Tag: netflix

  • 5 Ways to Ensure a Fun, Memorable Summer

    5 Ways to Ensure a Fun, Memorable Summer

    Ah, summer. Childhood memories come flooding back, reminding you that the only fun break you had as a child was indeed in the summer. There were no responsibilities, no errands to run, no assignments due. Just you and your friends chasing down the ice-cream truck and chilling in the pool at the YMCA. 

    I’m sure if you can turn back time, you would, but being an adult isn’t so bad. For one, you can finally take a sip of beer when grandpa offers it without your parents going at it with him. 

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    Curfew? Nope. You can also stay up as late as you want. I mean, you probably want to be in bed by nine or ten at most cause you’re exhausted, and your ten-step skincare routine takes quite some time. You know it’s worth it, though, because when you hit thirty (yikes, I know), people will be like, “what? You don’t look thirty!” You’ll know that’s all thanks to the Korean skincare routine you’ve acquired off a sixteen-year-old on TikTok. 

    So yay! Trust me, summer as an adult is great. I think. I haven’t left my house since the second kid popped out…

    I kid (kind of). Promise yourself that this summer, you’re going to create awesome memories, try something new, take risks, and have the time of your life. As tempting as it sounds, a shopping spree at Target is not an adventure. 

    Grab your polaroid and adventure stream; it’s time for some fun. 

    Mom, Take Me to Venice!

    Having been born around the ocean, raised around the ocean, and spent over half my time in the ocean, it’s safe to say that I love the ocean. When summer delivers the heat, grab your surfboard, and head over to the beach. Now, I know it sounds tacky because everyone’s at the beach this time of year, but is everyone there at four in the morning? 

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    You heard me; my mom would drive me to Venice beach at four in the morning to avoid crowds, swim, and practice surfing. What makes this impossibly early adventure so great and memorable? Without doubt, the sunrise, calmness of the ocean, the whooshing of the waves, and chance to meditate in peace. 

    Imagine having a whole ocean to yourself for a couple of hours- the things you can do! Even if you’re not an avid swimmer, I guarantee that sitting at the shore and observing the other surfers prepare for their day is one of the coolest things you can do in the summer. 

    I Forgot the Question, but Camping Is the Answer

    I once read a quote that said, “time camping isn’t time spent- it’s invested.” 

    You want to get away from your modern, industrious city life; then, I may know what might help you reconnect with what truly matters and disconnect from all the noise you’ve decided to leave behind. 

    As we age, we’re more turned on by solitude, quietness, and the perfect “get away” from our current lives. There’s a whole psychology behind this, but we’ll save that topic for a rainy day. The point is that basking in nature has proven nothing but good for the body and soul, and what better time than summer? 

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    This is your chance to clear your mind, inhale some authentic, fresh air, get grounded with mother nature, and realign with your original purpose. Hey, what says fun more than healing your soul, being around a campfire eating s’ mores and drinking a margarita? 

    We Have That? Here?!

    A friend once called me up and asked me if I wanted to join him on a tour of the city. At first, I was confused and a bit skeptical- a tour of our town? We grew up here! Out of pure boredom, I agreed and joined him and a few buddies on a tour of Los Angeles. 

    Holy crap, how have I never been to The Bradbury Building? How have I never heard of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery? I was more intrigued than actual tourists! I captured over three hundred photos on just two hours of touring! Imagine if I spent a whole day exploring the city I called home? 

     

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    The point I’m trying to get across is you don’t have to do anything out of this world to have a great time. What you’re looking for can literally be right under your nose. 

    Take a Risk

    When I was ten, I witnessed a group of men jumping off a cliff and into the ocean. I immediately went to my dad and begged him to let me do the same thing which he retaliates with “it’s too dangerous honey, those people are crazy” or “when you get older, you can do that, too” or “we’ll eventually go.” 

    Spoiler alert, I never got to go on a safari even though it was all I talked about for five years. You say you’ll eventually do it, but as you age, you allow life to get in the way, and you don’t do anything. 

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    Aren’t you sick of spending all your “fun” nights at Applebee’s? Think of something that scares the living crap out of you and do it this summer. Scuba diving? Taking a ride in a hot air balloon? Traveling to a foreign country? Skiing in Alberta? Going on a damn safari?

    When we do something that’s out of our comfort zone, it tends to stick with us for the rest of our life and allows space for change. 

    Let Laziness Win 

    You heard, right. Do nothing. I mean, you can build a hammock and fall asleep under the stars, which is excellent. But if lying in bed and watching Netflix all day is your thing, then go for it. Maybe you’ve had a tough year, and nothing is what you’ve been looking forward to doing. Believe me; I am the last person to judge. 

