Fall TV: 5 New Shows To Watch
September is here! My favorite month of the year for several reasons …
It marks the official start of Fall and the return of: PSL (and all things pumpkin for that matter), early mornings and late evenings on the porch with Husband, tailgating and calling the Hogs with family and friends, scarves and boots and more scarves and boots, and of course, Fall TV.
Every year I get so excited for my TV shows to come back on and to see what new shows might be added to my regular watch list. Our Summer list has included: The Affair, Stranger Things, Veep and The Wine Show. All amazing shows I would highly recommend, but there’s just something about the return of Fall TV that makes me giddy. (I know, I’m a TV dork.)
Here’s a look at what shows I’m excited to watch this this Fall.
T O P 5 N E W S H O W S
This Is Us – NBC, Tuesday, Sep. 20
Synopsis: The ensemble dramedy follows a group of people who share the same birthday and whose lives intersect in various ways.
Why I’ll Watch: The preview made me cry, it reminds me of Parenthood, and JESS (Milo Ventimiglia) is back on TV. This one is at the top of my list.
Designated Survivor – ABC, Wednesday, Sep. 21
Synopsis: Keifer Sutherland stars as Tom Kirkman, a lower cabinet member who becomes president after an attack on Washington kills everyone ahead of him in the line of succession.
Why I’ll Watch: Drama, suspense and politics –all the ingredients for a great show.
The Good Place – NBC, Monday, Sept. 19
Synopsis: When Eleanor realizes that she’s not a very good person, she gets a chance to start anew with the help of Michael (Ted Danson) in the afterlife.
Why I’ll Watch: This has the potential to be really funny. Also Kristen Bell is amazing.
Making History – FOX, Midseason
Synopsis: Pally, Meester and Lester play three friends who travel through time while trying to get through their everyday lives in the present.
Why I’ll Watch: Adam Pally is hilarious (Mindy Project, Happy Endings) and Leighton Meester is one of my all-time favorites.
Riverdale – CW, Midseason
Synopsis: Based on the Archie Comics characters, the series finds Archie, Betty, Veronica, Jughead and Josie trying to navigate life in their small town, which is not as wholesome as it seems.
Why I’ll Watch: Growing up I was obsessed with Archie, Betty & Veronica, so I’ll give this one a shot purely for nostalgia. Also, it has a creepy Pretty Little Liars feel.
C U R R E N T W A T C H L I S T
Blindspot – NBC, Wednesday, Sept. 14
The Big Bang Theory – CBS, Monday, Sept. 19
How To Get Away With Murder* – ABC, Thursday, Sept. 22
Quantico* – ABC, Sunday, Sept. 25
Younger – TVLand, Wednesday, Sept. 28
The Mindy Project – Hulu, Oct. 4
Jane the Virgin – CW, Monday, Oct. 17
The Walking Dead – AMC, Sunday, Oct. 23
iZombie – Midseason
Scandal* – ABC, Midseason
The Affair – Showtime, Midseason
Nashville – CMT, Midseason
The Royals – E!, Midseason
*Currently on the chopping block. I didn’t LOVE the last seasons, so will give them a couple of episodes to see if I will continue watching.
Are you as excited as I am for Fall TV?! What’s on your watch list?
xo xo
TV Reviews: Fall 2015
Calling all TV show junkies like me, below are my mid-mid-season reviews of my shows too far. If you’re judging me for how many shows I watch, you’re clearly not the target audience for this post, so just stop now and keep your mouth shut. If you’re loving me for how many shows I watch, we should clearly be friends and we have a lot to discuss.
5/5 Stars
The Walking Dead – Oh my gosh, this season has been phenomenal. The best in a while. (Note: This rating is purely under the assumption my boy is alive.)
Jane the Virgin –Binged S1 on Netflix, and I’m so in love with Jane and Rafael and this show. And now Mateo, awwwww! [pictured]
iZombie – This is the most underrated show ever. I feel like no one is watching it, and everyone needs to! I need it to stay on air!
