A New Discovery ~ Gourmandly, a Fantastic Travel Destination Site

March 17, 2017

A New Discovery ~ Gourmandly

With a name like Gourmandly I knew immediately that we would have a great deal in common! Let’s see… “Gourmandly is here, crafting the world’s best gourmet travel programs. We believe tasting the distinct flavors of a place is the best way to intimately experience its culture, traditions, and people. Join us around our table and around the world.” Sure sounds like us, don’t you agree?

Since creating AdventuresofEmptyNesters.com, we have had the opportunity time and again to connect with so many like-minded people! I get so excited to share all of the wonderful things we find with you!

When you come across a great article or fantastic restaurant don’t you enjoy sharing it with others too?

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.

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.

7 Ways to Build Happiness in the Empty Nest

March 24, 2020February 13, 2017

Don’t get too excited, no sex secrets here today, just a little honest talk about relationships and marriage and a few suggestions for how to build happiness in the Empty Nest. It is Valentine week after all!

The kids have grown up, moved out and are away at school. Most likely they only come home occasionally and that means much more privacy in the Empty Nest. I can remember the lack of privacy when Nick was in high school and I would have to wear a bra under my pajamas if the teenage boys were coming over. I know TMI, but we just never knew who and how many were arriving at 11:00 pm at night. True privacy was non-existent back then!

A Bullet Journal Adventure- What is that?

January 25, 2017

I am excited to start a new bullet journal for all of my adventures ~

Are you familiar with the Bullet Journal? The Bullet Journal is a totally customizable organization system that adapts to your needs. It is modular by design and comprised of interchangeable methods that help you quickly capture and organize information. The four key concepts lay the foundation and they are: Rapid Logging, Collections, Migration and Indexing.

How do you stay organized, keep your adventures in order and track your goals? Do you keep your thoughts in your computer? Do you have one notebook? Several notebooks?

The bullet journal is also known as #BuJo and is associated with a multitude of other hashtags on Instagram. I learned about it last year, but I was spinning in so many directions I couldn’t sit down and get an idea how this new way of logging my info would work for me.

Christmas in the Empty Nest ~ Pasadena Style

March 24, 2020December 21, 2016

Yes, life is different once again this Christmas in the Empty Nest. Not bad different, just different. Actually… exciting different. We have experienced so much change in the last couple of years that this little bit of stability feels good. Both of the kids will be here this holiday season, the fixer upper renovation is finished …

Squeeze it in each day – Take Time to Be Kind

November 28, 2016

There is never a day when to be kind should be a chore. We need to take a breath, slow it down and be kind to everyone.

Gratitude comes in all shapes and sizes, through wishes grand and miniscule. To share a story, to listen to a friend, to writing a thank you note for a kind act or gift, being grateful does not have to be complicated.

This holiday season I feel lots of different emotions. I am sad and happy and grateful. I miss my Dad who passed away in January. I worry for the stormy, negative conversation that is happening here in our beloved country.

I am happy to see longtime friends, my extended family and cherish my time with my grown kids who will both travel here this month.

Maybe ultimately, it will take one person, one grateful day at a time to help mend this fence between people.

Delightfully Uncommon Gift Ideas from Uncommon Goods

January 18, 2018November 23, 2016

Unique Gift Ideas ~

The holidays are around the corner and if you are like me, you want to find just the right gift for everyone on your list!

The inspiring story of Uncommon Goods ~

The folks at Uncommon Goods wrote to me to introduce themselves and I am super happy that they did!

” In 1999, our founder Dave Bolotsky visited a Smithsonian Museum craft show in Washington D.C. and was captivated by the variety of unique handmade goods and the talented people behind them. He saw there was a significant public demand for beautiful design.”

“We attempt to minimize our environmental impact, working with our artists to use sustainable or recycled materials whenever possible, choosing environmentally friendlier packing materials, and printing our catalog on Forest Stewardship Council [FSC] certified and recycled paper.”

Uncommon Goods focuses on the artists and their stories and supports the creative community. I am super impressed with the message they send and their great big heart. What I loved most about the site is the unique gift items that they have listed. Although it may sound repetitive, these gifts are not typical, they are creative and different, not “common” at all.

Empty Nester Holidays: Are they different now?

November 17, 2016

How to handle the empty nester holidays ~ Do we need to adjust?

Holiday Decorating ~

I can remember during the first two years of living in the empty nest, it was pretty rough for me during the holidays. Craig was traveling a lot and my 6’4’’ college son was no longer available to put up the Christmas tree lights with me. One of the highlights of the season for me was to put on the Christmas music and help Nick with the lights on our very tall tree. Ugh, I did have quite the pity party…

The hard truth is that now that the kids are grown and out of the nest, it just isn’t the same and it really sucks sometimes. But I did get through that first year and kept reminding myself that times were changing and I needed to make a new plan; An empty nester plan for the holidays.

Do we decorate? Even if the kids may only be there for a short visit?

Absofrickenlutely! – Over the last few years I have pared down the home decorating, but there is still a strong holiday presence. I don’t cover every surface with Christmas decorations, but I do put up our familiar favorites. There is no reason not to is there?

CarePossible: How to find your passion as an Empty Nester

November 10, 2016

Please welcome my friend of 20 years who is a fantastic husband, father and friend, Randy Moraitis. Randy is a counselor, life coach and interventionist in private practice in Laguna Niguel, CA. He founded CarePossible to provide free mental health and addiction care to low-income families and veterans. On the eve of Veteran’s Day, I felt it was the perfect time for him to share his personal adventure with all of you! Thank you Randy.

How to find your passion as an Empty Nester ~

Recently, after raising a blended family of five, my wife Kim and I became empty nesters (unless you count our Morkie named Rambo).

One of the best parts of being an empty nester is having more time and freedom to pursue one’s passion. My passion is helping those affected by mental health and addiction issues—specifically low income and military families.

After over a dozen years leading large mental health counseling and addiction recovery programs in some great mega-churches, I became exasperated by the number of people who finally get to a place where they really want help for their issues, but because they lack resources they end up slipping through the cracks of society, sometimes overdosing or committing suicide, or at the very least never living a life of purpose or contributing to the community.