Freaks in love

Hi Crushers,

Valentine's day is almost here and I've warned you before that there are no haters aloud when it comes to celebrating love! I'm not a big fan of huge and expensive gifts on this day but I do believe that we are all entitled to show our significant other how much we love them... and if there's a date for that, even better! 

Just keep in mind that one day a year is not enough to make anyone happy, there are things you can  - and should - do for your girl all year to make her feel loved and appreciated, It's so simple to make someone happy and even so, we seem to fail so many times! 

So, listen to the person you love, kiss her/him a lot, show her/him how much they mean to you, not only with empty words but with gestures and attitudes. If you are not in a relationship, well, lucky you, this is a great excuse to buy yourself something you've been wanting and to offer a box of chocolates to your mom, your best friend, your little brother, whomever you love and cherish. 

And most of all, love yourself first! 

Here's some Valentine's inspiration:

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And also, a song for all you freaks in love:

"slow dance to rock music, kiss while we do it.." 

Your TopCrusher,

Dani in love 

Love, Freedom and Aloneness

Aloneness
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Today I discovered Chandra Mohan Jain, also known as Osho. He was an Indian mystic, guru and spiritual teacher. I've never heard of him before but I accidentally found a quote on pinterest about our capacity to love that got my attention. It is so simple, but at the same time it is really deep and insightful and it made perfect sense to me. This was the excerpt:

“The capacity to be alone is the capacity to love. It may look paradoxical to you, but it's not. It is an existential truth: only those people who are capable of being alone are capable of love, of sharing, of going into the deepest core of another person--without possessing the other, without becoming dependent on the other, without reducing the other to a thing, and without becoming addicted to the other. They allow the other absolute freedom, because they know that if the other leaves, they will be as happy as they are now. Their happiness cannot be taken by the other, because it is not given by the other.” Osho

Aren't we all constantly learning to love? I know I am. The older I get, the more I realize that it is very challenging to love someone, to make them happy and to be happy too. According to Osho, happiness should only come from us and not from the others. Isn't it beautiful to believe that we only depend on ourselves? 

I was so curious that I ordered his book "Love, Freedom and Aloneness" because I feel that sometimes I just need a different perspective on life and how to live it, to keep an open mind and an open heart. 

Hopefully it will be enlightening, I'll let you know what I thought after I read it. 

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela 

"Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young"

wasted on the young
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Recently, one of my Marketing teachers advised us to read this essay by the Chicago Tribune's columnist Mary Schmich and I loved it so much I wanted to share this hypothetical speech with you. As you will see, although it is directed for the class of 97, it is still adequate for the way we live today, and it probably still be a hundred years from now. 

"Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen."

Beautiful, right?

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela 

Second Chances

Past and future
Credits

Let's talk about second chances.

Should we give one?

Do we deserve one?

Are both sides up to the challenge?

Well, wouldn't it be nice if we knew all the answers in advance! 

I've been thinking a lot about second chances lately. Although everyone seems to have an opinion, it's very difficult to evaluate these kind of things... On one hand, no one wants to waste their time - and their precious feelings - on someone who hasn't worked out in the past, no matter what the reason was, and this is something that crosses our mind instantly: why?

Why am I even thinking about this? Am I this stupid, really? Why still on my mind? Again, we can't know these things for sure unless we give them a try. Hours, minutes, days, years go by, and still, this is where you are. Should we take that as a sign? 

Precisely my point... And on the other hand of the negative side everyone has thought: even when you are giving a first chance, aren't you taking a big risk too? I mean, honestly, how many first chances haven't worked out for you? If we analyse this clearly we're always taking risks no matter what. I realize each case is different but if something makes you happy, I believe that should be enough to make you, at least, consider the risk. Why struggle against something that is giving you a reason to smile? The past experiences should be right where they belong: far, far away. Take your lesson, learn from it, and move on.

Again, the drama of second chances. 

From my point of view, I guess everyone deserves one: do you have the courage to give a second chance... or to seize the one you are given? You don't want to look back regretting an opportunity you didn't give or one you didn't enjoy because you weren't brave enough. 

The answers are right where they belong too: the future. 

