From: https://www.google.com.br/search?q=happy+halloween&rlz=1C1SAVQ_enBR532BR532&espv=210&es_sm=122&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=w1RyUrCBC5PH4APzzoBg&ved=0CDIQsAQ&biw=1360&bih=643#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=qNaQUbmQ6ixqOM%3A%3BxhnO7uNklzl9qM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.pictures88.com%252Fp%252Fhalloween%252Fhalloween_018.gif%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.pictures88.com%252Fcomments%252Fhalloween%252F%3B440%3B328

From:   http://projectbritain.com/Halloween.html

Halloween Traditional Halloween celebrations and customs in England and the rest of Great Britain.

On October 31st, we celebrate Halloween,thought to be the one night of the year when ghosts, witches, and fairies are especially active. Why do we celebrate halloween? The easy answer to this question is that no one really knows the origins of Halloween. What we do know for sure is that Halloween is on the eve of a major Catholic festival, All Saints (1st November) and the eve of the pagan Celtic festival known as Samhain. The three days between 31st October and 2nd November see pagan and Christian celebrations intertwined in a fascinating way and is a perfect example of superstition struggling with religious belief. Currently, it is widely thought that Halloween originated as a pagan Celtic festival of the dead related to the Irish and Scottish Samhain, but there is no evidence that it was connected with the dead in pre-Christian times. ( source: Stations of the Sun by Ronald Hutton pages 360-70)

Halloween week

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/2012/10/121031_todays_phrase_keep_eyes_peeled.shtml

To keep your eyes peeled

A pumpkin made into a lantern for Halloween, often called a 'jack-o'-lantern'. Photo: BBC

Today's Phrase

'To keep your eyes peeled' means to stay alert and look out for something or someone.

For example:

John told me he'd meet us in the mall. Just keep your eyes peeled.

We need to follow signs for the motorway, so keep your eyes peeled.

Mum will be home any minute. Keep your eyes peeled whilst I tidy up! 

Don't confuse it with

'To keep your nose out' means to mind your own business.

This has got nothing to do with you. Keep your nose out!

Interesting fact

A modern jack-o'-lantern is typically a carved pumpkin. It is associated chiefly with Halloween. The top is cut off, and the inside flesh then scooped out. An image, usually a monstrous face, is carved out, and the lid replaced. The name is associated with Irish folklore about 'Stingy Jack' who played tricks on the Devil.

From:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/2013/10/131024_todays_phrase_it_never_rains.shtml

It never rains but it pours

People under umbrellas outside the Vatican in Rome. Photo: AFP/ Getty/ Filippo Monteforte

Today's Phrase

When someone says it never rains but it pours, they mean problems don't just happen occasionally - they happen all at the same time.

Examples:

We had nothing to do for weeks, then suddenly we have all this work to do: it never rains but it pours!

I missed my train this morning, lost my wallet and spilt coffee all over myself. It never rains but it pours.

Take note

If you pour cold water onsomeone's plans or ideas, you are criticising or being negative about them.

Example:

I wanted to walk up the mountain but Jane threw cold water on the idea. She insisted on taking the cable car.

Interesting fact

The village of Debundscha in the Republic of Cameroon is thought to be one of the wettest places on earth. Its location at the foot of Mount Cameroon, facing the South Atlantic Ocean, gives it a long rainy season and a very wet climate with about 10,300 millimetres of rainfall every year.

Jonathan Yeo is an English artists who produces paintings and collages.   Have a look on some of his marvellous portraits:
Jonathan Yeo é um artista Inglês que produz pinturas e colagens.   Dê uma olhada em alguns dos seus maravilhosos retratos:
 Self portrait (autorretrato)

  Kevin Spacey

 Jude Law

 Nicole Kidman

From: http://www.jonathanyeo.com/

Feeling like reading War and Peace after watching "The last Station"... 
Com vontade de ler Guerra e Paz depois de ter assistido ao filme "A última estação"...
From: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0824758/

"The Last Station" (original title)

14 112 min  -  Biography | Drama | Romance  - 28 January 2011 (Brazil)

A historical drama that illustrates Russian author Leo Tolstoy's struggle to balance fame and wealth with his commitment to a life devoid of material things.

Director:

 Michael Hoffman

Writers:

 Michael Hoffman (screenplay), Jay Parini (based on the novel by)

Stars:

 Helen Mirren, James McAvoy, Christopher Plummer

From:http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liev_Tolst%C3%B3i
Leo Tolstoy: best known by his famous novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/2013/10/131017_todays_phrase_chasing_your_tail.shtml

Chasing your tail

Whales near Fraser Island in Australia. Photo: Seaworld Australia via Getty Images

Today's Phrase

If you are chasing your tail, you are busy doing a lot of different things but not achieving very much.

Examples:

I've been chasing my tail all day, but I haven't got anything done! What a waste of a day!

Organising a meeting for next week has been impossible. I've been chasing my tail trying to sort out a date, venue and agenda... I'll try again tomorrow!

Similar phrase

To run around like a headless chicken. If you run around like a headless chicken, you use a lot of energy and effort in an attempt to do many things - but without getting any real results.

Example:

I've been running around like a headless chicken all day trying to get ready for my holiday, but it's already 7.30pm and I've still got loads to do!

