Dear August…

Dear August you connected with me in so many ways. You brought me close to the Ocean and my soul was flying up in the air with joy and pure happiness. The sound and scent of the ocean incredible moving and fulfilling. You have brought me joy and soulfulness. I have no words to describe my love and connection to the ocean with its powerful sounds, fragrance, movement and light reflections. The ocean is a mesmerizing symphony!

Along with the ocean came this incredible road trip that I’m so grateful and blessed to have had the opportunity to do. It was lovely to spend time with family and visit family in the states. My girls really loved it and really enjoyed spending time with their cousins and meeting new cousins for the first time as well.

I really fell in love with new places like Maine, Salem and my absolute favourite Rhode Island.

I tasted incredible food and especially sea food! The people and service truly wonderful.

YUMMY FOOD!

It felt so surreal to go to these places. Magical and unforgettable!

It was way too short. I wanted to stay in each place longer and explore more. I would love to travel more.

August you have taught me to be more patient and also deal with situations in a more calm way. You have taught me to let things go and flow and sometimes situations are not all in my hands. You have taught me to breathe more and also express my self more. Also not to be too serious and to laugh more.

GRATITUDE

Everything was a blessing. I’m so grateful for everything.

August you were truly amazing and unforgettable!

A special thank you to my family and my sis-in-law Susy for the incredible Road Trip and for the lovely BBQ Party she hosted. It was amazing to spend time with her and her beautiful family. I also would like to thank my sis-in-law Lori. She kindly bought me a lovely gift from her travels. It means so much to me. Thank you also to my lovely cousin koumpara Anna for taking us out to a lovely lunch and spending time with us before school starts.

Thank you to my own God Mother who always calls me to see how I’m doing and I love her so much for thinking of me. She’s a special woman in my life. I love her and she inspires me in so many ways.

Thank you also to Joy Mills for buying art from my shop and always supporting me online. Than you to Cat Forsley for always inspiring me and encouraging me with my creativeness. Cat is a beautiful soul inside and out and has a big heart.

There are so many blessings in August that my heart is full of love and joy and its overflowing! All the love and gratitude I feel is so abundant. Thank you for each moment. A gift from the Universe and God. I am so lucky and very grateful. Thank you all!

Dear July…

Dear July, you have been so hot this month and sometimes so unbearable. Traveling has become a challenge due to a little anxiety but I’m taking small steps and learning how to deal with it. Living is learning. Sometime the battle and chatter in my mind won’t stop and I’m trying to let go more and relax. Sometimes I make up issues in my mind that are not a big deal and this becomes so tiring and exhausting. Sometimes I’m my own enemy. Do you ever get like that? I’m trying to stay off of my phone as much as possible. Lately it brings me stress and anxiety. So more letting go and more being in the moment!

This month I really enjoyed spending time with my family. We went to many lovely places.

Kingston, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake for amazing ice-cream, Science Centre, Toronto Zoo and had incredible Fish and Chips at Captain George’s Fish and Chips restaurant in Port Perry. A very incredible month that also included a lot of swimming!

My husband always says he loves to see me laugh and smile. I need to laugh more often.

The Falls are so powerful and the rose gardens so beautiful. I love the sound of the Falls. We went early in the morning before tour busses arrive. It was absolutely wonderful. I could of stayed at the Rose garden all day taking pictures.

July you have been packed with lots of fun and I can’t wait to see what August will be like. I also know that you are nothing like a sloth. You have come and gone so fast. I’m grateful for everything you taught me and so appreciative of each trip and journey taken.

I hope you all had a beautiful month. I would like to thank Joy Mills for buying art from my Art Shop. Joy your lovely art is on the way and I thank you so much for all your support.

The Art Shop will be closed from August 1st to the 12th and will re-open on Aug 13. Thank you all and have a beautiful August!

Dear June…

The lilacs have fully bloomed and I brought them indoors. Placed them in my vase and took a deep breath. They smell so beautiful!

June, you had my anxiety going for a while but I’m grateful you challenged me and I finally got my G1. I also watched my little girl turn 7. I’m so proud of both my girls and love them so much.

My eldest graduated from grade 6 and is heading to junior high and this is making me all nervous and scared but at the same time excited for her. Change is not always easy. It causes this pain in my chest and makes me break out crying with the slightest thing.

The weather is nice now. I like that its hot and love the summer breeze. It’s a comfortable heat. I wish my thoughts would be more zen this month. I want to reach the ocean and I’m afraid that I won’t… I made the plans for vacation and canceled them. I feel that the drive would be too much for my children. I don’t want them to feel tired and stressed. Some find traveling easy. I wish that were me. Not easy but I’m slowly going to eliminate fear and have more FAITH.

Monthly hormones were annoying and I allowed my self to be a little down and eat ice cream and chocolate. Life is not always happy go lucky and perfect. It’s okay to feel down sometimes and just allow your self to feel sadness.

I’m determined and excited to take driving lessons. Very excited. I’ll let you know how it goes.

My eye surgery went really well, it hurt but my eye is healing.

So June thank you for all your lessons and even though some situations were difficult challenging and emotional I’m still grateful. Thank you for the good weather, the flowers, celebrations, family and even my emotional challenges.

I’m happy for each moment and now it’s time to say goodbye and welcome July. Where will July take us? I hope on a wonderful adventure!

Thank you for reading my June blog post. I wish you all a beautiful summer! Thank you!

The Perfect Summer Fusilli Greek Salad RECIPE

Happy Monday! I made this delicious Greek Fusilli Salad today and I absolutely love it. I really want to share it with you and I hope you give it a try. This recipe is enough for 10 or more people.

