A Portuguese Love

Study abroad with UMass in Lisbon!

2012-02-15T21:33:00.001Z

What an excelent opportunity to come to Portugal!
"The program features:

All coursework in English. (Of course, if you choose there are courses in Portuguese.)

Led by UMass faculty, so credit transfer is easy and the schedule fits with the US academic calendar.

Flexible options: year-long, semester-long, and summer programs.

Program cost includes: up to 18 credit hours, housing, field trips, transportation card, and much more.

Scholarships are available, but hurry—the scholarship application deadline for Fall, 2012 is March 1st.

UMass in Lisbon, sponsored by the UMass Dartmouth Center for Portuguese Studies with the support of the Luso-American Foundation, offers American students the opportunity to spend a semester or year in the vibrant capital city of Lisbon learning about the vast Portuguese-speaking world and European Union. As the only residential study abroad program in Portugal managed directly by a major American university, UMass in Lisbon provides unrivaled access to one of the world's most strategic centers of language and culture. Read all about it and apply!"

My Cupid Paper Toy was featured in Paper Toy Planet!

2012-02-11T22:20:00.000Z

Punch Tab - a tool to encourage visitors to act!

2012-02-10T19:37:00.000Z

Another online tool that I think you might like to promote your site or blog is the new Punch Tab. What is Punch Tab?

PunchTab is the world’s first instant loyalty platform that allows website owners (including bloggers), application developers and brands to create a social and mobile-enabled loyalty program for free in minutes. We have two popular products today, both of which cost nothing to use:
- An ongoing loyalty program that you can use to encourage your users to visit every day, share your content on social networks and leave comments (we also have a development kit that allows you to add custom ways to earn points). Users will earn points every day for their actions and can redeem for rewards from a customizable loyalty catalog when they earn enough points.

- A one-time promotional giveaway widget that encourages your users to spread the word about your site in exchange for entries into a prize raffle.

I installed it but then I discovered that Punch Tab isn't compatible with my Add this buttons. The little red ribbon was showing only on blog comments. So I removed it. I am tired of changing buttons around on all my blogs! But I think that it's kind of a nice idea and it might get visitors to participate more on your site. Rewards you get for earning points for your actions are from a catalog that includes Barnes and Noble, ACM theatres and more. And you can customize your own catalog. Hope this is useful to you.

The true house of Flintstones is in Portugal

2012-02-09T18:16:00.002Z

Hello once more!

A friend of mine read the recent post I wrote about Monsanto's big rocks and houses and phone me saying that she once visited this house that has been built between four rocks in the hill of Fafe. It stands in the north of Portugal. I made a quick search. It seems everybody knew about it but me! This House of Stone - A Casa do Penedo - was built in 1972 when Rodrigues family discovered the rocks on the hill on a spring afternoon. They decided to built a house and bought the land. They had no phone or electricity or water but they spent their their holidays in the House of Stone. It has a fireplace and pool, interior staires, what a shame no one lives there anymore. A few years ago everybody was talking about it in the internet as someone took photos of it and called her The true Flintstones house. Because of vandalism it has bullet proof windows and a steel door!Everyone is climbing the hill of Fafe to take a look at this peculiar house. No one lives there anymore and the house can be rented. Take a look at the video!

Free download Cupid Paper Toy

2012-02-08T22:30:00.004Z

Hello Zazzlers and friends!
Today I bring you a free download for Valentine's Day - It's the very famous CUPID!
I used Scribd before to giveaway printable calendars. You must log to Scribd to download the file. All you have to do is Download the file - Print the file - Cut the parts - Glue it using the grey area - Fold it - G.I.V.E!!
I hope you like this small surprise from A Portuguese Love for Valentine's Day! Still a lot of time to play with paper and scissors!

An easy way to download it is via GOOGLE DOCS!

No need to sign in. Here's the link!

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1i0BetaI52lNGRiNTM3MzMtM2ZjOS00ZDAzLTlmZmMtYzAyNDA2MDNhZDI4

Cupid Paper Toy 2012

Monsanto - An historical portuguese village

2012-02-07T17:09:00.002Z

A friend of mine, Lia Flora, - thank you Lia! - went to Monsanto and made a couple of nice photos. I asked her if I could share it with you and she said yes. I prefer to show you photos taken by portuguese people on travel than to show you the ones I have from advertising sources. Sometimes these late are digital retouched. This way I give you what you could really see if you were on the spot.

