Hello Dance Fans,
I'm going to discuss both nights because I'm so behind in my recaps.
I thought I would love both nights.
I am a big fan of both kinds of music.
I was a hair metal girl in high school, although I didn't call it that at the time.
I enjoyed Soul Train Nite better than Hair Metal Nite.
I liked the music both nites.
But the music on hair metal nite was so loud, so energetic, that I felt several of the couples fell short of the intensity and enthusiasm needed.
Plus Gene Simmons was just....ew. Creepy and gross. And his scoring was terrible. Please don't have him back.
On Soul Train nite my favorites were Ilona & Alan, Joey & Jenna, Jenn & Sasha, and Chandler & Brandon.
I LOVED Ilona's look - the pink looked so pretty on her, and I loved her hair with bangs.
I agree with Bruno - that was arguably the sexiest Viennese Waltz I've every seen. Jenn & Sasha were smoldering! Tiny rant though - Alicia Keys is a soul singer, but she's too young to be a Soul Train singer. Anyhoo...
I think the night belonged to Chandler & Brandon. They managed to Cha Cha to hip hop and make it look super cool.
One more thing to say about Soul Train Nite - Brooks & Gleb. They hyped up the sex appeal of their dance SO MUCH that I didn't think it was that good or that sexy. I mean, they ARE hot together; they don't have to push it on us. And once again it took them too long to start dancing. Jenn & Sasha put the sex in Soul Train Nite without having to announce it. They just WERE sexy.
As for Hair Metal Nite - I can say proudly that I knew all the songs :)
I also want to thank America for making the right decision on the voting by eliminating Eric and Reginald
Here is my take:
I understand that DWTS is a popularity contest.
It is NOT a dancing competition.
And I'm fine with watching the celebrities who have no dance experience.
But if you are going to be on a show like this - I want to see some growth, some improvement, some amount of trying. A week or two of your pro partner dancing around you while you stand there is...bearable. But if you can't do better than that, for whatever physical or mental reason - you should withdraw. It's not fair to the other contestants. I did feel very badly for Eric Roberts. He has wanted to be on the show for so long. But he just couldn't physically do it.
Anyway, I feel that Joey & Jenna owned Hair Metal nite. Their Tango was sensational! Chandler & Brandon were very good also.
librarianintx
I am happy with who won, but I wish the vote had been closer.
At the same time, I understand why it wasn't.
I do think Chelsie was the mastermind, and she did influence some of Makensy's decisions, especially getting Leah out.
Big Brother is a tough game to play.
You get close to people, you form alliances, you are together 24/7, and then if you want to win the big money you often have to eliminate a friend, an alliance member, maybe even a crush, and take someone to the end who doesn't deserve to be there.
I am so glad that Makensy chose loyalty and integrity over money.
I hope she feels that she did the right thing.
And I hope she is proud of the game that she played.
This Texas girl is proud of that Texas girl.
And I was thrilled to see two strong women at the end.
I was not surprised to see Tucker win Favorite Houseguest.
I was happy that Quinn was in the top 3 for that prize.
But Angela also being in the top 3?!?!?!
Look - I'm sure Angela is a very nice person.
But in the Big Brother house, she was manipulative, paranoid, and a bully.
Anyway, it was a very fun season.
Congrats Chelsie, and thanks Big Brother!
librarianintx
I'm only two days late. :)
https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2024/10/ten-ways-take-action-world-mental-health-day/
Prioritize your mental health.
Take it as seriously as your physical health.
Because your mental health can impact your physical health in several ways.
Self-care is an important part of mental health.
Too many of us self-sabotage instead of practicing self-care.
click here to learn more about self-care: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2023/05/25-small-powerful-ways-to-take-action-for-mental-health/?ref=moodfuel.org
Here are a few ways that I focus on self-care:
eating nutritious food
exercise
taking one day at a time
journaling
focusing on gratitude
making time for hobbies
What I need to work on:
hydration
sleep
setting boundaries
not procrastinating
Self-care is not selfish.
Self-care is important for a healthy, satisfying, fulfilling life.
librarianintx
First of all, I have absolutely loved this season!
I was in a tv slump before the season started, but BB brought me out of that.
I thought I would hate the whole AI thing, but it was pretty cool.
What I loved most, though, were the contestants this season - this was an awesome group!
Very diverse and entertaining!
Yes, my favorites are in the jury house (Quinn and Kimo) but I think Chelsie and Makensey both deserve to win.
I hope they are sitting next to each other at the end.
That will be a battle royale.
Cam DOES NOT deserve to win. Point blank.
Luckily I am 95% sure that the jury agrees with me.
Thanks for a super fun season Big Brother!
I'll be watching and rooting for the ladies tomorrow night.
And who do I want to win favorite houseguest?
My top 2 are Quinn and Kimo, of course.
I also wouldn't mind if Chelsie, Makensey, or Cedric got the votes.
I think Tucker might win, though.
librarianintx
Well, the next episode is going to air in less than an hour, so I better write my recap.
And I'll have TWO to write this week!
Let's get the bad stuff out of the way first.
Anna Delvey.
The good news is - Bye girl bye!
She was not the worst dancer ever on DWTS.
But she by far had the worst attitude of any contestant.
If you are trying to improve your image as a celebrity, you don't do it by acting cold and distant and closed off. She didn't give us any reason to give her a chance. The ballroom does not need her negative energy. This is our happy space.
Now, moving on to the good stuff...
My three favorite dances of the night:
Dwight and Daniella's Foxtrot.
Dwight and Daniella are my favorite couple so far.
Dwight is like a gentle giant, and Daniella is his Tinkerbell.
He is so big, but so graceful and light on his feet.
