by Alison Martin | Dec 30, 2020 | Everyday Hero |
Teachers are always heroes. Their passion for educating future generations is such an important calling. But during this pandemic, teachers have had to pivot and begin teaching from a distance. Carol Kaplan Koepenick has been a teacher for over 30 years. She has... 
by Alison Martin | Dec 3, 2020 | Scuffed Stuff |
Ok… let’s be honest… the title of this story may not be the truth… Actually, sometimes I don’t listen. I get stuck in my head with the same old, limited thoughts rattling around… but.. I ordered flowers from my friend Robin at Mulberry Row. She... 
by Alison Martin | Nov 25, 2020 | Expert Advice, Featured, Interviews, Videos |
insidewink co-founders, Jean Trebek and Alison Martin, discuss being grateful even in the midst of the messiness of life with Kristi Nelson, Executive Director of gratefulness.org and author of “Wake Up Grateful” “My practice is grateful living. And... 
by Alison Martin | Nov 22, 2020 | Artists, Featured, Great Reads |
Joanne Kimes is the author of the “Sucks” book series whose titles include Pregnancy Sucks, Dating Sucks, Dieting Sucks, Grammar Sucks, Potty Training Sucks, Breastfeeding Sucks, Menopause Sucks, Bedtime Sucks and Christmas Sucks. Joanne Kimes makes me... 
by Alison Martin | Nov 11, 2020 | Everyday Hero, Featured, Scuffed Stuff |
Alex Trebek: Loving husband, father, friend and host of Jeopardy!. We hold his family, his best everlasting legacy, in our hearts. Photo courtesy of Jeopardy! Over the weekend, the world lost a one-of-a-kind personality who we invited into our homes for over 35 years.... 
by Alison Martin | Oct 26, 2020 | Expert Advice, Great Reads, Interviews |
I Can’t Believe It’s ALL Butter! Our very own Emma Berdie Donson has been introducing us to some very interesting people. One of them is author Elaine Khosrova! Jean and I had the opportunity to speak with Elaine about her new book “Butter: A Rich... 
by Alison Martin | Oct 3, 2020 | Scuffed Stuff |
I gave birth to my daughter. I know I did. I have proof, I have pictures! I remember how seriously I took becoming a mom. I tried to be so good, with the most advanced black and white hanging thingies in the bedroom (because I read that babies can’t see colors),... 
by Alison Martin | Sep 1, 2020 | Artists, Featured, Interviews, Scuffed Stuff |
Outside HelMel Studio & Gallery in Los Angeles: John Becerra of SparkRise, Val Kilmer, and Brad Koepenick Who doesn’t know of Val Kilmer? Let’s take that one step further, who doesn’t love Val Kilmer? First, there are his incredibly varied and... 
by Alison Martin | Aug 25, 2020 | Artists, Interviews |
I’ve known Kate Chassner a long time – thirty years! That’s most of her life. I met her at my wedding when I married her mother’s brother. My first distinct memory of Kate was when she held my bouquet, smothered her face in the flowers then... 
by Alison Martin | Aug 5, 2020 | Scuffed Stuff |
The Words The other day, someone I barely know but whom I have been working with sporadically the last few weeks told me that I was incredibly difficult. They said I was off-putting and pushy. They said we would never be friends if we were ever to meet. They said I... 
by Alison Martin | Jul 31, 2020 | Everyday Hero, Featured |
Out of the blue one of our readers, Louise Gardner, contacted us about her amazing sister, Tricia Patterson, with this simple email: My sister is 18 months younger than I am. She is a paraplegic with pulmonary fibrosis. She is my hero who has always lived each day as... 
by Alison Martin | Jul 3, 2020 | Scuffed Stuff |
The Struggle This month, I am tasked with writing about “character” and I find that I am struggling. I usually write about one event that will sum up a theme or one moment with a stranger or my family that I feel is universally reflective. But, for me, this moment... 
by Alison Martin | Jun 14, 2020 | Charity, Featured, Interviews |
Honoring Farrah Fawcett’s own fight with cancer… … by supporting “cutting edge research, patient assistance funds for those faced with mounting expenses during treatment and prevention programs to help spread the word so the cancer struggle... 
by Alison Martin | Jun 3, 2020 | Featured, Scuffed Stuff |
Dear Couch, I’m glad you’re sitting down… or lying down…I have something to tell you… I just wanted to say how great you are. So gentle and yet firm. You really get me. And the way you hold me… your arms are snug but not confining… your selfless, too. You allow... 
by Alison Martin | May 5, 2020 | Scuffed Stuff |
I have to write this article on beauty, so I have some confessions: I have worn make-up only twice in the last 7 weeks. I have not plucked my eyebrows in over a month. I don’t dye my hair. I don’t feel beautiful, not even in the slightest, and when I look in the... 
by Alison Martin | Apr 4, 2020 | Scuffed Stuff |
A Lifetime of “Breaking News” I have a heart condition and my husband and I both work freelance as actors… so, just like many people, during these times I feel fear and worry and dread about both health and finances. I was also raised by two parents who... 
by Alison Martin | Mar 5, 2020 | Scuffed Stuff |
It’s been a challenging time… or maybe it’s best to say that I am having a challenging time (less victim, more power that way). Lots of change and surprises for myself and my family… so I’m feeling a lot. Last Friday, my husband and I had an incredibly busy, stressful... 
by Alison Martin | Feb 14, 2020 | Editor Notes |
insidewink’s editors monthly “share” Hello friends, Happy Self Love Day! Happy Valentines Day, too! How has February been treating you? 2020 is moving so fast… It’s mid-month already and we have so many more wonderful offerings for you coming up... 
by Alison Martin | Feb 4, 2020 | Featured, Scuffed Stuff |
The best time to talk to someone is in the car. It’s sort of quiet and the passing scenery takes on a meditative quality and, well, basically you’re trapped. No one is going anywhere so you might as well talk. I knew I had to write this article on our theme of love... 
by Alison Martin | Jan 30, 2020 | Everyday Hero, Featured |
Steve Alperin is at the heart of SurvivorNet’s mission— To bring comfort and power to those looking for answers by creating a valuable online resource for cancer treatment and prevention. Survivornet’s Steve Alperin, and co-founder Tim Langloss, want to help... 