#Hustlelikeabossbabe

Creating art for those who need the sweetest of dreams is something that is more than just a hobby for me.

It’s my therapy.

It’s all stared a few years ago, when I started meditating and practicing a little more self-care when I discovered my love and passion for crafting dreamcatchers. The story however goes beyond just finding some cool and fun ribbon and teaching myself to web the perfect ring, it all started with my twin sister, my two beautiful daughters and my two nieces.

My twin and I have always been known to be crafty and creative. It’s what we love to do and we’re pretty good creating and perfecting our art. I was a makeup artist and my twin is a hairdresser and together, we were the crafty twins.

Then we had daughters, four of them. Our eldest born three months apart; hence the name of our company, SoulSistasCreations. And they truly are soul sisters. My twin and I are definitely two souls connected and it was a beautiful gift to get daughters so close in age.

Then we had our second daughters. Born almost exactly a year apart (one year and 4 days apart) and although there is a year difference between them, they too are also super connected to each other. Small in size and greatly connected by their souls.

This journey all started when my little one started having night terrors. I needed to find something that helped her sleep and that’s when I discovered my love for dreamcatchers.

Today, two years later and the rest is already a beautiful story filled with history to share. And here we are sharing this journey with you all.

So if you’re looking for some handcrafted dreamcatchers, check out our page on Instagram @soulsistascreations.

Always remember that we all deserve the sweetest of dreams.

Don’t quit your daydream girl

Snap out of it! Stop your daydreaming! Stop spacing out!

Snap! Snap! Snap!

How many of you ladies can say that you’ve had your share of broken daydreams? I sure as heck can.

Do you remember how exciting it was to just stop the clock for a second and just daydream about all the wonderful what ifs or possibilities for our future selves?

Can you recall what were you thinking about?

Or better yet, who were thinking about?

But the golden question,

Who were you in that daydream?

Thinking back to my childhood days; had someone told me that my daydreams would have led me to discover such wonderful and amazing opportunities in life, I would have never allowed 7-year-old and 13-year-old me to stop believing in them. In fact, today, at 37 years of age, I am still proud to say that I am a huge believer in daydreams. And I’m not talking about those quick little moments where you suddenly space out and stare out into nowhere-land. What I’m referring to, is that instantaneous moment where your mind suddenly stops and starts envisioning all of the what if’s and the I wonder how’s or the I wish I could or will have moments that allow us that little glimpse of excitement for our future selves.

Those are the moments I wish I paid more attention to growing up rather then the over used and repeated words like, snap out of that daze or stop your daydreaming. As a young girl, I most definitely was a daydreamer. I remember this fact because my dad used to call me his little dreamer for so many years. And to be quite honest, I truly believe that it’s that little special something that makes me who I am today, and I’ll never let that special part of me go.

So now, here is the fun part. How many of those daydreams can you pile up from your childhood memories and how many of those have actually happened at some point in your teenage or adult life?

Here is my story.

4-year-old me always daydreamed about becoming a hairdresser. But it was not until I was in possession of my first pair of real scissors (right before my pre-kindergarten photos), when I knew that- that was definitely one failed daydream. Chop chop. Goodbye bangs. Hello crooked hairline.

Many moons later, 7-year-old me came along. And of course, now that I was three years wiser, I knew exactly what my life’s calling would be. To become a teacher. Playing school was always a fun activity but like most dreams, that too faded away.

Then I met 12-year-old me. And that young girl discovered her love and passion for the spotlight. Between being a dancer and being part of the drama club at school, I knew that I was destined to become an actress. (And to be quite honest, that dream never really faded away, even today at 37 years of age). In fact, I had my first opportunity working as an extra on my favourite television show, Smallville, when I was 27 years old. That day was probably the most incredible experience of my life.

But it wasn’t until I turned 13 when I was determined to make that dream come true. I wasn’t sure how or when that day would be, but deep down inside, I always felt as if that is what I was meant to do.

