Author: Jessica L Gardner
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Mental Health Awareness Month: 10 things I know about mental illness
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and although millions and millions of families are affected by mental health issues, I have found that mental illness is one of the least talked about topics. In fact, I would go so far as to call it taboo. My family is no stranger to mental illness and how…
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Beware: Microsoft Tech Support Scam
Yesterday morning I received a phone call from a gentleman claiming to be from Microsoft Tech Support. He informed me that their servers had received notification from my computer that my computer had been corrupted by some sort of malware or viruses that would render my computer unusable unless I allowed him to help me…
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Advice to new graduates: Create a legacy
My family has a three generation history of delivering commencement addresses. First, my Nana was the valedictorian of her Batesville High School (now South Panola High School) Class of 1933. In 1966, my mom delivered her commencement speech, What I’ve Willed I’ll Do, at Tarpon Springs High School. In 1969, her brother and my uncle…
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Advice to new graduates: Invest for retirement NOW
Welcome to the real world grads! No, no, no. Not the Real World, the REAL WORLD. The one where you become financially independent (hopefully, sooner rather than later), work at a job (ideally one that’s full-time, in your desired field, and has benefits), live on your own (your mom is begging you to do this),…
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Letters to a new mom: A ChicagoNow series
Over the course of this week, ChicagoNow bloggers have come together to provide our collective wisdom to new moms. This series came to be thanks to the efforts of Mary Tyler Mom. It was her suggestion and it caught on like wildfire. To date, there are 41 posts by both moms and non-moms alike. As…
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Letter to a new mom on Mother’s Day: Healthy relationships start with you
ChicagoNow bloggers are joining forces today in support of new moms as they celebrate their first Mother’s Day, although the advice below is just plain good life advice for everyone. Want to read all the posts written for Mother’s Day? We’ve Storified them and you can find them all here. Dear New Mom, Congratulations on your…
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How many licks does it take to get to a Tootsie Roll Pop center?
If you’re of a certain age, you’ve probably tried about a million times to answer that question. Good news: I’ve solved the question! It takes exactly 903 licks to reach the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Roll Pop. Does that sound excessive? Hmmmm, maybe it is. But that’s how long it took me. Oh,…
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You Say It’s Your Birthday? It’s My Birthday Too . . . In 6 Weeks!
We need to have a serious discussion. It has come to my attention that some of you have not yet begun to shop for my birthday, which is just six weeks away. That’s like tomorrow! Knowing that you want to get me the perfect birthday gift, I’ve taken it upon myself to make a few…
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Watervale – My Slice of Heaven
Every summer for as long as I can remember, my family has vacationed at a resort in Northern Iowa Michigan called Watervale. Watervale is a third-generation family owned resort that began as a logging town in the 1800s. The Kraft family purchased the abandoned town in 1917. My family ties don’t go back quite that…
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12 Tips for Buying a Used Car
4/24/14 NOTE: This post has been updated to reflect a 13th tip that I inadvertently forgot to include. It’s a very important step, so please check it out. Two weeks ago, I unexpectedly put myself in the market for a new car when I totaled my car. The good news is that no one was…
Jessica L Gardner 