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Its The Maples!

Adventures of a 🇨🇦 Expat Family in Portugal 🇵🇹

15 Things To Know About Marie

Marie (and Andrew)

1. My first name is Marie-Sunshine (hyphenated), so most people call me, “Sun,” “Shine” or “Sunny”  Very few people call me Marie.

2. I went to a French private school and did all of my subjects including math and science in French until University.

3. Being a mother to my sons Jack and Henry is the best thing that has ever happened to me.  They say that when you become a mother it is like it is forever having your heart walking around outside your body – I couldn't agree more!

4. I was studying to become a lawyer when I got bitten by the internet marketing bug!

5. I LOVE, AM OBSESSED with vintage pyrex!  I especially love the 50-60's primary colours, Friendship and Amish Butterprint in turquoise, orange and PINK!  I love any of the promotional items as well.  Want to buy me a present – I accept all things PYREX!

6. I love photography and could spend my days taking and editing pictures (and video!!).

7. I was an actor as child and loved being on stage.  I studied at the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts as a teenager and loved spending my summers in New York City.  What an experience! (In fact, Andrew recently saw me on TV. Ask him for the link!)

8. I am a big time FOODIE!  Let Andrew and I loose in a market and we seriously could buy everything in sight.  Trust me, we'd find a reason why we needed this spice, or that spice, why we needed that new kitchen appliance.  We're super big into gluten free (because of both kids) and paleo food.  We are making the transition to a completely grain free household and have found that almond flours and coconut flours do us just great for my other obsession- BAKING!!!!  Of course, I still love some of my carbs – hence # 15 below…

9. I am a beer person but hardly ever drink (gluten.)  I should probably try those gluten free beers!

10.  I love buying real estate. To date Andrew and I have bought and sold real estate since we were 21 years old.  I love fixing up homes, staging them and then re-selling them.

11. I met Andrew when we were in highschool and we essentially grew up together.  I have known him for longer than I haven't.  The relationship I have with him is one of the best things in my life.  He truly is my best friend and the best father to our boys.  He is an incredible man and I am lucky to “do life” with him by my side.

12.  I am a Daddy's girl and though my father passed away 10 years now, there is not a day that I don't miss him.  He taught me about entrepreneurialism and being your own boss.  I wouldn't be here dictating how I live my life if he had not encouraged that in me from the time I was a wee one.  He instilled in me the ability to tough it out, to be brave and to go after the kind of life I wanted and deserve.

13.  I love homeschooling.  I never thought I would be a homeschooling mama but because of circumstance that brought us to that point, here I am and I love it.  Plus I love that my children are with me everyday.

14. I am huge health nut (though I wish I followed my own advice better!)   Right now, I am trying to lose weight but not just physcially (although Andrew just lost 25lbs intermittent fasting – ask him about it!) . . . Anyways, when I say lose weight,  I also mean emotionally, energetically and materially – I think there is a psychological weight of all these things and as I get older, I realize that carrying these “things” and being overburdened by these things don't serve me or anyone else that I care about.

