Originally intended to simply focus on book reviews, over time, KaliDesautelsReads has morphed into its own entity.
I write about issues that are near to my heart, be they political, feminist, motherhood, mental health, or, as the title holds, books.
A thirty-something Canadian woman in my mid-thirties, I have been “super married” to my high school sweetheart since 2006, and together we have two crazy, clever, kind, hilarious, wonderful kids.
My first book – How Not To Blog: Finding Myself, One Post at a Time is available on Amazon (in eBook formats for you clever tech readers, and paperback for those of us who love that new book smell!)
I have tried a podcast – it’s still on Apple and Google Podcasts – but writing is where my heart is.
My life changed dramatically when my husband was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer in 2018, and I am now a writer for a leading Canadian Cancer Non-Profit.
I am lucky enough to have a family that loves me and pushes me to be my best, even if it is outside of my cushiony comfort zone. I have a village of friends that nourish me, mentally, and spiritually.
Welcome to my thoughts. Sit down. Stay a while. Enjoy a cup of coffee!
⨠Only 6 sleeps until my favourite day of the yearâChristmas Eve! đđ The magic, the coziness, the joy of being surrounded by loved ones⌠itâs truly the best.
Hereâs a throwback from last Christmas Eve, where we made the sweetest memories celebrating with little Mia. Her giggles, excitement, and that pure holiday wonder made the night unforgettable. â¤ď¸
Counting down the days and already feeling the festive spirit in the air! Who else canât wait? Let me know your favourite Christmas Eve traditions in the comments!
Thank you @mousykat90 for capturing this adorable picture of Sadie.
Sadieâs face when Katie walks through the door says it allâpure joy! Iâm starting to think Katieâs visits are less about me and all about her. Pretty sure Iâm just the door person at this point. đžđ
Tonight, Iâm feeling incredibly grateful for my husband. He took over wrapping the mountain of gifts, and honestly, I canât express how much that lightened my load. The holidays are magical, but letâs be realâtheyâre also a lot. I sometimes struggle to keep up with all the moving pieces, and wrapping has always been one of the hardest tasks for me. Itâs something i struggle with every year, but tonight, I got to step back and take a deep breath while he tackled it.
What people donât realize is that asking for help doesnât always come easily to me. Itâs easy to slip into the mindset that all things âChristmasâ fall on my plate, but thatâs not fair to anyoneâespecially me. Iâm working on changing how I see these tasks. This wasnât him helping meâit was us working as partners for a holiday that belongs to all of us.
So hereâs to shared responsibilities, letting go of perfection, and accepting that itâs okay to step back when you need to. The holidays donât have to be about doing it all yourself. Theyâre about showing up for each other, and tonight, my husband showed up for me in the best way. đ
đ Whatâs something youâre letting go of this holiday season? Letâs all take a little pressure off ourselves.
Today was exactly what I needed. Spending the day with two of my favorite peopleâDanielle and my sweet baby nephew ThĂŠoâwas such a gift. Things have been tough these last couple of weeks, but this day was a reminder of how healing simple moments can be.
We laughed, played with ThĂŠo, and indulged in delicious food, taking our time to just be together. Smiling with that little bundle of joy and chatting with Danielle felt like the perfect reset. đ
Thankful for family, love, and these precious moments that bring so much light.
My Ollie is absolutely beaming after an unforgettable night at the second-to-last night of the #ErasTour! đ They gave it their allâscream-singing every lyric, dancing like no one was watching, and soaking in every magical moment. Now, theyâre happily exhausted, their voice gone but their heart full. đ
This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I couldnât be more grateful they had the chance to be part of something so special. Seeing their joy made it all worth it. Vancouver, you showed up in the best way possibleâthe excitement in the city was contagious, and we all felt the magic. â¨
This week has been one of the hardest weâve faced in a while. Watching someone you love struggle with their mental health is heartbreaking, and as a partner, it can leave you feeling helpless. But this week also reminded me of the power of resilience and hope.
After some tough days, we finally found a turning point. My husband recently started on new medicationâEscitalopram and Rexultiâand the difference has already been noticeable. His smile feels a little more natural, his laughter a little more frequent, and his presence a little lighter. Itâs like a piece of him that felt so far away is slowly coming back.
Because of these meds and his incredible strength, we were able to step out together this weekend for his work holiday party. It felt so good to celebrate, to see him reconnect with friends, and to share in some joy after such a heavy time.
I want to say this loudly and clearly: mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. Seeking helpâwhether through therapy, medication, or other supportâis not a sign of weakness. Itâs an act of courage, a testament to the strength it takes to fight for yourself and the people you love.
If you or someone you care about is struggling, please know youâre not alone. Thereâs help, thereâs hope, and thereâs healing. â¤ď¸
Apple Replay â24 is out, and wow⌠the results are WILD. Sharing my Apple Music account with my kids and my 83-year-old grandmother has created absolute chaos. Who would have thought Neil Diamond would take the crown as my top artist? Or that I listened to Avicii 224 times this year? Oh, and apparently, Iâm one of Freddy Fenderâs top 1000 fansâdidnât see that coming!
Music tastes may clash, but honestly, this just shows how much love and laughter our multigenerational playlist brings. đĽ°
Whatâs the most unexpected thing on your Replay?
My living room is pure magic this Christmas! ⨠Between the enchanting Harry Potter floating candles, the cozy glow of the fireplace with stockings hung above, and my adorable gingerbread house candle holder, every corner feels so warm, colorful, and eclectic. Iâve truly created my dream holiday haven, and I canât get enough of it! đŻđđĽ Whatâs your favorite part of decorating for the season?
This fall has been nothing short of magical. From moments of laughter with family to unforgettable memories with friends, my heart is full of gratitude. đ Hereâs to the love, joy, and warmth that made this season so special. Thank you to everyone who shared it with me. â¤ď¸
Tonight, my husband and I settled in to watch one of his all-time favorite movies: Gladiator. Russell Croweâs iconic performance, Hans Zimmerâs unforgettable score, the epic battlesâthis movie truly stands the test of time.
But during the Battle of Carthage, when Maximus is leading his fellow gladiators to victory, I looked over to find my husband fast asleep. đ Guess the âgeneral-turned-slave-turned-gladiatorâ storyline couldnât keep him awake this time!
24 years later, Gladiator still amazes me with its storytelling and visuals. Are you not entertained? I sure was (even if my husband wasnât fully awake).
Kali J Desautels 