What's my favourite book?

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I'm subscribed to Anobii...
Simply because the other day, writing those ten random things about me, I realized I wouldn't know how to answer a "what's your favourite book?" question.
Because of two main reasons: there are a lot of books I've loved and that left me something special, it's very hard to choose.
But most of all I don't have in mind, always there, all the books I've read and, given my crappy memory, there a big risk I don't remember all of them properly, the risk I may forget the important ones, I would leave those out and then, to the question "Have you ever read that book?", I'd slap my forehead and say "ooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh (yes, with that many letters) Of course I did! I forgot".

Embarassing, definately embarassing. I had to fix this.
So I thought -also thanx to a huge annoyan... ehm, the kind suggestions from a friend philosopher- that having a free tool to organize books with covers, generes and authors isn't that bad... when I'll be done maybe I'll be able to write down a short (?) classific.
In the meanwhile, if in the next few days I'll be a little absent minded, it will be because I'll be adding titles and stars to read books :)

Oh, and I also like the fact that you can display the books like they're sitting on a real bookshelf, I know, it's a silly thing, but it's a cute silly thing *_*
If you want to, please add Euforilla.. let's see if you can answer this readily: what's your favourite book?

PS
I've edited my post on Ubuntu. I've added a 7th good reason I forgot (speaking of crappy memory), it's about viruses :)

7 good reasons to choose Ubuntu (Linux for human beings)

img courtesy of google images

Why go for free informatics?
Generally, if the reason is good enough, you need only one.
But this is the case where you have seven reasons, and they're all good!

1) It's free. And it'll always be. And I'm not talking only about the Operative System, but also about all the softwares and plugins you may ever need. Plus by purchasing a PC without an OS already on it, you'll save big money!

2) I'ts easy. Insert your CD with your favourite little animal and in half an hour, and I mean 30 minutes counted, you'll have a new OS, that has found all the drivers it needed, internet, and already cleaned up after his own installation mess. Plus here you can find everything you may need.

3) It's smart. 30 seconds timed to switch on and be actually usable (no hourglass on your screen that'll make you wait enough time to prepare a 12 courses dinner). In the case there's an error... it fixes itself on its own (I've witnessed this miracle, my laptop wasn't switching on properly, I pressed shift, a screenshot asked me which version I wanted to restore, I clicked, and voilà, like new, no lost datas).
Oh, and what about those free softwares and plugins I mentioned before?
There's USC (Ubuntu Software Center), look for your keyword (from games to serious stuff(, click on the button of the software you choose and it's going to download and install it on it's own, because it's already suitable for your OS, it does it all on its own.
Oh, and if your pc is somewhat old and rusty, Ubuntu is going to restore it like new (I thought I had to say goodbye to some video drivers, to touchpad and to special keys... how hopless was I!)

4) It's good looking. The graphics are very light, and easy on the eyes... and most of all you can have jelly windows! Well, ok, this is just a plugin you may add if you want to.

5) It's compatible. Any software you may ever think of, be reassured that there is a suitable version or even a version expecially made for free software (GIMP, to name just one ;)). In the event you need a non-free software there are tons of ways to make it work anyway with no troubles at all (heck, you can make Windows work inside Ubuntu too!). And you don't even need to be high end nerds, you just need to know how to use google and whenever you find yourselves in trouble (very hard if you use your computer for ordinary stuff) just google your problem (I've learnt this way to use the command line ^_^).

6) It's the first. Anything you may have seen around, therefore anything you may come up to me and say like "that graphics, that cubic desktop, that other thing there, I've seen it on this and that OS"... true... NOW you've seen it. Linux & co have been doing it since at least 10 year, and I think this is a pretty good average.
And one version of Linux's kernel was the base for Mac OS (so in theory it shouldn't have been sold... but whatever, let's not argue!).

7) It's healthy. It means it will never have viruses. How comes? Since it's free nobody will ever bother to create viruses so that you'll need to pay for an antivirus: if you ever get something strange on your pc the solution, like an antivirus, will always be free. Marvellous, isn't it?

Well, to quote an italian comedian very badly: what else has Ubuntu to do for you? Clean up your house?

PS
I've been using Ubuntu for almost a year now, and still sometimes I find new and amazing things. PC and OS haven't slown down a little, nor any kind of troubles at all. Ok, my PC needs are quite basic and daily, work and play stuff. But Mr. Faun uses it (along with a lot of good professional free softwares) to record, edit and mix songs he&band write and play... not exaclty like taping stuff with a Lego recorder, is it? :D
From all this positive promotion I'm not earning a single buck, because Ubuntu is free! I'll tell you more, I'm thinking about donating to the developers.

Ubuntu's sticker on my laptop *_*

International Women's Day

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To those pissed off if they don't receive any mimosa (it smells, and stains around by the way), to those who think that it's finally time to folly around, to those who think that equal rights of men and women is to be able to go guilt free to a male stripteas, to those who think that it's only today that you have to honour your mom, sisters, friends and girlfriends, to those who think that it's just a meaningless commercial occasion, to those who speculate on it with withering, pale, small flowers way too pricy, to those who organize parties that are shameful (to say the least), to those who think that emancipation means finally having permission to go out with friends, in a word, to all those who have a completely wrong idea of why we celebrate the International Women's Day.

Wikipedia tells you briefly: "It is a major day of global celebration of women [...] of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements." And to remember discriminations and violences they're still object of these days (my translation added from the italian page).

Why the mimosa? Because it's one of the first flowers you find plenty of in these days, and because the urban legend says that it was blooming outside the factory (american? german? russian? it's legend) where hundreds of women died in a fire (they were forced to work that day, locked up inside, forced to work in slavery-like conditions).

Wikipedia, once again, tells you everything. And google has a nice page with a nice project.

