March Favorites

Well, Hello There!

So... It's been some time since I last did a monthly favorites post... Six months, actually. But alas, I have finally had a month were I liked stuff enough to make a favorites post!

Cabin Pressure

Okay, so it's no secrete that I am kinda obsessed with Benedict Cumberbatch. Naturally, as the professional fan girl I am, I am bound and determined to experience everything Benedict is in. So, this month I downloaded a little radio program called Cabin Pressure by John Finnemore, which was probably the best thing I could have possible done. This show is absolutely hilarious! It follows the oddball crew of MJN Air's charter jet through all their ridiculous adventures and mishaps. I love this program so much. I listened to every episode in about a span of a week. The characters are fun and quirky, and the situations they find themselves in are hilarious! Cabin Pressure an absolute riot, and most definitely worth a listen. 

Derek

I had Derek saved to my Netflix queue for quite some time, but only the other day did I finally sit down and watch it. Make sure you bring the tissues to this party because this show made me cry my eyes out... And I'm not a crier either... This show is touching, and Derek himself is just so lovable. Hands down this has to be my favorite Ricky Gervais project. Derek is a heartwarming show that will leave you wanting to change to world.  

An Idiot Abroad

Continuing on with the Ricky Gervais theme, I also become madly obsessed with An Idiot Abroad this month. I have decided that Karl Pilkington is my new spirit animal. I mean, if you ever want to know what it's like to hang out with me, all you have to do watch Karl because I'm just as rude and sarcastic. Honestly, I love this show. It's has the culture of a travel program, but the hilarity of a Ricky Gervais show. An Idiot Abroad is a fun show for anyone who enjoys a good laugh... And trust me, Karl will leave you laughing!

Honey by Marc Jacobs

I put this perfume in my Spring Trends post, but I just had to put in my favorites as well. I love the smell of this perfume. Remember in American Hustle when Rosalyn says what makes her nail polish smell so good is that there is a touch of something sour in it. Well, that's like this scent. It has this beautiful fruity scent with just a hint of something sour. I love it. Honestly, I haven't stopped smelling it since I bought it; it just smells so good!

Butterbeer Cupcakes

So, I found this amazing recipe for Butterbeer cupcakes on Pintrest, and they are probably the best thing I have ever eaten. Obviously, I love Harry Potter, so when I found this recipe I lost it! I wasn't really expecting them to turn out too great, but I was completely wrong. This recipe is absolutely delicious! Everyone I have given these to have just been devouring them. This is a super cute idea for anyone who loves Harry Potter or just wants a delicious treat!

Photo Credit: benedictcumberbatch.co.uk, theundercoverrecruiter.com, tvgoodness.com, 

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Movie Review | Kill Your Darlings

Kill Your Darlings tells the true story of love, obsession, poetry, and murder. Allen Ginsberg’s first year at Columbia University is turned upside down when he meets modern-minded Lucien Carr. Lucien introduces Allen to his group of rag-tag friends; thus, the Beat generation is formed. But as Allen and Lucien’s relationship deepens, things become more complicated: rebellion, liberation, and murder become their way of living. Kill Your Darlings is the story of the beginning of The Beats and the boy who brought them together.

Well, what can I say? I have sat patiently for months, twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the day that I could see this film. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint one bit. Kill Your Darlings is breathtakingly beautiful. From the direction to the story to the cast, this film is pure brilliance. It’s gripping, captivating, inspiring, and beautiful. It’s quite simply, a piece of poetry.

Let’s start with the director, John Krokidas. Kill Your Darlings is Krokidas’ first motion picture, yet he directs like it’s his hundredth. What I love most about films is the visual aspect of them. With a film, I need to be captivated from the moment the opening credits appear. I need to have an emotional connection with what I see on that screen as well as the characters and story. It needs to appeal to me as much visually as it does in every other aspect. Krokidas did that. I was completely enchanted throughout the whole film.

