by on

I may not be a huge movie buff, but there are a solid handful of movies and directors that I absolutely love. Today I want to share with you guys some of my favorite directors of all time, and which movies they’ve created that I’m currently loving. Let me know if we share any favorites!

Jordan Peele | Us

My first experiences with Jordan Peele’s work was through watching Key & Peele as a teenager, and although those comedy sketches are quite different from the movies he writes and directs now, I’d say I have a pretty equal love for both. Even back in his comedy days, I loved Jordan Peele for his awareness of pop culture and stereotypes (particularly racial ones,) and I definitely feel like those themes have carried out into Get Out and Us. While I found Us to (obviously) be so extremely creepy and mind-boggling, I loved it like so many others and I’ve loved going down rabbit holes and reading theories about the film. If you’re a fan of anything scary, then this movie is a must!

Rob Reiner | The Princess Bride

Obviously, The Princess Bride and many of Rob Reiner’s other feel-good movies are classics and had to be included on this list. When I was in middle school, The Princess Bride was one of my absolute favorite movies and I just remember watching it constantly; pretty much until I had memorized every last line! One of the things I love most about Rob Reiner is the diversity of his films- he has created everything from horror movies from romantic comedies. The next film by Rob Reiner I’d like to watch is his famous mockumentary, This is Spinal Tap. Nathaniel has also expressed interest in watching This is Spinal Tap, so I think that may become a movie night in our near future. 

Tim Burton | Edward Scissorhands, Corpse Bride, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure

My love for Tim Burton is a deep-rooted and extremely special one. So many of the movies I loved as a child, such as Edward Scissorhands and Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, created such fond memories for me and expanded my imagination into completely new worlds and emotions. To me, his movies transcend beyond entertainment and into the realm of pure art. Although I haven’t seen all of his famed films, I have seen a fair amount of them, and I’m looking forward to watching even more of them in the future. I’ve never seen The Nightmare Before Christmas, shockingly, so I may choose to watch that one next. 

Henry Selick | Coraline 

Coraline is one of my all-time favorite films, and just like The Princess Bride, I’ve seen it so many times, I probably know the entire script by memory. There’s something about the combination of Selick’s overall aesthetic, the nostalgic animation style and the music selection of the film that has kept me captivated for most of my child and ongoing adult life. Coraline is a “comfort film” for me, and whenever I feel like I need to return to my roots and feel safe and go “inward,” it’s one of the first movies I turn to. Henry Selick has also done quite a bit of work with Tim Burton, and funnily enough, it looks like he’s going to be doing some work with Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key. 

Wes Anderson | Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums 

I actually didn’t start getting into Wes Anderson films until earlier this year, as Nathaniel is a big fan of his work and has showed me a couple of his movies. The first Wes Andeson film I watched with him was Rushmore, and I thought it was so sweet and perfect, I couldn’t help but cry when it ended. A couple of days ago, we watched The Royal Tenenbaums together and I loved that film just as dearly (albeit I managed to not cry.) I absolutely love the aesthetics of the movies he produces, and I enjoy how each one is so different yet so similar in regards to overall mood and themes.

by on

I give myself a budget of about $40 a month to use as disposable income, and so far, about 99% of it has been going to Marshalls and TJ Maxx. I mean, come on. Fall candles and sweaters with outstanding prices? DisCOUNT me in.

The other day, I went to TJ Maxx with the intention of just browsing, and instead I left with five things. So it goes.

Borrego Springs T-Shirt

I actually usually don’t buy a lot of clothes at department stores, because I’ve gotten into the habit of thrifting almost everything. However, I fell in love with everything about this t-shirt when I saw it. It reminds me of the Grateful Dead for some reason, with its Tex-Mex imagery, so that was already enough to make me fall in love with it. I also really like the colors- green and yellow happen to be a couple of my favorite colors. I am fully anticipating Nathaniel robbing this from my closet- I’ll be sure to keep you updated.

Heritage Pumpkin Candle

You KNOW I couldn’t step into a TJ Maxx in late August without buying a fall candle. You know that’s out of my control. I’ve been looking for a new candle anyway, and this one claims to have a whopping 56 hours of burn time! I’m a huge fan of anything apple or pumpkin scented, and this candle smells like a perfect fall day in New England. It reminds me a lot of the autumns I used to spend back in my hometown, going for walks and picking pumpkins at the local farm. Does anybody else like to buy fall candles year-round, or is this just a me thing? Let me know in the comments.