Monsanto is a peculiar village. It belongs to Castelo Branco District. It's in mid-Portugal, nearby to Spanish border. Look at the map. In the summer the temperature is very high in this region, in winter it can get very cold. I am sure you would love the local scenery where the houses are build only with granite stone, a local and natural resource. Some of them are build using the rocks as walls or ceilings and one of these big, huge rocks has a restaurant bellow in the basement. Monsanto really rocks! It's a remarkable village and at the top of maybe 1500 feet high hill there's an old fortress. From there you can get stunning views of the countryside. These rhymes about Monsanto are famous :

Nunca se sabe em Monsanto,
Que as águias roçam com a asa,
Se a casa nasce da rocha
Se a rocha nasce da casa.

This means:

You'll never know in Monsanto,
a place eagles touch with its wings,
if a house is born from a rock
or if a rock is born from a house!

No rhyme, no fun. But you got the idea!!

Mariana Ewa's Zazzle Store

2012-02-05T16:08:00.001Z

Hello readers and friends! Today's Sunday and it's pretty cold for my likings. Mariana Ewa would laugh about it because yesterday she was facing -21º celsius outside her house. For me, anything below 10º is very cold! No kidding, nights here are terrible, terrible meanning -1º to -3º. I live by the sea where everyting is warmer and my body really don't react well to low temperatures. My body and mind. I get restless, I can't think straight, I feel sick. I long for 20º up so I can go to the beach and be happy! Brrrr!

Mariana Ewa is a very nice lady. She was born in Sweden. She has a daughter called Emmy and lives in a farm with her boyfriend. She's fortunate to have horses and cats around, I would like that for me too. She suffered an accident and as a result of it she's disabled. I 'm sorry to read about that. She gave me some advice on MAC computer. I am more convinced than ever that's what I need. But for now I just have half the money for it. Zazzle keeps lauching new products and I can't create any because my old PC isn't exporting big files anymore. I must be patient and wait a little longer. Mariana creates on her computer and also paints for family and friends.

Mariana Ewa has a great Zazzle store. Click on the flash panel and take a look around. I like what she does with national flags. Some countries have flags with little design apeal. Mariana found a way to deal with that. She plays with the design and offers you a great final product. I also find her use of fractals interesting. But the store has much more. She wrote: "Here you can find beautiful products for the wedding, for the birthday, for all holidays. Products like business cards, posters, cards, shoes, invitations, and much more."

One thing that really stroke me is the way she presents her Zazzle products. Just look at the example above. She placed her new Valentine's products on a table. I found this awesome. Then I found more great products presentations on her Facebook page. You should visit and learn from her. Get inspired and find new ways of showing your stuff! I am convinced that to post a link with the product isn't enough anymore. You have to stand out from the crowd. We have to reach the client using other more appealing strategies. Of course not everyone can do it. You need to master graphic sofware.*But, let me tell you one thing - if you want really hard you can learn it. I did. Till 2004 I knew nothing about graphic computer software. Today I use Corel Draw, Freehand, Illustrator, Photoshop and more. If you don't have the time or the interest on it, or feel you'll never learn, you can ask someone to create the banners for you. There's alway a way. Thank you Mariana Ewa for your inspiration! I hope you like this postage!

* But you can explore online tools like Photofunia! Check my previous posts here and here on it to see what I mean!

Valentine's Day on the street!

2012-02-03T14:55:00.000Z

Can you imagine your Valentine's Day Zazzle designs glued on streets and building walls? Photofunia helps us to picture it! Yes, I've been playing a bit more with this online tool. No, I am not earning anything from this promotion, I'm not in any affiliate program or anything like that! I am just wasting time PLAYING! Sometimes we need to unwind!
For several times I had advertising posters I made on the street but it has been a while since I had those moments of glory! Now I do mostly small formats. It was lots of fun to wake up and get one the streets and discover it glued, some in very big format. Now I am re-living those moments and it's not advertising, it's some of my ZazzleValentine's Day products, yeah!

Here's some of the real thing!

