Category Archives: Television

Anime Club

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Anime Club

Hi! My brother, Andrew, is an avid fan of anime and turned me on to so many great shows like Demon Slayer, Black Clover, and The Promised Neverland to name a few. We are always gabbing about our current anime line up, what we plan on watching next, and the releases of new seasons of our favorites. And, now, we have a brand new group to share in our love for anime too! There are so many wonderful local libraries in my neck of the woods that offer amazing programs for adults, teens, and children. One of the newest additions being an anime club for adults that meets once a month. We have been going regularly for about four months now and we both look forward to it because it is a total blast!

At anime club we watch a few episodes of a show while enjoying a Japanese snack, have a discussion, and then do a craft themed around whatever show we were introduced to. For two hours, we are immersed in our world of imagination with like minded individuals and it’s such a treat. It’s also a thrill to check out new shows that we might not have watched before. For example, during our second meeting we watched the first three episodes of My Hero Academia and I was immediately hooked. Since then, I have been watching an episode every morning while I eat my breakfast and I just can’t get enough. It is SO good and I’m already halfway through season three. I look forward to my viewings every day. 😀

While some animes have been a hit with me at our meetings, some of them are a miss and that’s truly okay! Last week we dabbled in Jujutsu Kaisen which I have always been interested in but never bothered watching. During our screening, I learned that it was not my bag whatsoever and it was no harm no foul because I could move onto something different. Regardless of if I would continue the show on my own or not, it’s so exciting to watch something new. To experience different styles, stories, and characters and getting into the nitty gritty of what we liked and didn’t with our group allows for the best conversations. I am already chomping at the bit for our August get together!

Long live libraries!!! Thanks to Anime Club my brother and I have both made new friends, found new shows, and get to spend time with people who share our passion. It is just the best!

Do you attend any programs at your local library? What kind of events does your library offer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

What Have We Been Watching?

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What Have We Been Watching?

Hi! As soon as I get home from work, mine and Johnny’s routine goes like this: Chat about our day and then turn on our shows! There is literally nothing better than sinking into the couch with my main squeeze and watching one of our programs together and I revel in it every day. It’s so nice to kick my feet up, relax, and let the stress of the work week melt away as we get lost in something good and it is one of my favorite things in the world. ❤ Our current lineup consists of the following:

One of my client’s all time favorite shows is Supernatural and the odds and ends I have seen were intriguing. So much so, that Johnny and I recently decided to give it a go. There are fifteen seasons of Supernatural and after watching just one episode together, we couldn’t believe we hadn’t watched it before! Supernatural is the saga of ghost hunters and brothers, Sam and Dean, who travel across the country solving murders with a paranormal aspect. It is basically CSI but with ghosts and we are so there for it! This show is hilarious and has amazing eye candy a la Dean and we are completely hooked. Also, if you are a fan of the show and didn’t know – the guy who plays Dean is in a band called Radio Company and they freaking RULE. You are in for a treat if you give them a listen because holy cow Dean has some PIPES!!!

Johnny and I simply adore a workplace comedy and enjoyed watching and rewatching the one season Blockbuster on Netflix. This show revolves around the last Blockbuster left standing and the irony is not lost that Netflix drove Blockbuster out of business lol. I so wish that this show didn’t get cancelled because it really is fun. The cast is an utter delight, the laughs are nonstop, and seeing a Blockbuster again hits right in the nostalgia. Highly recommend if you are looking for a quick and funny watch but don’t get too attached lol our viewings have only left us wanting more!

We are avid fans of From and, I have to admit, we found season four to be kind of a dud. However, we went through serious withdrawals after it ended and decided to rewatch it as we eagerly await the fifth and final season. I’m really glad we are because I didn’t realize how much I had forgotten about the early seasons. So much so, that it kind of feels like watching it again for the first time. It is SO crazy to be back at the beginning and see how young everyone looks and pick up on things that we missed from our first experience with the show. I am highly disappointed in season four, but maybe it will be a bit better the second time around.

