Beauty and the Beast: Totally Worth the Hype

It's a tale as old as time, and one that has warmed the hearts of all ages for over 20 years. Beauty and the Beast is one of those staple Disney classics that will never grow old despite the dozens of times we've popped open the VHS as a kid. But could Disney successfully translate this magic and wonder into a live action remake?

Definitely.

First and foremost, the casting is perfect. Emma Watson stars as Belle, and is simply adorable in the role. She is everything we loved about her Harry Potter persona, Hermione - she's independent, intellectual, and unconcerned about fitting the status quo. Emma's new role comes with a twist that never graced the Hogwarts halls...she can sing, and really well too!

Dan Stevens plays the fearsome yet loveable softy that is the Beast, and the two radiate chemistry on screen, despite his paws, fur and horns. The ballroom dance scene is simply perfect as the two sway to Mrs. Potts singing "Beauty and the Beast." This is the moment that everyone associates with the original, and it is surreal to see the golden dress and blossoming love between the two come to life.

Despite Emma and Dan's outstanding performances, the enchanted objects steal the show. Lumiére (voiced by Ewan McGregor) and Cogsworth (Ian McKellen) are like a minuscule married couple, and I never thought it possible to feel so strongly towards a friendship between a candelabra and clock. Lumiére is the unsung hero of this tale, who sets off from the start to unite Belle and the Beast to break the curse.

As soon as the movie ended, I already wanted to see it again. From the flashy "Be Our Guest" number to the epic ending fight scene, every second of the movie is captivating. This live version brings a whole new life to the animated classic, with little twists for the modern era (LeFou gets a dude!).

Beauty and the Beast shows us that beauty is truly in the eyes of the beholder, and is never just skin-deep. Belle also teaches us that there is always something new out there to learn and explore, and we should never settle for a "provincial" commoner's life, pining after jerks like Gaston.

Survivor: Game Changers - Who will outwit, outplay, and outlast?

We're only one week in to the new season of Survivor, and I have heart palpitations already.

The show is in its 34th season and features all former players who made some sort of impact that changed the tone of the game. In an intense two hour premiere, we already said goodbye to *SPOILER ALERT* Sierra and sadly, Tony, one of the best players and biggest goofballs on the island. He should've waited until at least day two to start hunting idols and spying on his tribe mates.

It's super early in the season and alliances will change hundreds of times over the coming episodes, but I'm already set on who I think deserves to be sitting in that final three at the live finale in May...

Caleb Reynolds

This guy got completely robbed the first time he attempted to play. After going too hard in one of the challenges, he was medically evacuated and was unable to return to the game. Caleb will be a dark horse this season because no one really knows his playing style. We could have the next Russell on our hands for all we know. Fingers are crossed that this southern boy makes it far and his tattoos grace our televisions for many weeks to come.

Tai Trang

Everything this little man does just makes me smile. He always forms a deep and meaningful bond with the tribe's chickens, and shies away (for the most part) from any sort of backstabbing and confrontation. Even though I could probably pick Tai up with one arm, he kicks a** in challenges, outlasting men twice his size by sheer inner strength and will. Tai came SO close the last time he played, coming in second on season 32, which will give him all the more drive to get the title of sole survivor this time around.




Ozzy Lusth

Don't let the pigtail braids fool you. Ozzy was born to battle the elements on Survivor, climbing trees, diving off ships for tools, all the while being extremely humble about his awesomeness. I was pretty young when Ozzy appeared for the first time on Survivor: Cook Islands, and took the liberty of drawing one of my first TV crushes, which can be appreciated below....not too shabby for a kid, right? If Ozzy can make the merge and still has a bit of jungle boy left in him to win immunity challenges, his fourth time around might be the charm.

Survivor: Game Changers airs every Wednesday on CBS at 8pm EST, which is when you can find me casually shouting at the television while stress eating ice cream.

From Not to Hot, Mama June is BACK

Let's all take a second to reminisce.

Throughout history, there have been some reality TV series that definitely killed a brain cell or two, yet we just COULDN'T look away. From Mike "The Situation" ramming his head into a wall on Jersey Shore, to Frankie Gotti stomping up the stairs because he's "got a life!" on Growing Up Gotti.

Still, the one that caused a void in my heart since its cancellation a few years ago is TLC's Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. Television just hasn't been the same without mud fights and homemade "sketti." Never fear - Mama June is back on WE tv with her new show From Not to Hot, which chronicles her revenge weight loss surgery to slim down before attending ex-husband Sugar Bear's wedding in 44 days.

The first episode aired on Friday, 2/24, and picked up right where Honey Boo Boo left off. It opens with Honey Boo Boo aka Alana attempting to pack her own school lunch - a entire box of snack cakes and a full quart of ice cream, surely a nutritious lunch for a growing kid.

Sugar Bear then visits Mama June with some exciting news - he's getting married. To whom, we have no idea, but June figures if he can get back in the game after their divorce, so can she. With the help of her sister Doe Doe, June gets herself on some dating apps, and quickly snags a date to a local all-you-can-eat buffet with, quite frankly, the dullest guy on earth.

As we know from Honey Boo Boo, June is a straight shooter who tells it like it is and doesn't give a damn what people think. Seconds after sitting down, she lays it all on the line, asking if he's been married and other questions most would save until at the least the third date. Long story short, June's date bails half way through, leaving the show's producer to chase him down in the parking lot.

Even though June's body transformation isn't rumored to take place until the end of the season, we still get to experience all the familiar wonders of Honey Boo Boo, and maybe even a healthier recipe for the infamous ketchup and pasta combo know as "sketti."

Obsession of the Week - Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Every time I go in Target (which I have to admit is a lot...), I spend some time in the movies/books section. For a solid few months, I'd see this weird grayish book with a strange girl on the front floating in midair. One day, I skimmed through the pages, came across pictures of some creepy man with no pupils and a dog with the head of a girl, and immediately put it back on the shelf.

Shortly after, I saw a commercial for a new Tim Burton movie about a headmistress and a home of weird kids, one of whom had a working mouth on the back of her head. I love Burton's work, so when I realized it was an adaptation of the book I was too chicken to look at, I decided it couldn't be THAT bad and gave Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children a shot.

