10 Reasons to Love Springtime in Pittsburgh

Spring has sprung, and the Pittsburgh area is buzzing with activities for the whole family. Here are the ten activities we are so excited for spring here at Sherwood Oaks Retirement Community.

 

1. The Point

The fountain at Point State Park is a great attraction to see with family.  It marks where Pittsburgh’s three rivers meet and is a must-see tourist attraction for those visiting Pittsburgh.  You can visit the Fort Pitt museum or take a walk downtown for lunch or dinner. It’s an easy walk from Market Square, where you can enjoy steak, tacos, oysters, or a Primanti’s sandwich!

 

2. Baseball Games

Pirates baseball is back! And with excitement still looming from last year’s successful season, it’s bound to be a beautiful spring and summer at PNC park! With affordably priced tickets compared to other ballparks, and something to eat and drink for every member of the family, PNC park is a great place to catch some sun – and maybe even a foul ball.

 

3. Public Parks

Pittsburgh has a beautiful collection of public parks for you to explore, and plenty of activities going on in each of them! Try a walk for a good cause, a picnic in the grass, or event take part in the senior games!

 

4. Just Ducky Tours

Sometimes it’s nice to be a tourist in your own city. And you can be one by land AND by sea with a Just Ducky Tour! You’ll explore many areas of the city in a boat that can drive down the street and then hop into the river. It’s a fun experience for the whole family and a great opportunity for you to appreciate the city you call home.

 

5. Kennywood

We had Kennywood on our summer list, too, but the park Opens May 3! Locals have their own idea of what the best part of the amusement park is, from the funnel cakes and ice cream to the whip and the Olde Kennywood
Railroad. Nothing says that summer is on its way more than walking into the entrance of Kennywood.

 

6. Southside Works

If you’re looking for an area of the city to shop, eat, and catch a movie – without having to look for parking between each activity – try SouthSide works! Southside works requires little walking and holds popular restaurants such as Hofbrahaus and the Cheesecake factory! It’s a great place to take teenage grandchildren and adult children for a beautiful day out.

 

7. Gallery Crawls

Pittsburgh’s cultural district and upcoming artistic communities in neighborhoods such as Lawrenceville and Garfield often have gallery crawls which feature local artists. They vary in location and price, but they are usually quite affordable and fun for anyone who enjoys art and is able to walk around well!

 

8. National Aviary

There is so much more to enjoy at the National Aviary than the beautiful weather. Like penguin feedings, bat feedings, and flamingo encounters. Get your whole nest together and flock together to the aviary to check out some of the nation’s most beautiful birds.

 

9. Dinner on Mount Washington

Mount Washington is home to some of the most beautiful views in the city. You’re just a incline ride away from some of the most high-end restaurants in the city, too. Mount Washington is great for date night! Start with a ride on the incline, stop to take some photos at the outlook, and dine in style at the wide range of restaurants available, which vary from formal locations to fun pubs.

 

10. Dog Parks

Want to spend a fun day with man’s best friend? Spring is the perfect time to get out and get active with your favorite four-legged friend at one of Pittsburgh’s many dog parks!

It’s Spring at Sherwood Oaks!

No matter what your favorite season is, you were probably happy to have some sun and see the snow melt. We love spring here at Sherwood Oaks… and it should be clear why. There is SO much going on around campus now that everything has defrosted. Here are just a few things that you can look forward to this spring:

 

Our Weekly Walking Group

Our “Take a Walk with a Friend” program will have you mastering our walking trails, which go through the woods, around the lake, and over the three miles of designated walking space on our 84-acre campus. It both social and physical, which helps keep our residents happy and healthy!

Our Farmer’s Garden and Perennial Garden

Have a green thumb? You’ve laded at a gardener’s paradise! You can grow fruit, vegetables, and flowers in our Farmer’s Garden, which features raised beds that are tilled up and ready-to-go for residents who love local product. Really, really local produce!

