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Its The Maples!

Adventures of a ?? Expat Family in Portugal ??

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Antiquing in Portugal. This is the first antique Antiquing in Portugal.

This is the first antique shop I've been to since moving here a little over a year ago. It was a return to something I love to do. It was an exercise in self-care and a lovely outing for me.

I love finding special pieces, and this place had many. 

#antiquing
#antiquingadventures
#antiqueshop #repurposed #antiquestore #recyclingfurniture #portugal #antiquefinds #antiqueshopping #antiquehome
In the lead-up to, Carnaval (tonight), some of the In the lead-up to, Carnaval (tonight), some of the residents of my town decided to make and sell some filhos da festa to raise money. 🎠

Filhos da festa are a very tasty Portuguese pastry. They have lots of cinnamon and sugar plus a hint of orange (see the last photo!) They are a perfect accompaniment to a black coffee.

These are simple joys in life that can make your day. People working hand in hand together to make an amazing treat. Everyone was having such a great time.

#carnaval #portugal #carnavalportugal #filhosdafesta #portugalloving #slowliving #slowlivinglife #slowlivinglifestyle #lifeinportugal #slowlivingmovement #meaningfulmoments #travelfamily #expats #expatslife #smalltownliving #portugalsmalltowns #celebrate #desert
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One of the things my husband and I knew we INSTANTLY needed when we walked into the Ceramica Paraiso was a saladeria or salad bowl. 🥗
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You see, we love to make these gorgeous salads but the salad bowl we have currently isn't big enough, so we find ourselves having to make and dress two batches of salad at every meal to feed our family. 
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So as soon as we entered the shop, I knew what my husband was on the hunt for. We finally settled on a salderia from this blue and white collection.
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If you love salads, please share your favourite salad recipe. I love pulling out this beauty of a salderia and using it with a gorgeous, new to us, salad! 🥗
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#saladeria #saladbowl #saladbowls #ceramics #salad #saladlover #summersalads #saladfordays #ceramicshandmade #portugal #ceramicaparaiso #algarveshop #algarveshopping #portugallife
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Sent via @planoly #planoly
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Continuing with my previous post, walking into thi Continuing with my previous post, walking into this beautiful ceramic shop in the Algarve was overwhelming. I found myself taking random shots of the ceramics and textiles because they were just so gorgeous.

I would have left with so many things but part of the action of living in Portugal has been to live minimally, and so with that in mind, I left with one special piece that I will share with you in my next post. 