*NEW* Quantico – From the first episode I’ve been totally hooked. It’s so intense and the main girl is so gorgeous you can just stare at her the whole show.
4/5 Stars
Nashville – Good season so far, but so ready for Scarlett and Gunnar to get back together already and for Juliette to stop being ridiculous.
Mindy Project – This show started out so hilarious I couldn’t take it. However, the last few eps have been duds, so hoping it can come back strong. [pictured]
3.5/5 Stars
Scandal – FINALLY Olivia and Fitz are together together. Good season so far, but still not where it used to be. [pictured]
How to Get Away With Murder – They’ve kept me more hooked so far than I thought they could, but I’m still concerned about how sustainable the show really is.
Big Bang Theory – I laugh out loud every time I watch the show, but I hate how they married Penny and Leonard after all they’ve been through, so I guess I’m still a little bitter.
3/5 Stars
Empire – I think I gave myself too high of expectations. The first season of this show can never be beat, and that’s very clear this season.
*NEW* Blood & Oil – Okay, to be honest, there are only three reasons I’m watching this show:
1. Chace Crawford aka Nate Archibald (Gossip Girl) [pictured]
2. Wilson Bethel aka Wade Kinsella (Hart of Dixie)
3. Scott Michael Foster aka Cappie (Greek)
*NEW* Blindspot – I would have given this even less of a rating if not for the last two episodes. It has potential, but they need to remove the cheese factor a bit.
2/5 Stars – Officially CUT from the watchlist
Scream Queens – I watched the pilot on the plane to Europe and thought it was hilarious. Then, it went downhill so fast. I don’t know if it’s a comedy/horror/both/neither, and I can’t waste my previous TV watching time while they figure it out.
What are your favorite shows this season?
xo xo
Texas Forever, or 10 Reasons Why I Need Another Season of Friday Night Lights
Well, it happened. I finished Friday Night Lights. And I’m still crying about it.
If you don’t understand what I’m talking about, or if you are a huge fan of FNL, then you must pause and read this Buzzfeed: What It’s Like Watching Friday Night Lights for the First Time. It captures all my feels perfectly. PERFECTLY. Thank you, Buzzfeed.
I’ve blogged about FNL here along with several other TV shows about why I want to live in a small town, and here when I talked about my real Saturday, but this show deserves it’s own blog post.
10 Reasons Why I Need Another Season of FNL
[SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE FULL SERIES – AND IF YOU HAVEN’T, THEN STOP READING AND START WATCHING RIGHT NOW!]
1. Y’all, I need to see Tami Taylor doin’ her thing in the big leagues. You know she is totally rocking Dean of Admissions.
2. Speaking of, what is high school football like in Philadelphia?! Does it have as much heart as in the South? Probably not, but I’m sure Coach Taylor can change all of that.
3. Where is Landry?!! I’m glad we saw (two seconds) of him in the finale, but I need to know more, and does Crucifictorious have an album out yet??
4. Is Tim just sitting on his land drinking beer in his new house from now on? I need to see that he got a good job and has a life outside of Lyla Garrity.
5. Speaking of Lyla, wait, nevermind. I couldn’t really care less what she’s up to.
6. Did Vince lead the Panthers to another state championship? And where did he end up going to school? And is his sweet mom still doing okay?
7. How are Billy and Mindy handling TWINS? Does she now keep all 3 kids backstage at the Landing Strip during her shifts?
8. Did Matt and Julie really ever get married? Did he at least propose again in a more romantic place than the Alamo Freeze?
9. Just because I can’t even fathom that it’s over. I just need one more season, just one more … I’m not addicted, I swear.
10. Most importantly, I just need more Tim Riggins in my life. Period.
Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.
xo xo
[Read more pop culture posts here.]
TV Reviews: Empire, Revenge, Mindy Project + TWD
My TV obsessions are currently in full force as seasons are coming to a close and there are a lot of OMG moments. And guess what, I’m not a silent watcher.
