Friday Favorites: Videos Will Make You Smile

When I was kid I performed with my school's band and orchestra. As we rehearsed and rehearsed for each performance I can remember a sense of excitement that would build up until THE DAY. That last rehearsal.   Running around to make sure instruments were ready to go. Dressed in my finest black and white. Nervously chattering with my fellow players. The moment the curtain rises. I would play my heart out. lost in the music. But after the performance I can remember feeling an overwhelming sadness. Is this it? Was that all?

This is my last week of programming until SUMMER READING begins. Instead of the usual feeling of relief I am feeling a little bit of a let down. Have I done all that I could/should/would be doing? Are people happy with the programs? Was I as creative as I could be?

This is not a pleas for "You go girls!" but more of me seeing that I am heading towards the intersection of Despair and Despondent and I am feeling that I need to go another route. Fooling around on various social media channels I found some videos and sites that are making today not quite so blah.

I follow Ksenia Anske on Twitter and she just finished her new book. She shared her version of a happy dance.




I've started working (that may be a stretch but let's go for it!) with a PR agent and she shared these adorable Animal Planet live webcams.

I am particular to the Kitten Kam:

I love Vine, a newish app that takes six second videos.
I love this one by Eric Dunn.
He's really funny.

This video is really just audio but Effin Guy shared it with me since I have such a fondness for Law and Order. John Mulaney is hilarious.
"I'm watching you McCoy"

In honor of Star Trek coming out today, Riker sits on a chair. Like the cool kids:




And last, but not least, the Honest Trailer for Les Mis.
Tee Hee.
Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!




Hit me with your best shot. What's making you smile this week?
-r

In My Ears: Shake it Up: I LOVE Dance! #ad

I was sent a copy of Shake It Up: I Love Dance to review and it was promptly grabbed from my hands by my teen. I heard a few songs before the CD disappeared into my teen's room. She popped it into her CD player, and it has been on constant rotation ever since. I thought I would allow my daughter to help with this review.

 Here are some thoughts from The Bee:

My mom got a copy of Shake it Up: I Love Dance and I was excited! I mean, who doesn't love Shake it Up? And now I've got the songs! 

On the CD, I really love Contagious Love by Zendaya & Bella Thorne. It's a good song that I can dance to. It's my favorite, actually, and I can see making a video using that  song. 

I was happy to hear Coco Jones, Holla at the DJ. Coco Jones is a really good singer and this song is also good to dance to and this will also be a video.

My mom likes These Boots Were Made for Walking by Olivia Holt. That was OK. I liked it when I saw it on the show but not really on the CD.   

I think this is a really good CD. It made me dance, I have a few videos I want to make and I like listening to it when I am doing my homework and hanging in my room. I can listen to this with my little brother and not have to turn it off and I like hearing songs from the show. 

You don't have to take our words for it. Check out a copy of Shake it Up: I Love Dance for yourself. The songs are appropriate for teens and tweens. I never felt uncomfortable listening to it with mu daughter in the room. Also, even on constant repeat I didn't feel the need to have The Bee turn the music off (well, there were a few evenings when I had to confiscate the CD and insist on a decent bedtime.)

Bonus!
Here is a video of Contagious Love.
You're welcome!




Below are the track listings. I was actually able to recognize some of the artists from (repeated) viewings of Disney Channel.

• This is My Dance Floor performed by Bella Thorne & Zendaya
• Contagious Love performed by Zendaya & Bella Thorne
• Beat of My Drum performed by Zendaya
• Blow Your System performed by Bella Thorne
• Afterparty performed by Roshon Fegan & Caroline Sunshine
• Holla at the DJ performed by CoCo Jones
• These Boots Are Made For Walkin' performed by Olivia Holt
• Sharp as a Razor performed by McClain Sisters
• Future Sounds Like Us performed by Dove Cameron
• I Can Do Better performed by Young LA
• Shake It Up Theme Song (Cole Plante Reboot Remix) performed by Selena Gomez
• We're Dancing (Remix) performed by Bridgit Mendler

I do recommend this CD for fun, family friendly songs. It's highly energetic, full of life and a good way to induce dance moments with your teen.


Getting our dance on!
-r and kid


r's note: We were sent a copy of Shake It Up: I Love Dance for free. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Affiliate links are used in this post. 

#TBCCrafters: It's Mo Willems Day!

The library that I work for is an official host for Children's Book Week and to celebrate we had a Mo Willems party. Mo Willems, if I may gush a moment, is one of the my favorite children's authors to read. His books are all about feelings, all about emotions and his books really capture the point of view of children.

So, for our party we read
The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? (Pigeon) (and shared a healthy snack!)
Leonardo, the Terrible Monster
We Are in a Book! (An Elephant and Piggie Book)
That Is Not a Good Idea!

To extend the books we had these crafts:
The Pigeon has feelings too!
Pictures of the pigeon was posted and children had to use a word bubble on a stick to draw what they thought the pigeon was feeling or write a feeling word.

We are in a Book!
Chidren could take a picture with Elephant and Piggie complete with word bubbles.

Make a Pigeon Hat
Create a hat of the pigeon using different shapes.

Create an Elephant and Piggie comic Strip

Character Word Scramble
Using laminated letters we unscrambled the names of the characters from the book we read

Don't Let the Pigeon play with this app!
Check out the link. We had 15 or children plus a few adults play with the app.

Make a terrible monster (inspired by Leonardo)
You can make your own!

For this craft we used scissors, construction paper, crayons, glue, feathers and foam pieces.

Easy peasy!
Do you have a Thrilling Thursday craft to add? Add your blog post in the linky below!

#PhillyStyleUnWrapped: See the new Wrap Dress Inspired by the McWrap!

McDonald’s of the Greater Philadelphia Region and the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House welcome you to join us for a night of food, fashion and philanthropy at an exclusive spring shopping event at Bloomingdale’s, on May 16 from 6-8 p.m.

During the event, McDonald’s and Bloomingdale’s will be showcasing the Premium McWrap inspired wrap dresses designed by local up-and-coming fashion designers from the Philadelphia Region.

In addition, special guest Stephanie Solomon, Ready-to-Wear Fashion Director at Bloomingdale’s Manhattan, will feature some of this season’s hottest spring and summer trends. Lesley Van Arsdall, anchor for CBS 3 and The CW Philly, will be serving as the evening emcee.

The event is open to the public. All ticket sales and 10% of Bloomingdale’s sales from the evening’s event will be donated to the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. Additionally, each Premium McWrap inspired dress will be auctioned off at www.biddingforgood.com/philarmh/2013fashion with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the charity.

Can't attend? follow @McDPhilly and use the hashtag #PhillyStyleUnWrapped.

r's note: I am a member of the McCafe mom club.
And yes, I'm loving it.