Amanda's Review: Trainwreck

Hello Everyone,

I saw Trainwreck on Saturday and I have to say...just like Ant-Man, I was totally surprised. I honestly thought the movie would be a little trashy or just kind of weird in general...but it was just so funny. Also, this film is definitely not a chick flick, my boyfriend has approved it, HAHA!

Before watching this movie, I looked up the rating on rotten tomatoes and it actually had one of those certified fresh tomatoes, and I thought to myself, oh okay. I also checked the rating for Southpaw because I was also interested in seeing that and it got a splatter tomato! Talk about being surprised! My boyfriend and I obviously ended up seeing Trainwreck and I couldn't be happier with the results!

Any who, here's the little summary from IMDb: She's just a girl who didn't think she could ever do monogamy and frankly, she was afraid of commitment. Of course, a good guy comes along and she has to face her fears. BOOM. Typical rom-com formula applied here - but, it actually worked.

My rating: 8.5/10!

This film definitely was just A+ material. It was really funny and witty. When a film has a cast full of comedians, it could be either a hit or a miss. Sometimes the comedians try wayyyyy to hard to make something so insignificant seem massively funny...but this team of comedians made it work perfectly! To my surprise, Lebron James was actually pretty hilarious as well! On a comedy scale, it definitely worked for me. I was also kind of afraid about what would happen since Amy doesn't fit the ideal body mold of a rom-com actress, which I will talk about in the next section. I had no idea what was in store for me when I walked into the theater, but I am so happy that I saw this film. 

Also, I gave this film an 8.5 because it just seemed so realistic. I mean given some of the story doesn't seem like it would be reasonable but I think that Amy Schumer's character was just an accurate portrayal of a typical woman. She wasn't this perfect woman who was 100% clean, athletic, reserved, etc. I felt that she completely broke the standard of what a rom-com woman is. This is all completely my opinion and I cannot express the amount of respect I have for Amy Schumer. I personally couldn't have shown my body on screen for millions to see, but she did it and she did it flawlessly.

I usually talk about two aspects of the film at this point but I seriously just want to focus on the acting particularly by Amy Schumer.

As most of you know, I'm not a particularly stick skinny person. I am a woman with a little extra to love. I find that I can never really relate to characters in Rom-Coms because none of them are ever really like me. The women are always obviously skinny/toned/etc. they are always portrayed as perfect in an obvious/non-obvious way. It is hard to find a woman who exceeds the ideal perfection weight play someone with confidence. There is always a bigger woman who is trying to make her self better AKA thinner or she has just about as much self esteem as a freaking rock (none).

I found comfort in Amy Schumer's performance. She's not a stick thin model and yet, her character was just as confident as one. There was no doubt during the film that the men were actually after her. There were no comments in the film like "I can't believe he is going after a girl like that" blah blah blah. Her weight is what it is and people accepted it. The only time it was ever questioned was by me, the watcher. How sad is it that I looked onto the screen and the first things I thought were, "why is the guy falling for her?," "am I as big as her?," and "What do people think when they see me?" I have been trained by other romantic comedies to think that women like her can't possibly find love because she doesn't fit the exact beauty standards. 

I am ashamed of myself for thinking these things but I can't deny the fact that it happened. I hope that this film is the first of many to break the traditional beauty mold that has been set by society because I feel as if there is a film sickness in me. I have seen so many films in my lifetime and a part of me wishes my life could be like the films or that I could be as beautiful as the actresses on screen. I always end up leaving a romantic comedy feeling like things on the screen won't happen to me because I don't look like the lead actress or magical/romantic things only happen to you if you're thin. Needless to say, by the end of the film I felt so much better about myself, about my relationship, about everything...because a woman like Amy Schumer was cast in a wonderful role and none of it was questioned. I looked on that screen and I felt a sense of inspiration - I felt that all of those cute things could happen to me, I felt that I shouldn't be ashamed of my body. I can only hope that one day I could feel that way about myself, that I could be as confident about my body as she was during this film. Her performance seemed 100% genuine. I didn't doubt her at all during this film. She made the film what it was through her acting and the writing. 

I would like to applaud and thank Amy Schumer for breaking the typical rom-com standard and breaking the ideals set by society. 

I am not in any way trying to bash thin women/actresses or people who are trying to get thinner (because that's what I'm doing). I just think that since women come in all shapes in sizes that it should be portrayed in the media just as much as a thin woman would be. I think this film does a great example of showing that all women - regardless of shape/size - should feel confident or beautiful. I just think that it's time for more than just one body type to be on screen and to be adored. I think it's time for society to praise women of all body types. 

Would I see this movie again? Yes, I definitely would. 

I would recommend everyone to see this film, it was funny, romantic, sad (yeah, I almost cried), and to me, it was a feel-good movie.

Amanda's Review: Ant-Man

Hello Everyone!

So, I saw Ant-Man this weekend... 

The moment I saw a trailer for Ant-Man, I said to myself, "Wow, this movie looks so dumb," "Really, Paul Rudd?," "Who would even want to see this?," "This is going to be just as bad as the Green Lantern movie." I honestly said all of those things up until the movie started, I had no hope/expectations/any feeling toward this film. I thought it was going to be a waste of money...but I was super surprised! The movie was actually good. Everything I said was completely wrong. The movie was great, Paul Rudd was great, I would recommend people to see it, and it was a BILLION times better than Green Lantern.

