Summer Reading: The Complete Wizard of Oz Collection

For the last couple of weeks I have been reading The Complete Wizard of Oz Collection on the kindle app. There are 14 books in total but they're short and the writing style is meant for children so they're pretty simple. The whole collection together is available on Amazon for $.95.

After reading them, I'm surprised that only one has become a movie. The author, L. Frank Baum, created several other "fairy worlds" other than Oz. They are all just as fascinating. Dorothy actually makes several trips back and has many more adventures with her friends the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Lion.

I'm currently on number 4, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz. The novels are addicting. Maybe its just the gaping whole in my heart left my Harry Potter but I'm highly entertained by them.

As far as The Real Downton Abbey goes, I have mixed emotions. It's fascinating in information but it's so different from the TV show that it's a little off putting. I think I'm just going to power through the rest. The pictures are wonderful too!

Next Up:

Print- Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Bradshares

Kindle: Still not sure... the Oz series is going to take me awhile so I have time.

My Birthday: 22

I'm officially old, 22. College is over. I pay rent and UTILITIES. Welcome to adulthood. I hate every moment of it. I have not had the best experience with birthdays past. That coupled with the fact that I feel old and like I was hoodwinked into becoming an adult has been making me feel really crappy and grumpy lately.

Yesterday, however, I took some time out of responsibility and just treated my self. I started at the salon, mani, pedi, eyebrows, which were growing to the side of my face. That spa was heaven. How I wish I could live that way all the time. My feet would certainly thank me.

I tried a new color. I usually stick to neutrals but it's my birthday. 

I also went to see a new movie, Total Recall, with my good friend Natalie. It was good. It reminded me of the Bourne Trilogy, except futuristic, magnetic cars, robot police, all that stuff. I haven't seen the original but I do know it's not true to the original story. Some critics said that it's only better than the original because of the fancy special effects. It's not a "must see" but I enjoyed it.

Then I went to one of my favorite restaurants, Legal Seafood, for dinner. I had the stuffed jumbo shrimp. Oh. em. gee. delicious. The service was phenomenal. Then Natalie surprised me with cupcakes from Red Velvet Cupcakery. Their frosting -- which can make or break a cupcake -- is amazing.

My birthday treat from Legal Seafood,
 ice cream balls covered in chocolate. 

Overall, a great birthday.

Summer Reading: Peaches Series

If you remember back to the  Bye Bye Borders post, I said I bought a three- book series called Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson.

 

 

Well, I finally got around to reading all three. I was impressed. It's not the best short series I've ever read but it is good. Three girls who create an unlikely and often dysfunctional friendship. It is reminiscent of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, which, by the way, has a fourth book that was recently released. I enjoyed them.

On the Kindle, I am working on the Complete Wizard of Oz Collection, 14 novels in all. They are short though and written for children so they are not too complex. I want to get though the entire series before

I got this part from Sarah Dessen, on of my favorite authors, who does the same thing on her posts about what she's reading.

Next Up:

• Print: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey. I love the show. I think I'm just reading the book to try and fill the void. Downton will be back in September though. Shirley McClain has been added to the cast. It should be extremely entertaining.
 
• Ebook:  Not sure yet. Maybe one from Meg Cabot or Jennifer Stenvensen. They're my go tos when I need some thing iinteresting.

SN: I've been doing my best to ignore this Fifty Shades of Grey epidemic but the rumor is that Emma Watson is playing Anastasia in the film. If that is true, then I must read them. Y'all know how I feel about Emma Watson. 

  

 

NYC!/ Sister Act

A few weeks ago, some friends and I went to NYC to see Sister Act on Broadway.

First, let me say, I love NYC. The shopping, the food, the tourists. It was amazing. We went to Time Square after the show. We didn't even have to look up directions. We just followed the lights. I took some pictures, not as many as  I should have and they're not great. Sorry, got caught up.

Second, Sister Act was wonderful. Raven - Symone kills her role as Doris/ Delores. Of course, there were not pictures allowed in the theatre. My seats were too far away anyway! Lol. The soundtrack hasn't been released yet but I will certainly have as soon as it is. Overall, a weekend well spent.

#AugustWritingChallenge - Connection - Day 3

Isn't it everyone's goal to simply make a connection with others?

 As journalist, I worked tirelessly for four years, all to learn the proper and most effective ways to connect with others. It is the secret reason why Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are so popular. The logic behind why we are so very attached to our lap tops, cell phones, and tablets; we must stay connected.

I think that we all think – deep down – that if we fail to stay connected, people will just forget about us. Maybe that’s just me…

I’m learning that connections take work. I can have a thousand devices, if I don’t use them I will not connect with a single person. I’m also learning that if it bothers me that I haven’t talked to my friends or family that I should call or text or tweet or well, you get the point. I can’t just sit and sulk and expect that people are going to just know—somehow—that I want or need to talk to them.

