Wine in the afternoon

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Andy Warhol was born on August 6, 1928 and died of cardiac problems on February 22, 1987. His real name was Andrew Warhola, and he was one of my favourite artists and one of the main names of Pop Art.

I suppose I have a really loose interpretation of “work” because I think that just being alive is so much work at something you don’t always want to do. Being born is like being kidnapped. And then sold into slavery. People are working every minute. The machinery is always going. Even when you sleep.

Why you should love him: His work is simply amazing; He changed the way people look at Campbell’s canned soup; He hung out with the coolest croud, and basically invented the concept of cool we know today; He could see what was behind fame and wealth; Edie Sedgwick; He did volunteer work; He donated almost the entirety of his estate to a foundation dedicated to the “advancement of the visual arts”; He owned The Factory, basically the best place to be in NY at the time; He looked wicked cool; He discovered the Velvet Underground.

But I always say: one’s company, two’s a crowd and three’s a party.

How to celebrate him: Eat Campbell’s tomato soup, a Big Mac and drink Coke; Paint, draw, make something, and preferably listening to music; Film things happening, preferably obscene things; Wear a white wig; Dress in stripes; Channel Edie Sedgwick (I’m obsessed with her); Watch any of his movies; Listen to The Velvet Underground, The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Blondie, Bob Dylan and Diana Ross; Watch Factory Girl and Absolut Warhola; Go out and be fabulous.

“In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.” I’m bored with that line. I never use it anymore. My new line is, “In fifteen minutes everybody will be famous.”

Miss Sofia

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• Some party ideas from Yes & Yes. If you want to have the best party ever, though, just do it like Katy Perry.
• Lockerz is a site that gives you points you can exchange for rewards. You basically answer polls, and then you can trade your points for clothes, make-up and videogames. It seems sort of fun.
• Partybusters is like Rio’s The Cobra Snake. I’m actually in some of those photos!
• Recipes for Vodka drinks from Absolut. I got a big bottle of Absolut for my birthday, but it’s been sitting on a shelf ever since, because I don’t drink.
• Do you know where the name Cheap Trick came from? What about The Beatles? Snow Patrol? The Velvet Underground? Find out here!
• ThisNext is like perfect internet window-shopping. And if you care to send me a Christmas present, here’s my incredibly long Wishlist.

And this video is from the girl band I used to be in! We sucked, and we’re playing a cover of Fell in Love with a Girl, originally by The White Stripes.

Miss Sofia

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• TiLT: Doing Things I love Thursday has made me quite happier. I feel more grateful for nice things, and complain less.
• Indie Rock Festival: There’s a rock festival going on tomorrow, and I won free tickets at an internet giveaway! So tomorrow I’m going to see Gogol Bordello, Super Furry Animals, El Mató a un Policia Motorizado and Holger live. Rock concerts are one of my favourite things in the whole world, since I have an undying love for music and rockstars, and I’m really excited about this one.
• My little cousin: My uncle and aunt had their first baby a couple of months ago. They’re now living in the US, but they keep e-mailing me photos and videos of their son, and he’s definitely cute.
• Books: Finally finishing The Beautiful & Damned, starting Brave new world, buying books online, Bookcrossing ( I know I totally owe you an article on that. I promise it’s on its way), notebooks, everything about books. I know, I’ve been kind of obsessed lately.
• Coco Chanel: On monday I went to the movies and watched Coco avant Chanel. Man, she’s amazing, and I stood in awe after the movie. Not only was she an incredible designer, she also had an awesomely strong personality. To sum it up, she’s great, and the movie’s great, and you should watch it.
• Vacation plans: In less than a month I’ll be free from college until next year. I have various interesting plans for my vacations, including working on a book publishing company, an incredible new year’s eve party, and making an online magazine with a friend. I love making plans, they keep me excited and motivated.
• Gossip Girl: I’ve mentioned this before, but I adore this show. It’s silly, and bad, but I love it. And I was really excited about the threesome that went on this week, because I have this infatuation with love triangles and such. So, yeah, Gossip Girl is on my list this week. Again.
• Wi-Fi: Wireless internet means I’m writing this from my philosophy’s class. Oh, the miracles of technology.

