After coming across a few of my old favorites and getting insanely nostalgic, I decided to take a full-blown trip down memory lane to round up all the rest. The 16 below finds are works I absolutely cherished as a young adult and would willingly read 100 times over again today. Who knows? Maybe they’ll spark something in you, too.

Happy reading!

Please note: This post contains affiliate links. You can learn more about my product selection process here.

1. Where the Sidewalk Ends 

I’ve never been much of one for poetry, but between The Giving Tree, A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends, the fantastically weird Shel Silverstein always managed to hold my attention. I recall especially delighting in this particular set of rhymes as a young girl, and it’s no wonder — when revisiting it as an adult, a line from “Invitation” struck me so much I wound up having it tattooed on my ribcage: “If you are a dreamer, come in.”

2. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland 

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, Alice Through the Looking Glass, are, without a doubt, my favorite books of all time. Everything about them, from the mome raths (I still can’t tell you WTF a mome rath is, TBH) to the sneezing baby that turns into a pig, is complete nonsense, as even Alice herself will tell you (“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn’t”). And yet, Lewis S. Carroll’s tales of whimsy and magic as told through his extraordinarily cleverly crafted prose managed to reach me in a way that no other book or film ever has. Who wouldn’t want to spend an afternoon among the singing flowers or conversing with a smoking caterpillar (until he got angry, that is!)? Take me to Wonderland any day of the week!

3. Nancy Drew & the Hardy Boys Be Your Own Detective 

While I enjoyed Nancy Drew of her own accord, I don’t think the subject matter was as of much importance as the “Choose Your Own Adventure” element of these genius reads. Like a pop-up storybook for older kids, the “Be a Detective” series allowed you to interact with the plotline as you made decisions for Nancy and the gang that would ultimately affect their fate. Not only was it thrilling to feel like you were an actual, live part of the book, it gave you multiple reads in one (a huge plus for a nerd like me who loathed playing outdoors!), as you could always go back and choose a different adventure. Whoever came up with these little gems was a goddamn hero, and I’d like to personally thank them for providing me with hours of childhood entertainment.

4. Little House on the Prairie

Look, I couldn’t tell you what it was with me and the canvas-covered wagon life, but between the Oregon Trail computer game and the Little House on the Prairie series, I was ALL about settlers. These books, for all their simplicity, were utterly captivating to me in my youth. Maybe it was the thrill of danger, with a new hardship awaiting the Ingalls family at seemingly every turn as they struggled to survive in their sparse, isolated way of life, or the steadfast characters that became as familiar as friends as the series progressed, but I was never mad about receiving one of these as a Christmas or birthday present. Clearly, I wasn’t alone — Time ranked it as one of the 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time. (Alice, Harriet and Charlotte’s Web also made the cut from my list.)

5. Sideways Stories From Wayside School

Never mind that fact that I can’t recall what any of the Sideways Stories actually entailed. What I do remember is that everything about this school, including the crooked, leaning building itself,  was a just a hair … off. Of course, that’s why I loved it so — I’ve always been drawn to the strange and eccentric, and strange and eccentric, Louis Sachar’s tales most certainly were. The teacher had a nasty habit of turning her students into apples, the school was missing an entire floor and the kids? Well, they were are all-around freaks — a.k.a. my kind of people.

6. Weetzie Bat 

Weetzie was kind of like My So Called Life in book form. All the quintessential elements of a teenage dramedy were there, from sex and love to eternal friendship — Weetzie even had a gay BFF named Dirk. And yes, sure, I was probably about 12 years too young to be reading it when I did all those years ago — she did have a tryst with Dirk and his lover Duck in order to have a baby, after all — but even seeing its cover all these years later gives my heart a little flutter — a sure sign that a book has made a lasting mark.

7. Harriet the Spy

Let’s be real: Harriet was a little creep, spying on all of her classmates and acquaintances, but there was also something hugely relatable about her. While I wasn’t a voyeur like Harriet, I think we’ve all done f*cked up things as a kid that we felt like we couldn’t fix at one point or another. The tween angst she felt upon being discovered was REAL and I got it, ’cause I had been there, too. For all her faults, Harriet was genuine — she was me, she was you, she was the mixed-up kid in all of us exposed for her true, raw self.

8. Fear Street 

While most recall reading the Goosebumps series in the days of their yore, I much preferred the ever-so-slightly more grown-up Fear Street series, which graduated from the likes of haunted masks and ventriloquist dummies to full-on actual murder. Why? Well, because I’ve been a horror freak since roughly the age of 4 (see my guide to underrated scary movies here), and reading an R.L. Stine novel was, essentially, equivalent to a Stephen King starter kit.

9. Charlotte’s Web 

I’ve reread this classic tale about a little girl, her beloved pet pig and the clever spider who selflessly saved his life more times than I can count over the years  Maybe it was my early animal crusader being activated as I silently rooted for Wilbur not to be slaughtered for food, or my inner wordsmith that was delighted by Charlotte’s stellar vocabulary, but I found E.B. White’s’ tale of friendship, bravery and life utterly enchanting. There’s also the book’s tie-in to the fair, which, as anyone who knows me knows, I have a secret and somewhat bizarre obsession with. TBH, I kind of want to read this again, like, right now.

10. The Baby-Sitter’s Club

The Baby-Sitter’s Club members were like the OG Spice Girls—there was a character for just about everyone to relate to (or aspire to be). I myself, for example, though so clearly a nerdy Mallory type, desperately longed to be a city-savvy fashionista, like Stacey, or even a laid-back California hippie, like Dawn. While the girls were always getting into crazy situations on the job while looking after their “charges,” it was their personal lives that were the real draw. Would Claudia flunk out of high school? Would Stacey fall in love with an older man on her big date? Would Dawn find a ghost in her old ass house? Teenage intrigue at its finest!

