My Favourite Movies and TV shows

Hello everyone! As we wrap up the year,  it’s time for the final Not Just A Mom link-up for 2023. Today’s theme revolves around sharing our favourite books or TV series. I’m going to concentrate on my favourite TV series because truth be told, I’m not much of a bookworm these days. Gasp!! I never thought that I would say that!! I used to read every spare minute I had. Anyway, let’s explore some of my favourite and iconic TV series that have spanned the last few decades. These shows have been incredibly entertaining and have also made a lasting impression on TV history. Iconic TV Series Let’s start at the very beginning for me- The good old 70s when most of you were probably not even born! The Brady Bunch (1969-1974) Here’s the story – In Sydney we had four TV channels during the 70s and a lot of popular TV series took forever to make it to our screens. Luckily for me, The Brady Bunch was one of the shows. I grew up watching this iconic TV series and it has a special place in my heart. A few years ago I bought the DVDs and I still enjoy watching them to this day! Charlie’s Angels (1976-1981) I loved watching the lip-glossed angels with their platform shoes and flick-style 70s hair fight crime….and win! The Six Million Dollar Man (1974-1978) This show about a former astronaut who becomes a secret agent with bionic implants was also one of my favourites. I was always in awe watching the superhuman strength Steve Austin possessed. Haha, and I still remember the start of the show which featured the backstory and the line ” Gentlemen we can rebuild him”. Classic!! The Bionic Woman (1976-1978) When a female version of the six-million-dollar man hit our screens I just about lost my mind! I loved loved loved this show. As kids, my friends and I would get together at the park and take turns pretending to be the bionic woman. We would run down hills in the classic slow motion that was featured on the show. Complete with sound effects too…. “dadadadadadadada”. If you have no clue what I’m talking about here’s a YouTube clip. Be warned you may be hooked after watching it! The Love Boat (1977-1987) My mum and I would watch this show all about love on the high seas. So corny…so good! Dallas (1978-1991) I wasn’t allowed to go to sleepovers when I was a kid but I was allowed to stay up late and watch Dallas. Haha! My Favourite Iconic TV Series From The 80s Family Ties (1983-1989) This wholesome sitcom based on the lovable Keaton family was one of my favourite TV series when I was a teen. There is so much to love about this very funny show. Even the closing credits are iconic with the unforgettable ‘Sit Ubu sit, good dog’ sign-off. Knight Rider (1982-1986) A crime-fighting duo where one-half of the duo was a talking car. Brilliant! Dynasty (1981-1989) I loved watching the wealthy Carrington family and their endless drama not to mention their amazing 80s fashions and hairstyles. MacGyver (1985-1992) This fun show was all about a very resourceful secret agent who could turn things like a paper clip and a shoelace into a bomb. Then explode his way out of any life-threatening situation. Thirtysomething (1987-1991) Do you remember this short-lived TV series about a group of friends in their thirties? It was one of my favourite TV series and I loved tuning in to watch all about their everyday lives, relationships and the challenges of balancing family and careers. My Favourite Iconic Series From The 90s The 90s also had some very iconic TV series and here are some of my all-time favourites. Seinfeld (1989-1998) I think this comedy series about Jerry Seinfeld and his quirky group of friends is hilarious. I still watch an episode almost every night. The show is full of classic quotes that I often find myself using in everyday life. It’s been a tough few weeks at work trying to get all the things done before the end of the school year….” serenity now!!!” ER (1994-2009) Ha! I don’t enjoy medical shows now but back in the 90s, I loved all the medical drama. Now if I watch a TV