Then I turned 16. And yet again, another daydream ignored and pushed aside due to the reality of college applications, submission letters and realistic expectations. 16-year-old me had to really sit down and ask my younger self, what is it was that I truly wanted to do with my life. And when it was time to fill out those college applications, I was torn between two completely different professions; becoming a daycare educator or becoming a pediatrician. And while I grew up in a very sheltered environment with parents who were very strict and always wanted the best from myself and my sisters, 16-year-old me chose the ‘safer’ choice. The choice that just made more practical sense and the choice that would lead me to be and feel ‘happy’.

And so, I did what any normal 16-year-old would do, and I chose to study and get my three-year certificate in the Early Childhood Education program at Vanier College. Now while I enjoyed working in the field for 8 years, at some point that dream too came to an end and the realization that I needed a change was not an easy one to grasp and swallow. I had to start from zero and start generating all of my likes and dislikes into two columns and decide where to go from there. And while opportunities came and went, today, all I wish I could have told my younger self, was to ALWAYS choose your first choice-no matter how terrified you feel. Because in the end, your first choice which is your scariest choice is your BEST choice. And because we tend to let fear get in the way, it creates a wall for us to see beyond that fear, blocking our vision to our best future self.

So now 20 years later, here I am. More confused and uncertain about my career and with a whole lot of words and experiences to share with all of the younger ‘ME’s’ out there. We are all just trying to find our true and authentic selves.

Life as an adult is like a never-ending tale of decision making. And while some decisions come rather easily than others, they all find a way to keep you up at night. And one of life’s greatest lessons which will forever haunt me, is that the scariest decision that you’ll ever have to make in life will be the one that will keep you up at night with gut fluttering butterflies dancing around in your stomach.

And while you may convince yourself that that ah ha moment was when you chose that specific career or when you chose to quit that job or even when you chose to accept that new position, it’s not. Life’s greatest lesson and most difficult decision to make, is the one where young and innocent you chose to push aside your daydreams to settle for what may have seemed like the next best thing.

And it’s wrong!

It’s wrong to make us believe that our daydreams are not worth it. And it awful to make us think that being a dreamer is the same as carrying wasted thoughts, because it’s not. Daydreams are the stepping stones to our future and happy selves. We need those little thought fragments to help us see what is waiting for us out there in this big crazy world. We need to have something to hold on to. But most importantly, we need all of these little special somethings to believe in. Because without our dreams and daydreams, what do we really have left to believe in? The negative words that we are used to being told because heck, that’s just the way it is.

No! I am boycotting this damn assumption.

The ah ha moment in every little girl’s life is and should have been (for us older women) when you say hello to 13-year-old you and not goodbye. It’s when you decide that your daydreams are not just empty fragments of your thoughts but rather, footsteps leading you to your higher and most amazing true self.

And the second you start believing and manifesting that thought into your present life, that is when everything will start to shift and change. That is when you finally have started to make your daydreams come true.

So, what do I wish to tell my 13-year-old self along with all 13-year-old little girls of today?

Never stop believing in the magic of your daydreams. For every single one of those little thoughts will soon grow to become bad ass ideas leading you to live your healthiest and happiest version of you.

So ill end this article with this little hashtag.

#HUSTLEGIRLHUSTLE

I had the incredible opportunity to be part of something GREAT. Something BIG. Something that is so effing powerful as a woman and I wanted to share some photos with you all. GLOL (Girls living out loud Montreal) was an inspiring summit that I attended that led me to win this amazing makeover contest with #Ardene clothing store. I had my makeup done by the lovely Makeup by MaryK and photos taken by Terese Ste. Marie. The location of this amazing shoot was at Wonderblush Salon and I AM IN LOVE with how everything turned out. (Professional photos to be posted soon)

I had so much fun doing something that was so completely out of my comfort zone but it led me to do it anyway and to just have fun. I mean, that’s what living life is supposed to be, fun!

Being part of #GLOL meant a great deal for me. I am a woman, a momma of two beautiful little girls and a wife. Strip me down and I wear hat on top of hat on top of hat. But the one hat that I wear with great pride, is the one that belongs to me.

The one of being a woman.

What does GLOL mean for me? Its having the amazing honour of just being me and letting my light shine.

It means being beautiful on my own terms and in my own way.

It’s means, saying fuck you to society’s standards and expectations of what being a woman should be and JUST BEING YOU.

I like to call this, Be Youtiful!!

Stay tuned for more updates on this amazing shoot!!

