1. My Mad Fat Diary

This is one of my favorite series of all time. Actually, it is my favorite. It tells the story of Rachel “Rae” Earl, a teenage girl who struggles with many problems such as obesity and low self-esteem and writes a diary to keep herself together. This show will change your life. What Rae writes about will become your life motto.

This series hasn’t got any flaws. The cast is perfect, the dialogue is credible, the graphics are enjoyable... You have to watch it. Plus, there are amazingly hot guys that will break not only Rae’s heart but also yours. Don’t worry; there is always Finn to save the day. (God, that boy is handsome).

I have laughed, cried, thrown pillows at the screen and wasted a ridiculous amount of tissues while watching the show so, yeah, that’s how good it is.

Unfortunately, there are only thirteen episodes and it is unknown if there will be a third season. Personally, I don’t mind how it ended and I really don’t want this series to turn into those shows where great relationships are destroyed just to keep it interesting. On the bright side, the thirteen episodes won’t disappoint you. In fact, you might feel the urge to watch them over and over again. (Who doesn’t want to see Finn shirtless at least three times? P.S: Yes, I have an obsession with Finn. You will have it too if you watch the series.)

Oh, and did I forget to mention that the series is set in Lincolnshire? Get ready to listen to that fantastic British accent. 

2. Awkward

Hello, America! Awkward is also a teen comedy series that focus on the life of another teenage girl, Jenna Hamilton, who attempts to commit suicide (actually, it was a mistake). This series is addicting, lovely and funny. You cannot contain a laugh while watching even one episode of this brilliant show.

As you can expect of this kind of genre, there are also handsome guys to make your heart melt. This series will brighten your day with genuine jokes and spontaneous characters. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind going to Jenna’s high school every day.

3. Misfits

And back to Britain! God, you guys are on fire. Misfits is a brilliant comedy series which follows the life of a group of young offenders who obtain supernatural powers after a strange electrical storm.

It’s funny, painful, crazy... it’s everything you need.

So that’s my list, lovely people. Now, go get some popcorn and enjoy the series. (Have I already mentioned that Finn is really, really hot? I have? Wow. My obsession is growing strong.)


-Barista Alexandra-

Imag: My Mad Fat Diary still, Awkward season 3 poster, Misfits poster Read more »

Remember when I wrote that post about why you should join the Divergent fandom? If I had to write that again, I would not include the movie. I hate being a hater. I seriously do, but this movie wasn’t fantastic or good. It was just okay. And I’m not saying this because I had big expectations; in fact I knew, since I had read the book, that the adaptation was going to be difficult. Then, why did I not like the movie?

In my opinion, the screenplay was terrible. Consequently, the romance between Tris and Four seemed a little bit to childish and corny. On the other hand, I did like the cast, but they couldn’t do any better with that script. Shailene as Tris was a great pick and Ashley Judd was fantastic. Their relationship was one of the best things about the movie. It was credible and sweet but it couldn’t make up for the mistakes that existed in the dialogues between Tris and Four. I actually laughed in the cinema at some lines.

As I said before, the casting choices were absolutely perfect. Many people say that Jai Courtney as Eric was a horrible choice but I honestly think that they are wrong. Jai was wonderful. He nailed his character. There are no better words to describe how I enjoyed his performance.

There’s one thing that I definitely loved about this movie: the way they captured the post-apocalyptic world.  Chicago, the hometown of the main character, Tris, looked stunning and breathtaking. Seriously, I couldn’t have asked for a better setting. The fence looked spectacular and I love the Dauntless’s headquarters. Also, I loved how we can see the differences between the five factions, especially how you immediately fall in love with the Dauntless faction and you want to become part of this wild family (even if they are completely nuts).

This movie had everything to be amazing, but the writers failed and that ruined the whole thing. I also noticed that sometimes the movie was really slow, it almost became boring. This was a serious issue because I paid more attention to their lines and I could immediately spot the mistakes on the screenplay. Nevertheless, there was a big contrast between the beginning of the movie and the end. The beginning looked like a sloth and then, bam!, the sloth turned into a cheetah. It wasn’t consistent. And by the way, the fight scenes were stunning.

