Alternative Films to Watch This Halloween

 

Hey guys!

 

 

I'll be honest, I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to scary films. I mean, I've watched some horrors, like Let Me In, A Haunting At Silver Falls, Ginger Snaps and Carrie, but that's pretty all I can bear. I've even avoided watching films like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer because I think they'll give me nightmares! I'm also not keen on blood and gore, and anything involving mirrors or spiders is an absolute no-no for me. I prefer to watch comedy horrors, fantasy films or mild horrors that make you jump once or twice, rather than full-on scare fests. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way, so here are my recommendations for some alternative films to watch during Halloween:

 

 

1. Maleficent

 

Maleficent isn't a film you would normally associate with Halloween, but it's perfect to watch if you're not into horrors since it combines magic, revenge and an evil villain. The cast is brilliant too: Maleficent features big names such as Angelina Jolie as the lead role, Elle Fanning as Princess Aurora, Ella Purnell as the teenage Maleficent, and Imelda Staunton and Juno Temple as two of the 'good' witches.

 

Watch with: Family / The girls

 

 

2. Dark Shadows

 

Halloween isn't complete without a Tim Burton film, and since most of you are probably aware of Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas, I thought I'd suggest Dark Shadows instead. This film was released in 2012 and stars Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins, a vampire who has just been set free after 200 years of imprisonment. He returns to his previous home, which is now occupied by his ancestors. Unfortunately, Barnabas is still haunted by Angelique Bouchard (Eva Green), the witch who cursed him all those years ago.

 

Watch with: Family

 

 

3. Carrie

 

I was expecting Carrie to be really scary, but it wasn't at all. There were only a couple of moments that made me jump, and I wasn't phased by all the blood. I'd recommend watching the original 1976 Carrie with Sissy Spacek first, and if you enjoy it, then watch the 2013 remake with Chloe Grace Moretz. There are a couple of other remakes, including a sequel, but they're a bit hit and miss.

 

Watch with: Friends / SO

 

 

4. Tuck Everlasting

 

Alexis Bledel is best known for her role as Rory in Gilmore Girls, but she's also appeared in a number of films, one of which is called Tuck Everlasting. It's a sweet movie about a girl who comes across an unusual family and falls in love with the youngest son.

 

Watch with: Family / The girls  

 

 

5. Gremlins

 

I love this film! Gizmo is so adorable! I know some people like to watch Gremlins at Christmas, but it doubles up as a Halloween film because it's quite dark and violent.

 

Watch with: Friends / SO

 

 

6. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies

 

Who would've thought that you could watch Jane Austen at Halloween? Okay, so technically this wasn't written by Jane Austen herself, but it is based on Pride and Prejudice. Lily James doesn't disappoint as the protagonist, and there are plenty of gruesome creature to keep you entertained on Halloween.

 

Watch with: The girls

 

 

7. Donnie Darko

 

Donnie Darko is more fantasy / psychological thriller than horror, but it's still a good film to watch on Halloween due to its dark elements. Jake Gyllenhal plays a troubled teen who is haunted by visions of a giant bunny. Look out for Jake's older sister Maggie, as well as Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore and Ashley Tisdale.

 

Watch with: Friends / SO

 

 

8. Ella Enchanted

 

Ella Enchanted is a childhood favourite. It stars Anne Hathaway as a girl who was visited by her fairy godmother when she was a baby and was cursed to be obedient. Unfortunately, her nasty stepsisters try to use this to their advantage. Ella Enchanted is filled with fairies and elves, and is perfect for a girl's night in.



 Watch with: The girls

 

 

9. Teen Witch 

 

Teen Witch is a lighthearted flick in which Robyn Lively, Blake's older sister, finds out that she is a witch. As Louise is a bit of an outcast, she immediately try to make herself popular and be noticed by Brad Powell, but she has to decide whether that is really what she wants or not.

 

Watch with: The girls

 

 

10. Ginger Snaps

 

This cult classic centres on two sisters who are obsessed with death. After one of them is bitten by a werewolf, their lives change forever. Ginger Snaps is a unique film that uses werewolves as a metaphor for puberty. I'll admit it's not really for the faint hearted, but I managed it so it can't be that bad!

 

Watch with: The girls

 

 

11. Practical Magic

 

Practical Magic is one of the less well-known Halloween flicks, but it's worth the watch. It deals with magic, witch craft and sisterhood, and features great performances from Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.

 

Watch with: The girls

 

 

12. Life After Beth

 

In Life After Beth, Audrey Plaza is transformed into a zombie and causes havoc in an American town. Like the majority of the films on this lists, Life After Beth is more funny and silly than scary.

