Coffee has never been my beverage of choice. Although I’ve always adored how it smells, its characteristic bitterness assaults my taste buds.   But since I’ve recently discovered caramel frappes — which I’ve decided are my personal “gateway” into the wonderful world of coffee — I’m starting to understand the appeal of an occasional cup… Continue reading.

Letter writing — and the process of sitting down, capturing thoughts and ideas, and actually communicating — seems to be a lost art in these days of texting and social media.  But a documentary released last fall called “Dear Future Me” shows us how writing letters to our future selves can provide clarity and allow… Continue reading.

Shopping is one of my favorite pastimes. And finding unusual things to buy from unusual places is especially enticing to a shopaholic like me. That’s why I was so excited to learn about the Unclaimed Baggage Store which, just like its no-nonsense name suggests, sells all kinds of items that were lost in transit or… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling Some of my fondest memories have been of my silliest moments. I’m not one to laugh readily; my funny bone needs to be seriously tickled to bring on the chuckles. But I’m convinced that a good belly laugh is a powerful, restorative thing. It lifts your mood and the moods of those… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling No, the above headline does not contain a typo. “Friluftsliv” (pronounced free-loofts-liv) is a word coined by Norwegian playwright and poet Henrik Ibsen in the 1850s which literally means “free air life.” Ibsen believed that spending time outdoors enjoying nature was key to maintaining one’s spiritual and physical well-being. Ibsen’s “communing with… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling In my Christmas column last year, I talked about the gift of warmth. This year, sharing the holiday spirit with those we love and with others less fortunate is more important than ever. To say it’s been a tough year is quite the understatement. This year has transformed our habits, accelerated our… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling Thanksgiving will certainly be a bit different this year. Friends and relatives may choose to attend a virtual turkey day celebration instead of an in-person dinner. And those prepping the feast may not only be shielded by aprons, but face masks as well this year. Holiday safety precautions nowadays go far beyond… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling For most of us, 2020 has been the year of getting organized. I know the quarantine certainly ramped my spring-cleaning tendencies into overdrive, and my closets, drawers, pantry and refrigerator were weeded out, reconfigured and tidied up as never before. The organizational adventure continues for me into the fall. I’m just now… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling James Dean truly was the man, the myth and the legend. The Fairmount, Indiana, native may have lived fast and died young, but even after his death on Sept. 30, 1955, his iconic presence endures. I’ve been intrigued by Dean since my freshman year of college. I fell under his charismatic spell… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling Does your everyday life get in the way of your “best life?” I know I’m usually taking care of multiple demands, deadlines, appointments, and other responsibilities — you know, that day-to-day stuff — and not focusing on what’s really important. So, to help me realign my priorities, I’ve come up with a… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling One of my favorite Christmas traditions is watching Hallmark Channel Christmas movies.  Typically, these movies are “happily ever after” flicks that also provide viewers with the holiday of their dreams: small towns decked out to the nines, festively decorated homes, plates of cookies and mugs of hot cocoa, Christmas caroling, snowman building… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling Self-isolation and quarantining — which are now part of everyone’s lexicon — have changed our habits, our lives, our physical health and our mental health. Here are some of my random thoughts about staying put at home after a long career of “going to work.” Not having to set the alarm clock… Continue reading.