I LOVE talking about my fictional best friends almost as much as I enjoy watching them. I get so excited when I finally find someone who’s as into a show as I am and wants to discuss. Case in point from Friday night – found someone (finally!) who watches Empire and it totally made my night. Case in point from Sunday – I have multiple text threads discussing The Walking Dead, including some live-texting.
So, I’ve decided to start a weekly recap post of my TV shows including my commentary. The shows will probably change from week to week. For example, PLL and Nashville aren’t in here this week, but they’re two of my favorites. You might watch these shows, you might not. You might enjoy my commentary, you might think I’m way too into TV. Either way, these posts are pretty much for me to get my OMG moments out and bond with any other diehard TV fans I just might not have met yet.
Grab some popcorn, and enjoy!
[WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD]
E M P I R E
[Season 1, Ep. 10]
Why am I SO obsessed with this show?! I also CANNOT stop listening to the music on Spotify. {Especially “You’re So Beautiful” – The White Party version. I’m in love with Jamal’s voice.}
Okay so we did get a resolution in this episode to Jamal’s daughter + Raven randomly showing up for 2 seconds in one episode. She’s Luscious’ daughter, really?! It ended in gunfire, really?! It was a little overly dramatic, but I’m glad the arc didn’t last long; HOWEVER – Lola was the cutest little girl ever! And the song Jamal + Hakeem sang to her to get her to go to sleep?? I wanted to die. Also glad Naomi Campbell is out of there – I couldn’t stand her. But Cookie and Malcolm – I CAN stand. Omg, love it. Another thing I can stand – Jennifer Hudson. Let’s see more of her and Andre!!!
R E V E N G E
[Season 4, Ep. 15 – still 1 episode behind]
This season has been killing it, yeah? I’d lost interest the last few seasons, but they’ve been stepping up their game. Let’s talk about a few things – namely, Jack. But first, Louise. I would LOVE for her to be part of the inside group. I wasn’t sure about her at first, but now I love her, and it was solidified with her perfectly played part of “Oh, this isn’t pilates??” *bats eyelashes* She’s too cute and keeps Nolan entertained with more than just Emily.
But let’s get to Jack. How he played Margot?! Oh My Gosh. Too freakin’ perfect. I knew he was up to something when he said “You’d do anything for your child,” but still! He was so believable. I had no clue about the bracelet. Way to go, dude. But, let’s talk about that speech with Emily at the end. WAAAAAAH. I was totally dying. Why, Emily, why?! You obviously love him. Yes, Ben is hot, but Jack is the love of your life! We all know this! He was the sweetest thing ever and totally got his heart broken. I can’t even.
T H E M I N D Y P R O J E C T
[Season 3, Ep. 19]
Stephen Colbert is gold. Seriously, as a Catholic priest that was once wild and now pious? Gold. This episode was one of the funnier ones this season. Mindy and Danny are adorable as almost-parents. And Mindy is hilarious in church (reminiscent of one of my favorite scenes of her in church with Casey rapping). A few of my favorite lines include Danny quizzing Mindy on the Apostles and instead she lists the Beatles. Also, “There’s a sequel to the Bible, but not to Gone Girl?!” upon discovering the New Testament. LOL, classic Mindy. I also surprisingly have been loving the pregnancy arc. It hasn’t gotten too mushy or steered away from its core, and I can’t wait to see Mindy as a mom, mostly because I think we have a lot in common.
T H E W A L K I N G D E A D
[Season 5, Ep. 14]
Okay, some major sh*t went down this week, and we are so ready for the finale in two weeks!! This was a very gruesome episode. Noah’s death was so violent and sad and disturbing and unexpected, UGH. I was actually more sad than I thought I would be, and especially when Glenn was sad. But Eugene carrying out Tara and pulling the van around to distract the walkers was awesome. 10 points for Eugene. And -10 points for stupid Alexandria guy.
A few more things:
Father Gabriel – WTF?? Not that I’m that surprised, but come ON. These people saved you!
Rick and Carol planning together is awesome. Yes, they’re planning to kill someone and yes, that’s bad. But I love them working together and can’t wait to see that guy get his revenge.