Overall, in a scale of 1 to 10, I would give this movie a solid 6. The graphics looked fantastic, the casting was excellent, but the script and the lack of coherence ruined the movie. I hope they change the writers for the next movie. Oh, and they need to work out the chemistry between Four and Tris.


-Barista Alexandra-

Image: Divergent (movie) poster
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Valar Morghulis! How is everybody doing? I’m so excited since Season 4 of the HBO’s hit show Game of Thrones has started! I thought it would be a fantastic idea to talk about one of the things this series has that makes it such a gripping show: the female characters. I had a hard time making this list owing to the fact that George R.R. Martin created many female leaders and all of them are absolutely brilliant. I mean, I had to cut out Shae (yeah, I know, I’m a terrible human being), Osha (she was one my favorites), Lady Catelyn Stark (It’s still difficult to talk about her after the Red Wedding, you have to understand. That episode broke all kinds of hearts), Ygritte (I know nothing!) and many others...

Still, I had to think of who the fans love and who plays better the game. So, here they are, the top five.

5. Brienne of Tarth

You will never meet someone as loyal as her. She is a strong but emotional character at the same time. Brienne is unique and a fighter; plus, she refuses to have the typical female role that women of Westeros have. Therefore, she places number 5 on the list. I just couldn’t cut her off.

4. Arya Stark

Everybody loves brave and curious Arya Stark. Like Brienne, she is a fighter and she intends to become something more than a wife. She has to be ruthless in order to survive and to get her revenge.

3. Margaery Tyrell

This character came out of nowhere to become one of the game’s best players. Should we trust her? We might never know, but we sure love her! She gets along with the minorities but she intends to become the Queen. She won’t stop till she gets what she wants.

2. Sansa Stark

Remember the first time we saw her? Oh man, we hated her but she has since become more than we could ever have imagined. She grew up, learned that the world isn’t a fairy tale and became a survivor. She is no longer the little brat we knew.

1. Daenerys Targaryen

Do I need to explain why she is the best female character on TV? Her children are Dragons and she ate a whole heart. Need I say more?


-Barista Alexandra-

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I must admit that I’m not the most optimistic person in the world. I find negative aspects in every situation which means that most of the time, I’m afraid to step out of my comfort zone, especially when it comes to talking to cute guys. Some of you may feel the same way.

There are a few things I have learned in my short life. Firstly, friends are amazing. Secondly, friends will humiliate you when they please, which means basically every second of your day. Thirdly, real friends listen. What I’m trying to say is that you should talk about your fears with your friends and they will certainly help. For example, my friends have come up with a great idea to make me do things I would otherwise never do. We make bets all the time. Don’t worry; it doesn’t have to include money. Most of the time, we dare someone to do what she is too shy to do. This helped me to finally get the courage to talk to this great guy. And guess what? I’m still alive! (Just kidding, I’m still dying of embarrassment)

Of course, being embarrassed is part of the process and it only helps to make the experience fun and exciting.

There are other things you could do. For example, if the situation involves any social network, you can just ask a friend to do it for you! That way, you will just have to shout “OMG” a million times while your friend is doing all the work. Pretty simple, right?

If it involves actually talking to someone, try to find him or her alone and then ask your friends to push you. That way, you will feel obligated to talk to that person.

Okay, I know what you are thinking. All these situations involve an overdose of emotional feelings that will probably make you want to hide in the other part of the world forever. But look at the positive side: it’s better to do it than regretting not doing it.


-Barista Alexandra-

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You might know who they are. By definition, nerdfighters are “people who instead of being made up of cells and organs and stuff are actually made out of awesome”. This community was started by Hank and John Green who are famous YouTubers and brothers. They have many channels, the most famous being Vlogbrothers.

So, why should you be a nerdfighter?

