Recent Movies!

 You guys, it's been YEARS since I've posted a "movie post" here. Because it's been YEARS since I've watched enough movies to have enough material to do so. 

But recently, I've been on a movie kick. That's right, I'm all about movies. Especially 2000s setting, and 1980s setting, and especially romcoms. But, there are other movies outside that genre sprinkled in here and there. 

There are SO many movies I've seen recently, I'm keeping the reviews rather short. More like review snapshots. 

Clueless (1995)

So, here are my opinions, short and simple. 

I'm greatly interested if you have watched any of these, and if you would rate it similarly to me. 

Here we go!

Say Anything (1989)

• The Notebook (2004) - 2 out of 10. Boo! Didn't like it. I can see why it's such an iconic flick... But not for me. Too many character problems. And wHyYy are we romanticizing cheating.?!.?!
• Say Anything (1989)- 7 out of 10. Really sweet movie. Great music. I loved their relationship. This movie was maybe a little slow, but that's what you appreciate about it as an older movie. Not everything meaningful happens all at once. With this movie, I could slow down, appreciate their relationship progression, appreciate the time period, and appreciate the plot as it unfolded to something memorable, vulnerable, and meaningful.
• The Breakfast Club (1985) - 4 out of 10. This movie gave me that sickening feeling of dread in my stomach as when your family is fighting all around you and you can't stop it and can't get out. But, maybe that was the point. Weird ending, too.
• Pretty in Pink (1986) - 5 out of 10. A pretty good movie that I heard about after watching The Breakfast Club because the same actress was in it. It was a great picture of being a teen in the 80's, and later I heard that Molly Ringwald had a say in who was cast as her romantic interest based on who she would realistically be attracted to, and I think that is pretty interesting. 
• Pitch Perfect (2012) - 5 out of 10. Hilarious. Iconic. Great actors. But, kind of gross. Also, a cappella isn't my thing. 

The Breakfast Club (1985)

• Almost Famous (2000) - 2 out of 10. This movie wasn't bad, it was just "meh", and had weird pacing and just felt like a nostalgia dump for nostalgia's sake. I honestly don't have much else to say about it.
• Clueless (1995) - 9 out of 10. So cute! The age difference is a little weird, but overall I really liked this movie and thought it was cute, iconic, and funny.
• How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)- 8 out of 10. One of my new favorite rom-com couples. But the second hand embarrassment was rough! Also Matthew McConaughey is way hotter than I ever realized he ever was, LOL!
• Love, Actually (2003) - 8 out of 10. A very charming movie with lots of great British actors. Inappropriate at some parts. But very iconic and sweet movie. 
• Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) - 4 out of 10. Funny, iconic. Also stupid. VERY quotable. A lot of talent from Carrey. 

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

• Letters to Juliet (2010) - 10 out of 10. A rewatch from my childhood. The perfect rom-com, no notes.
• Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) - 10 out of 10. My husband and I adored this movie. So sweet and heartfelt. A movie about friendship, hardships, and all of life's and love's twists and turns. The love of romance and the love of family. We loved this movie. 
• Age of Adaline (2015) - 2 out of 10. Stupid, took it self way too seriously, tried so hard to have meaning when it didn't have much at all. Shallow, bland, just dumb. Also, Blake Lively. Ew. 
• Last Holiday (2006) - 10 out of 10. This is a trailer I saw when I was a kid and I never watched it until now. Worth it, loved it. Adorable. Hollywood has changed so much for the worse since they made movies like this. Was nice to go back in time. 
• Groundhog Day (1993) - 10 out of 10. A classic. Even my husband loved it. Adorable. Thought provoking. Timeless. A philosophic and comedic gem. A must see!

Letters to Juliet (2010)

• Big (1988) - 9 out of 10. Cute, classic, funny, and endearing even if the relationship is weird cause he's a kid. But it's one of those classics that you can't help loving due to the acting, the charm, the interesting plot, the humor, and the characters. You gotta watch it.
• Million Dollar Baby (2004)- 9 out of 10. Extremely sad and deeply emotional. Makes you think of life and living it. It was also incredibly acted. 
• When Harry Met Sally... (1989) - 10 out of 10. How could anyone not like this movie? I love the friends to lovers plot. The conversation is so interestingly and charmingly written. You can't help but be enveloped in it like a warm hug, as if you were there with them. You HAVE to see this one. 
• What Women Want (2000) - 8 out of 10. Honestly I liked it. It was pretty cute and it was a lot like Groundhog Day, in that the selfish misogynistic male main character learns to think of others, think of women as more than just objects whose sole purpose is his pleasure, and be a better person in the end. 
• Uptown Girls (2003) - 9 out of 10. This movie was a gem. Sad, beautiful, though-provoking, funny. A story of two girls and the coping mechanisms they use to escape the difficulties in their lives, finding an unlikely but unique friendship in one another during a time when both of their lives take unexpected turns. A beautifully sad and satisfying movie. 

What Women Want (2000)

• Girls Just Want To Have Fun (1985) - 8 out of 10. The most "80's" movie I've ever seen! The clothing, the music! A complete blast, and perfect sleepover movie material. 
• Failure to Launch (2006) - 5 out of 10. While I liked the actors, this movie is not my favorite. I liked Matthew McConaughey with Kate Hudson better (in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, which is beloved and iconic). And there were too many "funny" bits that didn't make sense to the main plot, which I found irritating. Like, what do the animal bits have to do with anything..?? I'm assuming they are a metaphor, but it's just weak and stupid. Do better! 
• The Intern (2015) - 6 out of 10. I liked this movie for the most part. The characters were adorable, and I always love Ann Hathaway. Overall it didn't have that "spark" or "X Factor" that made me LOVE it. Perhaps it was a bit unsatisfying, even boring a little? It seemed like things didn't escalate in a way that would have made it more engaging. But I LOVED the main old guy as far as his character (man, he was so cute!), and Ann Hathaway as far as her acting. Meh, it was just ok.
• The Help (2011) - 10 out of 10. Obviously a winner, anyone who's seen it knows. A must see, and great adaption from the book (which I've also read)!
• Material Girls (2006)- 4 out of 10. This one was "meh" for me. It was fun, and cute in some ways, and I liked their 2000s attire. But, neither the plot, characters, nor anything else wowed me, or make me love it in any way. It was just ok. Hillary Duff is always fun, though. 

