Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2016: now we're talking!

Remember when I said Ashley Graham is a major hottie and she totally deserved her place in the New York Fashion Week' runway? Well, I was definitely right. She is officially the first plus size model on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and every woman on the planet has to approve and be proud of her! 

This is what the plus size model and body activist had to say on her instagram about the magazine's choice: "Truly speechless!!! This cover is for every woman who felt like she wasn't beautiful enough because of her size. You can do and achieve anything you put your mind to." 

And here's a sample of how great she looks:

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Beautiful, sexy and real: now we're talking!

Ashley is changing the fashion industry and I believe we need more of that. It's time to stop this sick and cruel obsession with weight, with sizes, with false and delusional perfection.  I invite you to listen to her TED talk and learn something about body diversity and self acceptance:

"I felt free, once I realized I was never going to fit the narrow mold that society wanted me to fit in. I was never going to be perfect enough for an industry that defines perfection from the outside in, and that's okay."

I think she said it all, right?

Your TopCrushser,
Daniela

Freaks in love

Hi Crushers,

Valentine's day is almost here and I've warned you before that there are no haters aloud when it comes to celebrating love! I'm not a big fan of huge and expensive gifts on this day but I do believe that we are all entitled to show our significant other how much we love them... and if there's a date for that, even better! 

Just keep in mind that one day a year is not enough to make anyone happy, there are things you can  - and should - do for your girl all year to make her feel loved and appreciated, It's so simple to make someone happy and even so, we seem to fail so many times! 

So, listen to the person you love, kiss her/him a lot, show her/him how much they mean to you, not only with empty words but with gestures and attitudes. If you are not in a relationship, well, lucky you, this is a great excuse to buy yourself something you've been wanting and to offer a box of chocolates to your mom, your best friend, your little brother, whomever you love and cherish. 

And most of all, love yourself first! 

Here's some Valentine's inspiration:

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And also, a song for all you freaks in love:

"slow dance to rock music, kiss while we do it.." 

Your TopCrusher,

Dani in love 

Little Princess Trust: cutting your hair for a good cause!

Recently, two friends of mine, Olívia and Inês, decided to cut and donate their hair to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides real hair wigs to children with cancer and other diseases that cause hair loss. I thought this was a really special and kind gesture, so the least I can do - while I don't have the courage to donate - is write about it and hopefully reach more people who are thinking of doing the same but just don't know how. 

This is what you can read on the charity's website: 

"We work with specialist suppliers and experienced hairdressers who offer wigs tailored to the individual child’s needs to give the most realistic look and feel, as close as possible to their original hair. We strive to put parents/guardians in contact with suppliers as local as possible."

The process is actually pretty simple, this is the information you should know before you donate:

Suitable hair types: 

• Clean, dry hair in good condition (no split ends) from any gender, and of any natural colour, 
• Straight, wavy, curly, permed or chemically straightened (in good condition), 
• Containing the odd grey (less than 10%), 
• Dyed, bleached/highlighted (any dyes must be of a natural colour), 
• Layered (shortest layer must be at least 7”/17cm), 
• Plaits/ponytails, cut a long time ago, preserved in good condition

Guidelines:

• Immediately prior to the cut, please wash and dry your hair. Please do not send wet hair in the post as this will sadly render your kind donation unusable. Please do not add any styling product though conditioner is acceptable
• Have your dried hair tied into a number of plaits or pony-tails, secured at both the root end and the tip end with an elastic band
• Ask your hairdresser to cut your dried hair above the bands at the root end, thereby releasing plaits/pony-tails, tied at both ends. You can now have your hair cut further and styled (or shaved if that is your intention)
• Place your dry plaits/pony-tails into a clear plastic bag (for example a freezer bag) as soon as possible after they have been cut. Place them in a padded envelope and post using a standard postal service to:

Little Princess Trust Hair Donation

Sheridan House

114-116 Western Road

HOVE BN3 1DD (UK)

If you're looking for inspiration, you can also see their gallery, which is full of pictures from courageous people who have already donated their hair. The wigs are completely free for the children and the charity will send you a certificate after they receive the donation. 

The next time you think about getting an extreme makeover, you can cut your hair for a good cause! Don't forget to donate, make someone happy with a part of you! 

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela

"Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young"

wasted on the young
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Recently, one of my Marketing teachers advised us to read this essay by the Chicago Tribune's columnist Mary Schmich and I loved it so much I wanted to share this hypothetical speech with you. As you will see, although it is directed for the class of 97, it is still adequate for the way we live today, and it probably still be a hundred years from now. 

"Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen."

Beautiful, right?

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela 

Love never goes out of style

Hi babies,

You know what? Let's stop the Valentine's day haters... From my point of view, any excuse to love is a good excuse! If you are in a relationship, today is a good day to get freaky! *insert Marvin Gaye's let's get it on* 

If you are single, show some love for your family, for your friends, for your pets, whatever, just show your love for the people and things you appreciate! Most of all, love yourself! Here's some Valentine's inspiration:

Also, here's my newest pop addiction and my soundtrack for today:

Just admit it... love never goes out of style!

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

10 things to do on a rainy Sunday

It seems that fall is finally starting in Portugal and we have to get used to rainy days and thunder lightening again. These days are usually my favorite to catch up with things that I don’t have time to do during the week… Here are some of my suggestions: 

Sunday
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1. First of all, just relax. Whatever you choose to do, do it because it gives you pleasure,
2. Watch an old movie that you love,
3. Update your soundtrack with new songs for the week,
4. Cook something sweet,
5. Spend some time with your family,
6. Take a nap… Yes, you can!
7. Conference call with your friends about gossip and how hangover you are from last night,
8. Treat yo’self! It’s the perfect opportunity to do all the beauty rituals you desire,
9. Organize your closet: you know you need to,
10. Write a post on your blog! :)

Just enjoy! 

Your TopCrusher, 

Daniela

He For She Freedom

Gender equality is not a women's issue, it's a human rights issue. 

The HeForShe initiative was launched by Emma Watson, Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women (and for people like me, eternal Harry Potter wonder), at the United Nations on September 20th. The truth is that there has been a lot of talk about feminism lately. What it is, what it stands for, what's acceptable or not for a feminist to say or do, etc.

I had some difficulty understanding what feminism is about at first, but then, things just got really simple. It means that I want to be equal, it means that I want to be free to express myself, it means that I won't allow to be treated like less because I am a woman. So yes, I am a feminist. 

The most important and innovative point of her speech, is asking men to join women in this cause, because feminist don't hate men, we just don't want to live trapped by destructive stereotypes, and men are victims of those stereotypes too. Here are my favorite parts of her amazing speech:

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"My life is a sheer privilege because my parents didn’t love me less because I was born a daughter. My school did not limit me because I was a girl. My mentors didn't assume that I would go less far because I might give birth to a child one day. These influences were the gender equality ambassadors that made me who I am today. They may not know it, but they are the inadvertent feminists that are changing the world today. We need more of those. (...)

If men don’t have to be aggressive in order to be accepted, women won’t feel compelled to be submissive. If men don’t have to control, women won’t have to be controlled.

Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong. It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum, instead of two sets of opposing ideals. If we stop defining each other by what we are not, and start defining ourselves by who we are, we can all be freer, and this is what HeForShe is about. It’s about freedom.

If you believe in equality, you might be one of those inadvertent feminists that I spoke of earlier, and for this, I applaud you. We are struggling for a uniting word, but the good news is, we have a uniting movement. It is called HeForShe. I invite you to step forward, to be seen and to ask yourself, “If not me, who? If not now, when?”

If you are a woman, and you believe you deserve to be treated as equal, there is no way you don't love this speech, even if you don't want to be called a feminist.

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

Before and After Beauty

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I am a woman. I am twenty six years old. I try to eat well, sleep well, I do some exercise when I have the time. I can't complaint for now, everything seems to be in the right place, my hair is still all black and shiny, my skin is still soft.. but I know, and all women know, that a time will come when all these things will start failing. It's called aging and there's nothing we can do about it. 

This Renee Zellweger controversy made me think about how far we go to look young, even if we know that we aren't on our 20's anymore. Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against plastic surgery, I believe that it is a great solution to many health and aesthetic problems and it should always be a personal choice. However, Renee is such a beautiful woman that it's hard to think she would need so many surgeries, she ended up looking like someone else. 

Zellweger apart, I believe that we should see beauty in all ages, in all shapes, in all colors. Only when we stop acting like it is possible to be 20 forever, we will accept the fact that we are beautiful no matter what. Living by unreachable standards will raise our frustration, anger, and disappointment with our bodies and with ourselves.

Maybe the solution here is to focus on feeling forever young, instead of looking like something we're not. 

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela 

This world is too damn small

What goes around...
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Everyone knows this world is gigantic. I wish I had the opportunity to know it all, travel all countries, and meet all kinds of people. I know I won’t do it, at least, as much as I would love to, but that would be an adventure for my life.

