I don't think I've ever said that before (I have myself to thank for this one...I kept all my 2009 New Years Resolutions...well, the important ones aka the ones that count.)
In Houston for New Year's Eve...for the second year in a row. (How does that happen? Don't I hate Houston? Yes, yes, YES.) I was hoping to spend New Year's Eve with the boy this year (three New Years' now, and we've never had a New Years kiss...sadness).
However, celebration with my older cousin and the rest of the Meilert/Czach family will begin soon: dinner, drinks, Wii dancing...See you in a few hours 2010! I'll miss the goodness of 2009, but things went so well, I'm excited to see what 2010 has to bring. :)
The January 2010 issue of "Oxygen" is now on magazine stands. And if you know "Oxygen," you know what that means: the beginning of a three-month plan to reach "Your Best Body Ever."
The current issue features the first month's work out and meal regimen. And as always, the first month workout is the easiest to get into because you can do it right at home. All you need is 5, 8, and 10 lb dumbbells, a weight bench (which I'm lacking, so my piano bench doubles as a weight bench), and a step or staircase.
Just to give you an idea of the workout, here's the month one schedule:
Weeks 1 & 2
Monday: Upper body
Tuesday: Cardio (20 min. for beginners, 30 min. for intermediate; add 5 min. every week after)
Wednesday: Rest (Yes, rest days are just as important as work out days. As written by Myatt Murphy, CSC, the author of the article accompanying the workout, "Your muscles don't become leaner and stronger as you work out [...] They improve when given the right amount of rest (typically 48 to 72 hours.)" Rest days give your muscles time to "recuperate, rebuild, and recharge between each and every workout."
Thursday: Lower body
Friday: Cardio
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Cardio
Weeks 3 & 4
Monday: Upper body
Tuesday: Cardio
Wednesday: Lower body
Thursday: Rest
Friday: Upper body
Saturday: Cardio
Sunday: Lower body
Today I kicked off the first month plan, and if you're a college student like me, it's the perfect time to begin. With a month off from school, I'll be able to at least do the first month workout in full. (We'll have to see how months 2 and 3 go, once I'm back to the hectic school/work life.)
However, I've decided not to follow the meal plan that the magazine provides. As a college student who works on campus, and therefore, can't work during the winter break, I just can't afford it. But I will be trying a few of the recipes that are apart of the meal plan (such as grape and walnut chicken salad; red and gold farina; and tilapia with peppers, tomatoes, and capers.)
So if you're facing a month of free time, too, pick up the latest issue of "Oxygen" magazine and let the fitness begin. (Sorry, can't get this work out on the magazine's website.)
Now that I've got some time on my hands, here's the recipe for the Sweet Potato & Cinnamon Brownies I blogged about last month ("Clean Eating Holiday Dessert"):
Prepare brownies: Combine flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. In a food processor, combine sweet potato, agave, oil, and vanilla. Puree until combined and smooth.
Gradually mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients, until just combined; do not over-mix.
In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites until fluffy. Then, using a rubber spatula, gently fold egg whites into batter.
Lightly spray sides of baking pan (9 x 9 x 2-inch) with cooking spray. Pour batter into pan and place into oven. Bake for about 16 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove pan from oven and allow brownies to cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
While brownies are cooking or cooling, prepare icing: In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, agave, cocoa powder and cinnamon. Whisk until incorporated, adding 1 tbsp water if mixture is hard to whisk. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
Loosen brownie and turn slab out onto a cutting board or platter. Cut into 16 pieces, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
To serve, divide icing evenly over each brownie and serve immediately. Leftovers may be kept refrigerated in a resealable container for up to 2 days.
I'm not a fan of the current vampire craze (and no, I don't find the "sexy vampires" that are apart of this craze attractive like most of the vampire-obsessed girls - and unfortunately, women - out there.)
However, I am a fan of this trailer for "Daybreakers," a movie that will bring a new twist on vampires (and William Dafoe!) to theaters January 8, 2010:
Houston somehow found its way onto the list of limited cities playing "The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day," and I just happened to be in Houston for Thanksgiving. After filling up on turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberries, and stuffing, I ended turkey day with "All Saints Day." And I was pleased. A bit disappointed, but pleased.
"All Saints Day" is the sequel to Troy Duffy's "The Boondock Saints" (2000). In the first film, after killing two members of the Russian mob out of self-defense, Irish-American brothers Murphy and Connor MacMannus (Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flannery, respectively) believe they are on a mission from God to rid the city of Boston of crime. While openly gay FBI agent Paul Smecker (Willem Dagoe) investigates the brothers' continous murders amongst the ranks of the Russian mafia, Boston's citizens herald the brothers as saints.
The sequel has a similar story line...and its execution is a little too similar as well. In the continuation of "The Boondock Saints," the brothers have been in hiding in Ireland with their father, Il Duce (Billy Connolly). But after a beloved priest is killed by someone within the mob, the brothers return to Boston to do what they do best: bring justice to those responsible for the innocent's death. The brothers have a new partner in crim (Clifton Collins Jr., "Star Trek"), a sexy FBI operative (Julie Benz, TV's "Dexter") on their trail, guns in hand...and their rope, of course.
"All Saints Day" was a decent sequel. It had all the action and wit of the first film...but it also had very similar scenes, just with different people (besides the brothers). While I enjoyed the film, it was trying too hard to be like the original. I wanted to see new sly comedy and action-packed fight scenes, not everything I've already seen before. I was pleased with the humor, though a lot of it was the crude comedy of today rather than the sly, natural humor of the original.
Still, if you liked "The Boondock Saints" you don't want to miss "All Saints Day." Benz fives a smart and sexy performance as FBI agent Eunice Bloom, filling the shoes of Willem Dafoe's agent Smecker well enough (though she could never pull it off as beautifully as Dafoe). Collins, who plays Romeo (new partner in crime), serves as the comic relief and does so well, despite all of the forced humor.
