February 28, 2011

Earthquake relief fund in New Zealand: wanna help?

UPDATE! I heard on the radio this morning (March 2nd) that it could take 15 years to rebuild Christchurch and the bill could be over $10 Billion. My account has $3.81 in it now from sales. I thank those people. Every bit counts. Ross


EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND


All earnings from this Ross Heywood's Zazzle Store section will be donated to the Earthquake Relief Fund in New Zealand.
New Zealand suffered one of its worst natural disasters when a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck second-biggest city  called Christchurch on 22th February. A 7.1 magnitude shake also struck Christchurch September 4, 2010, causing damage but were no deaths.  This time the shallow quake, just two miles below the surface, caused several office blocks to collapse as well as destroying a 110-year-old Anglican cathedral.


I know little about New Zealand. I saw An angel at my table, The Piano and Whale Rider. So, that is my New Zealand.  I know the islands were once a Britain colony. I know about indigenous Maori population and the traditional crafts of carving and weaving. And I also know that James Cook was one of the first Europeans to set foot on the islands. And that's it! I imagine huge mountains and tall trees and the winds blowing from the sea and I seem to forget about its populated cities until one it's on the news for the worst reason.
A few weeks ago I found Ross’s store. He gave shelter to a couple of hedgehogs and displayed their photo on some products. It caught my attention. I adore those cute animals! He lives in New Zealand. He started the fund raise for Christchurch and I decided to help. I feel deeply sorry for all who have to go through this kind of tragedy. I experienced only very small earth shakes but I get really scared when it happens. Last time was 2009. To watch earthquakes devastation images – Japan, Turkey, Italy, Haiti- is almost as bad as watching war devastation images. Earthquakes comes without warning, we still can’t predict it. We’re powerless to defend ourselves.  I gave Ross a hand. Now, it's your turn to give Christchurch a hand too.

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Published by Belinha Fernandes em 01:55 3 comment(s)
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February 27, 2011

Help rebuild Christchurch city in New Zealand!


USA for Chrischurch Shirt shirt
Browse zazzle for a different t-shirt.zazzle


All earnings from this sale will be donated to the Earthquake relief fun in New Zealand. Check if Ross has listed your country. If not, you can ask him to do it. Remember that you can buy this t-shirt in other colors or models because Zazzle makes it customizable. Spread the word. 150 people dead, at least 50 still missing, a devastated city. It's on the other side of the world but it's your World too.

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Published by Belinha Fernandes em 09:58 0 comment(s)
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February 26, 2011

The International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) awarded Nuno Maló for Amália





As you may have already noticed I have at least two loves: one is movies and the other is music. And I have two motifs of joy to share with you. First. The International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) awarded the Breakout Composer of the Year to Portuguese composer Nuno Malo for AMÁLIA for excellence in musical scoring. AMÁLIA is a film about the life of Portuguese fado singer Amália Rodrigues. Second. John Powell’s score for the animated film HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON won both Film Score of the Year and Best Score for an Animated Film. Well done!!! I just loved that animated movie and the music!

Breakout Composer of the Year nominees also included Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter, better known as the French electronic/dance duo Daft Punk, for TRON: LEGACY; Spanish composer Oscar Araujo for the video game CASTLEVANIA: LORDS OF SHADOW; Spanish composer Arnau Bataller for the mystery film LA HERENCIA VALDEMAR; German composer Herbert Grönemeyer for the George Clooney drama THE AMERICAN.


Check the complete 2010 Film Categories
FILM SCORE OF THE YEAR
• HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, music by John Powell
FILM COMPOSER OF THE YEAR
• ALEXANDRE DESPLAT
BREAKOUT COMPOSER OF THE YEAR
• NUNO MALÓ
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A DRAMA FILM
• THE KING’S SPEECH, music by Alexandre Desplat
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A COMEDY FILM
• THE LIGHTKEEPERS, music by Pinar Toprak
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR AN ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLER FILM
• THE GHOST WRITER, music by Alexandre Desplat
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION/HORROR FILM
• TRON: LEGACY, music by Daft Punk
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR AN ANIMATED FEATURE
• HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON, music by John Powell
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE FOR A DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
• OCÉANS, music by Bruno Coulais
FILM MUSIC COMPOSITION OF THE YEAR
• ALICE IN WONDERLAND – “Alice’s Theme” (Danny Elfman)
Published by Belinha Fernandes em 22:33 0 comment(s)
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And the Oscar goes to...movie inspired Zazzle products!