How often have you been asked, who are you or what do you aspire to become? Or how about the all-time classic, where do you see yourself in five or ten years from now? Now how many of you all envisioned the same big picture yet somehow, deep down inside, there is still a little something missing. I for one, will be the first to admit that through all of my ups and downs of life, I’ve finally discovered a spiritual part of me that I never would have expected to find. A part of me that has woken up my inner goddess and who is ready to let her light shine. I’ve found my love and passion for sharing my voice by writing and spreading positive vibes with all of the wonderfully empowering women in my tribe.

Now ask yourself this. (And when you do, allow yourself to not only challenge your mind but your heart too).

Am I this woman?

Are you that woman silently nodding your head because you can relate to what you’re reading? Are you quietly yelling at yourself because deep down inside you know that you feel the exact same way.

Well, if that’s the case, then you’ve got an incredibly empowering journey ahead of yourself. The only challenge is being able to challenge yourself to find what that missing piece of you is. And once you discover that missing piece, great things will start to happen. And rest assured, that once they do, there is no turning back. WE are going to be those women who will finally make OUR own dreams come true. And WE are going to be those women who won’t be afraid to let the world know who we are. Because as woman, not only are we capable of doing all of these things but we will do it with pride, joy and with absolutely no stigmas or labels attached to our name.

Today we will strip ourselves free of all of those labels and stigmas that have stopped us from blooming, and we will become the voice who will teach females of all ages how to bloom freely and blow our own damn minds away. We will do it with a fearless attitude, determination in our voice, and with absolutely no judgement behind us. It’s about the hustle and bustle ladies and now is the time to do our own damn thing at our own damn pace. And why you ask? Because it’s just about that damn time.

So now I ask you this. Who are you? And don’t worry, you don’t need to answer this one right away. Because while you’ll probably need a second or two to find the answer, it took me almost an entire year. A year of self-challenges, self-love and lots of self-care.

Who am I?

Well, to start, I decided to begin this journey by digging deep and searching for that little girl who used to dream big and send wishes to the nights sky. And once I was able to find that little girl, I allowed myself to remind that teenage girl, who once loved to day dream, to keep on dreaming because her dreams would create such an empowering woman one day. A woman who has learned to take any stigma and any label attached to her name and push them away for good. A woman who is finally not afraid to shine.

It’s time to re-bloom ladies. So why not do it together because I promise you, that once we do, we will all be holding hands shouting out loud to the world, that from this day forward, our future is stigma free.

And to all those bad-vibe-goody-two-shoes who only strive to put you down, let them. Dare them. And sit back and watch as you blow their minds away. Challenge them to challenge you as you now face the new and improved you. The you that you know will become a god damn rock star. The you that is capable and ready to show the world what you are made out of. Ladies its time to throw those damn punches and roll with them at your own damn pace. And don’t you ever let anyone take that power away from you because it’s yours and you’ve earned it. And now, you will finally OWN it.

So how exactly does one live stigma free?

Well, there’s no one right answer, but rather, many great ones.

What and how you choose to do for yourself will be the stepping stone to living a happy and healthy life. Choosing how to react to certain situations will help you push past the stigmas and make a name for yourself. But it all starts with one person, you.

So? Where should you start?

No wait, scratch that and let’s rephrase.

Where should you start How should you start?

Start by asking yourself, who are you? What are your strengths? What inspires you? What drives you? What are your dreams? And build on from there. Then once you’ve gotten to know yourself all over again, tell yourself three positive affirmations and allow yourself to believe in them. Manifest positivity in your life and then keep on repeating. (Do this every single day and you will see how life changing a single positive thought can be).

The idea is to start from the beginning and simply get to know yourself all over again. I know, it sounds kind of silly but think of this as a first date. Except, you’re not meeting anyone on this date, your simply dating yourself.

It’s about pushing past the bullshit no matter what struggles you’ve faced and it’s about taking the old you and allowing yourself to truly see what you can offer the universe rather than what the universe can offer to you. It’s about taking your name and owning it the way all women were meant to do in the first place. But most importantly, it’s about waking up feeling happy and loving the you that faces you in the mirror. And sure you’ll say to yourself, done, easy, no problem. Truth-it’s going to be the hardest most difficult task you’ll ever have to accomplish for yourself. And that task will be impossible to do unless you can honestly say that you truly and unconditionally love yourself.

