Fashion bloggers have the super power of intuitively knowing how to style an outfit. They have that knack I wish I had for browsing through a store and curating the looks that will define a season. This is why I invited five of my favorite fashion influencers to come to the YMC and Joe Fresh shopping event to show me their fave looks and give me some much needed advice on what to buy this fall.

When I bought a small 600-square-foot condo as my YMC Mom Cave in the heart of downtown Toronto, I had no idea how complicated the process of furnishing a space would be. My plan? To have my condo fully furnished and in live-in condition three weeks after closing. My reality? It's now two months since I got the keys and the space is still virtually empty.

One of the hottest topics amongst parents right now is the idea of "gendered parenting" or gender stereotyping. The question many parents grapple with is how to raise boys and girls to believe, from a young age, that they can be and do whatever they want; today and tomorrow.

Call it mother's intuition, but when our kids are in pain, no one knows how they're feeling more accurately than their parent. What we know to be true about our kids in our gut is now proven to be scientifically accurate through medical research. To best care for our kids, research shows that parents need to be empowered to advocate on behalf of their kids when they're in pain.

When my daughter was little, back to school shopping meant heading out to a store of my choice to pick out her first-day-of-school outfit. Sure, I let her choose which outfit she preferred, but ultimately I was in control. I don't need to tell you that by age 10 (or sometimes even younger), our kids' fashion tastes are already deeply influenced by pop culture and social media. The problem is what they may want to wear, based on the lack of great online role models, may not be appropriate for their age and stage.

Imagine watching your daughter train eight hours a day since she was a young girl, eventually rising in the ranks to compete in her sport. She makes the finals, and instead of you reading about her triple axle jump or the three goals she scored, media outlets report that "her ass is quality", that "she's built like a fire hydrant" or that "she's really hot with her curves and careless blonde hair". What if I told you those are direct quotes from media outlets about some of our top female athletes.

You know those moments when you say to yourself, I've made it? This was one of them. Let me start at the beginning.

Rick Campanelli is arguably one the nicest guys in Canadian showbiz. Once referred to as Rick the Temp on MuchMusic, now he's a seasoned TV host on ET Canada, and recently joined 102.1 The Edge as a morning show host. Plus, Rick is also a very devoted dad of three.

You never know when you'll learn something new that will improve your life. A few weeks ago I was invited to the 2nd annual [Wo]man Cave event for a morning of shopping and shmoozing. Rather than pick up samples, I set out to learn something new from all the vendors. I collected my fave pieces of useful, eclectic information for you to scroll through. 

On stage with the band Walk of the Earth, Sarah Blackwood is the epitome of Canadian alt-rock cool. She's got the look, the talent, and the attitude.

Off stage, Sarah Blackwood seamlessly transitions to devoted mother of two little ones, her baby and toddler waiting for her on the bands' tour bus post-show.

When I was struggling with post-partum depression and feeling like the worst mom on the planet, I longed for a community of women who would make me feel less alone. Fast forward 10 years and YMC continues to be that (and more) for me, and hopefully for many other moms looking for validation, information, and a creative outlet. For the past decade, YMC has been written by and for moms. The breadth and depth of storytelling gets richer every year. So why not celebrate these strong written voices of moms?

Every day I am surrounded by inspiring people, both in real life and online. Sometimes I have a chance to hug them in person and tell them how their actions have moved me. Other times, an email, a tweet, or a "like" lets them know I'm with them in spirit.

My first real job was at McDonald's when I was sixteen. I had just moved back to the big city of Montreal to attend CEGEP after living on a horse ranch in the country. I was on a mission to earn some spending money to pay for my record-buying habit. My girlfriend had an "in" for me. She was already working at McDonald's and was loving the regular income. I painstakingly filled out my application and waited to hear if I had made the cut.

My inbox is cluttered with PR pitches for new products ranging from the benign to the inane. But this one in particular made my blood boil. Apparently there is a new trend for women to wear CORSETS which "visibly slims inches from your waistline while you wear it, while also making your bust and buttocks look more prominent." I'm not exaggerating. This is a direct quote from a PR pitch for HourglassAngel.com, which sells "shimmering high compression cinchers for the gym or under clothes."

For the first time in almost sixteen years, my husband and I are taking a vacation WITHOUT the kids. Can you believe it? When I was growing up, my parents used to take a vacation every year, gallivanting around the world, while a babysitter minded my sister and I. My husband and I have chosen to travel differently. We have always taken vacations with our kids, not because we had to, but because we wanted to.

Nine months ago I was given a chance to witness the evolution of one the world's most iconic brands. At Mattel Headquarters in Los Angeles, the team responsible for branding Barbie was secretly working on plans to transforming the very essence of who she is and what she stands for, and I was invited to join the first ever Global Barbie Advisory Board and be a part of that change.

I'm good at several things, but I am not a parenting expert. However, one thing I do have is the luxury of running a parenting website filled with great advice and insight — from parents of all stripes. Recently I was asked for advice from someone who is parenting a 14 year-old daughter. The question was about managing the transition to becoming a teenager — one who wants to spend tons of time with her friends.

Remember the fiasco when the morality squad at Facebook chose to block an image of a mammogram, claiming it was "inappropriate content"? Understandably, many of us were incensed by the arbitrary definition of what is socially appropriate (or inappropriate) for the average Canadian. After a major brouhaha, Facebook acknowledged that images of mammograms and nursing are in fact, not salacious adult content.

If there was such a thing as a "mom crush," I would have one on Jessica Holmes. I've met Jessica on several occasions and every time I end up:

a) laughing hysterically, or

b) commenting on what an awesome mom she is.

If you're looking to book a vacation, you need to be on Twitter this Monday, November 30th for the #TransatAuction. Not only will you be able to bid on your dream trip in real time on Twitter, but all proceeds earned during this day long online auction go directly to SOS Villages. Not to mention, it's fun! This is what I call a win/win situation.

There are all kinds of trips being put up for auction, such as: