The latest things we´ve done...

My little girl holding another cute little one!


On the road, heading home...


Dinner at Chiado da Costela



Raindrops on the leaves, I like that!


Hey, look at your teeth, they are very very clean now!!!


Cheese!
Have a colorful week!

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Perfect day

What can I call a daily perfection?
Hmmmm... this delicious food, my lunch that I prepared myself in a calm , cold and cloudy day which made me feel inspired and I had to cook!

This food is called in Portuguese: Polenta com Carne Moída which I printed from this website to put in my recipe personal cookbook because I enjoyed making it and its result was perfect, sooo good!

And after all the Polenta consumption lunch , I went to sewing my quilt which I called Maricota´s quilt because most of the scraps I used here came as a donation from my choir friends ( the Maricotas!) and they´ve turned to a very special quilt, all handmade by me with a hundred percent cotton fabric .

It may sound silly but I get strenght from this little ritual and these moments leaves me aware of this very present time, so full of good energy, handwork, peace , stillness and so much goodness!

And talking about goodness, these pretty buttons and fabrics , they came from a very special friend , very talented artist and ceramist that went to visit the US these past few days and she reminded of bringing these for me!Thank you Celia, from the bottom of my heart! And plus, I heart Mondays when I go to your cozy atelier to learn Patchwork!!!

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Holidays - kid vs. rainy day

Nothing goes with rainy days better than indoor playing cards, jaboticaba fruits, tea, cheese bread (which we call Pão de Queijo) and some Pinhão, seeds from a Pine Tree called Araucária (Araucaria Angustifolia) which is a very typical food in these cold season and delicious!
And some watercolor painting inspired right here...

And I like to do lists, endless list because I´m a list maker... Here it goes, a part of it!

I´m listening and watching: on YouTube - The Holiday movie soundtrack by Hans Zimmer, amazing!

I´m feeling : sleepy , it´s almost 1 AM!

I´m resisting: the little Godiva chocolate box that I got yesterday from my brother... yum,yum!

I´m reading: Last child in the woods , by Richard Louv . For parents concerned with the future of childhood, it´s a book that will make you unplug yourself and will make you realize that nature can be as amazing, mysterious and powerful as any TV show or a video game .

I´m dreaming : with these wonderful photographs and its decoration ideas...

I´m wishing: you all much joy and love for this weekend!!!


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Today is a special day!

I´ve been contemplating my own life with other eyes, new thoughts, old feelings turned into new, every little step I take has been different lately, I´ve been very scared about things that happened to us but this is a place that I would never put words that could not be comfortable for you to hear from me.
I believe that life gets better when we expect the best even though sometimes it shows you the opposite. I have faith, I´m a lucky person and I´ve had good feelings since then, I believe that when we look up there are so many beauty , wonder and tranquility that I should not complain.
I always thank for the health we all have, I thank for the house we live, the food on the table everyday, I thank for the old friends and the new ones...

Today is my Mom´s 78th birthday! Isn´t it wonderful??? Live with passion, love for music, surrounded by good friends, family , health , history, a life full of ups and downs but still, more ups!
I´d like to thank Mom for all these years she´s been taking care of this wonderful family and because of her we are so close, me and my brothers. Dad is far, in Japan but he remembered and called her today and that made her day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! BEST WISHES, GOD BLESS YOU!!

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June Festival

All set for the Festa Junina !! Look at my fake hair!!


Cold outside...


Warm and cozy inside...


Codfish with potato and brocoli


Still

The entrance



She loved the little bag I made just for her!!!


Here down in Brazil we celebrate this month with lots of joy, dancing, eating , talking with friends, playing games... It´s called Festa Junina which is celebrated on the days of the Saints ( São João, Santo Antonio) and churches and schools everywhere open their doors for everybody to this amazing outdoor parties!!! So we went to this one near our house and we ate a lot, Camila went with her new caipira´s dress but she had to wear lots of clothes because it was really cold outside! and boots and her fake hair on the hat! She was kind of pretty!!!

And today we went to a delicious Portuguese Restaurant called Quinta do Bacalhau outside São Paulo, it´s in Caucaia do Alto, near here in a beautiful house, small but cozy. The bread is awesome with some butter or extra virgin olive oil and salt, yummy!
The codfish was kinda amazing, delicious, I love brocoli and this dish came with plenty of them!!!

Outside you´ll see a pretty corner with flowers and country styled details...
Finally the sun outside warmed my heart and it felt like a gift, it welcomed me again in this crazy world, suddenly I´m very happy.

I´ll be back here in a few days.
May your week be full of much love and gratitude, always.
I love you all!

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Better days...

I confess that this weekend I had thousand of emotions in my life , good ones and not so good ones... but fortunately we are all here, safe and sound after some scary episodes in our lives , I mean living in this big city like Sao Paulo we do expect any sort of happenings...

Well, but let´s talk about good moments like Saturday when we went only Camila and I to two museums, it was great! But I believe she expected something more interesting for kids, anyway we had a quiet walk in the park near the Pinacoteca Museum and you can admire lots of art inside and outside the Museum.

Back home: we made some scones and cookies , yummy, it was tasty!!!!

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MAY 27 GIVEAWAY DAY!!

Comments CLOSED!

A BIG THANK YOU for everyone that took their time and left a comment here, I confess that I was a little blushed after having all these comments here!!!

My Random generator has just decided that Jennifer is the lucky reader who won this May 27 Giveaway!

Here´s her comment;

" Jennifer said...

My favorite color is pink! Thanks!