Outdoor Activities

We have a full selection of outdoor activities for residents to enjoy with their family and friends, from Outdoor games such as bocce ball, shuffleboard, corn hole, a new volleyball court, a Wimbledon court, badminton, basketball and horseshoes at Sherwood Oaks’ Summer House.  There is also a designated area for outdoor games and grills for outdoor cooking! And for the little ones in the family, there is a playground to enjoy.

Trips and Tours

Sherwood Oaks has a Trips and Tours Committee run by the residents that plan day trips and occasional overnight trips to see local sites and tourist attractions. Attractions may be that a three or four hour bus ride away that would require an overnight (or two-night) stay. Be on the lookout for news about upcoming trips!

Looking to branch off of campus to enjoy some sunshine? Be on the lookout for our upcoming post, “10 Reasons to Love Springtime in Pittsburgh.”

All in the Family: Planning a Multigenerational Vacation

It’s easier than ever for us to travel in comfort. Not to mention, we are healthier and have the tools to make travel more simple and affordable than ever. So it’s no wonder that multigenerational travel is on the rise.

According to industry marketing firm MMGY Global, reported by the Wall Street Journal, “Thirty-seven percent of grandparents with a household income greater than $50,000 who took a vacation last year did so with grandchildren, up from 28% in 2007. And 78% of these trips included all three generations.”

If you’re one of those grandparents who are looking forward to a fun family vacation this summer, you’ve got an exciting but stressful task on your hands:  Helping to plan. While you, your children, and your grandchildren may all be part of one family, you may live in many locations, enjoy a wide variety of activities, and be living on very different budgets. As you speak with your children and plan out what will be a great time to bond, keep these things in mind:

Who is going?

When you’re planning a family trip, you need to decide what “family” means. Are you inviting Aunt Mildred and Cousin James? Just the kids and grandkids? Knowing who you want to include – and taking everyone’s feelings into consideration – will get the trip off to the right start.

Does everyone have a say?

A lot of people on one trip means a LOT of opinions. And while you can’t please everyone all of the time, you should allow everyone on their trip to have one “must-have.” This is the one attraction or activity that they HAVE to do while on vacation. Meet everyone’s top expectation and no one will be able to say that they didn’t have a say in the trip.

Where are you staying?

While booking a few hotel rooms to fit your family may be the right decision for you, or the only option you have, consider booking a house or condo with more amenities and more room for each family member to have their own space.

What is the budget?

It’s very important to set a clear budget at the beginning of the trip, and to have an understanding that there may be members of the family who cannot afford to go over that budget. Make a list of all of the activities you would like to do, as well as necessities like gas, food, and cost of your hotel or rental property, and make sure that everyone agrees to how much they will be paying.

Who is in charge of the kids?

Babysitting your grandchildren can be a very fun experience, and letting mom and dad go out for a night without the kids on there vacation may be a dream come true for them. But if you have small children along, make sure you know who will be attending to them and the special needs that they may have during the trip, or divvy up the work so that one person doesn’t spend the week on diaper duty!

What do you need to pack?

You won’t need four coolers, five curling irons, ten bottles of sunscreen or seven beach umbrellas on your trip, so make sure that you discuss with your family what you will be sharing. With many people headed on a vacation, there is going to be little room for packing the non-essentials!

Should you talk to a pro?

Large family vacations can be a big undertaking, so you may need to call in a pro, especially if you are taking a trip that involves flights, hotels, tours, and rental cars. Consider working with a travel agency if you think that it would be easier to let them make some of the plans for you.

Is everyone in touch?

If you’ve ever seen “Home Alone,” you know that it can be tough to keep track of everyone while you’re travelling. Make sure that everyone has each other’s cell phone numbers in case of an emergency. Some people prefer to use walkie-talkies if they won’t be too far from one another. For kids, consider getting them an identification bracelet, or try out the new SafetyTats:  Temporary tattoos that have your contact information on them! Kids won’t fuss with them like the do with a bracelet.

Do you have some wiggle room?

Even the best-laid plans don’t always work out. Making plans for a large group can get difficult when it comes to time management. It takes a large group longer to get out the door in the morning. They have longer waits at restaurants. They have to take more bathroom breaks! Make sure that your trip has a lot of space for taking breaks for you and the kids, as well as some flexibility in case the restaurant you wanted to go to isn’t open the day you go.

Can you get group discounts?

Depending on how large your group is, you may be able to get group discounts for some of the attractions you go to see. Call ahead to ask for their group policies.

Bonus: Here are our suggestions for vacations that mean family fun for everyone!

  • Disney World, Orlando, Fla.
  • An all-inclusive cruise
  • Myrtle Beach, S.C.
  • Outer Banks, N.C.
  • New York City, N.Y.
  • Hershey, Pa.
  • Gettysburg, Pa.
  • Busch Gardens, Va.
  • Washington D.C.
  • Presque Isle, Erie, Pa.
  • Splash Lagoon, Erie, Pa.

Thinking about a stay-cation? Consider Moraine State Park, the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, the Aviary, the Children’s Museum, Kennywood, Idlewild, or a Pirates’ baseball game.

Time to Heat Up the Grill!

Is it just us, or does food just taste a little bit better when it’s made on a grill on a nice summer’s day? At Sherwood Oaks, we love a good hamburger or hot dog straight from the grill, especially when it’s prepared surrounded by friends, family, and laughter.

Each Sherwood Oaks resident is able to have a grill on their patio, but our common area, the Summer House, has grills and an open area for picnic activities.

Here are 10 delicious looking recipes that we have stumbled upon for you to grill up this spring and summer!

 

1. Pesto Grilled Shrimp

Seafood lovers looking to add some flavor to the classic taste of shrimp will love the bold flavor of pesto!

 

2. Grilled Asparagus and New Potatoes

Potatoes are a comfort food – and a delicious one, at that. Combine them with grilled asparagus for a healthy and flavorful veggie mix.

 

3. Grilled Pizza

Did you know that you could grill pizza? Now you do! Step away from that oven and put a twist on this Italian favorite using your grill.

 

4. Grilled Beet Salad

Have some vegetarians in the family?

 

5. Grilled Monterey Chicken

A very big step away from vegetarian options is this grilled Monterey Chicken, covered in cheese and smoky bacon.

 

6. Grilled Steak Tacos

Turn your picnic into a fiesta with these delicious grilled steak tacos.

 

7. Grilled Italian Pork Chops

Pork lovers, don’t fret. There is an option for you on our list, too! And it includes some of the best flavors in Italy.

 

8. Grilled Strawberries Over Vanilla Ice Cream

You might not think of desserts when you think of grilling, but a few minutes on a grill can add some serious flavor to an already sweet dessert.

 

9. Grilled Chocolate Banana Melts

And if you’re having some chocolate cravings, try out these grilled chocolate banana melts!

 

10. Ham and Pineapple Kabobs

We couldn’t finish off the list without including a kabob, and this one has some Hawaiian flare – just in case you don’t make it to the Islands this summer.

 

Try out these recipes and let us know if they will be a regular dish at your cookouts from now on!

Make Lasting Memories with Your Grandchildren

A lot of families come to visit Sherwood Oaks Retirement Community each year, including those growing-like-a-weed grandchildren! It can sometimes be difficult for residents to think of activities to do with their grandchildren that everyone will enjoy. Generation gaps can really mess up plans, huh?

But with some creative thinking, you can plan a fun day for everyone that you and your grandchildren will remember for years to come.

For the younger ones…

When young grandchildren grow up, they will cherish the time they spent learning from you. The time they get to spend with you will help shape the people they become, so make the most of that time!

