What comes to mind when you think of the polka? (If you’ve never really thought about the polka, this is your chance.) For me it conjures memories of barn dances in the tiny little town of Tripp, South Dakota. As a child I’d travel to Tripp every couple of years to visit my father’s family.

I remember playing gin rummy for pennies, meticulously working on paint-by-number canvases and hitting a nearby barn to dance with my father long into the night. (We took frequent breaks for authentic German sausages and Shirley Temples.) My father is a man of few compliments, but he sometimes lets it slip that he likes two things about my dancing: that I’m good at following a lead, and that I never tire out.

I thought of my grandparents from South Dakota, long ago deceased, when I discovered that the Phoenix Symphony is playing “Strauss: Waltzes and Polkas this weekend (November 27th and 28th at Phoenix Symphony Hall and November 29th at Mesa Arts Center). It’s a rare opportunity to enjoy the dance music of bygone days, and an especially good choice if you have grandparents visiting for the holidays.

If you prefer more traditional holiday fare, you can enjoy Frances Smith Cohen’s The Snow Queen presented by Center Dance Ensemble Saturdays and Sundays December 5^th-20^th at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix. Jennifer danced in the Snow Queen for many years, and we always found pure joy both backstage and in the audience.

It’s hard to understate the importance of keeping the joy in dance, which is something Susan Silverman and Frances Cohen do so beautifully during dance classes, recitals and summer camps with Dance Theater West in Phoenix. This is where my daughters first caught the joy of movement (although Jennifer seemed to have an inkling in utero).

When Jennifer and I last hit the Mesa Arts Center, we enjoyed African dance along with the music of Playing for Change. (I’ve never seen more boomers boogying in one place before!) Next month, we can hit MAC to enjoy two holiday dance performances…

First, Christmas Wishes presented by Arizona Desert Dance (December 11^th at 7pm), which features dancers age two through adult. Audience members two and under get in free. Second, Spirit of Christmas presented by The Christian Dance Company (December 17^th at 7:30pm), which features a cast of more than 100 dancers and singers.

If we just can’t wait that long, we can try the AZDance Group’s Christmas Dance Concert on December 7th at 6:30pm at the Tempe Center for the Arts. The event features guest dancer Astrit Zejnat from Ballet Arizona, the AZDance professional dance roster and the Movement E-Motion dance program for “individuals with different abilities.”

If you’re a fan of The Nutcracker ballet, you’ll have plenty of options this year. Consider taking in more than one so you can enjoy the variety of sets, costumes and talented performers. This piece never gets old.

First up is The Nutcracker presented by Ballet and Friends (November 27^th-29^th) at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix. These performances benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve ‘Toys for Tots’ program.

This weekend you can also enjoy The Nutcracker presented by Ballet Etudes, which I’ve long admired for its mix of ethereal and whimsical costumes and sets. It runs Fridays through Sundays November 27^th –December 13^th at the Mesa Arts Center. Never mind about the missing theater seat—it’s the one I took home to install in my teen taxi because it was so comfy. Kidding!

Ballet Arizona performs Ib Andersen’s The Nutcracker December 11^th-27^th at Symphony Hall in Phoenix. Music will be performed by the Phoenix Symphony (except for performances on the 26^th and 27^th). The Ballet Arizona box office has special hours today and tomorrow for folks who want to get a jump on securing the best seats. (Ask them as well about their magical Nutcracker Party on December 5^th.)

Lizabeth has danced the roles of bon bon/Mother Ginger’s child, grandfather mouse and party girl—but will be appearing instead this year in a “darker, edgier” version of Oliver! with Greasepaint Youtheatre. (I had a great time working backstage for The Nutcracker but doubt I’ll miss picking all those stray bobby pins off the children’s rehearsal room floor.) Liz was an Arabian Dancer for The Nutcracker Children’s Party. Cute tummy!

An Irish Nutcracker will be presented by the Celtic Dance Academy on December 19^th and 20^th (at the Mesa Arts Center). Kids three and younger get in free for this gig (jig?). Yup—there’s pretty much always something fun going on at the MAC! (Today’s teaser: Think Tupperware meets theatrics.)

This will get you in the mood to see Riverdance when their tour hits Arizona in January. Or to hit Randy’s restaurant in Scottsdale for authentic Irish food come St. Patrick’s Day 2010. Wearers of the green (I married one) can never plan too far ahead.

Finally, you can enjoy the Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker Tuesday, December 22^nd at 7:30pm at the Dodge Theatre in Phoenix (a venue Lizabeth and I enjoyed for Riverdance when she was just a few years into violin studies).

Dancing our way in December are three non-holiday performances that sound seriously intriguing. There’s life beyond eggnog, so let’s talk about these too…

SCC Dance of Scottsdale Community College presents Instinct Dance Corps, SCC Moving Company and S.A.J.E. (your guess is as good as mine—I just assume it is something wonderful) performing Muscle Memory Implications at 8pm on December 4^th and 5^th at the ASU Studio Theatre in Tempe.