Nevertheless, my point today is exactly the opposite. This world is tiny. Lately I’ve been feeling that we are all living in a fish thank, and eventually, we are all connected. Today you’re my teacher, tomorrow you are my student. Today you’re my employer, tomorrow you are my boss. Today you’re on my side, tomorrow you are my enemies’ best friend.

This is why I believe in karma. I truly and deeply believe that all good will come to us later in life, as all the bad things we do will, somehow, get us too. Everyone has to believe in something, right? So be good, do good, and the rest will follow.

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

Colour your hair, colour your life

Want to spice things up a bit?

What better way than a new hair colour to match your mood? It seems to be a trend now, since we see celebrities with stranger hair colours everyday! But you know what, they own it, and I kind of love it! It's my crush for the day, although I would never do something like this! Take a look:

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Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

Plus size Pirelli!

Every year Pirelli presents us with a brand new calendar full of beauties in it. This year, the brand decided to invite the plus size model Candice Huffine to be part of it. I don't really like or agree with the term "plus size" as I believe that they are only "normal size" people, but I really applaud this choice!

Fist of all, take a look at the photographs, she's gorgeous! And second, I believe that this kind of choices will make a difference on the beauty stereotypes that rule the fashion world nowadays. Things are starting to change: skin and bone is not the only kind of beautiful we appreciate. I'm waiting to see the outcome but I'm sure Candice will rule the place!

Hot candy
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Plus size? Plus awesome.

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

Things we should believe and never forget

Believe
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Well, this is one of those posts some of you might find very cheesy and irrelevant. I don’t. 

There are certain things we will only understand because we have experienced them. If you are initiating something in your life - new graduation, new job, new relationship, new whatever - this is for you. And aren't we all starting something new every day? 

So, these are the things I think everyone should believe and keep in mind:

You are capable!

How many of us have a problem even before we start something? It’s like the root of evil, this feeling that we just aren’t enough to do this job, or to date that person, or whatever. We live in constant fear of failing and this just kills our confidence! Look at you, bring yourself together and then fight for it! Of course you can fail, but that’s a risk you have to take in order to succeed!

You are accountable!

This is the hard part. If you’re a dreamer, things will never get done anyway. If you’re a go-getter, things will take shape. What comes after that - success or failure – is your responsibility. Everything is easy breezy when people are complementing you and saying how well you went so, no need for advice there. It’s when things go wrong that you will show your true colors. Deal with your mistakes and faults with honesty and integrity. Maybe that’s the reason why you will get a second chance.

You are worth it!

When something goes well, than you just have to believe you deserve it. Don’t let anyone take credit for your hard work. Don’t be that guy in the corner of the room, hearing someone else speaking about your tasks, goals and achievements like they actually helped you! Stand up and defend your own accomplishments.

After all, the point here is we should believe in ourselves. The chances are that, at first, no one else will.

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela

We're crushing this!

Hi guys! We just want to say thanks to everyone that has been visiting our blog! We had more than a thousand views in our first week, and we believe that's pretty good! Our team will keep crushing it like Miley's wrecking ball! 

Your TopCrushers,

Alex, Daniela and Dúnia

Sugar is sweet, sugar is bitter

The truth is we all love sugar!  Although it is so good to indulge in all the great stuff we can find at the supermarket, the sad thing is that it is proven that the amount of sugar we are consuming on a daily basis will have disastrous consequences on our health. 

Bitter aftertaste
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It's not like we don't have information about what we are eating and drinking these days, sometimes we just don't care, sometimes we just need that guilty pleasure, other times it's just easier and quicker to choose junk food. Anyway, everyone is free to choose a different lifestyle, we just have to be aware that our eating habits will dictate (or at least have a huge influence) on what we are going to be in the future.

Regarding this matter, Wall Street bank Credit Suisse has published the video Sugar: Sweet With a Bitter Aftertaste, which explains all the numbers about sugar consumption and what countries are in the worst situation. I think this video is a great portrait of what's happening in the food industry: since everyone discovered that fat is bad for us, they replaced it by sugar, and nobody seems to care now. 

Let's face it, I'm not going to erase sugar from my life, that would be an impossible mission; first of all I would be a miserable person, and second, our bodies need sugar to work. Still, I think this video is a really interesting way to explain the "evolution of sugar". Take a look if you have the opportunity,  hopefully you will learn something from it as I did! 

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela