My GEM Power

Many women feel stuck in the middle of their lives. Here you'll embrace what makes you feel alive. We don’t believe your body needs to be fixed or controlled.

We don’t believe you need to be dressed in a particular way to be acceptable. In fact, we don’t believe your body is the problem. We want you to celebrate your body for what it does, instead of its shape. The body you were given is right! We believe that you need to really know your body identity as a key to knowing and expressing your whole self. We want you to know yourself in order to accept yourself, to be able to say “This is me”! Don’t hide, make yourself invisible or miss out on life. You are a real G.E.M.

01/04/2026

March. I was halfway round the world with family and friends.
And then back with friends and community.

A month like this, with joy and sad moments, tells me I’m alive. Not just living…but alive 🤍

I never plan to have a certain lifestyle. Instead the things that I invest my time and energy in are my lifestyle-often serendipitous, mostly heartwarming, definitely brain tickling.

Are your eyes open with wonderment? Do you have boundaries that leave space for self discovery?

I hope your March was full and beautiful too.

xo Gucci

“It’s not living if you don’t feel alive.”

31/03/2026

You came to us as a feral kitten with zero faith in humans. And you understood your assignment-you were the therapy cat who worked miracles when all else failed.

Toledo. Twinkle. Mr Cat. We had so many names for you and yet you were never confused. I schlepped you around from one dwelling to another like any good mom does: from a front porch in Brampton to Newmarket, Mississauga, Parkdale, Hamilton and finally Stoney Creek. You didn't even complain about being a timeshare cat.

No matter where you curled up you just kept showing up; you were the reason Becca woke up on many a day. I put my trust in you little cat to keep my girl safe.

You hung around for the next generation - your last 5 years and Ella's first 5 years have been a love affair.

I could write a book about our adventures. For now, thank you little fluff pants. Enjoy the eternal sunshine.

xo Gucci

29/03/2026

In public. For 5 years this photo by hung in a public space, part of a series Esther took about locals who used the park.

The exhibition was taken down this weekend and to mark its end we got to be in front of Esther’s lens again.

When I look back, by looking at this image, many thoughts and memories come to me.

It was a year into the pandemic and I had no idea what was next.

We had moved from our big house because I was unemployed, terrified of not being about to pay a big mortgage, afraid because I’d registered a company based on a dream but without a real plan…and I had no idea what was next.

Being in public in this way had an interesting plot twist. All over the city for the past 5 years complete strangers have come over to say “Hello, I know you from your photo on Charlton St. “

We’ve both met so many people this way. I had countless strangers want to know what I did, what I do presently and what else I plan to do with this one glorious life.

Thankfully we are not any the worse for wear despite being five years older. Our wire haired dachshund is a bit of a celebrity because kids love to pet her and take photos.

Sunday is our day to do couple things, and today it was delightful to meet Esther again. Can’t wait to see what she captured.

Happy Sunday!

xo Gucci

26/03/2026

This week is feeing hard. Is it hard for you too?

You might be doing better this week, someone else (in the case that includes me) might be finding it hard.

The world is a mess. It is difficult to filter out the noise and all the 'war' talk. I want to scream because I feel I am expected to respond in a certain way. And I need to be successful, and generous and and and.

Truth is these are the times I need to really remember my autonomy. I am not here to live someone else's life. And I need to remember that autonomy means I have permission to live in a way that supports my resilience and holds my essence sacred.

Forget about the future and be present in the now (even for 30 mins a day helps)
Experiment with something that you have been considering
Go astray (not in a way that hurts anyone, but in a way that opens your mind)
Think small
Be wilful

Live the life you want. Period.

ICYMI That's the call to action.

xo Gucci

24/03/2026

A quick list that emerged from the talking circles over the past 3 months. I jotted these from memory after each group of wonderful women shared life experiences and wisdom that emerged over time.

