A couple of weeks ago when I wrote a blog post explaining how Ryan and I were considering giving up cable, many of you commented to tell me about free alternatives that we could use to watch our favorite shows.
While we have agreed to cancel cable beginning in March, we plan to get NetFlix and hope to use the internet to stream some of our favorite shows. Our goal is to stop using television as a default form of entertainment and limit TV-watching to movies and the small handful of shows we actually enjoy together.
Last night, I discovered that Amazon Prime members can stream Downton Abbey for free!
This is fantastic news considering the fact that my mom, grandma, sister and I got way too invested in the show over the weekend. I know I’ve hopped on the Downton Abbey train a little late, but I am officially hooked and told Ryan it’s the best show I’ve seen in a long time.
Breakfast
Breakfast this morning was just peachy!
Err… nectarine-y.
Along with my nectarine, I had a bowl of scrambled eggs made with shredded cheese, chopped peppers and broccoli.
Plus a can of La Croix coconut sparkling water on the side.
Question of the Morning
- Have you ever watched Downton Abbey? What did you think?
I actually missed the very first episode, but my mom and grandma filled me in, and now I’m hooked! The Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith) is a hoot!
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Maggie Smith’s character has some GREAT one liners – I just watched the season 3 finale and hate that I will have to wait so long for season 4!
I LOVE Downton Abbey. We don’t have cable either, but it works out well for that show, because it’s PBS so you can watch it with your antenna. We stopped getting cable at the beginning of this year and it was one of the best decisions we ever made – we saved a TON of money, but can still watch every single one of the TV shows we want between the Antenna, Netflix and Hulu. We mostly got cable just for the premium channels, so now we just go over to a friends house to watch those, ha.
I have been watching with my MIL since the beginning of Season 2. Love the building up of the characters and plot lines. I am so emotionally invested in this show. : )
Yay for nectarines! They’re the PERFECT summer fruit, but are wonderful in winter!
I have heard so much about that show but never started watching it. Everyone that I know watches it loves it
I haven’t jumped on the Downtown Abbey train but it’s definitely getting a lot of attention!
How do you like that La Croix flavor? I’m interested in trying it but haven’t committed yet! I hope you have a great Tuesday!
I haven’t watched Downton Abey but I hear so many great things! I’m really tempted to watch 🙂
I am convinced that Downton Abbey is THEEE show to be watching right now. I keep hearing such great things about it, and about how obsessed everyone is with it. I am thinking that I need to jump on the bandwagon, rent the seasons or watch them online, and see what it’s all about!
Oh my gosh I’m OBSESSED with Downton Abbey!! Maggie Smith is absolutely hilarious! She reminds me of my great grandma, just full of sass haha! You should try the book, Snobs by Julian Fellowes (the screenwriter for DA!). And that nectarine makes me crave summer! Ugh, wish it would come sooner!
Best. Show. Ever! This season is killing me though! Don’t wanna spoil it so will stop there,
we cancelled our cable and they ended up offering it to us for a $1 so they wouldn’t loose us as customers. I can most definitely spare an extra $1 for cable!
lose*
I love Downton Abbey!, Been a big fan for years. Being from the UK, I am lucky I can watch it as soon as it comes out. Tam x
I haven’t watched Downton Abbey but I keep hearing about it – I need to check it out!!
I have Netflix so I’ve only seen the first season. I love those period drama movies and have watched a ton of the BBC movies so Downton is right up my Abbey. 😉 I don’t know that it’s my favorite of all the movies and series I’ve seen but it is pretty good. Can’t wait to see what happens in seasons 2 and 3!
Oh and for anyone else who has Netflix and likes DA, check out “Upstairs Downstairs”. It’s another similar series that was on years ago and is really good too!
I know it sounds simple, but can we get like a recipe for that breakfast because it looks SO GOOD! And I did a post today on Netflix vs Hulu+! Haha great minds think alike.
I am *obsessed* with Downton Abbey! Have to give credit to my mom–she got me hooked! 🙂
I’m definitely on the Dowton Abbey train! At first I was just in the room while it was on but it grabs your attention and I couldn’t NOT watch… there’s so much drama ahead, get ready for a wild ride (and get ready to be way too invested in all the characters haha )
Looks like I need to jump on the Downton Abbey train, too! I love La Croix waters! They are BOGO at Publix right now so I stocked up 🙂 My hubby and I are thinking about cancelling cable, as well… unless they offer it to us for $1 like Alexa above!
I have Netflix streaming too but a friend of mine said she cancelled her Netflix streaming and got an Amazon Prime membership since you get hulu plus with that, and for her it had more stuff she was interested in watching, was cheaper than Netflix, and you get the bonus of having Amazon prime. I plan to look into it myself. I’m currently watching Downton Abby episodes on Netflix but they only have season 1 where hulu has seasons 1 and 2.
i need to check out hulu plus. i’ve heard such great things!
Downton Abbey is on my list of shows to watch. I think I will stream it on hulu some long run on a treadmill day. 🙂 (I am also watching make it or break it this way currently. its an easy free way to catch up!)
I’ve never seen Downtown Abbey, but I know Colleen (at The Lunchbox Diaries) is obsessed and it’s made me want to start watching! And although we pay for cable, I rarely watch it anymore. I took the Netflix plunge a couple of months ago and it was hands down the best decision! I can watch all my favorite shows, whenever I want, with no commercials! Win win win 🙂
I still haven’t seen it, but I need to watch an episodic just to see what all the hype is about! 🙂
I bought La Croix coconut at the grocery Sunday since it was on sale – 12 pack for $1.99 when it is usually over $4! I was pumped! Lol
Ive never watched it but everyone in my dorm is OBSESSED WITH IT!!!!!! also i have no idea how your going to give up cable! good for you!
