Miracle of Life

For many of us, the thought of kids is not one we remotely consider--at least not now. We've all just started a while new chapter of our lives that will lead us to successful careers (hopefully), graduate studies, or even a new trade. To have a child that requires countless hours of care would completely derail us of all the plans we currently have. However, children are a beautiful thing to welcome into this world, and we can only hope that if we were faced with the chance to bring in a new life, we would be willing to do so.

For Jane, the main character of Jane the Virgin, the announcement of her pregnancy was not only extremely unusual but also came at what was a crucial time in her life. Jane was currently working at the Marbella hotel and pursuing a relationship with the love of her life Michael. When I say the pregnancy was alarming and unusual, that is for a couple reasons. For one, the child was not Michael's and secondly, Jane was a virgin.

So, you might be wondering how does a virgin get pregnant? Surely this isn't another plot of the Virgin Mary. Well, it's incredibly complicated but I will do my best to explain. The hotel that Jane works by is owned and ran by her boss, Rafael and his wife, Petra. Rafael and Petra do not share the best of marriages and so at this time, there is some slight romance going on between Jane and Rafael. When Jane goes to her gynecologist for her check up, Rafael's sister Luisa, the doctor, accidentally inseminates Jane in mistake of Petra. The two look nothing alike but Luisa was so troubled her bad judgement set the stage for a really sticky situation.

We have Jane who is romantically linked to Michael with a slight crush on Rafael as well as his baby. Petra, the fierce and angry wife who has some plans up her sleeve. This only makes up for a lot of the action of this show but I will say there is so much more.

Although it might seems as if I have set most of the plot out for you, I swear I have only set the stage. If you couldn't already guess, Jane welcomes this child into her life regardless of the timing and all the complications that arise in what seems to be a love square (Rafael, Jane, Petra, and Michael). Throughout the show ther is so much development in most of the characters and especially Jane, Rafael and Michael. Jane's bonds with these two men grow and wither as time passes and the child get closer to life. This is the very reason that as a viewer, you are either #TeamMichael or #TeamRafael.

If you love a drama with lots of action and surprises and also don't mind a bit of romance, this could easily be your next Netflix binge. Also, the show narrator as well as Jane's grandmother, speak Spanish so if you'd like to learn a bit more this show could also provide that opportunity.

Enjoy this funny clip about why you should be #TeamMichael

Start of Something New (NOT HSM)

Doomsday, Armageddon, the apocalypse, or Judgement day, whatever you call it; it’s the end of the fu***ing world (oops am I allowed to even say that?). There are a number of views surrounding what this day will look like. Its is the day that ends the world as we know it. A day of mass destruction and one to put an end to human civilization. So I ask, what does this day look like to you?

For those who are religious, this is the day the Lord returns for his people and makes his last judgements on our lives. In regard to doomsday, did you know there's a clock? As I was looking into this theory of our downfall, I noticed just about over a week ago, doomsday and it's clock made a big hoot in media. It seems that this theory is more focused on nuclear power and the ability to end life as we know it.

No matter what you call it or what you believe, what does this day look like for you? I know we cannot tell the future and know what it would be like, but do you imagine yourself being alive for this day? How old will you be? Where will you be? Will you be alone or with the people you love?

Well, imagine you're with a complete stranger. Now, what does this look like? At some point do you separate? Why are the two of you together in all this? If you've been keeping up with some of the latest Netflix series, then you know that it's to fuel a dynamic duo relationship on adrenaline and romance.

If you couldn't already guess it, the show I'm choosing to cover for this week is titled the end of the fu***ing world and tells a story of two young teens, Alyssa and James and their reckless journey together. Alyssa is intrigued by James, so during lunch she decided to approach him and not long after, the two start to hang out. Both young teens are troubled by their family relations and soon decide they should run away together. James has a goal that he wishes to accomplish and Alyssa is just simply a bit defiant. She acts out impulsively and doesn't care much about the consequences of her actions. Something the two also share in common. With all this I mind, you almost have to be concerned for how their journey together will turn out.

