From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/2014/03/140327_todays_phrase_piece_of_cake.shtml

A piece of cake

Eating all of this is a piece of cake.

Today's Phrase

If doing something is described as a piece of cake, it means it is easy to do.

Examples:

Changing the wheel on the car was a piece of cake – I was happy to help!

I don't know what all the fuss was about – the exam was a piece of cake! I had half an hour to spare.

Take note

The icing on the cake describes something that makes a good situation even better.

Example:

It was great to win the match but the icing on the cake was getting promoted to the Premiership!

Interesting fact

According to the Guinness World Records, the world's largest wedding cake weighed 6.818 tonnes and was made by chefs at a hotel in Connecticut in the USA.

The intense and overwhelming movie Frida (2002), starring Salma Hayek, tells the story of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo (1907 - 1954).  It shows a bit of this astounding woman's life, her joy and passion for life, as well as her struggle, strength and courage to go through the many adversities she had to face.  She expressed her inner world of emotions and feelings through her unique and creative painting, full of peculiar style, to show her own reality.  In Frida's words: "I do not paint dreams... I paint my reality."  

Find more about Frida Kahlo at  

http://www.fkahlo.com/ingles/index_ingles.html

O intenso e impressionante filme Frida (2002), estrelado por Salma Hayek, conta a história da pintora mexicana Frida Kahlo (1907 - 1954). Ele mostra um pouco da vida dessa surpreendente mulher, sua alegria e paixão pela vida, assim como sua batalha, força e coragem para enfrentar muitas adversidades. Ela expressava seu mundo íntimo de emoções e sentimentos através de sua pintura única e criativa, cheia de um estilo peculiar, para mostrar sua própria realidade.  Nas palavras de Frida: "Eu não pinto sonhos... eu pinto minha realidade."

Encontre mais sobre Frida Kahlo em
http://www.fkahlo.com/ingles/index_ingles.html


         Picture from: http://fridakahlopaintings.org/fridakahlopinturas/

From: http://tx.english-ch.com/teacher/jocelyn/level-b/phrasal-verbs-with-two-meanings/

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/2014/03/140320_todays_phrase_in_the_red.shtml

In the red

The Welsh Guards, in their red uniforms, practice for the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London

Today's Phrase

If you owe money to a bank, you are in the red. Also, if a person or a business is in the red, it means they are losing money.

Examples:

Because the airline had to give everyone their money back after the delays, they now say they're operating in the red.

I've paid off most of my credit card bills - but I'm still in the red.

Take note

If someone is in the pink, they are in good health.

Example:

Ruth looks very well - she's certainly in the pink.

Interesting fact

The soldiers shown in the photo are from the Welsh Guards. Together with other regiments of the British armies, they perform a ceremony called Trooping the Colour in June every year to mark the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.

How about choosing a color to bright up your kitchen!?!  Here you have two ideas from http://www.housetohome.co.uk/.  It will sure make your kitchen look more charming.
Que tal escolher uma cor para dar mais brilho a sua cozinha!?!  Aqui estão duas ideias do site http://www.housetohome.co.uk/. Com certeza sua cozinha ficará mais charmosa.

From: http://www.housetohome.co.uk/room-idea/picture/freestanding-kitchen-ideas-10-of-the-best/1



From: http://www.housetohome.co.uk/room-idea/picture/freestanding-kitchen-ideas-10-of-the-best/8

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/2014/03/140313_todays_phrase_just_the_ticket.shtml

Just the ticket

Old tickets at the London Transport Museum

Today's Phrase

If you say something is just the ticket, it's exactly what you wanted or needed.

Examples:

These boots are just the ticket for our walking holiday in the Alps.

Jane said my low-fat cake was just the ticket for someone who's on a diet.

Take note

Big ticket items are things which are expensive to buy like cars, washing machines or fridges.

Example:

Now the sales have started it's a great time to buy some big ticket items at a good price.

Interesting fact

The most expensive ticket ever sold for an Olympic event was for the London 2012 Games. The £2,012 ticket was for the Opening Ceremony, according to Guinness World Records. Cheaper tickets for the event were also available for only £20!

To listen to these verbs in action you can watch a cooking program. Personally, I'm quite fond of Jamie Oliver's.

From: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=540969722685583&set=a.295469917235566.70837.295446660571225&type=1&theater

From:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/2014/03/140311_todays_phrase_cheese.shtml

Say cheese!

Cheese can be made from different types of milk, such as cows' milk, sheep's milk and goats' milk

Today's Phrase

"Say cheese!" is an expression used by photographers to make people look like they are smiling - because that's the shape the mouth takes when you say the 'ee' sound in the word 'cheese'.

Examples:

We need a picture to remind us of this great party. Everyone get close together and say: "Cheese!"

Why the long faces?! Look at the camera and say "Cheese!"

Take note

The adjective cheesy can be used informally to say that something is cheap and of bad quality, or fake and in poor taste.

Examples:

Some men like to wear big gold chains on hairy chests - but a lot of women don't like this cheesy look.

Interesting fact

Cheddar cheese making in in the English region of Somerset goes back more than 800 years. Records from the King of England's accounts note that in 1170 the King purchased 4.6 tonnes of Cheddar cheese.

Cafe Terrace at Night (1888) by  Vincent Van Gogh(1853 - 1890), one of the most  important Dutch painters.
Varanda do Café a Noite de Vincent Van Gogh, um dos mais importantes pintores holandeses.

Picture from: http://www.madisonartshop.com/most-famous-paintings.html

From: http://www.edmondschools.net/boulevardacademy/Courses/DrawingDesign.aspx

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/2014/03/140306_todays_phrase_feeling_blue.shtml

Feeling blue

The mandarin fish is very popular in the saltwater aquarium trade

Today's Phrase

To feel blue means to feel sad.

Examples:

I don't want to go out. Since my boyfriend left me I've been feeling blue.

Don't feel blue. Life is short, have some fun!

Take note

When you say something will happen until you're blue in the face you mean it will be happening for a long time.

Example:

You can talk until you're blue in the face. You are not my boss and I'm not going to follow your orders!

Interesting fact

Despite their popularity in the aquarium trade, mandarin fish are considered difficult to keep, as their feeding habits are very specific. They are also sometimes called psychedelic fish due to their unusual colouring.

"Death at a Funeral" (2007) is a movie by the English director Frank Oz. It's a great comedy for the ones who enjoy British humour, like me.  There is a newer version (2010) starring Chris Rock, which is probably more American like, but I haven't watched it so far... I was really very keen on that first English version.   For more about it have a look at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0795368/

Que tal a sugestão do site http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/: criar uma parede acima da cabeceira da cama com fotos especiais da família.  A dica é distribuí-las de forma que não fiquem emboladas, podendo variar os estilos das molduras e as cores, mas com o cuidado de não exagerar nessas variações, pois poderia acabar causando falta de harmonia na composição.

Create a feature wall above your bed using precious family photographs. Ensure you map these out so that the wall is not too cluttered and doesn't take away from the overall feel of the room. Vary frame styles and colours but keep frame widths similar. The edges of outermost frames can slightly extend beyond the sides of the furniture. Keep colour tonal to create a harmonious feeling and a timeless scheme.

From: http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/lifestyle/home-decoration/6-top-tips-for-getting-the-interior-design-look#slide-2