We’ve finally gotten on the LOST train and have watched almost all of it in a matter of months on NetFlix (yay no commercials, or long between season waits!). I don’t think we can handle getting sucked into another series for a bit.
I just watched season 1 of Downton last week (after months of rave reviews from my grandma!) and I’m totally hooked! Unfortunately I have Netflix so I’m stuck at season 1. I’m thinking it’s worth a year of Amazon prime just to see season 2. 😉
Forgot to add- There was a GREAT piece on Maggie Smith Sunday night on 60 minutes. She’s just as adorable in ‘real life’!
I believe Netflix has Season 2. Also check your local library. 🙂
I absolutely love Downton Abbey! My mom and I have been watching it together and we always laugh hysterically at Maggie Smith’s snarky comments! 🙂
I love this show! I cheated and watched Season 3 early and have just one episode left. It’s such a great place and the characters are great!
I love Downton Abbey and I’m patiently waiting for the current season to be on Hulu or Netflix. I know you can watch the weekly episodes on PBS.com, but I spend enough time in front of my computer i dont want to deal with watching shows on it. So I will be patient.
Yayyy welcome to the Downton Abbey club! Haha I’ve been totally obsessed since I started watching it on Netflix a couple months ago. Can’t wait till you get all caught up!
Downton Abbey is THE best. Just wait until you catch up to this season!
I bought a bunch of nectarines yesterday and they are delicious! I haven’t gotten on the downton abbey train but I hear people love it, enjoy!
I absolutely love Downton Abbey however this past season has left me very sad and upset. I will not give anything away but somethings will surprise you!
I agree, Kaitlin!
i saw some vague facebook statuses from friends that had similar feelings. shhhhh! 🙂
I JUST started Downton Abbey on Netflix and I’m desperately trying to avoid finding out what happens through social media. It’s one of my biggest fears in this day and age : ).
The current season of Downton Abbey, the one that ended on Sunday (season 3), is available for free on PBS.com or on the PBS App. I’m pretty sure is there until mid-March. That’s where I’ve been watching Downton. We haven’t had cable for about 2 years now. We rely on streaming Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu+. All three of those combined is FAR less than we’d spend on cable, in just 2 months.
Welcome! It’s a great train to be on! 🙂 My husband and I are obsessed . . . it’s such a fun show and I love all the characters and how unique they are!
I would really like to enter the blender giveaway but your blog site says that the maximum number of entries has been reached…..is there another option to enter…can we comment somewhere else? It looks AMAZING!
I wish I had Amazon Prime! I have a student version which gives you the free 2-day shipping but doesn’t allow free streaming. It’s good, but it could be much better!
PS – I’ve been cable-free for a few years now, and I highly recommend an HD antenna. They’re only like $15 and allow you to get Fox, NBC, ABC, and CBS for free in HD. It sits out of sight behind my tv.
Ah, nectarines are back?! I need to check my grocery store.. I hate when we only have apples and bananas to choose from (even though the latter are my fav).
Oh my gosh, I’m such a nerd that I literally squealed when I read the title of this post! Love Downton Abbey! I’m a bit of an Anglophile anyway, and, I agree, it’s the best show I’ve seen in quite some time.
Downton Abbey is the entire package: great writing, solid actors, beautiful music, amazing costumes, and don’tchaknow the scenery is GORGEOUS!
Everyone is always talking about this show I really need to jump on the train! I feel like I’m missing out!
Downton is by far my favorite show! Besides Ms. O’Brian and Thomas at times there is not one thing to not like! No spoilers from me but just wait until you watch season 3!
ickkkk i already cannot stand those two!
Wow! Your breakfast looks great considering that I am sick and haven’t had food in 24 hours:(
We just recently gave up cable in January and have no regrets. Our cable bill was apporaching $230/mo, which is ridiculous in my book. We use Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Apple TV. There is plenty of options to keep us entertained for the 1 hour or so we turn on a TV a day.
I am obsessed with Downton Abbey. Started watching it on Amazon Prime and blew through the first two seasons in about a week and a half!
I think I’m the only one who hasn’t hopped on the Downtown Abbey train. I tried watching the first episode and just couldn’t get through it.
Yes, I understand. You have to push through it and then you will for sure get hooked. Give it another chance. 🙂
i’ve heard that the first episode isn’t too great (that’s actually the one i skipped), but after watching the second and third episodes, i was hooked!
I’m OBSESSED with Downton Abbey!! Although I must say that I was not too thrilled with the Season Three Finale and hate that I have to wait for Season 4 now lol!
MMM Nectarines are so good. Love netflix, we gave up cable a couple months ago but there are plenty of shows and movies on netflix that make up for it.
I love Downton Abbey!! My friend from Utah got me hooked on it back in September! She watched all the episodes on Amazon Prime. I didn’t have Prime so I rented the DVDs from my local library! I got my husband, Mom, Dad, and Aunt & Uncle hooked on that show! I love going back in time…there is something romantic about that time period. I love all the characters and their storylines! I can’t wait for season 4. My husband and I have looked into getting rid of our cable as well. We did a free one month subscription of Amazon prime…however it didn’t have his family guy episodes.
I still don’t know what Downtown Abbey is or what channel it is even on…I keep about it though! It must be good!
When you make your famous scrambled eggs, shredded cheese and extra yummy add-ins like peppers and broccoli, do you shred a block of cheese? if so, what kind? or do you use pre shredded cheese in a bag, if so what kind? trying to find a healthy option : ) thanks!
i used sargento shredded mexican cheese 🙂