Victoria Ponders

September 20, 2022

“Begin Again”

A great movie nurtures my soul – filling me with happy! 😊 Continue reading

Wellness

"Begin Again", artists, genius, happiness, magic, movies, music
September 18, 2022

Turn Down the LOUD

Learning to deal with LOUD…sounds as anxiety triggers. Continue reading

Wellness

anxiety, Highly sensitive persons, HSP, noise, self-care, sound sensitivity, Wellness
September 17, 2022

Favorite Artist: Robert Kipniss

Art that makes a house feel like home…thanks to Kipniss… Continue reading

Design

art, artists, DIY, fixer upper, home design, landscapes, lithographs, married life, Robert Kipniss
September 16, 2022

Shake, Rattle & Roll

What do you do when a piece of furniture wants to chat? Continue reading

Family

Family, ghost story, memories, remembering loved ones, spooky, unexplained noises
September 15, 2022

Verbal Guard Rail: Thanks, Dad!

Wisdom in wee morsels from my papa… Continue reading

Family

dads and daughters, Family, memories, quotes, self-care, Wellness, wisdom
September 14, 2022

Puppy Dog Eyes

Human connection to our beloved pets…sending love from Sadie. Continue reading

Family

Chihuahuas, dogs, human-pet connections, love, pet lovers, puppy, puppy love
September 13, 2022

Time-Tested Advice

Loving and wise health advice from a distant colleague…eventually, it stuck! Continue reading

Wellness

eating well, food diary, nutrition, Pilates, pizza, walking, Wellness
September 12, 2022

Smallest Act of Caring

Unexpected and wonderful – kindness and caring, Costco style. Continue reading

Wellness

caring, Costco, gratitude, kindness, love, Martin Luther King Jr, moms
September 11, 2022

When You Crack Yourself Up

Best laughter? Giggling at our own mistakes! Continue reading

Wellness

blogging, humor, laughter, self-care, typos
September 11, 2022

Finding My Way to Forgiveness

Despite the madness, forgiveness was always the destination. Continue reading

Family

Family, forgiveness, girlfriends, gratitude, love, mental health, self-care
September 9, 2022

Don’t Say It…Don’t Say It

Mark Twain and Paul McCartney…my unlikely self-restraint superheroes! Continue reading

Wellness

communication, humor, mark twain, paul mccartney, self-improvement
September 8, 2022

One Precious Painting

Loving one precious painting – across the decades. Continue reading

Design

art, chicago, Family, graphic art, gratitude, monochrome, painting, treasures, vintage
September 7, 2022

Creativity and Professor Plum

Wisdom from a beloved professor…’write or die’… Continue reading

Wellness

confidence, creativity, expression, inner critics, mentors, writing
September 6, 2022

Laugh Track with Lisa 😊

A tale of Jungian insight over a bowl of brownie batter. Continue reading

Wellness

ambivert, Carl Jung, extraversion, Family, introversion, listening, love, self-care, stress
September 4, 2022

Family Traditions: Trees, Please

Patterns repeat – one family’s love of evergreen trees across the generations. Continue reading

Family

Family, family history, gratitude, love, nature, trees
September 3, 2022

Chip Face

Who needs birthday cake? Bring me a bag of Ruffles! Continue reading

Family

chips, Family, first birthdays, humor, parenting
September 2, 2022

Bumps & Blessings in Parenting

For the parents – encouragement and love from me to you! Continue reading

Family

blessings, Family, happiness, joy, love, parenting, resilience, stress
September 1, 2022

Hot Pipes & Guacamole

Popping in from the hereafter…my dad provided a dose of humor in a spicy guacamole moment. Continue reading

Family

dads and daughters, dogs, Family, guacamole, humor, spicy food
August 30, 2022

Beautiful Books

Using family mementos – books – to make your home your own. Easier than you think! Continue reading

Design

antiques, books, fireplace mantel, interior design, repurposing, vintage
August 29, 2022

Back-to-School

“Back to school” worries for parents – one mom’s reflections. Continue reading

Family

back to school, Katie Gutierrez, parenting, safety, Time
August 27, 2022

Love, Magic, Wonder

Three words that matter most to me… Continue reading

Wellness

confidence, happiness, love, self-esteem, self-talk, Wellness
August 26, 2022

Power of Play

Keeping childlike wonder within… Continue reading

Family

board games, Family, inner child, Madeleine L'Engle, memories, play, Wellness
August 25, 2022

Repeating Patterns

Design influences & family roots… Continue reading

Design

architecture, black and white, Design, family history, France, gratitude, monotone
August 24, 2022

I Confess…A Vitamin Story

Make it pretty: My vitamin-taking hack. Continue reading

Design

confession, Design, self-care, vitamins, Wellness
August 23, 2022

Nature Speaks

A reminder to pause and admire… Continue reading

Wellness

flowers, gratitude, nature, Wellness
August 22, 2022

Monday MEOW

Start the day anew – make your bed! Continue reading

Wellness

Admiral McRaven, make your bed, self-care, stress, Wellness
August 21, 2022

At the Barbeque

The power of a heartfelt compliment. Continue reading

Wellness

be the light, compliments, confidence, employee morale, gratitude, kindness, self-esteem, Wellness
August 20, 2022

White Shirt, Helping Heart

Sweet memories of my dad…his love of white shirts and helping others. Continue reading

Family

dads and daughters, family memories, fashion, gratitude, helping others, love
August 19, 2022

Allergies, anyone?

