(Don’t mind the fact that I sound like a beauty guru) Summer’s only half way past, but it’s given me enough time to try out some new things that have quickly earned a spot on my favourites list. The month of July for me had been a pretty busy month, I always had something to do! Hopefully, some of these things will become your favourites, too!
X Company– The very first thing I did on my first day of summer break was, obviously, binge-watch tv shows. I had heard about this one Canadian show that looked too good to pass on. So, being the granny that I am, I immediately went to the library and took out the first season on DVD (but you can find it here). There was no time to waste. Before I’d known, I had finished two of the three seasons in less than a week. With every episode I watched, it was like I was feeding the fire that was my obsession. 
The show is called X Company and was aired from 2015-2017 on CBC. The plot of the show is focused on a group of five allied (Canadian, American, and British) spies during World War II. It’s based on a real-life Canadian “spy camp” named Camp X that was active during the second world war. The show is made up of the different missions the allied agents were sent on while they are behind enemy lines in Europe. It’s so interesting to watch shows like this, especially because it’s Canadian, it gives us a look into how Canada contributed in WW2. I feel like Canada is quite forgotten in the majority of Hollywood war movies where the main centre were the British, the Americans and the actual fighting in the war. That’s why I love X Company because provides a different perspective with the Canadian background and, not only the battle but the planning and intelligence associated with the war. You get to see them deceive German soldiers, crack codes, figure out confidential enemy plans, etc., it’s really quite a “keeps-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat” type of show. Filled with action, drama, suspense and a bit of romance, X company has very quickly become one of my favourite shows. (Plus the guys are super attractive, trust me, so there’s another reason to watch.) x
Band of Brothers– Okay, perhaps this HBO miniseries produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks is more familiar to you. It has outstanding award achievements including a Golden Globe and multiple Primetime Emmys. But other than the impressive facts, the show itself is honestly so amazing and is the best thing ever. It’s made up of 10 parts and includes some of the most major World War II events that involved the United States such as D-Day, the Battle of Bulge, Operation Market-Garden, etc. 
Band of Brothers re-tell the story of Easy Company, who were a company of paratroopers in the 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR of the 101st Airborne Division. The miniseries takes you on a journey of everything Easy Company has ever been through, from their training in boot camp all the way to the end of the war in 1945. It’s quite detailed and every character portrays a real paratrooper who was in Easy Company. All their information was collected through memoirs, biographies and interviews with (some of) the real men of Easy Company. I love this miniseries because it gives you such an authentic experience of what it was like to be a paratrooper in WW2. It makes you feel the brotherly bond that forms between all the soldiers after each battle and therefore giving you a sense of the tragedy of causalities in the war. Band of Brothers is so real, it doesn’t just show you, like most war movies, the bloody fights and physical aspects of it all, but it brings mentality into the situation as well. Through every episode you can see it in the eyes of every soldier the pain and emptiness of the things they saw, the things they can’t explain, the things people at home wouldn’t understand. It really gives you a feel of what it’s like to be sitting there, in the cold snow, in enemy territory, having seen too much and never knowing what was going to happen. You’re definitely given a sense of what kind of sacrifices it took for you to be resting safe in your country. (Even though it’s based on an American company, you could imagine that’s how all soldiers felt.) Band of Brothers is absolutely a must-watch for those of you who haven’t. It is a LIFE CHANGER, I swear, you won’t regret it. x
*If you loved Band of Brothers, I suggest you also watch The Pacific which is another HBO War miniseries by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. The Pacific focuses on the US Marine Corps and the battle in the Pacific (against Japan).
Aveeno Lotion Sunscreen– I know what you’re thinking, sunscreen should be more of a summer necessity than a favourite! But, let me tell you, out of all the sunscreen choices, I would pick Aveeno Lotion Sunscreen every time. 
Here’s the deal folks, because it’s a “lotion sunscreen,” I find it applies itself much easier than other sunscreens and plus, this one doesn’t just protect you from the sun, it hydrates your skin as well! (There’s also a version of that sunscreen adapted for people with sensitive skin!) I also find that it smells much better than the regular sunscreens and is far less greasy. Like the product name indicates, it feels more or less like lotion and doesn’t give you that stickiness after you’ve smeared it on your skin. I have had this sunscreen since June but I’ve actually started using it more consistently this month because I have to go sailing under the summer sun for seven hours a day for two weeks! What joy! But Aveeno lotion sunscreen has kept me from burning. Compared to the spray on sunscreen and the ordinary sunscreen, this one beats them all. x
Bullet Journals– Now, in my version of “bullet journaling”, I don’t use it to organize. Instead, my “bullet journal” is far from organized. I fill it with random doodles, notes, lists, journal entries, cut out pictures, etc. I’m not sure if there’s an official name for that type of book, but for now, let’s just call it Hilary’s Bullet Journal 2.0. In the summer, I have more time on my hands, which gives me more opportunities to fill up my journal! It has a little bit of everything in there.
I’ve put in To-Do Lists, for summers and school. Some items on my list are legit (such as “participate more in class”) but some are simply weird, just to keep things interesting (like “cry so you remember that you have feelings”). With that, I also have lists of movies/shows to watch and books to read. And of course, a bucket list. Something about making lists is so satisfying, I love it. Next thing I have in my bullet journal 2.0 is a variety of little doodles. For example, if there’s a certain show or book I’m obsessed with, I’d dedicate a whole page to that and doodle the characters’ names along with mini drawings here and there. Sometimes, I’ll rewrite quotes as well but with fancy fonts so it looks professional and cute even though the actual quote is “I love tacos” or something like that. But every doodle page is organised so the drawings would be of the same category. All doodles under “Plants” would be of plants and all doodles under “Stranger Things” would be Stranger Things related. This journal also consists of journal entries and planning pages. Playlists, schedules, room plans, they’re all in there. Opinions, secrets, facts, they’re in there too. It’s like a burn book, but nice. This tiny bullet journal is all me. My thoughts, experiences, memories, my entire brain is on every page. It’s kind of an “All About Me” book in bullet journaling format. It’s a scrapbook, a diary, a (not mean) burn book, a sketchbook, a travel book and a bullet journal, all in one. You can get all that in a blank paged, $5 journal.
“Character” Playlists– I’m not sure how popular these are but I’ve seen a few and I absolutely thought they were the cutest things ever. It’s basically a fan-made playlist based on a specific character and it’s filled with songs the playlist creator thinks fits the character. It’s a little like those celebrity playlists on Spotify where the celebrities put together a simple playlist so that their fans could see what type of music they listen to (I love those, too). But since characters are not real, they cannot make the playlist themselves and thus, leaving the responsibility to the fans. The playlists are absolutely adorable and gives a chance to discover new music as well.
Since we’re on the topic of Spotify, I also love those playlists where the song names tell a story/message. They’re so hilarious sometimes, I’m obsessed.
I hope/suggest that you check out some of these things! Try them out sometime during the remainder of the summer!
