This past Wednesday, my family and I had the pleasure of going to Chimayo (a tiny little town in northern New Mexico) and visiting the Chimayo Shrine, which was constructed around 1816. I had a lot of fun with the family, we rarely take road trips so this one was much appreciated.
While visiting, I channeled my inner rodeo girl and sort of sneaked in a picture on top of the buffalo, which I guess you're not supposed to do because the sculpture is in "holy" ground but I just couldn't resist! I blame it all on the motorcycle jacket...it brings out my naughty side...ha!

It really was such a lovely day. We had a picnic right next to the Chimayo church, the cool air was blowing, and it was so quiet and serene. I definitely miss it! On our way back we stopped by a camel "looking" rock formation. I can't remember the exact name of it, but there's a casino right in front named after it. People in New Mexico love casinos!

What I was wearing:

Motorcycle Jacket - Thrifted
Olive Green Sheer Blouse - Thrifted
Black tights- Target
Lace-up Combat Boots - Ross
Etienne Aigner Leather Bag - Thrifted

"Found At The Thrift Store" Is a new section in which I'll show you exactly that..what I found at the second hand store! There really isn't anything else to do in town except to go out and see what good deals you can find. I'm so happy I finally listened to my family and went to the stores with them because I usually hate shopping but now I'm obsessed!

Here's what I have found lately:

1. Egyptian Inspired Earrings - $0.49
2. Tribal Jacket - $5.99
3. Leaf Shaped Earrings - $1.40
4. Le Pliage LongChamp Handbag - $0.99
5. Impo Black Loafers - $4.99
6. Etienne Aigner Genuine Leather Bag - $1.40

I would like to introduce you to Chris and Kirk Bray, the men behind Billykirk. Billykirk is a company that produces incredible leather items and their pieces are truly made to transcend time. Lately, I have become obsessed with thrifting and that indescribable rush you get when you find something that is unique and timeless! When I found this video I was really able to relate because when you know you have something that other people might not have in exact detail, it becomes your "go-to" item and life gets just a little bit happier.
I also love this video because it reminded me of my brother and I, and how we united forces to create something we are truly passionate about. So yea, check it out peeps!

P.S.
I'm thinking of photographing all my finds at the thrift store and posting them so be on the look out for that!

[click on pictures to watch videos!]

Picture taken by - Eddie A.

Lately, I have been going crazy because of the lack of cultural experiences I've had in the past year. I really miss going to museums, concerts, plays, multicultural nights, etc. I'm still getting to know ABQ and what it has to offer so when I discovered this little piece of heaven earlier today I definitely felt as if nothing was missing in my life.

The following is an amazing mini concert put together by MADE, a project...or group of projects that are sure to leave you in awe! This is specific one is a combination of three artists: a singer, a violinist, and a painter. The combination of the three is astounding. Here's the actual description given by MADE:

"Moments with ALOE BLACC, Mihalj “MIKI” Kekenj & JAYBO – The Songs.

In the Spring of 2011, a composer, a painter and a singer came together at MADE to create a moment.

Aloe Blacc´s original music was interpreted by Miki and his string-quintet, who translated the soul & funk songs into classical music compositions.

The string-quintet version and the lyrics of Aloe’s song “I Need a Dollar” inspired Jaybo to create his own visual interpretation of the song as an art piece."

This mini-concert which features an amazing string-quintet with soulful R&B influences will make you feel jealous of every single person who was able to attend! Below, I will include the link to the first of six videos. Take the time to watch them all and I guarantee you will not be disappointed!

MOMENTS WITH ALOE BLACC, MIKI AND JAYBO: "TAKE ME BACK" PART 1/6

July is a very important month! Not only does it mark my birthday and when my family and I moved to New Mexico but it also now marks the beginning of a new monthly section on my blog which will highlight the most attractive men in the last 30 days! Now, by attractive I don't only mean the best looking or best dressed but men who are not afraid to show their intellectual side, hard working attributes, or breath-taking performances! Let's begin this month's list, shall we?

