Carnaval Muse - Sabrina Sato

Just a quick note.

 Last night was the last day of Carnaval in Brazil and for a Brazilian like me, crazy for costumes I actually behave pretty good not sharing all the beautiful costumes I've seen thru out the past four days, but this one is a must! 

Sabrina Sato our "Muse" for Vila Isabel last night left me speechless!

Images via google search

Nostalgic

Just because… It's Carnaval!

Happy Carnaval!!!

Hotel Unique - Sao Paulo

As the name already implies not only describing the "Unique" design by Ruy Ohtake but also the "Unique" experience. I used to live in Sao Paulo, and I have never seen this city from this angle. Definitely my new home away from home... From the moment you walk into the Hotel, the super high ceilings, the decor, the art, the extraordinary service to the perfect welcoming into your room. How simple and genius is to serve coconut water in the coco? After long hours of flying and delays... It made me feel like the staff read my mind. The rooftop has the most amazing views of Sao Paulo (I have guz bumps just remembering!)... the most metropolitan city in Brazil, a concrete jungle of super high buildings and the Ibirapuera Park almost transformed into a live painting, just breathtaking!

I was there for only 3 days, with a full agenda of things I wanted to do in Sao Paulo and simply had no time to experience all the amenities. Besides the roof top red pool there is also a cover pool next to the gym, spa and also the restaurant on the top floor on my list for next time.

Very well located, a hot spot during Sao Paulo Fashion week...  The Unique Hotel will make your Brazil experience complete, I totally recommend!

                      

Back from Vacation!

 First of all...

I'm so lucky to have two summers per year! I just got back from an AMAZING vacation in Brazil! Almost a month traveling between Sao Paulo, Espirito Santo, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba and Rio de Janeiro; only me and my hubby, meeting friends and family along the way and going thru some adventures! 

I will break  down my vacation into many posts within the next several days when I get the chance to sort out over 4000 pics I have in my computer and iPhone. Talking about iPhone... I got mugged in my home town and they took my iPhone, that really traumatized me!  I'm Brazilian and as much I know how careful I should be in Brazil I think living in the US for such a long time has made me a little innocent.  Yes!!! I was robbed in Brazil at gunpoint for the first time! Thanks to iPhone technology (http://www.apple.com/iphone/icloud/#find) and my best friend that happens to be well and bad related, if you know what Im trying to say, somehow after hitting the favela  the phone got back to my hands in less than 24 hrs! But the fear of that moment will never leave my thoughts. 

Moving on...

I'm skinny but I eat! I mean... I can really eat and I love all the exotic and heavy foods from Brazil, but the problem is that my body is not used to it anymore, lol. It is even funnier to look at the collection of medication I brought back home. #noregrets  So in my last stop, Rio de Janeiro I spent a day at a local clinic with food poisoning. I learned my lesson from last time, so instead of feeling sick for 3-4 days one day of IV and proper antibiotics solved my problem and the next day I was back in the Ipanema sands; nothing really got on my way to have the best time as I'm always learning and it is all part of the experience. 

We had pretty much perfect weather every day and as much I was missing home at the end I can't wait to plan the next one!

Bellow, some Instagram pics just to warm up what is about to come and above all the wonderful things I brought back in my luggage; souvenirs, gifts & lots of shopping! 

Follow me to see all @inspiresmi

Jennifer Lopez for Brahma

Jennifer Lopez - "What is Sapucar?"

After learning what is Sapucar and $ 2.000.000 J Lo is coming to Brazil for the first time as the main star of the Brahma VIP room of Rio's Carnival.  Brahma did not confirm the value.

Favela Painting

The most pretty favela in Rio!!!

Santa Marta

Praça Cantão, Communidade Da Santa Marta, Rio De Janeiro

Using a flexible concept of colourful rays which can easily be expanded, Haas and Hahn made a design for the houses around the square and part of the street, including the local Sambaschool.
A group of local inhabitants where instructed by trainers from TintasCoral as part of the project "Tudo de Cor para Santa Marta."
They where taught everything from different types of paint to safety measures about working on scaffolding.
As every wall, every house needs another solution, the painters learn to work with all kinds of material.During the hard month of work they received an education as well as a paycheck.The inside of the sambaschool was painted in their traditional colors.The project made it onto the front page of Rio's largest newspaper!The final result was a huge artwork spanning over 34 houses.About 7000 square meters of hillside slum, converted into an new monument for the community. 

before

About the Artist Haas & Hahn

Haas&Hahn is the working title of artistic duo Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn. They started working together in 2005, when they filmed a documentary about hip hop in the favelas of Rio and São Paolo for MTV. Inspired by this visit, they embarked on a journey to bring outrageous works of art to unexpected places, starting with painting enormous murals in the slums of Brazil together with the local youth.

Amazing!!!

Brazilian Style Book

With evocative photography and fast-paced texts by W magazine editor Armand Limnander, Brazilian Style is a curated tour of the most important symbols of modern and traditional Brazil. A fresh and dynamic mix, capturing the culture of one of the most vibrant nations on earth.

 Brazil is such a place of contrasts, where the modern and the traditional mix in perfection, and this book is a curated tour of the most important symbols of the country. Published by Assouline

About the Book

Pelé, Oscar Niemeyer, caipirinhas, Sonia Braga, Vik Muniz, Ivo Pitanguy, Ipanema, Tropicália, and more… Brazilian culture is rich with artists and architects, models and screen stars, festivals and religions. Brazilian Style exports the country’s best—including legendary icons from the past as well as contemporary, cutting-edge trendsetters. With evocative photography and succinct, fast-paced texts, the book takes readers on a curated tour of the most important symbols of modern and traditional Brazil. Combining high and popular culture, Brazilian Style is a fresh and dynamic mix, capturing the spirit of one of the most vibrant nations on earth.

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