I almost exclusively watch TV series that can be described as 'feel-good'; in the evenings all I want to do is watch something light-hearted and fun, to take my mind off the stress of uni and general living-in-a-pandemic life. Today I have rounded up five shows I have watched over the past few months that are the perfect remedies when in need of a feel-good - and listing even more too, in case you have missed my previous posts on my favourite TV series! 

The ultimate feel-good series, I watched Gilmore Girls for the first time last summer and it quickly became my favourite tv series EVER. Set in the early 00s, independent, fast-talking Lorelai Gilmore is a successful inn manager and hilariously wonderful mother to her teenage daughter Rory, but has a rocky relationship with her wealthy parents. If you ever need cheering up, this is the perfect show - from the autumnal, small-town vibes that comes with a range of quirky inhabitants to Rory's journey applying to college and her relationships with Dean, Jess and Logan (please tell me who you think suits her best!), the show is so endearing. I especially love the will-they, won't-they relationship between Lorelai and diner owner Luke which pans the entire series - I am always rooting for them!

Netflix currently has five seasons of the NBC sitcom Superstore, which recently aired its sixth and final season. Following a group of employees at fictional American superstore 'Cloud 9', the show is incredibly addictive - you will find yourself wanting to keep watching their hilarious antics, and become engrossed with the unexpected relationships that blossom.

I cannot stop raving to everyone about how amazing Schitt's Creek is, and how much you need to stop what you are doing and watch it right this second. An incredibly rich family suddenly finds themselves in serious financial ruin, and the only place they can turn to is a motel in a tiny, run-down town. Some say you need to get through the first season to really get into it, but personally I had watched about three episodes and was well and truly hooked. The characters are absolutely loveable - okay, some less than others at first, but their growth is what makes the show as unique and inspiring as it is.

 

True escapism comes in the form of Sweet Magnolias, a show which transports you through beautiful cinematography to the town of Serenity in South Carolina. The show focuses on three women: Helen, Dana-Sue and Maddy, who have been friends since what feels like forever. They deal with issues from divorce and impossible relationships to parenthood and careers, in the midst of establishing a new spa in one of the most prestigious houses of the town. The final episode of the season left the show on a 'not quite feel-good' cliffhanger, so I am eagerly anticipating the second season to resolve the characters' lives!

I've raved about this before as Amazon Prime had the first three seasons, but Netflix has recently uploaded all four seasons of The Bold Type, meaning we can finally get up to date with the show! Based on the Cosmopolitan offices in New York (with its former editor-in-chief as executive producer), Scarlet magazine is the workplace of writer Jane, social media savvy Kat and fashion enthusiast Sutton; three best friends dreaming of a successful career at the magazine. The Bold Type explores relationships, careers and friendships with a glorious New York backdrop; you will seriously wish you were there beside them, either walking the leafy NYC parks, or in the fashion closet cheering them on!

 

New Girl

Brooklyn Nine Nine

The Good Place

Outnumbered

Derry Girls

Community

Emily in Paris

Space Force

Glow Up

Next In Fashion 

 

What is your favourite light-hearted, fun series to watch?

 

Often the modern novels I find myself reading are centered around a relationship. These are romance tales that, although weave friendships into the plotline, are often jinust there to support or challenge the main character, rather than really explored themselves. Today I have rounded up a few of my favourite novels that put female friendship at the heart of the action. Although these protagonists do experience heartbreak, family problems and career dilemmas, it is friendship that really drives the narrative, from beginning to end of the novel. If you have read one or two of the books I recommend already, I promise you are guaranteed to love the others just as much.

In Expectation, Anna Hope introduces us to three women: Hannah, Cate and Lissa. Taking us through different stages of their lives and their friendship - from twelve years old, sharing a flat at uni to present day - Expectation explores how being at different stages of your life can affect friendships. Each of the characters undeniably have flaws, but Anna Hope manages to use this to make them into three-dimensional characters. We understand why they are making their mistakes, even if they are bound to hurt the friendships most important to them.

 

 

 

Although Olive is taken from the perspective of one central character, it focuses on the differences between her life and her friends', as she feels them slipping away from her after being in sync with them for years. I loved all four of the women in the novel - despite Olive being the central character, the issues that her three friends Bea, Isla and Cecily faced were both very complex and validated by the novel. This is a story of evolving friendships, fitting them around changing lives as Olive realises that even if they don't meet up at the same restaurant every week anymore, as they had been doing since university, it is being there for each other through difficult challenges that really matters.

 

 

What are your favourite books about female friendship? I would love to add more to my collection!

 

It's been a little while, hasn't it? Recently I have taken a little step back from my blog for a couple of reasons: firstly, essay deadlines and constant teams meetings meant I barely want to look at my laptop once my uni work is done. Secondly, lockdown and being home all day has definitely limited my inspiration to write. It is of course difficult to write about what I get up to in London (the theatres, the museums) when there is literally nothing going on, but without popping into shops, seeing others and feeling inspired, it is even challenging to write about beauty. I hope many fellow bloggers can relate! We've been in lockdown, or at least some form of restrictions, for over a year now, and over that time I've definitely changed my habits when it comes to makeup purchasing and wearing. 

 

One of the first major changes to my beauty routine during the last year has been wearing a far lighter base. I can't even remember the last time I wore foundation, maybe when I took my last theatre trip before lockdown last year to see Dear Evan Hansen?! It just isn't something I find myself reaching for these days, it feels like such an effort to apply. I'm also convinced that laptop webcams and Zoom calls don't make imperfections quite as obvious, so often even skip concealer when it's a day spent in front of the laptop! This has been a very freeing experience and I definitely can't see myself returning to a heavy base when things eventually return.

 

I'm really not a fan of online makeup shopping - not being able to feel the product, see the quality of the packaging or check it will match with my skintone properly just isn't for me. So while the shops have been closed for a majority of the past year, I have been 'shopping my stash' and discovering some new favourites of what I already own. I spoke about this in my project pan post in January; I'm really trying to use up products in my collection before going out and buying new items, because there's plenty to go through!

 

This is a pretty obvious one - as someone who loves lipstick, initially wearing a mask infuriated me, but now I've got used to the fact that most of my lipsticks are just going to be sitting there and looking pretty for the immediate future. I still wear lipstick from time to time because I love the shades (and also see point above, I'm trying to use up a few things!) but I have actually found myself reaching for a lip balm far more. Leaving my lips bare makes them dry, so lip balm has been a good alternative, especially as a clear one leaves no mark on my mask! I really thought after I left high school my time of applying lip balm daily was over, but I have rekindled my love - although the Maybelline Baby Lips I was obsessed with have stayed in the past! My favourite lip balm today is the Fresh beauty lip treatment - it's so easy to apply and perfect to pop in a handbag.

 

Many of us have had to adapt to at-home routines while the salons have been closed, and one of my favourites has been learning how to paint gel nails. I recently wrote about my routine using Le Mini Macaron products, and it has definitely been a positive skill to learn - it saves money, is so much more convenient even when salons do re-open, and is fun!

 

Over the past year, something I have spent far more time doing is learning about what skincare products work best for me and adding some additional steps into my routine. For example, before lockdown I had never really used a facemask, but now I am a huge fan of the clay ones that you pop on for a few minutes! It doesn't even take that much time out of your day, but is so relaxing and perfect to eventually add to our lives when they become busy again for a few minutes of de-stressing.

Have you experienced any similar changes to your beauty routine over the past year? I would love to hear!