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carol@inkwellcoaching.com

Crown Point, IN

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August 18, 2022

Mr. Non-Compliant vs. Mr. Corn

It’s that time of year when my dear cousin, Roger, aka Mr. Corn, and his wife Barb, come to Indiana for a visit. They now live in Florida, where swe

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Family, Food, Fun, Health
August 11, 2022

An Herb that Helps Reduce Anxiety, Induce Sleep, and More

I find it fascinating when one single food, or in this case, an herb, can contribute so much to our health. Cilantro is one such herb. While it’s no

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Food, Health
August 4, 2022

Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day may inspire some baking… While preparations have begun for those going back to school, there’s still lots of su

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Food, Fun
July 28, 2022

A Summer Meal with a Kick

While many of us would like to add more vegetables to our diet, it can be challenging to come up with new ideas. Discovering main dishes that are vege

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Food, Health
July 27, 2022

Spicy Mushroom Tacos

These vegan tacos have a kick, so if you’re not a fan of spicy foods, cut back on the cayenne or omit.  Serves 4 Ingredients 1 lb. mixed mushrooms

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Main Dishes, Recipes
July 21, 2022

Are They Eggs or Just Eggs?

In an effort to help those who are allergic or choose not to eat chicken eggs, this blog’s for you. And if you love chicken eggs, biscuits and gravy

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Food, Health
July 13, 2022

Lipstick on a Pig

For any of my new blog followers, cauliflower is one of the few vegetables that I’m not fond of.  I’ve tried it all sorts of ways. Readers have s

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Food, Fun, Health
July 13, 2022

Super Simple Roasted Garlic Cauliflower

After rinsing the head of cauliflower, cut it into florets, remove the thick stem portions, and slice it very thin. Arrange in a single layer on a sto

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Everything Else, Recipes
July 7, 2022

Vidalia Onions, Salsa, and Qigong

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s still possible to find Vidalia onions in local stores. I’m not sure how long they will last, so now is the tim

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Food, Health
June 30, 2022

Navigating the Holiday Weekend Deliciously

Happy almost 4th of July weekend! The celebrations are about to begin. Parades, barbecues, picnics, watermelon, fireworks, adult beverages, and probab

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Family, Food, Friendship

The Scoop on the Sumo

March 12, 2020
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Food, Health

In recent weeks, the Sumo orange has come into my life. If you are a fan of citrus, you’ll enjoy learning a bit about this juicy, seedless, ultra-sweet orange.

The Sumo (like a Sumo wrestler) is a cross-breed between a satsuma and mandarin-pomelo variety. The oranges were developed in Japan with traditional plant-breeding techniques (so they are non-GMO), where they are often given as gifts. They are really big, hence the name.   

They have a very thick outer layer and are easy to peel because they lack the white netting around the sections. Their growing season is short—from January to April—so you need to snatch them up now, while you can!

Sumo oranges are a bit pricey for a number of reasons. There is only one grower in the U.S. (in California), the trees are difficult to grow (at least 4 years before they begin producing), and the oranges require special care.

The fruit bruises easily, so they must be hand-picked, and producers must apply a natural clay-based sunscreen on the peels throughout the summertime for protection. Now that’s some TLC!

Once the fruit is ripe, it’s carefully transported to a specific packaging facility for testing. Each Sumo Citrus orange is measured for proper sugar and acid levels and gets tossed out if it doesn’t meet the producer’s high standards.

This delicious fruit is prized for being a novelty more than a health food. It has a higher amount of fiber, Vitamin C, and calcium than the average orange, mostly due to its massive size. Since the fruit is produced with low-acid levels, Sumo oranges could be an option for those who don’t tolerate acidic foods well.  

As we take extra measures these days to stay healthy, eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is a must. And remember to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, drink plenty of water, and get your sleep.

To Your Health,
Carol

“I love fresh citrus and always keep lemons, limes, and oranges on hand; they come in handy for spritzing up quickly grilled meats, seafoods, and vegetables, especially when followed up by a quick drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.”– Emeril Lagasse

Can You Hear Me Now?

March 4, 2020
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Family, Fun, Health

Recently, my church sponsored a health fair. Representatives from AccuQuest Hearing Centers were among the many vendors.

Since I sometimes think that Mr. Non-Compliant (my dear husband, for new readers to my blog) doesn’t hear me, I suggested we both get our ears checked.

To say that this brilliant idea backfired on me is a major understatement.  

I volunteered to go first for the ear inspection. Of course, I never thought that I had any type of problem. I was merely doing this to get him to play along.

There was a computer screen in front of me, and I could see the inside of my ear as the little camera was taking a peak. Much to my dismay, one eardrum was completely hidden from view due to a huge blob of earwax.

Really? I’m looking out for my loved one, with ulterior motives of course, and THIS is what happens?

Really. I believe that God has quite a sense of humor.

Big. Time. Backfire.

This prompted me to make an appointment at AccuQuest for a FREE HEARING EVALUATION.

During my appointment, Dr. Joshua Elzinga reviewed my ear history and explained how we hear, and what happens when our ability to hear is diminished.

Since the sounds we hear are ultimately interpreted in our brains, hearing loss can lead to dementia, as well as social isolation and frustrated loved ones.

As with any health condition, the earlier hearing loss is detected, the better the outcome.

