So You Think You Can Dance - Top 20 (2 Sent Home)

This week on So You Think You Can Dance the Top 20 performed, and two dancers were sent home.

The guest judge this week was Misty Copeland, prima ballerina of the American Ballet Theatre.

The show opened with a fun group number to "New York, New York" from On the Town, choreographed by Josh Bergasse.  Emilio had a scene stealing bit with a baseball bat.

After the opening number, the judges appeared in baseball jerseys as a tribute to the upcoming MLB All-Star Game on Fox.

Then the bottom 6 dancers were announced:   Brooklyn, Jourdan, Malena, Casey, Nick, and Serge.  The final decision would be made after all 20 dancers performed as planned.

This week the partners were switched, and the partnerships will remain the same until the Top 10, unless a dancer is eliminated.

Tanisha and Rudy performed a Sonya Tayeh jazz number to "You Need" (Bengsons).  Sonya called the number "grimy and aggressive."  The dancers wore punk rock costumes.  Misty told Tanisha, "You are fierce, girl."  I also think Tanisha was a standout in this routine.

Valerie and Ricky danced a Travis Wall contemporary number to "Oh Darling" (Gossling).  It was about the one that got away.  Travis commented, "Ricky needs to pull Valerie up to his level."  I enjoyed this dance, especially Ricky.

Bridget and Emilio danced a Luther Brown hip hop number to "Work" (Iggy Azalea).  It was about a guy's flirtation with a nerd girl turned "bombshell."  It was fun and light, but not particularly memorable.

Jessica and Nick danced a Benji Schwimmer West Coast Swing number to "Respect" by Aretha Franklin.  (Thank you show for including some older music for viewers who are over 40.)    I love Benji, and was happy when he won Season 2.   I often watch the show with a group of friends, and we had a running joke that season.  There was a girl who appeared in the Season 2 audience with a huge sign that said, "I baked cookies for Benji."  After that we made cookies (several times) while we watched the show.  And yes, they were of course for Benji.   Despite this Benji fandom, I have to say that the West Coast Swing number fell apart.  Nigel criticized the choreography and the dancers.

Carly and Serge performed a Sonyah Tayeh contemporary dance to "Latch" (Sam Smith).  It was a tribute to unbreakable love and it was beautiful.  Serge really stood out as a strong, emotive dancer.

Emily and Teddy performed a Dave Scott hip hop dance to "Don't" (Ed Sheeran).  The dance was about a sexy flirtation, but I did not see much chemistry or connection between the dancers.

Malene and Stanley performed a Spencer Liff Broadway jazz number to "I've Got Your Number" (Nancy Wilson).  (Yes, I love this song -- it is exactly my cup of tea!)   The dance was prop dependent, with telephones on long cords.  The idea was fun and retro but the performance was lackluster.   I was disappointed, as Malene and Stanley are two of my early favorites.

Jourdan and Marcquet performed a Sean Cheesman jazz number to "Work Work" by Britney Spears.  It was about a sexy interrogation.  Marcquet is such a dynamic dancer.  Misty called Marcquet out on his facial expressions (too serious) and Nigel called Jourdan out on her facial expressions as well (too smiley).

Brooklyn and Casey performed a Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo tango to "Gallo Ciego" (Luis Bravo's Forever Tango).  I really liked Casey in this number.

Jacque and Zack performed a Sean Cheesman African jazz number to "Dibiza" (Danny Teraglia).   The costumes, makeup, and backdrop were bright, groovy colors.   This number was a real standout - lots of fun and very high energy.

The judges called the dancers in the bottom 6 onstage.   Malena and Nick were sent home.  I am disappointed about Malena, as she was my favorite of the ballroom girls.  

The judges will continue making the final decision (counting in the votes by viewers) until the Top 10.  Then the decision will be solely up to the viewer votes.

Did you watch SYTYCD this week?  If so, what did you think of the dance performances?  Were the right dancers sent home?

Waking with Thoughts of Vintage Sunday School Cards

Here's the thing about selling vintage cards and books for a living:  you never know when you'll have a random thought about something unusual you have found.  You might be eating tacos or going to the hardware store when you suddenly think about flocked Christmas cards or a recipe for a Floating Island.

Today I woke up thinking about vintage Sunday School cards. I grew up going to Sunday School regularly, and loved it - especially craft projects like decorating pictures of sheep with cotton balls and singing songs. I recall getting postcards in the mail a few times when I was sick and couldn't go on Sunday. 