Connections work two ways. All parties have to be willing to put in the work or else every man becomes an island.

Moving Sucks... That is all.

What do you call it when you are "moving on up to the East Side," RIPI to Mr. Sherman Hemsley, but the opposite way. Well, that's what I just did. Post graduate budget has caused me to have to seriously downgrade my living arrangemenents. I'm terribly saddened, but I'll make it.

My new place has zero storage. All my belongings are piled in various places on the floor. I have no furniture. This is not how the 18- year- old me pictured my life three months after graudating from Howard. However, here I am.

I'm so grateful to have somewhere to live but how I wish it was just as good or maybe even better than the beautiful, convienent, fully- equipped, apartment coplex I just left. *sigh*

Uncle Phil's Retirement Party

Last weekend, I went to New Jersey for a much needed mini vacay. SN: All I do is work. I got to spend the weekend with my family. I'm their baby, the youngest of twelve grands, so I soak up lots of attention. He he.

My Uncle Phil worked at Montclair High School in New Jersey for 40 years. I have only been breathing for 20; so, it's quite hard for me to fathom. He was the first Black teacher to be hired at Montclair and has since revolutionize the way the school approaches education.

On Saturday, his daughters hosted a retirement party in his honor. Over 100 family members, colleagues, and friends gathered to celebrate. I just happened to be there with my camera...

The Cake

The Man of the hour, my Uncle Phil, he plays the djembe. It's a type of African drum.  

My cousin, Maisha and Jamila

 After the formalities were over, it was time to get down. LOL.

My Apologies... No excuses

The last eight weeks have been insane. I graduated from Howard University in May. It was a wonderful celebration. Lots of family and friends. I have been looking for a new job (I got one; more on that later) and I am preparing to move. But since school is over, yay, I should be blogging much more regularly.

I'm starting my summer series again, Dee's Reads, my summer reading challenge to read a book a week has begun again. I will be updating the page every week. Also, my movie review series will also resume. There are some potential block busters coming this summer including: Brave, The Dark Knight Rises, The Amazing Spider-Man, etc.

I also began my position as an editorial assistant for Forbes Magazine Washington Bureau. Most exciting thing I've ever done. Mostly, my responsibility is to do research for stories my boss writes. I also help edit some of the stories from my department's section, investing, of the web site. It's just wonderful.

I have some great things planned. Stay tuned!

Made: I'm 21

Last week I turned 21! My birthday is on the 4th, the same day as the President of the United States, Barack Obama. I was so glad to hear from so many of my family and friends. I didn't go out and get debaucherous or drunk or anything like that. I just went for dinner and drinks with some friends of mine. Call me nerdy, but it just not my cup of tea. I'll put up pictures late; the one I have is simply dreadful. My family in Chicago is throwing me a party on Friday. I'm so excited! It'll be a great way to end the summer. *sigh*

Out and About: Crazy Stupid Love

So, lately I have been going to the movies every weekend. It's like my personal treat to myself after putting up with both of my jobs all week.

This week I saw Crazy Stupid Love, a rom com starring Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone. It was hilarious and super cute. Steve Carell plays a character who desperately wants to repair his broken marriage but is looking for help in all the wrong places. He just can't seem to catch a break.

The acting was superb. It was a great way to end/start the week, depending on how you see it.

Bye Bye Borders *tear*

So as we all know, Borders is closing as of its doors... for good. I loved Borders and I'm sad to see it go, all the more reason for me to go an rack up during their amazing sales last week. My friend an I went to town and the nearest store in Silver Springs, Md. I'm very excited about my new books. I hope they're good!

Book based on the Tudor dynasty. I have a thing with books about royalty.  

These series is highly recommended by the author of the Traveling Pants series so I thought it would be interesting. 

This is my new mantra. I am a nerd and I'm ok with that. Lol.

The End of an Era

I went to go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 today before work. Best. Movie. Ever. 

It was so hard knowing that this was the end. There are no more books and no more movies. Daniel, Emma, and Rupert did amazing as their last moments as Harry, Hermione, and Ron. I cried several times.

David Yates did a fantastic job translating Rowling's book to the screen. Naturally, some parts had to be left out but the best parts all made it. The was a wonderful way to say goodbye to my childhood. The next step for me is to go visit the Wizarding World of Hary Potter, the Universal Studios theme park in Orlando. My whole family is going in August as my graduation trip. Y'all do you I graduate on May 12, 2011... anyway, I digress. It was a great film. Check it out if you get a chance.