Ingredients

500 Grams of Fusilli Pasta cooked and cooled down

1 Green Peper

1 Red Pepper

1 Yellow Pepper

1 Big White Sweet Onion

1 tbs salt

1/4 tsp Black Pepper

1tbs dry oregano

Dressing

1 Cup fresh parsley

1 Cup Olive oil

1/2 Cup Vinegar

1 garlic clove

INSTRUCTIONS

Cook pasta in salted water then cool. Set aside in a big bowl.
Cut all peppers and onion into small bite size pieces. Place them in the bowl with the pasta.
Sprinkle the pasta and chopped peppers and onion with salt, black pepper and oregano.
In a mini blender blitz parsley, olive oil, vinegar and garlic. (if you don’t have a blender or mini chopper just mix the vinegar and oil until it looks creamy, mince the garlic and finely chop the parsley.)
Add the dressing to the pasta and mix with a spoon.
Top the salad with Feta and if you like some lovely olives.

I hope you enjoyed this recipe and feel free to tweet me and show me pictures! @bestdayblogger Have a beautiful week!

ART SHOP

Fun in the Sun! July

I’ve been so busy with the kids. I’ve been trying to entertain them and keep them active. So far the summer has been very good. I’m enjoying every minute. Not every moment is perfect. Life is not perfect. This summer has and continues to test my patience. Not only from my children but from people all around me. Waiting in line, more people at the malls and sometimes the HEAT. Heat is not my favourite thing. Loud noises everywhere and no calmness. Always on the go and no time for my self. As I’m writing this I have anxiety that my children are going to call me. Even on the toilet they call me! lol Seriously?I love them to bits, don’t get me wrong but are any other parents feeling this right now?

The kids keep me young!

Watched Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation at Scarborough Town Centre. The hot popcorn was delicious. We had fun and I can’t wait to see Incredibles 2 and also Winnie the Poo!! When is that one coming out? I’m a kid at heart.

Yesterday I decided to have them do nothing. I didn’t take them anywhere and they found this strange. lol omg so funny to even write this out. So they did a little painting and are watching YouTube. They are obsessed with SQUISHY videos. Squishies are very addictive I must add. I love them too.

I know this won’t last for ever and that’s why I’m shifting my thoughts to be positive and trying really hard to stay calm and collected. July has been eventful. Hot sun, fun fairs and swimming. Visits to the mall for overpriced ice cream and treats.

More swimming and fun in the sun.

Gardening and flowers

I’m lost in the summer adventures and don’t have a list to follow. Who does? Lists don’t work very well with #MOMLIFE do they? If so please let me know what your trick is. The girls and I made a fun bucket list. We have many things to complete. I’m not in a rush though. I don’t want to stress.

This summer feels different than last summer. I’ll be honest and tell you that this summer feels a little more down for me. I guess because some of life’s stresses are effecting me. My mind is my enemy and stress is not good at all for my health. I’m trying to figure things out and I know it will be okay.

We went to a fair. It was lovely but not as good as the CNE. I can’t wait for the CNE!

This day was so hot we all ended up dehydrated and sunburned. But it was fun.

I lost my sunglasses and right after the fair I rushed to find another pair.

So overall things have been lovely. The weather has calmed down and there is no extreme heat warming which is good. I would like to get more organized…at least try. I’m behind on my favourites. Forgive me. I’m hoping to travel around Ontario. Trying to. It’s hard for my husband to find time especially with construction around the house. *Sigh* I’ll be okay. Things will work out.

THANK YOU FOR THE PR!

I received lovely PR. Thank you so much to Avon Canada, Chick Advisor and Pixi Beauty.

More details coming soon for Pixi Beauty GLOW collection.

Thank you to Chick Advisor for the yummy and delicious Hellmann’s Mayonnaise. This is with Avocado Oil and a hint of lime. I made a delicious and yummy salad dressing with fresh greens from the garden. Very delicious! Thank you so much. #GotItFree

Thank you Avon Canada for this NEW duo.

Anew Clinical Unlimited Lashes Lash brow activating serum and AVON TRUE COLOR Love at 1st Lash Mascara. This lash boosting system can be used as a.m./p.m. regimen to enrich lashes so they look longer, thicker and stronger.💖 The nutrient infused mascara formula has a unique blend of lycopene, olive oil and vitamin E. paraben and sulfate free. 💖 Anew Clinical Unlimited lashes serum has unique peptide blend and botanicals. It has an extra thin brush and allows for precise application. I use it at night. 3ml. It’s $60.00 💕The Avon true colour love at 1st lash mascara is safe for contact lens and it’s ophthalmologist tested. 9ml $12.00. It comes in blackest black and black brown. 💕 I’ll keep you posted on my lash growth. More on the blog very soon. available in August through Avon independent sales representative or http://www.avon.ca #gotitfree

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlaksT2gJA0/?hl=en&taken-by=bestdayblogger

Thank you to @chickadvisor and @vichycanada for the #freesamples I look forward using the LIFTACTIV UV global anti-wrinkle & firming moisture cream. It has SPF 15 /UVA-UVB protection. Also the LIFTACTIV RETINOL HA CONCENTRATE. A new daily wrinkle-filler treatment. Pure retinol and hyaluronic acid advanced double action treatment. So exciting. Thank you so much for this opportunity. My review will be up in August.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlX5poFA-w-/?hl=en&taken-by=bestdayblogger

Thank you all for reading my post. Hope your summer is amazing. Love to know what you’ve been up too. Would love to know if you are planning to travel or if you have any suggestions about traveling around Ontario please share them in the comments. I really want to travel and see Canada. I think I’ve talked about this last summer too.

Thank you again to all of you and to all the lovely PR. Truly grateful.

Have a beautiful rest of the month!