I was absolutely floored by every aspect of this film. I’m a sucker for simplicity when it comes to direction; I don’t need flashy new camera angles or innovative digital techniques. It’s the job of the director to tell the story, to show the characters, and place the audience into a new world. And, oh boy, did Krokidas do that. From the moment the film opened, I was a part of this story. His direction was beautiful. Krokidas combines the smoothness of jazz with the chaos of adolescents to tell the perfect story. He created an environment in this film that is worthy of the rebellious Beats. He created a visual world that accurately depicts the artist’s lifestyle. Within the span of 100 minutes, Krokidas quickly became my new favorite director; I cannot wait to see more from him.

I must say, the script was absolutely gripping. From the moment the film opened to the minute to closed, I was captivated and enthralled by this compelling story. I hung on to every word with batted breath. It didn’t lose my attention once. What I loved most about this script was it focused on the character rather than the actual murder. Rather than 100 minutes of a murder story, we got 100 minutes of character development, which I feel was the best way to tell this story. Krokidas and Austin Bunn brought to life the relationships and ideas of these extraordinary human beings. With the nature of the story, it was important for the audience to grasp these people. True, the story wasn't focused on their revolution of literature, which is what the Beats are known for, but it focused on Allen moving from an adolescent to an adult (a task which I think Radcliffe performed brilliantly). We were granted the opportunity to understand these character, and even their motives.

I was connected to this world, these people, and this situation. I was there with them. John Krokidas and Austin BunnIt wrote a script that had a beautiful concoction of words—the script itself was written like the poetry and writings of the authors they were portraying. (I mean, it was so compelling that I have been sitting on Wikipedia for the past three hours reading all about the Beats, Lucien Carr, the murder, and subjects alike simply because of the impact this story had on me.) 

The cast of this film was impeccable. Each cast member gave truly inspiring performances. Firstly, let’s talk about my favorite person on this planet, Daniel Radcliffe. I am so proud of my little Daniel. His performance blew me away. This performance has defined Daniel as an actor. He isn’t just a star who got lucky as a kid anymore; he has proven himself to be a fine, articulate actor. He is a true actor with the talent and passion to continue on this path for a long time. We have watched Daniel grow as an actor, and he has now reached a point where is proving he is a seasoned professional. As for character development, Radcliffe does a fantastic job showing the change within Allen. Allen moves from being a naïve, “first time” freshmen to a repressed, tortured soul within the span of his friendship with Carr. Radcliffe’s blank stares and emotionless expressions helped to portray the growing dissatisfaction Allen has in this stuffy society.

But as much I love and adore Daniel, I must admit that Dane DeHaan stole the show. I have always respected Dane as a performer. He has a raw talent that you don’t find too often. His performance as Lucien was incredible. He is manipulative and dangerous, yet charming and irresistible. He creates a sense of ease when he wants to lure you in, but its chaos once he had you. He allows the dialogue to flow naturally, yet still allows the audience to believe he is just as poetic as the other authors in the room. I loved the chemistry between Dane and Dan; they created a bond between Allen and Lucien that was both toxic yet romantic. Dane, Dan, and John work wonderfully as a team; hopefully we'll see this dynamic duo work together again soon.

Kill Your Darlings is definitely one of my new favorite films. With flawless direction, a gripping script, and fantastic cast, I give Kill Your Darlings 9 out of 10 stars. 

Photo Credit: nerdlocker.com, hollywoodreporter.com, loyoalaphoenix.com, loftcinema.com,dailyrecord.co.uk, rodgermoormovienation.com, eugeneweekly.com, aceshowbiz.com,

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Spring Trends!

Bonjour!

Spring is finally here! And I couldn't be happier! The dark, cold winter is passing, and now it's time for sunshine and flowers (... and that dreaded hay fever... Which is never any fun.) But what I am most excited about this spring is the fashion trends. From bronzed makeup to pastel hues, I am loving all the trends this season. I have paciently waiting ages to bust out my new looks. Let's take a look at some ways to make these trends come to life!

Makeup

A big trend popping up for this spring is a bronzed look! I love this trend because anyone can pull it off. Bronze looks amazing on all skin tones, and can make any eye color pop! 