Like I said, I had no interest in seeing Ant-Man, whatsoever. If it wasn't for my friends, I probably would have never seen it...ALSO, I didn't even look up any reviews until 2 minutes before the movie. It had a certified fresh tomato on rotten tomatoes and it had like 92% audience score. I wasn't so scared after that. I'm going to give IMDb's plot right now: Basically this guy Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) gets this super-suit that can make him shrink while increasing his strength. He must "embrace his inner hero" and help this other guy Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), pull of a heist to save the world. 

My Rating: 8/10!

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this film. I was completely wrong about this film. I didn't think I could ever love ants so much, theoretically. I still hate ants but they were cute in the movie. Any who, the movie was funny, had some (not too much) action, and it was overall a great movie. I've been a fan of Marvel films for a while now, with the exception of missing Captain America, Thor, and the Avengers 2. Some of them are usually a hit or a miss with me, and this one was definitely a hit! It completely shut my original opinions up.  The humor in this film kind of reminded me of Guardians of the Galaxy and I adore that film. I loved so many things about this movie and I just...ahh, I don't even know. Also, giving it an 8 just feels right! It was just a complete surprise and that alone just makes it such a great movie. 

I gave it an 8 because I didn't like it enough that it made me cry or that I really felt connected with it, but I honestly did enjoy it. It was amusing from start to finish and Paul Rudd did such an amazing job. Also, The supporting characters were so great! I'll go into more depth about them a little later!

The two things I want to focus on for this film are: Acting and Editing.

Acting: Like I've mentioned through out this whole review, I didn't expect anything good from this movie. But everything about the acting was so great. Paul Rudd did such an amazing job in this film! I can't express how much this movie made me feel for Paul Rudd! I thought Ant-Man was going to be a stupid character and a superhero that didn't need to exist, but I defintely like him a lot more than some of the other Marvel characters...Enough about Paul Rudd, I know. The minor/supporting characters were so great in this film. I don't want to give too much away from them but I think they did such an incredible job and they made the humor so much better in the film and ah. Loved them! I am so glad that none of these actors were too serious because it just made the film that much better. And the ants...perfect!

Editing: With these kinds of film, editing is important. You don't want to cut a movie to where it obviously looks fake. The editing is basically the flow of the film and I think that this film did a great editing job. For some reason, I didn't question anything in this movie. It all just seemed real! In retrospect, it seemed like the editing would be extremely difficult jumping from one tiny size to one large size, it could have easily been such a major flop, but it was great! That's all I can really say about that!

Would I see this movie again? Yes, yes I would.

I would recommend people to not judge this movie by the idea of it sounding dumb...or go watch it with that idea and see if it changes your mind. I think that if you have the chance to see this movie, go see it!

Last Minute Fourth of July Ideas!

Hello Everyone!

We're about to hit the halfway mark of summer - the fourth of July! If you've been busy like Angela and I, you'll definitely enjoy this break! We wanted to include a little list of things to eat, drink, wear, and make for this fabulous weekend! We hope you guys have been having a wonderful summer and hope that this fourth of July is amazing! 

1. Food // Luckily for me, the fourth of July lands on a cheat day (saturday), and I am so ready to eat! If you're having trouble deciding what you should eat here are a couple of options: Deviled Eggs as a little appetizer, you can grill up some Corn on the Cob, and of course, you can never go wrong with  Burgers and/or Hot Dogs!

2. Drinks // I had no idea the amount of drinks you could make with the colors: red, white, and blue. It's crazy! I am not much of a drinker but I may make an exception for one of these tasty looking drinks: First we have Piña Coladas - don't they just look so yummy? Next we have some Super Slushies (vodka is what makes them so super). I had to throw in some Wine Sparklers that weren't so colorful just because we don't always have to be so festive. Lastly, you can never go wrong with simple Jello Shots! (Can't you tell that I loved whipped cream? It's an ingredient in three of these drinks!)

3. Treats // My absolute favorite part of ANY holiday is the desserts/sweets. I can't decide what I want to make for my friends. First we have Oreo Pops  which are simple and cute and you can do them in so many different colors. Then we have a Firecracker Cakelette, which seems a little difficult to make but they look so cute. Of course, you can never go wrong with some simple Smores. And at last, but not least Cupcake Cones  super simple and easy to make and they're just so cute!

4. Style // I don't know about you guys, but I just have this idea in my head that you should wear red, white, and/or blue on the fourth of July. I get that you don't have to, but that's what it always comes down to for me. You can go full on patriotic and wear a sweater with an american flag on it (picture 1). You can tone it down and have a little casual look with a starred t-shirt (picture 2), or you can really tone it down and wear american flag socks (picture 3)! The possibilities are endless! Then there could be people that want nothing to do with stars and stripes on this holiday, thus, we can tone it down and just wear red, white, and blue in a very simple and stylish way (picture 4). 

5. DIY // There are so many things you can make for the fourth of July. The four things I've listed below are very simple to make and are super cute. First we have Mason Jars, who doesn't love a good mason jar DIY? Then we have some Confetti Launchers which are perfect for the places that don't allow fireworks, this is a great alternative - especially for children. Next is something that will make any outdoor area even greater, String Lights - they will make nighttime look magical! Last but not least is something that can entertain the lil'kiddies, Parade Wands - these will definitely keep any child occupied!

I am so excited for this holiday and I can't wait to spend it with my friends! If you're stuck in a rut and don't know what to eat/drink/wear, I hope this post helped guide you!