A few years ago I found a selection of Sunday  School postcards.  Most were for teens, to be sent by their Sunday School teacher if they missed a Sunday School class.  If you'd like to take a peek at these cards, you'll find them here:  Vintage Sunday School Cards at Birdhouse Books.

The card above is especially striking.  It pictures a woman who isn't there.  The postcard reads:  "Where were you last Sunday?  We've Missed You.  Come Next Sunday".   

The card above must be from the 1960's with the Space Age theme.  " Get Back In Orbit - We Missed You Sunday."

This card (above) reminds me of "The Telephone Hour" from Bye Bye Birdie.  A teen boy and girl talk on the phone.  The boy is lounging in his letterman's sweater.  "A Person to Person Invitation."

This card is a little different.  It features a line of boys with the message:  "We fall in but we don't fall out.  We want you as a member of our jolly good class."   This card was sent for a Rally Day in Atlanta in 1938.  I didn't grow up with Rally Days, so looked them up.  A Rally Day celebrated the start of a new church year, usually in September or October.  Children graduated from one Sunday School class to another at this time.  Interesting!   Another of those neat tidbits you learn working with vintage paper.

Book Giveaway: A Little Coffee Cookbook

Hi all!

Just because it is Tuesday and I'm clearing some space on my shelves here ... I'm hosting a giveaway to win A Little Coffee Cookbook by Janet Laurence.

This gently used cookbook is very cute, with 60 pages of delicious recipes using coffee.   I am removing some of the newer cookbooks from my store, Birdhouse Books, in order to make more shop space here.  You will find many vintage cookbooks in my shop (along with children's books and vintage cards galore!).

Entry is easy, with the Rafflecopter form below.   The giveaway will close on Tuesday, July 15 at 11:59 PM.  I will use Rafflecopter to randomly draw a winner.

Thanks for visiting my site, and I hope you'll enter for this cute cookbook.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Music Monday - "Nothing But a Heartache" by The Flirtations (1968)

"Nothing But a Heartache" is one of my all time favorite songs.  It combines many things I love:  retro soul, girl group music, and a melody that is catchy and dynamic.

The Flirtations recorded this song in 1968, and it was a hit for the group, making the Hot 100 list.  The Flirtations started recording in 1962 as the Gypsies.   Two of the singers were sisters from South Carolina.  They were marketed as being like the Supremes, and there are some real similarities in sound and performance style.

"Nothing But a Heartache" became a Northern Soul hit.  Northern Soul music was soul music that achieved popularity in dance clubs in Northern England, Scotland, and Wales in the mid-1960's.  Northern Soul songs were typically by less well known artists.  They were uptempo with a good beat for dancing.

I have loved this song for years.  I have it on my Blackberry, my iPad ... and now I am happy to share it with you, too.

Book Review: Breathe by Elena Dillon (Young Adult Novel)

"Most days I can almost forget someone murdered my sister. I try to go through every day like a normal sixteen-year-old. I can eat breakfast, go to school, do homework, but then something will remind me that my family will never be the same." (Breathe, Elena Dillon)

With these memorable lines we meet high school junior Jasmine Rourke.  Jasmine's sister, Daisy, was murdered in Los Angeles, and the killer was never caught.  Because of lingering media attention and concern for her family's safety, Jasmine's mother moves the family to Lafayette, Louisiana.  Jasmine, her younger twin siblings, and her mother try to settle in and find normalcy. 

Jasmine starts back to school, meets a cute boy, makes new friends ... and then the eerie reminders of her sister, Daisy, start:  a bouquet of daisies in her school locker, an odd text from a number she cannot trace.  Is she being pranked or stalked?   Are Jasmine and her family in danger again?

Breathe is a romantic suspense novel for young adult readers.  It is suspenseful, but not too intense for the teen audience.  It is fast paced, with likable characters (especially the protagonist, Jasmine), and would be a great summer reader for a teen who enjoys combining mystery and love story.

I liked the southern setting, and appreciated the way that Jasmine's personal faith was quietly woven into the storyline (she goes to church and prays).  Her family is also well drawn - with a strong but cautious mom, mischievous younger brother, and sensitive younger sister.

Easton, Jasmine's romantic interest, is a southern knight in shining armor.  He is strong and kind, with a maturity and gentleness that is sure to appeal to young readers.

Elena Dillon's writing flows well and her characterizations ring true.  The dialogue moves quickly.  This is a short book, and I think it is one that young adult readers will enjoy.

Thanks to MMW Authors for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.