Luisa Moraes

What is your name and where are you currently?

Luisa Moraes. I am currently in São Paulo where I am from.
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Are you where you normally live?

I was living between LA and NY.
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What are you currently reading?

Just finished On Immunity: an Inoculation by Eula Biss and currently reading Caderno de Memórias Coloniais by the Portuguese writer, Isabela Figueiredo and the next book will be The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. I love reading and therefore my girlfriends and I started a book club right when quarantine began and we are on our 5th book. We are reading a book every 2 weeks, only by female authors and we meet on Sunday mornings on Zoom to discuss.

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What are you currently watching?

I watched last night the sequel to Little White Lies written and directed by Guillame Canet that came out last year, Nous Finirons Ensemble . It is a feel good French comedy, much needed genre at this moment. I also finished Sucession season 2 which I think is a fantastic series!

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What are you currently listening to?

I have been listening to classical music in the morning and 70s, 80s and 90s music that makes me happy later on in the day. Prince, etc

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What have you been eating the most? Do you have a recipe to share?
In less than a month I will be a certified health coach. I am with my mother and brother and we did a 21 day detox together that I do at least once a year and my brother had never done it and loved the way he felt so much that he did 40 days. The detox was vegan (with no eggs), soy-free, sugar-free, caffeine-free and nothing processed. So we have been eating lots of organic vegetables, fruits, smoothies, soups, wild caught fish and healthy recipes. I eat pretty healthy and clean on a day to day basis but there are moments I love to indulge with pasta and baked fresh bread and cheese. Here is a very easy recipe that I love making.

Ingredients

-Penne

-Smoked Salmon

-Mascarpone

-Caviar or any fish eggs of your choice

Cut the smoked salmon into about 1/2 inch pieces and heat it with the mascarpone in a pan. Cook and drain the penne and gradually add it to the mascarpone and smoked salmon. Add a scoop of caviar before serving.

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How are you moving your body/exercising?

I am taking The Class by Taryn Toomey almost daily online. I love it because it’s a good full body workout and as they call it, a mind body cathartic experience. I have been taking her classes in person for years when I am in NY. I also have been taking classical pilates mat classes and yoga classes online. I am in an apartment so I go up the 10 flights of stairs everyday as an exercise as well and then I take the elevator down and repeat that once again.

If you’re buying anything, what is it?

I’ve only bought food and I find it very important to support local farms and businesses. There are 3 local organic farms in the countryside of Sao Paulo that I buy from and also a small fish business that delivers sustainable fresh wild caught seafood from the coast.

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What’s one new thing you started doing big or small since this all happened? (Like a new skill/a hobby or even habit)

I’ve been cooking more.
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Tell me about your evening routine! And your morning one too!
I’ve been sleeping around 11pm and sleeping 9,10 hours a night so it has been lovely to get such quality sleep every night. I wake up, meditate,hydrate and have a healthy green juice or smoothie. At night I’ve been cooking early dinners and usually I watch a movie or have a chat with a friend over the phone. And reading and meditating in bed before falling asleep.

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What’s one way big or small that you’ve been helping others?

I call in to check on my friends and family to see how they are doing and my cousin and I have been raising money to buy food and household supplies for refugees here in Sao Paulo that are unemployed. Over 100 families are being helped.
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Do you know of any good charities or causes people could donate to?

Yes I do. Instituto Fazendo Historia and Gastromotiva. Instituto Fazendo Historia helps supports children and teens that are living in shelters and Gastromotiva is raising money to feed those in need during the pandemic. They’ve already served over 45,000 meals in the past 8 weeks and their goal is to serve 80,000 a month.

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What keeps you sane?

Meditation. Lots of it
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What one thing can’t you wait to do?

Go in the ocean and hug and kiss my family and friends.

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Who has been the most interesting/unexpected person you’ve spoken with since this started?

I’ve had some really inspiring and interesting conversations with friends around the world. One would be hard to name!

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What’s one thing you’re grateful for?

I am grateful that all my loved ones are healthy and safe.