The Intern (2015)

• Forrest Gump (1994) - 9 out of 10. I watched this at first when I was 16 years old and loved it. Through the years online I heard a lot of hate about it, and assumed my opinion was faulty due to my naivety and young age. But I watched it again as a seasoned adult, and I still really love it. Sure there are some problems, especially with Jenny. But it's such a classic and so lovable in many other ways, and the main message is not lost on me, and I believe is illustrated very well. Can't not watch.
• Of Mice and Men (1992) - 5 out of 10. This is one of those stories that they make you read in high school as a commentary on deeper symbolism. It was fine, although not my type of movie. It was made well, I can say that.
• Leap Year (2010) - 6 out of 10. A very cute movie! Halfway through I realized I had seen it when I was a kid or teenager. But it was pretty good as far as romcoms go. I just love Amy Adams so she always influences my scoring. 
• Chocolat (2000) - 8 out of 10. I liked this movie. It was sweet and comfy, with unique meaning. Also, it was interesting to see such a young Johnny Depp. 
• Mean Girls (2004) - 6 out of 10. An iconic teenage drama. Was fun to watch although inappropriate at times. Although I was homeschooled, I could appreciate the enduring relatability to the American high school experience and the satirical humor that came with it. 

Chocolat (2000)

• Arrival (2016) - 10 out of 10. The type of movie that changes how you think about life, love, and time. I wish I could watch it again for the first time. A strong premise, good acting, well-written, deeply emotional and meaningful plot. Also, Amy Adams. 
• 12 Angry Men (1957) - 10 out of 10. A must see classic. Another movie that makes you contemplate your own choices and who you are as a person. I liked it a lot. 
• Easy A (2010) - 5 out of 10. A clever drama in which I love Emma Stone as she's very talented. Much like Mean Girls, this movie satirically paints a picture of the high school experience in a funny and bold way. I liked it for what it was trying to be. 
• Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009) - 8 out of 10. This movie is a great time capsule of the heyday of the American Mall experience. And it ACTUALLY made me laugh, and warmed my heart too. Honestly, you gotta watch it if you never have. 
• Air Bud: Golden Receiver (1998) - 6 out of 10. This was a rewatch from my childhood. This was an interesting movie to rewatch as an adult. When you're a kid, you are entertained by watching a dog playing football. But when you're an adult, you see a single mom making hard decisions, a family trying to adjust to life's difficult changes, and a scarred little kid trying to cope. There's something for everyone, even me (and I'm not a sports fan).

Well Friends, that's all we have for today. I hope you enjoyed my thoughts, and I will see you all again soon! 

~ Amaris // ☆

Life, Grief & Gratefulness.

Hello, Friends.

It's been awhile! 

I had a whole post I was writing that went into great detail of the last 2 or so months of my life. But it was getting to the point that I knew it was too long but I didn't know how to trim it down and still say what I wanted to say. So, I'm going to leave that post in the drafts for now and try again here. 

Life has been....life. 

Changes in Childhood

Due to shifting job situations, I actually worked full time for a short 2-month period, while my husband was the stay-at-home-parent. During this time, our oldest son Malachi developed a LOT. Vocabulary, behavior, capabilities. It was like he was a completely new kid from 2 months earlier. 

Malachi meeting his first cat! He had seen only pictures of cats prior to meeting this one. Her name is "Mrs. Timbers".

The sad part of this is that I was at work and I feel like I lost touch with him a little bit. I lost the hang of his lingo and swiftly changing habits. 

But, that all changed when in February our lives changed forever with the birth of our second son...

Then Came Abram

My sweet little son was born late in February, who we named Abram. 

How did the birth go? Well, to put it shortly, we started with the attempt at a VBAC and ended at a second-time C-section. But, I feel like the birth experience overall was as redeeming as it could be, and a strength and bravery was revealed in me that I didn't know I possessed. 

We had to induce at 37 weeks due to polyhydramnios. We tried the induction for two days before we landed on a c-section due to failure to progress. But up until I had the C-section I was completely pain med free, which is a huge personal accomplishment for me. 

Once we had to do the surgery, at first I was greatly anxious due to my trauma from my first rather dramatic and difficult C-section (and subsequent recovery). 

But this one went completely smoothly, and I was able to overcome my feelings of dread and panic and instead showed myself to be brave beyond my expectations. 

My Valentine's Bouquet which I took with me to give birth at the hospital.

There is an underlying disappointment with the fact that I had to have another surgery. 

My greatest wish was to have a VBAC. 

But my gratefulness and happiness far outweighs that feeling, knowing the personal journey I went through to be strong and stand up for myself, and advocate for myself in the process, and standing face to face with the thing that scared me, and choosing to be brave rather than succumb to fear or discomfort. 

All resulting in a sweet tiny child at the end, who I could take home and love. 

This blanket is the finished crochet project that I worked on during my pregnancy. I was trying to go for the old fashioned "granny" look while still creating something that I liked as far as colors and design. I'm really proud of how it turned out!

Since the birth, my life has drastically changed with the expected way that a new baby typically brings.

Late nights, messiness, diapers, tears, tiredness, adorable-ness, laughter. 

There's something about the late nights up with a baby. A vulnerability. A sense of space, and peace. A sense of holiness. These moments are sacred and few in life. 

Today, my son will never be this young again. And tomorrow, he will be older than he ever has. 

