Amorzade

When it comes to love, I am a sucker for it…I still believe in the happily ever….*coversface*

And I know a couple that has made me love over and over again, even when I thought I could not do it anymore. They depict a lot of what I thought a love story was, full of drama, anger, love, romanticism and magic!

These two anonymous persons, let us call them *Wanda and Charles, became more than my friends through the years. I have adopted them as an inspiration to my future love story, and if it does not go as planned, I have no clue what I will depend on!!

The title might sounds strange to you, but it refers to the fusion of two words in portuguese (Love and Friendship)

So let us get to know this love story and hope you have more stories that I can sob over, some ice cream. If you relate, tap yourself in the back. You will be just fine! ;)

I tried and get the thoughts of both in separate occasions! I think the interview went pretty well and made me sob even more!

Wanda:

Q: How old are you?

A: I am 23 and he is 25, we have been together for 5 years, had a one year interruption and a couple of months between the two first years and the last 3.

Q: How have you overcome the difficult moments?

A: How we have overcome the hardest parts, is such a complicated question. We have had many difficult moments that were overcome in diverse manners, but through the years we understood that most of them could have been avoided, because most of them only existed because of us – instead of looking at the relationship as the beneficiary, we were looking at ourselves as superior, and the other person has to make us happy independently of the circumstances. But above all, it is love, lots of it, that emanates our faith and courage for the relationship.

For example, the decision that the relationship is ours, despite all the difficulties that may come, giving up is not the solution, although this may not be easy it is a mixed decision with the insane desire to have the other person in our lives.

When we first broke up, we separated for a year and some, it was terrible for me, especially because the way it ended, the man that I love with all my strength and was my husband to be and the potential father of my children once told me : I do not love you, you are not worth of me. But today I am proud to say that he loves me and always loved me. It was hard at first to hear those words, feel those attitudes, feel reduced to nothing, and many times I wanted to give up, but love is a force with many definitions is the most complicated. It changes and surprises us all the time, I could not believe the love that I felt, that moved me… I went after so many times, and many times I was humiliated, mistreated, hard feelings…

But one day I managed, with the Grace of God and our Lady of the Grace, to awaken him to a reality that was within him, but he did not allow himself to believe and live due to so many things (pride, machismo and superiority, etc)

Anyway, today we are more than happy, and we still have not reached full happiness, but this cross is carried today with 4 hands, and not 2 pulling from their own side like before, now it tastes and certainty of victory.

But above all this has to do with the environment in which we are inserted, especially, our relationship with our friends, by the Grace of God, who are mutual. We complete each other, it is something so profound and beautiful, that we do not understand it ourselves. Love is the base of everything, and it is not the love that everyone thinks about, wanting to be together all the time, that feeling that hurts, NO. This is the love that is humble and pacient, that believes in all, that gives you strength, courage, that makes you cry of emotion, that makes you believe in the other, help the other independently of the circumstances. It is the love that makes you more than just boyfriend/girlfriend, siblings, one for the other and of the other….It makes you laugh, laugh and laugh and when we are not together if an hour goes by it feels like an eternity….ehehehehe….

Charles:

Q: How do you celebrate your best moments? (no explicit content please…:/)

A: There are so many moments…But there is the day I call D day. I had spoken to her of this day a lot, but she had no idea what it was. I prepared her a surprise at my house, I had decorated and everything, prepared a candle light dinner, wine, sea food, fruits for deserts and a gold necklace as a gift.

Q: How do you overcome the habits of the one another? 

A: I am very irritating. Wanda can say I am very pacient, because when I see that something is wrong, I will tak and talk and talk! Sometimes, I even talk alone, but it does not make me give up sitting down and talking it out. Communicating is how we will understand each other….always.

Wanda and Charles

Q: Which word best describes you? 

A: Love and friendship = Loveship (In Portuguese: amor + amizade = AMORZADE, the title of my article of today, I tried to keep this essence…)

Q: What are the plans in the next 5 years?

A: Well…wedding, living together, children, prosperity, happiness….amusement….

Q: Has there ever been a moment of fatal jealousy?

Wanda: haaa... he is a very jealous person…someone who likes to hide or pretend not to be… He is very irritating and very jealous, some say he is possessive, I do not know, sometime during the relationship this was a concern to me, and it affected me in relation to my attitude to him. But we are not going out to remain the same throughout, we think about living together, and some day get married with children and very happy; this happiness is created by attitudes, and to think that he could be jealous over silly things sometimes suffocated me and I would end the relationship due to fatigue. And everything was ruined.