 

Watch with: Friends / SO

 

 

If you've watched these films already, it's worth checking out Enchanted, Innocence, Warm Bodies, Red Riding Hood, Bewitched, The Moth Diaries, Heathers and The Craft, which are other tame fantasy / horror / thriller films I enjoyed. Oh, and don't forget classics like Hocus Pocus and The Addams Family!

 

 

What are your favourite Halloween films? Let me know in the comments!

 

 

Hasta luego!

 

 

Serena

 

 

15 Snacks to Boost Energy and Productivity*

 

Hey guys!

 

 

Hope you're all having a good week! I've just finished my internship at Student & Graduate Publishing, so I'm now looking for journalism courses and jobs! I haven't had much luck so far, but fingers cross I'll get something soon!

 

 

So today's post will be all about snacks! It is not only main meals that help fuel your brain - snacks can also make you more alert and increase productivity throughout the day. However, rather than munching on a packet of crisps or a bar of chocolate, which both contain hundreds of calories, it's best to stick to natural foods, such as raw chocolate, fruit and seeds. These all have minimal additional ingredients and are full of iron, protein, magnesium and antioxidants. Thy are perfect for boosting your energy levels, and you'll feel less hungry later in the day. GoToMeeting has come up with a really handy infographic that shows some healthy snack alternatives:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Courtesy of: Citrix Interactions Blog

I personally love some of the snacks on this list. Smoothies have become my go-to drink in the mornings, and I try to eat as much fruit as I can - my favourites includes mango, strawberry, raspberry and pineapple. Hummus makes a really tasty dip for sliced veg and crackers - I normally have hummus with carrots, cucumber and tomatoes. Yummy! I don't really eat quinoa or seeds, but I intend to incorporate them more into my diet.

 

 

Disclamer: This is a collaborative post. All opinions are my own.

 

 

What are your favourite snacks?

 

 

Hasta luego!

 

 

Serena  

 

What's On My Netflix List in October

 Hey guys!

 

 

Sunday is supposed to be one of the days I post on this blog (along with Tuesdays and Fridays), but I didn't have one planned for today. However, I had a post about Netflix sitting in my drafts so I thought I'd publish it today. I went to the first event organised by The Bloggers Hub and Bloggers Who Brunch UK yesterday, which I really enjoyed - I'll be doing a post about it later this week!

 

 

Here is a list of the films and TV shows on my Netflix list:

 

 

1. Stranger Things

 

 

 

Stranger Things is different to the shows I usually watch, but since I've heard so many great things about it, I'm curious to see what all the fuss is about. I have to finish Gilmore Girls and Full House first, so I'll probably start Stranger Things in late November or December.

 

 

2. Brooklyn

 

 

 

This film has received so many good reviews, and I've been wanting to watch it for a while. I have to read the book first though.

 

 

3. Remember Me

 

 

 

I can't believe I haven't watched this yet! It was released so long ago! The film stars Robert Pattinson and Emile de Ravin, who plays Belle in Once Upon a Time.

 

 

4. Ashby

 

 

 

Because Emma Roberts and Nat Wolff are two of my absolute faves. In the film, Nat Wolff portrays a teenager who befriends a retired CIA assassin.

 

 

5. Jessica Jones

 

 

 

Jessica Jones is a TV series that stars Krysten Ritter as a woman with strange abilities. David Tennant also makes an appearance.

 

 

6. X+Y

 

 

X+Y focuses on a maths genius (Asa Butterfield) who forms a friendship with a girl during the International Mathematics Olympiad competition.

 

 

7. A Royal Night Out

 

 

A Royal Night Out is a historical drama about the lives of Queen Elizabeth and Margaret when they were young.

 

 

8. Horns

 

 

 This film has received mixed reviews, but it's been on my Netflix list for aaages, so I'm going to finally watch it nearer Halloween!

 

 

I'd also like to watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Erin Brocovich, Clouds Of Sils Maria, Akeelah and the Bee, The Woman in Black, An Education, Precious and Adventureland if I get the chance.

 

 

What's on your Netflix list? Have you watched any of the films / TV shows I've mentioned?

 

 

Hasta luego!

 

 

Serena 

 

 

The Body Shop Piñita Colada Shower Gel Review

Hey guys!

  

So I know it's no longer summer, and The Body Shop Piñita Colada Range came out months ago, but I thought I'd review it anyway.

 

Piña Colada is one of my favourite cocktails - so you can imagine my delight when I heard that The Body Shop was going to release a Piñita Colada range. The combination of pineapple and coconut is simply irresistible, and I'm always impressed with The Body Shop's products, so I knew this range was going to be good.