1. Ryan Gosling
Ryan had been pretty much under my radar until about a few weeks ago when he kept popping up on my Tumblr dashboard and I couldn't avoid seeing him in almost all night talk shows promoting his new movie "Stupid, Crazy, Love." Who knew Ryan Gosling would become a fashion icon? I certainly didn't see that one coming!
I was also able to watch him in the mystery thriller "All Good Things" along side Kirsten Dunst, and let me tell you...it was such an amazing story! His acting has definitely evolved since The Notebook and I just can't wait to see his upcoming films!

2. Marcus Mumford
This amazing singer has earned a spot on my list because of his musical qualities...and, of course, his good looks! I haven't been able to stop listening to Mumford and Sons' latest album "Sigh No More" ever since I was able to get my hands on it! The lyrics are just fantastic, so true, so warm, so touching. I also love watching Mumford and Sons performances on YouTube, I think if a band had to bring folk music back into the spotlight it definitely should be them.
Marcus also has a little blog on the band's website where he makes book recommendations to all the fans, he doesn't update often but the recommendations so far are really great! A man who likes to read for pleasure...now, that is a pleasure all on itself!

3. The Mast Brothers
Rich and Michael Mast are two brothers whose passion of chocolate made them take part in the fantastic world of chocolate making, a world in which they are now stars! I watched a video on Vimeo about three weeks ago about this fantastic family business and on how they make their vibrant chocolates. Whenever a person has such a passion for something in their lives, I think that makes them automatically attractive! Take a look at the video, I think you will fall in love with them and their chocolates too. Who wouldn't? Especially with those unique wrappings...they're just so out of the ordinary... I wish I could eat one everyday of the week!

4. Matthew Gray Gubler
So if you know me personally you most likely know that I have this thing for smart, witty, dorky, and awfully well dressed men and I think Matthew pretty much fits the description 99.999%.
The other day I was watching TV (which is something I hardly ever do anymore) and his show "Criminal Minds" came up...aaaah I love his character, it sort of reminds me of the male version of Bones! So that's why he deserves to be on this list....just for being fantastic all around!

5. Rupert Grint
This month my dad scored free tickets for the last Harry Potter movie ever! I said to myself "Italia, this is the end of an saga...a saga that has lasted for 10 years...you HAVE to go!" To be honest, I had never been an HP fan, I've never read the books or watched all the previous movies but what else is better than a free movie and did I mention that it was in 3D? My first 3D movie!!!
So my brother and I decided to go and to prepare I watched as many HP films as I could to sort of catch up on the story and oh my goodness, I fell in love with Ron, Rupert Grint's character. He is just so clueless all the time and loves to eat...he's just so funny! He also seems to have a bromance in real life with Tom Felton which makes him totally adorable!

6. Christopher Waltz
I've been a Christopher Waltz fan ever since Inglorious Basterds, in which he plays a scary nazi villain. This week I was watching the Green Hornet and I was just amazed at how well he can play any character...he makes the Green Hornet bearable along with Jay Chao who plays the sideckick Kato.
I absolutely love a good, down to earth actor who can make me enjoy any movie he is in!


Here you have it, the six men who have made a lasting impression in the past 30 days. Tune in next month to see who makes the list!

Rack Kingdom. That's the name of the newest adventure my brother and I have embarked on. We had been deciding for the last few months whether we wanted to do it or not but, at last, here it is...or well...a preview of it. We will be selling vintage clothing and bags/purses, so hopefully all of you will be able to find something you like.

I'm not going to lie, I am having a blast being part of this project! Can't wait to have it ready for you all!

I hope everyone is having a GREAT summer!

Much Love,

Italia.


picture taken by- Eddie A.

It's playlist time again! This collection is a bit different than any of the previous ones I've done in the sense that the sound is a bit more electronic, eclectic and has some soul and r&b references.
So yeah...here you have this month's collection of sounds. Open your ears and let the sound waves reach all areas of your brain, it will be a pretty pleasant experience I swear!






