SHOWS & MOVIES TO PUT ON YOUR WATCHLIST

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The Show : Twin Peaks
Episode Count: 38
Seasons: 3
Where to Watch: Netflix

Twin Peaks Travel Poster by Jazzberry Blue

If you haven't ever seen a David Lynch film I would suggest you watch one before giving Twin Peaks a go. He's a brilliant director and there is a ton of symbolism in every single character/plot/setting. With that being said he is not everyone's cup of tea... or coffee - watch the show and you'll get the joke.

THE HERO WE NEEDED - WONDER WOMAN REVIEW

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I'm either going to sound very nerdy - never a bad thing by the way - or very extra in this post. But I felt SO INSPIRED to get on here and write.




This past Friday I went to see the new Wonder Woman movie and I left feeling such a deep and honest connection to the film. I am a very big fan of Marvel films and less so with DC only because I love the brevity of Marvel's characters.


The Batman Trilogy was an exception to this sentiment but even they couldn't compare to the star-packed character ensembles of Marvel films. So, when I first heard that DC was creating a Wonder Woman origin movie I was less enthusiastic about seeing it.


If I could travel back in time and warn myself how wrong those thoughts were I would because holy-moly this film is a winner in every way, shape, and form. Wonder Woman is easily my favorite Super Hero film and it was seriously a long time coming.


Personal Time

I am a feminist in the sense that I love seeing women in empowered positions. I'm a "you go get it girl" type of person but - and that's a heavy loaded but - I am not a man basher. 


I can watch Captain America or Iron Man and feel just as elated as I would if there were a Black Widow film. It's not solely about seeing a woman dominating in this scenario that made me feel so passionate.


More than anything it's about the type of woman that Diana (Wonder Woman) is in the movie. The world of the Amazon's was portrayed as a Utopian society. They were supportive and strong, something that you don't always see in women centered films. 


They weren't afraid of their strength and I'm sure many would even qualify them as "manly." They had bodies that weren't starving but were instead jam-packed with muscle.  Being the tall woman that I am I have always struggled with appearing less feminine than the typical lady. 

MAY MASTERPIECES

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Who is this? Is this me? Coming here... with a blog post?


I can hear the roaring sounds of the audience in shock and awe. 


I've left so much abandoned when I started my job. I've left so much of myself behind. 


But I'm coming back now. I'm coming back to me.

BLOGTOBER // 31 DAYS OF BLOGS

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This might just be the most ridiculous idea I have had in awhile. I'll probably kick myself in a week for even putting the thought into my mind but... what's life without a little bit of madness? So I'm putting my name in the cauldron and taking part of Blogtober! 
31 Days... 31 WHOLE DAYS of posting a blog. I really want the content to be good, not just churning out posts for postsake (lol not a word). But I'm up to the challenge and I think it will be great preparation for Blogmas as well. 

I will reveal week by week the topics of the blog: A) Because tackling the number 7 is better than the number 31 B) Keep it secret... keep it safe. 

I hope you Gals and Ghouls are ready because October is gonna get spooktacular!

Here is week one's lineup:
1) September Favorites
2) Favorite Halloween Movies
3) Fall Bucket List
4) Baking Halloween Treats
5) Halloween Decorating Tips
6) Turning Back the Clock: Childhood Halloween Costumes
7) Fall Beauty

I hope you will join me for this haunted hayride of a month! Also, tag me in your own Blogtober posts and I'll be more than happy to check them out :) Xoxo Sam


SUMMER MOVIE EXTRAVAGANZA - Reviews & Stuff

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Hey humans behind their computer screens! So for some reason last week I subconsciously wanted to spend way too much money/satisfy my film lover side and saw three movies in theatre. Yes, ALL IN ONE WEEK!
As a sort of unspoken rule most summer movies just tend to be blegh. It's the same with summer television like props out to Netflix because with the Bachelorette ending (I know. Someone throw a Starbucks at me quick) there is literally nothing good until September. If it's all a ploy to get people outdoors all I can say to that is YES I WILL CONTINUE WATCHING NEXT EPISODE.
So not to get too sidetracked here... the three movies I watched are:

  1. Ghostbusters
  2. The Legend of Tarzan
  3. Star Trek Beyond
Ghostbusters

Man oh manie man, I was super stoked to see this movie. Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones my idols, my sweet sweet comedic lady gods. When I first heard that they were doing a female cast of Ghostbusters I thought "this Samantha, this is why you have lived in this generation." As a sort-of-kind-of-not-really joke I wore a Ghostbusters pin underneath my graduation robes. 

