Welcome! This article is the second installment of my brand new monthly series this semester, where I detail the films, shows, pop culture items, etc. that I’ve been obsessed with. Since this is my final semester of undergrad here at UGA, this series won’t be that long, but I thought it’d be fun to have something kind of regular to put on the Her Campus blog. Join me as I tell you all about the things I’ve been loving (and maybe kind of love-hating?) this month!
Abbott Elementary
Created by writer, producer, comedian, and actress Quinta Brunson, (A Black Lady Sketch Show, Quinta vs. Everything, Miracle Workers, Big Mouth), Abbott Elementary is a workplace mockumentary following Janine Teagues (played by Brunson), an optimistic first-year teacher at an underfunded public school in West Philadelphia, and her fellow educators (Tyler James Williams, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Chris Perfetti) as they navigate teaching life. From dealing with their selfish and outlandish principal (Janelle James), to handling the usual student issues of math, art, learning to go to the bathroom at an appropriate time, and not blurting out answers, Janine and company are not only striving to make headway in shaping their kids’ futures, but also finding who they are as educators and as people.
I’ve loved Quinta since her days at Buzzfeed, and I’m so proud of her for creating this show! Although it’s incredibly funny and full of wild antics, it also brings awareness to the importance of teachers and proper funding and support of schools, especially ones in underserved communities. I honestly don’t think I could have started off this February article (i.e., Black History Month) without first mentioning how truly remarkable Abbott Elementary is for telling Black stories in an authentic and genuine way. Abbott Elementary is available on Hulu, ABC.com, and other streaming services (found here).
Crutches_and_Spice on Tik Tok
Speaking of Black History Month, it’s time I mention one of my favorite Tik Tok creators, Imani Barbarin, also known as Crutches&Spice. The first video I had ever seen from her was about communication studies and me being the COMM nerd that I am, I decided to follow her, and ever since then, I’ve loved her content. Whether it’s about discussing medical racism and accessibility, commenting on pop culture, or even just stitching some ignorant person’s video with a well-pointed critique, she is 100% genuine and real. Recounting her experiences and revealing insights as a queer, disabled Black women are things I appreciate as a Women’s Studies major and ally always working towards being better. While Black creators, (and also Indigenous and other creators of marginalized groups), are not the ones who should be the sole sources for teaching people how to be better allies, I am glad that social media has made information and educational tools more widely accessible.
I also highly recommend reading/listening to this interview done by Kamsi Obiorah for AngryBlackWomen.org, where Imani talks about “how her firsthand experiences as a black disabled woman reflect larger systemic issues at hand and the ways in which she uses her nonprofit work and social media platforms as tools to further her disability rights advocacy” (Obiorah).
Love is Blind season two
This month, Netflix dropped a whole new season of the reality dating show Love Is Blind. LIke the first season, single men and women decide to fall in love with someone sight unseen, with the possibility of also getting married to them after eight weeks. However, unlike the first season, this season I personally had a hard time rooting for any of the couples. (Shoutout to Lauren and Cameron from season one, y’all are amazing.) Without giving too many spoilers away, there were definitely some individuals I became a huge fan of like Natalie, Deepti, and Iyanna, and other ones I could not stop sighing or rolling my eyes about. Of course like any reality dating show, drama and emotions ran high, and the show definitely has its faults. I still think the premise of the show is interesting, but overall, I’d give season two a 5/10 (my roommate who watched with me gives it a 4/10). The finale just dropped on February 25th, with the reunion episode set to release next week, so we’ll see how everyone has fared since the show’s filming!
Peach & Pumpkin on Tik Tok
Okay so I will admit, a majority of my Tik Tok For You Page consists of cat videos but like, if your social media isn’t flooded with cute animals, then who are you? Joking aside, one account I’ve recently followed is peachandpumpky, home to cats Peach and Pumpkin and their owner, (or “mom,” in other words). Not only are Peach and Pumpkin the absolute cutest cats ever, but because Peach is FIV+, their owner has also educated their audience on what Feline immunodeficiency virus is and how it affects cats. Peach is quite the chatterbox, always getting onto his mom for leaving him and Peach and wanting to be the star of the show, whereas Pumpkin, being the ex-feral cat that she is, is more reserved and has a very curious personality. It definitely makes my day whenever Peach’s meows or Pumpkin’s big-ole eyes grace my FYP, so definitely check out their page to brighten up your day!
