You would think that after over 10 summers with kids out of school, I’d be a pro at planning for the shift, establishing routines that work, and finding thoughtful ways to spend quality time with my kiddos. And yet, every single year, the end of the school year sneaks up on me. Halfway through summer, I find that I’m buried in work that’s behind schedule, overwhelmed by play dates and summer activities, and struggling with the loss of routine and desire to have a meaningful and fun summer that isn’t dominated by screens, yet allows me time to work and enjoy the season – is that too much to ask?

Discover the best life advice for your 20s, 30s and 40s. Our team shares the biggest lessons learned about careers, relationships, confidence and more.

The funny thing is, most of the things I’ve come to accept as truth about ambition, motherhood, life balance, and health are the opposite of what ten or even twenty-year-old me thought was real and true because the absurdity of holding it all together gracefully and effectively is a myth.

So, with that in mind, let’s dig into the 10 funny and honest things I’ve learned as a mother and business owner, who’s also thriving through cancer treatment.

Discover the best lifestyle and career blogs for women in 2026, offering expert advice on personal growth, professional success, wellness, and fashion to help you thrive in every aspect of life.

If you have ever been called the ‘strong one,’ you know that this title doesn’t just get slapped on, and it likely didn’t become your core personality trait overnight, or after some shocking life event. Here’s the truth about being the strong one that no one tells you, and how you can change your perspective on what it means to have strength, and also take care of yourself.

The best thing you can do to set yourself up as a parent for coping with the real reality of life, and set your children up to handle adversity and build resilience, is to accept a hard, hard truth: Motherhood (or Parenthood) is not at all about creating a picture-perfect childhood for your children. And you are not failing if the unexpected has stomped into your life and derailed your perfect parenting plans. The best parent you can be is the one who embraces that learning how to move through challenges and the unexpected is the most important gift you can give yourself and your children.

Here’s what I’ve learned and put into practice as a mother: life threw me some major curveballs as a parent, forcing me to rethink everything I thought I knew and thought I could control.

Whether you’re just diagnosed, in cancer treatment, or post-treatment, trying to navigate a new world as a cancer survivor, finding ways to welcome self-renewal into your life, and emotional recovery as you navigate healing is critical to your long-term health and wellbeing. I’m not here to tell you that you need to “bounce back,” or “fight through” anything that you are experiencing now, or recovering from.

I’m just a mom, who’s navigating treatment and recover from stage four cancer, and wants to share some of the essential things I’ve learned so far.

Here’s what I now know about Immunotherapy, based on my experience so far. 

I will either write additional posts or update this post about things I learn as I progress through the rest of the treatment, which will ideally finish when I am “cancer-free” or “cancer stable.”

When is the right time to have children? A candid take on modern motherhood, changing timelines, self-doubt, and choosing life on your own terms.

I’m a mom, and I have stage four melanoma in my pancreas and liver. I’m currently in cancer treatment. This is what I learned as I turned forty-four during the most challenging part of my cancer journey.

In August of 2025, I discovered that I had stage four Melanoma. This is my story, and insights on how I learned (very quickly) to manage and move forward with the diagnosis in the first month. So if this is you (or someone you love), and you are going through the process of accepting a new cancer diagnosis, and trying to figure out what’s next, here are a few things that I found helped me through the first month of learning that I had stage four melanoma in my pancreas and liver.

 Learn to plan your fall like a CEO, even while packing lunches. Learn goal setting, systems, boundaries & brand presence to reset your season with purpose

Discover why clarity is the most underrated business strategy for women entrepreneurs. Learn how cutting through online noise, overcoming decision fatigue, and building a strong brand can transform your business.

Feeling overwhelmed? The August Reset is a compassionate guide for working women and career moms to reclaim mental clarity, refresh routines, and realign goals.

Here are seven quiet power moves women professionals are making right now. They’re not loud. They don’t scream “power.” But they are, in no uncertain terms, reshaping the next generation of leadership.

Feeling burnt out and uninspired? This raw, honest read explores how to keep going when you’ve lost the spark, with real talk in the messy middle, reclaiming your energy, and reconnecting with your original why.

As someone who grew up devouring books and now finds herself collecting links like others collect candles, I wanted to share a curated list of the blogs and websites that women (including myself) are loving in 2025.

Whether you're an ambitious entrepreneur, a working mom with big goals and even bigger Google calendars, or simply someone looking for spaces that get it, these are for you.

Reinvention isn’t about erasing who you were, it’s about realigning with who you are. Discover why you don’t need a blank slate to redefine your brand, and how to reconnect with the foundations you already have.

Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is pause, take a breath, reflect, and really see just how far you’ve come this year. You’ve done more than you give yourself credit for. So, if you're ready to reset, realign, or simply reconnect, here is my go-to advice for your mid-year check-in.

After several summers of trying to self-care my way into enlightenment while elbow-deep in Goldfish crumbs, I’ve found what actually works—and it’s not a silent retreat. It’s five sacred minutes in a locked bathroom, or dancing like no one’s watching (even though they definitely are). Here’s my no-fluff, no-guilt guide to reclaiming your sanity this season.