Hey everyone! I've felt like lately my posts have been super structured and things that I felt I really needed to post, so I decided to do a more random, just-for-fun post. I'm in kind of a random mood (what else is new), so hopefully this post makes sense and isn't super boring haha.
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Reading- tons of blog posts on novel writing and character development. I'm starting my first draft, and I'm so nervous haha! I'm also in the middle of re-reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Watching- lots of Christmas Hallmark movies. We watched A Very Merry Mix-Up the other night, and it was seriously so funny... Trying- to get everything done and not let myself get too overwhelmed. I have two tests and then three exams coming up, plus regular schoolwork, a Christmas show, and LIFE. Cooking- well, not cooking, but baking. I baked a chocolate pie for Thanksgiving and oh my word, it was glorious. Eating- ^ said leftover pie. Drinking- not enough water. I'm really terrible at remembering to keep myself hydrated, I've got to work on that.. Calling- ..no one haha. I never actually call people, which is kind of pathetic. Well, I did call 43 times the other day to vote for Bindi and Derek, but I don't really think that that is what this question is asking... Texting- several different friends about a ton of really random stuff. It's pretty hilarious. Let's just say I've been doing a LOT of screenshotting. My friend and I got into this giant fandom war, I couldn't stop laughing. I learned that insulting a Doctor Who fan doesn't go well. Pinning- a bunch of different writing-related pins, as well as lots of Christmas DIY ideas. I have a Christmas obsession, guys... Crafting- not too much, aside from the 'Give Thanks" painting that I showed you all on Thanksgiving. I really meant to craft more this month, but that kind of went out the window. Doing- lots and lots and lots of things. Did a bunch of work for a school fundraiser today, which involved lots of white chocolate. That was pretty delicious. Going- nowhere, really. It's been absolutely lovely. But this next week will be rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal! It's crazy, but it's really fun. I can't help but love it. Loving- days at home, Essie nail polish, Hallmark movies, Christmas music, hot chocolate, novel work, and SLEEP. Hating- that I just broke this beautiful ballerina snowglobe that I've had since I was like, seven. It was absolutely depressing. Also hating all of the tests/exams I have coming up- yuck. Discovering- how pathetic I am at planning things. Also that I am the ultimate klutz, which I kind of already knew. I literally dropped a container of butter on myself tonight, guys. That wasn't fun. Enjoying- Thanksgiving break. Oh my goodness it's been wonderful. Thinking- about how crazy it is that it's almost December, and that Christmas is less than a month away. That's just mind-blowing. I've also been thinking about what to give everyone for Christmas, I'm determined to find the perfect gifts for everyone! Feeling- like I wish I was done with school, and nervous about a bunch of different things. Overwhelmed is probably a good word, I'll go with that. Hoping- that this next week won't make me lose my mind. School and a show- I CAN DO THIS. MAYBE. Listening- to tons and tons of Christmas music!! I love it so much. Celebrating- Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and starting to already celebrate Christmas!! Smelling- the smells of Thanksgiving food and Christmas. Everything is so warm and happy and I love it. Thanking- everyone for everything!! With Thanksgiving, I've been thinking about thankfulness, and there are just so many things that I'm thankful for, they all can't fit in one question! Considering- whether or not I can break in a new pair of dance shoes by Friday. This will be interesting... If I fall off the stage because my shoes are too new, I love you all...Farewell.... Starting- my first draft of my novel! Finishing- up my classes for this semester, and also this post!!
Happy Thanksgiving!!! Goodness, I can't believe that Thanksgiving is already here. I love it though, this time of year is just so much fun. Wasn't the parade this morning great? I always love watching all of the Broadway shows' numbers. Something Rotten was great!!
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~Thankfulness Thursday~
Thanksgiving break
Hot chocolate
Afternoons with great people
New sweaters
Christmas decorating
Flannel
Fairy lights
Discovering new music
Charlie Brown reruns
Being able to have a relationship with the One who created me
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Thank you so much to Olivia and Leah for tagging me in The Gratitude Tag! I really enjoyed putting it together. : ) Such a great idea for a tag post!! What is gratitude? It is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Often times we forget to show gratitude to one another. Our everyday life struggles get in the way of focusing on what we have and what we can do to show appreciation to one another. Thanksgiving isn't the only time to be reminded of what we are grateful for. We need to be reminded of the people and things that are important to us.With that, I give you the Gratitude Tag! Unlike tags that are centered around the things about thanksgiving (food and black Friday) this is a tag you can do any time of the year. -Vanessa at Simply Me
1// What is your favorite quote or verse that reminds you to be grateful? Oh goodness, y'all should know better than to give me an opportunity to pick out quotes. Let's see-
"Be thankful for what you have. Your life, no matter how bad you think it is, is someone else's fairytale."
"It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people who are happy."