Why didn’t we see Daryl in this episode????
xo xo
[Read more posts about my TV obsessions here.]
My New Legal Vocabulary, Thanks To “The Good Wife”
My latest show binge has been The Good Wife. It’s been on my list for a while for three reasons:
(1) I love shows with a strong, female lead
(2) Julianna Margulies has won or been nominated for the Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama 4 times in the last 5 years
(3) Logan Huntzberger (Matt Czuchry) from Gilmore Girls is a main character ❤
I’m currently on Season 3 of 5 and I feel like I could pass the bar exam purely due to my binge-watching. Here are a few new words in my vocabulary …
Recuse: to reject or challenge (a judge or juror) as disqualified to act, especially because of interest or bias.
Voir Dire: a preliminary examination of a witness or a juror by a judge or counsel.
Jury Nullification: a jury returns a verdict that is the opposite of what the jury believes or the verdict it was instructed to return by the court.
Held in Contempt: When a court decides that an action constitutes contempt of court, it can issue a court order that in the context of a court trial or hearing declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court’s authority.
Continuance: a postponement or adjournment
Sustained vs Overruled:
Sustained: When an objection is sustained, the judge has determined that is a valid objection. That means the question was improper under the rules of evidence. The witness may not answer the question.
Overruled: When an objection is overruled, the judge has determined the objection is invalid. The question may stand. The witness must then answer the question.
Punitive Damages: damages exceeding simple compensation and awarded to punish the defendant.
ASA: Assistant State’s Attorney is hired or appointed to the position by the elected state’s attorney and derives the power to act on behalf of the state in criminal prosecutions through the state’s attorney. The duties of an ASA include those of the state’s attorney—representing the state (prosecution) in criminal proceedings.
The trick is weaving my new vocabulary into everyday conversation in my non-legal workplace. Think anyone would object if I tried to ask someone leading a meeting to recuse himself?
xo xo
You might also enjoy: 11 Reasons Pretty Little Liars Is My New Obsession, I Think I Could Survive in Prison – and Other Things I’ve Learned from Orange Is The New Black
Fall TV: The 4 Season Premieres I’m Most Excited About
Okay, we know I’m a TV junkie and we know Fall TV is starting back soon, thus, we must know I’m ridiculously excited. Last season we started pairing down our shows and only the best made the cut. We removed four from our lineup: Glee, New Girl, How I Met Your Mother (series finale), Modern Family and added one: The Blacklist.
Here’s what I’m most looking forward to this season …
T H E M I N D Y P R O J E C T
I am so in love with this couple and this show. I re-watched the first two seasons this Summer in preparation and laughted ’til I cried. Every episode just makes me so happy. Mostly for Mindy and Danny, but also Peter and Morgan.
#MindyandDanny4Ever
N A S H V I L L E
I got behind on this show last season, then watched the last 5 episodes in a day and was reminded why I love it so much – the music, the drama, the scandals, the love triangles. Seriously, after the last episode I listened to Gunnar’s “It Ain’t Yours To Throw Away” at least twice a day.
T H E W A L K I N G D E A D
I don’t know how they do it, but this show just keeps getting more and more intense. The season ended with the gang (minus a few, including baby judith) locked up in a train car about to get eaten by cannibals. How will they get out and will they go to DC?! At least we know bad-ass Rick is finally back.
G O T H A M
Okay, okay, I’ll admit it – the only reason I’m so excited for this show is Ryan Atwood, Ben McKenzie. But it doesn’t hurt that Husband is the biggest Batman fan ever and is also super excited for this. It has some pretty high expectations so I hope it can live up to them. Either way, there will be eye candy.
{Also on our watchlist: Scandal, Revenge, The Blacklist, Big Bang Theory
The show I’m currently side-watching from S1: The Good Wife}
What show are you looking forward to this season?
xo xo
Summer Nights + Why You Don’t Need Cable
When we moved into our new home we decided to give up cable. Really the only time we watched it anyway was in the mornings watching The Today Show (which I do miss) and randomly at nights when we didn’t have a specific show to watch. The majority of time though we were watching Hulu Plus, Netflix or Amazon Instant Video.
