Girly TV-Shows Once Upon A Time, 90210 and Hart of Dixie

Hello !

Hello guys ! I'm sorry I missed the "Monday" Girly TV-Shows post, but my new semester just started and I had no time dealing with it. Here I am, I didn't forget you ! 

1. Once Upon a Time  

This TV Show is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G for all disney lovers. The first seasons are really about the most known disney characters, and then you meet new ones every half-season (but usually they don't stay, so don't get too attached ! I was soo sad when Elsa left - I'm a huge Frozen-lover. Yeah, I'm still kinda a kid in my head ;-) 

The "official" plot (which I found on IMDB) : A young woman with a troubled past is drawn to a small town in Maine where fairy tales are to be believed.

How I would describe it : Disney characters exiiiiiiiiiiiiiist. And their story is not always exactly what we've been told... (how can you not be excited about such a plot ?!) 

My opinion : I liked it, and I still can't wait about the new season... At the end of every episode I'm like "what ?! I want to be next week !!!!". It's not at all super childish and full of pink and kisses, although sometimes charming and snow white drove me crazy (these are, according to me, the only boring moments in the whole show). Of course, you have to get rid of all you know about your favorite characters... and be open to a few surprises. 

You'll like it if you've liked... I don't know any show close to this one (except of couse "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" but it doesn't really count). On TV Show Time, they talk about "Grimm" but I have to admit I've never watched it, so I can't really recommend. 

About the characters, we like... 
- Hook ! He's the best ! 
- Rumple, because even if we hate him (most of the time), it would be boring without him
- Pinocchio. I don't know why, I like him. Even if I'm not so much into the disney movie, here, he's cool. 
- Henri, because he's a true believer. 
- Emma of course, because she's the hero so... 
- Regina, but not at the beginning ;-) #nomorespoiler. 

2. 90210

This is the "Gossip-Girl-In-LA" show, so I couldn't possibly not like it, right ?

The "official" plot (which I found on IMDB) : A Kansas family relocates to Beverly Hills, where their two children adapt to the infamous social drama of West Beverly Hills High.

How I would describe it : Teens with - most of the time - a lot of money, living in a place where there is no snow and a lot of beaches, and where there is always something going wrong. AND a lot of parties (always full of drama). 

My opinion : when the show starts, it's about kids being mean to each other and doing a lot of shopping, and partying very often. With time, it becomes a show about true friendship, dealing with real (and hard) problems, but still very relaxing to watch. It can even makes you cry if you're a little sensitive like I am ;-). I just found it a bit odd that almost every characters hooked up with each others. 

You'll like it if you've liked... Gossip Girl, the O.C. 

About the characters, we like... 

- Silver, I don't know exactly why but I've always liked her. She's a bit "different", and not at all aware of how beautiful she is. 

- Annie, because she's a cute romantic. 
- Liam. Because he's the typical hot bad-boy 
- Naomi, because she's fun and not at all the bitch we think she is at the beginning. 
- Navid, because he's kind. 

3. Hart of Dixie

When I saw the plot, I was really reluctant to watch it. Really, again, a show about doctors ? And in a small town ?! It can only be boring... What can I say ? I was totally wrong. Don't make the same mistake ! 

The "official" plot (which I found on IMDB) : New Yorker and new doctor Zoe Hart accepts an offer from a stranger, Dr. Harley Wilkes, to work in his medical practice in Bluebell, Alabama. She arrives to find he has died and left half the practice to her in his will.  

How I would describe it : Let's be clear : the whole doctor think is clearly NOT the most important part of the show. The show is mainly about Zoe trying to find her place in this small town where everyone is somehow related and totally not like her (meaning totally not a new yorker). It's also about her finding who she really is. And let's face it : it's a lot about couples (former - futur - hidden - official - breaking up etc etc). 

My opinion : The show is refreshing. It's totally relaxing. It's a show to watch when you're overwhelmed and you want something to take your mind off problems, and laugh a little. It's a total "feel good". And I find it very sad it's over, because those shows are rare (or boring, unlike Hart of Dixie). 

You'll like it if you've liked... I don't really know. Girly TV-Shows in general, I guess. Your boyfriend clearly won't watch it with you ! Maybe the O.C., since Rachel Bilson holds a character in with a somehow similar personality (I totally like the actress !) 