My first impression wasn't great. I almost quit/dropped the book before the first chapter even began. On one of the introductory pages, there's a picture of a girl, which I later learned is the lead female character Emma Bloom, covered in shadows and basically staring into your soul.

Still, I pressed on and I'm so glad I did. The story centers on Jacob Portman and the special bond he and his grandfather, Abe, had throughout his childhood. Abe tells Jacob tales of the home he stayed in as a child, where there were children with special abilities, including an invisible boy and a girl who could levitate.

Jacob assumed these were fairy tales, until he makes the journey to the long abandoned children's home and enters the "loop" - the same day repeated over and over for eternity. This particular loop is on September 3rd, 1940, the day before all of Abe's friends, the peculiar children that Jacob assumed were fictional, die in a bomb explosion from the war. In this loop, they are perfectly safe and never age.

Jacob befriends the invisible boy, Millard, and finds more than a friend in the girl who can create fire with her hands, Emma Bloom. Emma also happened to be in love with Jacob's grandfather when Abe was part of the loop, which isn't awkward at all......

Going into this book, I didn't know what to expect. I don't deal well with stories that involve creepy kids, but the peculiar children are fantastic. They each have their own special ability, and work to help Jacob recognize his own talent, which is unfortunately the ability to see dark shadow creatures called hollows.

The second and third books of the series are waiting on my bookshelf, and I can't wait to see what happens to Jacob and his peculiar friends as they battle hollows and protect their loop.

Motionless in White - The Most Badass Pennsylvanians

Discovering new bands is one of my favorite things in the world.

About a month ago, I bought a ticket to The End Is Here Tour. Naturally, I was hype to see the one and only Mr. Ronnie Radke of Falling in Reverse and stupidly didn't pay attention to who else was on the tour.

A few weeks ago, I decided to take a look at who the supporting groups were to get familiar with their music and not be completely lost during the first few hours. I already semi-knew Issues and their song "Never Lose Your Flame," which has been blasted on repeat in my car countless times.

I had heard of the name Motionless in White, but knew nothing about the band. After a quick Google search, I was severely questioning what I had gotten myself into. These dudes were like nothing I'd seen before, except perhaps Marilyn Manson. The tattoos I could easily get past (have you seen Ronnie's forehead?), but it was the eye shadow and full-face makeup that was another story.

Still, I pulled up their page on YouTube to check them out, and ended up spending an entire lunch hour playing one video after the next. I was still kind of freaked out but simultaneously mesmerized by this band. Their sound, appearance, and lyrics combined was something new for me, but deep down I new I found something special. I quickly learned that they're fellow Pennsylvanians, which is where the song "570" gets it's origin. The lyrics just hit home for me...

"And when I'm facing a wall I do not quit, cause if you mean it, you will make it."

I listened to Motionless non-stop from that day until the concert on Jan 28th, and was possibly just as excited to see them as Falling in Reverse. Their stage setup was pure perfection and something out of The Nightmare Before Christmas. There were pumpkins and glowing candles that gave the illusion of trespassing upon a haunted church. Even the drum set had a pumpkin head emblazoned on the front.

Motionless in White did not disappoint. They played the songs I had grown to appreciate, including "570" and "America," and I was able to belt out the lyrics back at the lead singer, Chris "Motionless" Cerulli. He had on his signature makeup, plus some glistening leather pants that most women couldn't dream of pulling off like he did.

A giant pumpkin man even graced the stage and my inner child deemed him the best part of the night.

Motionless basically solidifies some changes I've made over the past few years. All through my teens, I was up to date on the latest boy band crazes and rocked my hot pink UGG boots. Something shifted when I hit my twenties, and I discovered how happy the color black makes me and how truly amazing tattoos look. Yes, I still stalk the solo careers of One Direction members. But there's just something about the angst and inspiration of metal/punk music, and guys like Chris and Ronnie screaming in my ears at 8am on a crowded subway that gives me the energy to go out in the world and kick some a**.

Check out Motionless in White's latest single, "Eternally Yours" below...it's freaking amazing.

5 Reasons Why You Need to See "Sing" ASAP

This week, I ignored my inner old lady who despises public places packed with kids. Instead, I embraced my inner five-year-old and saw Sing, which was one of the cutest, most inspirational animated films I've seen in a while. The movie follows the determined little koala, Buster Moon, as he attempts to save his theater from closing with one last production - a singing competition.

Sing is exciting, comedic, and tugs at your heartstrings no matter what age you are. Below are five reasons to get your butt to the movies ASAP to see the cutest movie of 2017:

1. ACTION

For an animated film, there is no shortage of adventure. From car chases to robberies, you will find yourself fearing for the lives of those cuddly animals. Mike, played by Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane, gets mixed up with some tough grizzly bears despite his tiny size and soothing Frank Sinatra-inspired voice. The mouse narrowly escapes capture and being eaten alive several times, speeding away in a sleek, red convertible with his new girlfriend by his side.

2. ACCENTS

Ever hear of an Australian gorilla? You have now. Johnny has the sweetest accent ever, not to mention the voice of an angel and insane piano playing skills. Unfortunately, he has no choice but to get caught up in his dad's gang of robbers, all of whom have beautiful accents as well, despite their criminal backgrounds.

3. LOVE

Sing captures love in every shape and form, from caring for family members to romantic love. Rosita, voiced by Reese Witherspoon, wants to audition for Buster's new theater production, but is hesitant to put herself before her family of 25 adorable piglets. Even after Buster's warning that all participants need rest to prepare for rehearsal, Rosita pulls an all-nighter and fashions a machine that makes breakfast, does laundry, and gets her kids ready and out the door for school. She is able to go for her dream while making sure her family is still well-cared for.

On the other hand we have Ash, voiced by Scarlett Johansson, who is the definition of girl power and revenge packed into a tiny hedgehog body. Ash and her boyfriend audition together for Buster's production, but only she makes it through to the next round. After discovering the boyfriend with another hedgehog, she calls it quits, and releases all of her hurt and anger into her first solo track. Ash finally realizes her full potential and is able to love herself and recognize her own talent.

4. MUSIC

As the title of the film suggests, Sing is full of amazing songs and vocals. The standout performance comes from Meena the elephant, played by the amazing Tori Kelly. Meena has a beautiful voice, and is constantly told this by her family. However, she suffers from stage fright and extreme shyness, which makes it almost impossible for her to perform in Buster's production. After the koala gives her some words of wisdom, Meena is able to gain confidence and ultimately steal the show.