Firstly, Hank and John are amazing and, of course, pretty awesome. Besides being a YouTuber, John Green is a famous writer, mostly because of his book “The Fault in Our Stars” (If you haven’t read this book, you should definitely read it. Like, now.). He has other works such as “Looking for Alaska” and “Paper Towns”. But let’s not forget about our friend Hank Green. He is a great musician and he is the co-creator of the popular web series “The Lizzie Bennett Diaries” (If you haven’t watched this series, you should check it out).

Secondly, Hank and John make science, history, and any other boring subject, fun. I personally prefer their channel “Mental Floss” but they have other channels dedicated to science, and their main channel, VlogBrothers, also dedicates some of its videos to these subjects.

Being a nerdfighter is about decreasing worldsuck and increasing the amount of people made of awesome. Usually, nerdfighters are involved in many charity projects such as Project for Awesome (You can learn about this project here).

Most important of all: anyone can become a nerdfighter. Join the nerdfighteria here:   https://nerdfighters.ning.com/.

DFTA (Don’t forget to be awesome).


-Barista Alexandra-

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You might have heard of Wattpad: an innovative social network whose popularity is increasing at the speed of light, but have you considered joining its community? If so, well, you probably know how frustrating and fantastic it can be at the same time. For those of you who have no clue what Wattpad is, I’m here to tell you all about it.

Wattpad is for the unknown writers and for any type of readers. All you have to do is create an account and start writing and reading! It can be a bit annoying sometimes since most of the good writers don’t get the recognition they should get. So from a person with experience on this social network, I think you should search for amazing talented writers who don’t get as many fans as they should, instead of just clicking on the popular books that everybody reads. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t read those books (some of them are pretty good); however, I think that you will understand my advice after you join. You may get the recognition you deserve or you may not. It is really random but, if you're a writer, don’t give up! Wattpad is a great way to improve your writing skills as well as take in some constructive criticism.

Join clubs and make friends! Wattpad is for the underdogs. There, anyone can show their true colours. Do you have any problem? The Wattpad community will help! Just write how you feel and everyone will want to make you feel better.

If you are planning on showing off some of your works, just make sure you know how to end them. Sometimes, it can be a little annoying for your readers if you have no clue what to do with your book or you simply don’t update it. Try to be organized. For example, if you already have two or three chapters for a new book, don’t put them all at once. This will give you some time to write more chapters and will also make your readers attached to your brilliant idea.

If you are a member of Wattpad and you don’t get noticed: don’t worry. Try changing your book cover to something more appealing. Colours are extremely important. You need to create something simple but memorable. Also, book titles are a big deal. In Wattpad, if your title tells the reader everything that the book is about, it will probably get a lot of views, especially if it is a fanfic (I think that we need to change this attitude about fanfics though).

Most important of all, have fun! Wattpad can be many things: amazing, exciting, gripping, frustrating, boring... it really depends on your attitude towards it. If you want to make the best out of your Wattpad experience, start by making friends. They make it all better!


-Barista Alexandra-

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When it’s your best friend’s birthday, you’re sure you know what to do: buy something. It could be a pair of shoes from a shop that everybody knows or a bracelet from a famous brand. But are you sure you want to do that? Your best friend is someone important in your life, the one who is always there for you. You need to give her something special. Get her something from your heart.

Here are some pretty good examples of creative and thoughtful gifts.

Write a song.

This is a great present. If you don’t like poetic and sentimental stuff, you can just write a funny song about the aspects you most love about her and sing it with a hilarious voice. She will surely appreciate your gift and laugh as well.

Personalize a piece of clothing.

For example, a T-Shirt is a great piece of clothing to give a personal touch to. You can write a funny message on it or simply redecorate it to something fashionable. It really depends on how your best friend’s personality is.

Record a video.

Another great present you can give your best friend is a video made by you. You can put your best friend’s friends and family on it saying some phrases about your BFF. There is nothing more I could say about this except: Be creative!

Take her somewhere

Sometimes, the best gift you can give is company. Take her to some place you both love to go to and have a good time.

Show your skills

If you are good at baking or cooking, you can totally show off your skills and, at the same time, make your best friend happy. Paint, write some nerd jokes… give her something that will not only show why she chose you to be her best friend but also to show her why you chose her to be your best friend.

