My Favorite Things: July

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. Hope you enjoy these personal picks!

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TV

Nurse Jackie

Synopsis: Emergency room nurse Jackie Peyton does everything she can to provide her patients with the best care possible while navigating the waters of a crumbling health-care system. But she has a secret that is increasingly difficult to keep from people — she relies on Vicodin and Adderall to get her through high-stress shifts at a New York hospital, where she isn’t above bending the rules to keep things running smoothly in the face of indifferent doctors, penny-pinching bean counters and miles of bureaucratic red tape.

I really enjoy medical dramas and this show has been on my watch list for a long time. It had a lot of buzz during it’s run on TV and now I can see why. I’m still working my way through Season One, but it had me hooked from the first episode. It’s a mashup of some of my favorite medical dramas, but has a wisecracking nurse as it’s lead character. Her character is conflicting since she does so many good deeds, but also hiding so many secrets. I’m looking forward how the characters will be explored/narratives intertwine in the latter seasons.

Koe Girl!! (Voice Girl!!)

Synopsis: The series focuses on the lives of five aspiring voice actresses who live together in a dorm, and follows their goal of becoming established in the voice acting industry. 

Looking to jump and start another J-Drama I looked to my queue list and picked out Koe Girl which is about aspiring voice actresses. Seeing that this is a field I’ve wanted to go into (and still do today) I was intrigued. Each episode showcases a different women’s story and their obstacles they have to face in their careers so that they can improve their voice acting skills. It’s a very light drama, with comedic elements, and a lot of heart. I’m only halfway through, but am enjoying this show so much!

Lovely Complex

Synopsis: Love is unusual for Koizumi Risa and Ootani Atsushi, who are both striving to find their ideal partner in high school—172 cm tall Koizumi is much taller than the average girl, and Ootani is much shorter than the average guy at 156 cm. To add to their plights, their crushes fall in love with each other, leaving Koizumi and Ootani comically flustered and heartbroken Lovely★Complex follows Koizumi and Ootani as they encourage each other in finding love and become close friends. Maybe they possess a chemistry yet unknown, but could love ever bloom between the mismatched pair?

I’ve never finished the manga for this series, but I have seen the live-action film a thousand times. I know the story, but this is the first time I have watched the anime all the way through. It does capture the essence of the manga. It really is a romantic comedy in every way (with a small bit of angst thrown in). It’s laugh out loud funny, the characters get into crazy situations, and the banter between Risa and Koizumi is highly entertaining. I love the cast of characters in this series and it’s a fun watch.

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Beauty

Black Girl Sunscreen

I had been hearing a lot about this product before and recently when I was shopping at A’me-ke, I decided to pick it up. It’s geared towards melanated skin which I love. It’s not too greasy, heavily scented, and doesn’t leave streaks on the skin like other sunscreen. I also like that it works well with makeup! Highly recommend!

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Movies

Desperados

Synopsis: This movie follows a group of friends who travel to Mexico in an effort to delete an email one of them sent to their boyfriend.

Even though this movie has gotten a negative reviews for it’s predictability. I still enjoyed it thoroughly. I was looking for something that was funny and lighthearted. 2020 has been an incredibly difficult year for everyone, myself including, and I just wanted a film to pick my spirits up. I liked the predictable nature of the film, it’s wacky antics, and it’s destination setting.

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Podcast

Why Won’t You Date Me?

Synopsis: A HeadGum comedy podcast hosted by Nicole Byer The podcast features Byer and a guest exploring why she is single, while discussing topics related to love, life, and sex.

This podcast is real, funny, down-to-earth, and it always puts a smile on my face. I’ve been a fan of Byer’s comedy since I saw her on Girl Code (MTV) and when I heard she had a podcast, I was instantly hooked. It’s comedic while also giving some solid relationship advice.

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Music

Don’t Start Now by Dua Lipa

I’ve grown to really like Dua Lipa’s music over the past year. I love her high powered dance tracks and they always provide me with good workout music. This is a song that gets you up and moving!

I Love Your Smile by Shanice

This is a song I always heard when we had outdoor family gatherings in the park. It’s got a slow jam feel with a mid-tempo groove. I love that Shanice’s vocals are airy yet soulful. This is a song I never get tired of.

Good Bye Boogie Dance – Anri

I found this awesome Japanese City Pop track through a recommendation from a Instagrammer @runemdigarts’s stories along with many other 80s J-pop songs. I love the funky bass in this song. It’s the best part!

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

*This post is in no way sponsored