Enjoy an entire weekend of dance by adding another performance to your calendar. Emerging Artists I Resite takes place December 4^th and 5^th from 8pm to midnight at two Phoenix locations. The first night is free, as part of Phoenix’s First Friday program. Tickets are $7-$20 for night number two, taking place at Bragg’s Pie Factory. The event features paint, sound and text created through the Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development.

An annual dance festival—Breaking Ground 2009—with CONDER/dance takes place at the Tempe Center for the Arts December 11^th and 12^th. According to event organizers, it features “diverse high caliber offerings from contemporary choreographers and film makers from across the country.” All I need to know is that I can enjoy the view of lights twinkling over the water from this venue. That pretty much stops me in my tracks.

You could choose just one. But why? Tickets are all reasonably priced, and you might stumble upon some deals if you pay careful attention (signing up for venue/company e-mail alerts is my tried-and-true method of learning about special ticket offers).

It’s not Tripp, South Dakota, of course. But maybe that’s a good thing…

–Lynn

Update: Check out www.ticketmaster.com for upcoming holiday dance performances at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix, including The Gift of the Magi with DanceMotion (Dec. 12/13) and Nutcracker 2009 with Ballet Academy (Dec. 22/23).

Coming soon: Boys who ballet, Getting that good vibe during voice lessons

Note: For complete details about performance dates/times, ticket sales, etc. please contact the presenting company and/or venue. If you know of another 2009 dance performances for children, teens or families, please use the comment section below to share what you know. Thanks!

Below are my Rihanna “R” “tattoo’s”

In no particular order.

Ali: She was the first face we met and is all kinds of awesome. Ali is our site coordinator and resident cat herder. Filled with a bottomless reserve of energy she dances and shimmies her way through the days. Best of all her enthusiasm is contagious.

Ana-Maria: Coordinator/Spanish teacher extraordinaire. Her laughter fills the room and our hearts. She gave us the skills to go out into the treacherous world of Peruvian kids babbling in Spanish!

Maria: Cook, housekeeper and sparkling personality. She has filled our stomachs will delicious Peruvian food and filled our souls with her joie de vivre (Llena de vida) .

Lauren: Independent spirit. She has no qualms about heading into the unknown on her own. We should all be so brave. She’s also a bit of a musician (guitar) and we love her for it.

Megan: Youngest in age but certainly not in spirit. She must have an old soul because she is wise beyond her years… but more importantly fun as -expletive deleted-. Her taste in music is beyond compare so we all cried a little when her mp3 player died. She’ll be volunteering down here until March 19th (speaking of brave). That’s a long f*ing time, but a whole lot of good done thanks to her.

Jennifer: Our Albertan counterpart (from Calgary). Jennifer’s her name, fitness is her game. Her attitude is inspiring and the perfect kick in the arse you need to get up and get going.

Romy: English teacher by day, guide by night. Her encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of Peru is amazing. She has taught us so much about the culture and heritage of this wonderful country, but, more importantly, she has taught us to love Peru as much as she does (almost-nobody loves Peru more than Romy). She has also taught us to love Pisco. Soooooo good!

Cat: Chris’s British counterpart, she works at a place here called South American Explorers where travellers of all kinds can stop in and get oriented. She has shown us corners of Lima we never would have come across otherwise. Also, we’ve never come across someone quite like Cat. She is by any and all standards unique. A perfect storm of chill and excitement.

Ginene: Although we only got to spend a week with the lovely Ginene she has left an indelible mark on us. B.C spirit through and through.

Shelley: If all nurses were like her this world would be without pain… or at least not for long. High energy and always ready to sing her heart out, I cannot help but believe that she is a karaoke star in the making. Also she walks REALLY F*ING FAST.

Kate: The lone American in the group, she is what makes her country great . She is perhaps the most benevolent of us all. From her work back in Pennsylvania to her work here in Peru she is making a difference beyond imagination. A heart as big as… uh… well… Machu Picchu. Another long term stay, she will be here until March 26th.

Hyo: Although not a volunteer she has been staying with us as a guest and has shown us an interest in the culture and language that is enviable to say the least.

A man spends most of his life searching for a muse, any muse to inspire him to great things. We’ve somehow been fortunate enough to find a dozen down here in Peru. Each one is beautiful inside and out and have filled us with the want… no… I say the NEED to do more. To give more, to live more, to contribute more, to BE more in this world.

We have been irreversibly changed during our experience here thanks in large part to the people we’ve come across in our travels. We thank them from the very bottom of our hearts… maybe in our cockles.. or maybe even in the sub-cockle area… maybe even… in the colon.

Happy Turkey day world! Hope all have a wonderful day. Wish me luck as I will eating a dinner prepared by my sister (the other blogger) Christina =)
I am sure it will be great!

~J~

From our family to yours – Have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving!

Finding different hairstyles when you have very thick and wavy hair can sometimes be hard, but it can be easy when you choose Jennifer Lopez hairstyles. You’re going to look glamorous and sexy! Jennifer Lopez is well know for her thick and shiny locks, but trying one of her hairstyles is easy and can change your entire appearance.

