The story behind Dinha… and that time EA invited me to Madrid 🤎
Hello my dears,
Okay… maybe it's time I properly introduced myself 🤎
I've been sharing my creations with you for such a long time, but I realized that many of you probably don't know much about the person behind Dinha… or how this whole adventure even began. 🤎
So today, no new CC, no sneak peeks and no downloads — just a little story about me, an ancient computer, a YouTube channel… and a completely unexpected invitation from EA. 😂
Let's go back about 12 years…
My name is Cláudia, I live in Portugal, more specifically in the Setúbal district, close to some beautiful beaches. My favorite is Sesimbra. 🤎 As for my age… I have far too many years already, so let's just move on from that subject. 😂
I have a degree in Sociology, as well as two postgraduate specializations — one in Human Resources Management and another in Banking Management — and I work for one of the largest banks in Portugal.
So, as you can probably imagine, becoming a Sims creator was not exactly part of the original career plan. 😂 It all started about 12 years ago…
I wasn't even a mom yet!
My husband was the one who encouraged me to start a YouTube channel. At the time, he knew and filmed several Portuguese YouTubers, and eventually he convinced me to give it a try too. There was just one tiny problem... My computer. 😂
I started with a very old PC that my husband lovingly built for me using some of his old computer parts.
Very sweet.
Very romantic.
Very… little storage space. 😂
My routine was basically:
Record a video → edit it → upload it → DELETE IT IMMEDIATELY.
Because there wasn't enough free space on the computer for another one. Guys… this was my life. 😂
And because I apparently have no shame, I'm going to leave my very first YouTube video here for you.
Excellent quality.
Outstanding editing.
Absolutely nothing to criticize.
A masterpiece, really. 😂
Watch my very first YouTube video and draw your own conclusions 😂
It took me around a year, if I remember correctly, to reach my first 500 or maybe 1,000 subscribers. And yes… there were MANY moments when I wanted to give up. But I didn't.
And, by the way… if you're not subscribed to my channel yet, what exactly are you waiting for?! 😂🤎
And then something completely unexpected happened…
A little over a year later, I was at work when I received a message — I think it was through Facebook, although we're talking about around 11 years ago and my memory is definitely not what it used to be. 😂 I also now have two little hurricanes at home called Carolina and Leonor, which probably hasn't helped the memory situation.
Anyway…
The message was basically an invitation to go to Madrid for a pre-launch event for The Sims 4 Get to Work.
My first reaction:
Who? Me?!
Surely they had contacted the wrong person.
Then:
Wait… is this actually real?!
I went home and told my husband. His response was essentially: “Accept it. Go.”
Followed immediately by some very important husband safety instructions:
“But you are NOT getting into anyone's car. You go by yourself, you trust yourself, and if you arrive somewhere suspicious… YOU RUN, CLÁUDIA! YOU RUN!” 😂
There was, however, one small problem with this brilliant emergency plan.
I can barely climb stairs without getting what we call in Portugal “dor de burro.” 😂
And because I genuinely had no idea how to explain this in English, I asked AI for help: 👉 “Dor de burro” is the Portuguese expression for that sharp pain you sometimes get in your side when running or exercising — basically a side stitch.
Now, translated literally, “dor de burro” means “donkey pain.” Yes. Donkey pain. 🫏😂 Don't ask me why we call it that — I have absolutely no idea!
So apparently, if anything suspicious happened in Madrid, my entire survival strategy depended on me running. Excellent plan, husband. 😂
And off I went to Madrid… ✈️
Friends… I can't even explain how amazed I was when I arrived.
The event was in an office district, and the building itself was beautiful and super modern. It was an EA building, and at the entrance there were one — or maybe two?! — giant Sims figures (I don`t remember correctly, sorry).
Do I have beautiful photos to show you?
No.
Did I vlog this once-in-a-lifetime experience?
Also no.
Did I document everything like a proper content creator?
Absolutely not. 😂
Honestly, as an influencer, I'm hopeless.
If I took any photos, they were probably terrible quality, and I don't even know where they are anymore. I'm not even an influencer when it comes to my own children, let alone on the internet. 😂
You only have to look at my recent car disaster - Check the story here.
A proper influencer would probably have taken 10 photos, made 4 or 5 videos and somehow created content from the top of the tow truck if necessary.
Cláudia? Crickets. 🦗🦗🦗 Nothing. Great Job... well done!!!!
