It’s still Halloween, so I think it’s time to show what I promised you from the beginning: that you would see some beautiful things and some not so pretty things in this blog. Remember?

I do not like them, but they are around where we live. They are horrific creatures, aesthetically disturbing and demonic looking.

Of course they have a legitimate reason for being in nature, but until just a little while back I was not very convinced of this fact until I studied seriously about it, since I see them frequently.

Truth is that we do not have any other appearance. We are what we are and appearances do not always tell the truth. Many should even be very grateful for the mirror, because it only reveals the outside.

They are horrible, but I assure you that are very useful and totally harmless. They are scattered around the world in 65 different types within the same species,  but only one species in America.

It’s the only American marsupial and does not like confrontation – just wants to be left alone. They are not at all aggressive, nor are they destructive, dispite having 50 teeth as adults.

ALL these teeth are there just for biting insects, snails, slugs and berries.

Now you will discover the mystery, when I say that they pretend to be dead to not be confronted. Have you guessed it yet…?

My dogs have caught some, which I felt compassion for, because they were babies and I’m mother.

There are my once-in-a-while nocturnal visitors.

Do you have the courage?

Being Halloween, I believe you can put up with seeing this:

I hope no one faints or has nightmares.

Remember that people judge more by appearance than by reality. Why did God make the opossums so ugly? I have no idea….

Can you stand a closer look? He is everything I described above, but with an appearance beyond horrible!

And most things are judged by their cover.

Have you ever thought about this…?

The stranger you behave the more ‘normal’ should look, and it seems that it works the other way around also.

For example, when I see a child with 3 or 4 fingers in her nose, I can analyze that there is nothing extraordinary with that creature.

Polished silver shines more than raw gold.

Dogs are my life, as well as marine life and wildlife, so
check ‘em out!

I’m thinking… Perhaps the reason that I was sent to this world was to increase your knowledge of Jack Russell Terriers.

Maybe that’s the reason of my presence on this planet.

Who knows …?

These dogs are different, even very different within the same race. They have totally different personalities. Their hair: some have hair like wire, others like silk, others are even curly, but they are all Terriers. I read one day that there are 33 types of Terriers.

It is true Rocio? I have two good hunters who are always enthusiastic about life and whatever it brings.

My squirel-crazy dogs are always on guard hoping the squirels get close… and she taught him all the little tricks. ALL of them.

Yes, because she’s already caught several squirrels not to speak of a tarantula and a turtle. Just about everything scary – not the tortoise, I loved her.

JRTs have a lot of energy. They run all over all day looking for sticks and balls as if they would all be gone tomorrow.

But when it rains, it’s all indoor play: the bite itches, playing tag….

Oooh..Oooh….

“Can I play with Bush …?”

“Not my favorite toy… But I’m bored… (look at his face …)”

“Anything will do.”

“Play with me? Let’s play…”

“Oppss….”

“It fell on top of the robot my mother’s robot!”

Coincidences. Rain outside means it’s cleaning day inside.

“Help! I don’t like this robot! I think he wants to get me!”

Now you’ll see why they are different.

While one escapes from a robot the other is waiting for the ‘other’ robot begin work: running, barking, chasing and trying to bite that blessed little brush that goes in and out and cleans the baseboards! Can you see the little yellow brush on the robot?

This girl is the greatest danger!

I’ve tried everything, but she does not give up. Shiloh is the great menace of robotic life… A ‘pizza’ walking all over the place.

Didn’t I tell you they were different…?

And I love my robots! They are like my slaves that help and never complain. They just make funny noises when they get in trouble! You can be reading your book on top of the bed and they even clean underneath it!

Confession: I’m addicted to them. I have 3 robots: Roomba, that cleans the floor of the house, Dirty Dog, the balcony, and Scooba takes care of washing and drying.

They do it, and yes I do recommend them. In fact, I have recommended them to several friends and some bought them and are very happy. Right Lene…? Right Kevin…?

Here is where they sleep and get recharged. My dear husband was the author of this shelf bed.

Ok, back to the animals.

Glad Mr.Slipper Socks Man decided to make popcorn! My pack ran to the stove. That smell, the noise… they even already know the red pot of the popcorn!

Hum …. And then there was cake …

Brazilian from Guarani Minas de Gerais (350km Rio)

It seems that Americans never get enough of Brazilian designer Francisco Costa, chief designer and director of the brand Calvin Klein, who arrived in America 20 years ago in 1986, not knowing a word of English! He wanted to be an architect, diplomat or painter, but followed in the footsteps of his mother, who owns a small children’s clothing factory in the town where he grew up.

