Hey There, Delilah!

The last good breakfast in Madrid! It's true. My Erasmus experience in Madrid has come to an end and, as bittersweet as it feels, I had to celebrate it in my favorite way: drinking cappuccino in a cool concept café. The one who suited as a goodbye place was TOMA café, hidden in between the old streets of the Universidad district.

As soon as you walk in this establishment you're greeted with a ¡Hola! and a huge bike hanging over your head. The atmosphere of internationality and extravagant styled people make it the ideal to get cozied up and enjoy the latte art while working on your Photoshop projects.

When can I go back??

O último bom pequeno-almoço em Madrid! É verdade. A minha experiência de Erasmus em Madrid chegou ao fim e, por mais agridoce que sinta, tinha de celebrar este momento à minha maneira preferida: bebendo um cappuccino num café com um conceito engraçado. O que serviu como sítio de despedida foi o TOMA café, escondido entre as ruas antigas do bairro Universidad.

Logo que se entra pela porta, é-se cumprimentado com um ¡Hola¡ e uma bicicleta pendurada sobre a nossa cabeça. O ambiente de internacionalidade e de pessoas com estilo extravagante fazem com que seja o sítio ideal para se ficar comfortável e deliciar-se com o latte art enquanto se trabalha nos projectos de Photoshop.

Quando lá posso voltar??

On Sundays, We Brunch | Federal

Federal. A meca dos brunches. Um sítio sem nome, mas conhecido por todos os estudantes de Erasmus e espanhóis com bom gosto. Uma fila de meia hora à espera para nos podermos deliciar com uma tosta bem servida de ovos mexidos, abacate e salmão fumado acompanhado de um sumo verde bombástico e de um cafe con leche, que vale tanto a pena.

Pode ser o sítio mais barulhento ou o mais calmo, ou para tagarelar e comer durante meia hora ou para estudar durante três.

Imperdível numa visita prolongada a Madrid.

Federal. The meca of brunches. A nameless place but known by all the Erasmus students and stylish Spanish people. A half an hour wait line to delight ourselves with scrambled eggs, avocado and salmon on toast with a side of a bombastic green juice and cafe con leche, which is so worth the wait. It can be the loudest or the quietest place to be, either to chit chat and eat for half an hour or to study on your computer for three.

Unmissable for a longer stay in Madrid.

Brown rice salad with avocado and grilled aubergines | Salada de arroz integral, abacate e beringelas grelhadas

Avocado and poached egg on rye toast | Tosta de pão de centeio com abacate e ovo escalfado

Pl. de las Comendadoras 9, 28015 Madrid

Le Scarf

Oh Autumn time... I mean, Winter time? Well, the weather in Madrid got all the seasons wrong and 8 days till Christmas and it still hasn't changed its colors. Good for me and for the madrileños who can enjoy this not-so-cold weather a few more days. 

As my departure approaches, I managed to squeeze in one more photoshoot, and this time, at the Royal Botanical Garden. Although there weren't many flowers (ok, none), it was still a lovely location for its great open space and fresh Nature's air.

This time I wanted to feature a present I got from my lovely Polish friend, who came to visit me a couple weeks ago. Not only she's the sweetest girl, but also she has a tremendous daring style. Check her HERE on her blog and don't forget to follow her on Facebook, if you're into fashion and dressing the way you want, this is the blogger to follow.

The gift was this AMAZING fur scarf I've been hunting in Accessorize for weeks, so you can imagine my excitation when I finally got it. It's the softest and most daring scarf I've ever owned and it's definitely a headturner. So dzięki, Joanna!

Also, these pics couldn't had happen without my very talented polish photographer friend Izabella! (Am I a polish friend magnet?)

Xmas GIFTS for Him

After yesterday's post I had to do a follow up on what other Christmas gifts to give, but this time, to our men. Whether it's is your brother, friend, father, son or boyfriend, there's a gift for each one of them! 
If he's one of those kind of guys who likes to pamper himself the old fashioned way (or hipster), what about this The Body Shop shaving kit? If he's always running out of battery on his cellphone, then this Moophie powerbank is ideal. If is a coffee to-go kind of guy and loves photography, then head to Bairro Arte (Portuguese store) and surprise him with this  thermal mug/fake lenses! And if you really like him (and don't mind spending a little bit more money), then this Levi's wallet or Chanel perfume is the perfect gift for him!

Happy shopping!

Xmas GIFTS for Her

Christmas is approaching and the insane last christmas shopping can drive us crazy! Worry not. In these desperate times, I have gathered some presents you can buy for your best friend, mother, daughter or girlfriend.

If she's into zen and relaxing moments, what about this accessible The Body Shop coffret? If she loves makeup, then the newest Urban Decay eye shadow palette will make all her dreams come true. If you really love her (and don't mind spending a little more money), then these Beats headphones, or Adidas sneakers or Rayban sunglasses will make her day. If she's a more stay at home kinda girl and privileges this comfy time, then you have to get her this Women' Secret pyjama. Or if you don't want to give her, a perfume is always a good idea... what about this from Chloé?

Happy shopping!

