Hello, lovelies. I’m back with another Monthly Favorites post. Enjoy.
Last Month’s Post – June 2017 Favorites (Books, Movies, Music, Etc.)
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//Books
Matilda by Roald Dahl – Long story short, we had to stop in the middle of our road-trip because my dad had to work. We stopped at an outdoor mall. While he worked at a restaurant with Wi-Fi, Zidan and I hung out at a bookstore. I reread Matilda while we were there. I had forgotten a lot of little details that weren’t in the movie. It’s still really good. I was able to finish it in an hour.
The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas – Yes. I read this book again. This book makes my blood boil with anger. Every few chapters, I’d have to put the book down so I could calm myself. Everyone should read it. It’ll make you understand the Black Lives Matter movement in an incredible way.
Looking For Alaska by John Green – I’ve started this book so many times. I’ve finally finished it. It’s good, but not my favorite John Green Book by a long shot.
#Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso – This is an autobiography of a woman who went from being homeless to running a multimillion-dollar business. It’s really interesting. I saw the Netflix show it was based on, but the real story played out a bit differently (Understandably. Not every part of life is interesting enough for a T.V. show)
City Of Saints And Thieves by Natalie C. Anderson – I’m not done with this book yet, but I love it so far. It’s about a Congo refugee in Kenya. There’s way more to it, but I’ll leave it at that because I’m not finished yet.
//T.V. Shows
Shameless – I finished this show last month. It’s really good and very inappropriate, so be careful who you watch it with. It’s about 6 siblings with neglectful parents living in the poor part of Chicago. They have to do a lot to survive.
Danny Phantom – This is one of my nostalgia shows. I hadn’t thought about this show in a long time, but when I started the free one-month trial on Hulu, I had to watch it again. It’s a pretty fun lighthearted show considering the premise: A fourteen-year-old boy dies in a tragic lab accident, but since he died between dimensions, he’s half alive in both. This could’ve been a really dark show, and I sort of wish it was now that I’m an adult, but I need to remind myself that it’s a cartoon.
Still Starcrossed – This is the newest Shondaland shows. It wasn’t renewed for a second season, but I liked it. I understand that Shakespeare isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, so I’m okay with the cancellation. The finale was something, though.
The Handmaid’s Tale – I read the book a few months ago, so I had to watch the show. I finished it in two days. I personally love dark shows and this show was the best. I don’t know how they’re going to film a second season considering the book ended the way the season did, but apparently, Margaret Atwood is going to help write it, so she’s still in charge of the world she created.
The Bold Type – When I saw the trailer for this show, I didn’t plan on watching it. It seemed like another preppy show about girls trying to make it in a magazine. Heads up, it’s not. It’s one of the most feminist shows out there right now. I think everyone should watch it.
Raven’s Home – It’s been a LONG wait. I actually watched it on YouTube the morning before the premiere. It was the first thing I did when I woke up! I loved That’s So Raven as a kid and the sequel certainly has the same vibe as the original show.
//Movies
I spent more time watching shows than movies, so all the movies I watched were kid’s movies. No shame. Animated movies are the best movies.
Cars 3 – I watched Cars 3 with two of my friends at the dollar theatre. (The tickets are $3.50 now, but I remember when tickets were actually a dollar. Inflation and all…) It was pretty good. I was surprised that I liked it so much because Cars isn’t one of my favorite Pixar movies and sequels usually suck. It surpassed my expectations.
Beauty And The Beast Live Action – I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have watched this movie if Emma Watson wasn’t in it. I liked it. They changed the story a bit, so it wasn’t a carbon copy of the original.
(I watched the movies below in August, but I’m putting them here since I’m publishing this later than usual.)
Sing – I thought this movie would be complete and utter cr*p. This and Trolls came out at around the same time. When I saw the trailers for both, I was sure they were going to suck. Trolls did. The only reason I watched both movies is that they are on Netflix. Sing surpassed my expectations. Don’t get me wrong, it was still cheesy, but what can you expect from a non-Disney/Pixar animation.
The Iron Giant – I watched this with my dad the other day. I remember him making us watch the VHS tape when we were kids talking about how great it is, but I never got it. Now that I’m older, I enjoyed it a lot because I understand all the political undertones considering it was set during the Cold War.
//Music
So Cold By Ben Cocks – I listened to this song on repeat on our road trip to New Orleans.
Heart by Sleeping At Last – I can safely say that this is my favorite band. I love all their songs. I can just close my eyes and zone out in the best way when I listen to them.
Heaven’s Light From Hunchback Of Notre Dame – When the song Evermore came on when I was watching Beauty And The Beast, the entire time I was thinking “This is just like Heaven’s Light from Hunchback Of Notre Dame.” So I went back and gave it a listen.
//Food
Pretty Much Everything We Ate In New Orleans – Which basically means a lot of seafood and unhealthy fried food. I ate beignets every day and had a lot of shrimp and crap. I tried oysters for the first time. They were better than I thought they’d be. The seafood gumbo was my favorite. My mouth waters just thinking about it. I am just a little ashamed to admit that we ate Popeye’s, but I must say that it tasted way better in Louisiana than it does in Georgia.
//Products
Wal-Mart $2.50 Face Masks – I have very oily, acne-prone skin, so New Orleans did a number on me. I had so much acne when I got home. I get more acne during the summer, too, so that didn’t help. When I was at Wal-Mart, I saw a section with little packets of face masks and bought them. They work really well and I can get 4-5 uses out of every packet. They’ve worked like a charm. (Now, what to do about these dark spots?)
//Priceless
Just The Contentness Of Being Alive – My life isn’t very exciting right now. Whenever I feel down about that, I think about how blessed I am. I think that’s one of the joys of being a child of immigrants. I don’t take little things for granted. I was born here. Going to college was never a question for me. I am able to communicate and live independently, something my brother will never experience. My parents are alive! Not everyone has that. Earlier this month, my dad emailed me his life insurance policy, how much money we’d get, and everything I’d have to do…most people don’t worry about that stuff, but I do very often. And that makes me so thankful for what I have right now.
If that’s not priceless, I don’t know what is.
That’s it for now. I’ll see you next time.
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What were some of your favorite things this month?