the best Photoshop tutorials

Trust me, when you learn how to use one Adobe program, you learn almost all of them. They are pretty similar but are used for different things.

When I started playing around with photoshop, YouTube was my best friend (and it still is). I learned a lot just by watching the video tutorials! I am a self-learner and I am very visual, so if I see someone doing anything, I am able to copy it. This is how I learn.

Good thing we have the internet and we can discover every secret in the world!

There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube, but here are my favourite ones!

TUTORIAL:

RESULT:

TUTORIAL:

RESULT:

TUTORIAL:

RESULT:

Hope you enjoy it and try to make your pictures more beautiful than before!

- Let me know what is your favourite tutorial on the comments below! I'd love to know!

stop being so messy!

Organization is something I always have to be working on.

I am a visual person. The only way I remember things is when I write them down. I could be anywhere, and I could never see it again, but I'll never forget once I've written it.

I've been keeping a journal for many years, and you can ask me anything about what happened in my life since I was 12 years old. I'll be able to tell you as if it happened yesterday. I just don't forget.

That's just how visual people work.

When I worked as a secretary, during my training period, I wrote down every single direction my boss gave me. When to check the mail, how to schedule a meeting and send it to all the people who worked there, or what to write in an e-mail for clients. I had to answer a lot of calls and send away messages to those who couldn't answer the phone. I had to remember the caller's name, the person he/she wanted to talk to, what was the subject and their contact information. It was a lot of things to remember, and if I didn't have a pen and paper to write on, I would quickly forget and my work wouldn't be effective.

On Tuesday at Institute, one of our classmates said she says "yes" to a lot of things. I am exactly like that. It's hard for me to say no to anyone, especially to those whom I care. Sometimes I say yes simply because I forget what I have to do. The other day, I had to take my road test, and I almost accidentally set up an appointment at CIBC. Dumb! If I hadn't set up a reminder on my phone, I would've to try to clone myself. Or I would totally forget about my road test and not even take it.

Our generation has the ability of multi-task. That is a fact. But that also brings us a lot of anxiety and stress because it's hard to focus and prioritize. I am speaking, in general. I know a lot of people can prioritize just perfectly. My sister is one example of that. She goes to the gym three times a week religiously. She knows that every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:30 a.m. she will be at the gym for 1:30 hours. And she doesn't miss one day, except for when she is REALLY sick or when she is out of town. Wish I was like that.

But don't feel hopeless. I am a living proof that we can learn how to prioritize. I am an anxious person, and I usually want to do everything. I even count how many seconds it will take me to do something. I time everything. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

So over the years, I've come up with different organizing methods and the ones that worked best for me are schedules. I am able to see everything I have to do and set up a time for each task.

I was very excited playing around with inDesign that I ended up creating this schedule. It starts at 12 p.m. because I know I can't function in the morning. You have to be realistic when scheduling your day. Plus, I am usually at school in the mornings, and weekends are sacred, if I can, I will not set up an alarm for the next day. I ended it at 10 p.m. because I need to start sleeping 8 hours. I've been having 4:30-5 hours of sleep and this is killing me!

My friend gave me the idea of sharing this schedule with you guys, so here it goes! :) you can even edit it to be suitable for your life! Click here to download the file, and have fun!

I made one for CreCommers and other for real people! haha

I hope this helps you a lot, it's been helping me! And remember, TAKE IT EVERYWHERE YOU GO!

p.s.: always use a pencil to write on it, your priorities may change over the days. ;)

If you'd like to see more organizing tips, click here.

• Tell me how you organize your day and if this schedule was helpful in the comments!

I will survive!

This week I have been feeling a little sad. I don't know what's happening with me, I just don't feel enthusiastic about anything.

This is not me.

Last week I talked about how much I want and I need to change. It's evolution. We need to evolve. My classes started and I have lots of plans. I've printed out a bunch of daily schedules and weekly dinner menus that would help me organize my day so I wouldn't make the same mistakes I did last semester.

Who said it worked?

As soon as I started panicking about failing, all my plans remained plans instead of actions.

This week I worked on my next article for The Projector, Red River College's newspaper, that listed 20 places in Winnipeg for people under 20. I'm new to Winnipeg, and I hate to say, but I haven't gone anywhere other then the mall and The Forks, so I had to get my friends to help me.