Happy Valentine's Day Cookie Plate by aportugueselove
Browse other Romantic Plates

Two hearts (that beat as one!) by aportugueselove
See more Valentine photo frame Plaques

Valentine's Love Puzzle by aportugueselove
Browse other puzzles

Mommy's Valentines Keepsake! by aportugueselove
See other Valentine Ornaments

Love Happens! by aportugueselove
View more Valentines totes Bags

Easy Love Maths Valentine Necklace by aportugueselove
View other pendants

Love Happens! by aportugueselove
Make your own promotional keychain online

A big heart photo keychain by aportugueselove
Join Zazzle's artist affiliate program

Valentine's Day Gift Box by aportugueselove
Browse more Valentine box Gift Boxes

Love Happens! by aportugueselove
Browse zazzle for a different shirtzazzle

Romantic Hearts and Flowers ornament by aportugueselove
See other Love Ornaments

Romantic Valentine's photo card by aportugueselove
Browse Romantic Photo Cards

Romantic Valentine's photo card by aportugueselove
create picture cards on zazzle.com

Let love grow and bloom forever by aportugueselove
Browse other button designs

More Colorful Hearts and Flowers by aportugueselove
See more Love Mugs

Have fun editing your photos online!

2012-02-02T11:54:00.001Z

Hello! Today I bring you a site where you can have some fun with your photos! It's PHOTOFUNIA. With this online tool you just upload your file and easily play with it. You add cool photo effects and create funny face photo montages.You can put your face on a billboard, a stamp, or in a Warhol-like work of pop-art. Become the Mona Lisa or a bodybuilder. You get over 150 scenes to play with. You're not cutting and pasting; instead, the app "finds" the face in your photo and integrates it with the scene of your choice. Photofunia it's lots of fun! I just tried to change one of my photos into a pencil drawing. Not bad and without any Photoshop, even kids can do it! Plus, you can save with resolution enough to print!

Then I uploaded one of my Zazzle drawings on to a mug full of steaming coffee!You can use it to advertise your Zazzle mugs. Unfortunately there's only one background available...This is a .gif but it isn't working unless you double click the photo.

Featured product on Zazzle - A big heart!

2012-02-01T22:54:00.000Z

Hello Zazzlers and friends! I think Zazzle gave me a birthday gift! This magnet is one of the 6 Valentine's Day featured magnets! Hurray! I think this is a first time for me. I really don't know if it has happened before because I don't check Zazzle that much.

There are so many cute Valentine's Day magnets on display. It's difficult to pick one, really. This magnet - A big heart photo magnet - is for Valentine's Day celebration or any other day you'll feel like celebrating love with a partner or family anytime of the year. A daughter can give it to Mom on Mother's Day too. It's quite simple. But not so simple - the hearts around the big heart where you can upload your photo are made from tiny white hearts. So, lots of L-O-V-E to give! Thank you Zazzle for picking this magnet!

And one last thing I noticed - my magnet is one of the cheapest on display. That is because my margin on every product is always 10%, yes, just 10%. I want to earn some money but I also want you to buy from me. So, come and have a look!

A big heart photo magnet by aportugueselove
More Valentine Magnets

Today it's my birthday!

2012-02-01T13:19:00.002Z

Aquarius Zodiac for kids by aportugueselove

Yeah! Today it's my birthday and I had this silly idea of looking for famous people that is having a birthday celebration today also. I have a friend that is also having his birthday today. Yesterday I sent him some oldfashioned snail mail. I hope that someone remembers to send me some postcard too! I really like it! I just found some folks from movie and TV's universe. Two are already dead! So I guess the party will be complete with just this (famous) person and Michael!

The first famous person I found is Michael C. Hall who was born in 1971. He's a TV actor. He had a role at TV show Six feet Under, which I liked. But where I think that he's really excelent is as the serial-killer and police blood analist Dexter. Dexter is one of mine favorite TV shows. I get bored easily with TV series. But so far Dexter has been keeping me wanting for more! Michael C.Hall won a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award for his role as Dexter. I can't agree more with those decisions. But the show itself is just wonderful. I started watching with many issues being the central character a serial killer. I ended up a real fan, in a good sense as I am not much into fan behaviour. That said I watched all seasons and I am waiting for the next one!