Why do I care so much? Why to I fire up so much? Because if we want to nit pick and go all philosophical, "women" are the biggest cultural minority, take any culture and population, women always have an inferior role or status. Because it's 2011 and if you take a job interview in the super civilized Europe, in the super civilized Italy, they ask you if you have a fiancée, how long has it been, if you're serious, and if you want to get married and if you want a family.
Because there still is who thinks that women's sole function is to find a small job and then think about having brats (having a career? Eresy!!! You don't want children? Egoist!!!), because there is still who believe that your happiness rhimes with the perfect softener, that your life purpose is split yourself between pans and ironing board... Or between tights and thongs...
Because if you have University degree, you're 25 years old and you're still home with your parents (because there's no work, because when there is it's plain exploitation... we're near being asked to pay the employer to be able to work, because when and if they look for someone to employ they want him/her young and experienced... but if anyone is willing to offer you experience, that's going to be hard... maybe we'll talk about this another time) you're a mummy's boy/ daddy's girl, and you'd better look for an old, sick, rich man to make your living...

I'm not buying it, I'm celebrating 8 march, without mimosa, because I want dignity.

DIY makeup (and recycle)

In topic with this week style post, like I promised I'll tell you the secrets behind my dvd eyeshadow palette.

I want to make it clear that it's not my genuine idea, other genious minds are to be credited for my enlightment. 

I knew that there had to be a way to make your own palette at home: depotting with a candle (Euforilla's Advice: put a scarf over your mouth and nose, keep the windows open and pause each two or three pans. Then remember that the pans will be hot, so handle with pliers and wait a while, unlike me who forgot, and that's how some pans got chipped) and use a dvd case, I don't have a specific tutorial for this, I just read about "palettes in dvd cases" and I figured it out on my own (E'sA: hotglue doesn't work that well, don't even think about vynil glue, just go for superglue. then just slide a pretty paper in the cover part, and you're done!).
This is the result:

(in the background there are a brown, a burgundy, some "skintone" ones, and a pink blush...let's see if you can guess my eye colour based out of the shadows I use :P).

But there's more DIY, in a recycling way: what do you do with super old shadows, or shadows you don't use for the unfitting colour, or shadows you want to substitute with "green" products? Use them to paint! Or hand them over to someone who paints, with these instructions: mix the powder eyeshadow with vinyl glue, et voilà! Supershiny opalescent acrylics ready to use!

An then, am I giving you the colours but not the brushes??? Never! This summer I finally sew myself my own brushroll, two fabric rectangles with a slightly elastic strip applied in the center, with all the casings sewn on. But this is not the interesting part! This video by EnKore will tell you (I bet there are several more, but this is the one I used) how the most high end, big name, professional brushes are totally like common painting brushes, and you can buy them for a fraction of the price, in any art department store.
(I had to cut the handle of the big fluffy one, but some sandpaper and black nail varnish and could you tell? And the angled one was a regular one that I bent with pliers)

Watching makeup videos may leave you with the urge of having tons and tons of different brushes, but if you think carefully about it, you can be ok with the brushes you'll use most! 

Happy Birthday!

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Happy birthday Profession: Muse!
Even though now I don't use that blog title anymore... so happy birthday Euforilla!
About the giveaway: thanx to Joanne's suggestion I'll keep it running a little more, so to give more time to those who want to jump in and most of all to those who are helping me spreading the news (girls you're wonderful, thanx, thanx a lot, I hope I haven't left anyone out. Thanx again, I'm speechless!).

Anyway, I want to bore you with a sum up of a year in blogging, I learned plenty of things.
I had blogs before, but nothing regularly updated, nothing productive, I used to write weird and teenage-y stuff.
This one, instead, taught me to write a little bit more "like me" (if you pick up the very first posts... brrr... I shiver at the thought! I was so used to write for university papers that I could only write like I had a broomstick stuck... well).
I learned to organize myself and plan things ahead.
To edit layouts and posts to be more funcional and catchy for reading.
To appreciate things that grow slowly, before I couldn't stand thing that weren't "all a now", I calmed down here.
I learned also to reach out a bit, pouring something mine too, browsing other blogs and giving my two cents, using social networks, even asking for help (risking to piss off people)... I think I can try to promote this blog a little more now.
And most of all I learned to put myself on trial: I wanted to write a blog because I realized that there weren't many blogs like this in italian, and I thought it was fair to share those resources that are so abundant in english, because I hoped that my overthinking would be useful to others in my same situations (seen I've tried on my skin what it means to think you're the only looser who's overthinking something and after eons hearing "oh yeah, mee to" "whatever, it's nothing, I've been through it"... tell me! No? So I won't feel alone!), and because I wanted to prove myself that I could have a project, and keep it going, other than those things I saw as duties, therefore as absolute priorities (at the time: graduating), this brought from two to three posts a week, all translated, to "21 days challenges" (that are going slow, but it's 21 days each, they're still on, promise!), to a giveaway with email requests, to a real positive mind-set, I keep telling this: lists of things you're grateful for really work!
In a year I feel slightly changed, and I like the changes I've done, I really like them, and I hope to keep on this good track!

But most of all I've realized that everything I'm writing, I'm writing it for myself first: I need to sort these things out, I want to help you, but I'm walking right beside you, very same path, and "having to" write them down so that you can understand too gives me clarity, stating things like they are not only my thoughts and issues, but someone else's troubles in need for advice really helps me in reframing what I'm experiencing, remembering I'm not alone, and that I don't have to take everything so seriously.

So thank you all, to all of you, those who come here regularly, those who left my very first (and thrilling: wooooh comments!) comments, those who step here by mistake, those who read my "away with shiness" four times a day but are too shy to say anything (even that it's all rubbish), to those who are new... thank you!
Happy birthday Euforilla, and a very merry unbirthday to all of you! :)

Mini-suitcase for mini travels

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The question is: what the heck can I pack when I have a shoebox sized trolley, two days away and three huge jumpers?
I have to say that, given my budgets, lately my travels aren't longer than four days, so I think I'm pretty good at packing for short.