For eyes, I love to use the Maybelline Bronze Haze eyeshadow palette. The pigmentation with Maybelline eyeshadows are incredible and they last all day. I love to use the lightest color as a highlight under my eyebrows and in the corners of my eyes to make them appear bigger. I absolutely adore the middle shade. This shade looks natural and gorgeous on my hazel eyes. And the brown can be added to the crease to add more of a dramatic smoke or used under the eyes as a liner. I honestly love this palette, and will use it constantly during this season. 

Continuing with the bronze trend, I love to use the Urban Decay Naked Palette's bronzer as a contour. This bronzer looks amazing on my cheeks, and it is not to dark nor light for my skin tone. This palette also comes with an amazing highlighter. A nice, soft sine is perfect for spring; it brings life to my skin after a dark, cold winter. Another favorite bronzer of mine is the Rimmel London Natural Bronzer, which applies a more darker color than the Urban Decay. 

Honey by Marc Jacobs is my new favorite perfume. It just smells like sunshine! To be honest, all the Marc Jacob scents are beautiful; it was so hard to choose just one. Laced with hints of pears, honey, oranges, and peaches, Honey is a must have for spring. It's light and fresh, which is a nice change from the dark musk of winter scents. I bought this gorgeous scent in the rollerball bottle because it makes it easy to take anywhere. I can just pop it in my purse to have it whenever I need it. 

Lipstick

Now on to lipstick! I love lipstick! Picking out what lipstick to wear is my favorite part of my makeup routine. For spring I have three colors that I will be wearing constantly. Firstly, a Clinique lipstick in the shade Sugared Grapefruit. I love Clinique's lipsticks because they are super creamy and have great pigmentation. This color has a pink hue with a touch of orange. Top Tip: This color looks amazing with the Maybelline Bronze Haze eyeshadow! 

My second favorite spring color is another Clinique lipstick in the color Glazed Berry. This color is a beautiful shade of bight pink. To make this color work, you will want to make it the main attraction; make sure to wear it with a light eyeshadow and little blush. 

My third favorite lipstick color for spring is L'Oreal's Everbloom. Another pinky color, I love this shade because it is a great mixture between pink and red. This lipstick is perfect for enhancing your natural lip color. It adds just the right pop of color, and looks great with any eye look. 

Nail Polish

What I love about spring is that everything becomes much lighter. I don't typically wear nail polish (crazy, I know!), but when spring rolls around I always find myself painting away. I am a fan of the much softer looking nail varnished, so spring pastels make me much more excited than winter darks. 

My first favorite nail color is this Clinique Really Rio orange. I got a small sample of this color, and fell head-over-heels in love with it. This color is a bright orange that will make your nails pop! This is definitively a color Zoella would be obsessed with! Make sure to keep this color around for summer; this color will look amazing with a tan!

Next is this Sally Hansen polish in the color Jaded. Pastel blue has been huge in fashion lately, which makes this color super trendy. I love this color because it a soft shade, which is perfect for spring. I much prefer this color on my toes rather than my figures. Because it is a bold color, it won't always go with every outfit I wear. By wearing it on my toes it makes for a cute touch when wearing sandals or open-toed shoes  

Sinful Colors in Easy Going is probably one of my favorite nail varnishes that I own. This soft pink looks beautiful and elegant. Because this color is a very light, almost white, it goes perfectly with any outfit. And even better yet, the polish lasts for days! I can go at least a week before it starts to chip. 

   

Fashion 

Another huge trend for this season is statement necklaces. During this award season, we saw a lot of big, beautiful necklaces, and as we all know, trends are based off of what our darling celebrities wear. I love this trend because of one thing: simplicity! I'm not one for accessorizing, so to have a trend based off one statement piece is perfect for me. By just throwing on a big necklace, I am staying on trend and keeping to my simple ascetic. Here are two great statement necklace I got from Forever21.

Nail Color: Really Rio

Bags, bags, bags! I have been so excited for spring so I can bust out my new bags! This first bag from TJ Maxx has a beautiful quilted texture in a soft shade of blue. I love this because a) it's super huge so I can fit everything in it, and b) because it is one of those bag that make you look like a powerful women carrying it. The color is perfect for spring, and it comes with a convenient shoulder strap so it can become a cross-shoulder bag if you please.

