Home away from home

Merry Xmas everyone! A day like today celebrating away from Greece and most of our family and friends thoughts jumped in my head. "Home", one simple word that is very difficult to define when you are an expat or when you have just moved to a new place far away from home. Is home a place or a feeling? Can you feel at home in more than one places? Can home be something that you had and you were use too, or something that you can built and have to adjust? Is it the people you are surrounded or the things? Is it all of the above?

Give Xmas a chance, and get some Xmas lights now!

Happy December everyone! 🎄
If you are a friend of mine in FB or Instagram you are already know that Xmas has arrived this year in our house mid of November. That is the case sometimes when you have kids. But for me my kids is the excuse, because i simple love Xmas! And Xmas is not an easy period for me and i will explain later why. But Xmas is not easy for many. Others feel more lonely, in others brings bad memories from unhappy childhood or family times, others feel that are obliged to be and feel happy. And you have every right to feel that way, but before you do give Xmas a chance there are many reasons out there that will  help you to feel happy when you see red ribbons and flashing lights and get you in to the festive mood, only if you open that window and let the magic in.

My festive Dutch photo-diary (long version!)

Autumn in the Netherlands has been great! It is mid November and the weather decided to wear its fall costume just last week. But it has been great also because it is full of so many activities, festivities and celebrations that it seems like a looong party! Well for our family its the first fall in The Netherlands so we had to explore everything! So with the help of the good, sunny weather we visited other cities, we followed flower parades, we sang and took candies on the night of St. Martins and of course we met Sinterklaas and his helper(s) Piet(s)! Sooo exciting months for the kids and all the families. Here are some of the wonderful things we saw the previous months. Enjoy the Dutch festivity greatness!

Laugh it up, it's good for you!

They say "when life gives you lemons, make some lemonade", i say "laugh it up as hard as you can!"
In the most difficult times of my life, the moment of stress, unknown, pain, or fear i would always try to find the strength to keep my smile and even joke about it. And you know what? That really helped me to keep going. That is something i want to pass to my sons too. To laugh it up, even if you have just got slapped from life. A laughter and a smile is the best defense mechanism that will and can protect and help you to overcome almost everything!

Parents:Childhood guardians*

Since i became a parent my life, like all of you that are parents, has changed forever! There you are with a tiny little creature that awaits from you to built a world for him/her, to love and protect and keep it alive actually. With no studies, manuals and previous experiences you have been chosen to handle this job, this project, the biggest  project of your life. Its more than a job title, it's a lifetime commitment. Congratulations you have been chosen to be a parent! Welcome to the unknown.

Groningen by...Saturday's!

Martini Tower @the main square of the city

I love Groningen!, It is a lively, busy and positive university town. There is always something fun to do, or to see, or in this case to eat. Food is big in Groningen, and Saturday's are the best days to indulge local or exotic food from one of the many food trucks that are around the town. Since is the hottest September after many years, everyone here is taking advantage of the good weather and celebrating the warm days by spending as much time outside, as it is possible, eating, drinking and shopping.

Sisterhood is the answer

Big kisses to my girlfriends!

Women need women in their lives. Who needs a psychologist if you have your girlfriend right there to talk, to cry, to laugh, to advise, to just listen to you, and vice versa of course. Women need women. Nature gave us the amazing skill to be able to show empathy, to have the need to nurture, to protect, to heal. There is a reason when people write that if the world was ruled from women would be a better place. When a person has the gift of creating a creature how it is possible to believe in wars, cruelty, and violence? Therefore sisterhood must be our mission for a better personal and universal well being. 

Soul searching

Navagio-Zakynthos

Water helps me be balanced. Year after year i realize that whenever i live in places that there are around lakes, oceans, rivers, canals, or the sea i feel happier and more connected to myself. For some reason water makes me think deeper, clearer and more pure. It feels like returning home, as they say. The waves give me answers to my questions, the reflections on the water are lighting my soul and my brain, the breeze clears my thoughts. My trip to Greece and my time next to the sea brought to me one more time, some serious soul searching....and a kind of a eureka moment...

