Mediation Advantage - February 2019

Mediation Advantage - February 2019

FEB 2019

(508) 795-1557 | www.mediationadvantage.com LIFE IN BALANCE

This month, with fresh starts and celebrations of love on my mind, I really want to share my gratitude and say thank you. Thank you for letting me serve you! In my practice as a mediator, my mission is to help families uncouple in the most peaceful way possible while preserving their relationship with their kids. I’ve been fortunate to work with some amazing clients as I’ve helped them start the next chapter of their lives. It’s my honor to help folks like you make this transition, and I get to be part of a new adventure for you — one chapter coming to an end and another beginning. When I started thinking about how I could thank my clients with more than words, it only seemed fitting to celebrate the next chapter of your life with another adventure. What came to mind? Bermuda. The island holds a special place in my heart. It’s where my family lives, including my grandmother, as well as my cousins, who are like sisters to me. My memories of this beautiful place — walks on the pink sand beaches, breathing in air like sweet nectar, the stunning sunsets, and the warm, lively culture — get me through cold Massachusetts winters. My cousin Kennelyn, who went to the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans with me last summer, lives in Bermuda and hosts an Airbnb there. When I mentioned to her that I wanted to do something special for my clients, she graciously suggested a stay at her wonderful Hill Top Cottage Airbnb in Warwick, Bermuda. As the name suggests, the Airbnb sits on a hilltop surrounded by famous beaches — some just a 20-minute walk away — and Warwick attractions like the Swizzle Inn. At the same time, it’s secluded enough to feel like you’re in your own private tropical world. The views from the cottage are incredible — you can see most of the island from it. It also gets a lot of natural light, AN ISLAND ESCAPE Celebrate a New Chapter of Life

making it an ideal way to experience the beauty of Bermuda! As my way of saying thanks, I want to share this special place with you. In the spirit of fresh starts and gratitude, I am holding a referral

contest, and the prize is a stay at Kennelyn’s Airbnb in

Warwick, Bermuda. The fabulous Hill Top Cottage will be hosting your stay May 30 through June 2, 2019. Late May is a beautiful time to visit Bermuda because

the temperatures are still mild and perfect for strolls on the beach. Because Bermuda is so close to the East Coast, it only takes a couple hours to get there by plane. I’m so excited to give this prize away to one of you! Kennelyn’s cottage has two bedrooms with enough space for four people and a kitchen equipped for cooking. Whether you want to go on a girls’ or guys’ trip or enjoy a getaway with family, the Hill Top Cottage will accommodate you. Swizzle Inn nearby is a must-stop for food and drinks, and the fun atmosphere at this famous pub — where they’re well-known for their namesake rum swizzle — makes it an experience worth having. Elbow, Horseshoe, and Southlands Beaches (to name a few) are also just a ride or walk away. For every friend you refer who becomes a mediation or co-parenting client now until April 5, you will receive an entry into the contest for a four-night stay in Bermuda. The contest runs from February through April 5.

Win a 4-Night Stay in Bermuda! Our Bermuda Referral Contest runs until April 5! 1st referral = 1 entry 2nd referral = 3 entries 3rd referral and up = 5 entries

Email [email protected] with your mediation and co-parenting referrals. We can’t wait to hear from you!

—Polly Tatum

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Family game night is a time when a family can forget about all of life’s commitments and bond over a good old-fashioned board game. But the old, tattered Monopoly box or worn-out UNO cards can leave something to be desired, and the classics might be getting a little dull. If you’re tired of playing the same board games over and over, it might be time to start looking for ways to change things up. Here are four tabletop games you might not have heard of that are perfect for spicing up family game night. Your family will love delving into this cooperative murder mystery game that is a mixture of Clue and Dixit. You can play as the ghost or as one of the mediums who enters the haunting. The ghost player gives each medium a clue or vision about a potential murderer, and the mediums have to guess which person, room, or weapon was used to murder the ghost player. After each turn, the ghost reveals whether each of the mediums’ guesses are right or not. If all of the mediums succeed in guessing correctly by the seventh in-game hour, they work together to find the true murderer. Mysterium FAMILY GAME NIGHT Break the Monotony of Overplayed Board Games!

