Recently I bought the most gorgeous sweater from Essentiel, it’s indigo and grey striped and has this gorgeous patern within the stripes. Thats why I love Essentiel, the brand makes these stylish and dignified clothes that always have a nice little twist or dash of color in them!
So of course I took it with me on my trip to Germany. I went to a lovely little village called Bad Lippspringe.
I had such a nice time, we went walking in the beautiful forests, we went swimming and we visited Paderborn, the nearby city. We were strolling through the streets, exploring the town until we came to this beautiful church. The sun came shining through and I just had to have my picture taken!
Recently Taylor Swift released her music video for Wildest Dreams. I was already a big fan of the song when I first listened to it and the video totally enchanted me! The dreamy music accompanied by the magnificent images of the African wildlife while Swift channels her inner Elizabeth Taylor add up to an almost perfect music video.
And it made me think back to how I got to know Taylor. Immediately Love Story got stuck in my head just as it did when I was 14 years old, singing it at the top of my lungs while riding my bike through the countryside. The themes of ‘love‘, ‘being destined for each other’ and ‘the good girl that gets her prince after all‘, that where featured in Love Story and You Belong With Me, really spoke to the teenage me, and actually still do. Taylors songs where already at this point very relatable to me, something they would become more and more over the years.
Tay-Tay was also very populair in first days of high school. Something that had changed dramatically when I was 16. I still liked Taylor and her music, but my classmates on the other hand didn’t. She had become “un-cool” mainly because of her status as desperate girlfriend that didn’t have any discretion and trashed her exes in her songs. She had also started with her switch from country to pop, something my classmates didn’t appreciate. At this point she just released We AreNever Ever Getting Back Togheter, and this couldn’t have been more in sync with my situation at that time.
I remeber when we broke up, the first time, saying: “This is it, I’ve had enough”, ’cause like we hadn’t seen eachother in a month when you, said you, needed “space”, what?
Then you come around again and say: “Baby, I miss you and I swear I’m gonna change”. Trust me, remember how that lasted for a day
It was as if Taylor had taken the inspiration for this song directly from my life. It felt so good to be able to relate to someone when even I couldn’t really understand what had happened to me. I really loved the song and the video, but because of the funny guys in animal costumes T Swift was mocked in my highschool for also being immature and weird. I kept listening to her songs but never mentioned that I liked her.
If only back then I had listened better to the advice she gave in We Are Never Ever Getting Back Togheter, things would have been much easier later on, but then again I wouldn’t have been able to relate to Bad Blood in the way I do now.
Then came a period when Taylor took a less prominent place, both in my life and in my playlist. I don’t know how it happened, it just did.
But then there was Shake It Off. How I love this song. It has this catchy rhythm, fun lyrics and showed that Taylor didn’t care about any of the criticism she got.
I go on to many dates, but I can’t make them stay. At least that’s what people say.
But I keep cruising, can’t stop, won’t stop moving.
It’s like I got this music in my mind saying it’s gonna be alright!
It gave my love for Taylor an amazing boost. Her song showed that she loves herself for who she is and doesn’t care about the negative opinions of the haters. An amazing message to spread if you ask me. The video has this overload of happiness with all the people dancing, and it makes you want to jump out of your seat and start doing the craziest dance moves thinkable. It is the perfect song if you need to take your mind off of something and just want to dance it off!
So obviously my expectations were high for her next song and music video, and boy, Taylor didn’t let me down. Blank Space is an amazing song with an absolute brilliant music video. Taylor appears as a nouveaux richs girlfriend from hell, exactly like the media portrays her, and she plays her part to perfection. Receiving a male suiter at her castle, pretending to be the perfect girlfriend for a small amount of time and then turn into the -pardon my French- crazy ass bitch she “actualy” is. Phones get drowned, clothes get altered, paintings destroyed and cars get molested. And only a few moments after this suiter makes a hasty escape, the next is already knocking on the door. Absolutly hilarious if you ask me. By playing along with her desperate maneater status, she completely debunked how people made fun of her. All I can say is: Well done Taylor, well done.
These amazing songs convinced me to buy her fifth studio album 1989, and because I was/am in love with her music, I bought the deluxe edition.
I listened to her album on repeat for days. Immediate favorites where Welcome To New York, How You Get The Girl, All You Had To Do Was Stay and You Are In Love, but frankIy I love every song on her album.
