I keep painting or the true colors

Back to painting the screen I started about a year ago. Finally found my true colors.

Water Planet

All I have to say is AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! :D

blossoming

I had bought this orchid about 2 years ago and it never flowered until this year. Actually the first flower bud appeared on January 1st, announcing a promising year :)

Violet is the color of transformation and for sure they are happening in my life.

I'm proud as a mom, to see something I believed in and toke care of grow up and become this pretty thing. It was for sure a present.

I always have flowers in my living room table, and it's nice to have one that blossomed in my house!

Viva la vida!

PRESS PLAY Viva la Vida - Coldplay

Last Sunday I went to the Coldplay concert in Rio. Absolutely fantastic! Amazing art direction, and a very vibrant concert. I really didn't expect that much, since most of the songs are kind of depressing, but it was a good surprise. At some point giant confetti bombs with millions of butterflies turned the night into a fluorescent fairy tale.

Although it rained a lot until minutes before the show, it didn't ruin the night. t hasn't been cold in Rio for months, I think they just brought the British chill! The Bat for Lashes opening concert was also really good, with a astonishing scenario. Lovely night! Too bad my boyfriend is in NY working :(

Love Holding Love

PRESS PLAY Brazil - Wah

One of my favorite places in Rio is Ilha Grande. There are no cars, very few houses/hotels and people. It's all about the nature, and what nature! Cristal clear water, breathtaking beaches all around, pure pure air. It's all about bikini and Havaianas.

I got back together with Felipe after some very needed time apart, and lots of transformations. We've been there a couple of years ago, and choose this place to start over fresh :) Couldn't have been better.

PS: the name of the CD that has this song is "Love Holding Love" :)) very appropriate!

They keep catwalking

PRESS PLAY I don't wanna dance - Lady Linn and Her Magnificent Seven

Claudia Simões and Maria Bonita @ Fashion Rio with my friend Lívia. Fun!

Happy New Year!

I spent my new year's eve again at Copacabana beach watching the fireworks. I've done that almost my whole life, with a few exceptions. Well, I lived there, and now still live very close, so it's been the obvious choice. I heard this year they hired specialists from Disney to coordinate the fireworks with the music. For me, it was amazing like always :) I just LOVE the shiny colors everywhere!

This time there were my sister with the kids and my brother in law, and our dear friends that now live in Germany, Fabiano, Katrin, and their kids Fiona and Valentina. She is almost the same age of my Valentina, who helped me taking a firework foot pic holding my leg up high :))

My resolutions for 2010 include finding a job that I love, learning how to play the guitar, making more friends, writing, laughing more, keep singing, practicing more yoga, travel more and, of course, keep walking :) No matter what.

Happy 2010!

Lagoa's Xmas Tree

One of my favorite things in December is to rent a paddle boat and go see Lagoa's floating xmas tree from very very close! I It's been a city tradition for over 10 years, and they always come up with something different. Last year they had pictures of Brazil's famous landscapes. This year is pretty traditional xmas colors, lights and decorations and I LOVE it! I pass by it everyday since it's right by my house and I can't get enough :)

the nut cracker!

Cooking grandma's nut cake - 2 of my favorite things :))

I have to say Vivi has a natural talent for the kitchen and she was amazing with the mixer!

It turned out perfect, just like hers, and tasting like childhood Xmas!

xmas shopping

PRESS PLAY É preciso saber viver - Roberto Carlos

Victória is so enthusiatic about the blog! She is often posing for feet pics. We were on the mall this week and she was the one who found this lovely floor at a store! So cute :)

Later on we watched a coral singing a song I LOVE, that says something like "you need to know how to live / if there is a rock on your way, you can remove it..." and Vivi actually knew the lyrics!

This song is by Roberto Carlos, called "The King" here in Brasil. He is a very famous song writer and singer and he is been a huge success since the 60's, with him romantic songs. Every year the TV has a Xmas special with him.

Lillies :)

got ink done today! :D still buuuurns...

