September 2014 editor's letter: To girlfriends everywhere

I pride myself on being the best wife and mother I can be. (With four kids aged eight to 12, this can be a tad time-consuming.) I try to make my extended family a priority too and do everything I can to be a good daughter and sister. I have an amazing job that I genuinely love, and I constantly wish I had more hours in the day to devote to it. But lately, I have noticed that something is missing: There is a distance developing between me and my key group of girlfriends, and I am feeling a huge sense of loss because of it.

I am talking about my “core” girls — some of us met in our 20s, a few of us in high school and even one or two in grade school. We’ve all been bridesmaids at each other’s weddings, supported each other through the births of our kids, organized and attended countless parties and escaped to girls-only getaways together. We know each other’s strengths, weaknesses, darkest fears and biggest dreams — and definitely a few pinky-swear secrets as well.

It’s true that for the past few months, I have tended to put my friends at the bottom of my priority list: declining invitations, cancelling plans, not returning phone calls and even ignoring texts, solely because of time constraints. In my mind, I was going to eventually get back to them, but weeks would pass before I actually did. Then, recently, I was able to get together with a few of these extraordinary women and was rapidly reminded how I’m not my whole self without them. They make me feel grounded. Balanced. My young, true, authentic self. Not a mom or a wife or a daughter or an editor (all personas that I love) but me, Karine. No layers, titles, expectations or pretenses. It made me think about how careless I’d been with that privilege. And how I need to make a bigger effort to make sure my girlfriends know how much I value them.

Because its our closest friends who just listen when we vent, let us cry when we need to release, make us laugh at exactly the right moment, not to mention kick us in the butt when we need it the most. Since September is a time for new beginnings, here’s my resolution: to be a better friend. No more excuses.

I would love to know how you celebrate your girlfriends. Tweet me @karine_ewart.

A few of my favourite things this issue

Our style team travelled to beautiful Ireland and got to explore the verdant countryside for this month’s feature.

It’s time for our annual Beauty 100 picks. With the help of our panel of experts, we’ve rounded up our favourite makeup and skin, hair and nail care products.

The food team has created five delicious tacos that are perfect for hosting a DIY fiesta. I know what I’ll be doing this weekend. . . .