I love myself.

I love myself.

I love myself? (Yes it always starts as a question before it becomes an affirmation).

When I first asked myself if I did love myself, I came up with all the reasons why life was good.

Not great. Just good.

And to be quite honest, I was so skeptical about this idea of falling in love with myself that I just allowed myself to believe that I was.

But in truth, I wasn’t. Not even a little bit.

And when I started to really take time to focus on my mind and my heart, each day, a little more of me started to shine. And while the journey leading up to this new revelation wasn’t as easy as I anticipated, it was so incredibly empowering. In fact, not only was it empowering, it was absolutely necessary.

If there one thing that I have recently come to learn about myself, it’s that, it’s okay to not be okay. And although this phrase can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different women, it all comes down to the same thing, YOU. How you choose to deal with life and its struggles and what you choose to do to make you become a happier you, will be the beginning of the new and transformed you. And that goddess, will liberate you in all aspects of your life.

It is so important that we remind ourselves of how awesome we truly are because these words alone can potentially change and save a life. YOURS.

Self-Love or self-care? Please do explain this new phenomenon.

As women, we are always running around constantly trying to keep up with our busy schedules and lifestyles. And often times, we forget to take care of ourselves. We tend to neglect our mental and spiritual health and ignore that little neon sign with the words ‘self-care’ flashing over our heads.

Self-care. My new favourite happy word. Ladies, if you will, please allow me the honor to introduce to you, my latest and most exciting new relationship in my life; a relationship with myself. The reason why I now wake up feeling empowered, positive, and happy.

Many can question what self-care really means. But before you can self-care you need to stop and self-love. And it’s as clear as water. You need to start loving yourself no matter where you are in your life.

Stop.

Take a deep breathe.

And love the crap out of yourself.

Once you do that, taking care of yourself will become so easy and instantly a part of your daily routine. In fact, you’ll become so addicted to this new part of our life that you’ll notice it right away if you haven’t stopped to take care of yourself.

It will be at that moment, when you realize the importance of you in your life.

So are you ready to date yourself?

Alright, so now I’m dating myself, sounds kind of strange.

[laughing out loud]

Sure, from a literal point of view, saying those words does sound kind of strange but try listening beyond the words ‘dating myself’ and it’ll all make sense.

In fact, let me simplify it for you right now.

Dating yourself means putting yourself first.

That’s it?

Yup! That’s it!

And I know what you’re thinking. Yeah right! No way! Im-freakin-possible.

How about saying, you’re right! Yes way! And it’s really freaking possible instead.

Putting yourself first isn’t as easy as putting yourself last and as women, we all know how easy it is to neglect ourselves for the sake of other more important priorities. But realistically speaking, the only way that you can put yourself last is if you actually stop caring and loving yourself. And we all know that as woman, mothers, sisters, and any female force in this world, we are simply not programmed to do that. Loving is what we do best. However, for many, myself included, it can and it does happen. Somewhere at some point, we just stop caring for ourselves. We are only human and as humans we live with such high and unrealistic exceptions, and especially for ourselves that putting ourself down or last in line sort of becomes the new ‘normal’. But we can change all of that. We can take this new normal and make it yesterday’s old news.

Ladies, from this day forward, stop, wake up and put yourself first. Drink that cup of hot coffee. Take that long deserving hot shower and girl, put on your makeup and get your behind out there and soak in five minutes of you-time. You’re soul will truly appreciate it. And so will you.

Okay, I get it. Me first. But why? Isn’t that selfish?

Heck no! The second you decide to choose yourself over and above everything else in your life (without neglecting or forgetting what truly is important to you) is the moment where you begin transforming into the newer, better and stronger version of you. Choosing yourself first does not mean you’re neglecting your priorities. It does not mean that you are selfish and it sure as hell does not mean that you get to do this and then feel guilty about it.

Choosing you is allowing yourself to be truly happy which in turn, will make you’re tribe happy. Note to self; your vibe attracts your tribe.

Let today be is the first day where you finally wake up and decide to do something for yourself.

