Some of the best holiday shows on Netflix now

The holidays are a great time to relax and catch up on the telly. Here are some Netflix shows you need to tune into this holiday season.

Friends – “The One With The Holiday Armadillo”

“The Holiday Armadillo” episode is the one that remembers the existence of Hanukkah. Essentially, Ross wants to teach his son Ben about his Jewish heritage, but Ben only wants to hear about Santa. This leads to Santa Claus, Superman, and Ross dressed as a Holiday Armadillo gathered in Monica’s living room, lighting a menorah.

Arrested Development – “Afternoon Delight”

“Afternoon Delight” revolves around the Bluth Company’s annual Christmas party, which is ruined when Gob fires everyone, thereby resulting in a second party where Michael re-hires everyone. However, amongst all the chaos, siblings Michael and Lindsay manage to find some Christmas spirit.

Orange Is the New Black – “Can’t Fix Crazy”

This Orange Is the New Black episode follows the tensions between Piper and Pennsatucky, who feels disrespected by Piper’s refusal to be baptized. The conflict builds to confrontation, with each inmate having her moment to shine, especially Norma, who steps in to sing a rendition of “I Saw the Light”.

Bojack Horseman – “Sabrina’s Christmas Wish”

Bojack Horseman has a lot in common with the Grinch - neither are human, both had difficult childhoods and both hate Christmas. This episode takes place on Christmas morning when Todd convinces Bojack to watch a holiday episode of Horsin’ Around, the sitcom that Bojack starred on in the ’90s. Bojack’s cold heart eventually melts as he and Todd watch his old show: proving that even Grinches need company on Christmas.

For more great entertainment, head over to www.gellmedia.com today.

Top Five Feel Good Christmas Stories

With the Christmas season in full effect, many of us are starting to unwind and relax ready for time with family. Here we will look at some of the best books to read during the Christmas period.

A Gift in December

Written by Genevieve Herr, this feel good Christmas story follows a festive romance. It has been described as book critics as the “most heart-warming story you can find” and is based on historical fiction.

One Christmas in Paris

A contemporary romance written by Mandy Biggott, set in Paris, the city of love, following two best friends, one of whom can’t stop thinking about her good for nothing ex. A friend on a mission to find Ava’s happiness again.

The Christmas Café Cake

A light-hearted story set in the snowy Alps, this feel good story written by Sue Watson, will have you in stitches following Jen’s future after her heartbreak.

The Little Christmas Teashop of Second Chances

This romantic story really sets the Christmas scene, cosy log fires and mince pies in a well-loved community tea shop, Lily King wasn’t looking for love but will she stumble across it? Created by Donna Ashcroft, this story will have your heart racing wondering what’s next.

No One Cancels Christmas

A funny and romantic Christmas book follows the progression of a love story, raising the Christmas spirit and preventing a Scrooge type character from ruining Christmas. Created by Zara Stoneley this rom-com is bound to make you smile.

If you are looking for more festive feel good books this Christmas visit www.gellmedia.com for further suggestions!

A Few of the Funniest Video Games Ever Made – How Many do you Know?

Humor has the ability to raise moods and, obviously, put the smile back on person’s face. Interactive humour is even better since the recipient can take an active role and help to shape the way the narrative plays out. With this in mind, we have here some of the funniest video games ever made.

Jazzpunk 2014

This one of those rare games that was actually designed to be funny. Right from the start, when your character steps out from a suitcase that is shaped as a person and into a cartoon styled cyberpunk setting, the jokes come thick and fast.

Spy vs Spy 1984-1986

A two-player covert espionage challenge game that perfectly matches the slapstick comedy of the Mad magazine comics that the series is based upon. Much of the garnered laughs come from the various traps that can be left for your opponent to walk into. Should you fall prey to your own trap then it’s even funnier, especially the death animations inspired by Looney-Tunes.

Hitman 2000-

Although this series was never intended to be funny, the act of attempting to take out a single target only to accidentally crush half a dozen innocent people under a falling spotlight is unintentionally hilarious. The mechanics of the game can very often make you feel more Bean than Bond – with brilliantly funny results.

There are a whole host of other funny titles to choose from, some intentionally funny and some that accidently stumbled into the realms of comedy. You can find a great selection at www.gellmedia.com.

Light-hearted reads for every teenage girl having a difficult time

Our teenage years can be some of our hardest, whether it’s trying to fit in, make friends or feel assured with who you are, they come with a lot of struggles. If you have a teenage daughter or are a teenager having a hard time, here are some light-hearted reads that’ll make you smile.

