It is officially summer when the morning breeze is warm on the skin and the sweet sound of cicadas coming from the garden apprises us of the expected heat of the day. Mediterranean summers bring about a nonchalant way to life. A sense of ease. Balconies become a pleasant idle spot for morning coffees and al fresco evenings. Freddo espresso is the coffee of choice. Siestas become a norm. Sundays are for exploring new beach spots. Evenings are when the world seems to come alive—music festivals, open air theatres, casual meet ups with friends for dinner and drinks…plans that go with the tide; wearing your finest and relishing in the coolness of the day. This is how summer feels!
Lately
This was our kiddo’s last year in junior high school so, celebrations were in order! Another milestone! Though it wasn’t the only thing that brought us great delight! At the end of the school year, Georgios had his bi-yearly ASD assessment, a standardised evaluation he’s been doing ever since kindergarten and this year they told us something that we did not expect to hear! Once the evaluation was completed, we met with the administrator of support centre who informed us that this would be his final assessment with them as he no longer meets the criteria to be evaluated on the autism spectrum disorder! (I’m sorry…what?!!) She went on to say that they were quite moved on how far his come and that he’s become an outstanding example of kids on the spectrum reaching their full potential! I was shocked and overwhelmed with joy at the same time! Was this really happening? This is everything I believed and prayed for unfold before me! Not to say that I needed any confirmation whatsoever; honestly, I wouldn’t want it any other way. My son’s diagnosis is the best thing that happened to me! He opened my eyes and unlocked my heart. He changed my being and I’m forever grateful to have been chosen to be his mom. As a family, we’ve come a long way and I love and appreciate the life we’ve created! The professional’s opinion simply put a smile on the face.
June got off to a good start with a day trip to Aegina and our annual mom and kiddos’ weekend getaway. A tradition that’s be going on a decade now! Once our teens wrote their last exam, we headed to our favourite place to kick off the summer season! The beauty, the fun and the calmness that this place evokes never ceases to surprise us. It’s why we love it so much!
Spring cleaning was major ‘to-do’ on the calendar as it feels physically impossible to get anything done with soaring temperatures. Our home got a nice deep clean top to bottom! My method of taking it room by room, reorganising shelves, drawers, wardrobes and keeping the things that spark joy (the Marie Kondo way) and toss/donate anything else brings much satisfaction! We all know how crazy spring cleaning can get but I swear the aftermath does wonders on my mental state! Once I got to my closet, I realised that I need a summer refresh with my outfits so, I made a list of a few things—a white pair of jeans, summer tops, beach cover-ups are definite…saving other pieces that I’m eyeing on my ShopMy page. I love how their site showcases everything. Simple and easy.
Plans
This week, we’re headed to Naxos where we’ll be vacationing for a few days with friends that are flying in from Canada. It’s our first time visiting the island and we’re so looking forward to fully immersing ourselves to experiencing it all! Every place in Greece has its own little traditions or cuisine differences—to name a few, Naxos is known for its sandy beaches, mountain villages with their age-old traditions and fantastic locally grown food and cheeses. I’m planning on savouring as much as I can!
This month brings quite a few other celebrations, filling up our month with events and get togethers! We’ve got our wedding anniversary on the 15th and towards the end of the months, Paris’ nameday and my birthday! Fun weekends this month!
As for the in between, because life is all about the in between, I’ve created a ‘Summer List’. After reading an article which suggested that writing our intentions/goals serves as a vision and inspiration for why we do the day-to-day work, I’m going to be more intentional on how I utilise my time this summer. My list includes both personal and work related goals and since lists aren’t my forte, I’m going to stick to it and see how well I do!
Things I’m loving…
Limoncello Spritz / Summer Red Nails / Posse The Label / AppleTv series Presumed Innocent / Grilled Vegetable Orzo Pasta / Freddo Espresso / Greek yoghurt with Maple Syrup & Blueberries for Breakfast / Morning Swims
Happy July everyone! xxx