Beautiful Lisboa

Everytime I walk up to the castle, I stop here to take in this view...

Recently enjoyed things

1 - Giving a new life to an old cabinet (before it was painted black)
2 - Watching an indoor cat enjoy a day outside, hypnotized by the amount of birds and bugs...
3 - Folding clean laundry,storing it in the closet and watching how tidy it looks now
4 - Making a new pair of socks with beautiful wool (this one)
5 - Receiving a present by mail (thank you!)
6 - Buying irresistible masking tape and storing it in a jar
7 - Finding a medium sized box to save and recycle bits of things (paper, fabric, string, etc)
8 - Receiving a beautiful handmade candle made by a friend (you can order them here)
9 - Re-decorating the wall in front of my work table at home with things I like

"Our destiny is written in the hand."

"Using our hands grounds us — in work and in relationship. As we create something, hopefully beautiful, with our hands, we are transforming our moral and social senses. We evolve; we change. We notice things that we passed over the day before: the curve in a sidewalk to make way for a tree in the boulevard, the purl of a scarf, the transition of a capital that greets the ceiling. We observe the mundane and see it anew." Renate Hiller

I found this really inspiring lady by chance, while browsing the internet. Its very interesting to hear her experience and the importance of handwork as a mindfulness practice. You can watch the video here.

The amanzingly beautiful drawings are made by João Moreno.

Treat of the Day: Avocado and Chocolate Mousse

Tonight's supper will end with this desert, found here. Yesterday evening I searched for a healthy option and this seems the perfect choice, plus it is really easy.

Ingredients (for 2):
2 avocados
4 tablespoons agave syrup or honey
4 tablespoons of carob flour or sugar free cocoa powder
chopped almond (optional).

How to do It:
Peel the avocados. Place it in a food processor. Add the remaining ingredients and grind it until you get a very creamy mixture. Put the mixture in bowls and place it on the fridge for a while. Before serve, garnish with chopped almonds.

Inspiration: the best thing I read today...

Those who are dead are never gone:
They are there in the thickening shadow.
The dead are not under the earth:
They are not in the tree that rustles,
They are in the wood that groans,
They are in the water that runs
They are in the water that sleeps
They are in the hunt, they are in the crowd
The dead are not dead.

Those who are dead are never gone
They are in the breast of the woman
They are in the child who is wailing
And in the firebrand that flames
The dead are not under the earth
They are in the fire that is dying
They are in the grasses that weep
They are in the whimpering rocks
They are in the forest, they aren’t in the house
The dead are not dead.

BIRAGO DIOP – poet of Mali

Eco-planting-kit: do it yourself!

I'm tempted to try this and Spring is the perfect time to do it! Its easy, you can do it with kids and plus its echological (found this idea here and here).

We were offered a STUFA kit-for-planting-aromathic-herbs this Christmas so that's what I am planting this weekend :-)

Whishlist: polka dots handbag

You can find it here.

Studio days - miss those days

Six years ago this was my space, my studio. A place to create, share experiences and most of all a place to learn. I remember walking to class through the woods and fields and acknowledging how lucky I was to be living there, in the middle of nature. Now I live in a city, but somedays I wished...

Summer is near

Today was my first barefoot walk on the beach this year. There's nothing quite like it.

Handmade: recycling very old t-shirts into a rag rug

Found a pile of t-shirts that were too old to wear, and definitely too old to give, and decided to try out an ideia I saw somewhere on the web, long ago: too cut each t-shirt in a single stripe and use it up to make a rag rug. I am loving the result (need more old t-shirts... anyone?)

New outfits for summer

Today is the first day I felt like summer is almost here. These 3 beauties are from "Lost in", a very original store in Princepe Real. Can't wait to start wearing them!

New stuff in my kitchen

Maybe this only happens in my house, but everytime I need to bring a hot dish to the table I never have a proper 'base' to place it on, so I decided to use some scraps of cotton to make these. I also got some vintage plastic boxes to keep cereal, rice, pasta, flour - I am loving them because the shelve looks much more organized now. It reminds me of my grandmother's pantry. 

My niece M. made homemade candy with my mum today and I was offered a few. I love the wrappings.

Inspiration: the best thing I read today... sent by a friend :-)

«You are what your deep, driving desire is.
As your desire is, so is your will.
As your will is, so is your deed.
As your deed is, so is your destiny.»
― Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Recently enjoyed things...

1 - A 10m nap in my mum's couch while waiting for her.

2 - The smell of my favorite incense permeating every space in the house.

3 - Watching Mia drinking tap running water (in her favorite spot)

4 - A meal prepared with my first ever "real" saffron (instead of turmeric)

5 - Flowers everywhere!