A pause to play... Midge Ure

Just breathe...

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Artist: Midge Ure

Song: Breathe
Check out the whole series of thursday's pause to play

A pause to play... A silent film

First of all, have you seen my New Year's resolutions post? Call me crazy... but I would love to know what you think about!

Now, to the poin. Just a short one, this time, to share something I've been obsessing about, this week. This is kind of a new music discovery to me, and I say kind of because, oddly enough, even though you can't see me I can assure you I was in among the crowd in that concert you see on the video. Two years and half ago. We were there to see The Dave Matthews band and Chris Cornell, and in between shows we caught the end of this concert, and the encore of this song. I remember enjoying the sound, I remember us talking about how we should search the album to hear. And then... I completely forgot it. Till this week when I came across this video.

Ignore the noises and just enjoy their energy. Make a pause to play it. Loud!

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Artist: A Silent film

Song: You will leave a mark
Check out the whole series of thursday's pause to play

New Year's resolutions :: 2012

I'm not late for this, am I? Well, this is my blog, so I guess I get to decide what is right or wrong here! Anyways... It's never late to make commitments, right?

New Year's resolutions. One way or another, I think everybody makes them. Even if just for a second when raising the glass, watching the fireworks or kissing the ones we love. There's a flip of a moment when thoughts flow over our head and we make plans and wishes.

Some take them more serious and wright them down. I never did such thing. Maybe that's the reason why I never seem to remember all of them at the end, and maybe that's why some important ones end up undone. So, this time I'm writing them all here for the whole world to see, and beside you I commit. I wonder were this will go, but will be fun to look back in the end and I'm hoping to be proud of myself.

I've been thinking of them for a while (18 days, to be more precise...) and been elaborating a sort of a mental plan on how to get them done. As usual, many things crossed my mind, but I decided to stick with a shorter list of what I believe is doable. Keep your feet on the ground, girl! So, here they are:

1. Get our Etsy shop open and running
I started this blog with this goal in mind (hence the "made with love" name) and then, somehow, things turned, and when I noticed this place had grown into a photography based blog. How do these things happen, really? Well, I'm not complaining, it's actually kind of fun to realize how things find it's own path. And, i'm enjoying plenty of it. I would not have improved my skills, like I feel I have, without this place, that challenges me every day to get better and learn more. But we (me and the hub, of course) want to take that next step we've been pursuing. (don't worry, there won't be less photography here, I can't go back now) We're working on it. It will be done, this is the year!

2. Start a new sport practice on a regular basis
I told you before that I play football (soccer), but that only happens every other sunday, so I don't think that counts as a regular practice. I really N E E D  to start doing anything else.

3. Declutter and organize my closet (get those outfits in order!)
Meaning... get rid of everything I don't use (and also those things I use but probably shouldn't), and make it a practical space, so that I won't ever leave the house again feeling uncomfortable, or should I say lacking self-confidence, with what I'm wearing. No more excuses, like not having the time nor the will to find the pieces for a proper outfit. As a mental push to it, I will start sharing here two outfit photos per week (let's see how long this will go!). Not those kind of outfit posts with me-me-me-pictures overload and all the discription of what I're wearing and where I got it. No. Just pictures. And hopefully I will learn to control the fear of being in front of the camera, and get my way into the self-portrait technique (I will try that whenever possible).

4. Relearn how to paint in watercolors, and practice it
I've always loved watercolor. I started to learn it in high school, but then had to move on to oil painting and never went back at it. Honestly, I'm right in square one. I plan to buy a proper book and tools to start and also learn something with Jane Davenport. In the way, maybe I'll find time to make my own Peerless watercolor pallet to add to my travel journal.

5. Get a tattoo
This is also an old project of both of us that never came through. Let's make it happen!

6. Go back at shooting with analogue cameras
It's been ages since I've done it and, though I want (and seriously need) to improve my digital shooting skills, I really miss it. I feel like all those different approaches on light capturing take our photos, and the way we capture moments to another level. I bought a new camera several weeks ago and I can't get over that I haven't tried it yet!

7. Create more, and share
I have a million diy projects in my head and just as many others on my Pinterest board. The plan is... get them done! So, in order to make that happen I'm committing to a monthly post of a "Pinterest inspired DIY". Just 12 a year, can't be that hard to pull up!

8. Travel to a different country
I dig travelling! I dream of it pretty much every single day. We started our marriage with a (slightly crazy) 15 days trip that begun on a cruise ship and continued by train and bus, taking us through six different countries. (In fact, let's reduce it down to five, because crossing France over night on a train and spending two hours in Nice doesn't count to scratch that country.) We made plans to continue this journey and it was supposed to happen last year, but then all sort of things happen and we messed up the preparation and the ahead reservations needed, in result we skipped to plan B, which meant new city, no new country.


