It’s a gross understatement to say 2020 was a rough year so I won’t say it. Instead I’ll look forward to the new year with cautious optimism & lots of prayer. Speaking of prayer, I recently heard Joshua Aaron’s Hebrew cover of the song The Blessing, & it is a spiritual experience. It’s the perfect prayer to lead us into the coming year so I recommend you find a quiet spot, close your eyes, & let the song wash over you. Wishing you & yours a healthy 2021! 💙
“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” ’ “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”– Numbers 6:22-27
Yevarechecha Adonai, VeYishmerecha • The LORD bless you and keep you • יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ
Ya’er Adonai Panav Eleycha ViChuneka • Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you • יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ
Yisa Adonai Panav Eleycha, VeYasem Lecha Shalom • The LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace • יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם
Yehi chasdo aleicha le’alfei dorot • May His favor be upon you to a thousand generations • יהי חסדו עליך לאלפי דורות
Mishpachtecha viladecha • Your family and your children • משפחתך וילדיך
Dorotecha achareicha • Your generations after you • דורותיך אחריך
Rucho telech lefaneicha • May His presence go before you • רוחו תלך לפניך
Letsidecha achareicha • Beside you and behind you • לצידך, אחריך
Misvivecha belibecha • All around you and within you • מסביבך, בליבך
Hu itcha • He is with you • הוא איתך
Baboker uvaerev • In the morning in the evening • בבוקר ובערב
Betzetecha uvoecha • In your going and your coming • בצאתך ובואך
B’sivlotecha beoshrecha • In your weeping and rejoicing • בסבלותיך ואושרך
Hu itcha • He is for you • הוא איתך
Hu itanu im kulanu • He is for us, He is with us • הוא איתנו עם כולנו
As I was writing this blog post, the Gilmore Girls episode currently playing on my iPad, season 3 episode 7, referenced Riverdance. That is the best possible sign that today is a great day to support the Irish arts! Former Riverdance dancer Kincaid Stringer & his mother Shannon Kincaid, a painter, have teamed up for a great cause. They’re selling seven of Shannon’s paintings through Indiegogo for a COVID-19 relief fund; all proceeds will support Irish actors, artists, backstage workers & crews, clubs, concerts, cultural & event spaces, dancers, dance schools, festivals, musicians, performers, singers, theaters, & writers. I grew up dancing & singing so the arts are very important to me. Riverdance is the reason I asked my mom to sign me up for dance classes at the age of four so the Irish arts are also very important to me. Let’s not forget my Irish ancestors! 🇮🇪 The arts have done a lot for us in quarantine so it’s only right that we give back. You can choose to only donate money or receive a painting or two or seven in exchange for your donation. If it’s not already obvious, I’m buying “The Dancer.” Can’t wait to have a gorgeous Irish dancing queen above my bed! 👑 Please consider setting aside $25, or more, to support a great cause & get a piece of Ireland for your home. 💚🤍🧡
*NOTE: The Indiegogo campaign ends on September 17th, & the paintings will ship in November. Because of COVID-19, please consider that shipping could be delayed.
Irish people’s love of dancing has been well documented throughout their written history. In fact, one of the earliest references to dancing details a visit between the Mayor of Waterford and Mayor of Baltimore in 1413. The modern Irish dancing of today is no longer merely a processional combination of singing and dancing as an act of celebrating, but a sport that produces athletes that are physically strong, as well as creative and artistic. What was once a tradition specific to Ireland (as well as England, Scotland, and some parts of America) caught like wildfire in 1994 with the debut of Riverdance. The theatrical show consisting mainly of traditional Irish music and dance took the world by storm and has been a global phenomenon ever since. Now, twenty-five years later, the Irish dancing community consists of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people around the world today. Teachers from around the world have committed themselves to spreading their love and passion for Ireland’s traditional form of expression. Regardless of how far a dancer progresses competitively or professionally, being an Irish dancer is something that is inextricably bound to their identity forevermore. In this piece entitled “The Dancer,” you feel the excitement, the confidence, and the artistry that comes from expressing a centuries-old tradition that has touched the hearts of many. – Kincaid & Shannon
Ireland and Scotland combined have a rich culture within the performing arts, which has resulted in a thriving gig scene. Musicians are constantly pushing the boundaries in order to create new and fresh work that is often steeped in tradition. Many are staunch believers that musical traditions must be preserved as they always have been – the “play it like my father used to” kind of sentimentality. Yet, every generation brings a new wave of talent that feels that this attitude discourages progress and evolution. This debate between tradition and innovation is a tale as old as time. Still, many feel it is possible to honour your origins while also exploring and adapting to the future; they are not mutually exclusive. Irish music legend, Míchéal Ó Súilleabháinn, believed that traditions are never frozen, but rather are fluid. He believed that the idea of authenticity originating from a pure source located in antiquity was bogus! This painting is for the new wave of artists and musicians who are creating some of the most incredible new-age folk / Trad music in the world. Project Smok, Beoga, Talisk, Ímar and the like are leading the way for the future of Irish music. – Kincaid & Shannon
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw
Ériu is the goddess of sovereignty and the mythological mother of Ireland. She is often interpreted as the modern-day personification of Ireland. Along with her two sisters, Banba and Fódhla, Ériu was a part of a triumvirate of goddesses. Before their final defeat, each goddess requested that the island be named for her. This was granted to all of them, but Ériu became the chief name in use. The old Irish name Ériu evolved into Éire in modern Irish and depending on the case is spelled Éireann or Éirinn. This is how we finally arrived with the English name for the country, Erin. The painting has been imbued with symbols to depict all that Ériu embodied within pre-Christian Irish culture. Ériu represents the sacred feminine, as illustrated in the column capitals, or the decorative element at the top of a column, that represent the three phases of a woman’s life cycle – the maid, mother and crone. The stars behind her and the lunala around her neck evoke her role as a lunar goddess. Her hair bleeds into the trees, depicting her connection to the earth and its bounty. She holds this bounty in her hand as a glass of mead, which was served at the feast of Goibhniu, and offered immortality to those that drank it. Around her head is a ring of knot work encasing the land, which is topped by the stone of divisions from the hill of Uisneach, the symbolic and sacred centre of the island in Irish mythology. Ériu’s bones are said to have been laid to rest on this hill and serves as a gateway between the Underworld and the world above. – Kincaid & Shannon
There is much more to an Irish pub than just having a drink. In Ireland, pubs are central to the way of life. Similar to a church, they represent a pillar of Irish social life and community. A place where pints, comfort food, live music, and sport can be always be found; somewhere you can meet friends, neighbors, or even complete strangers, in an inviting atmosphere. It’s for these reasons that recreations of Irish pubs can be found in any city around the world. O’Connor’s was opened as a pub in Galway in 1942 by Thomas O’Connor, and is currently operated by third generation O’Connors. Every inch of it decorated in eclectic memorabilia, the pub has become famous for its hospitality and world-class live music. So much so that Ed Sheeran used it as the location of his music video “Galway Girl” in 2017 featuring actress Saoirse Ronan, furthering the pub’s world-wide recognition. – Kincaid & Shannon
Ireland has a rich tradition of various festivals taking place throughout each year. The Rose of Tralee was first held in 1959 and has since been held every August in Tralee, County Kerry, to select a young woman to be crowned the Rose. Cities all over the world host their own selection balls to determine who will represent them in Ireland. The festival bills itself as a celebration of the “aspirations, ambitions, intellect, social responsibility, and Irish heritage” of modern young women. Bursting with music and dancing, this festival celebrates the very best of Irish culture and the future of Irish relations worldwide. The winner and their family become a part of a global network, showcasing how Irish culture is thriving amongst the Irish Diaspora. They say, “Once a Rose, always a Rose.” – Kincaid & Shannon
A session is a casual gathering of musicians playing traditional Irish music, usually taking place in a pub, but has also been known to take place on street corners or even in someone’s kitchen. Irish “trad” music has garnered a deep appreciation, not just in Ireland, but also around the world. It’s important to note that a session is more than just a casual jam between musicians – the focus is on the instrumental tunes found within the Irish tradition – reels, jigs, hornpipes, polkas, slip jigs, and the like. Whether it be in a pub or someone’s home, sessions are times of brilliant music and ever-flowing drink that have a certain habit of continuing late into the night, if not into the wee hours of the morning! – Kincaid & Shannon
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
These are just two quotes from one of the biggest literary personalities in Ireland’s history, Oscar Wilde. A literary treasure, Wilde was a hugely popular playwright and poet in the late 1800s. Besides well-known works such as The Picture of Dorian Gray and Lady Windermere’s Fan, his biting wit and flamboyant style gained him notoriety as well. As a people, the Irish are known for their good sense of humour, which has bolstered them during periods of great hardship throughout history. Wilde embodied this intrinsically Irish trait to the very end. Even as he faced death, he was cracking jokes and reportedly said, “This wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. Either it goes or I do.” A collection of art in support of Irish culture would be incomplete without paying homage to Oscar Wilde. – Kincaid & Shannon
It’s the end of July which means it’s time to do some reading & rushing for seven straight days. The Reading Rush, formerly known as BookTubeAThon, is an annual weeklong readathon that I’ve been participating in since 2017. There are reading challenges, virtual badges, social media reading sprints, giveaways, merch, and so much more. This is my 4th year, & I’m ready to make it the best one yet. Start scrolling to follow my reading journey for 7 days. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed! 😉👍
✔️ Started & finished “P.S. I Still Love You” by Jenny Han| eBook on Scribd| 312 pages | Earned the Read the First Book You Touch badge| I really wanted to continue this trilogy so I cheated a teeny tiny bit. I laid out four books on my bedroom floor & touched the one I wanted to read. Ariel & Raeleen said this prompt could be interpreted multiple ways so I used creative license. 😉
Most of us have a lot of home time ahead of us so I thought I would share some recommendations to get you through the coming days. I work a lot on the computer with freedom to listen to music or watch a show. If that sounds like your current situation, this list is for you. If you’re not able to work right now, hopefully these recommendations will be a welcome distraction from all the chaos. 💕
*Note: This is a lot of information to keep track of so please inform me of any mistakes so I can fix them. Please & thank you!
