What I'm Pop Culturing

I didn't get a chance to do What I Ate this week because, well, I just forgot to take photos of my eats! Instead I thought it would be fun to talk about what I've been pop culturing lately since I haven't done one of these in a while! Please add your own as I'm always looking for new goodies to explore!

Reading:
The Girl on the Train
Outlander series
Yes Please
Wild

On my list: continue with Outlander, any other recommendations for me?!

I have taken the plunge into audio books and have been listening to the Outlander series. I'm really enjoying it. Each book is about 40 hours (which does sound crazy!) but it's perfect for my walk to the office and on the train. I'm also simultaneously catching up on the show - see below. Recently I read The Girl on the Train, and I finished the entire book in one day. It was SO good. Everyone's comparing it to Gone Girl, but I think it was way better! For book club, I also read Yes Please by Amy Poehler and thought it was just ok. I also started Wild but couldn't get through the beginning as I found it to be too sad!

Watching:
There's just a never ending supply of awesome TV these days. I would happily binge on many more shows if I could keep my eyes open past 10pm. But alas, I cannot. Lately we've found ourselves watching more comedies than dramas because they are shorter and lighter and there is actually a solid amount of good comedic TV on right now. Shaun also prefers comedies usually, while I'm all about the drams. The more morbid, creepy, depressing the better in my book. My favorites on this list are Justified, Outlander and Shameless!

Justified
Kimmy Schmidt
Outlander
Blackish
Last week with John Oliver
Shameless
Jeopardy

On my list: finish Orange is the New Black, Game of Thrones starts again soon!, possibly catch up on Walking Dead, possibly catch up on Downton Abbey, Better Call Saul, and House of Cards is under consideration

Listening:
I'm definitely going through an inappropriate Broadway show phase lately. I've been listening to a lot of Book of Mormon (I'm kinda obsessed with this soundtrack!) and that spurred a rekindling of my love for the Avenue Q soundtrack.

Book of Mormon
Avenue Q
The Head and the Heart
90s rock playlist

On my list: This American Life, Hedwig and the Angry Inch --->we are going to see it in a few weeks and I need a music refresher!

Now it's your turn! What are you reading, watching and listening to lately?

My Fall TV Line Up

It's no secret that I like TV.

Ok, I'm a borderline TV freak. So you can probably imagine my excitement that fall TV is back! I can't wait to dig back in to my usual favorites, and explore some new ones too! Here's what I'm looking forward to this week and in those to come.

Castle. The first ep aired last night but of course I DVR'd it so that I could watch the Giants game (which I in turn fell asleep during). Castle left us with quite the cliff hanger at last season's end, not to mention the never-ending tension between Castle and Beckett. I look forward to this show every week because it's just a fun, cute show. And the ever-charming Nathan Fillion doesn't hurt either.

 

Fringe. This remains one of my favorite shows and I would bet money that most of you aren't watching it. Well don't start now, unless it's with season 1 on DVD because this is a show that really needs to be enjoyed from the beginning due to its complex storylines. I adore the entire cast and last year I proclaimed it the best show on TV. Peter Bishop (aka Joshua Jackson), I'm ready for you to come back into my life.

 

Parenthood. I became obsessed with this show last season, after loving the original film from years ago. The entire cast is fantastic and I undoubtedly end up crying every single week (which is why I try to watch it when Shaun is out of the apartment!). And that, my friends, is just good TV.

 

Boardwalk Empire. Shaun and I loved this show so much in its first season that we spent an entire winter weekend (including New Year's Eve) catching up with it. I'm in love with the costumes, sets, truly awesome cast and it doesn't hurt that it's another quality show set in New Jersey either ;) Not to mention that it's just good writing (or the fact that Michael Pitt is just fun to look at). I love Sunday nights on HBO!

 

The Walking Dead. We discovered this show as a fluke while we were in Aruba. I ordered the DVD from Amazon.com because it was inexpensive and I'd heard good things about it (I literally did not even put 2 and 2 together to realize that the show was about zombies). Sound silly? It is. But somehow, AMC makes this show cool, exciting and 100% anxiety-ridden...my favorite kind. The first season was only 7 episodes, so we are beyond ready for it to come back in October!

Dexter. You know I love me some Dexter. I even created a cupcake in his honor. I've proclaimed that season 4 is one of my top favorite seasons of television of all time. Somehow the 'will he or won't he get caught' thing never gets old for me. Though last season struggled a bit for me (especially following season 4's explosive ending - no spoilers for others please!), I still love the entire cast and look forward to seeing who's ending up on Dex's table each week. Coming this October.

