Friday Faves: Dancing With the Stars and Songpop

Happy Friday!

My Friday Faves are extra light and fluffy this week.  My first fave is Dancing With the Stars.  This is my favorite "popcorn show," and it is back.  The cast is really interesting this season!   There are two dancers who have an exceptional background (ice dancers Meryl White and Charlie Davis), and an eclectic group otherwise, with NeNe Leakes, Drew Carey, Danica McKellar, Diana Nyad, Candace Cameron Bure, Cody Simpson, Paralympic athlete Amy Purdy, hockey player Sean Avery, James Maslow, Cody Simpson, and Billy Dee Williams.  

My favorites so far are Charlie Davis (he is adorable, and sure to do well, with his skating background), Drew Carey (so fun and likable), and Danica McKellar.  I also was so impressed with Amy Purdy.   

On the flip side, Sean Avery does "mean face" well and sort of scares me.  Candace Cameron Bure is going to get on my last nerves if she mentions modesty every show.  She knew, when she signed up, that she was going on a dance competition with traditional ballroom costumes.  Billy Dee Williams is a talented actor, but he is not going to be able to keep up with the demands of this show, and I think he will go home soon.

I miss the Harold Wheeler Band, but am happy to see Erin Andrews as the new cohost with Tom Bergeron (replacing Brooke Burke-Charvet).  Erin seems like she will be quicker with quips and off-the-cuff comments and interviews.

My second Friday Fave is Songpop.  This game is available for Facebook, Android device, or iTunes (for iPad or iPhone).  It is basically "Name That Tune," with snippets of songs (original artists) and multiple choice questions based on song title or artist.   You can choose your favorite categories, and the choices are great:  Musicals, Vocal Jazz, '60's Collection, '70's AM Pop, etc.  You can either play with friends (via Facebook connection) or be matched with players who have similar music tastes.  It is a great way to unwind, and fun for anyone who loves music.

How about you?  Do you play Songpop?  Are you watching Dancing With the Stars?  If so, who are your favorites this season?   I would love to hear from you in the comments section below.

Heroes of the City Review and Giveaway (Ends 3/26)

I am delighted to host a giveaway prize pack featuring the Heroes of the City toys, book, and DVD movie, as pictured above.

Heroes of the City is a media company in Sweden.  They have a wonderful website:  Heroes of the City website.  

I received a copy of this prize to review.   This would make a great gift for a child age 2 - 6.  The book is sturdy and colorful, the movie features fun animation, and the little cars are well made and perfect for a small child.

Heroes of the City also has an especially cute game and movie app on iTunes:  Heroes of the City on iTunes.   It features fun movies and lively games for children ages 2 - 6.   The design is bright, lively, and engaging, and the games are sure to please a young child.

Heroes of the City is offering a prize pack for this giveaway.  One winner will receive a book, DVD movie, and toy package as pictured above.   The prize drawing will run from March 20 until March 26 (the Rafflecopter closes on March 27 at 12:00 a.m.).   The prize entry method is Rafflecopter.  A winner will be randomly drawn.  The winner will be announced here, and the prize will be mailed from the sponsor in Sweden. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Music Monday - "Chanson D'Amour" by Art and Dotty Todd

My Music Monday song this week is "Chanson D'Amour" by Art and Dotty Todd.  They were a husband and wife singing duo, and they charted with this hit song in 1958.  It is a lovely song, and one of my favorite classic pop tunes.  It has always sounded like a song you might have heard at a cocktail party or night club in the late 1950's.  It evokes a sense of time and place.   

Friday Faves: Happy About the Long Winter

Happy Friday!   I hope you've had a good week.  I'm on the run today, so I'll keep my Friday Faves short and sweet.

My first Friday Fave is The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Over the past few weeks, I've enjoyed participating in a children's literature group read of The Long Winter.  This book, published in 1940, tells the story of the Ingalls family during the blizzard of 1880 - 1881 (South Dakota).  The Ingalls family was living in a store building in the little town when the blizzard arrived.  (You'll find photos of their actual home here:  Frontiergirl website.)  It is inspiring to read how the family pulled together to make do as food ran low, and they were snowbound inside.  Laura Ingalls' future husband, Almanzo Wilder, is a hero of this book, as he goes with a friend, Cap Garland, to find wheat for the town.  I have read all the Little House books many times, but had not read this one in quite a while.  It was a perfect winter read -- and it made me grateful for our winter weather in the south, as variable as it may be.

I'm also happy about the song "Happy" by Pharrell Williams this week.  I usually listen to older music (oldies, jazz, Broadway), but this song is everywhere.  I love it -- especially the line:  "Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof."  

Wishing you a great weekend!

Music Monday - "They Say It's Spring" by Blossom Dearie

Blossom Dearie is one of my favorite jazz singers.  In addition to one of the best names ever, she had such a light, pretty voice, and was a talented jazz pianist as well.  "They Say It's Spring" was a hit for her in 1957.  This song was written by Bob Haymes, who wrote the great standard song, "That's All," and it has a similar sound.  It is a beautiful, Spring-like day in Atlanta, and this seems like a perfect song to share with you today.