Dancers & dance enthusiasts, drop everything & watch Dance Academy. As a former dancer, I’ve never related to something more on a “teen struggling in the dance world” level. If you don’t have Prime, visit the Dance Academy YouTube channel & check out their playlists. The movie Dance Academy: The Comeback is on Netflix. 🩰 For a period show centered on royalty, look no further than Victoria; I’ve only seen season 1, but it’s amazing so far. Four seasons of Luther & all 7 seasons of The Mentalist are available for a dose of crime. I myself am planning a rewatch in the near future. Speaking of crime, there are three miniseries based on stories by Agatha Christie: Ordeal by Innocence, The ABC Murders, & The Pale Horse. I have yet to watch any of them, but if the Queen of Crime is your source, how could you go wrong?? If you need some fashion to boost your spirits, Clinton & Stacy are on hand to present the 12th & final season of What Not To Wear.
Animal lovers rejoice! You can admire the wildest of God’s creation while quarantined indoors thanks to live webcams. I’m providing links to two aquariums & two zoos in California, my home state. 🇺🇸 Additionally, you can watch live safaris in South Africa thanks to SafariLIVE. 🇿🇦
You can sit back & watch these live cameras like a TV show or play music & get work done with help from your new critter companions. No matter what you choose, this is educational, relaxing, & great for both kids & adults. 🦉
This is a good time for lighthearted reading so I would recommend a trip down memory lane with nostalgic books such as The Baby-Sitters Club series or the Little House on the Prairie series. It might be a bit grim for this particular moment in time, but if you’re feeling brave, pick up the A Series of Unfortunate Events series. If you read the books & still want more from the ASOUE world, watch the amazing show on Netflix. I didn’t read this series until I was an adult, but it is nonetheless an essential comfort read: Harry Potter. My brand new illustrated editions look very tempting right now!
For something a little more out of this world, I implore you to pick up the Illuminae Files trilogy by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff. I guarantee you will fly through all three books at the speed of light. If you have access, I’ve heard the audiobooks are also incredible. Buckle up & prepare for an edge-of-your-seat journey! 🌙
I’m not personally in a good relationship with exercise at the moment, but I know that some of you will be wanting ways to be active while staying inside. I can recommend some fantastic people on YouTube who will have you sweating in no time.
Tip: If you or your child owns a hula hoop, use that for a workout. Turn on your favorite movie or TV show & move those hips for 30 minutes or more.
If you already have a stash of board games in your home, allow me to recommend my family’s favorites: Clue (available as an app, not free), Logo, & Trivial Pursuit (available as an app, free). We don’t own any right now, but my mom & I also love puzzles. Probably should’ve stocked up before the apocalypse happened! 🙈
*NOTE: After a round or two of the game, check out the film Clue (1985) for free on Crackle. It has a cult following for a reason!
If you have coloring books laying around the house, that’s a great way to relax & destress. There’s also free, printable coloring pages online such as this Golden Girls picture. If you don’t have any coloring tools at home, there are free digital options such as Coloring Book For Adults(Apple only), ColorMe(Apple only), Color Therapy (Apple only), & Happy Color ( Android& Apple ).