For clothes it's easy: try to have the most accurate weather forecast/temperature/climate, carefully count days and nights you'll be away, and of course what you'll be doing (long city walks? weekend-long pyjama party at your foreign friend's place? thermal baths? picnics on the mountains?).
When you're done count the exact amount of clean underwear you need, plus an extra one. Then you'll have your travelling clothes, there and back, one change, and something frilly if you're planning to dine out, or an extra jumper if you think you need it. The trick is to bring multi-purpose stuff, so that you won't be driven mad by matchings. In theory you might be doing fine with just one pair of shoes: the ones you're wearing, but if you tuck really well things away maybe you can fit in your trolley another one (obvious advice: wear combat boots for travelling, put the flats in your suitcase, they take less space).

BUT! And here's the fun part... or the hard part: wether it's two days and a night, or two weeks, or two months, your beautycase it's always the same size, worst, in proportion with a weekend trolley it's almost bigger.
I know this woe, I have to carry around bottles and bottles with liquids for my contacts. But there is a solution indeed: perfumery or herbalist shops samples. Except contacts liquids, in a small pouch you can fit: two or three foambath samples, body lotion, face moisturizer. Then maybe you want to use those tiny bottles you find in hotels and squeez into them some face cleanser and toner, two or three cotton pads, cotton sticks, almost finished toothpaste tube, deodorante sample, scrunchies and bobbypins, toothbrush and... ok, the brush is going to take a little bit more room.
But there's more! I've found a tiny solution for makeup too: I've made my personal palette out of a dvd case and I've also sewn my brushes roll, so that I don't have to leave behind anything if I don't want to! But these are things that are deserving of their own post, I'll tell you another time which tutorials I've used and stuff like that!

Shapes and Optical Illusions

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I won't lecture you with history of clothing, otherwise I'll have to start from 17th century where robes were actually indicative of people's statuses (monks most of all), but finally common people were able to afford used and coloured clothes (thrift stores are nothing new!), taking the exclusive away from noble families, where a dress was some piece of craft to pass on for generations.
You just need to look at statues and paintings to realize how the concept of female beauty is constantly changing: plumpy pre raphaelites nynphs are really far away from skinny and androgine 80's top models.
It's funny to notice how in times where the economy was critic a beautiful woman was a full figured one, while in times of economical boom skinnier women were "minimal".
Anywaaaay...
 
Starting from the premise that willing to have your own style is also willing to look good, let's deal with different body shapes and how to address them.
First thing first: in your bones, in the shape of your nose, in your shoulder width, in your hair colour there are your parents, your grans, their grans, and up to primordial broth, be proud of that.
Secondly: any bodytype has pro and cons. Forget about teen photoshopped models, they are teen and photoshopped, therefore surreal.
Third: it doesn't matter if online you find written that your body type can't wear that thing. If you like it wear it anyway, you'll look good for how it makes you feel, and most of all we're here to discuss personal style, not how to look good at a job interview! Can I add one thing? Dressing up someone that looks like a coat hanger is fine, we're all good in dressing up perfect Barbie, but dressing up well body shapes that are outside beauty standards (who the heck decided them anyway???) it's a bit more tricky. Very good designers should really show their skills on that!!! U_U
Fourth thing: here comes the corny and cheesy sentence: stand up straight and smile. It works. Period. I don't want to hear you complain. Tomorrow morning, when you wake up with a crazy hairdo and a crumpled pyjama, drag yourself to the bathroom, look at yourself in the mirror, straighten your back and smile at yourself. I grant you'll feel a total moron, but I grant you'll also see a great difference. Promise!
Fifth: there is nothing hard, it's just a matter of optical illusion and proportions.

I think that by now everyone already knows what looks best on himself/herself, but a little reminder does no harm!
Since I don't want to, and I'm not able to, give tips and tricks for any body type -things you can find with plenty of details with a simple web research- I'll just sum up general pointers, also because I think that labelling body types is not that automatic (let's say "apple woman", you always read about focusing on the legs... what if she also has short legs, or way too long legs? She'll end up with a dispoportionated torso or so...).
I was talking about proportions and optical illusion: to make your shoulders larger to match the hips, to make your legs longer, or anything of the sort, there are a few general rules that can be adapted to anything.
1) Proportion between shoulders, waist and hips, and between legs, torso and neck. To do this you need to play with cuts, colours and patterns of your clothes. You "hide" what you want to conceal, or to look smaller, shorter or thinner. You "show off" what you want to underline, to look bigger, taller or thicker.
2) Any advice you find can backfire you, you need to evaluate each and every case and use some common sense: a soft and drapy (oohh look at my words, I sound pro XD) shirt may hide a little bit of belly, but if it's too baggy will make you look bigger (or even bonier in your older brother clothes... wonder how I know that...). Or tight jeans may flatter your legs, but if they're too tight they will just squeeze you (never forget the comfort of well fitting clothes). Can you see what I mean when I say backfire?
3) Things to "show off" and underline: patterns, bright vivid colours, details like embroideries, pokets, patches, seams, details, beads, zippers, buttons and so on. These are all things that will draw your attention, your eyes catch those things first.
4) Things to "hide" and conceal: dark, desaturated and solid colours, no patterns, smooth surfaces, smooth fabrics, no details, no buttons, no nothing. If there's nothing to catch your attention your eyes will glide over.
5) Double things: there are things that may help to conceal or to underline, it depends on how you use them, on your body type. Things like the waist and legs of your jeans, the neck and sleeves of shirts, A lot of different pieces (like boots, jeans, long sweater and short jaket will) break the silouhette and make you look shorter, while a few solid pieces (high waisted trousers that cover your shoes too) will make you look taller. It's up to you. Then there are stripes: a thick orizontal stripe underlines and makes bigger, a thin vertical line elongates and looks thinner. It's up to you decide if the belt to underline your waist is better thick or thin, and if you want straight bootcut jeans or skinny ones!
Google always helps :P

Me? I think I'm a rectangle, as they say, though not as tall. There is nothing that sticks out more than else, not even hair :)

*Edit 1/2/11*
I've found a blog where every body type is well described, with pictures and examples after advices. Very good indeed!
Pear Shape
Rectangular Shape
Hourglass Shape
Apple Shape
V or Inverted Triangle Shape

Gossip

Norman Rockwell

Did you know that "to judge" has no contrary? It has plenty of synonyms, but not a true opposite. And did you know it comes from jus-dico? Literally I speak the law, I pronounce the sentence.
More, did you know that, according to some studies, gossip is at the base (well, among the bases) of the developement of language? I guess that winters in caves, working animal skins were pretty long and boring...
I confess that some years ago I used to check regularly Perez Hilton... You start with a news here and there, then you enjoy real time updates about Burton's next movie, and in no time you've developed an addiction.

