There’s no reason to lament an empty nest. Get outta there and have some fun.

And you don’t have to go far. My hubby decided we needed a ride up to Chautauqua. It’s closed for the season, but it’s impressive any time of year.

The communities all around the region also impress.  We stopped at Dick’s Harbor House in Mayville, N.Y., for a lumberjack brunch cheaper than I could have made it at home. We sat in a booth by the window with a full view of the lake.

We toured the antique stores in Westfield. Saraf’s gives you a glimpse into old elegance with incredible furniture that looks like it came out of castles. We marveled at the old homes and made a final stop at Meeder’s Restaurant in Ripley, N.Y. The sign says it has world-famous pies, and we agree it was some of the best pie we’ve ever eaten. I was tempted by the lemon meringue but had coconut cream. My husband had warm blackberry pie with ice cream.

Quaint little towns, family diners and a calm, quiet Sunday with my hubby. Yeah baby, that’s what empty nesting’s all about. And then my son came home from Gannon University to watch the football game last night, so the empty nesting never lasts too long. But that’s what makes it sweeter.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

Members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team—which earned a record number of golds for women—from left: Missy Franklin, swimming; Gabby Douglas, gymnastics; Kayla Harrison, judo; Allyson Felix, track and field; Carli Lloyd, soccer.

These awesome women made gold more than an accessory at the Olympics.

Glamour magazine’s 2012 Women of the Year issue, photographed entirely by 114 women, hits newsstands and homes Nov. 6.

It’s a celebration of women — in sports and everywhere else.

Speaking of great and golden women, Gannon University and the Erie Insurance Arena will host the NCAA Division II Elite 8 women’s basketball championship tournament in March 2014.

WOOHOO and congrats to my tennis bud, Gannon University President Keith Taylor on one great achievement for Gannon University and Erie.  Read all about it here. The Gannon women’s basketball team went to the Elite 8, a few years ago.

Read more about the current Gannon women’s team here.

If you remember — some other local women brought big crowds to Erie in 2011, when Mercyhurst and Erie hosted the NCAA Division I Women’s Hockey Championship tournament.

Golden girls are all around us! Go girls!

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

You should be able to hear the giant sigh come right off this page. My oldest son, the doctor of physical therapy from Gannon University, passed his licensing exam. He took it a week ago, and we have been waiting nervously ever since for the news of what’s next.

Last night at midnight, we got the news. I am so proud. He passed the grueling 6-hour test that challenges men and women to spill their guts on what they have learned in three years of grad school. It is one final exam that gives them the license to practice. Congrats to him and all the kids who took that exam.

From the time our kids are little, they are tested on everything from times tables to reading comprehension and math abilities. And that can test a parent’s patience.

When they get older, college SATs become the important number. After that — admissions tests for graduate degrees followed by exams that prove they know what they paid a gazillion dollars to learn are the norm for teachers, nurses, lawyers, doctors and, well anyone, who needs a license to do anything.

In a few weeks, kids will go back to school. If your child finds timed tests challenging, find some help because it is only the beginning.

Here’s a link to help your kids build confidence in timed math and reading tests.

Here’s an article from Mark Pullen, a teacher blogger who makes timed math tests fun.

Here’s a link to an article (published today) about math skills and how to help your child develop an appreciation for math, not just learning it because they have to. It’s a paid article at $2.95.

My son turns 26 tomorrow and what a birthday present.

Pam Parker is the time-tested mom of a doctor of physical therapy, a CPA and a college student and the stepmom of two teachers and an EMT. She is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

In honor of my youngest moving to his first apartment at Gannon University, here are a few stories on a new trend of tiny apartments and homes from 90 square feet up. The one woman didn’t have a kitchen. Or a kitchen sink. She did dishes in the tub. The apartments are often called micro-sized, and it’s gaining some favor among homeowners too — little houses the size of sheds becoming home-sweet-home.

The photo at left is of a pantry. That may be all the kitchen most college students need … and a microwave. And a crock pot. Oh, and a coffee pot.