Another nice touch to the film is seeing more of Connolly's Il Duce (didn't see much of him in the first.) Duffy gives an intriguing back story of the brothers' father...a story that turns out to be more than just background. And as for Flannery and Reedus? Killer performances. These two actors were made for the roles of the witty MacMannus brothers. Even when repeating similar scenes and lines of the original, they play their characters exquisitely.
Though the movie may have been too much like the original, but not as brilliant as the original (you know, since we've seen a lot of it before), it was completely made up for in the end (don't worry, I won't give it away). And if you're a "Boondock Saints" fan, you'll enjoy the whole thing (the good and the "eh...").
"All Saints Day" is now playing in Austin at Cinemark Tinseltown 17 on South I-35.
Christmas is the season of giving, and what better gift to give a loved one than a gift that gives back?
These types of gifts have become almost a trend in the past few years as non-profit organizations and charities started offering everyday products whose proceeds go back to their cause. Even stores and name brands have teamed up with organizations and charities, donating a percentage of their proceeds to a specific cause. (Think (PRODUCT)RED, and its partners, like Starbucks and Gap.)
In a time when money is tight, you don't have to worry about spending all your money on Christmas presents and having nothing left to give to charities. With gifts that give back, you can do both in one purchase.
And there are a lot of cute, stylish, and tasty gifts out there that give back to good causes. With the holiday of presents, presents, and more presents coming up, here's a few great gift ideas I've found, that also give back:
For the sweet tooth... Give the chocolate lover gourmet fudge from Bella's Confections...and give back to the American Cancer Society. Through December 31, 25 percent of your purchase (Bella's Classic Collection fudge, shown on the left, is $13) will go to the American Cancer Society. bellasconfections.com.
For the fitness nut... Your friends will be chugging water in style with the(STARBUCKS)RED Double Walled Stainless Steel Water Bottle by Starbucks Coffee in red, of course ($20). For every (STARBUCKS)RED product you purchase, Starbucks will give $1.00 to the Global Fund to help provide treatment for children and adults living with HIV in an effort to fights AIDS in Africa. If $1 doesn't seem like enough, check out more of these Starbucks products at (STARBUCKS)RED and purchase coffee or gift cards for all your coffee-loving friends and family.
For the women in your life... Ford has teamed up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to create a line of "Warrior Gear." The shirt to the left is just one of "Warrior" tops and features the symbol of the Dove on the back, which reads "Dove: Represents the wish for a quiet peace during the heat of battle." 100% of net proceeds goes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Not only will you be giving a fashionable addition to a loved one's wardrobe, but you will be supporting breast cancer research and recruiting more "Warriors" who will spread the word just by wearing the shirt. Check out the "Warrior" scarf, shirts, and accesories fordcares.com.
For the ocean lover (and the coral bleaching-aware)...
This necklace is perfect for anyone who loves jewelry...and the beach...and cares about ocean conservation. Featuring a charm desgined in the shape of a coral, this Lilly Pulitzer necklace is not only a beautiful fashion accessory but creates awareness and funding for Sea Web, a communications-based non-profit organization that raises awareness about ocean conservation . When you purchase the $48 Coral Necklace, ten percent goes to Sea Web's coral conservation campagin, "Too Precious to Wear."Check out the Lilly Pulitzer website for more ocean inspired jewelry, bags, and accesories whose proceeds go back to ocean and coral conservation.
For the wine connoisseur... Wine is always a safe and simple gift for anyone, connoisseur or not. But instead of picking up any random bottle of wine, choose a meaningful wine from the One Hope wine selection. One Hope is a for-profit enterprise that donates 50% of profits to partner charities through the creation of cause-specific wines. Each of One Hope's five wines has its own cause. For example, when you purchase the Zinfandel, shown on the left, the 50% donation is given to organizations who support our troops and their families. (Cabernet - Autism; Merlot - AIDS/HIV; Chardonnay - Breast Cancer; and Sauvignon Blanc - The Environment.) Each bottle is $19. For more wines and products, go to onehopewine.com. For more "gifts that give back" ideas, check out the December issue of Glamour, now on magazine stands (or, you can probably browse through a variety of magazines on newsstands to find an article on charitable gift ideas.) And don't forget to take a look on the all-knowing Web.
Ok, I missed Wednesday's elimination episode, so I can't give you the details on why the two dancers eliminated this week were chosen by the judges. I'll just get straight to it.
Bottom three couples: Mollee and Nathan (surprise, surprise) Ryan and Ellenore (Understandable. I thought their Broadway routine would keep them out of the bottom three, but it was a tough week.) Karen and Victor
Eliminated: Karen and Victor
Though I wish it would have been Mollee and Nathan (sigh...) I can see why these two dancers were eliminated. Karen has certainly lost her spark in the past few weeks, and Victor has always seemed kind of bland to me. While I would have like to see Mollee and Nathan go, I am anxious to see how these two do next week with new partners.
Don't miss SYTYCD next Tuesday at 7 pm. It's down to the Top 10, which means a new partner for the dancers every week and each couple performing two routines (which actually started this past week, for some reason.) It also means that the dancers no longer have the judges to keep them safe as eliminations will now be based purely on how viewers vote.
Here are some of my favorite routines from week five (check out my "Spotlight on Ashleigh and Jakob" post for videos of this couple's routines):
Well, it's here. Today, families all over the U.S. will be sitting down to the most anticipated - and probably the most dreaded - meal of the year. You don't need studies and statistics to tell you that Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday weight gain that doesn't end till after New Year's.
Yes, you have two more high calorie filled holidays to go through in the next month, so brace yourself this Thanksgiving by cutting back on portions...or better yet, cutting out high calorie ingredients completely. And be sure to keep up with your fitness routines. I know, you're thinking of the post-Thanksgiving lethargy. Hello! Less portions + lighter dishes = less fullness and more energy for a post-Thanksgiving workout tomorrow morning.
To give you a little push, here are some tips (brought to you by Women's Health magazine) for keeping Thanksgiving healthy this year:
"Stress Busting Workout: Four Zen Moves..." - The holidays are certainly a stressful time of year: shopping, cooking, cleaning, relatives...the usual. And today is just the beginning. Add these yoga-inspired moves from celebrity yoga coach Gwen Lawrence to your fitness regimen for the rest of the year to keep holiday stress at bay.