My Greek summer - Paros island

Another summer, another trip back to homeland. Every year we joke with my husband that we finally have to travel somewhere else, it is enough with Greece. But we never manage to tick all the boxes of our list when we look somewhere else. The safe sea, the food, the sunny days with some so needed breeze on August, with family and friends, with bright blue colors, with trees next to the sea to keep you cool. Greece has places for every taste, every budget and with an energy that will make you want to go back year, after year. Greece might be home for us, but it is also the best place to create beautiful summer memories.

People we meet for a reason

I realize more and more, that many times a new person comes into our life for a reason. Recently i had the opportunity to be around people that are open, spiritual, and positive. I really believe that you attract the people you need the most at a specific time in your life.

I live in The Netherlands and i feel gezellig! (most of the time :) )

Only 7 months! We are living in The Netherlands, only 7 months! Why i say only? Because it is the first time that we have moved to a new country and it feels already like home. Apparently this gezellig attitude that every Dutch person has must be the reason.

And finally men's behavior makes sense

Oooh, how many books, discussions, women's blogs and conversations with girlfriends that have as a subject: "Why men are sooo different from women?". All these hours of conspiracy between women on how can we change them, make them think more like us, alter their DNA and input a microchip to their brain so to get us! Hundreds of magazines have been writing countless tips about this matter, but still the question remains. "Why we don't get each other?"

Your inner kid needs you, or better why you need it?

Captured by my son being silly on mother's day

There was a period of my life that i had to dive very deep, so to start moving up and meet the surface for a good breath of fresh air. It was the time that i left my serious adult self to take over -together with some heavy unavoidable situations life throw you sometimes- and made me send to the corner the inner kid which until then was always my helping hand so to cope with difficulties.

Seize the moments

Living the moments

I love taking pictures. You can capture moments that will follow you forever and sometimes they may even have a huge impact to someones life. How many times have you gone back to those photo albums from your childhood, from your school years, your graduation day, holidays with friends and family, your wedding day, your first baby, second baby... and you have laughed, cried, comment, remembered, being surprised?

Never on a Sunday!

A typical Sunday in Greece -This one is taken at Chios island

 I always had mix feelings about Sunday's. It is consider a family day, and the day of rest but still it is a day that confuses me.

Don't get my wrong i know it is the day you can sleep more and don't have to rush,  but since sleeping in is not an option for me that i have a 1 1/2 year old kid, it means that my day starts very early, and therefore i have to start being creative since 7.00 in the morning!

The only UK "bomb" i want to know

A grenade full of color and hope

What a day for Europe. What a "bomb" burst from the vote of the British people.  Waking up and reading the news you know that a new era has come. My friends from UK, and everyone with a British passport,  have split opinions about the Brexit that was announced earlier today. Fear, uncertainty, a lot of questions and a lot of "now what?", and others are happy and optimistic with the new development, since they believe its for the better.

These apps are made for family fun

"Ohhh i am a princess", exploring Snapchat

Sometimes i love the technology so much... Actually most of the time i do, that is why i am here after all!

But when i discover something fun, and hilarious, and entertaining it is like finding a gem in the mad. Apps are my favorite thing, and its because you can have them on your phone, iPad, tablet and not all of them need WiFi.

Playing peakaboo with the sun and other weather related thoughts!

The sun might be playing with us, but not the sunflower

I am a Mediterranean girl as you know, and weather related conversations were rarely happening back in Greece during summer months, at least in the past because the El nino effect has made its magic everywhere. For example Greece this past week was under a beautiful heatwave 40 and above Celsius, that send everyone to the islands and the nearest beaches. That is the Greek summer!

Everything starts with a coffee

Key question: "Do you want to meet for a coffee?"

The most terrifying thing when you move around countries is making friendships or actually the idea of how on earth you will manage to find new friends. Where, how, who is going to be ready to open hands and ears and welcome you to this alien place. And for me its all about my instinct. Although i am an easy communicator and you will find me starting conversations with strangers anywhere in the world, you will not find me having many friends in my life.

I am an expat and i am well

I love spring, because i love new beginnings