“I know where I’m going. I’m still myself. I just can’t remember things as well as I once did. So on short trips, I work hard not to be confused. I’ll say to myself, What are we going to do? How long are we staying? It’s like I’m talking to my other self—the self I used to be. She tells me, This is what we need to buy—not that. I’m conscious of that other self guiding me now.”

Restaurateur, magazine publisher, celebrity chef, and nationally known lifestyle maven, B. Smith is struggling at 66 with a tag she never expected to add to that string: Alzheimer's patient. She’s not alone. Every 67 seconds someone newly develops it, and millions of lives are affected by its aftershocks.

B. and her husband, Dan, working with Vanity Fair contributing editor Michael Shnayerson, unstintingly share their unfolding story. Crafted in short chapters that interweave their narrative with practical and helpful advice, readers learn about dealing with Alzheimer's day-to-day challenges: the family realities and tensions, ways of coping, coming research that may tip the scale, as well as lessons learned along the way.

At its heart, Before I Forget is a love story: illuminating a love of family, life, and hope.

Everyone knows they should pair wine with food when entertaining for the holidays. But choosing the right water is just as important to consider in the context of how it pairs with food and cocktails. As Americans get more sophisticated about eating and dining, it makes sense that they would care more about their water too. Enter Martin Riese, a true expert on water and America’s only water sommelier.

Most people do not realize that water has a huge impact on everything presented on a plate or in a glass. For example, water can lower acidity and tannins in wine or balance out some of our other favorite holiday drinks like champagne, helping it gain in flavor. The right water pairing can also enhance flavors of salty / umami and balance the flavor of spice, bitter and sour in food. For example, with a smoked holiday ham complementary water can enhance the umami taste of the ham and balance the smoky flavors. It can also enhance the sweet notes of sugar cookies and lower the spice level of gingerbread to make the cookie more rounder and more balanced in flavors.

So this year, when hosting your holiday party, think differently about your water choices and make the holiday dishes – and drinks – you choose really sing!