10:27 AM"

I´m participating in Giveaway Day over at Sew Mama Sew which starts May 27th and goes through May 31st.

If you are a crafter you will love visiting all the bloggers that will be listed on the site above, a wide universe of crafters is waiting for you!

All you have to do is to leave a comment here telling me what´s your favorite color and why.

The giveaway will be a package with fabrics, ric racs, vintage buttons, a pincushion and a few little tidbits sent to you as well ( which for now is a Surprise!!!!).

The winner will be chosen by random.org , so, on June 1st, come back and check it out !

It´s open for everyone worldwide!!!Good luck !!!

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Sewing afternoon

Sometimes I just feel like making something really quick and easy... and cute! This pattern was made inspired on this book: See and Sew by Tina Davis which is the most incredible and beautiful sewing book for children ( and adults as well!) . It´s a vibrant introduction to sewing plus , it doesn´t require a sewing machine or advanced skills, isn´t it great?
You also may be delighted with the vintage illustrations, so nostalgic while your child works on easy step by step projects from a strawberry pot holder to drawstring bags to keep their PJs!

We eat eggs almost every day and to put these cute egg cozies on the morning table is so attractive, isn´t it? It´s made by felt and button, you might try these one day... I like cute things that turn ordinary moments in a very special one, day after day...

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Sunday Morning Colors

The most beautiful weather in the whole world was today and the sky was so blue that I could stare for hours looking up... But we had so much to do down here that I stopped looking at the beauty of this Autumn.

This morning energy was so comforting that my little one painted with pink, blue and orange colors this little cardboard box that I would almost throw in the recycle center . She had lots of fun under the Autumn sun, quiet and taking her time...


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Of white clouds and blue skies

...I flow through Autumn’s riot of color like a blackbird with jeweled eyes spun
of earth sky and sea, not to find Winter’s death but seeking release
from the tired Summer’s hazy lethargy and pale green similitude.
I breathe the pure essence of Winter’s cold breath and drink greedily
as I climb silent hills drifting over sterile fields lit by the moon, covered with a silver veil...

Poem by Charles Lampert



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New Monday

Birthday presents!


A new Mug cup for an afternoon tea...


Reading is what I like to do but I haven´t had time to do so... but if I have 5 minutes in my life, I boil some water to make a tea and I run to open these kind of books that I love. A little bit of this, a little bit of that... well, that´s how I enjoy reading three, four, five books at once!

My brother gave these two for me on my Birthday, oh, he really knows what I enjoy! And today I could read some pages ! The Quilting Bible is fantastic!
And the Pretty Little Purses & Pouches is a great book for inspiration , new ideas and it features many talented quilters and crafters such as Laurraine Yuyama with those cute tea themed bags!

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Crafting with children

It´s a good way for a kid to see her drawing turned into something tridimensional and then they can play with these stuffed goods!

These two Camila made in one night , drawing on the white fabric with a fabric pen and helping me to choose the right buttons and the backing fabrics. Her mommy that comes to be me, had to sew quickly for her to play with them. Believe me , she was very excited with these monsters she created and we played a lot later on!

It´s getting dark here, it´s a chilly Sunday and I like it so much! Yesterday I could wear some long sleeve shirts , had to pull from the bottom of my drawer!!! yay!!!! isn´t it so cozy???? Well,I guess I´ll have a cup of cocoa now... excuse me, have a wonderful end of the day and a week full of sewing, crafting, cooking, sleeping, having fun and everything good!

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Happy Sunday

Chocolate semi-sweet cake



Crab Cakes


Octopus in olive oil



Chili with meat & Coleslaw

I´ve just had a fabulous lunchtime with my brother and sister in law at their apartment where they prepared themselves a delicious, yummy looking American style lunch.

Assembled Chili, Coleslaw and Rice

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Celebration weekend

Surprise party!

These few days I´ve been busy just celebrating my birthday which was on Friday, 15th. Yep, one more birthday filled with joy, happiness , health , love and ... lots of food!

It started in the morning after getting a bunch of kisses from husband and daughter, I went to my English class and they made me a surprise party!!!! Oh, it was amazing how happy I was and they brought English tea set with a delicious strawberry cake! Thank you girls!!!!

And then back home, mom called me to have lunch at her house so , I headed right to my Mom´s and Dad was there too to celebrate my 39th birthday!!!! And for dessert: strawberry cake!!

Then in the afternoon Clara called me to a coffee break and we went to Mystere du Chocolat near our house, an elegant chocolat shop with a few tables and good coffee.

Time to pick Camila up at school, back home and Edu arrived early ( why was that? =o)) And we wanted to each Japanese traditional food at Musashi, a very small and cozy restaurant at Pinheiros. It was so good , we ate like pigs! And Camila ate lots of sashimi ( tuna fish).

And I went to sleep so happy and feeling everything good but old!!!

Oh, and THANK YOU for everyone that called me, e-mailed me , left messages on my cell phone while I was having class or driving, sent me cards by traditional mail... thank you , I love you !!

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My sacred corner

I have this tiny little corner at my house, it´s at the entrance of my room, a table with my dear violets ( the last one I got was from my daughter, from pre school, Mom´s Day gift) and on the table you see this beautiful wooden table lamp that was handmade by my grandfather and he gave it to me when I visited him in Japan a long time ago. He made bigger ones to his children ( my Dad and his sisters) and he did smaller ones like mine to his grandsons.
I go to this corner to feel his presence, to relax, to meditate looking at the flowers, it´s my sacred corner I wanted you to see.

Wishing you a day full of happiness!

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