I have good news and bad news.
The good news is that today we can eat all the chocolate we want :)
The bad news is that our waistlines may suffer :( Wishing you good luck with the egg hunt this year!
Here’s hoping that you find the bunny’s secret stash!
Have yourself a hoppy and happy Sunday!
Starting to save early means your money has more time to go to work for you. Even if you can only afford to set aside small amounts, compounding earnings can make them really add up. It’s never too late to begin, but as this illustration shows, the sooner you start, the less you may need to rely solely on your own savings to build your total nest egg.
This illustration assumes annual investments made at the end of each year through age 65 and a 6% fixed annual rate of return. The rate of return on your actual investment portfolio will be different, and will vary over time, according to actual market performance. This is particularly true for long-term investments. It is important to note that investments offering the potential for higher rates of return also involve a higher degree of risk to principal.
The examples do not take into account the impact of taxes or inflation; if they did, the amounts would have been lower. They are intended as hypothetical illustrations of mathematical principles and should not be considered financial advice.
All investing involves risks, including the possible loss of principal, and there can be no guarantee that any strategy will be successful. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Important Disclosure
If you know anything about the market, you should know that the market has both losses and gains. What you might not know is that losses can have more of an impact than gains on the value of your portfolio. Consider this purely hypothetical example. Let’s imagine that you have a portfolio of $100,000, but then you have a 25 percent gain. That’s $25,000. So, the value of your portfolio after one year is $125,000. [
Now let’s say, the next year the market’s down. Let’s say it’s only down 20 percent. Well, what’s 20 percent of $125,000.00? It’s $25,000.
So, now you’re back to $100,000. You were up 25 percent and then your portfolio experienced a 20 percent loss. You weren’t down 25 percent, just 20 percent, but mathematically, it turns out that even though your down year was not as big as your up year, you ended up back to even.
In fact, you could say that your average; a 25 percent gain, minus a 20 percent loss equals 5 percent divided by the 2 years. You’ve averaged plus 2 1/2 percent return, right? You actually averaged a positive rate of return. But, how much did you earn? Nothing. You had a zero actual rate of return. That’s because when it comes to investments, losses can have a more significant impact on the ending result than gains.
If you experience a loss, in this case 20 percent, you need 25 percent just to get back to even. It doesn’t matter in what order the gains and losses occur. A bigger gain is needed to offset a smaller loss.
This is provided for informational purposes only and should not be used as the basis for any financial decisions.
Our favorite way to celebrate any holiday has always been through food! So what better way to celebrate the luck of the Irish with the PLJ community than by sharing these delicious eye-popping green (and some even shamrock-shaped) recipes.
I promise, they’re magically delicious :)
Ingredients:
With shamrock cookie cutter, cut out as many shamrocks as possible from tortillas.
*Sometimes the cookie cutter will not cut all the way through the tortilla. To get a better cut, push the cookie cutter down firmly and move the entire tortilla back and forth while pressing. For those stubborn edges that will not cut, use cooking scissors.
*Save scraps to sprinkle on soups and salads.
Place on baking sheet. Spray shamrocks with cooking oil.
Sprinkle with salt. Bake at 375 degrees for about 7 – 10 minutes. Check often, they burn quickly.
Serve with your favorite dip.
These were made for St Patrick’s Day with goat cheese, spices and a mix of
fresh and dry herbs.

Ingredients:
Place the soft goat’s cheese in a bowl and mash with a splash extra-virgin
olive oil.
Add salt, pepper, piment d’espelette and the minced shallots.
Take small spoonfuls and roll into bite-sized balls.
Chill, covered on a baking sheet until ready to use.
Roll in the mix of dry and fresh herbs (garlic, chives, dried tomatoes…)
Also, you may vary the recipe with other coverings: crushed pink
peppercorns, white and black toasted sesame seeds, cayenne pepper,
minced golden raisins or dried papaya… up to your taste and imagination!
Keep in the fridge until ready to serve, with cocktail sticks.
Ingredients:
Saute kale in coconut oil in a large skillet, stirring constantly to remove moisture, until kale is soft.
Place cooked kale and all other ingredients in a food processor and process until very smooth, adding a little water as needed to make a smooth consistency. Add a few drops of honey as needed if your hummus is too bitter for your taste – I love the bitterness added by the kale, but temper it with honey if you like.
Spoon a little of the hummus on top of cucumber slices to serve – and garnish with a parsley leaf or two for extra festiveness!
These baked wonton cups are an easy, crunchy, and healthy way to serve guacamole!