There is no going back, only forward. 

Each passing moment contains both a grief of the passing of time with the moments it leaves behind, and gratefulness for the present moment, with the joy ahead to be had.

Having a Spring baby means I can go on walks with a tiny bundle strapped to me!

So... what else has been going on? 

Watching Movies

I have been on a huge movie kick lately. I have been living in the "free with ads" section of YouTube lately. BUT... I've also bought some to rent (I don't do streaming services). I'm planning a whole entire post to speedrun through some of my movie opinions, but here is a sampling of a few favorite movies from that list: 

• Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) - 4 out of 10. Funny, iconic. Also stupid. Also not my type of movie. 
• Letters to Juliet (2010) - 10 out of 10. A rewatch from my childhood. The perfect rom-com, no notes.
• Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) - 10 out of 10. My husband and I adored this movie. So sweet and heartfelt. 
• Age of Adaline (2015) - 2 out of 10. Stupid, took it self way too seriously, tried so hard to have meaning when it didn't have much at all. Also, Blake Lively. Ew. 
• Last Holiday (2006) - 10 out of 10. This is a trailer I saw when I was a kid and I never watched it until now. Worth it, loved it. Adorable. Hollywood has changed so much for the worse since they made movies like this. Was nice to go back in time. 
• Groundhog Day (1993) - 10 out of 10. A classic. Even my husband loved it. Adorable. Thought provoking. Timeless.

Last Holiday (2006)

Discovering New Tastes in Beverage (And Enjoying Classics)

I tried matcha once or twice 3 years ago and disliked it greatly. My official takeaway from that experience was that I was "not a matcha person". Well, flash forward to now. I decided to try it again, because who knows. I got a new seasonal drink at one local coffee shop, Upshot Coffee Brake Shop. It was a strawberry matcha. And well, I really liked it. I got it a few more times, and still liked it! 

Could it be, I wondered, that I actually like matcha after all?

I got some matcha of my own, to further test it. I also made some strawberry syrup (dice up strawberries, cover them in sugar, leave on your counter and shake it or stir it once a day or so in an airtight container, once there are no more sugar crystals, strain the strawberries, and voila!). 

Now I drink an iced strawberry matcha latte once or twice a week, and I think there's no going back! 

It's hard not to take pictures of strawberry matcha lattes, even if the lighting is bad, because they are just so pretty!

Finding Time to Make Art

I really miss the days of 2018 and 2019 where I was drawing very consistently and thus improving consistently. It was very enjoyable to me. I often think about those days, and wish I were doing that again. I feel this way about many things, actually (will probably write a future post about that). But, I'm trying to spend more time doing those things, instead of wishing I was doing them. So, I started with something pretty easy and satisfying. Ink patterns! Most ideas I find on Pinterest, but a few patterns I've come up on my own. These patterns I speak of are not quite like optical illusions, but they are adjacent to that, and have the same vibe. 

Here are a few recents (as well as my first ever "junk journal" page, which I made from a chocolate bar package and a tea package): 

Made with a chocolate bar paper package, a tea bag box, and the rest with markers. I winged it and I like how it turned out. 

New Plants to Love 

I am always trying to improve my skills when it comes to keeping and caring for house plants. 

I have had many plants die over the years, some sooner, some later. 

The goal is to keep pushing the dying later and later until we rarely experience a death! 

a

A recent acquired plant, a Tokyo Sun. Isn't she cute?

At least I know which plants I'm most likely to keep alive at this point in time. Golden Pothos! I like to bring in a new on every so often, as well as difference species. 

Pictured are a few new ones I've got recently, and my hope (and prayer...) is that they will last as long as possible!

That is all for now!

Farewell, friends. 

~ Amaris // ☆

The Four Things Tag (REVISITED)

Hello Friends,

As of late, I have been reminiscing on this old blog and looking at some old posts. 

That's when I came across this post, The Four Things Tag, which I published in October of 2018! Which was quite a long time ago. 

I thought it would be fun to revisit these questions to see how my life and my preferences have changed. 

So without further ado, here are my New Answers: 

 ❊ The Four Things Tag  ❊

~*~*~*~

❊ Four Jobs I've Had ❊

~ The Home Depot (all different positions!)

~ Bowlero (bartending was my favorite position at that job!)

~ Michael's (my very first job, cashiering)

~ A graphic design and logo embroidery small business in Creve Coeur

Me in 2021 at my Home Depot store! I have lots of good memories there :)

❊ Four Things I Don't Eat ❊

~ Junk food (except maybe twice a year... and I always regret it XD)

~ Red Dye 40 (or any artificial dyes - when I can help it!)

~ Ultra processed foods

~ Candy

(Are any of the above even "Foods"?? Lol)

❊ Four Places I've Lived ❊

~ Childhood home in Hazelwood, MO

~ Small Apartment in Creve Coeur, MO (I had to look up how to spell "Creve Coeur" I still don't even know XD)

~ My fiance's basement (for a short time - we're married now Lol) in St. Charles, MO

~ (Current): Two Bedroom Apartment in St. Charles, MO

My beloved spice shelves at our current apartment here in St. Charles, MO! I installed them myself using hobby boards from Home Depot. I am quite proud of them.

❊ Four of my Favorite Foods ❊

~ Pretty much ANY curry (but Butter Chicken is a fave - It's probably the ultimate white people favorite of Indian food LOL)

~ Grass Fed Steak (especially during menstruation or the luteal phase!)

~ Seafood of any kind (especially scallops and salmon)

~ Nourish Bowls of any kind (Pictured is this bowl here)

Recipe is from Peace Love Hormones

❊ Four Movies I've Watched More Than Once ❊

~ Julie & Julia

~ The Incredibles

~ The Founder

~ Twilight (my husband and I rewatch the movies every year for his bday!)