Jennifer Lopez Hairstyles Classic Look: One of Jennifer’s classic looks involves luscious large curls with the front pinned back. Using curlers in your hair the night before, and then spraying them with hairspray or gel so they can set at night can easily achieve this elegant look. They work best when the hair is wet, and will leave your hair full of body in the morning. Then grab the front portion of your hair and tease it a little with a comb or brush, and bring it straight back and secure with bobby pins or a clasp of your choice.

Taming thick and full hair can seem hard, but Jennifer Lopez does it and it looks amazing. After washing or wetting your hair, pull it back into a tight ponytail with the base at the bottom of your head. Then apply mouse or hairspray to keep any baby hairs in place, and add any cute clips or fresh flowers for a little decoration. You can even add a unique part if you like, or experiment with the ponytail in the back to create many new looks. You can choose Jennifer Lopez hairstyles, even if you are in the mood for a tame look like this one.

One of the many benefits of having long hair is its versatility, and Jennifer Lopez loves to take advantage of this benefit. Long hair can be put up into almost any up do possible, even if you have a lot of hair that is thick and wavy. First, start by pulling your hair up into a ponytail that sits on the top of your head, but leave a few long strands hanging down for added decoration.

You can curl them with a small curling iron if needed. Then take your curling iron and start with the bottom of the ponytail, and start curling. Once you have about five or six strands, start pinning them directly to your head.

Finish with the rest of your hair, and you will have a beautiful up do full of rich curls and amazing volume. You can choose a Jennifer Lopez hairstyle for that glamorous and sexy look for any occasion, no matter what type of style you are going for.

Si una mujer mayor te mira de esa forma, solo quiere decir algo: “¡Quiero carne joven!”

“Todavia estoy buenota ¿o no?”

“¡Por fin encontre quien me diera un aventon!”

“¡’Alla les voy, atrapenme, no sean culeros!”  -  ¡No te apures, si te caes, tienes bolsa de aire!

 ¿Has visto la manchada pelicula de La Novia de Chucky? Pues de seguro se han de acordar bien de la supuesta novia del muñeco psicopata. Y por supuesto, lo que mas han de recordar de ella era el monumental par de carnosas montañas que se cargaba (antes de convertirse en una bratz del demonio). Pues bien, esa sabrosa hembra de voz chillona e irritante, es nada menos que la frondosa Jennifer Tilly. La actriz de 51 años, aunque no es muy famosa en estos lare, es bastante popular en USA,  aun cuando se ha movido mas en los circulos de cine independiente y en dobleje de caricaturas (gracias, precisamente, por su insoportable voz).

Aqui en Mexico se le conocio mas gracias a la cinta chafona de El Hijo de Chucky, en la que interpretaba a un version exagerada de si  misma. Despues de esa produccion muchos empezaron a buscar informacion de la cachonda y tetona actriz, dandose cuenta de que ha actuado en docenas de cintas e incluso series de TV.

Aqui en la oficinas de Tiramalenata y Cia. queremos recordarla y darle un pequeño tributo a su tremendo fisico, el cual ha de ser realmente envidiado por mujeres de su edad. A ver, aver, tiranetas ¿a poco no les gustaria encontrarse con una mujer madura, con ese cuerpo y una vasta experiencia de la vida y otras cosa, para que los arrulle en las noches frias? A mi, por lo menos si.

Como nota al margen, Jennifer ha sido nominada al Oscar a la mejor actriz de reparto por la actuación en la película de Woody Allen  Balas sobre Broadway (Bullets Over Broadway) en 1994  y, ademas, ha sido incluida entre las 50 actrices con mejores tetas de Hollywood en el 2007  ¿Como les quedo el ojo, cabrones?

Welcome to the operamission weblog!

‘HANDEL at the Gershwin’ was an all-around success this past Friday, and operamission cruises into the holiday season as a happy, healthy infant.

Composer Edward Ficklin captured the spirit of the evening here. If you missed it, and would like to peruse the printed program (yes, we hit on twelve Handel operas) go ahead and click on this pdf.

Due to all the generous sounds made by the performers, the full house of receptive fans, and general all-around enthusiasm, the Gershwin Hotel has invited us back; plans are afoot for the next showing.

I want to personally thank the incredibly talented and cooperative musicians who put in so much time and care, and who believed in the mission in order to make it happen:

Sharin Apostolou, Eva Gerard, Tim Hill, Jennifer Hines, Joan Plana, Ezra Seltzer, Gerald Thompson, and Beth Wenstrom.

THANK YOU ALL for ‘playing’ — and for doing something that’s never quite been done before.

Thank you John Miller from Pinnacle Arts Management, Inc. for stepping in as our master of ceremonies.

Thank you, artist Neke Carson, for hosting us at the Gershwin, and also for the jazz harpsichord jam send-off.

And of course, those dedicated ‘operamissionaries’ who volunteered their time and energy in helping with the logistics on Friday: Brian Anderson, Clint Borzoni, Scott Embler, Melissa Fogarty, Luis González, and Sarah Pillow — thank  you for helping!

