Saw the girls last night; went for a meal (Chinese) and then drinks, which brought overall consumption of red wine to, er, a lot. We talked and talked and talked... and wished Jen a bon voyage as she's going interrailing around Europe. I'm not jealous at all! If I didn't have Oli, I'd go too.

Sadly the little pain I had on my ankle last night has mysteriously transformed into a please-don't-move kind of pain. Maybe the 7" heels are to blame.

Today's song, for Jen, is:

She thinks she's going to marry Matt Bellamy At least her future husband is a feasible choice, Mr Darcy will be in need of knee replacement/impotent/dead by the time I want to settle down. *ahem* Just kidding.

Love,

Mon xx

I used to find this vile thing called tofu quite repulsive and nauseating, but that's because I didn't know how to cook it properly. My aunty, who just happened to know how to make nice tofu dishes even though she isn't vegan, taught me how to do them. I've just made one, with sauteed onions and potatoes, and the response was very positive! It's a popular Portuguese recipe but with tofu instead of cod or chicken. Yum yum.

Went to see The Dark Knight with the boy last night. It was as good as everyone's making it out to be, and even though it's supposed to be a boyish film I liked it. It was very sad to see Heath Ledger on screen after his tragic death though. Great actor pulled off a great role.

In other news, oh my God I'm boiling. It was very hot in Portugal, but it wasn't humid and horrid like this. I'm melting and it's gross. I just wanna take off my clothes and sit in the fridge for a while.

Today's song is:

They're playing Leeds. Leeds is approaching. Gaaaah! Must start to male-up now. *panic at the thought of those "toilets"*

Love,

Mon xx

Mr MagicalMysteryTour's post made me think about what I want too. I'm bored out of my mind already, this summer was supposed to be amazing and although I'm loving the freedom, it's not really freedom as such when you can't spend it the way you want to. So, I've decided, I'm going to get any job, visit a few places I've wanted to for a while (Venice, Stockholm, etc.) and then try to get my ideal job and get a house bla bla bla. Many of my friends have things that I wanted to have myself, and it makes me envy them a tiny little bit. I've always been an impulsive dreamer, and the beauty of being an adult is that nobody's gonna stop you from doing whatever you want - except for yourself.

Today's song is:

Love,

Mon xx

I've had a very good day so far, physically and mentally. Woke up a bit hungover from lovely night with the boy, but then carried on reading my book and then the Sunday paper and magazines. And then I thought: "Oooh I fancy going for a run!"

...

Running 2 miles without a proper warm-up when you've been vegetating in holiday manner for 3 weeks wasn't the most brilliant idea I've ever had; but I did it and feel very good now. Also, my doggy really enjoyed being out with Grandma and Grandpa while I ran around the park.

Beautiful day. Wish it was like this everyday, I feel like I've wasted today and tomorrow probably won't be as nice, and everyone will be in work. Will I ever get to have a damn picnic in the park with my boyfriend on a weekend?? Aaaarrghh!!!

It better be nice on my birthday, I want to go strawberry picking and then come home and make strawberry daiquiris.

Love,

Mon xx

Just read this article and found it rather amusing. When I was younger, I wanted to call my daughter Alchemy, because my dad always used to have Dire Straits on when he took me to school and one of their albums is called Alchemy and I quite liked the sound of that word. When I found out what the word meant, I liked it even more. Of course I'm not gonna call my child Alchemy cos she/he would probably be harassed by their peers, but I still like the word.

I'm a lot more sensible now. I like Maya, Madeline and Samantha. In other news, but still related to babies, Oliver has become rather fond of a Kerrygold carrier bag my mum got in the post. If he wants to play with Barbies he can too. I'm not sure what's worse: him liking Barbies, or the violence he inflicts upon them - but since he is a dog, I don't have to worry! But maybe I'll change the channel when Tom & Jerry comes on - proper violence, that show.

Today's song is the song we listened to everyday on the way to school:

It just hit me, that was ten years ago.

Love,

Mon xx

Argh!!! Now we all know that the post office is useless, don't we? They've just taken it to another level. My aunty sent me a registered letter with a document I needed, because there's been so many letters we haven't received over the years that the only way to send something is by having us sign it, that way only we can have it. Except this time they delivered it to my neighbour, who must've pretended to be me to sign it.

Now comes crime No. 2. I was outside walking Oli when a girl I used to go to school with - a thick as fuck airhead who bullied me senseless (or tried to, I never really gave a shit because bullies are just idiots with nothing good about themselves) - came out of my neighbour's door. Apparently she lives next door now. She said "oh there's something for you". It was my document!! No envelope, no letter, just the one paper. Which means as well as signing on my behalf, they opened it knowing it was for me, and then saw what was inside. They were probably wondering if there was money inside, as my family used to send us christmas and birthday money when me and my sister were younger, until a few of our letters were snatched.

It makes me so angry and upset that we live in an incredibly amazing world, full of arseholes.

Her face still makes me want to punch her, but like I said, bullies do what they do because they have no good attributes or intelligence. And as my mum always said, they've already got their punishment - lack of, well, a heart. And that's worse than anything I could wish upon her. And I have to admit, I loved it when she made my sandwich at Subway a few months ago. And when another arse I went to school with took my order at McDonalds.

Love,

Mon xx

I've just realised where I'd like to go! The club on the beach in Portugal, it was called Waikiki and it was fab. A beach, music, lovely people, nice chilled drinks on a warm night... amazing. The boy wasn't so keen on the place, or maybe it was the fact that me, my sister and my cousin were having so much fun that we didn't leave til 5am. And being up at 9am to go to my nan's wasn't amusing, I must admit. But how boring would life be without these little moments that stay in our memories? I don't remember my 8-hour-sleep-nights usually, but allnighters, oh there were many.

