If you see it, you can stream it, with Chromecast at Best Buy

This post was created in part with information provided  through a collaboration with the Best Buy Influencer Network, regardless all opinions are my own.

Raise your hand if your family loves streaming media.

Raise your hand again if you struggle with finding a way for the family to stream together.

We've all been there- Bobby has a cool clip of 2 cats arguing on a fence post, but the living room YouTube is logged into Dad's account, Susy has a Fortnite clip she wants to share but Mom can't look away from the stove to watch a 6" screen, Grandma and Grandpa want to share photos from their recent trip to Ireland and the phone is being passed around like it's still a stack of 4"x6" photographs, and your neighbors brought over their playlist for your Block Party but they're not signed into your Pandora.

With all this shareable technology, since when did it become so difficult to share?

Chromecast, at Best Buy, offers entertainment at your fingertips; upgrade your family's entertainment system for a fraction of the cost when you add Chromecast technology to your TV. Simply plug Chromecast into the HDMI port of your television then stream direct from your phone to your TV. It's as easy as that. In fact any device with the Chromecast app in your home can instantly stream it's content directly to your television, so nobody gets left out ever again.

Stream shows direct from your streaming subscription services, browse recipe tutorials on YouTube, share photos with loved ones, stream live TV, music, and more. See it. Stream it.

(Web-based services and content require high-speed Internet service. Some services may require a subscription.)

Learn more about Chromecast, and pick up yours today at a Best Buy near you.

What I'm Streaming: Casual A Hulu Original (Seasons 1-2)

Momma Told Me: Humans, by nature, are complicated.

I took almost 3 months off from television this year-

When I say 'television' of course I mean 'streaming' programming, as you may recall our family does not have traditional cable. The only time I get to watch something 'live' is at a viewing party or family get together, so I am typically behind at least several episodes on my favorite shows. My purge, of sorts, really wasn't a conscious decision. I simply found that I didn't have the physical or emotional time to invest in TV while I sorted through some big life events in the first half of 2016. In a sense my life became the drama I was hooked on, and I couldn't handle that of anyone else, even if they were fictional.

But now Summer is here- and I have cleared my schedule to do nothing but relax. Okay, blog and relax- I have some recipes and projects I look forward to tackling and sharing in my own time. But the truth remains- streaming, and binging is back in my life and I look forward to sharing some of my finds!

I started high school at a very young age, which just so happened to be around the time Gilmore Girls had just begun airing on the CW. It was my mother, actually, who insisted I watch the show, and instantly I became hooked. Well, we became hooked, as we'd tune in every week to see the latest saga of Rory and Dean or Loralei and Luke. I've always been drawn to shows with quirky characters that seem to have a myriad of personal life obstacles, yet still manage to great each day with enthusiasm, no matter how calamitous the outcome.

Casual, a Hulu Original, reminds me very much of classic Gilmore Girls mixed with (Amazon Prime's Original) Transparent. It is a modern family tale of a single mother, recently divorced and moved in with her emotionally complicated (yet brilliant) brother whilst navigating the complicated world of casual relationships. And, if you think 'Casual' refers merely to one night stands and hook-ups, I have to say that the show's title really covers a wide range of human relationships and the complicated struggles to maintain them.

At the core of Casual there are 3 strong lead characters- Valerie (Michaela Watkins) and her extremely raw, but endearing relationship with her high school aged daughter Laura (Tara Lynne Barr) and Valerie's brother Alex (Tommy Dewey) the online relationship mapping tech startup failure (think Match.com) with emotional insecurities and destructive behaviors. Much like Gilmore Girls, viewers are drawn into the unique and impressively symbiotic relationship these three characters build, as each learn from and grows with each-other while tackling sticky family issues.

However the show is NOT a family program- and should be enjoyed by adults. While it does stream on Hulu as an Original series there is ample 'Sex And The City' style content covered through the adult cast's various escapades into single-dom, parenting, and beyond. While recently divorced, one love of her life, Valerie is awkward and even clumsy in her dating story, bold and modern Alex is inquisitive and exploratory in his. At the end of the day, Casual wraps the calamities and trials with raw insight that truly mirrors the struggles of what it means to be human, and searching for companionship (whether connecting with a new friend, or looking for a long term relationship) in this complex modern world.

If you enjoy shows such as Parenthood and Transparent, give this show a go. Some of the scenarios may seem outright shocking, while others all too relate-able, and it's almost impossible not to begin building your own relationship with the characters. Casual is currently in it's second season- which means you can stream all of Season 1 on Hulu now (binge time!) and catch up to the first half of Season 2 before it ends.

P.S. Season 3 of Casual begins streaming next week (May 26, 2017)!


What Daughter Says: 'Casual' much like 'Normal' are settings for clothing and the dryer. Every relationship is richly complex- that's what makes life so enjoyable!

What I'm Streaming: Black Mirror (Netflix)

Momma Told Me: There's nothing more fascinating than the human condition.