1. "They Don't Want" - Electric Wire Hustle

2. "After The Moment" - Craft Spells

3. "Wait & See" - Holy Ghost!

4. "Mykonos" - Fleet Foxes

5. "Living/Breathing" - Mesita

6. "Touch & Play" - Girl Is Töugh

7. "True Loves" - Hooray for Earth


P.S.
I have a question for you all! I've been thinking that this blog has pretty much turned into a "music" blog (in quotations because...well, I'm not a huge music connoisseur and this isn't professional or anything) and I do love sharing the music I find with you my 3 or 4 amazing readers! So the question is: Should I do a monthly playlist like this one? If I do it monthly they'll be a bit longer...i hope...so you have like the entire month to listen to it and enjoy. I was also thinking of doing a bi-monthly playlist but I'm not sure I feel up to the challenge just yet! So let me know what you think and let me know if you liked any of the music!

Much Love.

This.....



Turned into this....


So this week I received an incredible surprise! A good friend of mine sent me a Frida Kahlo bag in the mail, you cannot even begin to comprehend the extend of my happiness after seeing this bag in my hands! It was truly one of the nicest things anyone's ever done for me, and I was so ecstatic! The first picture is from a bag I had seen during a family trip to Santa Fe a few months ago, and I knew I just had to take a picture and label it as "the bag of my dreams." And then, this week I get an even more incredible version of the bag in the mail (as seen in picture number two)! I am in debt forever and always! *sigh...I can die a happy woman now that I have a Frida bag!!!!

In sort of an unrelated note...this bag got me thinking that it's almost that time of the year again...my birthday! I'll be turning 21 this year...I can't believe how fast time flies! I think the best gift this year would be spending it with good friends (such as the amazing sender of the Frida bag) but I will have to postpone that for a few months. In the mean time, I think I'll have a low key celebration with the family, maybe even go up to Santa Fe again. I'm excited, and no, not because I'll be able to buy alcohol and get into clubs...I'm actually excited to see what this new age brings. I hope many many many blessings!

Future Shorts has quickly become one of my favorite YouTube channels (apart from Blogotheque, of course). It features the absolute best of short films from all over the world, check them out if you have a chance...some of them are even better than complete feature films!
This right here is one of my favorites. It is called Apricot and it was written and directed in Australia by Ben Briand .
This short deals with memories of the past, of a first love, and of discovery of the present. The cinematography of it is astounding...everytime I watch it I think "best 10 minutes I have ever spent!"

Enjoy!

Wedding Preview: Noah and Rachael 8.14.10 from Ben Potter & Drew Barefoot on Vimeo.

The beauty of love not only touches the lives of those involved, but also of those around it. Love can transcend all barriers and even reach the lives of complete strangers, that is the case with this video. Love beautifies real life as well as film. I can honestly say that this is one of the most breath-taking wedding videos I have ever seen!

I will use this Frida Kahlo quote for personal use and change the word "wings" for "ears," because it is true that music can transport you to far-away places.

So, like I promised last week I have made a new playlist. This week's theme is all about traveling!!! I was pretty down the last couple of days because I want to travel and I want to meet different cultures and people and eat different kinds of food and pretty much just be able to say "Yeah, I've been there!" But, since it is impossible for me to do so right now, I decided to have a world traveling experience with music. In this playlist you will hear music from all over the world...well...mostly from the other side of the globe! Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelts because our journey is about to begin.


[click pictures to view videos]




Bizness by Tune-Yards: Our traveling starts in New England! Painted faces, feathers on uniforms, and amazing haircuts….is this how kids from the future will look like? I sure hope so! The Tune-Yards is a one-woman project that started back in 2009, by Merril Garbus. This video is seriously one of the coolest things I’ve seen. It actually reminds me of a story my mom told me of how when she was little and still in school. Her teacher would sometimes leave the classroom to do who knows what, and this one time, her teacher left and all chaos broke loose! All her classmates started clapping and dancing and, of course, her being my mom she stood on top of a desk and started dancing too! Now, you can imagine what came next...yep, the teacher returned and she got caught haha but not before she was able to fit in a little bit of fun in her curriculum. This song sort of encapsulates the same topic…if life is boring..why not stand up and make it your own?



