Happy April everyone! I cannot believe that it is April already! This year is flying and we have already welcomed spring 2017! However, in New England, although spring is here, we do not necessarily have spring weather yet and we are eager for some warmer days! We are so over seeing snowflakes in the forecast and we can’t wait for Summer days to finally arrive! Thankfully, on Cape Cod we have been getting a lot of rainy weather which I pray will speed up the growth of the beautiful leaves, flowers, and grass.

Meanwhile, reminiscing and reflecting back on pictures and memories of sweet summertime is a great reminder of what we have to look forward to!  There truly is no summer more enjoyable than a summer spent on the Cape, and I am sure many will agree with me! From beach days, to kayaking, bike riding, picnics on the beach, fishing activities, whale watching, gorgeous sunset views, sail boat rides, beach bonfire nights,  and so on.  You really can’t  go wrong with how you choose to spend your time on the Cape!

Enjoy a few picture perfect moments of how my husband and I like to spend our time in the Summer!  Get ready for picture overload! There are too many to choose from and they are way too pretty not to share them all!

 

 

I hope you enjoyed scrolling through these pictures and I hope that if you were planning on visiting one day, it gave you some ideas on how much there is to do in the summer (even though I only listed a few)!

Xo

 

Central Park, NYC!

This weekend we took a little weekend getaway to NYC to celebrate my husband, Chace’s birthday. We had such a blast! It happened to be the very first trip we took alone in the 7 1/2 years of being together! Crazy, I know!  Although it was a short trip, we tried to do as much as possible and eat as much as possible (I like to think I burned off most of the calories walking so much!).

Our favorite part of the trip was the day we took a stroll in Central Park! We were on our way to a museum when we ran into the ice skating rink in Central Park, and of course we could not pass!  Let’s just say I have not been ice skating in years and I am proud to say that I did not fall once! However, I was pretty rusty!

It was snowing too! Such a perfect moment!

We had the BEST breakfast at this adorable coffee shop!

These are the moments that matter most! Nothing is more important than quality time with the people you love, making memories that will be cherished forever.

Although this was a short getaway, it did such good for our souls! We talked, we ate good food, we shared drinks together, and best of all, we shared lots of laughter!  I don’t mean to be all mushy but, I cant help it!  If there’s only one thing in this life that I am able to do right, it was marrying my best friend. Happy Birthday to the love of my life! Cheers!

Hello my beautiful readers! I think it is safe to say that you deserve an update on my life! I have been struggling with one of the typical pressures of life, a career path! I have many passions and I wish I could do it all but, sometimes that is not possible.  A few of my passions are, writing (obviously), interior design, and something that may come as a surprise, teeth! I am currently a certified dental assistant and have slowly been attending school to become a registered dental hygienist. I have been battling with myself trying to figure out what truly would make me happy and fulfilled.  With that being said, have you ever felt so pressured and overwhelmed that you take a break from life’s responsibilities? Well, that’s exactly what I had to do. Sometimes you just need a break to be able to take on life and that’s ok. I am sure I am not alone!

I hope you are all having a wonderful 2017 so far! I look forward to prioritizing what’s important to me and what I am passionate about! If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t be too hard on yourself. Take a breather, and enjoy life. Everything will workout in the end and I truly believe that everything in life happens for a reason. Stay tuned on which road I choose to take!

~Maria

Happy New Year!!

It feels so great to finally be back on my blog! I hope everyone had wonderful and joyful holidays! I have faced many changes in the last few months professionally and have been consumed with new business ventures, however, I am going to keep my blog a priority. Blogging is new to me and I quickly discovered I am very passionate about it!

Let’s tackle 2017 with positive vibes, filled with inspiration, hard work and success! I am always excited for a new year and I look at it as an opportunity to better myself in multiple ways. I am inspired to be better than the person I was yesterday whether it has to do with career, health mentally and physically, education, my blog, etc.

My goals for the new year are unique (not! But hey, at least they’re goals right?)…

I am motivated to eat healthier, lose the unhealthy weight with hard work and dedication at the gym (I will be posting before and after photos in the future), continue my education (separate blog post coming soon) and finally, adding new content to my blog at least twice a week!