I hope you all have an AMAZING fourth of July! - Pop some fireworks for me! :) 

Amanda's Review: Jurassic World

Hello Everyone!

I had the greatest pleasure of seeing Jurassic World this weekend, just like everyone and their mothers! I have to say, I was definitely not disappointed. Take some dinosaurs and add Chris Pratt and I'm set. It was definitely a nostalgic movie that included some elements from the original trilogy which was very nice. It was a film that fans of the old franchise could enjoy, along with new fans.

Since I'd seen the original Jurassic Park films, I felt a sort of obligation to see Jurassic World. I knew I had to see it this past weekend because EVERYONE was going to see it. I was afraid that I was going to see another mediocre movie or just see nothing but dinosaurs and no plot...luckily, I was wrong. Here's what the plot is according to IMDb: The original Jurassic Park failed (22 years prior) and now Jurassic World is open. At this point, Jurassic World has been open for 10 years, and now they need a new attraction in order to fulfill a corporate mandate. The new attraction is a genetically engineered dinosaur...what could possibly go wrong?

My rating: 9/10!

I have to say, I really REALLY enjoyed this movie. It kind of had a bit of everything for me: action, suspense, humor, romance...I even think I almost cried (or maybe I did, so what). It just had all the elements of film I look for. The editing was so great, along with the amazing special effects, and I mean come on, Chris Pratt? What a dreamboat! It was a great movie to watch from start to finish. It also had that special mixture of old and new. I felt like it basically followed the original Jurassic Park's formula but with an extremely new twist and it was wonderful. There were also a couple of hidden gems for the old fans to enjoy. 

Some of you might be thinking, if you loved it so much, why not give it a 10? And I'm going to explain that right now...My boyfriend and I went to one theater to try to watch the movie and it was sold out, we went to another theater (an hour in advance) and it was sold out, as the old saying goes...the third time was the charm, we finally got in! That, in itself, would not have caused the number to drop but mixed with little kids talking and crying throughout the movie, it was pretty bad. I can't explain to you how annoyed I was in the theater with parents not taking care of their children or taking them out when they were crying...there was also this guy behind me making jokes the whole time...normally I wouldn't have been bothered but he just wasn't funny at all. Nothing in the film was really ever bad to me, it was just my setting that made the experience a little less than perfect.

I'm going to take some time to talk about the special effects and the acting.

Special Effects: I have to say, the special effects in this film were so great. So much better than the original film (obviously with our new technology). It was just so incredible to see how these dinosaurs looked. I almost forgot that they weren't real because I felt so deeply for them! Going into this film, I knew that special effects were going to be a huge part of it. I just didn't know if it was going to be worthy of the Jurassic World title...but it was. The film exceeded my expectations in terms of the dinosaurs and any other type of special effects...there's not much more I can say than the special effects were amazing and I really have no problems with that area whatsoever.

Acting: Obviously I'm going to start off with talking about Chris Pratt! He was absolutely amazing. He did such a great job with this role and he managed to look good while doing it. I've been a Chris Pratt fan for a while from the The Five-Year Engagement to Parks and Rec to Guardians of the Galaxy to Jurassic World. I think that he is definitely someone to watch out for in the near future. He is a great gift to the film industry. Bryce Dallas Howard is someone whose face I recognized but I couldn't place her, she did a great job in the film as well. Her character was kind of like annoying but meaningful and I don't know. Her character was a good mix of some very stubborn traits and it just worked for the film. There was a slight flaw in her character: she managed to run, in the dirt/mud, and in heels and never fell. Other than that, her character was pretty good, I'm glad that she wasn't just a weak woman, she had her powerful moments! The kids in the film also did a great job! They acted just like kids in a theme park would act. I would have to say that Ty Simpkins who plays Gray did such a good job, his character was definitely deeper than his brother, Zach (Nick Robinson). The acting overall was great!

Would I see this movie again? Definitely. A+ great job, would see again. 

I recommend everyone to see this movie! I really hope I haven't hyped it up too much, but I'm just so thankful I didn't see a film as disappointing as Entourage was for me. 

Amanda's Review: Entourage

Hello Everyone!

I went ahead and saw the Entourage film this weekend, for blogging purposes...and I have a lot to say about it. As usual I will not include any spoilers and I do need to include a little disclaimer...I, Amanda Rodriguez, have maybe seen around 4 episodes of the HBO hit, Entourage. I am viewing this film as someone who has no emotional attachment to the characters, no background information to story-lines, no bias whatsoever.

The only thing I knew prior to watching the film was just that it was a show and Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) is famous and the other guys are just his...yes, entourage. I assumed this film was just going to be a typical bro film about, I can't say I was terribly wrong. Anywho, this is the storyline/plot according to IMDb: Vincent Chase, and his buddies, Eric, Turtle, and Johnny are back - and back in business with Ari Gold (super agent-to-studio head) on a risky project, in which, Vince is making is directorial debut. The trailer promises basically 3 things: fame is the only thing on the line, living the lavish lifestyle is something that everyone wants, and oh, a bunch of famous people are in this movie.

My rating: A hard 5/10...maybe even a 4/10 depending on how I'm feeling.

Let me mention this one more time right here: I DID NOT RELIGIOUSLY WATCH ENTOURAGE ON HBO. I know for a fact that this definitely had an impact on my score because both of my parents loved the movie...they saw every single episode of Entourage. Is this a film tailored to fans - definitely.

