Can anyone else believe that it's 2022 already? I still think 2012 was 5 years ago!
The new year has come with some time for celebration for myself, it's been 7 years since One Unique was founded and I've also turned 21. To say I've been celebrating hard would be an understatement (I'm currently writing this blog post with a hangover lol).
One of my new years resolutions is to get back into blogging again. It's been some time, I fell out of love with it during the pandemic because my job was so solely focused around digital marketing that I didn't feel like blogging was a passion anymore. Since then, I've moved out of marketing and into business development and events so I feel much more liberated when it comes to blogging. I've just got to get back into the swing of things again.
Something I want to introduce is a monthly overview of what I've been watching, reading and listening to every month. I was inspired to do this by Everything Erin who I'm sure has been on the blogging scene for around as long as I have been.
I'd love to know any recommendations you have for me in the comments below!
What I watched
The Apprentice | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 Stars)
It's back after 2 years away! The Apprentice started back on our screens at the start of the month and I absolutely love it. As someone who has experience in Business and Marketing, the candidates and their visions on this show make me feel all kinds of things. Watching grown men and women argue and manipulate their way into Lord Sugar's favour shouldn't be entertaining but somehow is - more so for their complete lack of respect for each other than anything else.
I'm not entirely sure where this series is heading in terms of winners as of yet but it's definitely the talk of the office. If you've not yet watched The Apprentice, now's the time to start.
Venom | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5 Stars)
I'm a huge Marvel fan but I'm still trying to catch up on a few of the TV shows and films, Venom (2018) was one of the films I was yet to watch. I've heard great things about the film and I was definitely looking forward to watching it.
Aside from Tom Hardy being the absolute babe that he is (literally marry me now), the film was so funny and I finished it wanting more. Venom: Let There Be Carnage is definitely next on my list to watch as Venom has quickly become on of my favourite Marvel characters!
The Tourist | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(5 Stars)
A BBC drama starring Jamie Dornan, The Tourist is about a man who lost his memory in a car accident and is stuck in the Australian outback trying to find out who he is. As pieces of his life come back to hunt him down, this show is full of twits and turns that you never see coming.
I've never been totally convinced by TV dramas such as these because they can be so predictable but this was a whole new story. Everything was a complete shock and there was no knowing what the next episode would bring.
This is a must-watch for anyone that loves a mystery drama but it definitely isn't for the faint-hearted.
Spiderman: No Way Home | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)
This has, by far, been one of the most anticipated Marvel films since Endgame. I've heard people saying that it's actually better than Endgame but I wasn't convinced. This was Tom Holland's third Spiderman film (he's now signed on for another three) and it definitely delved into a lot in terms of setting the scene for the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, I think what made this film so good was the return of Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield along with key villains such as Dr Otto and the Green Goblin.
Overall, it was a good film and was really enjoyable however, if you were to take away Andrew, Toby and the villains we've seen before, I don't think this film would have hit the mark. Don't get me wrong, it's a bloody fantastic film and it's going to be very important to watch to understand the future of the MCU but comparing it to Endgame? I'd probably say it came close to Captain America: Civil War.
The Royal Treatment | ⭐️ (1 Star)
The latest Netflix romance starring Disney's Laura Marano was released on 20th January and I watched it one evening to pass some time. I was bitterly disappointed by this film (not that I was expecting an award-winning, Hollywood movie). The story follows New York hairdresser, Izzy, as she embarks on a journey to cut Lavanian's Prince Thomas's hair for his wedding. I don't think this film could have gotten anymore cliche than that, but oh god - it did.
The 'castle' was more like a 5 bedroom house dressed up in too much oak and the set design for the cities and villages were way out of proportion and looked as if it had been pulled straight out of a pantomime. Don't even get me started on the acting - it was so shockingly terrible that it became funny.
Save yourself the hour and a half I say!
What I read
Bridgerton Series (5-9) - Julia Quinn | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)
Following the 2020 Netflix series: Bridgerton, all I could think about was the second season and what it would bring. In 2021 I got into reading a lot more so I decided, for Christmas, that I would get the Bridgerton book series, by Julia Quinn, and read them before the second season came out on Netflix.
What shocked me was that the books were originally published from 2000 onwards and that they've only just been turned into a TV show! There are 9 books to the series in total and I read the first 4 within 4 days over the Christmas period. Each book focuses on a different Bridgerton sibling and I've loved following their journeys. Each book could definitely be a stand alone, so I've been reading a few at a time and taking a break between them but they do all intertwine with each other. They're all super easy reads as well.
What's even more interesting is how the creators at Netflix have turned the books into a series. Things have definitely been changed to adapt to the screen and certain stories have been pulled from books that come later on. They do seem to be following the flow of the books while introducing some of the later stories into the show on a lighter basis.
Stardust - Neil Gaiman | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 Stars)
I was gifted Stardust by Neil Gaiman for Christmas by a friend who'd been trying to convince me to read one of his books for a while. I didn't realise that this book had been turned into a film (not that I can remember it as I watched it when I was younger) so I was quite interested to give the book a go.
It's only a short novel, at 248 pages, but it packed in a hell of a lot of description. Personally, I found there was too much in-depth description in areas that were unnecessary but the overall storyline was enjoyable. The book follows the journey of an 18-year-old who travels across fantasy lands to find a fallen star for a girl he wishes to marry. The events are simple to follow for a fantasy book however, I found myself getting slightly confused during some parts as Gaiman's writing style threw me completely!
Stardust was a good book but I think my issues lie with the author, not the story.
House of Hollow - Krystal Sutherland | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 Stars)
What to say about this book? I picked it up thinking that it was a short mystery about disappearing triplets but it turned into a horror book very quickly. Not just a mystery horror but a full-blown afterlife type of story. I enjoyed the writing and storyline but all I could think while reading this was 'what the actual fuck am I reading?' and that feeling only got worse as the book progressed.
What I listened to
Doja Cat | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)
Truth be told, I've not been listening to much this month at all. When I have been, I've been trying to focus on artists that I like one off songs for and would like to listen to more often: Doja Cat being one of them. From what I've listened to so far, I really like her music and genre and she's definitely an artist I can see myself listening to more of.
Taylor Swift | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)
Don't hate on me but I used to seriously dislike Taylor Swift when I was young (Harry Styles all the way) but over recent months I've been giving her music a second try and I love it! I'm not a fan of every song but a lot of her discography now makes up a large portion of my playlists.
Never Change - Picture This | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars)
Picture This were my top played artist of 2021 and I'm so happy to say that I got to see them live in October. I'm literally obsessed with their music and this month I've found myself going back to their first album, particularly to listen to Never Change.
Let me know what you've been watching, reading or listening to! I'm always open to recommendations.
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