arsenic ratio

Recently, I was aware that, in England, there is a model agency for ugly people. Or, as others say: for people who doesn't fit in the actual beauty standards. Say that again?

Ok, there are beauty standards. Ok, there are people who doesn't make part of it. Ok, those people should have the same opportunities. But are they ugly?

Because what they are saying is that beautiful people need to be: white, tall, thin. At least. If you don't suit this description, sorry you're ugly. And that makes almost all of us.

Aesthetics is a very biased subject, it depends on culture, environment and...taste. The globalisation phenomenon had an important role on our sense of beauty. And instead of bringing us together, it is torning us apart. Now, instead of a myriad of beauty archetypes we have only one, no matter the place you live, or your traditions. Or even your values. Well, unless you live somewhere without any kind of media. But if you were, you wouldn't be reading this.

Being different is unpleasant, it is uncomfortable and it's...ugly. Don't you dare hurt other people's eyes with your unique look (or personality for that matter)!

My perception of beauty isn't perfection, it is disharmony. Those details that don't quite belong there. Perfection bores me, it tires my eyes. It makes me... itchy.

Beauty is made by comparison, you versus me. By genetics: I'm part of this group and you deserve to make part of it as well. If you are made of gold, you'll belong to the stars. Any other metal and you'll see the dark side of the world.

{What's your side of beauty?}

here and there #9 [365]

My dear dreamers,

I made no resolutions for this year but I want to start new projects and finish old ones. Today, at beautiful mess, I found the 365 Project.

It seems boring to do the same thing everyday for a year, but it's also challenging and gives you the opportunity to develop a skill. I was thinking how could I participate in this and yoga is my answer. It's something I love to do but rarely have the chance to practice. With this project I hope to learn new poses, be more flexible and strong. This will be my healthy year.

As a fan of lists, here are a couple of poses I'd like to accomplish.

tittibhasana

kapotasana

bakasana

tolasana

astavakrasana

parsva bakasana

Credits: All images by yoga journal.


What are your 2013 projects?

__

here and there #8 [change the question]
here and there #7 [good morning]
here and there #6 [pieces of pieces]

breathing #10 [i love my body]

My dear dreamers,

Monday is finally here to give you some inspiration. But today I want you to take a deep breath and continuing to read this post if you have a strong stomach. October, 8th is all about eating disorder.

This is a subject I often struggle about, I don't quite comprehend it yet. I always had problems with my weight, I've never be thin. Even at my best (and called ideal) weight I always had this bits of fatness that doesn't make me feel perfectly comfortable with my body (anyway, I still love it). But I never starved or induced vomiting. I exercise but never at the point of having no more energy at all. I'm not criticizing anyone, no one gets hill because they want to. However, I'd like to understand how someone reach that point. Because it's a kind of suicide. And I don't understand suicide either.

When I see pictures of ANA and MIA (acronyms for Anorexia and Bulimia) and the comments people leave at them, I feel ashamed of this society. They often say: "Oh! So beautiful!" but how can a disease, that leads you to death!, be beautiful? How an healthy person can desire to be only skin and bones? How this society is so wrecked?

Take vanishing from Laura, that I used to illustrate this post, as an example. How do you interpret this image? Does Laura wanted to show a romantic scene? Or does she wants to tell you than anorexia is anything but pain?

Thr background sets the mood: it's neither black (grief) or white (peace). It's grey. And grey is nostalgia  loss, depression. You can see that boy and girl are both sad. He's comforting her, but almost afraid to touch her fragile body. Notice that he's dressed and she's not. She exposes her body to the fierce nature, fighting and subsiding at the same time. Yelling for someone to support her. For me, this shows unconditional love. Being there at your worst moment. Helping you facing your fears.

I'll let you compare the following photographs and decide which one deserves to be perpetuated. And, please, remember always: learn how to eat in an healthy way and don't let anybody hurt you by their "standards". Beauty comes in all forms and sizes.

The first image I'm about to show you was found in Tumblr, in a blog about skinny girls and re-passed along as something beautiful and desirable. I was in shock.

♥ via she is so pretty

♥ via lady 2 be fit

As I prefer brighter images, I'll end this post with how we should feel about ourselves.

♥ via fuck yeah ashtanga yoga

♥ via asia-asia

How is your relationship with food?

eco design #5 [food for beauty]

My dear dreamers,

Sorry! This post is one day late, but it's here. And I'm warning this will be a passionate, all-embracing post with some strong opinions. Stop here if you don't want to be challenged.

Yesterday I just met buses and trains to safely arrive at my hometown. Viana do Castelo is known by its beauty, landscapes and hospitality. Its motto is: Who likes it comes, who loves it stays.

But why am I talking about this? Because our hometown is always in our hearts, that's where we mold our first memories, it's there that we lay our first moments of happiness. Did you know that happiness is sustainable?

You should know by now that money doesn't bring happiness or either it helps so (as many claims). Currency just makes you want more and more You're always unsatisfied with what you have. You always want what others own. Is that healthy? Is that good for you? I don't think so.

I'm not a materialistic girl for sure. Yes I have my collection of cosmetics + accessories, but I barely use them. I don't need them to feel pretty. When they say that cosmetics doesn't make you beautiful they're telling the true, they just enhance the features you already have. Do you know what really makes you beautiful? What makes you feel in peace/good with yourself? Is not only self-esteem. It's food. Yes, food!

When you read the labels of this or that cream, or in a lipstick, shadow or blush what do you look for? Vitamins, right? And you can see that most of the DIY tutorials are made with them (> food). We're so obsessed by this, but then we forget to eat correctly. Doesn't it seem non-sense to you? (And that thing of having a natural look with make-up, are you talking seriously?)

One thing I learned with my new diet is that an healthy meal makes wonders to your body. Your skin will look brighter, you'll don't have that much acne (at least the most part of the month), your hair will be shinier...

I'm sure you know we must eat vegetables and fruit, drink a lot of water, etc. But I'll show you what is the effect on your body of each nutrient. Follow me: 

♣ Beauty foods: what to eat to look great

♣ Simple ways to look beautiful

♣ How to choose foods that helps maintain your beauty  

♣ Good food for healthy skin - what to eat to look beautiful

♣ Top 10 foods to make you look and feel beautiful  

♣ Healthy recipes

However you don't want to eat that kind of food full of pesticides and other venoms that damage your skin.  And your body. You'll want sustainable food, that was born by passionated, caring and patient hands. More about this in the next eco post.

Are your meals green and yet colourful?

featuring #3 [yoga style]

The theme of today is yoga. Because I love it and I feel inspired by it. This year I want to practice more and maybe attending some yoga classes. Will you join me?



YoGa by ~Dig-Pho-Art on deviantART

yoga popits by Bonnie Russel [via flickr]

Bridge yoga by ~tekitos on deviantART

[via tumblr]

Astavakrasana by Nathan Tia [via flickr]

Beach yoga by *FotoArtImages on deviantART

Yoga Poses Vinyl Wall Art Set by paperockit [via etsy]

Check all these amazing artists, their galleries are full of surprises.

eco design #3 [beauty DIY]

It's difficult to go green being a woman.We need to feel beautiful and cosmetics make our life so much easier. But we can be ecological and, at the same time, take care of ourselves.

Treehugger has a wonderful article about this: go check it out! You'll save money and you'll be even more beautiful, because there will be no more chemicals to warm your skin.

And if you really want to cut your expenses, just start to eat in an healthy way: it makes wonders!

What are your beauty habits?