Interesting fact

Humpback whales are known for their acrobatic ability to jump out of the water, and also for the beautiful and complex songs performed by males.

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/2013/10/131015_todays_phrase_putting_out_fires.shtml

Putting out fires

A firefighter attempts to control a blaze in Greece: Dimitri Messinis /AP Photo

Today's Phrase

The phrase putting out fires means dealing with many small problems, usually at work. Though the problems might be small, they need to be solved quickly before they become bigger ones.

Examples:

Sorry I didn't have time to meet you for lunch today. I was busy at work all day putting out fires.

Sometimes it feels like you get nothing done in the office – you need to spend the whole day putting out fires.

Take note

To get on like a house on fire. If you say two people get on like a house on fire, it means they like each other and find it very easy to become friends – they get on very well together.

Example:

Phoebe and Alice get on like a house on fire. They share exactly the same sense of humour and are always joking and laughing together.

Interesting fact

London had no organised fire service until the Great Fire of London in 1666, which destroyed most of the city. It spread easily because it happened during a long, hot and dry summer, and because most houses were built of wood. After this event the first fire services were set up, and more houses were built of brick.

Se você gosta de poesia e literatura acesse o blog: 

http://rahgalvao.blogspot.com.br/

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/2013/10/131003_todays_phrase_get_a_load_of_this.shtml

Get a load of this!

A lorry full of milk churns, ready for transportation.

Today's Phrase

You say get a load of this when you want someone to pay attention to something exciting or interesting.

Examples:

Mike, get a load of this: our friend Frank is being interviewed on the TV news right now!

Get a load of this: I've just found out that our teacher used to be a professional footballer!

Take note

The phrase take a load off your feet means to sit down and relax.

Example:

William, you look exhausted. Come and sit here. Take a load off your feet.

Interesting fact

According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the USA, 85% of milk produced for human consumption comes from cows. However, buffalo, goat, sheep, camel, donkey, horse, reindeer and yak milk is also consumed by people around the world.

Paletes, paletes a mais paletes!  São inúmeras as possibilidades!

From: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=278453442295917&set=a.101676963306900.1729.101447593329837&type=1&theater

Downton Abbey

If you enjoy a nice and rich drama showing the great wide range of human feelings and attitudes you gonna love this British series.  Take a look at a part of  the synopsis from the site informed below.

It's 1912, and life in the Edwardian country house of Downton Abbey is idyllic and bustling for the Crawley family, aided by their cadre of servants. Robert, Earl of Grantham, his American heiress wife Cora, and their three daughters, along with Robert's mother Violet, have lived largely uncomplicated lives. But the sinking of the Titanic hits home in an unexpected and dramatic way — Lord Grantham's heir, James Crawley, and his son Patrick have perished. It's personally agonizing (momentarily) for daughter Mary who was supposed to marry Patrick. On a grander scale, suddenly all the predictable succession plans have gone terribly awry, and unheard of questions now loom large — Who will be the new heir to the earldom? And what will happen to this distinguished estate, now in jeopardy? 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/downtonabbey/synopsis.html

Some vocabulary help:
idyllic - idílico, suavemente amoroso
bustling - animado, movimentado
aided - auxiliado, apoiado
cadre - estrutura
Earl - Conde
heiress - herdeira
hits home - atinge a casa
unexpected - inesperada, imprevista
way - forma, maneira
perished - pereceram, morreram
was supposed to - deveria, estava para
grander - mais grandioso
awry - torto, oblíquo
unheard - desconhecido(as)
loom large - aparecem indistintamente de forma ameaçadora
earldom - condado
distinguished - distinto, ilustre
jeopardy - perigo, risco

If you've got interested in watching the episodes you can access: http://megafilmeshd.net/series/downton-abbey.html

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/2013/09/130919_todays_phrase_to_toy_with.shtml

To toy with

A collection of clockwork toys, including a vintage looking Japanese robot, a monkey with cymbals and a shark

Today's Phrase

To toy with somebody (or something) means to not take them or their feelings seriously.

Examples:

Peter has been going out with Mary for five years and he never talks about marriage. He is just toying with her feelings.

I have been working hard to get that promotion but it never comes. My boss is toying with my expectations.

Take note

A 'toyboy' is the younger boyfriend of an older person.

Example:

Janet got divorced after 40 years of marriage and is enjoying her life with a toyboy on her arm.

Interesting fact

Factory-made toys, including tin toys and clockwork toys, went on sale in Britain in the 19th century. Other popular toys were alphabet bricks, sailing boats, jigsaw puzzles and Noah's Arks. In many homes, children were not allowed toys on Sundays - except Noah's Ark, because that was in the bible.

As a fan of Jennifer Aniston I can't miss another of her movies:

We're the Millers

Família do Bagulho (2013)

14 110 min   -   Comedy | Crime

A veteran pot dealer creates a fake family as part of his plan to move a huge shipment of weed into the U.S. from Mexico.

Director:

 Rawson Marshall Thurber

Stars: Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, Ed Helms

 http://www.imdb.com/movies-in-theaters/?ref_=nb_mv_2_inth

Some vocabulary:
pot dealer - traficante de maconha
fake - falso(a)
huge - enorme
shipment - carregamento
weed - maconha, baseado