"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever." Psalm 107:1
"Gratitude helps us to see what is there instead of what isn't."
"There is always something to be thankful for, you just have to look for it."
2// Who are you grateful for? Oh my goodness, so many people. My mom, who's basically the sweetest person ever. My dad, who shares my bizarre sense of humor. My crazy sisters. My awesome grandparents. And more friends than I can name who are just absolutely incredible! 3// What life events are you grateful for? Oh my goodness...this is hard! I've had so many great experiences. I guess I'm going to have to piggyback on what Abby over at Abby and the Pens said, being homeschooled. I've had such amazing experiences that I never would have had at a public school. I've been in many different shows, had the opportunity to go to my first competition, traveled, and made the most amazing friends. So yeah, homeschooling is probably one of the things that I'm most grateful for!! 4// What is something you are grateful for but often times don't think about? Ahhh, so many things!! A warm home, books, clean water, being surrounded by great people, hand sanitizer, safety, being healthy both physically and mentally, blankets, and my cat!! 5// What are you going to do to show people your gratitude towards them? I really like what Leah said for this question, that sometimes showing your gratitude requires a step outside of your comfort bubble, and that can be hard. But making a solid attempt to show your thankfulness consistently, to thank people for things no matter how small, is always important, and it's something that I definitely need to work on.
And, of course, YOU!!! I want to tag anyone who'd like to do this!!
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Actually did a craft for Thanksgiving...it's not perfect, but oh well. Life's not perfect!!! (That's my excuse for when I don't love how things turn out haha.) ------------------------------------ I'm so thankful for so many things. This year has been absolutely incredible in more ways than I can count, and I've just been so blessed. I hope that your Thanksgiving is wonderful, and that it's a day full of food, laughter, and fun! ------------------------------------ What are you thankful for this year?
I love how they're doing this in the Grove, and everything is Christmas themed! It's so much fun, and it's so festive! The opening number was so big and so awesome- love it!!
Gosh, I was literally getting emotional again just watching the highlight reel from Bindi's dance last night. If she doesn't win I will die.
Chaka sang I'm Every Woman, and a bunch of the girls danced to it, which was very fun. Keo came and danced, too, since she was his partner.
Kim did her I Dream of Jeannie routine that she didn't get to do because she had to withdraw. Gosh, hearing that song again made me want to watch that show! I haven't seen it in FOREVER, but I have a serious obsession with 70's shows. Kim did a good job with that routine!
I really liked that number with the pros! Gosh, watching them dance is seriously so much fun. I'm also really understanding why everyone ships Val and Jenna together, they have so much chemistry!
Hahaha, oh my goodness, Tom's montage was hilarious! I love Tom. Also, can I please have a Tom Bergeron bobblehead? Please?
Paula did her Gilligan's Isle dance again, which was fun to see. I've missed Paula!!! I wish she'd stayed longer.
Oh my goshhhhhhhh the Carlos/Alek video was literally the best thing ever. I could not stop laughing.
Carlos redid his Magic Mike routine with the rest of the guys on the show. I didn't recognize one of the guys in the back..I thought I knew all of the pros on here! This is slightly bothering me. Just slightly.
Nick did his Downton Abbey Vienesse waltz. I'm seriously obsessed with Sharna's dress from that dance...
Victor danced again! I've missed him!
Andy sang his song Good To Be Alive while the male pros danced. That was great! It's a really good song, and it's always fun seeing the pros dance.
Ahhhhhh Alek did his Don't Stop Believin' dance!! I love that number so much oh my goodness.
Oh my goshhhhh I love the outtakes so much! What I wouldn't kill to go to a dress rehearsal... "Gary Busey, the Al Capone of ballroom." xD
Gary danced!!! Ahhh I love him. He's another one I've really missed. He was always so funny...
Elle King performed Exes and Ohs, and Jenna and two male troupe members (whose names I can't figure out...) danced. I really want Jenna to be a pro next year, I'd like to see her choreography! She's a fabulous dancer.
Hayes is back!!!!! I've missed him too haha. I've just missed everyone! He did Stitches!!! That was probably my favorite dance of his this season, it was so great. Big announcement- Hayes is doing the DWTS tour!!! Oh my wordddd, what I wouldn't give to go to that.
Alexa came back and did her Breaking Bad routine. This wasn't my favorite dance of hers, but she was fabulous as usual. I wish that she'd made it to finals!
Oh my GOSH, "Twas the Night Before Finals." I'm dying!!! "Gary Busey as Santa. That's enough to make you want to plug up your chimney..."
Bindi did her Viennese!! Agh, that dance is just so beautiful. I can't get enough of it. Oh my goodness, Mark and BC Jean sang Roses and Violets live! I love that so much. It's such a gorgeous song, I've had it on repeat all day.