-Barista Alexandra-

Image: Don LaVange

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I’m a fruit lover. I prefer it to cookies. So, when I need to eat a snack, I always eat fruit. There is many types of fruits for many types of people.

For you, popcorn lovers as myself, I would recommend grapes. You don’t need to peel them. So, laziness is not an excuse. Besides they are delicious. The “white” grapes, as they are known, almost taste like candy.

Chocolate cookies… what a dilemma. They are really addicting! But a simple orange can help you. They are fresh, healthy and you won’t feel hungry after you eat just one of this tasty fruits.

Apple! No, I’m not talking about iPhones, I’m talking about one the healthiest fruits. You can cut it like french fries and enjoy an evening of infinite zapping.

Next up, bananas. (*laughs*) Seriously, this is the easiest fruit to eat and it’s a good replacement for gummy bears.

Lollipops can be replaced with peaches. They can be sticky as well and they will fill your stomach for a long time. You won’t feel the need to eat and you can occupy your mind with other thoughts.

Lastly, I will recommend kiwi because, personally, I love it. It’s luscious and you can easily eat it with a spoon.

So, what are you waiting for? Go watch your favorite TV series with a plate full of fruits.

-Barista Alexandra-

Image: Adrian Johnson

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Which characters do we love the most? Here's my opinion on some of them.

1. Camille “Cami” O’Connell vs Matthew “Matt” Donovan

Winner: Cami

Cami is the perfect human in a town full of supernatural creatures. She is way better than Matt whose personality isn’t the greatest. She has a great background and she grows up so much over the episodes that I just can’t get enough of her. I think no one can deal better with supernatural mess than she does.

On the other hand, Matt really doesn’t contribute a lot to TVD’s story development, which is a shame.

2. Davina Claire vs Bonnie Bennett

Winner: Davina

I really loved Bonnie in the first season of TVD but then I felt like the writers gave up on her and her development. Davina , though, is a fresh witch with a tragic life. I love how intense her story is and how she expresses herself.

3. Hayley Marshall vs Caroline Forbes

Winner: TIE

Remember when we were all furious about Hayley being in the Originals instead of Caroline? Well, that opinion certainly has changed. Hayley fits the Originals perfectly just as Caroline fits TVD.

4. Rebekah Mikaelson vs Elena Gilbert

Winner: Do I really have need to say it?

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to express how Katherine is the only reason I still watch The Vampire Diaries. She is awesome and I love her. Elena, on the other hand, is extremely annoying. The only thing I like about her is her relationship with Damon and we know how that is going…

Between these two very emotional girls, Rebekah is my favorite. She seems tough but she just dreams of a normal life. Also, she learned that girls need to stick together. GIRL POWER! Hehe.

5. Klaus and Elijah vs Stefan and Damon

Winner: TIE

I have to admit that I didn’t like Stefan till this season came out. But now, I think I like him even more than I like Damon. The two together make my heart melt.

Klaus and Elijah are perfect as well. I mean, do I have need to comment on this? The four of them are just perfection! You can’t make me choose!


-Barista Alexandra-

Image: via (TVD and The Originals posters)

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Hi there initiates! The Divergent movie is coming soon and for those who are still not sure if they want to get into this fandom, I will tell you why you should.

1.  No love triangle.

One of the things I love about Divergent is that there is no love triangle. It focuses on the action, the development of the characters and not as much as introducing silly romances. It has a love story and it’s absolutely breathtaking (*spoilers**heartbreaking in the last book*).

2. New fantastic world.

The world that Veronica Roth, the author, describes won’t disappoint you. In fact, it will (like The Hunger Games) make you think about today’s world and tomorrow’s. It will make you angry, it will make you smile but, most important of all, it will occupy your mind.

3. The love-hate relationship you will have with the main character.

Beatrice “Tris” Prior is not the typical main character. Sometimes, you will want to slap her in the face and other times you’ll want to hug her and tell her it’s alright. Also, she grows a lot over the books (and movies) so you’ll feel like you have seen her grow up like you’re friends since childhood.