From Julie & Julia (2009)

❊ Four TV Shows I Watch ❊

~ Breaking Bad (rewatch every 5 years)

~ Avatar: The Last Airbender (you can't beat perfection)

~ The Office (ongoing, all the time)

~ Legend of Korra

"I believe, Aang can save the world"

❊ Four Things I'm Looking Forward To This Coming Year ❊

~ New business opportunities

~ Learning to can (I canned a few things last year with a friend, I'm going to learn how to do it myself next month so I can can whatever and whenever I want!)

~ More time having fun with my son (continual and ongoing since I quit my job)

~ Cooking new things all the time!

❊ Four Things I Can't Live Without ❊

~ My Bidet! Seriously I don't know how I existed without it! BEST $30 I ever spent!

~ My Dutch oven, I use this one weekly to make my boule shaped sourdough!

~ My Study Bible I've had since 2011

~ My family (my husband and my son)

My beloved study bible!

❊ Four Places I've Visited ❊

~ Branson, MO

~ Colorado (in 2011, for a family wedding)

~ Florida (in 2003, for another family wedding)

~ San Antonio, Texas (in 2010, related to my Dad's job)

(I need to travel more, LOL)

❊ Four Pet Peeves ❊

~ When people don't clean up after themselves

~ When my house plant is doing well until I change it to a new pot, and then, BOOM. Dead. 

~ When I accidentally get coffee grounds in my coffee while making it. 

~ When I'm JUST about to fall asleep and then my son wakes up in the night.

❊ Four Things I Wish I Could Do ❊

~ Travel more (especially to Europe)

~ Own a house (someday... it's hard for us zillenials)

~ Garden (especially herbs and tomatoes!!)

~ Write better

Me in August of 2021. I had just started dating my future husband :)

❊ Four Subjects I Studied In School ❊

Oh man, school was so long ago LOL. Instead I'll name "four educational topics that interest me"

~ History of Shipwrecks (I listen to a LOT of videos about shipwreck stories, LOL)

~ The size and age of the universe and the curiosities to be found in the cosmos

~ The History of Rome

~ Home economics, since that's basically my life now :)

❊ Four Things Near Me Right Now ❊

~ A Pothos Plant

~ My Son (always, he's 2 Lol)

~ Our Patio

~ My son's climbing triangle

~*~*~*~

Well, there you have it. My answers have definitely evolved a lot! For one, I'm married now, living independently with my husband, and am a mom now! My likes and dislikes have changed a lot, but they've also stayed the same in many ways! 

This was fun. In another 7 years, maybe I'll take it again. I hope I am still blogging then! :)

If you're reading this post, I TAG YOU! :)

- Amaris ☆ //

well hello

Hello everyone. 

I have no idea if anyone still reads my blog. 

I don't know why anyone ever did. I certainly don't have anything to say. It's always ever only been for fun that I write on here. 

Something to say or not, here I am yet again. 

It's been awhile. 

There are a few questions people have been asking me when they haven't seen me for awhile. For the sake of this post, we'll pretend you're the friend.

how have you been doing with this *virus thing* //

Unpopular opinion - the "Coronavirus" is just the/a flu. It's nothing special. It's not very deadly. It's not worth all the shutdowns. It's not worth all the fear. It's not worth all the lost businesses and jobs. It's not worth the New World Order.

"But people are dying"

Yeah. People have always died. 

It's what they do.

where are you working these days //

I don't know if I ever actually 'told' my Blog that I got a job at The Home Depot in August of 2019. When The Virus happened, I continued to work, because you know... "Essential Retailer" and all that. Still working there. Good company. Best pay I've ever made at any job, best career opportunities I've ever personally been exposed to. We'll see where that goes. Worked a lot during the first shutdown of April 2020. Worked 90 hours one week, actually. That was a blast (no sarcasm. I actually had a lot of fun working the craziness that week. Plus, overtime. Yay)

Also in 2019 (November) I got hired at a bowling ally. But I consider it a side hustle. Especially since bowling allies are open and shut all the time in 2020 because of *restrictions*. I have spent weeks, even months, at a time not working there this year. But I always come back. It's a great fun place to make a little side cash. 

is God still important to you //

When the Whole World shut down in April, I stopped going to church. Because of all the working I didn't have time/didn't make time to read my Bible as well. Bad idea. "Drifted away" a little bit there. But I never stopped believing, and I never stopped trusting that He has a plan and was taking care of me. 

But it was a little hard to notice Him and think about Him when I wasn't constantly reminding myself with church fellowship and scripture. These days things are a little better,  and I now make more time for Him. Found a new/better church family. I even study the Bible sometimes. It's been pretty good.

Here's a verse. 

Psalm 51:1-2

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;

According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

how's the mental health //

Icky. But I've got a few things in the works to help with that.

read any good books lately //

Working on Atomic Habits, by James Clear. Really, really good book. Finished The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek by my favorite internet comedy duo, Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal. Not a bad book but you can tell that Rhett and Link don't write novels for a living. 

If I finish Atomic Habits by New Years, I will have read those two books this year. 

I don't think I'm going to make it. 

So.. one book in 2020. 

watched anything notable //

Nothing very notable so far this year. 2020 was filled with The Office background noise coming from the MacBook Air sitting on my bedroom desk as I fell asleep. A few months back, I did watch Breaking Bad. How was that? Riveting. Tremendous. All the best adjectives. 

anything else //

I have 11 house plants in my room. Some are dying. Most are easy to care for, so they're thriving. The Pothos are doing great, as is the Camille. The Dumb Cane, I'm afraid, is suffering and may have to be put out of her misery soon....

Someone asked me to be their girlfriend for the first time in my life. He is a good man, so I said yes. I guess I'm in a relationship as of November 2, 2020.

I went to four weddings this year between the dates of September 17 and November 28. I haven't been to very many weddings but now I guess I can't say that. I can even say I've been to a Halloween wedding. That was pretty fun.

