Lockdown favourites!

These past few months have been unusual to say the least. For the majority of the time, we have been unable to see family and friends and have been limited to where we can go and what we can do. As a result, we have had to find comfort from the little things in life whilst stuck at home!

Nevertheless, during lockdown we have accumulated a few favourites and thought it would be great to share them with you! Below are our top three favourites. We would love to know what products, TV shows, books, albums etc you have been enjoying throughout this time period, so feel free to message us with your picks through our Instagram account (the.millennialdiaries) or email (themillennialdiaries2020@outlook.com). It would be great to know whether we share any favourites, as well as find new recommendations and suggestions. So, without further ado:

Annabel's favourites!

1. Book: ‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney

There was a lot of hype over the TV adaptation of this book. Before I watched the TV series, I wanted to read the book and understand the original storyline. Set in Ireland, the book focuses primarily on two young characters called Marianne and Connell; they attend the same secondary school and eventually go to the same university. Whilst the book delves quite explicitly into their relationship and its ups and downs, the author explores a number of themes throughout. It is not simply a love story as Rooney touches upon sensitive and important topics, such as financial struggles, mental health problems (concerning both men and women) and abusive relationships. I absolutely adored this book for its portrayal of Marianne and Connell, happily finding that the TV adaptation stuck quite accurately to the original storyline when I watched it. This book was a definite favourite of mine over lockdown and I would highly recommend both the book and TV programme!

2. Jewellery: Clay Earrings

I love wearing unique, handmade jewellery. Over lockdown, I purchased some amazing clay stud earrings. The pack I chose came in a variety of colours, including bright yellow studs and white studs speckled with black polka dots or gold flecks; it is safe to say that I have worn these earrings with nearly every outfit of mine over lockdown! I adore these earrings as they bring such a pop of colour to an outfit, with the lightweight clay material making them comfy and easy to wear. They also make a nice alternative to metal jewellery. I purchased these earrings from ClayByHolly, who you can follow on Instragram at @clay_by_holly.

3. Album: Hayley Williams - Petals for Armor

Saskia has recently written a blog post on her favourite albums she has listened to whilst in lockdown (which you can read here). I will admit that I can be very stubborn when it comes to my music choices, often listening to one type of music genre and the same bands every day. However, during lockdown I have been putting a certain album on repeat quite far-removed from my usual music taste. I am a massive Paramore fan, having grown up with their music throughout my teenage years. This year, Hayley Williams (the singer of Paramore) released her own solo debut album; of course, being such a fan of Paramore, I naturally veered towards listening to this album. The album, known as Petals for Armor, is an eclectic mix of songs, although I would say that there is a strong 80s and 90s feel to it. There is notable experimentation with the songs and the album does not neatly fit into any single genre. You can go from listening to an alternative, indie track like ‘Simmer’ to a song like ‘Sugar on the Rim’, a funky and bassy dance song! The songs are undoubtedly unique but worth a listen, so go check the album out and let me know what you think!

Saskia's Favourites!

1) TV Show: The Trial of Christine Keeler (BBC iPlayer)

I love a good BBC drama, and stumbled across this while looking for something to watch. Christine Keeler was someone I knew about vaguely before, from school history lessons, but this 6-part series shows what her life was like underneath the glamorous veil of political scandal. Instead of merely looking at the scandal as part of the larger downfall of the Conservative party, this shows how the media’s attack on Profumo affected so many different people’s lives. James Norton, one of my favourite actors, plays Stephen Ward amazingly, and Sophie Cookson does an amazing job at portraying Christine. The story is one that has been told many times over, but this series is a fresh take on one of Britain’s most famous scandals that you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from.  

2) Album: Creeper – Sex, Death and the Infinite Void

Emo music is something that I will always keep coming back to. As old as it makes me sound, however, most of the bands I loved in my teenage years have changed their sound now - Panic! At The Disco, I’m talking to you! Yet in come Creeper to save the day. I absolutely loved their last album - Eternity, In Your Arms- and it sounds so much like the classic emo music that I love that I didn’t realise it was released this decade! With their new album - Sex, Death and the Infinite Void -they have managed to get even better. Whilst keeping their signature emo sound, the band were inspired by a trip to America whilst supporting Waterparks on tour to explore American music. Recording in Hollywood, they cite Elvis and Johnny Cash as influences on tracks like 'Poisoned Heart', a country-emo hybrid that works SO WELL – give it a listen and you won’t be disappointed! And, of course, they were kind enough to name a song after Annabel, another amazing tune. There is no bad song on this album, and I’ve had it on repeat for the entirety of August. 

3) Youtube Channel: Chloe Ting

It’s fair to say that I’ve over-indulged a bit in the past few weeks – celebrating my university results and my 21st birthday, as well as making the most of the Eat Out To Help Out scheme, there’s been a lot of unhealthiness. However, I always try and make the time to work out a few times in the week, and my go-to girl for my workouts is Chloe Ting. Since lockdown began, I’ve been following her workouts in order to avoid piling on the pounds from being stuck indoors. She offers free workout plans on her website catered to your goals - whether this is getting a six-pack or improving your fitness levels – and has videos that are easy to follow. Many of them are apartment friendly, which is great news for those with neighbours living below! There is something for everyone, and Chloe is super friendly and supportive, which makes pushing through that last set of mountain climbers slightly easier. Her workouts became so popular over lockdown that an entire online community has emerged, allowing you to team up with others and motivate each other to push on – this is invaluable on the days where you’d rather stay in bed and eat chocolate. Give it a go and let me know what you think!

Thanks for reading! Let us know what's been keeping you busy during lockdown. We are planning to do a monthly favourites on the regular, so stay tuned for more!

Until next time,

Saskia and Annabel x