And it all points to...? You'll ask.
A moment please! I'm gettin there! I'll answer.

Gossip itself is a little thing, we all do or did it, and in some way when you're talking about a friend who couldn't be there and someone is telling you why he couldn't, well that's gossip too.
The thing is that there is gossip that can ruin someone's life (try to imagine spreading the gossip that that coworker is a stalker... poor him!), but to keep this simple without dramatic examples, gossip backfires.

You know that people say you shouldn't care for what people think. You know it, you should do it... but actually managing to it's not that easy: we live plonged in people since we were born, and willing or not is since we were born that what others think about us affects us (they have an influence on the way we see... ourselves!)
Gettin rid of these effects and influences is good, it requires time but it's possible: I think I've already stated on this blog that the fact that your mother thinks you'd look better with shorter hair doesn't actually make it shorter, and that your opinion is as worthy as hers (or anyone's else), and the best way to achieve this goal is to prove with your actions that what you think is worth it.

But how can we get rid of other people's judgments if we're the first in line spreading them? How can we get rid of the effect that "What's wrong with your hair" has on us, if we're the first ones muttering "Oh em gee, what had she in mind?" when we see someone's picture?
To me is crystal clear that if our brain is so automatic in sentencing whenever it can, then it's also crystal clear that it will be offended as soon as it receives sentences alike.
And all these sentences are but a bunch of "heard say" and "common thought", and while there's nothing wrong with the will of being part of something, be accepted and participate, heck, it's the very core of society!, if you listen carefully how those judgments go, you'll hear something like this: "Oh my gawd, look at that, I would be so ashamed!". I would be so ashamed, because evidently that one doesn't, and most of all: I would be ashamed because I think it's ridiculus, therefore I think that if I had the guts to do that others will laugh to me because I am laughing about that.

I stopped reading gossip sites when I realized that my reactions were more bitchy and touchy.
And I have to admit that since I stopped, I feel so much better, I get offended really really hardly and I find it really difficult to say things "oh look at her, what's she wearing???", better when I hear things like that my usual response is something along these lines "If she likes it, what's your problem with it?". I know, I'm annoying :P
(This doesn't mean I like anything I see, but at least I don't think that my taste should be a universal law ;) ).

What about you? Troubles with gossip? Ways to get rid of it? Tell me, tell me!

Open letters

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Dear you,
15 years old, more or less. Going out with the same corduroy trousers and huge scarves, like the ones I used ten years ago, like the ones other wore ten years before that. Reading Efraim medina Meyes on the train, when I used to read  Martin Millar, anyway, anything goes as long as it has some rock in it. With kohl around your eyes, and writings all over your old sagged backpack. With your head full of thoughts, deep ones too for your age, and you know that, full with expectations and ideals.
Know that you'll be hurt from then to now, but know also that you'll become stronger and wiser each time. Know that maybe the toughest period still has to come, but it ends eventually, and you step out of it with your head up high, I know you don't believe me right now, but you'll also be happy, satisfied, smiling.
Know that underneath the tucked trousers and the office purse, that I wear 'cause I have to and that you look at with scorn, there still is the will to crack the world open to see what's inside it and then to put it back together as you please.
And even though I can tell you "sheesh girl, you did it!!!" I can also tell you no, you won't find answers to all those contradictions and oddities you've just begun to collect... but you learn to pour something yours in it, give it your print and go on like that. I can tell you that it's a good answer, when people ask you "how do you see yourself in ten years?", to answer "twentyfive years old", because now it seems an endless time, but they fly away and everything turns upside down and inside out, like a sock. And I can grant you that inside you'll feel still the same, yet a bit changed, and that these words will make sense, clearly.
Well, I'm on the edge of obvious and tacky, and you already have a hard time giving me trust, because it's widely known that being somewhat cynical works as a shield, but it also damages a little on the inside. Nothing dreadful, don't worry.
So here it is, I thought I would write to my old 15yo self, but then I looked around and saw lots of teens like I was, and I wanted so much someone who could tell me "you're doing fine, don't worry, keep up with it, it's not easy, but it worths it". Got it? ;)

And now dear you,
or better, me, in ten years, therefore 35. Maybe now I do have some idea on how I see me in ten years, but I don't have as much to say as in the previous letter. If I were to list everything I hope for it would turn out like a wishlist to Santa. A pretty cheesy one. Anyway I'm committing to try my bes, and now let me jump into a space-time paradox: I hope you're happy with what I've done, how I made things turn out for you, I mean to follow my passions and expectations, 'till now it worked out pretty well. As of now I ask but true independence and the ability to not turn grey. But knowing where we come from... it's very unlikely ;)

Post-christmas recipe

 

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Post-christmas recipe (apply at least a couple of these points)

- sleep in
- take a loooong hot shower, with essences, beauty masks, deep moisturizers, scrubs and home made treatments (hot bath works even better)
- drink 2l of water
- eat lots of fruits and vegetables, but do not skip meals (it works for the worst), magari integral pasta with vegetable sauce
- have a walk
- wrap yourself up into baggy, soft and warm clothes, don't even tie your hair, don't wear makeup nor contacts (I'm going with hidrating drops!)
- password: lay back. Nap, read one of the books you found under the tree, paint, dig your hobbies, listen to music, do whatever, basically! And if you want to you can do nothing, too!
- we accept suggestions: what's your best post-christmas remedy? I'd really use some, today I was one of those who had to go to work!