Everyone needs to have a staple satchel in their bag collection. This satchel is from Topshop, and it probably the best bag I've ever had. I love the neutral color because it goes with everything, and the shoulder strap makes it super easy to carry. This bag is so durable and great quality; I think I'll have this bag for a long time! 

Well, there are my favorite trends for spring! Comment below and let me know what your favorite trends are for this season. If you liked this post, why not head over to bloglovin' and give me a follow, or you can follow me on any of my social media sites. Thanks for reading, and see you all next week!

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Film Anticipation for 2014 (Pt. 1)

Hiya!

Well, here we are again! It’s lovely seeing you all here! So last year I compiled a list of my most anticipated films of 2013. Well, new year, new films! 2013 was an absolutely amazing year for films, as we saw from all the films in the award circuit this season. But I have just as much confidence that 2014 will be a great year too! As you may have noticed in the title of this post, this list will come with a partner. Part 1, also known as this post, will consist of my most anticipated films up until August 2014, and part 2, see at later date, will consist of films released at the end of the year, or the potential award nominees. Now, let’s stop this rambling and get on with the films! 

Lilting 

Ooh, of course I was going to put a Ben Whishaw film in here! You know I adore him! Ever since I saw this clip from Sundance, I have been dying to see this film. It’s been two years since we’ve had a new Ben Whishaw film, and that is far too long to go without his beautiful face.  We all know Ben is the King of romantic acting, so Lilting is bound to show the best of Ben’s acting. Just those short clips show the passion and beauty which Ben performs with. Besides Ben Whishaw’s involvement, this film looks touching and beautiful. It tells a unique story that will draw in a range of different audience members. A truly passionate film that I cannot wait to see! 

Lilting is set to air June 20th as a part of the BBC Film series

The F Word

And that's "F" for friendzoned, not "F" for.... So, not only is Dan Rad doing a comedy, but it's a romantic comedy! This is the best news I've ever heard! A) I love Daniel Radcliffe. B) I love Daniel Radcliffe in comedies. C) I love a romantic Daniel Radcliffe. Now, all he has to do is sing and dance in this movie and it will be perfect! Honestly, I am so excited for this film. I'm not one for rom-coms, but when Dan Rad is the romantic lead I think I can make an exception. From the few stills that have been released, this film looks very promising. I can always trust Daniel to pick great projects (he hasn't disappointed yet). It is also promising that the film received positive reviews after it's premiere at various film festivals. I can't wait to see Dan Rad in his first romantic comedy.     

The F Word will hit UK theaters on August 22nd

The Trip to Italy

I’m not going to lie to you, I am obsessed with The Trip. Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are my absolutely favorite dynamic duo (Sorry, Ant and Dec). Needless to say, when I saw that they were making a sequel to The Trip, I nearly lost it! I find the idea of these two men going on a food tour doing impressions absolutely hilarious! What I love most about this duo is that they are so natural together, and that their jokes come off perfectly. I don’t know what to expect, plot wise with this film, but I do know that it will be a right laugh. But I do expect plenty of impressions (which is evident in the scene above).

Michael Winterbottom reprises his role as director, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. Besides the obvious comedic element between Coogan and Brydon, what I loved most about The Trip was the directing. With beautiful scenic shots and fantastic locations, the directing of The Trip is really something that has stuck with me. With gorgeous Italy as his backdrop, I can’t wait to see what Winterbottom brings to this sequel.  

The Trip to Italy is set to air April 4th on BBC2

Muppets Most Wanted

I absolutely adore the Muppets. The first Muppets movie was fantastic, so naturally, I was so excited they were making another one. Muppets Most Wanted looks like it is going to be even better than the first! Firstly, I think the writers of the Muppets are just hilarious; these films are comedic gold! The writers have a sense of humor that is fitting for both children and adults. The plot line to this film just looks hilarious. From the trailer it appears this film will be a cross between James Bond and the Pink Panther. It looks like poor little Kermy is having a ruff time on his world tour.