As I mentioned before Bad Blood (the original version)is also one of my favorites, again because it was so relatable. Taylor said she had written the song about another female artist who “attempted to sabotage an entire concert tour by hiring people who worked for her”. It didn’t take the media long to pinpoint Katy Perry as this certain female celebrity because Katy had “stolen” backround dancers from Taylors worldtour. I personaly don’t know what I have to believe about this theory, but I think that the person who Taylor wrote this song about did a little more than just steal some dancers, this person must have always pretended to be kind and her friend before doing something really awfull.
Did you think we’d be fine? Still got scars on my back from your knife. So don’t think it’s in the past, these kind of wounds they last and they last. Now did you think it all through? All these things will catch up to you. Time can heal but this won’t. So if you’re comming my way, just don’t.
This song was so relatable to me because a similar thing had happened to me. People that I tought where my friends hurted me in a way that made me certain I’d never wanted anything with them to do again. Others couldn’t really give me advice how to deal with this nor understand how it felt and there was Taylor, again. Having gone through something, writing a song about it and helping me. And therefor I am so thankfull to her, for always helping me, for understanding, for making it all a little better. Thank you Taylor.
There is a saying that there is a Taylor Swift song for every mood and every situation, and I believe that completely. Because she makes music about the things that actualy happen to her and on such a personal level, she is extremly relatable and able to help a lot of people. This openness makes her vulnerable to criticism but for every person that says something bad about her there are 100 that love and suport her. Taylor has evolved as a humanbeing over the years and that change can clearly be seen in her music. Both she and her style have changed but some things have stayed the same: she never stoped believing in love, no matter what happened, she stayed true to herself by always making music about her life and because of this she not only helps herself but so many others. And for that I admire Taylor Swift. She is so strong and never gives up, no matter what. She is an example and rolemodel for realizing dreams, for never ever giving up and for making yourself and others a better and stronger person. Keep doing what you do Taylor, for you inspire me and so many others out there.
I will always be your fan, your admirer, your supporter and your friend.
First of all, I’m not in an actual book club but I love books and every month I’ll recomend a book here on my blog. Last month I read ‘One Day’ by David Nicholls.
When I bought this book I was looking for something about growing up and finding your place in this world, and this book is just perfect for that.
The story starts on the morning of july 15th 1988, Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley have just graduated from university and suprisingly they find themselves in Emma’s bed, kissing. They had never even talked to eachother before that day, and they don’t seem like a perfect match. It looks like they will never get romantically involved and that this is going to be a one-night stand, just one day of their lives.
Surprisingly they keep in touch. And the book visits them one day every year, on the anniversary of the day they met. Dexter starts traveling the world, while Emma wants to change it with her poetry and writing. They take on jobs, relationships come and go, they win, they lose, they evolve as human beings,… Only one thing always remains: their friendship.
This books is so nice and easy to read. It’s funny and intriguing and deep. It wil make you laugh and cry and break your heart in a million different pieces and you just keep wanting more and more of the story. It’s about the twists and turns of life, about loss, friendship and the everlasting power of love.
Favorite quote: “Do something to make a difference. Not necessarily in the whole entire world, just the little bit around you. Venture out with your passion and your electric typewriter, and work hard on… something. Change lives with art perhaps. Cherish your friends, honor your principles, live life passionately and to it’s fullest. Experience new things. Love and be loved, if you ever get that chance.”
I realy like this part because the beginning reoccurs on multiple times in the book. Emma says it to herself and (parts of it) to Dexter, as a gentle reminder to go out there and do something, anything, as long as it will do some good in this world.
That also why I loved it, you don’t have to change the entire world to make a difference, just make the tiny part around you a little bit better, and slowly the world will become a better place.
Work hard on something, something you love, do it with all your heart. Cherish your true friends, the ones that are always there for you, honor your principles, and live life passionately and to it’s fullest, enjoy every moment, don’t look back and make great things happen. Love others for who they are and let them fall in love with your true self.
This is one of those books I will always remember, it has conquered a little place in my heart.
I just came back form my holidays in Sicily and boy am I wishing I was still there! I spent 16 days on this amazing island and I did so many fun things that I couldn’t possibly write them all down. Instead I’ll give you a top 10 things I did while on holiday in Sicily (in no particular order). Enjoy!
Isola di Levanzo: if you are in Trapani I can highly recomend going to the picturesque Isola di Levanzo. There is a ferry that goes to two islands: one the highly popular Isola di Favignana, the other the lesser know, but equally beautiful, Isola di Levanzo. You can follow a trail that leads around the entire island, taking you to multiple small beaches. The water is the brightest blue, and the view is absolutly stunning. A rather important sidenote is that the water in Cala Fredo is indeed colder than the water in the others.