"The Lower(er) Calorie Thanksgiving" - Completely lost on how to make healthy choices during your Thanksgiving meal? This slide show will tell you how. For example, if you need alcohol (you know, to get through a long day with the relatives) opt for red or white wine. For turkey, choose light meat over dark and make sure your portion is no bigger than a deck of cards. And for that Thanksgiving staple (well, for me), sweet potatoes, say no to casseroles and yes to a baked sweet potato. (Ok, that's one rule I refuse to follow. I get my aunt's AMAZING sweet potato casserole recipe - better than the traditional marshamallow topped recipe - once a year, and I will eat much less of everything else just to make extra room for sweet potato casserole.)
"Pipe Cleaners: Two gentle yoga poses that are tough on cholesterol" - Thanksgiving meal means a lot of food to digest...and a lot of fat just waiting to clog up your arteries and raise your cholesterol. Try these two yoga poses, both before Thanksgiving as well as post-Thanksgiving morning, to reduce stress...which will help your body digest food more efficiently (keeping the nutrients and kicking out the fat.)
I'd give you more, but posting this on Thanksgiving day is posting it a bit late. But I'll say this...hopefully you've been eating healthy and keeping up with your work outs all week.
If a band makes a comment about Myspace during a live show, they've obviously been living under a rock.
Twitter is the new Myspace.
Record labels are even encouraging their artists to use Twitter as an outlet of communication. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails inspired the move from Myspace to Twitter.
Reznor used his Twitter account to help raise $1 million for a fan in need of a heart transplant. He also gave fans inside access to upcoming tour dates, projects, and his collaboration with other artists.
Now, many bands are following suit, using the most up to date and popular social networking site to connect with their fans online. Band and touring information, record release promotions, and contests have been among the different ways for artists to connect with their audience through Twitter.
During one of their shows, San Francisco band Moonalice recorded each song live as they performed. They immediately digitized the songs and sent out a tweet with a download link to each song. Using Twitter, Moonalice was able to push 3,000 downloads all by themselves.
Another success story is of an artist who used a well-known rapper's name to push 14,000 downloads within two days. Mack Maine's mixtape, "This is Just a Mixtape," contained a song that featured a snippet of Lil Wayne.
Moe Arora, a friend of Maine who works in the music business, used Twitter to promote the song, calling it a "Lil Wayne exclusive" in order to grab people's attention. "This way we can capture the most interest immediately," Arora said on his blog, "Making the Mogul." "But I was careful never to say it's a Lil Wayne featuring Mack Maine - I just emphasized on the exclusive cameo from a well-known name."
The tweet, which featured the download link for Maine's song, was re-tweeted by Arora's Twitter followers, and by that same night, the DJs were paying the song in the clubs. Bloggers and hip-hop websites were also posting the download link.
Twitter will continue to be the go-to place for the "heightened connection" between artists and fans...in 140 characters or less.
However, musician Ben Kweller offered some Twitter advice for bands in an interview with "The Our Stage Blog": Artists need to find more creative ways to use Twitter other than just promoting a show.
"Tweet like you mean it, or don't tweet at all," Kweller said.
Nowadays, rather than hearing a band on stage say, "Be our friend on Myspace," you will probably here them say, "Follow us on Twitter!"
Last night on "So You Think You Can Dance," the remaining 12 couples performed two pieces instead of one. It was also the last time the dancers performed with the partners they've been dancing with all season. Next week, the dancers will not only draw their dance genre from random, but they will also be drawing their partner from random for the rest of the season.
But let's get to last night's show...
Ashleigh's and Jakob's performances were definitely my favorites of the night. I'm sad to see this couple split after this week. The pair has the strongest chemistry of all the couples. "Everyone can tell you have so much fun, genuinely, dancing together," said Mary. "You can't fake that kind of chemistry."
The couple started off with a Pop Jazz routine choreographed by Sonyah Tayeh (my favorite choreographer, by the way...other than Mia Michaels.) The routine was perfect for the couple's last nigth as a couple. It was so beautiful, Adam Shankman was speechless. He did have one negative comment: "Jakob don't ever wear those pants again." (The pants? Tight. Skinny. Bright purple.)
The couple's second dance was the Cha Cha, and I LOVED watching Ashleigh dance in her own style. I can't remember that last time I got to see her dance ballroom. You will definitely be seeing these two in the Top 10 next week...and probably (hopefully) even the Top 4.
As for the other couples, pretty much everyone killed it. It was certainly a tough night for voting. However, I would expect to see Karen/Victor and Mollee/Nathan in the bottom three couples. (Yes, I'm still anxious to see Mollee and Nathan go...though it would be interesting to see how the two perform with more mature partners. The judges all agreed that splitting up next week would be a good thing for Mollee and Nathan.)
Andy Roddick answered a few questions for this month's issue of ATP's "DEUCE" magazine. The tennis star was featured in a regular column called "The Last Time...," in which celebrity athletes are asked questions that begin with the column's title.
For example, the last time Roddick cooked for himself or others? The morning of the interview: "I made eggs," he said. He also said he's been cooking more in the past year...but he's "not claiming to be any good."
"I don't really do anything to great," Roddick said. "But for a specialty I probably just put some vegetables together or something like that."
That is special, Andy...or something like that.
Want to know when Roddick last lost a bet, flew economy class, sang in front of an audience, and more? Check out "The Last Time...with Andy Roddick" in DEUCE.
Yeah...I don't have any interest in Zac Efron's hair styling techniques either. But apparently someone does.
In a recent Time magazine article, Efron answers ten reader questions. One of them happened to be on the subject of Efron's hair. Jennifer Cheng of Freehold, N.J. asked, "How do you keep your hair looking so great all the time?" (Come on, Jennifer, ask a real question.)