Pink Agenda

I love anything and everything stationary, particularly beautiful planners and agendas that come with lots of organizational bonuses and note pages. I had actually seen this agenda once before at TJ Maxx but managed to restrain myself from purchasing it the first time. This time, however, I just said F it and went ahead and bought it, feeding into my never-ending collection of journals and notebooks. I’ve actually really needed an agenda since starting a new job and making medical appointments again, so at least this was a somewhat practical purchase.

Insulated Water Bottle

Another semi-reasonable purchase I made at TJ Maxx was this lovely, insulated water bottle. I found it in the clearance department for $4.50, and I really love the neutral beige color, so this purchase was a no brainer. If you ever need a new water bottle or travel mug, TJ Maxx or Marshalls is definitely the place to go. As you can see from my purchase, you can find tons of great, high-quality bottles for under 5 bucks! I’m looking forward to customizing this water bottle with stickers as time goes on. 

“I Love Autumn” Sign

Last but not least, and clearly the biggest impulse buy, I picked up this “I Love Autumn” sign in the queue line. Yes, I now effectively have a shrine to fall in my bedroom, and I have no regrets. I haven’t really done much decorating since I moved, so I’m thinking of this as the first step towards customizing my space and making it my own. 

Anyway, those are the things I picked up at TJ Maxx recently! Clearly didn’t get anything essential, but hey, I get that shopping bug from time to time. What have you guys been up to in preparation for fall? Let me know down below. 

by on

(Spoiler: I haven’t really done anything.)

I normally steer away from tag posts, especially since I’m hardly ever tagged in anything. But this one seemed fun, and it was interesting for me to compile all of these tiny milestones into one post (albeit awkward at times.)

First app you check when you wake up in the morning?

Usually my gmail. 

First broken bone?

I’ve never broken a bone, actually! 

First foreign country you ever visited?

Canada, and I LOVED it.

First Instagram, Twitter or Facebook post?

I actually deleted most of my first embarrassing social media posts, so I don’t really remember. But it probably had a lot of filters and hashtags, since it was 2011-2012. 

First make-up item?

I used to do community theater, so naturally, I had a collection of cheap drugstore makeup. Wet ‘n’ Wild mascara was probably one of the firsts, and I also had one of those dark blue foundation compacts all the theater kids had to buy (but I can’t remember what the brand was.) 

CoverGirl Aqua Smooth AquaSmooth Compact Solid Foundation SPF 15 ...

First plane ride you ever went on?

I think I was six or seven, and it was on a trip to Disneyworld in Florida.

First time I ever got into trouble at home and school?

At home? I don’t remember the first time, but I used to get into a lot of trouble for picking on my brother, and he got into trouble for picking on me. The first time I got in trouble in school was in the 5th grade, when I got caught writing on a bathroom stall. 

First time you were allowed to put on make-up?

Sixth or seventh grade. I wore cheap BB cream, mint green eyeshadow, and mascara. Oh, and the Baby Lips lip balm by Maybelline. 

First YouTuber you subscribed to?

Gosh, I can’t remember! Probably Ryan Higa or Jenna Marbles.

First time you went shopping on your own?

My friend and I went shopping on “our own” for the first time in 6th or 7th grade, but what I didn’t know until later was that my mom actually followed pretty close behind us. 

My first BF/GF?

His name was Antonio, and he was my boyfriend for nine months when I was a freshman in high school. We’re on good terms; I hope he’s doing well. 

My First car?

Don’t have a car yet! Which is okay, because I can’t afford one.

My first Celebrity Crush?

Oh my gosh, David Bowie and Elton John. Still my celebrity crushes tbh. 

Best Elton John Songs: 20 Essential Tracks By The Rocket Man

My first cooking experience?

I don’t remember my first exact cooking experience, but I do know that one of the first things I learned how to make was boiling spaghetti. 

My first crush?

My first crush was on a boy named Ben when I was in kindergarten. We thought we were married and every time we hung out it would be our “anniversary.” 

My first ever cell phone?

It was a flip phone, and it was a brick. 

My first ever date?

A concert on Valentine’s Day. 

My first ever kiss?

First peck was with a boy named Michael in 6th grade in the science wing hallway, first actual kiss was with my first real boyfriend. 

My first fear?

I was basically afraid of everything when I was little. The things that stand out are hurricanes, tornadoes, fire drills, and spiders.

My first friend in college?

My first friend in college turned out to be a very toxic person.

My first heartbreak

Ending my first relationship was obviously sad, but being broken up with in my second serious relationship completely shattered my world because I did NOT see it coming. To this day, I still try not to think about it, and it left me with pretty serious abandonment/paranoia issues that I’m still tackling. 

My first Instagram post?