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2010 will be presented on Sunday, February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood and Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The event will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide. The Academy is an honorary membership organization founded in 1927 by 36 of the most influential men and women in the motion picture industry at the time.  Unfortunately I watched only a few of the 83rd Academy Awards nominated movies so I can’t have an opinion on how Oscars should be distributed. The movie going experience is just wonderful. I can forget about everything else when I watch a good movie. I was a passionate moviegoer in the past. Back then I had months when I watched movies every day counting with home video. I was told by American friends that I knew more about classic American movies than they did! I like all sorts of movies from all countries and from all times. Also documentary movies and animation features long or short. It’s difficult for me to pick a favorite director or actor/actress or movie. It wasn’t easy also to pick a few Zazzle products inspired by the movies! After searching for a while these few got into my list! Hope you enjoy it!

And the winners are:



Darth Vader Ugly Sweater shirt
Darth Vader Ugly Sweater by starwars
Browse zazzle for a different t-shirt.zazzle

Buzz Logo Disney shirt
Buzz Logo Disney by disney
Browse other tees made on zazzle




Theater snack trio shirt
Theater snack trio by Imaginechest
Browse other t-shirt designs made on zazzle.com
A Trip to the Moon mousepad
A Trip to the Moon by APeach
View more mousemats on zazzle
Jawsome T-Shirt shirt
Jawsome T-Shirt by toxiferous
Browse other t-shirt designs made on zazzle.com
Red Carpet Diva Notecard card
Red Carpet Diva Notecard by Derora
Shop for a different greeting card template online at zazzle
Published by Belinha Fernandes em 16:55 1 comment(s)
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February 23, 2011

Take a break with Portuguese music!



Zeca Afonso sings Grândola Vila Morena - Coliseu show




Teresa Salgueiro (Madredeus) sings a song from Zeca Afonso - Maio Maduro Maio

Zeca Afonso  is one of the most influential folk musicians in Portuguese history. The role of his music was very political.  He became an icon among Portuguese left-wing activists due to the role of his music in the resistance against the dictatorial regime of Oliveira Salazar. Many of his appearances were cancelled by the regime police - the PIDE/DGS. The regime was defeated in 1974, with the pro-democratic leftist military coup of the Carnation Revolution. One of his songs would be the signal (broadcast by the national radio channel) for the start of the Revolution - Grândola Vila Morena.
He made 28 records. His first record was out in 1953 and it was called Fados de Coimbra. Zeca attended Coimbra's University and Fado- a traditional Portuguese type of music  - was adopted as the music of the university students. (Coimbra's Fado is different from Lisbon's.)  His last album was released in 1985. On January 23, 1983, Zeca, weakened by Lou Gehrig's disease, played with some difficulty in a huge and memorable show with a full house at the Lisbon Coliseu. He died February 23th 1987 but he's sill widely listened to, not only in Portugal, but abroad. 24 years after his death the music is still very much alive.

http://www.aja.pt/ - Institution created in 1987 with the objective of preserving and promoting Zeca's memory and music. It also supports music and art initiatives. (Link in Portuguese language only). 

http://www.aja.pt/galerias/biografia.html - Photo gallery






Published by Belinha Fernandes em 11:28 0 comment(s)
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February 22, 2011

#4/9 How to promote your Zazzle Store - FB tips

Ok, you have a Facebook Page but you keep it almost in secret. Wrong! Show off your Facebook Page as much as you can! Facebook provides widgets - The Like Box and the Like Badge. Use it! When visitors arrive on your website or blog or store, they can see your Facebook Page widget following and can Like it instantly. I never told anyone about my first Facebook Fan Page. It was called a “Fan Page” back then. When I realized I should promote it I messed with some Facebook settings and lost control of my Fan Page! (Meanwhile Facebook changed the Fan Page to just Page! No more “fan”, now you “Like” a page.) Help Center wasn’t able to provide an answer…till now. The old Page is still there, in the Facebook limbo. It does not even look like a Page anymore! That was a strange event! So, I created a new Page to promote A Portuguese Love Zazzle store. This time I invited friends to Like it. Rather than sending invites to people individually, you can send invitations to an entire group of friends at once. When you add new people as friends on your Facebook homepage, you will need to again send invites to those people. Names of persons you have already invited will be grayed out as you start to send invites to newly added people on the Facebook homepage. But don’t be spammy about it. Avoid massive invitation or messaging. Promote slowly and personally. The idea is to bond, keep that in mind. Facebook does not like spam and might close your account. Read about it:

“ The systems automatically identify the following types of behavior:

Feature overuse: There are limits to restrict the rate at which you can use features on the site. Overusing features is not allowed because it may make other people feel annoyed or unsafe. Unwanted contact: Our systems detect when friend requests you send to others are being ignored at a high rate and volume. Using Facebook to contact many people you don't know is not allowed because it may make them feel threatened, harassed, or unsafe.