Watching movies doesn’t happen as often at chez nous because Johnny always falls asleep during them lol. But watching Obsession was a must as soon as it was released on Peacock! I hadn’t stopped thinking about it since I saw it in theaters and was chomping at the bit for him to see it too. Granted, we did pause halfway through so he could take a nap (no surprise there) but he loved it just as much as I did when we finished it. We both agreed that Obsession is, easily, one of the best recent horror movies out there and it was a triumph. The story line? Gripping. The acting? Unbelievable. The scares? Can’t be beat! I could watch it again and again and not grow tired of it. In fact, maybe I’ll give it a rewatch this weekend while Johnny snoozes!

TV time is the best time at my place and I can’t wait to see what Sam and Dean of Supernatural get into when I get home today!! 😀

What are you currently watching? Do you have any recommendations? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

What Have We Been Watching?

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What Have We Been Watching?

Hello!! There is literally nothing better to me and Johnny than sitting down after work and watching TV. It’s our favorite way to unwind after a long day and I always look forward to our evening entertainment. We have a handful of shows that we have been cycling through and maybe you’ll enjoy them too! Let’s discuss:

My Hero Academia:

Johnny is not an anime fan in the slightest but I SO am. In fact, my brother and I recently started going to an anime club at the library to watch new shows and chat it up with likeminded individuals. During our last meeting we watched the first few episodes of My Hero Academia and I freaking loved it. So much so that I have been watching an episode every morning since while I eat my breakfast.

Long story short, the anime is basically like a superhero comic book. Children are born with powers or “quirks” as they call them and spend their days training to become a pro superhero. Our protagonist, Deku, was born with no quirks but it’s his dream to become a hero even without a special power. My Hero Academia follows his from zero to hero plot line and it is a delight! Action packed, hilarious, and heartwarming – this anime has got it all!

Farmer Wants A Wife:

Lololol. Johnny and I originally started watching season one of Farmer Wants A Wife as a joke. Then, somewhere along the way, it turned into one of our favorite dating shows. We are currently watching season four as it airs and it’s exactly what you would expect if you have seen the show before… Girls in terrible outfits trying to woo a farmer through hard work on their land and competing for fleeting moments of their attention. Is it stupid? Absolutely! Are we going to continue watching it for forever? ABSOLUTELY.

The Last Kingdom:

We watched The Last Kingdom when we first started dating and both agree that is superior to Game Of Thrones. Yeah, I said it! We decided to start watching it again from the beginning so we can finally watch the movie that ties the series together. The Last Kingdom is all about the Saxons and Danes as they fight for power across England. Every episode is full of surprises and the man candy of Uhtred is especially nice! I have forgotten a majority of this show and it feels like watching it for the first time. I am so glad we’re giving it another go and love our nightly viewings of an episode or two.

From:

I have wanted to watch the horror series From for ages and we finally began watching it about a month ago. Mere seconds into the first episode we were completely in and devoured the first three seasons. Now, sadly, we have to wait for the weekly new episode installment of season four and it sucks. I just want to binge watch it all!

The premise of From goes like this… A family is driving to a vacation destination when they come across a tree in the road causing them to turn around and find another way. Rather than hitting the highway, they come across a rundown town and continue to return to it. Eventually, they realize they are stuck with the townspeople in a place they can’t leave. What’s more, monsters come out at night slaying everyone in their path. From is twisty, turny, and harrowing and it is my new favorite show. The acting is sublime, the plot is so intriguing, and I’m constantly on pins and needles for what’s going to happen next!

It’s always fun to dive into a new series and you are in for a treat if you give any of these shows a go. They are great!

What are you currently watching? What was the last show you binge watched? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

What Have We Been Watching?

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What Have We Been Watching?