Efron gave more than an answer...he gave away his secret hair tip: "I've never told anyone this before. This is a hair scoop. Shower before you go to bed, and then sleep on your wet hair. Towel-dry it. In the morning, it's all messed up naturally. If you have that messed-up thing going when you wake up, it's more willing to stay that way. That's Zac's hair tip."
Very deep, Zac, but I'm sure that's not a "hair scoop." And by the way, isn't hair always messed up naturally when you wake up in the morning? Does it really have to be wet when you fall asleep? This is important, Zac. I need answers.
Ok, ok...so Efron does have a nice head of hair, but is knowing why so relevant? What ever will I do with this useless Zac Effron hair information that is now embedded into my brain?
Yes, that question was a bit ridiculous, but the rest were ok...you know, the ones where people actually asked about his career. Particularly of interest are Efron's comments about his role in "Me and Orson Welles," a much different film than we usually see Efron in. (And by different, I mean drama vs. "High School Musical"-comedy type films...wait, is comedy the right word? I'm completely lost. I've never the HSM movies. But you know what I mean)
Check out "10 Questions for Zac Efron" at Time magazine's website. Don't worry. There's some interesting content in there. Just skip question number ten...unless you're so in to Efron's hair that you feel the need to read his "hair scoop" a second time through.
If you're a "Friday Night Lights" fan, you probably know Stephanie Hunt as Devin, "an indie-rock-obsessed lesbian bass play" (as described by Todd Martens in the LA Times "Show Tracker" blog).
While I have never watched an episode of "Friday Night Lights," which is filmed in Austin, Texas, I recently discovered Hunt's story behind her role in the show while reading "Show Tracker" post.
After a year of studying journalism at the University of Texas, Hunt took what was supposed to be a temporary break from her studies for some self-reflection. A week later, with absolutely no acting experience, she auditioned for an opening on "Friday Night Lights." So what, right? A lot of actors have probably done the same.
But what makes Hunt's story more interesting is that Devin, the role she auditioned for, is a guitarist, and Hunt, though she had been playing around with a guitar for a couple months, was not. Part of her audition was to perform a rock song. Hunt took the risk of writing her own...just minutes before her audition. In Marten's article, Hunt says that looking back, the song was "cheesy." Cheesy or not, Hunt obviously had something going for her.
And that's not all. Hunt's role in "Friday Night Lights" has led her to the cast of NBC's "Parenthood."
More? Hunt has formed a band called "The Ghost Songs," which features "pop vision" music as described on the band's Myspace page. Or, as Hunt describes the band's sound in Marten's article, "haunted pop."
To check out more about Stephanie Hunt, read Marten's post on the LA Times' "Show Tracker."
Wednesday's results show opened with a stunning group routine choreographed by Wade and Amanda Robson. The group dances are always some of my favorite routines of SYTYCD, and they're always performed flawlessly...even with crazy Robson routines (Insert Wade's "Ramalama" routine here.) Too bad the group dances don't save any of the dancers.
As predicted, the first couple placed in the bottom three was Karen and Kevin. Couple number two: Channing and Victor (slightly disappointing because I loved their blackbird routine, but understandable considering Channing's lack of confidence and personality.)
I was worried that Mollee and Nathan would be safe, once again. But when it came down to Legacy/Kathryn and Mollee/Nathan, it was no surprise that Mollee and Nathan ended up in the bottom three.
Last week, Nigel said that none of the bottom dancers proved themselves in their solos. This week, he said that some of them did. Mollee, in particular proved to Nigel that she can "dane like a woman" and "no longer shows an immaturity."
Nigel told Channing that she has great technique, but her personality isn't there. Karen, on the other hand, is a performer and a star, and that's what saved her (and I'm hoping she starts bringing it again after her weak couple routine and solo.)
As for the guys, Nigel said that Nathan learned his lesson after last week and proved what a good dancer he is in his solo.
Victor's solo was also strong, but full of piorettes, which Nigel said the judges know he can do. "This is not America's favorite pioretter," Nigel said, jokingly, before telling him not to depend on that next time.
Nigel said Kevin is growing just by doing the routines that he does as they are always out of his genre. However, he also feels that Kevin is not growing enough.
So, SYTYCD said goodbye to Channing and Kevin this week, which means we'll see a new partnership between Victor and Karen (perhaps Victor will bring Karen back?)
What's in store for week 5? Now that it's down to the Top 12, couples will start performing two routines each (Hmm...I thought that didn't start till the Top 10? But ok).
After last week's weak performances, I'm glad to say that last night almost all of the dancers proved, once again, why they deserve to be here.
The show kicked off with an amazing Nap and Tabs Hip Hop routine performed by Ashleigh and Jakob. Napoleon's and Tabitha's hip hop routines are usually easier to take on than, say, a Shane Sparks or Lil C routine. But Ashleigh and Jakob's sharp, hard hitting movements showed that the pair probably could have taken on a harder hip hop routine. Not only was their dancing perfect, but they really got into the passion of their characters. Mary Murphy said it all: "How tight, how down, how hard-hitting, and how believable your passion was in that dance."
As Jakob continues to grow and grow, the judges are sure that he will have a place in the Top 10. As for Ashleigh, Adam said he was one of the judges that didn't believe in her...well, he takes it back now, saying, "Your sense of hit and rebound and your total commitment to this type of movement was so gripping." Definitely one of my favorite pieces of the night. (And Ashleigh remains my favorite female dancer this season.)
Who else gave a stunning performance?
Noelle and Russell (Foxtrot) - This was actually the first genre the couple pulled out of the hat, but it was the first time they danced the foxtrot together (Noelle had an injury that week, so Russell performed the routine with the choreographer.) The couple looked very sophisticated performing this routine (and they looked like they had a lot of fun too - "The key thing to underline in that piece was 'joy,'" said Adam.) Nigel said that Russell significantly improved since his first foxtrot performance and that Noelle makes herself known next to a star like Russell.
