What I've Watched In Quarentine (TV & Movies)

What I've Watched In Quarentine (TV & Movies)

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

"Quarentine Confession"..I've watched a lot of shows while stuck at home (as I am sure many of you have). While I am usually a pretty active show watcher, I have definitely been knocking them out these last 7 weeks. Now, before you think that all I do is sit around and watch shows every day, let me just say a lot of these were viewed while working on sewing projects (I love to have something on in the background) because when I am focused on a project I will spend ALL DAY working on it....now aside from that I will admit there have been a couple of days where I did binge a show or a good number of episodes. 

Since our whole family was at home together for a majority of Quarantine, we watched a lot of movies together, so most of the movies I share are ones we watched as a family. 

There are a lot of British Mini Series that I have re-watched over Quarantine (because they are worth re-watching) but I have also watched a number of new shows....I recently got into KDramas and I am kind of obsessed, so I have watched a lot of those.  

I will say, my taste in shows and movies might not be your cup of tea for a story line, content, or premise, but I am always interested in what others watch, so I thought I would share. 

For each show or movie I will talk a bit about why I liked it or what it is about and also what it is rated. 

Netflix: 
TV Shows -

Crash Landing To You - (TV - 14) This was the first KDrama that I watched after seeing someone recommend it on Instagram and it got be HOOKED on KDramas, plus it is literally sooooo good! It is about a girl from South Korea who crashes into North Korea and meets a Captain in the special forces...the show follows their story (and romance) along with having many notable characters and sub plots along the way. The ending is so perfect and their is a twist in the story which makes it what it is. Also the MUSIC in this show is amazing!!

Something In The Rain - (TVMA) This is another KDrama that I watched, and while it was good, it wasn't my favorite. It had a lot of frustrating drama and some of the characters got on my nerves. The plot is about a woman in her 30's who starts dating her best friends younger brother (and let's just say drama ensues). While it is rated TVMA, it's not like an american TVMA, it's more or a very weak PG-13.

My Secret Romance - (TV - 14) Surprise, another KDrama. I really loved the characters in this one and also there is a lot about food because one of the main characters is a nutritionist. If you want a cheesy and slightly drama free romance this one was good. It focuses on the chance encounter between two characters who's paths cross later on & they end up working together. 

Married at First Sight - (TV - 14) If there is one reality TV show that I am obsessed with...THIS IS IT! I don't know why, but I am always intrigued by the science of the show and how the experts match people together. I actually show episodes of this show in my Interpersonal Studies class when we talk about relationships. Netflix has season 9 right now and its is a roller coaster. 

Movies:

Failure to Launch - (PG - 13) If you are a fan of Matthew McConaughey this movie is a great chick flick! I had already watched it before, but watched it again during Quarantine with my parents and my mom enjoyed it. It has a lot of funny parts because it centers around parents who hire a relationship consultant (Sarah Jessica Parker) to help push their 30 year old son out of the house. 

The Duchess - (PG -13) I am always down for a good period drama for the story line and the costumes. I had always heard about the Duchess, but never had watched it. It was a great movie, definitely an interesting story and also really heartbreaking as it shows the unique perspective of marriage in the 18th century. Stars Keira Knightly & Haley Atwell. The costumes are fabulous! 

The Kissing Booth - (TV - 14) I am a sucker for a good cheesy teen romance movie & this is one of Netflix's movies based off of a YA book. I'm pretty sure I have seen this movie like 5 times. The plot is about a girl named Elle who falls for her best friends brother after working the kissing booth at their schools carnival. 

Outbreak - (R) Yes, we watched a movie about an Epidemic, during a Pandemic! This movie is actually really interesting if you are into science type movies. We watched this at the start of Quarentine & my family actually watched it 2 times because they like it so much. It is rated R for the gruesomeness of the virus and language. 

Roped - (PG) This is one of the new movies to Netflix in May and is only worth watching is you want a really cringy romance you can make fun of. There's a lot of things that don't make since. It's like the Longest Ride mixed with Footloose, but the dad doesn't like the rodeo because its animal cruelty, but then he changes his mind...the daughter falls for the cowboy after like 2 days even though they barely talked and then he leaves at the end. 

Currently Watching:

English Game - (TV - 14) Julian Fellows directs this show so you know it will be good. 

My First First Love - (TV -14) Another KDrama, but this one doesn't have hours long episodes and the characters are university students and not 30 year old adults. It also is English "dubed" which makes it easy to play in the background, but weird because the voices don't fit...lol

Gilmore Girls (for the 3rd time) - ( TV - 14) I am a huge fan of Gilmore girls and have watched it multiple times. Hands down this is one of my favorite shows 

100 Humans - (TV -14) This is a super interesting show centered on hypotheses about humans and actual experiments to prove them right or wrong. They focus on different topics in each episode and it is very interesting if you like psychology and sociology. 