If I'm being honest, the journey is full of chaos, disaster, frustration, yet they start to grow closer and closer to one another. I don't think either of them considered what it would be like to share time with someone who they could be themselves with. This may not sound like the end of the world, but for these two, it easily could've been. They face some deep troubles at moments throughout the show.
Regardless, being together turned the world upside down for these two and they really started to come to a new understanding. It wasn't the end of the world but a start to something new.

Feel free to watch the trailer here but fair WARNING, it's explicit and I think it gives away too much of the plot.

Twisted Fate of Technology

Imagine what it would be like if every moment of your life was being recorded constantly. You would have the opportunity at any point in the day to go back and recall events just as they were. If you think about it, were halfway there. Snapchat has to be one of the most common apps where we all record events in our lives that seem so important and put it on display for everyone to see. We make sure it's saved in our (Snapchat) memories and overtime have built a video journal of our life.

We are thankful for the technology today that has allowed us to do so but what if we take it a bit further? As the technology industry continues to grow and advance for new ways to engage consumers, what will we see? In 5 years from now, what will this technology look like? What will you and I be able to do that we cannot do now?

If these are the kind of questions you ask yourself, or if the topic of progressive technology is one that intrigues you, then my next best Netflix suggestion is black mirror. This series on Netflix has a number of episodes that each run about an hour long and are not related by any means. Unlike the typical series that drops off with the biggest cliffhangers so that you'll sit there with your finger on the mouse, full of impulse, ready to hit the big read button that reads "Next episode in 5..4..3", you'll find yourself in complete shock or awe after an episode. You might not want to click that red button because these episodes are the kind that really make you sit back and think.

What is black mirror? Well according to the creator, the name came from the idea that as we watch our screens, when all is powered off, we are glaring back at a literal black mirror. How genius is that?? However, the show is so much more than that. Its an engaging way of considering what life could be like if we had more advanced technology. In almost every episode I've seen, this technology isn't about providing goodness and happiness to society and although it can, there is a dark element. A way in which technology becomes a downfall to humanity in a sense. I can't explain it any better than the creator himself so feel free to watch this video in which he mentions the reasoning behind the title and more about how this show came to be.

BEWARE: In this video, Charlie Brooker, the creator of Black Mirror will mention a couple of the episodes. I don't believe there to be any true spoilers but if you'd rather not know a single thing about any episode, do not watch.



Also, if for some reason you're still imagining what it would be like to have every moment of life recorded for you to come back to at any point, feel free to watch Season 1, episode 3 to find out!

"Shut Your Big Mouth"

Depending on your level of sass and just how much attitude you possessed, it's quite possible that as a child and more specifically, one that is starting to develop and is at the stage or close to becoming a teenager, perhaps when annoyed by someone with too much to say, your response was "shut your big mouth". I mean, at this age curse words are off the list and so this is the nicest way you can say something mean. Around this time, you are more and more emotional and this kind of small outburst is more and more common. Chances are you're going through puberty.

Oh, puberty. What a great time. One in which your body is changing in more way than you can count, but I don't need to explain it all to you right? Hopefully, at some point you took a sexual education course and who doesn't remember all the videos of young teens being an example against teen pregnancy. If your course was just as open as mine, maybe you even got the gnarly images of what STD's look like. That's something teenage me wishes she didn't have to see.  Either way, sexual education is important but is this really the best way.

What if I were to tell you that there was a Netflix series for this. No, it's not a documentary and not as formal as you're probably imagining. In fact, it is a Netflix created series that is animated and talks a lot about puberty and what teen experience as they face this time. What makes it even better, its actually pretty funny. Enjoy this trailer! BUT, before you do, beware that this trailer and the show itself is pretty explicit.