Thanks to efficient communication, without noise, we managed to understand each other and growing up each day, rooting for a better relationship, taking other people as examples, accepting critic and growing with them, things changed.

Charles: But there have been, yes, very serious ones, but I changed…and Wanda can confirm. There is more trust, more friendship which had made it better 

Q: Who do you look for when there is no agreement between you two?

Firstly, close friends like you …but most of the time we try to solve our problems without looking for anyone.

Q: A message to the future you?

Charles: I let this one for the wifey to respond.

Wanda:  A message to the future us??? hummmmmm
It’s like this, happiness is not something you build like everyone thinks, that you spend most of your time suffering and someday you attain it. NOPE. Happiness is in every detail of our life, even in the sadness, the hurt, happiness is present, not as something tangible, but as the renovation of something better. Love is something that has a past in itself, such as life, you live each day with intensity, many times you are insecure about who may be your love, the voice of love never fails, it is not late and it is not mistaken, to hear it you need silence. To fight for this love you need decisiveness and courage. Love is not only a woman and a man, it is more than that. It is in a sincere hug of a friend, in the joke of a sister, in the true kiss of a brother, but especially in the certainty that during the affliction, your friend becomes your sibling and is a part of you…

Charles: teach your children how to build a family, do not let them miss your love and attention… Tell them how good it is to sit and have meals all sitted together, explain to them the meaning of that. Teach your children to fight for what they desire, teach them to confront the dangers of live, make them proud of having you as their parents…and to you, when you see the fruit of your efforts, you will say that you fought a good fight, you played your role…and above all, continue to have this (AMORZADE)...*ehehehehe*

I have no conclusion to these beautiful words from love.

So I hope and wish you all the best. May Love be with you.


I dedicate this to you. I hope that you remember all the good moments and I hope that you thrive in all you do. Love you to bits my parents! ;)

Peace

 *fictional names.

Mauro Franca the Stylish Blogger

When I first met Mauro I never knew how much he obsessed about style. He seemed not into it, normal guy, just the usual Mozambican young man. One thing I noticed was that he was careful about what he wore, and everything he wore described him.

I would like to describe him as a walking story! He has that relaxed look. Like he is indifferent, he is natural! His whole self is natural.

It took sometime before he made his entrance as this man promoting fashion in Mozambique. But are we glad he did it!

The man will pull off anything. His high stature and his sense of style takes you, calls you and makes you just need to talk to him! He is the next fashionista!

I took some of his time, to introduce to you, who this Mozambican fashion potential mogul could be. He does his research and he is amazing!

He owns a blog, where he partners with Mozambican photographers, musicians, the everyday people and he showcases to the world his and their sense of style, as well as how the modern man of Mozambique looks at fashion.

His name is Mauro França and he is 22, and a fashion blogger! And I introduce you to Sprezzatura ;)…
 

Q: So What is the focus of your blog?

A: This is a complicated question, because I have more than one objective!

But I can summarize them in two points:

1. First, to ameliorate the fashion sense of the country, Mozambique. I would like to see more people, well dressed and with sense to dress for the right occasions, so that we stop seeing that in the streets. The blog is like a window to new trends and ideas that can be used to create one’s style!

2. To be like a magazine, for the world to see what we have. This is the reason why I invite all youngsters to showcase their style and then I post the pictures in the various social networks that I use; I also use the hashtags, so that we are recognized internationally.

Q: What is the vision for your blog?
A: To be a reference to the fashion and culture here in Moz, and have its space in Africa. I am also considering publishing some magazines, some TV programmes/appearances to increase the ratings and reach greater exposure, as well as be some sort of consultant through publicity for new collections in stores for the Mozambican designers.

Q: What was your inspiration?
A: Basically, everything around me that calls to my attention and interest, I think of the colours, textures associated to a shoe! I look at those points, for example, and I decide how to dress myself. I also consider other style blogs that also give me a vision of the trends in the world. I cannot ignore the influence that TV has every day, and I am grateful to the internet for the interaction to the world as well as giving me the exact temperature (hah!) – which enables me to decide what to wear, but also defines a scope to which I then scratch my head to decide on the best possible combination. With me it is more hard work than talent (hah!).

