October Wrap Up

Hello Everyone!

I’m sorry this Wrap-Up is SO late… but our Wedding is in TWO WEEKS, and it’s been insane over here. I am so nervous, and also so excited. Wish us luck. My “November Wrap Up” will be late for sure, since we will be on our Honeymoon in Mexico until December 10th! Stay tuned though.. I will be reading tons of books, and watching a million movies, on our 2 week Honeymoon!

October was a wild month, full of way way too many events. Paige’s Birthday, My Birthday, Ryan’s Birthday, My Bachelorette Party, Thanksgiving, Halloween, ETC ETC. In my opinion, October is the best month of the entire year. I love every single thing about it. It’s a feeling in the air that I can’t describe. If you know, you know.

Okay so I have a ton of books, movies, and TV/Netflix.. that I loved this month. I feel like it’s all going to be overshadowed by “A STAR IS BORN”, because that movie was the best thing EVER.

I’ve done quite a few Halloween posts this month, but I have one final costume you haven’t seen. It wasn’t quite good enough for it’s own post.. but I thought I would share. Also I NEED to share with you, my Sister Paige’s HORRIFYING Penny-wise from “It” costume. Just you wait… it’s horrifying.

MOVIES

1.) “A Star is Born”

Currently in Theaters

10/10

Okay… Firstly, when I walked into this movie, I figured I would probably love this. I’m not a huge Lady Gaga fan, and I’ve never seen any of the Original versions of this film… but the trailer had me hooked. Lady Gaga has an incredible voice, and so much un-deniable talent. Her music is usually very club-dance-y, and in THIS movie.. it’s a whole different ballgame. Wow. Honestly, wow.

This movie was so well acted, so beautifully shot and directed. Bradley Cooper, not only has a beautiful voice, but he portrayed a broken character SO incredibly well.. it was just mind-blowing. If Bradley or Lady Gaga DON’T win an Oscar for this movie, I’m going to be so upset.

I wasn’t expecting to be SO emotionally affected by this movie. It just DESTROYED me, in under 3 hours. The music was beautiful, and I can’t stop playing the soundtrack. I don’t want to spoil anything about the plot, but I urge you all to RUN to the theater and see this. Seriously, go NOW.

My FAV songs on the Soundtrack are (Look What I’ve Found, and I’ll Never Love Again).

2.) “Beautiful Boy”

9/10

Currently in Theaters

A True Story, about a Father and Son’s Journey Through Addiction

This was a difficult movie to sit through, but it is such a powerful true story.. and a really beautiful film. I’ve read both memoirs “Beautiful Boy”, and “Tweak”, by Nicholas Sheff and David Sheff (father and son). This movie brought both of their individual POV’s and accounts, of the harrowing journey of addiction. The Father and Son dynamic, mixed with the destruction addiction brings.. was a very intense thing to witness. This movie was so well done, and deeply upsetting. I know that makes it sound depressing, but it was actually very hopeful. I think Timothée Chalamet is an incredible actor, and a brilliant new talent. He was amazing in last year’s “Call me by Your Name”, and I hope he takes the Oscar home for this one. Please see this. Trigger Warning, for Drugs, Addiction, and some graphic scenes involving drug’s/ overdose/ etc.

3.) “22 July

9/10

Currently Streaming on Netflix

A harrowing true story, about Norway’s deadliest Terrorist Attack.

I remember seeing this awful event on the News, not long ago.. and feeling sick to my stomach. This movie is the true story of the deadliest Terrorist attack in Norway. PLEASE be warned, this is a very upsetting and graphic film. Don’t go into this casually, it was a very upsetting watch. Overall, I found the movie powerful, and it’s message was crucial. I had a really hard time watching this though, and felt incredibly sick to my stomach for the first half. I almost don’t even want to recommend it, but I did think this was a very well done movie. If they were ever going to make a movie out of this awful event, then Paul Greengrass is the one to do it. He did an amazing job, with a horrible subject matter. Please don’t go into this lightly.

TV SHOWS

1.) “The Haunting of Hill House”

10/10

Currently Streaming on Netflix

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE ARE OBSESSED

Oh my GOD where to start. “The Haunting of Hill House” is the BEST show I’ve seen, in years. It’s probably tied with “Game of Thrones” & “The Affair” for my fav TV show EVER. Not because I find it “scary” though. In fact, I wasn’t “scared” at all by this show. It had a few jumpy campy-horror scenes, but it wasn’t the scare-factor that made me love this show. It was the CHARACTERS. The character development in this show was outstanding. I haven’t felt so connected to a show, to the story-line, and to it’s characters.. in years.

The show is basically about a family, with five children.. who all live in the biggest, most gothic/gorgeous huge HAUNTED house ever. All the children are equally traumatized by the house in different ways.. and they are all “haunted” by the past. Each episode focuses on a certain character, and goes deep into the past and present, to create a larger picture. The use of flash-back scenes in this show is SO amazing. It reminded me a bit of the way “Lost” used to do it.. before “Lost” totally fucked everything up.