If you haven’t made the switch to no cable yet, let me fill you in on a secret – It’s totally worth it.
There will definitely be some growing pains. Like I said, I can’t turn on the news in the morning and listen to the top stories and hear the weather for the week. If there’s a show I really want to watch live I have to find somewhere to watch it (like PLL last week at my Mom’s house … #dontjudgeme.) I sometimes miss shows I wouldn’t stream like Wheel of Fortune, Duck Dynasty or House Hunters.
But let me tell you the biggest benefit of it all (besides saving money) – it will seem like you have so much more free time. Maybe you’re not like us, but before we gave up cable, this would be our routine: come home, turn on the tv, start making dinner, watch tv during dinner, watch tv after dinner. But since we don’t have that option anymore, we’re way more selective about what we watch. We don’t just turn on the tv to turn it on for noise. If we turn it on it’s to watch a show we really want to watch.
Now, let me remind you, we’re tv watchers – we have so many shows we keep up with during the season it’s a little insane. Then in the Summer usually we pick a few shows we want to start watching or catch up on that we don’t have time to watch during the year. Summer 2014 was Orange Is The New Black, but we finished that a few weeks ago and haven’t started anything else. Even though I get an itch every now and then to start a new show so we have something to watch, I’m trying to hold back. It’s like an addiction. We don’t need something to watch every night. We have plenty of other things to fill our time. Instead we’ve been …
playing ball with Olli in the backyard,
reading together on the couch or going to bed early to lay in bed and read,
sitting on the porch really talking about our days,
cooking dinner together,
cleaning up dinner together,
hanging out with friends,
going on walks
It’s really felt like Summer – long nights with seemingly unending sunlight. So I implore you, even if you decide to keep cable, maybe turn it off just for the Summer. (How many good tv shows are on right now anyway?) Or maybe just have specific no tv nights during the week.
I hope you will find it as refreshing as we have.
xo xo
I Think I Could Survive in Prison — and Other Things I’ve Learned From “Orange Is The New Black”
We’ve officially caught up with the rest of the population and become OITNB fans. I actually think we did it the right way. We binged on the first season right when the second one came out, so we didn’t have to wait a year to see the fallout from the finale. We are SO CLOSE to finishing the second season I can hardly stand it.
I was skeptical at first, why would I want to watch a show about women in prison? Well if you’re still one of the ones asking, let me tell you why – it puts a whole new perspective on the prison system and the people in prison. Not just numbers in an orange jumpsuit, but faces and names and backstories. It shows you they’re real people who make mistakes, just like you and me.
Yes, just like you and me, who could go to prison, and if you do, remember these tips …
1. Never insult the cooking. Ever. Lesson learned day 1.
2. Make friends with everyone – the guards, the fast-talking hispanics, the born-again/crazy-again Christian, the one with crazy eyes, the ex-girlfriend – wait, don’t do that one. And if you do befriend the crazy eyes, just be prepared, dandelion.
3. If you have your choice in jobs, choose the library.
4. Take showers 30 seconds or less … you never know what might come out of the drain.
5. Speaking of the bathroom – get up EARLY to do your business. The bathrooms with the doors are the first to go.
6. Don’t assume anything of anyone, good or bad. You don’t know their story and what they’ve been through to get where they are.
7. Find out what everyone’s vices are. You will have to bribe, and if you have someone’s favorite candy, makeup or *cough*contraband*cough* it will come in handy.
8. Don’t say anything on the phone that can get you in trouble.
9. Inappropriate things happen in the chapel. Just stay out if not for a service.
10. One person can change the course of everything. Remember #2.
11. If you’re engaged when you go in, tell your fiance you will most likely {at least} kiss a girl in prison, so don’t get too riled up over it. When in Rome.
