The 5 Best Movies Made Before 1960 on Netflix Right Now

I love old movies, especially really old movies made during the Golden Age of Hollywood. There's something so glamorous about them. Maybe it's a combination of the incredible sets that were constructed in the studios, the beautiful costumes the actors wore, and the exaggerated but never silly acting style of the movies' stars. A lot of great old movies have come and gone since the beginning of Netflix's streaming service, but here are a few favorites that are available on Netflix as of May 2015...

• His Girl Friday (1940) is one of two movies in this list starring Cary Grant, one of the most charming leading men to ever grace the silver screen. As great in comedies as he was in dramas, Grant is especially good as a determined newspaper editor trying to win back his wife and star reporter Hildy, played by Rosalind Russell. Full of clever, fast-paced dialogue, His Girl Friday holds up seventy five years later as a reminder that the best comedies are usually the smart ones too.
• When I was in college I took a literature and film class that focused on the works of Alfred Hitchcock. I had seen one Hitchcock film when I was a teenager but I didn't take much notice. I don't know what was wrong with me because now Hitchcock is probably my favorite director ever. The Lady Vanishes (1938) is one of Hitchcock's earlier Hollywood films, but his distinct directing style is as evident in this film as it is in later films like North by Northwest. After meeting a kind elderly woman on a train, young socialite Iris (Margaret Lockwood) is stunned when the woman disappears and no one knows where she is. With the help of a musician (Michael Redgrave) Iris tries to find out the woman's whereabouts, discovering that her new friend is perhaps not who she said she was all along.
• Sunset Boulevard (1950), like The Lady Vanishes, has its fair share of suspense but unlike the latter film Sunset Boulevard is all drama. William Holden stars as struggling screenwriter Joe who meets an older actress Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) ready to make her big screen comeback. As Desmond becomes more and more obsessed with him, Joe is torn between the comfort of living with Norma and the stress of being the object of her affection. Beautifully shot in black and white, Sunset Boulevard is a classic film noir that has stood the test of time and is as shocking now as it was when it premiered in 1950. 
• Remember when Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks meet at the top of the Empire State Building in Sleepless in Seattle? That was a reference to the classic romantic film An Affair to Remember (1957), starring the elegant Deborah Kerr and the aforementioned Carey Grant. After meeting on a boat and falling in love, Nickie (Grant) and Terry (Kerr) promise to reunite at the top of the Empire State Building. Like all of the best love stories, the couple faces obstacles that threaten to ruin their relationship but inevitably discover they've never stopped loving each other. This one is a great date movie but beware--it may leave you shedding a few tears at the end.
• All About Eve (1950) is Bette Davis's crowning glory. She stars as faded movie star Margo who fears being overshadowed by younger, upcoming actress Eve. Like Sunset Boulevard, All About Eve shows the dark side of fame and show business, including the all-too-relevant issue of ageism against women in Hollywood. Davis's performance is so nuanced and delicate, she can simultaneously display disgust and pleasure in one single look. She's that good.

What are your favorite "old" movies? Let me know with your comments. :)

-Greer

The Best Shows on Netflix for Every Mood

With the variety of TV shows available on Netflix nowadays it's easy to get a little overwhelmed. You want to watch all the good stuff without ever being disappointed by a show that goes downhill after only one season. You also want something that reflects how you're feeling (unless you're really sad. If that's the case then you might just want to binge on Friends again.). Lucky for you and maybe not so lucky for me, I'm a Netflix addict. Comedies, dramas, shows about blind lawyers/vigilantes with incredible sensory abilities, you name it. So here are some of my suggestions for the best shows to watch on Netflix as of May 2015...

If you're in need of a quick pick-me-up and need something silly and fun to watch:

• Parks and Recreation, a mockumentary style comedy starring Amy Poehler as an ambitious and optimistic director of the Parks and Recreation department in a small Indiana town, is a lot like The Office (The U.S. version) but even sillier and more fun. While Steve Carell's Michael Scott is difficult to watch because he does so many cringe worthy things, Leslie is a breath of fresh air. She's smart, funny, and her positivity not only inspires her coworkers on the show but the show's fans in general. Though the show does have plot lines that weave through a number of the shows in a season, you start watching the show at any point in any season and get caught up really fast. Along with a strong female lead and some great scripts, the show also has stellar supporting actors that really make the show.