My reasoning behind the score: Like I've mentioned twice before, I wasn't a fan. It's not that the show didn't interest me, I just never had time to watch Entourage. I knew nothing regarding the characters or their past coming into this film and I'm glad. I got to see this with an unbiased eye. I thought it was an OKAY movie. I couldn't help but feel that this movie was definitely not made for my viewing pleasure. It also felt like a total bro movie, cue the boobs within the first 2 minutes. As a woman, I can't even begin to tell you how degrading this film made me feel. I felt that every woman on this film was treated terribly. They were nothing but objects to these men. I like the fact that they threw Ronda Rousey (MMA Fighter) in there but one strong woman doesn't cover up the rest of the women that were simply used for sex. Maybe I'm just digging way to into this, but that's how I felt, and I can't help it. 

I will say, I did enjoy the cameos. It was nice to see a new face every 5 minutes and try to decipher who he/she is and where he/she is from. I liked that, but I didn't like it enough to give the film a better score.

 I'm going to talk a little more about the storyline/plot and the acting. 

Storyline/Plot: I thought the main plot was...alright. It was a plot that definitely didn't grab my interest. Luckily, for me, there were so many other little plots that I could try to find salvation in...notice the sarcasm. There were so many intertwining plots that I honestly didn't even know what was going on half the time. It felt like there were 5 different episodes of Entourage mixed into one...all of which didn't even have a proper ending. There were so many open-ended plots that it honestly makes me hope pray that there isn't going to be an Entourage 2. I really really hope that HBO doesn't go there. The box-office numbers are definitely in my favor as Entourage made a total of $10.4 million this weekend...let me put this into perspective, it cost about $30 million to produce the film. I'm thinking HBO saw how much they made with the Sex and the City films that they just thought they'd try the same formula with Entourage. 

*I would recommend having some Advil on hand, I definitely left this movie with a headache. 

Acting: Just because I really disliked the plot(s), doesn't necessarily mean that I hated the acting...I enjoyed it a lot more than the plot. I actually expected better from these people. I expected a great film and what I got was an below-average to average film. If I had to give this movie a mood: it would be stress. That's all the actors were giving me, as if that's the only emotion they could portray. The actors did have their moments. I have to say that I absolutely love Turtle (Jerry Ferrara). I say this in present tense because I just love him, that's all. I can't say the same for everyone else. If there was one character that just bugged me...it would have to be Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon), don't get me wrong, he did a great job with the character, the character is just REALLY annoying to me. Also, something has to be said for the "star" of the film Adrian Grenier...I've somewhat disliked him since my analysis of The Devil Wears Prada for my film class. His character in that film just really bugged me and it sort of transferred to this film. I just saw him a "typical celebrity." There wasn't much depth to his character...or any of the other characters. 

The one thing I will say I loved was that the characters did have a great bond. It was somewhat endearing to see what they'd do for each other, and it really felt like it was genuine...like the actors would actually do that for one another. That is the one thing I loved about the acting and the film in general. That one small thing really did save this film from getting a COMPLETELY horrible score.

Would I see this movie again? Yes...and I'll tell you why. As I've stated, many times in this review, I never watched the show. I have no attachment to these characters. I'm looking at this from a clean slate. I want to go and watch every episode of Entourage and re-watch the film. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I knew the characters going into the film. So that's what I'm going to do.

I know that this review was pretty awful. I kind of just word vomited my thoughts onto this review. Everything I wrote is my opinion, feel free to leave a comment about what you thought of the film...especially if you loved it, please leave a comment below! 

Amanda's Review: Tomorrowland

Hello Everyone!

I'm glad that we're starting to do movie reviews on here because it gives me a great excuse to see movies on the weekend! This past weekend...the day the massive storm hit Houston...I went to see Tomorrowland. I have to say, when I saw the trailer I thought that it was just going to be a dumb movie. I honestly had no interest in seeing it, until I had to pick a movie to watch on the weekend. This was the only movie I thought I could stand. Luckily for me, it was actually a great movie! I was pleasantly surprised! I'll be as vague as possible during this review so I don't spoil anything!

Okay, so here's the basic plot according to the trailer and IMDb: A young girl, Casey (Britt Robertson), finds a magical pin after she's released from jail. This pin allows her to basically transport to a magical world, aka Tomorrowland. This place is where inventors, creators, etc. live in order to change the world. She find Frank Walker (George Clooney) and asks him to take her to Tomorrowland. Apparently something bad is happening in Tomorrowland and Casey may be the person to solve it. Throw in some extravagant inventions and you have the film Tomorrowland. 

My rating: 7/10

My reasoning behind the score: this is a film that genuinely surprised me. Like I mentioned before, I had no interest in seeing it...none whatsoever, but I thought it was pretty great! I did look at the review on Rotten Tomatoes and it got a 51% (rotten tomato), which made me feel a little uneasy about the movie but I saw it anyway. Like I said, I liked it a lot more than I thought I would, but it still had some problems. To me, there were a little too many storylines, it just seemed to veer off in various directions. That definitely made it a little hard to focus on a main point. I also left the film feeling like a lot of my questions weren't answered and that's never a good thing...unless a sequel will answer it...but honestly, I don't think we need a second Tomorrowland...one is enough. 

I'm going to talk a little more about the acting and the cinematography.