Aside from the mandatory claymation holiday specials, I've barely turned on a television over the past few weeks. I threw my back out the wee before I flew to Texas to surprise family for the holiday then brought back a nasty bug the kiddos had managed to farm prior to leaving school for Christmas break. Most 'normal' people might have waved the white flag at that, curled into a ball of heated blankets and locked the door for a few much needed days of hibernation. Instead, to keep myself from going mad, I threw myself into work, cleaning, and post-holiday preparation. That is until it all got the better of me Monday- and that's when I decided it was time for Netflix and I to reunite once again.

I can't really say why or how exactly I choose what I stream. Growing up my father was always adamant about watching movies and shows at random- he argued that the element of surprise alone (in not knowing the general plot) made even the worst of picks more tolerable. So it reasons to say I watch some pretty random things- only, in this case, half the world appears to have watched The Black Mirror before me. Only recently having arrived on Netflix, for American viewers, The Black Mirror consists of 3 seasons for a whopping 7 episodes (don't ask, it's a British thing.) With each hour long episode standing alone in it's own dystopian universe with singular characters and tales, this show most mirror the classic 'Twilight Zone' commentary so many of us love.

To describe The Black Mirror to you would probably be an injustice. The show's writer and creator, Charlie Brooker, defines the show as "the way we might be living in 10 minutes time if we're clumsy," a hauntingly accurate description. Essentially the focus of each independent episode is the progress of modern technology in contrast to the human condition, and the desires of those driving it's development. In every episode I guarantee you cringe as you find yourself contemplating the fine line between fiction and plausible reality. From a beloved cartoon character personality being cohered into running for public office, to an alternate universe where humans have permanent and immediate visual recollection of all events in their lives, the plots are almost impossible to turn away from.

Along with the poignant social commentary, the brilliant acting of several notable BBC actors truly brings to life the Black Mirror world. Viewers familiar with popular British television will recognize Rupert Everett (Love, Actually) and Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey) while nearly all streamers will spot cameos from the Game of Thrones, and even Mad Men's Jon Hamm. In fact, the seventh episode, featuring Mr Hamm, just aired in the U.S. on Christmas Day, and is expected to release to Netflix shortly, so there is plenty of time to fall in love with the Black Mirror series before everyone is discussing the 90 minute 7th episode special!

If you're on the fence about streaming The Black Mirror, my biggest suggestion is to watch them out of order. Perhaps read the little blurb defining each episode and pick those which intrigue you most first. You will spoil nothing in watching them this way- though the 7th, most recent, episode does indicate the Black Mirror universes may just be all tied together. My best tip for easing into this series is to begin with Season 1 E. 3 The Entire History Of You (Currently being adapted into a feature film by Robert Downey Jr.) then S1. E2 Fifteen Million Merits, followed by S2. E1 Be Right Back. Some of the episodes get a little dark, and these will help ease you into the style of social commentary Brooker has put forth. Have you seen or heard about The Black Mirror?

What Daughter Says: Sometimes taking a closer look can be almost painful to watch, but hard to take your eyes off of.

What I'm Streaming: Arrested Development Seasons 1-4 on Netflix

Momma Told Me: You can't always pick your family.


I've been working a lot recently, and trying to get the house transitioned for Fall, so having a binge show I can stream in short half an hour segments and follow along without being fully invested in is great. And that's precisely how I landed on the 'did they really just say that?' laugh-out-loud comedy, Arrested Development. Now, you may recognize this series from the early 2000's, as it was actually first put out by FOX for a 3 season run, until it was ultimately canceled. As it turns out, the show had an amazing cult following, in part thanks to the wide range of cameos and guest stars that appeared through the years. Luckily for those of us, like you and I, hopping on the bandwagon late, it was purchased by Netflix in 2013 and renewed for a new season!

Arrested development is Seinfeld (TV) meets We're The Millers (film, 2013); and not just because Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a recurring character. It's the story of a once wealthy family run to the poorhouse on the feet of a major political and business scandal. With the patriarch of the family jailed and in prison, the eldest and most responsible son is left to help keep the helpless, and arguably certifiable, family together and the company afloat. The characters are beautifully composed with such absurd flaws and exaggerated personalities one never quite knows what is about to unfold next. And, while the story has the greater arc of the family journey, each episode brings a new zany scheme or plot.

I'll admit, I never paid much attention to Arrested Development because I tend not to watch FOX programming (outside of Gordon Ramsay series,) as it tends to be overly crass and largely skewed. However, this particular show has such a supporting cast of core actors and recurring stars it's hard not to give it a chance. I suggest trying out the first 4 episodes before you cast a verdict either way- one of the things this show is brilliant at is recurring inside jokes and jabs that truly lend themselves to true comedy gems. What I find most fascinating, however, is how some of the original characters are portrayed by actors (Michael Cera, Mae Whitman) that were relatively unknown at the origin of the series and sprinkled amongst the big cameos of greats like Liza Minnelli and Henry Winkler.

Sadly, the first season is the longest, with the most recent ending at just 13 episodes- but this makes Arrested Development a quick binge. My best suggestion? Watch it with someone who will later get the many references and qoutes you'll likely be dropping. Several of the themes an challenges the family face are recurring and every time the outcome is hilarious. Thanks to witty writing, I might even give the series another go through down the line.

What Daughter Says: Not only will this show make you feel so much more fortunate for the family you have, but you're sure to appreciate the hilarious ways these characters seem to make things work!