The Empty Nest :: The Renovated Kitchen and Dining Room Are My Happy Place

February 28, 2020February 12, 2018

A renovated kitchen and dining room adventure ~

I receive a large number of emails asking about our “fixer upper” and questions regarding the entire adventure. Everyone loves HGTV these days don’t they? Every season there is a new city where couples are fixing up old homes and creating amazing living spaces. I can’t get enough. How about you?

Our “updated Spanish” designed kitchen and dining room are my happy place. They are bright and cheery, quaint and efficient. We don’t have a lot of extra room for “stuff”, therefore, we do not purchase multiple sets of dishes and glasses like we had prior to downsizing. Just the basics. Downsizing feels good. Everything has a place and if we want to buy something new, we need to get rid of something in order to make room.

Life in the Empty Nest at Christmas…is Awesome!

February 28, 2020December 27, 2017

Life in the Empty Nest at Christmas is definitely different from when the kids lived here. Not bad different, just different. Actually… exciting different.

We don’t have any Toys R Us shopping to do any longer or a list for Santa. Most of our shopping was done online, how about you? What we do have is lots of quality time with our grown children and our extended family. I think that is what Christmas is really about. We spend more time planning the menus and the handcrafted cocktails, making playlists and taking selfies and Boomerangs. What’s a Boomerang? It is an app where it takes a four second video and repeats it over and over. It’s creative and clever and everyone seems to be doing it. You can see more over on my Instagram=> Here!

Expanding my world through consulting with bloggers & brands ~ A mentoring adventure

March 24, 2020September 19, 2017

Exciting times at Adventures of Empty Nesters ~

Almost every day, I receive a request from a new blogger who is starting out or a company that would like to reach the Adventures of Empty Nesters audience. I spend a great deal of time answering the emails and doing my best to help without cutting in to my time for writing, sponsored posts, brand collaborations and TRAVEL!

Consulting with bloggers ~

Consulting with other bloggers has become a huge passion of mine and I have come to understand that after 3 ½ years of blogging experience, I have a lot to offer. I grew this blog readership person by person, reader by reader hoping to inform, inspire and connect. I love it. I really love it.

When our paths connect with others unexpectedly, it can enhance our lives immeasurably. How fun is it to watch someone’s dream become reality? How good does it feel to assist someone? To mentor someone?

The answer is fantastic! I just wanted to take this opportunity to share this newest adventure with you and hope you will share it with others.

I offer an introductory package that includes a one hour planning session along with a 30 minute follow up for $150.00 We can then meet (virtually) on an as needed basis.

We Made the List! ~ Top Baby Boomer Travel Blogs 2017

February 28, 2020June 2, 2017

We were honored to be named one of the Top Baby Boomer Travel Blogs! Thank you Southwest Discoveries!

Southwest Discoveries

Last year we were thrilled to be on their list for the Top Senior Adventurers. Southwest Discoveries offers unique itineraries, with expert guides for some fabulous tours of the Southwest. If you have a sense of adventure, want to break a little further away from your comfort zone and be enriched and awed by extraordinary places, these trips are designed for you.

Mitch Stevens, founder and lead guide from Southwest Discoveries shares,”In 2016 we decided to separate the wheat from the chaff and give you the absolute cream of the crop in our blog post entitled the Top Travel Blogs For Senior Adventures. In that post, we rounded up 50 Awesome Senior Adventures Travel Blogs that we felt you should be following. These blogs will transport you to fascinating and beautiful places and provide tools, tips, and techniques to help you get the most out of your travel.”

How To Have Fun With Your Adult Kids :: Food, Drink & Music

February 28, 2020May 30, 2017

How to create happy events when your nest is empty ~

Who knew you could have so much fun with your adult kids? At first when the nest was empty I had a difficult time adjusting to the lack of schedule and focus on the kids’ every need. As time went on I learned that I was in charge of my own happiness and had to turn that focus back on to Craig and me.