Acting: It was sort of typical Disney acting...you have Casey, the perky/determined girl (Robertson), Frank, the kind of grumpy/mysterious man, and this random girl that ties them together, Athena (Raffey Cassidy). I didn't particularly see this film because of any of the actors, I've seen a couple of Britt Robertson's films and I'm a little wishy-washy when it comes to her and George Clooney, eh. He's not an actor that I would automatically see a movie for. So, these two actors...that I hardly even care about in a film? You'd think I'd hate it, or feel indifferent about it, but I don't...I actually like it. I respect both Robertson and Clooney a little more after this film, they definitely fit the Disney criteria very well. They were a little extravagant with the perky and the grumpy but that's exactly what I'd expect from a Disney movie. Aside from Clooney and Robertson, I have to say, newcomer Raffey Cassidy stole the show for me. Her character was definitely the most interesting and definitely had the most (in my opinion) character development.

Cinematography: This film was filled with intense CGI, but I didn't hate it. This is a movie about the future and about inventions and creativity and that's what it made me feel. Tomorrowland is like Emerald City (Wizard of Oz). There's something quite magical about a city that is surrounded only by nature. The film also had this sort of steampunk feel to it with some of the decor and props. I'm not an expert on steampunk so please to persecute me if you think I'm completely wrong. I left the film with a strong appreciation towards the actual Tomorrowland in Disney World. I honestly have to say that Disney did a great job with the cinematography. It did the film justice!

Would I see it again? While I don't have the urge to see it again in theaters, I wouldn't mind seeing it on DVD with someone who hasn't seen it. 

Note to the viewers: Keep an open mind. There were a lot of things going on...just accept it! 

Easy + Delicious Mason Jar Salad

Happy Memorial Day! With this extra day off of work maybe it is best to prepare some foods ahead of time so you can eat healthy and quickly throughout the week! Meal prep has been on my mind a lot lately which has lead me to wanting two things: the desire to eat more salads and the excuse to buy more mason jars.

On previous grocery shopping occasions I have passed a section of mason jars convincing myself I did not need them; but, today I looked up everything I needed to know about prepping mason jar salads and so I went shopping with this in mind. From many feet away I could see that those precious mason jars I have been eyeing had a lovely little coupon taped to the front: "Buy One Get The Second Half Off!" I was so excited and purchased them immediately! But, once I got home I realized all of the jars were purple! Luckily, purple is one of my favorite colors but this also means it is a little hard to see the ingredients from the side (oh well I still love them:)

So now I will let you know what I put inside of my mason jar salad. Keep in mind, you can put whatever you want and in whatever amount but this was taken from Organize Yourself Skinny's blog who gave great details on how to prepare these the best.

Step One: Gather all of your ingredients.

Mine includes:
 ☺ Balsamic Vinaigrette
 ☺ Tomatoes 
 ☺ Cucumbers
 ☺ Shredded Chicken
 ☺ Whole Wheat Pasta
 ☺ Mozzarella 
 ☺ Spinach


Step Two: Add your dressing.

Dressing MUST go first. This assures that your meats and lettuce will not get soggy. I used a balsamic vinaigrette by Newman's Own simply because this was recommended by Organize Yourself Skinny and I am not really one to make my own dressing (yet)!

I would definitely try whatever sounds good or what you already love :)


Step Three: Add some veggies. 

I added tomatoes for this part. You could add various items such as cucumbers, broccoli, asparagus, carrots, etc. This section is vital to the mason jar because it protects the other food from getting soaked in the dressing.





Step Four: Continue with your veggies. 

Again, it is best to layer up the vegetables so you do not get the rest of your salad soaked in dressing. Check out this page for the perfect reasons why these layers are so important!

After this you could also add some more vegetables such as beans, mushrooms, corn, and more!




Step Five: Add your pasta or grains, proteins, and cheese.

Of course when you want a salad you are usually trying to get away from carbs but if you want to include a little bit of pasta, rice or others, it is quite delicious.

I then added mozzarella and shredded chicken. You could add other meats, eggs, or a different cheese.



Step Six: Add your lettuce. 

I choose to put spinach only in this jar. You could put whichever kind of lettuce you prefer. I'd recommend about two cups or whatever room you have left in the jar.

Now seal it up! These should last you around five to six days. I will continue to try out more recipes and let you know what ends up being my favorite. These are super easy to make and I am so excited to stock up on more salad! :) 

A + A's Phone/Video Interview Tips

Hello Everyone!

Many of us never think that we'll have to do a phone or video interview ever in our lives. So we hardly ever prepare for one. We decided that we would list a few tips in the chance that you guys do have to have a phone/video interview, so you're not completely nervous when the time comes! Some of our tips relate to our previous A+A's Interview Tips but we can't stress enough how important those topics are! Feel free to check back on that post at any time!