What You Know by Two Door Cinema Club: We make our next stop in Ireland. This trio is everything I love about European indie bands which is that distinctive guitar/bass sound! If you haven’t noticed it, listen to any song by Foals and you will hear it! I got a hold of this song merely by accident (like most of my music) while getting asked some questions by a random person. So this band came up and I decided to look them up, first song I played on YouTube was exactly this one and that was it…I was hooked. I don’t think I even blinked once during the video, the choreography and editing are just incredible. You know what I like about these guys? I like that they can ACTUALLY sing! I was watching their live performance on “Later with Jools Holland” and they’re just as good as the recorded track!



Come Closer by Salma Agha: When I started looking up information about this song, I couldn’t believe it was recorded in 1984. Sure, it has that retro feel but…to be honest..which song doesn’t these days? So with this song we go all the way to Pakistan and India. Pakistan because Salma Agha was born in Pakistan and India because this is where she developed a very successful career as a singer and actress in the 80s. This song is the perfect combination of smooth, sex appeal and bilingual lyrics. I wonder if this song was very risqué in the 80s!




Tekitoi by Rashid Taha: Now, from India we move over to France. Les Jeunes de Paris is a new skit from SNL, Miley Cyrus and Emma Stone have both played the part of French teens in a café who suddenly get into a crazy French stand-off! This song was actually featured in the episode hosted by Miley Cyrus (don’t ask me why I as watching) and it was the most memorable part of the night. Rashid Taha is the man behind the masterpiece. He was born in Algeria but he and his family immigrated to France in the late 60s. So as you can see, that probably caused the inspiration behind the combination of French lyrics with rustic sounds.




Bombay by El Guincho : Our musical traveling now takes us to Spain, Ole…okay that was cheesy, but this song has nothing cheesy about it! In fact, one of the most original things about this video is the PBS-like introduction at the beginning, where it talks about "the cosmos...what is or what will be." I decided to include this song in this compilation because a “latin-based” song is a MUST in everyone’s iPod, especially a song one like this one! I was extremely surprised when I found El Guincho’s album at my local library (one of the reason why I heart Albuquerque). Just by listening to his music you would never think he is from Spain, he has more of a South-America type of vibe that includes marimbas, drums, and that electronic sound that a lot of new artist from Chile are starting to use. WARNING: this video has moderate nudity in it and sexual references, so…don’t watch it at school or anywhere people might gasp!



El Blu del Ping Pong by Rita Indiana Y Los Misterios: few years back we saw Ivy Queen opening the road for other women in the urban contemporary style, now the turn belongs to Rita Indiana Y Los Misterios. This artist from the Dominican Republic has been opening the doors for other artists in the cumbia/merengue rock style and has also reached the American public and shown that a woman can make it BIG! Rita Indiana caused quite a stir in her country when she admitted to being homosexual, so you see...any woman who can fight her way through all of society's taboos and make amazing music is a Goddess in my book! This song is one of my favorites from her album El Juidero, if you have a chance to listen to all of it I strongly recommend you to do so. She mixes a lot of common latin beats in cumbia, merengue and even a little bit of reggeatton with modern rock rythms.




Sun Hands by Local Natives: All journeys must end, and what a better place to end up than sunny California, home of the Local Natives. I must truly thank my brother for introducing me to this band, especially this song. I swear, every time I listen to this song I go into this trance-like state where I close my eyes and just let my body move! it is just perfect, the drums, the lyrics, the singing…everything! The Local Natives remind me of a more up-beat version of the Fleet Foxes (another band that you have to check out!). They do not have an official video for this song yet, which turned out to be great because you can feel their energy when they’re playing live, they REALLY feel their music which is something all great artists must do but sadly only a few actually do!

