NOVEMBER 15 2025

“You have power over your mind—not outside events.
Realize this, and you will find strength.” —Marcus Aurelius

Your November Highlights

Coffee Talk: OMG, Don’t Even Get Me Started
Spin Time: Logan Richard, Character Traits
Pod Time: Do This Every Day with Dr. Vonda Wright
UNBROKEN: Rising Despite All Odds
Carry This Forward: Pause. Reflect. Move On
Sprinkle Christmas Magic: 4 Festive Christmas Hacks
Teenagers Don’t Lie: Stocking Stuffers Just For Her
Mom’s Meat Pies: A Christmas Tradition Passed with Love
Amy’s Faves: Trend-approved must-haves you’ll love
The 80s Called: And I’m literally dying 🤩
Believe It or Not: So much more…

Coffee Talk

OMG… Don’t even get me started.

That one sentence will save the day. It makes you sound confident, informed, and like you have SO much to say that you simply can’t.

Trust me, my husband and I use it. It works. Every. Single. Time.

The best part? My son taught me this approach.

Imagine, you’re in a group, everyone is talking way over your head. Suddenly they all turn and stare at you like you have thoughts… intelligent thoughts. But, nope, no you don’t. Not even half a thought.

Just pull this out of your back pocket:

“OMG, Don’t even get me started.”

Perfect.

Larry and I were in Nashville the year Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced they were moving to Canada. We were browsing in this adorable little shop when we started chatting with a British couple. They were heated - No SHE was heated. Facts, outrage, history of the monarchy, damands they were making, what they deserved, what they didn’t deserve, financial this and that, and on and on and on.

Larry and I? Blank. Clueless. Possibly, probably a little drunk.

Then she asked, “So what are Canadians saying about all this?”

Without missing a beat, Larry goes:
“Please… don’t even get me started.”

She nodded, satisfied.
“Oh, I agree. Total waste of time. Enjoy your trip!”

Trust me, it works. Use it next time, you’ll see!

Spin Time

Island-born PEI singer-songwriter Logan Richard brings heart, groove, and island spirit to his new album Character Traits.

With soulful folk, pop, and R&B vibes, every track invites you in — listen and feel it.

Pod Time

Girls, this is golden!

“Look at your mother or grandmother, are they shrinking?”

Dr. Vonda Wright is best selling author and one of the world’s leading expert on women’s health, mobility, and longevity.

UNBROKEN. Rising Despite All Odds

When life took everything, he built something stronger.

Hey everybody — meet Chris, my brother.

When I was 11, I used to sit on his shoulders while he did push-ups before bed. He’s the guy no one could catch stealing bases on the ball field, or flying down the ice with the Montague Vikings. He biked every hill in eastern PEI on a one-gear dirt bike from the 80s. He wrestled was on the high school wrestling team. He could bench press twice his weight.

That was Chris.

This picture was taken in the summer of 1986. (Chris: middle row, far left.)

This is us rollerblading and wheelin’ in Brackley. One of the many excursions Chris and I went on last summer. ‘25. #whatagoodday

Mom had wanted to have a family photo taken for years, well it had finally happened….the DAY BEFORE Chris got hurt.

Two weeks later, the family photos arrived.

We stared at a version of Chris we would never see again — standing tall behind Dad in the picture, while in reality he was lying in a Halifax hospital bed, a quadriplegic.

A boy’s life, forever changed.

And yet — in the 39 years since, he has become the most resilient, hopeful, joy-giving person I’ve ever known. While life handed him loss after loss — his mobility, his career, his pilot’s license, the future he imagined — he never stopped cheering for everyone else. Weddings, babies, milestones… he celebrated them all.

When life would go sideways on me, he’d be the one to help me look at things through a different lens. His perspective on life and problems is incredible, and much like Dad, he’d say “Ok, so now what?” - encouraging to not focus on the problem, but the solution. He always finds the positive.

He’s an analytical thinker, not emotional. Something I need to be more of.

I’ve always told him he has a book inside him.
Thirty-nine lessons for thirty-nine years in a wheelchair.
Not a book about limitations —but about perspective, gratitude, resilience, strength, wins, losses, and the power of the mind to rebuild what the body can’t.

One day recently he said: “I wrote something. Wanna see it?”

Here it is.

Too important to be sitting silently in a file, waiting for “someday.”

UNBROKEN

This is not a sad story at all, but it’s a story about determination, achievement, perseverance, hope, new friendships, being positive, gratitude, love and many other important lessons along the way.

1986 was a very busy year for me.

I was working full-time with my father, seam filling and hanging gyproc, I had just received my private pilot’s license with hours of studying and ground school, exercising my body when possible and getting an apartment with my beautiful girlfriend. 

 

My girlfriend and I had a promising, bright future ahead of us.

 

July 1986, a good friend and I were wrestling, just fooling around, and suddenly my life, my girl friend and her family’s life and my family’s life changed dramatically.  I was paralyzed…

 

My neck dislocated at C5-C6 level.  I was instantly paralyzed from the chest down.

