Photography: Lindsey Thoeng
Cuba
I am writing this post 10 days after I returned from Cuba, but it feels like my heart is still there. I loved that country so much that to be honest I don't even know where to start talking.
I was never crazy about going to Cuba. I love traveling so of course I was curious to go there one day, the same way that I feel about several other countries, but it was not on my top 10 list of places to go. This trip just happened thanks to a group of friends who wanted to go there and basically put Lindsey and I in their plans.
As usual, I did a lot of research before going, which was great because there was basically no internet there, so it was nice to have a plan with some things to do. However, one of the best parts of the trip was not having internet and the things we did without planning, just living the moment.
When we arrived in Havana and started to walk around the streets of Havana Vieja, a lot of feelings and questions came to my mind. Being in a communist country that basically stopped in time in 1959 made me think about many things that I hadn't paid much attention before. At first, I felt sorry for the young people growing up there. I wondered how my life would've been like if I was born in Cuba. I like to dream big, work hard after my goals, and I'm always looking for something new to use as a purpose. I thought that I would hate to be from a place that has even less opportunities than Brazil.
And then, on the second day of the trip we met David, a young Cuban man who was so intelligent, charismatic, honest, and above all happy. We met him in a bar and he ended up showing us a few places around Havana, and at the end of the night I found out he didn't have a home. He told me that he eats and sleeps at different friends' houses every night. My eyes were filled with tears right away. I just didn't want to believe or accept that such an incredible young man had to live that way. I started thinking about why some people are born with so many privileges while others have nothing. I closed my eyes and thanked for all the opportunities I have. I felt stupid for complaining about such stupid small things sometimes. And I went to bed thinking about David and the Cuban people.
The next day we found David again, which was not very easy considering we had no internet and no cell phones. And it was on that day that I started to realize that the lack of opportunities and ambition is what makes the Cuban people so happy. Every time I looked at David he had a huge smile on his face. He introduced us to some of his friends, and they were always singing, joking around, and laughing. That was when I realized how wrong I was at the first day when I arrived in Cuba. I noticed that David, who had nothing, lives happier than many wealthy business men I know in New York. People who work and stress out so much that they barely have a chance to enjoy the money that they make or the stuff that they own. And no matter what, at the end of the day, life goes by so fast and can't take nothing from here.
I came back to NY wanting to enjoy more and worry less. I want to spend more quality time with my friends, to sit down to talk without worrying about the time, and to not use every spare hour to do an extra job.
The trip to Cuba ended up being much more than another beautiful place to see. It touched me in ways that I did not expect and somehow changed the way I see certain things. I can not wait to go back and spend more time to learn even more about this incredible place.
outfit 1| outfit 2 | outfit 3
First day in Havana Vieja
Photography: Lindsey Thoeng
Sunday on the roof
Last Sunday I spent part of my afternoon helping my friend Chelsea to "build" her roof. She lives in Bushwick and has an amazing backyard that happens to also be a private roof. She has incredible roommates and they have decided to make the roof the coolest spot for us to hang out this summer.
First the idea was just to make it nicer and more comfortable, but then we started to get more creative and promises of palm trees and bath tubs have been rolling around and I am so excited to help making this place look incredible. I will probably be posting more photos from the #VanRoof this summer, and I have actually started shooting some videos of the renovation/decoration process so stay tuned for more.
Now about my outfit, summer has not even started yet and I am already wearing my crop tops. I have actually forbidden myself to buy any more crop tops because so many let see how that goes lol. But I found this red one about a month ago for $5.90 at Zara and since that's basically what I paid for my coffee I decided to just get it. Not super proud, but I definitely love the color. I also love my new skirt from H&M which was also super cheap (I think it was $34.90) and I will be wearing it all the time this summer. And lastly but not least, how hot are my new ray bans? I can't take them off my face!!
Sunglasses: Smart Buy Glasses | Crop top: Zara | Skirt: H&M | Shoes: Steve Madden
Photography: Lindsey Thoeng
T&J Wedding
Last Saturday I felt really honored to be at my friends Theresa and Jessica wedding in Brooklyn. Jessica has been friends with my girlfriend Lindsey Thoeng for a long time, and I met the couple right in the beginning when I started dating Lindsey. They are both so beautiful, have an incredible vibe to be around, and their wedding was the most beautiful one I have ever been.
