1-219-765-8600

carol@inkwellcoaching.com

Crown Point, IN

mobile-logo
Top
June 26, 2025

Hot Weather, Cool Tips

Lots of ideas swirling around in my head today—to which Mr. Non-Compliant would say, “Uh Oh!” Since I couldn’t decide on one topic, thought I&

admink
Food, Health
June 19, 2025

Savor the Solstice and Welcome Summer

On June 20 at 10:42 p.m. EST, the sun will reach its highest point in the sky, ushering in the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Th

admink
Food, Fun, Personal Development
June 18, 2025

Summer Solstice Fruit Salad with Mint & Citrus Honey Drizzle

This bright and refreshing fruit salad is perfect for summer gatherings, picnics, or a simple treat to celebrate the season. With a citrus-honey drizz

admink
Recipes, Salads
June 12, 2025

Flossing Beyond the Gums

We all know we should floss—but it turns out this simple daily habit might do more than just protect your smile. More and more research suggests tha

admink
Health
June 4, 2025

The Cancer-Fighting Power of Habits

Every so often, you stumble on two articles in one day that seem to shout the same message from different rooftops. That’s exactly what happened thi

admink
Blog
May 29, 2025

Survival and Everyday Strength

There are books you read, and there are books that change you. One that recently left a lasting mark on me is Resolute by Benjamin Hall, a Fox News co

admink
Health, Hope, Personal Development
May 22, 2025

Celebrate Smart with Memorial Day Tips

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, many of us look forward to picnics, cookouts, family gatherings, and the unofficial start of summer. But before we

admink
Family, Food, Fun, Health
May 18, 2025

Simple Cucumber-Tomato Salad with Lemon-Herb Dressing

admink
Salads
May 15, 2025

Busting a Salad Food Myth and Recipe

You may have seen articles or heard claims that cucumbers and tomatoes don’t belong together on your plate or in your salad. The reasons? Some say t

admink
Food, Health
May 8, 2025

Swapping Out Black Plastic Kitchen Utensils

This week, a client asked me for safe alternatives to replace the black plastic cooking utensils his wife discarded over three weeks ago. Turns out sh

admink
Health

Choosing a Tasty Pineapple

February 16, 2023
0
0
Blog, Family, Health, Personal Development

In the past week, a discussion came up about pineapple.

How do you choose a tasty one? Well, for those inquiring minds, here you go. 

How to choose a tasty pineapple

  1. Look for a bit of yellow, which should be present at the eyes at the base of the fruit, but a green tint elsewhere is fine. The leaves should be a vibrant shade of green.
  2. Squeeze it. The body of the pineapple should not be soft. It should be firm and give slightly with pressure.
  3. Sniff near the stem. It should smell sweet. No scent means it’s not ripe. If it smells like vinegar or alcohol, put it down. It’s past its prime and you don’t want anything to do with it.
  4. The heavier, the better. As with melons, there’s more water so it’s juicy.
  5. I also read that if you store it upside down before you cut it, the sweet juice from the bottom which was connected to the plant, circulates throughout the pineapple.

I have been known to let a pineapple sit on my counter for a few too many days, allowing it to spoil. If you’re not ready to cut a ripe pineapple, put it in the fridge to help keep it from going bad.

If you have trouble cutting a pineapple, check out one of the videos on YouTube. It’s much easier than trying to explain it. Cutting a fresh pineapple is not hard once you know how to go about it.

It is definitely worth the effort.

Dealing with negativity

This was another topic that showed up in conversation: dealing with negative friends, co-workers and family.

I know, it’s quite a contrast from pineapple. It’s all real-life stuff that happens.

There are people on the planet who tend to have a negative attitude about everything—even happy news.

We all have a bad day (or week) on occasion. Negative folks can’t find relief—ever.

Nothing you say will help them see the light. When you are in their presence, you feel a drain on your energy.  

We must learn to set boundaries, love from a distance, let go of any guilt. Not easy to do.

If you have the option, only spend time with negative people when your positive emotional bank is full, and you feel confident. Limit the time spent with them so that you don’t take on their negativity. 

Be compassionate and kind, then move on. Remember that their unhappy state has nothing to do with you.

Surround yourself with positive people most of the time. When you find yourself in a mood that is unbecoming, take on an activity that helps improve your state.

Sometimes we simply need sleep, healthy food, and a dose of Seinfeld.

Sending you love,
Health Coach Carol

“Letting go doesn’t mean that you don’t care about someone anymore. It’s just realizing that the only person you really have control over is yourself.” – Deborah Reber

Happy Birth Month

February 8, 2023
0
0
Family, Friendship, Health, Personal Development

You’re probably thinking that I just celebrated my birth month. And I did.

One year ago. Already.

How quickly the years go by. 

I recently read No Regrets: A Fable About Living Your 4th Quarter Intentionally by Allen Hunt and Matthew Kelly.

No Regrets is about a woman in her 4th quarter of life who comes to the stark realization that her ordinary life is simply not measuring up.

Something is missing.

She also realizes that it is not too late to make meaningful changes. But how?

The book provides a roadmap for how to make the most of the final season of life. It will inspire, move, and encourage you to become your best, no matter what quarter of life you are in.

It’s never too late, or too early, to make life assessments and change course.

In my 4th quarter, I feel a deeper sense of urgency to spend time doing what matters most and letting go of those things that matter least.

The key is determining what those things are—in both columns.

The Fourth Quarter of Your Life Workbook is a tool to assist with this. (Currently the workbook is on backorder and will begin shipping in about a month.)

