April Favorites

So if March lasted 500 days, then April lasted about 5 days, right? Time moves differently in quarantine, I guess. I honestly feel like I'm as busy as before between still working full time and doing lots of writing, but I'm hoping to start reteaching myself an instrument in May.

TV SHOWS
the crown season 3
I loved Seasons 1 and 2 of "The Crown," so I was super excited to finally get around to watching Season 3. I was so blown away by Helena Bonham Carter and Josh O'Connor's performances as Princess Margaret and Princes Charles. The entire cast is amazing and I can't wait to see where Season 4 will take us.

new girl 
I had watched the first two-ish seasons of "New Girl" during college but then got distracted. I wanted an easy half-hour episode TV show to watch during quarantine, so I decided to restart this from the beginning. Maybe it's that I'm a bit older now, but I'm enjoying it so much more this time. My friend Julie is also watching it and it's so fun to talk about together. I can admit that I'm a total Jess Day...and maybe a little bit Schmidt too.

FILMS
selma
We've started our 2014 Retrospective over on Next Best Picture and the first film I watched for it was Ava DuVernay's "Selma." I'd never seen it before and I was absolutely blown away by it and what a great portrait it is of Martin Luther King Jr. You can listen to our podcast review and read my review.

loving
Maggie and I did a special episode of "Petticoats & Poppies" in which we brought on my friend Alexis, who recently graduated from law school, as a guest. We discussed the film "Loving" and Alexis provided her legal expertise about the court case it's centered around. I was so impressed by this quiet and intimate film with fantastic performances from Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga. You can listen to the episode here.

the bling ring
I rewatched "The Bling Ring" for the first time in years as part of a piece I wrote in honor of Emma Watson's birthday. I truly think that it's some of Sofia Coppola's best work and I don't think anyone can argue it's not one of Watson's best performances.

ALBUMS 
the hunchback of notre dame studio cast recording 
My neighbors probably hate this album by now. I started listening to this because "Out There" is my favorite Disney song of all time, but then fell in love with the whole album. (Partially because I just really love Patrick Page.) I would love to see this show make it to Broadway one day.

MUSICALS
the trail to oregon 
So...I'll have a more extensive post on this coming soon, but in the past month I've watched five StarKid Productions musicals. I had never seen any of them before despite being vaguely aware of the group since high school, but I finally decided to watch some alongside my friend Alexis (also mentioned above) who is a fan. "The Trail to Oregon" is easily one of my favorites thus far, maybe because I was such a nerd about pioneers growing up.

the guy who didn't like musicals
My favorite of the StarKid shows is definitely "The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals," one of their most recent ones. It's actually easily my favorite musical I've seen for the first time in 2020. The score is fantastic, the cast is great, and the humor is top-notch.

OTHER
oregon trail 
In preparation to watch "The Trail to Oregon," Alexis recommended that I play a few rounds of the game Oregon Trail because I somehow never played it growing up. I found a version online and now I'm absolutely addicted to it. Maybe it's because I was obsessed with the actual Oregon Trail in elementary school or maybe I just enjoy being able to focus on something small for a little while, but it's brought me so much joy.

tik tok 
Yes, I finally did it. I downloaded Tik Tok. Not only that, but I started making videos; this is what happens when you have a Gen Z sibling, I guess. But actually I'm kind of addicted to watching Star Wars, Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, and theatre themed videos. My username on there is nicoleackman16 if you want to follow me.

567 broadway 
(#567BroadwayPartner)
I made a YouTube video last year about Joseph Corella's 567 Broadway program. You can buy the DVD or digital copy of the full program or check out his videos on YouTube. Joseph teaches you choreography to songs from Broadway shows; it's a way to exercise without feeling like you're working out. I am an ambassador for the program, but I've honestly been doing them so often since quarantine began because they're a great way to get moving without the pressure of working out. They always lift my mood, but my personal favorite is the Mamma Mia themed video on YouTube.

What did you enjoy in the month of April? Let me know on Twitter or in the comments below x

March Favorites

March feels like it was a year long. It's strange to think about how March started and how we've progressed to this point of quarantine. I hope you're all staying healthy, washing your hands, and hanging in there.

BOOKS
in the time we lost by carrie hope fletcher 
I finally got around to Carrie Hope Fletcher's latest novel, "In The Time We Lost," and I read the whole thing in just a few days! I love her style of magical realism and while the book absolutely broke my heart, I loved it.

TV SHOWS
the mandalorian
I finally got around to watching "The Mandalorian" and I really enjoyed it. It took me a couple of episodes to properly get into it, but the last few episodes are truly great. And of course...Baby Yoda is super adorable.

jane eyre (2006)  
I watched the 2006 BBC mini-series of "Jane Eyre" for a podcast (more on that later) and was shocked at how much I enjoyed it. Charlotte Bronte is normally not my cup of tea, but this adaptation with Toby Stephens and Ruth Wilson is really wonderful.