 

At the young age of 21, I lost my body that I exercised daily, many of my friends disappeared, my flying career was over and it was much too difficult for the woman I was going to marry and I to remain together.  We had many plans together, but me being paralyzed from the chest down wasn't one of them.

Life should be lived to it's fullest day after day.  I've accomplished many of the goals I've set for myself. (I didn't get to climb a mountain ...lol)  Please don't wait for 'tomorrow' it may not come.  Seize the day ... Seize the moment.

 

The next and current challenge for my family and I was about to begin.  I wasn't feeling well for most of 2024.

December 2024, I was informed by my urologist that I have stage 04 prostate cancer.  My life, my family’s life and close friends lives changed… again.

It's not always easy, but I will continue to try to do my best to Seize the day ... Seize the moment!!

The Positive

With time, with much support from my family and friends,  I was able to build a new life - a very good life.

Each of us are put on this Earth to learn, have new experiences, have fun, but mostly to Love.  There are experiences in life that are very difficult, but, in my opinion, it's ALL experiences that help us grow and open our hearts.  Through the  process of my experiences with a spinal cord injury and now the journey of cancer I have learned that with a positive attitude, lots of determination and support there is so much that can be accomplished and appreciated.

I'm now retired from a great career with the provincial government, I have a beautiful home, a nice vehicle, but more importantly, I have a loving, supportive family and friends that I care about very much and they care about me.  I am very grateful for all that I have.  Each morning, when I wake up I name five things for which I'm grateful for.  We should all do this.  I have days that can be more challenging than others, but this is where my family and friends come into my life to lift me up.  We all need 'lifting' at some point.

. Be Kind.  We all have a story and We're all in this together.

. Be Grateful for all that you have.

. Be Understanding and Patient.

. Be Determined and Achieve your goals.

. Appreciate each day, everyday.

. Love yourself and all those around you.

Kim's brother, Chris 🙂

 

 

Carry This Forward

Let Chris’ resilience shape how you walk into the rest of your day.

Let this be a reminder that every ordinary day is a gift and that the small things we complain about are often the very things someone else would give anything to experience. With fresh gratitude and a reset mindset, let’s continue. ❤️

What a good day.

Sprinkle Christmas Magic

🎄 Christmas Charm that takes away the stress and adds joy.

🎀 How to make the PERFECT BOW!!
This one blew my mind 💥 No thinking necessary.

🎄 How will they know?
Change your Christmas tree colour scheme with a balloon?

What To Do When He Asks….

“How many guys have you slept with?”

Baddie Betty has the only answer you need.

Amy’s Fav’s

🎁 You know the drill, great intention to start Christmas shopping for others :
one for them, one for me… ok fine, two for me. We’ve all been there.

“They won’t disappoint you! They may look different, but are actually really nice on.” 👖

_____________________________

“Only if you want healthy hair that won’t stop growing.” 👱🏻‍♀️


“I do not remember my life without Arbonne Fizz, I have it every morning in my detox tea.”

“There is nothing I don’t own from
CRZ pieces. I love the entire line.” ❤️

_____________________________


Samba Adidas Sneakers

“Can’t have too many colours.
I size down ½ size.” 👟

“Check your local hair salon for these yummy products I know you’ll love.” 🧴



Teenagers Don’t Lie: Stocking Stuffers Just For her

Brutal honesty is their love language so when they something is cute - we listen! Certified trendy advice from a 14 year old.

If you are looking for something trendy for your teen gal, or young adult looking for gold glam, look no further. Let’s be real, I would wear this jewelry, super stylin’.

Joe Fresh Jewelry Jewelry can be found at Shoppers Drug Mart 🇨🇦
Every Jewells A Canadian company based in QC. 🇨🇦

“Get The Nails” she said.

“You’ll love them” she said.

And how did that go? Well…

My Oath of Vain No More

I, Kimberly Mooney, being of sound mind (-ish), do hereby solemnly swear and legally bind myself to NEVER under ANY circumstances get gel nails again! EVER!

I acknowledge the following facts:

💅 Gel nail have ruined my actual nails. Was warned - didn’t listen.

💅 Vanity is not worth peeling, splitting, paper-thin nail trauma.

💅 I will no longer be swayed by Instagram nail perfect influencers.

By signing below, I agree to embrace my natural short piano nails and remember the emotional damage caused by the removal process,
and the ‘what’s left’ of my actual nails.

Kimberly A Mooney

My Mom’s Meat Pies ❤️

Meat Pies 🥧 A Christmas tradition, from Rose Pineau (my grandmother) to Cynthia Mooney (my Mommie) to me and now to you.

NOTE: This are not my grandmothers recipe, this is my Mom’s ❤️ (not original)

This meat pie has been served on Christmas Eve for years, and let me tell you…I’m a vegetarian but this is so good I usually can’t resist a piece of it on Christmas Eve.

FOR FILLING

6 Lbs. Beef Roast, Boneless ½ to 1 Tbsp Salt
4 Lbs. Pork Roast, Boneless ¾ Tsp Pepper
3 Lbs. Chicken, Boneless 1 Tbsp Sage and Thyme (
6 Onions, cut up 1-2 Tbsp Summer Savory
½ - 1 Tbsp Salt ***Mom puts in a TON more!

