I miss summer so much!

National Georgraphic Society will promote ALTO DOURO WINE REGION

Photo source: see link below

Today Alto Douro is celebrating the 8th anniversary of Alto Douro Wine Region Inscription at Unesco's World Heritage sites. The wine region in northern Portugal charms visitors with historic and natural attractions. It's an iconic region for wine production.Beautiful landscapes and relatively little tourism have kept cultural authenticity in the region.

An International Conference "Douro Destination - Tourism, Sustainability, and World Heritage", is taken place today in the city of Vila Real. A partnership with the National Geographic Society to promote the Douro as a destination for "Geotourism" in accordance with the principles of sustainability defined by that international organization will be signed at this conference.

Some photos for you to take a look, here and here.

CONFIANÇA´S soap bars giveaway winners are here!

Jenna(Mariposa Soap) and Tammy(O melhor) ,both from Ohio,and Frannie (O meu sabonete),from New York are the lucky winners! Congratulations!In a few hours they will be on the mail on its way to you!

I got my first Christmas greeting card!

It comes from The Portuense Centre for Photography, Directorate-General for the Archives. I get a Christmas card from this cultural institution since 2001. I attended a photography workshop there. I keep all the cards because they are old black and white photos reproductions just like this one. This old photo was taken maybe around 1910 by Aurélio da Paz dos Reis. He is known as the father of Portuguese cinema. His first movie is similar to the one brothers Lumière made in France. It depicts workers leaving the factory at closing time.

Just sold 10 pins!

Just sold 10 pins! 
It's a wonderful sensation to know that people will be wearing it in New York! Happy New Year to my buyer! This product isn't available anymore!

Oldest cinema director in the world turns 101 today

Since 2001 Manoel de Oliveira is the oldest cinema director in the world still in business. He was born in Oporto on 11 December 1908. He was a member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 1981. In 1942 he made a movie about children that lived in Oporto's Ribeira near the Douro river. It's called Aniki-Bobó. I enjoyed it when I first saw it many years ago and I still do. A poetic tale and a simple story shot black and white in beautiful Oporto city. Watch the footage below. It has no captions but you can easily follow what's happening with Carlitos and it's cute. He has filmed a lot but his cinema isn't that much appreciated in Portugal. He seems to be more popular in other European countries like France. Some say it's too personal...others say it's too slow and too boring. Others say it's too artistic! I enjoy some of his movies but not all of it. What I find really amazing in Manoel de Oliveira is his longevity. He's quite active and everyone who thinks that old people should retire and stay home should learn from that. And he must be as happy as anyone can be as he lived and lives for his lifetime passion: cinema. Happy birthday Mr.Oliveira!

Only three days left to enter Confiança's soaps giveaway!

THE SOAPS : O melhor - O meu sabonete - Mariposa - read about it,here!

CONFIANÇA'S HISTORY AND PRODUCTS - Visit the site!

A SHORT LIST OF REASONS TO ENTER CONFIANÇA’S SOAPS GIVEAWAY

1.Confiança is a brand of reference for Portuguese cosmetic industry!
2.It has lots of history as it was funded on 12th October of 1844
3.Confiança is the only Portuguese company to obtain the ISO 9001:2000 quality certifications in its field!
4.All soaps ingredients used are natural and 100% vegetable.
5.No animal test is conducted.
6.Quality control is made in all production stages and the final products are evaluated by external certified laboratories.
7.Confiança produces even today according to its traditional methods passed from generation to generation.
8.To Confiança each of its products is more than a cosmetic. It’s a piece of history, a memory and a small part of each one of its co-workers.
9.It's so easy to enter Confiança's portuguese bar soaps giveaway!
10. You get an extra quality gift this Christmas!

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

1.Make your choice! Pick your favorite soap!

