Author: Courtney Shek

Things I’ve Been Doing in Lock Down

~ Courtney Shek ~ Leave a comment

I thought I would make a blog post to share some things I have been doing since lock down. I guess this will also serve as a little life update blog post.

But yes, lock down. We are all being told to stay at home to reduce the spread of COVID-19 aka Cornavirus and it’s not been easy.

I know when you were a kid, you thought not having to leave your house for school was the best thing ever, but now? It’s just kind of depressing, especially when you can’t go and see your friends or anything else. So it’s been hard to adjust.

It’s not that I did a lot of things outside normally, I’m a very inside person haha I enjoy sitting at home and watching TV etc, but when I think about my day-to-day activity, I still was leaving the house for work and exercise classes, so to suddenly have that taken away has been tough.

The hardest thing about it all is that we don’t have a choice, we have to stay indoors and reduce physical contact with people and it really sucks.

So I thought I would share with you some of the things I have been doing while being stuck at home and not being able to see anyone.

Animal Crossing

This is a big one. I have been spending most of my free time playing Animal Crossing. Even if I wasn’t in lock down, I know this is something I would be doing because I love Animal Crossing and I was so excited about the release of the new Switch game.

Not only does the game give me something to do and keep busy, it has also been a way that I can meet up with friends and spend time with them.

I have a few Animal Crossing friends that I made when playing the previous game on the 3DS and meeting up with them in Animal Crossing has always been our only form of communication so it felt natural to hang out with them this way again.

It has been super enjoyable being able to spend time diving into this new game and it definitely provides a good escape to the outside world.

YouTube

To go along with playing a lot of Animal Crossing, I have also started to film Animal Crossing content for my YouTube channel.

This makes me feel productive, and I enjoy doing it. I started YouTube as a hobby over the years and I actually started with Animal Crossing Let’s Plays, so it feels good to kind of go back to that.

TV

Naturally I have also been watching a lot of TV during this time, my boyfriend and I have recently started to watch Westworld on NowTV. It’s a bit of a confusing show but enjoyable, something different to say the least.

I have also been keeping up with watching some One Tree Hill which I started to watch before all this lock down business.

Netflix Party

Along with watching TV I have also been using Netflix party to watch Tiger King with my friends. We use the Chrome extension to keep our video in sync while we video chat using Skype.

I enjoy this because it allows me to speak to and see my friends, it’s kind of funny because we usually don’t see each other very often in real life as we all live across the UK in different places, but with this we have been able to see each other twice in one week.

It’s been fun and I’m sure Tiger King is not the only thing we will watch via Netflix Party.

Online Exercise

So because I can no longer go to my pole or aerial hoop classes I have started taking online classes. These are offered by my pole and aerial hoop studios, it’s not pole or aerial hoop – mainly because I don’t own either of those but I am enjoying the classes.

I am currently taking a floor flow class to work on some floor choreo and also a stretch class to work on my front splits.

I don’t have a lot of room to take these classes, I just do it in a tiny corner of my living room but it has been helpful to keep some exercise in my life.

Walking

As well as online exercise I have been going on walks with my boyfriend, this is nice just to get outside in the fresh air. Something simple and also nice because we live near the coast.

It’s also helpful to get out somewhere when you live in an apartment without a garden. I feel like if I had a garden I would just go out there and enjoy the weather, but because I do not I have to go further out. It can be a bit tricky avoiding people this way because other people are also out walking but you do the best you can.

So these are all the main things I am doing to keep busy during lock down. Of course I am still able to work from home so that has been keeping me occupied during the weekdays.

It’s been an adjustment to work from home full time, I mean it’s hard to really get into the mindset of work sometimes because you are at home and just want to do anything but work. But I think I’m getting better at it though some days are better than others for my concentration.

But I am doing the best I can and I guess that’s all we can do in this situation. I’m also very glad that I’m this time we do have so much technology because it allows us to stay connected even when we can’t see each other in real life.

I am hopeful that if we all are following the guidelines and doing our best that we can get out of lock down soon. I know things won’t go back to normal right away but it would be nice to see some of the restrictions lifted.