11. Baby-Sitter’s Little Sister

This series, which I devoured throughout my elementary years, was like the segway to the older, hipper Baby-Sitter’s Club. With both written by one Ms. Ann M. Martin, it had all of the same relatable angst as the more “adult” series, albeit on a much more limited scale (think fights over spelling bees and meltdowns over bad haircuts instead of high school rivalries and first boyfriends). Its heroine, Karen Brewer, in particular, appealed to me, because, well, she was me: Dorky? Check. Bossy? Double check. Pop bottle glasses? In full effect. Her everyday calamities spoke directly to my 12-year-old psyche, really. *Shrugs*

12. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Long before Ben Stiller was creeping around after hours in 2006’s A Night at the Museum, there was the Mixed-Up Files, in which protagonists Claudia and Jamie Kincaid run away to the Met. I’ve still never been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (I know, I know!), but the thought of exploring a place that’s typically forbidden once the lights go out and discovering hidden secrets has a kind of universal appeal, no? Who knows? Maybe I’ll attempt to pull my own Kincaid and sneak into next year’s Met Ball or something — you know, when Anna turns her back. *Wink, wink*

13. American Girls 

While most of my wealthier peers were obsessing over their ridiculously overpriced American Girl dolls, I was content to merely revel in their accompanying books, which told their backstories as settlers (again with those damn pioneers!) like Kirsten, or Victorian dwellers, like Samantha. Dweeby Molly was my favorite, natch, but all of the girls had something intriguing to offer. Their stories were written as historical fiction, meant to teach little girls all about different time periods, but I only remember them as being really good reads.

14. In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories

This might have been a part of an “I Can Read” series for kids, but there’s a reason I still distinctly remember it at 33 years old — it was f*cking scary! I’d be willing to bet that any girl in my age bracket shudders just a little bit at the thought of a green ribbon around someone’s neck (spoiler alert — this woman wore it everyday to keep her head on and when she finally untied it years later, it just lolled right off.) If that’s not enough to give you nightmares as a ’90s preteen at the height of choker fashion fandom, I just don’t know what is.

15. The Boxcar Children 

I didn’t need Harry Potter in my day, because I had Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny —a.k.a. the four little orphaned Alden children who lived in an abandoned train car in the woods (at least until their rich grandpa came to rescue them). They couldn’t fly on broomsticks or cast spells and what have you, but they were always going on exciting adventures and running amok without adult supervision — two highly appealing traits to a fiercely independent middle school reader!

16. The Saddle Club 

Though I wasn’t exactly a horse fanatic (that would be my little sister Samantha!), the adventures of Carole, Stevie and Lisa — three besties who bond over their shared love of the animal — had me turning pages in a hurry. Would they let Lisa join the group? Would the girls forget Stevie’s birthday? Would Carole’s date remarry? The excitement was never-ending!

Which books did I miss that you loved as a kid? Remind me in the comments below!

Xoxo, Nicole

The post 16 Books You Forgot You Loved From Childhood appeared first on nicolebjean.

It’s been a good long while since I’ve written a post here, and not for nothing, friends! Between hunting down all the best deals there are to shop on USA Today for Reviewed and writing gift guides for the site (you’re welcome, budget gifters), I’ve been up-to-my-eyeballs-swamped. The one thing irresistible enough to bring me out of blog retirement? Halloween. My love for spooky season knows no bounds, and no virus or mountain of work could ever stop me from waxing poetic about it. 

With the countdown on to the big day (less than a week now, people!) I’ve rounded up nine Halloween-themed things I’m particularly excited about for 2020, all of which can be used long after the holiday has ended … BOO. Keep reading to nab all my favorites for yourself.

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links.

1. Wooden Ships Big Skull Crew Chunky Sweater ($125)

I’ve been drooling over these Wooden Ships jumpers for years, and after finally (finally!) pulling the trigger on the Big Skull crew, my only regret is that I now have an addiction to $100+ sweaters. This thing is everything sweater season dreams are made of: It’s super soft (no scratchy, itchy fabric here), it’s oversized, so as to envelope you like a blanket, and somehow, it’s still shapely, so you won’t look like you’re wearing a unflattering sack. For a gal with alternative style, such as myself, the giant skull graphic also happens to be entirely appropriate for year-long wear.

2. Little Rooms Nevermore Ring ($75)

While much of Little Rooms’ uniquely eclectic brand features futuristic, extraterrestrial designs (see: these alien studs or Spaceship necklace), its more recent offerings harken back to the hauntingly beautiful 19^th century. Inspired by the late master of mystery, Edgar Allan Poe, this Victorian signet ring features the bird from one of the American author’s most famous poems, “The Raven,” along with the famous phrase the bird repeatedly croaked: “nevermore.” Pick it up in the pictured sterling silver, or, for all you warm-tones out there, the sterling-silver option that’s plated in 18K yellow gold.

3. Apothic Wine (From $8.99)

As any wine lover can attest, much like a book cover, a bottle’s label art can not only make all the difference in which one you choose at the grocery store but set the mood for your wine-drinking experience. Apothic wine, which boasts some truly captivating Gothic artwork in any season, is taking things one step further this Halloween with an interactive experience the brand is calling an “evening of intrigue”—and it’s hosted by none other than the ultimate demon-killer herself. That’s right, friends: Through All Hallow’s Eve, Sarah Michelle Gellar—a.k.a. Buffy the Vampire Slayer—will read you a choose-your-own adventure-style story that will send tingles down your spine and ultimately lead you to an Apothic wine recommendation that will best suit your tastes. My brand recommendation? Apothic red ($8.99): “smooth, with a hint of intrigue, just like me”—at least according to SMG. She certainly wasn’t wrong about the “smooth” part—even the brand’s ominous-looking Apothic Dark ($8.99) is as palatable as they come, with hints of ripe blueberries and blackberries besides. When paired with the spooky tale, it was just I needed to get into the Halloween spirit.