2.Do one of three things:

A. Follow me on Twitter

B.Join my Facebook Fan page

C.Subscribe to my blog A portuguese love

3.To qualify for the giveaway you must also click on the link below and leave a comment on my fantastic Giveaway hoste DZ Fantasy's blog. Name the soap you picked leave your email for contact.Best of luck!

http://dzfantasy.blogspot.com/2009/11/winners-choice-giveaway-exquisite.html


START DATE: November 10. 2009


END DATE : December 10, 2009 - 12:00 Midnight CDT


OPEN: Worldwide

I love Twitter's Whale...

...but I hate to see it! (Do you know what I mean?!!)

The advent calendar greeting card: it's Christmas countdown!

Santa Beard Advent Calendar Cards by noboringwhite
Create a greeting card online

While rain was pouring down I was having some fun creating this funny Santa Claus. He's checking numbers in his beard to keep track of the time left to Christmas!

My idea is that we use the postcard - or the other products - to really countdown to Christmas by checking numbers with a real pen.

Santa Beard Advent Calendar Puzzle by noboringwhite
Browse another Puzzle

Santa Beard Advent Calendar Dry-Erase Whiteboard by noboringwhite
Find other Dry Erase Whiteboards

Santa Beard Advent Calendar Post Card by noboringwhite
Look at more Christmas Postcards at zazzle

Santa Beard Advent Calendar Dry-Erase Board by noboringwhite
Browse more Dry Erase Whiteboards at Zazzle

It's raining cats and dogs!

I remember high school English class about the idiom "it is raining cats and dogs", referring to heavy rain. We all laughed a lot at this expression, it was really a funny one. Well, today it has been raining cats and dogs and that's not funny at all. I do not like winter time. But I do like to wake up to the sound of rain pouring down. I found a cool illustration of this cats and dogs thing(Wikipedia).In Portugal, we do not have this expression. We usually say: "Está a chover a potes.""Potes" are recipients. So nothing funny about our expression. In Brazil, they say "Está chovendo canivetes." "Canivetes" are penknives! Their expression is funnier than Portuguese expression! A killer,I say!

Portuguese design - Water bottles from Pedrita Design Studio

Source http://pedrita.net/projects/lh2o/

Pedrita is a Lisbon-based design studio and has since 2005 been collaborating with other creative structures, individuals and clients from different parts of the world. These bottles are irresistible. Cute and well thought.

Portugal has 4th place for agri-food products according to Qualigeo Agri-food Atlas

"Progetto Qualigeo realizzato dalla Fondazione Qualivita; in particolare verrà illustrato il primo Atlante dei prodotti agroalimentari europei DOP, IGP e STG che rappresenta una vera e propria mappatura dell’agricoltura di qualità europea. Con i contenuti dell’Atlante è stata realizzata una piattaforma web Qualigeo.eu con la georeferenzazione delle zone di produzione, delle aziende che costituisce il primo social network di settore a livello internazionale per le produzioni agroalimentari ad indicazione geografica".

Qualigeo Atlas is Qualivita Foundation project. It's the first world editorial work that describes 850 European PDO PGI and TSG products through exhaustive product fiches written in an easy language. The atlas turns out to be an indispensable tool both for specialists of the sector and for consumers who want to know new healthy products.

An agri-food product database shows 116 hundred Portuguese products listed. Portugal occupies 4th place in agri-food excellence. Criteria are tradition and quality. No wonder foreigner visitors fall in love with our food.

Confianças's portuguese bar soaps giveaway

10 days till closing time on A portuguese love first giveaway.You still have time to grab one of this these soaps.Read previous posts for detailed information on this giveaway products and Confiança's rich history.To acess more information on lots of marvelous products visit Confiança's site.I am very pleased that Confiança’s offering three fine soaps to my blog visitors. They are quality products and full of tradition and carry Portuguese history of success.What an excelent Christmas gift,I just wish I could enter it myself!

O meu sabonete - This line of soaps doesn’t dry your skin and leaves it perfumed and with a soft touch. An exuberant combination of Art Deco sensuality for your body.O meu sabonte Individual Soap Silver.