Lastminute presents (on a budget)

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This year I managed to be quite organized, also because last year, as soon as I got my hand on my new moleskine, I wrote "order presents online" on the 1st of november.
Actually I didn't order anything, and I bought all presents on the last weekend of november: I stepped into a bookstore and made everyone happy.

So, if you're still there with a lists of good kids without presents, here's my advice: step into a bookstore.

Why, you say? It has tons of pros:

1) There is, it's sure, a book for everyone (I don't have to tell you all about a bookstore, do I?): also for those who have no time to read, there are short but good books, and for those who don't love to read: a funny book is always there.

2) There are various editions and special offers, it means you can find anything for any budget. Nowadays bookstores are also organized with client cards, points and further discounts.

3) If you are on a really small budget (it happens, I feel you) there is also used bookstore option: not only you save money while gifting someone with a present that keeps it's value, regardless of use, you also have the advantage of a book with aged pages that smell of paper.

4) Back to modern bookstores, even though you find e-reader & co (but we're talking limited budgets and maybe only lastminute "little presents"), you can really find anything: posters, puzzles, dvds, cds, agendas, blocnotes, pens, stuffed toys, mugs, calendars, gift cards (I loved mine, even though my mom kept apologizing like "Oh I really had no idea on what to gift you with!") and basically... cute objects, at least you can avoid going into tons of different shops.

5) My favourite part: I think that gifting a book is always something nice to do, because it implies that you have to spend at least a minute to think to the one you're going to buy a book for, think about his/her tastes and preferences, therefore choose a book like you where in their shoes. A book it's like a compliment: it always reflects what the receiver inspires in the gifter, or at least the attention spent in the process.

6) Anyway a book is a super technological find for teleport: from your armchair you're catapulted into different times, places and worlds. It's like giving a ticket for a magic travel. And you won't find it anywhere else, but in a book.

So, opinions? Was I convincing? ;)

Shyguy

 

img thanx to Benjamin_B_Bunny

I'm not here to tell you how this character was meant to be in another videogame but ended up, due to it's success, in Super Mario.

I'm here as aunt Euforilla: my referrer list, that super useful tool that tells me who arrives and how on Profession Muse, told me that many times people ended here looking for "being shy with girls".

Main thing is: what I write about shyness is unisex, but I admit that this blog has a peculiar feminine allure.

So to patch things up here I am, dear kids, consider me your bug into hostile territory (but it is not hostile at all, and maybe this is one of the first things you have to understand).

Since you're men and you don't like frills and lace I'll sum things up in a pragmatical list, ok?

Rule #1) There is no, alas, manual that tells you what to do (forget all that crap on men magazines, ok?), there is no general rule for femalekind, maybe some generalization is possible, but I'd hardly trust it. So would you mind if we start from the premise that a "girl" is first and foremost a "person"?

#2) We're down to start from you: have you ever wondered why that nice blondie you're interested into seems so cynical and cruel? Or, why are you "scared"?

More, I bet you've already prepared your personal "worst case possible" movie. Good, now I want you to film the opposite: remember that everything is always 50/50, what may go bad, may also go well!

#3) If all talks about shyness (mine, the ones you read around, the ones you hear from your friends) still haven't done their job (because they will be effective on you only when you truly want them to) you can try with physical activity, I know it's hard, now it's cold outside, you sweat, it's a pain in the a**... but, other than a gain in health, and a further gain in looks (let's get this straight: it helps at least a little in these cases), it also helps building self esteem and self awareness, that is: exactly what you're looking for right now!

#4) Last but not least, maybe the very reason why I've started writing all this: what if the blondie actually laughs at you, steps brutally on your feelings, spit in your eye and call you a looser of a rat... would you really keep contacts with such a bitch? I mean... I don't care how beautiful and blonde she is, don't get stuck with Miss Acidity, the world is full with ladies that are dealing with the same shyness issues, the same curious questions about you. See rule #1: we are persons, so we're likely (we can't be that general and completely exclude the "jerks" cathegory, from any kind of people we're dealing with) far from the idea of hurting someone, just because.

You don't need to serenade her with flowers and chocolates, just throw a suggestion here and there, some small compliment: if she wants to hear them... ;)

21days n°5 - Letting go

 

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This 21 days test was absolutely impromptu and not planned.
But it gave me something to think about (well, honestly, what doesn't with me? I'm a little brainy in that sense...).
I think that there are two meanings for the expression "Let go": 1) let go of anything, vowing yourself to entropy and all that jazz; 2) not taking yourself too damn seriously.

And! I can tell you with pride and satisfaction that I've tasted them both: I was planning my days down to the second, 'till the moment where I had to "waste" five whole minutes to let the whistle in my ears go, along with the blackened sight... yeah, I was pushing myself a little too much.
So I started slowing my pace, my tydiness went back to less than zero... but I've finally learned that sometimes that's good too, that not being always at 100% of my expectations is just fine.
But most of all I've learned that my body and my head need their rythm, and some time to relax...
You have no idea of how much it helped on a more metaphorical level: I screw up? Oh, well, who cares! We're here to have fun! You may think this is lame, but to me it was a great goal to reach ;) You live much much better!

Oh, by the way, after I've stopped taking myself so damn seriously I had great fun and also I went back tyding up the mess I left behind XD

Being Happy

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I am happy.

Now you. Try and really say it.

Many people can't do it, they just mock it (or mock themselves?), they don't believe it, nor they think it's possible they feel guilty or else.
Mostly because many people tend to idealize happiness, they mistake it for some absolute bliss, an earthly and unreachable nirvana. Lame example: if I think that I'll be happy only when I'll reach X I'm already postponing my happiness, and even if I actually reach X I wouldn't be satisfied, postponing again.

