LIPGLOSS: Love Story Cocktails

Don’t get too excited – I’m not talking about actual liquid cocktails. But it’s pretty much the next best thing.

I tend to binge-watch movies. “Movie night” for me often ends up being “3-or-4-movie night.” So, naturally, I’ve started noting which movies pair well together, or at least which ones amuse me when juxtaposed back-to-back, for a delicious “movie cocktail.”

Rom coms (and rom dramas) make for particularly good movie cocktails. In one night, you can experience a whole cluster of love stories that create a much better experience than just watching one movie on its own.

Here are some of my favorite combinations:

1. The White Knuckle– An emotional roller coaster.

Watching order: “The Muppets Movie,” “Titanic,” “Crazy Stupid Love,” “Blue Valentine”

Pairs well with: M&Ms, Skittles, or anything that is both easy to eat and not super likely to make you vomit. It’s going to be a wild ride.

2. Game of Thrones– These movies might not have graphic violence, castles, or incest, but there’s certainly enough characters and interweaving plot lines to constitute an epic fantasy novel.

Watching order: “Love Actually,” “Paris Je T’Aime,” “Valentine’s Day,” “New Year’s Eve,” “He’s Just Not That Into You”

Pairs well with: Protein bars and 5-Hour Energy. You’re going to need it to keep up.

3. The Brainteaser– All the best mind-bending memory-loss flicks.

Watching order: “The Notebook,” “50 First Dates,” “The Vow,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”

Pairs well with: Blueberries! Strawberries! Pecans! Anything with brain-healthy antioxidants! Or actual cocktails if you feel like warping your own memory.

4. Ignorance is Bliss– Make your own happy endings by just quitting early!

Watching order: “Atonement” (until the 1:41:01 mark), “One Day” (until 1:26:15), the first three-quarters of “The Young Victoria,” and the first 9 minutes of “Up.”

Pairs well with: Nutella. So much Nutella.

5. The Wish Granted– This one isn’t that clever. It’s just all my favorite Hugh Grant movies.

Watching order: “Notting Hill,” “Music and Lyrics,” “2 Weeks Notice”

Pairs well with: Hugh Grant face cookies.

BONUS- Add an extra dose of Love Actually to any of these above cocktails for an extra kick. Love Actually is extremely versatile and complements any combination.