Grey's Anatomy Obsessor

Okay so I realise that I haven't made a new post for almost a month now but firstly I didn't know what to write and then I got preoccupied due to my decision to start watching Grey's Anatomy, something I've been meaning to do for years but never got round to actually doing, and so apart from college that has been my main focus recently. However, after 2 and a half weeks of watching it at every opportunity I could, I finally finished all 8 full seasons and the 6 episodes of season 9 that have aired so far and now I am completely up to date and completely obsessed!

Set in Seattle this medical drama, named after the shows main protagonist Meredith Grey, is probably the only one of it's kind I've ever seen and definitely the best. It's combination of great cast members, story lines and slightly dark-at-times humour really makes this show what it is and has quickly made it one of my favourite shows of all time.

Over the years there's been many changes to the cast and although it can be very disconcerting at times when one of your favourite characters leaves or dies, Grey's Anatomy has somewhat mastered the art of always having a steady stream of new characters at the ready to step into their predecessors' shoes as the object of your affection.

Currently the show is on it's 9th season and earlier this year the 6 original cast members, who can be seen in the promotional poster above, all renewed their contracts for another 2 years which makes me very happy because that means that at least for these 2 years, I don't have to worry about there being no more Grey's! 

If you've never watched the show before I highly recommend to anyone and everyone that, even if it's just for a few episodes, you give it a try.

Truly, Mase.

Is Reality TV Dead?

For as long as I can remember there's always been some form of reality TV out there. Whether it was talent shows like Pop Idol, The X Factor or Britain's Got Talent... or even shows such as Big Brother where members of the public auditioned to be chosen as part of a select few, there's always been something.

Although most of these shows are still around today, it just doesn't seem to be the same as it used to. I don't know if it's simply because I've grown up and the appeal just isn't there for me anymore, or if these shows just aren't as good as they used to be. This seems especially poignant with all the new types of reality TV that are coming onto the scene, such as Geordie Shore, which over the past couple of years has quickly become a favourite amongst viewers. All of it does makes you wonder as to how much the old reality TV format is still working, especially with viewing figures decreasing.

When I think of talent shows nowadays all I can think of rather than actual talent is how it seems as though they're simply exploiting those with any kind of 'sob' story. As the years have gone on I've gotten increasingly bored of hearing about them regardless of how devastating and upsetting they're meant to be. It's not just me being a heartless person, it's the fact that they're shoved in your face from how much certain companies and corporations want to capitalise from it, that it's easy to become desensitised to it all.

I do think that some forms of reality TV are dead and that they should end rather than be tediously dragged out for years to come. What do you think though? IS reality TV dead?

Truly, Mase.

Personal Statement Blues

Piecing together the perfect personal statement is not easy. It's deemed as being the key ingredient as to whether or not a University offers you a place on their course, dependant on how well you present yourself through it. Although conveying exactly what you want to say in a precise manner comes relatively easy to some, it doesn't for me. For a while now I've been struggling to figure out what I want to say and exactly how I want to say it. I'm constantly finding myself writing things, deleting them to then re-write them all over again to just delete them once more, it's turning into a vicious cycle of not knowing how to portray myself. The thing with me is that I'm perpetually fearful of not being good enough (especially in terms of my writing techniques and skills considering how I want to go into Journalism) as well as the thought of getting no offers at all. When I envisioned doing my personal statement I did not picture myself having such a hard time trying to figure out how to fit everything into it, suffice to say that it is definitely a lot harder then I first imagined it to be. From here on out though I guess I'll just have to see what happens...

Truly, Mase.

American Horror Story: The Return

Finally after a long wait American Horror Story is back for it's second season. This time round though we'll be seeing all new changes, especially seeing as how this season is set in an Asylum. Although it was first thought that none of the original cast from season one would be returning, over time it proved to not be the case as a few familiar faces will once again be gracing us with their presence.

Due to Jessica Lange's highly praised performance last season, this year's is seemingly conceptualized around her. Her character is that of Sister Jude, the nun who runs the Asylum and a force to be reckoned with.

Jessica, however, is not the only main cast member from last season to return as Evan Peters is back as an accused serial killer and inmate of the Asylum who insists that he was abducted by aliens and did not do what he is accused of.

Only one episode may have aired for now, with the second airing in a few days, but a lot of the background and characters have already been introduced to us at this point and we already get a little bit of an idea as to how things will pan out over this coming season. Evidentially more is yet to come and if all goes to plan, this season could very well reach the high ratings and levels of praise that last season got. Definitely something to keep your eye on.

Truly, Mase.

Cushion Frenzy

In October's issue of Style at Home (@styleathomemag) there's a feature that comprises of 50 cushions from just £5, which I loved. Therefore, because of this (and because I have no life) I decided I myself would do something similar in terms of finding cushions that I really liked from multiple sources and with varying prices but all under £100. Unlike Style at Home however, I chose to pick just 10 cushions opposed to their 50.

1 - Tesco/£6.96
2 - H&M/£9.99
3 - Etsy/Approx £19.10

4 - Etsy/£28
5 - Culture Label/£28.60
6 - Ohh Deer/£30
7 - We Love Cushions/£34.99
8 -Zazzle/£54.40
9 - Heal's/£58
10 - Suzy Reed/£70.00

Some of the cushion designs that you can find if you take the time to actually look are really amazing. Out of this selection though, the New York skyline and Debbie Harry ones are my favourites but all would definitely be worth buying if I had the money.

At times nothing is more useful than a cushion. Whether it's to hide behind whilst watching a Horror or to place a plate on whilst having some food, they're a handy item to have lying around the house and at some point or another you'll find that they're going to come into use.

Truly, Mase.

Returning Shows

Most people who know me will know just how much TV I watch online and how they're predominately American shows (because I think there's a better variety than UK ones). Well this blog post is dedicated to some of the shows I really like that are returning for another season this week.

New Girl (returning for a 2nd season) - It's not an unknown fact as to how over the years I have had a strong dislike towards Zooey Deschanel but when this show first started I heard a lot of good things about it so I decided to see what all the fuss was about and was pleasantly surprised. The American sitcom was better than I thought it would be and although some of the humour was not to my taste I still thought it was, as a whole, very comical and highly entertaining. I still have a disliking towards Zooey, but after this I do have to say that it has lessened and I hope this coming season provides just as much entertainment as the last.

Scandal (returning for a 2nd season) - Considering this was created by Shonda Rhimes (creator of Grey's Anatomy and it's spin-off Private Practice) this had very high expectations when it debuted earlier this year. Personally though, I happened to stumble upon it by complete chance when I had nothing else to watch but after the first 20 minutes of the first episode I was completely hooked. The show is a political thriller series, which may not seem like your cup of tea but I strongly advise you to just give it a try because it's definitely worth it!

2 Broke Girls (returning for a 2nd season) - Over the years I've grown to love Kat Dennings and she certainly does not disappoint in this American sitcom filled with the dry humour and blunt comedy that I absolutely love. This is one of the shows I'm most excited about returning and I encourage anyone who loves a bit of dry humour and blunt comedy, like myself, to give it a watch because this is a show you will definitely not be disappointed by!

Modern Family (returning for a 4th season) - This American comedy series is absolutely brilliant! Yesterday it picked up the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series for the 3rd year in a row and it is well deserved, this show is comedy gold! It's something different and very up-to-date with today's society. Until I began watching it I hadn't seen anything like it. I highly recommend this show to anyone with a sense of humour, I guarantee you will love it!

Criminal Minds (returning for an 8th season) - Anyone who knows me will know just how much I adore this show. It was only about 3 years ago that I actually started to watch it, but I remember spending days in my room catching up with the past seasons until I was completely up-to-date because it was just so good! This season see's the replacement of one of the main characters due to their departure from the show at the end of the last season and although I'm really looking forward to the way in which this new character will be incorporated into the show I'm a little dubious at the same time, because of how a previous attempt at introducing a new character as a replacement for a main one didn't work. I'm sort of willing it to work out this time though but we'll just have to see how it goes. I highly recommend this show to anyone, anyone at all. Words can't sum up just how excited I am for it's return.

As the coming months go by I will continue to keep you updated on other shows returning and also shows that are premiering for the first time and what I think of them, but for now you should give all of these a little look!

Truly, Mase.

A Little Treat

Green Crew Jumper - Matalan

Canvas Rucksack - Matalan

After making it through my first week back at college I thought what better way to celebrate than to go out and treat myself to some new things (stupid excuse really but I fancied something new). It's not something I do often because I'm usually that person who just saves and saves but this time I thought I'd have a little splurge. The rucksack was purely an impulse buy that I literally grabbed as I was walking to the till whereas the jumper I initially didn't really like, but thought I'd try it on anyway, it grew on me after trying it on so I decided to just go for it and buy it and then when I got home and tried it on again I just started to love it so much so that I'm even considering going back next week to get it in a different colour. Both items were quite cheap, at £12 each I thought I couldn't really pass them up. I was surprised at Matalan though because I've been many times in the past and nothing's ever caught my eye so I've never rated the shop as somewhere I'd primarily look for clothes but after finding these two cheap yet very cheerful pieces, I'll definitely consider it more in the future.

Truly, Mase.