What if?

Sweet
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What if is a story about a medical school dropout named Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) and Chantry (Zoe Kazan), an animator who has been in an apparently healthy relationship with her boyfriend of 5 years (Rafe Spall). It's a funny, insightful, romantic movie about love, friendship, instant connections and  undeniable chemistry between two people. 

What I love about this movie is that it's not the usual romantic thing we see everyday. It's perfect the way they describe how people are hopeful about love and, at the same time, how they are so cynical, mostly because of the bad things that have happened to them in the past.  

What if? It is the question that, somewhere, somehow, everyone has done in their heads, while picturing a romantic possibility with someone. It's a movie everyone can relate to.

On another note, reasons to love Daniel Radcliffe:

Daniel
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Do you really need me to explain the reasons? I mean, he is freaking Harry Potter! #gryffindor #I'msuchanerd 

Seriously, I love him since I was a child and I believe that he is a great actor! He looks so cute in this movie, even when he's being punched in the face! Now I'm planning to watch "Horns" as soon as I have the time.

He's just adorable.

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

Soundtrack of the week: FKA twigs

twigs
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Tahliah Debrett Barnett, aka FKA twigs, released her debut album, LP1, in August 2014. Shamefully, only this week I caught this song on the radio, and I instantly thought it was very catchy and relaxing. When I searched for "Two Weeks" on Youtube, I was pleasantly surprised with this cool video.. Check it out:

Oh, and also... She is currently dating Robert Pattinson... You lucky girl!

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

Christmas wish nº1: the Cartier Panthère Collection

Hey kitty
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I'm absolutely in love with this Panthère Ring by Cartier!

According to Cartier's website "the Maison's emblematic panther, first leaped into the world of Cartier jewelry in 1914. Louis Cartier was a pioneer in taming the legendary creature and his associate Jeanne Toussaint went on to make magnificent use of the icon. The panther has since inspired a timeless and elegant collection of jewelry and timepieces that show the multiple facets of the animal that can be at times bold, regal or sensual."

I'm 110% sure, it would look so pretty on my hands, it's on my imaginary Christmas wish list already! Maybe my imaginary sheikh friend can buy me one.. or the whole collection!

You can watch this ring and other beautiful jewelry on the film below:

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:

Freedom
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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

Before and after
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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 

Fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it

Hi Crushers,

Just in case you need an extra motivation, I decided to leave this Eat Pray Love quote about happiness and how to achieve it on our blog. It's not easy, but we have to believe it's worth our efforts.

Happiness
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“... people universally tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will maybe descend upon you like fine weather if you're fortunate enough. But that's not how happiness works. Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.” Elizabeth Gilbert

And don't forget to love yourself first. 

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela 

Welcome to the Jungle

Bring the heat
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Jungle, the band. The founding members, Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland, identified as J and T, released their first album singles "Platoon" and "The Heat"at the start of 2013, and what a great start.

Between the modern soul, the electro funk style and some kind of urban details, they build the right atmosphere to relax and dance at the same time. Their debut album, Jungle, was released on July 14 with all the groove that we deserve.

Just feel the heat, move your body and lose your mind!

Your TopCrusher,

Dúnia

The Laughing Heart

My favourite poem, by Charles Bukowski:

Laughing
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your life is your life
don't let it be clubbed into dank submission
be on the watch
there are ways out
there is a light somewhere
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness
be on the watch
the gods will offer you chances
know them
take them
you can't beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes
and the more often you learn to do it
the more light there will be
your life is your life
know it while you have it
you are marvelous
the gods wait to delight
in you


Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

The dawn of Portuguese cinema

[For you that's reading this and saying "why is she writing about Portuguese cinema in english?"...don't even. ]

For many years I have been resisting Portuguese cinema.

I feel almost embarrassed to say it but every time I watched a Portuguese movie with Portuguese actors was either about a great novel about other times where we were a greater country (this was ages ago, kids, nobody gives a damn about us, now, but we used to rule every corner of this world) or it was about our country. Don't get me wrong my country is full of untold stories I'm sure ...still, they kinda felt all the same...boring.

This week though, I witness something great.

I went to the movies twice in one week and the films that I choose were all 100% made in Portugal. 

Day one : A movie about a novel (what else?). That was really what was in my head going in the theater "I just hope I don't fall asleep and snore, please, oh please don't let me snore!" 

Then I literally ate this words syllable by syllable. 

A doomed love in Os Maias, João Botelho
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Os Maias de João Botelho was much more than a movie, it combined, brilliantly, characteristics of a live play and it work. Every bit of it worked. João Botelho took a novel that was told, untold and then told again, a novel that has been giving high scholars nightmares and he transformed it into something "almost" cool. He got it, the actors got it and they made magic happen in a way that for me was truly new for the Portuguese cinema.