  • Pittsburgh Children’s Museum – Open seven days a week, the Children’s Museum is floors and floors of fun for kids and kids at heart! Explore permanent exhibits like the water play area, or attend an artist residency exhibit, like the XOXO: Love Letters Project that is taking place this weekend.
  • Carnegie Science CenterRobots, railroads, space stations, and magnetic forces. Does this sound like your idea of an adventure? Then take your favorite little explorer with you to the Carnegie Science Center. This trip will prove to be both fun and educational… and not just for the kids!
  • Stay In! – A night in with your grandchildren is filled with possibilities. From reading them your favorite books as a child to catching up on their favorite movies, you don’t need to get fancy in order to entertain! You can even plan a family game night or show them how to make their favorite food, asking them if they would like to help where they can.
  • Take Them for a One-on-One Lunch – Everyone enjoys dressing up for a nice afternoon of good food and big laughs. Take your grandchild to a formal lunch, one-on-one, so that you have a chance to talk to them and teach them table manners. If they are good, don’t forget dessert!
  • Outdoor Playground – Sherwood Oaks has a wonderful outdoor playground for grandkids and families to enjoy.

And the older ones…

Teenagers and adults obviously have different interests and hobbies than children, but just because your grandchildren are big, that doesn’t mean that you can’t have beautiful little moments with them!

  • See a Show – We’ve previously written about the wonderful cultural experiences that Pittsburgh has to offer, and it’s an exciting moment when your grandchildren are old enough to truly enjoy them with you! Treat them to a night at the Benedum and Heinz Hall and grab a bite to eat in one of the Cultural District’s delicious restaurants after.
  • Visit the Carnegie Museums – Another cultural activity that your grown grandchildren may enjoy are the Carnegie Museums, which includes the Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, and The Andy Warhol Museum. Whether you and your grandchildren bond over art or history, one of the museums will be sure to get you talking.
  • Work on a Family Tree – As grandchildren get older, they often show more interest in where they came from. Help them explore your roots and make discoveries yourself by working on your family tree. You can start online with Ancestry.com or MyRelatives.com.
  • Stop by the Billiard Room – Sherwood Oaks had a billiard room, just in case you want to challenge your grandchildren to a friendly game of pool!

For everyone!

  • Visit the Zoo
  • Go to a Baseball Game at PNC Park
  • Enjoy the walking trails around the lake and through the woods at Sherwood Oaks
  • Or stop by our picnic area, complete with barbecues and outdoor games like  shuffleboard, bocce ball, cornhole, badminton, basketball, lawn darts, horseshoes
  • Take a dip in our indoor swimming pool. Grandkids are more than welcome as long as there is someone else in the pool area. No swimming alone permitted!
  • Don’t live near the grandchildren? Set up regular visits with them over Skype and send letters in between visits!

Tips for visits with grandchildren:

  • Make sure to be clear with your children on how often you would like to see them and your grandchildren so that all of you can work it into your schedule
  • If the grandkids are visiting without mom and dad, make sure you ask what the rules are!
  • Make sure to baby proof the house if little ones are visiting

5 Healthy Choices to Make This Spring

Spring is officially here, even if it doesn’t feel like it in Pennsylvania today! Pretty soon, we will turn our attention from shoveling snow and remembering our gloves, to whose barbecue we’ll be at this weekend and which pair of shorts to wear!

With a new season comes a new opportunity for you to make better decisions about your life and your health. Luckily, there are small changes that you can make in order to be healthier by summer!

 

Get Enough Sleep

You aren’t your best when you’re tired or groggy. You are irritable and have trouble focusing on everyday tasks. The bad news is that insomnia is very common for people at retirement age. The good news is that senior citizens need less sleep than younger adults (around 7 hours), according to a 2008 study.

If you’re having trouble getting to or staying asleep at night, try to avoid coffee, tea, and alcohol before bed. Also try to avoid working on the computer or watching television, as well as exercise. All of these things can stimulate your brain and keep you awake much longer. Try setting a goal bed time and aiming to get the correct, customized amount of sleep so that you feel perfectly rested!