The title of this entry explains it all! I've been feeling lucky within the past 24 hours because I've discovered many songs that I cannot stop listening to! I feel like this blog has turned into "hey check this song out, hey check this band out" but I can't help it....I love sharing music with you all. So I've started making another compilation of music that I'll be posting soon, so get your ears ready!

In the mean time...I don't know...check out my Tumblr or just hang in there haha! And also, in the meantime, I'll catch up on some letter writing, movie watching, or page flipping that I've been neglecting lately!

-Italia.

...y mas con canciones como esta?

via Club Fonograma.

I'm a Cyborg, But that's OK, is an amazing North Korean film directed and written by Chan-wook Park, starring Su-jeong Lim and Rain (who you might recognize from Ninja Assassin).
North Korea is starting to be called "the new Hollywood" because of it's great cinematography, and I'm a Cyborg, But that's OK is the prime example of that. This movie introduces us to the story of Young-goon (Su-jeong Lim), a girl who suffers a traumatic experience after her grandmother is sent to a psychiatric hospital for believing she is a mouse. After this, Young-goon soon comes to an important self-realization: she is not completely human! She believes is also a cyborg, or a robot as she explains to her mother, a robot who is desperately trying to find the purpose for her existence.
After Young-goons confession to her mother, she has no other option than to be sent to a psychiatric hospital, where the rest of the story takes place. In the hospital, goon meets a peculiar character...Park Il-sun (Rain) who is one of the patients there. He has admitted himself at the hospital four times in the past five years after not being able to cope with his schizophrenia. He also believes he can steal essential parts of a soul...kindness, sympathy, ping-pong skills, a perfect voice, and even things like socks that can make you fly. Together, Young-goon and Park Il-sun take us through an amazing journey of how to cope with emotional and psychological issues while, at the same time, making us laugh and cry at their silliness.

If you have seen...and loved Amelie, and The Science of Sleep then you will definitely like this out of the ordinary quirky story of survival. You will be able to find the entire film on Youtube, it is divided into eleven 10 minute parts that make it well worth your while! You can also watch the trailer by clicking on the picture above. I really really really hope you enjoy this film, because it instantly became one of my favorite films ever!

I noticed that my blog has turned into this open window to my iTunes library, so I decided it was time to share once again some of the songs that have been on constant re-play for the past few weeks.

There is A LOT of variety in this playlist, some of the artist you might already know and some of them you might not.
I've listed the track's name and artist down below as long with a brief description. So if you have nothing better to do, or you have a little bit of free time give them a listen!

Click on pictures to watch the videos!!!!!






1. Adele- "Love Song"
Adele is an amazing girl from London who is only 23 but has the experience and artistic quality of someone twice her age. I've had the opportunity to listen to her newest album titled 21 and her lyrics are simple incredible. The compilation starts with this amazing cover, one that makes us remember why this song was so good in the first place. Love song is the perfect song for Adele's voice and character...it truly makes you love every second of it!

2. Foals - "Blue Blood"
Another great track from a band that is also from England. This is definitely a band that you appreciate more and more as years pass; it was in late 2008 that my fascination for Foals began and now, almost three years later their music still holds a special place with me. Blue Blood is one of their best tracks, and the video is equally great...if you are not amazed by the kid in the video and his awesome moves then I don't know what will "wow ya"

3. Geographer - "Original Sin"
Geographer made me believe in love at first sight. I discovered this trio from San Francisco, CA almost a year ago by pure accident and I have not been able to stop listening to this song ever since. You might recognize the lead singer from one of my posts from a few months ago, and whether it is him singing acoustically or with his band the effect is the same: breath-taking.

