Meeting the Author of my Favorite Book: Markus Zusak

Hello, everyone!

Happy belated Easter! I had a wonderful day celebrating with my family as we do each year. I hope that you all enjoyed the holiday as well!

Today I am so excited to share with you an experience that I had just a few weekends ago. I met the author of my favorite book: Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief.

I don't know if you beautiful readers have read this novel, but if you haven't I am just going to say that this is the kind of work that can be life-changing to read. It certainly changed my life.

In writing this novel, Mr. Zusak created a masterpiece. This book divulges into the very essence of the human soul by examining the life of a young, German girl during the Second World War. It is told through the eyes of an uncharacteristic narrator: Death. I do not want to go too much into summary, as I don't want to spoil anything. All I want to say is if you have not read this book, you are definitely missing out. This is a must-read.

Anyway, back to the point. It is the 10th anniversary of this book's release, and Mr. Zusak was doing a tour across the United States in celebration. He came to the DC area, and I jumped on the opportunity immediately. My mother and I drove the 40 minutes it took to arrive at the school, and what occurred in the next few hours I will be sure to always remember.

Before he signed books, Mr. Zusak gave a presentation on some of his stylistic and structural choices regarding the book. Not only was he very kind and open to any questions and constructive feedback, but he was also extremely funny. Watching him speak on the stage was completely magical. When you are watching the author of a piece that impacted you as deeply as The Book Thief  impacted me, one can only describe the experience as otherworldly. 

After he finished speaking, Mr. Zusak sat down to sign books. The wait itself was about an hour and a half, but we met some very kind people in line which made the whole experience even better. When it was my turn to finally see and speak to Mr Zusak, I started to shake. Let me tell you, I was terrified. It's a very surreal experience to finally see and stand in front of someone who has had such a major impact on your life. I was shaking so badly that my pictures are unfortunately terrible.

The fact of the matter is that I was able to say exactly what I needed to say after a brief hiatus in which I froze. I made a joke, and he laughed. Then I thanked him. I thanked him for creating a work so seemingly real that I felt myself in the town in which it took place. I thanked him for creating characters with such depth that they made me cry for hours after I finished the novel. And finally I thanked him for changing my view of the world.

Then he looked up and smiled. That moment of solidified eye contact makes me cry a little reflecting on it. He thanked me for reading the book and keeping the characters alive. That in and of itself is something that I will never ever forget. 

All in all, this day definitely goes down as one of the best so far. I don't know if I will ever stumble across paths with Mr. Zusak again, but this whole experience was perfect. I couldn't ask for anything better.

Do you guys have a favorite author?

Have you met him/her?

Have you read The Book Thief?

I hope that everyone has a fantastic beginning of the week! Cheers xx

New York, New York

Hello, everyone!

For the past week I have been on Spring break, and it has been absolutely wonderful. It's amazing what you can fit into a week if you plan everything out beforehand. I could go on and on about everything that I did, but two of the places I went stand out the most. Today I'm going to write about New York City, but another day I will tell you all about meeting the author of my favorite book in DC.

New York City, where to begin? I have been to NYC more times than I can count. My parents were firm believers in making sure that we were cultured as children, and as a result we went to many, many different places. NYC has so many things to see and do (for adults and children), so it is definitely one of my favorite cities.

This time, I went to New York with two of my friends who had never been before. I made the critical mistake of deciding to take the train up on St. Patrick's Day, which brings an additional two million people into the city. It was a very interesting experience.

We managed to see the Empire State Building, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, a bit of Central Park, the New York Public Library, and lots of shops on 5th Avenue. The problem that arose was that 5th Avenue was blocked off because of the St. Patrick's Day Parade, and as a result it was very difficult to navigate. So if you plan on showing people around, don't go to NYC on a big holiday!

Here are some pictures:

One day I would love to take a historical tour around the city and see some of the old bars and mid-century places that would have been popular at the time. I think that the history of big cities is particularly fascinating because so, so many people have passed through these areas over the years. It's really incredible to think about.

That's all I have for now. I have a lot of homework to catch up on before tomorrow. I hope everyone is doing well!

Have you ever been to New York City? What did you think of it?

Cheers. xx

Nancy Reagan: A Style Tribute

Good morning!

Yesterday, Nancy Reagan passed away at the age of 94. She was a wonderful woman who definitely embodied the spirit of America. As a tribute to her, I am going to go through some of my favorite outfits that she wore over the years. May her beautiful soul now rest happily in peace.

Source: Today

It is a well-known fact that Ms. Reagan loved to wear red, and she definitely wore it well! This red lace dress is so classically beautiful and flattering in every possible way.

Source: Ronald Reagan Library

Look closely at the detailing on this white dress. Simply exquisite. 

Source: Vanity Fair

I love this outfit because it is fairly casual, yet Ms. Reagan still looks extremely put together. Also, the colors navy and white just play with each other so perfectly. 

Source: New York Times

Accessorizing at its finest. Ms. Reagan did a spectacular job making a rather simple outfit interesting and inspiring by adding a hat, scarf, necklaces, and chic flats. 

And to conclude with one of my favorites:

Source: Buzzfeed

This dress is an absolute stunner. The red already captures your eyes, and then the white pattern on the dress makes your eye linger for that extra second. I also love the subtle slit in the front and the play with the off-shoulder look. What an elegant pick by Ms. Reagan.

Nancy was a beautiful woman inside and out. We are lucky to have been graced with her lovely presence for the 94 years that she was with us. Now she can happily rest alongside her beloved for eternity.

I hope everyone is having a good start to the week! 

Early Signs of Spring

Hello, everyone.

