21 Of The Best Feel-Good Movies!

Hello!

This week's been a bit of a down-in-the-doldrums week (if you don't have a clue what I'm going on about read HERE) BUT I have watched some of my favourite movies to help cheer me up and they are the perfect medicine. So, I thought I'd share them with you, just in case you're feeling a bit under the weather, or you just like having movie days!

Now, I have watched a lot of movies this past week... like, I've spent nearly every day, all day, watching movie after movie, after movie. After movie. There are a few of these that I haven't got round to watching yet, but they're on the list for the rest of my week!

1.

Mary Poppins

Without doubt, this is my favourite movie from my childhood! This is my go-to movie whenever I need a bit of a pick-me-up, I know every word to every song in this movie because... I'm not at all obsessed... Nooo. Okay, I am, but what is not to love about Julie Andrews?!

2.

The Railway Children

I used to always wish I could be a one of the Railway Children and for that, I will never stop loving this film. I don't mean the modern version one either, I mean the one with Jenny Agutter in it; she's my fave.

3.

Bride Wars

A seriously hilarious movie. Two best friends, a.k.a. two brides. Accidentally sharing the same wedding day. It's just... just... Go watch it! It's awesome!

4.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Another childhood favourite. Another one I can tell you every lyric to!

5.

Chalet Girl

I looooooove skiing, and this one is kind of to do with that. More snowboarding than skiing but meh, same thing! It's an English actor thing too which I find awesome because it's rare to find a good movie with English actors.

6.

We're The Millers

I already mentioned this particular movie in the last Mid Week Pick-Me-Up because it makes me laugh. A lot.

7.

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

First of all, don't confuse this with Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. I'm talking about the original one, not the one with Johnny Depp in it (sorry Johnny, I love you but this one's so much better). Second of all, I love the bubble scene of this one - the first time I saw it, I went round and told everyone they were "naughty boys"... Yep, I was a right goody-two-shoes.

8.

The Mighty Ducks

Ice hockey. I love ice hockey. Enough said.

9.

Bridget Jones's Diary

Just a super British movie and I know exactly how you feel Bridget, I feel ya!

10.

The Holiday

Literally one of the only movies that is set at Christmas time and I don't class it as a Chirstmas movie - go figure! Again, a bit of British-ness in it - I just love the English-y bits because most movies you can watch and see that they're really Americanised but this one has the best of both worlds!

11.

The Princess Diaries

I always thought that one day a long lost family member would come and find me to tell me I'm a secret princess, thanks to this movie... I'm still waiting...

12.

Rumour Has It

Jennifer Aniston is an amazing actress and I loved her when she played Rachel in Friends so I often watch her movies. Just going to ask the typically expected question of me here - how does she not age?! I'm sure she's immortal or something because I swear she's never changed! Anyway, the moral of this movie is, don't do what your mother did. Or your grandmother... 

13.

What To Expect When You're Expecting

Hilariously funny, I'd watch the trailer first if you are expecting to make sure it doesn't terrify you but I don't think it will because it just poses all of the most common scenarios that could happen to you when you're expecting a baby but it does it in a belly-laughing way!

14.

The Smurfs

Little insider knowledge for you here, I always get called Smurphs because my last name is Murphy, so I like Smurfs tons! I'm not quite a legitimate Smurf though - I'm not blue - although that's a great idea if I ever need a fancy dress outfit!

15.

Definitely, Maybe

Ryan Reynolds. Mmm, mmm, mmmmmm! Ahem, sorry for that little outburst! So, yeah, this movie has Ryan Reynolds in it and he reminisces about three of his past girlfriends, changing their names, as his daughter tries to figure out which is her mother and which is his true love. Awwww.

16.

The Proposal

This isn't another one with Ryan Reynolds in it... Noooo... Okay, I like Ryan Reynolds. Just as an actor though, of course... Another hilariously funny movie as he has to fake a relationship with his ever so slightly pushy, bossy boss.

17.

Shrek

Another little fact for you, my mama's name is Fiona and when the movie first came out, the younger children in the family started calling her Princess Fiona... As long as they were meaning the human version she said she didn't mind! Anyway, Donkey is just the cutest, annoying little thing ever!

18.

Tangled

My best friend loves Disney movie in ways that most little un's even don't, so she made me watch this and it's another one that just makes you feel all light-hearted and want to sing along to! Yeah, I do know a lot of the words...

19.

This Means War

One of the most amusing movies I've watched in a long time and it has Chris Pine and Tom Hardy in it. It also has the stunning Reese Witherspoon in it. I want two secret agents to fight over me - I can dream!

20.

Flushed Away

When this was originally released I lurvved it. I haven't watched this in several years but I did watch the trailer on YouTube and it's officially made it onto my list for watching over the next few days.

21.

Knocked Up

And another hilarious comedy to end with! A bit explicit, though, so be careful who you watch it around if you get my gist! I think you can guess what it's about from the title, so I won't bother trying to explain it without making it sound any less explicit than it is!

There are a lot more movies there than I planned on telling you about but I just kept thinking of another, after another, after another! I hope there weren't too many for you to take in there! Enjoy!

Katie x

An Unlawful Obsession

Hello!