William Hogarth (1697-1764)'s portrait of Handel

And thank you, Mr. Handel. You knew we could do it!

Finding different hairstyles when you have very thick and wavy hair can sometimes be hard, but it can be easy when you choose Jennifer Lopez hairstyles. You’re going to look glamorous and sexy! Jennifer Lopez is well know for her thick and shiny locks, but trying one of her hairstyles is easy and can change your entire appearance.

Jennifer Lopez Hairstyles Classic Look: One of Jennifer’s classic looks involves luscious large curls with the front pinned back. Using curlers in your hair the night before, and then spraying them with hairspray or gel so they can set at night can easily achieve this elegant look. They work best when the hair is wet, and will leave your hair full of body in the morning. Then grab the front portion of your hair and tease it a little with a comb or brush, and bring it straight back and secure with bobby pins or a clasp of your choice.

Taming thick and full hair can seem hard, but Jennifer Lopez does it and it looks amazing. After washing or wetting your hair, pull it back into a tight ponytail with the base at the bottom of your head. Then apply mouse or hairspray to keep any baby hairs in place, and add any cute clips or fresh flowers for a little decoration. You can even add a unique part if you like, or experiment with the ponytail in the back to create many new looks. You can choose Jennifer Lopez hairstyles, even if you are in the mood for a tame look like this one.

One of the many benefits of having long hair is its versatility, and Jennifer Lopez loves to take advantage of this benefit. Long hair can be put up into almost any up do possible, even if you have a lot of hair that is thick and wavy. First, start by pulling your hair up into a ponytail that sits on the top of your head, but leave a few long strands hanging down for added decoration.

You can curl them with a small curling iron if needed. Then take your curling iron and start with the bottom of the ponytail, and start curling. Once you have about five or six strands, start pinning them directly to your head.

Finish with the rest of your hair, and you will have a beautiful up do full of rich curls and amazing volume. You can choose a Jennifer Lopez hairstyle for that glamorous and sexy look for any occasion, no matter what type of style you are going for.

Sweet and charming Jennifer Aniston has always been regarded as one of the most lovable TV personalities. And with good reason, too. She has always been on top of her acting career and her fashion and style sense as well. She particularly loves spring fashion, as seen in her wardrobe.

If you are just like Jennifer Aniston, she actually has a couple of tips that would allow you to become a star of your own. Also good news is that you do not have to spend a lot of money just to update your closet and accessorize.

Flower power is the way to go this season. You can try anything from floral blouses to skirts and dresses. But, try to avoid it if you are going for a formal or business attire. You can just use some floral jewelry as an accessory or a brooch as a fun way to break the monotony. Floral scarves are hot.

Shoes. Everything from platform wedges to gladiator sandals. Just avoid extreme shoes for office wear. Make sure that you tailor the look to enhance and complement your personality and style.

Colored bags and shoes. We see a lot of crayon colors in bags and shoes, like pink, green, blue, violet, grape and bright yellow. These bright colorful bags jump off the page in large totes or bold clutches. We are reminded of kindergarten when we see bright crayon colors. Make sure that you choose your accessories carefully. Choose a structured shape and size if you are wearing a bright colored bag. Go with conservative colors and classic colors for client meetings and office attire. Try to reserve your crayon brights for a walk in the park or casual day at the office.

Posted by Audiegrl

Click here for list: Expected Attendees at Tonight’s State Dinner

The dinner honors India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

—What’s the hottest ticket in the nation’s capital? An engraved invitation to Tuesday’s White House state dinner, the first hosted by President Obama.

He and the first lady will honor India’s prime minister. But in a departure from the traditional venue — the elegant State Dining Room — the Obama’s will gather with a few hundred VIPs in a huge, heated tent on the South Lawn.

Glamor and Grace

The guest list for the black-tie gala remains a closely guarded secret. Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, will certainly be there.

Several notables are good bets, such as Oprah Winfrey and Chicago hotel billionaire Penny Pritzker, as are top Obama aides David Axelrod, Valerie Jarrett and Rahm Emanuel.

Tonight's Menu and Desert

Dee Dee Myers, who served as President Clinton’s press secretary, said the lobbying by people seeking an invite had probably been relentless. The first [state dinner] is always the most dramatic,” Myers said. “First impressions are important. That’s your A list, that’s your top game right there. By the time you get to the eighth state dinner, it’ll be a lot less important.”

The gargantuan tent affords a bigger crowd than could fit in the State Dining Room, which holds 140.

State dinners generally draw administration officials and members of Congress, the Cabinet and the diplomatic corps. Obama donors and corporate titans, Hollywood glamour, athletic greats and leading artists are bound to be thrown into the mix, possibly joined by some academics and journalists.

And the morning after, hotheads left off the list are bound to let off steam.

Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh

“There’s always a few angry calls,” Myers said, “because people read the guest list” in the morning papers.

But until the dinner takes place, the heat is on, perhaps for no two people more than Desiree Rogers, the White House social secretary, and Cristeta Comerford, the White House’s top chef.