In the mean time I will just be sitting inside playing Animal Crossing until we can actually be outside again.

~ Courtney

Holes By Louis Sachar Review

~ Courtney Shek ~ Leave a comment

I decided to read a little blast from the past! So the first memory I have of reading Holes is actually when I was in primary school. Except I didn’t read it, my teacher actually read it to the class.

I don’t remember much about it other than sitting on the grass outside on a nice day while the teacher read to us. Then after she had finished reading the book we watched the movie.

Ever since then I have enjoyed this story. I’m not sure why this story has stuck with me but it just has. And I still enjoy watching the movie from time to time.

I decided to reread after all this time because my boyfriend ended up buying the book last year and I thought why not – he hasn’t even read it yet but oh well.

I think I’ve said this before but reading a book that has a movie adaptation can be tricky. And by that I mean there isn’t always a huge amount of difference between the book and the movie, and that was the case here.

I’m not saying that as a bad thing but at the same time I think it would have been nice to have some kind of variation, just because it would add something extra to reading the book. But the story is basically the exact same, except for Stanley being overweight lol.

But because the movie and the book are the same and I remember the movie so clearly, it made this a bit of a boring read.

The story is still great though, and if you haven’t seen the movie or read the book I do invite you to do one or the other. But you do not have to do both.

I know in school they always told you not to watch the movie and to read the book instead but sometimes that just isn’t true lol. I enjoyed the movie and reading the book was nice, but there is not much difference so I think you would be just fine with the movie.

Anyway, it was still nice to read something from my childhood, it was kind of wild to me that the book is only like 240 pages because when I was younger I swear it was a lot more than that. But then I guess it’s different when someone is reading to you, and when you’re eight years old 240 pages is a lot.

But there we go, another book read. I haven’t been reading as much because of lock down and the fact Animal Crossing came out. I used to read a lot before because I read when I was travelling to and from work but since that is not part of my routine right now, I have to work harder to fit in some reading.

I’m still hoping to reach my reading goal of 30 books this year. Which I think I will but probably not as fast I as I would have liked.

Anyway, I’m not sure what my next book to read will be, I actually think Holes has a sequel book which I might try to get if my library has the ebook version. Otherwise I think I would be okay leaving this as a stand-alone book.

Either way I will do my best to keep reading and will maybe be back with another review soon! (Or at least a blog post not Animal Crossing related…)

~ Courtney x

One Tree Hill Season 5 Thoughts

~ Courtney Shek ~ Leave a comment

Feels like it’s been forever since I talked about One Tree Hill.

This was a shorter season than others but that doesn’t mean there was any less drama. Last we saw everyone they had just graduated from high school and the future was looking bright.

Now we jump into season five where there was a huge time jump and I wasn’t expecting it:

