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Are you ready to FINALLY prioritize your self-care, avoid burnout, and reclaim your time, energy & joy in 2024?

BUSY TO BLISS: The Self-Care Community Membership is here: where busy modern women create sustainable self-care routines so they can live calm, abundant and balanced lives.

Month: July 2015

What Is Privilege?

I know I am on a blogging break, but I came across this today and very much wanted to share it with you. An extremely powerful visualization of privilege.

This video courtesy of Buzzfeed, illustrates the concept of privilege.

And on the 198th Day of the Year, She Rested

Girls, I am taking my annual July blogging break, only this year, it’s only going to be the last two weeks of July. I do this every year for my mental wellbeing, and for the quality of this blog. It is my gift to myself. It is not easy to continuously keep things fresh, relevant and interesting, so every July, I rest my blogging brain to come back recharged, refreshed, and ready to give you more.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be working on my upcoming women’s lifestyle invention, coaching, doing my weekly Global TV parenting segments, and relaxing.

We will also be picking the boys up from sleepaway camp. That’s it, the party’s over! I can honestly say I am going into this weekend with mixed feelings… I cannot wait to hug and squeeze them. I cannot wait to hear about the past few weeks, learn about what THEY learned, and share all the stories. But my husband and I have honestly had the month of our lives. For the first time ever since having children, we experienced what it felt like to be selfish, wake up and care ONLY for each other.

Use Your Words Wisely

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love words. As a kid, I consumed books by the dozens, and wrote spiral notebooks-full of my poems and thoughts. What I didn’t understand then was the power of those words, to both elevate and diminish me.

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Photo credit: revgeary.files.wordpress.com
By the time I was 16, I knew I wanted to be a writer. I even looked the high school career counselor straight in the eye, and said the words out loud. “Oh, you’re going to write the great American novel?” she mocked. Then, she advised me to take a typing class, so I could be a secretary. It was obvious she’d had lots of practice stabbing pitchforks into kids’ dreams.

The brutal truth was, nothing she said was worse—or more destructive—than the negative messages I was already telling myself. As I moved through high school and college, studying the beautiful words of Shakespeare, Austen, and Morrison, I became convinced that I could never be talented enough to be a writer. No one makes money writing, I chastised myself. You think you’re going to be the exception?

Summer Vacation Travel Tips With Kids

Traveling during peak summer times can be frustrating: the lines are long, the planes are crowded, and it all can make for an uneasy travel experience.

As a mom of two boys, aged 11 and 8, I can appreciate how traveling with young children can feel overwhelming. My boys have surprisingly become wonderful travelers. Whether we’re flying to visit family, or driving on a road trip, they are generally cooperative and eager to behave.

Bonjour, Paris!

Hello ladies! Long time no see!

I am just back from Paris, where I had the most magical week.

If you recall, I shared with you this last month,

It is with tremendous pride and excitement that I can finally share how honored I am to join the company of empowered and inspired women as an Ambassador for Lancôme Canada. Having watched my mother take precious care of her beautiful peaches and cream skin my whole life with Lancôme products, Lancôme to me represented a strong woman, with true inner beauty.

I am honored that Lancôme sees me as a woman who also represents strong and real beauty from the inside out.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of such a meaningful brand, and I will take you along with me on a journey exploring some exciting things.” – WomenOnTheFence.com, June 5, 2015

So today, allow me to take you on my recent journey.

Because Paris has to be SEEN to be felt, my trip in pictures.

I am My Beloved’s and My Beloved is Mine

On July 3rd 2005, I married Brandon – the love of my life.

Our courtship was a whirlwind romance; the kind of stuff in fairy tales. Brandon and I first met in 1991 when I went on vacation with his brother and my friend. At the time, we all saw Brandon as the “little brother” that hung out with us. Since he was five years younger, he was not part of our group.

Over the years, I would see Brandon at occasional family events and visits, but we never really talked for more than a few minutes. Don’t get me wrong – I always thought Brandon was “hot” – a professional hockey player, at 6’1, with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, he could not be ignored. I just always thought of him as my friend’s younger brother who was (honestly), way out of my league.

Fast forward to August 2004, when Brandon once again joined our friends for a dinner out in Toronto. We sat next to each other and for the first time, had a real conversation.

That night he told his best friend that he had met his wife.

My SHERO: Misty Copeland

In keeping with the spirit of Wordless Wednesday, I will keep it short, and wordlessly.

When I read the headline yesterday, “Misty Copeland Becomes First Black Principal Dancer At American Ballet Theater,” I swear to G-d, I teared up. After 14 years as a soloist with the ballet company, Misty can now add principal dancer to her resume. If you are familiar with Misty’s story, you might tear up too. A story of tremendous struggle, extreme hard work and dedication to her craft, years of believing in herself, and total triumph.

Summer Fashion Trends With A Canada Day Giveaway From LE CHÂTEAU!

Summer is officially here, so is Canada Day, and today I have something fun for WomenOnTheFence.com readers!

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It’s no secret that I am the LE CHÂTEAU Brand Ambassador, wearing their amazing, stylish clothes, shoes, coats and accessories pretty much everywhere I go, for both work and play.

Wearing LE CHÂTEAU on an episode of The Own Show on OWN TV.
Wearing LE CHÂTEAU on an episode of The Own Show on OWN TV.
So if you’re curious as to some hot summer fashion trends, I’ve got you covered today in the video below.

But first, some of my top favorite summer fashion trends I have been sporting are right here. And they are all LE CHÂTEAU:

It’s time to spring clean your life!

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