Noto: At the end of the 17th century there was an earthquake in the most southern corner of Sicily that destroyed many of the cities and villages there. As a result everything was rebuilt in the baroque style. Noto is very beautiful with its baroque facades, balconies and churches. Walking around the town is like walking in a different world. The town of Noto, and the others rebuild because of the earthquake, are UNESCO World Heritage. I found Noto the most outstanding, but if you prefer something smaller, I recomend going to Scicli.
Valle dei Templi: or Valley of the Temples is a large and well preserved archaeological site. The Valle dei Templi consists of 7 Greek temples, located on a hill in Agrigento. Some of the temples are even in excellent state, one only missing its roof and decorations. As you walk from temple to temple, you get a feeling of Ancient Greece’s power and magnificence. The park is even open at night and the temples are illuminated.
Etna: Mount Etna is the largest active vulcano in Europe. Located in the east of Sicily, the vulcano releases smoke every day, which is a good sign. The vulcano is perfect for hiking, you can take a cable ride and a tour with a jeep, but if you are more ambitious you can also climb all the way up. I highly recomend hiking on the Etna because it is just so unique -I mean like how many times do you get the chance to climb a vulcano- and the view is breathtaking. It’s important to bring a sweater or coat (even in summer because you are high up in the clouds) and good hiking shoes, although it is manageable with flipflops (tested and approved by a rather unprepared me)! In wintertime it’s also possible to go skiing on the vulcano.
La Pineta: Always wanted to have dinner on the beach? Than you must certainly go to La Pineta in Marinella Selinunte. During the day you can rent a sunbed and an umbrella and in the evening you can have dinner right next to the ocean, feet in the sand! They have very good spaghetti vongole and the lobster is delicious.
Taormina: is a lively town on the east coast of Sicily and there is just lots to do! You can visit the Greek theater that overlooks the sea and the Etna, you can go to the beach at Isola Bella, read a book in the gardens of Villa Comunale, go shopping on the Corso Umberto I, or just wander through the lovely streets and alleys and be amazed. Taormina is full of life!
Bam Bar: looking for a place to have breakfast, dessert or you just a have sweet tooth? Go to Bam Bar in Taormina and have a granita and brioche. Freshly made and highly popular with the locals (and the famous: even Ellen Pompeo, better known as Meredith Grey from Grey’s anatomy, is a fan). The flavours strawberry and peach are an amazing combo for granita. Sit on the terace and watch the day start.
Orecchio di Dionisio: or Ear of Dionysius is a giant limestone cave, that, thanks to it’s earlike shape, has extremely good acoustics. Legend says that a very powerfull Greek tyrant used this cave as a prison for his political opponents, so that whenever they would tried to plot his downfall he could hear every word they said. If you are lucky someone will sing. If you are brave you might be that someone.
Villa Romana del Casale: is a Roman villa build around the year 300 A.C. close to Piazza Armerina. The villa is an absolute must because it contains the most beautiful and largest collection of Roman mosaics in the world. The palace has a total of over 40 rooms of which the floors are covered with rich and complex mosaics of mythological scenes and Roman daily life. Personal favorites are The Great Hunt, The Residence of Arion, and The Bikini Girls mosaics.
San Vito Lo Capo: is perfect for those beach days. Lovely setting, sandy beach, clear water, do I need to say more? Swim, tan (never forget to apply sunscreen), gelato, repeat!
I hope I could secure a spot on your Bucket List for Sicily, I’m certainly going back! For more pictures, visit my instagram.
So throwback to januari this year: I was studying for my exams and I made a vow to myself (kind of like a New Year’s Resolution but a bit more serious), I was going to live life to its fullest and do more things that made me happy. I planned to do things I’ve been wanting to do for a long time, one of them was starting a blog.
Now, almost 8 months and another examperiod later, I’ve come to the realization that I still hadn’t started that blog I dreamed about, nor any of the other things I had planned to do.
That’s when I saw this picture and those words really spoke to me: “You should do what you said you were going to do that one time before you got all tired and then got super buzy and pretty much forgot… You really should”.
I immediately thought of that amazing blog I was going to create and realized that there was never going to be a perfect time to do it, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me anymore. I wasn’t going to wait any longer for my dreams to happen, from now on I am going to make them happen. Starting today.
And so should you, stop making excuses for why you can’t and start doing what makes you happy!
So that’s what my first blogpost is about chasing your dreams. I’ve finaly begun, and I will never stop, pinky promise.
Wearing:
Yours Truly by Casper 