2016 Favorites?!

Hello flower blossoms,

Did you miss me? Did you miss me? Did you miss me? That was entirely and shamelessly meant to be a Sherlock reference and if you my friend understood that reference we are soulmates. It's been a long time hasn't it? Long time no see is hardly fitting especially when my last post was titled Why I  Disappeared and then I ran off and disappeared on you lovely lot all over again. Shocker, I know. You flowers deserve better (if there are any of left out there that is), but you know me I can't stay away from you lot and I never stray too far from paper and pencil. 

Instead of bringing an excuse bag and a sack of promises I'll just be absolutely honest with you---I've been going through a bit of a hard time lately and when I say lately I mean for quite some time now and I won't lie to you guys---I've felt so lost lately and it's been absolutely scary and at times very exciting (oh, the ambivalent mind). My hands have went cold while I write this because the back of my head is screaming---Aren't you grateful? Aren't you grateful? Aren't you grateful? Once again that was entirely meant to be read in Moriarty's voice. Don't you just love me? I have a family that loves me. Parents that I absolutely adore and I believe are the most wonderful people. I have a body that is working---living. I have so much potential at my fingertips. I am BREATHING---but despite all this I feel this way.   Don't you absolutely love how I don't tell you how I'm feeling and remain completely ambiguous. I love that too. I really, really hope you read the last two previous sentences laced in sarcasm. I just do not understand how one soul can feel so grateful and cloaked in complete---I don't know what to call it! Perplexity? Anxiety? 

I know I wasn't incredibly open today, but I really wanted to talk to you lovely lot again so you must excuse my musings. Don't you worry about this cool cat she's got God and a head full of ideas. She's going to make it through this. We are all going to make it through this---I'm talking about you, lovely.  We cannot tame the waves of the ocean, but we can steer our ship. 

Alas, here are a few (and by a few I mean a lot) things that have kept me sane in the year of 2016 and a part of 2017. Hopefully these little suggestions bring a little joy on your journey. If you are thinking---honey this is long past due. Well, honey---I don't care. Oh, the sass. The sass. Okay, I'll put the salt shaker down and get on with it. Before I forget don't forget to click on my face to watch my awkward, but charming bumblings.

BOOKS

HARRY POTTER 

Harry James Potter hasn't left my side since I was ten years old and I can't say I have any regrets~ Harry, Ron, Hermonie, and I go way back. Reading the oh too familiar tale eases this wary soul. Give me a cup of hot chocolate and the Sorcerer's Stone and you've got one happy camper. Give this happy  camper the illustrated version of Potter's adventures---you'll have one happy camper squealing like a five year old. Each page of this edition is absolutely GORGEOUS. Bless J.K. Rowling and Jim Kay's adorable magical souls because boy oh boy do I believe I am a wizard~ The muggle facade is getting kinda tiring. . .

NARNIA 

If magical wardrobes and talking lions are your thing---C.S. Lewis is your man. C.S. Lewis has been one of my favorite writers for ages and guess what Lewis doesn't stop at talking lions and the biggest walk in closet you've ever set your eyes upon. The Chronicles of Narnia is actually 8 separate stories that are absolute pure magic. Don't forget to check out Lewis's apologetic work for a little life guidance. I swear Lewis does it all. Oh, and above all else do not forget about Mr. Tumnus because he's the absolute cutest. 

THE CHRONICLE WIND UP BIRD 

Haruki Murakami---man oh man does this man know how to write a twisted sick story. I'm not going to spoil this experience for you my friend. Just go read it. 

READ. IT. NOW. 

MONSTER

This would not be a Sylvia's favorites if I did not mention manga and this my friends is my favorite series of all time---I don't even know where to begin, guys---but, here we go anyways. Hold on babes~ Even the summary of this story is wild. Monster follows Kenzo Tenma---a successful surgeon who has life really going for him. Extremely passionate about saving lives the young doctor's career and life is at an all time high---about to be promoted to chief neurosurgeon, engaged to the hospital's director's beautiful daughter, and carried with high reverence and esteem by the hospital's staff and patients Dr. Tenma is soaring on cloud nine until he is framed for murder and is the police's primary suspect. Middle aged and childless couples continue to be murdered across Germany and the once deeply respected doctor is seen as nothing, but a deranged serial killer on the loose. If you thought the summary of this story was CRAZY---wait till you read it. This is easily one of my absolute favorites of all time~ 

1000000/10

MISC. 

CAT BAG

I've had this little guy for about two years now and she comes everywhere with me (you can check out my review here if you'd like)---and I've got no complaints. With spring upon up this little bag is a great addition to any outfit and for Pete's sake guys it's a backpack. . .in the shape of a cat. What more do you want from life? WHAT. MORE. DO. YOU. WANT? 

JOURNALING 

My friends if I haven't happened to tell you just yet---writing is the epiphany to this wary soul. While a poet at heart I write just about anything and everything. Journaling keeps your home girl sane. 

