What a night! Champagne corks were popping in kitchens all across Canada as the YMC team (those who didn't have to be at parent/teacher night) were onstage at the Phoenix Club in Toronto, celebrating our huge wins at this year’s Canadian Online Publishing Awards (aka COPA awards).
Growing up as Erica Ehm's daughter can't be easy. People stop us on the street and tell my daughter how awesome I used to be on MuchMusic waaay before she was born. She smiles politely and rolls her eyes at me. She's a good sport.
New York City is the perfect destination for families with older kids! We just returned from four jam-packed days in NYC and our only regret was not staying longer - and that includes the kids! There was so much for us to to see and do that we only crossed half of the cool stuff we wanted to get to off our list.
Last night the cast of Oh Canada! What a Feeling! A Musical Odyssey enjoyed five standing ovations throughout the show. My husband and I were among them and we both loved the performance. And yes, you should go - because you will end up on your feet as we did. But there is an additional back story as to why this show made me so happy and I need to tell you about it.
When my girlfriend Andrea Nair invited my daughter and I to fly to Italy with her this summer to experience Me and Mom in Tuscany, I initially said no. I had too much work. And isn't Italy expensive? And what about my husband who would be left at home? Yet when I described the opportunity to him, all he said was, "You're crazy not to go."
I love supporting other mom entrepreneurs whenever I can. When my friend at Felicity PR (run and operated by moms) invited me to their inaugural Woman Cave event, I promised I'd be there, and I'm so happy I went. I saw many of the awesome women I usually only chat with online, and I met some smart entrepreneurs who shared their advice. I was exposed to new products and services, and the day reminded me how important it is to get out and network!
So there I was, standing at the #SocialforGood Conference podium about to hand out awards to some well-deserving social entrepreneurs like EMBERS Marcia Nozick. But first, I had to get through my keynote without crying.
A few weeks ago we asked you to share your stories of motherhood for our Voices of Motherhood writing contest.
We knew we'd receive stories filled with humour and heart, and you delivered! We read so many amazing entries from all over Canada, from moms of all walks of life. Our judges had a hard task narrowing it down to 10 winners, but after much deliberation and calculation, the feat was accomplished!
Meeting the founder of Life With a Baby, Claire Kerr-Zlobin, at an event last fall reminded me why I started YMC almost a decade ago. Claire's passion to support new moms was born from her own difficult transition to motherhood. Like so many women, Claire experienced debilitating post-partum mood disorder after the birth of her baby. She couldn't find the help she needed in her local community, so she started Life With A Baby to fill that void.
It's hard - no, SHOCKING - to think this year marks the 30th anniversary of my on-air start at MuchMusic. At the time, the gang behind the scenes at Much was considered cutting edge - and we were! We created revolutionary live, unscripted satellite TV that changed the way music was consumed.
As technologically advanced as MuchMusic was back then, compared to today, we were living in prehistoric times. I may be dating myself, but I bet you remember most of this stuff too.
Having a baby is one of the most exciting times in a person's life, but it's also one of the most expensive. Oy Vey! The amount of "stuff" you need to buy to help keep your baby safe, happy, clean, busy, relaxed, comfortably dressed, and inspired can set a new family back thousands of dollars. (By the way, that disappearing wad of cash actually never stops disappearing once you're a parent.)
Let me first preface this post with a disclaimer: I love Netflix and the freedom of binge-watching whatever I want when I score some free time. I don't schedule my Netflix fix; it's usually a situation of found me-time that lets me revel in watching a show everyone's raving about.
As the parent of a teen and a tween, there's nothing more terrifying to me than the thought of one day discovering my child is on the road to nowhere with a drug addiction. The only thing worse would be my child falling seriously ill, and, come to think of it, they're kind of the same parental hell.
I snuck in to The Art of Leadership conference late and spotted my colleagues who had saved a seat for me. "How are you doing?" one asked me. Before I could say the words, tears were already tumbling down my cheeks. "I'm exhausted," I replied, wiping my eyes. She hugged me and said what too many of my working friends are feeling. "Me too; I'm drowning."
To counteract the frenzy to buy Buy BUY all year long, it's equally important to GIVE. Times are tough these days for so many and funding is dropping. While most of us want to contribute to deserving charities, it's a bonus when you find a non-profit organization that connects with your values and life experiences. It's impossible for me to personally suggest which charities most deserve your attention. Instead, I reached out to the YMC Team who are scattered all across Canada for their input. Here is a list of some charities that could use your help.
Ask your husband, partner, or boyfriend what they want for a holiday gift this year and they'll likely shrug their shoulders and mumble something about "already having enough stuff." But the thought bubble over his head probably says something like "How about an orgasm, honey," just like my guy did.
Your Kids Will Hand You The Gold Medal For These 'Pot Of Gold' Cupcakes With An Icing Surprise