Hi! It has been colder than a MF in the A-K-Rowdy and it’s literally painful to be outside. Snow + single digit temps = me not leaving the house. Wow, I’m great at math! This is the kind of weather to do nothing but stay inside during and I’m honestly so fine with it. I can always get down with hibernating AKA watching TV all day, cuddling in a heated blanket, and only getting up from the couch when I require the bathroom lol. We have definitely been glued to the TV and will dethaw in the spring. Until then, we’ll stay posted up watching the following:

My blogging bestie and I are not only Gemini Twins but TV Twins too. We love watching the same documentaries, reality shows, and just pure fun shows together then spending all Saturday afternoon discussing them over FaceTime. During our last chat she did the best job that she could have at describing The Traitors to me and the conversation ended with “you just have to watch it”. So we did and we are addicted! I am a huge fan of a good whodoneit and that is The Traitors to the T. A houseful of C-list celebrities with three “traitors” and the remainder being “faithfuls”. It is up to the faithfuls to determine who the traitors are as they “murder” off the housemates one by one. There are challenges, round table detective sessions, and the incomparable Alan Cumming as the host. This show is a complete blast and they are actually casting regular people in the next season. I plan on applying so maybe you’ll see me on there! Hey, it doesn’t hurt to try. 😀

If you follow me on Facebook (Sarah Mushenheim) then you already KNOW that I am obsessed with MTV’s Teen Wolf series. It’s so damn good and I genuinely can’t believe that I haven’t given it the attention it deserves until now. My client got me hooked and I look forward to watching an episode or two every morning. Long story short: Teenage boy gets bitten by werewolf, teenage boy falls in love with girl, girl’s family are werewolf hunters. It might sound like your classic run of the mill show directed to teenagers but it’s very dark and very well done. The actors are also excellent! Hello baby Dylan O’Brien and holy hot-tastic Tyler Hoechlin. On a separate note, I can’t wait to see Dylan O’Brien in Send Help – my mind was blown when I realized it was Stiles!

Before bed Johnny and I will usually put on Superstore, Abbott Elementary, or The Office. We have also enjoyed watching Stumble, Animal Control, and St. Denis Medical. Johnny suggested The Goldbergs as our new pre-bed show and it has just been okay for me. He knows how much I adore Wendi McLendon-Covey in legit everything she does (St. Denis Medical included!) and thought it would be a good match as she plays the Goldberg family matriarch. Despite my deep love for her and Jeff Garlin as the father, there is just something about this show that I can’t get into. Normally, the shows we like to watch have me in stitches no matter how many times I’ve seen each episode. The Goldbergs is lucky to get one chuckle every time we watch it! I am a fan of the parents and, of course, Big Tasty but the rest of the cast leaves a lot to me desired and also the kid that plays Adam annoys me so much lol. Not my favorite and wouldn’t recommend it!

It’s no surprise that your favorite armchair detective delights every time a new documentary is out and my blogging bestie and I watch them immediately. We recently finished season two of Shiny Happy People, and breezed through the new Elizabeth Smart documentary on Netflix as well as The Cult of The Real Housewife. All of them were great and the perfect bite size documentaries to watch in one sitting as they’re either three episodes long or a little longer than an hour and a half. Unfortunately, we watch the new docs so quickly that we run out and are left with nothing. We would love some recommendations – the dishier the better. 😀

It’s so nice to return home from work, put a show on, and relax the evening away with our beloved TV to keep us company! ❤

What have you been watching lately? Are there any new shows you are looking forward to? (I can’t wait for the America’s Next Top Model documentary!) I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

What Have We Been Watching?

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What Have We Been Watching?

Hi! Johnny and I have basically every streaming service known to mankind and it is both a blessing and a curse. Does anyone feel like there are endless options on streaming services and seemingly no options? Lol, that’s usually where we’re at and just end up putting on comfort shows. However, our tune has recently changed and we have been watching several new to us shows that we are really enjoying. HBO Mondays have become our tradition and I look forward to it every week! Let’s discuss:

This show is so weird lol. Long story short, a guy with a big new job gives a fantastic introductory speech. He sits down afterwards and his chair breaks. Then, he slowly descends into madness and unlocks a huge conspiracy about the chair company that was the source of his embarrassment. It’s usually pretty funny with a VERY healthy dose of “wtf?”. I think Johnny is liking this show more than me but it is entertaining enough and already has a second season locked down. Whatever happens is sure to be ridiculous and also big shout out to The Chair Company as its location is in Canton, Ohio. That’s about twenty minutes from me!

The piece de resistance of our TV time has got to be Welcome To Derry, a prequel to Stephen King’s “It”. Now, this is what I’m talking about! As soon as I get home on Mondays, I cannot wait to watch Welcome To Derry. The episodes are scary, the kids it revolves around are adorable and hilarious, and the acting simply can’t be beat. The performances in this show are absolutely mesmerizing. Chris Chalk as Dick Hallorann steals every scene he is in and just pulls you into the horror of the situation at hand. If you are looking for an excellent horror series then I truly can’t recommend Welcome To Derry enough.

Johnny and I are avid fans of NBC workplace comedies and one of our favorites is Superstore. We have watched it more times than we can count and it will never not be funny to us. We gave The Paper a try, was thoroughly unimpressed, then went back to Superstore lol. However, we needed something more and have recently started watching St. Denis Medical. This is more like it! It’s essentially Superstore vibes set in an emergency room at the hospital. In fact, some of the cast members of Superstore are in it! It’s just nice to put a show on and have a laugh and St. Denis Medical is definitely scratching that itch.

There are so many things that my sweet husband does for me but you will never catch him watching reality TV with me! That is a hobby that is uniquely my own and I revel in it. During my Covid stint, I watched a lot of Gypsy Rose – Life After Lockup and really enjoyed it. No matter how you feel about her, it’s just interesting to watch Gypsy learn about normal life, her instant rise as a celebrity, and how she deals with it all. I loves me a prison or post prison show and this one is a friendly reminder that you can always turn your life around!

There is nothing better to me than cozying up on the couch with snacks, my main squeeze, and a good show. I don’t think I’ll be complaining about having nothing to watch for a while!

What are you currently watching? What is one of your guilty pleasure TV shows? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Polka Premiere

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Polka Premiere

Hello! My Johnny and I absolutely LOVE Polka music and are lucky enough to be dear friends with the singer and accordionist from the Chardon Polka Band, Jake. For those of you who are not hip, the Chardon Polka Band is one of the best touring Polka parties all across America. Johnny used to play shows with them way back in the day and I have known them through work for the past decade. It is so exciting to watch them live out their Polka dreams and we just adore them!

The Chardon Polka Band has a phenomenal show that airs nationally on PBS called The World According To Polka and its third season premiere was this past Friday. Over one year ago, Jake contacted us asking if Johnny might play some tunes on their very first episode that revolves around trains. We were thrilled and took a drive to a historic village in Burton, Ohio to record his part of the episode. Take a look and be sure to peep my TikTok for some snippets:

As it has been a phat minute since then we honestly kind of forgot about it lol. Until we received an email inviting us to the season premiere party at the PBS station in Kent, Ohio. The festivities were this past Thursday and it was a blast!! Johnny and I went out for a celebratory dinner at a super cool restaurant down the road from the station called Mike’s Place. We enjoyed every bite of our meals and rolled into the shindig both stuffed with food AND feelings!

At the party, we got to mingle with all of our friends from the Chardon Polka Band, PBS employees, musicians, and diehard Polka enthusiasts. There were pretzels and pierogies, dancers, and Dyngus Day Festival character actors and the station was radiating with pure joy. After we got settled into the auditorium, it was time for the show to begin. It started with some clips of all of the great work that PBS does in our local community and then Jake took the stage to speak about what the Chardon Polka Band has been up to and presented a larger than life trailer of The World According To Polka. We were then treated to a viewing of the first episode of their new music education show on PBS and the season premiere of The World According To Polka with my Johnny.

The Polka Train episode was so wonderful from start to finish. The Chardon Polka Band visited several train related locations in Northeast Ohio. This included a model train museum, a one eighth scale train ride in a Metro Park, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, and the last stop in Burton where we filmed. Seeing Johnny on screen was simply amazing and I was so incredibly proud of him. He gave extensive knowledge to the two songs they were performing together and why the train motif was so popular in music upon its invention. Johnny played guitar and sang in both songs and when each of them were over the whole audience went wild. Everyone sitting by us acted like they were sitting by a celebrity and it was just so freaking cool! ❤

Being able to take part in this season premiere party was such a gift. The Chardon Polka Band does so much good everywhere they go and we are so thankful that Johnny got to share in that. Be sure to tune into The World According To Polka every Friday on PBS and give the Chardon Polka Band a listen. You will love them as much as we do!

