Netflix Anonymous

Now that The Beard is at school until 8 pm every night, and I have tons of reading/writing for my Master's program, I'm spending even MORE time with my best friend and true love - Netflix.

These are my latest obsessions that I need to talk about, ASAP. So watch them if you haven't and email me, because I crave analysis, gushing and discussion.

Once Upon a Time

Last Sunday, (September 15) I started watching OUAT, and today I finished Season 1.n I'm hoping to finish Season 2 before the Season 3 premiere on Sunday night. I'm literally a crazy person. I'm a goner with this show. Seriously. I'm shipping (abbreviated from relationshipping: when you obsess over a particular fictional relationship) Rumplestiltskin and Belle so hard I am nearly brought to tears just thinking about it. Ask me if I spent 20 minutes on my prep watching clips of them set to sappy love songs on YouTube. I have a problem. A real problem.

Derek

As a diehard Office fan, I also appreciate the BBC version and therefore, Ricky Gervais. However, he can be VERY offensive in a lot of his current comedy shows. I was very cautious. This show is definitely a little foul-mouthed and irreverent, but it's SO sensitive to the autistic/handicapped/elderly/otherwise different. It follows Derek, an autistic man who works at a rest home with his best friends. You will be laughing hysterically at Derek and his friends doing hilarious and inappropriate things, then be crying at the sweet, sad and poignant moments. It left me feeling uplifted - like our lives have meaning and how important it is to be kind. It honestly made me a better person. I can't wait to re-watch it in a few weeks when I'm done with OUAT.

The Killing

I got really into this show 2 summers ago and blew through it so fast. I just re-watched it alongside my bestie Katie and I'm starting the third season on Amazon Prime with her soon! So crazy and suspenseful, great cliffhangers and a shocking resolution. Perfect for people who like Law & Order, CSI, and any other crime dramas. 

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

This crazy documentary is a must-see for any sushi lover. This guy is like the god of sushi. It's cool to see how he gets his fish, cures it and carefully crafts it into thousand-dollar sushi. Sushi is his LIFE. 

Safety NOT Guaranteed

We watched this movie with our besties Brad and Eliesa and really liked it. It's quirky and suspenseful, with a great ending. We love Aubrey Plaza from Parks & Rec, and she's a similar character so we obviously approve.

Breaking Bad

I've written about this before before, sorry. We still have one whole Netflix season and then the current season until we're caught up, but HOLY FREAKING SHIZ YOU GUYS THIS SHOW! So violent. So awful. So dramatic. So crazy. So suspenseful. So insane. I've never been a huge fan of 45 minute episodes (short attention span bred by the 22 minute Office episodes) but if you want a series that will compel you entirely and has plenty of episodes up and ready to blow through, this one will not disappoint. 

Zoolander

This recent addition to Netflix needs no introduction or review. A comedy classic and total gold.

House of Cards

We got really into this show right before school started and it was awesome. It's about a congressman that gets slighted by the President and uses all of his power to exact revenge and get back on top. It's absolutely incredible - which is why it won an Emmy last night! Again, language and sexual content is over the top. Strangely, though, I feel like it helped me understand our government better than anything else in my years of education.


On our To Watch List:

• BBC Sherlock - we've heard great things, we just need to work up the courage to take on a 90 minute episode!
• Portlandia Season 2 - I love sketch comedy and making fun of hipsters
• Vampire Diaries - my sister Brooke has been trying to get me to watch it and I'm slowly getting into it
• New Girl Season 2 - one of the few shows me and The Beard like equally. I shout "WHERE THE HELL ARE MY DRIVING MOCCASINS?!" at least once a day. 
• When Strangers Click - a documentary about finding love through the internet, which has always fascinated me.
• Safe Haven - I indulge in a cheesy romance now and then. The Beard does not. 
• Sushi: The Global Catch - another sushi documentary!

What else should I be watching?

It Takes One to Know One

So this last week I've kind of felt like the lady in the white shirt.


Still hanging in there guys, don't you worry. But if anyone wants to send me additional YouTube videos or go get cupcakes with me, I'm not saying I couldn't use it. Two 4-day weeks with a 4 day weekend is definitely helping. Do you know how much cuddling I've done with Glen Coco? The limit does not exist.

So on Saturday we went on a classy double date with the in-laws. Tsunami off 106th is our new joint. It used to be Sammy's back in the day (no, really. It was OUR place. Check their Facebook pic.), but now the waiters know us here. Seriously the sushi is amazing.

We also took them to Pirate-O's, which made me super nostalgic about when I was in the U.K. two summers ago. Man I want to travel again.

Finally, we took them to Scheels since they had never been. We love Scheels: athletic gear, clothes and American Presidents? Yahtzee.

Anyway, I wanted to talk about what happens when I see other girls and their style out and about. I often wonder if I'm the only one that does this.