I realized that although our children are no longer in our day-to-day lives, we could lead successful fulfilling lives, as well as build an equally happy adult relationship with them.

Now that the kids are grown and living on their own, we need to change the way we hang out, but we can still have lots of fun (maybe even more fun).Two times in three weekends we have spent quality time with Nick and his girlfriend Kylie and it worked out perfectly!

Without a Doubt Empty Nesters Love Their Dogs

February 28, 2020March 21, 2017

Without a doubt, empty nesters love their dogs ~

Is it me or are you noticing lots of adorable new puppies on your Facebook feed? From chocolate labs to teeny tiny Chihuahuas, they are coming home to stay with the empty nesters!

Ultimately, it may not the best idea for enhancing your new-found freedom. The kids are grown, the house is quiet and you get… A DOG? Why now? Why complicate your life with a new puppy? Because they are awesome!

Success in the Empty Nest: The 40th Anniversary of our First Date

February 28, 2020March 13, 2017

Early this morning my sweet and thoughtful husband posted this same photo and announced this auspicious 40th year celebration. My initial reaction was “This will kill any interest in my post.” But then I realized I was being silly, who cares if anyone reads this, be grateful he wanted to share it with the social media world because he does it so rarely. In case you wanted more details, here are a few more. Thanks for reading.

Crazy About Instagram – An Empty Nester Solution

February 28, 2020March 10, 2017

Yes, I am enamored with Instagram!

Need I even mention that Facebook is not the place it used to be? Every time I go on my feed (which I swear only shows me the same 20 people) I am always hoping to see someone’s travels, a grandchild, a graduation, an inspiring workout, some delicious food, just a little P-O-S-I-T-I-V-E posting.

I am not oblivious, I know what is happening in the world and I have strong opinions, but I won’t be sharing them on FB.

Instagram is HUGE and growing and I have written for years that it is the most fun social media platform. I love the creativity and no one cares about your personal information, everyone can see and like what you share if they find you. You can use a hashtag to find anything you are interested in. Maybe its #pizza or #travel or #ocean, the more specific your hashtag the closer you get to what you are looking for. Check out these Instagrammers for some awesome and engaging photography!

Really Fun Things to do with Your Adult Children in Seattle

February 28, 2020March 9, 2017

What are the best things to do with your adult children in Seattle?

First, make sure you create plans that everyone will be happy with and talk about it, negotiate if you have to. Just don’t make it all about Mom and Dad, include everyone’s favorite activities.

Traveling with a young family is entirely different from deciding what to do with your adult children. When the kids are younger, they pretty much have to do what we say and acquiesce to any plans that we make for them. We are the adults and they are the children.

Once these little people grow up, the game changes. Everyone is living on their own paying their own bills (except their cell phones) coming and going as they please and making their own traveling choices. Deciding what to do with your adult children now becomes a bit more of a conversation, not to mention a logistical nightmare sometimes.

All that aside, we happen to have two enthusiastic grown travelers who are willing (mostly) to do anything that I decide to plan. The fun part is that now they can insert their own experiences and planning skills and our combined efforts turn out some pretty awesome trips.

The four of us took two successful trips together last year and will hopefully be planning one for 2017.

A Cooking Adventure: My Favorite Risotto Recipe

February 28, 2020February 17, 2017

Family time and our favorite risotto recipe ~

Cooking and eating great food is a huge part of our everyday life, as well as our traveling experiences. While on a trip, we have fun searching for terrific local cuisine, I take foodie walking tours and attend a cooking classes and while at home, cook for our family or just for Craig and I in the Empty Nest.

About five years ago, I carefully assembled all of our family’s favorite dishes and created a cookbook, Recipes From Your Childhood. I self published through Blurb.com and really enjoyed the experience!

What I loved most was being able to give our children recipes to meals that they loved as children and this allowed them to revisit many wonderful childhood memories. For this labor of love, I tested every recipe and photographed each finished product myself. It is my “go to” cookbook and has made my personal recipe organization a breeze.