The Women Who Inspire Me

In honour of International Women’s Day, I want to shine a light on some of the incredible women I am lucky enough to surround myself with; women who have helped shape me into the person that I am today along with those who have inspired me in so many beautiful ways!

Today is International Women’s Day. My world is filled with brilliant, powerhouse women, and I just want to say—I see you and I appreciate you. Keep going, keep leading, keep making an impact. The world needs what you bring.

The women I know are strong, caring, brave, and resilient. We lean on each other, support each other’s goals, and lift each other up when we need it the most. We are mothers, daughters, sisters and cousins, and I am constantly inspired by so many women near and far.  I’m here today to share how these women have impacted the trajectory, and quality, of my life.

My Mom

Without a doubt, I am the woman I am today because of my mom.  From showing me the ropes in the kitchen since I could walk to teaching me to talk (countless hours in front of the mirror, I love those pictures), every step of my upbringing was drenched in love.  My mom, Patricia (known as Patsy to most) is the definition of strength and beauty.  Life is handing our family a curve ball with my dad’s illness – but my mom is a pillar of strength and has the patience of a saint. She is dripping with talent (she’s an artist), has a heart of gold and radiates compassion and warmth.  Thank you mom for being such a wonderful role model and best friend, you continue to inspire me and make me want to be just like you!

My Granny (Boomba)

Her legacy lives on – she is a legend. Our granny, Boomba (term coined by Charlie) was really something else.  She needed so little in life but loved so much. Nobody knew how to have a good time more than Granny: all she needed was some old country music, a Caesar and a smokie and she was the happiest person alive.  Her love language was cooking, and of course I couldn’t be more proud to call that my own now (she was the inspiration for our cookbook). Thank you granny for the love, the wisdom and the inspiration to not take life too seriously, to love so hard, to put family first ALWAYS and to have a good time till the last song plays.

My Cousins

Where would I be without these ladies?  Ugh, I love them so much my heart could burst!  You don’t get to choose your family, but I would choose them again a million times over again.  Sam, Steph and Jilly (along with my other cousins not pictured here who I don’t get to see as often but are also so incredible) are funny, kind, creative and basically brilliant. We have each other’s backs any day of the week: what a gift to have these beauties to call my friends and my family as we walk through life together. Love you girls so very much.

The Fraîche Team

I started this journey alone, and through the years have been blessed with new exceptional women to add to the Fraîche team.  Each of these beautiful women have a heart of gold, loads of talent, and are hard working and compassionate.  I feel every-day lucky to work with each of them! To be a woman entrepreneur leading an all female team, is a powerful thing and a true honour.

Other Female Role Models

The world is full of powerful women who are pushing the boundaries in every way, changing status quo and creating magic every step of the way!  A few that come to mind for me include Oprah, Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa), Michelle Obama, Maya Angelou, and Martha Stewart but I know I’m forgetting a boat load of others. And of course there’s my aunty Peggy, Mary and other aunties, my sister in-laws Cindy and Monika, and those friends that I don’t get to see often enough including my dietitian friends Patricia Chuey (my first mentor, love her), Desiree Nielsen, Lindsay Pleskott and my most incredible group of girlfriends who lift me up on those days that I need it most.

Who inspires you?  Would love to hear below!