Today we have Yana Berlin with us – founder of Fabulously40.com – a social network dedicated to women 40 and beyond. I was going to tell you all about her, but I think I’ll let her tell her own fabulous story.

Welcome, Yana!

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a proud mother of 4 wonderful children and a wife to a wonderful man that I adore. My oldest daughter is 21 and the youngest 16. I was born in St. Petersburg, Russia and immigrated with my parents when I was twelve. I grew up in Los Angeles in a tight knit family.

2. What made you launch such an inspiring website?

I believe in the power of girlfriends. I was fortunate to grow up and remain friends with my girlfriends for as long as thirty years. Our friendships lasted longer than most marriages, and remain to be the rock that we can always lean on.

Several of my girlfriends are a few years older than me. When they began turning 40 I saw a complete transformation. Some became a lot more bolder, others embarked on new careers; one of my friends that was shy and never really said much suddenly got her “voice.” She became passionate and vocal about many things.

As I observed all those changes, I knew that we were fortunate enough to have each other, to bounce ideas, to provide support, and to have a shoulder to cry on. We laugh at each other’s jokes, steer one another in the right directions, and more. I also knew that many were not as fortunate.

I woke up in the middle of the night with an idea of a website for women over 40. I woke up my husband and asked him what he though about building a community for women who share the same goals, dreams, issues and fears. My husband, who is my biggest cheerleader, thought it was a great idea. I waited till the morning to talk to my girlfriends, and we all agreed that all of us women can use a friend who will stand next to us as we embark on this journey to the next chapter of our lives.

3. How do you think today’s 40 is different from our mothers’ and grandmothers’ 40?

I think that our mothers and grandmothers were brought up to believe that once you turn 40 you are old. You have to cut off your hair, button up your shirt and call it a day.

Women today just begin their lives at 40. Many are just getting married and having kids, others are sending their kids to college and embarking on new careers, achieving their goals and reaching for their dreams.

4. What are some of your favorite destinations you have traveled to with your kids?

Because we have four children it is very expensive to travel as a whole family. My husband took our two daughters to Japan. Our son traveled to Hong Kong. My favorites however, are the trips we take together. When our oldest was 15 we took everyone to the South of France for a month. My husband and I worked out of the office in Cannes and the kids got to travel all through Europe. It was an amazing experience. My son came back and never again asked to wear baggy, hanging pants.

We also travel to Cabo San Lucas (see photo) every year during Thanksgiving week. It became a ritual that all of us enjoy yearly and plan with enthusiasm.

5. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?

I just came back from St. Petersburg. Only my son and my nephew that now lives with us got to enjoy the beauty and the culture that this city offers. I would love to spend two weeks with all of the kids visiting museums and introducing them to their roots. Next stop: South America.

Our travel writer and blogger friend Nancy Brown is with us today as our featured travel writer. Nancy lives on the West Coast with her family and writes the “What a Trip” travel column for the Contra Costa Times Lamorinda Sun and she is a Travel Editor at Uptake.

Thank you for taking the time to be with us today, Nancy. Let’s hear all about you…

1. Every writer specializes in something – what is your forte?

I’m lucky to live in Northern California, and as such, I travel to Carmel, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and San Francisco on a regular basis. I specialize in writing about my own backyard. My “What a Trip” newspaper column is focused on high-end, adventure and luxury travel.

2. How did you get started writing?

Looking back on my childhood journals, it seems I’ve always enjoyed sharing my adventures. I was co-editor of my high school newspaper and my first internship was at our local Contra Costa Times newspaper. A degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon seemed the logical next step. After many years in the PR field, I hopped the media fence to become a travel writer.

3. How old are your kids and how often do you travel with them?

Evan is 13 and Kendall is 16. We always take a trip during Spring break and one or two trips in the summer. It’s more difficult to travel as a family with teenagers due to sports and summer job commitments.

4. How do you find traveling with teenagers different than when they were little?

When the kids were little my husband and I selected our travel destinations. Now they want to have a say in the location and they both want to bring a friend along. As my husband is from Oregon, we’ve been taking the kids to Sunriver, Oregon every summer. We rent a house, bring the dog, bikes and friends. We look like the Clampett clan from the Beverly Hillbillies.

In our house, travel with teens means travel without mom or dad. This summer, our daughter was fortunate to travel to the Galapagos Islands with her high school biology class. She paid her share of the trip from her lifeguarding job. They also go on mission trips with our church.

5. What is your biggest challenge in being a travel writer?

For me, the challenge is balancing family life with work. While the kids are more independent, they still look to me to keep the house running. Everyone seems to miss family meals when I’m traveling a week or 10 days. Another challenge is from a financial perspective. Most travel writers will tell you, “don’t quit your day job” and it’s true. The travel writing business is a tough way to make a living. Fortunately, I have a supportive husband and I work in the public relations food and wine industry, as well. I feel very fortunate that I’m able to combine my writing career with my passion for travel.

Thanks for the interview. I look forward to meeting all of you.

We look forward to meeting you in person, too. Happy Travels!