5. HOPE

If you've ever had a dream that seemed downright impossible, you can relate to Buster Moon. When he was young, he fell in love with the atmosphere of the theater and knew he wanted to open one of his own someday. With help and encouragement from his father, his dream came true. However, none of his productions were successful and his theater was under severe threat of being shut down. Buster's determination, drive, and support from Meena, Johnny, Rosita and the rest of the performers allowed him to make his theater better than ever, and keep his dream and passion alive.

Bottom line, if you believe in something and work hard enough for it, anything is possible.

Top 5 Heart-Wrenching Ed Sheeran Tracks

In honor of the world's favorite redhead releasing new music for the first time since 2014, I present to you my five favorite tear-inducing, I-need-a-pint-of-ice-cream-asap songs of the wonderful Ed Sheeran.

5. Thinking Out Loud
When I first listened to the X album, this song was one of the standouts. From the first line, Ed sings about how he will love this woman until they are very old. They won't be as active or young looking, but will still appreciate the little things that made them fall in love years ago. His lyrics make the listener want to find that same never-dying affection, and though the radio played this song to death, my non-existent future husband better prep himself to hear this at the wedding reception.

 4. Give Me Love
An immediate favorite from +, there is so much passion in this track as Ed's voice intensifies with the progression of the song. By the end, he is belting out the same line over and over - "Give me love" - and there's so much longing behind that simple repetition. On the album version, if you listen past the song, there is a bonus track tucked away at the very end called "The Parting Glass," that is simple and hauntingly beautiful.

3. Lego House

This is a classic Ed Sheeran track that I can never get sick of. The melody and lyrics are absolutely adorable. He sings about caring for a woman and doing everything in his power to make her happy and comfortable - "And if you're broken I'll mend ya, and keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on." *swoon*



2. All Of The Stars
As the ending credits track for the movie The Fault in Our Stars, this song has caused millions of actual tears to shed onto theater seats and popcorn. It's the perfect summary for the story of two teens who fall madly in love despite the odds and their deteriorating health. Spoiler alert, the boy passes away because of cancer, and the girl must learn to keep living while holding tight to his memory and the hope of seeing him again.



1. Kiss Me
One of Ed's lesser known tracks but by far my favorite, "Kiss Me" describes that magical instant that you fall in love with someone. One particular verse gets me everytime - "I'm falling for your eyes, but they don't know me yet." I guess chances are slim that I'll hear that from any guy at happy hour this weekend...



It's still unclear when we can get our hands on the new Ed Sheeran album, but hopefully it's filled with more swoon-worthy lyrics about falling in love that average guys have virtually no chance of living up to.

Fantastic Beasts and WHERE Do I Get a Niffler??

It was about a month ago. I was in the kitchen when I heard it. That beautiful, magical theme song from Harry Potter coming from my living room television. I bolted into the other room like a crazy lady.

Harry Potter? Where?! 

To my disappointment it wasn't my favorite boy who lived, but a trailer for J.K Rowling's new movie Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. At first I wasn't pleased.

This isn't Harry Potter. They can't use the same theme song! 

But after some research, I soon discovered that Fantastic Beasts takes place in the same magical world, with connections to Harry, just seventy years prior in New York. Needless to say, I had to see it, and this week I finally got to the movies to feed into my wizarding world obsession.

While the original Harry Potter series will always be my true love, I thoroughly enjoyed Fantastic Beasts. The story centers around Newt Scamander, a British wizard who travels to New York and accidentally sets his suitcase full of magical creatures loose on the city of Muggles, or No-Maj's as the American wizards call the non-magical community.

Eddie Redmayne plays Newt, and he is absolutely adorable and charming (despite his Hufflepuff colored scarf...). His mission in life is to rescue various creatures in the wizarding world who most deem to be dangerous, not unlike our old Hogwarts friend Hagrid with his love for dragons and hippogriffs.

Many of the creatures that find their way out of Newt's case are actually taught to Harry and his friends in Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures classes. These include a rather clingy bowtruckle and a fuzzy little niffler that you can cuddle with AND set loose to collect gold. Think PetSmart has any??

In addition to the creatures, Fantastic Beasts has a few more links to the world of Harry that fans have become so familiar with. Many times, Rowling mentions how Dumbledore defeated the powerful wizard Grindelwald years before. It has always been a sort of fun fact about the headmaster that no one elaborated on until now.

In Fantastic Beasts we see Grindelwald (played by Johnny Depp) firsthand, masked as another wizard, trying to control the young Credence who just learned about his magical abilities. In one scene, Grindelwald places a necklace upon Credence's neck with a triangular pendant symbol on it - the Deathly Hallows. I guess Krum was right in wanting to fight Xenophilius Lovegood for wearing the symbol at Bill and Fleur's wedding.

Voldemort's loyal supporter, Bellatrix Lestrange, is also touched on in the film, or rather her ancestors. Spoiler alert, the leading female character Tina, played by Katherine Waterston, starts to fall in love with Newt. However, a picture of a young woman is spotted by Tina's friend, Queenie, in his room. When asked about her, Newt explains how she is a Lestrange, and how she was a friend of his at Hogwarts. Queenie warns him that the Lestrange's aren't the best wizarding family to be involved with, so it's clear that they supported the dark arts years before Bellatrix even existed.

For me, Fantastic Beasts had everything - action, comedic relief, a love story, subtle connections to Harry, and a cute British lead. Rumor has it that Rowling is creating a series of movies, and if it's going to consist of another eight, I'll need some time to track down a niffler....

New Year's Resolutions: Pop Culture Nerd Edition

It's almost the start of 2017, which means new beginnings and an overflow of Oprah Winfrey weightloss commercials. Yes, I want to be a better person and do great things like the rest of us this year, but more importantly, I'm already planning ahead for all of the music, books, movies, and shows I want to take in over the next 12 months.

