My favourites

There are little things that make the days lighter.

Over the years, I've realized that comfort also lies in the details: warmer lighting at the end of the day, a book that calms the mind, a cup of tea after a tiring week, a beautiful notebook that makes you want to write again.

This page brings together some things that are part of my routine and that, in some way, help my life to seem more welcoming, quiet, and human.

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Books that accompany me

Women Who Run With the Wolves: the book doesn't pretend to be a psychological guide for women, but fairy tales still serve as guides for our souls, and reading about the author's process of discovering these tales is always an invitation to my own soul. It's a book I always return to from time to time.
The Goddesses and the Woman : a book that addresses the Greek Goddesses as archetypal images of our unconscious and how they manifest within us, what their needs and challenges are. It is the material I consult most often for myself and my art therapy patients.
Dictionary of Symbols: an excellent resource that I constantly consult in my practice and for myself. I always write down my dreams, and when I want to broaden my understanding of a recurring symbol, I refer to it.
The woman and desire beyond the desire to be desired : I'm rereading this book for the second time and it always makes me realize what's happening.
Fairy Tales: I have several fairy tale books, and this is the one I use to create my experiences; it's also the one I read to myself.
Petit Lenormand - Odete Lopes Mazza: This is the bible for any fortune teller who reads Petit Lenormand, even if they don't follow the German school. It's worth having at home; it's the most complete book I've ever read on the subject.

Things that make my routine more welcoming.

Small objects that change the atmosphere of the house and the day.

Electric kettle: an electric kettle makes life easier for any adult. The one I have is this very inexpensive one; every now and then I have to use a fork to lift the connector out of it, but it's used a lot, worth every penny, and helps me prepare my teas for the week very quickly.
Tea infuser: the one I have is from a broken glass kettle, I keep using it because it makes it easier when I want to drink tea that isn't in a tea bag. There are some cheap, round infusers, I confess I've never used one to recommend them, the one I'm using is this little cup, I put it on the mug, add the herbs, the water, close it and go about my business, then I just discard the contents and drink my tea. I do this daily.
Bojuda Mug : I have my favorite mug, which is bojuda (chubby), and I'll be personalizing it soon. Those who follow me on my art therapy stories already know it.
Microfiber blanket : winter is really coming on strong this year, and I bought a blue blanket to put on my feet while I'm on call.
Cloud slippers: I leave these slippers by the entrance of my house, and as soon as I arrive, I take off my sneakers and put on these wonderful ones, which are already all stained because I wore them while we were painting the house. They don't have an exact brand because I bought a really cheap pair at a street market.

Things that help me live more organized and planned.

Flor de Mim Planner: This is my second consecutive year using this planner and I'm still in love with it; it's useful and applicable. I used other, more spiritual planners and honestly, some of them had things I didn't even use. This one has everything I need, and I make it spiritual myself—I write down my dreams, make monthly collages, everything!
Faber-Castell 0.4mm black tip pens: These are the pens I use to write down my tasks in my planner. I prefer the black ones and only change the color when I don't have the money to buy another. I'd like to try other brands, but these work so well that I'm afraid to spend money on others. If you have any recommendations, I'd appreciate it.
Highlighter: In the video I'm going to make, I'll show you how I use highlighters to differentiate task categories and also to mark what I've already done in my planner. I like the ones in the link that are pastel colors so it doesn't look too visually cluttered.

I will soon prepare a video or post about how I plan my life and use these items.

Writing, journaling, and creativity.

Things that help me organize my thoughts and return to myself.

My blank Moleskine notebook: it's the notebook I use for everything, from college and graduate studies to theater courses, and also for my therapeutic notes and collages.
Watercolor : I've been using this watercolor set since January 2025 and it's perfect for those who aren't professionals but want to practice watercolor, as a hobby, or in art therapy sessions. I have the most complete set of colors; it comes with a brush and a palette, perfect for travel, and whenever I use it in a workshop, people ask me where I bought it.
Cutting mat for collage and other small projects: I bought this because I was doing a lot of cutting and pasting and my table started getting very scratched. This mat stays on my desk and I use it almost daily. I bought exactly this cutting mat from the link.
Random magazines for collage: my family already knows that if they find magazines along the way, they should bring them to me. I use them a lot in my sessions, both with myself and in face-to-face experiences. Having magazines at home is like having a collection to create unusual and surprising things.
Vintage sticker sheet: I love using stickers in collages and planners; they make my creation process much easier. There are many options online, and I also know that some people print them, but I've never printed on sticker paper, so I can't recommend anything other than ready-made stickers.

