A Big Transition, Link Roundup & A Week Menu Plan for 2

Sorry to disappear for a month but it's been ... hard. Last month, we delivered our younger son to his college, and a few days ago, we dropped our older son off at his off-campus apartment so our nest is now truly empty. It's weird how empty the house feels, and I'm so glad that Stella is a part of our lives now. Her arrival allowed me to spend extra time with both kids, and she's good company, not to mention a good reason to get out of bed early every day. (I've marked affiliate/referral links with a *, which means I may make a little bit of money if you make a purchase or sign up using that link - thank you!)

I found myself crying a little bit while reading Jen Hatmaker's First Day of School PSA: College Version. I loved the little anecdote of the college moms sitting next to each other on the plane with wine and napkins. 😂 I needed the reminder that my kids will be fine. My job is to be there to cheer them on, and to take care of myself - not to confuse their lives with my life. I've always tried to do that, but there's less separation when they're living under your roof. It's going to be bizarre not taking into account what they want for dinner, or their schedule, and so on.

But we'll adjust, all of us. I just realized that for the last month, I've been re-reading my favorite series, Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow cozy mysteries,* because it's so comforting. I could do with a little cosseting. I've been splurging on Pumpkin Spice Lattes, and going for long(ish) walks with Stella (her legs are short - we can't walk that much, although I now have a pet sling* so I can "wear" her when she gets tired). And I'll be cooking more meatless meals (the boys love their meat).

I wish I had some words of wisdom for all of us about transitions and phases of life, but all I have is a roundup of links below 😂:

An article about why we spiral - "Big responses to small experiences can help us see what lies beneath the surface."

Everything you ever wanted to know about jellyroll pans.

The new best way to wash produce.

Good tips for buying frozen shrimp - I didn't know about the origin/processing thing.

If you want to make tofu from scratch, Just One Cookbook has you covered.

Ever heard of junk journaling? Apparently there are lots of meet ups.

I love oysters but have always been afraid of shucking them myself. I'm still afraid, but this LAT article makes it sound doable.

I'm about halfway through Tamsen Fadel's excellent How to Menopause* - I wish I'd had it in my late 30's. I wouldn't have had symptoms but it would have been useful to know all the info that she shares before they started.

MENU PLAN FOR TWO - Sept. 15 - 21, 2025

It's weird just cooking for two. The first couple of days, I didn't cook at all. We ate leftovers and stuff from the freezer. In fact, I predict that at least one of the meals below won't get made because we're having leftovers (or better yet, a spontaneous date night), and that's more than ok with me. You might notice a lot more tofu and a lot less meat ... because I can! Also, I'm reverting back to one-week menus til I get the hang of cooking for two.

Monday 9/15 -  Breakfast for dinner

Tuesday 9/16 - Salmon Chirashizushi

Wednesday 9/17 - Beef and Mushroom Pie

Thursday 9/18 - Crispy Tofu Tacos

Friday 9/19 - Gochujang Potato Stew

Saturday 9/20 - Curry Rice (Japanese style)

Sunday 9/21 - Dinner out

(For locals: To access NYT recipes through the library, go here.)

Please let me know if there's something you'd like to see in the roundup. And don't forget to sign up for my monthly periodic email newsletter!