Merry Christmas

I hope it's not too late for me to wish you some Season's Greetings and a Happy New Year!

History

I guess everyone knows how passionate and what an enthusiast I am about the English royal history and monarchy. I've been collecting information, gathering stories and revelations from some periods, and it has become other hobbie, apart from photography. It's something I cannot explain but the only thing is that is thrills me knowing so much, by myself. The Medieval and Renaissance periods are my favourite, including every movie or shows that are up to these particular subjects.

So I read a lot. May it be historical, novels, biography... I've got a little bit of each of these matters. I planned to take this picture, because it's not only books; it's my hobbie, one of my favourite things to do, and I am proud of my little but precious collection.

The first thin booklets, I got each one of them in the respective places which they are about. In left-right order I got: 

- "The Hever Castle"

- "The really useful guide to Kings and Queens of England" (bought in Kensington Palace)

- "Experience the Tower of London"

- "Discover Kensington Palace"

- "Explore Hampton Court Palace"

Then there's:

- the whole story of "The Six Wives of Henry VIII", by Antonia Fraser

- "Elizabeth", by my favourite historian ever, David Starkey

- the controverse "Sex in the Elizabethan England", by Alan Haynes

- a book that I got in a thrift story in England - "Costume and Fashion in Colour, 1550-1760".

The next set are from Philippa Gregory, a well-known author from novels such as "The Other Boleyn Girl" (I also got this book but left it back in my hometown), which was recently adapted to the big screen. She is obviously a favourite.

- "The Lady of the Rivers", "The White Queen" and "The Red Queen" are being produced as we speak to fit in a tv mini-series and I cannot wait!

- "The Queen's Fool"

- "The Virgin's Lover"

- The only 2 books missing because I left them in my parents house are "The Other Boleyn Girl" and "The Boleyn Inheritance". I only need "The Constant Princess" to fill in the whole Tudor Court Novels by Philippa Gregory.

The only book I got in portuguese is "Elizabeth and Mary, Cousins, Rivals, Queens", by Jane Dunn but I don't like it when I read this kind of books (or any book which takes place in the ancient english history) in portuguese. I find it a lot more exciting when it's in the native language. Besides keeps my english from getting rusty.

The last one was also thrifted, "Edward V, The Prince in The Tower", by Michael Hicks.

It's a little bit hard to see, but in front of the "The Six Wives of Henry VIII", there's a Tudor Rose, made of some heavy and hard metal that I don't really recognize. It was thrifted, in the same store was the other 2 books were bought. I got mesmerized with I saw it in a little corner, and I immediately got it to myself.

So there it is. I tried to brief an explanation of my books, I really did. Sorry for the nerdy excitement!! 

Wishlist 2012

My Birthday is almost here! November is my BDay month, so it guess it's time for my anual Wishlist. This time I had a little hard time on realizing what I really wanted without being repetitive, but I think I managed to gather a pretty cool list of my wishful favourite things! November 24th and Christmas ir right around the corner, so let's not waste anymore time and let's get started!

I just got my PS3 back to me, here in Lisbon (not worth staying in my hometown if no one uses it, and it's mine, duh) so I need games to keep me entertained and back on gamming! I just got Dead Island so that will keep me busy for sometime, but I really want to get Assassin's Creed. I only played the 1st one. for PC, and I eagered for more by my laptop is getting old, and besides... I've got a PS3 to pimp. So yes, I want all the AC games. I might get the AC I and II - Game of the Year Edition really soon.

As most of you may know, I recently fell in love with Ken Follett's "World Without End". Before I start reading it, I watched "Pillars if the Earth", wich is the pre-sequel of WWE, and I got terribly regretful that I didn't read it first. So any novel from Mr. Follett that I might read I am sure I will love it the same way.

Speaking of Pillars of the Earth... Having the original Bluray of the show would be lovely aswell! 

In my last trip to London, I couldn't stop noticing how many people used a Kindle to read. At the subway train, in the parks, everywhere. I know it's not like holding a true book and it never will, but I have to admit it would be a great gift to anyone who reads, including myself. It's practical, light and very useful! The Kindle Paperwhite would be good enough for me.

Still in the electronic department, I still want to get the Wacom Bamboo Pen. I really want to experiment editing my photos using this device, since everyone says it's the best thing ever when it comes to digital design, and photo editing and manipulation and whatever.

I've been wanting to try analog photography for a while now... Yesterday I went to a street antique fair here in Lisbon, called Feira da Ladra, and I got mesmerized by a table packed with old vintage cameras. Then there was this Zenit camera that caught my attention, but I didn't want to buy none untill I learn more about this kind of old cameras. But since then, I never stoped reading about the Zenit cameras and I'm very impressed! I really want to go there as soon as possible, hoping it's still there. The model was the 12XP, but the 11 is also good. We'll see... The thing is: I really want a vintage (working) camera, so I can experiment the wonders of analog photography.