4. Lil SpoOky Instagram filter (Free)

Photo via Nicole Briese

Anyone who’s ever seen Corpse Bride—a Tim Burton masterpiece among Tim Burton masterpieces—will geek out over this genius Instagram filter, which can instantly transform you into the film’s deceased heroine, Emily—see my own crossover above. Blue skin? Check. Cartoon googley eyes? Double check. Created by AR/XR makeup artist Paige Piskin of Bratz filter fame, it’s as close to a Burtonized version of yourself as you’ll get, which, if you know me at all, is basically my life’s dream. What can I say? The animated undead suits me, if I do say so myself. Pro tip: Tap the screen before taking your photo for an even more ghoulish glow.

5. Michaels Halloween Blush collection (From $1.19)

Forget the garish oranges and blacks that are typically associated with Halloween. This year, Michaels is giving the holiday a serious makeover with a spooky line of pink-and-black décor that marries skulls, cobwebs and all things macabre with flowers and muted cream and blush tones (see: this ghostly tabletop typewriter). I’m not the only one that’s obsessed with this collection, either—far from. In fact, much of it is already sold out online and in many local Michaels stores. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on this romantically eerie collection, however, it’s one to be cherished.

6. His Hideous Heart: 13 of Edgar Allan Poe’s Most Unsettling Tales Reimagined ($14.29)

Speaking of Edgar Allan Poe, I’d be remiss not to mention this collection of short stories that pays homage to “The Tell-Tale Heart” author. Now, I’ll be frank: I’m not a short story fan. In fact, I typically loathe them. But these modern-day retelllings, which reimagine 13 of Poe’s most famous works, not only held my attention all the way through, they had me thinking about them long after I’d finished the book—particularly “Metzengerstein,” by Kendare Blake and “A Drop of Stolen Ink” by Emily Lloyd-Jones. In fact, I’d venture to say that these stories rank right up there with the best writing I’ve read in the last two years. I will caution, however, that Poe’s original short stories, which are included in the book, will be like reading stereo instructions for anyone born in the 21^st century—you’ve been warned.

7. Bath & Body Works Vampire Blood candle ($24.50)

The sinister artwork and name of this three-wick candle instantly drew me in, though I was admittedly a bit hesitant to spend $25 on it without a clue as to whether I might like the scent. The solution? A test-drive on the far less expensive hand soap (on sale for $3.95). So what, you might ask, does vampire blood smell like? Instead of the overpowering, heady floral scent I had anticipated based on the description of “blood-red strawberry,” midnight-blooming jasmine and dark Transylvanian plum with essential oils, Vampire Blood smells … surprisingly sweet. This soy wax blend of  is light and even, dare I say, fruity—like a lotion from my middle school days of yore. In short? It’s definitely worth the investment—especially if you wait for the store’s frequent “two for $24.50” three-wick candle sale.

8. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Scarlet Spell Lipstick ($34)

When the seasons change, so too, does my lipstick. All summer long, I live for Chanel’s hot pink L’Exuberante ($38), but when the leaves begin to fall, it’s time to tap into my dark side. So far, my favorite witchy hue is Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution lipstick in Scarlet Spell. This deep, berry color is a tinge darker than average but not so dark you’ll scare your coworkers. C’est parfait!

9. The Craft: Legacy

The Craft is one of, if not my favorite, movie of all time—I literally wrote an entire post ode to the ‘90s witch largely centered on my love for this film. The fact that it’s getting a remake is blasphemous, to say the least. Still, I’d be flat out lying if I said I wasn’t the least bit curious. While I’m fully expecting to hate it, I also fully intend on watching it when it’s released via On Demand on Wednesday, October 28.

What spooky season essentials have you uncovered this fall? Share them with me in the comments below!

Xo, Nicole

The post 9 Creepy Things I’m Loving for Spooky Season appeared first on nicolebjean.

If there’s one word I never want to hear again, it’s “coronavirus.” Once a term you merely heard on the news in passing, coronavirus, or COVID-19 as it’s now commonly known, quickly took over nearly every facet of our lives, from our jobs and our social gatherings to our workout routines and our wardrobes. It’d be an understatement to say that no one expected this sh*t to last for more than half a year. And yet, a good six months after it first entered our vernacular, coronavirus is still here, hanging around. While I’ve largely advocated for staying positive throughout this whole ordeal (and still do—it’s the only way to get through, in my humble opinion!), I am human, and it does wear me down. I want to be drinking beer at a street fest. I want to be getting all dressed up and delighting in an Alice in Wonderland-themed tea party (yes, they exist, and yes, I had plans to go before to one before all of this nonsense began). I want Mötley Crüe, Poison and Def Leppard to be blasting my face off from the insanely close seats I managed to snag for their joint stadium tour. Instead, I am home, typing up a blog post about the few creature comforts I’ve turned to (you know, besides homemade margaritas, copious amounts of wine and dry shampoo) to help quell my disappointment over missing out on these and many, many more of summer’s biggest adventures.

I’m not exactly reinventing the wheel with these finds—loungewear sets and binge watches are hardly groundbreaking, I’m aware—but with everything seemingly going to hell in a handbasket all around us, I think we could all stand to deal with a little bit of the familiar. And who knows? Maybe they’ll give you the slightest modicum of comfort, too: at least until we get some form of vaccine and our lives can somewhat return to normal. (Here’s hoping!)

Please note: This post may contain affiliate links.

1. BP. All Weekend Set: I’m not much of one for athleisure. In fact, I recently bought my first pair of workout leggings (I sh*t you not) from Target, and rather than feeling like I’d been missing out on maximum comfort all these years, all I felt supremely was more aware of the loose skin between my thighs. There’s one loungewear set, however, that I bought at the start of quarantine (or lockdown, or the pandemic or whatever the hell you want to call it), that feels so great, it has since become my favorite slobwear: These BP. All Weekend crop pants ($39) and this matching BP. All Weekend crop sweatshirt ($39). On days where I feel like doing absolutely f*cking nothing—and, let’s be real, there have been a lot of them in 2020—these are my go-tos. They’re soft, cozy, not too hot and don’t make me look nearly as grandma-esque as some of my other non-pj pj’s. In short? They’re a match made in quarantine Heaven.