One of the places on the list was Saffron's Restaurant. On Fridays and Saturdays, starting at 10 p.m., they have karaoke.

When I was in Virginia I used to go to karaoke with my friends sometimes and we had lots of fun! At the time, I was taking Show Choir, so everything I wanted to do was sing all the time! hahaha #goodtimes

This last friday I got my friends and even my parents to come with me to Saffron's. I spent my entire week stressing out, irritated, and sad. All I wanted today was to forget all my worries and have a good time.

I have to tell you that we nailed karaoke! At first just one of my friends said he would sing, that he was the king of karaoke. But then we had so much fun that all of us (we were 12 people) sang and danced! Even my mom and my dad! It was too much fun!

Me and my friend Raquel closed the night! haha We got everyone at the bar to dance and sing with us. The host got so excited with our performance that she played one last song and all of us that were at the bar sang and danced together! It was great!

I've been feeling a little "down" (as we say in Brazil), but I know I will survive, and tonight I could yell that so the world could hear it. It felt good.

Guess what? We are going back tomorrow!
I totally recommend checking this place! It's awesome!

Here's a video #aboutlastnight, so you can get a little excited about karaoke!

Para a alma não ficar sedentaria, corra riscos.-Zack Magiezi 🎤❤️ #lastdays #idontwannaleave #karaoke @ligiabraidotti @raqueldurst @juulianaroberta

A video posted by Daniela Brasil (@danielabrasil) on Jan 17, 2015 at 12:34am PST

CAPTION TRANSLATION: "For the soul not to be sedentary, take risks" - Zack Magiezi

See you next week!

misce... what?

Miscellane!

Why? You are jus about to find out!

When I entered my teen years, I found myself in a very competitive environment. Everybody wanted to be the best at something. At school, all my classmates were checking on each other's grades to see who did better at a test. At church, some people watched you, waiting for your first fault. It was too much jealousy, and honestly, if there is one thing my parents taught me was to always keep yourself far away from it.

I've always been very shy. It's gotten better after I went back to Brazil from my exchange program in Virginia, but still, I'm pretty shy. I think that one of the main reason's why I never really stood out was my shyness. If there's anyone who other's attention more than me, he/she gets it. I hate competing for attention or recognition, and I don't believe these are things that you should force people to do.

Now that I'm on my twenties and figuring out what my profession will be, I started to question myself about what do I really like to do? What am I really good at? What is my strength? And the answer is: I don't know.

I like A LOT of things. I like reading, cooking, drawing, painting, photography, traveling... And I'm actually pretty good on what I do. If I cook, people compliment me for that, if I take picture, people compliment me for that, or if I make a piece of art, people like it!

So is it bad to do lots of things good instead of focusing in just one thing?

I love learning and changing.

It makes me happy and accomplished to learn something new, even if it takes a long time. When I started taking interior design, I loved learning how to use those drawing tools, how to match furniture, art and design history and how to apply it nowadays. Now that I'm taking Creative Communications I'm loving to learn how to write properly, how to read critically, how to think critically, how to design, shoot videos, etc.

But I can't really say I'm the best at something.

I get sick of things easily, is that a bad thing? It's not like I'm going to throw everything up in the air and change, it's more about improvement, or my favourite word: refinement. That's why, one day, when my hair stylist told me to dye my hair purple, I did. Why not? Hair grows, and if I didn't like it, I'd just dye it blonde again (and spend a lot of money... hahaha).

This week's ad's assignment was to create our own brand. When I started blogging, I brainstormed to find the best name for it. I didn't want my name because, truth be told, it's a hard name to spell and pronounce. There wasn't a word I could relate to, because I didn't know what my blog would be about. Would it be about fashion? Yes, but not only that. I wanted to talk about the things I like, and I like a lot of things! Miscellaneous would be the best word. And Miscellane is a derived form of that word.

So long story short, I did this presentation for my assignment trying to explain myself, and my brand!

Hope you enjoy it and I would love to have some feedback from you! :)

p.s.: I promise that next semester this blog will have a focus, and will talk less about me! hahaha

sorry, my pad!

I have lots of memories, I know.