Myers was a guest at a few state dinners put on by Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is another guaranteed attendee Tuesday. As Secretary of State, she hand-delivered the invitation to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July.

Tented parties for state dinners aren’t entirely new. In President Clinton’s final year in office, he had about 700 guests under a tent for an earlier Indian prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee.

More @

President Obama and Prime Minister Singh Press Conference | The White House

Obama State Dinner Challenges, Real & Imagined: A Vegetarian Guest of Honor, A Scarcity of Vegetables…

“Vegetable veracity: The garden is low on crops, Mr. Singh is fond of fish, and about that beehive gift for dinner guests…“

Please visit our friends at Obama Foodorama. They have more pictures and details about the tent, menu, chef, etc…they are a great source for anything food related at the Obama White House.

Jennifer Hudson to Perform Tonight

Oscar Winner Jennifer Hudson will perform at the Obama administration's first state dinner Tuesday.

Hudson, a Chicago native who performed at the Democratic National Convention in August 2008, will perform for 320 guests at the black tie affair.

The Obamas have had several soul singers perform at the White House. For the Governor’s Dinner, they drew on their Chicago connection and had funk band Earth, Wind and Fire perform for guests.

Hudson suffered a major family tragedy in 2008 when her mother, brother and nephew were killed. Obama, who was campaigning at the time, sent condolences to Hudson.

Hudson got her start as a contestant on American Idol and has been a winner at the Oscars and Grammys. She was recently tapped to play Winnie Mandela in a forthcoming biopic.

First Lady Michelle Obama Discusses State and Official Visits

As the White House prepares for tonight’s State Dinner in honor of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mrs. Gursharan Kaur of India, First Lady Michelle Obama hosts young women from the White House Leadership and Mentoring Program to discuss the history and protocol that surround State and Official Visits. The First Lady discusses how protocol and hospitality can help foster good relations and build strong friendships.

Couple slips though security to crash state dinner
WASHINGTON – The Secret Service says it’s looking into its own security procedures after determining that two people crashed Tuesday night’s state dinner at the White House.

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan says that President Barack Obama was never in any danger. Donovan says the party crashers went through the same security screening as the 300-plus people actually invited to the dinner honoring Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

source:

Tonight I went off for a casting with FSC model agency. They are a fairly new agency and I was lucky to be accepted way back when they had their opening a few months ago. They also host a shop for clothes called Zeen. The two ladies that run the agency and the shop are Elyna Carver and Jennifer Felissimo. To very lovely people I have had the fortune to know.
We were give a skin and eyes and asked to style ourselves in a punk style for the casting. I was very nervous but did what I thought a punk was like. I didnt know till i googled the meaning that there were so many different types of punks. It was really interesting to find out what Wikipedia had to say.
Please excuse the above pictures but as anyone knows trying to take a pic listen to the instructions and model is soooo hard to do:)

2 Different styles
2.1 Standard punk
2.2 Hardcore
2.3 Anarcho-punk
2.4 Crust punk
2.5 Gothic rock, deathrock and horror punk
2.6 Psychobilly
2.7 Skate punk
2.8 Pop punk
2.9 Droog
2.10 Suicidals

I must say I wont copy all the information here but it was unbelievable all the different styles. I real enjoyed the styling and choose the following items

Skin : *NOIR* female skin
Eyes: *NOIR* eyes
Hair : .::MADesigns HAIR::. ~ SETH ~ CB V
Clothes :>>GothiCatz<< Dystopian
Shoes:BAX Ankle Boot Black Patent
Accessories: Gems and Kisses long drop earrings.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and was so lucky to make the cut with five other talented people including the girl you can see in front of me Kat.
Well done everyone a great casting.

TTYL

Keeley~~~~~~~~~~~~@

The Soul Train Awards are back!!!

While many are still talking about how much better the American Music Awards were, I was checking out footage from the Soul Train Awards…
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The following are the nominees and BOLD are the winners I think will get it.

BEST NEW ARTIST

• DRAKE (I think he’ll get it)
• Jazmine Sullivan
• Keri Hilson
• Ryan Leslie (I’d like to see him get it)
• Solange

BEST R&B/SOUL ARTIST FEMALE

• BEYONCE (As usual, they’ll give it to her)
• Chrisette Michelle (I think she deserves it)
• Jennifer Hudson
• Ledisi
• Whitney Houston

BEST MALE R&B/SOUL MALE

• Charlie Wilson
• MAXWELL (I think he’ll get it AND deserves it!!!)
• Musiq Soulchild
• Raphael Saadiq
• Robin Thicke

SONG OF THE YEAR

• “God in Me” – MARY MARY (It was big and a close second!)
• “Pretty Wings” – Maxwell (I’d like to see this late entry win)
• “Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)” – BEYONCE (She’ll win but not by much!)
• “Spotlight” – Jennifer Hudson
• “Turnin Me On” – Keri Hilson/ ft Lil Wayne