12. And lastly, very importantl, send in a check for commissary items WEEKS in advance. Otherwise you’ll be making shower shoes out of maxipads.
xo xo
You might also enjoy: 11 Reasons Pretty Little Liars Is My New Obsession, How To Survive a Zombie Apocalypse Part II
How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse, Part II
As crazy as this sounds, The Walking Dead is a big part of our life. It’s the only TV show we watch live every week. We often watch it with a group of other zombie-obsessors. We spend at least 30 min-1 hour dissecting the episode and what’s going to happen next. And we even dedicate another hour of our Sunday to watching The Talking Dead. What is it about the show that makes it so perfect? I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s so.freaking.good!
I’ve written two other posts about the show (How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse, Sundays are DEAD to me), but with the Season 4 season finale last night I decided to follow up the former with a Part II. We’ve learned a lot since I wrote that post 2 seasons ago. While those tips are definitely still relevant, below are some more advanced lessons we’ve learned.
1. Keep your legs closed. I understand the need for intimacy in a time like this, but without protection, it’s just a no. Babies are way too much of a hassle in this situation and will put others in danger.
2. Don’t trust anyone outside your group, and if you’re considering inviting others to join your group, don’t forget to ask them the 3 questions: How many walkers have you killed? How many people have you killed? Why?
3. However, if you do find people you can trust – stick together at all costs.
4. Get over yourself. You’re going to have to do things you never thought you would (and I mean NEVER thought you would … case in point, season finale). That does not make you a bad person, that’s just life now.
5. As with #1, I also understand the desire to drink in a time like this, but again, it’s just a no. Is it really worth it to lower your inhibitions with zombies and other people trying to constantly kill you?!
6. Ration your food. You may get overly excited when you find a 112 oz. can of chocolate pudding, but you’re going to want that later when there’s nothing but a rabbit leg to eat.
7. Get creative. Unfortunately these days, shooting and stabbing aren’t the only ways you’ll need to kill.
8. If you’re staying in one place for a while, always have a getaway plan that can be executed very quickly.
9. Get a bow and arrow and practice shooting it. It will be invaluable.
10. Trust your gut. If something doesn’t look right or feel right, it’s probably not right.
xo xo
11 Reasons “Pretty Little Liars” Is My New Obsession
{FYI – I’ve only watched the first two seasons, so I am NOT caught up. I repeat, I am NOT caught up. No spoilers please. Unfortunately I already know some, so no more!}
1. The fashion. Who dresses like that in high school? Scratch that. Who doesn’t wish they had dressed like that in high school? Or even post-high school??
2. Every single episode leaves me with another question and wanting more. (Case in point – the number of episodes I binge-watched Saturday, which I won’t tell you, but it was a lot.)
3. The four girls’ friendship through thick and thin (i.e. murders and swim meet championships) and their weekly gossip-fueled sleepovers.
4. Caleb is so bad boy dreamy. Fitz is so book nerd dreamy. Wren is so foreign dreamy. There’s a lot of dreamy.
5. The town square is the same set used as Gilmore Girls. (and we know I’m obsessed with anything GG)
6. Those texts from A are like a box of chocolate, you just never know what you’re gonna get.
7. It’s like Veronica Mars meets Desperate Housewives. Perfect.
8. The music change every time Jenna Marshall walks into a room and the looks all the girls immediately give each other, despite the fact that she isn’t doing anything … except walk into a room.
9. I can get my high school girl-crazy, hair-pulling bathroom fight and my front row seat to a murder investigation all in one place.
10. I don’t understand how/why this is on ABC Family, but that makes it even more scandalous.
11. Hidden lovers, hidden bodies, hidden secrets … what’s not to love??
“Only two can keep a secret if one of them is dead.”
xo xo
You might also enjoy: 10 Reasons “The O.C.” Was the Best Teen Drama Ever on TV
10 Reasons “The O.C.” Was The Best Teen Drama Ever on TV
After the show’s 10th anniversary a few months ago and after reading this Buzzfeed, I started reminiscing about my freshman year when I binge-watched the four seasons of The O.C. I immediately became obsessed. Coincidentally, I spent the following summer in California and visited Orange County for the first time. Since then, The O.C. has been one of my favorite shows of all time.