Oh man, I have no clue. I deleted my first Instagram account, but it was probably a selfie or something dumb. 

My first job?

I worked as a cashier at Marshalls for about two and a half years.

My first language?

English, and to this day, it’s the only language I’ve learned. I learned a little French in high school, but I’m certainly nowhere near fluent. 

My first love?

I did really love my first boyfriend, but I’m definitely glad that relationship ended and I feel like my tastes have really refined as an adult woman now. Nathaniel is just…10/10. Chef’s kiss. 

My first pet?

My first pet was a hamster named Cutie, and he was a SAVAGE. That dude figured out how to open his cage from the inside, and he would get out in the middle of the night and escape into our basement. We briefly lost him on a few occasions. 

My first piercing and when did I get it?

I got my ears pierced when I was 12, and that’s still the only piercing I’ve ever gotten. 

My first sexual experience?

Again with the first boyfriend thing. 

My first swear word?

Ha, when I was in middle school, my friends and I considered words like “hell,” “damn,” and “sex” to be curse words. If you said any of those things, you were pretty edgy. 

My first tattoo?

I actually do not have any tattoos, and I don’t have plans to get any. 

My first thought today?

Darn, I wanted to get up earlier.

My first time on a plane?

I think I was five or six, and my family and I were going to Disney World.

My first time on a ship?

Does the little boat that takes you to the Statue of Liberty count?

My first time on a train?

When my brother and I were little, our parents took us for a ride on “The Polar Express” one Christmas. It was actually just a service the commuter rail was running, and Josh and I saw right through it, haha. 

Hundreds of children board 'Polar Express' to South Station ...

My first toy?

My first and favorite toy was a small, blue bear who I named “Marshmallow.” He was my favorite little dude, and I took him everywhere.

My first tweet?

I also don’t remember this, because I think I deleted the first Twitter account I’ve ever made. I go through phases where I decide social media is toxic and I delete everything, hence why a lot of my current accounts are not my first ones. 

My first YouTube video?

The only thing I’ve ever posted onto YouTube was a project for health class in high school. It’s called “Spermtanic,” and you can still watch it! 

My first online profile picture?

I don’t have the picture anyone, but this was one of the firsts.

IMG_4890 (1)

The first book I remember reading?

I remember my mom reading The English Roses by Madonna to me all the time. I loved that book!

The first concert I ever attended?

I believe it was the concert I mentioned earlier, and it was for the band Kodaline.

The first movie I remember seeing?

I remember seeing Pirates of the Carribean when I was really little, and being scared shitless!

The first person I talked to today?

That would be my housemate, Erin.

The first person that ever broke my heart?

His name was Armando, and he was the second serious relationship in my life. Hope he’s doing well, though! 

The first person you text when something exciting happens?

Definitely Eli, 100%. And Nathaniel as well. Last night I texted him to tell him I saw two disgusting, giant beetles reproducing on my back porch while I was trying to take out the trash. He said that was “radical.”

The first text I sent today?

The first text I sent today was to my roommate, Erin, in response to her asking if I wanted to go shopping. And yes, I did agree! 

The first thing I do every morning?

I check my phone, brew my coffee, and make my bed.

The first thing I do when I get home?

I check the mail and usually get a snack. 

The first time you ever got drunk?

I actually don’t know if I’ve ever been properly drunk. I’ve been buzzed and a bit tipsy, but never flat-out drunk.

The first wedding I attended?

I attended a wedding when I was really little, but I don’t think it was anyone I was close to and I definitely don’t remember it. I think I was five or six. 

When did you go to your first party?

The first party I ever attended  was a Halloween party on Mission Hill, senior year of high school. 

When did you have your first sleepover?

When I was in elementary school, I used to have sleepovers with my neighbors and the kids in my neighborhood all the time. 

First time I got a speeding ticket?

I don’t have a license, so I’ve never gotten a ticket for anything!

First time I got in a fist fight?

I’ve never been in a fist fight, thankfully.

As you can see, I definitely have not done much, but it was still very enjoyable for me to go sift through all of these memories. I hope you guys enjoyed learning a little bit about me!

by on

Not having seen too many notable things is something I am teased about relentlessly from my friends and family. The last time I visited my boyfriend’s family, his mom was literally shocked that I’d never seen Pretty Women or The Town, so those were the movies we watched during my stay. In my defense, I had a pretty sheltered upbringing and I wasn’t allowed to watch ANY R-rated movies as a tween or teenager, and then by the time I grew up, I just…never got around to it?