  • A time jump?! Seriously? I mean I was wondering how they were going to focus on everyone as they went their separate ways. They could have pulled a Gossip Girl where they all started at college and then just stopped going lol
  • That being said they were all looking way too old to play high school students so at least now they can play proper adults because they are
  • So Haley is a teacher and Nathan doesn’t want his son to play basketball – drama, also Nathan does not look good with long hair and a beard
  • Oh my God Brooke really went full boss bitch with Clothes Over Bros, I never saw it coming because the fashion thing came on so rapidly but yay!
  • Peyton is a lowly assistant in LA who is being told to “drop buttons” to be allowed in meetings – she so does not belong there
  • Nathan was in an accident and his dream is crushed…poor guy he worked so hard
  • Lucas as kind of a washed up writer and basketball coach? Never saw that he was destined for greatness and that is not it
  • I figured Lucas was sleeping with his editor…I don’t like it but that’s because we don’t know the story but it seems so cliche
  • We love a Tree Hill reunion – I knew Brooke and Peyton couldn’t stay away
  • Yasss Nathan fighting back
  • Omg I actually do hate Lucas dating his editor like Peyton doesnt show up at his book signing and he just decides to date her. That’s so not cute
  • Also this new jock guy is the worst like the actor I only know from being the nice cheerleader guy from Hellcats. I don’t like this version of him haha
  • I’m sad Mouth isn’t living his sports announcer best life
  • Also what happened to Karen’s cafe?! Where even is Karen and her baby?
  • Like I guess it’s cool Brooke is taking the cafe but like what happened to Karen tho
  • Lol I knew the nanny was going to be trouble it was only a matter of time
  • Also yasss Nathan getting his life together but if he gets with the nanny he is even more of a cliche then I thought
  • Okay so we found out Lucas is only with his editor because he thought Peyton didnt come to his book signing. That is lame and I don’t accept it
  • I think Haley and Nathan’s kid is probably one of the best characters not gonna lie
  • I never thought Mouth would end up sleeping with his boss to keep his job and yet here we are. Poor guy…he better sort it out soon
  • Lucas is a freaking idiot for choosing to ask Lindsey to marry him lol are we all gonna pretend that’s a good idea
  • Oh my God Rachel is a drug addict? I thought we had seen the last of her
  • Awww Tim! Cute memories
  • Wow of course the nanny was in the shower and Haley walked in…she better change her mind about this divorce
  • At the same time Nathan should have said something sooner
  • Mouth and Millicent are super cute. Also can’t believe Mouth’s boss was literally sleeping with everyone. What a power move lol
  • Glad Peyton and Lindsey got to air their drama
  • Hahaha Chase showing up to date Peyton. What are the odds? Love seeing everyone again
  • Tim and Bevan got married?! Wild. What a small world lol
  • So Lucas and Lindsey’s wedding arrives and she comes to her senses and says no, we were all expecting their marriage to fall apart right? So at least it happened before they were officially married
  • Brooke wants to have a baby? Interesting
  • Oh Karen got back with Andy? Seems kind of lame, it would have been okay if she stayed a single mom with a child. She did it for Lucas ya know – strong independent woman and all that
  • I knew the babysitter was going to kidnap Jamie, it was only going to be a matter of time
  • And Dan showing up, isn’t this turning out to be quite the wild episode
  • I kind of figured Dan would have been following the nanny, I half expected the police to get him though – still wild
  • Brooke actually got a baby! I was half expecting her to hate being a mother but she got it going for her. So yay! Sad her boy toy couldn’t hang around though
  • Yas Nathan and Haley working things out I mean I don’t think divorce would have been right for them
  • Lucas still choosing Lindsey over Peyton…this is something I didn’t expect. I thought maybe he would have come to his senses but okay
  • Dan saying he has 6 months to live sounds pretty fake… I mean after everything that has been going on but we see what the tea is
  • So Dan really is going to die…but part of me wonders if he gets that heart transplant because he somehow keeps surviving no matter what
  • I feel so bad for Jamie when he saw his card in the trash, it was just so sad – HE IS SO LITTLE. I know why they are keeping Dan from him but it hurts to see him always being sad about it
  • Lucas going mad after her found out Lindsey was seeing someone else…yikes. I feel like I’ve always underestimated how he felt about her but I guess he really does care
  • Is Brooke gonna get with that surgeon because something seems to be brewing there or maybe I’m just wanting good things for her
  • Also Millicent and Mouth are the cutest ones out there, can’t even deny
  • Deb sleeping with Skills is actually hilarious and it still stands that Deb can be one of the best characters when she wants to be
  • Mouth quitting his job like a boss – showing them what he is going to be missing
  • Where is Lucas going? I need him to sort his life out also as if Brooke is in the running to be his Vegas bride? I don’t see it.
  • Talk about your karma, Dan getting hit by a car right outside the hospital…

So this is where we end things for another season.

I gotta say I will not be surprised if Dan somehow survives because like I’ve said that’s just how things are for him, though I feel like it is definitely time to close his storyline.

Lucas has been annoying me this season because he needs to choose a woman. I wish he would just get back with Peyton because Lindsey was nice and all but she doesn’t seem like the kind to be sticking around. I like that he was still there to be a friend to Brooke but that seemed to be the only thing he was good at this season.