Accepting you as you and only you.

Alright, so I’ve decided that today I’m going to put myself first, but now where do I go from here?

Well, a small yet incredibly powerful but simple task is what will be your starting point, a little simple something called, breathing.

Once, twice, three times or maybe even four. But you do it and you do it with all the right intention in your soul. Manifest positive intention in your soul and allow your vibe to attract what your true being really needs. And I’m not just talking about drinking a glass of water, I’m talking about truly feeding your soul with the right amount of love and light.

And peacefulness.

Sounds kind of iffy, I know. But I kid you not, there is something so incredibly fascinating about taking the time to stop and watch as your life begins to re-bloom right before your eyes. So many great things can come out of just one simple breathe.

Alright so I took a deep breathe, I’m not sure what to expect next?

Expectations are what will fail you from the get go. And when it comes to breathing, and I’m talking about actual five minute a day deep breathing, it’s not as simple as a simple deep breathe. So stop looking for the answer. Let the answer come to you.

Deep breathing is a method that actually needs to be taught and learned.

It took me over 7 weeks to be able to allow my thoughts to calm down while allowing my body to accept my deep breaths. Two years later, meditation has become to saving grace and what’s even more amazing, is that my two and five year old daughters enjoy this peace out time too. It’s now become part of our family bedtime routine.

Deep breathing? Isn’t that in from your nose and out from your mouth?

Sure, if you need to describe that in writing then you’re absolutely correct. However, from a spiritual and physical point of view, it’s more then just those two easy simple steps.

It’s a mater of allowing your body to accept and receive that breath and exhaling it back to the universe when you no longer need it.

It’s about letting your mind pause for a second so that your world can be at peace even if it’s for a split second.

It’s about stopping at a red light and rather then thinking about your to-do list, close your eyes for those few seconds and just breathe.

It’s really all about taking the time to do you by taking care of yourself.

Now while it’s really not that simple of a task, don’t give up. Allow yourself the challenge of teaching yourself how to take care of yourself and to your fullest capacity. It won’t be easy but once you find the ability to do it, you won’t ever want to stop.

Now why is it so essential that you stop and take a breather from time to time. Well, it’s because we too need to stop and ask ourselves, hey girl, how the heck are you today? Have you stopped to drink some water? Have you stopped to express yourself today? Have you stopped and looked around and smiled because you are alive and healthy and well, let’s be damn straight about it, you’re you and you’re pretty freaking awesome.

When was the last time when you stopped to ask yourself how you were truly feeling? Really think about this. I bet your answer is the same as mine was when I first asked myself this exact question.

I don’t know how I feel. That’s what I told myself. And I felt so damn shitty about the fact that I couldn’t even answer my own question that it put me in such a downward spiral that I checked out emotionally in almost all aspects of my life.

And once this happens, it’s very difficult to get yourself back up no matter how much you try. But you can. And you will. Because I did and I’m telling you, so will you.

And this is exactly why we need to breathe. Breathing allows us to stop and appreciate the life that was given to us. The life we deserve to live. And teaching yourself to take some time every day to just stop, disconnect and connect with yourself, will allow you to be whole again.

Interesting. I never thought of it that way.

But now that I’ve tried this technique, Im completely drawn to it. How do I keep up and not get lazy and lose sight of myself again?

It’s actually very simple. Upon waking up in the morning or right before you go to bed, take three deep breaths, tell yourself one positive affirmation and then just breathe.

Trust me when I say that you will actually sense a difference in how your day starts or your night ends and it all begins with stealing a few silent moments for yourself.

Now breathing alone may not be enough to find that little peaceful moment. And thats perfectly okay. What works for me may not work for you and that’s when you keep moving forward and finding that one thing that feeds your soul.

Another self-care method is journaling right before bed, during a new moon or a full moon. Write down your thoughts and keep writing until your words just stop coming to you. Once you’re done, close your journal, take a few good deep breaths and allow yourself a good nights sleep. It’s all about the release and letting things go.

Oh and FYI; there are plenty of amazing apps out there that can help you meditate and calm your breathe and they really do work. My two favourites are Calm and Pacifica. (And they’re free).

But now the real question still remains, and you won’t believe how easy it’ll be to answer that question once you’ve mastered the ability to grab control of your own life. One single breathe at a time.

What will you do with your life now that you’ve re-bloomed into this amazing and incredibly strong woman despite the ‘labels’ attached to it?

Will you stop yourself from being successful because someone decided a woman with anxiety or depression can’t do it.

Will you allow someone to tell you how to live your life because you’re just too darn sad. Or will you grab life by its chains and break free?

So many questions, such little time.

Wrong.

So many questions, lots of time to breathe through every single one of them.

Having to answer all of these questions can be quite overwhelming but allowing yourself the time to think about them isn’t. Each second you allow yourself the time to think about how to make yourself a better person is you getting closer to finally discovering who that woman you face everyday in that mirror really is.

And yes, I’m talking to you about you. The you that has been hidden somewhere inside of you and who is finally ready to make an appearance. LET. HER. OUT!!!

And I promise you, the second that you do, you will finally be ridding yourself of all the ‘stigmas’ and ‘labels’ that have been somehow glued to your being and you will finally become at peace with yourself no matter how long it’s taken you to find this newer better version of yourself.

You will learn to embrace your struggles because they are what have helped you become the strong woman that you are today. You will thank your battles, for they have taught you that you are a warrior. And you will accept your inner demons, because they will become your little constant reminders that you are a survivor and that you can do anything you want.

And keep reminding yourself, because life will happen and shit will get in the way, that no matter what comes your way, you can overcome it because it’s really okay to not be okay. And I absolutely love this saying because it holds so much truth for so many people. So go ahead and be sad and heck, why not let yourself cry it out from time to time. I know I do, and it feels so liberating to be able to do so and not allow anyone to judge me for simply feeling.

So go ahead ladies, FEEL THOSE DAMN EMOTIONS!!

Allow yourself to feel and experience all of those crazy forbidden emotions and then when you do decide to let them out, allow happiness to creep right in. It will boggle your mind when you begin to feel all those other amazing feelings and then out of nowhere, all of those other amazing things will start to happen and that’s when you will shine. It won’t be an easy or quick process, but let me tell you ladies, from personal experience, it’s going to be so invigorating and so liberating but most importantly, so fucking empowering.

To know that you have the power to break through those chains and see the light is what will make you a freaking awesome woman. And no stigma or label will stop you from accomplishing and doing what it is that your heart desires. Anxiety, depression, sadness, anger, BRING IT ON! I dare you to face me in the eyes and try and destroy my hopes and dreams. Because they sure as heck won’t. Ladies, it’s okay to not be okay and I am so freaking okay with that.

Don’t let the pain or fear of the unknown stop you from making your dreams come true. Don’t let the stigmas and labels own you. Don’t allow the outside world to crush your dreams, because without those dreams we have nothing to look forward to. We have nothing to excite us. And we have no vision for what we truly want for ourselves.

Those days of I’m sorry you can’t because… are over. It doesn’t mater what medical condition you have, or if you suffer from a mental illness, or if you’re an overworked and tired mom, what matters is how you chose to let all that affect your personal and professional life.

What centres us is knowing that we can stand up and speak up, we can whisper and cry alone and we can shout it out for the entire world to hear.

It’s okay to not be okay ladies and that is okay with me. Because in the end, we are all stronger then stigma and our future as women is finally stigma free one single breathe at a time.

~Create your own happily ever after~

‘Once upon a time...

There was a little girl with high hopes and big dreams. Fast forward a few years from now, she was all grown up and came face to face with her one and only true competition in life; herself. But this time, rather than playing dress up and wearing her mother’s high heeled shoes and pretty dresses, she chose to dress for herself and created a beautiful and strong name for herself. She became that little girl who transformed into that bold woman and who turned all of her cants into cans and her dreams into plans.

