My Favorite Things: March
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!
Movies
Tuning Red
Mei Lee is a 13-year-old girl who is torn between being her mother’s obedient daughter and the chaos of her youth. As if that were not enough, when she gets too excited, she turns into a big red panda.
Another amazing film from Pixar! I didn’t cry (for once) but I did tear up many times. This film was so heartfelt and captured the essence of adolescence and being an awkward teenager. Since the film was set close to my own teenage years I could relate to the boy bands, 2000s teen fashion, technology (Tamagotchi), and more. It felt like I was watching my own teenage self through the lens of this film and I know a lot of other viewers felt the same. Besides the fun and fantasy elements, I loved the rich Chinese culture and how it explored the mother-daughter relationship that evolves at that age. I can’t wait to sit down and do a re-watch of this movie. In the meantime, I’ll be singing 4-Town songs to get me through my busy week.
This Changes Everything
Geena Davis, Meryl Streep, Rashida Jones, Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Oh, Jessica Chastain, Tiffany Haddish and other top actresses discuss gender discrimination in the media and entertainment industry.
This is a documentary I meant to include in my February favorites, but I forgot. Anyways, I thought this documentary was well-made and an eye-opening film about gender disparity/equality in the media and how far we have to go. I appreciated how the documentary interviewed everyone from actresses, film companies, and women that work behind the scenes on notable pieces of media. I also like how the documentary touched on groundbreaking moments for women in the industry. But unfortunately, we still have a ways to go before we can make more progress.
TV
Back To 15
Thirty-year-old Anita travels back to age 15 and starts meddling with everybody’s lives, until she realizes the only life that needs fixing is her own.
What would you do if you could go back to being a teenager? What would you change? Back to 15 is a Brazilian TV show based on a book. It has an interesting premise of time travel as the main character is transported back and forth through her photoblog (think Myspace). It’s comedic but most of all it’s a story about the decisions we make in our lives and how it affects us/others. I thought this show was charming and full of heart. It took me back to my teenage years and made me reflect on my own life. Even though Anita is stuck in her 15-year-old body with her 30-year-old mind the experience has her reflect and grow as she learns what her true passion is and what matters most to her.
Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.
Lahela `Doogie’ Kamealoha juggles a budding medical career and life as a teenager, which proves to be a struggle.
This show is an obvious reboot of Doogie Howser, but it’s a refreshing take on an original. I meant to add this in my January favorites but somehow it slipped my mind. I like that the show pays homage to its original content but creates its own narrative. It’s a good blend of a medical drama and a coming of age story as Lahela tries to navigate her job while also being a teenager. I like the gorgeous backdrop of Hawaii, and it has some beautiful cinematography. It’s a fun overall watch and has a solid cast.
Food
Blendy Cafe Latory Rich Hazelnut Latte
Blendy Cafe Latory Rich Hazelnut Latte is a “stick” coffee that makes a thick Hazelnut Latte just like at your favorite Cafe. From your first sip to the last drop, you can experience a Smooth Froth like at a Specialty Shop.
Lattes can be very expensive so I thought I would try Latory’s coffee when I recently shopped at H-Mart. It does not disappoint for instant coffee that you can make on the go or enjoy at home. It even has a layer of foam on top after the coffee is mixed in with water. Tastes delicious! I can’t wait to try more flavors.
Music
I Can’t Stop The Loneliness by Anri
Anri is a J-Pop singer that I love from the City Pop Music sub-genre (the 1980s roughly). This song is a lighthearted love song that has a melodic groove. It gets me dancing every time. I’ve been going through Anri’s catalog of music and I keep finding some musical gems.
Monday Blues by Kylie Minogue
I love funky music and anything that sounds like Disco so I was happy when this came up in my curated “Discover Weekly” playlist. It’s upbeat, fun, and a song you can dance your cares away to.
Yellow of The Sun by Nao
If you enjoy neo-soul music I highly recommend Nao’s discography her work is excellent. This is a nice mid-tempo jam I love to listen to while I drive. Her vocals soar on this track.
What are some of your favorite things from March? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