DREAM BRACELETS 

I got these little beauties about this time last year during my study abroad trip to Italy and I found these GORGEOUS bracelets in a little Pa and Ma shop in Venice. Not only are these beautiful, but these bracelets hold a very special meaning to my heart---I gifted my mom and sisters a matching pair and ever since then I've called these bracelets my dream bracelets. Each speck of gold represents a dream---my mom, sisters, and I wearing these bracelets represents our support for one another and our beliefs that our dreams will come true one day. Pure magic, eh? Pure magic I tell you~ 

Did I mention they're gorgeous? 

ZELDA BREATH OF THE WILD 

Hey, listen~ Let's ignore that this game wasn't released in 2016 and neither was it mentioned in my video, but this game has your girl Sylvia shook. I am shook, guys. Sylvia is shook. Not only is this game beautiful, but it's beautifully addicting. Playing as the adorable resurrected warrior boy otherwise known as Link makes doing the most mundane of tasks fascinating. Who knew cooking could be so much fun? Forage ingredients from forests and create your own Hyrulian cuisine. I make a mean virtual mushroom pilaf~ Now if only cooking were as easy as throwing ingredients into a pot *dreamy sigh* If cooking isn't your thing---don't worry there's thousands of other adventures to embark on---and when I say thousands I mean thousands. Scale a mountain, go fairy hunting, go play hide and seek with the village children---the possibilities are endless. Don't forget to say hello to Paya (a.k.a. the cutest cinnamon roll to ever exist) just don't go around asking where her birthmark is. Everyone deserves a Paya in their life.

MAKEUP

GIORGIO ARMANI LUMINOUS SILK FOUNDATION 

This foundation here is a little miracle in a bottle. Your girl here has tried a lot of foundations---MAC, Too Faced, Nars, Urban Decay, Benefit---and nothing has came close to comparing to Giorgio Armani. It creates a flawless base like nothing I've seen before and while definitely on the pricey side it's absolutely worth every penny. If you're looking for a foundation that gives you a flawless finish, but leaves your skin soft and dewy I'd definitely ask for a sample next time you're in Sephora to see how you feel about it. Definitely one of my all time favorite foundations.

BLUEBERRY LIP BALM

If this isn't the cutest thing you've ever laid your eyes on then you are lying to yourself. This packaging. This lip balm. It doesn't get much berry than this.

TV SHOWS + ANIME 

SHERLOCK 

My fellow friends there is no conundrum of choice when it comes to if one loves Sherlock---one just loves Sherlock. Elementary my dear Watson~ But, one may not understand how much I love the cinnamon roll that is Sherlock. The ego maniac is just too lovable. 

FUN FACT: Did you know Arthur Conan Doyle NEVER once wrote the famous Sherlock to say the famous phrase "Elementary my dear, Watson" in all 60 stories.  

                                                                                                                           art by gorrybear

91 DAYS 

Anime. My one dear sweet love---how I will never forsake you. Now if for one reason or another you have not yet discovered the amazing world that is anime---please step in my office for a moment I just want to talk. Joking aside the next two shows that I am about to share with you will change your life. The first show that I bring forth to you is 91 Days and honey---and I mean honey drop whatever you are doing and watch this show because this show has shooketh the heavens~ If you are wondering what the hooplah is about I'll tell you what the hooplah is about! 91 Days follows a young man---Angelo Lagusa. As a young boy he witnesses his entire family murdered by the mafia. Miraculously, Angelo escapes death's clutches, but Angelo cannot escape losing parts of his humanity alongside the death of his parents and his little brother. Angelo goes in hiding---hiding away from the  cruel reality that stole everything he loved living under the pen name Avillo until seven years later Angelo receives an anonymous and mysterious letter telling him the killers' names and the revenge he has lusted over the past seven years can finally become a reality. The storytelling---the art style---everything about this show is absolutely brilliant. I will leave it at that my friends and now it is up to you if you watch the greatest anime of all time or make a very bad unwarranted decision and ignore my well heeded advice. 

p.s. Angelo is the cutest boy you will ever lay your eyes on~ 

                                                                                                                  

MY FAVORITE QUOTE

"Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine" 
        
                                                                                                                                                                 -a.t.
Flowers if I could share one thing with you at all and for you walk away with something at all from this post it would be this quote by Alan Turing. This is my favorite quote of all all time---the first time I heard it there were tears streaming down my face and anytime I dare say it aloud my face will become a human waterfall and guess what---I'm okay with that! That's why I'm sharing this beautiful and powerful message with you folks, because I want you to know if you have a scary, beautiful dream believe in it---believe in yourself like your very life depends on it. If Alan Turing can save 21 million lives during World War II with the power of math you sure as heck can find the guts to follow your dreams. BELIEVE. IN. YOURSELF. 

p.s. If you are looking for some serious inspiration watch The Imitation Game and read Alan Turing's biography! Inspiration my friends are at our fingertips you don't have to know where to look you must simply change your perspective. Perspective is EVERYTHING. 

MY CAT 

Is there any need for me to explain?

Well my babes this sums up what I have for you today. I hope I was able to help you discover something new and bring a little happiness to your day~

Until next time. . .

Keep growing flower.

xxx 

♡