Sandra Bornstein

Welcome

Unlike other websites that are narrowly focused on one or more related topics, you have landed on a website that mirrors the unpredictable nature of life. Life can, at times, be messy. Throughout this website, Sandy Bornstein shares many of the lessons she has learned while adapting to these unanticipated events. Sandrabornstein.com is also the anchor for Sandy’s two books, May This Be the Best Year of Your Life: A Memoir and 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die.

Since travel opportunities were limited during the pandemic, Sandy decided to focus her attention on one of her favorite places in Colorado—Boulder. Many COVID related obstacles were encountered while researching and writing 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die. In concise vignettes, Sandy showcases a cross section of places that will appeal to locals, visitors, college students and their parents.

May This Be the Best Year of Your Life highlights Sandy’s once in a lifetime expat teaching adventure in Bangalore, India, and how she learned to cope with an assortment of unimaginable events and unrelenting culture shock.

In conjunction with marketing her first book, Sandy began publishing lifestyle and travel stories on this website as well as other places. To gain more traction, she launched a second website, The Traveling Bornsteins. This site exclusively showcases Sandy’s travel writing since 2016.

When people reach the empty nester years, they often encounter a host of medical and family issues. Some popular stories include tips on how to overcome these midlife challenges.

In July of 2020, Ira, her husband, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an incurable brain cancer. After countless hours researching the best options to combat Ira’s terminal diagnosis, Sandy added a For Glio page. The stories posted on this page are created to inspire other people facing a terminal disease to embrace life and not cancer. In the future, Sandy hopes to write a book that will share in more detail what she has learned during Ira’s glioblastoma journey.

Sandy and Ira, divide their time between the Front Range, the mountains, and traveling. Whenever possible they spend time with their four adult sons and their families which includes 6 grandchildren.

If you always stay in the security of your home environment, you will never see what the world is all about. So, take a few moments and join Sandy on her latest adventures. Reach out to Sandy—sandy@sandrabornstein.com

Book Trailer For Memoir

May This Be the Best Year of Your Life

“Sandy takes us on her personal adventures in India, with all the ups and downs and uncertainties of the unknown. She confronts social, family, and professional challenges with refreshing openness, vulnerability, and determination. I was right there with her, sharing both the anxiety and the joy… every step of the way.” – Rita Golden Gelman
author of Tales of a Female Nomad and more than seventy children’s books”

 

Latest Work

100 Things Boulder Receives NATJA Honorable Mention Award

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Last week, the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) posted the results of their 31st Annual Awards Competition. My latest book, 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die, received an Honorable Mention.

This was the first time that I submitted a book title for consideration. Several of my previously published stories have received travel writing awards from this organization.

As you can see from the posted list of winners, I had strong competition.

2023 NATJA Travel Book or Guide Winners

Category 160: Travel Book or Guide

Gold Award: Moon Travel Guides, “Moon USA State by State: The Best Things to Do in Every State for Your Travel Bucket List”, Moon Travel 
Silver Award: Laurie McAndish King and Linda Watanabe McFerrin, Wandering in Japan: The Spirit of Tokyo, Kyoto and Beyond
Bronze Award: Claudia Laroye, A Gelato a Day 
Honorable Mention: Sandy Bornstein, “100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die”, Reedy Press
Honorable Mention: Rosalind Cummings-Yeates, “Moon 52 Things to Do in Chicago”, Moon Travel Honorable Mention: Steve Rosenberg, “Dive and Travel Turks and Caicos”
I am proud to share the certificate that I received.
If you want to enhance your visit to Boulder, Colorado, please pick up a copy of 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die.

2023 NATJA Lifestyle, Health, and Wellness Travel Winners

I also received a bronze medal for my Wander Magazine story, “The Benefits of Traveling While Coping With Glioblastoma, an Incurable Brain Cancer.”