About the characters, we like... 

- Zoe, because she's fun, and accomplished, and perfectly imperfect ! 

- Wade. Should I really mention why ? 

- Annabeth, because she's kind, nice and funny. 

- Lavon, because he makes breakfast !! And because he's a true friend. 
- Lemon, because she's clearly a bitch, but a cute one, with a heart. Well, sometimes.  

Unprecedented tips : How to get good grades in college - without going crazy

Dealing with school, social life and sleep (and also eventually finding some time just for you) is not always easy - it's the least we can say. I also, sometimes, struggle with it. However, now that I finished high school a few years ago, I think I got the trick on some stuff. Until today, I never failed an exam, but I did got better and worse grades, and better and worse state of mind depending on how I dealt with my time and classes.  I thus decided to share my experience with you. Keep in mind that these are based on my life, my classes and that what works to me, may not be good for you. For the record, I'm in law school. I also have to mention I'm dealing with terrible attention issues, so maybe these tips are not relevant for people with a high attention-ratio. 

Nb : our school system, in Belgium, is not at all the same than in the US. I have read a few "school advice" posts from american and english bloggers, and I figured these advices could nonetheless be useful ;-) ) 

1. Attending all the classes is not mandatory

I know almost everyone will tell you the opposite, but I disagree. Of course, if you have a good auditive memory, you should go to class. For the others, when you go to class but your mind is not there, or when the teacher just read the textbook...what is your presence in the classroom good for ? You would make a best use of your time working at your desk/the library, or drinking coffee (or something else) with your friends.

I say that out of experience : since have a low attention ratio, and it happens a lot that I drive all the way to the university for nothing, because I don't pay attention at all to what the teacher says. It often happens that after 2 - 3 times, I notice that it will always be that way for one class, and that I actually have notes for this class, and then I decide simply not to go.

The tricky thing is that if you do that, you cannot let yourself forget this class actually exists. I always find a special time in my schedule to work on that specific class, and the thing is : since I know I'm not going there, I actually work better (because of the "stress"), and the only time I ended up with a bad grade for the classes I decided to miss was before I came up with that technique ;-P

2. Taking free-time to relax and have fun is mandatory

I know sometimes it is hard, and you feel guilty when you know you still have 3000 things to do and you decide to do something else instead, or you have "free time" you could spend studying, doing something "more" for a class and you just sit and watch stupid videos instead. Listen to me carefully : you shouldn't feel guilty.

Classes can really soon become overwhelming. You sit in front of those hundreds of pages and you feel like you would actually need to sleep 2hours per night to get through all of this, so can you really think about doing something else than work-related stuff ?! The answer is yes. When you start seeing nothing else in your life than study-related stuff, it's when you start hating school, feeling bad, and when you start doing always more, but not better. You should take free time, because...

1) it's good for you, your health and your mind
2) you only have one life
3) you will come back to your classes with a fresh look at them
4) having less time will push you to make better decisions about how you study
5) if you don't, things will always look worse, and you'll have the feeling no matter what you give up, it's never enough. The thing is : it's already too much. You're giving up on yourself.

For instance, I put two stops every single day. First, I never work after 9PM, even if I'm only half-way to the end of what I should have done (well, of course, if I only have half a page left, I'll go on until 21h10 ;-)). The second stop is in the afternoon. Sometimes, I only have class on the morning, and I have nothing planned in the afternoon and a thousand things to achieve. Well, I always take a break at 3PM, until most of the time 4PM : I make myself a coffee and watch a tv-show or talk with a friend or do something else, totally unrelated with school. You can also go and meet with someone or do some shopping, but the thing is : I live in a little village with just one supermarket and almost only old people ;-) I go to school by car every day. So, it's unfortunately not an option for me :-(. Sometimes, I take a whole day off - or a night off - and sometimes I work a lot for school, but I ALWAYS stick to the 9PM & 3PM rule.