Channing and Victor (Jazz) - Amazing routine by Tyce Diorio. Killer performance (as blackbirds) by Channing and Victor. The couple continues to show their blossoming chemistry, and Channing showed more confidence than usual in this piece. Nigel even said that this was the first week where Channing looked like she actually enjoyed herself. "Consequently," he said, "I enjoyed your performance." Adam added to that saying the she is finding her way into the show, and "If you keep growing, using this as your springboard, you'll do great."
Kathryn and Legacy (Paso Doble) - I'm a huge fan of the Paso Doble; its intensity in passion (in the choreography and the music.) Did Kathryn and Legacy bring that intensity? Yes! Kathryn definitely made up for her weak performance last week, bringing out that vixen that Nigel had been looking for. Nigel said that she brought the intensity and passion tonight as well as the maturity she didn't show last week. Basically, "Kathryn, you killed it." (Nicely said, Adam.) As for Legacy, "Your passion, hunger, and need for knowledge is what's going to push you into the Top 10," Nigel said.
Ellenore and Ryan (Contemporary) - This was my second favorite after Ashleigh's and Jakob's. (And yes, it's partly because it was choreographed by SYTYCD veteran Travis Wall and was danced to one of my top five favorite songs: "Your Ex-Lover is Dead" by Stars.) Ellenore's and Ryan's contemporary routine was the judges' favorite of the night, and according to Nigel, the couple "cemented their place again this week" with this performance.
So who gave a...not so stunning performance?
I am deeply saddened to say that Karen and Kevin did not bring it, as usual, with their Broadway routine. I'm also sad to say that I was bored. (Yes, I was bored watching Karen and Kevin, two of my favorite dancers on the show!) Nigel said that this style requires humor and personality, which Karen didn't bring to the piece...but she brought more than Kevin. He also said that their usual chemistry just wasn't there. However, though Mary said it was disappointing, she also said that it's just a bump in the road. (On another light note, Adam pointed out, "It was amazing that Kevin was at least able to get through the piece."
And finally, Mollee's and Nathan's pop jazz routine didn't do much for me either. (Ok, I'm pretty sure this has a lot to do with the fact that I don't like this couple.) The pair did do much better this week. Mary thought the pair gave an intense performance, and Adam said their sync "was beautiful"...but he hopes they find more "nuance" to their chemistry so the audience falls for more than their cuteness (you know, like, their dancing, performance, technique...what the show is ACTUALLY about?) Mary said Mollee was sharp. Nigel said it's her commitment and passion that's going to take her far in her career. As for Nathan, "You have got to grow," Nigel said. He said that Nathan has the potential to be one of "the best dancers on this series" (Um...sorry, Nigel, I know you're the professional, but...no. And I'm not just saying that because I don't like him. Seriously.), but he's worried Nathan's immaturity might be his downfall.
Well, I completely forgot to vote, but I would have voted for every couple except Karen/Kevin and Mollee/Nathan.
Who do I think will be in the bottom three? Honestly, I can't make that prediction this week. The only couple I know for sure will be in the bottom are Karen and Kevin (unfortunately.) The judges said the same. Beyond that, I'm clueless. It's definitely getting to that point in the season where they're all getting so good, it's tough to place anyone in the bottom three.
Watch the results episode tonight at 7 p.m. to find out which couple will be leaving the competition.
(And hopefully, I can get some videos up this week. I found some last week, but they were deleted by Youtube the next day, so I couldn't post them.)
John Pipkin, former Executive Director of the Writers' League of Texas, will read from his first novel, "Woodsburner," Tuesday, November 17, at 4:30 p.m. at St. Edward's University.
"Woodsburner" combines history with fiction, recounting Henry David Thoreau's accidental setting on fire 300 acres of woods at Walden Pond and describing the consequences of the fire through four different characters. The novel also describes how each of these characters' lives are effected by the fire, which becomes a character itself.
Pipkin's novel won the 2009 First Novel Prize from the Center of Fiction and received great reviews from The New York Times and the Washington Post. "Woodsburner" is certainly not just worth reading, but is worth hearing an exerpt of through the author. (And if you like what you hear, copies of "Woodsburner" are being sold at the St. Edward's University book store.)
During his time at the Writers' League of Texas, Pipkin ran workshops for authors on writing a book proposal and getting a literary agent. He is also a former writing professor who worked for Pearson Publishing creating standardized tests. Anyone who is interested in writing or publishing (Um...ME!) should come hear Pipkin read this afternoon as he will also answer your questions about not only his book but careers in writing and publishing.
The reading will be held in Mabee Ballroom C in Ragsdale. Pipkin will also be in the school's bookstore to sign copies of "Woodsburner."
The Digital Media Consortium and the Digital Media students of St. Edward's University present "Woodwardstock," a benefit concert for the Sunshine Kids charity.
The concert (sponsored by Gatti's Pizza, Soco Lofts, and Greystar South Congress) will be held on November 18 from 6 to 11 p.m. on the Main Building lawn. The music lineup includes Meggan Carney, Focus Group, Hour Band, Phranchyze, Ryan Harkrider, Zeale 32, and the Dandy Lions.
Other entertainment will include wrestling and Sorin Oak Reel screenings (from Nov. 13's Sorin Oak Reel Festival).
"Woodwardstock" is a free event, but donations for the Sunshine kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to children with cancer, are welcome and will be accepted by cash or check.
Come out to St. Edward's on Wednesday for a night of music, wrestling, and film, all in support of the Sunshine Kids. (And don't forget to bring donations! Any amount counts!)
*Spoiler Alert* (In case you haven't gotten around to watching it yet.)
Tuesday night, I predicted that the bottom three couples would be Ellenore/Ryan, Pauline/Peter, and Molly/Nathan.
Well, I got two out of three. During Wednesday night's elimination episode, Karen and Kevin were placed in the bottom three over Molly and Nathan.
Seriously?! Come on, SYTYCD viewers.
This is the only aspect of viewer-voting reality shows that I despise, which is why I don't watch them (minus SYTYCD cause I love dance, and the winner always ends up being someone who is the best dancer): Viewers vote based on popularity and "good looks" rather than personality AND, most importantly, dance technique.