It is a violation of Facebook's Terms of Use to repeatedly send the same message or to make the same post as it may be construed as spam. Facebook prides itself in protecting users from spam, and we take this standard very seriously. If you have been warned, please do not send or post any more messages with the same or similar content. Spamming on Facebook will lead to your account being permanently disabled.” Don’t forget to add links to your Facebook profile) in your email signature.

Check Facebook Badge Page – profile, like, photo and Page badge : http://www.facebook.com/badges/

Check Facebook Like Widget - http://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/plugins/like-box?profile_id=168007909888399

Published by Belinha Fernandes em 20:01 0 comment(s)
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February 21, 2011

Portuguese music group The Gift is about to release a new record and you make the price

The new album from  The Gift is composed, recorded, mixed, mastered and ready for the world to discover. Until February 27th you can purchase the eleven songs of the new disc called Explode. The price? Why not pay just what you think it should cost? Give what you can give! You can use Paypal.

Follow the link to find a form like the one above. Complete the form and receive until February 28 one song per day. Download 11 songs, in total. 11 days, a new song in your inbox each day.

There is still no official release date for this record and this becomes the only way to hear first hand The Gift new music.

The Gift has already announced shows at the Tivoli Lisboa (17, 18, 19  March) and Teatro Circo Price Madrid (7 May).

The Gift on social networks:
Published by Belinha Fernandes em 23:32 0 comment(s)
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Katy Perry on stage - California Dreams Tour First concert- Lisbon

Katy Perry performed yesterday in Lisbon with great success. Katy did not just sing. The show involved mime, dance, video and even trapeze over two hours. Katy was very friendly and enthusiastic about her presence in Lisbon delivering two hours of great entertainment that will stay in fans memory. The stage was decorated with giant lollipops and there were three giant screens where you could see images associated with the songs, images of pop icons, cartoons and fans  too. Katy has changed her visual dozen times! The songs  I Kissed a Girl, Ur So Gay, Peacock, Circle the Drain, Not Like the Movies, The One That Got Away were expected. Some surprises: Katy Perry also included Only Girl (In The World) by Rihanna. But it was her greatest successes that put the public pounding: Hot N 'Cold, California Gurls and especially Firework. The show also included Last Friday Night (TGIF) and closed down in the encore with a version of I Want to Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston. Then Katy Perry danced with her cat and invited some spectators to the stage! "I chose to start the tour here because I am a little Portuguese, "she said. Guess what - her mother is Luso-descendant.

Published by Belinha Fernandes em 11:23 1 comment(s)

February 20, 2011

Katy Perry starts The California Dreams Tour in Portugal


Katy Perry starts the California Dreams Tour today in Portugal. She will be singing hits from 'One of the Boys' (2008) and 'Teenage Dream' (2010), including 'I Kissed a Girl ', 'Hot'n'Cold' and 'California Gurls'. Lisbon is the first city to host the new international tour of the singer, which includes more than 90 concerts by the end of the year. It’s the second time she’s performing for the Portuguese public. Watch Katy at children’s program Sesame’s Street banned video. It seems she was too sexy for Elmo.


Published by Belinha Fernandes em 12:55 3 comment(s)

Sold! Cute Monster Brown Sticker

Secondhand smoke monsters postcard

Sold! Thanks to the purchaser!
These cute and colorful Cute Monsters Stickers are one of my Fight Secondhand Smoke products collection. This category of products is aimed for children because they are victims of it. If they are aware of it they can react near smoking adults. These stickers can also be used for whatever you want. You can add your own text to it. 
But there isn't just one Monster in my collection. Take a look at the postcard. Smoke inhaled by smokers contains many dangerous chemicals. Secondhand smoke contains many of that same chemicals. It contains higher concentrations of many of the toxins found in cigarette smoke! The USA National Toxicology Program estimates that at least 250 chemicals in secondhand smoke are known to be toxic or carcinogenic! Secondhand smoke has been designated as a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Toxicology Program, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and an occupational carcinogen by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Why? It contains more than 50 cancer-causing chemicals! When nonsmokers are exposed to secondhand smoke, they inhale many of the same cancer-causing chemicals that smokers inhale. So, there are monsters in secondhand smoke. They will harm your health in many ways. Maybe you were not aware of it too!
Published by Belinha Fernandes em 10:34 0 comment(s)
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February 19, 2011

Portuguese Sweet Rice Recipe

Mondego River Rice Fields


Cross pattern made with cinnamon

Sweet Rice is a typical Portuguese dessert. It's popular in Brazil too. In some regions when people were about to get married it was traditional to give a Sweet Rice dish to friends or just people they knew. In return they would receive money! My mother still did that in the fifthies. I do not know if it’s just a tradition of rural areas surrounding rice fields. I live near River Mondego rice fields. It’s a beautiful landscape that changes constantly along the year. At first fields are the earth color, then they become big lakes and reflect the color of the skies, then they turn green when the rice starts to grow and finally the end golden. I remember eating this dessert since very early years. Then I learned how to do it from my mother of course. There are several recipes. Some have egg yolks and butter. This one has not but it’s still delicious and less fatty. Here’s the recipe for you.