Just recently I started re-watching the series from season 1 and was reminded all over again why I LOVE the show. Below are 10 reasons The O.C. was the best teen drama ever on TV.
1. Seth and Summer – This has to be number one in every list. They are the perfect couple. Their relationship taught me a lot, namely that there’s so much more to a person than looks and it’s okay to have your own passions and go your own way. If you’re meant to be together, it will happen when it’s suppose to. Just recently, a friend told me and my husband we reminded him of Seth and Summer. #biggestcomplimentever
2. The O.C. Mix soundtracks and most importantly, the iconic theme song by Phantom Planet. I’m almost positive this is when indie music became mainstream (Death Cab, Spoon, Rooney, Imogen Heap – I could go on). Watch these 21 Most Important Music Moments From The O.C. and you will be transported back to the show.
3. Chrismukkah – Christmas + Hanukkah, the perfect Cohen holiday
4. Remember when Marissa’s mom slept with her ex-boyfriend, then married her current boyfriend’s kinda grandfather?It doesn’t get more scandalous than that.
5. Every season finale made me cry. That’s a pretty darn good show.
6. Sandy Cohen is literally the perfect father figure on TV
7. The O.C. is the most beautiful, perfect place to live – if you have a trust fund, a dysfunctional family and a beach house
8. Things the show made cool: sailing, bagels and schmear, indie bands, comic books, being an outcast, white muscle shirts, plastic horses as best friends – we love you Captain Oats and Princess Sparkles!
9. The original bromance: Seth and Ryan ❤ ❤ ❤
10. Seth Cohen, a walking one-liner who spoke fast and furiously, doling out pop culture references and witticisms faster than Ryan could throw a punch. (I did not write that, but it was too perfect not to share!)
“Welcome to The O.C., bitch!”
xo
You might also enjoy: How One Tree Hill Saved My Marriage
My Fall TV Guide
I love Fall. Who doesn’t? The weather, the comfy clothes, the pumpkin-flavored everything, but it also signals the start of something else – the return of Fall TV.
I’ll admit, I’m a little obsessed with my TV shows. If you watch any of the shows below, I’m always happy to discuss characters, plot lines, favorite episodes, etc. in as much detail as you wish.
A few of my shows have already started, a few start this week and a few are still a few weeks away, but in preparation, below is My Fall TV Guide.
Disclaimer: Potential spoilers below.
S U N D A Y
Revenge {ABC – 9/8c}
What I’m most looking forward to this season: Getting back to basics, cutting out a lot of the Initiative nonsense & Jack’s reaction to the news
The Walking Dead {AMC – 9/8c}
What I’m most looking forward to this season: Daryl becoming an even bigger badass & Rick letting others take control while he gets his act together
M O N D A Y
How I Met Your Mother {CBS – 8/7c}
What I’m most looking forward to this season: The end. Yes, this use to be one of my favorite shows, but I honestly feel like it’s been dragging on and I’m ready to let it go.
T U E S D A Y
New Girl {Fox – 9/8c}
What I’m most looking forward to this season: Nick and Jess’ relationship & *fingers crossed* building Winston’s character more
The Mindy Project {Fox – 9:30/8:30c}
What I’m most looking forward to this season: The transition from a rocky, but enjoyable first season to a consistently hilarious second season
W E D N E S D A Y
Modern Family {ABC – 9/8c}
What I’m most looking forward to this season: Lilly’s show-stealing one-liners
Nashville {ABC – 10/9c}
What I’m most looking forward to this season: More Scarlett and Gunnar, More Scarlett and Gunnar, More Scarlett and Gunnar – I cannot plead enough.
T H U R S D A Y
The Big Bang Theory {CBS – 8/7c}
What I’m most looking forward to this season: Sheldon and Amy Farrah Fowler taking it to the next level … or so I hope!
