Thanksgiving is a holiday I look forward to. I love the coziness in the air, having family around and sharing delicious food. I also find fall is a great time to reflect and set intentions. The gratitude that comes with reflection is inevitable. The world is seeing so many challenges over the last few years between racial and gender inequality, financial instability, climate change and our public health crisis. And in addition, everyone has personal challenges to overcome. Life has felt heavy over the last few years so stopping to acknowledge what we’re grateful for has become an important practice for me and one I’m working to instill in my boys. 

While I love Thanksgiving due to my childhood memories and the warmth it brings to my home, I am very aware this is a tough holiday for many. This day is one of many parts of Canada’s dark history that I’m continuing to learn about. It’s essential to respectfully acknowledge that my family lives, works and plays on the traditional, ancestral and stolen territory of the Katzie, S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), WSÁNEĆ, Kwantlen and Stz’uminus First Nation. Reconciliation is something I continue to learn about, practice and talk to my kids about. What we’ve been discussing this week is that long before settlers celebrated Thanksgiving in the 1600s, Indigenous people celebrated their fall harvest. If it wasn’t for the lessons and hospitality from the Indigenous communities these settlers wouldn’t have feasted, letalone survived in what we now call Canada. 

With this understanding and with a commitment to continue learning and unlearning, I wanted to continue my own practice of gratitude. Below are a few of the things I am grateful for this year. 

My boys (#1 of course!)

I feel so grateful to be at home with them while they are little. I know how lucky I am to have a schedule that allows me to work from home and support that allows me to  work out of the home when projects arise. Pierce and Bence are growing up so fast and their personalities are constantly evolving. It is the greatest joy of my life to watch them learn, discover and grow into the amazing men they will be one day. I’m privileged and truly grateful to be raising such handsome, sweet, loving, kind, smart boys. 

  

Gary 

I’m so grateful for Gary and our relationship as it evolves and grows while raising our two little ones. We’ve been on the fast track since we met and haven’t slowed down since. Together, we bought a house and had two kids in five years. When you know, you know right! But that doesn’t mean it’s been smooth sailing. Hello 9 months pregnant with COVID, a broken ankle and a toddler… fun times that we had to navigate there! But thinking back, I’m so grateful we had each other. Gary has become a wonderful Dad to Pierce and Bence and their bond just keeps growing every day. I love watching their relationships grow and flourish. I’m grateful to be supporting them to have the type of relationship I always wished for with my own dad. 

Health 

As the pandemic lingers, it’s impossible not to be grateful for my health. After my experience last year, I do not take being able to walk for granted now. How I was able to wheel myself in my walker with a newborn is beyond me. Everyone has a story to share from COVID, whether it’s surviving the pandemic or losing loved ones to it. I’m so grateful I get to learn from my experience and be able to live another day happy and healthy. I lost four grandparents over the last two years (none of which to COVID) and it was heartbreaking.. Saying goodby to my grandpa was the hardest moment. It showed me how you can never take your health for granted. It is so important to advocate for your health or have someone that can for you if you can’t. Grateful doesn’t begin to describe the memories I have and the lessons I took from my grandparents. 

My career 

I’m grateful for all of you!! Your support has allowed me to live my dreams. I’m so excited to get back into media tours, in person-hosting, emceeing, branding photoshoots and campaigns. I LOVE what I do and love the people I get to work with. We are in the process of sharing My Home Tour series and bringing you all along throughout my decor journey. Sharing my home has been so rewarding and I hope it brings you all inspiration for your own spaces and design projects. I am featured in Style at Home this month which is a dream come true. Talk about vision boards working their magic! I looked back at a vision board I made a couple years ago and I had glued the Style at Home logo on it. Manifestation is real. Now I’ll need to update for the next goal, yahoo! We also launched this incredible new website that I’m over the moon about. I was extremely fortunate to work with such an amazing team in Bella Maven from LA. They completely brought my vision and dream for my site to life. I hope you enjoy checking out our content and all of the things that bring me joy. 

My Family 

I’m so so grateful for each member of my extended family. We are a tight knit group and I lean on them a lot. They are my sounding board, the ones that I let my hair down with and feel most at home with. My two best friends are my mom and my sister and over COVID I didn’t think we could get closer but we did. I’m so grateful for our relationship and how it’s evolved. My sister and I couldn’t be closer and I’m so proud of her for going back to school to become a Kindergarten teacher. She is absolutely killing it with her grades so far. My mom is the absolute best “Gam” to my boys. We are so fortunate and grateful to have her in their lives, she is just the most wonderful person to them. They learn so much from her (hello retired elementary school teacher, and occasional TOC!). She has SO much energy and is the one person I know who can read my mind and be there for me and the boys at a moment’s notice. I don’t say it enough, but we are truly blessed to have these two wonderful humans I get to call family. We are so grateful. They are so special to us; I truly don’t know what I’d do without them.  

I ask the boys often what they’re grateful for and their answers always make me laugh (or cry!) As I was writing this, I asked them what they were grateful for this Thanksgiving. Pierce is grateful for mini golf (LOL) and there’s no doubt his hot wheels, trucks and of course, his little brother. Bence doesn’t say much yet but his actions show he’s grateful for me, ha! And snacks, definitely grateful for me giving him snacks! Gary said, he’s grateful for watching football alone in peace…and golf…  oh yeah and health and family, LOL! 

I hope however you’re spending this Thanksgiving weekend you’re feeling loved, grateful and reflective. While there is so much to be grateful for, it’s so important to acknowledge the injustice so many Indigenous communities continue to face as a result of settlers. I hope you get the chance to enjoy good food with friends and family and share what you’re grateful for. If you’re still working on a last minute menu, check out some of my Thanksgiving Favourites from Fraîche Living.

I’d love to hear what you’re up to and what you’re feeling grateful for this Thanksgiving. Let me know in the comments below!