4. Devendra Banhart - "Love"
The Venezuelan-born Banhart has a very distinct style of music, his isn't like any other I've ever heard before. His music has very earthbound sounds, the lyrics are simple yet meticulously drafted, and his voice creates more of a whisper melody that reaches those hidden places in your brain. This video here is one of his latest, starring him and his girlfriend for a company that makes eye/sunglasses. The song is in Spanish, the melody resembles a bossa nova style , and the photography in the video is stunning....and it works because I now want to buy a pair of sun glasses myself, they ones shown here are just fantastic. (warning: the video is somewhat graphic so it might not be a good idea to watch it at school or in front of parents hahaha)

5. The Temper Trap - "Love Lost"
This Australian band gained stardom due to their single called sweet disposition, which was featured twice in the film 500 days of summer, and since then we've been hearing their songs in commercials, movies, and the radio. One of their latest songs is precisely this one "Love Lost" a song about how sometimes we're ready for love but love is not ready for us and vice-versa. I love the video, it seems very....British! Plus, who doesn't love watching people run in the rain?

6. BlakRoc - "Ain't Nothing Like You"
BlakRoc is the a project created by the now super famous band The Black Keys (whom I've been obsessed with for the last couple of months) in collaboration with various hip-hop and r&b artists like Mos Def and Jim Jones, who are featured in this song. This was recommended to me by a good friend who is a great music connoisseur and who has a very ample music library (I first listened to the temper trap's "love lost" song after he posted it on his page which only makes him more awesome!). From the moment I first heard this song I was instantly hooked. I think this makes a great end for what I think was a fabulous playlist! Yes, I just said fabulous ha!
This is the sort of the song that starts playing after the movie credits start rolling, a song that leaves you happy and feeling good.




So there you have it! I hope you get to listen to these amazing songs and actually like them. If not, then you deserve a thumbs up for at least being adventurous!

It seems like I haven't been keeping up with blogger lately, sorry about that...to that one or two of you who read it. I'll try to write more often from now on.

I've been thinking about a lot of things lately, mostly about the past. That stubborn past who doesn't let you advance to your future. I can't help to think about all the people who I wish were with me right now, those who I've felt some type of connection with along my short path through this life. I think about them all the time and wonder if they do the same. And sometimes I really get angry with myself because I don't want to keep thinking about the things that "were." I know very deeply within me that things won't ever be the same; characters change, roads change, minds change...that's just how it is...and I'm fine with that, I just wish I didn't miss a lot of things. I do realize, however, that I'm extremely lucky to miss people and things, because it means that I've done something right along the way.


Something kind of funny happened yesterday. I was out in the town with my family and my dad grabbed one of those free magazines, the ones who aren't really magazines but more of advertisements. In it, I found the "horoscope" section and started reading my moms out loud so she could hear hers; we've always sort of believed in them...hoping the good ones are actually true. Anyways, I read hers and then read mine in silence and something in it fit perfectly with what I'm going through. It vaguely ran along the lines of "You've got to let go of the past, it isn't what you represent anymore...you've got to move on" And so, that was the perfect push that I needed to know that I need to start letting go of what I can't hold on to anymore. I need to start looking ahead into my new life and meet with excitement whatever it is to come, while keeping a place in my heart for all those who are truly meant to be there.

So, yeah....I guess this was the sort of emotional post I hadn't done in quite a while but I needed to do it.

I hope all of you are doing well, the weekend's coming up so that's something to look foward to!

This past week has been hectic. I've packed, moved, and finished what was the toughest seven months of my life. I now find myself in a new apartment with the biggest yard I have ever had and the idea of creating a little garden is very persistent in my mind. Things feel calmer, less agonizing, and much more peaceful, I like this...very, very much.

With this new change a new adventure has begun, I've decided to appreciate all pretty things in life...photography being one of them. So I have created a Tumblr account which depicts amazing photography as well as my personal interests. In it you will find the things I love most like Mexico City, birds, nature, traveling, gardens, food, and much much more. Check it out...if you dare. ha!


Pajarito Del Amor (click if you wish to visit my tumblr page)

Is there such thing as too much of Carla Morrison? I don't think so, no way Jose! hahaha..
This time, the always incredible, Blogotheque brings us a beautiful rendition of Carla's talent from the amazing Mexico City.