FILMS
emma
I was nervous about seeing Autumn de Wilde's new adaptation of "Emma" because it's my favorite Jane Austen novel and I'm very fond of the 1996 film with Gwyneth Paltrow. But I was absolutely delighted with this new version. I highly recommend you rent it if you're looking for something to watch!

onward
I'm not a huge Pixar fan, but I do love Tom Holland so I was excited to see "Onward." I got to take my sister to a press night and was so charmed by this film and its lovely message about sibling love. You can read my full review here.

gifted
I can't believe I hadn't seen "Gifted" before, but I finally fixed that. What a heartwarming story! McKenna Grace is the most talented young actress, more than many women three times her age. And of course, Chris Evans as a father figure is exactly what I would like from a film.

ALBUMS
most of us are strangers by seafret
I recently discovered Seafret's first album so of course I was thrilled when they released their second album this month. I absolutely love the sound of this British duo. My favorite songs from the album are definitely "Be My Queen" and "Girl I Wish I Didn't Know."

OTHER
petticoats & poppies: history girls at the movies podcast
My dear friend Maggie and I launched our own podcast during the month of March! On it, we review period dramas from the perspective of two women who are trained as historians but work in the film industry in some way. This month we did episodes on "Emma." and the BBC miniseries of "Jane Eyre." You can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Twitter, and Instagram.

skype/facetime/zoom
I think I've actually been socializing more than I normally do since quarantine started. I only have a handful of friends in North Carolina; my friends are pretty spread out across the United States and even the world, so I'm kind of used to keeping up with people over the Internet. I've been having a lot of Skype, Facetime, and Zoom chats with people, much more than normal. I think that it's so important to see people digitally face to face while we're isolated; it makes it all a lot easier to handle.

What did you all enjoy during the month of March? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter. x

February Favorites

I decided to start a monthly favorites series here on the blog to track some of my favorite books, movies, albums, and anything else that I have loved every month. I know these sorts of posts and videos were really popular at one point. Does anyone else still do them?

BOOKS
rebecca by daphne du maurier
I finally got around to reading "Rebecca" in honor of an upcoming podcast and to prepare for the new adaptation with Lily James coming to Netflix later this year. I was absolutely floored by it in all its thrilling Gothic glory. In addition to the main plot and romance (if you can call it that), I think there's some fascinating social commentary by du Maurier in it. This feels like one that I will reread again in years to come and it's definitely made me want to read more du Maurier.

TV SHOWS
fleabag seasons 1 and 2 
With Oscar season over, it felt like it was time to catch up on some of the television that I had missed while trying to watch as many 2019 films as possible. For my first series, I chose "Fleabag" largely because each season is only three hours long. I rarely watch shows with half-hour episodes (in truth, I rarely watch TV at all) so it felt like I absolutely flew through this. I enjoyed Season 1, but Season 2 absolutely tore my heart out. Phoebe Waller Bridge is so incredibly talented and clever and Andrew Scott is a babe.

FILMS 
what if
This 2013 film is confusingly sometimes called "What If" and sometimes "The F Word." I can't explain that one, but what I can say is that it's one of the most delightful and heartwarming rom-coms I've watched in a while. Similar to "When Harry Met Sally," it is about two friends who end up falling in love. While Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan are charming, I honestly watched it because Adam Driver plays a supporting role in it and he did not disappoint. Yes, I am meant to be watching every Saoirse Ronan movie this year and instead seem to be watching every Adam Driver film. (No regrets.)

to all the boys: ps i still love you 
The first "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" movie is one of my favorites and the trilogy of books by Jenny Han are also favorites of mine. So to say that I was excited for the release of "To All the Boys: PS I Still Love You" was an understatement, especially after the casting of Jordan Fisher. I went over to my parents' house to watch it with them and my little sister on the night it came out and we had the best time. I'm totally #TeamJohnAmbrose and Jordan Fisher was perfect in the role. You can check out my full review here.

mr jones
I was lucky enough to get a screener for "Mr. Jones" to review it for In Their Own League, which was great because it's out in the UK now and I didn't want to wait until April to see it when it releases here in the States. (You can read my review here.) The film tells the story of Welsh journalist Gareth Jones who traveled to the Ukraine in the early 1930s and discovered the man-made famine that was the Soviets were inflicting upon them. It stars James Norton and Vanessa Kirby and is well worth a watch even if it's not perfect.

birds of prey 
I certainly didn't expect to love "Birds of Prey" as much as I did. (I now own a Harley Quinn t-shirt and sweatshirt.) Margot Robbie delivers an insane and kooky performance and the whole film is just so much fun. It's a great example of girl power that doesn't feel forced or fake and it's also an ode to the perfect breakfast sandwich. You can hear me talk about it on the Next Best Picture podcast review.