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

• Beyonce – I am… Sasha Fierce (Platinum) Sony Music
• Jamie Foxx – Intuition (Platinum) J Records
• Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak (Platinum) Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam
• MAXWELL – Blacksummer’s Night (Gold) Sony Music
(My choice to win although Kanye’s album minus his personal drama was superb if you are just talking about music!)
• Ne-Yo – Year of the Gentleman

RECORD OF THE YEAR (SONGWRITER AWARD)

• Beyonce – “Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)”
• Drake – “Best I ever had”
• Jamie Foxx Ft/T-Pain – “Blame it”
• Keri Hilson – “Knock You Down”
• MAXWELL – “Pretty Wings” (Hands DOWN if you are talking about the QUALITY of writing)

BEST REGGAE ARTIST AWARD
• Movado (He had a fairly good year but may not stand out compared to Sean)
• SEAN PAUL (because the people who choose them always go to the guy most popular they’ll probably choose him)
• Serani
• Taurus Riley
• Ziggy Marley

CENTRIC AWARD – SOUL APPROVED/UNDERGROUND

• Corneille
• Eric Roberson
• LAURA IZABOR (I think she’ll win as the most visible, held up and I have not stopped playing this album. Great work musically though I wouldn’t say “underground.” Atlantic just didn’t promoter her)
• Maysa
• The Knux

BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE MALE, FEMALE OR GROUP

• BeBe and CeCe Winans – “Close To You”
• Fred Hammond f/John P Kee – “They That Wait”
• Marvin Sapp – “Praise Him in Advance”
• MARY MARY – “God In Me” (As the biggest crossover they’ll win hands down…and I happen to think it’s a great song anyway with a greater message)
• Smokie Norful – “Justified”

BEST COLLABORATION

• Keri Hilson featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo – “Knock you Down”
• Keyshia Cole featuring Monica – “Trust”
• MARIO featuring Gucci Mane and Sean Garrett – “Break up” (I choose this song although it may be too street for some tastes…but the combination of flows made for an engaging journey into downtempo Rhythm & Beats aka R&B)
• Mary Mary featuring Kierra (KiKi) Sheard – “God In Me”
• Trey Songz featuring Drake – “Successful” (People like this dude Drake right now and Trey finally got some hits out this year beyond New York and ATL…This was a good second place mention)

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

• Michael Jackson

Since there weren’t any choices, it goes to Michael. It goes to him not because he was the best this year but because he died this year, let’s keep it real. This music industry is so politically inclined they couldn’t just say we are giving MJ the accolades we haven’t given out of guilt…maybe if more of us were supportive and loving toward one of the greatest to ever do it then maybe the people closer to him would have done more to protect and take care of him.

Looking forward to seeing who actually wins! Maybe the industry can take notes from the AMAs by giving awards based on sales and not politics since sales mean PEOPLE chose the winners! *Pardon me Grammys* but the voters are not necessarily in tune with the music…I’ll get on their case in another blog coming soon!

*Freedom*
www.socialtravelers.net
www.facebook.com/freedom.us
djfreedomjustice@gmail.com

WINNERS LIST at the AMAs 2009

ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Taylor Swift

POP/ROCK

Favorite Male Artist: Michael Jackson
Favorite Female Artist: Taylor Swift
Favorite Band, Duo, or Group: The Blackeyed Peas
Favorite Album: Number Ones, Michael Jackson

COUNTRY

Favorite Male Artist: Keith Urban
Favorite Female Artist: Taylor Swift
Favorite Band, Duo, or Group: Rascal Flatts
Favorite Album: Fearless, Taylor Swift

SOUL/R&B

Favorite Male Artist: Michael Jackson
Favorite Female Artist: Beyonce
Favorite Band, Duo, or Group: The Black Eyed Peas
Favorite Album: Number Ones, Michael Jackson

RAP/HIP-HOP

Favorite Male Artist: Jay-Z
Favorite Album: Blueprint 3, Jay-Z

ADULT CONTEMPORARY

Favorite Artist: Taylor Swift
LATIN MUSIC

Favorite Artist: Aventura

ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC

Favorite Artist: Green Day

CONTEMPORARY/ INSPIRATIONAL

Favorite Artist: Mary Mary

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PERFORMANCES

Adam Lambert’s Provacative Performance

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Jennifer Lopez Falls during Performance (VIDEO)



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Traditionally weddings always took place during the day mostly in the afternoon. However, like everything else in the world this has changed. Evening weddings have gained in popularity and more and more couples are choosing to have their wedding in the evening time. For many couples getting married the evening is a special time of romance and therefore the ideal time for a wedding.

An evening wedding can be a wonderful occasion for people to mingle and chat with old friends and family members that they have not seen for a long time. It also provides time for best friends to just have a great time together and enjoying dancing, music, drinks and cake. What better way to celebrate and have fun then an evening wedding. However, there is a certain etiquette that needs to be followed with an evening wedding and it is important to know the rules beforehand so you can come prepared and enjoy yourself.

As with many of the rules and etiquette guidelines of a wedding much of an evening wedding etiquette revolves around attire. It is therefore important to carefully plan what you will wear to an evening wedding. This article will help you make some of the important decisions on what to wear.