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela

10 reasons why it is awesome to be a woman

Today it is March 8th, the International Women's Day. We have fought hard to be free, to be able to express our opinions, to be taken seriously, to be equal, and we still have a long way to go. Because I am a woman and I believe I am blessed to be one, here are the reasons why being a woman is truly and absolutely awesome:

Fierce
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1. Gentleness. Yes, we are gentle, we are soft, we smell good and we like pretty shiny things. I'm proud to be feminine.
2. Power. Is there a great woman behind every great man? I believe that it might be the opposite. 
3. Taste. We are sweet, we are the sugar spoon in a world full of sour. 
4. Flirt. If you can flirt, you can do pretty much everything and convince everyone. 
5. Children. I haven't figured this one out yet, but my mom tells me we have the fantastic ability to give birth to a human being, so I will believe her. 
6. Beauty. I love the way we embellish the room when we arrive. We add value to the common places. 
7. Free stuff. Paying for my own drinks? I would, but since everyone is offering...
8. Short skirts, high heels. Come on, do I really have to explain this one? Looking in the mirror and loving what you see is such a good feeling.. Every woman deserves that!
9. Other women. Our mothers, our grandmothers, our friends, our sisters: we have to love and appreciate each other. 
10. Society. I believe that society is treating woman better nowadays. Our fight for equality isn't over, but we have to admit that we have conquered a lot, so this day is a great opportunity to sit back and enjoy the outcome. 

Happy Women's Day!

Your TopCrusher,

Daniela 

Love never goes out of style

Hi babies,

You know what? Let's stop the Valentine's day haters... From my point of view, any excuse to love is a good excuse! If you are in a relationship, today is a good day to get freaky! *insert Marvin Gaye's let's get it on* 

If you are single, show some love for your family, for your friends, for your pets, whatever, just show your love for the people and things you appreciate! Most of all, love yourself! Here's some Valentine's inspiration:

Also, here's my newest pop addiction and my soundtrack for today:

Just admit it... love never goes out of style!

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

Big Hero 6: The Sweetest Thing!

You know, having a little brother is one of the best things in life, and I'm speaking from my own experience. Mine recently told me to watch Big Hero 6 because he knows I'm a sucker for animated movies, and I simply adored it.

Big Hero 6 comes from the same Walt Disney team that worked behind "Frozen" and "Wreck-It Ralph"... Judging from my opinion, what a team it must be!

Baymax, the fatty clumsy robot, is purely the sweetest robotic character I've met and Hiro is just a genius kid struggling with the tragic death of his elder brother, Tadashi. They develop a very special bond during their adventurous search for justice in the city of San Fransokyo and they end up being best friends for life. Don't you just love a happy ending?

Newsflash: I cried. Like.. a lot. More than I'm happy to admit. 

But seriously, it's a beautiful story about family, friendship, love and lost, and you should go watch it right now! 

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela

Rebel Heart Baby!

Pop Queen
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Once a rebel, always a rebel. When is Madonna going to stop being awesome? I preview the answer to this question is "never ever". The 56 year old unapologetic singer slash Pop Queen recently released six songs from her new album, Rebel Heart, and I found myself, once again, in love with her.

I've already had the pleasure to see The MDNA Tour in Portugal, which was the first and last time I saw Madonna in the flesh and it was one of the best live concerts I've ever seen. I'm 100% sure that, if she returns with a new tour, I'll be there again jumping around and dancing like a crazy person that just doesn't care! *crossing fingers*

Rebel Heart  featured co-producers like Diplo, Avicii or Kanye West, and after twelve unfinished songs were leaked, Madonna decided to present us with six official tracks: Living for Love, Devil Pray, Ghosttown, Unapologetic Bitch, Illuminati and Bitch I’m Madonna.

According to The New York Times, the six-song preview of “Rebel Heart” features Madonna’s better side: as a savvy pop ear and musical team leader, and as a lyricist who sometimes ponders sin along with romance and fame.

I completely agree that these songs perfectly fit Madonna's style, it's like she finally returned to her impeccable pop roots and has decided to teach everyone how to do it properly. This is the song I've been listening in loop mode, and my favourite one so far:

"It might sound like I'm an unapologetic bitch,

but sometimes you know I gotta call it like it is"

Wise wise words from The Queen! *dancefloor hit for 2015*

Your TopCrusher,
Daniela