The art of holiday toasting

Planning on hosting a holiday party? No Santa-rific shindig would be complete without an assigned area for libations, otherwise known as a drink station. Even more than your table centerpiece, this section of your gathering space could be a major focal point for guests, which is why it’s smart to carefully plan your beverages and how they will be served. It’s a fun method to “break the ice” among attendees as well as showcase your premium spirits in a festive and engaging manner.

For holiday drink station tips, read my latest article for The Daily Herald, available here.

Help to make the season bright

Many homeowners eager to express their love of the holidays to the surrounding neighborhood emphasize their front exterior, hanging up various lights and various twinkling Yuletide décor. But as they say, home is where the heart is, and the heart of your home is indoors, where you, your family, and cherished guests will spend more time appreciating the fine seasonal touches. That’s why it’s wise to invest more dollars and time adorning your interiors this month — particularly with different holiday lights.

Learn useful indoor holiday lighting tips by reading my latest article for The Daily Herald, available here.

Set the table for wow this holiday season

When planning your holiday meal, you don’t necessarily want your guests’ eyes to instantly go to the place settings, tablecloth or glassware. The focal point of your table should be an appealing centerpiece that reflects your good taste as a host, chef and decorator.

For expert tips on how to emphasize this important visual anchor this holiday season, read my latest article for The Daily Herald, available here.

Cineversary podcast celebrates 50th anniversary of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

In Cineversary podcast episode #88, host ⁠Erik J. Martin⁠ honors the 50th anniversary of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, directed by Milos Forman. He and his guest Patrick McGilligan – a film historian and author of Jack’s Life: A Biography of Jack Nicholson – check themselves in for a voluntary visit to Nurse Ratched‘s ward as they profess how crazy they are for this movie and discuss what makes it great, its influence on cinema, pivotal themes, and more.

Patrick McGilligan

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including
Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com.

Here's how to take someone's name off your mortgage

Having multiple names on your mortgage loan has its advantages. It likely enabled you to qualify for financing and thereby buy the home more easily, and it may lower your risk if you run into future repayment problems. But what if you need one or more names removed? Can you take someone off a mortgage?

Fortunately, there are options you can pursue here, including refinancing, mortgage assumption, loan modification, and selling the home. Read my latest article for Better.com to learn how to remove someone from a mortgage, the steps involved, the benefits and drawbacks of doing so, the cost of removing someone from a mortgage, and more.

How the Fed rate cut affects you

The Federal Reserve met on Oct. 29, 2025, and cut interest rates by 25 basis points (0.25 percentage points) to a new target range of 3.75% to 4%. This was the second cut this year. A Fed rate cut is good financial news for many but bad news for others.

Curious to learn who will benefit and who won't from a Federal Reserve rate cut? Read my latest article for US News & World Report for more details about how a Fed rate cut works and the winners and losers of lower rates.