Music     

• NIALL HORAN - Let's all take a deep breath because my favorite member of One Direction is releasing an ALBUM. A few months back, Niall released the single, "This Town," which was pure heaven. The simple melody and vocals suited him perfectly, and I have my fingers crossed that the album will follow a similar style. Niall recently told E! News that he's still in the writing and recording process, but "it should be coming soon."
• FALLING IN REVERSE - On a similar note, another of my favorite bands, Falling In Reverse, just released a heart-wrenching single called "Coming Home" which I can only assume means a new album is coming. The song has a different, more relaxed and futuristic vibe than most of their heavier music, which myself and other fans have come to know them for. I'm all for some chill, emotional songs, but it won't be a Falling in Reverse album without Ronnie screaming about an ex, drugs, and the general stupidity of humanity. 

Movies

• BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - It's a tale as old as time, yet I will forever love Beauty and the Beast. A real-life version of the Disney classic will be released in March, with one of my favorite actresses, Emma Watson, as Belle. Only quick clips have been released over the past few months, but we finally have a full-length trailer to hold us over until the movie officially hits theaters. 

Books

• HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD - If there's one obsession that has stayed with me since my grade school days, it's Harry Potter. Over the summer, I got my hands on Harry Potter and The Cursed Child as soon as it hit shelves. However, it's now December and I still haven't touched it. Why? I couldn't just jump into a new Harry story after years since The Deathly Hallows. It just wouldn't seem right. So, I started from book one and am working my way through the series. It's been years since I read them, and the story still holds the same excitement and magic as when I was a kid (as does my undying love for Malfoy). Hopefully The Cursed Child doesn't disappoint.
• GAME OF THRONES - A few months ago, I powered through every season of Game of Thrones and fell in love with everything from the theme song to the million storylines to keep track of. After consulting with several friends about the book series and getting mixed reviews, I decided to give them a try. These will need to wait until after Harry Potter, but I can already see they may very well take until 2018 to finish....talk about small print!

Television

• BEYOND - Every year, Freeform (previously ABC Family) launches a few new series. Some stick like Pretty Little Liars while most fizzle out after one or two seasons. The station is premiering Beyond on January 2nd, and it seems like something I can easily get hooked on. The plot of the show focuses on a guy named Holden who wakes up from a coma after 12 years and needs to figure out what happened to him. In typical Freeform fashion, I'm sure there will be some love interests and sketchy people who you know from the first episode had SOMETHING to do with the coma.

So, if you need me in 2017, I will be binging all of the above while working on my abs and trying to mentally curse out less people on the subway. Happy New Year!

2017 = Concerts Galore

If there's one thing I don't mind spending money on, it's concert tickets.

"$10 for a sweater? Ehhhh gotta think about it..."
"$50 to see my favorite band? *lunges for debit card*"

Since I was a kid, I've always loved the thrill of a concert. My dad took me to my first show when I was about eight to see Shania Twain, and I became obsessed with the excitement of seeing and hearing my favorite artists in person. Over the years, I saw huge productions from artists like Britney Spears, and also gained an appreciation for smaller venues. Standing so close to David Cook at World Live Cafe that he could hear audience members breathing was a surreal experience.

I've managed to keep the passion for concerts alive, and in the span of a day, I recently bought tickets to two shows in 2017 that I'm pretty hype for.

On January 28th, I will be seeing for the third time one of my absolute favorite bands, Falling in Reverse, which features my "tattoo man" Ronnie Radke as the lead singer. FIR will be at The Fillmore in Philly, which I've been to several times and STILL get lost trying to find their parking lot.



I first saw Falling in Reverse at the Electric Factory last Thanksgiving break, and though it was my first concert that involved mosh pits and crowd surfers, it was an amazing night. I've idolized Ronnie since I learned about his story of getting sober and fighting his way back into the music industry. He's one of the best live performers I've ever witnessed, and I can't wait to see what kind of show he's going to put on - he's been posting tons of cryptic pictures on Instagram, which are hopefully foreshadowing some new music!

The beginning of the end

A photo posted by Ronnie Radke (@ronnieradke) on Nov 22, 2016 at 5:37pm PST

On February 13th aka an awkward Monday night, I'll be heading to TLA for my second Jake Miller concert. I first heard about Jake when he randomly followed me on Twitter a few years back. After checking out his profile (and seeing how attractive he is), I listened to his music and was immediately hooked. He's a cross between pop, R&B, and rap and has a slightly younger fan base called the Miller-tary (get it??).

I had the extremely cool opportunity to do a phone interview with him for my college's newspaper, and though he was in the middle of a crowded mall being swarmed by fans, he was the nicest guy and took the time to talk about his music, touring, and how he's lost track of how many hats he owns.

Seeing Jake has become a sort of tradition for my one friend and I. One year, we waited several hours in the bitter cold to meet him at an album signing, and had to take turns standing next to the heater at a nearby bank. We then waited about six hours in the scorching heat a few months later to get a good spot in line for another of his TLA concerts. He puts on a really good show, and I'm excited to see him perform some of his new music from "Overnight."



Check out the dates for both shows below!

Fallinginreverse.com

A photo posted by Ronnie Radke (@ronnieradke) on Nov 30, 2016 at 10:44am PST

Welcome to #TheOvernightTour. Tix on sale Friday! Bringing my boys @maxgschneider and @spencermusic1! All I want for my bday today is for you to come and have the best night of your life with me. Tag a million friends 🎉

A photo posted by Jake Miller (@jakemiller) on Nov 28, 2016 at 8:59am PST

Finding Dory - Disney's Most Inspiring Creation

Black Friday. A day where we get to trample other shoppers for awesome deals on televisions, clothes, and endless other things we don't need. Do you want to know the extent of my Black Friday shopping? A trip to Target at about 3:00 in the afternoon to get Finding Dory for ten dollars.

You might be thinking "that's it??" Yes, yes it is. When Finding Dory came out in theaters a few months back, I saw it twice in the span of a week and loved it even more the second time. I'll admit, I wasn't crazy about Finding Nemo growing up. I always liked Toy Story and other Disney movies much better. So when this little blue fish made me die of laughter and almost cry several times, I knew she was something special.

If you're NOT familiar with the movie (I promise I'm not judging...too much), here's a quick summary of the plot. The movie starts out with Dory during her childhood, and OMG she couldn't have been cuter with her giant pink eyes that take up half of her face. Dory has suffered from short-term memory loss since she was born, and her parents work extra hard to show her love and praise for her accomplishments.



Dory tries her hardest to make her parents proud but accidentally gets swept up in the undertow and through the pipes, and ends up miles away from her home. Fast-forward a bit, and she meets Marlin and Nemo and starts her new life with them. It's not until she's assisting with Nemo's class one day that memories of her parents start to emerge, and she sets off on a quest to California to find them.