    Have a safe summer, everyone!

     

  • How to Keep Busy at Home During a Pandemic 

    How to Keep Busy at Home During a Pandemic 

    This may be slightly difficult to believe, but there are hundreds of things you can do in quarantine other than watching TikTok all day. With thousands of events around the world being postponed or canceled, people are instructed to stay home whether or not they show the implication of illness. It’s safe to say that self-quarantining can take a toll on mental health, especially on extroverts and workaholics. 

    By abiding by the rules and staying indoors, you are not only taking care of your physical health but saving others from contracting the illness. You are preventing the spread of a deadly virus. 

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    In the eyes of many, you are hailed a hero. A hero stuck at home with absolutely nothing to do. That’s ok because the list of things to do is truly never-ending. Someone recommended messaging all your ex’s to get anything off your chest, but I cannot stress enough what a bad idea that is. I understand people are sort of losing it up there, but let’s try to stay civil, you guys. 

    Here are seven activities to keep your mind sharp, hands busy, and boredom at bay. Most of these activities require movement because writing in a journal and reading a book can only keep you productive for so long. 

    Loading the Serotonin 

    A moment, if you please, for all my gym rats who are losing gains because they have no access to equipment and all gyms are closed. I make it sound worse than it actually is, but it’s a loss nonetheless. 

    Starting your day with a quick thirty-minute workout will provide you with a metabolism boost, better performance throughout your day, sense of accomplishment, less stress, and endorphins endorphins endorphins. God knows we need them right now. 

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    Finding a suitable workout channel on YouTube is like finding pennies in Ralph’s parking lot- it’s definitely there. I’ve said this several times before, but Fitness Blender is undeniably the one workout channel that has changed my perspective on fitness and has helped me reach sustainable weight loss. Find someone that keeps it fun, different, and worthwhile. 

    Marie Kondo the SH*T out of Your House 

    My first reaction to hearing about Marie Kondo went something like this: ….uhh, OK? My response to watching Marie Kondo went more like this: YES! OK! 

    I can’t believe I ever folded clothes the way I did before her. I have evolved, friends- reached a new level of enlightenment to the world of house organization. What better way to spend your day than to clean out your home? 

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    You will not believe the relief and sense of achievement you feel when clearing out your closet. It’s relaxing, keeps you busy, and sparks joy! That simple phrase has changed my outlook on materialism in general. If it doesn’t spark joy, then let it go, be it shirt, pants, jackets, shoes, a husband. 

    Let. it. Go. 

    Play out Your Favorite Scenes From Films 

    Now, if you’re a cinema lover or a lover of fine taste in general, then you’ll probably reach back in time for some of Hollywood’s more superior work (ahem, La Marseillaise scene Casablanca). 

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    While memorizing another language is on this list, you certainly don’t need it to act out your favorite scenes. If you’re living with family, include them in this activity and assign everyone apart. It might involve some yelling, laughter, siblings attacking each other, but hey, at least it’ll give you something to do. 

    Narrate Your Family’s Actions (Start Some Drama) 

    “Dad is opening the fridge…he reaches for the milk, but what he doesn’t know is that the carton milk is actually…empty. He looks at me, questionably, and smiles. He throws the carton in the trash and goes to question my mother why we’re out of milk…”

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    See how annoying that can be? My siblings and I used to do it to each other when we were younger, and let’s be honest, we still do sometimes. Does it lead to hands being thrown? Absolutely. Do we continue to do it despite threats to change the Netflix password? Of course. Go ahead, annoy the hell out of your family members because when this pandemic is entirely over, they’ll probably never want to see you again. 

    Virtual Tour Redwood National Park  

    No, it doesn’t have to be Redwood, but it’s a soothing calming experience and worth the time. Search “virtual tours” on YouTube and prepare to be amazed. You can travel the world from the comfort of your couch. I know it’s not as fabulous as the real thing, but it’s a lot cheaper. 

     

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    There are plenty of tour options, which range from one to two hours. The sights are beautiful, and you can discover something new from every video!

    Practice a Second Language 

    When it comes to language apps, I’m incredibly skeptical. Having too many apps on my phone is a no-no, so every app needs to be worth the download. 

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    I found Duolingo through a friend’s recommendation, who swore it helped with their Arabic. Now, I say practice a second language because this is more of a practice session and not something that can teach you a whole language. You would need other external sources to perfect learning any language, but Duolingo is by far the most useful app in exercising another language through repetition. It helps build essential vocabulary and understanding the structure of a language. 