Found another actor that was born on 1st Februray, in 1901. He's already dead. He had the leading man role as Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind. His last movie was The Misfits. I liked The Misfits. Of, you've guessed already - it's Clark Gable. I never enjoyed his presence on the screen and he was leading role in so many movies - It happened one night, Mutiny on the Bounty, Mogambo!I saw Mogambo when I was very young (in my teens) and found it rather exotic. Ava Gardner was incredible and Grace Kelly very pretty...but I had to watch Gable doing his thing too, damn!

And found a director of classic westerns and war stories movies that was born on February 1st, his name was John Ford. He's also dead, of course. I watched maybe all of his movies - How Green was my Valley, The man who shot Liberty Valance, The grapes of wrath and many others, The quiet man...

By the way, I have a bunch of new products about the Zodiac Signs! Visit the store and take a look!

Zazzle's answer to my email

2012-01-27T19:58:00.001Z

Hello fellow Zazzlers!

Zazzle answered. Now I understand what the problem is - store owners claim that those links drive traffic away from their stores to the blogs or sites they link too. I just can't believe it, really. I don't get traffic from those Zazzle stores to my blog  - that happens ONLY after I placed the links because the store owners visit this blog to check it . I have Google Annalytics checking on it. If this was true I would be getting a lot of more traffic from Zazzle and I don't. After that moment I don't get any more traffic from those stores. I get traffic that comes from my store frontline because I have a call to action there - visit my blog -  but not from other stores. So i don't know what to think. Plus people can delete comments  - they get a notification the moment the link lands on their page.Are they getting so many links that this might be such a great bore to them?

Zazzle suggested that I emailed the store owners but that's too demanding. It's easy toplace the link on the comments field next to a product but not going to the store front and search for message box...Next time I'll do my showcases probably I will not let anyone know...

Here's the email I sent

Hello (XXXX)
Every time TBA's are out there's a Zazzler that postes a link to a blog on each TBA's product awarded. This happens on a DAILY basis.That Zazzler runs a blog where she promotes those products. MY BLOG is just THE SAME.
1. I invite you to check my blog and the postage that annoyed that store Zazzler owner:http://www.aportugueselove.blogspot.com/2012/01/t-shirts-to-wear-on-valentines-day.html

I removed the product I was promoting from the listing as I think this person is one who don't like us to win money from referrals and that is the main issue not the link itself.
2. I promote Zazzle products on my blog since I oppened it. When I do so I leave a link directly on the product's comments field. That link brings the creator directly to the postage where he/she can watches his/her creation. This way the store owner can check it and SAY if he likes or dislikes what I'm doing. So far NO ONE has asked me to remove any product or link. Many appreciate to know what I do and THANK ME.
3. My blog has no porn, racist or any other kind of inappropriate content.
4. I never read anywhere that to post this kind of link was a bad Zazzle practice but if it is I want to know where are Zazzle guidelines about it. I have these kind of links on my store wall too, in fact, they are all over Zazzle.
5. I regret that the user did not contact me in a polite way and had to go through you to solve this issue. What a comunity we have here, don't you think?
6. I would like to get answers on number 4.
Thank you. Never meant to do anything wrong. I love Zazzle and I like to do right all the time. I'm not a kid but I think that Zazzle owner is...
Belinha Fernandeshttp://www.zazzle.com/aportugueselove

Here's the answer:


Hi Belinha, 
While there may be Sellers who like you featuring their products and leaving comments there are many Sellers who dislike it very much. Most Sellers do not like you directing traffic away from the site. 
The outside marketing and blogs are great as long as customers go to the blog and then to their product but not to the product and get redirected to the blog. It would be best if you personally emailed Sellers if you would like to let them know that their items are being featured on your blog. 
An email would also allow those Sellers to share the link for your blog with others thus also helping the blog receive traffic. 
Thank you for your understanding.Best Regards,(XXXX)Content Management TeamZazzle Inc.

Annoying incident with Zazzle Comments

2012-01-26T20:25:00.002Z

Hello fellow Zazzlers!
As you all know, since I've started this blog I have promoted a lot of Zazzler's products in it. Every time I pick a product I post a link to the store where I found it just bellow the product in the field comments. That link brings the creator to the post where he/she can watch the product she created and all the others I have picked too. I lost track of how many times I did this. If the creator does not aprove it he/she then can tell me.