Nigel Lythgoe said that viewers only kept Nathan and Molly safe because young girls think Nathan is cute (Really...? He looks like he's fourteen and acts like he's twelve...which I guess is attractive when you're preteen?) not because he's a good dancer. THANK YOU, NIGEL!
It looks like Nigel is getting tough about the whole popularity thing this year, and I love it. Usually the judges always seem to accept that that's how the voting goes. But I think Nigel is getting as annoyed as I am that amazing dancers get placed in the bottom three because viewers choose looks over how well couples danced.
So the six dancers performed their solos. Sure, it was nice to see them dance in their own styles, but nothing stood out. Nigel even said tht no one gave a decent enough performance to stay in the competition. (He also told the crowd to "shut up" when they booed him for saying that. Love you, Nigel.)
Yes, he does seem a little tougher than usual, but you can't really blame him since, like he said, with two seasons being back to back for the first time, the season five dancers/performances are still fresh on their minds. And, according to the judges, season five had the best group of dancers so far...until this season. Which is another reason he's upset. The judges keep raving about how good the dancers are this season, and they don't seem to be proving themselves (some of them).
So who got eliminated? My guess was that it would be Ellenore and Peter. I was half right. Pauline and Peter were eliminated from the competition. (By the way, did anyone else find how Nigel broke this to Pauline amusing?: "We're going to let you leave the competition." He was just a ball of anger last night.)
Hopefully, the remaining dancers (and SYTYCD viewers) learn from last night. Though I have a feeling that viewers are going to keep Molly and Nathan in the competition because they're going to continue to do poorly, and the judges are going to be honest about it, and viewers are going to feel bad and "prove the judges wrong" by voting for them. (Yes, I dislike these two dancers that much...and also, it's true.)
Luckily, the judges have the final say on who goes home, which gives them a chance to make sure the best dancers are in the Top 10.
It's week three, and America finally gets to start voting for their favorite dancers. There were a lot of great performances tonight, but I think it's quite clear which couples will end up in the bottom three.
Before I get into that, my favorite dance of the night was Noelle's and Russell's Afro-Jazz. "Do you hear it? Do you hear it coming?" Yes, Mary Murphy put krumper Russell on the hot tamale train with this piece and crowned him "king of Afro-Jazz." Noelle also surprised the judges in this piece, as she was able to keep up with Russell and the quick choreography.
My second favorite piece was Ashleigh's and Jakob's jazz routine. It's always fun to see dancers work with props in their performances, and this was one of those pieces. The prop? A cane. And the couple definitely conquered that cane as Ashleigh hoped they would. As judge Adam Shankman put it, "a matured and studied but fiery performance."
Other memorable performances (and couples I voted for):
Karen's and Kevin's Hustle: Though hip-hopper Kevin had a wee bit of trouble in this way-out-of-his-element genre, he pulled it off...as did Karen, which pretty much goes without saying. (Yes, we LOVE Karen.)
Kathryn's and Legacy's Broadway: Ok, so if we were voting for individuals, I would have not voted for Kathryn. I agree with Shankman: the performance was adorable, but I'm not sure that's what it was supposed to be. She was supposed to be sassy - a "vixen" - but Nigel Lythgoe said Kathryn seemed childish in this performance. However, she will be saved by her partner, Legacy, who was praised by all the judges for his continuing growth and always surprising ability to take on any genre thrown at him (all of which, so far, have been out of his "b-boy" element.)
Channing's and Victor's Contemporary - This new couple (both their partners were kicked off last week) are definitely a good fit, and they're chemistry showed. Though the fact that they were both in their element probably helped with that. Murphy said it "didn't take [her] to a level where it touched [her] soul," (usually contemporary pieces on this show do take you to that level). Lythgoe didn't get carried away emotionally either, but he said the technique was good. Personally, I didn't feel as emotionally effected as I have with other contemporary pieces (enter last season's "addiction" piece choreographed by Mia Michaels and performed by Kayla and Kupono...and Jeanine's and Jason's Travis Wall contemporary piece last season...and Travis's - same one - and Heidi's bench routine in season 2, also choreographed by Michaels...ok I'm done), but this dance almost took me there, which is good enough.
Sowhodid I not vote for?
Peter and Pauline (Quick Step) - It was cute. It was fun. The performance/story was good. But the actual dancing? Eh, it was ok. They "pulled it off" according to Murphy, but the technique was far from perfect. However, Lythgoe said that their great performance and personalities will make people pick up the phone for them anyway (well, not me.)
Ryan and Ellenore (Hip-Hop): As soon as I heard that this was a Lil C routine (and then, when I heard the music), I thought, this needs to be hard and dirty and buuuck. Was it? No. The perfomance was...ok. But I really wish I could have seen a couple with a hip-hop dancer in it perform this piece. Ryan and Ellenore would have been better off with a Nap and Tabs piece, which is usually a safe hip-hop routine for non-hip-hop dancers to get. But, you can't help what you draw out of the hat, can you?
Molly and Nathan (Salsa) - This was pretty much tragic. And I'm not saying that because I don't like this couple (No, I don't. They're too young. Yes, there have been other 18-year-olds on the show, but these two are too young maturity-wise.) I was hoping so badly to be impressed, after their Bollywood performance last week. But I was not. They were stiff. They looked awkward. There was no energy, no technique, no performance. They, particularly Molly, looked like teens trying to be cool and sexy at prom...which makes sense considering what I said before.
I think Ryan, Ellenore, Molly, and Nathan will for sure be in the bottom three couples, and the judges agreed. And I'm throwing in Peter and Pauline as well because I haven't been impressed with either of them so far.
Watch the elimination episode Wednesday November 11 at 8 p.m. to see which couple will leave the competition.
And look for videos of this week's best performances later in the week!
It's official (and I saw it coming.) Jake Pavelka will be the next Bachelor, which starts January 2010.
Eliminated by Jillian Harris in summer's "The Bachelorette," Jake was certainly a memorable suitor of Jillian. He was the one who, after being eliminated, flew into Austin during Jillian's hometown date with Wes Hayden to warn her that Hayden supposedly had a girlfriend, was on the show for the wrong reasons (duh, his music), blah blah blah...old news.