Fortunately my brain keeps everything I go through. Especially when the happenings are often.

I've ALWAYS been crazy about pads. As a kid, I would buy restaurant pads and receipt pads to play with it. My dad would bring the rest of pads he used at his office for me to play. I don't know why, but I like filling it out. Seriously, it is my dirty little secret. If you have anything to fill, give it to me, and I will. Grabbing a pen and writing short information is my thing!

When I started to grow up and swapped playing for studying, these pads became useless. I didn't have the imagination and time anymore, and like every teenager, I thought playing was for little children, not for grown-ups...

Until the day I bought my very first Knock Knock pad.
I was at an Urban Outfitters store in Virginia. The moment I saw it, I knew I had to buy it.
PADS FOR GROWN UPS!?!? OMG!

I was so happy the first time I saw one at an Urban Outfitters store!

It was my chance to do what I liked with a "purpose" (they don't really have a purpose other than entertaining you).

At Marshalls and HomeSense they have Knock Knock's pads and of course I bought some! hahaa At Chapters and Indigo! you have a bigger variety of them!

But wait, if you think all they have are pads you're wrong! If you go to their online store, you will find all sorts of stuff like books, pencils, organizers, etc.
These are things to collect!

They are so fun!

I love their sarcastic way of writing things! It makes our daily duties smoother!

And here's a little video I made for my Ad class explaining how to use one of these cute pads :)

so, politics...

No, this time I'm not here to outpour about politics.

On Wednesday night I went to see a play with my Journalism class at the Theatre Projects Manitoba.
The play was Proud by Michael Healey.

I told you my feelings about politics on this post.
I think that because of my background, I was never interested about politics. Politics make me nervous about what's morally correct or not. People have very distinct ways to decide what's right or wrong.

I don't understand Canadian politics very well yet. For journalism's sake I am getting there! Almost becoming an expert in politics! haha

This play was a comedy about Canadian politics. It was very interesting to see how the actors played the character so well. For a person like me that doesn't have a clue about politics it was very easy to imagine it being they way they played. I liked that they showed us a little bit of what happens on the background. Everything we see on TV is not coincidence. It's manipulated, and sometimes we don't realize that. At least some people don't.

I also liked that they showed us a humane side of government. I liked the character Jisbella Lyth. She was very funny and that engaged the audience. Daria Puttaert played the character very well.
I also liked the side part where Jisbella's son talks about the changes he wants to see in the government. In Brazil we have the same people governing the country for 12 years now and, except for some people, we feel like 12 years is way too much time for them to be ruling the country. It comes to a point where NOTHING changes. Even though they promise us they will change, they don't. And I don't believe that is democracy. Having the same type of government doesn't help the country because things change everyday, and what one government thought it worked 12 years ago, does't work anymore.

I have never seen a comedy about politics ever. I have watched other shows but none like this. I didn't really know what to expect. At first I thought it was going to be boring. Everyone was laughing but me. Not because I didn't find it funny, but because their lines were inside jokes that I didn't understand. It wasn't until after 30 minutes that I started to understand them.

After watching this play I realized that I need to deepen my knowledge on Canadian politics, so the next time I watch a play like this one I will understand it and enjoy more.

The talk back helped me understand more about the play. I likes when Ross McMillan says he's been watching Prime Minister Harper and his manners and you can see that that is just a mask. He is not like what he appears to be on TV. Sometime we get what TV shows us as the truth, but it's not.

See you next week! :)

once upon a time there was a princess...

I love fairytales.

When I was little, I was sure I was meant to be a princess. It sounds cliché, but I did believe I was a princess.

A long time ago, Brazil was ruled by Dom Pedro I, then King of Portugal who became emperor of Brazil. He was the one who declared Brazil's independence. The royal family still exist, but they don't rule the country and have nothing to do with politics.

Because my mom's last name is Brasil, one day I asked her if we didn't have anything to do with the royal family. I was hoping my grandfather was hiding a big secret that would be revealed unto me at a certain age. Yes, I was delusional, I know, but as a kid, I never lost hope.

My mom would always tell me stories about kings and queens, and all I could think of was a way to become a princess. She would always wake me up calling me sleeping beauty and telling me I had a princess lifestyle hahaha. When she went to England, I asked her to buy me a princess dress and a crown. She brought me a Sleeping Beauty Barbie. It was good enough.

