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I tied the knot on July 22, 2023, after getting engaged in 2021 amidst the whirlwind of COVID-19. David and I were married in Narragansett, Rhode Island, a place near and dear to my heart. Our wedding ceremony was held in a garden and was followed by a reception at a local beach club, adding to the endless magic of this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. You may recall a previous article about my connection to Narragansett. I have spent many memorable summers in this beautiful place, and it felt like the perfect place to hold an outdoor summer wedding. Specifically, my grandfather worked at the beach club where we held the reception in his semi-retirement, and I spent countless summer days at that beach with my grandmother as a child. Narragansett is a close drive to many nearby destinations like Newport, Block Island, and Watch Hill, which our guests enjoyed during their time at our wedding. The two-year wedding planning process was intense; however, seeing everything come together on the big day made it all worthwhile. Something I will never forget from that day is that we wrote our own vows. I kept the books where we had our vows written so we can revisit them in years to come. We had about 75 of our closest friends and family join us for the day. By having a smaller group for the wedding, we were able to really enjoy spending time with each and every guest. One of the best decisions we made was having a live local band — Take It To The Bridge really got everyone out on the dance floor. Also, we could not have been luckier with the weather! It was a rainy summer in New England, and we had a perfectly sunny summer day. David and I met during our second year of law school in September of 2015, and as we approach our ninth anniversary this September, I could not be more grateful to have found him. He is also an attorney and is originally from Orlando. We both enjoy exercising, golf, and watching sports — he is a huge Minnesota Vikings fan and has adopted my beloved Boston Red Sox. I can’t wait to see what the next few years hold for us as husband and wife. In the meantime, I continue to enjoy serving the local community at our prestigious firm. Every day, the firm continues to inspire me to practice with a commitment to excellence, integrity, and compassion. WEDDING BELLS RING A Rhode Island Romance
–Hayley Donaldson
1 (239) 265-9779
MAY 2024
Effortless Eating Upgrade Your Culinary Skills With 3 Kitchen Hacks Navigating the kitchen can often feel like a juggling act, but with a solution. Buying deli containers in bulk saves you money and time. The lids are interchangeable, making a harmonious storage system that’s easy to organize. You’ll be able to find and fit them easily,
few clever hacks, you can transform mundane tasks into efficient and enjoyable activities. Here are three game- changing tips that will make your
cutting out a chunk of time in your kitchen. NO. 3: PARCHMENT PAPER CLEANING
Cooking can be a joy, but nobody enjoys cleaning up. Before starting a messy task, lay down a sheet of parchment paper on your cutting board or countertop. This simple trick not only protects your surfaces but also streamlines the post-cooking cleanup process. Any spills, shreds, or crumbs can be easily gathered and discarded in the paper, leaving your kitchen looking as good as new as soon as it’s thrown away. It’s a small adjustment that can make a significant difference in your overall experience. By implementing these simple hacks, you’re not just streamlining your tasks; you’re elevating the joy of cooking. Armed with these new tricks, step into your kitchen with new confidence and mastery to turn everyday cooking into an efficient yet imaginative experience.
time in the kitchen a breeze.
NO. 1: EASY SHREDDING Shredding meats for soups, lunches, or snacks can be a time- consuming affair, but a simple hack can turn it into a hassle-free endeavor. Using a stand or hand mixer will get this job done quickly as it shreds meat for you, saving you time and effort. This hack is particularly handy for recipes that call for pulled pork, chicken, or beef, allowing you to enjoy deliciously shredded proteins without manual labor. NO. 2: DELI CONTAINER STORAGE Say goodbye to mismatched Tupperware containers or losing the lid that goes with them. Say hello to an organized and cost-effective
q u e n c e s T r u s t Yo u r E s t
When a plan you have in place does not work out, it is easy to panic, but staying calm and reaching out for help is essential. For example, “Sarah” had a will that left a $50,000 specific bequest of cash to each of her five grandchildren, while the rest, including her residence, was to be distributed to her two daughters. At her passing, she owned her Florida homestead, a $90,000 investment account, a $10,000 checking account, and an IRA account of $1.2 million. Her two daughters were also the IRA beneficiaries. What of the $1.2 million IRA? That account has a beneficiary designation, so it is not subject to distribution under the terms of Sarah’s will. This leaves her $90,000 investment account and a $10,000 checking account. Assuming, for a moment, no creditors, taxes, or administration expenses have claim on Sarah’s estate, then this $100,000 would be apportioned among the five grandchildren, each receiving $20,000 instead of the $50,000 promised under the will.
The same problem may arise when you have “Pay on Death” or “Transfer on Death” accounts. Assume that Sarah titled her investment and checking accounts “Pay on Death” to her daughter, Jane. Even if Sarah named Jane as her representative (executor), the pay-on-death designation would usually result in Jane inheriting the accounts. Jane would not distribute those accounts in her role as a personal representative under the will. It doesn’t matter what Sarah has in the will, as her account would pass outside the will. In this
income, resulting in the payment of income tax. The annuity contract should be carefully examined as well. If a person is not named as the contingent annuitant, then it’s possible the annuity company will make a complete distribution upon the original annuitant’s death. This could result in a significant distribution that triggers a hefty income tax. This is all to highlight why you should have your estate planning attorney involved in creating your will and trust and helping you properly title your various bank, investment, and brokerage accounts. They should also confirm the appropriate
example, the grandchildren would inherit nothing. Jane’s sister would
beneficiaries of your IRA, 401(k), life insurance, and annuities. As you can see from this example, a coordinated, thoughtful review by a qualified professional could head off unintended consequences.
also not receive any interest in the accounts, even though she was to share equally with Jane under the terms of the will. Distributions from annuities usually carry with them some amount of ordinary
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When Death Comes Knocking, Look Busy
On a hot July afternoon nearly 15 years ago, I was having a frustrating day at work (yes, even estate planning attorneys have bad days at the office!), so I took off a little early to ride my bike down to the Sanibel causeway. A few moments later, I heard a loud CRACK, which caused me to turn around. I saw flashes of lightning among dark, ominous clouds heading toward me. As most
Luckily, I survived despite having skull fractures (my helmet saved my life) and problems with my neck and spine that would require neurosurgery. To this day, titanium pins and screws hold my neck in place. None of us knows when our time will come or how it will come; I was only 40 years old at the time of my near-death experience. I’m reminded of the quote out of a scene from Woody Allen’s movie, “Love and Death”: “When death comes knocking, look busy …” Boris, the lead character, encourages us to “not think of death as an end, but think of it more as a very effective way of cutting down on your expenses.” Since my accident, my priority has been always be working on something big and encouraging others to do the same … even after we’ve achieved great things. “Big” is a relative term, yet we all need something to keep us busy so the Grim Reaper stays away. I’ve represented several clients who have cashed out of their careers in a big way, but once they were on the “other side” with nothing to do, they wilted and died figuratively and literally. So, always plan your next achievement. Keep death at bay. And don’t worry about those expenses.
of you know, our summer thunderstorms build in the east and then head toward the coast, which can be dangerous.
Realizing I had 13 miles heading directly into the storm to get home, I amped it up.
On the Summerlin bike path, I remember looking down at my Garmin bike computer mounted on my handlebars, which registered at 23 mph as I crossed in front of the Siesta Bay RV Resort. That’s when it happened. I don’t remember much, only waking up with paramedics hovering over me. I’d been hit by a car and was seriously injured. It was a hit-and-run, apparently, but someone noticed me lying unconscious just off the bike path and called 911. A medevac helicopter landed on Summerlin Road to transport me to Lee Memorial’s trauma center downtown.
–Craig Hersch
INGREDIENTS
TAKE A BREAK!
• • • • • • • •
1 1/2 cups almond flour 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
•
3 1/2 tbsp lime juice 1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda
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1/2 cup granulated sugar
• • • •
2 qts fresh strawberries, quartered 1 cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
4 large eggs
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tsp lime zest
1/4 cup honey
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease 8-inch springform pan. Line with parchment paper and lightly grease. 2. In medium bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, and baking soda. 3. In a stand mixer, whisk sugar and eggs on medium-high, about 3 minutes. Add oil, lime zest, lime juice, and vanilla. On low, gradually add flour mixture until just incorporated. 4. Pour batter into pan. Bake until golden brown and toothpick comes out with crumbs, 40–45 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Invert cake out of pan onto wire rack and let cool completely. 5. Whisk yogurt, cream, and honey. Top each cake slice with spoonfuls of yogurt mixture and strawberries.
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INSIDE this issue
SUDOKU ANSWER
A Celebration of Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever After PAGE 1 Cook Like a Seasoned Veteran PAGE 2 Set Your Heirs Up for Success — On Your Terms PAGE 2 Keep Death at Bay and Forget Your Expenses PAGE 3 Olive Oil Cake With Honey-Yogurt Cream and Strawberries PAGE 3 Essential Steps to Ensure Your Mental Well-Being PAGE 4
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The brain is like a command center for our bodies; it processes everything, from memories to emotions. Our happiness, cleverness, and general well-being require us to take good care of that gray matter. If we give it what it needs, it will serve us
leads to stress and overwhelming perfectionism while harming relationships. It undermines positive self-esteem, confidence, and body image. The cyclical nature of negative self-talk makes it hard to get rid of, often requiring therapy, but cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a standard and effective treatment. Avoid ultra-processed foods.
well. Here are a few tips anyone can incorporate into their routine to give their brain some TLC. Keep the phone out of bed.
When you transition from asleep to awake in the morning, your brain waves steadily transition from alpha to theta to beta. So, don’t reach for your phone when you open your eyes first thing. Doing so interrupts your brain’s essential waking process, resulting in a slew of adverse effects throughout the day, including making it harder for you to think creatively, among other things. Stop negative self-talk. We’re our own worst critics. Doubting and discouraging ourselves is easy, but pushing away negative self-talk is imperative. It
Ultra-processed foods aren’t just bad for your heart; they also harm your brain. Hot dogs, sugary sodas, and TV dinners — just a few culprits — harm emotional and cognitive health. One study found that people who eat these things are
more likely to have depression and anxiety. Another study correlated high ultra-processed food consumption with an intelligence decline, especially with aging. It’s unclear why ultra-processed foods are so bad for brains, but the leading theory connects it to gut health. Regardless, abstaining from or reducing your intake of these foods is vital to protecting your mental and physical health.
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