Hungry For Change

Dear friends,

I am taking a sabbatical to reevaluate a few things, redesign my brand and 

reconnect with what I am committed to put out there in the world.

 Yes this is a self-intervention on me - as weird as it sounds, I am kinda loving it!

I am excited to be back more inspired and hopefully, inspiring!

Change can often feel intimidating and look chaotic - but on the other side of the spectrum if you are truly connected with your worth, your purpose and your truth there will be nothing but butterflies...

Mi casa, featured at Roco Magazine

Rachael Colton, a blog friend, a wonder woman, a designer, a style lover and the editor-in-chief of Roco Magazine has chosen mi casa (more specifically, my master bedroom) to be featured at her lovely magazine.

"The magazine highlights the wonderful design found in Ireland and across the globe, bringing beautiful images of interiors, inspiring features and interesting products to its readers."

My former bedroom was featured at her now extinct blog back in 2011 (see it here) while I was crashing my parent's pad in Rio de Janeiro. It is like coming full circle and completing a cycle when I get to compare where and who I was back then and where and who I am now. So thank you Rachael for the opportunity to get present to this and count this blessing!

 Although I have kept the same bedspread - a much loved gift from my mom - I am so very grateful for all the personal, professional and spiritual growth that has taken place. I am finally off antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs and able to feel like myself again, have the focus, commitment and eagerness to meditate, work out and have a health routine. Wow it is so mind-blowing what can be achieved in 2 years...

This is the bedroom from 2011:

"Roco believes that beauty can be found everywhere, we all need inspiration, live life with Your Style, appreciate the small details as well as the large, enjoy moments with friends, finding the right colour of paint is pure bliss." - Roco Magazine

ps: Yep, I designed a malachite flat iron (details and a giveaway will be disclosed soon!)

Check out the Spring issue here of Roco Magazine!

A Flamingo in a flock of Pigeons

"She is pure Alice in Wonderland, and her appearance and demeanor are a nicely judged mix of the Red Queen and a flamingo." - Truman Capote

Personality Assessment:

are you a pigeon or a flamingo?

I just finish reading 'Good girls don't get the corner office' by Lois P. Frankel and it blows my mind how much we can sabotage ourselves. Even thou the book is mainly focused on career choices and behaviors, I couldn't stop wondering... what other areas in live are we playing safe? Would you rather blend in and pass by an entire existence unnoticed just because it feels safe? 

“Why are trying so hard to fit in, when you're born to stand out” ― Oliver James

I must quote one of our favorite risk-takers, Kelly Wearstler, which some love and others love to hate. “You have to take risks. If you don’t, you can’t evolve.” It takes a lot of courage to leave the house in the morning looking like she does or to tell a client that your idea of a home sweet home looks like this:

I am now reading 'Start the right business' by Marie Forleo and I was very touched when she says "You’re on the planet for a reason. God, the Universe - whatever you believe in - does not make any “extra” peeps just for the hell of it. No other person ever has, or ever will, have the unique blend of talents, strengths and perspective that you have."

So I thought to myself... going beyond the status quo it is like owning our truth self and expressing God's true will.

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” ― Mark Twain

“The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

It sounds brilliant as a concept but throughout the day which voice do we mainly hear: The pigeon or the flamingo?

Who rescued who?

After a year of taking antidepressant and anti-anxiety drugs and still experiencing the unsettling feeling that there was something missing, a dog came into my life. Not just any dog, but one just like my parents have in Brazil (remember Fanny?).

He was an injured frenchie in need of a home. And I was an empty house in need of something bigger than my ordinary life. So really... who rescued who?

I couldn't have asked for a more sweet, loving and perfect dog. When he arrived he was hurt, traumatized and with burn wounds. He wouldn't even leave the house because he was so scared he would be abandoned. I couldn't even raise my voice a bit and he would hide. The entire experience of both os us falling in love and healing each other took time, care, patience and vet money but I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.

"If you can't adopt - foster...

If you can't foster - sponsor...

If you can't sponsor - volunteer...

If you can't volunteer - donate...

If you can't donate - educate, network, and crosspost...

Everyone can do something, large or small, to help save a life..."

ps: I am building him a canopy dog bed and I can't wait to share it with you! Oh I did I mentioned he learned to high five? By the way François has gone viral!

Image credit: 1,2 & 4 acasadava 3

No place like home

A few weeks ago it came to my surprise the fact that my passport was expired. That meant that I couldn't renew it in time to spend Christmas in Brazil. Now I am finally able to fly home and celebrate late Holidays with family.

That also came with the news of some illness in my family, and with that and the beginning of the new year I find myself questioning a lot of things. I just finished watching again '13 going on 30' and felt quite related to what Jenna was going through - do I recognize myself? Do I have regrets? Am I proud of my choices and who I became?

"I think we all - I think all of us - want to feel something that we've forgotten or turned our backs on because maybe we didn't realize how much we were leaving behind. We need to remember what used to be good. If we don't, we won't recognize it even if it hits us between the eyes." - Jenna, 13 years old

2013 resolutions? Simple... like spend time with family, organize and keep documents up to date and find my place in the world!

Images credit:

1 Red Magazine, styled by Twig Hutchinson   |   2 Dorothy   |    3&4 Jenna by Jennifer Garden

If only in my dreams

I'm dreamin' tonight of a place I love
Even more then I usually do
And although I know it's a long road back
I promise you
I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
If only in my dreams


This is our first Christmas on our own, as a couple and with our puppy and unfortunately seeing our families only through FaceTime. And we are starting our own traditions, cooking a pescatarian dinner, and french toast casserole for breakfast and choosing a teal and pink decor as replacement for the classic red and green. 

What are your traditions?

"Remember, if Christmas isn't found in your heart, you won't find it under a tree." - Charlotte Carpenter

Images source here

Gypsy Soul

It is no big news that my design aesthetic is quite eclectic. So I was thrilled when my friend Caitlin and her boyfriend decided to decorate their home with a bohemian theme!

So lets start with the "gypsy stereotype":

To me the image above is actually quite awesome... except that Caitlin does not live in a caravan! So, how can we adapt this concept to a stylish couple (and their breathtaking ocean view apt)?

A gypsy-inspired aesthetic is about a high-low approach, where creativity is more important than money, and travel, color, decor, fashion come together in an expanded interpretation of free expression.

10 ideas on how to translate a free spirit lifestyle into your environment:

1. An ikat headboard (or any other quirky print).

2. A hoop canopy hanging above the bed.

3. A hammock.

4. Exotic pendants, candle holders, colorful paper lanterns and a moroccan candle lantern.

5. An oversized moroccan mirror.

6. A persian rug (or a persian-inspired one)

7. Framed tapestry becomes your piece of art.

8. Colorful ratan chairs

9. Antique maps - a great way to reflect (and feed) your inner-gypsy!

10. Oh you need pillows. Like lots of them. Pillows of different sizes, pillows of different prints, pillows of different color ways, pillows of different textures.

* Last but not least, a neutral grey sectional might be just the perfect backdrop for all the colors and styles being clashed.

image credit: pinterest and glitter guide