I also must say that since I started it I earned nothing with this kind of promotion. Since I started my A Portuguese Love Blog I got a unique referral revenue from my showcases here. The reason why I keep doing it is because it's fun to browse Zazzle and discover new stuff and stores get these lists done. Lately it has become more difficult to find interesting products as the marketplace is getting huge. Sometimes it takes me a lot of time to find things I really like. My referrals revenue always comes from Twitter or Squiddoo promotion not from these lists I promote here. Cookies only last a time and after that you get no referral revenue at all. So maybe it's not so wise to waste a lot of time making these listings.
Well, it seems that I've been doing wrong placing the links on the stores!One Zazzler user made a complaint to Zazzle about this procedure and Zazzle sent me a note! I wrote back to Zazzle asking if this is really a bad practice.Where are the guidelines about it?!! I got links in my wall today from a Zazzler that picked one of my products to show on Squidoo. The link is on my wall and links directly to Squidoo. I visited her and thanked her. I know that if she sells it she wins a little cash but there's something in it for me too. That's the way. What is the problem with this?

I am waiting Zazzle answer. Meanwhile I removed the product from that Zazzle user too and let him/ her know that he/she could have addressed me directly and not going through Zazzle as if I was posting a link to a racist or porn blog! I really felt bad about this and probably I'll stop this promotion thing. So why to promote if we can get this kind of reaction? Chances are that one day someone will approach me and ask me to remove the products from the blog! I know that some people just hate us to refer their products. I read about it in Facebook and just can't understand. But we must respect each other views, right?

This blog is mainly about Zazzle and less about Portuguese culture or promotion tools. Maybe it's time to re-define its orientation, who knows.

Now, take a look at this to understand why I'm so pissed...

Dear Zazzler,
Thank you for being a contributor at Zazzle!We would like for everyone at Zazzle to be a safe place where users can showcase their creativity and make some friends along the way! Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that you have been placing comments on your fellow community member’s products containing an html link to a blog.We ask that you refrain from submitting anymore html link comments specifically to the user (XXXXXXXX), or any stores associated with this user.Once again, we would like to thank you for being a contributor at Zazzle and we hope that we can resolve this matter as quickly as possible!Thanks for using Zazzle!
Best Regards,(XXXXX)Content Management TeamZazzle Inc.

T-shirts to wear on Valentine's Day

2012-01-24T12:58:00.001Z

Every February we celebrate Valentine's Day by giving flowers, candy and cards to those we love. We do this in honor of Saint Valentine. Another Valentine popular character goes by the name of Cupid (it's from the Latin cupido, "desire"). In Roman mythology Cupid is the son of Venus, goddess of love. His counterpart in Greek mythology is Eros, god of love. Cupid is kind of a mischievous boy who goes around with arrows, causing humans and even gods to fall in love...! This time I made a Zazzle search for Valentine's t-shirts. So here's a sample of what's available to offer the ones you love or to dress yourself on Valentine's Day! Unless of course you're an Anti-Valentine person! Let me know your opinion!

Love easy maths by aportugueselove
Browse other Valentine day T-Shirts

baby's first valentine's day by sallylux
Browse more Baby T-Shirts

love machine by fujianboy
More Valentine T-Shirts

Love Happens! by aportugueselove
Create a customized tee shirt at zazzle

love by sallylux
Begin selling my art online at zazzle.

Struck By Cupid’s Arrow In 1996 by LifesInk
View more Valentine T-Shirts

SUPER VALENTINE by nassosvakalis
Join Zazzle's clothing affiliate programs

Lovey Whale by cky128
View more Cupid T-Shirts

Cupid in the Round by HolidayBug
View other Cupid T-Shirts

Amor with arrows by tuomasikonen
Start selling my art online with zazzle.

LOVE by cky128
Join Zazzle.com's t-shirt affiliate program

I Love My Girlfriend by magarmor
Browse more Love T-Shirts

3d-snail-heart by YouveGotSnail
Join Zazzle's artist affiliate program

Heart love tree Valentine’s custom t-shirt. by zazzleproducts1
Begin selling my art online at zazzle.

Love Liebe Amour in all Languages by EllesBaby
Browse more Love T-Shirts

Cute Cupid by Kakigori
Browse Valentine T-Shirts

Im with Cupid by GoodToGoTees
Be a clothing affiliate with Zazzle.