My 3D glasses from the show. They look like Harry's!

Thumbing Through: Summer Reading Challenge

So I started a new page that is completely devoted to my summer reading challenge. I want to read at least one book each week until the of end of summer. As I go I'll put up reviews of the ones I really like and the ones I don't. Hopefully, I won't get distracted and will actually make it through the whole summer. Come along with me, maybe try it too!

To get to the new page just click here. You can also click on Summer Reading Challenge 2011 in the column to the left.

The First Ladies at the Smithsonian

So Memorial Day weekend I took a trip to the National Mall and the National Museum of American History. I wanted to see an ongoing exhibit they have there called "The First Ladies at the Smithsonian." I took the metro, as usual. I figured out that this particular museum is closer to the stop federal triangle than it is to the actual Smithsonian stop. Anyway, the exhibit was FABULOUS! It has two rooms.
One is filled with all kinds of artifacts that belonged to the first ladies, dresses, shoes, dishes, portraits, all sorts of lovely things, as well as a timeline that included every first lady, from Martha to Michelle. Did you know that since every President wasn't married some of the first ladies have been their daughters, nieces, or sisters?

The second room is dedicated to the tradition of the first ladies donating their inaugural gowns to the Smithsonian for this exhibit. The gown of every first lady between Mamie Eisenhower and my Chi-town idol, Michelle Obama, is housed there. These gowns are gorgeous! I can't even describe how beautiful they all were. I felt like each of them was standing in the room with me. Next to the gowns are portraits of each first lady in their gown. My personal favorites were Mamie Eisenhower, Betty Ford, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama but you should go check them out and choose your own favorites. The museum is open everyday except Christmas and is free. It's a great summer trip for any group and family. Also at the museum right now is an exhibit called "Julia's Kitchen," which is the actual kitchen of Julia Child that was featured in the movie "Julie and Julia" and "Ain't Nothin' Like the Real Thing," an exhibit dedicated to the Apollo Theatre.

The picture is from the museum's Web site http://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/exhibition.cfm?key=38&exkey=1239#gallery

50th Annual Sakura Matsuri

The last major event of the National Cherry Blossom festival this year's Sakura Matsuri, or Japanese Street Market was a hit.


The market was set up on Pennsylvania Avenue between 10th and 14th streets. People filled the street, some dressed as their favorite anime characters. Every where there were booths that advertised products from all parts of Japanese culture.


Cyrus Norgard was volunteering at the information tent set up on 12th and Pennsylvania. "I found out about the festival while I was taking some Japanese classes down at George Mason in Fairfax. I started in 2007 then I came back in 2009 and this year."

When he's not volunteering Norgard enjoys just walking around the market. "I don't have a favorite vendor; I just like walking around. This is the one time of the year when year when you can see people wearing kimonos."

People wearing kimonos is a common sight during the Matsuri. There was even a tent where people could try on traditional kimonos and take pictures.



Vendors from D.C. As well as New York City were in attendance. A bookstore, Kinokui Niya, was selling beautiful fans along with books for children and adults. Other vendors sold a variety of products from Sake and Japanese food to pearls and furniture.


There was also a children's corner on 13th and Pennsylvania avenue. The kids were able to make arts and crafts, get their faces painted or just play.

There were three performances stages set up to entertain festival goers. Orientarhythm, a group from Japan, did an exciting dance with bright red nun chucks combining martial arts and hip hop. After their performance they took questions from the audience via a translator.

The Japan-America Society of Washington D.C. But there were other organizations that were present at the Matsuri.

Kathleen Emerson-Dell, the assistant curator of National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, was working is the National Arboretum's tent during the Matsuri.

Dell has worked the festival for the past five years and watched it expand and attract more visitors and higher quality vendors. She also added that this year has been the best weather. "Some years I've been here with my hat and long underwear on; other years it's just been too hot."

There is an even larger collection and variety of flowering cherry trees. They we're donated to the Arboretum during the bicentennial in 1976, creating the first Bonsai museum in the world. There wasn't even one in Japan at the time.

Dell said employees of the arboretum encourage people to come to the festival but also to come out to the arboretum and see all the other Bonsai and cherry trees growing there.

Hundreds of thousands of people visited the Sakura Matsuri. Many travel from long distances to see the festival and the market. Kathy Jung, traveled from West Virginia to support some of her friends who were taking pictures with Matsuri attendees dressed as Hello Kitty and Geisha. This was her first time coming to D.C. for the festival and she was enjoying herself.

The 50th annual Sakura Matsuri was just as successful as expected. Considering the volume of visitors the market attracts the Japan-American Society has already begun to plan for next year's event which is set to take place on April 9, 2011.