On My List: December 24th

Happy Holidays and Christmas Eve!

I only have a small On My List with one book and two TV shows

Book I Want to Read:

I read the description for this romantic mystery Drop Dead by Lily Chu and knew I had to read it. The story follows two rival reporters who have to work together to uncover the truth about a scandal. And I guess as they're working together they start to see a different side to each other. So, will they find the truth and fall in love? I guess I'll see once I get this.

Book: Drop Dead by Lily Chu

Description:

One mysterious mansion. Two rival journalists. Three weeks to uncover the story―and love―of a lifetime.

Obituary writer Nadine Barbault doesn't mind being called "Lady Death." It suits the ice queen persona she's cultivated to survive the fast-paced Toronto Herald. So when Nadine learns that famous (and reclusive) author Dot Voline has died, she doesn't hesitate to run the obituary…only to discover that Dot is very much alive.

Nadine's screw-up has brought Wesley Chen of the rival Spear no end of joy―she's been a thorn in his extremely ambitious side for years. But the renewed interest in Dot also surfaced chatter about a mysterious past scandal. Intrigued, Wes goes to the source to learn more―only to discover Nadine had the exact same idea…and the infuriating woman isn't willing to respect dibs. Typical.

At first, Dot refuses to speak to either of the squabbling pair, but then they receive an unusual request―work together, and Dot will share everything. The offer seems too good to be true…and of course, it is: in a bitter twist of irony, Dot dies for real before she can finish recounting her story. Not all is lost, however. The estate's executor allows Wes and Nadine access to Dot's sprawling wonderland of a mansion for three weeks to find their answer. That's three weeks of working together…three weeks of endless sweltering in tight spaces…three weeks of learning there could be something more between them than a desire to win at any cost.

And maybe, just maybe, under the rubble of all those could-have-beens they'll uncover more than the secret of Dot Voline's long-ago scandal―and Lady Death will finally embrace what she's wanted from life all along.

Hiatus Watch: The Last of Us

Happy Sunday!

Tonight is the night for one of my Must See shows, The Last of Us. I am so looking forward to watching the first episode, I love a good apocalyptic story with action and a bit of horror. I've never played the video games this is based on and looking at the trailer it doesn't look like the show is created just for fans of the game but for a general audience. I really can't wait to watch this.


The Last of Us                                                 9:00 PM EST                                  Sundays on  HBO

Starring: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Merle Dandridge, Jeffrey Pierce, Anna Torv, Murray Bartlett, Nick Offerman and more

Based On: the The Last of Us video game

Description:

Joel and Ellie, a pair connected through the harshness of the world they live in, are forced to endure brutal circumstances and ruthless killers on a trek across post-pandemic America.

Trailer: Close Enough Season 3

Who said being an adult was easy? Well, at least the Close Enough animated series makes it look fun. These characters are so dysfunctional but you can't help loving them. I absolutely loved watching the first two seasons, this show is so crazy, weird and funny. The third season premieres on Thursday, April 7th on HBO Max and I'm really excited to see it, I just love this show.

Close Enough (HBO Max)

Starring: J.G. Quintel, Gabrielle Walsh, Jason Mantzoukas, Kimiko Glenn, Jessica DiCicco, James Adomian, Danielle Brooks and more

General Description:

From HBO Max and JG Quintel, comes Close Enough, a surreal animated comedy about a married couple, their five-year-old daughter, and their two divorced best friends/roommates all sharing a cramped apartment on the east side of Los Angeles. Their life may not be ideal but for now, it's close enough.

Trailer: Our Flag Means Death

I love finding new shows and one I've been hearing non-stop good things about is the comedy Our Flag Means Death. I believe there's only 10 episodes for the first season and if the reception for the show has been being so positive maybe it'll be renewed for a second season. Anyway, the trailer definitely looks funny and if the show is as funny as it is then I can't wait to see it.

Our Flag Means Death (HBO Max)

Starring: Rhys Darby, Joel Fry, Samson Kayo, Nathan Foad, Matthew Maher, Kristian Nairn, Samba Schutte, Ewen Bremner, Con O'Neill, Vico Ortiz, Taika Waititi and more

Description:

Stede Bonnet, a pampered aristocrat, abandons his life of privilege to become a pirate in the early 18th century.

TV Show to Watch: Foodie Love

I love finding new shows (or new to me shows) to watch, I recently found Run on Saturday (which I'm really enjoying) and now I just found Foodie Love. It's an eight episode Spanish drama series that premiered on HBO on July 13th that follows two foodies falling in love (at least I hope so).

The trailer totally captured my attention, from the witty banter to the characters' chemistry to the food, it truly made want to watch this show.


