Smörgåsborg: Stay entertained this spring break Smörgåsborg: Stay entertained this spring break

graphic by Jennifer Ren Mamma Mia! — movie series: Don’t have the time or the means to travel to Greece this spring break? Never fear! Not only will the beautiful shots of Kalokairi, Greece in the musical duo Mamma Mia andMamma Mia: Here We Go Again give you the Mediterranean experience you’ve always envisioned, they will also have you itching to dance and sing along within minutes. Starring Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, and several other iconic actors, the movies follow the story of Donna, a hard- working mother, and Sophie, her young daughter. Donna was a playful charmer in her past, with many young loves. As she grew older, she settled down on a small island; took over an abandoned hotel to make her own, and single-handedly raised her daughter with lots of love; music, and vibrancy. The first movie follows Sophie’s wedding weekend, where she meets three men who each may or may not be her father, and Donna gets a reminder of her past. The second film delves deeper into the story of a young Donna and her time with the three men who could be Sophie’s father. Both films are fun and touching, featuring strong themes of familial love and the wonderful music of the Swedish band ABBA. Raised Under Grey Skies — album by JP Cooper: If you’re looking for a new song to add to your Spotify queue for long spring break travel trips, look no further. JP Cooper’s 2017 album Raised Under Grey Skieshas the perfect songs to jam out to in the car, with several layered melodies that feature a nice mix between his indie voice and contemporary techno-pop instrumentals. His song “Change” is one of the many gems on this album; his powerfully smooth voice compliments the buildup of the instrumentals and melody perfectly, with lyrics that detail the importance and beauty of changing how you see and approach the world. This song can inspire you to turn over a new leaf coming out of break. Other tunes with a similar message of renewal include “Passport Home” and “She’s On My Mind”. Smörgåsborg: Stay entertained this spring break

graphic by Jennifer Ren The Good Place — TV Show: Have you ever wondered about what the afterlife has in store? This show may not give you all the answers you’re looking for, but there’s still plenty to appreciate about NBC’s The Good Place, a comedic spin on the concept of life after death. Kristen Bell plays Eleanor Shellstrop, the protagonist, who dies and enters The Good Place, an eerily perfect suburban neighborhood and religiously-neutral equivalent to heaven. Eleanor was notoriously obnoxious and irritable throughout her life; once she arrives, she realizes her placement is an unintentional case of identity theft, and attempts to keep up a saintly persona to avoid reassignment to The Bad Place. Along the way, she is introduced to several individuals who she begins to realize are not much more “good” than herself. Several ethical questions are woven throughout the plot, making the audience think hard about what it truly means to be a “good person” in modern times. The show is currently in its third season, with the first two released on Netflix, so if you watch it over break, you’ll be ready to stream the new season in early summer. Smörgåsborg: Stay entertained this spring break

graphic by Jennifer Ren Becoming — book by Michelle Obama: Every time we turn on the news or check Twitter, we are notified about all the negatives in politics. We don’t hear enough of the stories of people in politics who have had a positive impact on the world, and even less of the women who have done so. Many can agree that Michelle Obama was an extraordinary first lady who put her heart into America. Though her many accomplishments are well- publicized, less so is her extraordinary past that shaped her into the woman she is today. In her book, Becoming, she gives detailed insight into her Smörgåsborg: Stay entertained this spring break

childhood in Chicago, her experiences in the Ivy League system, her struggle to balance a career with other passions, her motherhood, and her marriage. Obama discusses not only the obstacles she overcame, but also her points of failure and internal conflict, and the personal growth evolved from these experiences. From this memoir, readers can understand the events that bridged Michelle Obama from young girl to modern icon.