Day two:  Ok, by then I was like "Can I be amazed twice? No, of course not" So me and my high horse entered the movie theater haunted by a previous good-so-they-cant-duplicate-it feeling. Then...there was the opening scene from Os Gatos Não Têm Vertigens de João Pedro Vasconcelos: five minutes into the movie and I was already sobbing like a little girl. 

No! Something like this can't happen, not with a Portuguese movie! They are supposed to be boring.

Oh yes it can and with the same intensity it also made me laugh. Above all, there was something about this moments, they were comedic but they also were full of magic and love and that "sugar-spice-and-everything-nice" factor that I love about going to the cinema. 

"Arsenic!" in Os gatos não êm vertigens, João Pedro Vasconcelos
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I expected nothing, I was given everything, I laughed and cried, I was concerned and wanted to punch somebody, by the end I felt completely exhausted like I've been to war (jezz! exaggerate much?) but it also  lifts you up so when you leave the cinema there is a smile stuck to the corner of your mouth ( Oh god women! Control your cheesiness!). 

João Pedro Vasconcelo's movie washes away all the stupid and petty shit from your day, can you ask for more? Totally worth it.

Keep that quality coming, guys.

Make us proud.

Your TopCrusher,

Alex

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

The Normal Heart

The Normal Heart
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Have you watched The Normal Heart yet? After watching the trailer I thought it should be an interesting movie to see and now I can tell you it's absolutely worth your time. This is a movie about a group of gay activists attempting to raise HIV/AIDS awareness during the early 1980s.

The thing you realize as the movie goes on is how lost they were and how clueless everyone was when people started dying from AIDS. Doctors where calling this disease "Gay Cancer" and no one really understood what it was and how they were getting it.

According to the Vulture's review, the movie's political agenda is clear: to carve out a "Never Forget" space in the national psyche. It wants the official governmental non-response to AIDS in the early '80s to be placed on a list of the most contemptible acts of calculated neglect in the nation's history.

When you watch the movie you understand why this has to be remembered. The cast is great, from  Matt Bomer to Joe Mantello. I believe that they all did a wonderful job, although I have to say I am a fan of Mark Ruffalo from now on. His character, Ned Weeks, is so disruptive, constantly fighting, always frustrated with everything that was happening. He stands up for him and for his cause, against all odds, and demands the world to accept him exactly as he his. It's a powerful message.

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela

Professional emails for dummies

 Focus
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Did you ever had one of those days at work that you received so many emails you just feel like throwing yourself out of the nearest window? I know I had. This is the daily struggle of bosses and employees. Our inbox will define how we start the day, and how late we will get home for dinner. 

Here's my question: since emails are such a great part of our way of communicating with each other professionally, shouldn't we know how to do it right? Nonetheless, everyday I read emails from clients and partners that give me chills... Here are some tips on how to write an email properly, according to my experience:

1. Get off on the right foot: Starting an email without some kind of greeting is just rude and what you should say will depend on who you are addressing. Keep it simple and adjust the formality of the message to the person you are trying to reach. For example, sometimes a simple "Hi" is OK, but in other situations you have to go with "Dear Sir/ Madam".

2. Focus: Go straight to the point. Professional emails are supposed to be simple and efficient. If I wanted to know what you did last weekend, I would friend you on Facebook. Of course there is always time for a friendly tip here and there, just don't stretch it. 

3. To/ cc/ bcc fields: If you don't know the difference by now, you should Google it asap. This is really important if you are working with different companies, or applying to different jobs, or the information is confidential, etc. This tool allows you to communicate in a better and faster way, so don't forget to use it. 

4. Punctuation: It's not like you didn't learn to use it when you were eight years old! Why are you doing it wrong? These are my personal favorites:

• CAPS LOCK
• Huge number of a particular punctuation mark (???? / !!!!)
• Not using punctuation at all
• All of the above

I'm not saying that every email has to be perfect. When we are trying to get everything done and people are calling, and everything is happening at the same time, I'm sure some mistakes will happen! In my opinion, some are acceptable, others are just lack of professionalism. 

5. Saying goodbye: "Xoxo" is not an option, ok? Unless you are Gossip Girl, that is not a possibility. I personally like to write something like "kind regards" because it sounds nice and polite. If you don't like this one, there are other options: best regards, many thanks, yours faithfully, etc. It's up to you!

Hopefully these tips will stop you from making some common mistakes.
Keep up the good work! :)

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela 

City Crush: London baby!

God save the queen
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So... Last week I was in London for the first time. It's one of those places where you can see pretty much everything, the old and the new, the classic and the modern, the Eastern and the Western, you name it, it's there! It's an atmosphere for the open minded, for the adventurous, for the wanderlusters!

I didn't have time to see and visit all the places that I wanted to, but I saw enough to fall in love with the city. It's now on my top 3, next to Paris and Barcelona. The thing you get once you arrive: it moves, and they go fast in there. Everyone is running around and stumbling on each other, night and day, just because that's how quick life is for Londoners.  

