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We talk to ourselves every day. “Don’t eat that cookie.” We eat it anyway. “I really need to make it to the gym after eating so much at the dinner buffet last night.” The gym is closed. “I am going to spend less money on clothing.” Well, we don’t have any money to spend on clothing as it is and heck we’re already up to our eyeballs in debt.  And then before we know it, it’s the new year. Time to make our obligatory resolutions in our quest to be a better person.    Our behaviors, good and bad, have...

Dealing with platters of holiday cookies and candies, an open bar, and dips galore with bowls of chips presents major trouble for my waistline each year. This is one reason I dread the month of December. I try to be good all year, but I find it's not getting any easier to control my weight as I age and my metabolism slows down.  I've tried all the diets that emerge--the Scarsdale Diet Plan, Cabbage Soup, and Atkins, along with my own creation, The Wedding Diet(TM). This worked well when my younger daughter married five years ago and I wanted to...

Get ready, ‘cause here they come—the holiday house guests, neighbors and friends. It can be hectic but it’s always made easier by preparing some of your old reliable recipes. In my home, the holidays call for a toast – my wine of choice is Prosecco for its low alcoholic content and affordable price.  Bubbles reflect the energy and joy of a special day. It’s celebratory. This is a tradition my late husband started years ago. Thankfully, some traditions that are part of my family, like several wonderful dishes my late mother- in-law prepared…her stuffing for example, rarely change. Literally every...

Bette Midler sang about it: "You got to have friends." They are our lifeline. They are our cheerleaders and our allies. They are the people who, along with family, form the core of our lives and keep us grounded.    We are nourished by them. We confide in them. We trust them. We turn to them for advice, and they, in turn, turn to us. And we listen rather than judge. We have fun, laugh and analyze with them while engaged in similar pursuits—movies, books, sports, politics, shopping, theater, music, book groups, even gossip. We nibble, schmooze and toast happy...

We all have favorite recipes from childhood or even from our early adult lives. We certainly do, and now's the time of year to bring them forth, like carefully wrapped presents that we share with our closest family members and friends. Put any in a pretty container, and voila, you’ve created a great holiday gift.  Lou's Cold Carrots  This is Barbara's boss's recipe that he borrowed from someone else but they've been given his moniker since she first tasted them at his home. Serve as a colorful addition, which you can make ahead:  1 cup apple cider vinegar 1 1/2...