June 4, 2012

Dancing With the Stars Las Vegas Review!

One of my favorite shows is Dancing With the Stars so when I heard they were going to be doing a live show in Las Vegas I knew I had to go. When I heard that my favorite Dmitry Chaplin was going to be in the show I knew I really had to go. The show is playing 6 nights a week with additional performances during the day on certain days. It is scheduled to have performances through July 7 at the Tropicana Hotel. I did have a difficult time figuring out the date I wanted to go mainly because every weekend seems to have something going on. I had narrowed it down to three different weekends. This past weekend or next weekend were the options. I had looked at prices at this weekend won out. It was going to be a short trip only because I wanted to keep costs down. Friday night we went to the Sugarland concert we flew on Saturday afternoon (in order to get a lower price flight as well).

We arrived in Vegas at 5 and the show was at 8 so we basically got to the hotel and started getting ready. I had packed three dresses to choose from to wear to the show. One I had bought a while ago but never wore but I thought I might be too hot in it. The second one was just a simple black dress and the third was this really pretty royal blue dress that my sister had actually bought to wear but it didn’t fit her right so I brought it along. She decided to wear this really cute black dress that fit her perfectly. I decided on the blue dress so we didn’t look too similar.

We got to the Tropicana around 7:45 which was good so we didn’t have to wait too long. We definitely brought down the average age of audience attendees but that was fine with me. I had sprung for VIP tickets on the floor because I wanted to be as close to Dmitry as possible. The VIP seats were chairs with tables that looked very much like how the TV show has tables and chairs. We were at the first table in front of the stage left of center. There were four seats to the table and we were in the “back” two seats of the table so it was like we were in the second row which I actually preferred so we could see more of the stage. While we waited for the show to start they played songs that I remember had been used on the show for certain routines. When we got to our seats a photographer took our pictures together and then individually. When we took the individual pictures he made us pose really awkwardly. Of course these photos were available for purchase after the show.

Finally the show started! The show started with a group number with all the stars and pro dancers. Carson Kressley was the MC of the event and was hilarious! I was seriously laughing the whole show. The other “stars” in the show were Joey Fatone (from my favorite boy band *N SYNC), Sabrina Bryan, Kyle Massey, and Tia Carrere. The pros from the TV show were Dmitry, Lacey Schwimmer (another one of my favorites), and Tristan MacManus who was just recently added to the cast (we were very happy about this addition). The show also featured a troupe very similar to how the tv show has a troupe that usually dances on Elimination Night. In troupe were a few familiar faces from my other favorite reality dance show So You Think You Can Dance: Ryan Di Lello (S6), Iveta Lukosiute(S8), Jaymz Tuaileva (S2) and one of my favorites, Anya Garnis (S3, S7 & S8 All Star). Iveta and Ryan made a great pairing; I couldn't keep my eyes off of them in the group numbers. Apparently Janette Manrara (S5) and Artem Chigvintsec (S1) are also in the show per the program but did not dance in this performance. Let me tell you that all of the dancers are more gorgeous and beautiful in person!

Each celebrity performed two routines. Anya danced with Joey, Sabrina with Tristan, and Lacey of course with Kyle. Tia danced a solo dance with Dmitry and then a hybrid group number with Dmitry and Ryan with the troupe. Carson danced his famous “Moves Like Jagger” dance with Iveta and his even more famous “Vogue” dance with the male troupe numbers. Dmitry also danced a fantastic rumba with Anya and an equally great Argentine tango with Lacey. Both of those dances were so hot and passionate; I wished I was the one dancing up there with him! Ryan and Iveta danced a beautiful waltz which included Iveta flying through the air on a wire! The troupe performed some great themed group numbers in between the couple dances. There were some video clips from Len and Bruno (but no Carrie Ann which was kinda weird) that played between the dances as well. Lacey, Joey, and Kyle came out on stage and pulled people from the audience to come up on stage to have a dance off to win a cast signed t-shirt. This was actually a really funny part of the show because Lacey, Joey and Kyle play really well off of each other as well as the people who joined them on stage were pretty funny. Kyle brought up this mom that was wearing this dress that had an attached boa scarf thing but Lacey's guy ended up winning. The show ended with another great group number featuring everybody. The show seemed to fly by! The show was about an hour and a half in run time. I wished it lasted longer and had a bit more dancing in it.