Francisco Costa, confesses that he thinks day and night at work, and thinks that creative people are like that, but he finds great pleasure in what he does, and loves going inside himself… He says that when he’s inside himself he is looking for ideas for a new collection.

His inspirations – the magic and realist work of the painter Wim Shumacker is like going to the American West, where he’s extremely fascinated by the colors of the desert. He also admires the values of life, purity and simplicity of “Hutterites of Montana” (a religious culture of peace that came from Austria).

 Hutterian Women

His secret - ”always enthusiastic, being excited about whatever you’re doing.” Even if it is sweeping the floor of the premises, he had to be close to fashion, and he thinks that “everything good” that has happened in his life is because he simply does what he loves.

His muses - Christy Turlington, the always beautiful Lauren Hutton, and also Elle Macpherson for their spontaneity. She is the kind of person who didn’t take off her sandals coming off the airplane trip, coming to a gala evening at the famous Met’s Costume Institute. This and ‘the perfect visual’ said Francisco, using the supermodel as an example (who after this event, had her pictures shown around the world).

His mentors – Calvin Klein, who like his brand lives a minimalist life, and Oscar de La Renta. He and de la Renta, share the same love for Latin colors, innovation, textures and have studied the fabrics together for weeks, until they got it right.

“Keep it simple and sexy is the motto of this celebrity from Minas de Gerais in America.

Brazilians and those who know the Brazilian coffee, fully understand, when he confesses, “that not a day passes without his cafe PILAO” and is ‘caffeinated’ riding a bicycle through the streets of Manhattan.

I’d like to have a little Pilao coffee right now…

Oh… Did you know that Mariah Carey wore Calvin Klein (Francisco Costa) in the show “HI Fashion Rocks” on the 24th (3 days ago) at the Rio Jóquey Club…?

Hum hum ….  take a peek: Hi Fashion Rock

I saw his style in the 2010 Autumn-Winter collection, and I can only say that he has an unparalleled imagination and dresses a woman as a woman, with perfect and impeccable cuts, but always bringing fresh unexpected, as it were, traditional clothing.

He does ‘desirable’ things and says that if there is a reason to buy, it has to be something genuine and exciting.

If you want to see this simple, sensual and wonderful collection, click here

Want a wonderful idea and one more reason to socialize…?
Very popular now are get-togethers with friends, plus all those ‘excesses’ that we have at home, and once again put into practice the words reduce, reuse and recycle! It’s all about a swap party. And I’ll teach you, step by step how to organize this event.

This is how it’s done…

Why do it: besides being a great idea economically and ecologically, it’s one more reason for us to clean out the closets and wardrobe! It is more fun than going to a garage sale or a resale shop.

Who you should call: friends who have more or less the same taste, same lifestyle. For a good variety of goods, more or less 10 persons is a number that you can easily manage. A minimum of 3 and a maximum 20 people.

Invitations: send at least 2 weeks in advance by mail or email, so people have time to get together the things what they want to exchange.

What to serve: mini sandwiches, sweets, hot dogs… whatever you choose.

Tip: Make space for your guests, taking their belongings off the tables and corner tables in the place where they will meet.

Tricks of trade: Sometimes when they get several pieces that you know will be eyed, keep order doing the following:

Make it very clear what kind of material or objects that are going to be exchanged before hand. Ask your guests to bring something new, in good condition or gently used and also, big bags for personal use.

Inventory supplies – your friends can ‘claim’ things they desire using different colors. Hangers and a good billboard where everyone can see them are indispensable.

Establish a system, choosing a strategy below, which should be well explained in advance in the invitation:

Buyers take turns - using the system of drawing straws or something similar. Be fair, limiting the number of objects that each person can chose. I recommend 3 items each time.

Use gambling chips and roll dice For each item that a guest brings she gets one chip. Whoever brings 10 items may choose from 10 objects. For more on exchange online, visit these websites:

• rehashclothes.com and swapstyle.com – exchange clothes and accessories.
• handmedowns.com and the babychain.com – exchange of baby things.
• bookins.com, chancexchange.com and swaptree.com for books, DVDs, CDs and video games.
• freecycle.org, neighborrow.com, swapthing.com and titletrader.com – for anything and everything! If you’ve never seen or heard that kind of party before, try it!

After we decided to come here, I had a garage sale in Sao Paulo without ever having seen one – it was complete success! The only thing I had left left was a sofa for 2 people and a water filter, which I gave to a friend.

Do the same with what is left of your party – donate. I’m sure you will enjoy it a lot and be a innovative celebrity in your own neighbor and among friends!