Here comes Peter Cottontail
Hoping down the bunny trail
Hippety-hoppin’, Easter’s on its way!
Bringin' every girl and boy
Baskets full of Easter joy
Things to make your Easter bright and gay

It might be cold and dreary when you look outside your office or kitchen window, but Easter—and spring— are on their way.

Well, spring is nice, you say, but how in the world did cute bunnies find their way into the act?

Find the answer to this question and other fun facts about Easter below:  

• The name Easter comes from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eastre.
• What about that crazy rabbit? Well, the totem of Eastre is a hare—and according to the story, the goddess can turn into a hare at will.
• Each year nearly 90 million chocolate bunnies are made.
• 76 percent of those chocolate bunny eaters prefer to start with the ears.  
• The popular Easter song Here Comes Peter Cottontail was written by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins in 1949.   
• In 1950, the Mervin Shiner version of the song reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.  
• In the Greek Orthodox culture, Easter eggs are traditionally painted red.
• The most famously known Easter event took place in the year 1878. That year president Hayes and his wife Lucy officially opened the White House grounds to the children for egg rolling. Since then, this event is held each year
• Don’t eat these eggs!  The first Faberge eggs were handcrafted in the 1880’s by the great goldsmith Peter Carl Faberge. Czar Alexander III of Russia commissioned them as gifts for his wife.

Here’s hoping Peter Cottontail finds his way to your door with a basket of goodies. Happy Easter!

“Beware the Ides of March!”  So spoke the soothsayer, and Julius Caesar ignored him and promptly went out to get himself stabbed to death by his best friend. That’ll teach him to pay more attention to the news.

So what are these infamous Ides anyway? About all most of us know, is that we need to beware of them, and they certainly didn’t do Julius any good. We probably would have never heard of them if it weren’t for William Shakespeare.  

Did good ol’ Will know something we don’t? Not really, except maybe how to write a dramatic scene.

In fact, March isn’t even the only month with an ‘Ides.’ The ancient Roman calendar had plenty of them.  In March, May, July, and October, the Ides fell on the 15th day. In every other month, the Ides fell on the 13th. The word comes from the Latin “to divide.”   

So should you be prepared to call out the National Guard and take cover in the nearest cellar on March 15th? Not unless you’re planning a career in politics and have particularly bad taste in friends.

Since it falls so close to the deadline for filing your taxes, you may have trouble with an even more fearsome Ides:  the Ides of April.

So as March rolls its way through, may the Ides be with you!

For most filers, tax season only last a few months. For tax scammers though, it’s a year-round opportunity for fraud.

Despite countless warnings by both the IRS and taxpayer advocacy groups, the scammers find enough marks to come back for more.

Here are some of the more common scams to watch out for:

Phishing Attempts.  Scammers will contact you by email requesting that you provide personal information, often accompanied by the threat of being audited or arrested if you don’t comply. Don’t believe them. Scammers can use the information you provide to quickly empty your bank accounts, rack up your credit card debit and worse. The IRS never uses e-mail to contact taxpayers about tax issues.

Charitable Donations.  Many taxpayers know that charitable donations are deductible. And con artists know that you know. Before you make a donation, it's important to check that these organizations are legitimately registered with the IRS as tax-exempt non-profit organizations. Check at this IRS website to be sure.

Tax Preparers.  Fraudsters will sometimes target accountants and other tax professionals by sending out emails telling unsuspecting preparers that they need to update their information to keep their IRS certification current. The hope is that these preparers will provide them with usernames, passwords and EIN numbers that they can then use to get personal information from clients.

Taxes can be enough of a headache without having to worry about tax scams. Knowing the tactics scammers are using can help you avoid becoming their next victim. If you need more information, the IRS has several suggestions for taxpayers to help protect themselves.

If you’re trying to eat healthy, you know that you need to eat more vegetables— but what kind? They’re not all created equal, after all. For some variety in your diet, why not try root vegetables? No, we don’t mean tree roots. Root vegetables include such family staples as carrots, potatoes, yams, and beets, but it doesn’t stop there. There’s a whole cornucopia of flavors grown beneath the ground:

Ginger.  In addition to adding a bit of sharp spice to your palate, ginger has long been thought to help treat arthritis, nausea, and heart conditions.

Onions.  These roots are nothing to cry over. Onions have anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to increase bone density, especially for older women.   

Garlic.  “The stinking rose” does more than keep you safe from vampires. Experts claim it can boost your metabolism, help prevent cancer and improve your cardiovascular health.  

Fennel.  It’s used in mouth fresheners and toothpastes, but it makes a lovely addition to your salad as well. Heavy in iron, fennel has been used in the treatment of anemia, indigestion and respiratory disorders.

Radishes.  As a garnish, these roots can make your salads or vegetable dishes really sing. If that weren’t enough, radishes are high in vitamin C and are believed to be helpful in lowering cholesterol, curing urinary tract disorders and increasing the supply of oxygen to your bloodstream. And they are delicious when roasted with Brussels sprouts.

Ready to try some roots on for size? Here are a few great recipes to get you started. If you have medical questions, please consult your doctor before changing your diet.

The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful…

Between the cold, the snow and motivating yourself to step out into the elements, exercising during the winter months can be a challenge.  Here are a few tips to help you beat the cold:

• Dress in layers instead of one thick coat. First, put on a thin layer of synthetic material, such as polypropylene, which draws sweat away from your body.  Next, add a layer of fleece or wool for insulation. Top this with a waterproof, breathable outer layer.
• Before heading out, check the forecast for the time you'll be outside. When you’re sweating, cold wind and dry air can quickly chill your body. 
• Keep your head covered, as you lose nearly half your body heat that way.
• As the body experiences cold, it pulls blood from the extremities to protect more centralized organs, so make sure you have good quality gloves to protect your fingers from frostbite.
• Covering your face with mask or scarf when the temperature is below freezing also helps warm the air a bit before it enters your lungs.
• Wear sturdy footwear with good traction to prevent slips and falls on snow or ice.
• Wear light and/or reflective clothing since nightfall comes early during the winter months. You want the challenge of your workout to come from the exercise, not a driver who can’t see you.

Exercising in the cold helps fight off the winter blues, and it burns more calories. With proper planning and the right gear, there’s no reason you can’t take advantage of it.

The ACA has changed the landscape of healthcare.  As 2016 rolls in, many of the provisions of the legislation are now in full effect.  What changes can we expect as we start this year’s tax preparations?

Advance Tax Credit.  Those who purchased health insurance through the new Marketplace may have received the Advance Premium Tax Credit to help lower the cost of their coverage. The amount of credit you receive is based on your estimated income. When you file your taxes, the credit you received based on your estimated income must be reconciled with your actual income. If your income is substantially different from the estimate, then you may owe a penalty or be due an additional credit.

Penalties.  Many taxpayers were surprised in 2015 to find that there were tax penalties for not having health coverage. 2016 will be no different. In fact, starting this year many of the penalties for lack of coverage will increase, unless you qualify for one of several exemptions. 

Form 1095-A.  If you enrolled in health care coverage through the marketplace, you’ll be receiving a tax form in the mail called a 1095-A.  Make sure to keep this form with other tax records like your W-2’s, as you won’t be able to complete your 2015 return without it.

For other questions on how the provisions of the ACA will affect you this year, please consult your tax professional.