After the show since we had VIP seats we had a Meet and Greet with the cast. I thought I would be able to meet Lacey, Dmitry, Tristan, & Joey but instead Kyle, Carson, Tia, and Anya were out with some of the troupe members. They were all ready posed and you just went up and took your picture with them. Since Lacey, Dmitry, Tristan, & Joey weren’t there I decided to tell Anya that I love her on SYTYCD and she seemed so genuinely nice and thankful that I told her that. I went to stand by Carson and my sister stood by Kyle for the picture. Carson and I said hello and I told him he was really funny tonight. After we took out picture he told me he loved the color of my dress on me! Anya even chimed in and and agreed and said that coming from him that was a big compliment which I agree. I mean he was the style expert on Queer Eye!

Overall, the show was amazing. A lot of great dancing! Really a high quality production in terms of dance choices and comedy. I give it 4 1/2 stars out of 5. I deducted 1/2 a star because I wanted more dancing and for the price of the VIP ticket the photos they took of you should have been included and more of the pros and stars should have been in the M&G. The VIP ticket did include a souvenir bag which included the show program and a judge’s paddle with a 7. I would have liked a 10 paddle though! I loved that Lacey, Ryan, and Anya retweeted my #DWTSLV tweets about the show (Lacey actually RT’ed it during the show)! The show is definitely a must see for any DWTS fan.

Weekend Recap

I hope everybody had a wonderful, blessed Easter! We did the normal: church, egg hunt for the niece and neph, and dinner.

I made a Peep centerpiece which was actually pretty inexpensive to make! I got the last package of yellow peeps at Target Friday night! The vase was on sale at Michael's for $2.99 and I had the flowers from a previous arrangement I had made. I just love making fun centerpieces and of course pinterest always has the best inspiration!

I loved the Easter basket I got this year. Everything in it was perfect! And the basket itself is super cute! The lining is green gingham and I can't wait to find a place for it in my room.

I was intrigued by that blue Peeps package which was a crispy treat but it was yucky! I can't wait to read that Marie Clare with my favorite Leighton Meester on it. The essie colors in the basket are tart deco and the luxeffects shine of the times. I can't wait to try tart deco! My sister bought me the Tangled DVD which we first watched when we went to Disneyland in January and we both loved it! I got her the new Rascal Flatts CD which is really good. We saw a one night only movie special they had out in theaters this past Thursday and it was super cute and I can't wait to see them later this year!

If you follow Michaels on twitter they released a coupon on Saturday for 30% off your regular price purchases so I decided to go because I have been wanting to go some more crafts that I of course have seen on pinterest.

The project I wanted to complete on Saturday was...

Source: mintlovesocialclub.com via Jessica on Pinterest

I love mine and it was super easy to make!

The original used a 24 inch by 24 inch square canvas and 2 inch hole punched cardstock. I used a 12 inch by 12 inch canvas and 1 inch hole punch cardstock. I stuck pretty much exactly to the pinterest one, I did add an extra glitter circle. If anybody is interested in making one with the 1 inch cardstock, let me know because I will send you my extra hole punches.

Hope you all have a great week! xoxo

one Tree Hill

Last night was the finale of One Tree Hill. I know some of you watch the show and there is a small survey going around and I thought I would do that (I skipped some of the questions). This will be my one One Tree Hill post.

First let’s talk about the finale. I actually really loved it. Of course I cried but they were tears of happiness. I think the two episodes prior to the finale had already pretty much wrapped up the major storylines of the season so all there was left to do was to celebrate and reflect. I had so many favorite parts of the episode, if you haven’t watched it yet skip this part.

