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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...

By Ira MandelCRPC®, CDFA™, MEDIATOR, MBA, MS Tel: 646.935.9812 Email: ira@divorce-financial-advisors.com Web: www.divorce-financial-advisors.com Ira Mandel, CDFA, CRPC, Mediator, MBA, MS, an expert financial and mediation advisor, talked with us recently about not going straight to an attorney or trial but considering mediation. Mandel provides divorce advice through Divorce Financial Advisors & Mediators, and investment management advice through Wealth Management Advisers LLC, from Harrison, N.Y., a suburb of New York City. Here are his edited comments.  Question: Why is mediation a good route for someone getting divorced?      Answer: Couples see mediation as an effective means to reach a divorce separation or...

This blog wasn’t going to be about the election. However, it is in part. It deals with the fact that we have to live with the outcome of the election and many other situations in life that we lack the power to fix.  The idea for this blog gelled weeks ago when Barbara was engaged in a conversation about the topic with her first boss over lunch. Subsequently, she mentioned it to Margaret, but we were busy at that point writing about other topics. Then the Presidential election took place, which also included federal and state Senate and House races,...