Prep: 5mins
Cook: 10mins
Total: 15mins
Ingredients:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Then press your desired number of wonton wrappers (you can do this in
multiple batches) into a mini baking cup pan to form the “cups”. (Be sure that the corners do not fold in after the pan sits for a minute!) Bake the cups for 10-15 minutes, or until the wrappers are golden brown. Remove and let cool for at least 5 minutes.
Use a spoon to scoop in the guacamole into each cup. Serve immediately.
These baked wonton cups are an easy, crunchy, and healthy way to serve guacamole!
Prep: 10mins
A quick and easy hummus that is healthy and full of flavor! Great for every day snacking or parties!
Ingredients:
1. Reserve one tablespoon each of the edamame & garbanzo beans for garnish. In a food processor, blend the remaining edamame & the remaining garbanzo beans with garlic, basil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube while the processor is on. Process until smooth & well blended. Add salt and pepper to taste.
2. Pour into a serving bowl & garnish with edamame, garbanzo beans, olive oil and basil. Serve with chips, crackers or veggies.
Note-this is also great as a sandwich spread.For a time save, buy edamame that is already shelled.
This chocolate mint brownie milkshake is the perfect treat for St. Patrick’s Day or any day!
Prep: 10mins
Ingredients:
1. In blender combine the milk, ice cream, and brownie. Blend until smooth. Pour into glass and garnish with whipped cream. You can dye the whipped cream with green food coloring if you wish. Garnish with sprinkles and brownie chunks, if desired. Serve immediately.
Note-if you like a thinner shake, you can add more milk.
This chocolate mint brownie milkshake is the perfect treat for St. Patrick’s Day or any day!
Prep: 15mins
Ingredients:
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the cream, powdered sugar, and peppermint extract together on high speed until medium peaks form. Fold in the green food coloring. Start with a few drops and add more if you want the color to be more green.
2. To assemble the cupcakes, spread about 1 tablespoon of the whipped cream on top of a chocolate mint thin. Place another chocolate mint thin on top of the cream to make a sandwich. Spread more whipped cream over the thin and add another thin. Top the final chocolate mint thin with whipped cream. You want to use four wafers per cupcake and end with cream.
3. Place cupcakes in cupcake liners or on a plate and stick in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. You can refrigerate them overnight. The whipped cream will soften the thins making them soft like cake.
4. When ready to serve, remove the cupcakes from the refrigerator and sprinkle with chopped Andes mints and sprinkles, if desired.
Easy and creamy avocado feta dip! Serve with cut up veggies, pita chips, chips, bread, or crackers.
Prep: 5mins
Ingredients:
1. Place the avocados, feta, onion, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice in the bowl of a food processor or in a blender. Blend until creamy and smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
2. Scrape dip into a bowl and serve with pita chips, cut up veggies, bread, or crackers.
This Smashed Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich is a great quick and easy lunch option that is good for you too! The salad also makes a great dip!
Prep: 10mins
Ingredients:
1. Rinse and drain the chickpeas. Place on a paper towel and remove the outer skins. You can leave them on, but I like to remove them.
2. In a medium bowl, using a fork or potato masher smash the chickpeas and avocado together. Add in cilantro, green onion, and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
3. Spread salad on bread and top with your favorite sandwich toppings. I like to add fresh spinach leaves.
Note: This salad also makes a great dip. Serve with cut up veggies, crackers, or pita chips. Also, this salad is best eaten the day it is made because it will turn brown due to the avocado.
Crispy, pan-fried gnocchi with basil pesto-an easy meal that tastes good any night of the week!
Prep Time: 10mins
Cook Time: 15mins
Ingredients:
1. Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor or blender and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil and process until smooth. Add the cheese and pulse until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
2. Cook the gnocchi according to package instructions. Drain completely. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the gnocchi in a single layer and cook, undisturbed, until golden and crisp, about 3-4 minutes. Turn the gnocchi and cook, turning occasionally, until golden and crisp, about 3 more minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the pesto. You might have leftover pesto. Serve warm and garnish with Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Chocolate cookies with chocolate chips, mint green chips, and chopped up Cool Mint Oreos. These cookies are rich and decadent with a refreshing mint twist.
Prep Time: 15mins
Cook Time: 10mins
Ingredients:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, sift flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa. Set aside.
3. With a mixer, cream butter and sugars together until smooth. Add in eggs, one at a time. Next, add in vanilla extract. Mix until blended.
4. Slowly add flour mixture to sugar mixture and mix until flour disappears. Stir in chocolate chips, mint green chips, and chopped Cool Mint Oreos. Drop cookie dough by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.