Well, that's about it. So much has happened this year but I can't think of anything short enough to put in this post. I don't want to get all long and ramble-y with it.

There's so many things I could say. 

So many things I could thank God for. 

I worked hard.

I discovered new music.

I got 4 wisdom teeth out.

I got chicken pox.

Found some new restaurants (ironically, considering the shutdowns).

I made new friends.

I got my heart broken. 

I learned some valuable lessons.

I learned the value of true friendship (a rather cliché statement fit for a Hallmark movie ending, I know).

I guess this is my New Years post for 2020. 

Thanks for reading.

Until next time...

-Amaris

Sunshine Blogger Award ☆ (warning : wordy)

Hello, friends!
Emily from Altogether Unexpected tagged me for the Sunshine Blogger Award! I kind of feel like I've maybe done this tag before, but I don't really care if I have because, 1. I'm too lazy to search my published posts and see if any post comes up under "sunshine", and 2. I wouldn't care anyways because the questions change with each blogger!
With that said, here we go!

Below are the rules for this award:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link back to their blog so others can find them. See above! :)
2. List the rules and display an award logo on your blog post.
3. Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
4. Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and notify them by commenting on any of their posts. I can already tell you it's not going to be 11 bloggers XD
   
5. Ask the nominees 11 new questions.

The Questions:

In what city were you born?
St. Louis, born & raised, and still living here. I've always liked STL!

Which book made you a bibliophile?
All of them. Haha, just kidding. But for real, there was no single book that created a love for reading in me. My love for books really began to take off when I was around 12-14, and some of the most notable books that I enjoyed during that time were the Anne of Green Gables series (which I adored), The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and Elizabeth George Speare's books (she only wrote four in her lifetime.. which I am forever remorseful about).

Photo Credit: Me

What is your favorite film?
FOR-REST. GUMP. (*claps on each syllable for emphasis*)
Seriously tho, it's the best, in my opinion. At least so far. There are so many amazing movies out there that I have yet to see.

What is your favorite Bible verse?
I don't really have one specific verse. The LORD has used so many unique and wonderful passages in my life during the last few months to speak to me in a special way.
A few that have been close to my heart lately are:

The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:17-18

Many plans are in a man's heart,
But the counsel of the LORD will stand.
Proverbs 19:21

Photo Credit: Me

Favorite episode of Sherlock? (I know you have all seen it)
UUugh I can't even really talk about my favorite episode cause I know I'm gonna spoil it.   O.o
But I loooove the one in Series 4: The Lying Detective. I haven't seen that particular episode in awhile but the acting is so brilliant and the plot so riveting it gives me chills just remembering it. The Final Problem was also astounding. Stunning. Awesome. Just... all the amazing adjectives. Bless that show.

First foreign country?
I haven't traveled much; I went to Niagara Falls when I was, like, 5. So, Canada. That's it. I'd love to go to Paris someday.

Favorite food?
That's a very hard question! I have many foods I like. The LORD has been laying it on my heart to eat healthier the past few months, so my tastes have all rather changed! I still love me a good bowl of ice cream. And I've been cooking more, so homemade foods are always good. I love cooking with limes. Just, anything that has lime juice in it, I love.

British accents or Scottish accents?
I can't really say because I haven't heard enough of Scottish to distinguish it from British. I can tell you this, however: whenever I watch a show with a British accent I have to put on subtitles. *shrug*

First Marvel film?
I tried Captain America a few years ago and *hated* it. In fact, I kinda hate the whole Marvel franchise. I feel like it's just a big money-maker anyways. But there are some things I like. Spider-Man, for one. Take any Spider-Man and I could watch it on any evening chilling at my apartment and that would be an enjoyable time for me. Any other Marvel movie.. can't say the same thing.
But anyways, to answer the question, the first Marvel movie was Captain America, but the first one I liked was the first Spider-Man with Tobey Maguire.

Who is your favorite British actor/actress?
Aiden Turner // Ross Poldark. I never thought he was great as Kili, and then when I saw him as Ross I was absolutely sure of it. The man was BORN to play Ross. UuGgh I just get chills thinking of how freaking good he is as Ross. Let me put it this way; you haven't gotten the full Aiden Turner experience until you've seen him as Ross Poldark.
With that being said, here are a few notable others:
Helena Bonham Carter (A dazzling and uniquely lovely woman of the industry)
Benedict Cumberbatch (because Sherlock and The Imitation Game)
Among others. I know I'm probably forgetting a few that I love.

Photo Credit: Me

When did you start blogging, and why?
When I was around 16-17, my best friend told me about Hayden Wand's then current blog, The Story Girl. If you can believe it, at the time I didn't really know what a blog was. But I started reading Hayden's and soon others, and became fascinated with the book-reading, period drama-watching, story-writing girls who put their thoughts and little tags on blogs to share with their small corners of the internet world. I thought "I like to write, I like to read, I like period dramas. This looks rather fun, I could do it." I was a bit nervous to start and wanted my writing to be like everyone else' I read, so I set everything up and published my first post in September of 2015 (here it is if you're interested notice how much different and rather fake and airy the writing is compared to now because back then I was writing like all the blogs I loved because I didn't know how to express my own voice [which I'm still learning, btw]).
So yeah. I've been blogging since without being consistent at all, but I think I've come a long way, and I'm happy with my current 30 followers. It's never been about numbers for me; I definitely wanted the bloggers I loved most to love my blog (namely Naomi Sarah from Wonderland Creek and Hayden Wand from her blog back then The Story Girl), but as the years have gone by and God has taught me many things about the various social medias I have been apart of, it doesn't really matter who loves me or my writing and who doesn't.
I'm blogging and writing what I want to say because I enjoy it and God sometimes speaks to my heart things to write. Maybe you're encouraged by what you read here, maybe you're not. I will keep blogging until the LORD says stop. <3

Well that turned into a huge backstory, haha.