Foodie Love

Starring: Laia Costa, Guillermo Pfening, Édgar Vittorino, Natalia de Molina, Greta Fernández and more

Description:

Foodie Love follows two thirty-somethings after they meet on a foodie mobile dating app. They embark on a gastronomic journey, learning about each other through the mediums of jamón, ramen and fine dining from around the world. Yet while they bond over a shared devotion to Japanese yuzu and a distaste for foodie pretension, their insecurities and doubts fueled by the scars of their previous relationships may prevent them from tasting true love.

Issa Rae (The Hollywood Reporter)

I'm so behind on watching Insecure, I really need to get caught up. Since it's been a while, I'm thinking of just rewatching the show from the beginning on HBO. Until then, here is a really beautiful photo of the amazing actress Issa Rae who is the co-creator and a writer for the series.

Photography: Erik Carter for The Hollywood Reporter (August 2020)

On My List: August 15th

Okay, it's been a while since the last time I posted On My List and I'm going to make sure to post something weekly.


Books I Want to Read:

On My List are three middle grade books that I really want to read that focus on babysitting, Indian mythology and the supernatural. How could I not want to read these books? They each seem like a good read.

Book: Best Babysitters Ever (Best Babysitters Ever book #1) by Caroline Carla

Description:

A funny new middle grade series about three 12-year-old best friends who start a babysitting club in their small California town. Perfect for fans of series like Whatever After and the Dork Diaries.

Once upon a time, a girl named Kristy Thomas had a great idea: to form The Baby-Sitters Club with her best friends. And now twelve-year-old Malia Twiggs has had a great idea too. Technically, she had Kristy’s idea. (And technically, little kids seem gross and annoying, but a paycheck is a paycheck). After a little convincing, Malia and her friends Dot and Bree start a babysitting club to earn funds for an epic birthday bash. But babysitting definitely isn’t what they thought it would be.

Three friends. No parents. Unlimited snacks. And, okay, occasionally watching other people’s children. What could possibly go wrong?

Fashion Meets Fandom: Miranda Hobbes and Carrie Bradshaw's Summer Outfits

One of the joys of summer is effortless style and Sex and the City's Miranda Hobbes and Carrie Bradshaw are wearing easy throw-on-and-go summer essentials: tank top, lightweight pants and a flowy dress.

Both outfits have a cool and casual vibe that would be perfect for either working from home or for the weekend. I really like this easy-chic look Miranda and Carrie had and it inspired me to create similar looks for Fashion Meets Fandom.

Sex and the City's Charlotte York and Her Embarrassing Book Buying Experience

Are there certain books or genres you're embarrassed if someone saw you buying them in a store? This question makes me think about the Sex and the City fifth season fourth episode Cover Girl when Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York were at the bookstore.

At the store, Carrie and Samantha were looking over book covers (since Carrie had an upcoming book being published she was trying to figure out how her cover should or shouldn't look), Miranda was looking for a weight loss book while Charlotte was looking for a specific self-help book, "Starting Over Yet Again" by Dr. Jane Raab. After separating from her husband Dr. Trey MacDougal, Charlotte was feeling a little insecure and thought this book might help her.

She was determined to find it in the Self-Help section, that is until she got there. She saw one woman who was distressed and chewing her hair as she read a book and then saw another woman who was sitting on the floor crying while reading a book.

Fashion: Nathalie Emmanuel at the Game of Thrones 8th Season Premiere

Although Game of Thrones 8th and finale season doesn't premiere until Sunday, April 14th at 9:00 PM on HBO, the cast attended a premiere party last night in New York City. Out of all the cast pictures I saw, I thought Nathalie Emmanuel was the best dressed.

I love this Ermanno Scervino orange ruffle organza dress she wore, it has a an old school prom dress aesthetics to it. The bright color and all the volume and layers, it just so pretty. Nathalie truly looked like the Queen of the red carpet the only thing missing was her throne (pun intended).


Dress

DVD Tuesday: Fahrenheit 451 and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

I didn't watch the latest adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 when it originally aired on HBO and that's because I have not read the book. Yeah, I know, I can't believe I haven't read this classic yet. However, I did recently buy it from the bookstore along with Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. I'm planning to read both as soon as I can so that I can watch both adaptations.

As for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom who doesn't love dinosaurs, I really want to see this movie. I thought the first Jurassic World movie was okay. I'm hoping this is as good as I keep hearing it is.


Fahrenheit 451

Description:

In a future society where books are banned and burned, a fireman begins to read in secret and discovers an underground rebellion committed to protecting literature.

The "Sharp Objects" TV Miniseries Premieres Tonight

Even though I still haven't watched the Fahrenheit 451 movie (I also haven't read the book that was written by Ray Bradbury), but I like that HBO has adapted several books into movies or TV series. And speaking of TV series, the first episode of the channel's 8-part miniseries Sharp Objects premieres tonight at 9:00 pm EST. It's based on the book of the same title by Gillian Flynn which I also haven't read. But I did recently buy both books which I plan on reading soon.

I think the trailer for Sharp Objects looks really interesting with Camille Preaker trying to investigate the missing girls for a story but also trying to face her troubled past. So who else is planning on watching this tonight?


Sharp Objects                                        HBO                                       9:00 pm on Sundays

Starring: Amy Adams, Patricia Clarkson, Chris Messina, Eliza Scanlen and more

Description:

Follow the story of reporter Camille Preaker who returns to her small hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls. Trying to put together a psychological puzzle from her past, she finds herself identifying with the young victims a bit too closely.

Fandom Friday: Please Stop Writing "How Did Carrie Bradshaw Afford Her Lifestyle?" Articles

It's been 20 years since Sex and the City first aired on June 6, 1998 on HBO and yet the articles and posts on how Carrie Bradshaw was able to afford her lifestyle never ever seem to stop. I wrote something about it a couple of years ago, in my post Sex and the City, Still Worth Watching!.

I sometimes wonder if all the writers putting together these articles and posts truly paid attention to the series because they did show that Carrie had some financial issues. In the episode "The Power of Female Sex" (season 1 episode 5), Carrie was shopping for shoes and when she went to pay, the sales person was instructed to cut up her credit card because it was maxed out. That's truly an embarrassing situation and she was saved from further embarrassment by her friend Amalita showing up at the register offering to pay for Carrie's shoes.

In the episode "Just Say Yes" (season 4 episode 12), Carrie found out that her apartment building was going co-op which meant she either had to buy her apartment or move. Her then boyfriend Aidan Shaw, asked her why doesn't she just buy her apartment and she counters with I just charged tomatoes. Carrie has absolutely no savings because by the episode "Ring a Ding Ding" (season 4 episode 16), her engagement to Aidan had ended but since he had bought her apartment (and the one next to it) that now left Carrie back where she started needing to either buy her apartment from Aidan or move.

This was the episode where she had the shocking realization that she has spent $40,000 if not more on shoes. This was a wake-up call for sure because she had a closet full of clothes and shoes but no money to buy her apartment. In that same episode Carrie got offered help from two different people, first was her ex-boyfriend Mr. Big (a.k.a. John James Preston) who gave her a check (as a loan) for the down payment but after hearing what her good friends Miranda Hobbes (who was against it) and Samantha Jones (who was for it) had to say about the money, she decided not to use it. The second to help, was her good friend Charlotte York, who after a little bit of soul searching (in regards to money) offered to help Carrie by loaning her the money (via her engagement ring).

Although she made a living as a writer for the newspaper, The New York Star, she was living beyond her means through the use of credit cards. On rare occasions she received help from her friends (Amalita, Charlotte, Aidan and Big) but mostly she was coasting by on a wave of credit card debt. It wasn't until Carrie started freelance writing for Vogue magazine in season 4 episode 17 "A "Vogue" Idea" and later on in season 5 where she published her book were she truly able to afford the lifestyle she had been living.

It goes to show you that Carrie was not actually able to afford her fabulous lifestyle and if those writers had paid attention to the series there would be no need to continue with all these articles and post about how she was able to afford her lifestyle.

DVD Picks: Insecure Season 1 and Dr. Ken Season 1

I wish I had more time to watch TV because there are many shows that I like but I don't have time to watch such as HBO's Insecure and the now cancelled Dr. Ken. I've watched several episodes from both series but I fell behind in watching them. Which is why I usually end up buying TV shows on DVD/Blu-ray so I can watch them later.


Insecure season 1

Description:

Two friends navigate the tricky professional and personal terrain of L.A. in this comedy created and starring Issa Rae. As the best friends deal with their own real-life flaws, their insecurities come to the fore as together they cope with an endless series of uncomfortable everyday experiences.

Nesting: Carrie Bradshaw's Apartments and Bookcases

I know many articles and posts have been written about Carrie Bradshaw's wardrobe and her magnificent closet but can we talk about her bookcase.

Sex and the City

On the TV series her bookcase was one of the most impressive and eye catching items in her apartment. Although she mostly filled it with magazines, there is easily enough space to store a large number of books. Watching the series, I noticed she stored a great number of books around her apartment such as in the small alcove off her kitchen and in various spots in her living room and bedroom.

TV Round Up: Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds

Did you watch the Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds documentary last night (or at any other time it aired)? I watched it and thought it was both funny and sad.

