via i can read
Thursday flavour
Madeleines remind me of Sundays at Grandma. Tea pots and small cakes and quince jam in different strengths, one per each grandchild... oh those were the days!
Concha, from the wonderful blog Saidos da Concha, has a recipe for these Grandma-feel-good-afternoon Madeleines which I would highly recommend for your weekend. While you're there, you may want to peak at the other tutorials... and spend a little cosy time on the blog... pure real eye candy!
::inspiring Mondays::
Photo: Fireworks in Porto on S. João by One of My Friends Because They're Good At This!
Sunshine. Thank you Monday, it's been fabulous! Please visit often, you're welcome here.
This weekend was S. João (Saint John) in Porto. Last year, I thought I would photograph it this year, but life had other plans and I stayed in the UK instead. Whilst I had a relaxing weekend, oh what joy would it have been to join in on the fun at home, take to the streets, share the joy and forget life for a night, over grilled sardines and a lot of walking! I couldn't be there, but my reporters provided me with photos; I am well connected!
So as I was saying... I had a relaxing weekend, made far more relaxing by the fact that my laptop charger died a death and I could not be online at all. So I knitted instead; the green cardi that I can't wait to finish. And watched tv, fast and slow. And cuddled with Mister JJ, as I'm cat-sitting at the moment.
:: sunshine ♥
:: running. solo. it felt good.
:: chatting to my parents. I love it how I love it.
:: an email this morning telling me how that person was looking forward to... inspiring Mondays!
:: watching the wind outside. so soothing.
:: new projects. with food.
:: my friends. again and again, my friends.
:: cycling to work this morning ♥
:: a new phone.
:: friends who let me use their photos when I couldn't be there to take my own!
:: chatting to LMrJ just before sleeping... ♥
How was your Monday? Inspiring, I hope. And promising. And if not, may you find some smiles here. Help yourself, take one, it's free ;)
Photo: Releasing an illuminated flame-propelled balloon on S. João by One of My Friends Because They're Good At This!
Kiva
As the loans made in December were repaid, it was time to go back to Kiva. LMJ reader meet Joana and Nilda.
Joana is from Timor-Leste and Nilda from Peru. Whilst geographically distant, they have a common goal: to develop a business that gives them a better life. With our help, they can do it!
About Kiva in their own words
"We are a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world."
Thursday flavour
Strawberry yoghurt popsicles.
Veronika from a few things from my life posted this yummy looking recipe for strawberry yoghurt popsicles... Oh Sunday, you are looking so promising now! Actually, I could have one or two just now.
a suggestion
Yes, it's only Tuesday. Yes, there's loveliness in the world. Yes, I would still very much like to enjoy this glass of white wine with that beautiful light in the background, in good company.
::inspiring Mondays::
This Monday came as a balm of fresh air and sunshine. I spent my Friday night and all of Saturday (I repeat, all of Saturday!) with a headache, so in my books at the moment Saturdays can be so boo that the least good Monday can overcome them. And this one did.
I love knitting. It's one of the things that completely grabs my attention in such a focussed manner than I can switch off completely. For us knitting lovers, wool is a marvellous thing and wool shopping is one of the very shopping experiences (along with fabric shopping, of course) that I truly enjoy! So when I saw this hand-dyed carrot wool made by a Portuguese artist, alfinete, there was only one thing I could do... GET IT! And so I did! It is mine, all mine! It's beautiful and soft and mine!
:: Monday sunshine.
:: any day sunshine, really!
:: sending photos to Mum and Dad of the dress I'll be wearing for my cousin's wedding. and the conversation that followed. including details of the shoes and other accessories. with both of them. love, really love, their effort to be there for me on the silly things
:: calling Dad to moan about flight prices. I know, it's annoying, he says to me, but that's the price, what can I do. nothing, I say, just listen to me rant. ok, he replies, rant away. another important mission in a Dad's life, completed.
:: Little Brother's emails. a mini bombardment of adorableness.
:: my hot water bottle. even in June, the little thing warms my heart and my body!
:: Portugal is through to the quarter finals of the Euro 2012. exciting.
:: carrot cake. and lovely Sunday afternoon chats and laughs.
:: bootcamp. it just feels good!