Before anybody gets the wrong idea, I'm not into anything like drugs or something that is actually illegal! Promise!

No, I have a new found obsession in an American TV show, Suits.

Anybody who lives in America will probably know that 'Suits' is a common term used for lawyers but not so much here in England - however, I'm not going to say no to a man in a suit. Who doesn't love a man who scrubs up well in a suit; it just makes them look so much tidier and more appealing... In my opinion... Anyway, let's get back to the actual show and off the topic of how hot a man in a suit looks!

The show is about a guy, Mike Ross, who gets caught up in the wrong thing with a friend and somehow ends up getting a job in one of New York's biggest law firms, Pearson Hardman. He has the ability to remember anything he looks at, no matter what it is, making him pretty much brilliant at everything - I have seriously spent most of my time watching this show wishing I had his brain. He gets to work with, arguably, the best lawyer in New York, Harvey Specter, whilst he tries to hide his secret from everyone around him.

It's one of the best TV series I've ever seen. I'm hooked. Completely. My infatuation with the TV show and its characters should probably be illegal.

Most people probably think that some show to do with lawyers is going to be either boring or too serious but it's actually funny as hell at times as well, as managing to deal with the more serious aspects of being a lawyer. 

The relationship between Mike and Harvey deals with lots of twists but they always manage to keep it serious and humorous at the same time, which I love... And they both wear suits nearly all the time, just saying. I also love Donna's character - she is just freaking, amazingly hilarious. Her ability to gossip astounds me! She's just awesome. But she doesn't wear a suit. 

It's very kindly available for us English folk on Netflix too (which is where I found it), which, of course, means endless watching of each series!

It really is something else. I love it. A lot. Like, a lot a lot. Go watch it. You'll love it. Seriously. Love it.

Katie x

The Best Chocolate-y Pudding Ever!

Hello!

I spent yesterday evening making Malteser Cake - the best chocolate-pudding-snack-thing you will ever taste. I promise you, if you like chocolate as much as I do, this is the thing for you.

It may be extremely fattening but it's worth it seen as it's the best thing you will ever taste!

Here is my recipe, in case you would like to recreate it!

Makes 18 pieces

You will need:

4oz Butter

4oz Plain milk chocolate

9oz Crushed digestive biscuits

8oz Maltesers

4 Dessert spoons of golden syrup

For the topping:

270g Cadbury's dairy milk chocolate

(It doesn't necessarily have to be Cadbury's but I use a better chocolate for the topping because I think it's a bit nicer than using the value chocolate that I use in the actual mixture)

Plus:
1 Large tray OR 2 square silicone trays

1.

Chop the Maltesers in half (being extremely careful not to chop your fingers too, I've found they don't add much to enhance the taste).

2.

Melt the butter, chocolate and golden syrup together, in a bowl over a pan of boiling water.

3.

When the ingredients has all melted and is a smooth mixture, take off the heat.

4.

Add the crushed digestive biscuits to the mixture and mix well, until all of the biscuits are covered by the mixture.

5.

Add the chopped maltesers and mix them in, doing this as quickly as possible so there is less time for the chocolate on the Maltesers to melt.

6.

Spoon the mixture into a tin or a silicone tray (like the one shown in the picture below), making sure the mixture is spread evenly.

7.

Melt the Cadbury's milk chocolate.

8.

Spread the melted chocolate evenly over the Malteser cake base.

9.

Put in the fridge to set. I recommend at least 3-4 hours before you try to eat it, although it may be tempting it will be worth the wait.

10.

After the cake has set it needs to be cut. Due to the fact it's mainly made up of chocolate, it can be difficult to cut so I have a little tip for you. Take the cake out of the fridge about 20-30 minutes before you want to cut it. This gives it time to soften a little but not too much and will make it easier to cut (I normally cut it into 9 square pieces per tray).

And there you have it! There is your Malteser cake! Try not to eat it all at once...

Katie x

A Writing Genius?

Hello!

Writing is something I love to do and always have. I always feel like I'm improving with every story I write, every book I read, every song I hear, everything helps me write but I used to wonder if I'd ever be amazing and be at the point of no getting better.

One of the biggest things I've learnt from studying a creative writing course is that this is never going to happen and I'm fine with that.

"We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master", Ernest Hemingway definitely knew what he was talking about.

Everybody writes differently, reads differently and enjoys doing both of these things differently. If you think of your favourite author, chances are they're not mine and probably not your next door neighbours either and that's a good thing.

I read the stereotypical things like The Hunger Games, Divergent and Harry Potter but I know that not everyone enjoys these types of books - I will even admit that I didn't enjoy the Harry Potter novels as much as most people did when the books were first realeased - therefore, none of these authors can be seen as "masters", even if they write amazingly, because there is always room for improvement (in my opinion).

I like the idea of no one being a master of writing, it makes it something that anyone can do because there is no right or wrong answer, and there is no one ruling over everyone else. I also really like the fact that everyone can always improve on their writing because it means you're always working towards being a better writer, even if you're one of the best because you can't ever be the best.

Was that a bit rambly? Or does it just make no sense? It's something that I think about a lot but we all know nothing particularly sane happens in my head... Let me know!

Katie x