Category 129: Lifestyle, Health, and Wellness Travel

Gold Award: Anne Sigmon, “In the Garden of the Fox”, Wandering in Japan: The Spirit of Tokyo, Kyoto and Beyond
Silver Award: Hillary Richard, “Why Do Travel Tales Put People to Sleep?”, National Geographic Travel
Bronze Award: Sandy Bornstein, “The Benefits of Traveling While Coping with Glioblastoma, an Incurable Brain Cancer”, Wander Magazine
https://issuu.com/wander-mag/docs/wander_early_summer_2022 on Page 100Honorable Mention: Terri Colby, “Sky high, stargazing in the Midwest”, Chicago Tribune

By writing about our diverse travel opportunities, I hope to encourage others facing incurable diseases to embrace life rather than illness.

BIO

Sandy is an award-winning author and lifestyle and travel journalist. She is the author of 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die, an award-winning guidebook offering an easy way to pinpoint your best options in this sunny, high altitude college town. Sandy’s second book, May This Be the Best Year of Your Life highlights her living and teaching adventure in Bangalore, India.

As a licensed Colorado teacher, Sandy taught K-12 students in the United States and abroad. Sandy also taught college-level courses at Front Range Community College and the University of Colorado-Boulder.

To follow Sandra and Ira’s travel adventures, visit TheTravelingBornsteins website.

Sandy Bornstein Promotes 100 Things Boulder at Denver Travel & Adventure Show

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Saturday, February 25 10:30 AM Speakers at Denver Travel & Adventure Show

As an avid traveler and professional writer, I have attended the Denver Travel & Adventure Show numerous times. In 2018, I used our multi-hour experience to write the story How Do You Select Your Travel Destinations? 

After our first experience, we realized that it is best to review the enticing list of destinations before arriving at the event. The website provides a list of the kiosks, along with a schedule for presentations. By pinpointing our preferences, we could concentrate on our top choices. However, with so many wonderful places, it can be challenging to create a top 10 list. At each show, we connected with individuals who provided useful information. On a few occasions, these contacts led to future media trips.

We were always impressed with the wide variety of prominent leaders in the travel industry who spoke throughout the two-day conference. It never occurred to me that one day I would be added to that impressive list.

Sandy Bornstein Presenting at Denver Travel & Adventure Show; Photo Taken by Aaron Bornstein

Last Saturday, I gave a talk in the Savvy Travel Theater. Using the information I gathered to write 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die, I created a slide presentation titled, “How to Maximize Your Boulder Experience: Restaurants, Outdoor Adventures, Museums, Day Trips & More”. With more than 40 digital images, I packed a ton of useful information into my talk.

Sandy Bornstein chatting with her husband Ira and grandson Max prior to her presentation at the Denver Travel & Adventure Show; Photo taken by Aaron Bornstein

Ira, along with our son, Aaron, and his son, Max, were in the audience. Max loved seeing his Grandma’s image projected on to the large digital screen.

It was indeed an honor to be included at this annual Colorado Convention Event.

If you missed this event, you can learn more about 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die on the 100 Things Boulder page.

BIO

Sandy is an award-winning author and lifestyle and travel journalist. She is the author of 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die, an award-winning guidebook offering an easy way to pinpoint your best options in this sunny, high altitude college town. Sandy’s second book, May This Be the Best Year of Your Life highlights her living and teaching adventure in Bangalore, India. As a licensed Colorado teacher, she taught K-12 students in the United States and abroad. Sandy also taught college-level courses at Front Range Community College and the University of Colorado-Boulder.

To follow Sandra and Ira’s travel adventures, visit TheTravelingBornsteins website.

The Traveling Bornsteins’ Motto for 2022: Keep Moving-No Regrets

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Another year has gone by. As I reflect on 2022, I continually hear Ira’s motto—Keep Moving; No Regrets. From January to December, we rarely stopped. We were skiing, spending time with family, exploring places in the US and abroad, raising money for the National Brain Tumor Society, sharing our experiences at the ASTRO Conference in Texas, and promoting 100 Things to Do in Boulder Before You Die.

We remain grateful for every day. Ira continues to enjoy the things he loves. I am extremely fortunate that my b’sheret has grit and rarely complains. Many glioblastoma patients balk at what needs to be endured. Instead of focusing on Ira’s cancer, we have lived our lives to the fullest in 2022. We plan to continue an active lifestyle for as long as possible. Read More