Glee {FOX – 9/8c}
What I’m most looking forward to this season: The opening Beatles’ tribute episode & hopefully rekindling my dying passion for the show
Scandal {ABC – 10/9c}
What I’m most looking forward to this season: The daddy dearest storyline & developing the other characters more, specifically “Baby Huck”
Still unsure about new shows on the air (we already have a lot on our plate), but high potentials include Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
What shows are you most excited for this season? xo
For you TV fanatics, you might also enjoy: 10 Things I Missed Out On In College By Not Going Greek, How One Tree Hill Saved My Marriage
10 Things I Missed Out On in College by Not Going Greek
Currently our summer shows include Parks & Rec and Game of Thrones, but before that there was Greek. Greek follows a college freshman as he decides to go from geek to Greek, much to the dismay of his popular sister in a sorority. It’s funny, it’s heart-warming and it makes you very nostalgic for your college days.
While I wasn’t in a sorority, I learned from the show several things I missed out on by not being in the greek system, for better or for worse.
1. Secret/forbidden parties (especially those Great Gatsby themed in the basement)
2. Drama over rivalry houses
3. Crazy house mothers and b*tchy presidents
4. Sharing a bathroom with hundreds of girls
5. Hazing (including being duck-taped to a wall in the quad)
6. Annual spring break trips
7. Spending too much time and effort on functions/parties/competitions
8. Everything that rush entails
9. Shots from an ice luge
10. Buttoning yourself and your house up for parent’s weekend
xo
You might also enjoy: How One Tree Hill Saved My Marriage, 10 things I want to do in NYC, thanks to pop culture
7: Media
Okay friends, it’s about that time. Time for our media blackout. As part of our 7 challenge, for two weeks we will be giving up:
- TV/Movies
- Social Media (for personal use, since it’s my job I can’t necessarily give it up all together)
- Blogging
- Video Games
- Radio
- Texting (only texting out of necessity is allowed, no texting conversations)
- Internet (except what’s needed for daily life for bills, etc.)
What will we be doing with our time, you ask? Good question. I keep asking myself the same thing. Here’s the typical night in the Alderman household: come home from work, take Olli out, turn on the TV for background noise, cook dinner, eat dinner in front of the TV, watch TV, go to bed.
Yes we watch too much TV, I know that. Yes we shouldn’t eat dinner in front of the TV, I know that too.
In the same vein, here’s my typical day in social media consumption: wake up – check FB/Instagram, head to work & while sitting at a traffic light – check Twitter for morning’s news, periodically throughout the day – check all three (most of the time Instagram, over and over and over), get frustrated because people aren’t updating their lives regularly enough on social media, get back to my job (about social media), heading home from work while sitting at a traffic light – check Twitter for evening news, periodically throughout the night – check all three. repeat.
It sounds exhausting, doesn’t it? But I have a feeling I’m not the only millennial with those consumption habits.
All that to say, this is going to be a really tough two weeks for us. If husband wrote this blog he would talk about how hard giving up video gaming is going to be for him. He has replaced Saturday morning cartoons with Saturday morning video games while I sleep. Video games are his stress reliever, as blogging is mine.
* * *
Here’s the plan to combat media withdrawals:
Read. Read. Read. – I have at least two books I want to finish, but I’m shooting for three.
Take Olli on long walks every night after dinner.
Enjoy more quiet time with God.
Deep clean the apartment.
Invite people over and spend quality time together.
Do a DIY/Craft project together.
Attempt more complex recipes.
Games! – We are officially kicking off our media sabbatical by hosting a game night for our community group Sunday night.
Start a workout routine. – Insanity or P90X does not count as TV, per the council’s decision.
* * *
Next time you’ll hear from me will be March 24. I plan on journaling our process (in a REAL journal, not a blog) and sharing some of our insights, pains, joys and photos from our weeks apart. If you need me, call me, or just stop by our apartment. I’m sure we will be happy for the company.
xo xo
You might also enjoy: 7: Possessions // Week 1, 7 : Waste
m.davis xoxo 