What I’m Playing: I’ve recently become obsessed with the Crossword app ( Android & Apple ). It’s a great way to start or end my day & keep my mind sharp. I’m also considering a Nancy Drew computer game, which I’ve never completed on my own.
Obviously everyone’s movie collection looks different so I’m going to provide links to digital stores & streaming services. For romantic comfort films, I immediately turn to:
Another classic I can’t say no to is Little Women. I haven’t seen the new adaptation yet, but I personally recommend 1949 & 1994. Surprisingly I don’t own either so I have to wait for TV airings.
I’ve been into metal, especially metalcore, since middle school. A lot of bands had to cancel tours due to Coronavirus, & many may not recover from this loss of income. If you have some extra money to give, I suggest seeking out your favorite singers & bands that don’t have a Beyoncé-level following; they’re the artists to support during this time of inactivity. I would personally like to introduce you to my favorite metalcore band Oh Sleeper, based out of Fort Worth, TX. Buy merch & music. Follow their social media accounts & stream their songs. Show them some love! 🖤
Amidst the chaos, take time to be still, close your eyes, & seek God. There are so many songs I could recommend, but I’ll stick with a choice few that always put my heart at ease:
“There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, and love for the broken heart. And there is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing. He’ll meet you wherever you are. Cry out to Jesus!”
“He is jealous for me. Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy. When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory. And I realize just how beautiful You are and how great Your affections are for me.”
“Then came the morning that sealed the promise. Your buried body began to breathe. Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion declared the grave has no claim on me. Jesus, Yours is the victory!”
“Lord I come, I confess. Bowing here I find my rest. Without You I fall apart. You’re the One that guides my heart. Lord I need You, oh I need You. Every hour I need You.”
“I come with my broken song to You the Perfect One, to worship You in spirit and truth. Only You. Give me a childlike heart. Lead me to where You are ’cause I’m coming back to my first love. Only You.”
“I see what I made in your mother’s womb, and I see the day I fell in love with you. I see your tomorrows, nothing left to chance. I see My Father’s fingerprints. I see your story. I see My name written on every beautiful page. You see the struggle. You see the shame. I see the reason I came.”
Time for yet another long list! I will probably miss a show or two, but there should be something for everybody. The ✔️ indicates that I’ve either finished the show all the way through or just the portion that’s available on Netflix. FYI, I mostly stuck to TV shows because a movie recommendations list would take the rest of my life to curate. Take what you can get! 😉
*Note: Sadly Happy Valley & Shetland are no longer available. 😭 I would also recommend Rosemary & Thyme if you can find it. I think all 3 shows are on BritBox but don’t know if what’s available in the UK is different from the US.
*Note: I also like Isabel, Los Hombres de Paco, The Time in Between, & Un Paso Adelante, all shows I have yet to complete. Sadly I can’t recommend any place to watch them because they’ve all moved since I started. If you live in Europe, you might have better luck.
I’m Watching: I’m taking a brief break from Criminal Minds & making my way, once again, through Heartland. I read the books in middle school & have been a fan of the show for basically the same amount of time. 🐴 💕
There are so many bloopers I could share, but it wouldn’t feel right not focusing on Lisa Kudrow‘s laugh. If you make it all the way through this video without smiling, you’re dead inside. 💀
These two are a force to be reckoned with. Every time they spend time together, I count the seconds until their vlogs are uploaded. It’s hard to pick a favorite moment, but 35:29 is definitely at the top.