So I’ve seen the essentials, like The Wizard of Oz and Star Wars, but that’s really all I can vouch for. Read on to learn what famous films I still haven’t seen as a 21 year-old and the excuses I have for them. You also have to remember that I grew up in the early 2000s- if you didn’t own the movie on DVD, there was a good chance you probably didn’t watch it. 

  1. The Godfather 

This movie is a classic example of “nobody else in my family really watched the movie, we didn’t own it, and even if we did own it, I would have been too young for it. I also don’t know if it’s something I would have even liked as a kid, because I was pretty picky with movies (still am) and I didn’t like sitting still for things that weren’t appealing for me. Nowadays, I would probably give The Godfather ago. I think Italian Mafia plots are interesting (I actually wrote a 300 page book about it in high school,) and if it’s topping the ‘Best Movie’ charts on every website, well, I’m convinced. 

The True Stories Behind 'The Godfather' - Biography

  1. Citizen Kane

Unlike several of these other films, I actually know virtually nothing about Citizen Kane. I couldn’t tell you the genre, plot, cast, or even when this movie came out. Nathaniel says it’s the story of “one man’s life, basically.” I suppose I could probably give this movie a go, but I’d probably have to do a bit more research on it. As you’ve probably caught onto by now, I’m a bit picky in the film department.

  1. The Shawshank Redemption 

My knowledge of The Shawshank Redemption is extremely limited, so for fun, why don’t I try to explain what I think the plot is with this very limited knowledge? I think it has Brad Pitt and Samuel L. Jackson. I think it takes place in the 1940s and Brad Pitt and Samuel Jackson become friends in prison. I’m sure one of them dies at the end. That’s really all I’ve got, so if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to whip over to Wikipedia and see how much of this I got wrong.

(Update: I’m ashamed)

  1. The Lion King

When people find out I haven’t seen The Lion King, they’re usually personally offended and I completely understand why. However, before I get verbally attacked, let me just say I DO know the plot, and I DO get the jokes and the references, and I HAVE seen the very famous live musical. “The Circle of Life”? A bop and a half. I feel like at this point, I don’t even have to see the movie because I already have a pretty good handle on the key notes. 

Ranking The Classic Lion King Characters - CINEMABLEND

  1. Casablanca 

I confuse Casablanca with Gone With the Wind quite a bit, but I feel like those two movies are probably similar in some regards. I know they’re both old movies, and they both have a lot of smarmy romance going on in them, so just from that alone, I’m not sure if this movie would be my cup of tea. That being said, I’m not totally opposed to watching it if the opportunity presents itself. 

  1. Schindler’s List

If there’s anything you need to know about me and movies, it’s this: I do NOT do sad. Hell, I cry at movies that aren’t even marketed as being ‘sad’ movies, like The Iron Giant, and The Princess Bride. Nathaniel made me watch an animated movie called My Life as a Zucchini a couple of months ago, and I literally sobbed through the entire thing.

So you get the point: emotional plots and I don’t mesh well. And I like to think I already have a fairly good handle on The Holocaust, because I had to study it for an entire unit in the 8th grade and I’ve read The Diary of Anne Frank a few times now. But Schindler’s List? Yeah, I don’t think I could handle it. 

  1. 2001: A Space Odyssey 

I’m not going to lie, until my best friend Eli told me about the movie, I actually thought it was a David Bowie song or album. However, before you’re too ashamed of me, I promise I know who Stanley Kubrick is. Actually, it’s a little known fact that The Shining is one of my all-time favorite films. I’ve heard that Space Odyssey is a little weird and nonsensical, so I’m not really sure if I would enjoy it or not. Nonetheless, I’m willing to give it a try. Clearly, my knowledge of the film is limited. 

  1. Forrest Gump

I don’t really have an excuse for why I haven’t seen Forrest Gump. because I’d honestly probably like it. I’ve always sort of gotten the impression that it may give off similar vibes to The Truman Show, but that could obviously be totally off. And I can’t use the “I wasn’t old enough” excuse, because even my MOM was shocked to learn I’ve never seen Forrest Gump. I’ll definitely have to give it a go, because I think Tom Hanks is a wonderful actor, and I’ve really enjoyed seeing him in some other beloved films. 

I've never seen ... Forrest Gump | Film | The Guardian

  1. Gone With the Wind

I’m really embarrassed to say that I don’t know anything about the plot of this movie. I think there might be a really beautiful, bratty lady named Scarlet O’hara, but I’m also not sure if that’s Casablanca or Singin’ in the Rain. See? I’m absolutely useless.