series about anything medical related I start to self-diagnose. Yikes! Beverly Hills 90210 (1990-2000) I never watched this teen drama from the very beginning. But when I started watching from about season 3 I was gripped for quite a while. However, my obsession shifted when ‘Melrose Place’, a spinoff of Beverly Hills 90210 took the spotlight Melrose Place (1992-1999) This drama about a young group of stunning-looking young adults had me completely hooked. I remember one night in the good old 90s when we were living in a small apartment. It was Melrose Place night and a few hours before it was due to start, the power went out! I called the electricity company practically begging them to hurry up and fix the issue because I couldn’t miss an episode. Back then there were no streaming services or catch-up channels. Once you missed it, you missed it! Moving on now from the year 2000 to the present with some more of my favourite iconic TV series 2000 To Present Gilmore Girls (2000-2007) This wonderful feel-good TV series full of the funniest fast-talking dialogue is one of my favourite TV series from the early 2000s. All the characters (even the grumpy ones) were totally likeable. Gilmore Girls is a show that I can watch on repeat and never get tired of. 24 (2001-2010) This TV series which happened in ‘real’ time always left me hanging for more because every episode ended with a total cliffhanger. Keifer Sutherland who played Jack Bauer looked pretty amazing too! Lost (2004-2010) Oh, my goodness the show almost had my head spinning trying to piece together all the clues as to what happened

Most Friday nights I’m home alone because my husband is at work and my son is usually out with his friends or girlfriend. So I have decided that it’s become the perfect opportunity for me to enjoy cozy solo movie nights. Featuring thrillers, drama, science fiction and romance as these are my favourite genres. I’ve got a lineup of all-time favourite movies that I like to watch on repeat. They’re like old friends-reliable, entertaining and they never disappoint. But I feel like shaking things up a bit, stepping out of my cinematic comfort zone and injecting some new excitement into my movie nights. So I have come up with a Friday night movie plan. Cozy Solo Movie Nights Guided by my love for thrillers, drama, sci-fi and a hint of romance. I have put together a list of movies that fit the bill and that I have never watched before. My plan is to get all cozy either on the sofa, beanbag or floor ( I love sitting on the floor). Grab some favourite snacks and get down to satisfying my movie night cravings. Oh yes and let’s not forget the beverages- maybe either a small bottle of Bundaberg ginger beer, a cup of tea or a glass of wine will add a touch of luxury to my cozy solo movie nights. But I am fully aware that a glass of wine might just turn movie night into a snooze fest! I’m really excited about my movie night plan. It’s the perfect recipe for me to unwind, be entertained and try something refreshingly new. These nights are more than just about movies. For me, they are going to be a great way to embrace relaxation and also enjoy my own company! It will also be so helpful to have a list of movies to be guided by. Instead of spending ages flicking through Netflix or some of the other subscription channels. I usually waste so much time doing this and then I feel so indecisive that I just end up rewatching an old favourite. Here’s What’s Currently Lighting up My Movie List Amélie The Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants Mystic Pizza Marry Me Interstellar Dune Fall The Gray Man Fried Green Tomatoes The Big Sick These cozy solo movie nights will add a sparkle to my Friday nights and I’m really looking forward to enjoying ‘me time’. I’ll be sure to come back and share my thoughts and reviews on each movie. Also if you guys have any recommendations that aren’t on my list, I’d be thrilled to hear them. Please feel free to share your suggestions in the comments, I would really appreciate it!