Has something exciting happened to you recently? What is your favorite show on PBS? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Bluey Paint Kit

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Bluey Paint Kit

Hello!! One of my nieces is almost a birthday girl and I can’t wait to celebrate! Last year, she was all about Gabby’s Dollhouse (And still is!) but this past year, she has turned into Bluey’s number one fan. TJMaxx always has beaucoup Bluey in the children’s department so I knew just where to go to pick up her prezzies. I got her new Bluey duds, an interactive Bluey toy, and a light up Bluey figurine to paint. Upon further inspection of the figurine, I thought that it might be too involved for her to do so I decided to paint it really nicely myself. I worked on it all of this past weekend and thought it turned out so good minus when the light is turned on. It looks like garbage then, which is kind of a bummer! Check it out:

^^^ UGH -_-

Painting this figurine was truly a labor of love and I mean that very seriously because it took for freaking ever lol. When I first started applying the acrylic paint, it was going on really thin and chunky. I also learned that it would be necessary to paint it in parts so there was always a place with dried paint to hold onto. Once the first layer was fully on, it was obvious that I would need to repaint it again… and again… and again. I ended up repainting this statue of Bluey’s loving mom and dad FOUR times in total and it definitely needed it. The areas that specifically had darker colors like the deep blues on Bluey’s dad didn’t even come close to being how it should look until the fourth attempt.

I was so happy I was satisfied with the end result by the time my fourth go around was complete because there was literally nothing else I could do. All of the paint was long gone at that point! I hate to toot my own horn, but I think that my weekend painting project turned out fabulously. Even Johnny was impressed and I was just pleased as punch. The real kicker, though, was when the batteries were in and the green and red lights began to alternate. Because WTF?! You can see Every. Single. Paint stroke and then some. It’s sort of creepy actually lol. On the bright side, sans light it looks just right and that’s good enough for me! 😀

As time consuming and sometimes frustrating as this project was, it warmed my cold bitter heart to make something special for my niece. I hope she loves it!

What was your favorite show growing up? Do you have any diehard Bluey kiddos? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

American Murder: Gabby Petito Documentary

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American Murder: Gabby Petito Documentary

Hello! Sundays are always a lazy day with my Johnny. Typically, we’ll watch a few shows or a movie together and he will spend the remainder of the day snoozing away. After he heads back to bed, I get free reign of the TV and watch whatever my little heart desires. This past Sunday, I chose to watch the new Netflix documentary, American Murder: Gabby Petito. I’m sure all of you can recall when this tragedy went completely viral and the documentary truly broke my heart. Before we begin, I am going to place a trigger warning on this post for domestic violence and mental abuse. Now, let’s discuss:

A significant portion of this documentary featured Gabby’s interactions with boyfriend/murderer, Brian Laundrie, as she attempted to start a travel blog on van life. It was harrowing to watch. Brian was a rain cloud over such a bright young woman and while she tried to shine, he was sulking. Everything he did was an attempt to extinguish her fire and he simply refused to give a strong woman his support in her efforts to make a name for herself. It felt eerily similar to a past relationship of mine.

I felt compelled to write about this because NO ONE should have the power over you to direct where your life is going to take you. This is important for everyone to hear – especially those who are trying to carve a name out for themselves online. My ex loved to monitor all of my innocent online interactions and would hold them against me. It got to the point where I didn’t talk to any of my friends or go on outings without his permission, amongst a plethora of other BS. It was so mentally draining that I didn’t care about much of anything, even my writing. That hurt so much because blogging and social media was always something I could turn to and it would make me feel better. When that security blanket was taken away I was left with nothing. No friends, no self esteem, and literally no motivation to try to make anything better to prevent arguments. It sucked.