I'm obvs super judgy about bad outfits. Mostly just things that are in bad taste - ill-fitting, immodest, dirty, bad condition, Uggs, etc. But it doesn't make me necessarily dislike the person. It's more of a "Oh honey. Let me come over and rake your closet." Condescending and judgmental still, I know.

However, when I see a girl with great style, I am not filled with jealousy or even envy (maybe a little if she's got a really expensive bag or shoes). I see that girl with great style and think "All right girlfriend. I'd like to be your friend. We'll get along."

So at Scheels the other night, I see a girl wearing a very cute military-style red coat with semi-ruffly peplum along the bottom. I motioned to my mother-in-law and said "I love her coat!" then turned my back and kept walking.

My mother-in-law caught up with me in a few seconds, laughing. "After you walked off that girl sure gave you a look!" Apparently this girl, after seeing me smile and point out her coat, maybe even hearing me say I liked it, looked me up and down with disdain.

Ok I was starting to feel the effects of the flu that now has me huddled like a fetus near my baby fireplace. But please girlfriend. Try not to be so obvious when you judge other people. I can at least hide it, so you better practice. Maybe you could practice in the mirror wearing your cheap mid-calf boots. They are fodder enough for acidic stares.

Manic Mondayz

Having all summer off, and then two weeks of no Mondays (first week of school and then Labor Day), I had forgotten how bad Mondays can suck. It even starts to hurt on Sunday morning when I realize my weekend is basically over. I have to make some adjustments to make Mondays do-able, what with my exhaustion, 200 grumbly 13 year olds, and a whole week of whining ahead of me (I still love it by the way).

I start by planning a new outfit that I'm excited about. It makes me feel better about climbing out of bed. This Monday I wore my new red pants - snagged at H&M for 30% off during Fashion's Night Out (blog post still pending).

I indulge in a little "treat yo self!" Sometimes I get a smoothie on the way to work. Sometimes I'll get an extra Diet Coke from the gas station during lunch. Sometimes I'll sneak a treat into my desk for that lull between 5th & 6th period. I'd never survive otherwise.

I try to exercise on Mondays. I shoot for 3 days a week, sometimes more, but I always try to make one of those days a Monday. I find it helps me to reset my sleep schedule that I completely screwed up over the weekend, and it just sets my week off in a great productive manner.

FHE! Don't get me wrong. We don't really do FHE, although we should. We try to set up Classy Dinner Parties (CDPs) as we call them, with our married friends for Monday nights whenever possible. It always keeps me excited all day long. Next week is soup in breadbowls and making caramel apples with the Findeis'.

Monday night we went to Happy Sumo with my family to celebrate the Beard and Mitch's birthdays! Mitch turns the big 18 on Saturday. Can you believe it? Most people think he's already 18, and he certainly acts it. This kid is as athletic as Brooke, smarter than me and cooler {taller} than both of us. He's the kind of kid who does the right thing because he wants to, not because anyone tells him or expects him to. I can't wait to judge and scare off all the girls that swarm him when he gets back from his mission in 3 (!) years. He's one of my best friends and I just love him so much.

Look how good looking my 2/3 favorite guys are? (Ed Budge not pictured, but also good looking.) Yes, this is how the Beard takes pictures. You should all be more thoroughly impressed with our engagement photos now.

Happy Birthday boys!

ValenTIMES Day

I love Valentines Day. I always have. Even when I was single, I prided myself on not being one of those bitter girls. You know the types.

1. The Denier. Boycotts Valentine's Day by watching violent movies, wearing all black, locking themselves in their apartments. I bet that makes you feel better, huh?

2. The Annoyer. Pretends to not care, has a loud, obnoxious girls night by taking the tables meant for couples at the chic sushi restaurant. We get it. You're SOOOOO independent.

3. The Whiner. Basically just drops pity-party comments like "Well, if I HAD anyone to spend it with..." "These hearts just remind me that I'm alone, hahahaha! *sob*" There is a reason you're alone, sweetheart.

Celebrate LOVE you guys! It doesn't matter if you don't have it yet! It's ok. And it's ok for other couples to celebrate. The flowers, chocolates and teddy bears might be tacky, but it's not the items. It's a celebration of LOVE!

Last year's Valentine's, or ValenTIMES, as Ryan calls it, was amazing. Ryan surprised me with dinner at Shoga, a completely shocking ring shopping trip, and hilarious people watching at the Cocoa Bean. It was perfect. For our first married Valentimes we wanted to keep the pace.

Ryan is surprising me with the dinner location, again. Cocoa Bean will be our delicious dessert, and instead of ring shopping we're planning a cozy night with an old romantic movie (we're thinking "An Affair to Remember" or something equally classy).

I keep planning outfit after outfit. No one tell me I have to pick just one.

And I just couldn't resist the cute boxes of class Valentines so I got some classy Batman Valentines and I'm whipping up these pink beauties for our family and friends. Hopefully Cupid smiles upon me in this quest.

Love LOVE and love you all!