~The end~

…..……………………….…..…………

Dearest daughter,

If I could just have a second of your time, there are a few really important things that I would really like to share with you. And just know, that each one of these things are going to help serve as life lessons that will help you grow and flourish into an incredibly amazing young woman. What I would like to share with you today, are some of my life’s secrets that have helped me become the strong woman that I am today. And while I may not have known some of these things while growing up, the true question remains, do I regret any part of my life knowing everything that I do now? Absolutely not! Would I request some sort of a “do-over” had I known all of the challenges and obstacles that I would have had to face over the course of my teenage and adult years? Not a chance. Do I wish for things to have turned out differently? And keep in mind that this question can relate itself to many different aspects of my life. My answer, sure, why not. We all wish that we could erase certain events in our lives and forget about those heart breaks and emotional outbreaks. But if we’re being honest here, which is the only thing I want there to be between us; 100% mommy-daughter honesty, all I will say is that, had my life turned out any differently, I still do truly believe that my destiny would have always led me here, to a place I call my happy place, my life to you. My future little #bossbabe who will grab this world by the palm of your little hands and create one heck of a name for yourself.

You, baby girl, will be that little girl who will take all of your daydreams and magical beliefs, and make all of your dreams come true. You will grow up to become one of the most beautifully empathetic and fierce women I know but most of all, you will bloom like the brightest of stars in that star-lit sky that you adore so much. But what I really would like for you to know, is that it’s all going to be okay. And please trust me when I tell you this.

How do I know? you ask. Well it’s actually quite simple actually. I’m your mother and mothers always know best. Trust me, they do, just ask grandma.

So here we are and here I write, just a few important words of advice from me to you. No matter how dark the skies will seem; just remember that there will always be sunshine on the other side. And while growing up may seem challenging and tough at times, just know that you will always find a way passed the tough times. And yes, you will be faced with overwhelming challenges and way too many stubborn goal-blockers and let’s not ignore the one too many heart breaks, but don’t you worry baby girl because everything will be okay. But in order for things to be okay, there are thirteen little secrets that I’ve kept close to my heart for special mommy-daughter moments like this and now, it’s time for me to pass on the wisdom. So, take a seat and really take the time to understand my message to you, because no matter what or when, these little secrets, which by the way, I like to call; rules from your unicorn mom will always be glued to your soul. And always remember my dearest daughter, that mommy will always have your back.

1) Don’t ever change your person.

Unicorn mom rule: know your worth.

Don’t change. Don’t change for a man. Don’t change for a woman. Don’t change for your friends. Don’t change for your boss and please don’t you ever dare change for me. The only time I would encourage you to make a change, is if that change is one for yourself. And if you do choose to do it, then promise yourself that this change will only be one to help make you become the best and better version of yourself.

2) Know your worth.

Unicorn mom rule: always respect your truth.

Please promise me that you will never allow anyone to ever take your power away from you. Only you can hold that power and what you choose to do with it, will affect a huge part of your life. So, promise me that you’ll keep this power close to heart and guard it with everything that you’ve got. This power will be your saving grace.

3) Fall in love.

Unicorn mom rule: allow yourself to feel.

Young love. The time in your life when you will fall in love and get your heart broken. Or you will fall in love and be the one to break a heart or two. But always know, that in each relationship whether it’s a platonic one or something a little more, you will come to learn and discover something new about yourself that you didn’t know existed. So, fall madly in love baby girl and enjoy the journey that comes with each love, because its’s all so worth it.

4) Be yourself.

Unicorn mom rule: don’t aim for popularity.

Don’t aim to be one of the popular girls and please don’t aim to be one of the mean girls. Aim to be the girl who everyone respects and adores. Don’t be a crowd pleaser. Be you and do you. That’s all anyone can ever ask of you. Don’t be a leader or a follower, just be. Be the girl who has ideas, be the girl who creates something new but mostly, be the girl they’ll one day talk about and say, damn I want to be just like HER.

5) Don’t quit your daydreams.

Unicorn mom rule: please don’t ever stop dreaming.

One of the most empowering quotes that I’ve ever come across about being a woman was, ‘little girls with dreams become women with vision’. And all I’ll add to this is, heck yes! Don’t you ever dare to give up on your daydreams because one day, those are the dreams that will make your story an empowering one. Your childhood dreams will transform into huge and amazing events and you will be addicted to the idea of showing the world what you are capable of. They will help shape and define who you are and who you’ll become, and you will never be afraid to follow your dreams. I want you to be that woman who never stopped dreaming bigger and brighter things.

6) Believe in the power of magic.

