Wisdom for a joyful life

Living Well Guides

Health, exercise for seniors, looking and feeling younger, mindfulness, faith, lifestyle medicine, cooking, baking, crafts, languages, learning and hobbies — everything we’ve learned from Nonna’s long, generous, smiling life.

Open the guides Weekly wellness plan ✅ Habit tracker

😊Smile · Move · Give · Learn

📘 Tap a topic to open

The guides

General information for inspiration — please talk to your doctor before starting new exercise or diet changes.

💚Health & lifestyle medicine

The six pillars: whole-food, plant-predominant eating; physical activity; restorative sleep; stress management; positive social connection; avoiding risky substances.
Eat the Mediterranean way: vegetables, beans, olive oil, fish, fruit, nuts and herbs.
Stay hydrated — keep a pretty glass of water where you can see it.
See your doctor for regular check-ups and ask before big changes.

American College of Lifestyle Medicine →Feel younger the Mediterranean way →

🚶‍♀️Exercise for seniors

Aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity a week (CDC), plus muscle strengthening 2 days a week and balance practice.
Beach walks, gardening, dancing in the kitchen and tennis all count!
Try heel-to-toe walking, sit-to-stands and single-leg stands near a counter.
Warm up, cool down and stretch gently.

CDC physical activity basics →Tennis, walks & gentle strength →

✨Anti-aging: look younger, feel younger

Sunscreen every day and a wide-brim hat — the island way.
Moisturize, sleep 7–8 hours and eat colorful produce.
Keep learning: new languages and hobbies keep the mind young.
Smile! Laughter and friendship are the best beauty secrets.

The Mediterranean secret →National Institute on Aging →

😊Mindfulness & a positive attitude

Start the day with three gratitudes in the journal.
Mindful cooking: smell the basil, listen to the sizzle.
Breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 6 — whenever you need calm.
Give first: a call, a card, a plate of cookies. Kindness multiplies.

The power of a smile →Gratitude journal tool →

🙏Faith & a giving heart

A quiet moment of prayer or reflection each morning.
Blessings at the table — gratitude before every meal.
Serve others: visit, cook, listen, help.
Faith grows in community — stay connected to your parish or congregation.

Faith, mindfulness & giving →YouVersion Bible app →

🍝Cooking

Master five mother dishes: sauce, soup, risotto, a roast and a salad.
Cook with seasonal, simple, real ingredients.
Taste as you go and adjust salt, acid and herbs.
Cook together — kids learn by stirring.

Nonna Do’s Kitchen →115 family recipes →

🥖Baking

Weigh flour for accuracy (1 cup ≈ 125 g).
Use a thermometer: bread is done at about 200–210°F inside.
Let dough rise somewhere warm and draft-free.
Bake for others — it’s the sweetest gift.

Rustic olive bread →Fritule & holiday sweets →

🌸Orchids

Water by root color, not the calendar.
Bright indirect light; humidity 50–70%.
Feed weakly, weekly and flush monthly.
Repot after blooming every 1–2 years.

Orchid Resource Center →10 golden rules →

🌿Gardening

Start with herbs in pots by the kitchen door.
Water in the morning at the soil line.
Plant for birds, bees and butterflies.
Keep a garden journal of what worked.

Nonna’s Garden →Herb garden in pots →

🎨Arts & crafts

Keep a “creativity basket” ready with supplies.
Turn nature into art: shells, pressed petals, driftwood.
Learn one sewing skill at a time — hems first.
Craft with grandchildren; display their work proudly.

Arts, Crafts & Collecting →Seashell crafts →

🗣️Languages

Learn 5 words a day in Italian or Croatian.
Label the kitchen: il cucchiaio / žlica (spoon).
Listen to songs and cook recipes in the language.
Practice with family — Nonna is the best teacher!

60 everyday phrases →Language flashcards game →Duolingo →

📚Learning & hobbies

Lifelong learning keeps the brain sharp — take a class, read, visit museums.
Collect something: stamps, coins, shells, recipes.
Photography: practice with flowers and family.
Play games — trivia, memory and word puzzles.

Stamp & coin collecting →Family arcade →

🏡Home, organizing & design

A place for everything: baskets, jars and labels.
Declutter with love — keep the memories, share the rest.
Bring the Adriatic home: whitewash, blue, terracotta, linen.
Orchids and family photos make any room sing.

The Nonna method →Mediterranean interiors →

🎾Tennis & family activities

Tennis is a sport for a lifetime — and a family tradition.
Try doubles or pickleball for social, lower-impact play.
Walk the beach together after dinner.
Celebrate every grandchild’s match with a family meal!

USTA →Family Tennis Rally game →

🗓️ Try this week

A gentle weekly wellness plan

Day	Move	Strength & balance	Heart & mind
Monday	Beach or park walk 30 min	Sit-to-stands ×10	Call a friend
Tuesday	Gardening 30 min	Heel-to-toe walk	Gratitude journal
Wednesday	Tennis or pickleball	Stretch 10 min	Cook a new recipe
Thursday	Walk 30 min	Wall push-ups ×10	Learn 5 Italian words
Friday	Dance in the kitchen 20 min	Single-leg stand at counter	Bake for someone
Saturday	Family activity outdoors	Gentle yoga	Crafts time
Sunday	Rest & a gentle stroll	Deep breathing	Family dinner 🍝

Track your week in the Wellness Tracker →

📰 From the blog

Living-well stories

🏡 Home & Design

Mediterranean Interior Design: Bringing the Adriatic Home

Sea blues, whitewashed walls, terracotta and old wood: Nonna Do's guide to Adriatic-inspired interiors, from color and materials to orchids, shells and light.

September 15, 2026 · 5 min read

💚 Healthy Living

The Power of a Smile: Mindfulness, Faith and a Giving Heart

Nonna Do is always smiling. Here are the simple, everyday practices of gratitude, mindfulness, kindness and quiet reflection behind a giving heart.

September 15, 2026 · 5 min read

Baskets, jars and labels — an organized home

🏡 Home & Design

The Nonna Method for an Organized, Joyful Home

A calm, room-by-room approach to home organization from Nonna Do: a working pantry, a tidy linen closet, happy craft supplies and a weekly rhythm that lasts.

September 11, 2026 · 5 min read

💚 Healthy Living

The Mediterranean Secret to Looking and Feeling Younger

Olive oil, sea air, gardens and a full family table: the everyday Mediterranean habits that help Nonna Do and all of us look and feel our best.

September 10, 2026 · 5 min read

Nonna Do with her tennis-playing grandson

💚 Healthy Living

Staying Active for Life: Tennis, Beach Walks and Gentle Strength

From tennis with the grandkids to shell-hunting beach walks, here is how Nonna's family stays moving, with a simple weekly plan for strength, balance and joy.

September 5, 2026 · 6 min read

📺 Watch & learn