What movies do you watch over and over again?

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So…my sister and I have watched One Fine Day probably more times than I can count. For some reason it was just irresistible to us: a rainy New York day, Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney, adorable kids, hot fudge sundae at Serendipity and to top it off: a great soundtrack. It used to be a perfect cure for boredom whenever we found ourselves stuck indoors because of bad weather.

These days I save You’ve got Mail for those gloomy, rainy days and it really transports me to a magical New York City afternoon; wandering around Central Park, in a world full of infinite possibilities.

So yes, I’m a sucker for 90’s rom coms set in NYC. Sometimes they’re exactly what I’m in the mood for!

Successful Women

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I saw this on Instagram and I just had to share the message! Navigating life in the modern world requires a lot of self discipline. It’s hard to remain true to yourself and your goals when there’s so much external noise telling you who you should be. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. And then there’s the challenge of dealing with internal pressure and overcoming that critical inner voice that can sabotage and undermine us.

That’s all incredibly amplified on social media. The instant gratification, the illusion of perfection, the unattainable goals. That’s so damaging to our self love. So remember to take time to look into yourself and focus on your own goals. Turn off your phone every once in a while and set yourself free from all that unnecessary pressure. Don’t let that be the foundation of your happiness. You’re too busy becoming who you are.

Artwork by Florence Given

Travel Bucket List: an unlikely destination

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Looking at the picture above one could guess it’s from somewhere in Europe; in fact this stunning district, a conservative part of northwestern Pakistan is popular known as the Switzerland of the East. The birthplace of Malala Yousafzai, Pakistan’s Swat Valley, is absolutely breathtaking. A place known for its gorgeous sunsets and the calming sound of river rapids but that has also experienced a lot of misery over the past years.

Current Celebrity Crush

Okay, so this is a little bit silly but…on occasions I develop some celebrity crushes. It comes and goes rather quickly, and they’re quite random too, which I happen to find quite funny.

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I recently watched Call Me by Your Name and prior to that I couldn’t understand everyone’s obsession with Timothée Chalamet. But then I saw the movie and BAM it hit me! There’s just something about him, I don’t know what it is. Granted, the movie is a perfect setup to make you fall in love: it’s summer, a picturesque village in Italy, interesting people having intellectual discussions about books, everyone speaks three different languages, everything moves slowly; time seems to stand still and there’s beauty everywhere. And then there’s the fireplace scene. Oh boy, did I cry watching that. So subtle and delicate, and yet so powerful and heartbreaking. Argh, I can’t.

So then it became obvious to me: one cannot help developing a crush on Timothée Chalamet. And yesterday I read this piece on The New Yorker and it’s hilarious. Really, it happens to everyone!

Picture by Mika Labrague

A Tale of Bonn and Books

Last year, when my mom came to visit me, we took a train to Bonn for a day trip. I just love how Germans take trains everywhere! Although we didn’t know much about the city or what to expect, deep down we were just wishing we could experience all the beauty of the incredible cherry blossom avenue. But that was merely wishful thinking since they’re only around for a couple of weeks in April, therefore that was not going to happen. Maybe I’ll get to see them this year?

So we went for the next best thing, which happened to be the Beethoven House. Beethoven’s charming birthplace is a now a museum and a place where music lovers from all over the world come together to share ideas. Such a lovely concept!

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Lessons from Pretty in Pink

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It’s funny to see how often fashion cycles and recycles. Look at Andie Walsh: an ‘80s fashion trailblazer. Confident and insecure, confused, intense, angry and frustrated like a proper teenager. Her thrifting, matching, and sewing skills are present in every outfit she puts together. Her style is a representation of her personality and she was rocking the granny chic look long before you and I even heard about it.

Where do you go when you’re blue?

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Yesterday I was feeling a little bit blue, so in order to cheer myself up I chose the easiest way I could think of: watch something on netflix. If I’m feeling like that I usually go for a walk, but even though I was in no mood to sit through a movie, I put on Monster in law and I have to say…it did the trick! Five minutes into it and I’m already laughing. I was not expecting that reaction.

So bottom line: if you’re feeling blue, just give yourself permission to fully experience it. And if you need a walk, go for a walk. But if you can only muster enough strength to put on a silly movie to entertain you, that might be exactly what you need at that moment.

PS: Ruby is my favorite character. Her brutal honesty cracked me up!

VIENNA OLIVE