2. The Bold Type: While I’m normally a murder mystery/reality show type of gal, I found myself in desperate need of something less dark and drama-filled in recent months. Essentially, I needed a distraction from the onslaught of negative, dreary news that’s been bombarding us 24/7. Freeform’s The Bold Type has been just what the doctor ordered. Available for streaming on Hulu, this series about three best friends in their mid-20s living in Manhattan and working for a women’s lifestyle magazine is one that harkens back to a pre-COVID time, when clothes, friendships and boys reigned supreme. Sure, it tries a bit too hard at times to school us all on life’s tough lessons and social issues, but so did Saved by the Bell, and no one’s complaining there! Plus, there’s Sutton, a.k.a. the show’s uplifting, actually funny badass b*tch, to temper her occasionally overly preachy pals, Jane and Kat.

3. Finishing Touch Flawless Vibrating Facial Roller ($18.99): Facials and other spa services may be off the table for now, but that doesn’t mean we don’t all still deserve a little pampering. This twist on the über-popular jade face roller pairs a cooling, rose quartz stone with a gentle pulsing vibration in order to massage your facial muscles (thereby increasing your circulation) and drive serums, moisturizers and the like more deeply into your skin. Most importantly, however, at least for me, it’s a chance to take a little timeout—if only for just five minutes—whenever I need a little pick-me-up.

4. My Trusty Bath Pillow: Of all of the gifts my boyfriend has given me over the years, one of the most useful has been this simple bath pillow—especially post-pandemic life. With this little beauty, I can hop in a warm scalding tub of water and read to my heart’s content without distraction (even my phone doesn’t follow me here) or simply kick back and enjoy a glass of vino without worrying about any uncomfortable plastic that might otherwise poke its way in between my shoulder blades. Since my pillow is mesh, it also dries incredibly quickly, so soggy, wet messes are of no concern. It has since sold out on Amazon, but you can get a similar version ($21.24) here.

5. High Heels: I know what you’re thinking: How in the hell is something that’s akin to a torture device for your foot making you more comfortable in quarantine? Sure, my heels won’t deliver the same fuzzy warmth as my loungewear set, but hear me out: They do provide me with a smidge of normalcy when I put them on—even if it’s just for a run to the grocery store. My favorite pair to slip on this summer have been these Sam Edelman Daffodil sandals ($49.99), in part because I’m loving everything snakeprint these days (watch your back, leopard), and in part because for a pair of heels, they’re quite comfy, if I do say so myself. They also conceal my bunions nicely (yes, I have them, and yes, they’re unsightly as f*ck), and really, what more could a girl ask for from a shoe?

6. Books galore: I’m a big reader under normal circumstances, so needless to say, much of the extra free time I’ve found myself with these days has been devoted to books. Ironically, my 2020 novel selections, much like the rest of the year, have been straight dumpster fires, but there’s at least one pick I’ve read in the last six months that has not only managed to keep my attention, but leave me reflecting on its pages days after I’d finished it: Joan Didion’s Play It As It Lays ($11.79). Yes, friends, it took one of America’s classic female authors to snap me out of my literary funk, but good, bad or mediocre, my precious tomes are always there to transport me to another place in time when I’m feeling stuck—Didion’s to Hollywood, Nevada and the expressways in between, where a troubled divorcée is grappling to find her place in the world as a newly single woman in the ’60s.

7. A Giant Sherpa Throw: I’m getting up there in my old age, and sometimes, I need a midday snooze like the 34-going-on-95-year-old woman that I secretly am (don’t judge). It’s in those moments that I retreat to our bedroom to cozy up for a nice little siesta that I most appreciate our giant Threshold sherpa throw, which seemingly has the power to instantly put me to sleep. It has since sold out at Target, but this Koolaburra by UGG Reese throw ($31.99), looks, and I would imagine, feels, every bit as cozy thanks to its reversible Sherpa composition. Trust me: This thing is sure to be your new favorite snuggle buddy.

8. A Casual Jumpsuit: You can’t go wrong with a casual jumpsuit: They’re loose and breezy enough to feel completely at ease but still look put-together enough that you can run to the store or take a walk without feeling like a complete and utter troll. My favorite one is a cropped Wild Fable find (thank you, Tar-jey), but since it’s sold out, I give you the one I’m currently lusting after most: Rag Poets’ Ayana jumper ($76). Not only does it have a drapey, oversized fit that doesn’t look restricting in the slightest (so long, camel toe—yeah, I said it!), it’s made of rayon, which is known for being soft, cool, comfortable and highly absorbent—all things you definitely want in a fabric that’s going to be encasing your entire body.

9. Three-wick Candles From Bath & Body Works: At the risk of sounding utterly basic, I’m a Bath & Body Works candle fangirl through and through. While I’d normally lean in to a more fruity, summery roster of scents in the height of the warm-weather seasons, it’s been the brand’s more warm, inviting fragrances (think White Caramel Cold Brew and Chocolate Marshmallow Cloud), that have made my nights in this pandemic that much more enjoyable. Next up on my “to-buy” list? Pumpkin Snickerdoodle, Fresh Fall Morning and Cinnamon Irish Cream. While they’re currently $24.50 apiece, I highly recommend waiting for one of the store’s regular web sales, when they drop down to roughly $12.

