This week on Empty Nest Happy Hour, Amy and Danielle tackle everything from grocery store frustrations to the power of women taking charge. Kicking things off with a listener email, the hosts share creative ways to get homebody spouses out off the house and into the social scene. Spoiler: Separate cars might be the secret to marital bliss.

Plus:

• A snowy week inspires a cozy cocktail recipe: the Nor’easter.
• The great grocery cart debate—why are small carts always MIA?
• Compliments: why giving and receiving them matters (and how not to overshare).
• Women in power: let’s talk about letting HER lead.

Special Announcement: We announce our winter book pick: Sandwich by Katherine Newman. It’s the ultimate empty-nester read, exploring aging parents, adult kids, and midlife challenges with wit and heart. Join us for the discussion on February 25th!

Grab your drink (or mocktail), settle in, and let’s laugh, rant, and raise a toast to midlife adventures. As always, follow us @EmptyNestHappyHour, email us at info@emptynesthappyhour.com, and rate, review, and subscribe. Cheers! 🥂

This week, Amy and Danielle dig into the lost art of gathering in midlife. From casseroles to cocktails (and everything in between), they explore how building community can combat loneliness and why face-to-face connections matter more than ever. This episode is a perfect blend of humor, nostalgia, and practical tips to help you reconnect with friend.

Highlights:

• Drinking in Midlife: A deeper look at Dry January and the messaging around women and alcohol.
• Combating Loneliness.: Practical ways to rebuild your social circle in a digital, disconnected age.
• Party Time: Quirky, fun ideas like Casserole Night and Mocktail Mixers to inspire your next gathering.
• Goonies Never Say Die: A nostalgic nod to how growing up in the 80s and 90s shaped our sense of connection.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads @emptynesthappyhour for more laughs and updates. Don’t forget to leave a review and share the podcast with friends!

This week, Amy and Danielle dive into Dry January, Sweaty January, and the highs and lows of movies featuring midlife women. From awkward moments in Nicole Kidman’s Babygirl to the empowering Good Luck to You, Leo Grand, no topic is off-limits.

Here’s What We’re Talking About This Week:

• Dry January vs. Sweaty January: Amy’s goal to sweat every day (not from stress!) and Danielle’s refreshing Cranberry Ginger Fizz recipe.
• Empty Nest Adventures: Snowstorms, forgotten essentials, and shipping laptops (plus pesto!) to kids at college.
• Movie Critiques: Why Babygirl missed the mark and why Good Luck to You, Leo Grand is the midlife movie we deserve.
• Cheers to Women in Hollywood: Celebrating the midlife women who dominated the Golden Globes, from Jodie Foster to Demi Moore.

Cocktail (or Mocktail) of the Week: Cranberry Ginger Fizz

As 2024 ends and we step into 2025, Amy and Danielle bring a festive and reflective episode of Empty Nest Happy Hour. This week, the hosts share their favorite moments of 2024, from memorable trips (hello, Paris!) to favorite reads and standout pop culture moments.

They also pay tribute to President Jimmy Carter, discuss the amicable breakup of Bravo stars Paige and Craig, and dive into some fun tarot card predictions for the year ahead. With personal stories about the chaos and joy of kids returning for winter break and their "words of the year" for 2025—growth and abide—this episode is the perfect way to kick off the new year.

Don’t miss their signature humor, heartfelt moments, and of course, the always entertaining "Cheers to That" segment!

What You’ll Hear:

• A tribute to Jimmy Carter and his legacy
• Reflections on 2024, from favorite books and TV shows to gas station sandwiches
• Women dominating the pop music scene
• Tarot card predictions for 2025
• The joys (and challenges) of welcoming adult children back home
• Words to inspire: "Growth" and "Abide"

Cocktail of the Week:

• Midnight Mule
• Kir Impérial

Grab your favorite festive drink—it’s time for the Empty Nest Happy Hour! This week, Amy and Danielle dive into the emotional labor of the holidays, the chaos of Bravo shows, and why Craig Conover might be Bravo’s only redeemable man. From discussing eggnog white Russians to reminiscing about holiday music, this episode is packed with humor, heart, and plenty of laughs.