Oh my word, Emma and Val's dance to Where Are You Christmas was beautiful. Absolutely stunning, as usual.
Haha, Andy and Chaka sang, Chaka it's Cold Outside. That was great! And then, of course, there was dancing to go along with it, and it was flawless and wonderful.
I love that Carrie Ann's criticism of Bindi is literally that she's almost too perfect.
AHHHHHH THEY DID A VIDEO OF LEN AND HE FORMALLY ANNOUNCED HE'S COMING BACK AND IT WAS ADORABLE AND WONDERFUL AND I AM SCREAMING AHHH!!!!!!!!!
Next season will be wonderful.
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Now, time for the fusion round!!
Nick and Sharna have a salsa/tango fusion. Tango wasn't their best dance, so Sharna really wants to nail it this time around.
I've got to say, that was good! Sharna did really well choreographing for both salsa and tango. It was very quick and intense. There were some fun lifts in there, too. The judges were freaking out, so I sense some tens in the future..
Yep- 30/30.
Alek and Lindsay have a rumba/tango fusion. I'm going to miss seeing them dance every week, I loved them together. Haha, Lindsay- "Cuddle, cuddle, cuddle...let's freaking dance!"
That was so good!!!! Oh my goodness I really loved that. Alek has come so far, that was great! He even had hip action in there! So, so happy. Bruno got onto him about a few footwork issues, which makes me really sad. I wanted him to get a 30. Aaaaand... Alek is joining the tour!! OH MY GOSH I WANT TO GO TO THIS SO BADLY...
27/30. I WISH IT HAD BEEN 30.
Bindi and Derek have a cha-cha/argentine tango fusion. Aww, I loved all of their photos so much. Derek said that he's never seen anyone like Bindi, and while you can struggle, she shows that you can struggle with joy. Bindi is honestly one of the most joyful people I have ever seen, and I love her so much.
YOU GO, GIRL!! That was perfect. Absolutely perfect. SHE NAILED IT. BINDI IRWIN I HAVE NO WORDS YOU ARE AMAZING. The entire room stood up for her. Carrie Ann is right, there was no better way to finish off Season 21. Bindi has been pure joy and consistency from the beginning, and she is honestly one of my favorite people to ever come on this show. 30/30.
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Now, time for the results. I'm not freaking out or anything.
In third place.....Alek and Lindsay.
Aww, I'm so sad. I really wanted them to place second... I loved them so much.
And the winners are.....BINDI AND DEREK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY SUNSHINE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my goodness, Bruno was holding Bindi up!! That's so sweet that makes me so happy!
I am so, so happy that Bindi won. She is such a wonderful person, and her dancing is phenomenal. She has touched so many hearts throughout her journey on the show, and seeing her win made me so unbelievably happy. Bindi and Derek, y'all deserved it. ♥
Okay okay okay, first off, THE ANNOUNCEMENT. I HAVE NO PATIENCE OR SELF CONTROL TO WAIT ANY LONGER.
I've been fangirling about this for the last 24 hours...
LEN IS COMING BACK NEXT SEASON!!!!!! AHHHHHH!!
I'm literally freaking out so much. Just read this article, and commence the fangirling. My life is complete again.
Anyways. FINALE NIGHT!!
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Wow, it's so crazy that it's the finale! This has seriously been such a great season, I'm really sad to see it come to an end. Can't wait to see what the contestants are going to bring!
I'm going to miss these contestants so much gosh. Seeing them all come out has made me sad already!! At first I was a little uncertain about this cast, but I really love them. <3
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First round- Judge's Choice!
Carlos and Witney- Carlos is the only contestant remaining who hasn't received a perfect score! Gosh, I didn't realize that, and it makes me really sad!
They are doing another foxtrot, and Bruno was their judge. He said that Carlos definitely has potential to win. I hope that he does really well tonight- I want him to finally get that perfect score!
Carlos did a really great job! He didn't look extremely confident afterwards, but the judges were very positive. I thought that there was one little stumble, but the judges didn't seem to notice at all- 30/30!! I'm so happy they finally got their perfect score!!
Alek and Lindsay- Alek and Lindsay have Carrie Ann as their judge, and they're doing their rumba. "Last time I did a rumba it was with Emma, which was very easy, but it's not so easy with Lindsay." Haha! Alek + Emma = Perfect. I'm really glad they're doing rumba though, I love rumba.
That was beautiful! I loved it, it was so pretty. There wasn't quite enough hip action, but otherwise it was good. "Your hip action was a bit lacking, but you were so into it!" "I was just so into it." "Yes, with your sister." I love you, Tom... 27/30.
Nick and Sharna- Nick and Sharna have Julianne as their judge, and they're dancing the jive. He had some slip ups in his first jive, so it will be interesting to see him do it again. Haha I was laughing during Julianne's lava analogy, because my dance teacher always says that!
