Books and Madness

My books finally came!
I had ordered “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: A Pop-up Adaptation” and Susanna Kaysen’s “Girl, Interrupted”. First off the new book about Alice’s adventures in Wonderland:

The pages open up as they are turned and they are magnificent. It is an adventure to turn another page and look what it will hold for you.

I have always been interested in the story of Alice and it’s so peculiar and one of it’s kind. The memorable characters and their own quirks - Mad Hatter, Red Queen, Cheshire Cat.

Here’s some pictures from the book itself:

 Then comes “Girl, Interrupted” written by Susanna Kaysen. The book is based on true events and Susanna Kaysen spend almost two years in a mental ward and wrote a book about it. It contains real documents written during her stay in the mental hospital and also a deep text about life inside of a mental hospital, its patients and everything related to it. It was very interesting. From the very start of the book I read over 40 pages at once I started to read it - it was that catching. Although it’s a hard subject there’s spots where you can really laugh too. I was feeling very sad as I read on the book because it’s only 168 pages long and page by page I’m going towards the end.

I was so surprised about how much the book differed from the movie (which is one of my favourite movies) but that doesn’t mean that neither one of them was bad in any way. The book is interesting but the movie is needed to be made by the Hollywood style so of course it’s different. Although I love Lisa in the movie (played by Angelina Jolie), after reading the book I started to feel that there could have been much more to that character. Or maybe she would have stolen the whole show then, hah.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I will go under the sheets and read on...

Valentine

Yes, it’s that day of the year again when pink hearts flow on everyone. I remembered my friends and that’s what this day is all about for me – remembering my dear friends. Every day should be Valentine’s Day for that matter.

We went to eat with my mom and later we drank pink sparkling wine – the color matches the day. A nice day and I had a lot of energy even though I went to sleep late because I was caught in a book again.

I don’t know but somehow this day brought me into the red hall of the Red Queen from “Alice in Wonderland” and everything red and heart-shaped. Beautiful.

I’m going to make a nice cup of Rooibos tea and watch some “Alice in Wonderland” now.

 

Movie Madness

I’ve been watching a lot of movies lately. They are one of the best ways of therapy I know and there is always some certain movies that suit your mood perfectly. I’ve been watching comedy and action based on the mood I have had at the moment. Horror I can not watch without company and I just don't watch horror anymore (except "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street", that’s so good).

I got five new movies from my dear friend as a birthday present - he knows I’m mad about movies. We have had movie nights a couple of times already and a plan to have another one soon. I got “Blade: Trinity”, “S.W.A.T.”, “American Beauty”, “Fullmetal Alchemist” and “Frostbite”.

 As a present for myself I got “A Beautiful Mind” (which is one of my favourite movies) and “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1” as a Blu-Ray disc. "A Beautiful Mind" is a perfect look into a schizophrenic mind and really shows what kind of illness it is. It's emotional and clever movie which ends just the way it supposed to.

I also bought some great movie soundtracks which I have been listening a lot. The music plays a huge part in movies and I always love to listen to it. One of my favourite composers is Hans Zimmer and it is not surprise that all of the soundtracks are composed by him.

Movie screenshots from “A Beautiful Mind”: 

 

Smoothie Mornings and Sushi Nights

Today I woke up early and made a delicious vegan strawberry-raspberry smoothie – a good way to start morning.

Strawberry-raspberry smoothie (vegan)

Ingredients
2 dl (a little less than 1 cup) fresh or frozen strawberries
1,5 dl (3/4 cup) fresh or frozen raspberries
1 dl (1/2 cup) soy yoghurt
a splash of soy milk
1-2 teaspoon agave syrup or sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
2 to 3 ice cubes

Directions
1. Defrost the berries halfway in a microwave. Blend strawberries and raspberries on low speed till well smooth.
2. Add soy yoghurt, soy milk, agave syrup, ice cubes and vanilla extract and blend until smooth. Serve right away.

***

Later that evening we made vegan sushi which was better than I have eaten in restaurants. And now I could fill the sushi roll with whatever I wanted instead of trying to find a suitable sushi dish for a vegan from a menu.

The making of the sushi take quite a lot of time to do but it was our first time anyway. I was surprised how well they were for it really was our first time doing them. I sure will make sushi again sometime.

Cold Days

On a cold day I just like to crawl up in my bed and read while drinking hot tea. I got white tea pearls from my friend as a Christmas present and have been drinking a lot of white tea since. The pearls open themselves in the hot water and release a great flavor.

I also like to burn candles even if it’s bright outside, just to create some relaxing and warm atmosphere.

I’ve started to read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets again – I think it’s the best book of the series so far (I’ve not read them all yet). The last book went completely missing during the moving process so I had to buy a new one. It’s a Finnish version but I would like to read them also in English some day and I prefer more the covers of the English versions.

Dress ~ Seppälä / Tights ~ Lidl

Now I will go under the sheets and turn another page and read on. And maybe make another cup of tea…