Soothing allergy eyes – the simple way! Continue reading

Wellness

allergies, puffy eyes, tips and tricks, Wellness
August 18, 2022

Passing Through

Mulling over…the people in our lives and work/life balance. Continue reading

Wellness

Eleanor Tweddel, gratitude, huffpost UK, relationships, Wellness, work
August 17, 2022

Well Worn and Loved

Vintage shoes…the memories they hold. Continue reading

Design

daughters, Family, fathers, France, frye boots, memories, shoes, vintage
August 16, 2022

Comfy Wins!

Wardrobe confessions and love of black turtlenecks and simple dressing. Continue reading

Design

black turtlenecks, fashion, issey miyake, simplicity, steve jobs
August 16, 2022

Confident – From the Inside Out

Empowerment and encouragement to be confident without relying on external validation. Continue reading

Wellness

confidence, happiness, self-esteem, Wellness
August 15, 2022

Fool the Eye – Sea or Sky?

Look for the magic. Roald Dahl quote. Continue reading

Wellness

gratitude, nature, photography
August 14, 2022

Angry Eaters

Acknowledging generational eating disorders in one family. Continue reading

Family

body image, healthy eating, social media, Wellness
August 13, 2022

Rolling with the Unexpected

Learning to deal with unexpected health crises in the family. Continue reading

Family

courage, Family, health, lifegoals, priorities
August 12, 2022

Fisherman Joe

Managing expectations and remembering to be joyful. Continue reading

Wellness

Family, fishing, happiness, joy
August 11, 2022

Little Treasures

Family keepsakes and photos and the importance of displaying them. Continue reading

Family

Family, history, interior design, treasures, vintage photos
August 10, 2022

Sadie & Bunny

Importance of giving pets their favorite toys to snuggle with. Continue reading

Wellness

Family, puppy love
August 9, 2022

Maxine’s Gingersnaps

Gingersnap cookie recipe and remembering family. Continue reading

Family

Family, memories, recipes
August 8, 2022

Loving Lisa

Life lessons learned from my disabled sister. Continue reading

Family

disability, Family, kindness
August 7, 2022

Words Matter

Improving communication by being careful about choice of words and tone. Continue reading

Wellness

communication, relationships
August 6, 2022

Quietly Quitting?

“Quietly quitting” may prevent finding fulfilling and joyful work. Continue reading

Wellness

#quietlyquitting, joy, workplace
August 5, 2022

Gratitude Glimpse

Seneca happiness quote Continue reading

Wellness

gratitude, happiness, seneca
August 4, 2022

My Kind of Swirl

Slowing down for teatime and avoiding stress. Continue reading

Wellness

relationships, teatime
August 3, 2022

Unfinished

Learning to live with unfinished business. Continue reading

Wellness

flexibility, lifehack
August 2, 2022

Ticking Tock

Being choosey about how we spend our most valuable assets: time. Continue reading

Wellness

positivity, time management
August 1, 2022

Thinking Chairs

Everyone needs a place to think and ponder: thinking chairs. Continue reading

Wellness

lifehack, thinkingchair
July 29, 2022

Perfectly Imperfect

Loving the imperfect treasured objects in our homes. Continue reading

Wellness

#perfectlyimperfect, vintage
July 23, 2022

Baby Bird

Nature study of a baby bird and mama bird. Continue reading

Wellness

gratitude, nature
July 22, 2022

Beautiful Betty

Understanding dreams and remembering departed loved ones. Continue reading

Family

dreams, Family
July 21, 2022

Visual Vignettes

Personalizing interior design with objects you love. Continue reading

Design

interior design, vintage
July 20, 2022

Sadie Girl

Wellness reminders from beloved family pets on a hot day. Continue reading

Wellness

gratitude, puppy
July 19, 2022

Honesty

Billy Joel’s “Honesty” lyrics and healthy relationships Continue reading

Family

billy joel, honesty, relationships
July 13, 2022

Memories Matter

Memories and family mementos matter and help with grief. Continue reading

Family

Family, grief, memories

“Surviving Sue”, a special story about resiliency and love: Eckhartz Press (paperback) and eBook on Amazon.

Peek Inside “Surviving Sue“

Visit Resources on Atkinson Group Solutions for more.

Workshops

Chicago Writers Association Speakers Bureau – Writing for Wellness; Navigating Elder Care with Grace & Humor

BLOG ARCHIVES

Peek Inside “Surviving Sue“

Workshops

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