 Now is the time to take on new challenges, study interesting topics, enrich relationships, say “No” to some things in order to say “Yes” to others.

Anytime is a good time to plan on having no regrets. Birthdays merely put it in your face. Life-changing events also tend to promote change.

All that being said, I am loving my birth month. Spending more time with family and friends makes me happy.

So does sharing my amazing coconut cake with a fellow birth month friend. 

I invite you to share in the delight of another year with me. I also invite you to review your “Yes” and “No” columns and shift your course if necessary.

Cheers to having no regrets.

And to savoring coconut birthday cake.

With gratitude and much love,
Health Coach Carol

“Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty-four?”—Paul McCartney

Colorful Cauliflower and Fresher Berries

February 2, 2023
0
0
Food, Health

Interesting what shows up in conversation when a bunch of friends gather. Most recently, this is what happened.

“So, have you ever wondered how cauliflower ends up purple and orange? Has anyone tried it? Carol, how does that happen?”

Inquiring minds need to know. So, here you go. 

Purple, green and orange cauliflower contain naturally occurring pigments. They have not been dyed or genetically modified. These colored varieties have been developed over the years from cross-breeding techniques and seed development.

As most of you know from my previous blogs, I am not a fan of this vegetable. I have tried it any number of ways and it matters not.

However, I’ve read that these colorful varieties have a slightly different taste than the white variety.

Green cauliflowers are milder and sweeter and have a texture similar to broccoli. Purple cauliflowers taste sweeter and nuttier. Orange cauliflowers are also sweeter and milder.

Deep colors mean more health benefits. The purple variety contains anthocyanin, an antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation in the body. The orange variety has more vitamin A than the white, due to beta-carotene.

I found this of interest: white cauliflower is white because it is protected from the sun. To protect them, they need to have the leaves gathered up and secured with a rubber band or twine. This is called “blanching.”

There are varieties that have leaves that naturally wrap around the curds to protect them from the sun. They “self-blanch.”

Too much heat or sun may result in white cauliflower with a hint of pink or purple.

I may give one of the colored varieties a try, since the flavor is different. We’ll see what happens. It would certainly add great eye-appeal to any meal.

And now, if you’re ever on a game show and this question pops up, you’ll win the big bucks.

Keep Fresh Berries Fresher Longer

I’m still experimenting with this trick, but thought I’d share it in case you’d like to try it too.

When I bring home fresh berries, I gently pour them into a Mason or Ball jar and put the lid with the seal on it. (Remove any berries that are spoiled.) Refrigerate.

I wash them just before eating so they don’t get mushy.   

They look pretty in the jar and I remember to eat them. I suppose this could be part of the reason they stay fresh—they’re not around as long.

Either way, it’s a win-win situation.

Much love,
Health Coach Carol

“Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.”—Mark Twain

5 Ways to Stop Playing the Comparison Game

January 25, 2023
0
0
Health, Personal Development

We all do it. As human beings, it’s part of our nature. We compare for points of reference.

But we don’t have to play the game anymore. If you find that playing it brings you negative feelings about your body, work, success, life, leave the game.

Yeh, right. I hear you. It’s a tough thing to let go of. Comparing.

Stuff happens, like seeing a post and photo of your buddy from college who has the perfect physique, job and healthy-looking meals EVERY DAY on social media. Oh, and even the dog is super cute. 

(Little did you know that she spent 3 hours getting set up for a “smoke and mirrors” photo of all that—including the super cute dog that actually belongs to the neighbor.)

Or, you feel good about sticking with your exercise plan for the new year, until you hear that someone in your inner circle is working out LESS than you and has lost 10 pounds already. Grrr.

You’ve got to be kidding.

For me, it goes something like this, “How can person XYZ eat THAT and be so active and energetic? I’d be dead by now.”

This everyday kind of stuff can bring us down. Some days I feel like throwing in the towel and downing a gallon of ice cream. In one sitting.

So, here’s a novel idea. Let’s practice NOT playing the comparison game.

Here are 5 ways to help you (and me) stop playing in relation to body image and health:

  1. Concentrate on your actions, not your outcomes. Complete daily actions that you’ve set in place and stop worrying about the result. Let’s say you want to lose 5 pounds and you decide to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. You’re also committed to exercising for a minimum of 30 minutes 3x a week. Follow through with your habits and be less concerned about the number on the scale. Oh, and less concerned about how much weight your friend lost in 3 days. Weight loss is complicated.
  2. Keep things in proper perspective. Choose to be happy about what you’re grateful for (3 things), what you’re excited about (1 thing) and something you’ve accomplished (1 thing). Quickly jot them down at the end of the day and sit with reality. By focusing on the positive, there’s less room for the negative. Look back in a month or so and check out your progress. Gold star for you. 
  3. Drop the comparison triggers. If participating in an advanced aerobics class week after week brings out the comparison monster, making you feel less than, stop. Stay in a place that motivates you but doesn’t derail your mindset. Grow into tougher as you get stronger, then go for it. Same idea for your eating plan. The “diet” that works for your best friend may be horrible for you.
  4. Declutter your social feeds. If you have virtual friends or follow someone who makes you feel bad about what you’re accomplishing, drop them like a hot bag of greasy French fries. Stay around positive people—virtually and in real life. You’ll love yourself (and others) more. 
  5. Build meaningful connections. Surround yourself with genuine people and be vulnerable with one another. You’ll realize that so much superficial stuff doesn’t matter anyway. You do YOU beautifully.

Wishing you the best day ever.

Much love,
Health Coach Carol

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson

« Previous Page