Imagine my disappointment when I found out fairytales weren't true. But still, until today, I like listening to the stories and watching fairytale movies. I've never been to Disney, but I'm pretty sure I won't want to leave that castle.

A couple months before I came to Canada, I started watching the TV show everyone knows: Once Upon A Time.

I can't stop watching it! Even though is not the greatest series, I love the fact that they bring together real world with fairy tales because as I said in the beginning, I've always wished they were true!

I just realized how excited I am while writing about it.

So. The reason I'm here today talking about fairytales and how amazing they are is because, at the end of December, Disney is releasing a new movie based on the Broadway show "Into The Woods".

Not only the movie is about more than one story connected, but is a musical! Aren't you excited for singing all the songs? I know I am.

I love musicals. I grew up watching "Grease", "Saturday Night Fever", "Flashdance", "Footloose" and "Dirty Dancing". I know all their songs by heart. I remember my mom cleaning our house listening to her vinyl record of "Grease."

On my YouTube channel I have a playlist with my favourite musicals soundtracks, and I listen to it almost everyday! So I am very excited about this movie!

Disney went very creative with the movie's promotion. They did a subtly animated poster to promote it. It just sets the scene and makes me more excited to go to the theatre and watch it!
These are some of the posters

IMAGES: DISNEY

Aren't they super cool?

The movie comes to theatres on December 24, and here is the trailer so you can get more excited!

See you next week :)

Some inspiration for the week

What really makes you happy?

Have you ever seen an image and thought: "Oh, that's something I want to try!"

I love pictures. Since I can remember I remember my dad would ALWAYS carry around his old-fashioned Pentax camera. We have so many pictures at my house because he was always taking pictures of us and everything we did. So I grew up with a little of photography in my veins.

I think I already mentioned this, but I'm loving my media productions class. Even though we are learning how to shoot videos properly, it helps a lot when it comes to shoot pictures. Unfortunately I didn't have enough time to practice this week yet :(

My dad always took portraits of us, but I love looking at pictures of things, such as food, landscapes, animals, etc.
The one thing I love about pictures is that it inspires you! Every time I see a picture well taken I smile. I can't help it.

Pictures make me happy, inspiring pictures make me happier. They give me something to be excited for and ideas to escape from the ordinary life.

I compiled some pictures that relate and inspire me!

Le Minimalist

Long Island Prep

Cocorrina

Pinned by Bloomingdales

Oh Le Petit

Blog Decor8

Meetell Tumblr

Pinned by Ligia Braidotti

A Blog With A View

Borghi Fine Art

Jelanié's Shop

Pinned by Edlyane Medina

Organic Spa Magazine

Needless to say that Pinterest is my main inspiration source, right? Pinterest is just the best. But I also like to go on Tumblr and We Heart It. I also like reading Refinery29 and Hypeness (is from Brazil, but I'm pretty sure you can ask google to translate it to portuguese), both websites are great! Leaf is a YouTube channel that has short videos with diy tutorials, recipes, and tips to have an inspiring life!

If you'd like this is my Pinterest profile!

• I would really like to know what inspires you!

Let's talk about technologies, shall we?

I have been surrounded by a lot of technology lately.

I have to admit that when I got a letter from Red River College saying that I had to buy a MacBook Pro I was really happy!

I'm loving it! I had worked with iMac before and in my opinion it was the best computer to design! As a designer, I have learned that a high quality screen is super important, and that is one thing Apple knows how to do!

My MacBook has been my best friend. Everywhere I go I carry it with me. Day after day I'm becoming more dependent of it. It might not be a good thing, but I love it.

Say what you want, but I love Apple. They are genius. They get everyone to buy their products, they get everyone to need it. Even if some people think it's devious, I think it's genius.

The good news is that Apple just launched a new display for the iMac. The 5K Retina display has 14.7 million pixels, four times as many pixels as the regular display has. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Apple said they did the impossible developing this display that has a better quality and reduces energy consumption while maintaining their high quality standard for brightness, which I love.

If you want to find out more about the new iMac 5K Retina Display, click here.