3. Don't try to get as comprehensive notes as you can. Try to get useful ones. 

Trust me on this one : you definitely don't want to end up with 300 pages long notes when there are 3 days left before the super big huge test you absolutely have to pass. Most certainly, you spent hours and hours of your time trying to make them as amazing as they can be : you do have all the dates, "important" details, the exact name of the person the teacher mentioned when he gave the example. Great. Maybe you could sell them as a textbook for people who will take this class next year (I actually did that). But the thing is : all the really important stuff is drawn in these pages, and you'll have to get through them in 3 freaking days. It is a bad idea.

The thing is : don't spend so much time trying to make outstanding notes, because you'll end up using all your time making them and there will be no left to actually work the material. Instead of making comprehensive notes, make some which will actually help you get that good grade : small notes, with every important thing and some stuff to help you understand what was going on. Some details can be important, but not every tiny little things are. It is quite hard at the beginning, but ask yourself : if I had to summarize and explain this to a friend, would I talk about this ? If the answer is no, just don't put it in your notes.

4. The mantra is : don't learn the material by heart. Understand it. 

This goes hand in hand with my previous advice. I personally am perfectly unable to learn stuff by heart, and sometimes it can become a real problem (when you have conditions to learn or stuff like that). It also kinda became something good as I was forced to learn another strategy pretty soon in my schooling, and I have seen that this is what works better in college. Please just don't go through those pages without trying to understand what things you learn imply.

Always try to put it in a real-life example, to rewrite what you learn in your own words, to explain it to someone else and to ask yourself questions about what those things really mean (and if you don't have the answer, ask to someone else). If there are exercises, try to do them or at least to see if you understand how it goes (and not just the day before the exam. Do that instead of looking for the date of birth of the woman from the example the teacher gave you in class ;-) - cf the previous advice). The thing is, once you understand the material, it is much easier to "study". It goes faster. So if you think you're losing time by doing this, you're wrong. Thankfully, I was here to tell you that  ! ;-)

5. Study the table of content of the course

Maybe not the one the teacher gave you, but another one you made yourself. Making a table of content is actually something that really helps me (I know if I remember what was going on under this entry or if I have to check it up), and studying it is the best advice I could give you : knowing which things were in which chapter is super important, but it goes beyond that...

1) It helps you when the teacher asks to compare two things
2) You can see brighter the differences between elements that can be easily mixed up
3) It is a big summarize of the course, so if you put enough sub-elements in the table of contents, it's useful for a last-minute revision
4) The teachers like that you have a global vision of the entire course. Even if you studied "less" some of the chapters, you will always have something to say, so it won't look like you didn't give a crap about their class.
5) It actually already happened to me that a teacher asked a question to which the answer was actually a piece of the table of contents of his book...

6. Never ever compare yourself to others 

It's not because they work every single day and re-read the class that you also have to. It's not because they have 300pages and you 250pages that your notes are worth. And it's not because they have a rule of "never skipping a class" or "always reading the class ahead" that you also have to. It might be an inspiration - and then it's ok. But you shouldn't try to do exactly what others do without questioning yourself : "does it actually works for me ?" "am I not losing my time doing it ?". We are all different. Don't listen to a person saying their way of working is better than yours, because it's bullshit. Do it your own way, you'll make mistakes and you'll learn from them.

Also, don't compare your results to the ones other have had. Their life is not yours, and both your priorities are not the same. Maybe they just knew better the answer to that one question, or maybe they are really passionate, or they just spend their whole life studying. And if you are the one with better grades, please don't be a show off.  You're not better than others just because of that. You can offer your help, but don't make them feel bad or stupid.



Of course, all the other tips you can find on the internet are good (make a study schedule, keep track with to do lists, study on a regular basis, keep your workspace neat - this one is actually one I really struggle with ;-) - take a look at the syllabus, etc etc.  I tried to give you advices I don't think I see enough on the net, based on my reality rather than on some ideal situation in which your days are 48hours long :-P !  I might, someday, make a post about how I schedule my time because it's something I like to talk about, and maybe another one about how I work on a daily basis. If you're interested in reading about it, let me know, I'd be glad to help ! :-)

Chick Lit The Perfectionists & The Good Girls - Sara Shepard

I've already read - and watched - the Pretty Little Liars books and the six "The Lying Game". I liked it, so when I saw that Sara Shepard wrote "The Perfectionists" I asked my dad to order it from Amazon (because I wanted to read them in english, and I live in Belgium so Amazon was the easiest way to get my hands on them).