Q: Why did you decide to create the blog?
A: Due to the “domino’ effect of some of my findings and experiences in my life, if I may say so.  Gained a lot with fashion/style blogs, and that kind of changed my life, here on earth (Moz). We do not have that kind of thing here, so I thought that it would be something we need, because dressing well is not that easy. There are a lot of people in the “hood” that dress well but many are still afraid to express themselves; because society forces us or educates us to be equal to others. So I am radical, that goes against that thought and those barriers, and the blog is one of the best manners to break this, I defend the thought that we must always communicate emotions or ideas in a unique and genuine way.

Q: Who do you admire in the Moz fashion?
A: I will not name anyone, because they are so many, and some of the most influential are my friends as I have greater contact with their processes. Designers also count in this list, with their creativity.

Q: Where do you usually buy your clothes?

A: Some of the shops here in Mozambique, although some prices are high, I try to wait for the sales. Vintage stores are some of the points in the streets, are some of the things I like and I am not afraid to purchase there as they are cheap and exclusive! Sometimes, in the neighboring South Africa, although it is sad that we are not updated like them in terms of materials sold, because for a longtime we have had economic power. I also use the internet for online shopping or ask people to bring.

Q: What does being Mozambican mean to you?
A: Always showing it, not through signs, flags as we all do it our own way. I am talking about being proud of the mother land, despite all that has been happening, and most importantly work to take this name to the highest levels. Be a rebel, a radical and never accepts that “normal” dominates the gift that God has given us to fine tune and develop. The same way that we live to make our parents proud, we have to do the same for our Mozambique, but of course by being happy while doing what we love to do best…

One more Mozambican showcasing what he knows best. I hope you have enjoyed knowing about this blogger, and I hope you have a look at his Facebook Page, his Twitter, Instagram and have a look at his Blog From Moz with Style.

Loves and Peaces

Capulana Indesign and Sheila Macandza

I have always had a passions for fashion, but not big enough to do anything about it. I love to see good clothes, interesting and passionate items on people. The more traditional and modern the better.

I have had the pleasure to meet this young lady, who has managed to make me fit in, when I was choking in my own country.
Yes there are things like that....You suffocate in your own place!
If you have had the chance to see some of my articles on The Forgotten Bloggers, you will be able to see, the various interviews that I have had the pleasure to have, with some of the talented young people, that are for the African culture, and more specifically the Mozambican culture.

So hope you enjoy her and her works. She is not only a designer, but she recycles, decorates, she does it all!

She is 27 year old Mozambican whose name is Sheila Macandza. She works alongside her brother and sister. She has already launched her collections, been in some of the runways with other Mozambican designer, such as Isis Mbaga.
Her brand is called Caramello Design, it later changed to Capulana Indesign.

When asked why she chose the name Caramello, Sheila suggested that it is a melodic sound and is mouth watering to anyone who hears it, and because she also loves caramel!

Q: What is the vision for the next years?
A: I see the brand being international, and who knows, maybe establish the brand in countries such as Canada or Australia - countries which I would like to live in the future.

Q: Where do you find inspiration for your work?
A: I am a night person, and the night always inspires me. I communicate well with the silence of the night (oooh romantic girl too?) - even during school, the best time for me to study for tests was during the night - but obviously something also comes from my birth, I was born at midnight *laughs*

Q: Who is your favourite Mozambican Designer?
A: Sincerely, I have no preference, I am the type of person that likes everything that is beautiful and goodwill, thus whoever makes interesting things, will always win points with me.

Q: Where can we buy your articles?
A: You can find our articles in our store, in Mozambique, in Av. Agostinho Neto, n 1148. You will also find in some corners in the city, that shall be communicated soon enough... you can also find more about how to buy our products in our Facebook page as well as, our Blog.

Q: Why did you choose to work with the Capulana?
A: This is a printed material with a lot of colour, with geometric patterns, also abstract ones. It is a material that gives you a lot of freedom to create apart from being very sensitive and hard to work with.

Q: What was your biggest mistake so far?
A: One of my worst mistakes so far, is not exploring our potential to a 100%...

Q: How do you establish yourselves in society?
A: Like people who live, talk and think what comes from their soul!

And that was Sheila for everyone. Please make sure that you check their page and you have a look at all the hand made accessories that she makes.
I am sure you will love it!

Peace to the loves.