Wes Anderson's films are some of the finest the world of cinema has to offer. It all started when I watched The Royal Tenenbaums back in June of last year, a movie a bout a dysfunctional family of geniuses that sometimes aren't the brightest of people. The Royal Tenenbaums captured my attention not just because of the story, but because each frame was carefully drafted to evoke a feeling, the feeling you get when you read a book and imagine every sentence and every page in your own mind. Each scene, the dialogue, the stories...are all unique. What is also unique is that Anderson has gather a "super team" of actors to work in all of his movies; if you watch them you will find in them people like Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Luke and Owen Wilson.

His other films include:
Bottle Rocket
Rushmore
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
The Darjeeling Limited
Fantastic Mr. Fox.

So far I've seen all except Steve Zissou. His films share the quirky qualities of fantasy, pain, heartache, and hapiness. Once you have watched one of his films, you will recognize the other instantly. I highly recommend them, Anderson is simply the best at what he does.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of watching Motorcycle Diaries, a story about the early live of Ernesto "Che" Guevara. To be honest, I really don't know much about his life or why he is so controversial, which is a little embarrassing considering he is an important figure in Latin America's political movements. But, with all of that aside, I wanted to talk about the impact such movie had on me.
Motorcycle Diaries narrates the story of "Che" during his early twenties, more specifically about the trip he took with his best friend all around South America and all the adventures they encountered during such trip. The story is moving, filled with passion, adventure, love, and courage, it moved me because I could identify with Ernesto and his discovery of real life and suffering outside of Argentina. I can identify because, in some way or another, I want the same things he wanted during his early years.
I, myself, have undergone that discovery of an "outside world." I have been exposed to the suffering of the world, to injustices, to the fact that in this life nothing is ever that easy. This exposure has made me think that maybe I was put into this world to help others, I so desperately wish I could go to medical school and be able to use that knowledge to help people (I find this a bit funny since Ernesto was a medical student, and abandoned school in order to chase his dream).
I also want to travel, I want to be able to know far beyond places, to meet people, to have adventures, to be able to meet different cultures, different traditions, different souls! Right now, I feel confined in a small place, I feel like a bird in a golden cage...I know I can go far, very far...but certain circumstances prohibit me from doing so, and I hate those circumstances with all my heart.
I desperately want to become a doctor, to build clinics around the world, to help those who need it the most. For some reason, I feel like this is my purpose in life...I've always felt like it is. Maybe the fact that my parents have undergone extraordinary obstacles to make sure I have a better live, and getting away from my goals would be like making fun of everything they've had to go through. That motivates me, it gives me the courage to tell myself that no matter how difficult live may become I can still find a way to break that cage...to turn into the person I want to be...to be able to leave a footprint in this world, even if the footprint disappears almost immediately... the important thing is to make it.

So last week, thanks to my wonderful brother, I was able to get my library card...you can't imagine how excited I've been for the past few days! Now that I'm taking a semester off of school, I can finally read things for pleasure and not because they're on the syllabus ha! And plus, I can check out movies and CD's, and reserve stuff so that I don't have to drive all around town. I swear, the library is just a gift from above for us knowledge-yearning humans!I must admit though, my town's libraries are quite small, and often don't have what you're looking for but sometimes it turns out for the better because you end up finding many other wonderful things you don't even expect. Sorry, I'm in full "dork mode" right now...talking about the library is exciting haha!

So for the past week I've been living in pleasure island, I've been able to check out many books and my top three are shown above, and I will elaborate more on them.