Come on, I’m waiting for your list!

Miss Sofia

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Yesterday there was a huge blackout in 12 Brazilian states and in Paraguay. It started at around 22h, and the lights didn’t come back until 1h30. Thankfully me, my mom and my sister were safe at home. Still, it was really annoying and slightly scary, and I noticed how dependent on electricity we are. After throwing a fit and punching the walls a couple of times because I was watching the pilot of Melrose Place on TV (I know…) and it was interrupted right after Sidney’s death, I tried to figure out what to do. I’m scared of fires in confined places, specially spaces like my really messy bedroom, so I didn’t really want to light candles. I ended up eating, talking to my mom and watching Heathers on my notebook, and by the time I was going to sleep the lights were back up. Still, I decided I would write a small article on how to entertain yourself when the lights are out.

1. Take a bath: Light candles, turn up a battery-powered radio (or the iTunes on your laptop), get a glass of wine and take a warm bath. A book or someone to keep you company are optional.
2. Talk: Have you ever realized how easy it is to not really engage in conversation with the people you live with? How much time you spend in the same environment as someone else not really paying attention to the other person? How people can spend more time catching up with friends through IM than with parents, siblings and roomates that live in the same house? So just spend time enjoying the company of those who live with you. Unless, of course, you live alone.
3. Escape: I have some friends who just went to their cars, turned up the AC, the radio and the lights and waited there. It’s always an option. You can also go to someone’s place, if the problem was just at your apartment/building/street.
4. Take photos: Taking photos in the dark is great. Preferably with Lomo cameras, such as the lovely Colorsplash.
5. Draw: Take some crayons and make drawings. Since you’re not really seeing things all that clearly, specially colours, the outcome can be quite surprising.
6. Cook & eat: Enjoy the opportunity to have a candlelit dinner with a loved one (or by yourself, why not?). Make something using the oven (your microwave isn’t working), light candles and eat. Make it a romantic impromptu situation. Bonus points if you pretend you’re in and old time when electricity hadn’t been invented yet.

What do you do in situations like this?

Miss Sofia

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So yesterday I placed my first ever order from Amazon. Since I live in Brazil, there are importation taxes, and it’s not as cheap to buy books from Amazon as it would be if I lived in the US. Still, I managed to find some incredible deals, and me, my mom and my sister bought some Christmas presents in advance for ourselves. Here’s what we bought:

• Pants on fire, by Meg Cabot: This one is for my sister, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to read it too. I used to be a huge Meg Cabot fan, and have read most of her books, so my sister got into her too. It’s the best deal we got: $0,01 for a used hardcover. The problem is that, added shipping & taxes, the actual price is $12,50.
• Take another little piece of my heart: A Groupie grows up, by Pamela Des Barres: As you might have guessed from this article, that one is for me. It’s the sequel for her book I’m with the band, and I’m dying to read it. $0,60 for a used hardcover, but also more expensive with shipping & taxes.
• Being Human at work: Bringing somatic intelligence into your work life, by Richard Strozzi-Hecker: It’s a work book for my mom, because she works with somatic education. It seems really interesting, and she was thrilled to find it. We got it used, and the whole price (shipping & taxes included) ended up the same as the price for a new book not considering the fees.
• God Hates us All, by Hank Moody: Oh, yes. If you’re an avid reader of this blog you probably also guessed that this one is for me. By the lovely price of $10,00, new. Oh, yes, Moody, now you’re mine.
• Nine Dragons, by Michael Connelly: My mom is a huge Michael Connelly fan, so she was totally excited to see his new book had already come out. This one was the normal price, about $15,00, but she was so happy that we bought it anyway.
• The Vampire Diaries: The Return – Nightfall, by L. J. Smith: My sister has read all Twilight books, and is now reading Vampire Diaries. I’m kind of bored of the whole teenage vampires thing, actually. New hardcover for $9,00.
• Airhead, by Meg Cabot: Also for my sister, but I’m going to read it too, just like Pants on Fire. We got an used edition for $0,50, which means the whole order was for $13,00.