10. Dr. Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask ($60): I have written about this mask (you know, the old school, beautifying kind, not the cloth face coverings we’ve all been forced to endure to maintain our safety in public spaces) ad nauseam, but I truly mean it when I tell you that it will put any other beauty mask—drugstore or otherwise—you’ve ever tried to shame. Not only does it smell like an actual pumpkin pie (my mouth is watering just thinking about it), it really does make your skin glow with its unique blend of pumpkin enzymes (to exfoliate), alpha hydroxyl acids (to help break down any dead, lingering skin cells) and micro-crystals (to polish). The result? A refreshed, dewy complexion that will make you feel like a whole new woman.

11. A bold lipstick: An old friend once told me that the secret to instantly looking less tired was to throw on a swipe of bright, bold lipstick in order to distract the world from your haggard, puffy eyes. While the jury’s still out on whether or not this little hack actually works, I’d like to believe that it does, and that many a Monday zoom call has been saved by Chanel’s L’Exuberante ($38), or more recently, Yves Saint Laurent’s Tatouague in Unconventional Coral ($38).

12. My Trusty Lap Desk: Another gift from my always-practical boyfriend that’s proven to be a godsend? My Sofia + Sam memory foam lap desk ($27.99). Without it, my thighs would have undoubtedly been marred by something known as “toasted skin syndrome“—a skin condition marked by “mottled-looking” epidermis that’s caused by heat exposure—by now. In addition to writing this blog (rather sporadically, as of late, I’m afraid), I’m also an editor by trade, meaning I’m on the computer 24/7. This mini “desk” is thick enough that my legs never feel the heat my MacBook Air is giving off, even when it sounds like it’s about to explode because I opened roughly 2,500 tabs on it … again. Its cushy and comfortable, allowing me to work for however long I need to from wherever I want, be in the couch, the bed or our oversized armchair.

What creature comforts are helping you get by right now? Tell me in the comments below!

Xo, Nicole

The post 12 Creature Comforts That Are Getting Me Through This Pandemic appeared first on nicolebjean.

At this point, everyone in America is more or less all in the same boat: We’ve been home for a week or so, and we’re all starting to go just a weeeee bit stir crazy. Sure, you could scroll through your social media feeds or Google your would-be coronavirus symptoms for the bajillionith time. OR, you can give your brain a break and veg out in front of the TV with something that will allow you to forget all the craziness swirling around us in favor of something even more insane: a true crime series.

Granted, it’s not the jolliest of genres: Some of you may be looking at this list of Making a Murderer-style selections and thinking, “Who the f*ck wants to watch the darkest, gloomiest sh*t on the web in the midst of a global pandemic, you f*cking psycho?” (Which, fair enough — you couldn’t pay me to watch Contagion or Outbreak right now.) But, if you, like me, have a morbid fascination with all things macabre and social justice, trust me when I say these shows will definitely be riveting enough to divert your panicked thoughts elsewhere.

Below, I give you seven stories so bizarre, so despicable, and so utterly and completely batsh*t that you won’t believe they really happened — but they DID.

Here’s to hoping a good binge-watching session will help to keep your brain occupied through these crazy, crazy times!

1. Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness

In full disclosure, we’re only three episodes into this, but I’ll be damned if they haven’t been the best three episodes of a true crime doc I’ve ever SEEN. This series, which examines the truly peculiar lives of a group of exotic animal shelter and zoo owners (who knew people that keep tigers for pets would be such characters?), takes a shocking turn when a twisted murder plot is revealed. It’s got wildlife. It’s got mystery. Intrigue. Feuds among zookeeper owners. Death. Drugs. Polygamy. Cults. And to top it all off, the central figure is a godd*mn Joe Dirt lookalike. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT, PEOPLE?!

2. The Confession Killer

This is like the ultimate case of whodunit. Following the curious case of Henry Lee Lucas, an American serial killer who rose to prominence in the 1980s when he confessed to more than 100 murders across the US, these episodes had me marveling over the level of corruption seen in our justice system. While it admittedly could have been condensed, there’s never been a better time to waste a few hours in suspense as you try to piece together which victims — if any — Lucas was actually responsible for and how a man with an IQ level of 84 managed to pull the wool over the eyes of the entire world.

3. The Legend of Cocaine Island

For a lighter take on true crime, check out this tale of a seemingly normal man named Rodney Hyden who became involved in a treasure hunt-turned-drug deal after learning of the long-ago discovery of an enormous amount of cocaine — enough to be monetarily life-changing — by an acquaintance who claimed to have buried it somewhere in Puerto Rico. Were the stories of the beach find true? Was the cocaine still there? And was Hyden able get his hands on it some 15 odd years later? The answers are both amusing and wildly entertaining.

4. The Pharmacist 

Just when you think you know what this show is about — a Louisiana pharmacist who is fearlessly driven to solve the murder of his own son in lieu of any police leads — it takes a turn midway through, going in another direction entirely as he goes on to tackle the opioid crisis at large that ultimately contributed to his boy’s untimely death. Though he eventually makes some heartening headway, it comes at a great personal cost, unearthing some scandalous corruption at varying levels of government along the way.

5. Evil Genius

Evil Genius is one of the more disturbing true crime series I’ve seen. Not only does it explore the sick and twisted minds of four conspirators who dreamed up one of the most insane bank heist attempts in history — one of whom just so happened to be a serial-killing woman — it shows real-life, hard-to-stomach footage from the horrifying tragedy that ensued as a result of their seriously unhinged actions. Add in the bumbled police work that ultimately cost pizza deliveryman Brian Wells his life in an all-too-ghastly fashion, and you’ve got all the makings of a truly gruesome murd.

6. Abducted in Plain Sight

A fair word of warning: This one is just straight f*cked. There are details in this sordid tale about a little girl who is subjected to sexual abuse at the hands of a close family friend that more or less scarred me for life. It will leave you shocked. It will leave you enraged.  You won’t want to believe that anyone could ever be so naïve — or evil. And yet, it was real life for Jan Broberg Felt — the now-grown subject of this perverse series, who not only survived, but went on to become a seasoned actress and activist.