Amazon:
TV Shows-

Poldark - (TV -14) I started watching Poldark back in college with the earlier seasons, but for some reason I got frustrated with it for awhile and stopped watching. However, I picked it back up in April and got hooked...you kind of have to stick with it and get past season 3. It really is a great show, even though there is frustrating drama and I was honestly sad when it ended. It is also centered during a time that not many period dramas are and shows great 1790's fashions. Never has anything overly inappropriate, but there are a handful of implied scenes. 

Dr. Thorne - Another Julian Fellows show. This one is actually a mini series so there are only like 5 episodes, but it is so good. It's a comical and romantic look at the struggle of class and marriage in a society that looked on social standing. It has so many great parts to the story and wonderful cast. 

Making The Cut - (TV-14) What kind of Fashion Design teacher would I be if I didn't watch the design shows? Making The Cut came out at the start of Social Distancing and is hosted by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn (from Project Runway) and it is honestly soooo good! I truly think it is better than Project runway and the designs are on a whole other level. 

Vanity Fair: (13+) This is a fabulouly dramatic period drama focused on a set of characters in the early 1800's that are all striving for what is not worth having. This is the newest adaption of the show and I really love how they tell the story. (also Johnny Flynn who plays Mr. Knightly in the 2020 Emma plays a great character in this show)

Movies:

47 Meters Down Uncaged - (PG-13) I don't like horror or scary movies, but I think the whole "shark" thing is why I like these movies. If you saw the first 47 meters down, this one is way better...like it has way more surprising moments and more sharks!

Murder on the Orient Express 2017 (rented) - (PG-13) I saw this in Theaters when it came out, but we watched it as again as a family and its a great movie if you like solving mysteries (plus it counts as a period drama) and has a stellar cast! 

Knives Out (rented)- (PG-13) Super interesting "Clue" like mystery that has you guessing the entire movie and never seeing the ending. It's quite an interesting plot. 

Emma (2020 - Rented) - (PG) I will watch anything Jane Austen ANY TIME, so you can only imagine how excited I was for the new Emma movie this year. I actually went to see this movie in theaters before social distancing (treated myself and it was great), but then rented it at home to show my mom. I could seriously watch this movie over and over. I know there are mixed reviews of this version, but honestly I think they did a really great job and infused Jane Austen's humor into the characters and story. Also the costumes were to die for and I loved Johnny Flynn as Mr. Knightly. Note: At the beginning there is a scene that has a brief moment of partial nudity as Mr. Knightly dresses...it was the directors take to show a man dressing in the 1800's over the scenes that typically show a women getting dressed. 

Unknown - (PG-13) If you love a good Liam Neeson movie this is a great one on Amazon. The story line is about an assassin who gets amnesia and starts to think his cover is his real life...it is quite an interesting story line. 

Morning Glory - (PG-13) (also on Hulu) Great Rom Com that had me and my parents laughing. Centers around a girl wanting to be a famous TV producer and ends up working to revive a failing TV show for a company. Stars Harrison Ford

Kingsman (rent) - (R) I LOVE the Kingsman movies so much, from the suits, to the accents, to the action! If you don't like gore, killing, or British language, than this is probably not for you.

Current War - (PG-13) This was a great movie we watched as a family and I learned so much about the history of electricity! It is a movie about the competition between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse. It is packed with a stellar cast like Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Nicholas Hoult, and Matthew Macfadyen. 

Rocky - Okay, really My sister has been watching all the Rockies with my parents, but I have sat in for snippets of each movie and they are really good. If you like classic movies with inspiring themes these are for you! 

Hulu:
TV Shows-

Pride & Prejudice (1995) - This was a re-warch for me while sewing, but I will re-watch Pride and Prejudice any day. I like this version because it is a mini series and follows the book more closely. 

War & Peace - (TV-14) I actually own this on DVD, but watched it for a 3rd time on Hulu while sewing. I have never read the book, but I LOVE the show. There is so much that goes on and you really connect to the characters in many ways. I always cry at the ending. Note: there are 2 scenes throughout the show that you might want to skip. 

Emma (2009) - (no longer on Hulu) This is the BBC mini series of Emma and again, this was a rewatch for me. This version plays to a lot more of the story because it is longer, and also shows more between Emma and Mr. Knightly's history. I love the cast, plus Johnny Lee Miller plays a fantastic Mr. Knightly. 

 

Oh My Venus - (TV-14) This was a KDrama on Hulu and I really liked it. It tells the story of a girl who was popular in high school, but who grows up to be a lawyer struggling with her weight...she then meets a celebrity trainer who helps her become healthy & you can imagine the rest. The characters for this show reminded me a lot of Crash Landing to You. 