Bride and Grooms

According to most wedding etiquette guides and manuals there is not many special instructions for a evening wedding. They will end up wear the same attire they would for a daytime wedding. So they do not have much to worry about.

Attire and Dress for the Guests

However for the guests this is a little more complicated of an issue. They need to carefully think about what they will wear. The first thing to consider when choosing an outfit for a wedding is the wedding invitation. If you still have it good you will want to go back and check what the wedding invitation said if anything about the attire. Keep in mind the invitation might say something directly like “black tie event” or “Formal Event” or it might say something indirectly. If the wedding invitation is going to take place in the evening on the beach and the invitation has a beach theme to it then you can assume that the attire is less formal.

A good guide is to always be safe instead of sorry and the best way to ensure your are appropriately dressed is to call the bride or groom ahead of time. For the men trying to decide what to wear a call to the groom can make the decision easy. For the woman who is trying to make this difficult decision it can be smart to call the bride and ask her about the wedding and proper attire for the event. It is smart for women to also ask about color and themes of the wedding and pick clothes based on these.

For Men

If it is a formal wedding then men should wear a tuxedo or at least a very nice subtle suit. Often if you are not sure it is best to error on the side of being over dressed for the even and a dark colored suit traditionally looks the most formal. If you get there and feel out of place you can always take off the jacket and loosen the tie and you will fit right in.

For the Women

This is a bit more complicated and should be planned carefully. The most important aspect for women is to pick something attractive and something that is flattering yet not to much. You will want to make sure you look your best and catch a few of the men’s eyes at the event. However you don’t want to catch to many people’s eyes and look to great. It is important that you don’t steal the fire and attention from the bride. So the guide is to wear something that looks nice and but it should be subtle and understated or you risk making a quick enemy.

When choosing clothes and thinking about evening wedding etiquette again it is important to take the time and plan ahead. The best advice is to call the bride or groom and ask for some suggestions or ideas. They will often be more then happy and it is a great chance to talk with them a little before their big day.

Finding different hairstyles when you have very thick and wavy hair can sometimes be hard, but it can be easy when you choose Jennifer Lopez hairstyles. You’re going to look glamorous and sexy! Jennifer Lopez is well know for her thick and shiny locks, but trying one of her hairstyles is easy and can change your entire appearance.

Jennifer Lopez Hairstyles Classic Look: One of Jennifer’s classic looks involves luscious large curls with the front pinned back. Using curlers in your hair the night before, and then spraying them with hairspray or gel so they can set at night can easily achieve this elegant look. They work best when the hair is wet, and will leave your hair full of body in the morning. Then grab the front portion of your hair and tease it a little with a comb or brush, and bring it straight back and secure with bobby pins or a clasp of your choice.

Taming thick and full hair can seem hard, but Jennifer Lopez does it and it looks amazing. After washing or wetting your hair, pull it back into a tight ponytail with the base at the bottom of your head. Then apply mouse or hairspray to keep any baby hairs in place, and add any cute clips or fresh flowers for a little decoration. You can even add a unique part if you like, or experiment with the ponytail in the back to create many new looks. You can choose Jennifer Lopez hairstyles, even if you are in the mood for a tame look like this one.

One of the many benefits of having long hair is its versatility, and Jennifer Lopez loves to take advantage of this benefit. Long hair can be put up into almost any up do possible, even if you have a lot of hair that is thick and wavy. First, start by pulling your hair up into a ponytail that sits on the top of your head, but leave a few long strands hanging down for added decoration.

You can curl them with a small curling iron if needed. Then take your curling iron and start with the bottom of the ponytail, and start curling. Once you have about five or six strands, start pinning them directly to your head.

Finish with the rest of your hair, and you will have a beautiful up do full of rich curls and amazing volume. You can choose a Jennifer Lopez hairstyle for that glamorous and sexy look for any occasion, no matter what type of style you are going for.

Pesanan mbak Jennifer Wirahadikusumah, untuk ulang tahun Reginald. Cerita lengkapnya bisa ditengok di sini yaa.

NB. Pemesanan cupcakes dengan desain seperti di bawah, MINIMAL satu minggu sebelum hari H. Terima kasih atas perhatiannya.

J-Lo just busted her ass on the AMA’s.

Here are some cute Christmas photos of my good friend Natalie’s little ones, Lilly and Daisy. They took advantage of my new holiday background, which I’m proud to say, I painted myself!  I never thought it could happen! (OK, my husband helped a little )

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I love this! Doesn’t she look like a real Snow Baby?

And since we were a little behind and getting Daisy’s three-month photos, we took a few extra of her to commemorate the occasion.

What a doll!

Sweet and charming Jennifer Aniston has always been regarded as one of the most lovable TV personalities. And with good reason, too. She has always been on top of her acting career and her fashion and style sense as well. She particularly loves spring fashion, as seen in her wardrobe.