So this is what happened: Dr. Josh cleared out the wax, explained how the hearing test was done, and did the test. The actual test itself took about 10 minutes. The total time I spent in the office was an hour. If you don’t have earwax to be excavated, your visit will probably be shorter.

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO GET YOUR HEARING CHECKED! This is important for your overall health.

This evaluation was 100% FREE. Since I chose to have the screening done, the wax removal was free as well.

I have next year’s appointment on the calendar, since yearly check-ups are a very good idea.  

There are multiple locations across the country. I visited the Highland location in the Porte De Leau Shopping Center on 45th Avenue.

As for Mr. Non-Compliant, well, he still needs to call Christina to make his appointment. The good news for me is that my hearing is fine, especially since I no longer have a blob of wax preventing those sound waves from reaching my eardrum.

To Your Health,
Carol

“Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the words.”― Roy T. Bennett

Create More Time

February 27, 2020
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Health, Personal Development, Spiritual

When we think about time, it’s the one resource we will never get back.

We can earn more money, buy more things, and make new friends. Time? It is finite for us all.

And have you ever told yourself that you don’t have time to exercise, make healthy meals, clean house, etc?

I would bet money that we are all guilty of “not having enough time” to do something.  

In the book, “Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds,” author David Goggins offers a list of challenges, one at the end of each chapter.

David Goggins is an unbelievable human being, and his book is an inspiration for living up to your greatest potential. NOTE: He is honest and raw. No sugar coating anything.

Since Lent (a period of 40 days that Christians observe from Ash Wednesday to Easter) began yesterday, I’ve decided that this is the perfect time to implement the challenge on scheduling.  

This is a 3-week challenge, so I figure I should be able to master this during the 6 weeks of Lent.

Here it is:

Week 1: Take notes on your daily routines and habits. How often are you on your phone or watching TV? How long do you take to eat and commute to work?

Week 2: Build a schedule to optimize your time. Use 15–30 minute block intervals. When you work, only focus on one thing at a time.

 Week 3: Your schedule should be optimized!

 End Goal: Stop wasting time. Maximize your effort in what you do every day without sacrificing sleep.

Sounds pretty simple. I already know that this will be a very revealing challenge, and I’m in.  

Would you like to join me? If you’re in this with me, I’d love to hear from you. Send me an email and let me know your plan.

What will you do with your newly created time? I’m excited to see what’s possible.

Whatever ways you choose to use the time between now and Easter, may it be time well lived. 

You’ll never see this Lent again.

Blessings and love,
Carol

 “Only you can master your mind, which is what it takes to live a bold life filled with accomplishments most people consider beyond their capability.”
― David Goggins, “Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds”

Busting the Willpower Myth

February 20, 2020
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Family, Food, Health

If I only had a nickel for the number of times I’ve heard, “I don’t have any willpower.”

Let that crazy belief go and let’s move on.

 Eating in a manner that is nutritionally sound a.k.a. eating less junk food, has very little to do with willpower and motivation.

 This game is really about your environment. When healthy foods are convenient and highly visible, you will eat them. When the foods that cause you to binge are not around, it’s tough to binge.  

Here’s an experiment for you to try. Think of it as getting a head start on your spring cleaning, preparing for Lent, taking a stand for better health—whatever works for you.

The Experiment: DO A KITCHEN MAKEOVER

 

Step 1: Make a list of RED, YELLOW, and GREEN light foods.

RED light foods are those that you’d best not have anywhere around. Criteria for these foods: you always overeat them, you don’t feel good after you eat them (in body AND mind), you are allergic/sensitive to them, they don’t help you achieve your health goals. These are typically processed foods.

 YELLOW light foods are the ones that you are moderate with when you’re eating out with others, yet when left alone, unattended…it’s not pretty.

GREEN light foods are great, nutritious, tasty, anytime foods that keep you on track. Eating these foods will definitely make you successful in achieving your goals. These are typically whole foods.

 

Step 2: Clean out anywhere you store food.

 Unload the RED light foods. Toss them or give to a food pantry (if in date and non-perishable).

YELLOW foods may be totally removed, kept in smaller quantities, or somewhat hidden in a very inconvenient place. For example, if you love your homemade trail mix, yet have a tough time stopping at a handful or two when no one is looking, portion it out in small containers and make the rule that you only get ONE container.

Shop for your GREEN light foods. Buy enough for only a few days so they stay fresh, since most of these are in the produce section. Store them in easy to see and reach areas, and have them ready to eat when the hunger monster strikes.

 

Step 3: Take notes.

When you crave a RED or YELLOW food, what happens? Do you go for a GREEN food instead, or do you make a trip to the grocery? Or do you have a glass of water and realize you don’t need to eat anything at all because it’s too much work and you’re not even really hungry?  

Simply notice.

The bottom line is that your environment makes it harder—or easier—to make healthy choices. Always remember this: If a food is in your house, you or someone you love, is eventually going to eat it.

When you remove the foods that notoriously bring you down, this game becomes much easier to win.

Oh, and if you live with other people, like your family, let them know what you’re doing and why. If there are RED light foods they MUST have, make them hide them. You could also eliminate only a few at a time.

Feeling overwhelmed with anything that has to do with food, life, and you? Email me and we’ll find that first step to help you reach your goals!

Much love,
Carol

“Simple is sustainable.”

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