So... What do you think? Will I make it?

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all photos by me

Take me to the sea

Last weekend's events brought back so many beautiful memories, but in such a sad way

...

To all the lost souls, my prayers are with you and your families.

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all photos by me

A pause to play... Mariah Carey

Wait!! Don't go away, not just yet. Give me some credit here, will you?

Ok, so... Once upon a time there was a girl with a powerfull voice that conquered the world with her musics. She was young and talented and needed no more than her beautiful smile to gain the crowd. Time passed by, and with time wrinkles came. The girl started to loose her confidence and soon her pure smile started to fade. From there was just a step to contracting the Jennifer Lopez/Rihana syndrome. The rest of the story you all know.

Do you remember that girl? Did you ever got to know her? If not, take a time to do it now. I remember my father talking about a girl he had seen on TV singging a song caled Vision of Love (her first single) but he would not remember her name, he kept looking for her till one day he brought home her MTV Unlugged album. We used to listen to it all the time and this song allways made me wanna dance. It still comes to my mind when I feel like it.

Seems like I'm starting the year with a certain need to shake things up. Well, it better be a good omen!

Today I was received in a home full of lighted candles, a complete (and delicious) dinner ready and an apple crumble coming out of the oven wich made the house smell wonderfull! All by the hands of the sweet husband of mine. And today is not even a special date! Should I be worried? Oh... I know I'm lucky! So, I guess this music makes even more sence today...

"You've got me feeling emotions

Deeper than I've ever dreamed of

You've got me feeling emotions

Higher than the heavens above"

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Artist: Mariah Carey

Song: Emotions
Check out the whole series of thursday's pause to play

Discovering Portugal :: Guimaraes

Aqui nasceu Portugal - Here was born Portugal - is what you read as soon as you get to the historical center of the city. Known as the birthplace of the nation, Guimaraes is one of the most important historical cities of Portugal. It's was the first governative center of the Portuguese kingdom as it was born in that region in the beginning of the XII century. The most important historical figure of the city is, of course, D. Afonso Henriques, who's been said to have born there, though not proven. The adventurer knight battled with his own mother's army to take control of the land, and later became the first king when the kingdom was recognized in 1143. Adventurous and rebel as he was, naturally he had proclaimed himself king of Portugal several years before that happened.

As it is to expect, the city is full of history and walking trough the streets you can really feel it's character. Its historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it's really worth a visit. Also, this year the city is nominated one of the European Capitals of Culture (along with Maribor), so there will be lots of fun and interesting things happening.

And, since we embarked on this quest to discover every Portuguese castle, we can proudly say we scratched another one from our never ending list!

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all photos by me
(except that one the hub took of me, obviously! ;)  )

Wordless

“All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind.”

Kahlil Gibran

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photo by me

La vuelta al mundo :: Our Christmas

The day of the Kings is past and with it the holidays season is closed. And... I already miss it! Oh, I just love the twinkling around the house, what can I say? So, there's no need to explain last month theme for La vuelta al mundo.

Here are some photos of our Christmas.

at our little place...

at the streets...

at my parents's home...

and... ending the season singing carols for the three kings

Next year there will be more.

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all photos by me

A pause to play... The Black Keys

Talking about starting the year with good vibes, this is the perfect song for it! Not an old one, this time, but I'm getting more and more addicted to it. Check it out, and try not to smile while watching! I'm sending good vibes to you for the following twelve months, now make a pause and play it!

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Artist: The Black Keys

Song: Lonely boy
Check out the whole series of thursday's pause to play

Welcome 2012!

Happy New Year everyone!! Oh... I know it's already the fourth day, but never mind me.

I was wondering if anyone would have missed me... (if you didn't, please don't say so) Christmas time is also known as crazy time in here. We've been oh so so busy! Between all christmas celebrations, and lots of rehearsals, and hand-making all the christmas gifts, and... starting everything to get our etsy shop open soon... the list is endless.

But we managed to get to days of to get away of everything to start the new year. We considered going to somewhere near the sea, and then went for something totally different (don't even ask...) but it was super! We went to Guimaraes, the European Capital of Culture for 2012, and we loved everything. The beautiful old city (more on that later), the awesome party, the christmas lights (oh, yes, there were lights!!) and even the cold weather. It was the perfect getaway! (follow this link and watch the video on the right to see how the party was)

Hope you started the year with good vibes too!

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all photos by me