Other recommendations for similar comedies: 30 Rock, Young & Hungry, The IT Crowd

If you want a drama that is smart and suspenseful:

• If you have yet to be introduced to the genius typically found in a modern British drama, then meet Luther. Angry but clever "copper" John Luther, played by the talented and charming Idris Elba, is the police's most powerful weapon. He solves almost every crime he is assigned but his methods are controversial. When a suspect charged with horrific crimes accidentally dies, Luther's ways come into question. Also featuring Ruth Wilson as the brilliant murderer he is charged with arresting in the first season, Luther is a smart, well-written show that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end of the series. 

Other recommendations for similar dramas: Sherlock, Daredevil, Broadchurch

If you're wanting something heartfelt but not too heavy:

• Grace and Frankie debuted on Netflix a little over a week ago, but I am already obsessed. A little slow at the beginning, the show really picks up around the third episode. Starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin (who both also starred in 9 to 5, available on Netlfix) as frenemies who are forced to re-examine their lives after their husbands declare their love for each other. Though the supporting characters' stories are a little vague and roughly executed at times, what makes the show worthwhile is the sweet relationship between Grace (Fonda), an uptight retired businesswoman and Frankie (Tomlin), a freespirited, pot-smoking artist.

Other recommendations for similar shows: The Wonder Years, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

What are some of your favorite shows on Netflix? Let me know in the comments section below. :)

Ipsy Unboxing! May 2015

I am really excited about the products I received in my Glam bag today! Ipsy has yet to disappoint me, and I don't think this month will be any different. I received two cosmetic products this month, a cosmetic brush, a hair product and a skin care item. The items were a good mix of brands I like and brands I have yet to try.

The theme is "Jetsetter" so the bag design is travel-themed. It's canvas or canvas-like material with a picture of a lipstick and a cute saying printed on the front. It reminds me of something Benefit would give away at Ulta when you spend so much money on cosmetics, which is pretty cool since Benefit has some cool, cheeky ads.

• The item I'm most excited about is the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Lip Pencil in Ozone, which is clear. I have been needing a lip pencil for forever now. The sample also comes with little foil samples of the Revolution High-Color Lipgloss. I would have taken pictures of the lipgloss samples too, but at the time I didn't realize they were samples of the actual product, not just the colors. I'm glad I realized that before I threw away the packaging. Even though I've heard mixed reviews on the lip pencil, I'm always up to try something new!
• My second product is a leave-in conditioner, the Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray. As much as I love hair products, I have a hard time finding ones that work on my thick hair, so usually they're a hit or a miss for me. 
• I love that my Ipsy bag usually has at least one full size product, and this month's is the BellaPierre Cosmetics Waterproof Mineral Gel Eyeliner Pencil in Ebony. I already swatched the product on my hand and had a hard time washing it off with just soap and water, so I'm guessing the staying power is pretty good. I don't wear a lot of eyeliner (black, brown, or any other color), but I'm trying to experiment a little more, so maybe this eyeliner will help. 
• I love, love, love the last cosmetic brush I received from Ipsy, so I'm sure I'll like the Luxie Beauty Tapered Blending Eye Brush 205. All of the bristles seem to be intact, so I don't think I'll have to worry about it shedding. My only complaint? It's very similar to the brush I received a couple of months ago. 
• Between Birchbox, Ipsy, and the seasonal Walmart Beauty Box, I get a lot of skin products. Usually I feel so-so about them, but every once in a while I'll try something I love, like the Supergoop CC Cream that came in one of my Birchbox boxes a few months ago. I'm hoping that the Amie Morning Dew Matte-Finish Moisturizer will be one of those awesome products, especially since I have oily skin and I need all of the "matte-ness" I can get.