I think my fav character has to be Theodora Craine aka “Theo”. Episode 3 is all about her, and it’s the best episode (in my opinion). I think I’m a little bit in love with her. It’s ok, so is Ryan. We watched the entire series in two days. Like I said, we are obsessed.

If you haven’t checked this out on Netflix, PLEASE do it now. It’s not as “scary” as you think. Although I’ve got a very high scare-threshold haha. Not much scares me.. so I guess proceed with some slight caution haha.

2.) “YOU”

Based on my FAV Thriller by “Caroline Kepnes”

Currently on “Lifetime” coming VERY SOON to “Netflix”

10/10

If you have ever fallen in love with a book.. that has been turned into a Movie or TV Show.. you KNOW this feeling. It’s a mix of anticipation/terror/nerves/ and so many more emotions. When you love a book as much as I loved “YOU”, when I heard “Lifetime” was making it into a TV Series…. I was HORRIFIED. Not to be judgmental, but we all know “Lifetime Movies” tend to be quite cheesy and low-budget. I can tell you with 100% confidence, that this Series isn’t ANYTHING like that. Netflix just acquired the rights to this, and it’s about to hit Netflix screens around the World. You guys… it was SO GOOD.

The biggest worry I had with this show, was Joe. Joe is the “Voice” of the book, and the entire story is told through his twisted little perspective. He’s so sarcastic, funny, deeply relateable, and bitingly critical of society… that it’s INTOXICATING. No matter WHAT Joe does, you always find yourself rooting for him, because at his core he’s SO likeable. Translating that kind of charisma to an Actor on a TV Series.. made me nervous.

Penn Badgley, is the Actor who was cast as Joe Goldberg, and I was so stranger to Penn’s work. I was obviously a HUGE “Gossip Girl” fan back in the day, and Penn played Dan Humphrey. That being said, the character of Joe couldn’t be further from DAN fucking HUMPHREY. I had no idea how creepy, likable, and twisted Penn’s acting could get. Penn became Joe, seconds into it.. and I’ve never thought twice about it.

I don’t want to give away ANY hints on this one.. just that it’s a love story.. told in our digital/”mild-stalker on the Internet” world of communication. It’s shocking, and hilarious, and will make you set all your profiles to “private”. We all call ourselves “stalkers” as a joke.. whenever we Google a new Boyfriend.. or Facebook Stalk an EX. But TRUST me, if you think YOU are a “stalker”, just watch this shit. You have no idea what “STALKER” even means. Keep your eyes peeled, it will be hitting Netflix soon!

3.) “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”

Currently Streaming on Amazon Prime

9/10

I’ll be honest, and tell you that I knew NOTHING about this show, until this year’s Emmy Awards. Ryan and I love Amazon Prime, and we order so much on it, it’s crazy. The delivery guys are probably SO sick of coming with random book orders like three times a week.

We don’t get a ton of time together at home at night to watch TV, and when we do it’s usually Netflix. Amazon Prime has so much Original Content, and we NEED to explore it more.

And…. so I came across “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, and fell instantly in love. It’s created by the same woman who created “Gilmore Girls”, which I’ve honestly never quite gotten into. They talked so fast it stressed me out, haha. This show is much more laid-back, but still has the same wit and spark that those Gilmore Girls had.

This show it set in the 1950’s, and the COSTUMES alone are enough to make me want to throw out my entire wardrobe, and buy a million little Pin-Up Dresses. This is the story of a young woman, who finds herself getting into the “stand-up comedy” scene, after a hilarious turn of events. She has SO much wit and charisma, and you just fall in love with her character immediately. This is such a feel-good show, and is so sweet and funny. I feel like I’ve recommended a bunch of HORRIFYING and disturbing things so far….. so if you are looking for something light and fun, this is it! Especially if you are into period pieces, Historical Fiction, the 1950’s, etc!

BOOKS

1.) “The Dark Between Stars”

Poetry, By Atticus

10/10

“there is no safer place i know than tucked in a corner in Paris with a bottle of Rose and an afternoon to spare”

“the funny thing about chasing the past is that most people wouldn’t know what to do if they caught it”

I really loved the first poetry collection by Atticus called “Love Her Wild”, and this collection was just as beautiful as the first one! Atticus is quite the mystery himself, and for all of his readings he wears a full mask! I THINK he’s a “he”, but who knows? It’s all very mysterious. If you are into the whole “Insta-Poetry” thing, you will love this. It’s not really a poetic masterpiece, it’s actually very simplistic… which I find refreshing! I’m into it.

