Lifestyle Sneakers for Women

The Best Walking Shoes for Women Over 40

• Look for shoes that give the right amount of support, especially midfoot around the arch. Say no to flat or low profile shoes like Vans which have no arch support and will make long walking days more painful
• Shoes shouldn't be too tight and should be wide enough to fit your foot comfortably. Shop for shoes in the afternoon. Feet naturally expand during the day and may swell during hotter weather. You should also try on shoes wearing the socks you intend to wear.
• If you have foot pain, consider the kind of sneakers which can accommodate orthotics or insoles to give you the most custom fit
• Shock absorption is crucial for preventing foot fatigue and providing a comfortable experience on long days of walking and exploring new destinations. Look for shoes with cushioned or responsive soles
• Slip-on shoes are a great option and convenient choice for those who want to quickly slip their shoes on and off at airport security checkpoints or on the plane.
• When luggage space is limited, white shoes will give you the most versatility on your vacation. You can pair white sneakers with casual or fancier outfits with ease.

If the past two years have taught us anything, it is this: you cannot please everyone, and ultimately, the only person you need to please is yourself.

Kids Bedroom Design

From Girl's Room To Tween Room

I've never fully shown this room on the blog, because, let's be honest, it's not my best design work. But this is a problem many of us face. 

And last week, I turned 50! I'm running a giveaway to celebrate my birthday, so head over there for a chance to win one of my plaid outdoor mats.

There's nothing like turning half a century old to get you wondering: Am I living my best life? 

Finally, 2020 is behind us and we're ready to look forward to the new year. But with January comes an expectation to move full steam ahead and be productive right out of the gate. It feels like Christmas decorations were packed away in record speed, everyone is organizing, and people are well underway on their first DIY or home improvement projects of the year.

I had grand plans to get going as soon as the calendar struck 2021. And yet, 6 days into the new year and my biggest accomplishments have been cleaning out the storage room and rearranging the laundry room... neither of which I documented for the blog.

I have managed to do a daily organizing challenge and am purging one possession a day for the month of January. Have you seen the Netflix documentary The Minimalists: Less Is Now? It has profoundly changed how I view my "stuff". I am in no way a minimalist, but I do want to get there. Getting rid of stuff brings clarity to what really matters.

Clarity.

If 2020 taught me anything, it's that what you thought to be true isn't always the case. That you need to dig deeper, look at things from different perspectives, sit, ponder, and consider, and be on a constant journey to clarity. In Less Is Now, minimalism is not just about clearing away the stuff; it's about moving forward with intention too.

So that's what I'm going to do. I've set goals in the past but I'm going to do that with more rigour and set processes, routines, and habits around those goals to actually make them happen. Part of that is accountability, and no better place to do that than on a public blog and share my plans with you. I'd love to hear what your goals are too. Let me know in the comments.

My Goals for 2021

Educate Myself

I've been a solopreneur since 2011 and one thing I didn't realize at the beginning was how important it was to be constantly learning. Whether it was SEO for the blog, or learning new technology to run a virtual BlogPodium conference, there was always a need to educate and improve my understanding. And now that responsibility falls on me. There's no corporate training, no industry workshops. No courses laid out on my performance plan and no checks and balances from my boss or coworkers to actually test that I know my stuff. Getting better is up to me.

This year, I have a goal to learn two things:

• SketchUp for interior design. I launched my design services last year and have worked with many of you to create rooms that reflect the way you want to live. It has been thrilling and something I hope to continue to do more of. But the tools I'm currently using are insufficient and I need to approach this aspect of my job more seriously. I'm excited by the possibilities though of creating renderings and millwork drawings! #designnerd
• SEO and Pinterest. I took Adventures in SEO last year and it really helped me optimize the back end of this blog. There's still more work to do and I'm eager to make this blog an even stronger content resource and passive-income generating machine.

Establish Routines

Last year, I led a 1% Shift Challenge. The idea was that you could achieve your goals through small, repeatable actions. By creating habits, your actions become second nature and before you know it, you've climbed that mountain and arrived at the top. I want to establish processes that make it easier to succeed.

• Send out regular newsletters. I've had a modest email subscriber list for a number of years but have done a terrible job of sending out newsletters regularly. I don't plan out topics, have doubt that anyone will care to read my emails anyway, and always leave them to the last minute. That's going to change. I aim to land in your mailbox at least twice a month this year. Sign up here if you want to read along!
• Use my planner every day. I love my Passion Planner. It's been effective in helping me dream, plan, and schedule - when I use it. When Covid hit last year, my regular routines fell apart. I felt out of control, days seemed both empty and busy. I stopped using my planner and my productivity took a nose dive. Then I realized: it's at those times when you feel you can't take one step forward on your own - when you don't know where you're headed - that you should enlist help. Lean on your To Do lists and calendars to keep you moving. Regain control by setting goals and making plans. 
• Get dressed. Lounging in PJs all day every day may sound idyllic but I've found it has the opposite effect. I am able to focus and get in a work mindset more easily when I'm dressed in something I'm not embarrassed to answer the door in. 

My Year of Health

Create More

How do you cope with hard times? Lately, there are days when it seems the entire world is in shambles and I'm left feeling as though we're all doomed. But then I remember nothing good ever comes from self pity and if I want to be a happy wife and mother and a productive, functioning human being, then I need to shed that veil of woe right darn quick.

5 Ways To Feel Happier

February is the month of love, kindness, and gratitude. What better time to remind yourself that happiness is always within your grasp; it springs from inside. Here's 5 tips on how to be happy, even in hard times.

1. Practice Gratitude Daily

One way to instantly become happier is to remind yourself of all the things you have to be grateful for. I've started a new morning routine where, before I even get out of bed, I take a moment to think of a few things I'm looking forward to that day. It could be as simple as that first cup of coffee or the fact that I have no meetings that day and can be focused on work. I remind myself to stay grateful throughout the day too. For instance, when the door opens at 3:40pm, I tell myself how lucky I am to be able to greet my daughter each day she comes home from school. It's a small thing but instantly puts me in a different mindset.

You can also practice gratitude at the end day as you fall asleep. Think of all the blessings, big and small, you encountered that day. From the warm bed you're sleeping in, a welcome call from your mom, to being healthy and feeling good, there is always something to be grateful for. Inserting moments of gratitude in your day are like little bursts of sunshine and help to keep your attitude positive.

2. Let Your Feelings Out

When was the last time you had a heart-to-heart talk with a good friend? In this increasingly digital world, those kinds of deep conversations happen less frequently and if you work from home, chances are you'll have days where you don't talk to anyone beyond your own family.

Talking with others is one way to get perspective, give voice to what you're feeling, and work through your thoughts. Spending time with others can also be an instant mood lifter. If you can't do it in person, go old-school with a good old phone conversation, or have a video chat. And if you don't have anyone nearby to talk to, you can also spill your thoughts out into a journal. Sometimes putting your thoughts on paper is enough to see the bigger picture and you'll realize what you're facing isn't as difficult as you imagined it to be.

3. Practice Self Care

When life feels heavy, don't hesitate to take a time out and show yourself some care. Do those things that restore and rejuvenate your soul. Do you enjoy sitting with a cup of tea and a good book? Does exercise fill you with feel-good endorphins? Or will a quick 20 minute nap do wonders for your mood? Find out works for you and put it into your day whenever you need a lift.

This could also mean giving yourself a mental break. Spending quiet time meditating can help you focus on your thoughts. You can use the time to really understand why you're feeling what you're feeling. Instead of feeling pent up with anxiety, sadness, or anger, you can work through those emotions and reach a place of calm, understanding, and peace.

4. Spread Kindness

Showing kindness to others is a no-fail way to feel good. Even when you're experiencing the worst of times, there are always others in worse positions and you have the ability to show them kindness. I find that you can even "fake it till you make it" in this regard... you can be in a bad mood yet still commit an act of kindness. Do it enough times and your bad mood will certainly disappear.





Kindness is one of those things that truly are better to give than receive. It doesn't have to be a grand gesture either. Paying a compliment, holding a door open, even smiling at a stranger and having them smile back... there are actions that have the benefit of making you happy. You'll also be reminded that there is still goodness in the world and that, even in your own small way, you can have a positive impact.

5. Shut Out The Noise

I'll be honest, I'm increasingly relying on this tactic to keep me in my happy state of mind. When the news seems filled with sad stories, just don't read the news. The same goes for your social feeds. If Instagram is making you feel sad or depressed, or if you find it pushes you into a constant comparison trap, step away.

This isn't the ostrich burying its head in the sand. It's a necessary action for self preservation. You can't be focused on the happiness in your own life if you are preoccupied with the unhappiness of others. We all strive to be understanding and empathetic individuals but you do need to put your own needs first. Give yourself room to breathe, dream, and just be. And then once you find your own inner strength and peace, you'll be in a better position to help and support others.


Feeling sadness or pessimistic at times is a normal fact of life. But with practice and effort, you can get back into a happier frame of mind. What do you do to get back into a positive mindset? How do you lift your mood?

"Ya think?" he responded, in that sarcastic tone that would normally offend and garner a death-stare from me, were he not the person that knows me best. The tone that implies 'what took you so long to realize it'?

It's true. I feel like I'm in the throes of a midlife crisis, and today, on the day of my 49th birthday, I've decided to give myself some therapy and share these thoughts with all of you.

It's not a topic we hear a lot about on social media is it? Sure we read about self-care, taking care of one's mental health, doing a social media detox. But how to deal with a midlife crisis... is that even real?

A midlife crisis is a transition of identity and self-confidence that can occur in middle-aged individuals, typically 45-55 years old (Source: Wikipedia)

I feel like we think it's not real because we don't talk about it. The truth is there are many women and men just like me but we struggle in silence. We talk about it with our closest circle of friends, our partners, but beyond that, there is an expectation that this is just a part of life, do what you can to survive, and cope with it.

Can I give you a glimpse of what midlife looks like?

• You have a job that is unsatisfying but the stable paycheck keeps you there. And who would hire someone close to 50 anyway?
• Or you have a business idea but you don't know how to start. Want to be a 20-something girl boss? The world is your oyster. Want to start your second career or become an entrepreneur at 45? Good luck finding any resources and role models.
• You have tweens and teens and young adults you're raising. Your relationships with them are complex and filled with emotion and you're simultaneously ready to kill them and mourning the day they move out of your home.
• Bills bills bills. Have you ever spent more money on a daily basis in your life?? Mortgages, car loans, college funds, family trips, extra curricular activities, groceries, sports gear, clothes, renovations. Lucky you - you get to pay for everything.
• You're experiencing adolescence in reverse. Your hormones are out of whack, you're in perimenopause, your skin, hair, bowels, metabolism, waistline, emotions, body temperature, energy levels and sleep patterns are alllllll different.
• You have parents that you are caring for. You get a front-row seat to their mental and physical decline. You take on the responsibilities for managing their housing, financial, and health needs. You watch the vibrant parents that raised you slowly slip away and unwillingly take on the role of having to be the strong one in the relationship.
• You see friends and family and perhaps yourself develop chronic illnesses and daily ailments. You know people battling cancer, having strokes, going in for emergency surgery, and dealing with mental illness. You know people who have died by suicide and feel immediate empathy because you can understand the pressures they were under. You attend more funerals than weddings.
• You experience loss. Losing a spouse, a marriage, your job, your perfect health, a parent. All very real and immediate possibilities.
• You look in the mirror and don't recognize what you see. You feel 28 inside but don't look it. 
• You wonder if you took the right path in life. You think about what could have been. You feel like time has run out on many things.

It's a depressing picture, isn't it? Dealing with many of those things can make you feel like you're in a crisis. If it sounds like I'm wallowing in midlifedom, I'm not. I'm the most self assured, positive, and confident I've ever been but that's not to say the struggle isn't real.

Part of the lack of discussion around midlife crises is because of social media. We've become accustomed to seeing curated, perfect lives online (dominated by younger generations) that there is a belief that the equally very real, difficult, and painful parts should be hidden. And that's not going to change anytime soon. We want others to connect with us through our lifestyles, our homes, our vacations, our cute family, our positive outlook... do we really want to be commiserating over financial struggles and decisions on whether to put your parent into a nursing home? I'd say no. For the most part, we like visiting that Instagram perfect life when we need an escape from our own.