Along the way, Dory manages to befriend Hank, the cranky octopus (septopus, if we're being technical...), Marlin gets imprinted on by the twitchy, cross-eyed bird named Becky, and we meet various other lovable characters like Dory's old pipe pal, Destiny the whale.



But most importantly, Dory is able to find her parents. Despite her choppy memories and lack of confidence in herself, she accomplishes the seemingly impossible goal that she put her mind to. Lessons that her parents taught her as a child keep coming back in flashes, particularly one from her father when she was having trouble lifting a rather large shell. He told her, "There's always another way," and this allows her to assess her difficult situation, take a new path, and succeed.

Dory's mom also told her, "You can do whatever you put your mind to," which is a piece of advice we can all live by. In life, we are constantly questioning our ability to succeed, whether it be starting a new career path, maintaining a quality relationship, or just making ourselves better people. There's always that voice of doubt in the back of our minds, but we need to create a new voice that encourages us and pushes us forward.

Dory may not have had it all figured out when she set off across the ocean with Marlin and Nemo, but she taught me a lot. I don't have to have a set plan. I just need to recognize my overarching goal, take some pretty crazy chances, and "just keep swimming" until I get there.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

Must-See Holiday Movies Because IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS

As much as I've been trying to contain it until after Thanksgiving, today I transitioned into full on Christmas elf. I blasted "O Come All Ye Faithful" by Pentatonix in my car, and turned into a complete five-year-old when I spotted Santa at the mall.

So, to keep the spirit going, I've decided to share some of my favorite holiday movies that I have to watch each year before Christmas can officially occur.

1. A Christmas Story

Every year on Christmas day, I obsessively watch the TBS 24 hour marathon without getting the least bit sick of Ralphie's excitement over his new Red Ryder or Scut Farkus' obnoxious laugh. Towards the end of the night, I always need to battle my family for the remote, but complaining that it's the "last showing" and how I "won't see it again for a year" usually wins out.

It's just a story that you can't get tired of. Ralphie is your typical middle-school boy, struggling through class and bullies, and all he wants for Christmas is an "official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot, range model air rifle" but his mom keeps putting her foot down, concerned about his safety. In the end, his grouchy but loving dad comes through and gives him the gun, disguised as a present from Santa.



Watching the marathon will forever be one of my favorite yearly traditions. On Christmas Eve, my mom always makes anchovy gravy and fried shrimp, and after dinner, we break out the coffee and butter cookies as Ralphie gazes into the toy store window to get his first glimpse of Red Ryder.

2. A Christmas Carol (George C. Scott version)

There's so many versions of A Christmas Carol out there. Endless actors have done a solid job at playing Scrooge, but the version with George C. Scott is the only one that I grew up watching, and therefore holds a special place with me.

Yes, it's the same story as all the others, but there's something about his portrayal and delivery of Scrooge that adds a new dynamic to the character. You still dislike Scrooge, but there's a comical sarcasm that Scott brings to the scenes that makes you want to like him and actually root for him.

He plays greedy and mean well, but joyous and apologetic even better. When he wakes up on Christmas morning after his visit from the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, he leaps up and down on his bed yelling "Merry Christmas to the world!" The scene gives you the urge to leap around your house doing the exact same thing.



A Christmas Carol is my Christmas Eve tradition (yes, I manage take a break from A Christmas Story). I'll usually start the DVD a little after 10pm, this way by the time Scrooge wakes up on Christmas morning, it's after midnight and actually Christmas in real time.

3. The Polar Express

I'm going to be honest...when this first came out, I wasn't a fan. I thought it was very lengthy and that the storyline was slow. Man, was I stupid. A few years ago, I decided to give it another shot and by the final credits, ended up on my couch in tears surrounded by empty chocolate wrappers. Needless to say, I was pretty touched.

First off, the music is absolutely beautiful. It's a similar melody that plays in the background for many of the scenes, and it's perfect for the setting and storyline. Several songs are extremely catchy, including the hot chocolate one on the train, and "When Christmas Comes to Town."

My absolute favorite is Josh Groban's "Believe" that plays through the final credits. I never got chills like I did the first time I heard it - from the lyrics to the melody, it's an all around wonderful song for the entire year.

"Believe in what you feel inside, and give your dreams the wings to fly. You have everything you need...if you just believe."



The storyline managed to give me chills as well. The main boy is getting older and is starting to question the reality of Santa Claus. It's not until he gets to the North Pole and physically sees him, that he fully believes. The boy receives the first gift of Christmas from Santa - a bell from his sleigh. Only people who truly believe in Santa can hear the bell's chime.

Over the years, his friends and little sister stop hearing the bell. This part depressed me to no end because I remember (spoiler alert) when I realized Santa didn't exist as a kid. However, the boy continues to hear the chime even as an adult. Moral of the story - no matter how old you get, you can't lose that magic and excitement of childhood. Reality will set in, there will be responsibilities. But through it all, you can't stop believing in happiness and dreams.

There's so many other great movies that if I kept going, Christmas would be over. So I'll leave you with quite possibly the greatest holiday song of our time...

Obsession of the Week - Pentatonix

One night after an exceptionally long day at work, I was watching some music videos on NickMusic. After one forgettable pop song after the next, my mind was drifting elsewhere until one line caught my attention...

"I've heard there was a secret chord, that David played and it pleased the Lord..."

"Hallelujah" has always been one of my favorite songs since I first heard it in Shrek as a kid. Over the years, endless people have covered it, but this version by the acapella band, Pentatonix, was different.

I always enjoyed listening to Pentatonix around the holidays, and that was it...until this song. The video is simple but captivating. It starts off with one of the lead vocalists, Scott Hoying, singing the first verse and staring into your soul through the camera. Each member then follows suit and crushes each of their own solos. Meanwhile, Kevin Olusola makes it sound like there's an entire drum section behind the band using only his voice and body.

Hands down, the best part of the song is Mitch Grassi's solo towards the end. His voice is absolutely beautiful and managed to give me goosebumps the higher he sang.



