Blogs on More

I’m very pleased to announce that we have video of two fearless editors:

Linda Lewis, editor-in-chief gives a behind-the-scenes look at the November issue
Sarah Moore, managing editor delivers a 40-second rant on how women are portrayed as technophobes - warning, you may laugh out loud at the office

Our haute flash readers got the links first this time, and if you want to be among them the next time, sign up for our newsletters. Although subscribing to the blog through your RSS reader will also put you in the loop!

That said, we did have site issues this week and I’d like to thank you all for your patience and understanding. They totally stressed me out; any tips you want to share on remaining calm when things go wrong would be much appreciated in the comments!

Finally, heading into the weekend, I wanted to share this great piece on the Obamas’ marriage from the New York Times. My husband and I struggle with this notion of equality a lot as well, and neither of us is a world leader! What’s your take?

I’m pleased to introduce Karen Hamilton as a guest blogger for More.ca. Karen is the woman behind the Toronto website thebestkeptsecret.ca and will be blogging from time to time to share great Toronto finds and talk about midlife here in Toronto. She’s also hosting our Best Kept Secret - Toronto forum.  (If you’re feeling your town is left out, get in touch with us to recommend a local blogger! We’re looking!) –  Jenn

Hello, my name is Karen and I’m a middle-aged woman.

There are those who think this is a bad thing - the ones who might respond, “Hi Karen” and expect me to tell the tale of stumbling to the depths of despair before accepting my affliction and embarking upon a 12-step program on my way to becoming . . . what?  A reformed middle-aged woman?

Granted there have been some despair worthy moments.  Once I accidentally spent $60 on a bottle of shampoo because my middle-aged eyes couldn’t make out the fine print on the price tag.  Then there was the missing condiment incident when the family spent two days searching for the ketchup bottle because I couldn’t remember where I put it.  (It eventually turned up in the broom closet.)

Still, I would contend that this is the best stage of life.

Yes, we face challenges we never signed up for – caring for aging parents, dating again, questing for meaning or just for a pair of jeans that fit our changing bodies.  But I also know we’re more interesting, confident, fit and savvy than we have ever been.

For the past year, I’ve been celebrating with and supporting Toronto women over 40.  My mission has been to help my peers by searching for the best products, services and ideas that Toronto has to offer us.

Beginning today, I’ll be sharing some of my favourite Toronto finds here on more.ca.  You’ll see me pop up from time to time as a guest blogger, as a voice within The Best Kept Secret – Toronto forum and as a “Toronto beat” reporter as I continue to search for Toronto’s best for you, the 40-plus woman.

If you live in the GTA and are looking for something in particular, let me know – I’ll see what I can find out.  Or if you’ve come across a great Toronto find I’d love to hear about it in The Best Kept Secret – Toronto forum.

In the meantime, don’t let anyone make you feel bad about being middle-aged.  They’re probably just jealous.

Day two (!!): I want to encourage you to sign up for MyMore, so that you can get newsletters, bookmark pages, build a list of contacts on the site - and even better comment on articles and write your own stories. It’s quick and easy and we’re going to have a great time building a site together that reflects the Canadian woman at midlife.
Part of what you can do - but you don’t have to - is to upload a picture to the site to represent yourself. So it’s very timely that Slate is running an article on how to take a good web head shot.

On the dark side of the Internet, the CBC reports that the Canadian Teachers’ Federation endorsed taking a stronger stand against cyber-bullying.  This is one of those gaps between our experience and our kids’ experience - not the bullying part, but technology providing tools for kids to up the ante.  What are your thoughts?  Do you feel out of your depth with this kind of thing?

And in case you’re thinking you’re too old for this, I report (sadly, but also as an example) that the world’s older blogger died this week - at 108 years of age. So no, you’re not!

I am curious though - social media is the buzzword of the year online. Do you personally use social media sites like blogs, Facebook, or Twitter? Why or why not?

I’m so excited to finally get to post that we will be launching More.ca today or tomorrow. Not that you likely found this blog before it launched, dear reader, but if you are reading the archives, here’s where it started!

I could promote all the fantastic areas of the site - and will below - but I have to say that what is most dear to my heart is our View from Her section.  In the magazine, and even on the website, the editorial staff can only present - and find - a finite number of stories relevant to, about, and from women at midlife.

But now you, and your friends and neighbours across the country, can share your own pivotal moments directly.  Post your story, upload your photo (if you have one), and after a quick check - for promotional material, obscenity, etc. - we’ll publish it online. Share your wisdom and experience - we know you have plenty!

Other areas of the site include:

• the stories you’ve come to know and love from More, plus web-exclusive content, including this blog, More Daily. Note that you can comment on all of them - let us know what you think!
• MyMore, where you can manage your email newsletter subscription, bookmark articles, and see what you’ve posted on the site
• the More Forums, where you can connect with other women who really get it.
• contests to enter
• And of course our e-newsletter Haute Flash - if you haven’t already signed up, be sure to do so

And coming soon, a review section where you can review books, movies, beauty products, and restaurants.

We haven’t even launched yet but I can’t wait to post.

For the most part this blog will not be about my day or personal reflections, but about sharing up-to-date information, stories, and inspirational “stuff” on a daily basis, and inviting you to respond. But today I have to say that it’s been an amazing experience to talk to women about More. Response has been overwhelmingly positive to the magazine, and I am so looking forward to creating that kind of site for you here on the web - space that addresses the subjects that are relevant to your life, right now.

On that note, a large part of the vision for More.ca is to provide you with space to share your responses to our stories, through comments on articles and here on the blog; a place to connect with other fabulous women in the forums; and perhaps most excitingly, space for you to publish your stories and reviews on the More.ca site itself.

Linda Lewis, editor-in-chief, told me soon after I joined the team that “every woman our age has a story to tell” - and we believe it. So I would like to personally invite you to become a part of building a website that truly reflects the experience of Canadian women at midlife. It’s way past time to get our voices out there!

Jenn Gruden
Webeditor, More.ca
jgruden@more.ca