From My Couch to Your Carry-On: July Notes on Grief, Growth & Travel Wellness
From Kerri’s Table
July Notes on Grief, Growth & Grounding Yourself
Hi friend,
Can you believe we're already this far into the year?
July always feels like a strange little pocket of time — the fireworks fade, the summer rhythm sets in, and for many of us, there's a quiet call to pause. Maybe you're catching your breath after a whirlwind June. Maybe you’re already dreading the back-to-school or fall weather shift. Or maybe you're just trying to keep up with everything and still remember what day it is. (Same.)
A Look Back
This time last year, I was still holding on tight.
My daughter was still home, getting ready for her freshman year of college, and I was busy doing what I do best — planning, organizing, pretending I was fine. There were bins and checklists and trips to Target. There was no way to prepare for what was coming.
She left at the end of August. And everything changed.
The silence hit me like a wave — no slamming doors, no late-night cereal bowls, no background noise of her laughter from the couch. Suddenly, I was a single empty nester, sitting in a quiet house I didn’t recognize.
So when July rolled around this year, it brought more than just hot days and BBQs. It brought memories. What I was doing this time last year. The me who had no idea what was coming.
And I’m not writing this to make you cry (although I am a professional-level Grey’s Anatomy crier). I’m writing this because maybe you’re here too — sitting in a season that’s asking a lot of you. Or sneaking up on you with feelings you didn’t plan for.
The Quiet Couch
That’s why I started writing a book.
It’s called The Quiet Couch: An Empty Nester’s Truth About Grief, Hope, and Healing. It’s part picture book, part memoir, and part love letter to any woman who’s ever looked around her home and thought, “I don’t know who I am right now.” It’s still in progress, but it’s coming together — one page at a time.
The FLY Deck
And while I was deep in the mess of all of that, I made something small but powerful:
The FLY Deck.
A collection of 9 themed card sets filled with tiny pep talks, truth-telling reminders, and doable mindset shifts. Cards that say:
“You don’t need to fix your whole life today.”
“You’re not behind. You’re rebuilding.”
“Take the next right step. That’s it.”
Each deck comes with 10 of these no-fluff reminder cards, plus two blank ones so you can write your own truth. They’re like the friend who texts you exactly what you needed to hear — except they fit in your bag, your kitchen drawer, or that little spot on your nightstand where the good stuff lives.
A Few Mid-Summer Wellness Reminders
This time of year can be weird. It’s hot, unstructured, emotional, and sometimes triggering — especially when you're living through a season of change. So here are some little nudges for wherever July finds you:
Rest is productive.
You don’t need to earn rest. You’re not a robot. Naps count. Walks count. Sitting outside doing nothing for 20 minutes? That definitely counts.
Bring back micro-moments.
Instead of trying to overhaul your routine, pick one tiny thing:
Drink water before coffee
Step outside before picking up your phone
Stretch while the shower warms up
Watch whatever show makes you feel calm
Honor your rhythms.
Not every month is meant for major transformation. July might not be your season to hustle. It might be a season to pause, take inventory, and breathe.
Find one tiny thing that’s just for you.
A walk. A playlist. A new flavor of tea. A weird hobby. One woman I know started painting rocks.
(Okay, it was me. I painted a lot of rocks.)
Pampered Chef Quick Note
For my Pampered Chef fans: several items are leaving the line soon — for good. I put together a quick link here so you can see what’s retiring. If there’s something you’ve had your eye on, this is your last chance to grab it:
👉 See the Retiring Products Here
Something Local & Fun!
If you're local to me in New Jersey, I'm planning a Pampered Chef Meal Prep Workshop — a cozy, in-person get-together where we’ll chop, prep, laugh, and leave with meals ready for the week. It will be low-stress, high-fun, and packed with practical tools (and probably snacks).
If you're interested in being the first to know, click here to be added to my invite list. I'd love to cook alongside you.
Real-Life Wellness on the Go
Whether you're traveling this summer or just living life in “not-at-home” mode, staying healthy can feel like a challenge. But it doesn't have to.
Here are 8 ways to stay well on the go — no perfection required, just tiny choices that support you wherever you are:
🥕 1. Pack Smart Snacks
Fruit, veggies, nut butter, hummus, cheese sticks, wraps, overnight oats, low-salt popcorn — all easy wins.
🥤 2. Stay Hydrated
Water is your travel BFF. Refillable bottles, jugs, or tea in a thermos = game changer.
🍽 3. Know What to Order
Look for grilled or baked proteins, veggie sides, vinaigrettes, or share meals when portions are big.
🧘♀️ 4. Move in Micro-Moments
Stretch at rest stops, use resistance bands, try a yoga flow in your hotel room. Even 10 minutes helps.
🧳 5. Stress Less
Deep breathing, body scans, and quiet moments = nervous system gold. (Especially during travel chaos.)
🌿 6. Go Natural
Bring ginger, probiotics, magnesium, ginseng, and tea tree oil — small things, big relief.
💰 7. Budget Without Stress
Plan ahead, pack light, write down your spending limits, and build in flexibility.
🏞 8. Get Outside
Nature resets everything — mood, digestion, sleep. Let your vacation feed your soul, not just your camera roll.
Bonus Tip: 📱There’s an app for that
Use Insight Timer for stress, MyFitnessPal to stay mindful.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been following along, reading these emails, sharing posts, or just silently cheering me on — thank you. I know how noisy inboxes are, so it means the world that you’re here.
Wherever this month finds you — sweaty, scattered, thriving, grieving, or somewhere in between — I just want you to know:
You’re not behind.
You’re not too late.
And you’re not broken.
You’re just human. And that’s enough.
Thanks for being here with me. I’m so grateful we’re at the table together.
Let’s keep flying — even if it’s with tired wings.
With love (and maybe a cookie),
Kerri
FLY to the Table