Over the next week, I listened to the song any chance I got - before work, before bed, before going out. etc. My dad quickly jumped on the Pentatonix train as well, and also had the video on repeat. One night, inspiration struck - the band was going to be in Philly on Sunday, Nov 13th, so I offered to take him as an early Christmas present. After the shock of my offer wore off, he was all for it and I purchased tickets within the hour.

Pentatonix was quite possibly one of the best groups I've seen live. It was easy to forget that there wasn't a live band behind them because you still felt that thump in your chest from Kevin's percussions and Avi's insanely deep voice. They sang everything from Michael Jackson to Justin Bieber, and threw in a few original songs like "Sing."

Pentatonix live at Liacouras Center in Philadelphia Nov 13th
From L to R - Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, Scott Hoying, Avi Kaplan, Mitch Grassi

Towards the end of the show, they mentioned the great Leonard Cohen, and the entire crowd went nuts because "Hallelujah" was finally next. It sounded even better than the record and tiny Mitch with his enormous voice managed to bring out the goosebumps once again.

As part of their encore, they sang the eerie "Light in the Hallway" but took it a step further. The entire arena was asked to not make a sound, while Pentatonix huddled in the center of the stage and performed the song without microphones. They sounded exceptionally beautiful, and managed to keep hundreds of people engaged with just pure, raw talent. 

Their Christmas album, A Pentatonix Christmas, is out now and they'll also have their own NBC special on December 14th. Only 29 days away?? Let the countdown begin. 

Niall's New Direction

When Zayn quit One Direction, I was (for lack of a better term) a mess. Yes, I was in college at the time and not some hormonal teenager. But when the band whose music got me through endless hours of commuting, calmed my nerves before my very first job interview, and made me crack up after a long day with their stupid video diaries on YouTube, I was bound to take it pretty hard.

To my surprise, the remaining four kept going. I got to see them in concert yet again, and openly fan-girl over their album Made in the A.M., which was just as good and possibly even more creative than any of their previous albums.

However, all good things must come to an end, and Harry, Liam, Louis, and Niall went on a hiatus for an unspecified amount of time. While most fans panicked, I was okay with the whole thing - just look at bands like Green Day. They can go five years without touring, recording, or having fans knowing what they're up to, then come back with music that's better than ever.

So far during the break, each member has started to branch out and work on his own project. Louis and his son Freddie are cuter than ever. Liam just signed a recording contract with Republic Records. Harry is doing random photo shoots and embracing his inner sixties hippie with a brand new hair cut. And finally, in the midst of various golf sessions, Niall just dropped a new single out of NOWHERE that is pure perfection.

"This Town" suits Niall to a tee. While he was never the 1D member to belt out high notes and falsettos, he held his own with a strong but sweet voice. The song has a simple melody and a catchy guitar rhythm, which is what always showcased him on the band's albums in songs like "Don't Forget Where You Belong" and "Change My Mind."



In a recent interview with Ryan Seacrest, Niall talked about how he's working on a FULL album, that will have a very similar vibe to "This Town" with more soft melodies and acoustics. Even though the album is not quite finished, I'll be camping outside my local Target waiting for it to be released if anyone needs me...

Green Day - Even Better With Age

Every morning before going to middle school, I would eat my Frosted Flakes and watch music videos on MTV. One particular morning, I stopped dead in my tracks, spoon in one hand, backpack in the other. There was this dark haired, tattooed man on my television screen singing something about walking alone and a boulevard. I was immediately drawn in to this band, who looked so unlike anything that I was listening to at the time *insert cute, blonde boy band members here.* Thus began my love of Green Day.

Fast forward 12 years and a few albums later, I'm driving in torrential rain after working from 4:00am on a Saturday to pick up their newest release in several years, Revolution Radio. Did I feel like getting drenched? No. Did I know it would be completely worth it? Yup.

Revolution Radio is everything that I could've asked and more for new Green Day music. It has that 21st Century Breakdown political, angsty vibe, but with a more punk feel, much like their early work on Dookie.

While the whole album is freaking amazing, there's a select few songs that I've been listening to about 20 times a day since the release on October 7th:

"Bouncing Off The Wall"
This song......SO CATCHY! It's been a little while since I've gotten so excited over a song, but when I heard the first verse, I literally squealed like a teen girl because it was just SO good. While the lyrics talk about Satan, bombs, and idle threats, the melody makes you want to blast it in your car on a sunny day with the windows down, which is simply genius on their part.

"Ordinary World"
Two weeks ago, I saw Green Day live at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia as part of their small venue tour. After the supposed encore of "American Idiot," only Billie Joe walked back on stage with his acoustic guitar. With no introduction, he starts singing this song, and it was such a perfect and intimate moment with the crowd. Fans were screaming and carrying on around me, but I was so entranced by his performance and delivery of the lyrics, it was like they weren't even there. "What would you wish if you saw a shooting star in an ordinary world?" Ugh, perfect.

"Still Breathing"
This is one of the few songs that I heard before the full album when they released a lyric video for it. Much like "Ordinary World," the lyrics are extremely inspiring and something that I can relate to at this point in my life. "Just shine a light into the wreckage, so far away..." Even though we may be going through some difficult times and hardships, we're still alive and there's always a light trying to break through the darkness. When it comes to life struggles, Green Day gets it.



As if this wonderful masterpiece of an album wasn't enough of a treat, Billie Joe is starring in a movie called "Ordinary World" (I'm going to assume the song is in the soundtrack...) which hits theaters Friday, October 14th. Unlike his extremely cool and still attractive true self, Billie Joe will be playing a washed up rocker trying to get his life back together. If his acting is even 1/5 as good as his musical talent, we're in for a treat.

How I Found Myself at Warped Tour 2016

Let's rewind to a few ago in the awkward high school days. I had braces and was primping my side bangs to be juuuust right to meet Justin Bieber at a Jingle Ball concert. Never in a million years did I see myself in the middle of a moshing crowd at Warped Tour. But that's just where I ended up yesterday and I had the time of my life.

Ever since I can remember, I've loved all the pop stars - N*Sync, Jesse McCartney, Bieber. Yet in 6th grade, I discovered Green Day. My dad bought me "American Idiot" as long as I promised I'd stay away from drugs and not turn into a gothic weirdo. I continued to obsess over all the pretty boys, but behind the scenes, my love for heavier music (and tattooed men) grew stronger.

