Wedding perfectionism

"You know you'll look like an American flag? I'm sure you won't mind," my sister told me about the outfit I took to a wedding last Saturday. It was my favorite dress I've ever worn. And she was right, I loved wearing the American flag colors.

 

I just felt a little overwhelmed at the bride having similar taste to mine and pulling off a "elegant" and "country" wedding style... when I'm worried mine will be tacky and uncoordinated. Oh well. Note to self: don't go to other wedding weeks before yours and compare every minor detail and stress out yours won't be wonderful and perfect in every way. I'm REALLY trying to not be a perfectionist here!

 

 

El Cartel in Martim Moniz

My sister discovered a really nice place for a sunny day in Lisbon. It's in one of the worst neighborhoods in terms of crime: Martim Moniz. However, they set up a market in the square that has helped bring a different crowd (namely all of Lisbon's hipsters and vintage/bike lovers). We went to a latin american stand called "El Cartel". It was pretty good, just a bit overpriced. Don't order the chili, you'll starve with the tiny portion. The rest is good.

Austerity on CatholicStand

AUSTERITY IS GOOD FOR YOU

Julie Rodrigues | June 6, 2013 | 

Don’t be fooled by the cultural tendency to lead a sedentary, Starbucks-filled life (as much as I love Starbucks), striving towards beach vacations and massages. That’s not what you were made for. To live a happy and holy life, discipline and sacrifice must be cornerstones in your life. Fast to be able to savor the feast better; don’t get drunk on the old wine so you can taste the new wine (Cf. John 2).

Keep reading at CatholicStand:

http://catholicstand.com/austerity-is-good-for-you/

Makeshift table

Our fourth meal in our new house was the first eaten on a table... The table was my fiancée's creative engineering: a clothes rack with a cardboard box on it. The food was frozen pizza and my friend Sofia's wonderful salad recipe: tomato, avocado, red onion and basil. It was more romantic than any restaurant. 

Strike... again

How to catch a bus when the Lisbon metro is on strike:

(Because forget about taxis, they are all full or will cost a fortune in bumper to bumper traffic)

Step 1: Do not give up while waiting 45min-1hour in line, watching full buses pass by without stopping. Other people will give up and you will eventually get to the front. (see pic above)

Step 2: When a bus does stop to let people out and you are toward the front, run to the back doors and push your way in, no matter how many people complain or how many expletives you may hear. Those free passes in line for old people don't count here... it's push or be left behind. (!)

Step 3: Try to eventually move into a corner, where at least you are smooshed into walls and not into other people, and where you can hold on for dear life.

Step 4: Do not analyze your life too much while riding like canned sardines for a long period of time. You will not want to move countries or assassinate people so much once you're well rested and can breathe properly.

Step 5: Don't leave the house if you can help it or run any errands whatsoever on strike days in Portugal... so like every other day. But try not to stress it.