PRESS PLAY Lilly - Pink Martini

...actually I recycled an old tattoo I had there for 15 years, and it really wasn't me anymore... now it literally is! And I LOVE it!

Victória and Valentina's party!

December is for sure an emotional month for me. It's my mom's and grandma's birthday, and they are both not here anymore to celebrate with us, but it's also Victória and Valentina's birthday, and that is guaranteed fun!

Our friend Barbara had to rescue little Lara from the ball pool, I took a ride on a seahorse, girls had fun playing with the table decoration and were literally climbing walls! The one looking at the camera is Julia, Vivi's best friend, in her princess costume. Victória didn't bother to look, she was too concentrated playing with the Barbies (which by the way I LOVE) and when I told her I wanted a picture for my blog she just gave me her dirty foot! :P

My sister now loves to put her feet on my pics, and Barbara wanted to show off her red sole hills :) Too bad they are not Louboutins!

Happy birthday girls!

tiny dancer

PRESS PLAY História de uma gata - Vanessa da Mata

Last weekend it was Victoria's first ballet presentation :)) She was in three choreographies, and she played an Angel, Little Red Riding Hood and a Cat! It was soooo cool to see her dance one of my favorite childhood songs!

My sister was travelling for work, so I did the backstage preparation - make up, hair, costumes... she really wanted my red lipstick, and it I had a hard time convincing her it wouldn't look good with the angel outfit! These girls today are impossible! :D

setting up the xmas tree :)

I LOVE Christmas! Always have, since I was a kid, and I guess it's because of my grandma's great parties, with all my cousins, delicious food and her inimitable Santa Claus song when it was time to open the gifts :)) A tear wants to come down, just for thinking about it...

Also December is the month of many birthdays in my family - my grandma, my aunt, my mom, and now my two nieces! - and it is definitely the time to celebrate. I have to say it's not been easy, since mom and grandma recently passed away, but I do try to keep the spirit alive.

One thing that my tree can't miss is my grandma's traditional Christmas card! The other things my xmas will always have are all the loving memories, the wonderful taste, since I got her hand for cooking, and the love and the joy, because I will always believe in Santa and in magic, and in miracles :)

Lagoa

PRESS PLAY Cidade Maravilhosa - Caetano Veloso

I'm a carioca da gema (born and raised in Rio, daughter of cariocas) and I can't stop being amazed by this city's views. They still make me breathless, after 32 years! :))

This is Lagoa, right by my house, seen from Clube Piraque. I used to go there a lot when I was a kid, but I haven't been there in years. It was like a time travel for me; I could almost see my mom by the lake, helping me feed the little fish that jump for bread crumbs...

Portuguese has a word with no translation for any other language - it's saudade. I guess it was not only the view that got me breathless that day... :')

yogi feet

PRESS PLAY Across the Universe - Jim Sturgess, Across the Universe Soundtrack

About a month ago I decided to change my life completely. I ended relationships that didn't bring me anything positive, bad habits, and made decisions that will rule my life in times to come. One of them is to practice Yoga, something that's been on my path for a while, but that I now chose to fully embrace. Not only the physical part of it, but the philosophy, the meditation, the attitude towards others and myself.

I have to say that I never felt better :) It took me a lot of inner work, the courage to look inside of me and really pick on my wounds so I could finally start the healing process. The outside attacks are still coming, but now I vibrate higher, and they can't really affect my spirit. I truly hope that everyone chooses the light path, as I did. All I have inside of me is love. As The Beatles used to sing, nothing is gonna change my world :)

Baba Nam Kevalam!

Halloween

Tinker Bell, Cabare girl, the Oscar and Bernie, the dead guy from Weekend at Bernie's :)

beautiful Parque Lage's floors

This last weekend I met my friend Carolyn for breakfast at Parque Lage. Besides the place being amazing, food is great and the atmosphere is delicious. You can choose to sit on the floor or tables, and once you're done with your meal there is a lot of nature to be explored. I simply LOVE it! :)

PS: Carolyn complained about a pair of new shoes and what it did to her poor feet, and she kept calling them zombie feet :) Boo! Happy Halloween!