the hot goddess

Midlife Homecoming

Today is the first day waking up back in my home in Portugal, after spending September visiting my childhood home in the United States. I stayed offline to savor every moment of family time. Friends dropped by with laughs, stories, and even a delivery of hand-crafted Kentucky Mule cocktails. Speaking of bourbon, Cleveland Whiskey fired up the grill for my return visit to the home of my midlife distillery internship, which also brought back fun memories. The folks at Akron Honey were sweet enough to rush me some of their artisan honeys too. So, of course, I came back to sunny Portugal packing bourbon and honey!

My mother, who turns 91 soon.
My son

Thank you so much to subscribers who reached out to ask if I was OK because they missed The Hot Goddess blog posts. Though I took the month off from blogging and from Instagram while I traveled to the U.S., I still continued to write. Be sure to check out upcoming posts about the ups and downs, joys and challenges, details of, and hacks for going back to the U.S. for the first visit after moving overseas to a new country:

  • Packing and shipping remaining personal items without spending a fortune
  • Distance and its effect on personal growth, forgiveness, and healing
  • Relocating feelings: When the heart moves on in dating relationships
  • How to lose guilt-trip baggage
  • One year later: what I love and have learned in Portugal

Stay tuned, and thank you for reading! Happy Wednesday. (Now that I’ve realized today isn’t Monday. And then later realized it isn’t Tuesday either.)

All images are my own.

The Hot Goddess

Instagram: retired_rewired_inspired

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54 comments

  4. Gosh, it’s nice to see your radiant smile again, Natalie. Welcome back! Your mother and your son have the same smile! I hope that, although you had a nice visit, you are feeling like you are back home now that you are back in Portugal.

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  8. Hi Natalie !! So good to see you happy and enjoying a wonderful visit with your family and friends!! Your mom is beautiful and beaming with joy! These photos are bursting with love!!
    Wishing you ease as you get settled back home in Portugal!! Xo!!!

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    • Laurie, hi! ❤️ I thought of you when my stash of honey arrived from Akron. I hope you and hubby are doing well in Lisbon. Thank you so much for the kind words. We have to plan a visit soon. 😘😘

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  12. Wow, the family resemblance is so strong in the 3 of you! Glad you enjoyed your time away visiting with family! That is certainly so precious. Your mom looks amazing! You are both glowing!

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  17. Honey for the honey! Your smile surely brightens a room. 😊 Happy to read about your visits with friends and family. Best wishes as you settle back into your home away from home. 🤗 Enjoy those sunsets and sunrises. 🥰 🥂

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