 

The collection includes a shower gel, body sorbet, body scrub, and body butter, which cost between £5 and £15 each. While some bath and shower products cost as little as £1, I'd have to say that this collection is very reasonably priced. When I visited The Body Shop, I managed to purchase two bottles of the Piñita Colada Shower Gel for just under £5 - even better!

 

I love the packaging of the shower gel. It comes in a 250ml bottle which is really pretty and summery, as well as colourful. The shower gel itself smells fruity and refreshing, and I definitely get hints of pineapple and coconut. As it is a gel, this product does have a fairly thick consistency, and it is a bit difficult to squeeze it out of the bottle. However, this is a good thing, since it means that I won't use it up so quickly! The shower gel is also hydrating and soothing - perfect for after swimming in the sea!

 

According to The Body Shop's American website, the Piñita Colada range will enable you to "transport yourself to the tropics" - there is no denying that the shower gel achieves this. I immediately feel like I'm in Spain whenever I use it.

 

If you love pineapple and coconut, and are missing the sun, I'd recommend you pop to your local branch of The Body Shop and stock up on the Piñita Colada range. As it is limited edition, this range won't be available much longer - you don't want to miss out!

Have you tried the Piñita Colada range? Let me know your thoughts!


Hasta luego!


Serena

 

 

Tune Tuesday: Favourite Collaborations

 

 

Hey guys!

 

 

I don't know about you, but I love it when my favourite singers / bands join together to produce a song. They create tunes so catchy that I will still listen to them several years later! My favourite collaborations, or duets, tend to be in the Pop genre, but I also love a number of RnB, Dance, Musical and Rock collaborations. I won't include any Musical collabs in this post as I wrote about musicals last week. So here are my absolute favourite collaborations:

 

 

1. Dilemma - Nelly & Kelly Rowland

 

I have been in love with this song since forever! It is so catchy and I just can't get enough of it!

 

2. No Air - Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown

Jordin Sparks is incredible! Where has she been hiding recently?!
 

3. Love the Way You Lie - Eminem & Rihanna

 

One of Rihanna's best songs!

 

4. Empire State of Mind - Jay Z & Alicia Keys

 

5. American Boy - Estelle & Kanye West

 

Such an addictive song!

 

6. Crazy in Love - Beyoncé & Jay Z

 

This is a classic! Love Beyoncé's earlier songs!

 

7. Numb / Encore - Linkin Park & Jay Z

 

8. Hate That I Love You - Rihanna & Ne-Yo

 

9. Hips Don't Lie - Shakira & Wyclef Jean

Whenever I hear this song I want to get up and dance!
 

10. Titanium - David Guetta & Sia

 

I think this was the first time I heard Sia in a song but I didn't really notice her music until 4/5 years later.

 

11. Beautiful Liar - Beyoncé & Shakira

 

This was released 7 years ago! :O

 

12. Lady Marmalade - Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya & Pink

 

Love love LOVE this version of Lady Marmalade!

 

13. Stuck With Each Other - Shontelle & Akon

 

14. Can't Hold Us Down - Lil' Kim & Christina Aguilera

 

15. Stay the Night - Zedd & Hayley Williams

 

Anything with Hayley Williams is a definite yes from me!

 

16. Airplanes - B.O.B & Hayley Williams

 

17. Price Tag - Jessie J & B.O.B

 

18. Apologize - OneRepublic & Timbaland

 

19. Clarity - Zedd & Foxes

 

Foxes is so underrated!

 

20. Rather Be - Clean Bandit & Jess Glyne

 

This is another song that I can listen to over and over again. It was released two years ago, and I have played it at least 100 times since!

 

21. Irresistible - Demi Lovato & Fall Out Boy

 

Demi Lovato is one of my favourite singers, and I love Fall Out Boy too! I'm listening to 'Irresistible' while writing this post actually!

 

22. We Are Young - Fun & Janelle Monae

 

I'm sure everyone loves this collab!

 

 

Of course there are plenty more, but those are all the main ones! What are your favourite collaborations?

Hasta luego!

 

 

Serena

 

 

Blogs I Love #2

 

 

Hey guys!

 

 

How has your week been? I've been doing my internship at Student and Graduate Publishing, applying to jobs, and hitting the gym. On Monday I went to my third blogger event - Gremlins 2 was being shown at the London Warner Brother's Studio so I went along as I hadn't seen the film before. It was very silly, but Gizmo is the cutest! I also went to see Miranda Hart perform at the London Palladium last night. Miranda is so so so hilarious, and she was joined by Mel Giedroyc from the Great British Bake Off. Miranda's dog, who is so so so adorable, also made an appearance! I did try to take a photo but I was sitting at a bit of a weird angle so it didn't really come out as well as I'd expected! So here's a pic of Miranda and her dog Peggy taken from The Times:

 On to today's post...

