lifebymar_ (2025)

24/03/2021

How many times do we say "tomorrow will be a better day"?
Will tomorrow really be a better day or will we just have more energy and optimism when tomorrow comes? 🌈
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Don't we all have those days that seem never ending and that most things just seem to go wrong? Don't we all just feel demotivated and frustrated when it happens? That's the thing.... we ALL have those days!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So, what makes the next day better? It's having the energy and hope to know that we can do better, we can feel better and it will be better.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Call me an optimist or maybe even unrealistic.... that's ok, because I think it's that child like enthusiasm that contributes to our happiness.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Shouldn't we all be grateful for each day we get to wake up and create new memories?
Isn't our everyday a reflection of the life we've chosen?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So, why not LOVE YOUR LIFE AND CHOOSE IT EVERYDAY....
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sending you ✨ and ❤️ if you're having one of those days....
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Monica xoxo
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

24/03/2021

What's not to love about sunset.... particularly when it's this gorgeous!
🌅
Just wanted to share something beautiful from the country where I was born and called home during my childhood.
💖
This pic was taken on Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa.
🇿🇦
I cannot tell you how incredible the views are...
Everywhere you look there is something to take your breath away!
🤩
Well, bye for now....I'm going back to day dreaming of holidays and travel...
😍 🌈

22/03/2021

The gift of a sibling and what maintains and strengthens that great bond... 💕
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Over time, relationships evolve and you need to put time and effort into maintaining a healthy and loving relationship. Having that strong and healthy connection with your sibling is no different...
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We're raising our girls with principles and values, that hopefully will be essential to preserve that bond forever.
But, sometimes just following some guidelines we've established and reinforced with them helps us deal with practical issues.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Simple things like:
😬 don't make fun of each other
💖 tell her you love her often
🌷 include her in things you do
🤐 keep her secrets
🤗 be there for her
💪 defend your sister
🥰 show her respect and that you have time for her
😶 listen to her
🥳 have fun with her
🌈 forgive your sister
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
These guidelines will obviously evolve over time, whilst they are growing up and realising on their own how important a good sibling relationship is and knowing that they will have a friend for life!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What do you think is essential in a sibling relationship?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What has defined your relationship with your siblings? And how do you pass this onto your children? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experience on this matter... 😊 ❤️
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Monica xoxo

20/03/2021

The start of Spring.... the season of new beginnings, hope and love!
🙏
One cannot be indifferent to Spring... people say I don't like the cold or I don't like it when it's too hot, but I'm yet to hear someone say they don't like Spring.
💖
Temperatures are slowly rising, daylight hours increasing, flowers are blooming and just a general sense of hope and growth is all around.
🌸
It's waking up from winter's hibernation with energy and looking forward to what comes next with enthusiasm.
🌻
With all we've been experiencing over 2020 and 2021, I'm definitely hopeful and excited for better times.
🌈
So, Spring: bring on the sunshine and good vibes ☀️😎

19/03/2021

The role of a father in their child's life is unequivocally fundamental to being a happy and balanced adult! 💖
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It's Father's Day in Portugal today and I cannot let the day go by without reflecting and appreciating the father's role.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What is a great father to me?
He's a pillar of strength, support and love and his work is endless and sometimes, thankless.
He realises his children are human and allows them to make mistakes and learn from them.
He allows his children to move with the times and he is open minded to the struggles of his kids generation.
He is not judgemental and appreciates that his children are different to him.
He teaches the value of things and what not to take for granted.
He leads by example and he values others, and particularly the mother of his children, as he wants his children to follow similar values as adults.
He is supportive and loyal, but also challenges and disciplines his children to be the best they can be, knowing that they have a safety net to always fall back on.
He will do and give everything and anything for his family.
He spends quality time with his kids and makes time to listen and be with them.
Most importantly, he loves them unconditionally!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
On a personal note....
Thank you to my incredible dad for all you've taught me and for the love and support you have always provided!

To my amazing hubby, I could never have picked or wished for a better father to our girls. You have found the balance to it all...
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So today, I'm sending a ❤️ and a 🙌 to all the amazing fathers out there!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
❤️🙌❤️🙌❤️🙌❤️🙌❤️🙌❤️🙌

@ Porto, Portugal

18/03/2021

When a picture does not do justice to the beauty of a place!
🏝
Doesn't everyone love a pic of the sea and an incredible beach? So I thought it would be nice to post pics of some of the beautiful beaches we've visited over time.
🌊
This one is Saona Island and it's a tropical island located off the mainland of the Dominican Republic.
🇩🇴
It is one of the most visited locations in the Dominican Republic and its turquoise, warm waters and baby powder sand make it one of the most unforgettable beaches I've ever seen.
😍
🤚 or ❤️ if you are in need of a dip in the ocean and a fresh piña colada in your hand!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🤚❤️🤚❤️🤚❤️🤚❤️🤚❤️🤚❤️🤚❤️🤚❤️🤚❤️