It doesn’t get much better than Harvey Korman & Tim Conway. This sketch is a classic! Harvey’s accent when he says “Daffy Duck” never fails to makes me laugh out loud. 😂
If you’ve made it all the way to the end, you deserve a medal for your treacherous journey. 🏅 Even though that was a lot of information to process, I hope you’ve gained some ideas to make social distancing a little easier to bear. Stay inside, & stay safe everybody! 💕
I haven’t written a personal note to all of you in awhile. Coronavirus, specifically COVID-19, has everybody on edge so now seems like a good time. I love living like a hermit & barely leaving the house so let me know if you need any tips. 😂 Jokes aside, this situation shouldn’t be taken lightly. The spread of the virus is serious cause for concern. The first thing you can do is not panic. Think logically! Don’t buy a warehouse of supplies that could be shared with your entire city or maybe even state. Buy things you’ll actually need for your household & be on your merry way. Treat this like the flu season. Wash your hands with soap for 20-30 seconds. If you have to make a necessary trip out of the house, touch as few public surfaces as possible & sanitize your hands. Cough & sneeze into the crook of your arm. Drink water & take your vitamins. Get a good night’s sleep (hard for us Night Owls, I know!). Going back to the beginning, the immediate thing to do is NOT panic. That will affect how you react to the situation, & now is not the time to be reckless. Panic will also cause stress which will affect your immune system. I know it feels overwhelming because the whole world is going into quarantine, but focus on the little corner you call home. Evaluate with a clear mind & go from there. I think we could all use a break from the apocalypse so I’m going to end with a hilarious video from Trey Kennedy about germaphobes. Get cozy & laugh as loud as you want to! 💕
8:20am – Getting ready for work + Lizzie McGuire 💄
S1E1 – Rumors
Still remember the entire theme song. Nailed it! 🎶
S1E2 – Picture Day
9:20am – Driving to work + Lizzie McGuire 🚗
S1E3 – When Moms Attack
10am – Work 🛍
3:30pm – Driving home from work + Lizzie McGuire 🚗
S1E4 – Pool Party
I am Lizzie, Lizzie is me. Drama! 😂
4pm – Dinner + Lizzie McGuire 🍗
S1E5 – I’ve Got Rhythmic
4:30pm – Blogging + Lizzie McGuire 💻
S1E6 – Jack of All Trades
S1E7 – Here Comes Aaron Carter
S1E8 – Misadventures of Babysitting
S1E9 – Election
I always forget that Sara Paxton cameoed as Holly, the former class president. 😯
S1E10 – I Do, I Don’t
S1E11 – Bad Girl McGuire
I accidentally watched an extra episode. Oops! ☺️
8:30pm – Blogging + The Lizzie McGuire Movie 💻
Um . . . Can we talk about Paolo’s lame attempt to convince Lizzie that music just flows out of him?? A lame “La la la la” That’s it. That’s literally it. I can’t with him. 😂
Final thoughts for the day: Because of work, today wasn’t jam-packed with Disney+ activity. However, I still managed to have a wonderful LIZZIE MCGUIRE DAY. I watched 11 episodes & the movie. Basically I lived my best life. See you tomorrow for day 5! 💋
As of November 5th, I am 26 years old. Year 25 was NOT a walk in the park for me. I have really struggled with energy & motivation & purpose this past year. I am so passionate about what I do online, but being defeated time after time after time is so deflating. My Instagram, Twitter, & YouTube follower counts barely go up from month to month. I stay up late editing videos & writing blog posts, but it feels like no one cares when I make my work public. I worked for weeks & hours on my Tarzan video for the Disney+ Dream Job contest. I was so incredibly proud of what I produced, & yet I didn’t get one of the five spots to watch 30 Disney movies in 30 days for $1,000. Instead of breaking down barriers, I feel like I’m beating my head against a wall that isn’t going to budge. Is year 26 going to be better, or do I have to accept that I’m not meant to do this any longer?!?
How do I turn this into a positive? One step at a time. I may not have won a check for a Disney+ marathon, but I’m going to do it anyway. Starting November 12, I will be watching a Disney show & movie every day for 30 days. Don’t worry! You can follow along on here, Instagram, Twitter, & YouTube. Just use my links listed below to make sure you’re following me with notifications turned ON. 🍋 This is called turning lemons into lemonade. 🍹 I’m also trying to step outside my comfort zone & interact with people I follow on social media. Scary! 😱
🌻 Go enjoy your Saturday readers! 💛 Hopefully it’s cold & feels like the holiday season wherever you are because California is still HOT. 🥵 🙄 😂
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This is a bit of a mouthful so please be patient with me. I’ve been inactive in all creative aspects of my life so don’t feel like I abandoned this blog for something else. I have been in not just a creative slump but also what I would call a life slump. We are nearing the end of a decade, & I feel like I’m going through a personal crisis, questioning my purpose in life & what I’m meant to be doing. At the end of the day, I am an artist at heart so none of this will be going away anytime soon. Writing keeps me sane, especially at times like this. That brings me to the next part of this saga.
A little less than two weeks ago, my dad drove himself to the emergency room. Three days later, he had open heart surgery. The next day he woke up with amnesia; it isn’t an extreme case but serious enough to require slow, detailed sentences & repetition. One week later he was able to come home, still showing signs of memory loss. To say my family is emotionally drained & physically exhausted is an understatement, but we are walking hand in hand through this journey & taking it one day at a time. Every day he shows signs of improvement, & I cling to those glimmers of hope because the lowest moments have brought me to my knees sobbing in prayer. Perhaps that’s where God wants me to be more often. I am so grateful for the overwhelming amount of prayers & outpouring of love. I know my dad is the best so I’m glad other people think so too. 😉 Onto the last part of this update!