I've come to terms with the fact that this semester is never going to stop being busy. As much as I would love to continue posting here regularly, I simply cannot find the time. Thus, I will definitely post when I do have time, as writing is something that I take extreme comfort in.

It is a beautiful day here in Maryland, just around 65 degrees. This temperature is both a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing because now I can explore the beauty of nature without having to worry about being too cold. However, I also do not feel like doing any of my schoolwork, which is a definite issue.

That being said, today I went to Patapsco State Park with one of my best friends. I like going to parks with people, but I also don't mind going by myself. There is something very beautiful in the bonds that you can feel with nature and the universe by just being outside. Next time you go to the park, close your eyes and just listen to the stillness of everything around you. It's really quite moving.

We took some pictures, although these pictures cannot even begin to accurately describe how lovely everything is today.

In the upcoming weeks, I look forward to watching everything come to life with color. Isn't it amazing how in the course of a few weeks, everything all of a sudden looks invigorated and renewed?

What do you like to do during the springtime? I hope everyone is having a lovely last few days of February! Cheers. 

The Bonds Between People

Good Morning, lovelies!

I have been busy this weekend coaching my volleyball team in the nation's capital, so my apologies for not getting this post off yesterday. I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day.

In the spirit of love, I am going to post a few of my recent favorite photographs capturing intimate moments amongst people. That is one of my favorite things about photography; it can manage to capture quite beautiful raw moments when used at the right times.

From Wordpress

From Pinterest

From Wikimedia

From Pinterest

From Pinterest

Source: Time

I think that there is something really beautiful in the different types of bonds we share with people. Love isn't just between partners; it's between family, friends, pets, etc. If you are ever feeling lonely or afraid, remember that there is someone around who loves you and cares deeply for you! I think in the haste of modern day society, we can forget how many people are supporting us and want us to succeed. Take time today to write to someone you care about; it feels wonderful, and you will make someone's day!

I hope everyone is having a fabulous Monday! Cheers.

Favorite Men's Clothing Pieces Part 2

Good Morning!

School this semester is really going to be a challenge. I have perhaps overloaded my plate, but being a type A personality, that doesn't mean too much to me. I will find time for each individual challenge; as a result, I really have to focus on time management. Thus, I will try to make my goal to post on here at least once a week on the weekends.

Today I am going to write more about what I personally like in men's clothing. My last post on menswear covered a little bit about what I find aesthetically pleasing, but I would like to expand upon it a little more here.

Suspenders

Source: Pinterest

Source: Urbasm

I absolutely adore the look of suspenders on a man. As you can probably tell by the bottom picture, suspenders are making a bit of a revival today. Though they are still seen as being "hipster" or "edgy", I love that they are starting to resurface in modern fashion. They instantly add a bit of class to any outfit.

The Pocket Square

Source: Pinterest

Source: Alpha Male Lifestyle

The pocket square is another old school accessory that has been making it's way back into mainstream fashion. It never really died completely, but it is usually seen exclusively at formal events and in formal settings. Maybe one doesn't want to use it for practical purposes due to sanitation or other factors, but it is definitely lovely from a fashion perspective.

The Smoking Jacket

The Trad Blog

Dolce & Gabbana

Now this is something that is extremely outdated, mostly because now we know all of the terrible things that smoking does to your body. Personally, I find it a shame that men don't wear these much anymore, mainly because of how handsome and sharp they look. Maybe we can try to bring them back without the smoking aspect.

And lastly....

Sweater Vests

Source: Pinterest

Source: BBC

Ah, the sweater vest. What a fantastic piece of clothing, and how very underappreciated it is. I think that this is one of the easiest ways to look put together but casual at the same time. It is definitely one of my favorite pieces to see any gentleman wearing.

Now that I've stated more about what pieces I like in men's fashion, I want to hear your thoughts! What do you like aesthetically?

I hope everyone is having a lovely February thus far! Cheers.

Passion: F.C. Bayern München

Guten Tag!

School resumed for me on Thursday after several snowy days of relaxing and pondering life. While I had time to think, I had a terrible realization. I have never blogged about one of my life's passions: the football club Bayern München!

I believe that the main reason that I have never blogged about this is because it does not quite fit in with my blog's hierarching theme. In general, I try to write a lot about topics and things I like that existed during the 1920's-the 1960's. Granted, Bayern was founded in 1900. However, I follow the results of their current team (there's nothing too vintage about that). Nonetheless, I love this team too much to not dedicate a blog post to it.

At the center of it all is this man:

Picture from Eurosport

Thomas Müller

I think that I first started relating to Thomas when I watched an interview with him off the pitch; he is downright hilarious. The jokester part of his personality made me want to watch his team (Bayern) more on the pitch to see how they played. Funny thing is, on the pitch, he means serious business. Müller is an incredibly talented player, and I think that we can all learn a thing or two from his work ethic.

Once I started watching Bayern play, I couldn't stop. It became a sort of obsession, but one that I am in control of. I watch all of their games, and I enjoy watching their interviews and practices when they are not officially playing. But most of all, I love the community of people that I have met through watching Bayern.

There is something really beautiful about watching your favorite team play with a group of people who can equally appreciate the emotions you are experiencing. The adrenaline spike when the ball hits the back of the net. The heavy breathing as the game goes into overtime. The rush of anguish when you lose by one goal. For those ninety minutes of regular time, you're all one entity. I wouldn't have it any other way.

To close, I'm not going to pester you with game footage or anything like that. Instead, I am going to leave you with a wonderful video of the Bayern men:

If you have a chance, try to catch a Bayern game! They are really fun to watch; you won't be disappointed! We played 1899 Hoffenheim today and won 2-0! Your next chance to catch a game is on Saturday; we play Bayer 04 Leverkusen!

Do you watch football? What team do you root for?

Source: Mirror