Over the years, I discovered bands like All Time Low and We the Kings, and felt more at home with music than I ever did before. About a year ago, some friends introduced me to Sleeping With Sirens and Pierce the Veil, and I instantly related to songs like "Go Go Go" and "King for a Day." History was made when I randomly clicked on a YouTube video of a song called "The Drug in Me Is You."

Falling in Reverse? Ronnie who? Oh, I like his voice. Bad Girls Club? OH this is catchy......

Summer of 2015 was consumed by the task of finding a post-grad job, all the while watching FIR videos in between cover letters. "F*** the Rest" soon became my life anthem - "and I know in my heart if you reach for the stars, all the things that you dream will indeed get you far" - and surprisingly, I learned a lot about life from Ronnie Radke, like how you can get your life together and make dreams happen no matter what you've been through and where you're coming from.

Fast forward one year, and Ronnie's picture is proudly hanging in my cubicle (much to the concern of my middle-aged coworkers) at my first big girl job. Still just as inspired by him as 12 months ago, I knew I had to attend Vans Warped Tour this year when I saw that FIR would be there. After some planning, my friends and I decided that we would adventure from Philly to Long Island, NY to go.

After almost 3 hours driving, my 1st official NJ bagel, and only getting slightly lost once, we arrived. I knew the day was going to be different and exciting just from the line to get in, with some guy selling sunglasses so fans wouldn't get "face f**ked" by the sun.

We immediately found the giant wall schedule to plan our day and figure out when/where each band was performing. Ronnie wouldn't be on until 5PM so there was plenty of time to work around that.

Kellin Quinn - Sleeping With Sirens

Throughout the day, I got to see We The Kings, Against The Current, and another of my top bands, Sleeping With Sirens. SWS was my 1st experience of the day dodging crowd surfers and enduring screaming fans. I'm used to One Direction and Bieber fans, but this was a whole new level. One girl next to me was SCREAMING at the top of her lungs how much of a "sexy beast" Kellin Quinn is. And while I completely agree with her, the ear drums of everyone around her begged to differ. Though when he sang "Go Go Go," I may just have been louder than her.

Around 1PM, we heard that Falling in Reverse was doing a photo op at their tent at 1:30PM. That's all I needed to hear. My friends and I booked it to the tent, only to find out you needed some sort of minuscule red ticket to meet them. We were kind of bummed, but decided to hang around. Even if we couldn't get a picture with Ronnie, we could get some sick shots of him from two feet away, which is exactly what we did.

I think my love for him grew even more yesterday. While waiting in line, I see Ronnie flying through the parking lot on a bicycle. He stops by the fence near his tent (he was on the other side), gets off the bike, then spends a solid few minutes looking completely lost, trying to figure out how to get through the fence with said bike. Finally he gives up and rides away, leaving the poor guy at the merch table to let us know he'll be "fashionably late".....get it??

Ronnie Radke - Falling in Reverse

About 10 minutes later, Ronnie arrives, and I got some amazing pictures of him in between meeting those lucky fans with the stupid red tickets. All the while, my friends and I are still in line, hoping against hope that we can just float through and meet him anyway. Sadly with about 3 people in front of us, the time for the meet and greet was over and Ronnie was out. But I couldn't even be mad...just look at him!!

Even though FIR wasn't performing until 5PM, we were at the stage and ready to go by 4PM, We stood in the back while Yellowcard performed, and the second they were done their set, we powered though the crowd, almost making it to the front barrier.

Despite getting kicked about 20 times and aching shoulders from lifting crowd surfers, I had the time of my life watching Ronnie. He is one of the best live performers I've ever seen, and being that close was an extra bonus. He sang all FIR's hits, including "Alone," "Rolling Stone" (and yes, I belted out the rap part), "Bad Girls Club," and "The Drug in Me is You."

By 5:30PM, I was ready for an Advil and shower, but was so content with life. I saw in person the guy who I'd been listening to non-stop for the past year, and who had inspired me during a pretty difficult and confusing time. Warped Tour wouldn't have been the same without Falling in Reverse, but even if they're not there next year, I'd do it all over again.

Ronnie Radke at Vans Warped Tour - Nikon Theater at Jones Beach
(and a security guard who was not having anymore of the crowd's sh*t)

Freeform Summer Premieres - Hooked Already

June is my favorite time of the year. Summer is here and Freeform (previously ABC Family) has officially begun to stress me out with all of their summer premieres. WARNING - lots of spoiler alerts below as I freak out about how suspenseful every show has been so far.

Lets start with the newest show, Guilt. I'll be honest, I wasn't too sure what to expect. It looked interesting from the commercials, and it did not let me down. It's your typical Freeform show - a brutal murder, attractive men, and about 20 possible suspects. Guilt kicks off with the murder of a young girl named Molly after a wild party while abroad in England. Now everybody from her jealous roommate, to Molly's beautiful Irish brother, to a perverted old professor is on the watch list as possible suspects. Only two weeks since the premiere, and I'm hooked. Also, Cal from "Titanic" plays a creepy lawyer in it, which is pretty awesome. Guilt airs each Monday at 9pm EST.

Next we have my personal Freeform favorite, Pretty Little Liars. I've been a die-hard fan since day one, and as crazy as the show has gotten, I still need to find out what happens week after week. Right now, we're in part two of the fast forward season, in which we see the girls several years after revealing that Charlotte, Aly's brother turned sister, is "A." They thought the whole nightmare was behind them but SURPRISE, it's not. The girls are now dealing with "A" 2.0, Hanna got herself trapped in a deserted shed in the middle of the woods, Aly's fiance is trying to kill her, and Aria and Ezra are sneaking around together (which I'm pretty hype about.) PLL airs every Tuesday at 8pm EST.

Finally, lets talk about The Fosters. This was always the Freeform show to cover heavier topics, like coming out as gay at a young age, death, and issues in the foster care system. However, the premiere last Monday was beyond anything they've ever done. I sat there for the full hour hugging a pillow for dear life. The topic of the premiere was gun violence in schools, and with everything going on in the world today, it just really hit home.

To summarize, Nick got extremely jealous because he saw Mariana kissing her ex, and went crazy by burning down his dad's warehouse and bringing a gun to school. The entire school was on lockdown, and I had such a nervous stomach watching the terror on their faces, and the relief Steph and Lena expressed when finally reunited with all of their kids. Next week seems to be a similar situation, because Nick is now lurking in the Foster's house with the gun. The episode will air on Monday at 8pm EST.