7. Murder Mountain

An especially relevant title here following Chicago’s own legalization of recreational weed, Murder Mountain explores a series of unexplained disappearances that occurred in the mountains of California’s Humboldt County — the most in the entire state. The one chillingly common link among victims? Their connection to the marijuana industry.

What true crime series am I missing? Fill me in the comments below!

Xo, Nicole

The post 7 True Crime Documentaries That Are Just Crazy Enough to Take Your Mind Off COVID-19 appeared first on nicolebjean.

Season 23 Bachelor lead Colton Underwood couldn’t be seemingly further removed from all of that, however. Maybe it’s his Midwest roots — the former football player grew up right here, in Washington, Illinois — or his youthful innocence (at just 27 years old, I still consider Colton to  be a youngin’!), but upon interviewing him for Us Weekly in downtown Chicago last week week about his partnership with “T-MoBell” (T-Mobile’s three-day pop-up shop with Taco Bell), I found him to be … relatively normal. In fact, I’d venture to say he was genuinely nice — downright humble, even!

Not only did he put on zero airs, he gave open, thoughtful answers to every. single. one of my questions — even when I grilled him about the hard stuff, like Bachelorette Hannah Brown’s unfortunate pick of a fiancé, or former costar Blake Horstmann’s upcoming cringe-worthy Bachelor in Paradise love triangle (er, square?).

Check out what he had to say below!

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I love adventures with you. Do these helmets make our heads look big?

A post shared by Colton Underwood (@coltonunderwood) on Jun 26, 2019 at 7:41pm PDT

On girlfriend Cassie Randolph: “I would say [our June vacation to] Bermuda was by far, like, the best week of our relationship post-show. That was our first vacation since the ending of the show, so we’ve been really, really busy. … We were getting to do all these fun events … and we never really get to sit with it and like, really enjoy it and feel it. It’s always like, OK, now onto the next one. Or … you’re like, on a plane headed here, and then you have to look at your schedule, and she’s doing school and homework, and we never really got to just reflect on everything that we did. And in Bermuda, we had the chance to really, like, sit down with each other, reflect on what we’ve done, reflect on our relationship, what we like, what we don’t like, what we can do better at in it. … It was really, really [good] for us to sort of just figure out where we’re going next.”

On rumors Peter Weber also dumped his girlfriend to be season 15 of The Bachelorette: “Relating to Peter’s situation and Jed’s situation, it’s two different things: Jed actually had a girlfriend while he was on the show, Peter broke up with his to go on the show. … I went on for the experience. I went on to have a good time. I went on to have fun and it was an unbelievable opportunity, in my mid-20s to sort of take a chance and a risk, so I don’t think there’s any problem with someone going on for an experience. … [But] I’ve openly said before I think what Jed did was very wrong.” (Read more on his feelings about Jed and why Hannah missed his “red flags” on Us Weekly here.)

On former costar Blake Horstmann getting caught romancing multiple ladies on this season of BiP: “I know it took a toll on him, being there. I can relate though, because I went through, you know, my own drama on that show as well, and it’s not the easiest of environments. It’s really hot, and there’s a lot of things going on, so I feel for Blake.” (Read more on Colton’s predications for pal Caelynn Miller-Keyes on Us here.)

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“What does he have to lose” has a completely different meaning all of a sudden. #FaceApp

A post shared by Colton Underwood (@coltonunderwood) on Jul 16, 2019 at 5:18pm PDT

On his hilarious old age Bachelor pic: “A lot of the comments were like, ‘You sort of look like Cassie’s dad,’ um, so that was sort of funny — I don’t’ think she found that funny! But you know what? She thought I still looked good for my old age, so hopefully I still have that same amount of hair that it showed me I was gonna have if I have to pay for it or not!”

On his favorite Bachelor Nation couple: “Jason [Tartick] and Kaitlyn are our closet couple friends, we went out to dinner with them and … they just moved in together in Nashville, so they’re doing things the right way. … It’s always exciting to see that — you always root for each other’s success in the franchise. … I feel like so often, the public tries to tear you down or question it to see how real it is, and it’s like, still real. Just because it plays out publicly, doesn’t you know, make it any less real.”

On ex Becca Kufrin: “I invited her and Garrett [Yrigoyen] over [recently]. I’m very close with both of them. They’re awesome people.” (Read more about how Becca helped him get through The Bachelor on Us here.)

On what’s next for him: “I’m continuing to really sink my teeth into the [Colton Underwood Legacy] Foundation. … I’m really refocusing and re-energizing my efforts into that. And then I’m also working on a few special projects that I’m not quite ready to announce yet, but it’s gonna be very, very exciting when those do come out. It’s been a a lot of hard work and a lot of effort tin something that I can really take pride in.”

Who’s your favorite former Bachelor? Tell me in the comments below!

Xo, Nicole

The post Colton Underwood Talks Cassie Randolph, Hannah Brown and ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ appeared first on nicolebjean.

For one thing, there’s the fashion: Who WOULDN’T want to see a bunch of adults dressed up like animals, kids’ characters and all-around freaks?

Then, there’s the panels and celebrity guests: Everyone,  from Krysten Ritter to Elizabeth Olsen (goddesses, both), has been known to hit up the annual convention to chat about their exciting projects and get a little face time with their adoring fans — plus maybe even take a few photos.

Add in booths for merch, art and plenty of grub, and you’ve got all the makings for what appears to be a damn good time.

While the real Comic-Con isn’t until July (and in San Diego, no less!), I did get a sneak peek at the next best thing — the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, a.k.a. C2E2.

On assignment for Us Weekly to cover the Clueless reunion panel featuring Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, Donald Faison and Breckin Meyer, plus Ralph Macchio’s Cobra Kai panel with William Zabka (that’s Johnny from The Karate Kid, for those out of the loop), Kevin and I finally checked out the scene, and let’s just say, it was once in a lifetime experience.