These are pretty realistic goals and I intend to stick to them! Feel free to keep me accountable.  My long term goal for this blog is to be able to inspire others while being inspired as well. I want this page to be filled with support and inspiration. Let’s do this together!

Cheers!

 

It was a gorgeous fall day on Cape Cod. On my way to do some holiday shopping, I decided to take a spontaneous detour, somewhere I could enjoy the beautiful weather and what better place than the beach?!

I sat on the jetty and spaced off into the endless horizon of the ocean and thought about how easily we can take this beautiful life for granted… or at least I certainly can at times. It is so easy to get distracted from what is truly important and especially this time of the year with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, work, family, parties, etc. The pressure can be so intense at times and we just need an escape!

I noticed a big sense of relief and calm.

How lucky are we to live in a world that is surrounded by so much beauty?! We spend so much time seeking different ways to help us release built up stress and tension but we take for granted some of the best and most accessible ways to meditate… which is alone time with nature! Of course meditation classes, yoga and other therapeutic options are always great ways (I love yoga and meditation classes!) to relieve stress but we should take advantage of what mother nature has to offer us!

 

It is ok to pause, reflect, and then pick up where you left off! Life is too short and sometimes we add a lot of unnecessary stress on ourselves and we need to find ways to cope better. I will also try to do this more often. Even with the New England winter coming our way, I will do my best to go outside and take a moment to breath.

 

 

Let’s be honest, it is not easy to stay on a healthy diet while living in a society that is constantly in a rush! I am constantly struggling to find an easy, healthy recipe that does not take up an hour of my time. I don’t know about you but it does not matter how busy life gets, I am constantly thinking about what I am going to eat next, so I need something fast! With that being said, I wanted to share this common recipe with you, which happens to be my go to recipe! I make this dish at least once a week!

It is simple, fast, and delicious!

Chicken Bruschetta

Cook some chicken breasts in a skillet (I like to season with olive oil, salt, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes),then chop up some fresh tomatoes, and basil. Mix all of the fresh bruschetta together in a bowl (I find it is easier to top the grilled chicken this way), add the bruschetta mixture on to the cooked chicken, top with some fresh parmesan cheese and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, and voila! So SIMPLE!!

I always like to add a side of Caesar salad to this dish! It is filling, easy, and it tastes so yummy! Also, the husband approves and requests this dish often so I call this a win!

I am no chef, but I LOVE to cook and I am sharing this with you in hopes of giving you an easy and tasty dinner idea that can make your life easier while having it be just as big of a hit in your home as it is in mine!

 

With the holidays just around the corner, it is important for us to keep finances in check while being able to enjoy life. There are a few things that my husband Chace and I do to enjoy each other’s company while on a budget! Date nights are an important way to connect and clear the mind together so here are date ideas for you to consider while on a budget;

• Our go to date night that is always a fun experience is very simple… dinner and a movie (more like Netflix marathon) at home! We love finding recipes that can be challenging but deliciously worth it to make from scratch! An amazing website that we have tried many recipes from is http://www.skinnytaste.com (a must try if you have not tried already!).

Here is a dish we made for dinner tonight!

The BEST enchiladas ever.

• Another date idea is to go to your favorite bookstore with coffee in hand and pick out some books together! Chace and I love to go to our local Barnes and Noble, grab a cup of coffee/tea at Starbucks and explore the different books in the store! We always separate and rome the isles and grab books that we like to share with each other and pick out to take home to read.

• Going on a hike together is a great way to clear the mind and take time to get away from the daily stresses of life. There is nothing more therapeutic for us than a hike through the woods. It gives us a great excuse to escape, connect, and enjoy nature! Also, did I mention it’s FREE?!
• Another great date is to go on a bike ride together! We love going on bike rides together on the beautiful scenic paths of Cape Cod. Add a bottle of wine and some treats from the local bakery and BAM it is perfection!

• Raise your hand if you love wine! I do! And what better way to enjoy a variety of great wine than at a vineyard?! My absolute FAVORITE dates are at vineyards. They are so affordable and such a great experience!

These are just a few dates that we love and I wanted to share with you. All in all, please don’t forget to take time to yourselves and enjoy each other’s company in the midst of all of the exciting craziness of the holidays!