Heck, google can tel you that happiness is but a state of mind, a choice you can make now. And yes, I also believe that is some sort of natural consequence of being positive and optimists.
Once again, just to have this clear, it doesn't mean being constantly happy for any silly thing, it means being able to choose what things matter and choose how to feel about them.
This also carries a big consequence: choosing battles that are worth fighting for (and please excuse the gaudy phrase).

Anyway Epicurus wrote a beautiful Letter on Happiness  (I'm not much into ipse dixit, but now I could use some, so why not start from the beginning, among those who wrote about happiness? ;) )
Moreover I have a thing for nice pictures with nice words, so take this selection I've made!

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24 hours in Pavia

 

The Covered Bridge

Hello there! Today I'm joining a "Blog-Carnival" organized by Siobhan, a sort of a tourist guide on a budget, follow her links and travel around the world with exceptional tourguides! I mean, can you imagine how many things you find in 24 hours with someone who lives there? ;)

Today here it's snowing, and quite a lot, so maybe it's the perfect time to sit down to read and travel with your imagination! Welcome to a full day of walks in Pavia, my advice to you: comfy shoes!*
Oh, all the pictures are courtesy of Google Images!

 

Piazza Petrarca without the market, with a view on the walls of Malaspina's Gardens

What about kickin'off with cappuccino and croissant? There is a café or two that you might want to try!
Let's say it's saturday, it's mid spring and the weather it's nice. After breakfast we're going to the market, so we can have some nice shopping, from clothes to bags (cheap but good quality, and you can also find knock offs), there's also the farmer's market if you want to buy something good, local, and seasonal to bring home and eat.

 

Corso Cavour

We can also choose more fancy shops (is it just me loving markets?), so let's go with cardo and decumano, which means Corso Cavour and Strada Nuova. But before we get there please let me take you to my favourite bookstore: it was a cinema and before that it was a church!

 

Strada Nuova
 

Ok, we've been walking and shopping like mad, we need a break, it's lunch time!
May I suggest a tasty sandwich (actually a "panino") at Bar Bordoni, near Piazza della Posta (the mail square XD), or a yummy dish at Ateneo, behind the University (oh, this one has also sandwiches with heavy metal names, funny!).

 

University of Pavia
 

So, what are we going to do this afternoon? I'm leaving you the choice, and there's plenty, also I think we can manage to d everything. But if you want some relax in a green area we can head to the park of the Castle, Castello Visconteo (the first italian castle built as a residence, instead of a fort for defence), or to the "Vul" area, by the river, watching the Bridge, or again a walk in the park of Vernavola!
If you're more into history of art I think you need to see our churches (I'm just naming a couple: San Michele, St. Michael, where Charles the Great was crowned, or San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro, where St. Augustin is resting in peace).

 

San Michele
 

Ok, break! It's time for gelato! In Strada Nuova there's an ice cream shop that makes artisanal ice creams, with eco-green ingredients, and some flavours are suitable for vegans too!

 

Castello Visconteo

Or! You'd fancy something cultural? We're going to the university (where I've studiet too! Ah! Ok, I'll stop it), it's the second or third in Italy, for age and importance if I'm not wrong, and some irrelevant ones (sarcasm galore) like Volta and Porta studied there... better, I'm letting the History of Medicine Museum tell you... and it's filled up with creepy stuff!!! 

 

The Cathedral dome seen from the Vul area
 

Yes, I think we have time for everything, and now it happy hour time for me. Which obviously means Piazza Vittoria: choose a café, the one you like the most in between those with outside tabels! And while we rest our feet (I hope you followed my advice wearing comfortable shoes!) let's think about dinner. Some pasta, a pizza? Then we're heading to La Pergola, even though it's a bit far. If you prefer risotto (typical here) we'd better go to an Osteria.
Or if you'd like something ethnic we have greek, sushi, chinese, spanish, mexican and lebanese!

 

 Piazza Vittoria, Broletto on the left, and again the cathedral!

I bet your belly is full and happy now, so we need to lighten up with friends, that maybe are playing at Spaziomusica tonight, or we're just having a beer at Broletto, or at Black Bull (in Piazza Duomo), my favourite pubs: nice rooms and nice music in the background!

After a while, though, I'm tired of staying sitted, outside there's a nice weather and I need something for my sweet tooth, what about an hot chocolate at Cesare (Corso Garibaldi)? Trust me, it's the best thing ever! They also make their own whipped cream... your mouth is watering now, am I right? 

 

Corso Garibaldi

Wow, it' super late, and today's walks are starting to ask the payoff.
Maybe it's time to go sleep, and think that if we had a car and some more time we could have visited the Chartreuse, or Milan at 30 minutes away.
Of course I'm saying all of this hoping you enjoyed your time and now are wishing to come back and stay more ;)

* I'm growing fond of final marks!
I've written all the names of the main streets we're walking in, I've put pictures, but if you click here, and use the street view you can really virtually tour along!
I llllllllluuuuuuuuurve technology when it's so handy!!! 

PLUS!!!
Here are the links to all the other awesome bloggers, willing to take you around!
Gosh I want to pack my suitcase right now!!!

Moxie in Singapore

Jaded Vixen in Melbourne

Amy in Melbourne too

Our host, in Edinburgh

Robyn in Bude

Emily in Tucson

Hope in Edinburgh too

Lisa in Sydney

Enjoy!!!

The Labyrinth

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Happy birthday to me!!!
And to celebrate I'm going with one of my favourite topics! The Labyrinth!!!
Since I can't reproduce all the movie here for you, I've decided to write a "did you know that...?" kind of post.
WARNING: if you've never seen this movie I could spoil you some things, so please jump at the mark * at the end.

Here we go.
Did you know that...

...it's a veeery '80s movie (you just need to look at Sarah's shoes and eyebrows to know it!)? Precisely it is from 1984
..."she" is Jennifer Connelly, and she was only 14 and super super gorgeous already?
...the soundtrack is almost entirely by David Bowie, aka Jareth the gobling king, a-to-the-mazing?
...other than these two (almost unkown uh?) actors, we have names like Jim Henson (The Muppets), Brian Froud, and George Lucas (Star Wars, anyone?)
...there is no computer-graphics involved, it was all made with robots, puppets and costumes?
...there is plenty of online communities where you can find out what shoe size the biting fairy had? With fan fictions, clues about the book that has been written after the movie (which I've found used, thanx again Spleen for pointing me at it!) or about the mangas that make a sequel of the story (I'm quite curious, but I'm afraid to know what they have made of it), and the eternal question "If they were to re-make it, who would they call?" and the usual answer is "God forbid a remake!"
...the worm, in the italian version, has a french accent, and all the other creatures have quirky voices, not different english accents?
...the stair scene is based on Escher's drawings?
...Toby is Froud's son, and is really named Toby?
...if you look really well into Sarah's bedroom, at the beginning, you'll see all the characters she's going to meet
...it's a modern fairy tale? I mean, at least she's not one of those sappy princesses that need a kiss from prince charming to be rescued: she's a teenager, she screws something up and she has to grow to make things up, and doesn't fall for a charming yet cruel goblin king... though, to be honest, with a goblin king like that and his "forget the baby", given my non-existent maternal instinct, I would have gone for it quite happily!
...the labyrinth itself has really old history and meaning (starting from labyrinths from five thousand years ago, to modern garden or lunapark labyrinths, they are still amusing), usually they are a geometric design with an inextricable path... and the point is to get to the center and then exit it again. It's easy to understand that it's a symbol for an initiating journey, or using more modern words, therefore more psycological instead of alchemic, a path for becoming, the path of life. Oh I'm so deep! And did you know that the word labyrinth comes from the greek (or so it seems) lebheris, hare?
...the ball scene in the crystal ball (no pun intended) is the only one with real people?
...I think it's a logical/philosophical movie? It may sound silly, but think of Hoggle: he's not giving Sarah any right answer untill she asks him the right questions; she's giving everything for granted, she can ask to just one of the four creatures at the doors; she can talk with doorknobs, yet one can answer but not hear, the other one can hear but it can't talk; the creatures that spin the tiles; Jareth speeds up the time 'cause she said "it's a piece of cake"; the solution to the "vow" made by Sir Dydimus; the useless answer from the Wiseman; Sarah's closing lines; Jareth's promise ("do as I say, and I'll be your slave"... it sounds strange, but it has it's own logic)... wow, I could have written a thesis on this!!!

Ok, I'm stopping here, it's better! And now I feel like watching it again!
What about you, have you seen it? Did you like it? Are you happy now whenever you see a labyrinth, soap bubbles, striped pajamas, crystal globes, Bowie's songs and thirteen hour clocks? Show yourselves! You're not alone!
Oh, and I've asked Sadako to tell it her own way, I'm looking forward to read what she comes up with! ^^

* You've never seen The Labyrinth? Let me rephrase.
YOU HAVE * N E V E R * SEEN THE LABYRINTH?

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And what the heck are you still waitin for, you're still here???

21days n°4 - Vitamins

 

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I know, it's been forever since I've last uploaded something in this little project of mine, but I have two main reasons why:

1) I've been putting too many things "to-do" (this project, the style one announced, and other incoming stuff) on this blog, and now I'm taking care of it one bite at a time (though I'm glad I'm managing to write three posts a week instead of two!)

2) since it takes 21 days each, it also takes its time!

Regardless!

I took vitamins for 30 days (the bottle had 30 pills) and I must say they made a difference: my skin was very good (and expecially ladies know what I'm pointing to, in a month time span ;) ), I slept safe and sound, I was never tired.

Moreover I took them in the seasonal change, a time in which I'm usually like a slimer.

I think I will do it again, but for instance I better rember to eat more seasonal fruits and vegetables.

I'm always ending up with obvious things, that my mother could say "I told you!", am I? XD

Youtube comments are useless

 

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Ok, the title is a bit tricky, I'm focusing on the uselessness of argues, also known as catfights, on the internet in general.
For these following easy reasons.

1) if you publish something on internet you know you're exposing yourself, whether it be a video, a blogpost or even an entire website
2) allowing comments leaves freedom of critique and praise, the "If you don't like it, don't watch it" is meaningless: first of all, I first have to watch to say if I like it or not, second it can have sense only if someone is persisting (you didn't like it, you said that, enough). After all there is always the old said "If you have nothing nice to say, don't say nothing", but we do not want to limit anyone's freedom to speak.
3) persistence can be two types: the fan, the hater.
4) sidenote "Haterz gonna hate".
5) persistence also has consequences: to fans blatant errors become excusable, to haters anything is good to start a fight. The thing is that then people (and in all this post I'm talking about both fans and "haters") start criticising things that have nothing to do with the proper topic.
6) It's very uncommon for these people to change their minds, moreover insults given for free are not helping. In any case the original poster doesn't answer because we would go back to number 3 and 5. And it's the best thing one can do: they're average people, not skilled public speakers, therefore if they answer they risk to do worst than keeping silent (I.E. involuntarily insulting also their fans). My favourite advice? It's just like in elementary school: drop it, let it go, people will be bored by the lack of heartfelt reactions (and no, taking away comments all of a sudden, after building an audience thanks to comments, it's not going to work, at least this is my opinion: internet is made to share!!!)
7) We can witness an escalation into absurd: comments go from the original topic, to insults, to insulting the poster's phisical appearance, and then insults between those who leave comments, insults to people's mothers and so forth.
8) untill we get to the favourite argument: "You're just jealous". Jung wdid have a point (I'll catch you up: when something about someone bothers us is either because we have that same issue, or that someone has something we would like to have/to be), but breaking news! nobody is without traumas/transferts/compensations whatsoever. Instead, sometimes "flaws" are what make personalities, but this is another topic. In short: we can fall in a vicious circle and into something that reminds "the Fox and the grapes".