1. Practice Beforehand. This is extremely important because you'll need to show that you're prepared for any questions they may have for you. Here are some typically asked questions:
• Tell me/us about yourself.
• What sets you apart from other candidates?
• What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
• What interested you about our company?
• Scenario Questions: How you would handle a certain situation. How you have handled a certain situation. What was the outcome?
2. Location Location Location. Location is extremely important for both a phone and video call. For the phone call, make sure you're in a quiet location and away from any distractions. The same goes for the video call. You want to make sure you have a nice background and you want to make sure that you're in a quiet area*. 
3. Resume. It is so important to know your resume! Questions may come up regarding a time you did this or a time you did that. It is extremely important to know what you've done!
4. Battery Levels. Make sure that your cell phone and/or laptop has enough battery life to last the duration of the interview! Be sure to either charge it beforehand or have it on a charger when you're talking.
5. Ask Questions. It is important to know about the company and ask questions regarding the company and the industry. Make sure you have at least 5 questions prepared and ready to go. Here are some questions that could be helpful:
• What is the company culture?
• What are the greatest achievements and/or challenges of the company?
• How did you get your start in this industry?
• Can you tell me a little more about the position/responsibilities?
• What are the next steps?
6. Sell Yourself. This is your time to show the interviewer what you've got. It's always good to have an "elevator speech" ready to go. This usually happens at the beginning of an interview. Here are things to mention:
• School - Major(s), Minor(s), Organizations
• Experience - Work, Volunteering, Internship(s).
• Future Plans - Grad School, Job(s), Personal Goals
7. Dress Up. It is very important to dress up for a video call because it is part of your impression. It's also nice to dress up for a phone interview because it gets you in the zone!
8. Test Call. Make sure for a phone/video call that you do a test run! That way you can solve any problems that may come up (i.e. network, mic, video issues). 
9. Have Headphones. In the chance that you may not be able to hear the interviewer, it's nice to have headphones around to help you out!
10. Bottle/Cup of Water. Having a bottle or cup of water nearby will help calm your nerves and be there for the times you feel parched.
11. Use the Restroom before. Make sure you use the restroom before the video or phone call. It would be so horrible to leave in the middle of either one because you have to go to the restroom. Take care of your business beforehand! 
12. Relax. The fact that you have an interview in the first place says that they're interested in you. Just relax and be yourself!
13. Say Thank You. It is important to make sure you thank the interviewer for their time and for the opportunity. 

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below! Also, if any of you have any additional tips we will gladly accept and add them to either of our lists!

*Make sure your mom isn't around when you're interviewing...she'll take pictures of you...trust us, Amanda knows. 

A + A's Interview Tips

1. Practice Beforehand. Before your interview you should look up frequently asked interview questions and start answering them. This helps you get more prepared for the actual interview and it helps avoid the evil "umm's." Here is a website that has 40 sample questions!
2. Know Your "Elevator Speech."  The first thing employers always say is, "Tell me about yourself." While we as humans love to talk about ourselves, this never fails to be one of the most difficult questions to answer.  Prepare A brief summary about yourself and some of your best accomplishments. Be brief, be smart, and be enthusiastic!  Check out this YouTube video  for an idea on what to practice.
3. Research the Company. Do a little research on the company you're applying for. Some interviewers ask about your thoughts on the company or what attracted you to the company. Plus, it's always good to know a potential workplace.
4. Bring your Resume. It is always good to bring additional copies of your resume for the interview. The interviewer will be able to have your resume on-hand and it shows that you're prepared. This will also make it easier for you to reference specific points. 
5. Review Your Resume Beforehand. Of course bringing your resume is a must but what if you slightly exaggerated on a few things? Remembering this before you step into the interview will be beneficial when they look over your past experience. We are not encouraging you to lie on your resume or in your interview, but make sure you can back up your "proficiency in excel" or "fluency in Spanish" before you meet with the company.
6. Clean up Your Social Media. Companies often come across great candidates but once they see what pictures these candidates are "tagged" in they sometimes choose to go with a different person. So, keep your social media professional or private (although you must keep in mind, many companies find ways around "private" profiles -- scary, we know!). 
7. Dress for Success. Make sure you dress for the company you're planning on working for (this also goes with researching the company). For example, if you're interviewing for a job at the Gap, dress in Gap-like clothing. If you're interviewing for a job at a Fortune 500 company, you may want to dress in professional clothing. 
8. Wear the right shoes! While your high heels are extremely cute they might not be practical   when trying to make a great first impression.  Many recruiters have told stories of ladies who end up tripping all over  themselves or simply do not look professional when trying to pull off heels  that are not typically suitable for work.  Try some fats or a low heel!  Here are some fabulous options!
9. Walk in 12 Minutes Early. Why twelve? Because 15 is too eager and 10 is a little too late. Twelve minutes is the perfect amount of time to let the company know you mean business. Remember to look up the location ahead of time so you know the route, get there 15 minutes early, rest in your car for 3 minutes, and then walk in with confidence!
10. Ask Questions. Asking questions helps you get a better sense of the job you're applying for and it shows the interviewer that you are genuinely interested in the position. Example questions would be: What are challenges I will face with this position? How would you describe the culture of the company? What is the next step? 
11. Follow up With a Thank You Note. Yes, a snail mail "thank you" card. While this may sound silly, especially in a world surrounded by emails and text messages, a thank you note will go a long way. It is personal and friendly. Plus, it shows that you went out of your way to make sure they knew how much you appreciated their time. 

Rainy Day Movies (Part 3)

The weather forecast for Houston/Austin shows that we have a lot of rain ahead of us...which is kinda lame, but what better better way to enjoy the beautiful weather than by watching some movies?! Here's a list I've compiled of movies that could possibly fill the sunshine void in your life.

1. The New Release // Still Alice

2. The Netflix Movie // Clueless

3. The "Oldie but a Goodie" // Fast Times at Ridgemont High

4. The On Demand Movie// Guardians of the Galaxy

5. The Tearjerker // My Dog Skip

Don't let the rainy weather get you down. These movies are all great, and I hope that you have a chance to take a break and go on a cinematic adventure!

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Movie Review Monday: Pitch Perfect 2

Hello Everyone!