I hate looking at people's phone when they don't use the brightness at its maximum. Even though I have to charge my phone up to 3 times a day, I love how bright and neat it looks.

I am always on my phone. And the good thing is that my phone syncs with my computer and vice versa. So I have everything I need all the time.

Among all these technologies that I carry around every day, there is one essential thing that I can't survive with. A toque, as Canadians call it.

I promise you, without it, I wouldn't be alive today. hahaha

Here in Winnipeg is so windy! If I leave my house without it, I freeze.

So every time you see me, that's how I'll be looking like: holding my computer with my left arm, my phone in my right hand, my headphones, and a toque.

See you next week! :)

Alone vs. Lonely

This past week my CreComm class was assigned to teach our classmates how to use properly some of the words that are commonly mistaken. I was assigned with "I and me". But today I want to share with you two other words I personally was misusing.

Alone and Lonely.

Below you can check the dictionary definition of both.

Alone [uh-lohn]: Adjective and adverb: Separate, apart, or isolated from others. To the exclusion of all others. Unique; unequaled; unexcelled.

Lonely [lohn-lee]: Adjective: affected with, characterized by, or causing a depressing feeling of being alone; lonesome. Destitute of sympathetic or friendly companionship, intercourse, support, etc.

But do you wanna know what these two words mean to me?

Last Wednesday my mom went back to Brazil. After spending 45 days with her here in Winnipeg, finding myself alone in my apartment was kind of scary. 

This is not the first time I had to stay away from my family and friends, but this is the first time I am alone. By myself.

After dropping her off at the airport I went to work. I got home at 10:30 p.m. and the silence was the worst noise I had ever heard, but the attempt of avoiding the thought of it was impossible.

Living alone has thought me lots of things. I don't like being alone but I can surely say it's good for yourself.

First, I'm getting to know myself better. What are my needs, what are my boundaries, what I really like to do. 

Second, when you're alone it's very easy to postpone things. You don't have anyone else to base your schedule on. It's your responsibility to take care of your own plans and manage your time, which you realize you have lots when you're alone.

But please, don't get me wrong. Although I'm alone, I'm not lonely.

My family calls me everyday to check on me and my Brazilian neighbours and friends are great! We always share things and experiences with each other, and we make sure we are all doing fine! I was so blessed for meeting these people. This is the best way for not missing Brazil and seeing that what I am going through is normal, because honestly, sometimes I feel like I'm about to freak out. 

I'm not under pressure, but I don't want to do anything wrong. I want to get the best out of me and make this experience a successful one. It demands a lot of discipline and patience. It's good to have people around you that understand what you're going through. If I didn't have them with me, that would be my definition of lonely.

Also, I was blessed to be in Section 2. Really, our class is very friendly! I don't know if it's because we are in CreComm, but we talk a lot! hahaha We are very supportive to each other! #S24L

But the good news is that on tuesday I'll have a little visit from my dad! He'll spend ten days here in Winnipeg with me! :D I'm super excited for him to come! Can't wait!

Do you have any words that may be commonly misused but their meaning is important to you? Share it with me on the comments! :)

Kawaii Crepe

Remember how I told you guys on my last post that last week was super nice? today is COLD. that's how fast Winnipeg can change its mind. haha, but that doesn't really matter right now.

Last Saturday I had dinner with my friend at Kawaii Crepe. SO GOOD. OMG. That is so good. The right amount of carbs and protein and everything that is good for you, just that it isn't. hahaha anyways, it's good food.

It's about three blocks away from where I live so I got really excited. I found it hard to find a place that has "fast-food" that is not bad fast-food like McDonald's, Wendy's or Burger King, because honestly, except for Wendy's, where I eat a few times a year, I totally dislike fast-food. Every time you go out with friends you go to restaurants, but sometimes I just don't feel like waiting for a table, and spending too much money for it.

The Kawaii Crepe branch I've been is located at Osborne Street a.k.a Osborne Village, a vintage area of Winnipeg, I would say. I'm in love with that area and all their local shops. I hope to be able to explore more, because lately I haven't had a lot of time to do so.

The Osborne Village is one of the historical parts of the city and they preserved the old architectural characteristics, so it's a mix of modern and minimalist with Art Deco.

If you would like to find more about the Osborne Village you can click here.

Have a great weekend!