Unicorn mom rule: believe in something. Anything. Everything.

Remember when you believed in fairies and unicorns and when glitter felt like the most gratifying thing ever? Please don’t ever stop believing in those things. For those were some of the happiest moments in your childhood and should still be no matter how old you are. Find something that makes you feel at peace and never let it go. Always believe in magic because you baby girl, were and still are, mine. My magic.

7) Don’t ignore that little voice.

Unicorn mom rule: listen to your whisper. It’s your truth speaking.

Don’t ignore that little tiny whisper of a voice. Embrace the feeling of those butterfly flutters in your stomach and allow your skin to truly feel. These are all signs from your inner self talking. They are finding a way to communicate with you without saying a single word. Always listen. Be patient but most of all, be present. Trust what’s being sent to you. These are more than just signs, they could be your calling.

8) Find your calm.

Unicorn mom rule: find that one peaceful moment and then repeat it every single day.

Find that one special moment that makes your heart and breath feel at ease. Find that one small act that makes you happy. Discover your five minute me-time so that you’ll never ever neglect yourself. But mostly, go out there and find your calm. Take it in, allow yourself to embrace it and never let it go. For that will change the way you see the beauty of yourself and the world around you.

9) Find your tribe.

Unicorn mom rule: your vibe attracts your tribe.

Life is about the people you meet and what you can create together. So, go out there and find your tribe and don’t ever be afraid to create something amazing. Be cautious of who you allow in your circle, choose wisely who to trust and always love as fiercely as you can. Energy over actions. Always remember that.

10) Make your soul happy.

Unicorn mom rule: happiness is found in the simplest of things.

One of the most amazing feelings in life is simplicity. Teach yourself to find it, learn to embrace it and allow it to be the center of your universe. Don’t allow anyone or anything break your happiness. And no matter what comes your way, big or small, you will always find your way back to your happiness. Happiness is always there, even on the darkest of days. It’s just a matter how finding it in the simple things.

11) Keep a journal.

Unicorn mom rule: let your words guide your way.

Write something down. It can be a huge something or a small anything. But keep on writing. And be sure to write every single day. Whether it’s something exciting or something personal, these are your personal thoughts and your high hopes and even when it’s just one of your wildest dreams; allow them to be present through your words. Let your story be heard even if for now, it’s just in writing. Allow your words to be kept in a safe place and a place where only you can escape to. And one day, everything will all make sense and finally become clear. So, keep on writing and don’t you ever stop, for one day, your words will help create your story.

12) Don’t ever just settle

Unicorn mom rule: don’t settle. Create your own fairy-tale.

One of my biggest regrets in life is not having been ballsy enough to listen to my inner voice. I was always so eager to please others that I never stopped to wonder, what it is was that truly made me excited or passionate. Don’t settle dearest daughter. Aim high. Reach for the stars and never stop believing in your dreams. Allow yourself the chance to make your dreams come true and the way you want them to happen. Aim high to be the little bossbabe that I know you can become. I want us to be known as the bossbabe mom who created the little bossbabe of tomorrow.

13) You are loved.

Unicorn mom rule: you are loved.

The last lesson that I wish to share with you is the lesson of love. There is no right or wrong way to find love. It just happens. And when it does, you’ll know it because you will be able to feel it. It’ll come from a place deep within you and you’ll feel like you’re floating on top of a cloud. But before you go out there and share that beautiful love with someone, promise me that you will always love yourself first. No matter what, your heart is your vessel and you can not share your love with someone unless you’ve shared it with yourself first. Your heart and soul deserve all of your love so be selfish about it and take it for yourself first. Trust me, it will help you find that other love that we are all destined to belong to. I also need you to remember that you are strong, amazing, brave, confident and beautiful. And while my list can go on for days, the one thing that i want you to always remember, is that no matter what baby girl, you are LOVED. (In so many incredibly different ways by so many different souls). But, I will let your story and your love guide you to that amazing and incredible place.

So, there you have it. Thirteen life lessons, which ironically is the number that defines the age of teenage hood, which I hope you’ll always treasure close to heart. Because out of all of the life lessons that were given to me, I will always treasure my most favourite one, YOU.

Love you to the moon and back,

Mom