Cube meat (beef and pork) in large pieces, cover meat with water and cook (add cubed chicken in last 10 minutes.

Cook until beef and pork meat is ALMOST done.
Don’t cook it through entirely - it will cook more in the oven. Save juice.
** Put broth in the fridge overnight so fat hardens up.
Save any fat skimmed off the top of the broth

Dice meat - fairly small chunks * OMG this take 9 years. Beware. Add onion, spices. Add enough enough broth to meat to keep it moist. Use a lot of juice, but careful not too much. Moist..not sitting in juice. Save more juice for your pie crust.

FOR CRUST

6 cups of flour 3 tsp salt
12 tsp baking powder 1 ½ cups fat (skimmed off)

If there is not enough fat skimmed off, add lard or shortening to make up the difference. Mom always used Lard.

Read note: Add about 3 cups of milk **** use part of the broth to make up 3 cups
Mix as you would a standard pie crust. Ratio should be a bit more milk than broth easier to roll out crust.

Roll out both top and bottom crusts, fill each pie shell with equal portions of the meat mixture, cover with top crust. Make sure top and bottom crust meet and press together. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 35 minutes.

Pairs nicely with red wine. 🍷
Enjoy ❤️

Me and my Mommy ❤️ Special memories in my family home ❤️ November 2024

Dawn Did It!

“My idea of a superwomen is someone who scrubs their own floors.’ Bette Midler.

Yes, I scrubbed my brothers floors, but it would take Ryan Reynolds himself to show up with a mop and a bottle of wine for me to scrub my own.

Sorry babe…just kiddin’ (ish).

My bro’s professional cleaners’ secret sauce floor cleaner is……..

  • ½ tsp dawn dish soap

  • ¼ cup vinegar

  • 2 cups hot water

    KABOOM

The 80 Called! ☎️ FINALLY!

Know what else is BACK?

People… I’m losing my mind.

Wait for it…
Wait for it…

LEG WARMERS + OFF-THE-SHOULDER SWEATSHIRTS.
Yippee-yi-YO.

This is who I’ve always been on the inside —
a little bit retro fitness video,
a little Dolly Parton tacky,
and zero apology. Throw in a chocker and Bob’s your uncle.

You can call it a comeback.
I call it finally on-trend with my true personality.

Let’s get physical.
Grab your leg warmers.
Flash a shoulder.
The 80s called — and it wants you to know…
you are still a sexy thang.

Let’s go, girls 🔥

❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Random 🌸

Live Like Joan She started with fitness journey at age 70, at 79 she is a certified influencer. Need insp? Check her out on your favourite platform.

The Best of 2025 Beauty - Save or Splurge. The Social. There are so many fun ideas for Christmas presents too, or not 😉 just sayin’.

There are 3 types of magnesium. Need more info? Check it out HERE!
1. Oxide - strong laxative/stool softener (avoid unless using for constipation)
2. Citrate - moderate stool softener effect (use for constipation)
3. Bisglycinate - little or no GI impact, best form for therapeutic results.
- take before bed is using for sleep

Keep that lacrosse ball handy for sore muscles. It is a powerful tool to help relieve pain. If you ever had the need to see Darren Weatherbie - Osteopath, you know you never leave without a lacrosse ball. This article is well worth the read.

Hot Chocolate. Zero Plot. Maximum Comfort.

🎄 Because sometimes all we need a storyline where the biggest crisis is running out of nutmeg.

Ready to Marie Kondo Your Life?

Christmas Magic


🎄 CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIRS & MARKETS Your detailed list RIGHT HERE HO HO HO!

🎄 The 2025/26 CHARLOTTETOWN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Planning starts HERE!

For Every Woman Who Needs A Moment of Calm

These books offer a gentle blend of journaling and creativity—because some moments need words, and others need colour.


The 50 Shades Collection was created for the women who’ve lived, learned, and earned every ounce of their wisdom — and aren’t afraid to keep growing.

🌿 50 Shades of Wellness
A mindful journey into the wellness of mind, body, and spirit.
This guided journal offers calm, clarity, reflection and motivation — perfect for anyone craving a gentle reset in a noisy world.

🌟 50 Shades of Great
A celebration of how far you’ve come… and how far you’re going.
With inspiring prompts and empowering reflections this one honours your wins, your resilience, and the strength you sometimes forget you have.

🔥 50 Shades of DONE
Because at 50+, we finally know what we will — and will NOT — tolerate.
This book is your unapologetic permission slip to be DONE with what no longer serves you. Own it. Release it. And step boldly into the life you actually want.

🌹 Colour Me Graceful
My newest little sanctuary on paper—a blend of gentle journaling prompts and calming colouring pages created to help you slow down, breathe, and reconnect with yourself. It’s a soft place to land at the end of a busy day, a moment to check in with your heart, and a mindful ritual that feels both creative and restorative. If you’ve been craving something simple, soothing, and meaningful to ease into the season, this is a beautiful place to start.

Affirmation

“I have done difficult things in the past, and I can do them again.”

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Shine with kindness, act with purpose, and remember:
your journey is unique, and your presence makes a difference.

Cherish Today.

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