Dumplin'

I know that Dumplin' came out last month, but I feel like it wouldn't be fair not to share about it here. Oh Dumplin'! I ADORED this book. ADORED IT. I was so so so excited when I heard that it was being made into a movie.

I read this back in early 2016, here is my review:

The Movie:

I absolutely loved the movie as well! I felt like it was a lot more centered on her self confidence, and her relationship with her mom than the book was, which was a nice change of pace. The book focuses a little bit more on her romantic relationships. I thought the acting was so well done Jennifer Aniston and Danielle MacDonald had great mother-daughter chemistry. It was so funny, and so heartwarming. I absolutely adored all of her fellow anti-pageant mates too. I looooved Millie, and KC could not stop cracking up over Hannah. I loved all of the Dolly stuff, again! Let's not forget my favorite, Harold Perrineau, who also played Mercutio in Romeo + Juliet. Everything was so over the top and I loved it! :) I had a lot of fun seeing this book come to life on the screen.

I know that some people liked the movie more than others, and that some were disappointed by the movie because they loved the book so much, and that others were disappointed by the book because it wasn't anything like the trailer for the movie. You are my reader friends, what did YOU think?!

For me, enough time passed in between reading and watching that I wasn't too critical about it.

I cannot wait to read Puddin' which I have heard from you guys is just as good (even better, some say!) than Dumplin'! :)

See my thoughts on To All The Boys I've Loved Before & Guernsey too!

XO,

Alexandra

PS - I sent this to my grandma for Christmas and she loved it. So much so that she didn't want to "ruin it with the movie". :)

Guernsey & Lara Jean

TODAY WE ARE FINALLY GETTING OUR FLOORS PUT IN AFTER THREE MONTHS OF IMPATIENCE! We are SO SO SO excited to get it finished up and move in this weekend, finally! :)

It's been a good month for book-to-movie adaptations. While these are not the only two that have come out (I'm looking at you, Crazy Rich Asians!), they were highly anticipated for me!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows - Now on Netflix

Plot: Juliet, a London journalist takes up correspondence with Dawsey, a citizen of Guernsey (an island off England's coast) after WWII. Guernsey was occupied by the Germans during the war, and Dawsey tells of his and his friend's book club that kept their spirits up during the war. As Juliet learns more about the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society she makes the trip to Guernsey to write meet and write about this extraordinary group of people.

My Thoughts: I absolutely adored this adaptation of Guernsey. It was so atmospheric and everything about it really swept you up into the story. I thought that Lily James did a wonderful job, as did the rest of the star-studded cast. I thought that the film version might be harder to watch than the book was to read, but I thought that they handled the sad parts very well. (and they left out one part that made me particularly sad, so yay!) One of my favorite things about the story is it's focus on resilience, it translated well into the movie version.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han - Now on Netflix

Plot: Lara Jean writes a letter to her crush when she's ending it. She keeps them hidden in a box, but one day the letters get sent. Now, all of the boys she's loved before are coming out of the wood work. Including her sister's newly ex-boyfriend, Josh. In order to keep Josh from finding out her true feelings, she starts a fake relationship with someone else who received a letter, Peter K.

My Thoughts: This is my favorite contemporary YA series, I adore everything about it. I was a little nervous about the film adaptation, but thought it was very well handled. For one thing, I loved seeing a POC as the main character, in a movie! I loved Jenny Han's article on the topic as well. One of my favorite things about the stories is the family relationships between Lara Jean, her sisters, and their father. The movie did such a good job capturing those familial ties and sibling quirks. All of the teen swooniness and cringe-worthy moments were intact as well. I *heart* Peter K. I cannot wait for the next movies! I hope to goodness that they make them! :)

Have you seen or read either of these?! If so, what did you think?

Have you seen or read Crazy Rich Asians yet?!

What's your favorite book-to-movie adaptation?

XO,

Alexandra

3 Shows to Binge Watch Before Season 2 Starts This Fall // TV

Ah, fall TV.

As much as I love to read, (HEY, I've been actually doing it recently!) What I really love is a good story. The nice thing about TV is that there is more time for character and plot development. 

While nothing will ever top Gilmore Girls for me, these are three new shows that I am loving, and got renewed immediately! 

Why not start watching them now, before they start on TV again? Perhaps with your girlfriends and a nice Pimm's Cup or Berry Sangria?

