Sure, I read Seventeen and then later Self and Shape. Sometimes I read Vogue like I understood it. And to keep up with my Dad I read Macleans and Time. But it was Canadian Living that made me feel truly grown up and special.

My Mom had a subscription for as long as I remember. I would wait until her busy schedule allowed her to read it first, but always sneaking peaks at the back page for the little personal essays and the recipe section. Of course, we made note of recipes we wanted her to make! The old issues piled up on our original IKEA book shelves, the weight of the information bowing shelf after shelf.

I would read the magazine from cover to cover, learning about diseases only known to a select few, wishing I could afford to dress and was actually old enough to have a style, and being inspired by Canadians everywhere. Canadian Living was a big part of my education in life, food, and magazines.

It is the 40th anniversary of the magazine. When I found that out I had a bit of a giggle as this is my 40th year as well. I, quite literally, grew up with the magazine. And I still buy it and read it cover to cover, relishing the tips and recipes and stories. It is a delicious Sunday treat. At the end of the issue I often have more dog eared pages than not, notes and recipes marked for reference and continued inspiration. You can have a great website (which they do and I use for recipe searching often) but nothing beats the paper in hand, a cup of tea by my side.

One day I will be published in Canadian Living. I don't think I ever thought way as a kid, even thought I loved to write then, but now it is a big goal. 40 brings on big thinking!