Things that help my health

No miracle formulas. Just small things that make the days more breathable.

Therapy : As an art therapist, I need to be in constant therapy, dealing with my own inner issues and images so as not to become entangled with my patients. Therapy is not easy and doesn't have a pretty path; it's a dive into ourselves and a constant permission to dismantle and rebuild ourselves.
Yoga with Pri: It's a channel where I always try to do the 21-day challenges and always fail, but it continues to support me when I need it. Those who follow the blog know that I've been recommending Pri's channel since I was a young adult, haha.
Morning stretching : I love Aurélio's channel, which is geared towards seniors, I swear! He has a simple morning stretch that helps me a lot, especially because of my weight; waking up my body when I wake up helps a lot. I don't do it all the time, but I always try haha.
Yoga mat : I've been using this little mat since 2020 for my home workouts. It stays rolled up, and I unfold it when needed. I confess I'm already needing another one, but this trusty mat remains with me.
Glass containers : I was afraid to take them on the bus, but after I started, I saw that they were more durable than I imagined and also made the food taste and smell better than plastic containers. I take packed lunches every day and have been using glass containers for a few months now.

Spirituality and presence

Objects and readings that are part of my moments of silence, reflection, and spiritual connection.

Gypsy Tarot - Petit Lenormand: Just because I use Lenormand for readings doesn't mean I only use it professionally. I actually use Lenormand in my daily life; I have one deck that stays on my altar and another that stays in my backpack/bag and goes with me wherever I go. I always recommend that everyone have a deck with them. For those who can't read, I recommend this one from Odete ; it's more expensive and the cards are huge (I prefer smaller cards), but it's perfect for those who need a really good guide, as the guide is a true book. If you want a simpler one, I recommend this Gypsy Tarot deck. If you want a traditional one for study, I recommend the Blue Owl , which is what I use for studies and readings.
Incense : I prefer more natural incense without charcoal because of my rhinitis. My favorite scents are vanilla and sandalwood. I like to use sandalwood when attending to clients, and vanilla when I want a cozier atmosphere. I pass by an Umbanda shop near the gym I go to and buy it there. I check the ingredients to make sure it doesn't contain charcoal.
7-day candles: it's a form of spiritual protection; I always have to keep a 7-day candle burning with the intention of connecting with my guardian angel and asking for protection. I always buy the cheapest kit on Mercado Livre (Brazilian online marketplace), with each candle weighing at least 300 grams.
Reiki Level 1 Self-Application Course: It was a turning point; I recommend Level 1 to everyone. Reiki calms the soul, helps with my physical and mental health, and is invigorating. I did the first level... she offers it up to Master, but I never finished it; I got to the second and started the third. The first level, personally, already satisfies me, and Level 2 helps me with alignments within my family and in my spiritual center. The course is taught by therapist Darlene from the Quântica Flow Institute and is very objective, which is why I liked it so much. For those who want depth and a more solid foundation, perhaps other courses would be better. For those who like things that lead to practical application, this one is perfect.

Simple things that give me emotional comfort.

Comfort Series: My current favorite comfort series has been Desperate Housewives.

Playlist : I like Spotify's music radio stations and personalized playlists; the one I'm enjoying listening to the most is the "daily" playlist. I don't know how Spotify does it, but it always perfectly matches my mood at the moment. It's a playlist that changes according to the day and time.

Professional clinical art therapist:

Things that I, as an art therapist, always use and refer to:

Updating patient progress and studying cases with the Notion template : After years of practice, I came across this Notion template which has helped me keep my case notes and projects organized. I've made it available so that other art therapists can also organize themselves. As I've already mentioned in my stories: it's the first thing I do when I start my day of appointments. I open Notion, check the day's schedule, read the patient files and activity proposals, and only then am I ready.
Blog Não Palavra : This blog is a haven for those starting out in art therapy and those who have been around longer; I've even written about countertransference in art therapy on it. It's a valuable resource for any art therapist.
Books by Patricia Pina : you can purchase the books by speaking directly with her and ordering them; they are perfect for study, reference, and when you feel you are losing focus—read them, get inspired, and get back on track. True guides for art therapists.
Philippini's books on materiality : the guide every art therapist should have at home, along with Tati Fecchio's book on materiality .
Philippini's book , "Cartoagraphy of Courage" : I recommend this book to anyone who wants to become an art therapist, or to beginner art therapists who still don't understand what we do.