What You’ll Hear:

• The recipe for a festive Eggnog White Russian that’s perfect for Christmas Eve.
• A Bravo breakdown: Why Southern Charm’s men are the worst (except Craig).
• Relatable moments from Real Housewives stars navigating empty nesting.
• Nostalgic feels with Wham!’s “Last Christmas” and a must-watch Netflix documentary.
• A thoughtful conversation on the mental load of parenting and holiday prep.
• Cheers to the people working during the holidays—from emergency vets to gas station heroes.

Weekly Highlights:

• Tip of the Week: Embrace your holiday downtime—watch Dash & Lily on Netflix for cozy vibes.
• Cheers to That: Shoutout to all the first responders, retail workers, and service providers keeping the holidays running smoothly.

Drink of the Week: Eggnog White Russian

• 2 oz coffee liqueur
• 2 oz vodka
• Eggnog (non-alcoholic recommended)
• Top with nutmeg for extra cheer!

Call to Action: Enjoying the podcast? Rate and review us to spread the cheer! Connect with us on social media @EmptyNestHappyHour and share your holiday drink recipes. Don’t forget to send us your favorite Bravo takes or empty nest stories!

Find Us:

• Website: emptynesthappyhour.com
• Email: info@emptynesthappyhour.com
• Socials: Instagram, Facebook, Threads @EmptyNestHappyHour

This week, we’re spilling all the details on our Paris trip—late-night champagne with the Eiffel Tower, dodging rain at Christmas markets, and living our best off-season traveler lives. Then, we dive into the good, the bad, and the hilariously weird of Christmas movies. From White Christmas and The Holiday to questionable choices like Merry Gentlemen (Chad Michael Murray’s hair deserves its own credit), we’ve got thoughts.

Cocktail of the Week: Christmas Old Fashioned – bourbon, cranberry juice, and just enough bitters to match our holiday moods.

Christmas Movie Favorites: What’s your ride-or-die Christmas movie? We share our favorites and discuss some of the newly released movies this season.

Christmas Traditions: For the love of eggnog, are we actually moving an Elf on the Shelf every night?

Cheers to Paris lights, Christmas, and binge-watching holiday favorites. 🥂

In this episode of the Empty Nest Happy Hour, Amy and Danielle dive into the bizarre Netflix Hot Frosty movie, breaking down its attempt at a “sexy” Christmas movie—complete with an anatomically incorrect snowman and awkward jail scenes. The conversation turns golden as the hosts debate which Golden Girl they most resemble, inspired by a viral reel imagining a modern reboot with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jennifer Coolidge. Wrapping up with a discussion on Wicked’s marketing budget, middle school holiday concerts, and the annual Whammageddon challenge, this episode is packed with humor, nostalgia, and holiday cheer. Highlights include:

• Golden Girls Reboot: The hosts hilariously debate their Golden Girl identities and imagine a reboot starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jennifer Coolidge.
• Hot Frosty Breakdown: Netflix’s odd attempt at a sexy Christmas movie gets roasted for its anatomically questionable snowman and cheesy clichés.
• Pop Culture Buzz: From Wicked’s massive marketing campaign to the funny Glicked pairing with Gladiator, the hosts dive into holiday movie fun.

In this special Thanksgiving episode, the kids take over Empty Nest Happy Hour!

Amy and Danielle are joined by their oldest children, Emma and Ricky, for a hilarious and heartwarming conversation about growing up, college life, and the joys (and pains) of being independent. From Emma’s love of city living to Ricky’s cleanroom adventures, they reflect on lessons learned, Thanksgiving traditions, and the quirks of their Gen X moms.

Highlights from the episode include:

• Thanksgiving Traditions: From competitive card games to Midwestern jello molds, family quirks are on full display.
• Parenting Wins: The kids reveal the life lessons (and chores) they’re actually grateful for.
• Gen Z vs. Gen X: A candid and funny comparison of how two generations approach life, family, and fall holidays.
• Caramel Apple Sangria: A three-ingredient crowd-pleaser perfect for your holiday table (recipe included!)

We love hearing from you! Share your cocktail ideas, empty-nest stories, or topic suggestions at info@emptynesthappyhour.com or on social:

• Instagram, Facebook, Threads: @EmptyNestHappyHour

Rate, review, and share the podcast to help other midlife women find us. Cheers to that! 🥂