Hi everyone! It’s time for Hello Monday with Holly and Sarah. I’m excited to share a bit about my weekend and chat about what I thought of the Barbie movie. Friday night I did a super quick Friday favourites post which was mainly all about my favourite topic – food! Then I went to my aunt’s house for dinner. Two of my cousins were there and Sam joined us later. It was such a great way to spend a Friday night and a fun way to kick-start the weekend. After dinner, we watched a movie based on Stephen King’s book ‘The Mist’. It’s from 2008 and some of the special effects were a bit dated. But the ending, oh my goodness what a twist!! It had one of those endings that leaves you still thinking about the movie days later. If you haven’t watched it and don’t mind a bit of horror-thriller. Then I really recommend it. I’m not much of a fan of horror but I didn’t mind this one. And interestingly, the movie starred five actors from The Walking Dead! Saturday I had been looking forward to Saturday all week long! My lovely friend and I went into the city and we started our day with a late breakfast at The Palace Tea Room in the QVB. It has a cozy elegant vibe that really matches the QVB’s old-world charm. Eggs benedict and a pot of Earl Grey tea. We chatted for a while and then wandered around the shops gradually making our way along George St until we got to the Cinema for the 1.30 pm session. Once we were inside the movie theatre I was so surprised with how many people there were. I don’t think that I have been in a packed movie theatre for years and it felt like pre covid times again which was great. My Thoughts On The Barbie Movie Well, I absolutely loved Barbie and I would watch it again! Even though before I went I had heard comments such as. It was too much about feminism. It was boring. Ken was awful. The movie is not for kids. These comments almost put me off watching the movie. But the only comment that I agree with is the last one. I really don’t think that it’s for kids. While the first part would have been very visually appealing for them. Overall I don’t think that it is appropriate for children. I mean I’m sure that all of the ‘grown-up stuff’ would probably go over their heads. I watched ‘Grease’ as a seven-year-old when it first came out at the movies. My mum loved it so much that she took me twice. It wasn’t until years later, and I mean a lot of years that I realised Greased lightning is not just about car talk! Cringe!! Anyway back to the Barbie movie, the last part of the movie would definitely have been a bit boring for the little ones. And I think that it would have been tricky for kids to sit through a movie with so much dialogue. Unless of course, they were perfectly happy to sit there munching on a big ol’ box of popcorn What I loved About The Barbie Movie The Actors Margot Robbie the amazing Aussie actress was a perfect Barbie. First of all, she has been blessed with Barbie’s DNA and she also played the part beautifully with the right mix of innocence, warmth and wit. Ryan Gosling, well he was just the perfect Ken in my opinion. He was a bit of a ham and he owned the part like a champ. I thought that Gosling played the part so well, he brought Ken’s insecurities to life. I don’t know how you felt about Ken but I was never interested in owning a Ken. He only existed because of Barbie and I could sense Ken’s insecurities even when I was a kid, if that makes sense! The Set The set design of Barbie Land was amazing and I hope that they make a Barbie museum or theme park. Or better still they do Barbie Land set tours! I was completely bowled over by all of the attention to detail with the props. It was like I was watching my Barbie memorabilia come to life. And the visually appealing colours were absolutely spectacular. The set designers deserve an award for this asap. The Wardrobe I have no words! Other than I’m jealous of Barbie’s meticulously selected outfit for every occasion. The Dance Numbers They were just good fun and I want to learn the moves. Gloria’s Monologue I started getting teary halfway through Gloria’s speech about how hard it is to be a woman. And the way the actress America Ferrera delivered it was just spot on. It gave me little choking sobs and goosebumps and the lady sitting next to me was sobbing at this point. It Was Deep Yes, it was deep but just the right amount of deep for me. It wasn’t too one-sided on any subject and you could take it at face value and not get too caught up in political statements.   Overall I think that Barbie was a fun, quirky, girlie movie that men should also see. And judging by the number of guys at the movie on Saturday, a lot of men are going to the movies to watch it. I totally loved Barbie and I laughed out loud so many times. I also cried, which totally surprised me as I guess I just wasn’t expecting it to be the kind of emotionally relatable movie that it was.    