I love that Carrie Fisher was an all out eccentric, her house was ridiculously quirky with all the wonderful little knickknacks all around and even the clothes she wore fit into that category. But it all went with her personality. I like that this was who Fisher was and didn't feel the need to put on any fake airs.

Debbie Reynolds no matter what age was adorable and inspiring, she loved performing and she gave her all whenever she was on stage. I loved that she had the idea of wanting to create a museum to showcase film memorabilia. I can't believe that they were unable to get one going and that backers didn't think there would be any interest in something like that. However, Reynolds was so right, fans love seeing that kind of stuff and would have gladly paid to see it. I agree that items shouldn't be hidden away in some private collection but available for fans to enjoy. I do hope that at some point a museum will be built and it will be named in honor of Reynolds.

Watching this you could see that they were a close knit quirky family and looked out for each other because both Carrie and her brother Todd took good care of their mom but also gave her space to be independent.

There is quite a bit of humor in this but also something very profound as their past is showed and talked about. And the role of getting older also plays a key point in this documentary because despite how exuberant Reynolds may have been at the time, her health was starting to cause her problems yet that didn't stop her desire to do her stage show.

If you have access to HBO but haven't watched this documentary, I would recommend watching it because it's a candid look into the lives of the Reynolds/Fisher family.

Trailer for Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds (Documentary)

A documentary I'm really looking forward to seeing is Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. It premieres this Saturday, January 7th at 8:00 PM (EST) on HBO. It will give fans a look into the lives of both legendary actresses and I think this will be something a lot of fans such as myself will be watching because we're still feeling sad about their deaths.

Are you plan on watching the documentary? If you do, I would love to know what you thought of it.

Sex and the City, Still Worth Watching!

Lately, whenever I see anything written about Sex and the City, it's something negative. I have seen article after article and post after post where the writers and bloggers are bashing not only the show and movies but the characters as well.

The two comments that I have seen the most are: "the show is unrealistic" and "there's no way Carrie Bradshaw could have afforded her lavish lifestyle".

As far as being unrealistic, it's a TV show not a real life documentary. Sex and the City was a dreamy and fashionable look at Manhattan life centered around four very different women. If being realistic is the criteria for judging TV shows (and movies) then that would make almost everything we watch unrealistic.

As for Carrie affording her lifestyle, she made a fair living writing her weekly column "Sex and the City" for the newspaper, The New York Star. A column by the way which was rather popular and turned her into what I would call a minor celebrity.

If those who criticized paid attention, early on in the series Carrie afforded most of her lifestyle by unfortunately maxing out her credit cards. Luckily, up until she was forced to buy her apartment, it was rent controlled. It wasn't until she got her book deal (season 5) that she was finally able to truly afford her lifestyle. Prior to that, her finances were so bad that if it wasn't for Charlotte giving her a loan, Carrie would not have been able to buy her apartment. Also, during that time while she was trying to figure out her finances, she started freelance writing for Vogue magazine where she ended up making $4.50 per word.

I don't get why so many have begun bashing Sex and the City and the characters years after the show has ended. Well, I guess everyone has their own opinion and I'm also sharing mine. I think the criticism that's disappointed me the most are the ones that are focused on Carrie. Out of the four main characters, she has received the most backlash. She has been called: stupid, materialistic, selfish, a slut, a bad writer, anti-feminist and so many more horrible things. Why is she being judged? Carrie was never presented as being perfect, she had flaws just like the rest of us. What changed, certainly not Carrie, so what has caused the shift in opinion? Why now is she receiving all of this negativity?

I'm not embarrassed to say that I still love watching Sex and the City. For me it doesn't matter if some critics call the show unrealistic or try to figure out how Carrie can afford her fabulous life. All that matters to me is that the show was brilliantly written and it's still entertaining to watch. Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte were four fun, zany, crazy, intelligent women who were far from perfect but that made the show even more enjoyable.

Nesting: Samatha Jones' Apartment (Sex and the City)

Samantha Jones' New York City studio apartment was set up for one purpose and that was to entertain. And I don't mean for dinner parties. Something that surprised me, with her bold and racy personality, her apartment had a very minimalist feel. There were no knick-knacks or clutter strewn about.

Throwback Thursday: When Charlotte York Married Harry Goldenblatt

The Sex and the City sixth season episode The Catch aired on HBO Sunday, August 10, 2003 and focused on Charlotte York (played by Kristin Davis) marrying the love of her life Harry Goldenblatt (played by Evan Handler). Although the wedding seemed to be plagued with bad luck it just made the day seem that much more special.

Charlotte's dress was so beautiful, just look at all the details. I like that the accessories were kept to a minimum because with a dress as gorgeous as this you don't need to add a lot to it.