What did you think of the products in your Ipsy box? Do you have a beauty box subscription? Let me know with your comments below! :)

-Greer

Fashion Basics

Fashion Basics by grecbarn featuring pointy toe pumps

Mela Loves London black knee length dress, $24 / Rails rayon top / Office pointy toe pumps, $100 / Atmos Here black cross body handbag, $19 / Michael Kors lavender jewelry / NARS Cosmetics lips makeup

How I Feel About My April Birchbox...3 Weeks Later

In the five months I've received my Birchbox I've never been disappointed. If the samples weren't very large, the products were always really unique, and I discovered a new, cool makeup or hair brand. If the samples weren't that out of the ordinary, there was always one product that was worth the price of the box. This month was a little different; most of the samples are really small, and I really only care for one of the products.

This the rundown on the products in my April Birchbox:

• I'll start out with my favorite this month: the Jouer Lip and Cheek Tint in Petal. I had never tried a cream blush before, but I was really impressed with how well the product blended into my skin. You can easily layer it for a more intense look or just use a small dab for a soft flush. Though a lot of Birchbox samples are small, this one is particularly small, so we'll see how long it lasts.
• I've been wanting to try Whish products for a while now, but I was disappointed in the Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream. It's supposed to be very moisturizing, but when comparing it to my usual   $3 shave cream I didn't notice much difference. I also didn't care much for the blueberry scent that smelled an awful lot like blueberry yogurt. I like blueberry yogurt, but I don't want to smell it when I'm in the shower.
• My next two products are a duo: the Beaver Professional Hydro Nutritive Moisturizing Shampoo and Repairing Conditioner. Both products, when used together, are supposed to nourish and strengthen your hair. I only used these products once, so I can't say if they would or wouldn't "nourish" and "repair" over time, but one time wasn't enough to tell any difference. 
• My last product is probably the most interesting one I received, the Wei Manuka Bee Venom Mask. An anti-aging treatment made with real purified manuka bee venom, the product works like any other topical mask. When I washed it off my face, my face felt tight and dry. The next morning, however, I did notice a significant difference in my skin; it was smoother and tighter. I haven't decided whether the uncomfortable tightness I felt in my skin afterward  is worth the result.

What did you think of your April Birchbox? Did you receive any of the same products this month? What do you like/dislike about them? Let me know with your comments below!

-Greer

Art Inspired Fashion

Art Inspired Fashion by grecbarn featuring antique gold jewelry

Colorful dress / Kenzo embellished sweatshirt / Alice + Olivia pointed toe shoes / Natasha Couture chain handle handbag, $165 / Bling Jewelry sterling silver band ring / Betsey Johnson antique gold jewelry

Beauty Reviews: Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion

I always admire people who have diligent beauty routines, especially when it comes to skin care. Though I do have a cleansing routine I follow when it comes to my face, I'm really lax when it comes to taking care of the rest of my body. I have an acne-reducing body wash I use, but I almost never moisturize afterward. The result? My skin is dry everywhere except for my face. So when I received a coupon for the Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion in my spring Walmart Beauty Box I thought I would try it out. Anything that can potentially shorten my beauty routine (That's what they're advertising anyway.) and give me silkier skin in the process sounds like a winner to me.

Apparently this lotion has been around for some time, but recently they added some new versions: one with cocoa butter for normal to dry skin, one with shea butter for dry skin, and one with honey for normal to dry skin. I chose a happy medium in the shea butter version since my skin definitely isn't "normal" but it's not "very" dry either. I bought the product for a little less than six dollars, not including the one dollar off coupon I used. 

I applied the body lotion after I used my body wash, like the instructions stated. Because your skin is wet when you apply it, it goes on faster than a typical body lotion. You immediately rinse it off and don't have to wait for it to soak into your skin either. When I dried off my skin did feel softer, and when I woke up this morning my skin had retained that softness. It doesn't quite compare to the result of completely covering yourself with your favorite lotion, but I did save some time and  actually "moisturized," a pro to the product in itself.

My only con for the in-shower lotion? The lotion is so slick you have to clean your shower or bathtub immediately after using it, otherwise you have one big tripping hazard in your bathroom. 

Have you tried the Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion? What are some your go-to products when you're in a rush? Let me know with your comments below!

-Greer