Ingredients you need
  • 1,5 Kg White Rice ( The grain should be round not long. Long grains are thinner and the final result will not be as good.) = 3.3 lbs
  • 1, 5 Kg Sugar = 3.3 lbs
  • 2 L Milk = 3.51 pt
  • 1 mug Water
  • 1 Lemon rind
  • Salt
  • Toppings: Cinnamon

How to prepare the Sweet Rice
Wash and drain white rice.

Bring milk and water to boil in a medium saucepan. Add salt and taste to your liking. Keep stirring the milk or it will glue to the bottom! I use a wooden spoon.

Add rice and let it boil for 5 minutes.

Add the lemon rind. Remember, keep stirring constantly!

Remove the lemon rind after 10 minutes or it might get into small pieces or dissolve.

Low the temperature but let it boil slowly for 25-30 minutes. The rice must be cooked. You can try it to see if the grains are still hard.

Add the sugar and keep stirring for more 10 minutes. The liquid is still evaporating. How do you know it’s ready? When the spoon can stand up alone on the middle of the rice. It will also thicken some while cooling.

You can then remove from heat and pour on a large serving bowl. Spread the rice flat. You can also pour into small individual dishes.

To decorate you sprinkle cinnamon over the top. Or you can use cinnamon to create traditional cross patterns by pinching a bit between your fingers and place over the rice continuously. Most people serve Sweet Rice cold. I like it hot! If you live in a very hot region you should refrigerate the rice. In my house we never put the Sweet Rice in the fridge also because it doesn’t last very long!

Bom apetite!

Published by Belinha Fernandes em 16:39 0 comment(s)
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February 17, 2011

The Westminster Kennel Club 135th Annual Dog Show - Portuguese Water Dog Wins WORKING GROUP

Westminster is America's Dog Show. Maybe it's one of the greatest dog shows in the world. The Westminster Kennel Club's famed annual dog show is prestigious.This year a Portuguese Water Dog won Best of Group. Yeah!!

You don't know this breed? Maybe you have missed this video:




If you did, take a look at Portuguese Water Dog at The Westminster Kennel Club 135th Annual Dog Show:

Portuguese Water Dog-WORKING GROUP: "Relive the Portuguese Water Dog breed judging at the 2011 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show."

And now, may I present to you my Portuguese Water Dog!


Published by Belinha Fernandes em 22:19 0 comment(s)
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# 3/9 How to promote your Zazzle Store on Facebook

Another good idea is to start a Facebook Group. Facebook groups come with boards for posting discussion topics, photos, videos, and links. For example, my Zazzle store sells Portuguese tradition inspired products amongst others. Probably it would be a good idea to start a group about Portuguese traditions and culture. Remember that Group moderators can send messages and updates to group members. They go straight to Inbox. This is a tremendous way of spreading the news about your store business! Once members have joined your group, they can easily invite their friends to join the group. Many of these groups can contain target customers! Find it! Discover what the group likes and see if you can participate in a way that benefits the group and your business. A group is about sharing. Keeping that in mind you can always expect that if you give something you’ll end up getting something too. Nice! But read this: “If you were trying to promote your group by posting a link to join it in a message, on a wall, or in a discussion board, this can be construed as spam. We suggest making your friends administrators of this group so that they can invite their friends using the Invite functionality built into the group. You can do this by clicking on "Edit Group Members" and then on "make admin" next to the users’ names. Each admin can invite his/her own friends to the group.”
Published by Belinha Fernandes em 17:40 0 comment(s)
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Take a break with Portuguese music!



Know more about Expensive Soul, here!



Know more about Cristina Branco here!
Published by Belinha Fernandes em 12:27 0 comment(s)
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February 16, 2011

It's Hedgehog Day on my blog!

Do you know that long before the advent of Groundhog Day on February 2nd, the Romans observed a similar event thousands of years ago on the exact same day and used the hedgehog as the prognosticator of spring? Last year I fell in love with these little animals - I wish I had an ever-smiling expression myself! - and have been reading a lot about them.
If you are curious about it you can head to the Hedgehog Central where you’ll find all the information you need.If not, you can browse my selection of hedgehog Zazzle products and be inspired by these photos, drawings and paintings to celebrate hedgehog loveliness your way because...every day can be Hedgehog’s Day!
Hedgehog Mousepad mousepad
Hedgehog Mousepad by RossHeywood
View a different mousemat on zazzle
Published by Belinha Fernandes em 14:44 5 comment(s)
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