4. Four

Four is the love interest of Tris. He brings the best of her and she certainly brings the best of him. They both learn from each other and that’s what makes their love so interesting. Four is the character you’ll fall in love with because he is always there to help Tris (to survive).

*spoiler*

You’ll want to hug him in the last book.

5. Veronica Roth

This young author is one of the best. Her writing will make you feel like you’re Tris and you’re jumping off a building with your heart beating like crazy. Also, she really connects with the fans so she will make your experience in the Divergent Fandom the best one ever!


-Barista Alexandra-

Image: The Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth (Harper Collins) Read more »

 

For some of you, studying in groups might be the greatest thing in the whole world but for others (like me) it’s the worst thing ever. Why? I really need to study for something but most of the people I end up studying with makes it pretty hard.

These are five types of people you will find in (almost) every study group:

Person Number 1: Most of you.

Ok, this person is the one who wants to study but really is afraid that the others want to talk instead of actually studying so, he or she makes an effort to keep everybody from opening books.
I must admit this is totally me. I feel like, when I’m studying with friends, they are all judging me for studying so, to look cool and normal and stuff, I try to keep everybody happy by talking for hours when the exam is like... the next day.

Person Number 2: Your soul mate

This kind of person divides into two groups: the actually boyfriend of girlfriend or the one that wants to be your girlfriend or boyfriend.
If it is your other half, then you really won't to be able to study at all. Not even a bit. Their beauty will distract you so, please, try not to study with them.
If it is someone who wants to be more than friends and you don’t, then may God have mercy on your soul! I bet you didn’t want to study with him but he just can’t get away from you! It’s like you’re glued together.
If it is someone who wants to be more than friends AND you want to. Oh, that is lovely. But, just like I said: concentration=zero!

Person Number 3: The best friend

I don’t even need to say anything, do you?
In the beginning, you will be all focus on the books then, five seconds later, it’s time to talk about your teacher’s son.

Person Number 4: The best student in your class

If you want to get good grades, this is the best person to study with.

Person Number 5: The one that is always talking about how he or she doesn’t need study...

...because he is so smart and blah, blah, blah...
(but he actually studies more than everyone else. Figures.)


-Barista Alexandra-

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Like many of you lovely readers, I’m a very distracted, lazy, sleepy and clumsy person. Of course, this isn’t an advantage when you wake up really early to go to this awful building that they call school. In this post, I would like to discuss “morning disasters.”

1st Morning Disaster

Alarm clocks have humor. Oh, guys, we’re all familiar with the annoying sounds that the alarm clocks make and we all have stories about this kind of morning disaster. Firstly, there are those times when you wake up five minutes before the alarm clocks starts screaming that terrible sound. Yeah, and when you think you still have time to sleep one more hour, BEEEEPPPPPPPP! Secondly, if you think its sound is the only loud noise in the world, try throwing it to the ground. You will wake up right away! Thirdly, let’s talk about those times when you forget to turn the alarm clock off and then, minutes later, you hear the extremely horrible beep again. I mean, it’s like the universe is telling you it’s going to be a bad day!

2nd Morning Disaster

Apparently, the butter belongs in the bathroom. This is what my brain thought after I finished eating my breakfast. I stood up, put my caneca in the fridge and took the butter to the bathroom and finally, placed the napkin in my bedroom’s desk. For many of you (yes, you), this also happens but with different things. It seems like our brains just forget how to think properly.

3rd Morning Disaster

Choosing the right color of pants. (Folks, when I say pants I mean trousers.) I’m too lazy to choose the clothes I’m going to wear the day before I have to wear them so, there I am, every morning, looking at the closet trying to figure out which color of pants I’m going to wear. I look at the window and see the grey sky (very poetic, I know) and I’m thinking “I really want to wear these light blue pants, but it’s going to rain.” So, I take some dark jeans, even though the meteorologists say it’s going to be sunny, and bam! the sun invades the city like a viral video.

(Seriously, sometimes the sky seems to be drunk.)

