By Emily Schilling Though each month of the year is significant in its own way, what with holidays and special events peppered throughout our calendars, diehard race fans live for May. The Indianapolis 500 is such a big deal that the entire month is filled with other events and race-related activities — not just at… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling They look innocent enough: tiny, smooth, brightly colored, sweet nuggets that rest so invitingly in Easter baskets amid cellophane “grass.” Why then do they threaten me so? Evil shouldn’t lurk within a jelly bean! OK, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit when I say “evil.” But since I remember when the only dangers… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling As someone who spent her school years with paper, pencils, canvases and paint at the ready for whenever inspiration hit, I’m especially excited about this month’s issue. It explores the artistic aspects of the Hoosier state. I love art. Seeing works by renowned masters like da Vinci, Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, Matisse… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling For all those who complain that time passes by too quickly, good news! We have an extra day this month. It’s a leap year and there are 29 days in February this year! But here’s something I’ll bet you didn’t know: at least twice upon a time, February consisted of 30 days!… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling Ever since my Barbie moved into her homemade cardboard dream house years ago, I’ve dreamt of having my own tiny house.  Wouldn’t it be cool to be a real-life Alice in Wonderland, living large in a diminutive storybook abode? Furnishings would be sparse and intentional but, of course, super cute, and clutter… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling One of my favorite Christmas traditions is spreading some holiday cheer to a lucky reader. In the past, I’ve given out ornaments, Christmas CDs, one of my favorite holiday movies and a gift basket of Christmas goodies. This year, I’d like to share something meaningful as well as practical: the gift of… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling Thanksgiving and food go hand in hand.  I pull out all my necessary recipes weeks in advance and not only make a shopping list but check it twice. Thanksgiving Day is not the time to suddenly realize you forgot to get an important ingredient!  Good cooks may know how to improvise when… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling What can be seen once in a minute, twice in a moment and never in a thousand years? Are you perplexed by the question?  That’s what I love about brain teasers. You can ponder them for hours weighing all the possible — and impossible — answers. When you finally have that “aha”… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling You’ve probably heard educators talk about different learning styles. We learn best by engaging our dominant sense, be it sight, sound or touch. I, however, believe my most evolved senses are taste and smell. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help me when it comes to learning anything. It’s impossible to eat my way to… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling As much as I say I hate getting up early, my darned internal clock usually awakens me at 5 a.m. even on those days I can sleep in. Of course, I also typically nod off by 9 p.m. (no late night TV for me!) so I get an adequate amount of sleep… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling My daughter says I’m a teenager stuck in a mom’s body. Why? I’m a boy band fan who once sat in the front row at a 1D concert. I read young adult fiction — and watch adaptations of those books when they’re made into movies. I’m obsessed with Hello Kitty. I know… Continue reading.

By Emily Schilling What a difference 16 days can make. In just a little over two weeks, 14 Indiana electric cooperative lineworkers and two project leaders brought electricity to an east central Guatemalan village. Ninety homes, a school, two churches and a pump house were electrified, and villagers suddenly looked forward to opportunities they’d only… Continue reading.