I am loving seeing Nathan taking his life back and also being a good father, we love a character who has growth. It will be interesting to see what things will be like when he returns to basketball.

And with Mouth going to take a new job, is this him out for good? Like I said before I enjoy Mouth’s character and I will be sad if this is the last we see of him.

But we see what is next for everyone. I honestly couldn’t tell you where we go from here, this show has surprised me a lot so I’m just in to enjoy the ride. And as always I will be back with another season recap/thoughts post just like this one real soon.

~ Courtney x

Meeting up with Friends! (Via Animal Crossing)

~ Courtney Shek ~ Leave a comment

Even though we are all on lock down and are not able to see people in real life, there are lots of ways we can still talk and interact with people.

This past week I have been spending basically all my free time playing Animal Crossing and I’ve been able to spend lots of time with old friends and new.

I really love this aspect of Animal Crossing because it really helps fight the loneliness of being on lock down. I am thankful I am living with my boyfriend so I am not totally alone in this whole craziness but sometimes you need to talk to other people lol.

Please enjoy some cute screenshots of me and my friends living our best island lives in Animal Crossing. 🙂

Love Is Blind Season One Thoughts

~ Courtney Shek ~ Leave a comment

So I just finished watching Love Is Blind. I began watching it with my friend Jasmine while I was in London last weekend and I needed to know how things ended up so I continued to watch.

As expected, it is kind of a trashy reality show. I don’t usually watch these and try to avoid them, like I don’t watch other dating shows like Love Island because everyone talks about them so much. But this one sounded kind of bizarre and so I had to watch.

I’m going to share my general thoughts on the show and then talk about the couples who we followed up until the wedding days.

First of all, I like the idea behind the show. I mean falling in love without actually seeing someone, it’s interesting. But to go the full way and decide you want to marry a person without even knowing what they look like is kind of crazy. Especially when you are making the decision within 10 days. Now I know that they spent way more time with each other than what we saw but it’s still wild. Proposing to someone through a wall lol the height of romance.

Second, I guess it’s not a bad set up. I mean Netflix pays for your wedding, a flat to live in up until the wedding and a whole ass trip to Mexico. Sign me up lol. I mean we knew Netflix had money because of all the shows they produce in general, but this one really got me.

That being said, everyone’s wedding was in that one venue, minus Mark and Jessica’s, and I would feel a bit cheated if we all got married in the same place…plus I think it’s also weird to have your bachelor and bachelorette parties together. Normally these are things you just do with close friends and family, but then I suppose it makes sense budget wise if everyone does it all together and is easier to film.

And finally, what happens to everyone else in the pods? I read that some other couples got engaged but they didn’t have the budget to accommodate them too, but it’s still weird how we never hear from them again. I mean we saw some of them featured and it’s just weird we don’t know what happened to them. I presumed a lot of them didn’t match with someone, but I think we at least deserve to know what happened to LC because she was a big part of that Barnett love triangle situation.

So now those general things are out of the way let’s talk about our couples!

Cameron and Lauren

These guys were basically perfect. I didn’t believe it at first when I saw all the memes about them but as the show went on I could see it. I think they should be the ‘poster couple’ for this show. You know, the success story they brag about to get people to sign up because things went so well for them.

Sure they had their ups and downs as they integrated into the real world, and hesitated about getting married but things seem to be going super well for them now. They are super cute and even have a dog together. The perfect couple.

If you didn’t walk away from the show shipping them then I don’t know what you are doing, they are great.

Diamond and Carlton

Their situation could have been handled a lot better. I think Carlton should have been up front about his past in the beginning.

I can understand why Diamond was hesitant about their relationship after that because it seemed like Carlton purposely kept something from her. And I think things would have ended better if they could have talked about the situation.

Sadly, things did not work out they way and they left things on pretty hostile terms. It was good to see they had made amends by the reunion though. I also wasn’t expecting them both to get so much hate from the whole situation. I mean neither of them handled it the best but I guess they just keep learning from it.

