Emily
Emily Corak has spent the last three decades in the Pacific Northwest and prefers to live in Vancouver because parking in Portland terrifies her. A mom to two kids, ages 3 and 7, Emily has been an educator for the past decade and she currently works with middle school English language learners. She wasn't planning on becoming a mother, but she's glad she was so careless because it turns out she really likes being a mom. Most days.
Emily is now going back to school for her MFA in creative writing after deciding she had more to offer the world than breast milk and unsolicited grammar advice. When the world allows, she spends any spare cash on plane tickets, and she lives for books, tea, and all things Top Chef.
She occasionally writes about anything and everything that comes to mind, and you can find her work here: https://offbrandmusings.blogspot.com/
The Nearby Tourist: The Whimsy of Wilsonville
In the quest to visit nearby towns with fresh eyes and a disruption to my everyday routine, I hit up Wilsonville. I stopped by once on my own, and then again with my whole...
The Nearby Tourist: Vancouver Is Worth a Visit!
It is officially that time of year. The gray has become too much, hunkering down with cozy socks is no longer charming or cozy, and the wanderlust is overpowering. I’m dreaming of Palm Springs,...
15 Valentine’s Day Activities for the Whole Family
I can’t remember what I did last Valentine’s Day. I think we must have done something (maybe) but it certainly wasn’t memorable enough to stick with me. I have mixed feelings on this holiday...
3 Ways to Find More Meaning and Less Stress This Holiday Season
‘Tis the season for celebration, gathering, and the potential for endless to-do lists and chronic stress! Once the music starts playing in the stores and the toy catalogs are delivered in the mail, my...
5 Strategies to Address Big Back To School Feelings
My youngest child started kindergarten last week, and I was prepared for some feelings. Having recently switched to doing freelance work from home, I knew the transition to an empty house for seven hours...
6 Things Saving This Vancouver Mom’s Sanity This Summer
We’re closing in on the last weeks of summer. The novelty is gone, everyone is home ALL THE TIME. The constant requests for snacks and my new role as referee have grown a little...
Surviving the End of the School Year
I just mapped out my calendar for the remainder of the school year, and holy jam-packed schedule, Batman! Is it the holidays all over again!? I have no tricks or tips to offer -...
8 Takeaways From My New Role as Stay-At-Home Mom
I left my job this year. After more than a decade’s worth of teaching high school and middle school, I took a leave of absence to make up for lost time with my kids....
The Winter Shift
I’ve felt a shift this season, one that’s been desperately needed for a long time. I don’t know whether it’s the upheaval of the pandemic, Glennon Doyle’s podcast, or maybe I’m finally old enough...
Look for the Helpers: Motherhood Edition
The year after my daughter came into the world was one of the loneliest years of my life. Not only did I feel isolated from my normal activities, but I was shrouded in postpartum...