I feel like Gone With the Wind is one of those movies you have to have grown up with to really develop an appreciation for. Unfortunately, I didn’t ever watch this film when I was a child, and now I don’t know what people are talking about when they make famous references to this movie. Honestly, this one is all my fault. 

  1. Goodfellas 

I already kinda explained how I didn’t really grow up watching a lot of mob movies and television, so this one probably doesn’t need much explanation. For all I know, this movie could be exactly like The Godfather. You could probably put on one of those two movies, not tell me what it is, and I don’t think I would be able to tell you the difference between them. The chances are, if a movie had violence, sex, bad language, and drugs, I wasn’t allowed to watch it when I was growing up. From what I can take away from Goodfellas, it sounds like this movie probably had a mix of all four. 

Anywho, those are the top famous films I’ve never seen? Have you seen most of these movies? And which ones do you think I would enjoy? Let me know in the comments below.

by on

It’s been a while since I’ve published any unpopular opinions, so today felt like the right day. I did one of these articles in the past, and I have to say, it’s a bit terrifying to put such unpopular views out into the world! That being said, I don’t think any of these unpopular opinions are particularly polarizing or problematic. Enjoy reading and let me know if you agree with any of my opinions!

Who is Billie Eilish?: The 17-year-old pop star ruling the ...

Celebrities

Singers I don’t care for/haven’t listened to much: Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello, Selena Gomez, and Travis Scott. In fact, I think Billie Eilish is extremely overrated.

Lifestyle

I much prefer at-home workouts as opposed to going to the gym.

I’ve never been on TikTok or even downloaded the app. All the TikToks I watch are from Jenna’s Marbles compilation videos.

TikTok is the best place on the internet. We should all delete it ...

I love caking on a full face of makeup instead of following the dewy, natural, ‘glowy’ trend I’ve seen popping up in 2020. My skin is just way too textured and red for a ‘natural’ face!

I’d much rather stay in and watch a movie at home than go to a movie theater; movie theaters are boring and uncomfortable.  

Surfacebook Pro > Mac.

America should get rid of tipping culture and just set a fair minimum wage instead.

Making the bed is NOT a pointless chore!

Food

Milk chocolate is better than dark chocolate.

Coffee tastes best black.

All fast food hamburgers taste the same; I’m not sure why some people so strongly favor a McDonalds burger over a Burger King burger, and vice versa. 

TOMATOES RUIN SANDWICHES.

Other

Going on a hike or spending the day in a forest is much more fun than going to the beach or going somewhere tropical.

New England travel | USA - Lonely Planet

New England is definitely the best place to live in the US!

Everyone has the potential to be a good singer with practice.

Kids who succeed academically deserve scholarships over kids who excel at sports.

Cold better is MUCH better than warm weather.

College grads deserve to be paid a liveable wage.

And finally, babies should be banned from movie theaters.

I hope you guys enjoyed this article! Do we share any unpopular opinions? Let me know in the comments below!

by on

In the two or so years that I’ve been blogging, it’s been really interesting for me to see which articles get more traffic than others. I have noticed that the articles which do best are the same ones that I had previously googled a lot about myself, so I suppose it makes sense that the search engines would push people in my direction. Today I’m going to go over my top 5 most popular posts and show you how many views they have earned (as of 4/18, the day I am writing this. Since updating to a premium plan very recently, the traffic for these posts has gone up even more!) 

‘Should We Be Worried About Julia Zelg?’

Julia Zelg - Online Personalities - Pretty Ugly Little Liar

Views: 4,439

To date, this is my most-viewed article on my blog. Even though Julia Zelg is not a particularly famous YouTuber, she has still created a lot of conversation on the internet, and there is even an entire forum dedicated to covering her. When you search for Julia Zelg on Google, one of the first things that pops up is that thread, and right below that thread is my blog. With that being said, I think a majority of my views definitely come from people who are trying to find more information or drama about Julia, and that is only further pushing my blog up in the search queue. I think it says something very interesting about our culture that drama and ‘tea’ is what will garner content creators such as myself the most views, don’t you think? With that being said, I totally get it. I mean, the title of the article is literally ‘Should We Be Worried About Julia Zelg?’ I’m sure Julia has read the article, and even though it could be perceived that I’m shining a negative light on her in the piece, I genuinely really like her as a person (I’ve met her) and I really hope she appreciates the concern of her fans. I also don’t think I’m going to be covering any Julia Zelg news from now on, even though it brings me a lot of traffic, because I think too much media scrutiny on her could be damaging for her well-being (even if it is well-intentioned, like mine is.)

‘Movie Meaning Monday: Is Coraline a Metaphor for Domestic Abuse?’

