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WELCOME TO MAMAVALUES.COM
Finding beauty in ordinary days
I'm Katerina - a Greek mom of three living in Montreal, storyteller, and author of The Dilemma. I believe the best memories hide in simple moments: a family trip gone sideways, a kitchen that smells like cinnamon, ten quiet minutes with coffee before the house wakes up.
Mamavalues is where I document it all - honest family travel, home life, recipes, and small rituals - plus the novel born from the same big questions about the life we choose.
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The Kind of Recipe Real Life Needs
Hello wonderful mamas! I'll let you in on a little secret. Lately, I've become slightly obsessed with finding recipes that check three very important boxes: ✅ Healthy ✅ Delicious ✅ Easy Because at this stage of life, I'm simply not interested in spending two hours in the kitchen preparing a meal that disappears in ten minutes. And as a woman navigating her forties, I've also started paying more attention to something I barely thought about in my younger years: Protein. Everyw
13 hours ago4 min read


Our Big Summer Adventure Part IX: Lost in Tangier's Souks
Hey there friends! Welcome to the next chapter of our Big Summer Adventure! If you missed the previous posts, be sure to catch up on our adventures across Southern Europe in the Travel with Family section. This was our first morning in Tangier. We had arrived the previous day after crossing the Strait of Gibraltar by ferry from Tarifa, Spain. Between our visit to Cap Spartel, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea, and the rather eventful night we experienced af
4 days ago5 min read


The 20-Minute Fall Declutter Reset for Busy Moms
Hey there wonderful mamas! I'll confess something: I love the idea of a fall reset. I love it the way I love the idea of a clean car — beautiful in theory, rarely achieved in practice. You may remember my seasonal wardrobe project from my Montreal morning post. What was supposed to be a quick sort turned into a week-long operation involving sorting, storing, washing, decluttering, organizing, and wondering why children seem to outgrow perfectly good clothes in about five minu
Oct 233 min read


Our Big Summer Adventure Part VIII: Crossing Continents by Boat
Hey there friends! Welcome to the next chapter of our Big Summer Adventure! If you missed the previous posts, be sure to catch up on our adventures through Southern Europe in the Travel with Family section. When we left off, our days in cosmopolitan Marbella had come to an end. We were leaving behind crystal-clear waters, beachside relaxation, and the fairy-tale charm of Marbella's Old Town. But our next destination would be unlike any other. This time, we wouldn't simply be
Oct 197 min read


Halloween With Kids: 10 Low-Stress Ideas for Busy Parents
Hey there wonderful mamas! I'll confess something: Halloween used to stress me out far more than it delighted me. Perhaps that's because I didn't grow up with it. In Greece, Halloween simply wasn't part of our traditions. There were no pumpkins on doorsteps, no elaborately decorated front yards, no pressure to come up with creative costumes for children. So when we moved to Canada, I suddenly found myself navigating an entirely new celebration. During my first years here, Oct
Oct 163 min read


Our Big Summer Adventure Part VII: The Fairy-Tale Old Town of Marbella
Hello friends! Welcome back to the second post dedicated to Marbella, one of the destinations we had the pleasure of discovering during our big summer adventure. In the previous post, I shared our experience staying in Playa Real, enjoying Marbella's beaches, and exploring the laid-back atmosphere of Elviria. But today, I would like to dedicate an entire post to a place that completely stole my heart: Marbella Old Town. It was so enchanting that I felt it deserved a story of
Oct 125 min read


How to Survive a Professional Dinner: A Working Mom's Guide
Hello wonderful mamas! They don't happen often. But sometimes they do. And in most cases, they are unavoidable. At first glance, a professional dinner may sound pleasant and even a little indulgent. A nice restaurant, good food, adult conversation, no cooking, no dishes. Lovely. Or is it? Because if you're a working mother of three living in the suburbs, nowhere near downtown Montreal, the simple phrase professional dinner is translated by your brain into something entirely d
Oct 94 min read


Our Big Summer Adventure Part VI: Marbella – Is It Worth the Hype?
Hello friends! Welcome back to the next chapter of our big summer adventure! Our travel plan for the summer had been carefully balanced. We wanted to combine city exploration with relaxing beach escapes. After discovering Lisbon's vibrant neighborhoods, we enjoyed resort life in Lagos. Then came magical Seville, which completely stole our hearts and set the bar incredibly high. Now it was time for another famous destination. Marbella. A name that instantly brings to mind imag
Oct 55 min read


My Montreal Part II: Spend an Inspirational Morning with Me in Montreal's Golden Square Mile
Hey there friends! Last Friday, I had the morning off. One of those rare and precious days when everyone else is busy with work, school, and pre-school, while I am unexpectedly gifted a few hours entirely to myself. I was determined to make the most of them. I could finally finish my seasonal wardrobe project, which inevitably turns into a week-long operation involving sorting, storing, washing, decluttering, organizing, and wondering why children seem to outgrow perfectly go
Oct 25 min read


Our Big Summer Adventure Part V: Wandering in the Queen of Andalusia at the crack of dawn
Hey there friends! Continuing from my previous post, our first day in Seville had left such a strong impression on me that I decided to wake up ridiculously early the next morning and explore as much of the Queen of Andalusia as possible before the merciless July heat took over the city. So, I set my alarm for 6 a.m. Yes, dear readers. I actually did it. To my own surprise, I woke up happy and excited. I took a shower and slowly enjoyed an espresso while the rest of the famil
Sep 285 min read


