Jessica Blumel with her two daughters
JESSICA BLUMEL
Owner/Editor NorthShoreMama.ca
I am a proud mama to two sweet girls. Portia (age 4.5) is a deeply caring and sensitive ‘old soul’. She is always looking out for her baby sister, Madeleine. Madeleine (age 2) will do anything for a laugh and loves to rile her big sister.
I am an elementary educator and I started North Shore Mama when Portia was 18 months old. I was on an extended maternity leave and was craving an ‘outlet’. I found a need on the North Shore for a one-stop shop of local activities and events and my site gained momentum thanks to the calendar I had created and spent hours upon hours updating. I started peppering in my experiences as a mother and rediscovered my love of writing in the process.
Within a couple of months of having started my site, I was voted as one of Vancouver’s Top 30 Mom Bloggers and placed in the Top 4. I started being offered brand partnership opportunities and realised the potential for blending my hobby with earning an income and I now run NorthShoreMama.ca as a full-fledged business. I have met the most incredible people along the way and have learned a lot about myself through my writing. It has been such a great experience and I am really thankful that I took the plunge into the world of blogging.
Secrets of a WOWMOM
Psst. Here’s my top WOWMOM secret… there is no singular and definitive way of being a WOWMOM! We are all being the best moms we can be in our own way. We can learn a lot from each other but we should never compare ourselves to one another because, as we know, no one child is the same and neither are we as people and as mothers. A quality of a great WOWMOM is a mama who supports other mamas regardless of their choices and beliefs.
What inspires me
I am honestly so inspired by all the entrepreneurial moms I’m meeting day in and day out. Vancouver is earning a reputation for the supportive community of moms running small businesses and it is something I feel excited to be a part of.
My sanity saviour (tips & time savers)
Hmm… I’d have to say that planning ahead really helps. I’m terrible at meal planning, but whenever I do finally take the time to plan meals or prioritize my to-do list, I feel that I am being more productive all-round.
My best WOWMOM advice
Be yourself! Motherhood is full of ups and downs and decisions. It’s so important to stick with what you feel is best for your family and for YOURSELF. It is too easy to be swayed every which way but trusting your instincts and being true to yourself will keep you on the right path.
My WOW moment
I think we all have moments as mothers where we struggle with our new role in life and how to feel personal fulfilment amidst being the best mother to our children. I had a WOW moment when I realised and accepted that I am not the mother that I always thought I would be.
My not-so WOW moment
I’m not sure I even want to revisit this, but here’s what I consider to be a pretty massive parenting fail and definitely my most recent not-so-WOW moment 🙁
Keeping it WOW (how not to lose yourself)
Block out the noise around you and listen to your inner voice. Everyone has an opinion that they want to share, but finding what matters most to you and sticking with that is what is most important.
Favourite MOMent of the day
Either my hot cup of coffee or tea in the morning or my glass of red wine in the evening. 😉 Not gonna lie
Does balance exist?
Yes and no.
Does balance exist in that there’s a perfect way of having a perfect day with a perfect family and feeling perfectly happy all the time? NO. And I believe there is great danger in anyone making us feel that that is what we should be striving for.
Does balance exist in that we CAN take care of our family AND ourselves simultaneously? YES. I think the balance we strive for should be a sense of well-being. This can include feeling happy that we are able to provide for our family mixed in with taking bits of time here and there to fulfil ourselves personally. Well-being will look different from one mom to the next and it’s up to us as individuals to figure out what it is we need to feel that balance. There is no formula and there are no guidelines, which is wonderful because we can create our own!.
My guardian angel
My Oma. My grandmother was a very special part of my life and we lost her a couple of years ago. There are so many moments that I know she is giggling with the girls and I and enjoying them as they grow up.
The last time I laughed out loud
Probably an hour ago. I laugh a lot. With my children and at myself. Life is too short to be taken too seriously.
Words Of Wisdom (Mom’s message to My Kids)
Find what you love and do that. Do it with passion and take time to celebrate all your accomplishments (big and small) along the way.
MY WOWMOM MUST-HAVES
Fave things, places and sanity savers for WOWMOMS!
1. My iPhone. Sorry, I know that’s probably pretty lame, but it’s the truth. I am a very social person and I also run a lot of my business via my phone. I would be lost without it!
2. Earl grey tea with milk and sugar. It’s my happy place.
3. Dermalogica tinted moisture. It’s a moisturizer and light concealer combined and makes me feel sun-kissed even on the darkest, dreariest Vancouver winter days.
4. My flat iron. You do NOT want to see what my hair looks like un-styled. (Think Persian cat.)
5. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I read this book about every 2 years and I get something new from it every time. If you haven’t read it yet, I suggest adding it to your summer ‘must-read’ list.
6. Yoga. (No explanation needed:) )
7. Frozen pizzas. Because sometimes making a full-blown dinner for the family is just not an option.
8. My MacBook Pro. I spend A LOT of time typing on this keyboard.
