Monday 29 February 2016

About February



new -» composting and buying a ukulele (Lune)

watching -» videos, talks and documentaries about trash/zero waste lifestyle

listening to -» anything twenty one pilots

favourite parts -» painting my skateboard, having fun with Lune and learning about zero waste


How was your February?

Lots of hugs, A

Sunday 21 February 2016

Lune - the ukulele

I bought a ukulele two weeks ago and I'm loving it! Also decided to give it a name and call it Lune.


I always wanted to learn how to play several instruments, but never a ukulele. Not that I didn't like it, just never crossed my mind to learn it.

Don't know what happen though because I just fell in love with it and I so wanted to buy one that I end up buying it.

I've been watching tutorials and learning to understand the basic things, but I'm having so much fun! It feels so good to even just a play a note or random little songs while I'm learning chords so I can't wait until I can fully play a song! 


What about you? Do you play any instruments? Or ever wanted to?

Lots of hugs, A

Saturday 13 February 2016

Food for thought | Values

What are our values?
Can we clearly identify them?
Do they change from time to time?
Are they representing our lives?
Perhaps we need to change them
Or maybe even our lifestyles
Is it that clear? Are we conscious about that?

Also, how interesting that we value different things?
And how weird that a "wrong value" for some can be view as not that wrong?
And the same with "good values" not being that good for others

I know my values have been in conflict lately

What's all about the contradictions between values and some behaviors?
Why? How to solve them?

Which values have more value? Or are they all equal?
Isn't always one more important than the other?

Do I get to decide that?
I don't know

I tend to keep things in different boxes so once they get mixed up my mind gets mixed up too
That confusion installs himself and gets partying in my head
Not a happy party for me though
But eventually it starts to calm down
When? I'm not sure

Just some stuff I have been thinking about.

Lots of hugs, A

Sunday 31 January 2016

About January

































new -» starting Yoga Camp and Q&A journal

watching -» a lot of videos regarding twenty one pilots (like a lot!)

listening to -» an immense mix match of songs and artists

favourite part -» Rhodes + Hozier concert on my birthday


Inspired by Erin's "Dear " series from The Halfway Point, I decided to start this monthly thing "About". 
Kind of like review of the months

What about your January? How was it?

Lots of hugs, A

Saturday 16 January 2016

Twenty

Already january 16

I turn twenty today

I remember being fifteen and thinking that turning twenty was an imaginary thing
Almost like an illusion
But it became real and sooner than I expected

Suddenly eighteen came
Then nineteen was already here
And now twenty

I don't remember being so not excited for a birthday

Is not that I will miss my teen years
It's just that time is passing and I feel I'm gliding full speed
In this autopilot mode

I so want this year to be amazing

I keep thinking of how I'm already twenty and
I'm not where I imagined being 
I don't live by myself yet
I haven't traveled the much I wanted
I don't have those friends 
I'm still trying to cultivate more self-love
I'm not yet the person I vision being
Not yet that best version

I've recently started thinking that I should have gone to uni
Not because I really want it
But just maybe to somehow feel safe
Have a plan
Feel I'm part of something

It terrifies me feeling I'm getting older and not going where I want
That I won't be able to accomplish my dreams
To turn them into reality

Thinking that if something doesn't change now it will never change
That I'll always feel this "not enough yet"

Today I'm off to see Hozier
Funny enough his first concert in Portugal is on my birthday 
And was what stopped me from trying to forget the date
Because I truly want to see him
But at the same time didn't want the day to come as that meant turning twenty

Because I know that external pressure and expectations will increase
To make money
To have a proper job
To settle down
And settling might be my biggest fear
I kind of see it as freezing
I don't want that
I want change
I want to live to the fullest
To explore and feel alive, not settle 

I just hope for a fun day
And that this day leads for an enjoyable year
One that can make me feel more fulfilled

My thoughts have been quite all over the place
I don't know, that's probably me thinking too much

But oh well, I am now a twenty-year-old girl

Lots of hugs, A

Thursday 14 January 2016

Kitchen | Vegan Loaded Baked Potatoes

I did this dish last Saturday and it immediately became one of my favourites!!
Didn't plan to do a post about it, but when I finished it looked so yummy that I decided to take some snaps and after tasting it I knew I had to share it. I absolutely love it!

The recipe was inspired by Ellen Fisher. With a few changes so it could be more me - just as a matter of personal taste - and the ingredients I had available.


Potatoes:
Preheat the oven 
Well rinsed, some stabs with a fork and boiled for about 5 minutes
Baked on the oven for about 45 min (use a fork to see if it's cooked)
- I baked 2 sweet and 3 regular potatoes
- after 220°C my oven just says 'MAX' and was what I used so I don't know the exact temperature

Stew:
Coconut oil
Garlic
Onion
Carrots
Chickpeas
Black beans
Sweet corn
Tomato sauce
Black pepper
Turmeric
Dry parsley
Water
Salt

Cashew cream: 
1/2 cup raw cashews (previously soaked for about 3 hours)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Water (to desired consistency)
Salt
- just blend everything and you'll get an awesome cream

Guacamole:
Avocado
Lemon juice
Black pepper
Onion (finely diced)
Salt


This is seriously amazing!! Please give it a try :)

Lots of hugs, A

Tuesday 12 January 2016

Kitchen | Rice & Vegan Stew

Simple as cooking rice and mixing some veggies! That's it and I love it

I always do the stew differently. I add and switch some things up so I can find my favourite version.

In my recent adjustments, I've been adding coconut oil instead of no oil or olive oil, kale (that I found for the first time) and potatoes. And this version has been my favourite for a couple of weeks now


For the Stew:
coconut oil
garlic (finely cut) 
 onion (finely cut)
carrots (sliced) 
kale (sliced) 
potatoes (diced)
black beans (already cooked)
chickpeas (already cooked)
tomato sauce
black pepper
turmeric 
salt
water 

And then basically just throw everything on a pan, let it cook and it's done

- I like to saute the garlic, onion and carrots with the coconut oil
- Then I add a bit of water, the kale and diced potatoes letting for about 5 minutes so they can start to cook
- Add the rest of the ingredients and let the magic happens 
- I keep adding water if need so it doesn't get dry and when the carrots, kale and potatoes are cooked the stew is ready to eat

For the amount of each ingredient, I seriously have no idea because I never measure. I just add more of what I like most and spices to taste


Meanwhile, you should have cooked the rice so you can now enjoy the combination :)
As for the rice, I like it plain. No oil or salt, just water and rice cooked on a pan.

Lots of hugs, A

Monday 4 January 2016

By the ocean

Super random post so I can share some photos and wish you a Happy New Year :)

Last thursday I really needed to see and smell and feel the ocean so I did. I'd been craving it for a couple of weeks, so thursday I grabbed my skateboard, a book and I went, 2 buses and I was there.

I spend the majority of the time just observing people, looking at the waves, smelling the breeze and licking my lips because they were salty. Got to feel the sand and dip my toes in the water.
And what an amazing place to watch the last sunset of 2015

Had such a great couple of hours and also took some photos so I wanted to share my favourite shots. 
I hope you like them :)












Lots of hugs, A