He was also the one who had the perfect first one-on-one date with Jillian that included a private Martina McBride concert. No, you can't forget about that...after Jake brought it up every single time he was alone with Jillian. Ok, we get it, it was amazing. There was a connection there. It was...perfect! And there lies the problem.
Jake. Is. Perfect. And I don't mean that in a swooning way. He's too perfect, which is why Jillian wasn't feeling it with him. And which is why he will make for a boring season of "The Bachelor."
Kipton would have been better. Yes, he's seemingly perfect, but he has that whole "I"m always the heart breaker/I've never had my heart broken" thing going (well, not sure he can say that now after Jillian...), which gives him that is-he-ready-to-commit vibe.
Reed would have been best (in my opinion.) He has that whole unable-to-open-up issue: "I like you this much [holds out his arms]." He's adorable and awkward...and I love it (ok, he probably would be a bad choice...I just want to see more of Reed).
Despite next season's bachelor being kind of a bore, I have no doubt that the group of women who will viciously fight for his affection will keep things interesting. And for Jake's sake, I hope those women have a thing for perfection. He definitely deserves that wife he's longing for cause he really is a sweetheart (hopefully that won't be his downfall...again).
I can also tell you now that the rose ceremonies are going to be tortorous to watch, cause if you now Jake, you know that he's not big on hurting people's feelings. I knew this was going to be a difficult part of the show for Jake before I heard him say so himself in this interview on "The Bachelor" homepage at ABC.com:
See what I mean by boring? The interviewer even looked bored, despite being inches away from an undeniably attractive man.
In honor of Sesame Street's 40th season, which kicks off November 10 (today! - exactly forty years, to the day, after its premiere broadcast), Jimmy Kimmel invited Big Bird onto his show on November 4.
And I absolutely love that Kimmel's interview with this giant yellow bird with a child-like innocence (apparently, Big Bird's still a kid after forty years) is probably one of the funniest (and sweetest) interviews I've ever seen.
I'll end on that note and leave you with the two-part video of Kimmel's interview with Big Bird...Enjoy!
No, I am not a "clean-eater." Yes, most of the food I eat is healthy, but I have never attempted to stick to a strict, clean diet (I'm too in love with Reese's for that.)
However, I occasionally browse through "Clean Eating" magazine, which comes out every couple of months by the same publishers of "Oxygen" magazine, and I've been dying to try a recipe I came across a month or so ago. If you know me, you'll know why I was intrigued just by seeing the recipe name: Sweet Potato & Cinnamon Brownies. Yes, I'm all about sweet potatoes.
So I gave it a try today. The recipe looked a bit complicated when I read it, but it wasn't too difficult to make. I was supposed to use a food processor for the "liquid" ingredients, but I do not have one...so that probably would have made things a little easier.
I debated baking an actual sweet potato, but the recipe already takes 20 minutes hands on time, 70 minutes for baking and cooling, and the brownies have to be chilled overnight, so I used canned mashed sweet potatoes instead. Ok, so I didn't chill it overnight (just for about four hours), but they came out ok anyway.
This is definitely a holiday recipe though. And I don't just mean because of their ingredients and taste. It's not the kind of dessert you want to make (or eat) more than once or twice a year. They're very clean - we're talking agave nectar instead of sugar - so if you like your sweets to be sweet, really sweet (or if you're not into clean-eating whatsoever), this recipe is not for you.
But for the clean or healthy eaters out there, you just might enjoy this clean-eating treat. While the brownies themselves are not too sweet, you'll still get that "sweet fix" from the cream cheese based icing. It's definitely a great healthy dessert option to have for your guests (or yourself) who are clean eaters, or who don't want to overdo Thanksgiving dinner with calorie-packed slice of pecan or pumpkin pie.
If you're a clean-eater or just looking for a healthy recipe or two (or don't know what the heck "clean eating" means) check out "Clean Eating" magazine's website. And if you're really into clean-eating, check out their menu section homepage, which offers a new set of "seven days of clean meals" each week.
(The recipe for Sweet Potato and Cinnamon Brownies is a bit long to type up on here, so if you're interested, just leave a comment.)
A friend of mine showed me this spoof trailer for "The Men Who Stare at Goats" yesterday, as we were on our way to see the movie. After seeing the film, it's actually not too bad of a depiction of the film...you know, if the goats were the focus of the movie, not the humans.
In "The Men Who Stare at Goats," inspired by Jon Ronson's bestseller with the same title, reporter Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) heads to the Middle East to find his next big story...and to prove himself after a devastating separation from his wife. He gets more than he's looking for when he encounters Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), who claims to be a "Jedi Warrior" and to have once been part of an experimental U.S. military unit - the New Earth Army. Founded by Bill Django (Jeff Bridges), the New Earth Army contained a group of soldiers trained to use psychic powers to read enemy's thoughts, pass through solid walls, and travel and find anyone with their mind.
However, the New Earth Army "turned to the dark side," according to Cassady, when Cassady was forced to - you guessed it - kill a goat just by staring at it.
Intrigued by Cassady and his past with the New Earth Army, Wilton tags along with Cassady on his mission to track Django.
So how was it? Well, I'm not sure it's going to be a hit, but it was certainly fun to watch the bizzare practices of the New Earth Army. What made the movie even more humorous was knowing that there actually was such a unit, called The First Earth Battalion, that attempted to learn these paranormal activities as a way to fight enemies. (For more on the fact and fiction of the film, see an interview with Jon Ronson on "The Men Who Stare at Goats" website.)
And much of the humor also came from Clooney. His character's strange antics and passionate belief in the New Earth Army and everything Django taught him make him a solid comical character, not one who is overly bizarre - Bridges took care of that, and he did it well.
While the film may not be as great as you were hoping for from the trailer, it's still worth a trip to the movies if you're looking for a laugh - and a good movie soundtrack (I personally enjoyed the classic 60s, 70s, and 80s songs featured in the film.)