Many of us were so freakin' excited when we heard that Pitch Perfect was going to have a sequel. I know I was! I absolutely adored the first film and I could not wait! Luckily, I didn't have to wait too long because the film came out this past weekend! I obviously had to go see it! Down below is my movie review*.

* This review is spoiler free. 

Here's the basic plot according to both IMDb and the trailer: The Bellas have become so great and wonderful since the last film that they were invited to sing for the President of the United States. All things go wrong when Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) performs. Her performance leads to the Bellas getting suspended from any collegiate competitions. The Bellas make a deal with the aca-people and say that if they win an International competition (that America has never won before) then the Bellas can get reinstated and live happily ever after. Oh yeah, and this is basically everyone's senior year in the film, so just slap that onto everything else. 

My Rating: 6/10

My reasoning behind the score is simply that I did not feel that it upheld the standard of the first movie. I loved the first movie so much and I just expected a little more from the second. I felt that there were too many story-lines within the film that I just really got tired of jumping from one to another.  The whole movie just felt like it wasn't real and it just felt like it was trying way too hard to be funny...Trust me, I wanted to love it as much as the first one but I can't even bring myself to say that they're even remotely on the same level. 

It sounds like I completely hated the film, but I promise that I didn't. I'm always down for a sisterly/friendship-y type of film. I love that. I think there should be more movies in the industry that highlight on girls like that. Girls that will be there for one another and build each other up rather than break each other down. I loved that aspect of the film. I also thought that the music was also pretty good! I really enjoyed it, that's the thing that saved the score from going a little lower.

I could definitely go in-depth about many aspects of the film but I'm just going to touch onto two of them: The acting and the songs. 

The acting: I'm gonna just throw this out there, it was kinda cheesy. The actors are basically stereotypes and they tapped into that so much. I was kind of embarrassed that they played into that so much, why couldn't these people grow? The filmmakers jumped from freshman year (first film) to senior year (this film)...there should have been at least a little character development. The only person that really changes is Becca...I guess. 

The songs: Love the songs, I really did. There was one song that I was iffy about because it wasn't a well known song, but whatever. That one song kind of brought the music down a little bit, but that's just me, and they make some jokes about that in the film but I don't want to give anything away. 

Would I see it again? Probably, when it's on DVD or something? I don't see myself wanting to go out and willingly see it again on the screen. 

Here's a warning for the fans: Don't expect it to be as great and wonderful as the first. Yeah, it's a funny movie, and yeah the songs are great...but you're not going to leave the theater with the same feeling you left with the first time around. 

All of this is my general opinion. I'm not trying to speak for a collective out there. Go out there, see the film for yourself, and generate your own opinion. 

Amanda's Dream Body: Update

Hello Everyone!

So it has been a while since my last entry about my weight loss,  here are my results:

Loss since last post: 10 lbs

Total weight loss: 24 lbs

So basically, in a little over 2 months I've lost 24 pounds!

I could not be happier with my results.

Of course I want to lose a little more (don't worry, I want to stay healthy). Like I mentioned before, this is more about me being comfortable with who I am rather than being a certain number on the scale. 

It has definitely been hard to work out within the past two weeks because of finals but now that school is over I'll be able to work out even more! I cannot wait to see what happens during summer!

If you guys are starting a similar diet, I encourage you to share your story! Me sharing my story on this blog has made me be really strict with my diet. I allow myself one cheat day every week...just one, so I can take a break from the hardcore paleo. That doesn't mean that the temptation isn't around during the week...because it is everywhere! I have to tell myself that if I cheat today (a day that isn't my designated cheat day) I'll ultimately have to write about it, and that is going to slow me down from becoming my best self. 

Everyone has the right to feel happy with who they are and I just hope that if you're on this journey that you don't give up! Keep up the good work and stay healthy! 

Also, I hope everyone has aced their finals and I hope nothing but happiness and luck to the graduate of the year!

Amanda's Dream Body: Week Five

Hello Everyone!

Two weeks: 2.5 pounds
Making my total: 14 pounds lost!

I'm not going to give a break down of my past two weeks! Because it was a lot!

So, I went basically a month on Paleo (with 3 cheat days)...I have to say, it was really tough at times. I've decided that for the month of April that I will not completely be on Paleo. I loved it, I love the weight that I lost, but I don't want to be on Paleo for the rest of my life, so I need to adopt a better lifestyle where I am going to eat better during the week and have a cheat day some time on the weekend. I've added a slice of bread to my diet, just so I can have something else besides meat and veggies in my system. I think it would be good to have a cheat meal a week. 

What I've noticed is that my weight constantly fluctuates and I'm getting to the point where I'm constantly checking the scale...I know that's not good. One day as I was weighing myself, I saw my weight go up a little more and it freaked me out. What I need to realize is that weight is just a number. Everyone's bodies are different. The scale may be slowly declining but there is a change in my body. My stomach is a lot smaller than it was a month ago. I have thick legs and there are a lot of muscle in them, that could be attributing to the fact that the scale is going down slowly. If this is completely wrong, please let me know, I'm either talking myself into this idea or it actually makes sense? I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm actually fine with my legs. All I want to do is make my stomach smaller and tone. 

If I could lose maybe like 15 more pounds, I would be so extremely happy. I have about 2 months before summer and I hope I reach my goal by then! I'm going to try to do 3 miles of cardio every single day. Along with that, I wanna get a Kardashian booty...so I'll be adding a bunch of butt workouts! 

