by Amy Downing | May 2, 2025 | Everyday Tools
How to Create Strong Passwords and Manage Them Easily Keeping your online accounts safe starts with one powerful habit: using strong, secure passwords. But with so many logins to keep track of, it’s no wonder password fatigue sets in. The good news? Learning how to...
by Amy Downing | Apr 26, 2025 | Life After 50
When I want to treat myself to a little lift, I buy flowers at the grocery store. There’s just something about walking into the kitchen and seeing fresh blooms on the island. It gives me an instant mood boost. Over the years, I’ve watched a few flower arranging...
by Amy Downing | Apr 17, 2025 | Life After 50
If you’re someone who lights up when your phone buzzes with a text from a friend or you tear up when a photo of your grandkids pops into your inbox, you might just be a Connector. You’re the one who keeps the group chat going, remembers everyone’s birthdays, and finds...
by Amy Downing | Apr 9, 2025 | Everyday Tools
I’m in the midst of a full-to-the-brim week—a big project is ramping up, I need to secure a rental car and finalize our family vacation plans, and we’re heading out of town to see our son at college (and bring home a carload of his stuff before the semester wraps up)....
by Amy Downing | Apr 3, 2025 | Reinvention & Confidence
Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace is not just a novel—it’s an exploration of life’s big questions, wrapped up in history, drama, and deep insights into human nature. As you know, I’m doing a slow read of this famously huge book, taking my time to soak in each...
by Amy Downing | Mar 28, 2025 | Life After 50
I’ve always been a shedder. Cleaning out large clumps of hair from my brush every couple of days was nothing new to me. But something felt different this time. My once-voluminous fine hair now appeared thinner, limper, and my go-to hair products seemed powerless...
by Amy Downing | Mar 18, 2025 | Everyday Tools
Introduction Ever feel like your phone is running your life instead of the other way around? We’ve all fallen into the trap of doomscrolling through news feeds or mindlessly flipping through social media, only to realize an hour has disappeared. But our phones can be...
by Amy Downing | Mar 6, 2025 | Everyday Tools
Have you ever left the house and wondered, “Did I lock the door?” Or worried about who’s at the front door when you’re home alone? A smart home isn’t just about convenience—it’s about peace of mind. With just a tap on your phone,...
by Amy Downing | Mar 2, 2025 | Life After 50
Why Journaling is a Powerful Tool for Self-Discovery If you follow ‘over 50’ or ‘second half of life’ social media groups, read blogs, or listen to podcasts geared toward our age group, you’ve likely heard the same refrain: This is our time of transformation! We’re...
by Amy Downing | Feb 25, 2025 | Life After 50
I live about an hour west of Chicago, in another large Illinois city. For years, my husband and I made the drive south to visit his parents in Champaign, passing through miles of farmland and tiny Midwestern towns—places like Saunemin (population 420) and Strawn...
