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carol@inkwellcoaching.com

Crown Point, IN

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September 9, 2026

The Beauty in the Cracks

Have you ever had one of those moments when you just know you were supposed to hear something? I had one recently. I was having a conversation with a

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Fun, Health, Hope, Personal Development
September 3, 2026

Too Hot to Cook Eat This

Well, friends…Mother Nature has apparently decided we need to be reminded that summer is still here. It is HOT. Really hot. The kind of hot where wa

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Food, Fun, Health
September 3, 2026

Savory Chicken Salad

This one is a staple in my kitchen. Rotisserie chicken, a creamy dressing, and just enough crunch from the celery and onion make it endlessly versatil

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Recipes, Salads
August 27, 2026

Apparently, There’s a Day for That

Have you ever noticed how there seems to be a “National Day” for just about everything? National Donut Day. National Gardening Day. National Lefto

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Food, Fun
August 20, 2026

The Scoop on Coffee

For my coffee lovers, here are some interesting tidbits. Light roast coffee tends to be slightly higher in caffeine content than dark roast when measu

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Health
August 13, 2026

A Kitchen Lesson from Julia Child

In honor of Julia Child’s birthday, I want to share one of her most repeated kitchen philosophies, because it is one I highly endorse. Do not ap

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Food, Fun
August 5, 2026

Part One: Fun Facts About Julia Child

August 15 marks the birthday of one of my favorite kitchen icons, Julia Child. If you have never seen an old episode of The French Chef, do yourself a

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Food, Fun
July 30, 2026

My Kitchen Counter Has a Problem

If your garden is anything like mine, the tomatoes are coming in fast right now. And if you’re growing zucchini too, you know it has a way of sh

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Food, Health, In the Garden
July 21, 2026

Sweet Corn Season is Here in Indiana

If you drive anywhere in Indiana right now, you know the scene. Fresh corn, roadside stands, and that first bite of butter-dripping corn on the cob th

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Family, Food, Health
July 15, 2026

Better, Not Perfect

I have a confession. This week I was completely overwhelmed, by my own house. I had been traveling and busy with life, and when I looked around all I

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Health, Hope, Personal Development

Celebrating the Birth Month

February 8, 2015
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Friendship, Fun

I love birthdays! It matters not which one I happen to be celebrating, as they are all a gift.  As each year passes, I find that I treasure each one more than the last, hence my “birth month” celebrations. That and the fact that many people love to send birthday wishes and feel bad when they miss the day. No worries when you have a month…unless the month is February.

As a quick review, the majority of months have either 30 or 31 days. For whatever reason, February got the short straw, with 28 days–29 on a good year. (And don’t we feel really sad for those folks born on February 29th?) Doesn’t it figure I showed up in the midst of winter and in the shortest calendar month?

When I turned 50, my family and friends surprised me with a party during my birth month but after my birthday. On the wall was a HUGE sign that read “Happy Birth Month, Carol!” What fun! Others had finally accepted my philosophy in writing.

The question was posed as to when I began my month-long celebration, since February is a few days short. Is it 31 days prior to, or following my day? To which I replied, “Yes.”

Next time you have a birthday, give the birth month celebration a try. Let me know what you think and if you would do it again. You always have the option of going back to the one-day deal. As for me, I am now lobbying for the birth year…

“God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.”  Voltaire

Because it’s Always Something

January 26, 2015
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Hope, Spiritual

So many times in life we think, “If I can just get through this crisis, or away from this job, or away from this person,” everything would be great! Right? Not so much.

We have heard the phrase many times, “It’s always something!” and it is. Whether it’s about our health, relationships, finances, career– there will always be trouble brewing somewhere.

It is in the midst of difficulty that we decide on the attitude with which we face the music. We can learn to do the dance, or stand on the side of the gym. We can be the light that helps others find their way in the dark, or wander without hope. We can bloom where we are planted, or stay stuck in the dirt.

The good news is that we have a choice. (I wrote a poem about that years ago—check out My Poetry page!) We are all connected, so our positive -or negative- outlook will affect everyone around us. Perhaps your co-worker or neighbor is facing some tougher stuff than you.

Think about it next time everything (or even one thing) seems to be a mess. Be brave. Do the dance. Be the light. Bloom in your glory. The people around you will receive a great gift and you will feel amazing!

“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:15-16 NIV

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread

November 6, 2014
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Recipes, Treats

When you are looking for a special pumpkin treat on the healthier side, this is perfect!

  • 3/4 cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
  • 6 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp allspice
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Combine coconut flour, spices and baking powder.  In a separate bowl, combine all remaining ingredients except nuts and chocolate chips until well blended.  Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and blend well.  If you wish,  fold in the nuts and/or chocolate chips until evenly blended.  Grease a loaf pan with coconut or olive oil and add the batter.  Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool and remove from pan.

 

Why We Need to Retreat

February 4, 2014
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Friendship, Fun, Personal Development, Spiritual

Retreat:  a period of withdrawal from worldly activities for prayer and meditation;  withdrawal into privacy or seclusion, a place for this. (Oxford American Dictionary)

One of my earliest memories of taking retreat is from my college days, as a Delta Gamma pledge going on “walk-out.”  My pledge class left campus one Friday afternoon to go somewhere secret and spend the weekend together.  Our pledge trainer came with, along with a couple other active members we deemed worthy.  We had a blast.  Of course, we had some fraternity education that was supposed to prepare us to become full-fledged members, but what I remember most was the camaraderie and unity we felt as we cocooned from the world.  Oh, and lots of great food!

In the days since then, I have been on an engaged couples retreat, Cursillo retreats, girlfriend getaway retreats, spa weekend retreat, one-day spiritual retreats, and business women retreats.  My most recent retreat was with about twenty business women at a camp located near the snowy Dunes of Michigan.  What a special gift to spend the bulk of an entire winter weekend learning from some of the best leaders and spirited entrepreneurs in Northwest Indiana.

As is typical of retreats, new friendships were cultivated that would have otherwise never had an opportunity to begin.  The practicality of spending the time necessary to really get to know these women just would not happen in the course of “business as usual.”  When we briefly break away from family, work, grocery shopping, laundry, etc, our minds settle into a different realm that is more open to change, friendship, and clarity.  We learn that we are not alone in having bigger-than-life dreams and the courage necessary to bring them to fruition.  Although each of us is on a unique journey, we all encounter a few lions, tigers and bears along the way.

In closing, if you have never gone on retreat, make a plan to go away.  If you have gone on retreat, make a plan to go away.  Why?  In between the moonlit hikes, snowball fights, laughter and tears, you will experience a renewal of Spirit that can only come from withdrawal from the world.  Oh, and lots of great food! 

“In order to understand the world, one has to get away from it on occasion.”  Albert Camus

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