So what is my point in writing all this?

My point, I think, is to just open the conversation. To say "hey, this is what I'm feeling, and if you're feeling it too, that's okay". Maybe not only that, but to come up with a game plan too so I can do more than just survive.

Sometimes the only way out is through

They say that lifetime happiness is a U-curve and once you get through this bottom pit of midlife, you start on an upswing and become your happiest ever. I want to get that point, at least mentally, sooner rather than later.

I'm a doer and goal-oriented by nature so let me share the actions I'm taking to get through to the other side. Here's 5 ways to deal with a midlife crisis:

1. Start Something New

The best way to feel alive and vibrant? Do something you've never done before. Whether it's buying a road bike and joining the weekend biking crew, learning to knit, or taking cooking lessons, the newness of experiences can get your mind going and your heartbeat racing. Me? The new things I'm doing tend to be business oriented. I've taken lots of online courses related to blogging in the last three months, I'm exploring new content, and I'm setting up an online shop with my daughter. I've got a new bike too that I can't wait to use this summer. Always be learning and trying something new.

2. Battle Boredom

It's so easy to get into a rut and do the same things over and over. And while it might feel comfortable and familiar, boredom can lead to unhappiness. Over the holidays, Sean, Chloe and I all fell into a trap of spending the day in our pjs, playing on devices, and doing things independently. It was nice, yes, to have the down time but we weren't connecting. So one day I forced us to go out and head downtown. We didn't arrive till mid afternoon but it was enough time to visit a museum and eat an early dinner at the market before it closed. And we had so much fun! The fresh air, the city bustle - it was just what we needed.

It was a good reminder to step out of the comfort zone. If you're bored - at home, in your marriage, in your job - look for ways to change up the routine. Without obliterating the routine that is - a shiny new sports car, an affair, or spontaneously quitting your job are not solutions to anything!

3. Prioritize Relationships

The older I get, the more I realize that it is the people you have in your life that matter. I've been blessed to come from a large family, and have the same core group of girlfriends in my life since I was 14 years old. My friends and I been through so many stages of life together and I know they will be there through this and beyond too.

Nurturing strong bonds with family and friends is so important. You can do that in small ways like meeting for coffee, going for a regular date night, or having a group chat in Whats App, or by entertaining at home and hosting big holiday dinners. When those opportunities present themselves to be with the people that you love most, always make the effort and say Yes.

4. Engage in Self Reflection

Do you know your Why? What's that reason you get up in the morning, you work, you do what you do? What is it that you want to contribute to the world? We all have a Why. It's like the lighthouse you see in the distance. Even when you don't know where you're going (or doubting where you've been), you can continue to take steps forward if you focus on that light.

The difficulty with middle age is that Why shifts and changes. Your reason for being changes. Age brings a different perspective on so many things and questioning your Why leads you to question... everything.

But you can get back to yourself. You can get closer to what motivates you now, your Why, by actively seeking activities that provoke thought and self reflection. Journalling, listening to podcasts, reading, meditation, deep conversations... all of these can bring a greater clarity and understanding of who you are today.

5. Practice Gratitude

That long list of midlife challenges at the top of this post? It is overwhelming. Focus on any one of these for too long and you'll be paralyzed with stress. So take a step back. Focus on what you have right in this moment.

When you're down in the weeds, you can't see how beautiful the day is. I worry about lots of things - my family's health, our finances, work stability - but I make it a practice to start and end my day with just one thought and express gratitude.

Try it. Before you get up from bed, think about all the things you have to look forward to. And at the end of the day, celebrate all the good things that happened. Even if you've had a terrible day otherwise, bookending it with happiness always makes it a positive one.


A midlife crisis is a transition. I'm convinced that every single one of us experience it, some more severely than others. So we should talk about it. But the good thing is, the crisis part does end and what you're left with is midlife. A good life.

And today, even though this woman in the mirror sometimes feels she's sitting at the bottom of the curve, she's pretty darn thankful to be here.

Are you struggling in midlife? How have you been dealing with your changing sense of self?