Book and Sword
  • Home
  • Simple living
  • Book Journal

simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
- Leonardo da Vinci

How to make your life feel like a Studio Ghibli film

10/25/2017

2 Comments

 
With everything that's been going on around in the world sometimes all we want is to get lost in a good book or a good film. Studio Ghibli films have an amazing ambience around them - they make you feel cozy and warm inside. Their world is so full of details you feel literally immersed in it for the duration of the movie.
Picture
And you have never seen a Studio Ghibli film then exit this post and go watch one.
Here are some names:
- Kiki's delivery service
- Spirited away
- My neighbor Totoro
- Howl's moving castle

So how can you feel as you living in a Studio Ghibli film? Obviously, we can't make spirits appear or do magic, but here are some things you can do that will make your life just bit more 'magical'. 
Picture
1. Go outside more!
Studio Ghibli always has the best landscapes - they are so vivid and magical and full of details. Obviously - this is an animated movie. But if you go outside more and start noticing your surroundings you might find things to be just as beautiful where you live.
​
The goal is to enjoy the scenery where you live - you have mountains? Great, go hiking, ocean - go swimming or walking on the beach. Sandy dunes? Sandy landscapes have a beauty on their own.


Picture
2. Pay more attention to small details.
This goes hand in hand with number one, but notice your surroundings. Stop and smell the roses. Take in the details. 
​You may see things in an ordinary place that you've never seen before. 
​
Also recently, seasons have been going on so fast - we barely notice the change. If you pay closer attention you will see those first read leaves, the first snow covering the ground and the very first leaf buds after the winter has ended. 

Picture
3. Do something you love and do it well. 
Obviously for 90% of people doing what they love and making money out of it- sadly is not possible. We often have to do other work to sustain ourselves financially, sometimes even abandoning our hobbies and things that make us happy. But it doesn't have to be so.

​We can still do things that make us happy, even if we don't get monetarily rewards out of them. Instead we get joy, and that if you ask me, counts for a lot. And who knows, if you keep doing what you love, keep persisting and getting better at it - the day might come that it will become your job. Your dream job. and then it won't feel like work anymore.  

Picture
4. Have beautiful and delicious tea-'parties'.
I don't know about you, but every time I see people having tea in Ghibli movie I drool. They take their tea drinking very seriously - they make it art.
​
So, have a tea party! By yourself if you must. There's just something magical when you have a perfect cup of tea, and some yummy desert on the side - and just take your time enjoying it. Autumn weather is perfect for tea-parties, the tea will make you warm and cozy.

Picture
5. Pay more attention to your food.
If Studio Ghibli tea portrayal doesn't make you drool, then their food surely will!
​
Slow down and enjoy your food - appreciate the color, taste and smell. Put down your phone. Just eat - and enjoy the experience. Studio Ghibli makes us feel magical - like time have stopped, by paying attention to every day details we can feel like that every time.

Picture
6. Don't lose your curiosity. 
Lastly - don't lose your curious spirit. Keep exploring, act like a tourist in your own city, go on adventures. 

Adulting is hard, but it doesn't always have to be. Give yourself time to go back to your inner child and let it run free. Believe me, you will be much happier. For children don't care about status, money and comparison. They don't worry, they just live in the moment. So let yourself just live - even if it's for 5 minutes a day. 


2 Comments

October 2017 recomendations (books, music, etc.)

10/9/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
October is my favorite month of the year (and I don't really like Halloween that much). There's just something so perfectly Autumnal in the air in the month of October. I love September and November too, but October just has magic around it. 


Here are some October recommendations to put you in a perfect Autumnal mood. I have some music, cartoon and book recommendations. 


Music: Last Shadow Puppets album The age of the understatement is the most perfect October music ever! It's got a spooky feel to it, it's deliciously dark and it's just so darn good! Give them a listen! You won't regret it (they are British, wink wink). It's actually Alex turner's second band (the frontman of Arctic Monkeys, which I ALSO recommend). 

Picture
Cartoon/movie: I know what you are thinking - it's easy, just watch any Halloween movie. Well, that's not what I am recommending here. I like to watch something that has perfect autumn feel and ambience. And Over The Garden Wall (mini series from Cartoon Network) is as perfect as it gets. I cannot recommend it enough. 
Picture
Also, I feel like Kiki's delivery service is perfect for a warm Autumn night. Who's better than the world's friendliest witch to keep you company in October? 
Picture
And if you are in the mood for something creepier, but still adorable you can watch The Corpse Bride. 
Picture
Also, October, and just Autumn in general puts me in the mood to watch Harry Potter films. I don't know if I will have time to do it though, but I definitely want to. 
Picture
Now I have some activities recommendations. Obviously there's pumpkin patches, hay rides, pole picking, drinking hot chocolate and stuff. All of that is great and lovely, but here are a few if you are not into all of the nature stuff. 
​


I feel like October is a perfect month to go antique-ing and looking for hidden treasures in small shops. 
Picture
Tea parties. Not like in Alice in wonderland, although if you are into that - why not? You just need a rabbit and a crazy hat and you are all set! It doesn't even have to be a party - just get some nice and delicate looking teacups, buy some biscuits and have a nice cup of tea with yourself. It will put you into a perfect Autumn mood right away, you will see.
Picture
And obviously, cozy up with a book! Here are just a few recommendations from me. 
  • The language of thorns  - short stories by Leigh Bardugo. Her bit creepy and delicious writing is a must read for this time of the year. Plus this book is filled with breathtaking illustrations. 
Picture

  • Jane Eyre  - to me Jane Eyre speaks of Autumn weather and dark secrets. I haven't read this myself yet, but I definitely will pretty soon.
Picture
Stalking Jack the Ripper - although I haven't enjoyed this as much as I hoped I would I will still recommend this as a perfect October read - especially if you are looking for something gory and bloody. 
Picture

  • The night circus - slow delicious writing, breathtaking descriptions - this book has magic flowing through its pages. Definitely a perfect book to curl up with a cup of tea. 
Picture
0 Comments

    Author

    ​A woman on a mission to simplify her life, while reading as many books and drinking as much coffee as possible.

    Ebates Coupons and Cash Back

    Archives

    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    April 2017

    GoodReads

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Simple living
  • Book Journal