The people there are generally very nice and polite, I guess they are already used to people from all over the world so no muss, no fuss! My personal advice: if you decide to visit London, make sure you have a good shopping allowance! 

There are so many great shops, so many great outfits, accessories and all the stuff you can imagine... It's a girls' dream! I loved it, and I definitely want to go back there with more time to explore!

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela 

Keira, the Queen of Boho

Keira : topcrush of the day
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Keira Knightley is the kind a girl you need in your life. She can either be the girl of your dreams or your best friend for life. Keira is the type of girl that doesn't try to hard but there she is always made you wondering why didn't you think of that.

When Keira is boho chic it's an absolute feast for any fashionista eyes. She was born to wear boho clothes and se is just pure inspiration.

Boho is still strong this fall so take a few tips away from Keira style and be gone: go out into the world and learn french and just be like "le me being trés awesome". 

Check out the Vogue's selection of style evolution of this gorgeous english babe.

Your TopCrusher,
Alex

Hang on, it's almost friday!

I went back to my gallery at weheartit.com for the first time in ages.

It made me laugh so hard and realise that...maybe...I need medication for these people allergies I get sometimes! Argh. 

Enjoy Crushers,

Credits

Your (not allergic to all of you) Top Crusher

Alex

My love affair with Marlon Brando

Yeah, that's right.
Since, I watched The Godfather for the first time, I have been in love.
Madly, truly, deeply too.

10 reasons that make Marlon Brando the bad boy you MUST love.

1. He loved cats.

2. He knew when he had to put his clothes on...

3...and when to take everything off.

4. He loved his grandma.

5. Just because this gif exists.

And this.

OH MY GOD. This too.

6. He totally made you feel the luckiest girl in the room.

7. The way he looked in an uniform. 

8. He had that concentration that successful people do and that's hot.

9. That stare, the white shirt and the smirk.

 The whole reason why white shirts were invented was Marlon Brando, really it was.

*Syncope*

10. A guy guy's with those arms around you.

 *SWOON*

Image Credits

Pinterest

Making your Mondays a lit bit easier!

Your Top Crusher ,

Alex

Shop Like A Boss!

"Shop Like a Boss" is the new campaign for Kmart. Basically, this commercial it's all about your grandmother teaching you how to be cool and buy stuff online. The ad promotes their new digital platform, where any consumer can buy products and choose the payment method that suits best: by cash, check, debit, credit card or in the store. 

This is a successful case of advertising: it's funny, it's catchy, it's an elderly woman buying pink lacy underwear with two gangster looking boys. I rest my case.

The campaign was developed by creative agency FCB Chicago, and already has over 400,000 views on YouTube. I have to say I loved it, it made me laugh and I'm sure it's going to bring a lot of attention to their online platform.  You can watch the full video below:

Advertising done right!

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela

My gym soundtrack, are you going to run or what?

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I am one of those people that really needs the right soundtrack to motivate me when I'm at the gym or when I'm running around! I'm going to share my top 10 with you, I hope these songs can boost your energy too! Some hits are recent, other are oldies, but they are all precious to me, okay? 

1. Far East Movement - Like A G6 ft. The Cataracs, DEV

2. Beyoncé - Partition

3. Britney Spears - Boys

4. Katy Perry - Dark Horse (Damn Wright Remix)

5. N.E.R.D. - Rock Star

6. Kid Cudi - Just What I Am ft. King Chip

7. will.i.am - Feelin' Myself ft. Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa, French Montana

8. Jessie J - Sweet Talker

9. Kanye West - POWER

And to relax and breathe at the end of your workout:

10. BANKS - Goddess

Just go ahead and thank me later!

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

Obesity alert: Rewind the Future

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"You have to make a change!"

This video from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta has a powerful message: you can meet Jim, he's a young man who is arriving the Hospital having a heart attack. And then, we hear the doctor asking "how the hell does that happen?" Well, it happens, nowadays more than ever, and this is a way of fast forwarding into a scary future that many of us can experience.

Here are 10 facts about obesity, according to the World Health Organization:

1. Overweight and obesity are defined as "abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health"

2. More than 1.4 billion adults were overweight in 2008, and more than half a billion obese

3. Globally, over 40 million preschool children were overweight in 2008

4. Overweight and obesity are linked to more deaths worldwide than underweight

5. For an individual, obesity is usually the result of an imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended

6. Supportive environments and communities are fundamental in shaping people’s choices and preventing obesity

7. Children's choices, diet and physical activity habits are influenced by their surrounding environment

8. Eating a healthy diet can help prevent obesity

9. Regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy body

10. Curbing the global obesity epidemic requires a population-based multisectoral, multi-disciplinary, and culturally relevant approach

Let's make a change in order to have a brighter and healthier future!

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela