Welcome to April

Wow, it’s hard to believe that it’s already April. This year has flown by so quickly and now I’m nearly done with my freshman year of college. That is equally awesome and also very terrifying. I’m really excited about this month, even though I already mentioned that it may bore some of you to death. I’ve always been a big fan of sports. Like it or not, it’s a big part of our society as a whole and there are so many books, movies, TV shows, songs, and much more about the subject of sport.

I’ve chosen this month because sports are important to me. I’m like the least athletic person on the planet. However, I love sports because it’s something that I’ve always loved watching. The games of football, basketball, and baseball have always fascinated me. The lives of the athletes and how whatever game I’m watching is played in general has managed to fascinate me endlessly.

This month, I hope to tell you stories. Some of these stories about big sports scandals or profiles on hot shot athletes are things you know a lot about. My personal stories about growing up at the baseball field and having absolutely zero athletic ability are some things you won’t know. I hope my own personal spin on things will make the theme more interesting for everyone. Take care!

End Of March & Intro To April

Hey! I’ve loved writing about this month’s theme education all month. Hopefully you’ve learned some random facts or something like that. The month of April is going to be about sports: organized and unorganized. April marks the kick off to baseball season. While some of you may not care about it since this isn’t a sports blog, there’s still interesting stories and facts about baseball. I’m sorry if you find it boring, but hopefully you at least enjoy a good sports movie. I mean, Sandlot is a classic and I’ll definitely be talking about it a number of times during the month.

I plan on dedicating a lot of lists to different sports. For instance, I’m going to have a list of the ultimate sports movies then break some down by the main sports. I also plan on profiling athletes that everyone keeps talking about. For books this month, I’m going to talk about the best nonfiction sports books: both memoirs and biographies. There’s not a lot of great fiction sports books so I’m just going to do it that way.

This is just a little preview of what is to come. I plan on talking a little more about why I chose this theme and why you should care about it. That’s about it! Hope you guys stay with me this month.

Best Education Quotes

Quotes have always been my favorite. These quotes on the topic of education from some of the worlds greatest leaders and educators are all extremely important. Hope you like them as much as I do!

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”- Nelson Mandela

“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”- Mark Twain

“Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.”- Robert Frost

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”- Margaret Mead

“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”- Malcolm X

“Intelligence plus character- that is the goal of true education.”- Martin Luther King Jr.

“A quality education has the power to transform societies in a single generation, provide children with the protection they need from the hazards of poverty, labor exploitation and disease, and given them the knowledge, skills, and confidence to reach their full potential.”- Audrey Hepburn

“Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.”- John F. Kennedy

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.”- Aristotle

“The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.”- B.B. King

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”- Henry Ford

“The secret in education lies in respecting the student.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.”- Albert Einstein

“Do not train children to learning by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.” – Plato

“You can never be overdressed or overeducated.”- Oscar Wilde

 

Books That Teach You Something

I’m a total book nerd, I’ll admit it. These are some of the books that have taught me many facts about the world. I take these lessons and recall them on a fairly frequent basis. Who said learning wasn’t fun??

Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

 

Pretty much everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned from this book. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve brought up an interesting statistic that I learned from this book ever since I first read it. Yeah, it’s pretty much useful information but it’s cool information that you’re going to love and bring up quite frequently in your day to day conversations.

What If? by Randall Munroe

My dad introduced me to this really cool book by former NASA worker Randall Munroe. Munroe started this comic called xkcd which is a hilarious scientific look at the world. He also started answering questions that were sent to him which adapted into this book. Questions include: What would happen if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90% speed of light? And also, what if everyone in the world just had one soul mate – one random person somewhere in the world? Could they ever meet? These are weird questions but it’s interesting to here his scientific and illustrated responses.

Rules For Writers by Diana Hacker

This is a key tool for college students. Basically any college paper that you have to write is going to be in MLA or APA format and this book takes you through all of that. Sure, OWL Purdue is pretty handy with MLA as well, but Rules For Writers is something that you can easily flip through and also offers tons of grammar lessons that you may need a refresher on. It also has helpful little quizzes throughout which are all really awesome.

On Writing by Stephen King

On Writing is a helpful non-fiction novel from the successful horror writer Stephen King. Not only do we learn more about the writer himself, but we also get a look inside what works best for him and different methods that you may not be too familiar with. I found this book particularly fascinating and I really love it.

Now I Know by Dan Lewis

I actually subscribe to Now I Know’s daily newsletter. You can always count on the facts that Dan Lewis comes up with to be intriguing and to teach you a thing or two about the world in general. It’s all really fascinating and I commend Lewis for spending so much time collecting these facts and sharing them in a cool way with the rest of the world.

The Book Of General Ignorance by John Mitchinson

There aren’t many books that are witty and hilarious like this one. Author John Mitchinson informs readers that the book will set you up to win Jeopardy! or Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? And that is very much true. I appreciate all of these facts because they are so random yet you learn so much about the world and stuff that you were unknowingly super ignorant to for all these years.

The History Buff’s Guide to the Presidents

I love and recommend all of the books in the History Buff’s series. However, I had to shout out to this one in particular because I love all of the trivia and facts it taught me. Now I know a lot more about the U.S. Presidents and I think this guide stands out from the other one due to its easy to read format and how it manages to keep your attention the entire time.

 

Most Romantic Love Letters

Love letters are such a rare romance these days. Back in the day, it was a beautiful way to express your feelings for another person that you can’t currently be with. Now, we express how we feel using text messages which isn’t nearly as personal. I’m going to do things a little differently here, I’m going to link to these famous love letter posts on different websites. I didn’t see the point in making my own list since I would include the same exact ones that Time did and I also Brain Pickings collection of letters as well! Without further ado, I hope that you enjoy these heartwarming and endearing love letters. Maybe it’ll even inspire you to give up the cell phones and pick up the pencil and writing some romantic letters of your own! A girl can dream right?

Time’s Famous Love Letters Article 

Brain Picking’s Frida Kahlo Letter to Diego Rivera

Georgia O’Keeffe Love Letters

Love Letters From Famous People

Glamour’s List of Most Romantic Love Letters

Huffington Post Handwritten Letters

 

 

Best Love Quotes

What can be better than love quotes? Not all that many things. These are my favorite quotes about the messiness and madness that comes with being in love.

1. “You don’t love somebody because they’re perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they’re not.” – Jodi Picoult

2. “We accept the love we think we deserve.” – Stephen Chbosky

3. “As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” – John Green

4.  “I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.” – Pablo Neruda

5. “Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn’t it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up.” – Neil Gaiman

6. “I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough” – Nicholas Sparks

7. “We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love—true love.” – Robert Fulghum

8. “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” – C.S. Lewis

9. “Love is needing someone. Love is putting up with someone’s bad qualities because they somehow complete you.” – Sarah Dessen

10. “I fell in love with her courage, her sincerity, and her flaming self respect. And it’s these things I’d believe in, even if the whole world indulged in wild suspicions that she wasn’t all she should be. I love her and it is the beginning of everything.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

Personal Favorite Books

The only problem with this particular recommendation is that I’ve already talked about a lot of my favorite books. Since I read so much, I’m going to do my best to bring up books I haven’t already mentioned. These books are ones that really caused me to love reading. This love started from an early age so I’ll try to touch on some kids books as well.

Babysitter’s Club

These books were my absolute favorite growing up. I read pretty much every single one of these books. There was at least 100 in the series. I really think that reading these books from such a young age helped me love reading as much as I do now.

Junie B. Jones

Okay, I gotta give credit to Junie. I actually started reading these books long before babysitter’s club. I remember reading these in the first grade and absolutely loving them. I also credit Junie for making me such a sassy child. The character certainly had that part down. There are few characters as hilarious because this is an accurate portrayal of a young girl which is rare with books.

Charlotte’s Web

The first book that wasn’t a series that I fell in love with. The story of Charlotte’s Web is a classic for a reason. It’s one of the most honest and innocent displays of friendship that’s ever been written. I love the simplicity yet deep life lessons this one holds. It’s really one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read.

American Girl

These are just four out of many many American Girl characters. These books were amazing and they also taught me a lot about history which is always a plus. The dolls were great but I personally enjoyed reading these since you become so invested with the stories and characters within these stories. I’m not sure which one is my favorite. The only doll I ever had was Kit but I always loved Samantha and Molly’s books were the ones I found myself reading the most.

Goosebumps

I still have nightmares about these books sometimes. They are so haunting and just straight up creepy. The one that always got me was Phantom of the Auditorium. I’ve read it about three or four times and I think the plot twist just shocks me no matter how many times I read it. I even watched the episode of Phantom of the Auditorium hoping that would cure my fears. Nope, I’m still creeped out like 10 years later.

Harry Potter

I didn’t get into these books until like 8th grade. By that point, a majority of the movies were already out but I was still a big fan of the story. I loved Hermione Granger and how intelligent she was and I was so envious of her being a witch and everything. I just really loved the first four books. I couldn’t get through the fifth one but the first four were amazing to me! They really got me back into reading.

A Mango Shaped Space

This book is probably the least known of the bunch so far. It really intrigued me the first time I read it. The main reason I included it on this list is because it’s the first book I remember crying over. The story was just so incredible and I’d never read anything like it. The book is about a girl who has synesthesia, which is a neurological phenomenon where you see letters and numbers as colors. It’s a really unique and rare thing that you never read about in fiction young adult books. It was a book that really blew me away and I still love it today.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Another series that I read in the fifth grade and really loved. It just taught me a lot about what it means to be a real friend. What these four characters have is something that every person longs for. They go through boys, deaths, sickness, pregnancy, and everything in between but they always stick together. And when they can’t physically be together, they just send the pants and it feels like they are really together. This is a book that I will always love, even though the last book was actually insane and weird.

Dreamiest YA Boys

These are some of my favorite guys from young adult books. These aren’t exactly the best characters or the most complex. They are more based on my personal opinion about which guys would make the best boyfriends.

Park from Eleanor and Park

Let’s get real here, Park would make an amazing boyfriend for a number of reasons. He loves The Cure, The Smiths, and a ton of other cool punk rock bands which he introduces to Eleanor. He even lets her borrow his walkman which is like the best thing a guy could possibly do. He also reads really awesome comic books. In addition, he basically crushes every single Asian stereotype that’s ever existed which you gotta love him for. He says the most swoon worthy things to Eleanor which makes him great boyfriend material.

Augustus Waters from The Fault in Our Stars

I know, this is a super predictable one. It’s also rather far fetched since no teenage boys are like Augustus Waters. He’s quirky, witty, hilarious, charming, and just an all around amazing guy that oozes charm. He’s one of those popular guys but he so doesn’t come across as one. The way he speaks is so different from how normal teenage boys talk but you can’t help but love his maturity. You also can’t help but love how sure he is about the way he feels about Hazel.

Michael Moscovitz from The Princess Diaries

Michael was a total stud in the movie. In the book, he was super cool from what Mia described. Michael was always my favorite because he was totally weird but he was also in a band. He was also extremely smart and helped Mia out with math when she was close to failing. He’s also got that whole “best friend’s older brother” thing going for him which makes him that much more appealing to Mia since he’s technically off limits to her. I just love the way Mia describes him like he’s the most amazing guy of all time – it’s equally hilarious and endearing.

Charlie from Perks of Being a Wallflower

Charlie is so observant, sensitive, and caring. The way he feels about Sam is how every girl wants a boy to feel about them. He’s smart, funny, and honest. He just seems like the kind of person you want to sit down and have a conversation with. He’s so nice to everyone- even Mary Elizabeth despite the fact it was a hot mess since he really wanted to be with Sam but he tried to show her the same kind of kindness and affection. He would make the perfect boyfriend.

 

Cutest Movie Couples

These are some of my favorite movie couples.

Baby and Johnny from Dirty Dancing

How can you not love them? They both have extremely obvious chemistry. I think it’s funny and pretty much a major testament to their acting abilities that the pair didn’t get along in real life. They were able to sell it on screen in the most convincing way possible.

Sam and Molly from Ghost

Even though Sam dies in the movie and becomes a Ghost, it’s obvious the love that Sam and Molly had. We get to see that in the Unchained Melody scene especially. I just really love how much the two cared for each other.

Princess Buttercup and Wesley from The Princess Bride

By far my favorite movie and couple. Wesley was her farmboy but we all know that “As You Wish” is one of the best lines in movie history. All of the lines the two share about love makes even the hardest heart crumble just a little bit. I mean, even death couldn’t keep the two from reuniting which is rather romantic if you ask me.

Latika and Jamal from Slumdog Millionare

This is a really tragic movie but the ending is beautiful. This couple endures horrible circumstances together. Jamal gets separated from Latika but he never forgets her and he always dreams of finding her. “This is our destiny” is one of my favorite lines. I just absolutely adore Jamal’s endless dedication to Latika.

Pat and Tiffany from Silver Linings Playbook

Two people that suffer from mental illness and who feel as if no one really understands them. After Pat comes to his friend Ronnie’s house for dinner, things change for him. That’s where he meets Ronnie’s wife Veronica’s sister Tiffany. Tiffany is a widow who also understands mental illness. Her and Pat bond instantly over the medication that they’ve both taken in a heartwarming and hilarious scene. Yeah, the two definitely fight the romance to the point where you doubt the relationship is going to happen entirely. But it’s not a cliché type relationship, it’s real and that’s why I love it.

Allie and Noah from The Notebook

Obviously, I have to mention the book. But I’d feel weird leaving the movie couple off of this list. In my mind, they are one of the best simply due to the chemistry these two bring to the screen. They make the couple seem very much alive. The love story itself is so touching and you can’t help but love it.

Ellie and Carl from Up

Yes, this is an animated Pixar film. But it’s also one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever watched unfold that’s under about 30 minutes. We watch the pair age together and more importantly, dream together. This is the only Pixar movie besides Toy Story 3 that’s ever made me cry and this movie just really touched me.

Q&A About Favorites & Love

Okay so I’m definitely going to do something a little bit different here. These are some questions that I would want to be asked about the things that I love and why I love them.

What are some of your favorite things?

Reese cups, Dr. Pepper, books, random facts, learning, coloring, babysitting, and much more.

What TV shows do you love that are currently on?

Scandal, Parenthood, Veep, Girls, The Middle, Modern Family, Orange Is The New Black, and House of Cards.

What are your all time favorite shows?

Friday Night Lights, One Tree Hill, The Sopranos, Entourage, Sex and the City, Gilmore Girls, and Skins.

What are you currently reading?

Freakanomics.

What are your all time favorite books?

To Kill a Mockingbird, The Art of Racing in the Rain, The Great Gatsby, Farewell to Arms, and The Bell Jar.

Who are your favorite celebrities?

Yeezus obviously, Taylor Swift, Tyler the Creator, Niall Horan, and Harry Styles.

Favorite food?

Reese cups.

Favorite movies?

The Princess Bride, A Cinderella Story, Toy Story, Almost Famous, and Slumdog Millionaire.

What genres of music do you listen to?

Indie, rock, pop, hip-hop, r&b, and rap.

Favorite bands and artists?

Arctic Monkeys, One Direction, Ariana Grande, Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac, and FKA Twigs.

Favorite current rappers?

Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, J Cole, and Drake.

All time favorite rappers?

Tupac, Biggie, and Public Enemy.