6 Genius Mom Hacks to Make Busy School Mornings Smoother
Hello, fellow hard-working moms! First of all, let me send you some love and compassion. I think we all need a little extra of both this time of year. School has been back in session for almost a month now. How are you coping? I'll be honest: sometimes I feel like the daily routine has swallowed me whole, like a giant vacuum cleaner with a personal vendetta. Secretly, I find myself counting the days until next summer. Time feels painfully limited. There is only so much we can
Sep 253 min read


Our Big Summer Adventure Part IV: Seville Stole My Heart. Love at First Sight in Andalusia
Hey there friends! Welcome to the next chapter of our Big Summer Adventure! I have been longing to write this post, and the reason is simple: I fell deeply in love with this destination. Out of all the places we visited during our summer trip, this was my personal favorite. We had been happily soaking up the relaxed atmosphere and natural beauty of Lagos after our adventurous beginning in Lisbon. Saying goodbye to Portugal with mixed feelings, we prepared for our next destina
Sep 215 min read


The Banana Bread That Never Lasts More Than a Day in Our House
Hey there wonderful mamas! There are two kinds of bananas in every home. The first kind gets eaten immediately. The second kind sits quietly on the counter for a few days, slowly turning brown while everyone pretends not to notice. And then comes the magical moment when those forgotten bananas transform into something far more exciting: Banana bread. Over the years, I've tried many banana bread recipes, but I always come back to this one. It's simple, wholesome, wonderfully m
Sep 184 min read


Our Big Summer Adventure Part III: Benagil, Boats and Piña Colada: One Perfect Algarve Experience
Hey there friends! Welcome to the third chapter of our Big Summer Adventure. Last week, we explored the stunning beaches of Lagos, the charming Algarve town that completely stole our hearts. However, I quickly realized that one article simply wasn't enough to contain all my enthusiasm for this beautiful corner of Portugal. Today, I want to take you along for one of the most memorable experiences of our entire trip and an activity I would recommend without hesitation to anyone
Sep 145 min read


Why September Feels More Like a New Year Than January
Hey there mamas! I think I have made it pretty clear by now that I am a summer girl. But strangely enough, September is my favorite month of the year, right after the summer months. Despite the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to summer, and despite the uncomfortable realization that winter, along with another snowy Quebec season, is slowly approaching, I always find myself feeling more energized, inspired, and motivated in September than at any other time of year. Far m
Sep 113 min read


Our Big Summer Adventure Part II: Lagos and the Wild Beauty of Portugal's Algarve
Hey there friends! Welcome to the second chapter of our Big Summer Adventure. After our eventful first day in Lisbon, we woke up ready for the next part of our journey. Lisbon While Daddy and our eldest son headed out to pick up the rental car, the younger children and I enjoyed a little more time in the beautiful Lisbon apartment we had fallen in love with. (If you missed it, you can read all about our dramatic first day in Lisbon in my previous post!) Soon, bags packed and
Sep 76 min read


The Cozy Cookie Bars That Made Saying Goodbye to Summer a Little Easier
Hey there mamas! Now that we've officially welcomed September and are trying to swallow the bitter pill of saying goodbye to summer, I think we all deserve to sweeten that transition a little. And what better way to do that than by embracing a little extra coziness? What does cozy mean to you? For me, it's a warm cup of coffee, a good book, a soft throw blanket on the couch, and... yes, a delicious homemade dessert. Let's be honest. Who can resist a freshly baked, gooey cooki
Sep 42 min read


Our Big Summer Adventure Part I: Lisbon in One Day, 3 Kids, 40°C, and a Trip to the Emergency Room
Hey there friends! Welcome to the first chapter of our Big Summer Adventure! I'm not going to lie. Our vacation got off to a rather dramatic start. While we were already seated on the airplane, ready for takeoff, an announcement came over the speakers. Due to a technical issue, the flight could not depart, and all passengers would need to return to Montréal Airport. Just like that, our vacation was postponed. When we were informed that the flight would leave the following day
Aug 317 min read


Our Big Summer Adventure : 3 Countries. 2 Continents. 23 Days. 3 Kids. 2 Adults.
Hey there, friends! This summer, we did something a little crazy—at least by our family's standards. We embarked on our biggest family adventure ever: 23 days, 3 countries, 2 continents, 3 children, and countless unforgettable memories. Looking back, I’m still in awe of how we pulled it off. The Journey Begins There were airplanes, rental cars, tourist buses, boats, and more suitcases than I care to remember. We explored bustling capitals and peaceful seaside towns. We stayed
Aug 282 min read


My Montreal, Part I: A Perfect Mom & Son Day at Place des Arts
Hey there mamas! As August quietly prepares to leave us in just a few days and our big family summer adventure officially becomes a collection of memories, I finally realized what it is that I love most about traveling. Sure, I love the beaches, the crystal-clear waters, the excitement of discovering new places, and the pure luxury of eating delicious food that somebody else cooked. But what I love most is the atmosphere. The feeling of wandering aimlessly through unfamiliar
Aug 244 min read
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