15.  My favourite food right now is kimchi fried rice as made by Deuki Hong.  Check it out!  It's sooooo GOOD!

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I lied. I said I would be posting more pictures so I lied. I said I would be posting more pictures soon after my last post and now it's literally been another month and a half! 🤦🏻‍♀️
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I still really underestimate the time it continues to take us to get settled in a new country and all the stuff we need to do (yup, we are still in our car 🚗 dilemma but hoping to get it resolved tomorrow - after today's holiday!) 
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As I mentioned in my last post, which contained the only family picture we took from our first beach day ☀️🌊🇵🇹 in Portugal in November 2021, it has taken me almost 5 months to recover from all the "newness" to start posting on a regular basis. 
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So here you go, some more of our "other" pictures from this beautiful day that found us discovering this gorgeous beach but also getting stranded there at nightfall. ✨🌘
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Thank goodness, the owner of the beach restaurant drove us home after taking pity on us, but that's a story for the blog and another day! 😅😅😅
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Thanks to you all for following our adventures (mainly on FB right now) and if you feel inclined, I'd love to know what "oops" type situations you've found yourselves in when travelling! ✈️🧳
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#portugal #portugaltravelers #portugaltravels #portugal🇵🇹 #familytravelblog #portugalguide #familytravelbloggers #portugaltravel #familytravel #familytraveltips #movingtoportugal #learnportuguesewords #travelingfamily #portugal_lovers #familytravelblogger #portugal #portugaltravelling #portugalfoodandtravel #portugaltravelpt #travelfamily #travelfamilyblog #familytravelling #learnportuguese #movingtoportugalsoon #learnportugueseportugal
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Sent via @planIoly #planoly
Hello from Portugal!! 🇵🇹
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If you've been following "It's The Maples" you know that we are a Canadian family who up until recently lived in our beloved Nova Scotia after making a spontaneous move from downtown Toronto almost 13 years ago!
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Well, new news...Back in late September/early October of 2022 we made another BIG decision to move our family to Portugal.
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Since my husband and I have worked full-time from home since University, with our online marketing and content creation company, the move was easy enough to make - at least from a work standpoint because all we need are our phones, laptops and internet connection- but more on the many other unforeseeable hiccups we encounter later!
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That said, the minute I stepped off the plane I, of course, thought that I would start sharing our experiences right away...but with the excitement, the ups and downs and the complete culture shock, it has taken me over 4 months to even begin to write my first post here on Instagram and my blog post. 
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So today, writing from a different lens, one that isn't quite as emotional and now has some distance between when we first arrived, I am thrilled to share our journey and this sweet and beautiful life we have built here over the last few months.  So stay tuned as I share more pics! 
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Sent via @planoly #planoly #portugal #portugal #portugaltravel #portugalguide #portugal_lovers #portugal🇵🇹 #portugal #portugaltravelers #portugaltravels #portugaltravelpt #portugalfoodandtravel #portugaltravelling #movingtoportugal #movingtoportugalsoon #familytravel #travelfamily #travelingfamily #familytravelblog #familytravelblogger #travelfamilyblog #familytraveltips #familytravelbloggers #familytravelling #learnportugueseportugal #learnportuguese #futebol #thebeautifulgame #canadianstravel #canadianfamilytravels
These boys make my heart sparkle like champagne! 💗 Happy National Sons Day! 
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#nationalsonsday #nationalsonsday💙 #happynationalsonsday #happynationalsonsday💙 #boymama #boymamalife #lovemyboys #lovemyboys💙 #myheart #myboysmyworld #sonsandmothers #grateful #blessed #blessedandhighlyfavored #myloves
Monstera friends, is this a new baby leaf? . . #m Monstera friends, is this a new baby leaf? 
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#monsteracare #monsteracareguide #monsteralovers #monsteralove #monsteraleaf #monsteraplant #monsteradeliciosa #monsteramonday #monsteraplants #monsteraplantsofinstagram #monsterainstagram #indoorplants #indoorplantsdecor #indoorplantsofinstagram #plantmama #plantmamas #monsterapropagation #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantsmakemehappy🍃 #plantenergy #plantlover
Monstera love 💗 . . Share your Monstera pics wi Monstera love 💗
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Share your Monstera pics with me pleeeeaaase! 😊🪴🪴🪴!
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#monsteradeliciosa #monsteralove #monstera #monsteramonday #plantmama #plantmom #plantlove #plantloversofinstagram #swisscheeseplant #swisscheesemonsteraplant🌱 #plantsofinstagram #plantlover #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantsmakemehappy #plantsmakemesmile
Peach picking. . . #summer #fruitpicking #peaches Peach picking.
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#summer #fruitpicking #peaches #peaches🍑 #summerdays #novascotiasummersaremagic #novascotiasummers #peachtrees #peachfestival #farmsofns #dempseyscornerorchard #peachpicking
My 12 year old wrote this on the kitchen board las My 12 year old wrote this on the kitchen board last night. I just found it this morning since I wasn’t feeling well yesterday and went straight to bed. He’s such a light in my life.
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#hopeandfaith #hopeandfaithandlove #blessedandgrateful #blessedbeyondmeasure #howdidigetsolucky❤️ #ourkidsteachus #ourkidsteachusaboutlife #ourkidsteachussomuch #ourkidsteachusmanylessons #joy #thursdaythoughts #thursdaymorning
Browsing through my memories and this pic came up. Browsing through my memories and this pic came up. 
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It doesn’t seem so long ago, but this beautiful boy will be a teenager in just a few short months. How quickly the time goes.