Why you may ask? I DON'T KNOW I MAY SAY.  But I was amped up to the extremes. Last Tuesday night I grabbed a late drink with some friends (when I say late it was 9:30 and I had already been laying in bed motionless when I got the call). When we were finished we were mere steps from the theatre and my dear friend turns to me and asks "you wanna see the new ghostbusters movie." I floated on a wave of popcorn wind straight to the theatre that was completely and 100% empty. 
Was it the late hour that made me fall out of my chair laugh? Or, could it be, that this movie was just the right amount of campiness and pun-infused joke machine that I imagined it to be. No I'm not lucky I'm blessed, yes. 
My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars 

The Legend of Tarzan

As the dreaded Friday night approached seemingly plan-less I knew I needed to conjure up something quick or it would be a night of netflix and youtube yet again. My darling sister messaged me at 7am that morning, after my stepdad had butt dialed me at 6:30 am, and revealed that she too had the fear of a friendless Friday night and I knew just how to remedy this. Alexander Skarsgard without a shirt. The cinematography was ACES and Samuel Jackson do you ever disappoint? Nope, you don't.  Harley Quinn what are you doing out in the jungle? And Christoph Waltz, I see you boo. 
My Rating: 2.7/5 Stars

Star Trek Beyond

On the cooler side of things (well not really because it felt like the crack of the devils ass outside) me and mommy dearest went to Paramount Studios and saw the new Star Trek film with a Q&A of the special effects producer on Sunday! IT WAS RAD! -- not so much the movie as the experience -- but yas yas yas. The movie was... a reach. Granted when I watch action movies my eyes tend to glaze over but normally the Star Trek films are more character driven than  bang bang boom if you know what I mean. 
My Rating: 1.5/5 Stars = movie
                   5/5 Stars = experience

The obvious next filmic adventure will DEFO be Suicide Squad. Let me know if anyone wants a half-assed review of that film or any other summer film releases you think is $15 dollars worth. Xoxo Sam

February Favorites!

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Well, hello there. After a brief hiatus I am finally feeling back to my normal self again. There was so much going on in my life at the start of February that I felt so disconnected from everything and, for me, blogging is something I do as a way to express myself. But how can you express yourself when you don't feel like yourself at all??? 
So here I am. I can't promise that I'll be reliable with this blog because this semester is really turning out to be quite challenging. Not really in terms of school work but just learning how to adjust to college ending. I mean it is a bit of an identity crisis to think that in literally less than 3 months I won't be a student again. But you can read my post that I wrote on the first day of this semester here where I share more of my feelings on that topic. 
Without further ado here are my February Favorites! Enjoy :)
Makeup
I had been using the skin toning primer from e.l.f. until it sadly ran out. So my roommate and I went to their store and I picked out this one. So far I like it better than the other one because it's consistency is more like a lotion where as the other one was more oil based. 
Obsessed. So obsessed. The name of this is called Long Legged and Fabulous. I mean was it made for me personally??? I think so. I love the pink color so so much! You can find it here.
I am not even kidding the amount of people who asked me what nail polish I wore at work one day was overwhelming. Thankfully I knew the brand! Floss Gloss is an awesome local nail polish company that seriously has THE BEST nail polish. This one is called 95% Angel and it is so gorgeous. I'm someone who usually sticks to pinks, reds, or whites but this color was too good not to try! You can find it here.

Clothing
I'm in serious summer mode already and it is KILLING me trying not to go out and buy shorts, sandals, or tank tops. Maybe this New York winter has been a tease of spring because I am sooooo ready for warm weather again. I saw this shirt at work and literally could not stop picking it up. I convinced myself that if by the third time I saw the shirt and still loved it I should buy it...so I did. I think it's going to be perfect for the beach and the graphic is awesome!!! You can find it here. 
I know technically this isn't clothing but I went to a Pink store because I still had some money on a gift card. I had been telling myself I needed a water bottle because I never drank enough water throughout the day. I saw this and I so wish you could see the other side because it says "Good Vibes" and the two O's are pineapples! After this month I needed all the good vibes I could get and this not only keeps me hydrated but is also bright and happy! You can find it here. 

Misc.
Diet: lol.
Movies: OMG so much to say! So the most recent movie I saw was Deadpool which was actually probably one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Ryan Reynolds is a dream and it doesn't matter how gross they try to make him he will always be 100% fiiiine. I also saw the new Zoolander 2 movie which was equally as funny but in a different way. Much like the first one you really had to turn off your brain to enjoy it but after having received bad news literally minutes before the film it was exactly the mind numbing entertainment I needed. 
TV: one show and one show only... FULLER HOUSE! I watched the entire season on Friday and I literally do not care what anyone thinks it was so nostalgic. I have also still been watching all my crappy reality shows but the Bachelor is almost over and Girls just started! (I really need to find better television to watch lol)
Music: Because of my summer vacation mentality (in the middle of winter) I have been listening non-stop to the beach boys. This could perhaps be the reason I am yearning for the beach but they really do brighten my day! 