Watching Gabby and Brian together instantly took me back to those dark times because their relationship hit so close to home. I blessedly got out of that relationship and, sadly, there are people who aren’t so lucky like Gabby. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is: If you are noticing these glaring warning signs in your own partner, then you are not experiencing real love. Love gives and receives and it doesn’t take until there’s nothing left. Love is supportive, kind, and should never make you feel less than amazing. Everyone deserves to be loved and to shine in any medium they so choose. It could be online, as an all star at your job, or basking in the warmth of friends, family, and community. Anyone who tells you or makes you feel otherwise is a liar.

If you or a friend are struggling, there is help. Even if you feel like your voice has been silenced, use it. You aren’t crazy, you aren’t wrong in your feelings, and if your gut instinct feels off – you are one million percent right.

What are you currently watching? What are your thoughts on this documentary if you have seen it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

All 5 Dances!!!!

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All 5 Dances!!!!

Howdy!! Something that Johnny and I take a lot of joy in is getting matching t-shirts with each other, particularly shirts that are worn in TV shows and movies we love. We have Pablo Cruise baseball tees from Step Brothers, a subliminal reference to Flight Of The Conchords, as well as a happy birthday wish from Superstore. Recently, we have been working our way through the show Community for the second time and we just knew that we had to get one of the T-shirts featured on the show. It was a long time coming because I remember saying we needed it the first time we watching Community when we started dating. Our Ts arrived in the mail this week and we are ecstatic:

In case you haven’t seen or heard of it, Community is a comedy that’s set in a community college and has a cast of characters typical to what you would find on a real campus: Senior citizens, high school burnouts, and those with no direction in life whatsoever. As a proud graduate from Cuyahoga Community College, it’s a show that speaks to me because it brings back so many fond memories while I was a student. From Puppy Hour at the library during exam week to one of my fellow interns that would dip out on every shift to play Pokemon Go, it was such a fun world to be a part of. I honestly never knew what a day on campus was going to be like and it was exciting.

Anywho, the school in Community is called Greendale and every year they host five dances. Should you attend every dance throughout the year, you get rewarded with a T-shirt that says “All 5 Dances”. This shirt follows what Johnny and I like to the T: A phrase that is meaningless unless you are in on the joke too. In all of our years of matching together, literally no one has recognized any of our shirts and that’s okay because it’s still hilarious to us! All 5 Dances is the perfect addition to our matching apparel and I can’t wait to step out together in them. 😀

I know exactly what shirt we’re going to match with each other next. If you’re familiar with the Arnold Schwarzenegger vehicle Running Man, then stay tuned lol.

Do you have any matching clothes with your SO? Do you have any TV show T-shirts? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A Calendar Double Take

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A Calendar Double Take

Hello!! As you might remember, it took me a LONG time to get a smartphone. I was perfectly content with my old school flip phone and would have happily kept using it if it didn’t break. During that time in the stone age, I had a huge desktop calendar that I loved to plan my weeks on. Now, of course, I make great use out of the calendar on my phone and it keeps my days running as they should. From appointments to hang outs with friends and work functions, my calendar has it all. However, something I saw recently on my agenda really had me scratching my head. Check it out:

lol

The other night, I was penciling in some time for a slumber party with my niece. As I scrolled through my options, I saw that I had “my 600 lb life anniversary” marked down for the day after Christmas. I was honestly half asleep at the time so I screenshotted it and fell asleep with the plans to investigate it later. The following day, I almost thought I dreamed it but there it was in my photo gallery! I was racking my brain trying to think of what this cryptic message meant and then all of a sudden, it hit me…

The day after Christmas last year was the ONLY time in mine and Johnny’s five year plus relationship that he watched My 600 Lb. Life with me. For those of you who don’t know, I am a TLC addict. I LIVE for 90 Day Fiance, Sister Wives, Dr. Pimple Popper, and especially My 600 Lb. Life. Whenever I watch any of them, Johnny refuses to watch with me, but I suppose he was feeling some extra holiday spirit the day after Christmas! And, clearly, to mark the momentous victory of him watching with me, I marked it in my calendar. All I can say is, guess what we’re doing the day after Christmas?! 😀

I never thought my calendar would surprise me, but here we are because I was in a state of WTF when I saw our anniversary lol. I cannot wait for many, many more!

What is your favorite guilty pleasure show? What is your favorite show on TLC? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah