used against you in ways that wouldn’t happen if you stayed quiet. 

3. Don’t post about your case on social media

At all costs, avoid posting about your case to any social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and even your personal blog. Don’t post content or comments about your case anywhere. Don’t think you’re safe if your account is private. There’s a chance you might be required to provide your account login for court. If anything is discovered publicly or privately, it will be used against you. 

Many people have found out the hard way that posting to social media with a pending case is a bad idea. You would be surprised to learn what the prosecution might use against you. For example, you might post an innocent photo of your dog, but in the background, you could have a pair of shoes that match footprints found at the scene of the crime. You won’t be thinking about these details, but investigators and attorneys are trained to spot these details.

In fact, you should avoid posting anything to social media, even if it has nothing to do with your case. The prosecutor can and will dig up anything and everything they can find on your account and use it against you in court. Even photos and posts that seem completely unrelated and innocent might end up being used to aid in your prosecution. It’s best not to engage anyone on social media at all while your case is pending.

4. Don’t contact any potential witnesses

The minute you find out someone is a potential witness in your case, do not contact them in any way, including online or through text messages. Even if it’s completely unrelated to your case, that contact has the potential to get you in a lot of trouble for witness tampering.

Witness tampering is serious. If you harass, threaten, or physically harm someone in an attempt to get them to either not testify against you or alter their testimony, you could face a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, or even get a life sentence, depending on your offense. If you contact anyone for any reason, the prosecution may argue that you were tampering with a witness, so it’s best to cut off contact completely. If you need to make an important communication, talk to your attorney about how to proceed.

5. Don’t throw anything away

You have an expectation of privacy with items in your car and your home. If police want to take something, they need to follow procedure and get a search warrant. When you throw something into the trash, you lose that expectation of privacy. Police can go through your trash and take whatever they find without a search warrant.

It’s also a crime to destroy evidence, which includes throwing it into the trash. In some states, tampering with evidence can be charged as a felony. Even if you have something incriminating in your possession, legally, you need to preserve it and comply if you receive a subpoena.

Listen to your lawyer

No matter what happens, listen to your attorney. They’re there to help and get you the best case outcome possible. Allow yourself to be guided by their expertise, because they know what to expect and will always have your best interests in mind.

When you’re over your head with debt, it’s easy to feel like there’s no way out. Making minimum payments only to watch your balances rise from added interest can be a vicious cycle. As your finances spiral out of control, you could soon find yourself on a fast track to bankruptcy. There is a way you may be able to halt your slide toward insolvency, however. It’s called a consumer proposal. It offers a way to stop accumulating interest and settle your debt for less than you owe. Here are four of the benefits of using a consumer proposal to get your debt under control.

1. It Safeguards Your Assets

One of the scariest things about debt is that it can lead to the seizure of your assets. When you default on a debt, creditors may ask a court to garnish your wages and seize your home, car, furniture, and anything else you own of value. A consumer proposal immediately halts collections and prevents the seizure of your assets. The only exception is when you have debts secured by specific assets. Protecting your assets from seizure provides peace of mind while you work to resolve your debt issues.

2. It’s a Legally Binding Process

A consumer proposal is also a legally regulated and binding process. It means your creditors must abide by it, and you will gain legal protection if they don’t. A consumer proposal requires the participation of a licensed insolvency trustee. They’re the ones who help you draft your proposal and whom you pay according to your agreed-upon schedule. Then, the trustee distributes the money to your creditors, so you don’t need to manage the process yourself.

3. It’s Less Damaging to Your Credit

A consumer proposal will also do less damage to your credit than a bankruptcy. A first bankruptcy will remain on your credit for six to seven years. A second one will stay on your report for 14 years. A consumer proposal only stays on your credit for three years after you complete payments. Plus, it may only appear on your credit report for six years from when you sign it. Plus, a consumer proposal on your credit report equates to an R7. Bankruptcy is an R9. The higher the number, the more impact the negative mark has on your credit.

4. You May Reduce Your Debt by up to 80%

Finally, a consumer proposal can significantly curtail how much of your debt you must pay. You can cut your overall debt load by up to 80%. That can turn a $50,000 debt into a much more manageable $10,000 one. Plus, when you finish paying the reduced figure, you get a certificate declaring you’ve satisfied your obligation. Your creditors can never try to collect the rest of the original debt total from you.

End the Debt Cycle

A consumer proposal may be ideal for you to regain control of your finances. It comes with significant benefits if you abide by the terms you agree to. However, you should always consult a qualified counsellor before entering into any financial agreements. If you take advantage of the consumer proposal process, you can emerge debt-free from the other side, ready to resume your life unencumbered.

Article written by Marcus Monroe.

The holiday season brings joy, celebration, and often a flurry of activity in our homes. It’s also a time when the natural stone features in our homes, like marble countertops, floors, and decorations, can be especially vulnerable to damage. From the bustling preparation of festive meals to the constant foot traffic of guests, these beautiful yet delicate surfaces require extra care. I spoke with experts at Marble Systems, a renowned natural stone provider located in Fairfax, Virginia, to gather essential tips for protecting and maintaining natural stone during the holiday season.

Understanding Your Stone

The first step in caring for natural stone is understanding its nature. Each type of stone has its unique characteristics, says a Marble Systems specialist. For instance, marble is more prone to etching and staining compared to granite. Knowing your stone’s properties helps tailor the care it needs.

Regular Cleaning: The Key to Preservation

Regular cleaning is crucial, but it’s more about how you clean than how often. Experts at Marble Systems emphasize using a pH-neutral cleaner specifically designed for natural stone. Avoid acidic or abrasive cleaners, as these can damage the stone’s surface. For daily spills, a soft cloth or sponge with warm water is often sufficient.

Sealing: A Shield Against Stains

Sealing is another critical aspect of natural stone care. A good quality sealant can provide a protective layer, making the stone more resistant to spills and stains – a common occurrence during holiday festivities. Check with your installer about the recommended frequency for resealing. It typically ranges from once a year to once every few years, depending on the stone type and usage.

Preventing Etches and Scratches

During the holidays, your stone surfaces might be exposed to acidic substances like wine, citrus juices, and vinegar, which can cause etching. Marble Systems advises using coasters under all glasses and bottles and placemats or trivets under dishes and cookware. Even a small measure like this can prevent unsightly marks on your precious stone surfaces.

Dealing with Spills Immediately

Accidents happen, especially during busy holiday gatherings. The key is to address spills as soon as they occur. Blot—don’t wipe—spills to prevent them from spreading or seeping deeper into the stone. For oil-based stains, Marble Systems recommends a poultice, a paste-like cleaning agent that can draw out the stain.

Professional Help for Stubborn Stains

For stubborn stains or if you’re unsure about the right approach, seeking professional help is advisable. Marble Systems in Fairfax, Virginia, not only provides natural stone products but also offers expert advice for stone care and maintenance. Their team can assist with proper deep cleaning, repair, or resealing, thus ensuring your stone stays in pristine condition.

Decorating Wisely

Decorating your home for the holidays is exciting, but caution is necessary when it comes to natural stone. Avoid adhesive tapes or anything that might leave a residue or scratch the surface. Also, be mindful of holiday plants like poinsettias, which can leave stains or water rings.

Managing Foot Traffic

Holidays mean more foot traffic, which can bring more dirt and grit that can scratch stone floors. Placing doormats at entrances and encouraging guests to remove their shoes can significantly reduce the risk of scratches.

Climate Control

Natural stone can be sensitive to temperature and humidity changes. Marble Systems suggests maintaining a consistent indoor environment to prevent any potential damage due to these fluctuations.

After the Holidays: A Thorough Inspection

Once the festivities are over, it’s a good idea to do a thorough inspection of your stone surfaces. Look for any signs of damage or wear and address them promptly. Regular inspection ensures that minor issues don’t turn into significant problems.

Final Thoughts

Caring for natural stone requires a bit of effort, especially during the busy holiday season. However, with the right practices and support from experts like those at Marble Systems in Fairfax, Virginia, your stone surfaces can continue to add beauty and elegance to your home for many holidays to come.