#Powerwives is a column where we feature women who inspire us. Marital status is completely irrelevant. The title is inspired by our founders November 2013 Toronto Life cover story. Today’s power wife is TV personality Michelle Villemaire.
An actor, blogger, YouTuber, online influencer and busy mother of two, Michelle Villemaire – who’s also known by her childhood nickname, Mimi – has appeared as the DIY mom on TLC’s “What She Said,” is an Expressing Motherhood alum and a lifestyle contributor to Huffington Post, Babble and Momdotme. She’s driven by her desire to make things, connect to her community and bring joy to others in the process.
Name: Michelle Villemaire
Title: DIY blogger and YouTuber
Handles across social media: HomeMadeMimi (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat)
Who is in your squad? Married to TV producer Jonathan Abrahams for 9 years. Two daughters Vivi, 5 and Pearl, 8.
What does a typical day look like for you? 7-minute workout while the kids eat breakfast, school drop off, and then a combination of Starbucks for writing and time spent in my garage creating and filming projects.
What’s in your clutch? Business cards, lipgloss, hand sanitizer, one piece of gum.
Five things you can’t live without? Thai food, humor, my favorite jeans, Halloween, snuggles from my littles
How did you get your start? I asked a woman in my baby group (now my good friend work/life balance expert Samantha Ettus) if she thought I should blog. She said “Yes” and immediately offered advice. I’ve been at it ever since. It just takes the support of one person to get the ball rolling.
What sacrifices did you make? Despite the fact that I write about home and family, the more I work, the less time I spend with them. Starting a business, particularly an artistic one, usually means a financial hit.
How do you balance work and life? I have a partner who believes in me and supports me. I hire childcare and outsource house cleaning. My parents help out often. I go to therapy every week. Even after all this, finding balance is still a struggle!
How do you feel about balance? Don’t think of it as a day to day goal– look at the entire month or even year. Maybe the first half was all about work. By the second half you may be able to relax a little and enjoy what you created.
What inspires you? The underdog.
What are you excited about right now? Right now I’m excited about my yarn bomb project in honor of National Women’s History Month. With the help of community volunteers, we’ve created crochet pieces to decorate a park in our neighborhood. Each tree is named after a different woman in American history. At the end of the installation we’ll take the pieces down and turn them into blankets for women transitioning out of homelessness. It’s a way to entertain the community with something beautiful, and also help those less fortunate. It’s also a fun way to get kids involved in giving back.
How do you unwind? I have to take deep breaths throughout the day!
What do you do on the weekend? Weekends are all about structure and pre-planning as much as we can. Kids’ birthday parties and sporting events usually dominate the weekends, but my husband and I try to make sure we each have alone time, as well as time with the kids and a date night for the two of us.
Who is your hero? Amelia Earhart. I strive to live life so fearlessly.
What are you reading? Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Personal Mantra – Don’t compare and despair; just do you.
Advice for women trying to get to where you are – In a world run by social media, make personal connections. Don’t beat yourself up, you are the only you and your voice is unique. Do what you love first, try to manage, and the money will follow.
For more info, check out Michelle’s site.