What You Didn’t Know About Chocolate Fun Facts to Wow Your Loved Ones This Valentine’s Day

Laser Chess

Chocolate is a treat savored by people all over the world. What we know as the sweet, creamy decadence that sustains Valentine’s Day actually has greater historical and cultural significance. Fermented chocolate drinks have been dated back to as early as 350 B.C. The Aztecs believed it was the beverage of wisdom, and the Mayans saw it as something to be worshipped. While the history of chocolate is as rich as its flavor, there are some common misconceptions about the treat. Dutch chocolate doesn’t necessarily refer to chocolate made in the Netherlands; the name refers to a specific chocolate-making process that uses the cocoa press. Before Dutch chemist and chocolate-maker C.J. van Houten invented the machine in 1828, chocolate was only used in beverages. Dutch chocolate is chocolate that has been modified with an alkalizing agent in order to produce a milder flavor, making it a fantastic option for use in baked goods, candy, and ice cream. German chocolate actually has nothing to do with the country of Germany, either. It used to be called “German’s chocolate,” named after its inventor, Sam German, an American who made sweet chocolate for baking. Adding sugar to the chocolate made it a go-to option for bakers around the world, and the base for German chocolate cake was born. For chocolate to be classified as Swiss, it has to be made in Switzerland, as chocolate-making is considered an art form in the country. Known for its “melt in your mouth” quality, Swiss chocolate uses condensed milk to add a velvety texture. Many chocolate makers outside of Switzerland will refer to their interpretations of Swiss chocolate as milk chocolate instead.

A classic game of chess is a great way to spend an evening, and it just got a little more interesting. Laser chess includes all the problem-solving skills a typical chess game offers but with a twist. At the end of each turn, a player fires a small laser beam that bounces off the mirrored chess pieces. If it hits the non-mirrored surface of a piece, that piece is taken by the player. A player wins when the opposing player’s king piece is illuminated.

Catan

Welcome to the island of Catan! After a long voyage at sea, the people in your expedition compete against other seafarers in building settlements. Enjoy the 45–90-minute game as you and your family build roads, barter resources, and race for absolute supremacy on Catan.

One NightWerewolf

Every night, werewolves prowl around the village, and it’s up to the villagers to find the werewolf once the sun rises — before it’s too late. Each person plays a unique role with different abilities to help find or conceal the werewolf. If the werewolf is caught, the villagers win the game, but if the werewolf manages to escape, the villagers lose.

Now you can bring some exciting variety into your family game nights. Don’t miss out on these excellent

tabletop games, and most importantly, have fun!

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COUPLES WHO SWEAT TOGETHER STAY TOGETHER

Why You Should Exercise With Your Significant Other Each Valentine’s Day, people all over the world rush to the store to buy chocolates and all the ingredients necessary to whip up a romantic dinner for two. Unfortunately, these calorie-laden holiday traditions can undermine the fitness resolutions you made just six weeks before. Instead of throwing your goals by the wayside this February, why not make fitness a couples activity? The National Library of Medicine published a study showing that couples who focused on their health together went to the gymmore often and reported feeling more connected in their relationship. These findings were corroborated by a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Scientists claimed that partners who exercised together reported higher levels of happiness and satisfaction in their relationship. If you and your sweetheart are looking for a romantic way to burn some calories this month, here are some great workout ideas for two.

Go for a Run!

If the weather is nice, the two of you can lace up and hit the pavement

together. You could even make a couples playlist to listen to as you run. If the cold temperatures

are preventing you from enjoying the great outdoors, head to the gym and challenge each other on side-by-side treadmills.

