Kali J Desautels

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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!

Tag: fibromyalgia

  • How to provide relief to those affected by the BC flooding this holiday season

    “SON of a NUTCRACKER!!” – Buddy the Elf Christmas is less than one month away!!! Hip hip hooray!! This year my neighbours have all gone all out on their Christmas lights, and I could not be more excited. It’s wonderful to walk my dog and be surrounded by twinkling multicoloured lights. The last 3 years…

  • International Women’s Day 2021

    It’s International Women’s Day. Today we honour the incredible contributions women have made to all aspects of life – science, arts, sports, history, law, business, etc. We are inspired and excited by their life stories and measurable success, and admire them for their courage and fortitude. Today we honour the less measurable, less quantifiable successes…

  • I know what I’m not, but I don’t know what I am

    I am not gluten intolerant.I am not a heavy drinker.I don’t consume dairy products.I’ve tried cutting foods out of my diet.I’ve had every test under the sun. I’ve had blood work and colonoscopies.I’ve spoken to naturopathic professionals, and gastroenterologists.I’ve eaten strictly vegan.I’ve tried FODMAP.Keto.Paleo.Liquid.Rice cakes and peanut butter.Starvation. I was told to eat only raw…

  • Happy Anniversary!

    Happy anniversary, Ty and Danielle! I cannot thank you enough for being my family. Not just my bio family, but my chosen family. The family that my kids can reach out to. The family that shows up for everything. Thank you for being a good example to our kids, and to us. Thank you for…

  • #TBT – #BellLetsTalk2021

    Before KaliDesautelsSpeaks, before KaliDesautelsReads, there was Kalijd. There was a lot of life in the before. I tend to talk a lot about this season in my life as something I had to get passed to get here, and yes – I had anxiety and depression and an eating disorder and an unhealthy obsession with…

  • Madam Vice-President

    It’s finally begun. Madam Vice-President Kamala Harris has taken the oath of office. She has shattered another glass ceiling for BIPOCs and women in the United States, and offered an example to children all over the world. She is showing them that there can be change for the good. There can be beautiful sunny mornings,…

  • Is It Illness or Is It Fibromyalgia?

    It’s time for another fun game of Is It Illness Or Is It Fibromyalgia!! Cheeks flushed? ☑️Muscles aching? ☑️Headache? ☑️Scratchy throat? ☑️Intense shoulder pain? ☑️Overwhelming fatigue? ☑️On the edge of tears? ☑️Irritability? ☑️Feverish? ☑️Ears ringing? ☑️ So the consensus is???? Who the heck knows? If it looks like a horse, sounds like a horse, and…

  • Martin Luther King Jr Day 2021

    A crucial reminder – honouring Dr King on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is easy; honouring him and his vision every single day of the year is where we put the work in. Commit to being anti-racist 365 days per year, every year for the entirety of your life. Commit to raising anti-racist children. Commit…

  • It’s My Birthday

    Today started with a my favouritest cupcakes in the world, a Stanley/Pretzel Day Birthday card, and a brand new Smash + Tess romper from Danielle on my porch before I even woke up. It just kept getting better and better as kind words and thoughtful posts and birthday/birthday-ish phone calls were made. My brother found…

  • Black Shirt Day 2021

    “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. January 15th is #BlackShirtDay to honour and commemorate BIPOC and racialized Canadians. As the struggle to dismantle a colonial, white supremacist, heteronormative, cisgendered, Judie-Christian society continues, many of our…