Sweetheart Cupcake Baby Shirt by pinkinkart
Join one of the largest artist affiliate programs

Cute Love Me Valentines Day Devil With Heart by ClippertyClack
See other Cute T-Shirts

Funny Valentine's Day Gift by CowPieCreek
Shop Zazzle for another t shirt.Zazzle

19 Valentine Hearts T-shirt/Apparel by lillyarts
View other Valentine hearts T-Shirts

Baby's 1st Valentine's Day by valentinesgifts
Join one of the largest artist affiliate programs

Mommy's Sweetheart Infant T-shirt by pinkinkart
Join one of the biggest clothing affiliate programs

Octo Love by fantasian_angel
See more Octopus T-Shirts

Hearts T-shirts and Gifts by valentinetshirts
Browse other Heart T-Shirts

7 Valentine Hearts Soar T-shirt/ Apparel by lillyarts
Browse Love hearts T-Shirts

Those Birds On Valentines DAy by candystore
Begin selling my art online at zazzle.

This Is Love Boy & Girl Kiss Valentines Day Design by krichard08
Design your shirt at zazzle

Cats in Love Cute Kitty Valentine by LisaMarieDesign
Join Zazzle's t-shirt affiliate program

Happy Valentine's Day Hearts by hallmarkvalentines
More Heart T-Shirts

xoxo HEART DESIGN by SUNZUP4U
Browse more Red T-Shirts

Let's Do It by glenndesigns
View more Valentine T-Shirts

Be My Valentine by BoogieMonst
View more Be my valentine T-Shirts

Are you looking for Valentine's Day Gifts?

2012-01-18T11:36:00.000Z

Hello, hello! Some people hate it, some like to celebrate Valentine's Day. A Portuguese Love Store has a lot of paper goodies and gifts created to celebrate this special occasion. There's Romantic Hearts and Flowers products inspired by Portuguese Lovers Handkerchiefs tradition, there's simple and modern Red Line Valentine's because red is the color of Love, and there's Funny Valentine's - you'll find no bees at all, but trees and bats, sweet girls and wolves and clouds and plaines in this line illustrations. Does it sound strange to you? Yeah, maybe, but Love has a lot of strangeness in it, well, you know all about it! Listen to the music and enjoy the presentation! If you like anything you see, you already know where to find these products. Everything with Zazzle guarantee, of course.

http://www.zazzle.com/aportugueselove*

>>> My first sale of the new collection! <<<

Happy Valentine's Day by aportugueselove
See more Valentine Postcards

The new Messenger Bags by Zazzle

2012-01-17T17:01:00.001Z

Yesterday I was quite desperate. Seems like a strong word. But it's true. I was very excited about the prospect of creating new products on Zazzle. But I discovered that my old computer can not export large files anymore. I can not create Messenger Bags or the biggest of the new Sleeves available. But I really wanted to try to make some Messenger bags. The only file I could use to do it was the Portuguese Water Dog one. But it’s quite as they say - necessity is the mother of invention. I decided to use Zazzle fonts only. Just using that and Zazzle Edit Tool I created a series of bags without using my software. These bags have all been designed very quickly. For me it was a discover as I never use it that way. Initially I even made all products lettering in my software!! Later I discovered that customizable option was the way to go. But it took me some time to adapt! I really like some of the Messenger Bags I created . I might even buy one! I can say it was very fun to create all the bags. Also I got toknow all the Zazzle Fonts available and I think that will help me in creating other products... Here I leave the suggestion to you. I think it is worth exploring!

One for all and all for love Messenger Bag by aportugueselove
View more courier bags.

Plan B Urban Messenger Bag by aportugueselove
Browse Zazzle for a different messenger bag.

I'm on a CMYK mood Messenger Bag by aportugueselove
Browse Zazzle for a different messenger bag.

Not Donuts Messenger Bag by aportugueselove
View other Rickshaw zero Rickshaw Messenger Bags

Gone fishing Messenger Bag by aportugueselove
View more messenger bags.

I have to agree with Zazzle:

The Rickshaw Zero Messenger Bag is perfect as a workday commuter, overnight attaché, or travel bag! Vibrantly printed with custom artwork or text on rugged polyester and designed with a unique accessories system, this bag is as customizable inside as it is outside. Handmade for you with a focus on environmental sustainability, this bag combines beautiful form, function, and a small ecological footprint. It’s Water resistant, extra durable (machine-washable); large main compartment and 2 front pockets; lightweight and forms to your bod; quick-adjust cam shoulder strap;velcro strips accessory system; holds a 13” laptop w/optional sleeve.