Well, point is: I’m excited! They won’t be getting here before December, so I’m going to wait reading Brave New World, Los Amores Dificiles (in spanish, as I’m trying to brush up my skills) and The Diamond as big as the Ritz. Yay, I’m such a bookworm.

Have you purchased any books lately? What have you been reading? Do you usually buy books online?

Miss Sofia

I’ve just relearned the bass for these two songs today, since I’m going to be playing them with my new band. Our first practice is the day after tomorrow, I’m kind of nervous. Wish me luck!

Miss Sofia

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Nick Hornby is a 52-years-old English writer, and he’s one of my favourite novelists. I’ve read most of his books, and they’re all pretty much amazing. The style is great, and the stories are catchy and easy to relate to (a man thinking back on his failed relationships, a teenage boy who’s made fun of in school, suicidal tendencies on new year’s eve), so I definitely recommend them to pretty much everyone.

People worry about kids playing with guns, and teenagers watching violent videos; we are scared that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobodies worries about kids listening to thousands – literally thousands – of songs about broken hearts and rejection and pain and misery and loss.

Why you should love him: He makes great references to music, movies, books, football and other pop-culture elements; He has an autistic son, and he donated part of the profits of Speaking with the Angel to a charity for children who suffer from that problem; 4 of his books were made into films (High Fidelity, Fever Pitch, About a boy and An Education) and there’s a 5th one in the making (A long way down); He’s bald and ugly, but totally charming; He’s hilarious when he wants to be, but can be deliciously dramatic when the situation calls for it; His sarcastic and dry sense of humour makes me smile.

Random fact: He’s a hardcore supporter of the english football team Arsenal Football Club, and was featured on The Times list of 50 Worst Famous Football Fans.

How to celebrate him: Make top 5 lists; Write about how certain songs make you feel; Go on crazy book shopping sprees; Attempt to write a book review, then give up and write about why you don’t want to write that book review; Read one of his books; Watch one of his movies (I suggest About a boy, because it features not only the lovely Hugh Grant but also Nicholas Hoult, more famous for his part as Tony in Skins, when he was still a kid); Listen to Patti Smith, Bob Dylan, Santana, Nelly Furtado, Badly Drawn Boy, The Bible and The Avalanches; Watch a football match (bonus points if Arsenal is playing and you scream at the top of your lungs); Donate to a charity and/or volunteer; Sing Joni Mitchell or Carole King, preferably off-key; Spend New Year’s Eve at the top of Topper’s House (but, please, don’t jump); Cry over failed relationships while listening to Neil Young.

It seems to me now that the plain state of being human is dramatic enough for anyone; you don’t need to be a heroin addict or a performance poet to experience extremity. You just have to love someone.

Miss Sofia

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I live in Rio de Janeiro, and it’s been living hell around here. I don’t mean that things have been bad, but it’s been so hot I feel like I’m going to melt every time I step outside the air-conditioned room. Still, the days have been utterly beautiful, and life’s meant to be seized, not sleep-walked through, so I thought I’d share some ideas of things to do on deadly hot days.