Tonight's song is:

Candyman Video

Love,

Mon xx

I'm still not over them. Maybe because my holiday wasn't as long as I needed it to be, or because parts of it didn't feel like a holiday, or because it wasn't completely stress free at all times. I just wanna pack a little bag and go somewhere, anywhere, as long as it's far away from here. Nothing's wrong even, I just want to go away.

*checks last minute trips online*

I'm getting botox today. No, I don't have any wrinkles - far from it, I look about 12. It's for Frey's Syndrome. I put it off for as long as I could but I can't take it any longer. Bring on the toxins!

Today's song is:

Love,

Mon xx

Don't you love Orange wednesdays? I'm not even with Orange but I always borrow somebody's phone to get a free cinema ticket. Last week me and the boy went to see Mamma Mia, and I told my mum she'd like it so she and my sister were gonna see it tonight. Sister's just decided that she doesn't fancy going out though, so guess who's going to see Colin Firth Mamma Mia again?!

If Miza-T suddenly disappears from Blogland, it might be because I locked her up for singing Abba all night, after watching the film. Just saying.

Today's song is:

She was here yesterday and I missed her! Hmm... Like the boy said, I think Blondie hair is a "first paycheck" kinda thing. Turning up to a job interview with Blondie hair might not help me much...

Love,

Mon xx

So my mum and great-aunty (she is great) gave me a monetary consolation present for finishing uni. My mum nicely added that I should spend it on something "permanent that you can actually see", excluding my hair, tattoos, or a dog. Luckily I knew just what I wanted to do... I've never really liked my teeth so I had them done! They don't look extremely different, but it's one of those things that make all the difference to yourself. I'm happier, and shall demonstrate so by smiling more (with teeth) and not whining about disliking my fangs, as they were filed away and turned into dust. I agree that we should accept ourselves as we are, but if you can change simple little things that you're not happy with, then why not?!

Whoever said money doesn't make you happy...

Love,

Mon xx

Ta daaaa!!! That's sweet potato and cinnamon pie with raisins and nuts - almonds, cashews and walnuts, to be precise. I made the crust too!

I've never hidden my desire to be one of those mums who makes the best cookies/pies/cakes. I've also never actually expressed any desire to have children but one day I will so I better get practicing in the kitchen! Good thing Mike didn't come round for sunday dinner, if I'd used those potatoes for a roast they would've been absolutely vile. In a dessert, on the other hand...

What do you mean "It looks like beans"?! It's yummy, and it tastes like christmas.

Love,

Mon xx

I'm back! Can't say I'm chuffed about it, I mean, I left a sunny 30-degree-on-average day and arrived at, you know the rest of the sentence - grey sky, rain and cold. I'm very happy to be reunited with my babydog though, couldn't stand being away from him any longer. And my mum, of course. (She reads my blog)

I had a fantastic time. Spent an amazing week in Algarve, beach hopping and sunbathing in gorgeous sunny, white sandy beaches, and eating/drinking yummy stuff. Then moved onto another place and visited a Sea World place, the Zoo, and a huuuuge worldwide fair that happened to be on in Lisbon, full of lovely jewellery and local arty things from different countries.

We also went to a club on the beach and danced til 5 in the morning, drinking black vodka (yum) and having a good catch-up with my cousin. And also went to a Moroccan place where we smoked vodka and strawberry.

A song that reminds me of my holiday is:

It kept playing on the radio while we were travelling to all these gorgeous places.

The only bad thing was the way back home. After waiting for about an hour in a queue to board, somebody came out and said there was a problem with the fuel and we better sit down while it's being fixed. That was when my tranquilizers stopped working. When we finally got on the plane, the captain told us that we were 210 kilos over the weight limit and asked for volunteers to leave the plane. Honestly I was the first volunteer, but managed to keep myself calm (ish) and stay. Then after two couples left, he said "it's very, very important that you pay attention to the safety instructions as the winds are strong and we are very heavy". That's when I lost it. But after the air hostess reassured me that we were fine and it was safe to fly, I felt a bit better. Not a very nice experience, I must say.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll get my puppy and go cry in a little corner. I think I have that disease where you feel depressed when the weather's crap. As well as post-holiday depression. Or I just plain hate the rain.

Love,

Mon xx

I had delicious oven baked tomatoes stuffed with brown rice, peas, sautéed onions and olives, coriander, garlic and olive oil for dinner.

And this for dessert:

See? Delicious. I'm sending myself on holiday as a present to myself for graduating, so I shall see you and catch up with you all soon! Oh yes, the day has finally come. I remember whining about it a few months ago. So glad it's finally here!

I'll leave you with a song:

Take care,

Love,

Mon xx

So I'm officially a graduate. Monday was a lovely day and it only hit me at the end of it, when I had a degree on my hand, that I wouldn't have to go back in September and do more essays and exams. It felt so good. And tonight is the night I've been looking forward to for about ten years. You know the way American kids get super excited about prom? Brazilian kids do too. I was that kid, then we moved and I never did go to prom. So tonight's my night, and I'm gonna enjoy it! Mike got me a corsage and everything. It's my little girl dream coming true, yippiiieeeee!!!

But having the graduation ball tonight means that I'm going on holiday next week, which means mum and dad are on babysitting duty. My dad just gave my puppy beer, in front of me, while I repeatedly asked him not to. Babydog's gonna be obese and farty when I come back, isn't he? Oh, God.

Today's song is:

Bye Bye university.

Love,

Mon xx