Postage rates are going up! Get the new postage rates for the old prices!

2012-01-17T15:45:00.000Z

It ends today on Zazzle!

Postage rates are going up! Get the new postage rates for the old prices!

Starting on January 22, 2012 consumers will have to pay a penny more to mail first class letters in the United States. The decision to increase postage rates was due to the current financial crisis faced by the postal service. The price of one single-piece First Class stamp will increase one cent to 45 cents.
Take a look at some stamps A Portuguese Love as created for you.

Blooming hearts by aportugueselove
Sell art online at Zazzle.

Two romantic hearts by aportugueselove
Join one of the biggest artist affiliate programs

Happy Valentine's Day! by aportugueselove
Begin selling my art online at zazzle.

Happy Valentine's Day! by aportugueselove
make your own stamp using zazzle.com

Easy Love Maths by aportugueselove
Browse more Valentine Postage

A big heart full og love by aportugueselove
Join Zazzle.com's artist affiliate program

Portuguese Water Dog stamp by aportugueselove
Browse other Dog Postage

Zazzle Maintenance!

2012-01-16T17:16:00.000Z

First time I ever logged to Zazzle site and got this warning at Zazzle! Zazzle guys have been busy! I just love the new products they come up with - the Messenger Bags and Sleeves! Unfortunatly my computer does not seem to share my will to create new stuff. I am no longer able to export vector files if they are bigger than usual. I've been saving to buy a new PC for a while and I have half the money already. Been asking everybody if I should buy a new PC or a MAC. I'm familiar with both but when I worked in a MAC it wasn't mine. I think it's easier to operate but I don't have a complete opinion about it. I'm inclined to MAC but it's more expensive. This old one I have has been a great machine but now it's obsolet...

Woman that keeps 80 stray dogs needs help

2012-01-14T19:26:00.000Z

Newspaper cover Correio da Manhã watch it here.
Television cover RTP1 watch it here.

People call her Mother Theresa of the Dogs but her name is Maria José. This lady is 67 years old and she is retired now. She lives at Pinhal Novo and she keeps 80 dogs and 20 cats. Some can be adopted, other does not because they are sick or too old for that. The lady and the animals are facing an eviction from the house they inhabit, for nonpayment of rent. The landlord threatened to pull the gates of the land where they are and cut water and electricity to Maria José. She feared that if things come to that animals will escape and eventually die or be injured. No one wants this animals in the streets again or dead by city hall services. A group was born in Facebook to help the lady and the animals. She has already a place for herself. The group focus is on the animals she has been helping for some years now.
How can you help?

PROMOTING this postage to your Facebook, Twitter, email friends. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!
PROVIDING to Maria José´s needs:

- Send money for tools and construction materials;
- Send construction materials to build fences and shelter for dogs;
- Send food for cats and dogs (as the money is being channeled to the new site)
- Send money to pay the vet bills that is now of 3000 euros! (the money is being channeled to the new site)
- Adopt one of her dogs or cats!
- She also needs people to work at voluntary level in the construction;

If you would like to make a money transfer, check the follwing:

Account name - Maria José Cautela
Bank name - Banco Montepio
NIB:0036 0027 9910 0121 5760 4
IBAN: PT50 0036 0027 9910 0121 5760 4
BIC: MPIO PTPL
If you sent any money, please scan and send proof to suzyccf@hotmail.com with Os amigos da Teti for message title so she can mention you on donations listing.
If you would like to sent food for the animals, check the following:

Address:

Maria José Cautela
Apartado 11
2955-909 Pinhal Novo

If you would like to speak to her, - I don't know if she knows english - to visit her animals:
Maria José mobile phone number : 914 728 234
This information can be found on Facebook Os amigos da Teté Group

Meet Fudge, my new partner in business!