And I wouldn't worry about a packed theater - when I went, at least, the crowd was light, despite the fact that it was 7 pm on a Saturday night (isn't that a prime movie time or something?) But don't let that bit of information keep you from going. You'll definitely have a good time.
I was only able to find a video for Legacy's and Kathryn's contemporary piece. Luckily, this was my favorite dance of the night (and the best, in my opinion.) Enjoy!
Go to "SYTYCD Recap" for more on this week's episode. (Note: Spoiler alert.)
As a Sylvia Plath fan, I was pretty disappointed with "Sylvia" (2003). First of all, it wasn't that great of a movie. Terrible? No. But I understand now why I had probably never heard of it before. But what really disappointed me was the portrayal of Plath and her mental state.
"Sylvia," directed by Christine Jeffs focuses on Plath's (Gwenyth Paltrow) relationship with British poet Ted Hughes (Daniel Craig). The movie begins in 1956, while Plath is attending Cambridge on a Fulbright Scholarship. Hughes and Plath meet within the first ten or so minutes of the film, giving viewers no time to get to know Plath beyond her relationship with Hughes. Furthermore, their relationship is rushed through much too quickly. While this makes sense, as Plath and Hughes did immediately develop mutual feelings for and attraction toward each other and were married in four months, the chemistry just wasn't there in the film. Perhaps there just wasn't any chemistry between Paltrow and Craig, but it felt as if it was Craig who was bringing Paltrow down. He didn't seem to portray Hughes with any depth. However, the portrayal of their relationship had its moments. The movie portrayed the volatility of their relationship well, as the two fought one night over Plath's suspicions that Hughes was cheating on her, only to wake up the next morning, apologize, and immediately return to their intimate understanding of and passion toward each other. The movie also portrayed well the poets' struggle to constantly create poetry as well as Plath's insecurity about her own poetry, being married to a highly productive poet whose poetry was frequently published and won prizes.
So what is it exactly that bothered me about this film? Knowing as much about Plath as I do, it was frustrating to watch a film that focused almost purely on Plath in relation to Hughes. Of course, there is nothing wrong with focusing on that part of her life. However, the film's way of focusing on their relationship made it look like Plath, her mental state, and her poetry (and ultimately, her suicide) were all defined by her relationship with Hughes. True, their separation did play a role in the depressive state she went through at the end of her life. And true, her most acclaimed and darkest poetry did come after their separation. But there was much more to Plath's manic depression, to the confessional and dark quality of her poetry, than her heartbreaking relationship with Hughes. The only hints of Plath's depression through out her life and its effect on her poetry, before Hughes, that are given in the movie is when she mentions her previous two suicide attempts to Hughes.
I wanted to see more Plath and her poetry. I wanted to see more Plath and her crawl in and out of depression through out her life. I wanted more Plath, not Plath and Hughes.
However, once Hughes and Plath separated in the film, the story began to focus more on Plath, her poetry, and her mental state. This was the part of the film I enjoyed most, even though it isn't seen until the last thirty minutes or so of the film. But again, since we only see this side of Plath after her separation from Hughes, it gives the false idea that Plath's depression and strong poetic voice were purely a result of her separation from Hughes.
Overall, the film was...ok (my exact word would be "Meh...") I was worried that having Plath played by an actress as famous as Paltrow would overshadow the portrayal of Plath, but she took on the challenge of portraying someone with such a complex mind well. The opening of the film (and by opening, Imean the first 2-3 minutes) was also brilliant: Paltrow as Plath lying dead in a morgue; a close up of her face, turned to the side; softly haunting music; and a voice over of Platrow reciting lines from Plath's "Lady Lazarus" - "Dying / Is an art, like everything else. / I do it exceptionally well. / I do it so it feels like hell. / I do it so it feels real. / I guess you could say I've a call." Too bad the rest of the film did not follow that brilliant set up of the life, struggles, and mental state of Plath and how it effected her writing and her poetic voice.
Still, I would recommend that Plath fans see this movie at least once, as it does give an accurate portrayal of Plath at times. And Paltrow plays the part so well, it's almost as if you're watching Plath herself. However, I would not recommend this movie to people who do not know much about Plath. Yes, it would be less disappointing to non-Plath fans since they would not notice the same downfalls of the movie as I did. What it would do, however, is give people who do not know much or anything about her the wrong idea of who she was.
As I was catching up on "One Tree Hill" at cwtv.com, one of the commercial breaks actually advertised something worthwhile, rather than the usual overplayed trailer of "The Vampire Diaries."
The advertisement was for Warriors in Pink, a breast cancer campaign powered by Ford (which is celebrating its 15th year as a National Series Sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure) and featured 90210's Jessica Stroup sporting one of the shirts from the new Warrior Gear styles and products.
Warrior Gear helps support the cause by spreading the word about breast cancer awareness (and in a fashionable way, I might add.) Rocking Warrior Gear not only shows your support, but 100% of the net proceeds are donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Most people know or are related to someone who has had breast cancer, is currently suffering from breast cancer, or has lost the battle with breast cancer. Maybe you're not one of those people, but chances are, unfortunately, you probably at least know someone who has had a loved one suffer from breast cancer. Show your support and take action (yes, purchasing Warrior Gear counts) for women everywhere and for women of future generations.
We already spend hundreds of dollars on meaningless clothes, so why not spend another $20 or so for a top that's not only fashionable but whose proceeds go to a cause as important as finding a cure for breast cancer? Don't just make a fashion statement. Make a real statement, spread the word about breast cancer awareness, and dress for battle with Ford's Warrior Gear.
And here's an idea: With Christmas coming up, I can't think of a better gift for your girl friends, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters...any of the women in your life, than a Warriors in Pink scarf or shirt. Not only will you be giving your loved ones a gift that means something, but you'll be recruiting more supporters to sytlishly spread the word and adding to the proceeds that will be donated to finding the cure.
To check out the new Warrior Gear, what the Warrior Gear symbols mean, and more about Warriors in Pink and Ford's role in the fight for the cure, go to fordcares.com.