Back to Madrid…
When I arrived, everyone was Spanish. No Portuguese people. And it seemed like everyone already knew each other . And then there was me. Super shy. Understanding about half of what everyone was saying. 😂
After a while, a lovely young woman arrived looking completely out of breath. Apparently… she had gone to the airport to pick me up. And couldn't find me.😂😂😂
Nobody had told me someone was coming to collect me! And, between us…
thank goodness they hadn't.
Because remember my husband's instructions? I WAS NOT GETTING INTO ANYONE'S CAR. 😂 So... i just run to a taxi...
I got to test the game, loved the whole experience, had lunch with her and then eventually headed back to the airport. Where I spent approximately four very exciting hours (doing nothing....) waiting for my flight back to Portugal, because there wasn't enough time to actually go and visit Madrid.
Very glamorous influencer life. 😂
But I came home with one of those experiences that stays with you forever — the kind of story you know you'll tell your children and grandchildren one day.
And then, a few days later, when Get to Work was officially released, something else happened.
A fruit basket arrived at my house with the expansion included. 🤎 I still remember how special that felt.
And somehow… here we are. 🤎
When I think about it now, this whole journey has given me experiences I could never have imagined when I sat down in front of that old computer 12 years ago.
Starting a YouTube channel.
Learning how to do so many things I had never done before.
Being invited to Madrid by EA.
Watching this community grow.
Having so many people from different parts of the world discover my creations, use them in their games and follow my work. And now, being here with all of you.
It has been such a special journey, and I am genuinely grateful for every single person who has crossed my path along the way. 🤎
Sometimes I think about that first computer — the one where I had to delete every video before I could make another one — and I really can't believe how far this little adventure has come.
And you are part of that story.
Whether you've been following me for 10 years, discovered my work a few months ago, downloaded one of my creations, left me a kind comment, shared my work, watched one of my videos, or decided to support me here on Patreon — you've helped make this possible.
So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. 🤎
Thank you for all the kindness, encouragement and support you've given me throughout all these years. I don't think the Cláudia sitting in front of that ancient computer 12 years ago could ever have imagined where this journey would take her.
It has become so much more than I ever dared to dream. 🤎 Thank you for being part of it. 🤎
Now I want to know something about YOU… 👀
How did you first find me?
Was it through:
🎥 YouTube
🎮 My Sims 4 CC
📌 Pinterest
📷 Instagram
🤎 Patreon
✨ Or somewhere completely different?
Tell me in the comments — I'd genuinely love to know how our paths first crossed. 🤎
With love,
Dinha (Cláudia) 🤎
Comments (4)
I discovered you here on Patreon. I was searching for Sims 4 custom content and your name popped up. I saw your cc and decided "That's what I want in my game.! " I enjoy reading about you, your family and your latest adventures! It's a nice break from the "download/unpack/test it out " cycle that had become the norm for me. Thanks for sharing your cc and your life. Keep writing...I'll keep reading.
Leon, thank you so much for such a thoughtful and lovely comment! ❤️ It makes me incredibly happy to know that you enjoy not only my CC, but also the little pieces of my life, my family and my adventures that I share here. I’m always wondering whether I should write these more personal posts—whether people enjoy them or if they’re even worth sharing—so hearing that they give you a refreshing little break from the usual “download, unpack and test” cycle means more to me than you can imagine. Your feedback makes me very happy and is so important to me! Thank you for enjoying my creations, for taking the time to read my stories and for encouraging me to keep writing. I’ll happily keep sharing if you promise to keep reading! 😊🤎
What an amazing experience. With the free time I have now in my current period of life, I've been thinking of becoming an online gamer/streamer, but the commitment in doing it is something that stops me from doing that. lol. I'm not sure where I found your page. It was either through downloading CC from a build or Pintrest/simsfind.
Thank you so much for sharing this with me! ❤️ I completely understand what you mean because staying motivated really is so important. There are days—or even periods—when I feel particularly tired, and during those times it becomes very difficult for me to find inspiration. Sometimes I make such a huge mental effort to create something, but nothing turns out the way I want it to, which only makes me feel even more frustrated. When that happens, I’ve learned that it’s better for me to pause for three or four days, regain my energy and, most importantly, rediscover the desire to create. When I return, everything usually seems to flow so much more naturally again. My advice would be to start the same way I did: without expectations, strict schedules or pressure. I simply started creating and sharing things at my own pace. As subscribers and comments gradually began to appear, I felt more and more motivated to continue. Even when there were only a few people following my work, those people were incredibly important to me—and they still are! 🥹❤️ So, if becoming a gamer or streamer is something you would enjoy, perhaps you could simply give it a try and see where it takes you. Start slowly, have fun with it and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. And thank you for telling me how you may have discovered my page—it’s always so interesting to learn how people found me! 😊