Mariposa - With the restyling of an original dated from 20 th Confiança re-launched the Mariposa in a refined and traditional Portuguese packaging. Mariposa embodies the spirit of the butterfly spreading joy over the fields. The soap has an enriched formula with a 100% vegetable base. Mariposa is dermatological tested to respect most delicate skins.

O Melhor - O Melhor is a product range specially formulated for men’s skin care. Transla“The Best” it includes shaving cream, exfoliating soap and balsam after-shave. The stylish retro packaging is the result of the restyling of an original logo dating back to 1920’s.The strength of this line is reinforced by a back to basics old-school fragrance with notes of musk and marine!


Now that you have made your choice please do one of three things:

- Follow me on Twitter - Join my Facebook Fan page - Subscribe to my blog


To qualify for the giveaway you must also click on the link below and leave a comment on my fantastic Giveaway hoste DZ Fantasy's blog. Name the soap you picked and leave your email for contact.Best of luck!

http://dzfantasy.blogspot.com/2009/11/winners-choice-giveaway-exquisite.html
START DATE: November 10. 2009 END DATE : December 10, 2009 - 12:00 Midnight CDT
OPEN: Worldwide

Information source: Confiança's catalogue

Today's Best Award number 5

Another Today's Best Award (28th November) for a cute and simple Christmas Card I made last week. I like to work with simple shapes and colors. This item is not available anymore.

Vipul featured me in a Lens!

King Ramesses II Vintage Egyptian Art Card! Postcard
by RenascencePub

Vipul describes himself as a common man, getting back in touch with the artistic side of himself. Well, his interests aren't common, he's fond of exquisite illustration and has a Zazzle store called Renascence Pub. I like this Renascence Pub Mug a lot. Well, Vipul was kind enough to feature my 2010 Kids Calendar in his Squidoo Lens. What a good-morning news!Thanks, Vipul!

Greenpeace Spider man climbed Belém Tower

Source:http://www.greenpeace.org/espana/news/091130

During the XIX Ibero American Summit Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, in Lisbon, nine Greenpeace activists climbed on top of Torre de Belém. The annual summit brought together the leaders of 19 Latin-American countries plus Portugal, Spain, and Andorra. For a few moments, we could read OUR CLIMATE, YOUR DECISION in the beautiful monument.Summit in Copenhagen is vitally for the fate of the earth and climate wasn't on Ibero American Lisbon summit agenda.This was a small effort to catch summit leaders attention to this big question.The Copenhagen summit, also known as the Conference of the Parties 15 or COP15, is the fifteenth big meeting organised by the United Nations to discuss a global response to climate change.

Joaquim's birthday - The party of the year in Figueira da Foz

It seems I missed the party of the year. This guy is Joaquim, he's Portuguese, yes, in fact, he lives in my street when he's around. I've seen him plenty of times jogging in the neighborhood. He works international level ( www.bestmodelsagency.com Porto, Portugal,www.whynotmodels.com Milan, Italy, Bananas Mambo, Paris, France, and Blu Models Los Angels, US ) and has quite a reputation as a top model. Lately, he's acting DJ also at very celebrated parties. A few months ago I read an interesting interview he gave the local newspaper. He seemed quite an intelligent man -yeah, yeah, you know, I always seem to forget that models have a brain on top of those bodies - and I was pleasantly impressed with his opinions on local development, fashion, and culture. Well, it seems he just turned 34 and made a big birthday party at the local Casino. Music and fashion and lots of celebrities there, I'm sure. Not entirely my cup of tea. But it might have been fun! Happy Birthday, neighbor!