Shocktober: Coraline in North Kansas City at Screenland Armour

Views: 2,843

This was one of those topics that I had previously tried to research myself but could never find any information for, so I decided to go ahead and write my very own article about it. Apparently, a lot of other people were wondering the same thing about Coraline. Coraline is one of my absolute favorite films, and the more I watch it, the more I want to analyze it. In general, I absolutely love analyzing films, and I’d definitely like to write some more film articles in the future. I was really pleased that so many other people agreed with me about this topic, and I think there are several dynamic theories about this movie yet to be explored. It actually wasn’t getting too much traffic for a while, but in the last few months (around last September,) it randomly started to garner hundreds of views. To this day, I am very proud of this article. 

‘The Refreshing Elegance of John Maclean’

John Maclean: purveyor of refinement, elegance, and beauty ...

Views: 2,756

This article is very special to me because it was the first piece I wrote to be noticed by a “famous person,” i.e., John Maclean himself. John Maclean is a makeup artist and YouTuber based in London, and if you’ve watched his videos before, you’re definitely familiar with his unique style, impressive vocabulary, and overall vampire-esque beauty. I wrote this article to praise him for his individuality and creativity, and by some magic, he noticed it and thanked me via Twitter. After that, like I said, this was my first article to get substantial traffic after being noticed. I received so much love from other John Maclean fans as well, so that was an amazing feeling! Even though I wrote this article so long ago, I’m still very proud of it and I’m very happy John now knows how much I appreciate his work. I’m also so grateful to him for giving me a platform and a voice to share my writing. 

‘Movie Meaning Monday: Is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang an Allusion to Nazi Germany?’

10 things you didn't know about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang | The ...

Views: 1,733

Fun fact, on Nathaniel and I’s first date, I mentioned that I had written this article and he read it from start to finish right next to me. And then we had our first kiss about two seconds later, so that’s what I think about whenever I see this article pop back into my life (I know, it’s a terrible connection.) Like the Coraline article, this was a subject I did a ton of research on but couldn’t find a lot of other people talking about, so I decided to go ahead and write my own piece. Even though I think Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a wee bit problematic, I actually really like this movie a lot because I grew up with it. Nathaniel thinks the article and my description is absolutely wild, since he hasn’t seen it in years. I can only imagine how somebody would feel reading that article if they had never seen Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I’m pretty sure my entire description of it sounds like a nightmare. 

‘Berrylook: A Brilliant Scam’

BerryLook Review: BerryLook.com Scam or Legit - NOI
FAKE!

Views: 859

My fifth most-viewed article is an exposé of the company Berrylook, aka NinaCloak. Basically, they’re one of those scammy overseas companies that advertises fake clothing, steals your money, and then sends you absolute shit (or nothing at all.) I’ve never been scammed by them, but I almost was, so I decided to write a warning piece to other consumers who may come across their deceiving ads. Based on my traffic and response, it sounds like a lot of people were almost scammed or unfortunately had terrible experiences with this fake company. I’m glad I was able to offer a voice to people to leave their experiences in the comment, and maybe, I could have even saved somebody from almost ordering from this fake brand. Always be extremely wary before you drop money online, folks! 

So, that’s my summary of my top five articles, traffic-wise! Maybe down the line I’ll post a summary of my top five articles I’ve ever written, if that is interesting to you. Let me know what you think in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to my email list if you want to be notified every time I post! Thanks so much for reading.

by on

Bora Bora Island Travel Guide and Bora Bora Deals | Tahiti.com

So, obviously I don’t have a million dollars, and the chances that I ever would are pretty much slim to none. But nonetheless, I wanted to post something silly, fun, and purely entertaining today, so that’s how I got the idea for this article! I have literally broken down every way I could burn through a million bucks, down to the cent. I even had about four thousand theoretical dollars left over, how nice! I’ll set aside a bit of that to ensure that I can upgrade my blog to a premium plan for the years to come.

Financial

Pay off my student loans – $50,000

Pay off my father’s mortgage – $150,000

Pay off my mother & stepfather’s mortgage – $67,000

Pay off rent and utilities for the rest of my lease – $10,000

Pay off everything else for the rest of my close friends and family – $100,000

Donations

Elephants travel to mourn the dead in faraway herds | World | The ...

The Humane Society – $15,000

Humane Farming Association – $15,000

Save the Elephants – $15,000

Planned Parenthood – $20,000

For Fun

The Retreat At Blue Lagoon Iceland: An Escape From Summers

Marry Nathaniel – $5,000

Honeymoon at the Blue Lagoon in Iceland – $1,000

Bora Bora maybe? $10,000

Japan, for sure – $10,000

John Mayer’s Autograph for Nathaniel – $200

Private Dinner with Sen. Bernie Sanders – $1,000

One Kindesign

Buy a farmhouse in Scotland with Nathaniel – $500,000

Adopt several cows – $20,000

About dairy cows | Compassion USA

Adopt ten dogs – $3,000

Start my own business – $20,000

Buy a pair of vintage Louboutins – $2,000

Buy everything that’s currently in my Amazon cart – $129.64

Buy a bunch of makeup – $500

What's next for books? | TechCrunch

Buy a bunch of books – $500

Meet Bill Murray – Priceless

Total: $995,329.64

Hope you guys enjoyed seeing how I would divvy up one million dollars if I had that kind of money! How would you guys divide your money? Let me know in the comments below.

by on

Once again, I present you with a tag that literally nobody asked for!

0C3824FE-847B-4BFE-9FD2-B0D7566EE6C1.JPG

Actually, this one is a little bit justified. I’m going to be starting another mini series for the month of February, now that Fashion History Friday has ended. This time, it’s Movie Meaning Monday, and you guessed it…I’m going to be discussing movies! This particular movie tag is from a blog called Young OFW, so I give all credit for the questions to them. Without further adieu, let’s jump in.

(Disclaimer: I hardly ever see new movies, so most of these will probably be pretty old.)

How often do you watch a movie?

I’m not really a big movie person, because most of the time, I just feel like watching the office. So I probably watch a movie about twice a month.

What movie genre are you particularly fond of?  

Generally, I like to stick to comedies and horror/thrillers. I find action and romance movies to be extremely unappealing.

What was the last movie that you’ve watched and liked?  

My mom made me watch Scrooged with her over winter break, and now I have the world’s biggest crush on Bill Murray. Not ashamed to admit it, either.

What was the last movie that you’ve watched and hated?  

You know, I’m really not sure off the top of my head. Like I said, I don’t watch a ton of new movies, so I’ll have to think about that one.

What is your most favorite movie of all time?  Your most favorite guilty pleasure movie?

It changes every couple years or so, but right now, my favorite movie is Monsters Inc. It’s such a pure, sweet, nostalgic film. On the other end of the spectrum, I also really enjoy The Shining, and re-watch it every couple months or so.

What movie/movies you have watched a million times already?  

The Princess Bride, Labyrinth, Edward Scissorhands, and Ever After. My parents gave me those four movies together as a Christmas gift, and to this day, they’re still my favorites.

Are you the type who watch movie on its first day of showing?  

Oh, hell no. I haven’t visited a movie theater in years.

Do you use fandango or do you pre-booked movie tickets?

I probably have in the past, but I like I said, I don’t really like to go out to movie theaters anymore. I find going to the movies to be really boring.

Movie house, blu-ray, or download?  

Uhhh, I guess none. I really just watch Netflix and Hulu.

How often do you go to a movie house to watch a movie?  

Eh, I aim for never.

What are the movies that made you cry?  

The Iron Giant makes me bawl like a baby. Without fail. Every time.

Do you watch foreign films?

Generally not; the only non-English-speaking films I’ve seen are Pan’s Labyrinth and Verónica. The latter, by the way, did not really scare me at all. Then again, I watched it while I was on a Tinder date with a guy I was really not into, so I spent most of my focus and energy that night hoping he wouldn’t try to put his hand on my knee (and he did try a few times).

What’s your favorite foreign films?

Pan’s Labyrinth. See story above for reference.

Who are favorite directors?  

Brad Bird, Rob Reiner, and Tim Burton are some of my favorites. And I know John Lasseter is kind of sketchy, but I do like his work a lot.

Are you particular with movie scores, soundtracks, and musics?  

Am I particular with them? What does that even mean? I guess I generally enjoy them, as long as they make sense for the movie.

What movie soundtrack can be found in your ipod?  

The Village, The Truman Show, Man on Wire, and Inception are a few of my favorites.

Have you ever watch a movie alone on a movie house?

I definitely have, but I don’t remember off the top of my head what movie it could have been.

What is the best chick-flick for you?

Mean Girls is a CLASSIC that will never get old!

Is there any movie that has changed your perspective in life?

Man on Wire is a documentary about Philippe Petit’s wire walk between the Twin Towers in 1974, and that movie means a lot to me. The story is a combination of adventure, mischief, self-discovery, and edge-of-your-seat excitement. I actually wrote a letter to Philippe Petit about how much I loved his story, and he wrote a letter back to me!

Your favorite comic book movie?  

I’ve never been into comic books, so I wouldn’t be able to pick one.

DC or Marvel movies?

See answer above.

What are the movies in the top 10 in IMDB that you have watched?

Uhh, let’s see. Probably not a lot. I’ve seen Inception and Fight Club, but that’s all I’ve seen on the list.

Do you read movie critic reviews before watching a film?  

Occasionally I will, but mostly, I try to go into watching films unbiased.

What is the best movie adapted from a book?

Coraline is one of the best book-to-movie adaptations I’ve ever seen. Henry Selick did a stellar job preserving the tone of the story and transferring it to the screen.

Watch the movie before reading the book or vice versa?  

It depends on how long ago the book came out in relation to the movie. I’m already a pretty dedicated book worm, so the chances are, I’ve almost always read the book before I’ve seen the movie.

What is your most favorite comedy movie?

There are so many comedies I love, but off the top of my head, my favorites are Mean Girls, The Internship, Monty Python, and The Princess Bride.

Drama movie?  

My favorite drama film to date is The Truman Show. It really strikes a chord in me that I can’t really explain, but it makes me emotional. I also really enjoy the movie October Sky, because the relationship between Homer and his father reminds me a lot of me and my own dad.

Western movie?  

Western films aren’t really my cup of tea, but when I was little, my favorite western film was The Apple Dumpling Game.

Romantic comedy film?

One of my favorite movies growing up was My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I still watch it occasionally to recreate that feeling of nostalgia, and have a good laugh.

Horror film?  

Like I said, The Shining is one of my favorite films of all time. I love the unique and off-putting aesthetic of the entire movie, and the voyeuristic role we take on as viewers.

Sports movies?  

I don’t really watch very many sports movies, but I loved Cool Runnings and its laugh-out-loud humor.

Sci-fi?  

I really enjoy alien movies, so my favorite sci-fi films are Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Contact, and E.T.

Action movies?  

Action movies are not really interesting to me, and neither are war movies. I’ll edit something in here if a movie comes to mind, though.

War movies?  

See answer above.

Who is your most favorite movie couple?

Mike Wazowski and Celia for the win.   

Any movie character you can relate to?  

I relate to a lot of INFJ characters, such as Amélie, Jay Gatsby, and Nitta Sayuri.

If you are to only watch five movies for the rest of your life, what would the movies be?  

That’s nearly impossible to pick, but I would have to say The Shining, The Iron Giant, Coraline, E.L.F, and The Ring.

Your least favorite movie all time?  

There aren’t a lot of movies that I “hate”, but I really didn’t enjoy the Harry Potter franchise. I think I got about halfway through the first movie, got bored, and never went back to it.

Have you ever watched a movie based on the lead actor/actress only?

Probably not. I could care less which actor or actress is in a movie, because the plot is most important to me. That being said, I am interested in watching Lost in Translation mostly because I have an enormous crush on Bill Murray.

What movie you expected and wanted to be good but failed you?

You know, I really, really wanted to like the first Amityville Horror film, but it just…wasn’t scary? And the plot was going nowhere? And the ending was extremely anticlimactic?

Favorite movie character of all time?  

Could never pick a favorite. I love Truman Burbank, Danielle de Barbarac, Fezzik, and Ivy Walker.

Favorite movie villain?  

Preminger from The Princess and the Pauper, but that’s mostly because his song is catchy.

Any movie sequel you are still waiting.

Can we PLEASE get another WALL-E? I need to see what happens after the fat people return to Earth!

Ever made a movie review?  

Not yet… 😉

Star Wars or Star Trek?  

Star Wars ALL THE WAY. Those movies were my childhood.

Right now, think of any movie, what comes first? “I would if I could…bitch.” –Whore

Favorite movie lines?  “Mike Wazowski!” -Boo, Monsters Inc.

TV series, books, computer games, or movies in order of interest? TV series, then books, then computer games, then movies. I actually just posted an article yesterday about the psychology of The Sims, so go check that out!

Lastly, if your life story is to be made into a movie, who would you like to portray you?

I would enjoy seeing a movie about my entire high school career, so preferably, the actress would have to be close in age to me. Maybe Chloë Grace Moretz?

Who should be directing it and what would be the title?

I’m writing an autobiographical novel right now, titled The Girl in the Dust, so I’d probably name it that. As for the director, I would love for Bo Burnham to direct a movie about me.

Wow, congrats to anyone who got through that entire list. It was super fun to do, and hopefully, you had a fun time reading it and getting to know me better.

Coming up next: Movie Meaning Monday: Was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang an Allusion to Nazi Germany?