How has your Monday been? Better than the weekend and filled with lovely promises of a great week... I hope :)
Thursday flavour
Tomato sauce.
Margarida, from ei! kumpel has a delicious tomato sauce recipe on her blog along with a few suggestions on how to keep it. Perfect weekend kitchen moment!
LMJ could live here
via Interior Photos
Where do I start? I love the bed! It looks comfy and stylish and... inviting! The window is fabulous! The light is worthy of an essay! How not to want to live there?
::inspiring Mondays::
LMJ is thinking of sunshine and flowers and dreaming a summer dream. Yep! It's the only way to endure a day like today... it rained all day. I repeat. All. Day. So LMJ went into a little place in her dreams where the world is bathed by sunlight and life is wonderful and sweetly dry. It was lovely, just lovely!
If I could, I would invite the people who invented skype for tea. And cake. And a banquet or feast. With champagne and Port. These people, who know nothing about LMJ nor LMrJ, are making our relationship possible and so much more bearable. We can chat and see each other and be cute and almost cuddly. We can leave it on for hours while he works and I do photographs and we comment on each other's things and insert a few real-life cuteness here and there. We watch the football together and it's almost like he's in the room with us. And for a little while, this enormous distance and the whole Atlantic ocean seem so, but so small that I can almost touch him! So... you lovely Skype inventors, drop by for tea and whatever else when you're in the neighbourhood!
:: dreaming. it's fabulous!
:: Little Brother's posts on my facebook. and his emails. it warms my heart!
:: watching the Euro 2012 with friends from all over the place! it's great!
:: my friends speaking to LMrJ on Skype. so sweet!
:: cococita texting me words of encouragement.
:: Indian food. LMJ could do with a lamb tikka right now...!
:: discussing my photo assignments with EP and JZ... brilliant!
:: this rain apparently will save us all from drought... there's always a silver lining... or so they say.
:: dress for cousin's wedding sorted. purple ♥
I'd love to hear about how dry (or wet!) your Monday has been. Whatever the weather, I hope it was inspiring :)
a British education
Watching the celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II... my adopted Queen. Box ticked! All part of LMJ's British education.
Notes of the day:
:: Queenie has a great sense of fashion, lovely as ever!
:: Kate, your red dress was fabulous. I'll repeat that, fa-bu-lous!
:: Prince Philip is funny even when he doesn't speak. we like.
:: British people, you have my respect. rain and more rain and you were all there, waving little flags. respect!
:: who was the planner of the canopy-less boat where the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir singers got completely soaked? who? you are naughty!
:: Cadbury's dairy milk chocolate goes well with everything. yes, it does.
:: my friend Julie makes the best cosmopolitans!
::inspiring Mondays::
Bank holiday Monday of the Jubilee weekend. At times like these, one has to love this country. Four days, yes four, of pure enjoyment and celebration... and for LMJ, a few days of relaxing nothingness! Oh how I love nothingness!
Bristol. I love Bristol. Bristol was my first home in the UK; I felt welcome here, I made good friends and I embraced British culture and its people. Britain became my second home because of Bristol and it will always have a special place in my heart. And in my sleeping heaven, as my old room in Bristol is still where I sleep the best of sleeps!
:: Bristol.
:: long weekend in Bristol ♥
:: white wine with J.
:: cocktails with J.
:: watching the Jubilee celebrations! Go Queenie!
:: watching the Jubilee celebrations! Go Queenie!
:: endless episodes of Miss Marple and Lewis and Midsomer Murders. Oh British drama!
:: Pride and Prejudice. the series!
:: girly chat
:: pale blue nails! who would have thought?!
:: kitten cuddles ♥
:: takeaway. yes, home cooked food is the best ever, but ordering takeaway on a girly night is just the best!
:: Watershed!
:: outfit selection with a pro and jewellery custom order... the joys of having artistic friends.
:: kitten cuddles. yep, that's good!
:: my boyfriend ♥
:: wrong weather forecast! hehehehe
:: a little lovely quote in the mail...
I hope you've all had a lovely Monday, working or otherwise, preferably with some sunshine and magical light. LMJ is going to indulge in more girly chats and takeaways and white wine... and kitten cuddles. Yep!
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