Freeform will be airing another new series called Dead of Summer on Tuesday, June 28th. Just from the title, I think it will fit in perfectly and provide more heart palpitations for the next few months.

Star Wars: The Force Awakened Me

Whenever people used to mention "Star Wars," I automatically went "OH the movie with the little green guy right??" *insert shocked/judgmental face here*

I have to admit, I never understood the hype. Friends always had to explain the difference between Star Wars vs Star Trek, and I used to look at the light saber club on my college's campus like they were aliens from a strange planet.

But when "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" was released, I decided to suck it up and watch the first six movies. As I currently sit here next to my stuffed Yoda and C3-PO pen, it's safe to say I've had a change of heart.

I started out with the original trilogy after wrapping my head around how Episode 4 was technically the first movie. I absolutely loved C3-PO and R2D2 from the start. Through the more complicated plots in the storyline, they provide some comic relief and interact like an old, robotic married couple.

The original trilogy was enjoyable - Luke's obsession with Princess Leia, the sarcasm of Han Solo, and the many intelligent words of Chewbacca. However, I enjoyed the prequels (Episodes 1-3) MUCH better.

First off, I am absolutely obsessed with Yoda. He's such a little bad*ss for being only 2 feet tall! In one scene, he comes swooping in with an entire army of stormtroopers behind him and it is the most epic thing in the whole series. He's also full of words of wisdom, and I've become a fan of the quote "Do or do not, there is no try."

I also enjoyed the main characters in the prequels. Feel free to judge, but Anakin Skywalker aka pre-Darth Vader is pretty darn attractive.

It was also interesting to see how everything from Episodes 4-6 came to be. Spoiler alert - we see how Anakin becomes Darth Vader to protect the love of his life, we have some context as to why Yoda is in exile in a hidden forest, and we gain some insight into the situation that Luke and Leia were born into.

I have to admit - I never understood Star Wars, and thought it was about robots and space battles. And while this is true, it's more so about family, love, support, and adventure.

May the force be with you.

A Friends Reunion? Oh. My. GOD.

"How you doin'?"
"He's her lobster!"
"Smelly cat, smelly cat, what are they feeding you?"
"We were on a break!"

Do any of these sound familiar? Hopefully they do. These are some of the best lines in comedic history that all originated from one amazing show - Friends.

Ten years of Ross, Rachel, Joey, Chandler, Monica, and Phoebe. Ten years of an incredible bond between six outstanding characters finding their way through life in New York. And of course, ten years of coffee from Central Perk.

Fans rejoiced on Sunday when the group reunited to honor the legendary director, James Burrows. After all this time, the bond between the cast appeared to be just as strong as ever.

The only friend who couldn't make it was Matthew Perry, since he is in London performing in a play. But NBC didn't let Chandler fans down. Perry was shown on video to introduce the remaining five.

The entire cast looked great and all aged extremely well. Matt LeBlanc could still pull off Joey's "how you doin'?" line and make girls swoon.

During the interview, the cast discussed how there was constant support for each other. During the first season, they all watched the episodes together and gave each other constructive feedback. Courtney Cox mentioned how the three girls had lunch together every day for ten years.

Lots of fun facts were revealed, including how Jennifer Aniston and Cox actually auditioned for opposite roles. It was later decided that the other was better suited to play Rachel/Monica.

A few cast members were able to choose a favorite episode amongst the hundreds of amazing ones filmed. Cox enjoyed "The One With the Blackout" while Aniston liked the flashback shows with "Rachel's pre-nose job."

James Burrows had a big hand in always taking the comedy of Friends a step further. In one episode, Ross ends up in the hospital after getting hit in the face with a hockey puck. Joey is sitting next to Ross, bringing the puck to his own face to see what the experience was like.

According to LeBlanc, that hilarious action was all Burrows' idea. Now it's hard to imagine the scene without it. He said it's a "little sort of seed he gives you" to make every moment the best it can be.

Towards the end of the series, David Schwimmer took a hand at directing some episodes, which were just as strong as the early seasons. He said Burrows "graciously took me under his wing."

Thank you, James Burrows, for giving us ten years of laughs, life lessons, and tears when Rachel finally got off that plane.

Grammy's 2016: Best Moments

Last night, I nestled in front of the TV for three and a half hours of music, fame, and much deserved recognition. As usual, the 2016 Grammy Awards did not disappoint - there were unbelievable performances, touching tributes, and of course, the yearly beef between two stars.

It's safe to say that one particular female dominated the night - Taylor Swift. First, she kicked off the show with an intense performance of "Out of the Woods," powering down the stage in a stunning, glittery pants outfit.

But the first five minutes weren't the end for her. Taylor received "Album of the Year," one of the most coveted awards, for "1989." While her win wasn't that surprising, her speech definitely was. She spoke about how females need to take credit for their accomplishments. Men will try to take the spotlight away, but they must stay strong while fighting for their dreams.

At a first listen, it's a very touching, empowering speech. Dig a little deeper, and it's clear she was referring to the wonderful Kanye West and the lyric in his new song - "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex/Why? I made that b**ch famous." Lovely, right? Props to Taylor for standing up for all her hard work.

Possibly my favorite performance of the night was surprisingly, Hollywood Vampires. I'm not too familiar with Alice Cooper, but I love Johnny Depp. From Edward Scissorhands to Sweeny Todd, we've seen Depp in all sorts of makeup and costumes. But in my opinion, he never looked better than at the Grammy's, with his tattoos and guitar *insert swoon face here.* It should go without saying, he was one of the most talented artists in the room last night. The guy can literally do it all.

Justin Bieber had a great night, winning his first every Grammy award and performing the song that got him back on the charts, "Where Are You Now" with Skrillex and Diplo. After Adele's snoozefest of a performance, Bieber was a breath of fresh air. His voice was on point, he had a ton of energy, and wore the sharpest cheetah print jacket. I was probably the only female in America who was sad when he took it off...

This was a solid year for the Grammy's. Lady Gaga paid tribute to her idol David Bowie, Sam Smith looked cooler than ever with his weightloss and newfound beard, and The Weekend slayed the stage with his flawless vocals. But the best part? Taylor giving it right back to Kanye.