Couchtopia: Why You Should Be Binging On this Lovesick British Drama
Everyone love a good love train wreak and this series has more then a few. Lovesick is a revolving door of British love fails, one night stands and emotions. Dylan a lovesick young man and his rag tag bunch of friends share their many efforts at love, do overs and almost connections. Dylan starts on a journey to inform his previous lovers that he has an STD. This total recap of loves from the past is funny but a sad effort at love. This show will leave you hopeful and laughing. It is totally binge worthy.
When You Want To Get Away and the Three Reasons You Need to Do It
The three reasons to get away this New Year:
- The holiday season has left you frazzled and wondering the last time you had a weekend away
- You can't remember the last time you slept in without having a full schedule
- Investing in yourself or your partner with out the kids has become a memory verse something to look forward to
My husband came down a few weeks ago and reminded me that as Master’s students we too were on winter break. It was in that moment I realized I had a couple free days to do whatever we please. No baseball, no basketball, no school or work and nothing scheduled for the weekend. For one, to moms getting a free weekend is like a white elephant, it rarely ever happens.
With all the hustle a bustle of the holidays and my oldest sons graduation, it was like we did not get a moment for ourselves. So I opened my computer, and used my winter break solstice to log into Expedia and plan a trip. I called my cousins in Seattle and Florida and we booked a little weekend getaway to Las Vegas.
During my search I discovered the new Collections feature, how fun! You don’t even have know where you want to go anymore. If you know the type of fun you want to have, like going to the beach, enjoying food, taking a tropical escape, having some family fun or just going shopping, just select it. This is an affordable fashion and lifestyle blog so obviously I chose to pick shopping (yay!).
You pick the location that meets your desires, select a hotel that meets your needs and then the tickets are in route to your inbox. It is that easy. Now, all you have to worry about is the dinner plans for the kids while you are gone and your ready to pack your bags.
Who knew it was this easy? We should have placed this in the budget years ago. Now that I know how easy it could be I wanted to make it even more memorable and affordable if possible so I signed up tp be an Expedia Reward Member. Since I have been getting amazing deals on hotels and things to do during our stay that I hadent even considered. I am starting to get excited!
Taking a bit of time for yourself or for you and your partner is always a good investment! Everyone needs a little break from the hustle and bustle. I know when I am recharged, it makes me a better person, parent and professional. This trip is on! I report how fantastic it went and how late I slept in when I return. So thank you Expedia, and Las Vegas here we come!
This post was written in partnership with Expedia and Shop Style!
Are You A New You in the New Year but Have the Same Old Wardrobe?
It is the New Year and you have begun to make big changes however they don't seemed to be reflected in your wardbobe. You get up every day with a pep in your step, determined to do something new and yet when you look in the mirror, you see the same old you. Well that just won't do! If you are a new you then you need to look like it. Here are five tips to start looking like the person you are becoming.
- Ditch the Uniform- It will be hard to see a new person in the mirror if you keep dressing her like the same old person. Ditch the regular uniform that the old you would wear and throw on that dress that you only where on special occasions or spruce up your look with some fresh new accessories.
- Embrace the Inspiration- Remember what inspired you to make the change. Think back to the moment that changed your mind and now your life. Identify how you felt in that moment or how you are feeling about your journey now.
- Color is Everything- According to verywell.com “Colors can be a powerful communication tool.” Embrace that inspirational feeling and then think of a color palette that reminds you of it. Did you feel warm inside? If so then maybe red, orange and yellow are for you. If you felt calm then look for blue, purple and green. For more information on the psychological effects of color and how they make you feel, check out this article.
- Missing in Action- Now look through your closet look and see if you have any items missing from your day to day staples. Where is that LBD (little black dress)? Do you have any pieces in your new signature colors? If not it maybe the time to pick a few up.
- Clear a Path- As you look through the rest of your closet, how do your pieces make you feel? Pick out a few items and see if they make you feel comfortable and confident or the opposite? If they make you feel uncomfortable or like you are in a bad movie from the 90's then they have to go. They don't have to leave your house, if the thought is too scary but they must leave your closet. Making space for something new or having more space will showcase the pieces that make you feel great.
You have no time for set backs this year. So don't waste any time kicking the old you's look to the curb and blazing the path to the brand new you.