Less by Andrew Sean Geer - Writer, Andrew Less plans to extend his travels in order to avoid his ex-boyfriend’s upcoming wedding - but nothing really goes to plan. This book makes you laugh, sigh in sympathy and feel anxious about what will happen next. You’ll fall in love with the main character and enjoy his wit and charm.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith - Set in 1934, this coming-of-age story follows 17-year-old Cassandra Mountain. This book is all about her thoughts as she scribbles away in her journal and describes the crumbling castle where she lives with her formerly famous father and eccentric stepmother. She documents everything from her sisterly squabbles to falling in love. It’s a charming read that’ll leave you smiling.

84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff - This story follows two book lovers who nurture an endearing decade-long friendship by mail. The book is told through Helene Hanff, a writer in New York City and a used-book dealer at 84, Charing Cross Road. It’s an incredibly touching and sentimental read.

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory - This book follows lawyer Alexa and the cliché but lovely love story she has with Drew. They meet in an elevator and it kicks about a whirlwind romance. It talks all about their interracial relationship and is generally a really fun read.

Discover more romance content here at www.gellmedia.com.

Light-hearted reads for every teenage girl having a difficult time

Our teenage years can be some of our hardest, whether it’s trying to fit in, make friends or feel assured with who you are, they come with a lot of struggles. If you have a teenage daughter or are a teenager having a hard time, here are some light-hearted reads that’ll make you smile.

Less by Andrew Sean Geer - Writer, Andrew Less plans to extend his travels in order to avoid his ex-boyfriend’s upcoming wedding - but nothing really goes to plan. This book makes you laugh, sigh in sympathy and feel anxious about what will happen next. You’ll fall in love with the main character and enjoy his wit and charm.

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith - Set in 1934, this coming-of-age story follows 17-year-old Cassandra Mountain. This book is all about her thoughts as she scribbles away in her journal and describes the crumbling castle where she lives with her formerly famous father and eccentric stepmother. She documents everything from her sisterly squabbles to falling in love. It’s a charming read that’ll leave you smiling.

84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff - This story follows two book lovers who nurture an endearing decade-long friendship by mail. The book is told through Helene Hanff, a writer in New York City and a used-book dealer at 84, Charing Cross Road. It’s an incredibly touching and sentimental read.

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory - This book follows lawyer Alexa and the cliché but lovely love story she has with Drew. They meet in an elevator and it kicks about a whirlwind romance. It talks all about their interracial relationship and is generally a really fun read.

Discover more romance content here at www.gellmedia.com.

Navigating the tricky terrain of young love

Being a teenager trying to navigate the tricky terrain of young love can be treacherous, but it can also be quite uplifting. Here are two feel good books which will you a warm flow.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

Lara Jean is a shy teenager who had never been able to muster up the courage to tell a succession of crushes how she really feels about them. Instead, she writes a letter to each boy she has fallen in love with in a cathartic exercise and then secretly hides them in a box under her bed.

However, when Lara Jean discovers one day that the letters have actually been posted to all the boys who they addressed to, her life is turned upside down. Now they will all know about her true feelings. Then she must face up to the very real prospect of the boys asking her about the letters.

However, Lara Jean finds a way of turning what could be a disaster into something altogether more positive.

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda

The course of true love never runs smooth, and that’s certainly the case for Simon. The gay 16-year-old high schooler isn’t quite out yet, but has been flirtatiously emailing a potential date for some time. However, when one of his correspondence gets intercepted his secret is under threat and he finds himself the subject of blackmail. With so many plates spinning at one time, Simon must face his fears and find a way to stop them all from coming crashing down. If he can pull it off, the rewards are great.

For more feel good books check out www.gellmedia.com.

Opening up: An introvert’s guide to conversations

When you are an introvert, the difficulty and awkwardness of many social interactions becomes amplified. The kinds of conversations other may take in their stride, can be terrifying for you. An introvert’s default setting in these situations can often be to clam up and sink slowly into the background.

However, conducting a conversation, and even that often crippling small talk, doesn’t have to be the source of dread. You can follow these few tips and get your conversation game down. 

Get others to open up

Getting by as an introvert in a conversation doesn’t mean all of a sudden become motormouth. Having a few little phrases to hand can be useful to allow others to tell you about themselves and allow you to listen. For example, when we ask someone what they do, we very rarely have a decent follow-up response. Trying to say to someone after they’ve told you what to ‘Oh, that must be tough’ or ‘That sounds interesting’, this way they are likely to go into more detail about what they do, letting you be an interested listener.

Find common ground

We can often tense up when we feel we have nothing to offer to the conversation or can’t find an ‘in’. If you are discussing music, movies or TV shows, try and establish something that you and everyone is familiar with and that way you’ll have enough material to sustain you.

Tell people what you do, rather than what you don’t

If someone starts asking you what you do, you don’t always have to talk about your job. Instead focus on the things you like to do and which you have a passion for. You will find it much easier to open up about such things.

If you are looking for more feel good advice check out the books at www.gellmedia.com.