8 Steps For a Lasting Lipstick

#1 EXFOLIANTE / ESFOLIAR

This first step is the most important. It smoothes the lips and cleans the surface out of cracked skins. Check here my post about an easy lip scrub DIY.

Este primeiro passo é o mais importante. É o que suaviza os lábios e limpa a surperfície de qualquer pele gretada. Vê aqui o meu post sobre como fazer em casa um esfoliante fácil para os lábios.

#2 MOISTURIZE / HIDRATA

After gently rubbing the lip scrub, moisturize your lips with any lip balm. My new favorite is Maybelline's Baby Lips Balm & Blush.

Depois de teres esfoliado suavemente, hidrata os lábios com um batom de cieiro. O meu novo preferido é o Baby Lips Balm & Blush da Maybelline.

#3 CONCEAL / CORRIGE

In order to your lips better receive the true color of your lipstick, gently tap with a beauty blender (I got mine at Primark for €1) with a little drop of concealer or liquid foundation. But don't erase completey your lip line otherwise you won't know where to fill.

Para os lábios receberem melhor a cor verdadeira do teu batom, passa suavemente com uma beauty blender (a minha é da Primark e custou €1) com um pouco de corrector ou base líquida. Mas não apagues totalmente a linha do lábio para saberes onde o preencher.

#4 OUTLINE & FILL / CONTORNAR & PREENCHER

Now, with a darker lip liner (or as the same color as the lipstick), outline and fill completely the lips. This is the main secret for the color lasting longer. Mine is Kiko Cosmetics' Intensely Lavish (MELODIOUS WINE 06) lip liner.

Agora, com um lápis de lábios mais escuro ou da mesma cor do batom, contorna e preenche por completo os lábios. Este é o segredo principal para fazer com que a cor do teu batom dure mais. O meu lápis é o Intensely Lavish (MELODIOUS WINE 06) da Kiko Cosmetics.

#5 FILL IN / PREENCHE

Finally, this is the step where you actually put the lipstick on.

Finalmente, este é o passo é que realmente pões o batom.

#6 POWDER UP / PÓ

With a tissue sheet (separate it into two), tap a translucid powder over. This will ensure the lipstick will be set into place.

Com uma folha de lenço de papel (separa-o em dois), passa um pó translúcido por cima. Este passo faz com que o batom permaneça intacto.

#7 FILL IN AGAIN / PREENCHE OUTRA VEZ

#8 LIP GLOSS

Lastly, dab a little of lip glossy onto the middle of your lips to make them shiny and voluminous. 

Por fim, põe um bocadinho de gloss no meio dos lábios para lhe dar brilho e volume.

Shade of Matte

I know Halloween is long gone and now it's Christmas' reds we most cheer for, but ever since Autumn came along, I've been searching madly for a dark lipstick, and only now, out of season, I've found it.

Last week, with the crazy opening of this new american beauty store - NYX - in Calle Fuencarral here in Madrid, and its huge 3 hour line full of girls and their moms to get a professional make up for free, I had no time to check the actual store. But one week after, and post-Black Friday madness, I got to enter this tiny hall filled with all kinds of make up and actually find the one thing I wanted.

Usually, my attention is directed to the bar lipsticks, since every time I wear a lipgloss, my hair would stick to my lips making a nasty mess (no wonder one time I got so irritated that I cut the little hair piece that was glued to the lipstick on my lips... yeah I'm crazy, but I was also 12).

But this NYX lip cream in a gloss package is different - it's matte! And the color? Oh so darky as me likey! It's in the shade of Transylvania (vampiresque I know), and it smells s good (another feature a lipstick has to have if it wants to be in my bag).

Eu sei que o Dia das Bruxas já passou e que agora são os encarnados natalícios que mais nos alegram, mas desde que o Outono veio que tenho procurado incessantemente por um batom escuro, e só agora, fora de época, é que o encontrei.

Na semana passada, com a mega abertura da nova loja americana de beleza NYX na Calle Fuencarral aqui em Madrid e com uma fila de mais de 3 horas de miúdas à espera da sua primeira maquilhagem profissional grátis, nem me atrevi a entrar na loja. Mas uma semana depois, e pós-loucura da Black Friday, consegui finalmente entrar no apertado corredor cheio de todo o tipo de maquilhagem e encontrar o que queria realmente.

Normalmente, a minha atenção é virada para o batons em barra, já que sempre que usava um lipgloss, o meu cabelo ficava preso nos lábios fazendo uma porcaria (não admira que eu tenha uma vez cortado a ponta do cabelo que estava colada ao lábio por pura irritação... sim foi uma loucura, mas também eu só tinha 12 anos).

Mas este creme de lábios da NYX numa embalagem de lipgloss é diferente - é matte! No tom Transylvania (um pouco vampiresco, eu sei), mas não completamente preto. E cheira bem (uma outra característica que os batons têm de ter se querem vir para a minha carteira).

This is me the next day after that big 3-hour line, where nobody was there to try it and I was second in line!

Esta sou eu no dia a seguir à da bicha de 3 horas, onde já ninguém estava, e eu fui a segunda na fila!