• Eat healthy: I don’t feel as hungry when it’s hot, and I tend to eat lighter and healthier things. I recommend fresh fruits and vegetables, and also juices and smoothies. I like to get myself a big jar of grape juice with lots of crushed ice and drink it all. Here’s a list of 101 simple salad recipes.
• Go to the movies during the day: Movie theatres are always cold, and they’re not really full during the daytime. So pick an interesting film, get a big cup of soda and be delighted with soft chairs and cool air-conditioning.
• Take a bath: Not just a shower. Fill your tub with cool water, lie in it, turn up the music and read a book. Bonus points if you add bubbles, rubber duckies and a cold and colourful drink (Cosmo, for example).
• Go to a park, lie down, read and listen to sunny music: Yes, sunny music. Things like The Beach Boys, early Pink Floyd, Duffy, Belle & Sebastian, Little Joy, She & Him and The Beatles. I have a playlist called A Summer Wasting, featuring 916 summer songs.
• Summer movies: Invite some friends over and watch movies about summer, sunny days and vacations (some ideas: Dazed & Confused, The Dreamers, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Vicky Cristina Barcelona) . Cool beverages and a cold room are required. Ice cream is optional.
• Ice cream: Go to the supermarket and buy ice-cream (as many flavours as you like) & toppings (syrup, honey, cashews, cherry, cereals, chocolate bars, M&Ms, marshmallow, whipped cream, whatever). Get together with a couple of friends and make a huge sundae, in a single bowl. Get spoons and eat it while gossiping about the cute boys you saw at the beach earlier.
• Pool party: I wish I had a pool so I could have pool parties. That’s pretty self-explanatory, but some more specific suggestions include a theme (e.g. mermaids & sea creatures), jell-o & vodka shots, loud 90s music, quirky hair-dos and skinny dipping.
• Go to the beach: I don’t like the beach. But I know most people do, so it’s always an option. I think you should include oversized (and/or heart-shaped) sunglasses, 50s pin-up swimwear, a cute scarf, a huge and colourful beach ball, an iPod, sunblock, a trashy novel and coconut water.
• Photos: Go out, take your cameras (Lomo & Polaroids are more than welcome), grab some friends and take photos. Everything looks beautiful under the sunlight. Fancy/strange clothes and props are a great thing too. If you only have a normal digital camera, put the photos on Poladroid when you get home.
• Ditch: If you hate the weather, just close your windows, turn on the air-conditioning, put on mittens and scarves, drink hot chocolate, listen to classical music and pretend you’re spending winter in Russia.

Miss Sofia

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First of all I’d like to thank all the sweet girls that have been commenting on my blog lately. You’re all really lovely, and getting comments always makes me happy. And my sister wanted me to tell you that the dress I was wearing on that picture from yesterday’s post is actually hers, and she’s very flattered by all the compliments.

• The best tumblr ever. Mark my words.
• I’m a quote whore, and I love this blog.
• And this tumblr is quite hot, but totally NSFW.
• Very interesting article on Polyamory.
• Some writers follow Hemingway’s take and come up with short stories in only six words.
• This always make me hungry.

I’d love to hear from you, guys. Any interesting links?

Miss Sofia

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• The photo above: It was taken by my lovely friend Camila at the tea party I threw at my grandparents’ house about two weeks ago. There’s an article on it on the making (I just can’t get myself to finish it, I’m a complete procrastinator), and it was an awesome party. I never looked prettier than in that photo.
• My best friend: I’ve been going over to her place more often than usual, and I love hanging out with her. It’s always great and fun and we can talk for hours about life, boys, music and True Blood. Also, I’m really hoping she sees this and comments saying she loves me too. Hahaha.
• Work ethic crisis: Not that I like crisis. But I’m an intern at a newspaper, and I just had some issues involving things I’ve been writing about. And although that’s complicated, it makes me feel all responsible and grown-up.
• Beautiful sunny days: The weather was terrible last week, but for the past couple of days the sky has been blue and sunny. It’s been awfully hot, though, and I feel like I’m melting. Ugh.
• My little sister: She’s really cute. She’s 12 now, and I helped her out on her math homework this afternoon. I actually suck at math, but it was fun catching up with her while she studied.
• A special guy: He doesn’t like being mentioned on the internet, so I won’t say much. Let me just tell you that I love him, and being around him lately has made me really happy.
• Pilates: I missed almost a month of pilates on October, but I came back today, and it’s great. I always feel renewed when I leave a class.
• November: My summer vacations are in less than a month. I love how november means that everything is slowly coming to a closure, even if I freak out a little bit about it.

What about you, guys? What do you love right now? What’s bringing a smile to your pretty faces?

Miss Sofia