Though I knew the crowd would be big — 2018 saw upwards of 80,000 in attendance — I was nowhere near prepared for the sheer masses of comic-lovers we were met with upon arrival (Anyone who’s been to Lollapalooza in the last, oh, say, five or so years and been completely f*cking overwhelmed by the influx of teens can relate.) Add in a complete lack of navigation and zero staff members on hand to offer direction, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for an instantaneous panic attack. (Pro tip: Should you ever attempt this harrowing journey, map out exactly where you’re going ahead of time and do not deviate from the path. I repeat: Do not. Deviate. From path!)

Style wise, it was really hit or miss: We saw some really cool standouts (see below for my faves!), and others, we found to be … a bit lacking. Listen, if I’m subjecting myself to a wading through a sea of thousands of people — many of whom aren’t all that adept at the concept of walking at a normal human pace — I want to see some cool shit. A one-piece bodysuit you can buy on Amazon for Halloween isn’t gonna cut it!

The panels, however, made it all worthwhile. The intimate sessions were fun and well-thought out, with roughly 30 minutes for moderation and 30 for fan Q & As, and, as a big Clueless fan (shoutout to my childhood bestie Tracy Miller and her big sis Katy who watched it on repeat with me at their house), I was pretty jazzed to see the old crew back together and hear their stories.

Who knew that Alicia Silverstone could basically give 0 f*cks about fashion? “I had one green T-shirt and a pair of jeans that I wore every single day, so I didn’t understand why someone would care about their clothes, cause I just wasn’t like that,” she said at the event. “There were 64 costume changes for me [in the film]. … Like I said … I had the green T-shirt and the jeans and that’s it, so I had no idea why we were doing this.”

What’s more, the American Woman alum wasn’t all that fond of her character, Cher Horowitz. “I thought she was really materialistic and annoying,” she said. (I know, guys, I know — I died too.)

As for her onscreen love interest, Paul Rudd, the Ant-Man star had the room cracking up with his one filming regret. “When I go to the kitchen, and I make the sandwich, I would put the mayonnaise on the bread, and not directly onto the turkey itself,” he confessed. “A little thing about is I hate mayonnaise and I hate condiments.” (Say what?)

He continued: “And, and it skeeved me out, so I had never had mayonnaise on a sandwich, I was so nervous with the timing of the scene, I just put the mayonnaise on the turkey. Now, when I see that scene, it’s like nails on a chalkboard.”

Alrighty, then! Moving right along …

The following day, we attended a panel for Cobra Kai, YouTube’s spinoff series of The Karate Kid. While this one was admittedly a bit *too* focused on the show (listen, guys, I don’t even really know WTF a crane kick IS), it was definitely still interesting to watch the stars I remember from my youth interacting as grown men and reliving their glory days together — like that time William Zabka accidentally kicked Ralph in the face, only for real.

“We had one accident, … an accident, with uh, where Ralph turned his face into my right roundhouse kick,” the real-life Johnny explained. “It was a 2 ‘o’clock in the morning, we were exhausted, and that round kick to his face, ‘Ooo!’ He drops down. … They were running the camera angles around and my foot was planted in a certain way for it to stop in a certain direction and move the camera and I didn’t plant this foot in the heat of the moment.”

“It was an ACCIDENT,” Ralph teased, mimicking director John Avildsen, who he said cried out, “‘That’s the one! That’s the one!  Ralph, do that one more time!”

The My Cousin Vinny star also shared his favorite “Miyagi-isms”: “You know, walk left side, right side, middle gets squished like grape, I mean, there are so many of them,” he told the crowd of his on-screen mentor, the late Pat Morita. “You know, balance for your whole life, I think that’s the ultimate lesson, you can find that balance in your family, in your marriage, in your diet, in how you approach any situation, I balance, try to balance my career, as an actor, where I  keep one foot in Hollywood, but I live back in New York, in my hometown … it’s tougher to do that, and you lose opportunities as an actor and I lose time with my family when I’m on the other side, but if you can balance it, that sort of works for me, so I guess … finding balance in all areas of your life as being what Miyagi left me to take.”

Scroll through to relive some of the madness we experienced.

Badass Babe

Far more interesting that the store-bought versions of this costume that we saw 20,000 of was this badass babe, who crafted her own top out of cardboard (!).

Teen Queens

These mini-cosplayers, ready to fight crime at a moment’s notice, were absolutely adorbs.

Total Bettys

The fandom was in full force at the Clueless panel, where imposter Chers, Tais, Dionnes and even a Miss Geist were running rampant.

Two-Faced ‘Toon

Karate Masters

Nintendo Royalty

Though the kids these days call this character “Chompette,” I merely appreciated the look for the throwback it included to the Nintendo villains of my youth — the Chain chomps!

Double Trouble

X-Men‘s Storm and RAVEN, as I’ve been informed by a reader (good looking out, Ian!) made for quite the menacing — and fashionable — pair!

Back in Black

Does anyone else suddenly have the urge to rewatch The Matrix, orrr???

Il-LUME-inating

Naturally, my favorite look of the entire convention belonged to the incredible man who dressed as Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast. Everything about his ensemble, from the aristocratic white wig to the flickering “candles”at the tip of his fingers was on point. Walt would be proud, sir. Walt would be proud.

Did you attend #C2E2 this year? What were your thoughts? Sound off in the comments below!  

Xo, Nicole

The post C2E2 2019: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly appeared first on nicolebjean.

But, as Philipps herself told me — and a roomful of people at Pfeiffer Hall in Naperville, Illinois, who showed up to take in her book discussion with Nicole Pearl on October 18 — of dealing with the pressure of it all, “I’m strong enough. I’ll f**kng take it.”