Notebooks and Notepads! Of course I'd like to keep feeding my adiction for these little cute suckers and add more to my collection. They always come handy in every situation, and I'm actually using one right now to keep me organized while I'm putting this post together. Every shape, kind, color, type is welcome!

I've been flirting with checkered shirts for some time, and I'm a proud owner of a few. But more is never enough and this "country/cowgirl" look is very appealing and comfortable.

Still in this "country/cowgirl" look, I also wish for some cowboy boots!! I think they are badass and lovely at the same time. I don't want the harsh or too pointy ones, but more of a girly type. I don't care if fashion doesn't approve them these days, I still want them. I don't care about fashion anyways lol so I don't know what I'm talking about haha

Lace. Lace eveywhere. It never dies, it's feminine, beautiful and sexy and elegant and everything I love. It was a Wish last year and it's still a Wish this year.

I still haven't found Debra Morgan's shades! It's the Rayban RB8041 Aviator Titanium, color  001/M2, just in case you are also wondering. I really tried for something similar, and of course a lot cheaper, but still it's not like her's. 

And of course... something for my skin canvas! Ink! Something neat, clean, thoughtful and powerful. I will work on it.

Roses are welcome to make my home smell good and colorful! =)

And last and probably the most important! (Since it's becoming a tradition watching Tangled in my birthday) I still hope I can see some true floating lights someday! It would be a dream come true, and I understand that for some of you might seem childish or irrelevant, but only me and God knows how meaningful was the floating lanterns scene in Tangled. Always and forever ♥

And that's pretty much it! I don't remember anything I'd like right now... so this is it! I shall update it if I ever remember something I'd like. ♥

The Zoo

I went to the Zoo today! With my boyfriend! It was a cute date, and a very well spent day... We realized we should do it more often, instead of going to the movies, for example. We had so much fun during the visit to the Zoo since we are both animal lovers, and being so close with our favourite animals is amazing and we learn a lot.

Even though the Zoo was extremely fun, I love animals and they seemed pretty happy in there, the set of photos I took there have a dramatic approach. The animal extinction is something that saddens me a lot and overwhelms me knowing that the Zoo, and other captivity resorts, might be the only hope on Earth for some species.

I hope you enjoy! 

Sometimes people change people

And that happened to me recently.

Nirrimi and her baby daughter, Alba.

Nirrimi Joy Firebrace is her name. Please take some hours of your life to read and embrace her blog, because it's so worth those precious hours.

Her simple, gypsy kind, way of life made me realize the simplest things in life, and how thankfull we have to feel about living freely every second of it. I am wasting my time, idealizing a life that I probably will never have, and this girl opened my eyes, made me feel in the bottom of my heart what am I really designed for.

I believe that God has a plan for every one of us. Even if you don't believe in God, there is always something waiting for us, we just have to work had throughout our lifes to get it.

To Nirrimi, everything is possible. She is only nineteen. Shes a photographer of fashion and editorial, but in her personal side, she photographs life and documents everything. It's her passion, she only does the fashion side of it so she can provide her supplies to live. She lives with her teen love, they are the happier young couple alive and recently they just had a child. They concieved Alba consciently, it was not an accident. And now, Nirrimi says she is the happiest she has ever been, and blessed that she gets to do what she loves with the love of her life by her side, and their baby daughter.

Motherhood to me was always something I've put aside. Because I want to enjoy my life to the fullest first, and even decided not to be a parent at all. For some that might sound evil, I know, but I'd rather not be a parent knowing I wouldn't want that kind of life to me, ever. After reading her blog, that doesn't make sense to me anymore. Why not sharing? Whether share it with my boyfriend, or a friend, or family. Or a child. 

The point is... I should pursuit my happiness, find what really makes me happy and stop worrying what people say or think about me, because that is what's keeping me from reaching a lot of goals I set earlier this year.

I am unemployed. I'm furstrated that I can't find a job and no one and nowhere will answer me. So my next goal is that if I don't find anything I really love doing here in Lisbon, I will just have to leave to somewhere that makes me happy. That is what I keep filling my mind with. I'm done holding back my prospects in life and dreams. I am 24 and I can't wait to live the way I want to. 

I must confess I am scared. I'm petrified because I am not sure of anything right now, not in a week, not in a year, and that is scary. I don't like the anxiety, I don't like to feel this way, miserable all the time, knowing that everyday is just another wasted day.

It was just a random thought that I wanted to share. Who knows it might change the way someone sees things in life, like Nirrimi's words did with me. Held you head high. Find confidence and strengh within yourself. That's it.

My escape of my boring, wasted life, is my Tumblr, literally. Everything that inspires me, every detail, image, color that I re-post there is what makes me dream. It's my mood-board, my get-away. Feel free to visit: http://martacabral.tumblr.com/ 

(All of the pictures posted here (besides the first one) are in my Tumblr)

I'm sorry for the extention of this post. Lately I haven't been this personal, but I had to share this because I feel that it was an important change, in the bottom of my heart.

I love my followers, thank you the support ♥