A while ago I did a post dedicated to 6 blogs I love. Well, since I've been reading many other blogs recently, I thought I'd add some more to the list.

For me, reading blogs is one of the best things about being a blogger. It's a great way of connecting with likeminded people, and finding out about new things, whether that's a restaurant, book, TV show, or travel destination. During my two and a half (ish) years of (officially) blogging, I have discovered hundreds of blogs, and certain ones stand out more than the rest. I have written about these below, so you can check them out if you wish.

 

1. Very Berry Cosmo

 

  

I first discovered Kayleigh's lovely blog about a year ago, and it's quickly become one of my favourites. Kayleigh's blog is so relatable and well-thought-out. It's clear that she puts a lot of effort into creating every post. I love Kayleigh's post about The Alchemist, a cocktail bar in Leeds. Don't the cocktails look amazing?! I definitely need to stop by it if I'm ever in Leeds. If you're thinking about joining Tinder but unsure whether it'll work or not, why not check out Kayleigh's success story?

 

 

2. Robowecop

  

 Rhianna is a lifestyle blogger from Leeds. She blogs about a whole range of things, including food, beauty and fashion. Rhianna describes her blog as "a place where you [can] come and feel like you're talking to a friend." I can definitely agree with that. Check out Rhianna's post about the 7 ways we are all like Bridget Jones.

 

 

3. Absolutely Lucy

Absolutely Lucy is one of the best blogs to turn to if you're looking for travel inspiration. Lucy lived in Australia for a while and has recently come back from a trip around Europe (and she's now back in Australia for another year or so!). She visited Santorini, Amsterdam and Slovenia (which, by the way, looks absolutely stunning), to name just a few. Lucy seems like a genuinely nice person and this shows through her posts.

 

 

4. Hello Miss Jordan

I fell in love with Jordan's blog the moment I set eyes on it. I adore her outfit posts, particularly her Fields of Purple and The Pastel Parisian ones. She always seems to look so amazing, no matter what she's wearing! The pictures on this blog are so clear and colourful - Jordan must spend ages editing them. If you love afternoon tea, it's worth checking out Jordan's The Tea Files.

 

 

5. Nettle and Blackberry

Another blogger I love is Imii, a.k.a. Nettle and Blackberry. I've only started reading her blog the last few weeks but I enjoy her restaurant reviews (I need to visit Cutter and Squidge!) and posts about Paris - I'm so jealous that she got to live there for 10 months! If you love Nettle and Blackberry as much as I do, you should check out Imii's Instagram.

 

6. Simply Alexandra

Last but not least is Simply Alexandra. This blog is a little different to the others on this list in that it is written by an American blogger - the rest are all British. Simply Alexandra is a great place for finding out about new books, discovering new music and looking at beautiful photos of America.

 What are your favourite blogs? Let me know in the comments - I'm always on the lookout for new blogs!

 

 

Hasta luego!

 

 

Serena
 



The Versatile Blogger Award

 

 Hi guys!

 

 

I was recently nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award by Kelly at Velvet and Vibranium and finally found the time to write up my own post. I had planned to publish this post on Friday but I was busy helping out at the UK University Search University Fair so I didn't really have time!

 

 

So how does this award work?

 

Well, firstly, you need to thank the person who nominated you (so thanks, Kelly!). Then you need to share 7 random facts about yourself and nominate 10 other bloggers.

 

 

7 Facts About Me

 

1. My mum is Australian and my dad is Irish. Unfortunately, I have been to neither country (even though Ireland is right next to England!).

2. When I was in Primary School, I collected bouncy balls. I still have a box of them in one of my drawers!

3. I've never read Harry Potter, which is crazy, since I am a total bookworm! I have, however, watched all the films!

4. I have two Burman cats called Tabitha and Tallulah.
 

Absolute cuties!

5. I LOVE photography! I even have a photography page, which you can check out here.

6. I can (kinda) speak Spanish.

7. This isn't my first blog. I had a Piczo one when I was in Year 7 (10 years ago!) - but it no longer exists! I also have a book blog, which I started last year.

 

And the nominees are....

 

1. Samantha / www.cocobutterblog.co.uk
2. Bronagh / http://www.bronaghloves.com/
3. Amanda / www.ginger-mum.com
4. Rachel / www.rosegoldautumn.co.uk
5. Melanie / www.melaniesfabfinds.co.uk
6. Georgina / www.culinarytravels.co.uk
7. Sandra / www.onecolouratatimeblog.com
8. Nicola / www.sparklesatmidnight.com
9. Jennifer / www.jenniferdurrans.com
10. Rachel S / www.beautyandthebird.co.uk


Hasta luego!


Serena