Modern Family. Despite its obnoxiousness at the Emmy's, I do love this show. I think Ed O'Neil is amazing. I'm excited for what is clearly the best comedy on television to come back into my life. Just give me more Jay-Gloria-Manny please :)

 

The Office & 30 Rock. These definitely are not on my must-see list, but once we've gotten through all of these other amazing shows, we'll check these out too. I am kind of excited to see James Spader (from my love of Boston Legal) on The Office, so it may move up in priority. As for 30 Rock, I always think it's funny, but again, it's near the bottom of my list.

 

As for new shows debuting? I'm looking forward to Up All Night (with Will Arnett!), The New Girl and possibly Revenge (with the girl from Brothers & Sisters). And that's most likely all that I can handle at the moment :) Add in a couple of Food Network shows, still catching up on this season of Breaking Bad (hands down one of the best shows ever and I think this season is one of their best yet!), Sundays filled with football, Jersey Shore (obvi) and I'm pretty much fully stocked on TV for the season :) So there you have it. Please don't think I'm a crazy, pop culture and media-obsessed freak. Pretty please?

Questions of the Day:

What shows are you watching this Fall? Any great ones that I should be watching?

What would you say is your favorite season of television ever? In my top few, I include Dexter season 4, Lost season 1, Arrested Development seasons 1 and 2...

This Week...

It's Friday! Woot woot!

I'm happy!

I'm excited!

Hoo-rah!

Last weekend was a lot of fun but ended up being a little crazy for Shaun and me, so I'm pretty psyched to have downtime this coming weekend. Not to mention that I am leaving for Las Vegas on Monday for 5 days (!) and won't get to see him that whole week. Dislike! So lots of hanging out time will commence immediately.

 

In other news this week...

...it was hot. And sweaty. Luckily I think the heat broke last night because I don't think I could take another moment of the thick city air. I'm fairly certain that you could have fried an egg on the sidewalk yesterday afternoon.

...We started watching Big Love. I've heard soooo much about this show and I practically had to beg {and by beg, I mean threaten to stop cooking for} Shaun to give it a try with me. He liked. I liked. I'm excited to keep the party going, even if the concept is a bit unsettling to me.

 

...I was forced to watch the NBA finals. Dislike. Basketball is just one sport that I cannot get into. Give me football or give me nothing.

...I made something new. And I can't tell if I like it or hate it. I'm on the fence. It's cherry-banana soft serve. I had it all planned out in my head that I would whip it up like it's my job and then regale you all with tales of its ease, deliciousness and healthfulness. But I can't. Because I just don't know if it's really good. Or really bad. I'll think about it and get back to you.

...Regarding the above, I also realized that I despise my real blender! It's just...not good.

I will once again declare my love for the immersion blender. Works every time.

...I realized that I've completely neglected the Book Club page lately. I promise to get back on the horse. Speaking of those 4-legged friends, I'm reading Halfbroke Horses by Jeannette Walls. I recently read her first book The Glass Castle and I couldn't put it down. I don't think I'm there yet with this one. I'll keep you posted.

...I got myself to the gym and started seriously upping the free weights I use to strength train. If you have any good workouts, please send them my way. Pretty please? I'm not afraid of squats, lunges or weights. Planks, on the other hand, terrify me. Slightly.

...Speaking of upping my workouts, I enjoyed a serious slice of cake following my sister's law school graduation. I kind of wish that I brought another slice home for me...but I didn't. I think my waistline is happy about that though. Touche.

...I started pinning my life away on Pinterest. Like. If you want to follow me, click here.

...I ate what might be the best black & white cookie of all time. Ok, I didn't devour the entire thing on my own. My mom helped me. And this was worth every, single bite.

All in all...a pretty decent week, no?

While we're talking about this week, we might as well touch on next week too! Though I'm leaving for Vegas on Monday morning, blogging will continue as normal. In fact, I'm going to give you some great tips for packing/planning what to bring on a work trip to Sin City (for a fun yet totally profesh look), some more recipes and a rockin' giveaway for all of you animal lovers, sponsored by my cousin, Alyson. Stay tuned!

So what did you do this week? What are you loving? What are you watching/reading/listening to? Share some fun things with me, please :)