5. Bake cookies for 10 minutes, or until the cookies are set around the edges, but still soft in the center. Don’t over bake. Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheet for 3-5 minutes. Move to a cooling rack and cool completely.
This healthy Creamy Avocado Yogurt Dip is simple to make and is great for parties or snack time. Serve with pita chips, tortilla chips, or cut up vegetables.
Prep Time: 10mins
Ingredients:
1. Place the yogurt, avocados, garlic, cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice, and cumin in a blender or food processor. Mix until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
2. Scrape dip into a serving bowl and serve with pita chips, tortilla chips, or cut up veggies.
You raised them, helped get them through school, and now your children are on their own. Or are they? Even adult children sometimes need financial help. But if your child asks you for a loan, don’t pull out your checkbook until you’ve examined the financial and emotional costs. Start the process by considering a few key questions.
Why does your child need the money?
Lenders ask applicants to clearly state the purpose for the loan, and you should, too. Like any lender, you need to decide whether the loan purpose is reasonable. If your child is a chronic borrower, frequently overspends, or wants to use the money you’re lending to pay past-due bills, watch out. You might be enabling poor financial decision making. On the other hand, if your child is usually responsible and needs the money for a purpose you support, you may feel better about agreeing to the loan.
Source: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/01/30/the-sandwich-generation/
Will your financial assistance help your child in the long run?
It’s natural to want to help your child, but you also want to avoid jeopardizing your child’s independence. If you step in to help, will your child lean on you the next time, too? And no matter how well-intentioned you are, the flip side of protecting your child from financial struggles is that your child may never get to experience the satisfaction that comes with successfully navigating financial challenges.
Source: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/01/30/the-sandwich-generation/
Can you really afford it?
Perhaps you can afford to lend money right now, but look ahead a bit. What will happen if you find yourself in unexpected financial circumstances before the loan is repaid? If you’re loaning a significant sum and you’re close to retirement, will you have the opportunity to make up the amount? If you decide to loan your child money, be sure it’s an amount that you could afford to lose, and don’t take money from your retirement account.
Source: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/01/30/the-sandwich-generation/
What if something goes wrong?
One potential downside to loaning your child money is the family tension it may cause. When a financial institution loans money to someone, it’s all business, and the repayment terms are clear-cut. When you loan money to a relative, it’s personal, and if expectations aren’t met, both your finances and your relationship with your child may be at risk.
For example, how will you feel if your child treats the debt casually? Even the most responsible child may occasionally forget to make a payment. Will you scrutinize your child’s financial decisions and feel obligated to give advice? Will you be okay with forgiving the loan if your child is unable to pay it back? And how will other family members react? For example, what if your spouse disagrees with your decision? Will other children feel as though you’re playing favorites?
Think like a lender
Take your responsibility, and the borrower’s, seriously. Putting loan terms in writing sounds too businesslike to some parents, but doing so can help set expectations. You can draft a loan contract that spells out the loan amount, the interest rate, and a repayment schedule. To avoid playing the role of parent-turned-debt collector, consider asking your child to set up automatic monthly transfers from his or her financial account to yours.
Pay attention to some rules
Having loan documentation may also be necessary to meet IRS requirements. If you’re lending your child a significant amount, prepare a promissory note that details the loan amount, repayment schedule, collateral, and loan terms, and includes an interest rate that is at least equal to the applicable federal rate set by the IRS. Doing so may help ensure that the IRS doesn’t deem the loan a gift and potentially subject you to gift and estate tax consequences. You or your child may need to meet certain requirements, too, if the loan proceeds will be used for a home down payment or a mortgage. The rules and consequences can be complex, so ask a legal or tax professional for information on your individual circumstances.
Consider offering other types of help
Your support matters to your child, even if it doesn’t come in the form of a loan. For example, you might consider making a smaller, no-strings-attached gift to your child that doesn’t have to be repaid, or offer to pay a bill or two for a short period of time.
Don’t feel guilty
If you have serious reservations about making the loan, don’t. Remember, your financial stability is just as important as your child’s, and a healthy relationship is something that money can’t buy.
American Consumer Credit Counseling polled a question at ConsumerCredit.com. In September 2013 they asked:
“Would You Loan Money to Family or Friends in Need?”
They found that the majority of people would, but there were various reasons and various amounts that respondent’s were willing to lend. Check out some interesting stats in the infographic…
Source: http://talkingcents.consumercredit.com/2013/11/14/poll-results-infographic-loaning-money-to-family-and-friends/