But anywho, that is the end of the list of questions from Emily! Thank you again, Emily! :)

For this award, I nominate:
Tessa // This Great Adventure
Natalie // Starry Eyes
Abbie // Chronicles in Bloom
Lissa // An Attempt to be Classic
Mary Liz // Sunshine and Scribblings
Rachel // A Girl's Place

I'm very behind on my blog-reading (I've got all I can handle just to post on my own blog every once in awhile, haha), so I don't know if any of the above bloggers have answered the questions for this award before! If you have, feel free to skip. Or you can do the award again with my questions!

Here are my 11 questions: 
1. What is your favorite season of the year and why?
2. What do you want to be "when you grow up"? (and if you're already grown up, what are you doing or what do you want to do someday?)
3. What's the most obscure and unique song you love to listen to?
4. Do you prefer sunshine or rain better? (I expect a detailed explanation as to why you feel the way you do! *insert intellectual emoji here*)
5. How do you usually listen to music (Spotify, YouTube, Google Play, Apple Music, etc.)?
6. Favorite black-and-white 'old timey' movie?
7. A fun fact that most people don't know about you?
8. Best memory of 2019 so far?
9. What's your favorite thing to do on the internet?
10. What's the longest you've ever gone without internet?
11. What's the most obscure piece of information you remember from school?

Photo Credit: Me

~ Amaris // ☆

Spring // 2019

I got to hang out with my best friend:
It was really good to connect again because our busy lives kept us apart for almost 3 months... which is too long. We also decided to read 'The Circle Series' at the same time (a re-read for me) so that we could compare opinions. It's quite a series to swallow, but I am excited to go through it again.

I went to my third ever baseball game and rather enjoyed it:
Watching baseball in real life is more fun than I remember, and definitely more fun than watching it on TV. Apparently the STL Cardinals haven't been doing well this season; but I wouldn't know. All I know is they creamed the opponent on the night I went with my mom and sister and it was very enjoyable.

I spent a lot of time sick:
I endured a miserable three weeks with nausea, constipation, and jaundice, and it eventually put me in the hospital. They never did figure out what it was, and I got better naturally soon after the hospital visit. Most of the doctors thought it was Hepatitis A, but every time they tested for that it was negative. I am feeling great and I'm back to normal now, so... whatever it was it's gone now *shrug*.

We moved:
This time last year we moved into an apartment, but but as soon as our one year lease was over in May, we moved to a slightly larger (and nicer) townhouse, which I'm very happy with. I have my own room again! And I have a perfect view of the Western sky, and have been enjoying the sunsets every evening I'm home. God has truly blessed me in many ways.

I watched some movies and shows:
Five Feet Apart (2019)
It was ok- but not great. Pretty cliche and melodramatic. I feel like I would've liked it better had I seen it when I was closer to 16, but I'm 21 and it didn't do much for me.

The Office (2005-2013)
Not the cleanest show, and I'll probably not re-watch certain episodes, but it's very funny and extremely quotable. I can see why millions of people like the show. I feel like it's almost worth a one time watch-thru at least. For appropriate audiences. Idk.

Breakthrough (2019)
It was ok. It was kinda surreal watching a movie about an event that happened very close to my own hometown. It wasn't great but it wasn't a bad movie altogether.

Julie & Julia (2009)
What a sweet and heartwarming movie!! I watched it late one night with my mom, who also loved it.  I love Amy Adams soo much! I don't love Meryl Streep as well but she was good in this movie. I think there was a few cuss words but definitely worth a watch.

Smokey & The Bandit (1977)
Kinda funny, a little bit exciting, a tiny bit sweet, overall not really my thing. Sally Field helped a bit, as she is one of my favorite actresses. Overall, probably won't watch again.

The Matrix (1999)
Very intriguing. It wasn't my type of movie, and it didn't "change my life" the way some male family members told me it would, but I can see why it was revolutionary for it's time and why it was a huge hit, and it did get me thinking a little bit. Also I'm a Keanu Reeves fan now. Bless.

The Founder (2016)
SO FRUSTRATING AND UNFAIR. But also good. I loved it an hated it. Ugh.

Julie & Julia (2009)

I started reading books again:
~The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Volume II - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (currently reading)
~Scarlet - Marissa Meyer (finished)
~Cress - Marissa Meyer (currently reading)
~Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl's Heart - Bethany Beal & Kristen Clark (currently reading)
~Conscience - Andrew David Naselli & J. D. Crowley (currently reading)
~Where We Belong - Lynn Austin (finished!) Here's a post about it.
~The Circle Series - Ted Dekker (just started)

I am writing VBS lessons:
My VBS partner and I will be teaching the VBS lessons at our church again this year- we are teaching from the book of Acts about Paul's second missionary journey! The theme of this year's VBS is Athens - so everything is Greek themed! We're going to wear togas and leaf headpieces. It's coming up soon.. on July 15th. I can't wait!

On June 19th, my favorite job I've ever held had to let me go:
A small post is coming soon about that.

I tried being positive:
A post is coming soon about that as well.

A Few Other Things:
~It rained a lot, and some tornadoes almost tore apart my city. But we survived.
~God is faithful when I am faithless. He's also unchanging.Thank God.
~I have the best friend I could ask for.
~I discovered arguably the greatest most practical YouTube channel for introverts and people with social anxiety (like me...): Charisma on Command. Check it out. The psychology is super intriguing. And there's a recent episode on Keanu Reeves and introversion... i am cri.
~God used 2 Samuel 11-12 and Psalm 32 to change my life.

Music:
~Bee Gees "Too Much Heaven". I love those chill vibes. ☀
~Studio Ghibli Piano Music. Perfect for taking a walk with a twilight sunset.
~BTS "Make It Right". Pretty much any BTS song is guaranteed good vibes.
~Queen "Spread Your Wings". A newly 'discovered' Queen song for me.

Spring Words:
Sunsets
Crescents
Chills
Chopin
Ablaze
Golden
Quiet
Change
Wait

☆ // Amaris // ☆

How was your Spring? Did you do anything you've never done before? What has God done in your life lately?

2018 Movies

Hey everyone. I did a thing.
That thing was that I decided at the beginning of 2018 (yes, that's last year) I wanted to keep track of all the movies I watched, and what I think of them. 
You know, just for funsies. 
Here's the list.

It's long, I know.
Don't @ me.

(Note: Please do your own research before watching these, especially with younger movie watchers. Every movie title in this post links to the review from either Plugged In Online, or the Parent's Guide section from IMDB. Thanks, peeps!)

January:

January 1st: Priceless (2016)
Not my favorite Christian flick. I love the heart and inspiration behind it, but the story felt flat and slightly cheesy according to my standards. It kept me interested, so that was good, but that still didn't redeem it, in my opinion. 3/10

January 17th: Forrest Gump (1994)
A rewatch. Seriously considering naming this my personal 'favorite movie of all time'. There are some skip-worthy moments for sure, but I would say the movie as a whole is worth it. 10/10

January 20th: The Greatest Showman (2017)
As far as I'm concerned, this movie can be called "The Greatest Musical Amaris Has Ever Seen That Doesn't Annoy The Heck Out of Her". 8/10

Total Movies: 3

The Greatest Showman

February:

February 14th: You've Got Mail (1998)
So freaking cute. A great remake of the old 'Shop Around the Corner'. A few cuss words to watch out for, but mostly clean. 8/10

February 15th: The Young Victoria (2009)
Captured my heart completely. So, so beautiful. (Gimme that Prince Albert right now pls) 9/10

February 22nd: Walt Before Mickey (2015)
Wasn't sure if I should put this on the list, cause I didn't finish it. A huge shame. Not the hidden Netflix gem I was hoping it would be, and not worth my time at all. 0/10

February 23rd: Wonder (2017)
A very sweet movie. Probably wouldn't watch it again, tho. Just don't care enough. 6/10

February 23rd: Gifted (2017)
A very sweet little movie. The little girl was adorable. Some cuss words, a lil bit of sexuality, but mostly ok. 5/10

February 24th: Cast Away (2000)
1. 'WILLLLSOOONNNN'. 2. Out of all the FedEx boxes that got washed up on the island, he saved 'the special one' in the hopes of delivering it one day, 3. Kelly's picture inspired him to keep living. A Tom Hanks masterpiece. 8/10

Jebruary 25th: The Glass Castle (2017)
Frustrated me on so many levels, this movie. The characters, the story, the content, everything. The soundtrack was pretty, tho. And I love all the actresses who played the main girl. 4/10

Total Movies: 6.5

The Young Victoria

March

March 2nd: Bruce Almighty (2003)
VidAngel blocked out so much it was kinda hard to watch. Kinda funny during some parts. We had an issue of some false doctrine going on though. Sorry Morgan Freeman, but it doesn't say "be your own miracle" anywhere in the Bible. 2/10

March 4th: Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
Way more morbid than I was expecting; but I somehow still liked it. The actors were good, the soundtrack, the cinematography, all beautiful. (Extra point because I also liked how it brought me back to the old days when I read 'Poirot Investigates' for school in 10th grade.) 9/10

March 7th: Sense & Sensibility (1995)
Didn't like it as much as Price & Prejudice, but it was lovely, just the same. 7.5/10

March 17th: The American President (1995)
Save yourself the trouble and just watch the trailer; the only good parts in this movie are in there. 3/10

March 22nd: Turner and Hooch (1989)
Sweet, adorable, hilarious. Theres is some content but it's worth a watch with a filter. 8/10

March 24th: The Imitation Game (2014) 
A re-watch. Still as good as I remember it from a few months ago. I'll reference you to this post for my full opinion. 9/10

Total Movies: 6

Murder on the Orient Express

April

April 5th: August Rush (2007)
It's so good. It's emotional, it's gripping, it's heartrending. Yet, these 'lost and found' type of movies always kinda frustrate me. There are always so many 'almost' moments. Kinda reminded me of one of those emotional dog movies. Still really good tho. 8/10
April 7th: I Can Only Imagine (2018)
Way better than I expected. It tells the story of MercyMe's Bart Millard, and the events that eventually led up to him writing one of the greatest Christian songs, I Can Only Imagine. Would highly recommend. 10/10

April 14th: Catch Me If You Can (2002)
My family and I really enjoyed this fascinating depiction of Frank Abagnale, who becomes a master con-man with fraud before he turned 19. We watched it with VidAngel, and I'm glad we did because I did NOT want to see some of the stuff I cut out. Anyways, if you've got a filter, give it a try! 9/10

Total Movies: 3

Catch Me If You Can

May

May 4th: The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015)
Wasn't great, but very beautifully put together. Story line kinda bored me. 3/10

May 5th: Paddington 2 (2017)
Saw this while babysitting. It was pretty cute, in spite of being a bit cliche. 4/10

May 25th: The King's Speech (2010)
I loved this one. It was written beautifully, acted with such talent, and the story had me very interested. 10/10

May 26th: Sherlock Holmes (2009) 
It was ok. There were too many 'convenient' things. The fighting and action sequences were a bit too choreographed, which I found annoying. I enjoyed RDJ in this movie tho. 6/10

Total Movies: 4

The King's Speech

June

June 12: Titanic (1997)
Third time watching. I love this movie and it still gets me right here in the feels every freaking time. 10/10
June 13th: The Money Pit (1986)
A bit funny during some parts, but too sensual and dumb to watch again. 2/10

June 13th: Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
An actual gem!! So sweet, adorable, and sad. It reminded me of what I like about old old movies. 10/10

June 16th: The Incredibles (2004)
This was my favorite superhero movie growing up (cause it was the only one I was allowed to watch haha), and I still really liked it when we watched it after all those years. 8/10
June 17th: The Incredibles 2 (2018)
I really liked it. It was kinda feminist (which I'm not), but I really enjoyed watching. 8/10

June 20th: Jurassic World (2015)
I feel like this movie is put together well and it's a fun experience for a family movie night, but over all it's not super great. 5/10

June 28th: The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966)
A re-watch. This is the best old Don Knotts movie, in my opinion. The ghost story used to really scare me as a child, but it's funny now. I guess that means I'm a grownup...? 7/10

Total Movies: 7

Breakfast at Tiffany's

July

July 4th: The 'Burbs (1989)
I didn't enjoy this one very much. There are way better Tom Hanks movies out there for anyone who wants to watch a classic.

July 9th: Big (1988)
Soooo cute and hilarious. It made my sister and I laugh and cry. We loved it. Watch out for a kid says the f word once, tho. 10/10

July 14th: The Bucket List (2007)
I kinda liked it because it was sweet and had a good message, but I kinda disliked it cause there was some sexy stuff and language. So idk. 5/10

July 16th: The Terminal (2004)
A great Tom Hanks movie. Super sweet and 10/10

July 17th: The Circle (2017)
This movie annoyed me. Is it supposed to be the future? I'm not sure I understood the ending? Is the movie saying that no privacy is good or bad? Why does Mae change her mind about who she stands for and what she believes in so much? So many questions?  1/10

July 19th: Big Eyes (2014)
Such a touching and beautiful movie. I loved Amy Adams. The setting was beautiful, the story was heart-gripping (ending with happiness!), the acting was great. Yes, yes yes.   9/10

July 19th: A Hologram for the King (2016)
It wasn't the greatest Tom Hanks movie. There were some sweet moments, but I wasn't fond of the ending, and plus I had to skip a couple of things which makes it hardly worth my time anyways. 3/10

July 19th: The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)
Another 'Not the Greatest Tom Hanks Movie' movie. A complete wasted evening, if you ask me. Too many dumb and sexual things. Even Carrie Fisher didn't make things better. 0/10

July 21st: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)
Even if Western isn't my thing, it's easy to see why this is my Mom's favorite movie. It was definitely a classic, really gripping and kept me on my toes. I really enjoyed the experience, if I'm being honest. 8/10

July 28th: Hello, My Name is Doris (2015)
There were a lot of cute things about this movie, and I enjoyed those parts but on the flip side of things the ending kinda annoyed me plus there was some sexy stuff as well as language, so the good parts weren't worth it. 4/10

Total Movies: 10

The Terminal

August

August 2nd: Jaws (1975)
I really like sharks, and I really like this movie. I don't know why. 7/10

August 10th: Christopher Robin (2018)
It brought back good memories but on the other hand I almost fell asleep watching it because it was super slow. Really cute tho. 3/10

August 31st: Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Me and my sister impulsively decided to watch this one late evening after getting frozen yogurt together mainly so we could laugh at the funny emo segments. It's not a horrible movie, to be honest. But Marvel can do (and has done) a lot better. 5/10

Total Movies: 3

Christopher Robin

September

September 2nd: The Meg (2018)
It was no 'Jaws'. But I did like some of the character development, a few of the jump-scares, and the main character did a good job, in my opinion. Over all, it wasn't a bad movie, and I had a good time  cause I saw it in theaters with my brother. 4/10

Total movies: 1

The Meg

October

October 7th: Sleepless in Seattle  (1996)
It was sweet, but also unsatisfying. I really wished for some cute couple moments between Tom Hanks and the girl. 'Big' and 'The Terminal' are much better if you like romantic Tom Hanks. 5/10

October 12: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)
I realllly loved this movie! And I hold the (apparently popular) opinion that this movie does the book justice. It's great if you like period dramas, romances, WWII movies, or just sweet movies. 9.5/10

October 15th: Larry Crowne (2011)
Sooo funny and cute. I still like 'Big' and 'The Terminal' better for romantic Tom Hanks, but this one is really close to those two. 7.5/10

Total Movies: 3

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

November

November 4th & 24th: Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Absolutely loved it! It had some content issues, so I would read the Plugged In review for this one, especially before watching it with younger viewers. But apart from this, one of my favorite movies this year. The theater experience really added to the music, I felt like I wanted to get up and dance! It's hard to walk away from this movie not a Queen fan.10/10

November 22nd: A Knight's Tale (2001)
It had some pretty cute parts, and a few really funny parts, but nothing great enough to make me care to see it again. Heath Ledger tho. *nods* yes. 3.5/10

Total Movies: 2

Bohemian Rhapsody

December

December 14th: Letters to Juliet (2010)
I remember watching this movie when it first came out, and being the young, romance-loving person I was at the age of 12-14, I was absolutely obsessed at the time. This was my first time watching it again since then, and although Charlie was not as ravishingly handsome as I remember, the plot not quite so capturing, it was still really, really sweet. It brought back sweet memories, and I just  liked the story. It wasn't great, but I liked it. I also might have shed a small nostalgic tear or two. But you mustn't tell. 7.5/10

December 14th: That Thing You Do! (1996)
Didn't really go crazy for this one. The story kinda dragged on, and it was a little weird overall. I loved Liv Tyler's character, tho; and *spoiler* I loved how she got together with that drummer boi - super cute *end of spoiler*. 3.5/10

Total Movies: 2

Letters to Juliet

~*~

Grand Total:  
50.5 Movies

There you are, folks. Yeah, I know I should've posted this in January. But I'm not that late. Anyways, my plan worked! I watched way more movies in 2018! It was a good year.
Well, thanks for sticking around to the end, peeps.

I'll be back sometime on this blog.
When? I don't know.
But sometime.

-Amaris


Have you seen any of the movies on my list? What are your opinions of them?