Jane the Virgin - The CW - Premieres Oct. 12th

This show looked cute, but I can honestly say that each episode has had me cracking up. The story follows the life of Jane Villanueva, a hard working and religious college student. She lives with her single mother and her grandmother. The show starts with Jane going in for a routine checkup.... and accidentally being artificially inseminated. What?! Yes, it's really that crazy, but it's so so funny. The family dynamics are sweet, the humor is incredible, and the whole thing is narrated by a telenovella narrator. There is also a lot of mischief happening at the hotel she works in, and her boyfriend just happens to be a policeman investigating it. If you are looking for something that's pretty light, and lots of fun check out this show. Gina Rodriguez, who plays Jane won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Comedy or Musical for this role. The show itself won Best Television Series Comedy or Musical as well! (also... Britney Spears is guest starring in season 2!)

Younger - TVland (yes really!) - Premieres January 2016?

This show doesn't start again until January (probably), but it is SO good, I just wanted to include it anyhow. Hilary Duff and Sutton Foster (Bunheads) star in this show created by Darren Star who worked on Sex in the City. The story follows 40-year old Liza Miller, who wants to re-join the work force after staying at home with her daughter. She's divorced, her daughter is abroad, and she needs a job. No one will hire her though, because she's older and out of the game. After being mistaken for a 20-something one night in a bar, Liza decides to create a new identity for herself. She gets a job, and struggles to catch up with the times. This is a 30-minute show, in every episode something ridiculous happens, folks this one is sorta-kinda raunchy, think Sex in the City ... but not on HBO. Hilary Duff is really funny, it's good to see her back on TV. The entire first season is currently up on TV Land's website. I would definitely recommend it!

iZombie - The CW - Premieres Oct. 6th

Ok - so I haven't actually watched this yet... sorry sister!.. but I have heard that it's really really good. Even from reviewers and folks who really hate the whole "zombie" thing. My sister loves it, and I'm excited to catch up on it when the first episodes are back online... or I might end up purchasing the first few to catch up with online... The plot follows Liv Moore a medical student in Seattle, who is turned into a zombie one night. In order to eat (brains) and be discreet about it, she takes a job at a morgue. Her boss lets her eat the brains of murderers, upon doing so Liv inherits some of their traits and memories. She then uses that information to solve crimes with the police department. It's a crime show, with a twist, and some humor. It was created by some of the folks involved in Veronica Mars, so you know it has to be good. Bonus: I really love Aly Michalka, who plays Liv's roommate. 

Non-new shows I'm excited for: Reign, The Originals, TVD, catching up on Beauty and the Beast.

All in all I love a good story. It's a bonus if it is funny, and it continues to make me laugh. :) 

What have you guys been watching? What premieres are you excited for?

Anybody else a CW junkie? (raises hand)

XO,

Alexandra

All images via Google. :) 

Most Days Lately // Netflix, Budgeting, & Double my Hours

Hi everyone! Spring is in full swing here in Kansas, everything is gorgeous and blooming. April also happens to be the busiest month ever.

Why is that? April and October, every year.

Because I really like my coworkers and we have been absolutely swamped with a new project these days, I've been working 35-40+ hour weeks instead of my usual 20-25. Which I am happy to do, because I want the project to be a success.... but it is definitely an unexpected change. It will be SO good for the paycheck.... but it's got me worn out! April is also the month where I am trying to prep for a Bridal Show, my first one.... and I haven't exactly had time. : / 

That's what the next few weeks are for... right? eek.

Most nights I get home, and force myself to do some sort of cooking-like ritual (we're budgeting too), eat with half closed eyes, and then watch #allthetv , #allthenetflix , and all the #youtube until I must sleep. It's both awful and amazing to spend evenings this way.

Here's what I have been watching with (and without) KC:

Have you guys been watching any of these? I have gotten hooked on these Pemberly Digital Youtube series! So fun. And yes... I'm only 3 years behind the LBD boat. I would also like to point out, that I feel like a Gilmore these past few weeks, TV is all they did. ;) Minus the take out. Because, did I mention budgeting?

Real quick, this is amazing:

So far, we're more-or-less on track with our first week of rigid budgeting... not perfect. But pretty darn close. It's nice to have more of a guideline, I think we will be really good at it eventually. And it's nice to know that our 'guesstimation' numbers were pretty spot-on for each area within our budget. If Starbucks didn't exist.... 

Things are slowing down some at work, so I am able to spend some time in the afternoons to get other things done. Like bits of bridal show work, and Cinderella Free Fall.... whichever seems more doable at the time. It's a work in progress. 

I feel like we have a lot of things pending right now. Job opportunities, creative endeavors, and upcoming trip ideas.... it's a lot not to know. I'm trying not to think about it, by you know, watching more Netflix.

So, as usual, we're balancing productivity and uncertainty, youtube and meal plans, improving things little by little, and trying not to push myself too hard. 

Just typing this has me feeling more tired than when I started... but I'm glad I finally had a second to type something for this space! I miss it!

What are you all up to?!?!?!?

XOXO,

Alexandra