Obama’s war documentary

video

Yesterday I saw a documentary on Afghanistan and Pakistan and USA efforts to pacify those areas and fight the Taliban. It’s Obama’s war from FRONTLINE producers Martin Smith and Marcela Gaviria. It has been eight years since the USA went to the territory. It’s a controversial issue and I’m glad I do not have to decide about it. This does not mean I do not worry. My wish is that a solution could be arranged so people stop being killed. I learned from the documentary that its outcome is uncertain. And that probably a lot more of USA troops are needed. One big problem is the corruption of the Kabul government, other is the Taliban. Government is losing population support. Taliban are organized and offering the population things that the USA still can’t provide: security. One could ask why not live Afghanistan to its fate. But since 11 September people fear that these countries can nest terrorism so an effort must be done even if it means great loss. There isn’t an easy solution. Al-Qaeda is no longer based in Afghanistan but in neighbor tribal areas of Pakistan. This country represents trouble too. Taliban are fighting its government and if they win Al-Qaeda could get real nuclear power. But the USA can’t do much in Pakistan. People there just hate Americans. I understood that a peaceful Afghanistan is needed to prevent chaos in Pakistan. If the Taliban control it they can be more able to defy Pakistan government. Counterinsurgency is hard on American efforts. It requires lots of troops to protect the population. Enemies have simple weapons but they manage to win. This kind of operations can last years. But for how long can last American people patience?

More about the documentary:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/obamaswar/

Meet Davis, the shar-pei dog!

Davis is my sister and nephew's dog. He's a shar-pei. Sometimes I take care of him. He's been sleeping all afternoon next to me. It has been raining since lunchtime and he got very sleepy. He's almost four years old. Davis is a very sweet dog for all family members but hates neighbors. In fact, he gets a bit mad in the presence of strangers, persons, and dogs!

Confiança means trust in Portuguese language

You are still on time to enter Confiança's bar soaps giveaway. O Melhor is a product range specially formulated for men’s skincare. Translated as “The Best” it includes shaving cream, exfoliating soap and balsam after-shave. The stylish retro packaging is the result of the restyling of an original logo dating back to 1920s. The strength of this line is reinforced by a back to basics old-school fragrance with notes of musk and marine. Still represented on Confianças’s ranges Art Déco and Art Nouveau art were popular influences during the ’20s. Rich design and recipes portfolio were recovered as Confiança’s aim is to bring back that heritage to the XXI century. The old molds are still in use to preserve the original soap shape. Soap characteristics and packaging is an art passed on by generations that allows Confiança to still preserve all of its essences. O Melhor is an example that is still in the memory of many and will bring to the present the scents of another century. Above you can see a photo of this exquisite bar of soap you can win. There are three different bar soaps to give away. An excellent Christmas gift for yourself or someone you love. And to enter is really easy. 

How to enter the giveaway?

Just follow the link.

http://dzfantasy.blogspot.com/2009/11/winners-choice-giveaway-exquisite.html

Read previous posts for detailed information on these giveaway products and Confianca's rich history.

To access more information on lots of marvelous products visit Confiança's site

My fourth Today's Best Award!

It seems people are really enjoying this line of products. Simple, colorful and happy designs inspired by traditional Portuguese motifs. It's an illustration of a heart with flowers. Sorry, not available anymore.

Portuguese tiles. The chestnut woman

Tiles in Mercado de Forno do Tijolo, Lisboa.

Christmas fever is on

Today I went to the local mall and Christmas is already showing the worst of it. Lots of people around stuff, piles of stuff to sell. In Christmas, the supermarket makes piles of stuff. Everything is red or golden and looks as if we touch it might fall. Most people do not realize that they spend hard-earned money just to give a present that sometimes the other person does not want or really need. I had to stay in line to pay for a single pack of chestnuts. Christmas means queues. Outside more queues to wrap the presents…uff! I get tired only from watching! 

One thing that really upsets me in Christmas is co-workers and colleagues random gift exchanges. Everyone brings a silly and symbolic gift to the pile… and then one-by-one everyone gets an absurd present. One benefit of going freelancer is not to worry on buying these gifts or rehearse for the smile you have to show after getting your surprise gift. I like buying a present for the kids. Many times I like it because I buy them things I find really cool…for me! I like the aftermath of opening the presents when there are kids around. Adults should exchange presents all other 364 days of the year and live Christmas for kids. Unfortunately, adults are always too busy working so they can have money to spend at Christmas and do not exchange gifts along the year. It all becomes so commercial that I get sick of Christmas in November! 