The Pattern astrology app
Recommended to me by a friend, The Pattern is an astrology app that claims to be “the most accurate and in-depth personality app” out there, with its creator, Lisa Donovan, even declaring it to be “scarily accurate” (Suggest.com). Inspired by a reading with a European astrologer, Donovan set out to create an astrology app unlike any other, focused instead on a psychological breakdown of one’s chart and forming deeper connections with others. What seems to set The Pattern apart from similar astrology apps and websites like Co-Star and Cafe Astrology is that it aims to help believers and non-believers alike by “[skipping] the mumbo-jumbo and [getting] to the good stuff” (Suggest.com). While the app is grounded in astrology, it takes all the technical astro-stuff and puts what you need to know into easy-to-read forecasts. Plus, you can connect with friends and learn more about your relationship on a deeper level, possibilities for your friendship and where you can be more supportive of one another’s shortcomings. While the actual interface and look of the app could use some improvements, overall, I’ve been pretty satisfied and intrigued by The Pattern. You can find it in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Discovering new musical artists: Alicia Creti
Okay okay, so I know I talk about Tik Tok all the time but honestly, I’ve tailored the content that I consume to what I like and discovering talented people is one thing. Enter: Alicia Creti, a singer with an incredibly powerful voice and an awesome sense of style, with 630.3K followers and 9.8M likes. I first found her through a video of her singing YEBBA’s “My Mind” and I couldn’t wait for her to release her own singles. On February 17th, she released her debut single “Congratulations” and it’s definitely a song I recommend you listen to with earbuds in, volume up, and in a quiet place by yourself. Main character energy but with a “how do you like me now?” kind of vibe. I can’t wait to see what else is in store for Alicia and her amazing voice! Also check out her YouTube page here.
Rediscovering musical artists: Rihanna
Maybe it’s because she announced her pregnancy or maybe it because I (and basically everyone on the internet) have been craving more music from her, but this month, I’ve rediscovered Rihanna. On January 31st, Rihanna officially announced that she was expecting a child with rapper A$AP Rocky and since then, has made no move to hide her very pregnant belly. Showing out in her usual Fenty fashion, Rihanna continues to show us all how much of an icon she is. I’m pretty sure I was just looking for some upbeat music to help me as I did my schoolwork and of course, Rihanna’s music is perfect for any occasion. Additionally, it has been a significant amount of time since RiRi has released music and many of her fans have been speculating if and when she’d release anything; however, with a baby on the way, music might have to take a backseat for the Barbadian singer, actress, fashion designer, and businesswoman.
Trivia Crack Explorer
Do y’all remember that time in middle school or high school where people were obsessed with the mobile game Trivia Crack? Well now Trivia Crack parent company Etermax has another game called Trivia Crack Explorer that’s basically like a board game mixed with trivia questions. While correctly answering trivia questions from six main categories (entertainment, arts, history, geography, science, and sports), players can earn points, claim in-game prizes, complete missions, and climb up the weekly leaderboards. They also have a “Temple Trial” event where you have to unlock a secret gem code within five tries (or more, if you watch an ad or pay with coins) in order to win coins. I’m definitely a nerd when it comes to working out my trivia knowledge, but the colors and characters of the game are so fun and bright that it’s hard not to tap into that sense of competition and pre-teen nostalgia. Find it in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Wordle
Similar to the Temple Trial in Trivia Crack Explorer, but in a less complex manner where you don’t have to answer individual trivia questions, Wordle is the latest and greatest trend to take the internet by storm. Created by The New York Times, Wordle is a web-based word game where “players have six attempts to guess a five-letter word, with feedback given for each guess in the form of colored tiles indicating when letters match or occupy the correct position” (Wikipedia). Whether I’m in the dining halls, sitting in a classroom, or on a bus, there’s always someone or some people playing the Wordle of the day around me. It’s a fun way to flex your own vocabulary while also competing against your friends to see which of you can guess the day’s Wordle in the least amount of tries. If you need more information on how to play or the history behind this game, click here!
Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
Last but not least, I have a great recommendation for a skin care product, in part because my dermatologist recommended it to me and also because it has actually worked. This month, I’ve gotten into the habit of using the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream whenever I’ve washed the dishes for a really long time or just noticed that my hands could use some care. I’ve suffered from eczema all my life, so I’ve tried my fair share of hand creams and lotions and honestly, this one is a tough one to beat. This isn’t a sponsorship at all, just me merely being extremely satisfied with a product. Especially during the winter time or with all the hand-washing you might have to do with Covid still around, I’d highly recommend the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream to anyone who needs to give their hands some care and attention. Plus, a 2 fl. oz tube is only $3.99 at Target!