First of all, it was my first lesbian wedding, so I was super excited. And then these two sutnning girls walk down the aisle with so much peacefulness and graciousness. You could tell through their shinning eyes how much that moment was important for them.
I feel like I could barely breath during the ceremony. I just felt this intense urge of happiness, love and joy, and then I started to cry once they started their vows. Theresa is a DJ and after the ceremony the dance floor was LIT! Every single person was dancing and there was even a drag queen and dancers performing. But beside the unforgettable party that they threw, the best part was to be there celebrating their love. Everyone there had a huge smile in their face.
Photography: Lindsey Thoeng
Black Leather Skirt
Barre shoulder & red lips
Glasses: GlassesUSA | Top: similar here | Jeans: Twenty5a
When I was a little kid I used to ask my mom if I could wear glasses. I don't really understand why but I wanted it so badly. Now, 20 years after I am finally able to wear a cute pair of glasses. They are not real prescription glasses, but just an accessory to make an outfit or look more interesting. I matched it with red lips and a bare shoulder to add a more sexy touch, and went for lunch in the Flatiron District on a beautiful sunny day.
Super Dry SS Collection
Temptu Lipstick
It took me a while to become a fan of lipsticks. I started using eyeliner basically every day when I was only 13 years old, then got addicted to mascara, foundation, and blush. But lipstick kind sounded a little outdated, and it always made me feel like I was wearing too much makeup. Until the matte lipsticks became a thing a couple years ago. Now I can never leave the house without the last touch on my lips.
This Temptu kit has been my go to since I got it last March. I love how the lipsticks feel creamy but still delivers a natural matte look. The kit comes with 4 beautiful shades and they are basically all I need for every occasion.
From top to bottom: Rose Velveteen, Blushed Suede, Plush Plum, and Jet Rouge
My favorite color for everyday is the Blushed Suede, and the Plush Plum for when I am in the mood for a more dramatic look. I have to confess that when I put the Jet Rouge (the darkest one) on I absolutely loved it! I felt so feminine and powerful. But I haven't had the chance to use it outside of my house yet. I feel like I need a special occasion for it, which you guys will see for sure on my Instagram soon: I'm planning to wear it on a night out in my upcoming trip to Cuba.
So glad I stopped being boring and started exploring lipstick colors haha, What are your favorite colors and trends for lips? Help out this lipstick newbie girl!
Yoga at Yogaworks
I’m the type of person who loves to try out a bunch of different workout classes: from boxing to dancing anything that seems challenging sparks a interest in me.
Yoga is one of the classes that it’s pretty challenging for me because I’m not flexible at all, and I usually prefer the classes which I run/jump/lift and sweat like a crazy person. But there were so many times that I did yoga and enjoyed it so much that I decided that in 2007 I was going to get better at it. I told myself that I was going to practice more often to improve my flexibility, breathing, posture, and that way enjoy yoga every time I do it, because nothing compares to that peaceful feeling afterwards.
I got super happy when I started doing classes at Yogaworks. First of all, the stuff there is super nice, and the studios are so beautiful, with great lighting that makes me feel relaxed by just being there. Their instructors are amazingly patient, and capable of helping everybody in the class. I especially loved how they are very specific about how you should do each move, explaining how your posture should be, and how you should feel.
And then I decided to try the Coreworks class and it made me fall in love even more with the studio. I came to the class thinking I was going to nail it because I work my core so much doing boxing and total body conditioning at the gym, and I was extremely surprised about how there are many other exercises to work your core, targeting different muscles that I didn’t even know I had. I felt my abs tighter after the class (yay) and broke a sweat just the way I love. Definitely recommend trying that class! In NYC I did it with the instructor Lynette Johnson and she’s wonderful!
Now, how cute is my sportswear from Boohoo? I’m kind obsessed with it and got some compliments in the locker room (yay again). This set is super comfortable and is a great deal for the price. The link to shop it is below:
Sports bra: Boohoo | Leggings: Boohoo
Check out more more outfit from Boohoo Fitness
Photography: Lindsey Thoeng
Happy in pink
Keep me where the light is
Windmills
get the look
Love affair with Moroccanoil
My love affair with Moroccanoil started a long time ago, even before I moved to the USA. And I’ve been here for 5 years already! I remember that when I was coming to live here I was excited about a lot of things, and I have to confess that one of them was the fact that I could easily find Moroccanoil everywhere here. Things has changed since then and I can also easily find them in Brazil now, they are an unanimous obsession among all my friends there.
One of the things that makes me love Moroccanoil is the smell of it. My hair smells SO delicious after washing it with the shampoo and conditioner!
But my truly favorites from Moroccanoil has always been the Moroccanoil Treatment and the Intense Hydrating mask. I use the oil every time I wash my hair. I only need to put one little drop before I dry it and the results are so noticeable: my hair gets a natural glow and a healthier look. And the mask is saving my hair since I got highlights. These two products are a must if you want stronger and beautiful hair.
Lastly but not least, I have recently started to use their dry shampoo for dark hair and it’s so genial! I have used other brands of dry shampoo before and I love them too, but since they were not made for dark hairs they made my hair white because of the powder. Then I have to remove the excess, which can be annoying. So the dry shampoo is definitely going to become a must in my bathroom cabinet as well. And apart from the color, the smell of it it’s delightful (I know I’ve talked about the smell of their products already, but it’s so good I have to say it again haha).
I wanna make it here
Oh New York City! I think I've never felt the mix of hate and love for anything else as I feel for NYC. I hate the comute, the winter, the expensive rent, the lack of space, the traffic, the fact that I don't have laundry inside my apartment, the mean people in the streets, and the constant feeling of not having enough time to do it all. The last one I think is what bothers me the most. One of the greatest thing about living in NYC is the variety of things to do here. You will never get bored. And although I love that, it also makes me feel like I am not doing enough, because there is so much to do. But I definitely love that "problem" in the same amount I hate it. Right now, this city is the place where I keep my creativity and dreams alive. There is something about the streets, the buildings, and the lights, that gives me the feeling of "I wanna make it here". This feeling is stronger than my hate for any of those things I mentioned in the beginning of my post. So every time I start feeling tired or discouraged I try to stop complaining about the bad and focusing in the good part of this sleepless city. I reunite with my friends, shoot some cool photos with my girlfriend Lindsey, and stop to think about all the opportunities that I can only find here. Hopefully, sometime soon I will achieve all the goals I have in mind for this place.
Dress: Asos | Bag: Melie Bianco | Boots: Stuart Weitzman
Highlights of my NYFW
I have a feeling that in NYC time goes by faster than everywhere else, and I am always surprised by how soon New York Fashion Week comes around again and again. Although its a pretty busy time for me, and it can also be very hard when is extremely cold or snowing, I love that week so much. Before I moved to NYC I used to dream about going to the shows and seeing the collections on the runway, so I try to keep that dream alive and appreciate the bright side of it.
This season I was really happy to see the show of Noon by Noor and Leanne Marshall again. The clothes at Noon by Noor were so modern and on point, I could wear everything! And it was great to see Leanne Marshall's show for the 4th time in a row. She's so good with the drape of her gowns and they are always flowy. I also love how this time she introduced some pants and bright reds to her collection. Maybe its a reflection of the power woman that she's becoming.
Another show that I was so pleased with was Farm's presentation. Farm is a Brazilian brand and they have really cool prints and pieces to rock at the beach or on a tropical vacation.
Lastly, my favorite moment of fashion week was to have the opportunity to be at the Public School backstage ( huge thanks Aveda). I always love to go to the backstages and see the show being prepared, but Public School was such a cool experience. I am a big admirer o Maxwell Osbourne and Dao-Yi Chow so it was nice to see them working from close. The Aveda team was lovely as always and they made the models look even more gorgeous than they already are. And I got to see the clothes first hand as the models were making their way to the catwalk. The clothes were dope as usual, but this time with a special message: "Make America New York". We definitely need to keep reminding each other about love and resistance, and I was beyond happy seeing this message on Public School show. I can't wait to get one of those hats.
Rio de Janeiro
Like every Brazilian, I always heard about Rio as "The Wonderful City". After this trip I couldn't agree more with that reference. The beaches, the Guanabara Bay, the views, the people, and the good energy of Rio can not be compared to any other place I have ever been.
We stayed at the Arena Ipanema Hotel, which aside from having a wonderful breakfast, was very well located.
On our first day in Rio we took the cable car ride that goes to the Santa Teresa neighborhood. When we got there we went to Parque das Ruinas, which is a park with an art gallery built around the ruins of a mansion.
Then we walked to the Selarón steps, where Snoop Dog and U2 shot music videos.
And then it started to get dark so we took an uber to Bar do Mineiro in the Lapa neighborhood. There we tried the pastel the feijoada. Pastel is a typical Brazilian savory pastry and feijoada is a bean dish. Pastel is a common snack but usually filled with cheese or chicken flavor, not feijoada. So we had to go there and try it. It was delicious! Lapa is a great area to visit in the evening. There are plenty of bars, restaurants, live music, and people wanting to have a good time.
On the second day we decided to rent bikes and ride them around the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. At first we tried to rent RioBike (Rio's version of citibike), but all the kiosks were empty so we ended up renting from the people who are right next to the lagoon. The rental price was 15 reais for an hour. After the bike ride we got a little hungry and went for lunch in Lage Park. Such a beautiful place!
The third day was amazing! We woke up super early and went on a hike at Morro dos Dois Irmãos. To get on the trail, we took a mototaxi (a taxi which is a motorcycle) at the entrance of the Vidigal Favela. We went with a tour guide who grew up and lives in the favela, so we felt safe at all times. The hike was far more difficult than we had expected. As always, I did a research on all the tours, and everything I read said that it was an easy hike, but in reality it was not easy to get to the top. However, it was so so so worth it. The view from up there was my favorite view from this trip. Besides that we also burned a lot of calories and now we had an excuse to eat a lot of cheese bread and drink caipirinhas haha. On the way back we asked our tour guide if we could take another mototaxi instead of walking because Lindsey loved the "adventure" of it.
After the hike we went to the hotel to take a shower and eat because we needed it so badly. We still had time to take a 40-minute nap before our next tour: Floresta da Tijuca.
We visited the forest with Gui a tour guide from the agency Rio4fun. He knows every part of the forest and took us to the most beautiful spots. We brought our drone with us and we did some nice shots of the forest (you can see everything in the video at the end of this post). Then he took us to Tacacá do Norte, which is a store/restaurant with food from the northeast of the country. There we tried açai with tapioca, crab cake, cupuaçu ice cream and the famous tacacá.
On the fourth day we went to Arraial do Cabo. What a gorgeous place! Although the water at some beaches was quite cold, it was also super crystalline, just like the Caribbean beaches. I felt like I was in paradise.
On the fifth day we finally went to Christ the Redeemer. Thanks to my research, I found out that the best way to visit the Christ is in the morning, if possible right when they open. And that's what we did, we took the 8am cable car to the top of Corcovado and we got there when everything was quiet. After about 15 minutes the place was filled with people. And yes, it's very beautiful up there because it has a stunning view of the Guanabara Bay, and it's exciting to be at one of the seven wonders of the world.
Another outstanding part of our trip was watching the sunset on Ipanema Beach. The sky was splendid, and I felt so peaceful and calm. Also, when the sun disappears behind the Morro dos dois irmãos everyone started to applause. I won't forget that moment.
On our last day in Rio we enjoyed the morning at the hotel's pool. Part of me was super happy for having done so much cool stuff while in Rio, and another part was sad because I knew the trip was almost over and very soon I would have to return to the NY winter.
There are places that we visit and we like them very much, but we do not think about returning again. This is certainly not the case for Rio de Janeiro. Every day I think about how "wonderful" this city is and I cannot wait to go back there.
You can see all the fun in Rio on my vlog:
A day at Parque Ibirapuera wearing Reviled
Right now I am sitting on my couch under a cozy blanket, which is super nice and comfortable, but I can't stop wishing I could go back to that morning at Parque Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, Brasil. That park is basically the Brazilian version of Central Part. It was super nice to be there walking around and breathing in the clean air.
Both my top and culottes are from Reviled. I am in love with this mesh top! I have been obsessed with everything mesh lately and this combination with leather made me have major heart eyes.
Top: Reviled | Culottes: Reviled | Sandals: Dr Martens | Sunglasses: YSL
Photography: Lindsey Thoeng
Silver Slip Dress
HIIT: best way to burn fat
HIIT (high intensity interval training), which is any workout that alternates between intense exercise and less-intense or rest. For example, what I do is:
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