What I also love about the Muppets is the cast. Tina Fey and Ty Burrell have to two of my favorite comedians. But I also love all the cameos made by A-List celebrities. Everyone wants a cameo in the Muppets movie. I mean just look at the cast list: Tom Hiddleston, Christoph Waltz, Lady Gaga; quite a cast of characters there. Anyways, I can’t wait to laugh for hours when this film is released!  
  

Muppets Most Wanted is coming to theaters March 21st

Photo Credit: screendaily.com, wikipedia.org

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Fashion Review |The Oscars (2014)

Aloha!

How is everyone recovering from Oscar Sunday? Post-Oscar Monday is almost as famous as the actual day of the Oscars. So, let's discuss the ceremony. I think this years show is by far my favorite award show ever! My favorite highlights: Pizza party, Benedict photo bombing every picture he could find, Lupita winning supporting actress, Jennifer Lawrence tripping... Again, Brad Pitt handing out paper plates to Meryl Streep.... Iconic. Moral of the story: Invite Ellen to host every the Oscars every year. Not only was the award ceremony amazing, but the fashion this year was on spot! Here are my favorite ensembles of the 2014 Oscars. 

Lupita Nyong'o

Prada

Luptia had an absolute princess moment in this dress! This dress is so beautiful! I love the color, I love the skirt, I love the plunge! Honestly, I am obsessed with this color; pastel blue/ teal blue is a huge trend right now, and it looks amazing on her! Not only was her dress iconic, but so was her win! I couldn't have been more happy for her! Luptia is definitely best dressed this whole award season!

Cate Blanchett

Giorgio Armani

This women is absolutely stunning in this dress! Cate looks amazing in this natural colors on pale skin trend! Not only do I love the natural color, but the jeweled embellishments are so beautiful! Her styling is on point; the soft curls and light makeup help to make the dress the standout piece. Cate swept up the awards this season, but also, like always, dressed to perfection. 

Jennifer Lawrence

Dior

Jennifer looks a-maz-ing in this red Dior dress. Jennifer wore red to her first Oscars red carpet, and she looks just as beautiful now! Her hair and makeup is stunning, and her accessories add the perfect amount of umph to the dress. Although I love this dress, it reminds me a bit of Michelle Williams' Oscar dress from two years ago.

Amy Adams

Gucci Couture

Navy blue! You know I am obsessed with navy blue dresses! I must admit, this isn't may favorite dress Amy wore all season, but it definitely is beautiful! Obviously, I love the color, and I also love the simplicity. I would much rather see a simple, beautiful dress, than a crazy, bizarre ensemble. Her accessorizing is minimal, which was a clear trend of the night, and her bronze makeup is a huge trend right now! 

Charlize Theron

Dior

Charlize looks like a goddess in this dress. She is a strong, powerful, "out for blood" women in this black dress! She. Looks. Amazing. Firstly, I love the sheer mermaid skirt; it gives an amazing allusion to the dress. I love the bodice, as well. I love the contrast of the deep plung and the high straps. Continuing with the trend of the evening, the statement necklace adds just the right amount of accessorizing to this look. And her hair and makeup is flawless. She is flawless. 

Emma Watson

Vera Wang

Emma Watson is my ultimate girl crush, so of course she was going to be on my best dressed list. We don't typically see Emma in dark colors, but hopefully we should more often because this dress looks amazing on her. I love the mesh-like top, and her hand bag is gorgeous! She is definitely radiating an edgy vibe with her accessories: the multiple rings and earrings. And that wine lipstick is so beautiful! But I must say, I'm not too much of a fan of her hair. It looks disheveled and out of place with the rest of the look.  

Naomi Watts

Calvin Klein

This beaded Calvin Klein dress is to die for! It is simple, yet the beaded texture makes it stunning. Plus, it is tailored to perfection on Naomi. I want that necklace so bad, by the way. It is super gorgeous! Not to mention, her hair and makeup is perfect... It's probably my favorite styling from the whole night.  

