The Good Life Report 12/18/19

Bacon Egg Cups

[6 servings]

Ingredients:

• 6 slices of bacon (you can also use turkey bacon if you want a healthier version)
   
• 6 eggs
   
• ¼ cup Cheddar cheese
   
• Salt, pepper, and chives to taste
   
• A muffin tin

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400° F.
    
2. Wrap the slices of bacon around the muffin tins and bake for 10 minutes.
    
3. Remove the bacon and pour out any excess grease. Replace the bacon.
    
4. Crack an egg in the center of each of the bacon circles and sprinkle the top with cheese, salt, and pepper. Bake for another 10 minutes.
    
5. Carefully run a knife around the edges of the bacon cups to get them out of the pan. Garnish with chives. 

Recipe adapted from Tasty[1]

What's in a Password?

One of the best ways to keep your data safe online is to have a strong password. The IRS shares some tips on how to create and protect your passwords:

• Your password should be a minimum of eight characters. The longer, the better.
• Your password should include a combination of letters, numbers, symbols, and special characters. 
• Don't include personal information, including names of family members or pets, identifying information about where you live, or other personal details. 
• Don't use the same password for everything. 
• Substitute special characters and numbers for common letters to make your password more difficult to guess (ex: @ for a, ! for i, 8 for B, etc.).
• Be aware of scams asking for your password and never tell people your passwords.
  
  * This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific tax issues with a qualified tax professional.

Tip adapted from IRS.gov[2]

Tips for Golfing in the Winter: Part Two

We're back with more winter golfing tips. Enjoy your favorite game all year round with these handy tips:

• Keep your hands warms by placing hand warmers in your pockets or your golf gloves.
• Make sure to stay hydrated, even in colder weather. It might be tempting to reach for a nice warm mug of hot chocolate, but water will help your health and your game.
• Use brightly colored balls to keep track of your shot. It will be much easier to see a bright yellow, orange, or pink ball in frost or leaves. Some of the leading ball makers make them, and they are leagues better than a cheap driving range ball of the same color.
• When tracking your ball in the winter months, remember that the sun will often be lower. So, instead of following its entire flight path, track it with your eyes until it gets lost in the sun, and then look towards the ground where you think it will land. This will save your eyes and make it harder to lose your ball.

Tip adapted from Leading Courses[3]

Get Started with Yoga

Yoga has a number of health benefits. It can help manage stress, depression, and anxiety, it can improve your mood, and it can even help you sleep better. Not sure where to start? Here are some highlights of this practice to help you feel more comfortable in your first class. 

• Hatha yoga is slower than other types, so it's a good choice for beginners. Vinyasa is the most common type of yoga and can be easy or more difficult, depending on the class. Power yoga usually includes weights and is a high-intensity workout, in addition to yoga. 
• A lot of yoga classes focus on breathing exercises, which is one of the reasons why it's so relaxing. Even simple poses can be extremely beneficial when you coordinate them with your breath

• You don't need fancy yoga gear to get started! All you need are some comfy clothes, a mat, and some water.

Tip adapted from Very Well Fit[4]

Energy-Saving Tips When Cooking for the Holidays

If you're preparing a big meal for the holidays, consider your kitchen habits to save energy and money! Here are a few energy-saving tips to use when cooking:

• Switch on the oven light to check on your baked goods instead of opening the oven door. When you open the door, you let out a lot of heat, forcing the oven to use more energy by having to heat back up to the set temperature.
• Speaking of ovens, cook your food on the top rack of the oven, when possible. When the food is closer to the heating element, it can cook 20% faster.
• If you need to thaw frozen items, throw them in the fridge. The cool air coming off the frozen food will help the fridge cool down, hence using less energy.

Tip adapted from Money Crashers[5]

These are the views of Platinum Advisor Strategies, LLC, and not necessarily those of the named representative, 
Broker dealer or Investment Advisor and should not be construed as investment advice. Neither the named representative nor the named Broker dealer or Investment Advisor gives tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your financial advisor for further information.

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[1] tasty.co/recipe/bacon-egg-cups
[2] www.irs.gov/newsroom/strong-passwords-help-keep-tax-data-safe 
[3] www.leadingcourses.com/blog/winter-golf-10-simple-tips/ [4] www.verywellfit.com/how-to-get-started-with-yoga-4165462[5] www.moneycrashers.com/electronic-e-waste-recycling-disposal-facts/

[4] www.verywellfit.com/how-to-get-started-with-yoga-4165462

[5] www.moneycrashers.com/electronic-e-waste-recycling-disposal-facts/