Thank You for staying Home. Now.

After 5 years away, I have decided to come back and make this blog readable again.

A slightly different situation awaits me now as opposed to 5 years ago.
Things we took for granted such as a walk in the park or a trip to the grocery shop, are now forbidden if we are conscious of our health.
Things we took for granted, are now seen as things we crave for. Things we miss. Things we are suddenly paying attention to.

The virtual world we have created and are so familiar with has, suddenly, become our best friend. It has turned into our company on these solitary days when the best we can do is remain at home, waiting for the storm to pass while taking care of others but mostly, taking care of ourselves.

I have decided to come back as this is the time for it.
This is the time to Stop.
This is the time to Write.
This is the time to Read.
This is the time to Think.
This is the time to Slow down.

We are stronger than we think but we are also unable to control everything.

Surround yourself with the people you love, even if only virtually.
Make time to find out what you enjoy, even if inside.
Make time to define your priorities.

And please, make sure you come out a better Human being. Someone who runs to the people who really matter, instead of running to the nearest shopping mall or restaurants or even your work. Work is necessary but so are People. Our People.

Stay Home.

Keep yourself safe now so you can go back to your favorite place...later.

Thank you. :)




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Law of Attraction

"Everything is Energy and that´s all that is to it.
Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way.
This is not philosophy. This is physics."  Albert Einstein.

How many of you would actually agree with this? Do you think it is all about energy?
That what we give is what we get back?
Or that it is simply a matter of coincidence and nothing happens without hard working and, sometimes, a bit of luck?!?


Over the years, I have realised that I am as sceptical as one can be and in a constant need to prove things, one of those people who needs to see it in order to believe it.

Lately, and probably due to all sorts of experiences, I am changing from an old behaviour of always trying to come up with a valid and rational reason for everything that happens, and trying to understand why so many people around the world claim that energy and law of attraction theories work. 

The Law of Attraction, in particularly, got me thinking especially in a time when we are loaded with an excess of negative news every day about wars and crashes, religion and political conflicts here and there, diseases spreading without control, etc...
Are we simply getting back what we put out there for years? Are all these problems the result of bad decisions? Or are Einstein´s theories valid and we need to match frequencies for things to happen in a positive light?

I am not expecting your answers, considering I was away for two years,...nevertheless, one good thing about blogging in a non-popular blog without thousands of hits everyday, is that I can come back anytime and truly express what goes on in my mind, regardless of whether it makes sense to the reader.

It does to me...so, please, let me be here what I despise in real life: selfishness.

I am determined to post more often and, who knows, try this law of attraction thing by putting out there all that I want to have returned.

Mind you, it will be done step by step, but I will get there...eventually.
I just need to get inspired again and maybe attract you to come back here.

Welcome back :)


Image Source: Google

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Summer, second time around

I guess I am lucky enough to being able to travel to South America nearly each single year and for many years now. Saying that, though, I am also able to notice the diferences and this is probably the first year temperatures keep increasing and reaching their highest in years, especially when it is meant to be Autumn by now.
I mean, I know its Autumn as leaves are falling all around but nothing elses gives it away as it seems Summer has decide to return with all its strength and warmth.

Here are some photos to show you what I am talking about and maybe inspire you...especially if you are stuck in an office or in a country where rain, wind and cold have not left yet! ;)

 

 

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Far and Away

Guess where I am these days??!
Here are a few hints... ;)

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Must see!!!

Taking into consideration I usually find Woody´s movies quite funny, I am sure this one will be no exception.
In fact, all that sarcasm, intelligent sense of humour, so straight to the point and his ever so complex (and far from perfect may I say!) characters, are usually what attracts me to his movies. Long gone are the times when Cinderella and perfect ending movies were my favorite. I am too skeptical these days to believe such things happen and when they do, they are an exception to the rule. Seriously.

Scripts where actors play real people, with flaws and in not so perfect relationships are something which always drags me to the nearest cinema maybe because human beings are so complex and indeed, not perfect. Nor should they be!

It is funny how we may all reach for the same but we all have different ways of getting there leading to a lot of break ups and lack of everything but calm. Lack of comprehension is often blamed but I honestly believe that before understanding or several talks about what issues bother us, one has to respect people and firstly, respect oneself.

Things can only work when we have total respect for ourselves. We can only truly love someone when we truly love ourselves, with our flaws, with our bad tempers and all that the human being is about.

Anyway, I am always looking for movies and books (and everything really!) that makes me think (more!), that stimulates me...and hopefully this movie will be up there with Annie Hall, Match Point, Midnight in Paris, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and the brilliant Manhattan, to name a few of my favorite Allen´s movies.