I know this is a change of tone, but hear me out before you roll your eyes. Disney & reviews.orgare offering $1,000 in exchange for watching 30 Disney movies in 30 days on their new streaming service Disney+. First of all, this would be a bright spot in my life after a sad ending to the month of October. Second, I am a Disney fanatic & binge-watcher extraordinaire, the perfect candidate for this “dream job.” Third, that money would be an amazing gift to me & my family. This is where I need Y O U R help so pay close attention. The application process includes social media following & a video reviewing my favorite Disney movie. The video is not on Youtube yet, but you can start clicking on each of my links & following me. What are you waiting for?? GO GO GO!!
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading everything I had to say. I appreciate everyone who has supported this blog. It means the world to me. 🌍 I promise it won’t be long before I’m back with a new post. Keep an eye out! 👁
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Happy Mother’s Day! First of all, how cute are we?!? Grandma Vivian in her purple sweater, my mama with picture-perfect makeup, and me with big blue eyes. A trio of 90s beauties! My grandma and mom’s relationship the last years of her life is something I will never forget. She lived with us for a period of time, and even when she wasn’t there, we were over at her house every Thursday. The one thing I will forever remember as though it were yesterday is the joy. I was constantly walking into a room and finding the two of them doubled over from laughter. It is overwhelmingly emotional thinking of how blessed I am to have seen that. They walked through a lot of hardship to get to that point, but for most of my early childhood I was privileged to have both a grandma and a mom who loved Jesus. Even though she’s gone now, I know my grandma is in Heaven, healthier than ever. I hope that in some way she knows that my mom & I have carried on the legacy of joy, always laughing. This special day is for moms & grandmas, but I want to give a special *internet hug* to all the people who are celebrating without their mothers today. ♥️
“Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”
– Proverbs 31: 25-30
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I’m starting the new year with a review of Aquaman, my family’s 2018 Christmas movie. Even though I’m a “DC Girl For Life,” I still have the ability to be constuctively critical. In short, I loved this movie. In depth, there are a few things that bothered me:
Some of the camera angles & shots took me out of the movie. The beach training scene between Arthur and Vulko involved back and forth shots of both characters straight on. It felt odd and a bit too melodramatic. In the Italy scene with Arthur & Mera, the atmosphere dramatically changed to a cheesy rom-com and felt out of place in an adventurous superhero movie.
2. Speaking of the rom-com scene, that brings us to the terrible soundtrack. Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration. I specifically dislike the songs from the Black Manta costume creation scene (“It’s No Good,” Depeche Mode), the Italy rom-com scene (“She’s A Mystery To Me,” Roy Orbison), and the infamous Pitbull cover of Toto’s “Africa.” I should clarify that those first two songs aren’t bad; they just felt out of place. The Pitbull song is the one I hate with a vengeance, with or without the movie. All that being said, the score is amazing, and I really like the end credits song “Everything I Need” by Skylar Grey which fits right in with the tone of the movie’s finale.
Let’s end with two MAJOR positives:
I teared up twice: once during the title sequence from pure, unadulterated joy & again when Arthur Curry is proclaimed king of Atlantis because FINALLY we have the Aquaman we deserve on the big screen.
2. My dad loved the movie! You definitely won’t understand why that is such a big deal so let me provide some clarity. He enjoys movies like Darkest Hour and The Post. Superhero blockbusters are usually a little too weird & rarely impress him as great films. I 100% expected him to either fall asleep or walk out of the theater unimpressed. Shock of all shocks, he stayed awake the whole time and loved both cast and plot. 😱
I can understand why length was an issue for some people. Right before the finale, it started to feel like the story was being stretched out . . . and then BAM! It ended with an E P I C fight; I teared up; and all was forgotten and forgiven. Lastly, I want to give the cast & crew a round of applause. Director James Wan brought Atlantis to life which is no small feat considering you can’t actually film an entire movie underwater. There wasn’t even one weak link in the cast; I was impressed with every single performance, and I can’t wait to see more.
This is a DC film I can stand behind, and I think my fellow fans should do the same. Moving forward, we need to focus on the positive & support the parts of our cinematic universe that we love. Things can only get better from here because the casts & crews are experimenting, learning, and growing. So what if DC is darker and/or weirder?! At least we’re daring to be different!
Lauren Michele ❤️ 