Then there is food. In Christmas people get obsessed with food! And after it…with diets! Of course, it’s understandable. Santa’s looks like a character that really appreciates good food, plenty of food. Well, that’s a bad example Santa. You should be slimmer. After all, there’s a lot of concern about children going obese these days. Still, Christmas is a time that people can always opt for doing some worthy kids, for example, give to local charities or worldwide organizations or someone they know that’s facing difficulties. Maybe Christmas is all that they are waiting for.

A Portuguese Love is a featured store

Each new day brings a nice surprise. 

A Portuguese Love is being featured at Zazzle's main door. 

So cool to read my store's name in the Top 10 list!

I got my third TBA!

I got another Today's Best Award on 17th November. I know it's a bit hard to believe but in a matter of days, I got myself three nice little red ribbons. The Scissor Whale belongs to a collection of designs I entitled Scissor Animals Collection. The Whale isn't my favorite. I prefer the Scissor Antelope or the Scissor Birds. But Zazzle team went for the Whale. These designs were inspired by my fondness for cut and paste. I do a lot of collage and I have at least a dozen different scissors. I left design background deliberately empty so people can customize and play with different color options. It also got Top 10 Bags Views ribbon for that day. Conclusion: whales are popular.Thank you, Zazzle! It's an illustration of a whale. Not available anymore, sorry!

Street exhibition of colorful fish

Found three photos I took in the Summer. This exhibition was on display in our public garden for maybe two or three months. I think these fish were painted by children with some help from local plastic artists.

Lisbon - Spotted by locals

Today I spotted a nice spot on the net! It's a web page where you can find interesting information about Lisbon. If you are planning a visit you can check tips from locals instead of reading one or two guide books bought in the airport. Don't get me wrong, I do like city guide books. But this perspective is up-to-date and personal...and this site looks good!

http://www.spottedbylocals.com/lisbon/category/activity/art-culture

Got my second TBA Award!

I'm just so so happy that another product of mine got a Today’s Best Award! (14th November) It will sound silly but this store that I started with many enthusiasm wouldn't be much without all the words of incentive I’ve received. The hard part of it isn’t creating a store or products. The difficult part of it is to believe in ourselves, in our work and not give up our effort. Like all those Zazzler’s words received these TBA’s are nice incentives to keep on creating and adding new products to my gallery. I have lots of ideas. It is real that Zazzle boosts our creativity to new levels. But to create quality products takes time and I am a bit of an impatient girl! When will I receive my third TBA?!! Thank you, Zazzle! It's an illustration with Rudolf, Santa and the Snowman.

CONFIANÇA'S Portuguese bar soaps giveaway

People are getting online quite often to find products for the lowest price or even for free. I do not know if it’s kind of a trend or a reflex of how the economy is. Or if it’s just an online hobby for those who spent lots of hours in front of a computer. But this seems to please everybody. People get free stuff and companies get good publicity. Companies sponsor giveaways because they know that products will reach the hands of consumers through a personalized approach.

Take my example. Why am I hosting Confiança’s bar soaps giveaway? I know the brand, I and my family used these soaps for many years. We know the product. We’ve tried it many times. There’s no better marketing tool. You can trust my opinion. There are lots of reasons to praise this soaps. The production process is carefully accompanied according to quality standards in the cosmetic industry. All ingredients used are natural and 100% vegetable. No animal test is conducted. Final products are evaluated by external certified laboratories. And this to name just a few. They are the most perfect gifts for every occasion. Anyone who appreciates pretty things can't resist Mariposa’s beautiful package...and scent!

How to enter the giveaway?

Just follow the link.

http://dzfantasy.blogspot.com/2009/11/winners-choice-giveaway-exquisite.html

Read previous posts for detailed information on these giveaway products and Confianca's rich history. To access more information visit Confiança's site