If you are just like Jennifer Aniston, she actually has a couple of tips that would allow you to become a star of your own. Also good news is that you do not have to spend a lot of money just to update your closet and accessorize.

Flower power is the way to go this season. You can try anything from floral blouses to skirts and dresses. But, try to avoid it if you are going for a formal or business attire. You can just use some floral jewelry as an accessory or a brooch as a fun way to break the monotony. Floral scarves are hot.

Shoes. Everything from platform wedges to gladiator sandals. Just avoid extreme shoes for office wear. Make sure that you tailor the look to enhance and complement your personality and style.

Colored bags and shoes. We see a lot of crayon colors in bags and shoes, like pink, green, blue, violet, grape and bright yellow. These bright colorful bags jump off the page in large totes or bold clutches. We are reminded of kindergarten when we see bright crayon colors. Make sure that you choose your accessories carefully. Choose a structured shape and size if you are wearing a bright colored bag. Go with conservative colors and classic colors for client meetings and office attire. Try to reserve your crayon brights for a walk in the park or casual day at the office.

Don’t worry! McDonald Photography has got you covered!

Contact Jennifer today to sign up for the 2009 Holiday Mini Sessions!

Premiação boa é aquela que tem “mico”. Sendo assim, o American Music Awards ganha seu lugar ao sol.

A vítima da vez? Jennifer Lopez, que tomou um tombinho durante a sua apresentação no último domingo, dia 22.

Confira:

Finding different hairstyles when you have very thick and wavy hair can sometimes be hard, but it can be easy when you choose Jennifer Lopez hairstyles. You’re going to look glamorous and sexy! Jennifer Lopez is well know for her thick and shiny locks, but trying one of her hairstyles is easy and can change your entire appearance.

Jennifer Lopez Hairstyles Classic Look: One of Jennifer’s classic looks involves luscious large curls with the front pinned back. Using curlers in your hair the night before, and then spraying them with hairspray or gel so they can set at night can easily achieve this elegant look. They work best when the hair is wet, and will leave your hair full of body in the morning. Then grab the front portion of your hair and tease it a little with a comb or brush, and bring it straight back and secure with bobby pins or a clasp of your choice.

Taming thick and full hair can seem hard, but Jennifer Lopez does it and it looks amazing. After washing or wetting your hair, pull it back into a tight ponytail with the base at the bottom of your head. Then apply mouse or hairspray to keep any baby hairs in place, and add any cute clips or fresh flowers for a little decoration. You can even add a unique part if you like, or experiment with the ponytail in the back to create many new looks. You can choose Jennifer Lopez hairstyles, even if you are in the mood for a tame look like this one.

One of the many benefits of having long hair is its versatility, and Jennifer Lopez loves to take advantage of this benefit. Long hair can be put up into almost any up do possible, even if you have a lot of hair that is thick and wavy. First, start by pulling your hair up into a ponytail that sits on the top of your head, but leave a few long strands hanging down for added decoration.

You can curl them with a small curling iron if needed. Then take your curling iron and start with the bottom of the ponytail, and start curling. Once you have about five or six strands, start pinning them directly to your head.

Finish with the rest of your hair, and you will have a beautiful up do full of rich curls and amazing volume. You can choose a Jennifer Lopez hairstyle for that glamorous and sexy look for any occasion, no matter what type of style you are going for.

As far as album covers go, Leona Lewis’ “Echo” is definitely a very simple and very clean cover. There is nothing “holy shit!” about it, but at the same time, there’s a bit of a striking-ness to it.

It’s really nice to see an album cover that doesn’t totally fail on the text. I have had my fair share of covers with text that I couldn’t read AT ALL, which I find very stupid. I know the pictures important, but it’d be nice to know what the title of the darn thing is here. The one thing that bothers me though is that I wish the title “Echo” was below her name. That might just be me being really anal though.

One of the things that fascinates me most about Leona is how she is such a chameleon. I’m not sure if it’s just not me, but she is always sporting a dramatically different look. I kinda have a hard time figuring if that actually is her. And yes, that chameleon comment applies here too. I had to double check on her other pictures to make sure this actually was her.

And Damn, she is quite a beautiful woman in this picture. Nothing says “beautiful” like a very bare bones shot like this one. I’m surprised to find how gorgeous she is with her hair all wet and pulled back. We really get to see her features. Yes, I know theres makeup involved, but still. I just can’t over those beautiful lips!

However, the one thing I really do not like about this album cover is what she’s doing with her face. She’s doing a “Jennifer” face. If you remember Jennifer, she was the only Asian contestant in cycle 13 of ANTM, and she had a habit of constantly keeping her mouth open.

Yes, the fact that Leonas mouth is opening is bothering me. However, I’m happy to say that it doesn’t make her look “whory” like how Jennifer was in her Goddess Photoshoot. I think it’s the eyes that makes the open mouth look awkward.

The mouth by itself is fine. However, when you take a look at her eyes, it makes her look very dazed and confused. I do not like how it looks like she’s looking in a different direction. It really would have been nice if she looked more directly at the camera. If that did happen, I think she would have really nailed this shot.