2012-01-13T16:23:00.004Z

This is a "Thank you" postage! I want to thank Sue and Fudge. Fudge is a Portuguese Water Dog and Sue owns him. They live at the Missouri state. You can meet Fudge and read about his adventures at his blog called The Portuguese Water Blog. He's not alone in the house as he has more 7 companions of his breed to play. There's a great photo of them right at the blog's heather.
I've been upadating some sections of my store since Zazzle launched their new tagging policy.It has been a boring task and I really don't know if there will be positive results for products searching out of it. But now it's almost done. Fortunately I don't have a big store. Even so I had to re-tag a lot and meanwhile I decided to upadate old products that I think to have some selling potencial and even to create some new ones.
I wanted a Portuguese Water Dog photo so I could create some more products that buyers could customize uploading their own dogs photo in it. I live in Portugal but I don't know anyone who owns one of these dogs. And I just don't steal photos from the internet. I don't subscribe to that. So I Googled and Fudge's blog showed up. I wrote a comment there asking for help and soon after I got Fudge's photo on my email box. I think Fudge it's perfect. He's beautiful and looks curious. Fudge looks like he's preparing to bark! I'm so fond of animals and due to my current life style I can't have one. I call it life style but in fact it hasn't much style. I can't find a steady job and I just don't know where I'll be the next day. So I can't take the responsability of raising an animal. Animals also need security. So I help animals that need help, stray cats and dogs and people that hold shelters for them. And I do pet sitting for my sister's shar pei dog. I think that every family should have an animal in the house so children can grow up admiring and respecting animals. Most people live an entire life and the only animals they get to watch are sparrows or pigeons... In a certain way I envy my gandmother's life. She had a tough life because she worked in the fields for many years. But she had a natural understanding about the true meaning of life and nature and need no campaingns to understand animals rights.

To know more about the Portuguese Water Dog, read this short text and follow the links. And here's some new Portuguese Water Dog products with Fudge! Stripes have Portuguese National flag colors - green, yellow and red!

1. A tote bag that you can hang with your dog's shampoo or medicines anywhere! 2. A keychain where you can put your dog ID and name! 3. A notebook to write down those special stories about your dog!4. A gift box! 5. A greating card you can send to that friend that just loves dogs!

More Portuguese Water Dog products on the store, of course. And more to come in the future. Aufff! (I hope Fudge likes it!)

Portuguese Water Dog Bag by aportugueselove
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Portuguese Water Dog Keychain by aportugueselove
See more Portuguese water dog Keychains

Portuguese Water Dog by aportugueselove
See other Portuguese water dog Notebooks

Portuguese Water Dog by aportugueselove
Browse more Dog Gift Boxes

Portuguese Water Dog Card by aportugueselove
View more Pwd Cards

Love Rrring - Today's Best Award at Zazzle's!

2012-01-08T22:02:00.002Z

The Love Telephone by aportugueselove

Browse other pendant designs

Zazzle team liked this proposal of a Valentine's Day necklace. I had a telephone like this one until I went to college. It wasn't white, it was black. I spent hours talking over that phone back in the time when there was no such thing as mobile phones! The Love Telephone Necklace is a cute Valentine gift for those sweethearts who spent hours talking sweet over the phone! You can change the text, of course, with Zazzle edit tool and write your own sweet words of Love!

Help Inter Care Medical Aid with used stamps!

2012-01-03T14:37:00.003Z

That's right! My irish friend Rosetta Jallow just posted an apeal in Facebook for Inter Care Medical Aid initiative of collecting stamps. These are then used it to help African people. It was the first time I heard about the reused stamps use for this puropose. Hence most people probably got at least some Christmas and New Years greeting cards I think it's the ideal time topromote this idea! Inter Care collects used stamps which are then sold online to stamp collectors around the world. All you need to do is to cut stamps out from envelopes you receive. Let some paper around the stamp, at least 1cm ( 0.3937 inches). Then, when you have a few, send them to the address below. It's an inexpensive way to help AFRICA. I will send some portuguese stamps.

Go to INTER CARE MEDICAL AID to know this organization and their awesome work against poverty in Africa.
Inter Care
46 The Halfcroft
Syston
Leicester
LE7 1LD

What's your New Year Resolution?

2012-01-02T11:40:00.001Z

Having trouble? Why don't you just click

http://www.whatthefuckismynewyearresolution.com/

and have fun!

1000 mini fireworks Guiness Record

2012-01-02T11:34:00.002Z

On New Year's Eve some minutes before midnight 1000 mini fireworks were lit in order to achieve a Guiness World Record for Figueira da Foz. We made it!