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Lately, I find myself staring at his face, realizing how much he’s changed. It’s so bittersweet because no matter how amazing it is to watch him grow, I also miss him being little enough that I could scoop him up in my arms, as I still do with his little brother.
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#lovethiskid #timegoesbysoquickly #watchhimgrowingup #boymama #throwbackpic #mybabyboy💙 #couldnotloveanythingmore #solongagobutfeelslikeyesterday #theygrowuosofast #feelinghappyandsadatthesametime #blessedandgrateful #blessedbeyondmeasure #myboy❤️ #myboy #mamabear #specialtimes #pumpkinpants
Choose to be kind. . . #kindnessmatters #kindnessc Choose to be kind.
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#kindnessmatters #kindnesscounts #kindnessiscontagious #bekindtoeverykind #kindnesscounts #itsimportanttobekind #lovingkindness #compassion #compassionandkindness #compassionandlove #bekindalways #bekindtooneanother #quotestoliveby #dalailama #dalailamaquotes #dalailamaquote #wordstoliveby #wordstolivebyalways
Love this photo of J! . . #footy #adidas #adidasc Love this photo of J! 
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#footy #adidas #adidascanada #soccerkids #soccertraining #soccerislife #soccerplayer⚽️ #onthepitch💚💚💚 #shootingdrills⚽️ #lovethiskid #myboy #boymomlife #soccermom #soccermoms #soccermoms⚽️ #soccermoments #sportpictures
Low key Easter with my 3 beautiful boys! . . Have Low key Easter with my 3 beautiful boys!
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Have to say, I’m loving the Amish Butterprint Pyrex on the table.  It’s a happy day when we use it!  How was your Easter weekend? 
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#easter2021 #easterweekend #easterwithkids #amishbutterprint #amishbutterprintpyrex #amishbutterprintpattern #amishbutterprintmixingbowls #amishbutterprints #vintagepyrex #vintagepyrexlove #vintagepyrexlovers #vintagepyrexcollection #vintagepyrexcollector #vintagepyrexbowls #pyrexcinderellabowls #pyrexcinderella #pyrexcinderellas #easterdinner #easterdinnertable #easterdinnertabledecor #easterdinner2021
Happy Easter! 🐣 . . This is my favourite Easte Happy Easter! 🐣 
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This is my favourite Easter centrepiece.  Used many, many Peeps and pink tulips.  Love the way it turned out!
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#happyeaster #happyeaster🐰 #happyeaster🐰 #peeps #peepsmarshmallows #peepscenterpiece #peepscenterpieces #eastertable #easterdecor #easterdecoration #easterdecorating #peepsmarshmallowbunnies #peepsmarshmello #peepsmarshmallowbunny #easterweekend #easterpictures #eastermood
Our orchid is in full bloom! 🌸🌸🌸 . . #suc Our orchid is in full bloom! 🌸🌸🌸
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#suchabeauty #orchid #orchidsofinstagram #orchids #orchidlover #orchidflower #bloomingorchid #bloomingorchids #orchidbloom #orchidblooms #orchidbloomsofinstagram #newtoorchids #flowers🌸 #flowersofinstagram #flowerdays #takingcareoforchids #orchidcare #orchid101 #orchidmom #orchidmoments #orchidmomma #orchidshare #orchidlove #orchidlovers
This past year during lockdown, we started using t This past year during lockdown, we started using the meal kit service, Chef’s Plate.
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We love to cook in our house but despite our love to cook, getting the meal kit was more of an “event”. Sort of like eating at a restaurant; eating something you wouldn’t normally cook but with all the convenience of eating at home. 
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Check out the blog, because on it I wrote an article on the “ Top 10 Reasons We Use Chef’s Plate” and it’s been a lot of fun, especially for the kids!
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So if you’re looking to break the monotony of weeknight dinners, let me know.  I’ve got $40 off coupons to share and occasionally a FREE box, too!
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Read the blog post and watch the video when the kids get involved and cook the Bavarian Pork Chop meal - such a great experience for the little ones and so delicious!
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#chefsplate #chefsplatemeals #chefsplaterecipe #chefsplaterecipes #chefsplatemenu #mealkitservice #mealkitservicecanada #mealkits #mealkitdeliveryservice #mealkitdeliveryservices #mealkitdeliveryservicediscountcode #mealkitdeliveryservicevouchercodes
My Majesty Palm. 💗💗💗 . . I’m all about My Majesty Palm. 💗💗💗
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I’m all about my plants recently, so you’ll have to excuse the obsession!
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I can’t stop taking pictures!  It must be spring in the air! 🪴🌱🪴🌱
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#majestypalm #majestypalmsofinstagram #beautifulpalms #houseplantsofinstagram #houseplantsofinsta #majestypalmplant #majestypalmtree #indoormajestypalm #tropicalplantsofinstagram #tropicalplants #iloveplants #kidsandplants #plantsofinstagram #indoorplantsdecor
I’ve become the mother of houseplants. I just l I’ve become the mother of houseplants.  I just love my plant babies so much!  What are your favourites? 
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#houseplants #housepanthersofinstagram #motherofhouseplants #houseplantbabies #plantbabies🌱 #plantbabies #bostonferns #bostonfernlover #inamemyplants #inamemyplantsokay #thisisgeorgia #plantsmakepeoplehappy #plantsmakemesmile #plantsmakemesmile🌿
Boys went tobogganing today! . . #outdoorfun #out Boys went tobogganing today! 
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#outdoorfun #outdooradventures  #winterfun #wintersports #getoutsideandplay #getoutsidemore #getoutsidemoreoften #toboganning #toboganningfun #toboganningtime #sledding #sleddingfun #letssled #canadianwinters #canadianwinter #canadianwinters🇨🇦 #winterinnovascotia #winterinnovascotia2021 #wintersunshine☀️
As he was getting dressed to play outside, Henry w As he was getting dressed to play outside, Henry was struggling to put on a glove and he said to me, “Mommy, I don’t think I have enough fingers for this.” 😂
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#snowdays #playinthesnow #thisis5 #5yearolds #lovethisboy💙 #lovethisboysomuch #outdoortime #novascotialife #christmassnow #whitechristmas❄️ #mybabyboyforever #thingskidssay #funnythingskidssay #funnykidstuff #kidssaythefunniestthings #kidssaythefunnieststuff #lovewhathesays #lovewhathesaid
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