Couchtopia: Don't Believe The Negative Hype Netflix's Blockbuster "Bright" Is On Fleek
I was expecting to hate this because everyone said it was horrible but my whole family LOVED it! Most have my friends had watched it twice un the first week. I am not really sure where all the critic hater-aide came from. It is probably because Hollywood doesn't like change very much and is worried that accomplished actors like Will Smith are working with streaming services like Netflix to make Blockbusters that viewers want to see more of. This movie is Harry Potter and Underworld meets Training Day. Here are the five reasons you love Bright:
- Killer Cast: There are a huge squad of celebrities and up-and-comers in this film. Even the extras are stars. There is not even enough space to name all of them in this post so you know that the acting is going to be great.
- Visionary Backstory and Cinematography: The director has a great way to turn ordinary moments into visually simulating moments. The backstory is still a bit undefined but the idea that the world is filled with multiple species and humans although used to it as still a bit unsettled and superior about the idea. So this magic filled, action packed movie also has some pretty powerful but subtle moments about the struggle between being different and the same at the same time. A LAPD police officer Daryl Ward (Will Smith), tensely comes back to the force and orc partner Jakoby (Joel Edgerton), after being shot in the line of duty. Ward blames Jakoby for not being there. They struggle through the tension of their past to fight the good fight and save an elf named Tikka (Lucy Fry) and a magical wand that can save the world from dark new age of magic.
- Characters You Can Relate To: This movie is dark even thought its name is miss leading named Bright. Surprisingly this rough and tough action flick finds a way to tug on your heart strings. I am not sure if it is Will Smith's super cute daughter at the beginning or the descriptive storytelling that draws you in but it works. You have law enforcement fighting to do the right thing in a world where they are not valued and people trying to understand and relate to each other to overcome their current struggle. Sound familiar? This action packed movie is welled written and has some pretty powerful but subtle moments about the struggle between being intrinsically different however somehow deep down being the same time.
- Bad-A@* Villains: In a movie where there are so many villains you would think is it hard to tell who is the baddest will be however in this movie it is clear who the scariest one of them all is Leilah (Noomi Rapace). Leilah's name is said quit ominously almost as spooky as Voldemort in Harry Potter. Her reputation precedes her before she even hits the screen and then her and her team do not disappoint. Underworld fans would have a blast with this one.
- Action Packed- This wonder packed movie is a nice blend between modern day and a gutter filled future with dark magic and human pain. You never know who you can trust in this movie which keeps you forever on your toes.
This is a must watch movie. If you like police drama, action, magic, storytelling and drama this one is for you. If you don't then take a pass and watch an other movie. Either-way it is definitely a movie you have to watch to get your own opinion on. After this I am excited for the direction of live-streaming cinema and can't to see what is in store in the future. I can't wait to hear what you think. Please leave moments below.
Couchutopia: Hacksaw Ridge- A Story of Heroism, Love and Conviction
What makes it even more special is that this heroic story is based of a real persons life, Desmond Doss. Doss ended up becoming the first conscientious objector in US History to receive the medal of honor. I am sure after seeing this, Doss would rather be referred to as a contienction cooperator, and I would have to agree. The unpresendectented heroic displayed of selfless service that he displayed on Hacksaw Ridge was truly mesmerizing. I don't know if you all know this about me but I served as a medic in the US Army, so I can understand the desire to give back more than you are getting but one could only pray to be as courageous as Private Desmond Doss. His compassion, condition and faith is something you rarely get the pleasure of witnessing and it was truly my honor to have learned this mans story to see what true heroism and conviction look like. His motivational battle cry to God in the dark night, alone saving lives after he had bee left on the battlefield for dead was "Please Lord help me get one more." 75 men later Doss's leg was decimated by shrapnel after he kicked a grenade away from his unit. Only a wound of that nature would have kept him from giving more.
Shortly, after this movie began I knew it was a classic, but way before the credits rolled it became one of my favorite movies of all time. Doss was truly an inspirational person and to know that someone lived thier life in this way one gives me inspiration to become better. Doss being a Seventh Day Adventist was a pacifist and never carried a gun into war but found another way to serve. He instead was armed with faith and courage. That alone enables him to save 75 of his fellow soldiers in Okinawa.