If I'm not happy with my results at the end of April, I will probably go back to completely Paleo (with few cheat meals) for the month of May.

Amanda's Dream Body: Week Three

Hello Everyone!

I've just finished my third week on Paleo!

This past week I've lost 2.5 pounds

Making my total: 11.5 pounds lost!

Here's my week:

• Monday: I did my typical Yoga + Pilates, and then I had to finish up a philosophy paper. 
• Tuesday: I went to see Ariana Grande at the Houston Rodeo! I WAS SO TEMPTED TO GET SOMETHING FRIED. But, I stuck with my diet and got a half sausage on a stick...exciting...I know.
• Wednesday: So stressful! I had a history paper/theater test/ philosophy debate the next day and a film and society midterm due that day. I still went to Yoga, but I wish I did more. 
• Thursday: I had a meeting at 5:30 and couldn't make my beloved Piloxing class :( I had to work out on my own. I also had a bunch of cookies leftover from the meeting...I gave them to my boyfriend. The smell of them was satisfying enough for me.
• Friday: This day was so relaxing! I went with my friend Molly to the Houston Arboretum for a 3 mile walk. I met her lovely friends and we all got our toenails done! It was a great day! 
• Saturday: Super lazy day! My boyfriend and I watched Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix! We finished the whole season! It was so good! I did a really small workout when I got home. 
• Sunday: I went to the grocery store to buy stuff for the upcoming week! I cleaned my car and I spent a lot of time cleaning my room! 

My birthday is this coming Sunday (3/29) and I know I'm going to cheat. I told myself I would. Hopefully it won't hurt my body too much!

Amanda's Dream Body: Week Two

Hello Everyone!

I've survived two weeks of paleo!

This past week I've lost 2 pounds!

Making my total: 9 pounds lost!

This week was definitely tough to work out because it was spring break and I just stayed home. 

• Monday: I ended up skipping my gentle yoga class because I didn't feel like driving all the way to school at 12! (Talk about lazy) And I just went to my 5:30 Pilates class. 
• Tuesday: I did a very small workout at home, and I basically did nothing. I was literally so bored...
• Wednesday: Finally, I went out with my friends to Top Golf...which was so much fun! My arms were so sore the next day! I was definitely upset that I couldn't have any drinks or desserts. 
• Thursday: I HAD A CHEAT DAY. Oh my goodness. A couple of tears rolled down my face when I took a bite into a tortilla chip! HAHA! It was so incredible to finally have a cheat day! I've noticed that my stomach has gotten a little smaller because I couldn't scarf down all of the delicious food! I was scared that it would make me gain weight but I lost two pounds this week, so I know it didn't do much! I also did Piloxing that day, which is where I burn about 1,000 calories in like an hour! (I also got a haircut...which was definitely nice)
• Friday: Major lazy day. I worked out when I got home for a little while. Also, ugh I just wanted to eat some good food. I decided that I don't want to have another cheat day until my birthday (March 29th)!
• Saturday: I just relaxed at home with my cat. That's basically it. I did a little workout, nothing too dramatic. 
• Sunday: I finally got out of my house again and went shopping with my friend, hung out with some goats, and worked out at home. 

As you can see...my week was so boring. I didn't do much of anything. I'm definitely going to work out more this week! I think I have a pretty fun week ahead of me. So hopefully next week's update will be better!

Paleo has been a little tough for me because I haven't had the time to do any intricate meals! I want to, but a lot of them require a lot of ingredients! Head over to my paleo pinterest board to see some paleo recipes. Maybe you'll get inspired to start paleo!

Amanda's Dream Body: Week One

Hello Everyone!

It's officially been a week since I decided to start the Paleo diet...and I couldn't be happier with the results. 

I've lost 7 pounds!

This week was definitely tough!

• I have to say, Monday (when I posted my story) was tough because I had to wait until after my Pilates class to eat, and I just wanted to badly to pick up some candy! But I stuck with it and had some chicken and broccoli for dinner!
• Tuesday: I went out to Cafe Express with my friend and had grilled chicken and broccoli...no bread sticks! 
• Wednesday: I had the most intense yoga session of the semester! It was amazing! Also, for the first time in my film class my professor brought snacks...which included cookies (that smelled so amazing). Luckily for me, she also brought some lil' cuties! So I had some while we watched the movie. 
• Thursday: I realized that I need to have something more substantial before my piloxing class!
• Friday: I had a nice workout and went home and cooked some food! 
• Saturday: I went to a party and it was honestly so hard to not have a piece of cake. It was tough because so many people were trying to convince me to have some. 
• Sunday: This was the BIGGEST challenge...I went to the Houston Rodeo to see Fall Out Boy (which was incredible) but it was also at the rodeo. If you've ever been to the Rodeo, you know how much food is there. I was tempted by basically everything there, from dippin' dots to fried oreos to funnel cake to some pizza. I honestly wanted everything! But I ate before I went to the Rodeo and just had water. You guys have no idea how tough it was to just not get anything! 

All I have to say for you people who may be on a diet (of any kind) don't let the temptation get to you. I have to keep telling myself that the outcome will be greater than all of these things I think I'm giving up. I'm going to start incorporating some foods (like bread or cheese) back into my life little by little around day 17...not too much! I've been told by a lot of people that I should incorporate those things in because I could possibly develop a gluten intolerance if I do Paleo for like 30 days. Also, I want to be able to have a great cheat day on my birthday and not have my tummy hurt!