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Its The Maples!

Adventures of a ?? Expat Family in Portugal ??

The 5 Best Indoor Plants For Beginners

Ok, I just got myself the best indoor plants for beginners – or at least what I think the best indoor plants for beginners are!

Look, I admittedly am a terrible gardener but over the last few months, I somehow got it into my head that maybe I could take care of houseplants – again. I just love the life and greenery it brings into my spaces and a little voice in my head started telling me that maybe my luck had changed and maybe, just maybe this time, I can keep my plant babies alive.

Now it could have been the various houseplant Facebook support groups I joined or maybe it was that with no long vacations in the foreseeable future, I thought I could do it.

It must also be that I just recently purchased a Meyer Lemon plant for my husband's birthday and so far, it's been several months and though it's has caused me quite a bit of anxiety and stress over the winter – she's still here and doing well – yay me!!!

So whatever the case may be, whether it's being more attentive or having more time, I decided now was the time to go for it!

Contents hide
1 Shamrock Plant (Oxalis Regnellii)
2 Majesty Palm (Ravenea Rivularis)
3 Indoor Herbs
4 Airplants
5 Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

So below is some of my list here may not be the easiest plants to take care of, but I do think they are quite low maintenance.

Shamrock Plant (Oxalis Regnellii)

Picked up this little beauty for my Irish lads close to St. Patrick's Day. Yes, a little commercial I know to have picked it up when I did, but it was the first time I saw one and I fell in love.

This beautiful plant with its white flowers opens up along its central vein with the sun and closes when the sun goes down. I have taken to saying good morning to it, and goodnight to it every day.

Care Instructions: This plant needs bright but not direct light. Apparently, it also goes dormant during the winter for 3 months or so, so expect it to look like it's died, just put it in a dark corner and wait until it starts to bloom again (it's a perennial).

It needs its soil moist but water sparingly. I have noticed that when it looks a little wilted (it's happened to me once – I think it got too much light and not enough water) a little watering will perk it right up! I water it from the bottom as its stems are fragile but I love it so much and it's amazing how much joy it has brought me!

Shamrock Plant

Majesty Palm (Ravenea Rivularis)

This Majesty Palm makes me so happy. With her gorgeous leaves, she is just a beauty to behold and I consider it one of the best indoor plants for beginners, why? Because it often does well with neglect – isn't that awful!

Yes, you can actually be very inattentive and this plant will still do well so for those of you trying to figure out this whole how-to-care-for houseplant, this might be one for you!

Majesty Palm

Native to Madagascar, these most often grown indoors because they do well in containers and thrive in poor light.

Care Instructions: Majesty palms need lots of water and soil that holds water. So far, I don't have to water her that often, and she seems happiest. At one point, I did overwater her and the tips of her palms started to brown. I quickly remedied that problem as once the palms start to brown they don't return to their former form.

She is a beautiful, tropical houseplant and my children love to call her Majesty and greet her in the morning!

Indoor Herbs

Who doesn't love fresh herbs? I know my husband loves fresh herbs and spices in our cooking, so his favourite greenery involves the growing of fresh herbs.

The ones I currently have growing indoors are Thyme and Mint. As long as I keep them in a sunny place and watered they seem to do just fine!

Thyme – I love with chicken, so we have been using this quite frequently

Mint – We use it in everything from our meals to even mixed with pineapple, sugar, and mint – it's fabulous. Give it a try!

What I have realized though when I once found my mint drooping is that it is a water hog and LOVES water. Every few days I will water her from the bottom (I put her in a container of water and her roots soak up all this water from the bottom – it's amazing how quickly she drinks it all up!) After her drink, she looks so full and happy as a clam!

Thyme

Airplants

I just learned about these lovelies recently. There is something about a plant that doesn't require soil that made me think – “Yes, I can grow these!”

So I picked up a few of these airplants and have been giving them a nice soak a couple of times a week and they are doing well. I haven't decided on what type of container to put them in, so right now they are in this sweet, purple ceramic bowl, but they seem content. Some people will glue them onto pieces of natural wood, or put them in glass containers – I have a cute little Narwhal pot that I may just stick one in. I've included a picture of the narwhal pot just because it's too cute not to share it 😉

Airplants

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)

I just picked up this lush beauty from a lady who sadly had to part with her because she had outgrown her place. Lucky me, I brought her home and she has been thriving.

Boston Fern

Care Instructions: Ferns like to be moist and so we make sure she has a source of moisture around her (a bowl of water filled with gravel) and that she is misted every few days. Again, they prefer humid moist soil not soggy. Some people actually put their ferns in the bathroom, but after trying that, we decided it just didn't feel like the right spot for her.

Once all chance of frost is over, not in direct sun of course but mostly in a shaded location otherwise filtered light like underneath the tree, I will mover her outside for the warm summer months.

and get no FX fees!

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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
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ One of the things my h ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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...💗
---
"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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