“she was that wild thing i loved, my dark between stars”

2.) “A Noise Downstairs”

By, Linwood Barclay

8/10

Oh BOY this was a creepy little story. It had a very Classic, Nancy Drew-Hitchcock style feel to it. The most basic of mysteries, with the most terrifying possibilities. It’s part Psychological Thriller, part Paranormal Thriller, and part Stalker Thriller. Basically everything I love in a book or movie. Also it had a bit of a True-Crime Investigative feel to it as well. I loved this. I randomly bought this at a Shoppers Drug Mart Check-Out, and I’m so glad I did.

(Good-Reads Plot Summary)

(The New York Times bestselling author of No Time for Goodbyereturns with a haunting psychological thriller that blends the twists and turns of Gillian Flynn with the driving suspense of Harlan Coben, in which a man is troubled by odd sounds for which there is no rational explanation.

College professor Paul Davis is a normal guy with a normal life. Until, driving along a deserted road late one night, he surprises a murderer disposing of a couple of bodies. That’s when Paul’s “normal” existence is turned upside down. After nearly losing his own life in that encounter, he finds himself battling PTSD, depression, and severe problems at work. His wife, Charlotte, desperate to cheer him up, brings home a vintage typewriter—complete with ink ribbons and heavy round keys—to encourage him to get started on that novel he’s always intended to write.

However, the typewriter itself is a problem. Paul swears it’s possessed and types by itself at night. But only Paul can hear the noise coming from downstairs; Charlotte doesn’t hear a thing. And she worries he’s going off the rails.

Paul believes the typewriter is somehow connected to the murderer he discovered nearly a year ago. The killer had made his victims type apologies to him before ending their lives. Has another sick twist of fate entwined his life with the killer—could this be the same machine? Increasingly tormented but determined to discover the truth and confront his nightmare, Paul begins investigating the deaths himself.

But that may not be the best thing to do. Maybe Paul should just take the typewriter back to where his wife found it. Maybe he should stop asking questions and simply walk away while he can. . . )

3.) “What She Saw”

By, Gilly MacMillian

6/10

“This is what a total breakdown must be, I though. You find yourself standing somewhere you should’t be, doing something so out of character that you wonder if you’ve become someone else entirely. You’ve lost the plot, taken a wrong turning, jumped into a train whose destination is total lunacy”

Honestly, this was only ok. I like a good Mystery, and while this was a well written child-disappearance thriller… I found it SO BORING. The Procedural side, with all the Detective work was interesting… but the Mother’s P.O.V was awful. I don’t know I felt like I was slogging through this one, and while it provided a few “WTF” moments and twists.. I was very underwhelmed. I loved the Detective Jim, and I found his parts very good… but if I had to rate the entire thing out of 10, it’s a soft 6.. but more like a 4.

“In the eyes of others, we’re often not who we imagine ourselves to be.”

(Good-Reads Plot Summary)

(Rachel Jenner is walking in a Bristol park with her eight-year-old son, Ben, when he asks if he can run ahead. It’s an ordinary request on an ordinary Sunday afternoon, and Rachel has no reason to worry—until Ben vanishes.

Police are called, search parties go out, and Rachel, already insecure after her recent divorce, feels herself coming undone. As hours and then days pass without a sign of Ben, everyone who knew him is called into question, from Rachel’s newly married ex-husband to her mother-of-the-year sister. Inevitably, media attention focuses on Rachel too, and the public’s attitude toward her begins to shift from sympathy to suspicion.

As she desperately pieces together the threadbare clues, Rachel realizes that the greatest dangers may lie not in the anonymous strangers of every parent’s nightmares, but behind the familiar smiles of those she trusts the most.

Where is Ben? The clock is ticking…)

Wednesday Adams, Casual Costume #4?

Hello Fresh!

I can’t cook, like at ALL. I can make some basic things, but it’s a bleak situation. I can’t believe I’ve found myself a Husband who likes frozen chicken nuggets, it’s fate. Ryan and I are both so busy we never have time to Grocery Shop, or even be home at the same time to “make dinner”.

Recently my Sister was telling me about a service called “Hello Fresh”, that her and Luke (her Fiance) subscribe to. You pay a fee a month, and you get a box per week, with all your meals for the week! You can choose which ones you want for the week, and the bags come loaded with everything all organized into the most SATISFYING and INSTA-WORTHY packaging! Say one of the dishes is a Pasta, you get a bag with with EXACT amount of Garlic, Onion, Basil, Cheese, Tomato, Pasta etc etc, that you need! We never have leftovers.. and it’s KIND OF teaching me how to cook. Don’t get too excited though.. Ryan still makes 95% of the meals, haha!

It’s not super cheap, about 80$ a week, for 3 meals for 2, but we order SO much takeout… which is always like 40$ a time… so overall it is saving us money.. but it’s for sure a splurge still. Every single meal we have made is SO delicious, and has us using so many ingredients we never would have even thought to use! We are eating so much healthier, which is wonderful.