Parenting

Unseen Pitfalls: 8 Mistakes Empty Nesters Make Without Realizing It

Unseen Pitfalls: 8 Mistakes Empty Nesters Make Without Realizing It
Discover the eight common mistakes that Empty Nesters often make without realizing it in this insightful blog post. From overlooking self-care and neglecting relationships with their partners to ignoring financial planning and clinging to the past, Empty Nesters may find themselves navigating uncharted waters. However, by prioritizing self-care, nurturing relationships, reassessing financial situations, embracing the present, maintaining social connections, seeking healthier coping mechanisms, understanding their adult children's independence, and pursuing personal goals, Empty Nesters can make the most of this transformative phase. With mindful navigation, the empty nest phase can lead to personal growth, renewed relationships, and exciting new adventures.
Read more...

Embracing a Natural Journey: A Mother's Quest for a Healthier Lifestyle

Embracing a Natural Journey: A Mother's Quest for a Healthier Lifestyle
Follow Olivia's journey as she embraces a natural lifestyle for her family, exploring the world of essential oils and finding a perfect brand to support her new lifestyle. Discover the power of Young Living's authentic essential oils and natural products in improving overall wellness. 
Read more...

✨ My blog exists because I know what it feels like to keep everything jumbled in your head — like a messy pile of clothes you can’t sort through.

 Writing it all down brings clarity, calm, and sometimes even healing answers I didn’t know I was looking for.


Honestly, that’s why I keep showing up to write — it helps me make sense of things. 

 Even if you have no intentions of ever publishing your work, I highly recommend writing stuff down. It doesn't have to be a literary masterpiece or even full, grammatically correct sentences... just dump those random thoughts onto paper... you'll see what I mean.

Hi! I'm AJ Flanagan.

 
Hey there — I’m AJ.

I’m an empty-nester and a widow who had a wake-up call about the hidden toxins in everyday products most of us grew up using. Our parents didn’t know. We didn’t know either. But once you start paying attention, it’s hard to ignore.

Life shifted in 2018 when my husband, Eric, was diagnosed with leukemia — and again in 2023 when we faced a second cancer diagnosis. Supporting him through treatment changed how we looked at just about everything, including how we cared for our home, our bodies, and our day-to-day routines.
We didn’t aim for perfection or extremes. We focused on simple, meaningful changes — reducing toxic load in our home, choosing better ingredients, prioritizing nourishing food, and building calmer rhythms into daily life. Tools like aromatherapy, music, meditation, and intentional rest became part of how we coped and stayed grounded.

Caring for Eric deepened my commitment to living well — not as a trend, but as a way of showing up with intention and grace, even in the hard seasons.

Now I share our story, the lessons we learned, the small changes that made a big difference, and how I'm moving forward. My hope is to make wellness feel more approachable, less overwhelming, and rooted in real life — especially for anyone who wants healthier options without pressure or perfection.

If you’re here to find what actually works for you, you’re in the right place.

Contact

Copyrights © 2026 held by respective copyright holders, including AJ Flanagan.