A friend of mine says "you can only be happy when you dont think. When you empty your mind from any thought."
I am not sure though...after all, what would we be without our thoughts, happy or sad, past or present ones? Just a bunch of empty heads walking around, really.
Something Woody is not and am sure has never been otherwise his movies would go straight to dvd or some old rental place. He is no empty head though and soon enough I shall be enjoying this new movie of his along with lots of salty popcorn (yes, I am one of those!).

Let´s watch this and find out if he does it justice! :)

Image Source: Google
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Lisbon Fashion Night Out - Tonight!!!

Just make sure you do not take everything! :)

 

 

Image Source: Google

 

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Morning in the City!

I have started my morning with a XXL delicious Cappuccino!!!

Wake Up!!! Life awaits you!!!


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Must see!!!

Must See!!!

 

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Last few Months

I have been away for a while now, well a couple of  months or so, mainly due to a number of things such as holidays, trips abroad, lots of work, lots of parties and....being lazy!
I blame it on the Summer days and sunsets: all we want to do is lazy around, sunbathe, go to the beach, splash in the water, read an endless list of books, try all the new ice-cream flavours, ...a mix of things which prevents us from wanting to post anything unless it is remotely interesting!

Here are a few photos of what I have been up to:

Lunch with a view

Duomo, Milano

Back in the Galleries Vittorio Emmanuele, Milan

I love Pucci patterns!

The Sky is the Limit!

New ice-cream flavours!

New restaurants

My Birthday! Yes, I am a Leo!

Passion for Shoes!

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Last few weeks...

Classical Music

Ship watching on a sunny day...

Il Divo´s concert

Passion for Shoes!

Mexicans in Madrid

Churros and Chocolate in Madrid

Partying

Tapas for dinner

Sunset in Madrid

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Great April Covers

Image Source: Google Images

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My Best Friend´s Wedding

My male best friend got married yesterday.

Yes, he did.

It was one of those beautiful days: Spring in the air, lovely church waiting, happy colourful guests, a true princess-like beautiful bride, white doves flying (seriously!), fireworks at night time, a food-marathon which would last for a full month, and................my Male Best Friend getting married.
Yes, I know I keep repeating myself in an effort to make it sound real!

To be honest, I never thought the day would come when I would see this good friend of mine walking down the aisle: I always assumed, we would grow old together, like brother and sister, having lots of good moments, doing different and foolish things, having those talks only best friends have, being there for one another,...that sort of thing.

But then he fell in Love...not just a fling or a short-lived affair, this time, it was for real. Something changed in him and changed who he was....turning him into that person we always talked about but I never thought it would actually happen. But that is Love: it changes people, even those who said they would never settle or get married.
This girl would have to be Special for him to propose, unlike ex-girlfriends, this girl meant something. Something serious like claiming your Love vows in a church in front of 200 hundred guests!
And when I got the engagement news, I jumped with joy, I could not be happier for my friend, I even got teary eyes, I was truly happy for him!

Until yesterday...when he "actually" got married!

Do not get wrong, I am not jealous nor want my friend to "guard me" for the rest of his Life, nothing like that!
I am just a bit sad that things will never be the same....because, no matter what people tell you, Marriage DOES change things, priorities change, discussions will be centred around whether Christmas will be spent at the in-laws, when is the next married couples barbecue, what are the kids school fees, which sofa looks best where, etc. and all this "married couples stuff" does not mix with "singles stuff" as much!

Ok, maybe nothing will change and I am just being my usual self, worrying far to much and being silly! But it would be nice for Time to stand still so that I could be foolish and single with my friend, for many years to come. Or at least, a few more anyway! Is that being selfish?!
Do not answer that!

In all fairness, I made a new friend, my male best friend´s wife: she is lovely and after so many years and so many wrong choices, he did find The One.
Someone who looks "right" at his side, it all makes sense now and it was worth waiting all those years (some of them going out with "Miss Wrong") so he could finally find, and appreciate, his "Miss Right".

What kind of friend would I be if all I wished was for him to still wonder around, stay single, meet the wrong people?

Not a very good friend and especially, not the Best Friend that I claim to be! ;)


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Spring is in the air!

Spring is in the air, finally...not that I have missed it that much considering the weather in Lisbon has been all but wintery for the past few months. In fact, some regions are going through a severe drought.

Anyway, going back to Spring: it is funny how we are already close to April´s fool and Easter and like other years, this one is flying by, months are rushing through and soon enough, we will be going on holidays again, wearing our bikinis and going for walks on the beach. Wonderful if only Time would stand still.

Some blame it on Earth´s rotation (a few hours faster apparently), others blame it on getting older, busier, their jobs, their kids...