I literrally devoured them. I couldn't stop reading. The end is just...waouw ! I was like "whaaaaat ?!!!". I won't spoil anything, I just hope it makes you want to read it too, because it's definitely worth it.

The book is about a bunch of high school girls who don't know each others but end up in the same group in film studies class. They start talking about the film, and they end up saying the names of a few people they wouldn't mind seeing dead, and the way they might get killed. It's a bit creepy I guess, but the book present it in such a way it looks like an innocent chat between the girls. Meanwhile, they figure there is a person all of them hate, for different (and good) reasons. They decide to prank him, but a bit later he's found dead - in the way they planned it. They start trying to protect the fact that they prank him, afraid it would look so bad they would be suspected of the murder. They also kinda try to figure out what happened, but it's more a "let's protect our own asses" mode than a real investigation. Meanwhile, they continue to live their lives, to have boyfriend and parents problems etc.

The fact that there are "only" two books (unlike in Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game) has advantages : you have no time to get bored, you know you'll know soon and you also know you can start looking for clues pretty soon (because let's face it, when you know there are more than 10 books left before the end, you are more like "ok, everything point to this person right now so I'm pretty sure it's not him who did it". It also comes with some disadvantages : the end seems a bit rushed to me, even so it took my breath away. I'm also sad it's "already" over, but I guess it means I liked it a lot.

The + and -

+

-

You wonder who might be guilty until the very end of the book The different things going on in the characters life are almost as interesting as the murders, for someone who like girly stuff I liked that the books somehow talk about major things in society in a natural way, without making it a huge philosophical deal but accepting that it exists : suicide because of bulling, pressure to be perfect, sexy pictures getting out, teachers (or other authority figures) hitting on girls, questioning about the future, parents unable to take care of their kids, people hidings things, betrayal,...these are dealt with in the book, and are not minimized, but are also not made "exceptional", and I think it's good : those things happen, and too often people just ignore it because it makes them uncomfortable I liked that Caitlin is adopted by two moms, and that there is nothing wrong with that. It's not even a subject of discussion in the book

the characters are a bit cliché : the popular one, the freak, the nerdy girl, the sport lover,... I would have liked more explanations at the end of the book. Once they figured out what actually happened, I would have enjoined more "flash-backs" explaining how, concretely, they didn't see that coming. It seems a bit like the truth is thrown at us, we are like "wooow, whaaat seriously ?!" and then nothing. #DealWithIt Why was Nolan such a douche? We are asked to accept it as it comes, without further explanation. It's not a major problem, but sometimes I would have liked to know "why" he has done things. I find it even more weird since Parker, who seemed pretty cool, used to be a good friend of him.  I won't say more because I don't wanna spoil the book, but : AND THEN WHAT ?!!!!

Girly TV-Shows One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl and Sex and the City

Hello !

Here's the second post about girly TV-shows !  Today we're gonna talk about three TV-shows that are already over, but are still super awesome :-) ! 

1. One Tree Hill 

Here's a TV show I was watching while still in high school (meaning several years ago). I however think it's the kind of tv shows that are never out of date, because well, it's awesome :) ! 

The "official" plot (which I found on IMDB) : half-brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott trade between kinship and rivalry both on the basketball court and in the hearts of their friends in the small, but not so quiet town of Tree Hill, North Carolina.

How I would describe it : Follow the lives of high school (and then, later, adults) with a passion for basketball and the ability of making their lives full of drama. 

My opinion : I really liked this tv-show. I think it's one of the few who makes it so easy to recognize yourself. Ok, those people are really good looking and every one of them has a super-talent (basketball, drawing, music, etc...) & their parents somehow let them do whatever they want, BUT their lives are still close to ours : they go to school, none of them is perfect, and even if they look good they don't seem to be picked out of a fashion show. I also really liked the quotes, always beautiful and smart. 

You'll like it if you've liked... The O.C. 

About the characters, we like... 
- Brooke, because she's fun and more sensitive than she lets other people know. And also super competitive and a little crazy
- Haley, because she's the typical nerd at the beginning, but not so much afterwards.
- Nathan, because of the transformation...
- Debby, because she's so brave and such a good mom
- Ok, Lucas and Sawyer. I mean, sometimes they did actually made me cry, but they have such an ability of getting on my nerves...but let's face it : that's also why the show is so good ! 

2. Gossip Girl

This is my favourite tv show ever. I've already watched it several times but I never ever got bored. I have to mention that I've read (all) the books, and the story is TOTALLY different - but still freaking amazing.

The "official" plot (which I found on IMDB) : Privileged teens living on the Upper East Side of New York can hide no secret from the ruthless blogger who is always watching.

How I would describe it : that's more or less what the official plot says, but it's also so much more ! It's fun, fashionable, secretive and full of friendship, shame and drama. And of course money, popularity contests and sex. 

My opinion : This is the best girly tv show eveeer. It's totally for girls, don't even try to show it to your boyfriend because he'll hate it. But it's definitely the best show to watch while drinking tea - or wine or cocktails with your friends - and making yourself cute nailarts. But just please, don't watch it while you're sick, stuck in bed with pajamas and greasy hair because it will just make you feel awful (this show is full of people looking perfect even on a hangover) 

You'll like it if you've liked... a lot of shows can classify in the "if you've liked gossip girl you might like this one", but none is, according to me, totally comparable. I think the nearest one is 90210, it's kind of a "Gossip Girl in LA without Gossip Girl and without Blair so GG is still better but ok". Have I mentioned that this one is my favorite ? 

About the characters, we like... 

- Blair Waldorf, aka the best tv show character ever. And incidentally a freaking bitch. 

- Jenny Humphrey, for the rebellion 
- Chuck Bass. No comment needed on this one.
- Nate. Because Chace Crawford is hot. And also because he's the nice one here. 
- Serena, for the amazing outfits and the romance and the kindess and the drama
- Rufus Humphrey, because he's an amazing dad and because I have a thing for his story with Lily 

2. Sex and the City 

This show is probably the start of the girly-tv-shows type. And it's doing the job pretty well.

The "official" plot (which I found on IMDB) : Four female New Yorkers gossip about their sex-lives (or lack thereof) and find new ways to deal with being a woman in the 90s.  

How I would describe it : The best group of bff ever talking about sex, men, life with no bashfulness and living their lives like the independent but not perfect women they are. 

My opinion : this show is a perfect lesson for girls, talking about women who deal with themselves and accept who they are and the fact that they are free to do whatever they want as long as they're ready to wake up the next morning and walk with their heads up. All of them (except for Charlotte) have a carrier, an apartment, a passion and a life. Except for Samantha, they're looking for the man of their lives, but they're never desperate enough to stay with someone who isn't good for them, even so it means staying alone. I also like the little questioning about life at the beginning and the end of every episode, and the fact that Carrie has a thing for clothes and shoes. 

You'll like it if you've liked... Girls

About the characters, we like... 

- Carrie, because she's so imperfect it makes her so easy to love

- Samantha, for the liberated women she incarnates

- Miranda, the career woman

- Charlotte, the prudish woman who, at the end of the day, is not so prudish at all

Girly TV-Shows Cougar Town, The Royals and Pretty Little Liars

Hello !
I figured since I like Tv-shows, I'm gonna try to give you my opinion on 3 of them I recommend every two weeks, on Monday.  You'll see I'm really into "girly" tv-shows, so I hope you don't mind if you never see "Game of Thrones" on the list, but it's just really not my cup of tea (I get too attached to the characters to see them die one after the other. I actually cry like a baby when one actually dies, so...) 

Let's get started with 2 tv-shows I just discovered and one whose new season just started 

1. Cougar Town

I don't know why  (hum, maybe because it's the title of the show ?!) but I always assumed it actually was about a town full of cougars. I was always like "hum, might be fun" but never actually watched an episode. Then I told my friend I have no girly tv-show to watch anymore, and she advised me this...I'm finishing season 2 right now and I really like it ! 

The "official" plot (which I found on the TV-Show time app) : Cougar Town follows the life of recent divorcée Jules Cobb. Jules runs a successful business, has the best friends, and a great son. But when it comes to relationships, she has a lot to learn. However, the more Jules puts herself back out there, the more she discovers that the only way to find yourself, is to let yourself go. After all, you only get one chance to experience your 20s. Even if it's when you're 40 something. 

