“It’s been a hot minute” … and apparently that “minute” turned into a full-blown life detour. If you know, you know!

I’ve missed blogging, but I’m finally back with a fresh new look and outlook. Seeing people reading my blog from faraway places like Slovenia, Austria, and China is genuinely exciting. At this point, I feel obligated to continue because those people are probably wondering if I’m okay. “What happened to the Canadian woman with the cute bloggy pics and sarcasm?”

So, a little backstory…

About three years ago, I lost my job. A bit of a soul-crusher… okay, maybe not a full crush, but I really did love that job. In a strange twist of timing, though, it allowed me to care for my aging parents full-time when their health began declining. My mom was dealing with pulmonary issues, and my dad was living with dementia. I lost them both this past year; my mom in April and my dad in July. Losing them so close together was incredibly hard. But they lived beautiful, full lives at 91 and 96, and there’s comfort in knowing they’re together again; probably somewhere arguing over the best bottle of red to share.

Of course, life has a way of changing all of our stories. Mine did too. My marriage came to an end, and while it was an important chapter in my life, this isn’t the place where I’ll be sharing the details. What matters most is that we’ve both moved forward. Above all, I’m grateful for the three wonderful sons in my life.

Today, my heart is full as I embrace this beautiful new beginning. Life really does have a funny way of working out. It doesn’t always follow the script we imagined, but sometimes the most unexpected turns become the most meaningful parts of our story. ❤

If there’s one thing this “new beginning” has taught me, it’s to value authenticity over perfection. That’s exactly what you’ll find here. No perfectly filtered life, no pretending to have all the answers…. just honest stories, the occasional happy tear, and hopefully a few laughs. (Hence the name Jst4lafs.)

I genuinely enjoy following funny people online because I’m always up for a good laugh. Some of these influencers are seriously hilarious. But becoming an influencer myself? Yeah, probably not happening. That ship has sailed. I’m over here researching orthopedic sandals and getting way too excited when I find them in pinkI

Influencers seem to have it all, don’t they? Perfect little kitchens, coordinated outfits, flawless lighting, millions of followers, and brand partnerships complete with a boatload of goodies arriving daily, all because they mentioned a product they’re “obsessed” with.

Honestly, Poppy & Peonies, I’m available. Just sayin’. And Lululemon, I LOVE your leggings..(another shameless plug)…they actually create the illusion that I might be athletic which is key.

A ring light? At my age? Absolutely not. And Botox? Also no. I’m a complete chicken, and nobody is coming near my well-earned wrinkles. I worked hard for these laugh lines, even if I thought SPF15 was good enough. I fear I’d end up with one of those frozen expressions where you look permanently surprised while your lips enter the room a full minute before you do. You know the look.

So instead, I’ll stay exactly as I am and continue providing occasional giggles to the brave few who still follow me. Truthfully, I’ve missed blogging. It’s cheaper than therapy, and I am officially therapied out.

Actually, “If You Know, You Know” might make a great book title… or at the very least a three-part Netflix mini-series. In my imagination, it naturally leads to a book tour, a TED Talk (how I would LOVE to do that), and eventually me strolling through Oprah’s garden having one of those deep, meaningful conversations while pretending I belong there. The only hitch in my master plan is that I’m fairly certain Oprah actually knows things about gardening. If she asks me to identify anything remotely involving foliage, my entire TED Talk career could end right there, and I’d be escorted off her property before she even feeds me.

I am still in love with anything British, anything “whodunit,” and every show that involves a suspicious death. I may need to find myself a part-time job just to support my streaming subscriptions. I have a disease called Netflixappleamazstreamia. Highly contagious.

So friends, if you’re still here, there’s plenty more to share including stories about my wonderful and supportive circle of friends and a few simply amazing people who somehow found their way back into my life after years apart. Buckle up for that blog. It’s going to be a doozie! And who knows where we’ll go from there. Junk removal, Dr. visit debacles, or how to master the art of docking a boat! I’m open to suggestions and will tackle any subject. Clearly I’ve decided there are no boring topics anymore.

So that’s my plan. Real life. Honest conversations. Plenty of laughs. The occasional overshare. And hopefully a reminder that none of us really have it all figured out. We’re just doing the best we can.

Until next time, Do Good. Be good. If feels really good to be writing again!