Their dance was magical.
Ilona and Alan's Salsa
I absolutely love their chemistry!
Their Salsa was athletic, exciting, sensual, and SO MUCH FUN!
And of course the song is from one of my all time favorite movies.
I wish they had received 8's, but I understand that the transitions were a little clunky.
Chandler and Brandon's Rumba
Chandler and Brandon are gorgeous together.
The choreography was beautiful.
Overall, the performances were slightly underwhelming compared to week 1, but there was still plenty to enjoy.
Can't wait for tonight!
librarianintx
Welcome back Dance Fans!
Who's excited?!
I can sum up the premiere episode in three words: Personality, enthusiasm, and chemistry!
The Powers-That-Be did an outstanding job with the pairings this season.
Not every routine was stellar - it's week one.
But pretty much every performance showed that the couples were already connected and cared about each other.
Two couples tied for the top score. While Chandler and Brandon likely had the best dance from a technical standpoint, Dwight and Daniella's Salsa is the routine I can't stop watching. Not only did they have the song that can get just about anyone moving, their tricks were off the chain, and Dwight's enthusiasm got the ballroom going bananas.
Speaking of enthusiasm, Stephen & Riley's Jive was a thrill ride. Their boundless energy, athleticism, and youthful exuberance should take them far this season.
I was smiling for MOST of the episode.
But a few times I wasn't.
Three times to be exact.
Gripe #1:
Reginald and Robert.
Look, I get it.
Reginald is 72 years old.
Robert has injuries that are hampering him.
But at least DO something!
I'm directing this more to Reginald.
He's a former dancer.
If you are going to be on the show, please do more than just stand there while your partner dances around you.
You don't have to be good. But I would like you to at least try.
Gripe #2:
Anna Delvey
Dancing with the Stars has certainly courted controversy before.
Cough! (Sean Spicer!)
Cough! (Rick Perry!)
But c'mon. She's a con artist. She should not be on the show. Period.
Remember what I said about enthusiasm, personality, and chemistry?
All of that vanished when Anna and Ezra performed.
The routine was boring, and the ballroom went cold and quiet.
The judges segment and chat with Julianne weren't any better.
It was uncomfortable.
It was not entertaining.
Is this some kind of initiation for Ezra? Poor guy.
I love the show, and I'm not going to boycott, but I think they made a mistake with casting her.
We'll see what happens tonight.
librarianintx
This one is SO important y'all.
Self-care feels indulgent.
You feel like you don't deserve it.
You tell yourself you don't have time for it.
You might feel guilty if you do it.
But self-care is imperative for health and wellness, especially during times of struggle.
Too often our default mechanism is self-sabotage, especially during a crisis.
Break that cycle.
Make your physical and mental health a priority.
The more you do it, the better you will feel, and likely you will be able to come through adversity more easily.
I lost a friend two days ago.
I am dealing with grief, and guilt and regret as well.
Yesterday I felt those urges to self-sabotage.
But I fought them.
What is self-care?
Self-care means focusing on the pillars of health.
Nutrition
Sleep
Exercise / movement
Spirituality
Social connection
So yesterday I:
Exercised
Journaled
Spent time with friends and talked to family
Watched a favorite show
Went to bed at a reasonable time
And...well...full disclosure...I did eat too much sugar.
So I didn't do everything right.
But I give myself grace for that.
Because that is a big part of self-care too.
librarianintx
Today is the first post in a new series for this blog: Health Tips.
I do research in my job pertaining to disabilities and conditions.
I read articles, watch webinars, and learn about health and safety for people with disabilities and older adults.
If what I write about helps at least one person, then I will feel good.
Much of what I have learned about I am endeavoring to do in my own life.
Creating healthy habits takes time, patience, and dedication.
Today the topic is mindful eating.
Here is an article on mindful eating: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mindful-eating-guide#rationale
At it's core, mindful eating is about eating slowly and without distraction.
It can help you enjoy your food, aid in your digestion, and limit overeating.
I was born into a family of fast eaters. My family does not eat their food - they inhale it. I am always the last one at the table. In fact, sometimes family members are starting on their dessert while I'm still eating my main meal. This used to bother me when I was younger. I don't get upset now. I actually eat faster than I used to.
When I eat alone, I tend to watch a show, or scroll through the Internet or social media. But I have noticed that when I do this, I don't enjoy my food as much. I'm not paying attention to what I'm eating. Sometimes I even look at recipes while I am eating! Afterward, I say to myself, "Why did I do that?"
So lately I am practicing mindful eating. And I am enjoying it. Mindful eating doesn't have to take a long time. It simply involves focusing on the taste of the food and enjoying the experience. I am cooking more than I used to, so I want to fully experience the smell, the taste, the look of the food that I prepared. I am also working on healthier, more balanced meals that look nice. For example, a homemade quesadilla with eggs, spinach or avocado, tomatoes, and cheese, and a side of blueberries is a healthy, filling, and tasty breakfast that looks attractive too. And it doesn't take a long time to prepare.
librarianintx
I didn't get to watch Thursday's episode until Friday.
My Friday the 13th was fine - until Quinn walked out the front door. :(
Really Chelsie? You're going to believe something that Karen - I mean Angela - told you?
I mean, yes, Quinn was a schemer. Angela could have been telling the truth. But she wasn't. And I think Quinn was right that breaking up the three person alliance would have been a good plan.
So strange though - Angela planted a seed, got Quinn put up on the block, and then she voted for him to stay?!?! If Cam had not flipped, the vote would have been tied. I don't know what Chelsie would have done.
Cedric and Quinn are my favorites. I like Kimo too. I hope one of them wins favorite houseguest, but it will probably be Tucker.
librarianintx