The Cougar Town star, 39, speaks with the same candor in person that has endeared her to the, oh, 1.3 million people following her daily happenings on Instagram. Girl tells it like it is, straight up, whether she’s falling down in public or lamenting the loss of a pilot. “I am just not interested in bullsh*t,” she told us.

She isn’t kidding. In just under two hours, the screenwriter (you might have seen her work in a little film called Blades of Glory) has dished about everything from years spent in the public eye on Dawson’s Creek (“I was really messy … [I was] messy in my personal life and messy in public”) to her once “unhappy” marriage. She’s also found time to take a tequila shot with a member of the crowd  — after double checking her age, of course.

Honestly, it’s kind of like being out to dinner with your bestie … though Philipps’ real bestie just so happens to be four-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams.

The talk show host, for one, doesn’t really get the world’s fascination with her friendship with the Manchester By the Sea star, calling the public’s shocked reaction to two women becoming close “internalized misogyny.” “It’s a no-brainer for me,” she said. “The idea of, ‘Why can’t I have what she has’ has never occurred to me. Competition gets you nowhere.”

For all her bravado, however, there’s also vulnerability — Philipps admits to being “sensitive” while reading her DMs (which she totally does, by the way, in case you ever want to drop her one).

“The thing [is], we all feel left out and alone all the time,” she quipped, joking of her social media outpourings, “I take it to the people, I guess.”

It’s a far cry from the way the actress, who was raped at 14, dealt with her problems while growing up in Scottsdale, Arizona. “I did lots of drugs. I was going to move and became wildly successful and super famous, [because], it’ll absolve all the other stuff,” she explained to the crowd. “I [wanted] to be seen. People weren’t seeing me. They weren’t knowing me.”

These days, the whole world seems to know her … or at the very least, a sensationalized version of her. The outspoken author got choked up while admitting that having words and anecdotes that “f**cking mean something” to her taken out of context and used as clickbait has been her greatest fear in penning her book.

Those stories that Williams saved her marriage when it was on the rocks post-election in 2016, for instance? Not true. “Mark Silverstein saved it, you f**cking assholes,” she corrected. (They’re doing fine now, PS —  As she revealed to the Pfeiffer crowd, “The only two men that I dated that were worth anything were Mark and Colin [Hanks].”)

For the most part, however, she’s an open book. “I don’t need to protect people who’ve been terrible to me,” she shrugs.

There is one thing the mother of Birdie, 10, and Cricket, 5, thinks twice about posting, however: “I try to be very cognizant of being snarky or jerky … I have to resist that urge. I just don’t want to put it into the world.”

Instead, Philipps, who was spurred on to write her book after the election of Donald Trump, wants to be “a part of the next step forward” to a future that involves women supporting women.

“Everyone has each other’s backs now,” she says of the political climate following the #MeToo movement: Both Handler and Reese Witherspoon have reached out to her in support of her show, which is executive-produced by Tina Fey. “That would not have happened five years ago.”

Hear. F**cking. Hear.

Catch Busy Tonight on E! on Sundays at at 10/9c. 

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In fact, the onlything to scare me as a child was our neighbor, Hank, who burst into our living room on Halloween one year dressed as Freddy Krueger himself and said in a menacing voice, “Lights out, little girl.” (That, and the human cotton candy pods from Killer Klowns from Outer Space, which for some reason, disturbed me to no end — strange, I know.)

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When it comes to inspiring women, Maria Menounos is right up there at the top of my list. Not only is she a fellow journ babe that’s covered everything from the El Salvador earthquakes to E!’s red carpets, she’s managed to build her own empire with a radio show, Conversations with Maria Menounos, on Sirius XM, a book series of The Everygirl’s Guides, a broadcast network, and film, TV, and wrestling credits for the WWE — you know, just to name a few.

She’s slowed down a bit since undergoing surgery for a golf-ball sized brain tumor last June, but is no less fierce, as I can personally attest: Kevin and I got the chance to meet up with the real life Wonder Woman for Rally HealthFest this past Saturday. Check out a few exclusive tidbits below, then head over to Brit + Co to find out how she’s rebuilding her life in the best way possible!

 

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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #Wrestlemania Fashion: Leggings: @davidlernerny Sweatshirt: @frankandeileen Sneakers: @stellamccartney Bag: @ysl Glam: @giannetos

A post shared by MARIA MENOUNOS (@mariamenounos) on Apr 9, 2018 at 8:10am PDT

Favorite Piece in Her Closet Right Now:
My Stella McCartney platform sneakers. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to pull off those suckers, but they. are. AWESOME.

On How She Stays Healthy on the Go: 
Almonds are your best friend. They don’t smush, they don’t leak… when you’re hungry, you can [eat] a handful, and it will you to your next point, so when you get somewhere to eat, you’re not gonna eat like a horse and take down, like every fried food you can because your’e so desperate and so hungry. I’ll [also[ do some fitness activities in my hotel room, whether it’s a few squats, a few lunges, I stretch in bed — I stretch in bed every day.

On learning to play guitar: 
The first time I was kind of doing it, I picked it up so fast, and I was like doing it and I’m like, holy shit, holy shit and then when I went back two days ago I sucked so bad and that was the day I was gonna do my Instagram video and show off — I learned, ‘Don’t show off yet.’

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According the Frozen star, her mom once stole a human heart from the morgue for her ninth grade class. (Yes, really!)

Also on hand were the legendary Susan Sarandon and Cheryl Hines (who play Kathryn and Kristen’s mothers in the film, respectively) to share the best advice they ever received as a mom (staying in your pjs for awhile is a-okay in Sarandon’s book, ladies!) and the funniest moment they had on set.

Check out the video above and sound off on all the moms’ best advice and hilarity in the comments below, then head to the theatre to catch the flick, in theaters NOW!

Thanks for watching!

Xo, Nicole

The post The Cast of “A Bad Moms Christmas” Shares Their Most Embarrassing Mom Moments appeared first on nicolebjean.