ALBUMS
starry: original concept album 
I'm hoping to have a full review of this album posted soon, but when my friend Lexi recommended that I listen to a new concept album for a musical about Vincent van Gogh, I was immediately intrigued. The group of very talented vocalists bring to life the story of two brothers, Theo and Vincent van Gogh, and their struggles with art. You can listen to the album on Spotify.

 

OTHER
pure barre 
I started doing Pure Barre classes about a month ago now and I was shocked to discover that I really like them. I grew up dancing ballet so the way that Pure Barre uses your muscles feels familiar to me and I like that having to sign up for the classes ahead of time forces me to actually go to them. I'm not very good at them yet (I struggle just to hold a plank) and I'm only going once a week, but here's to hoping I start improving soon.

What did you all enjoy during the month of February? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter. x

April Favourites

Can you believe April is already over? It feels like I was just writing my March Favourites post! It's kind of crazy to think about the fact that I will write my May Favourites post from the States...

Fashion & Beauty

I recently purchased these PJs at Primark for just seven pounds and I'm absolutely in love with them! There are few things I love as much as pretty and comfortable lounge clothing. These PJs make it difficult to get myself to take a shower in the morning, because I never want to take them off!

I've been experimenting around with new hairstyles lately and I really love this one that I taught myself. It feels very Peggy Carter from Captain America to me, and only needs a few bobby pins!

You might remember that in the same Primark Haul where I showed off my new PJs, I mentioned that I bought a pack of four clips for 2 pounds. I thought I would use them when I curled my hair (and they are fantastic for that!), but I've ended up wearing my hair half-up with one of these clips almost every day in the past few weeks.

Food

I used to be a PG Tips purist, but I discovered Tetley tea recently and have been loving it. I've gotten so spoiled living in the Land of Tea and finding new ones that I love. I don't know what I'll do when I go back to the States! 

I had stopped eating all crisps (or chips for Americans) except Cool Ranch Doritos but I recently rediscovered Pringles and have become obsessed with them. I ate them all the time as a child, but they're one of those foods that I tend to have short periods of eating lots of them followed by months where I forget they exist.

Entertainment

You may have already picked up on my love for Carrie Hope Fletcher (if not, it's probably your first time on my blog). So it's probably no surprise that her book is one of my April Favourites, if not my favorite that I've ever read! You can watch my full review here (warning: I get a bit emotional).

I started watching the BBC show Poldark in April and I'm absolutely hooked. I have a great love for period dramas, especially when they feature attractive men so Poldark definitely does not disappoint.

February Favourites

Since today is the second day of March (how did that happen???), I thought it might be nice to do a February favorites video. I did a favourites post at the beginning of February and I'm continuing to love all of those items, but I wanted to share my end of the month favourites too.

Fashion & Beauty
I've already raved about how much I love red lipstick on the blog, but I just had to talk about this one. It's the Rimmel London Shade 170 (Alarm) and it's just gorgeous. It's the perfect color for my skin tone and it stays on so long. I've been wearing it all month long.

I've had this American Eagle flower crown for a while, but I recently discovered a new way to wear it that I've been loving. I tuck the hair from the very front of my head on either side into the crown at the back. It keeps it out of my face and also looks quite pretty, I think. It might be winter, but I definitely wore this flower crown a lot this month! 

I love mint green and I love rose gold so this new Primark purse is just amazing. It was only 8 pounds and it's surprisingly roomy inside. I love that I can use the shoulder strap or carry it by the handle. It's basically the perfect bag for me: ladylike, but not stuffy. 

Sorry this picture is so horrid!

Food
I'm in the UK, so it's only right that I'm loving fish and chips. But Cromars' fried haddock is by far the best fish and chips I've ever eaten. Love, love, love.

I could rave about Battenberg cake in general for hours, but I've recently been loving these little mini ones especially. They're the perfect serving size (which is great, because I tend to eat way too much of the normal sized Battenberg cake!) and such a yummy little treat. 

Film & TV  
You're all aware of how much I've been loving The Last Five Years movie. I've probably watched it 4-5 times already and I listen to the soundtrack constantly. Definitely a February Favourite.

As far as TV goes, I've been struggling a bit. UK Netflix doesn't have The Borgias (what I was watching at home) or Vikings (what I was planning on watching next). I've been trying to finish up Gossip Girl because I'm on the last season, but I've not been enjoying it at all. Then I remembered The Tudors, which I had abandoned in favor of The Borgias earlier this year. I've been watching quite a bit of it: it's historically very inaccurate and sometimes I question what the costume designers were thinking (you might think it's hypocritical of someone who loves Reign to say that, but the producers of Reign freely admit that it's a "historical fantasy"), but the actors on the show are quite good. Who doesn't love Natalie Dormer?

What did you love in the month of February? xx