My Favorite Things: August

My Favorite Things is a monthly segment where I share my personal and current favorites in seasonal products, health & beauty, food, decor, movies, TV, and more. I hope you enjoy these personal picks!

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Movies

Dayshift

A hard-working, blue-collar dad just wants to provide a good life for his quick-witted 10-year-old daughter. His mundane San Fernando Valley pool cleaning job is a front for his real source of income: hunting and killing vampires.

I always enjoy a good horror-comedy film and Dayshift was a lot of fun to watch on a Friday night. It’s action-packed, has great comedic timing, and includes some of my favorite actors such as Jamie Foxx. Do be careful going into this movie though as it features a ton of gore (hence the horror aspect). I appreciated the plot’s unique take on a modern vampire hunter for Foxx’s character and the hijinks he and his new partner get into. Most of all the stunts and action parts were so thrilling they had me jumping out of my seat!

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TV

Bloods

When tough-acting loner Maleek is paired with over-friendly divorcee Wendy, their partnership looks dead on arrival. But pretty soon they’re giving each other life support.

This show has been in my Hulu watch queue for such a long time and I’m so glad I found it. Though this medical comedy can be formulaic it’s hilarious and keeps the viewers coming back for more. I love the duo of opposites attract (Maleek and Wendy) and how they are not only partners at work but become like a family. Each of the characters in this ensemble comedy shines in their own way and this team of South London paramedics isn’t the best but very lovable. If you need a show to relax or need a break from work, I recommend this sitcom.

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Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Woo Young-Woo is extremely smart and she also has autism spectrum disorder. She never forgets what she sees, but she lacks in social skills and empathy. Woo Young-Woo begins to work as a trainee lawyer at a large law firm. While working there, she faces prejudice and irrationality against her, but she solves cases with her own unique perspective and grows as a lawyer.

This show!!! I haven’t binged-watched or seen a drama aired in real time since All of Us Are Dead earlier in the year. This drama made me laugh, cry, reflect, and grow with each and every one of its characters. It’s such a beautiful story of overcoming obstacles, but also making our way through life’s firsts and overcoming prejudice. Though there are some heavier topics laced within the plot the show is so warmhearted and light. The key to why so many people and I love this drama so much is not only the plot but the casting. From the on-screen romance chemistry to office rivalry each actor had you engaged. Park Eun-bin does an incredible job as Young-Woo. I look forward to watching more of her dramas!

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Podcasts

Afternoona Delight

Annyeonghaseyo! We’re three best selling American novelists who explore the wonderfully wacky world of K-Romance through a writer’s lens. We fangirl over our favorite characters, debate our favorite tropes, and nerd out through K-drama deep dives. Expect a few K-pop and K-skincare recs for good measure, because why not ride the Hallyu wave all the way to shore? So grab some Tteokbokki and listen to your new favorite unnis.

You had me at the mention of K-Dramas! I already listen to Dramas With a Side of Kimchi which also discusses K-Dramas but was looking for other podcasts that talked about the same topic. Since I’m a Romance reader I enjoyed how the authors give their perspective on shows through a writer’s lens while also fangirling about their favorite K-dramas scenes. It’s a highly entertaining podcast and it makes me laugh out loud.

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It’s Always Halloween

It’s Always Halloween is a research-based podcast that explores the different themes, elements, and ideas that have haunted the history of time.

Spooky season is upon us and what better way to get ready for Halloween, than listen to a podcast called It’s Always Halloween? I love how this podcast bounces back and forth from deep dives on a particular subject such as historical haunted theatres to episodes of viewer call-ins with stories of urban legends. It’s light-hearted, informative, and very engaging.

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YouTube

The Beauty of 90’s Anime Aesthetic

I started watching a ton of backlog videos from Internet Pitstop, and this one on 90s anime is one of my favorites. It touches on the evolution of art in animation and how we see a glossier HD quality compared to the skillful, realistic style of the 90s. It’s probably my favorite era of anime and I love the character designs and fashion from these shows the most!

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Music

Beyond My Dreams by Sunwoojunga

One of the reasons I loved Extraordinary Attorney Woo was the original soundtrack. This song is a beautiful waltz with a charming feel. It has such a dreamlike quality which is perfect for the scenes it’s used in the show (you’ll know once you watch it). Sunwoojunga has amazing vocals.

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Get Over It by Keisha Shade

This is a song I could imagine being played in a store while shopping. While it’s a song you can groove to it also equally has a very chill vibe to it. I love to listen to this song while I’m driving.

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Good Thing by Kali J

My Discover Weekly playlists curated through Spotify have been helping me to find some new-to-me artists to listen to. Good Thing is an uptempo pop song (blended with hip-hop elements) that will have you moving. It’s a mood booster song for me since it sounds so peppy.

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What are some of your favorite things from August? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.