17/03/2021

How can a smile change the world? The perfect smile has the ability to open your heart and to help you feel love and joy. 💕
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
My mom had this smile... whenever she smiled, she could touch your soul. 💘
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What happens when you don't get to see this smile in person anymore? What happens to you?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
When someone who is such a fundamental part of you departs from this world, who do you become?...
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀..You become a different person! Your morals and beliefs remain the same, but you have to reinvent yourself, you have to try really hard to live your everyday and move on.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I believe happiness is not a single state, but a choice you make everyday. Although, only when your life changes so drastically, do you realize how truly happy you were before and it is this new person who opts to choose happiness everyday.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Does this make sense to you? Have you experienced life altering grief? I'd love to hear your story and your heart...
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sending light and happiness through my mothers smile to whomever is experiencing grief or even just having a bad day. 🌟
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Monica xoxo
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

16/03/2021

Celebrating the birthday of my friend for life!
🥳
Today is my sisters day! She is one of the most honest, hardworking, loving and unforgettable people you can meet. She gives tough love, but she loves hard too!
💖
She's an incredible daughter, mother, wife, sister, aunty and friend, who has our back without ever having to ask...
😍
So, 🥂 to .sonia ! To many more happy and healthy years... 🌈

@ Porto, Portugal

15/03/2021

Anxiously waiting for Spring colours and flowers blooming!
🌷
Flowers are a sign of beauty, calmness and joy, that remind us to take some time to ‘stop and smell the flowers’, even when we are living in turbulent times.
🌈
So, here's a pic of one of the tulip fields we have visited in Holland. These striking colours of the flowering tulip bulbs are a typical sight in spring.
💐
If you've never visited, I can tell you that the bright red, pink, purple and yellow colours are overwhelmingly beautiful and definitely bring a smile to your face when you see them!
🥰

12/03/2021

How does social media affect you or better yet what effect does it have on your self value? 😬
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Social media has the the ability to connect us to everyone throughout the globe and explore our horizons as individuals, living in a connected world. However, we all debate at what cost...
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
All the exposure to lives so different to ours and that might be portrayed as "real" can add on stress of comparison to your reality. Honestly, I feel that you just have to be yourself. 💪🏻
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Be your true self. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, follow your intuition and your passion, don't care about what other people think of you and never forget to dream big. 🌈
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You know better than anyone else what matters to you and what you want in life!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
YOU do YOU! There is always someone that loves that YOU! 💖

Monica xoxo

11/03/2021

"What changes when you live abroad?" is one of the questions most expats get asked. 🌍
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The girls, hubby I have moved quite a few times over the last decade and I’ve found that most people are genuinely curious in understanding how these life altering decisions impact you and your frame of mind. 🤔
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What does home mean?
Home is generally linked to a place where you grew up, where you feel comfortable, surrounded by family and friends, memories and familiar places.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So, what changes when you move abroad?
For us, we felt like we could associate home as both the place and culture of where we were from, and the country and culture of where we moved to.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It gave us joy and fulfilment to adopt local customs, to throw ourselves into the culture, to learn the language, to create a full life and to make incredible new friends in our new country. And yet, we were always so happy and grateful to return back to Portugal to be with our family and friends and all our familiar sights. ❤️
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I feel that by living in a new country, you gain an insight into another culture, in a way tourists will never understand. These experiences and new routines have had an impact on our personalities and our behaviour, as we've had to learn to fit in and live within our new culture. All, whilst still having such a strong connection to our home of origin.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This is quite a deep look into our mindset on this issue, but I'm so curious to know how you feel about this subject...
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Are you living or ever lived abroad? Have you ever considered it? Does this life style appeal to you, even if temporarily ⍰⍰⍰
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts 💖
Monica xoxo

10/03/2021

What do your kids generally do after school or homeschool?
🤔
Since lockdown 2.0 started in Portugal in January, we've established a daily routine which we've come to really appreciate.
💖
After school has finished, roughly around 15:00, the girls have a play outside and a snack, which will extend to however long as they want, depending on the weather.
☀️
Then, a much needed bath or shower is in order and PJ's are on!
🛀
They can either have screen time or simply play after. Surprisingly, they usually pick something to do together. LEGO is their activity of choice. I can't tell you how many hours they spend building and just using their imagination.
🏰
Are you kids fans too? Do you have any other recommendations for building and creative play? Please do share, as it's always a request for birthdays here at home...
🎉
Looking forward to your replies! 😘

09/03/2021

To love the ocean and sea air... 🌅
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
A trip to the beach means feeling the sand between your toes, a fresh breath of sea air filling your lungs and the taste of salt water in your mouth.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
To me, it's nature's relaxation and it just helps any tension slip away.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This beach is a 10 minute drive from where we live and although it's quite cold at the moment, it's still a beauty to behold...😍

08/03/2021

A day to celebrate the women who raised us, the women we are and the little women we are bringing up! 🌸

This pic is of the women of my family... the family I am so privileged to be a part of.

My sister and I were raised to be strong and independent, but also supportive and loving. That's the thing about women...

We have our dreams and our ambitions, but we will always take others into consideration along the way... we find balance in our lives, or better yet, we make that balance happen!

So, why celebrate who we are once a year? We should appreciate and celebrate who we are everyday.

Sending lots of 💖 to all you women out there...

Monica xoxo

lifebymar_

24/03/2021

24/03/2021

22/03/2021

20/03/2021

19/03/2021

18/03/2021

17/03/2021

16/03/2021

15/03/2021

12/03/2021

11/03/2021

10/03/2021

09/03/2021

08/03/2021

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share