10 Lesson to Master in Midlife

1. Life feels lighter when you stop being overwhelmed by stuff.
2. You get to choose your circle intentionally.
3. Boundaries are essential and can be reshaped by you.
4. Time is to be spent planfully and spontaneously. Know which is which.
5. You don't need to give everyone another chance.
6. Reading and walking are both good for the soul.
7. Practice being alone everyday - just 15mins - when you are simply with yourself.
8. Take excellent care of your health, physical and mental.
9. Chosen family is family. Family isn't always the safest choice.
10. Meet as many women who are different from you as you can. Difference is more interesting than reflection.

Tell me if you have something to add in the comments.

xo Gucci

📷 .photo 😊
💎 made by my son Patrick 😊

23/03/2026

"If any female feels she needs anything beyond herself to legitimate and validate her existence, she is already giving away her power to be self-defining, her agency."
- bell hooks (Communion)

Over the past 15 years a few trains of thought keep going around and around in my head. And I am still following a path of reasoning, but I'm not there yet. Stay with me...

Group think is prevalent. Individualism is promoted and praised. I don't think these two ideas are at odds.

Feminism is poorly understood. Women are battling the tension between being present and being good, which are not the same IMO.

What I believe bell hooks is telling us is not far from the 4A's that are central to my approach to life, to coaching, to self-leadership, to uplifting and empowering women.
Autonomy - Agency - Authenticity - (Personal) Authority

Within reach, and within, of every woman when we develop self-knowledge and self-trust that recognizes our wholeness.

This wisdom and other universal truths are waiting for you in a talking circle.

xo Gucci

18/03/2026

Wow lip Wednesday. It’s a thing! It makes every humpday an adventure in my authentic essence.

That’s all I’ve got today. Hahaha, lips are where it’s at today.

Colour is and master MUA is

What’s your glam jam?

15/03/2026

Throughout my adult life I have been notoriously bad at doing something just for me. But it is a muscle that I am practicing. Intentionally.

I've never been super confident with makeup although I know that red lippy is my colour. The eras of makeup have run the gamut - full coverage to hyper natural! As a teen I was told repeatedly that I had bad skin AND that I should try and get rid of my freckles. Wow. that's a double whammy of anxiety-inducing toxicity. So I limped along doing the best I could for 40 years.

Fast forward...turning 60 I had makeovers here and there. Then I met Jenn Harper, founder of Cheekbone Beauty. A sort of magical convergence ensued because Cheekbone is exactly the kind of company I love..Canadian (and local to me), woman-owned and BIPOC-owned, and all ingredients I that mean I don't have to fret about what is going on my skin (and down the drain).

I'm laughing, because this sounds like a promo. In fact it is about GRATITUDE and appreciation. Jenn's Masterclass is a relaxed, informative and practical way I can do something for me! And the women I meet? Fabulous and interesting. Warm and fun.

Think about what you don't feel super confident about or you are really curious to learn. Explore your local women-owned businesses. You will honour yourself, they will benefit from building another relationship with a client. Its an all round win.

Next up for me? A buccal massage because I really need the head/neck/face massage.

What is on your self-care roster, big or small?

xo Gucci

14/03/2026

I'm still reflecting, still digesting all the wonder and beauty of my trip to South Africa.

I am always interested in connecting with women, watching how women feel in their environments, learning from women.

Strength and navigating life is the embodiment of wisdom. Sometimes we don't know exactly where it comes from - but we do get to look back and say "I did it" or "I made it through and I am enlarged because of it".

In the gorgeous little town of St Francis Bay, and with so much help from Alison Brand plus a few other generous women who had never met me, I hosted a Hidden Gems™ talking circle.

Five women, three hours. Countless stories of courage and bravery, adventures and healing, joy and excitement - women totally at choice, determining how they would engage and what they were ready to share because ...self-trust rather than expectation.

We access universal wisdom through the stories of other women, we access self-knowledge through the telling of our stories and responding to gentle inquiry.

I am always filled with gratitude. The leaning in fills me with joy.

Same time next year 🫶

Self love, respect, deep listening, fresh perspective, liberation, freedom, live life, connect, belong - the talking circle for women.

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Birmingham

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http://www.mygempower.com/

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