While the content in my opinion is for a matured audience, I love that there is now a show that talks through and shows all of what puberty is. This show does not hold back and is very straight forward. It does not try to water down some of the dilemmas that young teens experience at this time. I think this is just great because it allows viewers to better connect and say "yeah I've been there before" and it's so humorous that you can't help but laugh. I think that because this show exists, it also allows people to feel as if they're not alone in their experience and it's okay because we all go through it in some form or another. Sadly, the explicit nature of it would make it a not so great show to use to teach children and young teens.

This series is a very short one as well. It's 10 episodes long and each episode is about 22 minutes. This is definitely a weekend blowout show or one you could just binge for a day. If the topic or explicit nature is one that would make you feel uncomfortable than you're best skipping out. But considering we are now adults, you can choose to watch this show to enjoy it for it's humor.

Merry Halloween!

Merry Christmas! Now that we've blown past spooky season and reached November, it's time for Christmas. The lights, the tree, Christmas music, hot chocolate, warm fresh cookies, gingerbread houses, and lets not forget those beautiful decorative reefs. Or is it too soon?

Well, just yesterday when I began to open just about every social media platform I had an account with, (Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat) I began to see numerous people playing their favorite Christmas tunes or dedicating a post just to say "Merry Christmas!". I was surprise at just how many people seemed to skip over Thanksgiving. However, it more common than you think.

As a retail associate at TJMaxx, I can attest to the fact that we both received and displayed Christmas items about 2-3 WEEKS ago. They did not even wait for Halloween to pass. While we definitely got our jumpstart in the holiday season, as I returned to work yesterday from last weekend, the first of November brought in the display tables. So we went from having a full section of Christmas to seeing it just about all around the store.

Now, if you're like me and can't help but be overwhelmed by the rush to Christmas following right after Halloween, I have a show that is great and would have been perfect to watch during Halloween but can be watched at anytime really. While I'm assuming most of you have watched this, for those who haven't, please, when you get free time, open your browser or app on your phone to Netflix, search up Stranger Things, and begin!

Also, if you've already seen this but have not had the chance to get started with season two which released just almost a week ago, you too must get started. This season has so many good scenes and surprise and it will not disappoint. Personally, while I tended to favor originals (like Mean Girls over Mean Girls 2), I was so much more immersed in season 2.

If you're needing a reason as to why you should even bother watching, I will say this, the show not only is action packed and will keep you on the edge of your seat or strike your curiosity, but the group of young actors who play such a large role in this show are insanely talented. They are a hilarious group of kids who can not only have fun but really channel a multitude of emotions as part of their character. These young actors and actresses are about 13 to 14, and to see them be so successful and skilled is just amazing. If you needed a reason, that is it.

Now in the spirit of Halloween I have to say, something scarier than zombies, goblins, vampires, and witches is SPOILERS. I will not really go into detail so much about the show and what's going on, instead you simply have to watch and find out for yourself. Since I made the claim that these young actors are talented, I did manage to find a clip to show a hidden talent of actress Millie Brown that talks all about the show. But I will warn, its a season one recap so for those of us who have yet to see season two, enjoy!

"Freaks? Like Circus Freaks?"

For four years of our lives, we spent five days a week and somewhere between 6-9 hours a day in high school. You were a student first but also belonged to a number of groups such as athletics, debate, band, orchestra, student government, and a variety of different clubs. However, no matter how involved you were and where you placed yourself, high school maintains its cliques. Jocks, nerds, cheerleaders and dancers, outcasts, and everyone else. While these might not be the exact labels circling your high school, I'm sure you're familiar with the categorization that took place during those four years. So let me ask, were you a freak or geek?

While I'm fully aware that some of us are so glad to be done with high school and would rather not relive the horrors of teenage drama and struggles that come with academics, Freaks and Geeks, a late 90s series surrounding the high school atmosphere of freaks versus geeks is a great show that will allow to reminisce on all that high school encompassed. The show is very relatable and while it might not capture your very high school experience, you will definitely see scenarios that hit close to home.