 

Drink Enough Water 

You’ve probably heard that it’s good to aim to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Well, that recommendation remains the same when you reach retirement age. Drinking the recommended amount of water per day has many health benefits, from weight control to healthier skin. But if you don’t love the boring taste of water, here are a few other ways to stay hydrated:

  • Eat fruit
  • Add fruit to your water for flavor
  • Eat certain vegetables, such as cucumbers
  • Drink Milk

 

Kick a Bad Habit

We’ve all got them. From sneaking our favorite cookies to smoking, there are plenty of habits that we develop that can have a negative effect on your health.  But what do you gain by giving them up? It turns out that you get a lot. According to a 2012 study, “… A vibrant social life and quitting smoking can add five years to women’s lives and six years to men’s.”

That is five to six more years of growing your garden, celebrating birthdays with best friends, and watching grandchildren grow up. These are all things worth kicking your habits for! Whatever your vice, start small when removing it from your life. If necessary, consult the help of a doctor or a nutritionist who can help you make the right decisions for your health.

 

Add Super Foods to Your Diet

AARP recently came out with an article on “super foods.” These are foods that have an exceptional amount of nutrients and health benefits. The five foods that AARP highlighted were  artichokes, asparagus, fava beans, arugula, and green peas. Explore your favorite recipes for ways to incorporate these super foods. And if this small list doesn’t sound very delicious, here is a list of 50 super foods that you can pile on your plate!

 

Protect Yourself From the Sun

The sun is a warm welcome after a winter filled with snowy days, but that doesn’t mean that the sun is always your friend. Seniors still need to protect their skin from harmful UV rays by choosing a broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection sunscreen with at least 15 SPF, but more is better! Check out this handy information from Bayhealth Medical Center on senior skin.

 

The small choices that you make each day can effect your health in big ways. Make the right choices and let this be the healthiest spring yet!

Be Flexible: Yoga for Seniors

Yoga can help those who practice with a wide variety of problems – from anxiety and pain to digestion and diabetes. It can help make you calm, flexible, and healthy. According to Livestrong, “Participants in a medical study in India saw their blood pressure decrease during three months of yoga.”

But it can be extremely intimidating! Especially if you’re at retirement age and have never practiced it before. The good news is that anyone can do yoga, and it’s never too late to try. You may just need to adapt your workout in order to not push the limits of what your body can do.

 

Start Small

Everyone’s level of physical activity is different. If you’re active, you may consider yoga to be quite easy. If you aren’t used to working out, it might feel extremely difficult at first. No matter what you think you are capable of, start off small. This may mean doing yoga for a shorter amount of time at the beginning or skipping moves that are too difficult for you.

Here are some simple poses from AARP that can help you get started on your own. Sherwood Oaks also has yoga classes that are exclusive to residents and perfect for everyone, whether they consider themselves an athlete or a newbie! Classes are offered weekly and are taught by our Fitness Director, a certified yoga instructor. Not only can you consider this a healthy habit, but it’s also a social gathering! We get a great turnout from residents each week.

If you want to get a taste for yoga before you come to a class, you can check out some YouTube videos to try out on your own. Like this one, which shows you some yoga stretches specifically tailored to seniors.

 

Adapt

You won’t be able to keep up with everyone – and that’s ok! Remember as you start out that no matter how good you are at something, someone out there is better.

You need to learn the moves that work best for you. This could mean that you choose to do the adapted moves that your instructor gives you. If a pose is difficult for you and your instructor does not give you an adapted pose, go ahead and ask! Your body will thank you for not pushing it too hard.

If you’re practicing yoga on your own, do a simple search for yoga poses that may help your specific ailments. For instance, here are some simple yoga poses that have been shown to provide menopause relief.

 

Work Your Mind, Too

A lot of yoga focuses more on your breath than the movement of your body. Don’t ignore the part of yoga that explains how to breathe – it is just as important as every stretch! When done correctly, your breath can help you keep up your stamina and promote calm and concentration.

 

Keep Trying!

It might be difficult, but don’t give up. Like many kinds of workouts, you will get better the longer you stick with your yoga routine. Each week, you will be a little bit more flexible and a little bit more comfortable with your surroundings.

 

Have you been a longtime yogi? What are your best tips for beginners?

It’s Never too Late to…

Recently, we saw a story on AARP about Ernestine Shepherd, who holds the title of the world’s oldest female bodybuilder. Pretty amazing, right? Ernestine is currently 74, and she didn’t start bodybuilding until she was in her 50’s!

Those who think that you can only reach huge life accomplishments before retirement are very wrong! Retirees can absolutely set big goals and achieve them with hard work, just as they always have.  If you need some motivation for doing BIG things during your retirement, here are a few of our favorite success stories to show you it’s never too late to…

 

Publish a Book

You’ve heard of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House on the Prairie” books, but did you know that Laura didn’t begin writing them until 1931, when she was 64 years old? Laura was a previous editor of the St. Louis Star, and her daughter had encouraged her to share her life story through the young adult novels. She wrote them all by 1943, when she was 76! Talk about a late bloomer.

 

Blog

Olive Riley shared her thoughts and ideas on a blog until she passed away in 2008 – at 108 years old. Olive started blogging in 2007, and at the time of her death, she had posted more than 70 entries about her life. The Australian woman’s tales included stories of both World War I and World War II, growing up without today’s luxuries and technologies, and raising three children on her own. What kind of story do YOU have to tell the world?

 

Start a Company 

After a lengthy and successful career in marketing, Cinde Dolphin started her own company at 55 to help winemakers in California promote their businesses online.

According to the New York Times, “More than five million Americans age 55 or older run their own businesses or are otherwise self-employed, according to the Small Business Administration.And the number of self-employed people ages 55 to 64 is soaring, the agency says, climbing 52 percent from 2000 to 2007.”

Is there a business you’ve always had the dream of starting, but didn’t have the time? The time could be now!

 

Graduate from College

Kansas resident Nola Ochs graduated from Fort Hays State University in 2007 with a bachelor’s in General Studies and concentration in history. She was 95 years old. While a 96-year-old man broke her record in 2009, Nola’s accomplishment is tremendous. And she didn’t stop there. She received her master’s degree in 2010.

According to the FHSU website, Nola said, “I’m very gratified to have attained that distinction. I would like, in the long run, to encourage people to keep on learning. Our education is never complete.”

 

Learn a New Skill

While she didn’t learn to cook after 50, Julia Child DID put off finding her skill until she was in her mid-30’s. In fact, Julia said, “I was 32 when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate.” Her show “The French Chef” didn’t premiere until she was 51.

We wrote a previous post about hobbies you might consider starting during your retirement. Just because you didn’t master something as a young adult, that doesn’t mean that you can’t be a pro at it soon!

 

There is a reason why these are called the “golden years.” Now get out there and shine!

Redesign Your Space for Spring! (Using Little Time & Money)

Sherwood Oaks Retirement Community is a collection of a variety of unique residents, and we love when they put their own spin on their patio homes. With spring on its way, many people are beginning to do their spring cleaning and, in turn, giving their home a new look for the new season.

We know that redecorating can get expensive, so here are a few tips on how to get a new look in your space for less.

 

Recycle Across Rooms

Sometimes you don’t need to buy new home items in order to get a fresh new look, you just need to move them from one room to another. If there is a side table you particularly love in your bedroom, consider showing it off in the living room. Move your favorite framed photograph from the hallway to the kitchen, where you can look at it more. You can even give items a new paint job to fit in with another room’s theme. Quick, affordable, and resourceful! Wasn’t that easy?

 

Rearrange Furniture

Sometimes the furniture in the room is right… but not in the right place. Take a look at your living space. Could it be arranged differently? Is your space being underutilized? Could you incorporate feng shui? Does the space make it easy for guests to socialize when they visit your home? Moving the couch against the wall or the chair further from the doorway can make a world of difference.

 

Update Photographs

Photographs add a world of personality to a room, but it’s easy to forget to update them. Children and grandchildren grow quickly, and printing out photos of their big life moments is easy now thanks to the Internet and convenient photo centers at stores like Target. Don’t have any recent family photos? Set up an appointment to get a new one done!