How I would describe it : The story of a bunch of friends struggling with life and drinking a lot of wine, and who somehow has the ability to make a random life super fun. 

My opinion : It's full of jokes, of mockery (and self-mockery) and it makes you wonder why you actually take everything so seriously while you might be having fun right now. You may also end up a bit jealous of the great group of friends ;-) 

You'll like it if you've liked... How I Met Your Mother  

About the characters, we like...  - Ellie because she's mean and fun at the same time  - Jules because she's so kind and sensitive, but also a bit crazy  - Travis because he's the typical nerd mommy's son, but also the mature one - Laurie because she's crude and vulgar but has such a good heart  - Bobby because PENNY CAN

2. The Royals

I've been tempted by the app TV-Show Time because it was recommended on the "Gossip Girl" page. I like England, and I loved GG, so I gave it a shot. I had 1,5 season to catch and I was waiting for the new episode a few days later (should I mention it was during my exams ?). 

The "official" plot (which I found on the TV-Show time app) : The series depicts the lives of a fictional monarchy in modern times where power is everything, limits do not exist, and trust is a luxury this family can’t afford.

How I would describe it : I guess the official plot is pretty good on this one. I would add that there is also a lot of love, sex, parties, friendship and amazing clothes. Oh, and death - but I won't spoil a thing !  

My opinion : I just love this show. The characters are so endearing, there is a lot of suspense, and all the things I love about a show : fashion, great "sub-stories" to the general one, complicated but touching relationships between the different characters... and even if the thing in general isn't so realistic (well, at least I hope so), it feels like we actually can understand what they feel and live. 

You'll like it if you've liked... I'm not so sure about Gossip Girl, but well, I don't see any other show that would actually match. I guess you might think of it as a mix between Gossip Girl (for the "money", "fashion" and the "pressure that goes with reputation"), Skins (for the "party hard" and the fact that Eleanore reminds a lot of Effy <3)  and Pretty Little Liars (for the suspense) 

About the characters, we like... 

- ELEANORE. Just watch the show, you'll understand why ! 

- The others are also pretty cool don't worry

2. Pretty Little Liars

I've been watching the show since the season two, which means a long time ago. I guess we can all agree that the last seasons are disappointing, especially for the Who-is-A thing (no spoiler). But well, I do actually still like it, even so I'm not as obsessed by it as I used to be.

It's very girly, but I know a lot of girls who have been watching the show with their boyfriend, because he enjoyed making crazy theories about who A is. My boyfriend actually did that with me, but he now refuses to watch the 5 years forward. 

The "official" plot (which I found on the TV-Show time app) : Based on the Pretty Little Liars series of young adult novels by Sara Shepard, the series follows the lives of four girls — Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily — whose clique falls apart after the disappearance of their queen bee, Alison. One year later, they begin receiving messages from someone using the name "A" who threatens to expose their secrets — including long-hidden ones they thought only Alison knew. 

How I would describe it : A bunch of girls struggling with their own teenage life while looking for a harasser (who later turns into a murderer) and trying to stay alive. 

My opinion : It used to be my n°1 show, during a long-long time and I think it's still in my top5 because of how addictive it is while you watch it for the first time. The thing is, once you reach a certain moment, it becomes a bit..."too much" and the whole finding who-is-a is just disappointing. BUT it's still really cool, girly, and I do still really enjoy watching it (and let's face it, I'm also still looking forward for the new episodes ;-P) 

You'll like it if you've liked... The Lying Game (which was unfortunately cancelled). The books wee written by the same person (Sara Shepard), but they're nothing like the show. 

About the characters, we like... 

- Ali, for the mean queen B stuff (I really miss that) 

- Hanna (soooo funny and actually smarter than everyone think)

- The boys. In general.

- Spencer, because she actually manages to deal with everything and is such a motivation 

- Aria for the arty style and her super cool rocky outfits 

- Mona for the twisted manipulative brain and the fact that we can never figure out if she's in the nice or bad guys

- Emily because she shows the world homosexuality is super cool, and that pretty girls being lesbians actually exist.