#portugal #expatlife #expatmom #expatfamily #expatliving #portugaltravel #portugaltravelers #ceramics #algarveshopping #algarvelovers #algarveportugal #sagres
On our first trip to the Algarve for a soccer tour On our first trip to the Algarve for a soccer tournament, we had the chance to spend our off times exploring this beautiful area. 
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Staying near Sagres, we drove past this interesting-looking shop and had to turn around. 
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From the highway it looked like a building with a whole bunch of buttons on its walls. It was only when I saw these very large, glazed pots in the back that I realized it was a pottery/ceramics shop. 
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Not only did they have beautiful collections but I absolutely  love Portuguese azulejos and found many in the Ceramica Paraiso.
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Sent via @planoly #planoly 
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#portugal #portugueseceramics #azulejos #azulejosdeportugal #azulejosdecorados #ceramicaparaiso #algarve #visitalgarve #algarveportugal #algarvetourism #algarvecoast #handmadeceramincs #ceramicsofinstagram #portugaltravel #portugaltravelguide
The boys and I in the Algarve...
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Star Child ✨ To Jack and Henry: My beautiful, beautiful boys. I love you so much...💗
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"To visit Planet Earth you will have to be born as a human child.
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At first, you will have to learn to use your new body, to move your arms and legs, to pull yourself upright.
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You will learn to walk and run, to use your hands, to make sounds, and form words. Slowly, you will learn to take care of yourself. Here, it is still and peaceful, but there, the colors, sensations, and sounds will wash over you constantly.
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You will see so many living things, plants, and animals, beyond imagining.
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Here, it is always the same, but there, everything is in motion, everything is always changing.
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You will be plunged into Earth’s river of time, there will be so much for you to learn, and so much for you to feel, pleasure and fear, joy and disappointment, sadness and wonder.
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In your confusion and delight, you will forget where you came from. You will grow up, travel, and work. Perhaps you’ll have children even grandchildren of your own.
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Over the years, you will try to make sense of that happy, sad, full, empty always-shifting life you’re in.
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And when the time comes to return to your star, it may be hard to say goodbye to that strangely beautiful world."
Star Child, by Claire A. Nivola
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Sent via @planoly #planoly #starchild #chaireanivola #algarve #momtoboys #boymom #myworld ##boymom #boymomlife #boymom💙 #boymomma #boymoms #boymomadventures #boymomsrock #boymomforlife #boymomlife💙 #portugal #portugaltravel #familytravellers #travelfamily #familytravelbloggers
Since all the boys in our household happen to be o Since all the boys in our household happen to be obsessed with soccer/futebol, it's no surprise that my husband found himself playing futsal on Saturdays.
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Here the boys and I are in the cafe of the pavilhoa desportivo grabbing an espresso for me and a cornetto morango (strawberry ice cream) for them before the game starts.
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Sent via @planoly #planoly #futsal #futsalplayer #futsalgame #portugal #cornetto #cornettomorango #portugueselife ##portugaltravel #portugal🇵🇹 #portugal #movingtoportugal #portugal_lovers #learnportugueseportugal #travelingfamily #portugaltravels #portugalguide #familytravelling #portugalfoodandtravel #familytraveltips #portugaltravelers #portugaltravelpt #familytravelblogger #familytravelblog #movingtoportugalsoon #travelfamilyblog #portugaltravelling #travelfamily #familytravelbloggers
Since my last post, I had every intention of posti Since my last post, I had every intention of posting more frequently. It had been a few months since our arrival in Portugal and I was feeling more settled and able to get the creative space needed to relax and write. 
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Life had other plans, and even with the best of intentions, it's taken me another few months to get back here. 
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Anyways, since then and I have wondered if I needed to post our pictures chronologically (the way I would have liked) but realized too much time has passed for me to recall it that way, 
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Instead, I have decided that I will just post from where I am right now and what I feel. 
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So today, a picture of our lemon tree in the backyard. This tree has given me SO much joy.
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#portugal #portugalife #lemontree #lemontreess #lemons #citrus #lemonsoda #lemonsquares #lemonslice #preservedlemons #lemonsqueeze #lemonsour
Sent via @planoly #planoly
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
It’s been a long while but I have a new printabl It’s been a long while but I have a new printable poster in my Etsy shop!  I haven’t spent much time there recently as I started it over Christmas as a little hobby and found that putting together printable posters gave me joy and provided a creative outlet, but every now and then, I put together something that tickles my fancy! 
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Anyways, today I was inspired to put my favourite quote in a printable.
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With it being so close to Mother’s Day, I keep remembering the quote a friend of mine told me just before I had my first baby almost 13 years ago, “To be a mother is to forever have your heart walking around outside your body.” And I know this to be true. So hope you enjoy this printable! This one will be going beside my “Throw kindness around like confetti!” 
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If you want your own copy, you can find my Etsy link is in the bio! 💗💖💗💖
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#etsyshop #printables #mothersday #mothersdaygift #motherdaygiftideas #motherhoodquotes #mamahood #motherhoodjourney #mondaymood #mondayvibes #mondayquotes #motherhoodinspired #ilovemyboys #etsyshop #etsycanada #etsyofinstagram #etsyfinds #etsystore
Making breakfast and opened up my cabinet and saw Making breakfast and opened up my cabinet and saw these beauties! Love my Pyrex! Happy Sunday!
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#pyrexlove #pyrexlover #pyrexcollector #pyrexjunkie #friendshipattern #amishbutterprint #amishbutterprintpyrex #amishbutterprintbowls #cinderellabowls #cinderellabowlspyrex #cinderellabowlpyrex #happysunday #happysundayeveryone #sundayvibes #sundayfunday #retropyrex
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
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