Last week, Jenna started a new job in Maryland, 100+ miles away from home. In a few weeks, she is moving into an apartment and will make it her own. She will definitely come to visit us on quick trips home and long weekends when she can get away. When she comes home, her bedroom is here for her, but what about the rest of the time?

I’m thinking about the possibilities.

First of all, her closet is huge. Once we clean it out (with her help, of course), I can store things in there that we don’t have a place for right now. And yes, I know that I should declutter and rid myself of the things I no longer need – but that’s not what this post is about. Stay with me. LOL!

She also has an impractical desk in her room that she used on and off to do homework. It’s impractical because there is a hutch and shelves attached to it with very little room to spread out and work. What if I replaced it with a pretty writing desk and dedicated part of that room as my writing studio? It’s the perfect corner of the house for me to think, dream, and write. The big windows look out onto the backyard where many family memories took place. Inspiration galore! And did I mention that Jenna’s room has the one thing every writer needs to shut out any distractions from the real world and write to their heart’s content? It has a door to close.

Believe me when I say that it is not my intention to take over her room or change it into something completely different. I’m not creating an indoor “she-shed” or a workout room. It is still hers for as long as she comes home to enjoy it. Her queen-size bed, cushy throw pillows, wall art, and favorite stuffed animals will still be there. Her stickers and shot glasses will remain by the mirror. I’ll keep whatever she wants to save in her closet and dresser. None of her stuff will be touched – except maybe the desk. I’m sure she won’t mind, and if she does, she will let me know after she reads this post!

What do you think? How did you repurpose your children’s rooms after they left the nest? Let me know in the comments. 

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During the hot and humid days of summer, everyone wants to get in the water. Whether it’s swimming in the ocean or jumping off the diving board at the pool, the water is the place to cool off and have some fun.

But sadly, I am missing the water gene in my DNA. Ever since I was little, I have not been a fan of water. And I was born an Aquarius – a water sign! Regardless, I was a big baby about the water, and it took me forever to learn how to swim because I was afraid to put my face in or go under the water. I would cling to the wall during swimming lessons while others played games and raced to the other side of the pool.

Once I got over my initial fear, I figured out how to float, tread water, and swim enough to be able to save myself (G-d forbid). But I’ve never been comfortable in water that I can’t stand in. Case in point, when we took our kids to the water parks, you could always find me on the lazy rivers and log flumes but never on those massive water slides. That was Scott’s job.

At this point, you might be wondering how the heck I have a son who loves to swim, plays water polo, and works as a lifeguard?! Yeah, he didn’t get any of that from me. But because of my fears, I vowed my kids would be good swimmers. I threw them into swimming lessons, signed up for swim teams, and took them to the water parks. I didn’t want them to miss out on the fun like I did when I was younger. So, maybe I had something to do with Andrew swimming like a fish after all.

Last week, when our friends invited us out on their beautiful boat, I had some concerns, while Scott gave a resounding YES! I wish it were that easy for me. All week I was thinking about what might happen if something went wrong. What if we tipped over? What if I got seasick? What if everyone wanted to go in the water, and I’d look silly sitting on the boat in an orange lifejacket? But then I told myself to get over it. Most Saturdays, we are food shopping or running errands. This was the chance to have an adventure and do something fun.

I’m happy to say I found my sea legs pretty quickly and enjoyed myself today! We ate, drank, shopped, and laughed with our friends. Yes, the water was a little choppy in a few places, but I felt perfectly safe relaxing on the deck, checking out all of the cool boats and pretty houses, and being in the company of our good friends while exploring the Chesapeake Bay. I saw people on wave runners and all different kinds of boats. Some boats were anchored so that people could swim nearby. While you won’t catch me jumping off the back of a boat, I’d definitely go for another ride again and soon.

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