I hope you enjoyed the post and I really will blog more now that my personal life is more under control. Lots of love always! xoxo Sam 




January Favorites

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I know January isn't technically over but just thought I would get a head start! So much has happened this month it really is weird for me to think that I was in California for the majority of it. I swear I come back to New York and it's like I never went home at all (feels the same way being in California too!)
Also something I wanted to slightly mention was that I canceled my Ipsy subscription this month as well. Not to speak badly but when I returned to my apartment and opened the two Glam Bags I had waiting from December and January I was really disappointed with the quality of the products as well as the amount of products. If you are going to have a larger bag I don't think it is smart to send like 4 items in it. One of my friends is still subscribed so I asked them to tell me how they like the product choices in the upcoming month to see if I would possibly resubscribe (wow that was a longer paragraph than I expected). But I want to be totally honest with you all about the things I choose to purchase!
So to start it off makeup!
Lip Enhancer Illusion Lip Liner by ModelCo
Mac Velvet Teddy Lipstick
HD Microfinish Powder - Powder - MAKE UP FOR EVER

Clothing

Cotton On's Graphic Tee Selections
Basel Flat Bootie Lucky Brand

Gym Pant PINK by Victoria's Secret
MISC.
Diet: Really trying to start every day with Oatmeal. I needed to use up the box of Quaker Oats I had but also went to Whole Foods and bought their organic brand of Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal so excited to try that out! Also eating lots of fruits and fruit based foods to make sure my Vitamin C, Potassium, etc. stay normal throughout the winter. 
Movies: Saw the Revenant last night and will review that for my second half of the oscars best picture nominations. *if you missed it you can find it here* I also watched Joy and can't wait to share with you all what I thought.
TV: I go through weird relations with reality TV but right now I am all about The Bachelor, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and Vanderpump Rules (I know they are all so frickin' awful but so oddly addicting and entertaining)
Music: It's odd because being home my music taste is normally pretty typical: top 50, some oldies, etc. But whenever I get back to New York I get into odd music kicks. Right now it's just been old movie soundtracks. 

I hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know what you would like to see next on the blog xoxo Sam



Oscar Nominations Watch List 2016

2016
So I will have to start out by saying I am obsessed with movies. Not to brag but I would battle anyone on movie trivia ranging all the way to the first movies that were ever created to the most current films to hit theatre's. I worked at a movie theatre for two years and it was one of the most brilliant jobs I have ever had. That being sad I do not enjoy reading critic reviews because I think it has become a community of snobs who choose not to enjoy films solely because they want to appear above the general audience who are entertained by certain movies. For me the Golden Globes are more enjoyable because they really try to get a good round up of the top movies this year. If that means putting Ridley Scott's  The Martian in the same category as Amy Schumer's Trainweck well... at least they got them all in there.  However the Oscars have always held a higher prestige in the world of cinema and for that I try every year to watch all the best movie nominations. Here is the list of the
2016 ballot:
The Big Short
Bridge of Spies
Brooklyn
Mad Max: Fury Road
The Martian
The Revenant
Room
Spotlight

I'm sure if you read any movie review right now they would tell you the Revenant (with 12 nominations) is a safe bet for best film. So far I have watched...

  • The Big Short
  • Brooklyn
  • The Martian
  • Room
So obviously I still have half of the films to watch! However, it is hard for me to agree with Bridge of Spies being a contender for best film and Joy being completely snubbed and for that I will instead review Joy and not review Bridge of Spies (because I can and because it looks really boring).
The Big Short
Loved it. Smart, humorous, and most of all HONEST! Being a 13 year old at the time of the market collapse it was so interesting for me to actually learn exactly what happened. Steve Carrel really should have been nominated for best actor but... I digress. Considering the director went from making slap-stick comedies like Anchorman to something with such a highly intelligent humor is incredible. I just have to say this isn't one where you can half pay attention because like they say some of the words used (in the financial world) are meant to make your head spin.
Brooklyn
So, it was cute... it was heart warming... the cinematography was gorgeous... I didn't really love it. Not that it wasn't a nice story about an Irish immigrant who is truly stuck between a rock and a hard place but honestly that's all it really was for me... a nice story. I wouldn't necessarily categorize it with Nicholas Sparks films but it was pretty dang close.
The Martian
Oh my god if you didn't fall in love with Matt Damon in this film then you are truly a heartless humanoid and need to reevaluate everything about your life. jk... but truly this film was so epic
I was on the edge of my seat the entire time like holding my breath. It also made me feel a bigger connection to understanding places like JPL (somewhere I visited as a kid but never really understood).  There were no bad people, no ill wishes, just hope and not to mention great humor amongst all the tension.
Room
If I could have one wish it would be that Room wins best picture. I went into this film with no knowledge of what it was about, what I would expect, nothing. And I am so so happy I did. There is so much to love about Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay's relationship that you actually feel like they could be a real life mother and son (not to mention Brie's actual Instagram posts about Jacob ugh... my heart). The climax literally had me almost on the floor about to pass out from anticipation and I love when a film can do that to me. So you are hearing it now! My nomination for best picture is ROOM

I will continue to do the other four movie nominations within the following weeks so look out for that! Let me know what your favorite movies this season are as well! xoxo Sam




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