I would just say that the best way to pretend Time stands still is to make the best of each second, moment, hour. Keep yourself busy, no matter what you are doing, meet up with friends, family, get to know new places, do different things, start a new hobby...and you will feel as if your day lasts forever (or at least, until you are too tired to do anything else and ready to go to sleep! ;) ).

Another Spring, Another Start!

Image Source: Google

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Paris FW 2012 (F/W) - Street Trends

Classic Paris is not about an all black outfit anymore! Just as well! ;)

Peach, Bright Pink, Red, See-through Tops and Statement Necklaces

Retro patterned Trousers

Polka-dots, Flowers and Geometric patterns

Long Silky Trousers and Skirts

Stripes...again! Quite french!

Colourful Pencil Skirts

Images Source: Google Images

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Get Your Stripes On!

Me!

Image Source: Google, Mango

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Happy Valentine´s Day!

Quite appropriate for today: Love Exists!

 

Esta casinha branca encontra-se num local comum, bem visível aos olhos de quem por ali passa.É pequena, branquinha, discreta...tão discreta que apenas reparei nela, por mero acaso.


E gostei. Gostei especialmente porque ainda existem palavras simples que nos surpreendem quando menos esperamos e que têm o impacto desejado, o de fazer pensar: Como definir o Amor? Será que existe mesmo ou será apenas uma invenção da Humanidade para justificar atos menos consensuais, grandes feitos ao longo da História, impulsividade extrema ou romancear os nossos percursos enquanto vivos?


Como definir algo que nunca se pode ver mas apenas sentir? Tantos séculos, tantas explicações cientificas, tantos livros, poesia, letras de música, filmes e mesmo assim, ainda nos questionamos se existe mesmo ou se será tudo apenas resultado de um hábito, convivência diária, costume?


A verdade é que todos nós "sentimos" Amor de forma diferente.
Todos nós temos formas diferentes de manifestá-lo e muitos optam por lindas e poéticas palavras, enquanto outros, adotam o formato de ações acreditando que estas perduram com o Tempo.


Os mais cépticos acreditam que o Amor não existe: que é apenas um conjunto de transformações e sinais químicos emitidos pelos nossos cérebros, associados apenas a algo carnal, aos nossos sentidos, à missão de dar continuídade à história Humana, à Luxúria, quase como que uma necessidade física, tal e qual um animal não racional!
Outros, porém, acreditam que existe apenas entre Pais e Filhos, Irmãos, familiares, amigos de longa data...
No entanto, ainda existem aqueles que acreditam na sua forma mais sublime: naquele Amor que ultrapassa todos os obstáculos, aquele que é capaz de derrubar qualquer adversidade e que, se fôr verdadeiro, sobrevive ao passar do Tempo pois adapta-se e aprecia todos aqueles detalhes que só alguém que verdadeiramente Ama, pode apreciar.


Será que ainda existem Poetas entre nós que tudo fariam pelo Amor da sua Vida, que atravessariam Oceanos à procura do objeto de afeto e desejo? Ou será tudo uma tremenda ilusão que disfarça a Luxúria e a Paixão???


No mundo atual, em que as pessoas são cada vez mais descartáveis, os sentimentos recicláveis como fast-food e onde estamos cada vez mais ciosos do nosso espaço e receosos da invasão do mesmo, exprimir tal sentimento é quase uma "Vergonha"!
Quem dele padece, é muitas vezes apelidado de sonhador, idealista, tontinho ou love-fool!
Mas será que existe algo mais nobre do que exprimir o que sentimos verdadeiramente? Saír por detrás da máscara que colocamos cada dia e correr o risco de ficarmos vulneráveis aos olhos dos mais cépticos ?
Não me parece! Aliás, já dizia a minha Avó: "Devemos ter vergonha sim, de fazer coisas mal feitas!"


Como tal, obrigada a quem se aventurou e teve a coragem de decorar esta casinha com uma das melhores frases possiveís.

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A great voice has passed away...

 

R.I.P. Whitney Houston

You will never grow old, you will always be beautiful and your voice will be up there with all the best voices ever.

And Thank You for all the great memories your songs provided.

Clips Source: youtube.com

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Óbidos

Óbidos is a beautiful medieval town built inside ancient Castle´s walls, located about 45 minutes away from Lisbon.

It is a great place to visit at leisure, walk around its little streets, taste its famous "Ginginha de Óbidos" (cherry liqueur) served in a chocolate cup and early on this month, you could still feel Christmas in the air as shown by these pictures.

Every year, I make sure I stop by at least twice, and this year was no exception!

Christmas Trees

One of the Churches

Hot Chocolate!

Castle´s Walls

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