Filipa Fonseca Silva's Blog

Hello,
I just updated my website and this blog will be gone soon. You can follow me at filipafonsecasilva.com
There you find all information about my books, new releases and contacts (including my agent in case you're a publisher seeking for a bestselling, Amazon top100 author :)
Take a look, make some comments and don0t forget to follow (just scroll a bit and click the FOLLOW button at the end of the page),
Hope to see you around!
Love,
Filipa

As many of you know, being a full time writer is a privilege granted to very few. I'm not one of them. So, to make hands meet, I have other projects such as this one.
 
A special and limited edition, exclusively on Kickstarter , that brings Portuguese eyewear brand SKOG Eyewear and Lata 65.

Hugo Janes, Co-Founder at SKOG eyewear tells us: “At the core of our brand is the belief that if businesses give back to society, we can truly have a better world. So when we came across Lata 65, we immediately wanted to contribute by doing something bigger than a donation. That’s when we decided to make this special edition, giving everyone the chance to own a piece of art!”

Lata 65 is an initiative for the elderly within the urban art that wants to prove that concepts such as active ageing and intergenerational solidarity make more sense every day. It is presented as a workshop taught in totally relaxed working environments, ideal for learning a variety of intervention techniques used in the streets and working directly with some of the best urban artists today. LATA 65 has already organized 34 workshops, with more than 400 participants from 65 to 102 years old, in Portugal, Spain, Brazil and US, and is always seeking for funding to reach even more people.

The actual participants of LATA 65’s workshops will paint the Graffiti Grandmas special edition!










Aren't they just awesome?

Don't miss the opportunity to have one of a king premium sunglasses, customized by elderly street artists:
http://e.fnd.to/skogeyewear 

And if you can't buy, please simply share the link and help us make something amazing.

In my wonderland there's no room for wars. In my wonderland there's no room for hunger. In my wonderland childhood is a sacred place, where  every child has an education and someone to hold her hand.
This is not my wonderland. Indeed, this is not my world.

I love lipstick. I always did. And throughout the years I've literally tried hundreds of brands, from Dior to L'Oreal, hundreds of textures and hundreds of colours. So yes, you can say I'm a lipstick expert.

But recently I was having trouble finding the right lipstick, as I found out that almost every brand on my personal collection was tested in animals (shame on you big brands!). Even those who claim to be anti animal cruelty (including MAC and Estee Lauder group) make an exception when selling to markets where animal testing "it's required by law", such as China.

Anyway, as I began my quest to find a good quality cruelty-free natural ingredient lipstick I realized most sustainable brands didn't have the same quality as the big cosmetic brands I used to buy. Either the colours were too soft, or the textures too thick, or the scent too organic.

I was just about to give up when I came across this one: absolution sorbet lipstick
an ultra comfortable, natural ingredient lipstick that moisturizes and protects your lips while covering them with beautiful, lasting colours. And it smells of roses! Believe me: it's the best lipstick I've EVER tried.

   The US election results took me by surprise. Yes, call me naive, but even after Brexit I believed the good would prevail, and mostly I believed stupidity had it's limits, the limits of not voting in someone who says things like "grab them by the pussy" or "Mexicans are all murderers and rapists". Well, guess my hope in the human race was exceeded and facts prove that there are actually no limits to stupidity.
Specialists in politics will try to explain this disaster with theories about voting against the system or voting to fight economic crisis, in the hope that things go back to the way they were in the nineties, when prosperity and ostentation were valued in the western world. But honestly it's hard to accept that between two poor choices the Americans chose the one who personifies everything the World doesn't need: populism, misogyny and ignorance. And by the way, it's about time people realize that things will never go back to the way they were in the nineties, that resources are limited and that the Planet won't survive to millions of people driving pollutant cars, eating huge amounts of beef per week and living in enormous houses with twenty TV sets.
And that brings me to the reason I believe the election result will lead to the end of the World. It's not only the fact that Americans will have a xenophobic, chauvinist and rude president. That's their problem to deal with as they realize the man will not make America great again (whatever that means) and will surround himself with the same old politics people are fed up with. What is really devastating is knowing the weight of his future policies in the environment. This is a president who said last May that global warming is a hoax and that he would cancel the Paris Deal, which as everyone should know is not binding.  This is a president who ensured fossil fuel lobbyists, workers of high pollutant industries, and all those who are not willing to give up anything about their "American way of life", that his energy plan will put families and workers needs above all. The problem is American families and workers energetic needs are double the British's needs and over two and a half the Japanese's. Moreover, it is proven over and over again that Americans, who represent about 5% of the World's population, waste one third of all the paper, one fourth of all the oil, 23% of all the coal and 27% of all the aluminum OF THE PLANET!
After watching the brilliant documentary [Before The Flood], which I urge everyone to watch - it's free http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/before-the-flood/videos/before-the-flood-trailer/ - I was somehow depressed but still hopeful, as I learned that there is a way of reverting the destruction spiral we're in, which will eventually end life on Earth sooner than expected. But with this outcome there's not much else I can do except mourning. The Planet as we know it is about to disappear. Unless leaders from all over the world keep committed to the Paris Deal and start taking serious and definitive measures to stop global warming, thus showing the US that we don't need them to save the world. Let them live in a sick dependence of oil like their Middle-Eastern friends, while the rest of us survive on clean and inexpensive energy. In the meanwhile, let's hope the hurricanes and serious drought that are hitting America harder and harder every year will open the eyes of those who have the power to take action. 