I loved the speech Haley gave at Tric in the beginning because it was like she was personally talking to each one of us about watching their journey. I also loved all the little nods to things in the show’s history: the Cracker Jack box & bracelet, Felix, water balloons, Bevin! (and her reference to marrying Tim!), the brick in the wall, and there being only one Tree Hill. The scene where Logan tells Clay “you’re already my dad, Dad” melted my heart and basically any scene with Logan in it was great, he is too adorable! I loved loved loved the scene at the rivercourt with Nathan and Jamie. Nathan and Haley kissing in the rain, enough said.

A huge highlight for me was having Gavin DeGraw perform at Tric (I already knew this was going to happen though thanks to Twitter) and having all the characters sing along to “I Don’t Wanna Be”. I found myself singing along as well. The ending was perfect having the 3 original main characters on the show do the final voiceovers while “One Tree Hill” by U2 played in the background. Mark Schwahn did a wonderful job for the fans.

Favorite Male Character: Nathan. Mainly because James Lafferty is so hot. But besides his great looks, he has an amazing heart and his love for his family is so strong and whole-hearted.

Favorite Female Character: Haley. She is just so real and sweet and loving.

Favorite Couple: Nathan and Haley.

Favorite friendship: Lucas and Haley.

Favorite Actor: James Lafferty and Chad Michael Murray.

Favorite Actress: Bethany Joy Lenz

Favorite Secondary Character: Jake Jagielski

Favorite Season: Probably season 3. I actually didn’t watch the first two seasons originally. I started watching it one summer night at college when I was in my apartment alone and there was nothing else on tv.

Favorite Episode: I have lots. I like the cheerleading competition episodes, the Boy Toy episode, and the prom in Honey Grove episode.

Favorite Quote: “Most of our life is a series of images. They pass us by like towns on the highway. But sometimes, a moment stuns us as it happens. And we know that this instant is more than a fleeting image. We know that this moment... every part of it... will live on forever” Lucas says this when they are at the cheerleading competition and they mess up and just start dancing around.

Favorite Song played on OTH: “More Than Anyone” by Gavin DeGraw at Nathan & Haley’s wedding reception.

Least Favorite Male Character: Surprisingly Keith Scott. I think he was a great uncle to Lucas but there was always something about him that I didn’t like. Remember when he was going to marry Jules?!

Least favorite Female Character: Again surprisingly, Brook Davis. I think she was a complicated girl who felt alone but tried to masked it too much.

Least favorite Couple: Deb and Skills.

Least favorite friendship: Brooke and Haley.

Least favorite secondary character: Millie, she was too annoying for me. Also Alex.

Least favorite season: Probably 7, I had a hard time adjusting to no Lucas or Peyton.

All-time favorite One Tree Hill scene: The scene where Nathan is about to shoot the winning basket then looks over at Haley and smiles and he makes the basket without looking.

Goodnight, Tree Hill.

Pinteresting Wednesday!

Linking up again with Michelle for Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday! Find me on Pinterest using the cool new social media buttons I just added on the left side!

Only 2 more episodes left of OTH! :(

Source: toga-party.tumblr.com via Jessica on Pinterest

I wish I was currently here.

Source: pinerly.com via Jessica on Pinterest

I love this bangle! Would love it for spring!

Source: jcrew.com via Jessica on Pinterest

These look like an easy elegant dessert that I am sure would taste yummy.

Source: reddit.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Weekend Recap

Happy Monday! I am trying to survive the day since I hardly slept last night. I hope you all had a great weekend.

Friday night, my sister, brother, and I went to the Lady Antebellum concert. I will be doing a more complete concert recap post once I get the pictures off of my camera. This was my first time seeing them live and they were really good. I didn't go see them last year which I immediately regretted so I was glad to see them this time around.

Saturday morning, my other sister, my brother, and I went to breakfast with one of my aunts and cousins. We went to Jack's which is one of my favorite restaurants. I decided to get the Bananas Foster French Toast. I'm more of an egg breakfast person but this is one of the house specials so I thought I would give it a try.

It was good but some bites were too sweet. I think I would just order regular french toast next time with plain bananas. There was some miscommunication between where and when we would meet which resulted in my brother, sister, and me waiting for 45 minutes at the restaurant for my aunt and cousin to show up.