4th Morning Disaster

Forgetting to pack something in the morning. I usually eat cookies at school before lunch and there are a lot of other things I have to remember to take along with me when I go out. This is evidence that I’m indeed one of the laziest people in the world... or maybe just a normal one (you do that too, right?) I just can’t crawl away from the TV to put my umbrella in my bag!

So, can you think of more morning disasters? Comment below!


-Barista Alexandra-

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Yesterday, an acquaintance told me that I was a cliché since I like Doctor Who and wear my hair like every other girl. I know what you are thinking right now: “He’s an idiot” or, if you are a hipster, “It’s too cliché to talk about clichés” or even “The word cliché is so mainstream.” I hope you are thinking the first option.

This shouldn’t be bothering me because the guy who told me this is really an idiot. Simple Jack idiot (Tropical Thunder, anyone?). But it's true. Not in a way that I want to change my (amazing) taste for TV shows or my hairstyle. No. It made me think about how we, teenagers, struggle to be different and unique without realizing that we are already that. It makes me furious to know that society is constantly playing with this idea and trying to manipulate our likes and dislikes because of it.

The fact is, I like Doctor Who. It is something that makes me feel happy. So, why should I like something else? If I and all the Doctor Who fans change because of what that guy said, we will be a cliché again. I know this is confusing but I wanted to say this to all readers:

You are unique. You don’t need to have a typing machine to be special or have no way of writing at all.

If we all try to change, then we will end up being the same person. Not yourselves.

Let’s talk about clichés in movies or TV shows. Everyone gets annoyed when they see the mainstream pregnant girl or the bad boy who likes the nerd but, in the end, some of these clichés make us happy. There is no need to be ashamed. “Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging” is full of clichés and guess what? I love it. It is silly and great at the same time.

There are clothes that everyone, literally everyone has, including me. I saw it and I liked it; therefore, I bought it. It wasn’t because of peer pressure but simply because I wanted that shirt or that jacket. 

Clichés is a very cliché word. You are right, hipsters. It is and has the wrong definition. There will always be clichés, hipster being one of them. Hipster is an overused expression so, it is indeed a cliché.

You are unique for many things: the way you look, the way you laugh, the way you smile and how you are as a person. If you like something, there is a high change that somebody else likes it as well. It doesn’t mean you aren’t special. Just be yourself.


-Barista Alexandra-

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Unfortunately, Christmas break is over. This means that we all have to pick up the books again (the ones that you didn’t look at for two weeks) and start studying. It is a fact that most teens find studying the most boring thing ever and I get it. Because it is. So, the solution is to have your phone playing your favorite songs from your favorite bands and artists, but this will not help. In fact, you will get distracted and start mumbling the lyrics without paying attention to your school books.

Scientists tell you that the best music to listen to while you’re doing annoying school work is classical music, which I totally agree with, but I understand that that type of music can be even more boring than studying. So, I decided to list a couple of alternative bands and artists that are fun and can make studying less exhausting.

If you’re studying subjects that require creativity and imagination like art and English, I would recommend the following bands:

1. The Black Keys – This band has some great songs that can make you want to dance for the rest of your life and can also inspire you on an essay. You will want to go back to the 80’s, I guarantee.
2. The Strokes - Another great indie rock band. You will fall in love with the vocalist’s voice.
3. The Black Lips – Their beats can make you feel all kinds of emotions.

For subjects like biology and history, I would recommend songs with great beats like:

1. Kings of Leon – It is impossible not to like them. Their songs are beautiful and I’m sure they will make you appreciate history in a way.
2. Red Hot Chili Peppers – They are crazy, fun and absolutely talented.
3. Arctic Monkeys – These lads are British, amazing and have the right songs for every subject.

For subjects like Math and Chemistry, you need a lot of concentration so I think you should listen to bands and artists that have calmer songs. So, we have:

1. Coldplay – Ok, I know you might think that this is not the appropriate band for studying but their songs are actually great for it.
2. Damien Rice - His voice is amazing. That’s all I need to say.
3. Bon Iver – I know you love “Skinny Love.”

Excellent marks guaranteed!


-Barista Alexandra-

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