This movie was well written and had so many great line, for example during basic training his sergeant said after meeting Doss "I have seen stalks of corn with better physiques then you. Keep this man away from any strong winds.", or when Doss stated "while everyone else will be taking lives, I will be saving it", as he described how he will be serving in the war. There was a very convincing moment in his court marshal when Doss stated "With the world tearing itself apart it don't seem like such a bad thing to me to put a little of it back together" this was a moment that made everyone reflect. For a moment, you got a glimpse of is fortitude, when asked to go back up to the battlefield, after being the only one up there saving lives all night, on his saboth day and his captain stated "I know this is your day to pray however even though the boys don't believe in what you do, but they believe that you do and they don't want to go up there without you." So Doss joined them and the whole unit waited until Doss finished his prayers to attack and concur the Ridge. As the story reflected, they knew the Lord was with Private Doss.
This movie will have you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, what a great date night movie! I can't wait to you get a chance to check it out.
Ten Minutes To A Better You- A New Year’s Resolution You Can Keep
(image @yori_photo)
Every year we make new year’s resolutions that are so lofty and so ambiguous that they are not very easy to reach or commit to. To accomplish something you need to be really motivated in order to achieve your goal, ask yourself what is motivating me to change? Find a positive visual reminder of what you are trying to achieve and make it your phone or screen saver. Place it somewhere you will see it every day. I want to do so many things so this year I am committing ten minutes a day to become a better and more awesome me.
“Small changes add up” Elizabeth Beck, MPH, Professional Wellness Development & Education Coordinator at the National Wellness Institute shares that it “It’s very easy to fall into the trap of thinking that to make lasting and impactful changes, we must dive into something head first and dedicate a part of our lives to it,” she says. “Small habits are much easier to grow and become big changes in our life.”
When people try to make multiple changes, we end up trying to keep up with multiple demands and end up failing. So this year keep it simple. Invest 10 minute every day to a better and more awesome you. Spending ten minutes of quality time could mean getting to those emails, playing video games with your kid, or mindlessly scrolling through Instagram in a quiet room. When you take a moment to do something you yourself, you will start to feel a sense of control and calmness that sets the tone for the rest of your day.
(image @the5th)
You can get through anything for about ten minutes, even cleaning your closet, doing that work out you have been dreading, or organizing that catch- all drawer at your desk. We spend too much time focusing on the things holding us back , so I say “No More.” I will begin shouting it form the rooftops, “Change starts today!.” All change takes is a bit of will power, motivation and ten minutes a day. I used my ten minutes today to write this article and I commit to keeping the momentum going by sharing a few of my ten minutes with you each month to keep you motivated.
As for any resolution you will have setbacks, so celebrate the successes , forgive yourself when you don’t make time and start fresh everyday toward a better and more awesome you with just ten minutes.
What to Wear to Any Occasion: Night at the Theater + Slip Dress
When my friend called me and said that we will be meeting up at the theatre before our dinner reservation, we were thrilled. I hadn't been to the Kennedy Center in a while so my first though was “Great” then my second was “What would I wear?” The first time I went it was before 6:00 and I was going to dinner with my husband and friends so a nice above the knee dinner dress worked great. A night at the theater is an upscale affair and can go any way you like it. Many theaters are semi-casual but you should aways dress to impress. An after 6:00 call for more formal wear. It can be a formal suit of floor length dress like I have on. But whatever you do feel free to embrace the elegance of the night and have fun with it. Pull out those dangly, blingy earrings, slink into something that makes you feel beautiful and enjoy the evenings.
There is a God, A Fashion God! Devil Wears Prada is Getting a Sequel, and it's About Emily
When Andy Sachs happily glided away from Miranda Priestley’s not so attractive job offer, we all cheered and the cried a bit when we realized it was over. So happy for her but sad for us because that would mean the end of the "clackers" and the endless borage of fabulous fashion. Would the world or the big screen ever be the same?
Until the author of the Devil Wears Prada, Lauren Weisberger released a sneak peek of the first chapter of her new book in Entertainment Weekly, When Life Gives You Lululemons (here), we thought maybe not but now we all have hope.
(images provided by Google)
The new book focuses on Emily, the first assistant, who we had slowly grown to love. Well turns Emily is a high powered image consultant. In hers next job Emily travels to Greenwich, Connecticut to consult with an A-lister with a DUI challenge to overcome. Which fashion icon will Emily be more like Miranda Priestly or more like Olivia Pope? I know its fiction but I can’t wait to find out more and we wont have to wait very long. The book should be release June 5, 2018. The perfect beach page turner. Thank you Lauren!