Dear husband,

Now that another school year began, I thought of writing you this letter to ensure that our days start the best way possible, and we can manage to remain married until the next Summer vacations.

I know you’re inexperienced in this parenting thing. After all, we “only” have two kids, but let me tell you one thing: mornings don’t have to be complicated. Seriously. And the difference between starting the day shouting and stressing out or smiling lies in 6 simple steps that you must memorize instead of asking me hundreds of times how can you help. Deal? So, here it goes.  
 


Step 1: Wake them up 
  
On most days, they wake up by themselves. And early. I don’t even remember the last time I heard the alarm clock because invariably one of them wakes up before it goes off. But in case they’re still sleeping by the time they were supposed to be having breakfast, the routine is basic: open the shades, let the light come in through the window, speak in a low tone and give them 5 minutes of cuddling. More than 5 minutes is pushing your luck, so you'd better move on to the next step. Seriously. Don’t let them manipulate you with their angel faces, begging to stay in bed a little longer. Otherwise, I’ll need to intervene and become Mumzilla.

Step 2: Dress them up 

I choose the clothes, the shoes, the princess hair clips. All you have the do is prevent them putting the underwear inside out or the left shoe on the right foot since from a certain age (more or less around 2) they like to do everything by themselves and only need some guidance.

Step 3: Feed them 
 
They already speak and now exactly what they want. All you have to do is ask them what they want to have for breakfast! Simple, right? In case they’re undecided, you can provide some suggestions, for example, “Juice and toast?”, “Yoghurt and cereal?”. I’m aware that, in general, Mummy is the one who must make breakfast, because she’s the one who knows the right amount of Cheerios, the ideal portion of butter, the correct way to remove the bread edges, etc.  But if you can’t help in this task, there are other ways to help. For example, embracing the next steps.

Step 4: Hygiene them 

Before leaving home, it’s mandatory to pee, wash the face, hands and teeth. It’s not an exclusive of kids. It’s standard practice for the human race.

Step 5: Check school bag and others 

All you have to do is open the zipper, look inside and see if all the books, hats, and favourite toys are inside. It’s an important step to avoid dramas and needing to return home three times when we’re already late. The “others” is all about making sure (yes, with me) if any of them is on medication, needs to put drops in the nose or if there is something different that needs to go to school on that day.

Step 6: Kick them out 
This is an easy step: they just need to dress the coats and be thrown in the elevator, keeping in mind that one of us has to be there with them. Preferably dressed and with our shoes on. It might sound obvious, but sometimes you miss the obvious.


That’s it! Our hygiene, nutrition, and clothing are all secondary. It’s something we need to learn to do by turns and in record time.
 
Yes, I know it’s tough. Yes, I also remember (although with increasing difficulty) how our mornings used to be half a decade ago. You’re not the only one who misses it. Times when I did my morning jogging, showered without having a tiny human opening the shower curtain to ask crucial questions such as “is it Tuesday, Mommy?”, and had the luxury of eating breakfast on the couch while watching the news!

Those times are gone. Not forever. In some years they’ll know how to do everything on their own and will love sleeping to the point when a loud alarm clock will be needed to get out of bed. Until then, please stop asking me every single day what needs to be done, as if every morning was different. It’s not. The routine is always the same. You just need to be aware of these 6 simple steps and understand in which one we are when you finish your morning shower.
From your wife, who loves you very much, although it may not look like before noon.

(sign and leave in noticeable location)

A while ago I wrote about the exhibition artist Sebastian Errazuriz made for Arte Basel in Miami entitled "12 Shoes for 12 Lovers". It was a collaboration with shoe brand Melissa in which the artist portrayed his ex-girlfriends in the form of shoes. The exhibit had such success that a very limited edition of the shoes was made and sold exclusively at Melissa's gallery/store in São Paulo, London, and New York.
At the time I felt envy, I must confess. Envy for those who were able to buy the fabulous and exclusive shoes I could only dream of.
Until one of these days I was passing by a Melissa store in Lisbon and something very familiar caught my eye. I thought I was dreaming, but no. There they were: a more commercial version of 3 of the 12 shoes. A special edition that anyone can afford. Well, not everyone, because two of the models cost more than 400 euros. But the flat version of "Hot Bitch" is only 75.
So yes, I bought them. I had the perfect excuse, as I was looking for some red shoes for some while. And now, not only have I a new pair of red shoes but above all, I have a piece of Sebastian's art on my feet. And I'm in love with it!

What to do with those tiny little Barbie shoes my 2 year-old could accidently swallow?Earings for myself, obviously!I just took some old earings, pierced the shoes with a warm needle, and voilá!
If only I thought of that when I was ten and got frustrared every time I lost a Barbie shoe... 

Who said grownups can't have crazy inflatables? Here are some awesome suggestions for all of you who like to release your innerchild with style! ;)

Who said grownups can't have crazy inflatables? Here are some awesome suggestions for all of you who like to release your innerchild with style! ;)