Descendants of The Sun - (TV-14) This is probably my favorite KDrama I have watched. It has the perfect mix of romance, action, drama, and medical. It follows a special forces captain who falls for a doctor, who ends up being stationed at his base. There a a lot of sub plots that I loved. 

Currently Watching:

Company X - (TV-14) This is a Canadian show that follows a group of spies that work for Canada during the beginning of WWII. It has a very interesting plot, plus I love anything WWII. 

Have you seen any of these shows?

What are you currently watching? 

Are you a fan of KDramas?

- Madison

//Fall Insp.// Bletchley Circle

//Fall Insp.// Bletchley Circle

Thursday, September 10, 2015

All photos from Google!

As you all know, I have started back to school and boy has life been a bit crazy! Due to that fact I didn't have time to take any outfit pictures this week (though I was planning on it) and therefore thought I would be forced to skip today's post. However, you dear readers are in luck for I thought I would share my fall fashion inspiration with you all a short and sweet post! 

Funny thing is that I just discovered this show only five minutes ago when I was going through Netflix and thought to myself "Oh boy does this look like a fabulously good show!!" Well the first minutes have already been great and I can't wait to watch more of this show called Bletchley Circle about a group of code breakers in the 1940's (perfect right). Since I just discovered it I can't tell you the characters names or who I like best so for, or even what happens so for now we will focus on two thing....the clothes & Hair!! Their clothes and hair are simply to die for and I want to copy each and every look soooooo bad!!! 

The picture above is absolutely perfect because it shows three different versions of a 1940's look! You have the casual middle look of a skirt, blouse, and deep red sweater (the fall 2015 color by the way). Then you have the next ensemble which features some incredible 40's pants, tie front blouse, cream sweater and deep red hat. In the back is your 1940's business look with a navy suit and blue shirt. And last, but not least, you perfectly charming ladylike pale grey blue polka dot dress (which I want so bad), dainty grey sweater, lovely light grey purse, and absolutely perfect shoes!! I just adore everything about this picture and the ensembles. 

If you are looking for a winter coat why not search for a style like these above! I am really loving the ladylike cuts and earth tone colors.....definitely something to keep an eye out for:)

Prints, sweaters, checks, and rayon......what could be better!!!! 

More coats and can I just say that these ladies know how to find the perfect satchel/purse! Loving  these looks and definitely wanting to incorporate them into my fall/winter wardrobe....hurry up and get cold Texas!!!

Okay, now I cannot forget about the hair! Absolutely none of the hairstyles are overdone. They are all perfectly simple, smart, and ladylike. Weather they are curled, wavy, straight, or pulled up each one of these hairstyles looks perfectly 1940's no matter how simple appears!

Told you it would be short and sweet! However, I think that pictures are worth 1,000 words and these pictures are definitely worthy of some intense studying, swooning, daydreaming, and sewing inspiration!!!! 

Until next week when I will hopefully share something original!!! 

Have you every seen Bletchley Circle (what did you think)?

Do you like any of these looks?

Your reaction to these fashions in one word?

Trudy Cooper

Trudy Cooper

Monday, August 17, 2015

I might not be outgoing, drive a sports car, or have my pilots license and Trudy Cooper might just be my opposite in every way possible but when it comes to her simple fashion I am happy to oblige myself in copying the things she wore.

I don't know if any of you are familiar with the recent abc mini series Astronaut Wives, but I have absolutely fallen in love with the show, and sadly its last episode will be airing this week (sniff). However, I must say that apart from the fashions of the show (totally swoon worthy) the general story line is quite gripping. From looking at the lives of the astronauts wives and all they go through, to witnessing the retelling of America's space history, this show is inspiring in more ways than one.

 Before I go on with today's post however here is a short synopsis of the TV show: 

ABC's new television drama series based on the book by Lily Koppel, "The Astronaut Wives Club" focuses on seven women who were key players behind some of the biggest events in American history. As America's astronauts were launched on death-defying missions, the lives of their young wives were transformed, seemingly overnight, from military spouses to American royalty. As their celebrity rose, and tragedy began to touch their lives, they rallied together. abc.com

Okay....okay...now I know that you all have been anticipating a post that I have been hinting at and excitedly mentioning over the past couple of weeks (plus a treasure I picked up on my trip last week), well......this is it!!! Now, from your perspective it might not seem like that exciting of a post so let me give a little back story as to why this post is so exciting for me :)

First, as I mentioned before I have fallen on love with Astronaut Wives Club for more reasons than one but one of the biggest is the fashions. The series spans from 1959-1971 so you can imagine the evolution of fashion and style throughout the show (utterly breathtaking!!). Second, one of my favorite characters is Trudy Cooper. As I also mentioned above she is my TOTAL opposite in every way! She has a pilots licence for one thing, she drives a sports car while all of the other wives drive station wagons, she is quite independent and outgoing, and she hardly ever appears in a dress (capris and slacks most of the time). However, I absolutely love all of the 50's-60's capri outfits she sports throughout the show and while I was at Goodwill a few weeks back just happened to find this sweater top and pair of capris . Lets just say I was dancing around in the changing room and thinking "OH MY GOSH......I look like Trudy Cooper!!!!!" and already planning a post in my head (plus the sweater top is mustard yellow....bonus). 