Play Catch!

Try Some Rock Climbing!

Grab a medicine ball and do some overhead passes, feet-to-feet situp passes, and back-to-back twists with each other. All of these easy at-home workouts help build a solid core.

This is a great way to get a good workout while simultaneously building trust with your partner. Most rock-climbing gyms offer classes in belaying, and staff members can give you tips to improve your form. Sign up to work with an instructor and test your personal limits together.

VALENTINE’S DAY COOKIE CARDS

TAKE A BREAK

Inspired by Food & Wine Magazine.

Ingredients

• • •

2 large egg yolks

• • • •

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract Royal icing, sprinkles, and edible markers, for decorating

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Directions

4.

Carefully roll dough into a sheet 1/16- inch thick and cut into 4x6 inch cards. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, bake cookie cards for 6 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Let cookies cool completely, decorate, and distribute.

1.

Heat oven to 375 F.

2.

In a mixing bowl, combine flour with sugar and salt. Add butter and combine using a mixer at low speed, until butter breaks down into small, crumbly pieces. Increase mixing speed to medium and mix until butter and flour clump. Add egg yolks and vanilla extract to bowl, return mixer to low, and mix until dough congeals.

5.

6.

Solution on page 4

3.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Twitter: www.twitter.com/PollyATatum Facebook: www.facebook.com/LawOfficeofPollyATatum LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/polly-tatum/15/50/506

19 Cedar St. Worcester, MA 01609

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Take a Trip to Bermuda

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All About Chocolate Bring Variety to Family Game Night

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Couples Who Sweat Together Stay Together Valentine’s Cookie Cards

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The Most Iconic Super Bowl in NFL History

One for the Ages

How Super Bowl XXXIV Made an Icon Out of a Grocery Store Clerk Going into the 1999 NFL season, no one expected anything from the St. Louis Rams. When starting After going up 16–0 against the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV, Warner and the Rams looked poised to coast on their way to the Lombardi Trophy, but the late Steve McNair and the Titans had different plans. The Georgia Dome was rocking after two Eddie George touchdown runs, and a field goal brought the Titans level at 16–16, with just over two minutes of play remaining. In response, Warner dropped back and found receiver Isaac Bruce for a 73-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 23–16 with 1:54 left on the clock. But the Titans weren’t done fighting.

quarterback Trent Green went down with a gruesome knee injury in the preseason, ESPN The Magazine slated the Rams to be the worst team in the NFL that year. With few options, coach Vermeil named

Quickly moving the ball down the field, Titans quarterback Steve McNair found himself with a third and 5 inside the Rams 30-yard line with 22 seconds left. Scrambling around and fighting off two players trying to pull him down, McNair threw the ball to Kevin Dyson at the 10-yard line. A quick timeout left six seconds on the clock, and the Titans were one play away from tying the game. What proceeded was a play that will be forever known as “the tackle.”McNair found Dyson on a quick slant, and when he caught the ball at the 4-yard line, it appeared a touchdown was imminent. Suddenly, linebacker Mike Jones wrapped the receiver up at the hips. As he fell to the ground with the ball in his hand, Dyson extended his arm, but when he hit the AstroTurf, he was 1 yard short of the goal line. The Rams had pulled off the impossible, earning their first Super Bowl title ever.

a virtually unknown player as his new starting quarterback, humbly stating in a press conference, “We will rally around Kurt

Warner, and we’ll play good football.”

Five years before his start, 22-year-old Kurt Warner was stocking shelves at a Hy-Vee grocery store in Cedar Falls, Iowa, for $5.50 an hour. However, he had amassed a whopping 16 snaps in the NFL prior to taking the reins for the 1999 season, and what proceeded to transpire on the field was utter pandemonium, giving the Rams the nickname “The Greatest Show on Turf.”This improbable season and the resulting MVP award for Warner set the stage for one of the most dramatic games in Super Bowl history.

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