I'd like to finish off with two quotes (I like quotes!)

° Never argue with an idiot: they drag you to their level, and beat you with their experience
° "I loathe what you say, but I'll get killed to let you always say it" Voltaire (Je déteste ce que tu dis mais je me ferais tuer pour que tu puisses toujours le dire)

Lucca Comics and Games 2010

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Too bad for pouring rain, a blister and some lacks in organization.
Ok, except these little things, let's talk Lucca Comics and Games.


Did you know it's the third, for relevance, comic-con in the world? Well, I didn't. I could rename this post "oh the thousands of things I ignore". I stepped into an unknown (to me) universe and I fell in love with it.
I mean, I've read some mangas, I've watched more than one anime, I've played several games, but I realized that I've only seen this world from far away!


I don't know if this is good or bad, but there were so many people that I barely could get close to the stands... actually, maybe it wasn't all bad: this way i saved my wallet... it was a bunny galore in merch!
Though Miriam, from Milan School of Comics, draw me this bunny *_* (have a look at her blog too!)

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Let's talk cosplay, shall we? I don't think you need me to say this, but you can see the dedication people put into costume making, spending time and money into polishing every single little detail, but the results really do pay off!
Look at this Jareth, aka the Goblin King

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Labyrinth happens to be my all time favourite movie. Ever. I can quote almost it all, by heart... and this gentleman here looks like David Bowie reincarnation in Jareth reincarnation.
So if by any chance you googled "Jareth the goblin king Lucca Comics and Games 2010" and you stumbled upon my blog, and if it's you in that costume, you who stood for pictures so kindly: let me know where I can sculpt you a statue, because I've never seen anything so amazing. Thank you!


Well, fangirlisms aside, it's time for honourable mentions: we went back to the same B&B we went to this summer, and I'm not exagerating if I say that going back in the evening I found myself thinking "yummm... breakfast is closing in!" Lucca is as wonderful as always, and seeing it invaded by any kind of creatures and characters is even better; on top of this if you manage to eat and drink well (also thanks to happy time choices) the overall experience looks even greater. So, if you step in Lucca please go to "L'Enoteca" which, despite its winehouse-related name, is a beer-pub/sandwich-bar. It will take you some time to choose a sandwich because they have plenty (and they're all tasty... or at least the four types we had... in two nights ;) ), then it will take you even more time to choose a beer, there are pageful, divided by countries... fantastic!!! Plus the personell was lovely, which is always a plus ;)


Let's close this with the thing I loved most, so much that since the first day I've been stressing Mr. Faun with "next year we'll be more organized, next year we're cosplaying too, next year blahblahblah".
Not only it was a constant parade of passions and talents made costumes, but seiing people posing for photos, seeing "average" people that for once look at the "odd" ones with admiring eyes, being stared (well, on halloween I felt like some kind of fairy in incognito... but compared to the cosplay, I was just some random girl with double buns and glitter on my face) without feeling outcast is something marvellous.


A lovely two-days-getaway for plenty of reasons: other than a pair of bunny ears, I came home loaded with inspiration, admiration and wanting to do stuff!

Memento Mori

 

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This post isn't happy. If you're easily influenced or impressionable I don't think you should read, but I need to spit this out.

It all comes from a nightmare I had some months ago. Which is weird as it is, because generally i do not remember my dreams.
To cut it short, it was a very sad dream: I was dying and I had all the time I wanted to think back to people I didn't have a chance to say goodbye to, and to all the things I would have loved to do but never had the chance to.
I woke up utterly depressed.
I avoided thinking about it for days, but I ended up one sunday thinking about it all, writing down the most depressing stuff I could think of. There were plenty.

Then I realized that that nightmare wasn't all bad.
I thought about baroque architecture and its two most used expressions: memento mori and horror vacui.
Horror vacui, just to give you my two cents about history of art, literally means being afraid of the emptiness, therefore the need, in baroque style, to fill up any little space with decorations (the fact that usually just the facade was this decorated, is something we're not interested in right now).
The other expression means "remember you have to die". Happy, isn't it? But this explains the abundance of skulls, skeletons, dance macabres & co, to make people remember to behave properly in this life, to be rewarded in the afterdeath.

Ok, it's all so interesting, now shall we discuss how all of this may help in these cases?
It may be useful because to me, this nightmare was some kind of alarm, it was my own memento mori, the classic life is short, live it now (yeah, they also had another latin writing tempus fugit, time runs).
Of course I know I've been lucky in having just a nightmare and nothing worst.
It's always: "untill you smash your head againts it, you don't grasp it really".

Ironically enough death is the only certainty we have in life, and to live lightheartedly we tend to forget or ignore it, but to be left astray when the grim one steps beside us -for any reason. So I've decided I'm going to eliminate the fear of voids by filling up my life with all those things I always wanted to do, by constantly staying in touch with people I love (and telling them I do).

Heck, I've hung a huge skull in my bedroom not to forget!
Now I'll quit depressing you, and I'm going to tell you a little bit about the ace of spades and the card XIII in tarots, the death. Ok, we're still ontopic!
BUT!
Did you know that the ace of spades is the highest card of the deck? The one that has the higher value.
And let's get this straight, usually, in deks, it's the better looking one!
In tarot deks, even though it looks and sounds scary, the card of Death usually has a positive meaning: a radical change, a new beginning, healing (ironical, uh?).
If we want to keep up with parallelisms the ace of spades in tarots is one of swords, and it is the pure power of intellect, intuition, innovation, mind, intelligence, creativity.
Powerful and rich messages (the name of the god of the underworld, Pluto, means richness, wealth) in disguise, maybe because it takes courage and bravery to trust your own mind and jump into change?
After all who stops is lost ;)

Let me share some links with you, to cheer you up after all this! I've found the first video thanks to Corinne, from Frock and Roll, the second one is quite unrelated, but it was a well needed and due quote!
 

I want to live now.