However, if you're not motivated by the opportunity to watch a show that is relatable, ladies, this is a great excuse to watch 18 episodes of the young and very good looking James Franco. And of course, he's got the bad boy image to go along with the charming looks. If you're not into young Franco, how about young Jason Segel? He's a real cutie in this series who plays guitar and drums. If you're still not interested, what if I tell you this show also stars the very humorous Seth Rogen? This show was the start for these now very talented actors and it's very cool to see what the beginnings of their career looked like.

Another great thing about this show is the soundtrack. Since it aired in the late 90s, most of the music comes from the early 70s and 80s. It consists of songs from artists like Styx, Van Halen, Janis Joplin, The Who, and KISS. Growing up with parents who loved classic rock, I was all too familiar with this genre of music and it's actually really good if you can appreciate it.

This show also incorporates humor and a little romance. While I could easily provide background into the romance and who finds some loving, I will not. The series is only 18 episodes long, making it very short and easy to blow though. If I were to tell you about it, I fear I'd give away too much and there would be that much less for you to watch.

So, if you enjoy classic rock, the 90s style and era, and a good laugh coupled with slight romance, I highly suggest that you spend a weekend or any free time you have, getting started on Freaks and Geeks. You will not regret it!

Get your Spook on!

It's spooky season! Time for pumpkin carving, haunted houses, horror movies, and when those aren't good enough spooky shows. When I began to think about the show I'd like to cover this week that was the most fitting, I couldn't get my mind off one of my favorite series: The Vampire Diaries.

The Vampire Diaries, a world that connects humans, werewolves, vampires, witches, and many more wonders all within the local town of Mystic Falls. This show centers around the main character, Elena Gilbert, portrayed by actress Nina Dobrev, who goes to Mystic Falls high school with childhood friends Matt Damon, Bonnie Bennett, and Caroline Forbes. They are her rock and the only way she'll get through her senior year after losing both her parents in an accident the year before.

Waiting for her this year, Stefan Salvatore, the mysterious guy who happens to hold so many secrets as well as answers that were never to be found. The very person who changes Elena's life and even the community of Mystic Falls and you have to wonder, why? Who is Stefan Salvatore?

Stefan Salvatore, the new, attractive, and mysterious boy on Mystic Falls campus. No one really seems to know who he is or where exactly he came from. Well, maybe that's because this year is his first year back in a very long time. Stefan Salvatore was a founder to the city of Mystic Falls and although you might wonder how old that makes him, the answer is very old. So how is he pulling off a high school persona? Well, Stefan Salvatore is a vampire whos been alive for hundreds of years and has come back for Elena herself.

Elena resembles a past love in Stefan's life, Katrina Petrova, and for this we must meet her. While their first meeting is simply passing by on the way out the men's bathroom, their first real encounter is very intriguing and dark. Lets take a look.



You can definitely see the spooky vibes from the very beginning of this show! Its perfect for this time and season! So other than spooky vibes, what really makes this show great? Well it's dynamic. It's the vampires, wolves, witches, and all that come into Mystic Falls that make for the action built up in this show. There are great friendships, feuds, fights, and loves developed out of these many actors making it a action packed and captivating show.

While I was in high school, a friend of mine constantly recommended this show to me. She raved on and on about all the drama that's encased within and would tell me all about the epic love story. As a sucker for romance as well as someone who loves a good thriller, I thought, I have to give it a try. So I began watching and before I knew it, I was watching past the placement of my friend who recommended it. Next thing you know, I was faced with the struggle of having watched all Netflix could offer and being stuck to the weekly airing of The CW. I could no longer watch episode after episode in a sitting. I had to watch and yet every time I was at the edge of my seat and wanting more when the show was over, I was immersed.

So if you're in the Halloween spirit and ready for an adventure full of tears, love, and thrill, go to Netflix and watch the pilot. I dare you.