Benedict Cumberbatch

Spencer Hart

Ooh, you know I love this man! We all know that everything he does is perfect, so of course he was going to be on my best dressed list! I love that he broke the bow tie trend and wore a skinny tie. It sets him apart from all the other men on the carpet, and he looks so sharp! Plus, he seemed to really enjoy his first Oscars ceremony! Fingers crossed that he will be on the nominee list next year! 

Jared Leto

Saint Laurent

The non-black suit was an obvious trend from the red carpet last night, and Jared Leto definitely pulled off this white suit. I love that he paired his white jacket with black pants... I can't even tell you how much I hate a white on white suit. Plus, the red bow tie is super cute and adds the extra pop of color. Of course, I'm super envious of his hair! I must admit, I think he has the best hair out of everyone on the red carpet. 

Photo Credit: theguardian.com, sheknows.com, lifeandstylemag.com, bollywoodlife.com, eonline.com, nymag.com, digitalspy.com, usatoday.com, 

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March Watch List

Pinch Punch First of the Month!

New month, new watch list! This month's theme is quite a fun one, literally. March's watch list is all about comedy! If you're like me, than you will suffering from the winter blues. I mean, 15 inches of snow, and counting, can be a bit much. So why not warm up with laughter from one of these hilarious television shows!

A Young Doctor's Notebook

Why It's A Must Watch: Daniel Radcliffe

I must admit, A Young Doctor's Notebook is my favorite project Daniel Radcliffe has done, besides Harry Potter of course. This series is a beautifully stylized series with an absolutely hilarious, but also compelling, script. The Doctor, played by both Jon Hamm and Daniel Radcliffe at different ages, finds himself going mad while trapped in a mundane, excluded Russian village. I absolutely love Daniel in this role; he plays the comedy with ease, but also performs the dramatic scenes with brilliance. If you're like me and love Daniel in comedic roles, than you will love A Young Doctor's Notebook.    

The Office (US)

Why It's A Must Watch: The Characters

I love The Office. No matter how many times I've seen each episode, I will always find it absolutely hilarious. Of course, what makes the show so funny is the quirky cast of characters. The standout character, as everyone knows, is Michael Scott. Steve Carell is just perfect as the ridiculously friendly office manager. Every character is full of life; they could all be people you work with. The characters are definitely the driving force in this absolutely hilarious show.  

Wilfred 

Why It's A Must Watch: Wilfred

Yes, this is that show with the man dressed in a dog suit. Yes, I am completely obsessed with it. This show is so crazy, but so funny. Jason Gann, who plays Wilfred and co-writes the show, has the technicalities of a dog down perfectly. Gann adds a voice to a dog not in the Disney sort of way, but as a real life animal. Any dog owner will just love Gann's jokes simply because they will understand them perfectly. I know my dog acts the exact same way Wilfred does in the show (except my dog does try to destroy my life or send me on metaphorical, life altering quests like Wilfred does), and it just cracks me up every time. 

Gavin and Stacey

Why It's A Must Watch: The Writing

Gavin and Stacey is written by James Corden (Smithy) and Ruth Jones (Nessa). I am obessed with James Corden and everything he does. He is brilliant at writing screenplays; every thing he writes is funny, touching, and entertaining. Teamed with Ruth Jones, Gavin and Stacey is no exception of Corden's brilliance. What I love most about this show are the characters. Gavin, Smithy, Stacey, and Nessa are hilarious concoctions, but my favorite characters have to be Gavin's parents, and of course Uncle Bryn.

Orange Is the New Black

Why It's A Must Watch: The Situations

Orange Is the New Black was probably the most talked about show last year. In this dramedy, Piper Chapman is incarcerated for a crime she committed in her youth. What makes this show such a riot is the situations Ms. Prim and Proper Piper finds herself in. Piper is definitely not the type of person who survives prison well. Although prison is hell for her, the situations Piper finds herself in are absolutely hilarious for us.


Photo Credit: fansided.com, wikipedia.org, theoffice.wikia.com, thewertzone.blogspot.com, impdb.org

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