Summertime is definitely in full swing— heat waves, forest fires, beach dinners, and wonderfully unpredictable schedules. Add to that some great books (you HAVE to work in some serious reading time in summer—it’s a rule) plus a new yummy cupcake dessert (to balance out the plethora of salads consumed) and the season is complete! So of course, I have few suggestions for you this Fabulous Friday…

Parenting any age is plain old hard work, but it seems to me that parenting teens involves a constant shift of challenges and celebrations, demands and delights, pain and pride. Some days we feel like we’ve been slapped in the face with a wet fish, and then we remember we are dealing with teenagers. But we survive it all, somehow, just like our ancestors before us. Just like our kids will with their own teens one day (I like to call that payback.)

So I am finally resurfacing from my bedroom, feeling like I have Bambi legs— you know, a little weak and wobbly. The dreaded stomach flu hit me with vengeance on Wednesday, and it’s now Sunday and I’m feeling almost human again. Yay!

I'll admit- I have a major city-crush on Montreal. Possibly because I have flown out there 3 times so far this year and it almost feels like home, but mainly because it's such a cool city in so many ways. I know I've mentioned it (a lot) in past blogs, but I want to...

No, really— I was punched at my eldest son’s prom on Sunday night. Just when I thought the grad drama was over for our family (see last week’s post MOST MEMORABLE MCGILL GRAD), we ended this particular night with a flourish. But fear not, this punch was thrown from a...

I know, I know— every parent says his or her child’s graduation was memorable. Maybe the speeches were particularly outstanding, or some kid cart-wheeled across the stage, or the class joker wore only boxers under his gown. This week our daughter’s graduation at...

Finally, this mother of the bride has a moment to reflect on a Montreal whirlwind of celebrations, greetings, goodbyes, and a plethora of mixed emotions. The most magical wedding I could have imagined is now a very special memory. The bride and groom are in the...

It’s out! My new book has been published— just one week before my daughter’s wedding. How’s that for perfect timing? When I wrote it 6 months ago, it was almost impossible to imagine my little girl and the Big Day, and writing about Charlotte as a wife seemed such a...

… is her friend (s). I know the song says “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” and let’s be honest, the sparklies are way up there on the list, but really, when it comes down to it, we LOVE, NEED, and TREASURE our buddies. Sometimes, I don’t realize how much I need my...

We decided to take a different Saturday morning walk this week, and it was literally a mountaintop experience. It’s become a weekly ritual for Lyndon and I— snow shoeing in winter and power walking/ hiking in fairer weather. He doesn’t Zumba (although that would be...