FESTIVAL MED 2014

Me with two friends pretty talented: Menau and Renato Brito

Four intense nights this week to celebrate Festival MED in the historical area of my hometown Loulé. It's a celebration of cultures, world music, handmade beauties and delicious food.

If I'm in Portugal on June I have to go! This year I enjoyed full on Thursday, went back home pretty late, barely walking, my legs and feet were so tired but my soul was alive and happy :)

It's turning a comercial festival which takes off all the essence. Also the organization should be more careful when choosing the last musical groups, Friday and Saturday was bad bad bad. But hey! I'm not complaining, organizing a festival like this is madness, so much to do, to think... I mean 5 or 6 stages going on at the same time... I prefer years ago when was only 3 stages (church, castle and university) but all good, I got the chance to see friends I haven't seen literally for years, it's beautiful to connect with them again. Such an honour to watch five friends on stage the last night and a bunch of people claping hands and dancing along.

GOALS 2014: HALF YEAR RECAP

Hello friends!

Here Iam again with my goals for this year. In the meanwhile I added much more goals (I'm a dreamer) but I'll keep these ones only to make it real.

So let's see how I'm doing, not so bad I guess. This is my progress from beggining of April until the end of June. If you missed the first Goals 2014 recap you can read here.

MARTA'S GOALS FOR 2014:

* Make a tattoo

Two first sessions are done, next is coming and finally color in my redwood! probably will need another session which makes 4 sessions total. I prefer to go slow (3 hours sessions max.) so I don't get too tired but I'm not really the most available person, I'm glad Helder, the tattoo artist is patient and always find time for me :) You can have an idea of my tattoo in this post. 

THE NEWEST BLOND IN THE BLOCK

(This is probably the most futile post I ever done but it's part of my 2014 goals I want to share in the blog)

Everytime I look at the mirror or I pass thru a shop window I can't believe is me, I mean, I needed a huge face change but this is too much :) I'm just getting used.

One of my 2014 goals was to dye my hair a bright color. I finally decided to dye pastel pink but to be possible I had to bleach my hair, I was a bit scared, especially after searching on internet more about bleaching hair and seen awful pictures of burned hair and holes in the top of the head.

My friend Nina, who's a hairdresser student needed a model to learn how to bleach hair so it was the opportunity, instead of doing myself I was doing it with a expert nearby, helping my friend and for free! To get the pastel pink I wanted I needed to bleach white blond, like a barbie doll but I didn't want to damage that much my hair so decided to bleach a bit and dye pink or ocean green afterwords.

SHANTI FAVORITES #3

I have this project in mind for a while. I love mid century furniture with a modern paiting touch!

CACELA VELHA SUMMER CRAFTS FAIR

Cacela Velha - The small old village where the Crafts Fair took place, right in front of the Atlantic Ocean and Ria Formosa. [Image Source]

Last Sunday me and mom decided to participate in this crafts fair with a stall. We know is a fair we don't earn good money but at least what we sell covers the expenses of gasoline, food and crafts shopping. The place is stunning, for around 5 years we attend this fair (if I'm in Portugal). It's a different day and if you live around don't miss it!

NEXT STOP: NETHERLANDS, BELGIUM AND LUXEMBURG

You might be wondering Marta doesn't travel out of Portugal for 2 months, what's going on? Don't worry next week I will be in Europe for a short trip of 20 days in Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg. Because is such a quick trip we planned days to be in the places so we don't waste one minute. 

PRETTY PLEASE: If you are living or traveling in the same place and same time as me I'd love to meet up with you! Haven't meet any foreign Shanti Free Bird reader yet and I'm excited to do so. I love to meet people!! Save the date, for July.