Top: Thrifted; Pants: Thrifted (Talbot's)

Now you are probably wondering: 

"But Madison, you said you picked up a treasure while on your trip and were going to share it on the blog???"  

Okay, now I am getting to that :) What was the treasure you might ask? Well......first off for those of you who follow me on Instagram, you might remember a picture I posted two weeks ago featuring a DIY LIFE magazine Here. Well, when I was first planning the post I wanted to use a magazine as a prop and thus endeavored to make my own LIFE magazine with the original Astronaut Wives Cover. However, that brings me to my treasure......while antique shopping last week I just so happened to find a stack of magazines at an antique store (the first store) in Gruene Texas and was perusing the covers looking for anything interesting. Well, I just so happened to come across a LIFE magazine (I have been wanting one for awhile) and looked at the date which said 1962......then I read the cover title......I couldn't believe it.....the cover story was the orbit of John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth as part of NASA's group "Mercury Seven."  John Glenn is just one of the seven astronauts in the TV Show but the fact that I found a life magazine from 1962 with the article was beyond me......I was FREAKING OUT (as you can imagine). What are the odds that I would be planning a blog post inspired by the TV show Astronaut Wives and then find a LIFE magazine with an article about one of the astronaut's orbits and his family, particularly his wife Anne who was another one of my favorite characters!!!! (Side Note: for those of you who have seen the movie BELLE, the actor who plays John in the movie plays John Glenn in Astronaut Wives....just FYI) What is even cooler (back to real life) is that after his time as a Test pilot with "Mercury Seven" John Glenn went on to become a Unite States Senator (he is now 94). 

And before I stop myself from rambling to long about the Glenn family, I must say a few things about Anne Glenn :) First off, as I noted before I loved her character in the show. She is very supportive, a great friend, and very quiet. When you first meet her in the show she doesn't every say a word and come to find out she actually stutters, but that is what makes me love her even more because she doesn't ever let that stop her from supporting her husband and friends. Okay, I am done :)

Shoes: Charlotte Russe ; Shades: Forever 21 ; Magazine: Antique Store

Toby makes a good prop too !

Now, what more can I say in this post.....hmm.......I could go on a on about so many things so let me talk a little more about the shows costumes and about my ensemble. As I have said the show spans from 1959-1971 thus throughout the episodes we witness full skirted 50's dresses, to tailored and printed 60's dresses and jacket sets, then towards the end moving into brighter colors and crazy prints of the 70's. If you ever need inspiration for the 50's-60's this show if full of swoon worthy ensembles. Which brings me to what I am wearing in today's post. While my ensemble might not be identical to anything that Trudy actually wore in the series it is definitely something that she would have been happy to wear on a daily basis. 

Usually I am not one to wear many pants or capris (to me skirts are more comfortable) but when I found this pair of Talbot's capris at Goodwill I was happy to try them on and thrilled that they fit! Most often on the blog you readers see me wearing ensembles inspired by the 40's or 50's but I must say I am really LOVING this 1960's capri look.......super comfortable, especially with this Rayon/Nylon blend sweater that I picked up at Goodwill that same day. All in all I was so excited to work on this post and bring to life the inspiration I drew from a character in Astronaut Wives (maybe we will see a few more insp. posts from characters???). Also, can I just say that it is so exciting when you discover a new way to do your hair! I wanted to copy Trudy's hair to the best of my abilities and while the picture of Trudy below is a shorter curl, most often in the series Trudy sports a looser wavy curled style (which I tried to copy). Lets just say I think I know how I will do my hair for the first day of the Fall semester. 

Trudy vs. Me

Me as an Astronaut Wife

Sometimes it is fun to do something a little different than just an ordinary outfit post. Thus for someone (me) who tend to freak out, critic, and copy costumes/outfits from movies and TV shows this post was right up my ally. 

I hope you all enjoyed a little something different with all of my enthusiasm, rambling, and excitement! 

Have any of you seen The Astronaut Wives Club?

Would you wear a 1960's capri ensemble? 

Have you ever found any great LIFE magazines?