For the rest of us, here are some tiny apartments folks call home with a story from New York City and another from Curbed.

Less is more. Here are some adorable little homes that move with ease. A lot of 99-square-foot homes and a whopper at 874 square feet. Take a look — you won’t knock it after you see it.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

Just when you tell your kids to not to gamble or play Internet poker, along comes 2004 McDowell grad Darren Elias.

He won nearly $3 million at the World Poker Tour Jacksonville BestBet Open in May. Read the full story here. His dad is Bill Elias, Gannon’s former athletic director and football coach and current project manager of finance and administration.

My oldest son got pretty good at online games and he and my youngest were really good at Madden NFL tournaments (online and video football games), but they never won millions — that we know of.

Congrats to Darren Elias.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

There’s a look of contentment you see in your children from the time they develop their unique personalities. It makes you smile with love and gives you peace. This is that look for my son Howie. I took this photo yesterday after he received his diploma and was announced as Doctor Howard Eckert at the Gannon University commencement.

Thanks to the Physical Therapy Department at Gannon University. A small team of dedicated teachers spent three years (post-college graduation) turning 38 young men and women into doctors of physical therapy. It was a road that covered a lot of geography for clinical assignments. Howie lived in more places in the last few years than I lived in my life, and he never complained because he loves what he does. Socializing with all the people he spent these years with at a dinner was heartwarming, and I’m so thankful to them.

There is nothing easy about choosing a career. Kids face a lot of challenges, but when they find what they love, and a team to guide them, it’s a joyful route. To all the moms and dads out there worried about what your kids will do — here’s a picture to look forward to. I have tons of posed shots, but this one speaks to me.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

Tapping — not on trees and not on the table — it’s tapping basically on your own head and body with your fingertips.

Before you think this is just a lot of hooey, keep in mind that tapping or the Emotional Freedom Technique is in use at the Mayo Clinic and many other holistic clinics. It’s coming to Erie May 11 at the 5th Annual W.I.L.D. Conference, presented by Gannon University‘s Small Business Development Center.
Kimberly Morrow will present Emotional Freedom Technique - How to Manage Stress through Tapping in a breakout session at 11 a.m. Click here to register!

Endorsed by Livestrong.com, here are two web sites that show you how to perform tapping: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gmz-b2sV0Q and http://eft.mercola.com/

Claims are many that it helps with anxiety, weight loss and other problems. Tap on!

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

At home fashion parties now have some sole. You’ve attended the at-home parties for Mary Kay, Silpada and Stella and Dot. Now, roll out the welcome mat for Shush Shoes where guests can sample shoes, and the hostess gets free shoes. What’s not to love? Thanks to Christine Yamrick of Chateau Christine who told me about the company.

New associate Mariah MaLoon, a former marketing director at Villa Maria Academy in Erie, Pa., knows the founder and CEO, Melissa O’Reilly, personally — they were high school classmates. Shush Shoes recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, so this is a new gig.

If you live in our corner of the world in northwestern Pennsylvania, you can contact Mariah at Mariah@shush.co or https://www.facebook.com/MariahAtShush. Also, attend the 5th Annual W.I.L.D. Conference, presented by Gannon University‘s Small Business Development Center, on May 11 to see Shush Shoes and many more vendors.

Shush offers something for everyone: flats, wedgies and heels priced from about $23 to $60. Check out Shush Shoes for a representative near you. Here is my fave — $50:

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.

OK, it’s not really a tightrope; it’s a slackliner. Click on Slackliner student to see passersby stop in their tracks to watch this Gannon University wrestler enjoy his exercise.

Slacklining — Wikipedia defines as an exercise in balance that uses 1-inch nylon webbing like a tension wire, and this GU student uses trees much like Phil did in a Modern Family episode.  Click here to see Phil.

Congratulations to new Erie Times-News photographer Andy Colwell who caught Sam the Slackliner student on video. Slacklining is different from tightrope walking in that the line is not  taut.