 

Update Focal Points

Curtains, rugs, throw pillows, blankets, and art are all things that attract a lot of attention and can be easily replaced. Think about a major item that attracts attention in each room of your home and consider updating it. This may include a new centerpiece for your dining room table, a new welcome mat, or new tea towels in the kitchen.

 

Add a Pop of Pastel

Light and airy colors are great for spring. Consider swapping out darker items in your décor for something more fresh and sunny. Put them in storage until you can use them again in the winter! Mirrors can also add a lot of light to a room.

 

Spend a Little Bit on Organization

Often, simple home clutter can be solved with a few organizational items. Purchase a wicker basket to store extra blankets in. Put a small basket in your entranceway to throw keys into to avoid losing them. You can ever scour Pinterest to find a fun DIY project, like this refurbished cake stand that you can use to display items in your bathroom or bedroom.

 

Replace Small Items

Small can make a big difference. While you may not think that replacing a lampshade or knobs on a dresser would make a big difference, it definitely can! A new vase or a houseplant can make a world of difference when it comes to adding that “home” feeling to your space. It’s great to dream big – but you can start small!

Use Your Hobbies to Earn Extra Cash

Hobbies can entertain us and give us a sense of accomplishment. They help us define ourselves and give us a way to connect with others who have the same interests. Hobbies can also be a great source of additional income, offering a fantastic opportunity for a retiree to fill their time and their wallet.

Think hard about the things you do for fun. Could you be making some extra cash WHILE you are enjoying yourself? Or perhaps there is always a lucrative hobby you’ve always wanted to try out but never had the time? The time is now.

 

Woodworking

Woodworking is a fine skill that can prove to be a very enriching hobby. It’s amazing what you can make by hand once you have the training, like furniture, picture frames and other decorative items, and stylish storage boxes. Sherwood Oaks has a large wood shop for residents to work in, giving you plenty of room to bring your creative ideas to life.

 

Ceramics

Original work is more sought after than generic art you can get from a big box store. Ceramic creation is a wonderful hobby to have, as you can make items that are both beautiful and functional. Molding and painting custom mugs and sculpting ornate vases will help you to keep your creative juices flowing, and once your masterpiece is complete it can serve as a great gift item for someone to buy. Sherwood Oaks makes the entire process simple, as there is also a ceramics studio on campus!

 

Other Crafts

If you’re a master knitter or have a talent for creating stunning holiday wreaths, you should turn that fun into funds! In the past few years, there has been more and more focus on shopping locally and opting for handmade items. You don’t need to look any further than the online merchant site Etsy to see how successful handcrafted items have become. If you aren’t sure of the kind of project you would like to work on, spend some time on the DIY section of Pinterest, or the project section of the Michael’s website.

 

Baking

It’s no secret that a little bit of sweetness is hard to resist. If baking for family and friends has made you the favorite person at every get-together, try to benefit beyond just their compliments. Start baking for pay at community events or by order for private events. You can even serve a certain niche by baking diabetic-friendly or gluten-free items.

 

Lending a Hand

It’s a hassle for many people to do even simple “handy” tasks around the house. Those who are good with their hands can make a good amount of money from doing household maintenance for other members of the community, whether it’s helping to install a new window or painting a room.

 

Carrying on Your Former Career

Retirement doesn’t mean that you have to completely abandon the skills you acquired during your career. If you spent the last 40 years of your life enriching the lives of children as a teacher, you could take on some work as a tutor or after-school babysitter. Former accountants can help others with their taxes. Writers can start a travel blog and allow businesses to advertise on their sites. There was a reason you chose the career you did, and it can be easier than you think to keep the aspects of your life’s work that you loved the most.

Maybe you’re thinking, “I’m pretty financially stable. I would rather do my hobbies for fun rather than pay.”

In that case, how do you feel about using your talents to make money for others? If you’re active, you can ask friends, family, and community members to donate money to a charity of your choosing in order for you to complete a 5k. And for those bakers we mentioned above, why not have a bake sale and donate your proceeds to a good cause?

No matter where the money goes, there is money out there to be made, even in retirement!