    Either way, you will learn something new with this app, and it’s worth a couple of hours of your day on your road to mastering a new language. 

    Build a Pillow/Blanket Fort + Netflix

    Oh, childhood, you’ve flown by, and if it were possible, I’d turn back time and go back to ice cream trucks and trading Pokemon cards. 

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    Here’s a video on how to make the coziest blanket fort ever. Why? Well, for one, you literally have nothing to do, and second, it will bring out your inner child at this time of crisis, and your inner child will understand how to handle the situation. 

    Duh

    Stay safe, everyone! 

     

  • 7 Most Underrated TV Shows to Binge Watch on Netflix Right Now

    7 Most Underrated TV Shows to Binge Watch on Netflix Right Now

    I have a love-hate relationship with Netflix. It’s great for days off and late nights, but why oh why must there be hundreds of shows and movies to choose from? I spend more time picking a show than I do watching it, and I know for a fact I’m not alone in this. At some point, you feel like you’ve watched everything even though the choices are truly endless.

    If you’ve got some extra time on your hands, we’ve got the complete list of shows that will have you laughing, crying, and utterly mesmerized.

    Money Heist

    Why no one is talking about this show and getting excited that the third season is coming out, I’ll never know. La Casa De Papel (The Paper House/Money Heist) is a show that will leave you at the edge of your couch. Yes, it is in Spanish, but that should not stop you from turning on those subtitles and enjoying one of the most incredible shows of our time (yes, it’s that serious).

    Film Daily

    According to Forbes, the show became the number one foreign language TV series on the streaming platform in 2018.

    Eight thieves, with the help of a criminal mastermind, break into The Royal Mint of Spain and attempt to print over 2.4 billion Euros. If the show is not on your list, you better brush up fast because the third part is right around the corner.

    Alias Grace

    Another show based off of real events.


    Channel Binge

    If you are a bookworm, then you must read the book that this show is based on. MUST. Margaret Atwood’s literacy will immerse you in a world of scandal and tragedy. Grace Marks is the main character who is an Irish immigrant whose whole life has been nothing but hardship and difficulty. When serving under her employer, Thomas Kinnear, she is accused of murdering him and his mistress/housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery. Even though she could have been proven innocent, she is imprisoned for life and creates a reputation for herself as one of the most infamous women at the time.

    Peaky Blinders

    If you’re not swearing like a sailor with a British accent or smoking a cigar by the end of this show, get back to me. Based on a true story of a violent gang who had razors sewn into their hats and had control over major cities back in the 1890s. One of the most underrated shows on Netflix due to what I believe is incredibly poor advertisement.

    Metro

    Follow Thomas Shelby as he gradually takes over Birmingham, England after World War I. Filled with action, thrills, tears, sex, humor, and most importantly, the importance of family in the worst of times; this show is a must add to your list.

    One Day at a Time

    How often is it you find a sitcom with a Cuban family being in the spotlight? Rarely to never. Penelope is an Army veteran who is raising her two kids alone after divorcing from their alcoholic father. The show follows each one of them as they struggle to fit in, discover who they are, and face world issues that are rarely mentioned in today’s shows.

    Variety

    These issues include homophobia, PTSD, LGBT, racism, and sexuality. No matter how serious a subject gets, you won’t want to stop watching this heartwarming show that will have you begging for more.

    Santa Clarita Diet

    If you’re a fan of the show iZombie or zombies in general, then you are going to love this! Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant work together to give us comedy gold. The married couple were leading healthy and normal lives until a vomit explosion leaves Sheila (Drew) craving human flesh.

    The Verge

    As she tries her best not to murder on impulse and eat anyone, her husband works hard to find out what caused the virus and if there’s a cure.

    The OA

    Imagine belonging to a wealthy Russian family, dying and drowning, coming back from the dead newly blinded, shipped halfway across the world, getting adopted, growing up with nightmares and visions, then disappearing for seven years before finally coming back with your vision restored.

    Wired

    Honestly, The OA had me confused for the first couple episodes, but when you mix Sci-Fi with Fantasy and Brit Marling, then you’ve got a show worth watching over and over again.

    Grace and Frankie

    Two elderly women are left by their gay husbands…for each other. If that wasn’t bad enough, they have nowhere to stay but with each other. Not knowing where life will take them now, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin form a bond that one can only describe as unbreakable.

    Indie Wire

    The show is filled with so much love, humor, friendship, and marijuana, that you will feel a need to keep watching and figure out what’s next for the unlikely couple.