(from left to right)

1. Of Love and Evil by Anne Rice: This is the first book that I finished reading just a couple of days ago and absolutely loved. It deals with the live of Toby O'Dare, an assassin who is visited by an Angel named Malchiah, and is asked to do the work God while traveling to the past. This book is extraordinary in the sense that it deals with religion (and in such a beautiful way!) and also includes a little bit of sci-fi. You don't really have to be catholic to enjoy this book, just read it with an open mind. This is the second book of the series, which I had no idea existed so now I'm going to read the first book called "Angel Time."
2. The Great Perhaps by Joe Meno: I will begin to read this book tonight so in the meantime I will include a description from Amazon- "Meno (Hairstyles of the Damned) continues to employ his keen observations of human nature, this time exploring the tumultuous landscapes of a contemporary Chicago family. The narrative rotates between members of the Casper family, giving each time and space to dig into their respective quirks. Jonathan, the father, is a scientist caught in a quest for a prehistoric squid and is prone to seizures at the sight of clouds. Madeline, Jonathan's wife, also a scientist, studies the behavior of her murderous lab pigeons and is distressed by the growing distance between family members: elder daughter Amelia is a teenage anticapitalist crusader already becoming weary of the fight; youngest daughter Thisbe's desire to find God is met with much concern from her atheist parents; grandfather Henry's sole desire is to make himself disappear. As the family's preoccupations rattle on and bang up against one another, the recently begun war in Iraq provides background noise and another dimension to the intricate and intimate tale. Meno's handle on the written word is fresh and inviting, conjuring a story that delves deeply into the human heart." (May)
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3. Bursts: The Hidden Pattern Behind Everything We Do by Albert-László Barabási: Once again, I will start reading this one soon...but I'll leave you with the review (from amazon) that made me want to read it - "Albert-László Barabási, already the world's preeminent researcher on the science of networks, describes his work on this profound mystery in Bursts, a stunningly original investigation into human behavior. His approach relies on the way our lives have become digital. Mobile phones, the Internet, and e-mail have made human activities more accessible to quantitative analysis, turning our society into a huge research laboratory. All those electronic trails of time- stamped texts, voice mails, and searches add up to a previously unavailable massive data set that tracks our movements, our decisions, our lives. Analysis of these trails is offering deep insights into the rhythm of how we do everything. His finding? We work and fight and play in short flourishes of activity followed by next to nothing. Our daily pattern isn't random, it's "bursty." Bursts uncovers an astonishing deep order in our actions that makes us far more predictable than we like to think."

I'll let you all know what I thought of these books as soon as I finish them!

You know what they say, there's a heaven on Earth! Who could resist to all the good things life has to offer: the sea, a good book, great conversations, chocolate, flowers, soothing music...anything that makes you sigh, relax, and/or feel like the world is yours.
There are a lot of things that make up my own little heaven (including those above, of course). For me, my heaven consists of my family, comfortable clothes, taking a nap in the middle of the day, home-made food, handwritten letters that arrive in the mail, and many many other things!
Also, in my list of heavenly things:

• Gelato
• French toasts (and pancakes)
• Tea...oh goodness...do I love a good cup of tea, which in my opinion kicks coffee in the butt!
• Museums- there's nothing more relaxing than an afternoon of looking into other people's minds.
  

What makes up your heaven on Earth?

Sadly, I don’t think anyone has had or felt anything like that about me? Not yet anyway"

-Megan [from carouselinparis.tumblr.com]



I find this extraordinarily relateable, the part about hearing a song and thinking of someone...which is something almost unbearable.

"All of this can be broken...all of this can be broken. Hold your devil by his spoke and spin him to the ground."

Beautiful song by Laura Marling. Hypnotizing.

The reward to giving someone a chance: a new addition to my list of "favorite songs." To tell you the truth, I had been quite hesitant to give Mumford & Sons a listen...I had heard one of their songs a few months back, which really didn't do anything for me, but I then found this little treasure and I am now a believer!!! Incredible, the things you will love after just opening your mind to new things and letting it all in like a wave of cool and cleansing. "The Cave" by Mumford and Sons is the highlight of my week...listen to it and it might just be yours as well.

P.S.

You know what you have to do if you want to listen to it...click on the picture above and it will take you right to their fantastic video!

...this



...and this.