So we didn't get done with breakfast until like 12:30 which meant I missed the 11:55 showing of The Hunger Games I wanted to go to. No problem right? I'll just go Sunday. After breakfast, my sister and I went to an estate sale which was interesting. I had never been to one and there were so many interesting old items but in my opinion the prices were too high. The rest of the day was spent cleaning out my closet and watching some Season 3 of Gossip Girl. I love Chuck and Nate.

So it is Sunday morning, I wake up at 11:00 (don't judge) and decide to just throw some clothes on and get going to the movie theater since it's about 15 minutes from my house and I want a good seat (yes, I was going to the movie by myself).

This is where things go off plan. The rest of my family was either just getting up as well or waiting for breakfast to be made by my dad. It's about 11:20 at this point and my brother made me feel bad for leaving without eating breakfast that my dad was making. Ok, then I'll eat really fast. Then my brother says he wants to go too. Ok, fine I'll just go to a different movie theater but my nephew and niece want to come over and see him. Ok, they'll be right over and then we 'll go to a later movie. They come over but barely say two words to him. He finally decides that we should just go to the 12:45 movie that is playing up the street, note that it is 12:30 when he makes this decision. Also in all this craziness, I think my sister gets mad at me because I ask if she wants to go but never gives me a direct answer. We get to the movie theater right at 12:45 which is ok since there are previews but we ended up with seats that were just a bit to close to the screen for me. I read the book the previous weekend so I knew the story but my brother hadn't read it.

Hunger Games Tributes in Vanity Fair

I liked the movie. I would give it an 8 out of 10. For those of you who have read & seen it, did you feel the ending was rushed? I did feel like there could have been a little bit more detail added in the movie. I'm sure they could have added 15 more minutes to the movie and nobody would have complained. I liked Cinna more in the book than in the movie. And I liked Effie more in the movie than in the book. I would have loved to seen more of Gale (Liam Hemsworth is cute!). I felt Woody Harrelson was the perfect Haymitch. I LOVED Katniss. She was a great heroine and Jennifer Lawrence protrayed the character perfectly.

What did you think of the movie? I plan on getting the second book and reading it this weekend so I can find out what happens next!

DWTS Premiere

Monday night marked the return of one of my must see shows on television...Dancing With the Stars! I can't believe it is in its 14th season!

{via}

I was most excited for this season since one of my favorite musicians, Gavin DeGraw, is on. Unfortunately he is on the bottom of the leaderboard but I blame that on a bad song selection and weird choreography.

My favorites of the night in no particular order were:

Roshon & Chelsie - Basically I love Chelsie and she can do no wrong in my eyes but Roshon was pretty good. He did have some weird hip-hop movements in there so hopefully he will be able to control his body in the ballroom dances.

Donald & Peta - I have always loved Donald Driver since he is on one of my favorite football teams! I thought he did well and I loved his energy/enthusiam. Also I would like to wake up tomorrow and have Peta's body. Ok, thanks!

Gladys & Tristan - She moved so well and I loved all the little synced movements. It wasn't the best technically but it was a very enjoyable performance. I think she can go far. Also love Tristan and his cute Irish accent!

Jaleel & Kym - In my opinion I think this was the best dance of the night. Kym always has amazing choreography and Jaleel just made it look so easy. I would say he is a front runner for sure.

Honorable mention:

Sherri & Val - Cute, fun dance. Love Sherri's spirit.

William & Cheryl - He is hot but it didn't seem like he did a lot of actually dancing; Cheryl seemed to do the majority of it.

How many of you watched Monday? Who are your favorites so far?

I'm Back!

Oh.

My.

Goodness.

I have not written a blog post since last year! That is so crazy! Time sure flies. I guess I didn't realize it had been nearly 3 months! Well work (as always) has been consuming my life so I haven't had much time to do much anything else but I have made a promise to myself to blog more. Especially since I feel I will be do more and be more exciting (I mean who really wants to read about me working and sleeping all weekend?).

The perfect re-introduction into blogging of course would be a link-up and since it's Wednesday, I'm linking up with Michelle for Oh, How Pinteresting!

Yummy - Funfetti Cupcakes for Two