I just don’t think that they deserved any hate from it in general, but I suppose people love to hate on other people because they can.

Kenny and Kelly

It was kind of obvious they weren’t going to get married. And not only because I spoiled it for myself by seeing something saying they mutually agreed not to get married.

I mean Kelly kept saying herself she wasn’t sure about the physical part of the relationship and they hadn’t had sex. I mean it’s totally fine not to rush into sex with your partner but it seemed like she was just avoiding it because she wasn’t attracted to Kenny in that way.

I’m also surprised that they were able to go through with filming the wedding and everything even though they both knew they weren’t going to go through with it. It’s wild, and I know it was probably for the drama but it just doesn’t seem right at the same time.

I think if the physical connection had been there for them they would have made a really cute couple. Although it seems like Kenny is thriving in a new relationship according to the reunion so we love that.

Amber and Barnett

I wasn’t sure about this one, I guess just because Barnett seemed super unsure about any of his relationships in the beginning.

That being said I actually think they do make a good couple, they compliment each other well. Though Barnett is super laid back and Amber is super not haha.

It’s interesting because I definitely thought that Amber’s debt was going to be a big issue between them, especially since she didn’t even have a stable job. I think it was kind of sneaky she kept that from him in the pods but I guess they worked it out.

Also at the alter I wasn’t sure if Barnett was going to say yes, he seems super easygoing and like just goes with the flow but marriage is a big thing just to ‘go with the flow’ with haha. But they seem like they happy so that’s cool.

Jessica and Mark

This was a hot mess. Mainly because from the start Jessica was doubting the whole relationship. I mean she should not have said yes from the beginning. It looked like she just didn’t want to be alone after being rejected by Barnett and so settled on Mark.

Then, when they were out of the pods and Jessica saw Barnett in person, you could tell she wasn’t happy. Like I get that Mark is not her type physically and Barnett is but she just did not handle her feelings well. Getting drunk and falling all over Barnett while being engaged to someone else is not a good look sweetie.

I think when Jessica watched herself back she also knew this. I just think it is wild it happened to begin with.

All the while, I felt bad for Mark who really wanted the whole thing to work. I mean I know he said there’s no hard feelings and they were open and honest with each other the whole time but it was still very messy.

I knew when it came to their wedding that Jessica was going to say no. I’m glad she made that decision because she was never going to be fully happy with Mark. Especially when she made every excuse not to be with him and even admitted she wasn’t there with the physical connection. I just think they should have called it quits earlier.

Giannina and Damian

I almost forgot but I knew I was missing a couple!

I was for sure thinking these two would have called it off sooner than they did. I mean it kind of seemed like they were constantly fighting about nothing. It felt like Giannina was constantly testing Damian in a kind of ‘if you can’t handle me at my worst, you don’t deserve me at my best’ kind of way. And it could have also been a lot of self-sabotage.

I give him props for being so sensible and level headed the whole time because it easily could have turned into them just yelling at each other all the time.

It’s also interesting that Giannina said yes at the wedding because I thought if anyone was going to say no it would have been her. But I think Damian thought rationally about it and he did the right thing.

Though now the two are back together and dating and I think it’s going well. I didn’t know if they would get back together after everything but I suppose something must be working for them. I guess now that they aren’t feeling the pressure to be married, it’s a lot easier for them to take things at their own pace. Plus they don’t have to live together anymore and maybe they need some space sometimes haha.

And so those were all my thoughts about Love is Blind. No one asked for them but I’m sharing them anyway because that’s what the internet is all about.

Will I continue to watch the show? I don’t know. I mean this season was kind of wild but at the same time not wild enough to keep me wanting to watch all the time. It’s kind of exhausting to watch five weddings in a row to be honest.

But I guess we see, I mean with the rate filming for things is being suspended right now who even knows when we will be getting a new season.

In the meantime I think it’s time for me to return to One Tree Hill. Might as well take advantage of being home before Animal Crossing comes out, not that I leave my house much in day to day life anyway haha.

~ Courtney x