My List Of Favourite Christmas Movie And TV Shows– One of the things I love the most about this time of the year is watching all the fun Christmas movies and TV shows. There’s nothing better than sitting in your cosy lounge room with the twinkle lights on and settling in to watch a favourite Christmas movie, in your pajamas of course! I have put together my list of favourite Christmas Movies and TV shows. Counting down to number one, these are the movies and TV shows that I will always try and watch every December. 10. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) This Christmas musical comedy is adapted from Charles Dickens’ ” A Christmas Carol”. It stars Michael Caine and the cast of muppets. It sticks true to the original storyline with a dash of good muppet humour and memorable quotes. I watch this every year with a group of friends. First, we enjoy a Christmas feast and then we watch the movie. It has become a tradition for us now. The Muppet Christmas Carol is a really fun movie to watch, it has some great dialogue and good bits to sing along to! 9. The Brady Bunch-The Voice Of Christmas (1969) I have always been a huge fan of the Brady Bunch. In this episode, Mrs. Brady loses her voice and can’t sing at church on Christmas Day. Her sweet daughter, Cindy then visits Santa at the mall and begs him to bring her Mummy’s voice back. Every time I watch little Cindy pleading with Santa it just makes me all teary. She’s so cute with those big sad blue eyes. Of course, everything works out in the end. Sigh! And then Mrs. Brady sings! Oh, boy does she sing, what a beautiful voice! 8. The Polar Express (2004) This beautiful movie is actually based on the original book, written by Chris Van Allsburg. It’s about a young boy who is having serious doubts about Santa. One night a train with a conductor visits him and whisks him away to the North Pole. I would have to say that the thing I love the most about this movie is the style of animation. It’s almost like looking at an old-fashioned Christmas card. Every single time I watch this beautiful movie I get serious cravings for hot chocolate! 7. Angels In The Snow (2015) This lovely movie is about a family on the brink of separation. The Mum and Dad are having major relationship problems. They go on vacation to stay at a gorgeous cosy looking log cabin that they have recently built when a huge snowstorm strikes. They are then forced to spend Christmas with a loving family who comes knocking on their door one night asking for help due to the terrible weather. There is one major twist at the end that I did not see coming the first time I watched it. This movie gives me all the cosy feels, just think log cabin in the snow at Christmas time and you’ll know what I mean. Can’t get any more Christmas vibes than this. 6. Falling In Love (1984) This movie starring Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep isn’t your usual Christmas movie just like Die Hard isn’t either. But it definitely makes my list of Christmas movies. It’s about two people who meet briefly in the famous New York city bookstore Rizzzolis while they are shopping on Christmas eve. They strike up a friendship and eventually fall in love. There is however one huge problem, they are both married to other people. (Cringe!!) Ignoring the fact that the movie is about infidelity, it still has a lot of Christmas feel to it. The majority of the movie is set during Christmas time. It’s in New York, there’s snow, bustling city scenes, romance (I know, I know it’s still about infidelity). But it has so many Christmassy-looking locations. I just can’t help liking this movie…….a lot. 5. Christmas With The Kranks (2004) This classic Christmas movie is just hilarious! I love the Kranks! Nora and Luther Krank cause a scandal in their neighborhood. Their daughter Blair is away overseas so they decide to skip Christmas and go on a cruise instead. At the last minute, their daughter rings home to announce she will be coming home to join the Kranks for their annual Christmas eve party after all. The loving parents don’t want to disappoint their daughter, so they embark on a huge mad dash to organise the party at the last minute. This movie has so many laugh-out-loud moments and my favourites would have to be the scene with Tim Allen after he has had botox. And of course the hickory honey ham scene. Every time I watch it I think maybe this time Nora will save the ham! 4. Home Alone (1990) I remember going to the movies to see this and the whole movie theatre going nuts. I love this movie because it is very nostalgic to watch, we all know what is going to happen next but it is still funny. Little Macauly Culkin is so charming as the kid who accidentally gets left home alone when his family all go on a trip overseas. The music in the movie is perfect and the McCallisters home is just exquisite! This is just a classic to watch and that’s right you can “Go ahead and keep the change, you filthy animal”. 3. Love Actually (2003) Ahhhhh what a fantastic movie!! I can’t even pick my favourite part because the whole movie is a favourite. This Christmas-themed romance comedy has so many amazing actors. It’s about eight different couples struggling with love and the way you eventually find out how all the characters are intertwined is so clever. The music, drama, comedy, and sad scenes all make this Christmas movie one of the all-time greatest. 2. The Vicar Of Dibley -The Christmas Lunch Incident (1996) This is my favourite episodes to watch at Christmas time. Dawn French