That was actually really good! I kind of thought it wasn't quite as sharp towards the end, but otherwise it was good. He had a lot of energy, and it was one of his better dances. "Can we take one second to recognize Sharna for the goddess that she is?" AMEN! Wow, Carrie Ann called it his best dance of the season. 30/30.
Bindi and Derek-
Bindi's mom- "See you soon. And only move your hips like that here." OH MY GOSHHH I'm laughing so hard.
Bindi and Derek have Carrie Ann as their judge, and they're dancing a quickstep. She's the only girl left in the competition, and I'm still praying that she'll win! Derek's been sick this week, which has definitely been hard. Hopefully that doesn't affect their performance.
Oh m gosh, the beginning of that dance was so adorable! She's the cutest. Bindi is seriously like a ball of energy and happiness, that was phenomenal! She is so quick on her feet. And I loved the ending! Also, just gotta throw it out there, I love her dress...
Julianne is right- she's like the energizer bunny!! She doesn't even look like she's breathing hard haha. Bruno said that it was a gem. Carrie Ann said that, "A star is born." Oh my word, Derek and Bindi talking about their partnership was just the sweetest thing. I love their relationship. Erin- "Your bronchitis has never sounded better!" 30/30.
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IT'S FREESTYLE ROUND!!!!
Ahhhhh, I am so excited for this round! Freestyle is seriously the best thing ever, I can't wait to see what everyone does.
Carlos and Witney- Witney's been having a bit of trouble figuring out how she wants to choreograph this number, and they have the best idea ever- THEY'RE BRINGING IN ELIMINATED CONTESTANTS!! Paula Deen, Alexa, and Hayes are going to be in the number. I am so excited oh my word.
Wow, that was a really cool freestyle! It was a definite risk, but it worked. It was very hip-hop, which was cool to see. I also loved to see the eliminated contestants in there, that was so much fun. Carlos has the biggest heart, and I love that about him. I have to say, it wasn't my absolute favorite freestyle, but that's more of a personal thing. He did really well!
Erin, "I felt like this dance was my dream...I didn't get an invite.." 30/30. YAYAYAYAYAYYYY!!!! HE HAD A PERFECT NIGHT FOR THE FINALE! That makes me so happy.
Alek and Lindsay- They want their freestyle to be kind of like an obstacle course. This is Lindsay's first freestyle, and I'm super excited to see it. I think it's going to be a really awesome dance! They have this giant wall that looks like an amazing thing to use- ahhhh so excited.
OH MY GOSH. I LOVED THAT SO MUCH!!! I have to give Lindsay major props, that was an incredible piece. To quote Bruno, "Lindsay, your choreography tonight was outstanding." It's a freestyle that everyone will remember for a long time. That was one of my favorite dances from Alek, he was so great. Like I said last week, I'm so proud of him! It had such a great story, and the whole dance was just fabulous.
Erin, talking about Lindsay's thought process in choreographing such an insane number- "What have I done?!" "Was there a part of you maybe as you were getting ready to do this right now thinking, 'Oh now, why did I put a wall in there?" 30/30.
(WHY DID THEY SWITCH THE ORDER?? BINDI SHOULD HAVE GONE LAST!) Sorry, the fangirl is going back inside.
Bindi and Derek- Derek wants to do a very stripped down, authentic freestyle with Bindi. "I believe that she's enough for this dance." Oh my goshhhh I was about to lose it just watching the package. I'm going to cry in this dance. Ahh.
.....Oh my goodness...no words....Derek Hough has absolutely outdone himself. There is not a dry eye in the place. That was the most beautiful thing in the world. It was so real and vulnerable, it was so powerful in a way that I cannot express. She is so beautiful and so special, and you felt like you were going on that journey along with her. My whole body had chills. "You showed us the power of dance at it's most pure. You touched everyone's soul." Bruno put that perfectly. Bindi, you touched everyone's soul with that dance.
At the end, a photo of Bindi and her dad popped up, and Bindi didn't even know that was going to happen. That was a perfect touch on Derek's part. The footprints in the sand at the end killed me. Perfection.
30/30.
Nick and Sharna- Nick is doing a Backstreet Boys themed freestyle. They're doing their dance to "Larger Than Life". If this could be his last dance on the show, he wants it to be great.
I hate to be negative, but I really wasn't very fond of that freestyle. I don't know, it just seemed kind of..eh. It wasn't bad or anything, it just didn't seem to be anything special. That may just be my opinion, I don't know. Just not my favorite. The judges adored it. Maybe it was more incredible in person. 30/30.
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Now, time for elimination.
Oh my gosh I am so unbelievably nervous. AGH.
SO SO SO NERVOUS COMMERCIAL BREAK YOU'RE KILLING ME HERE.
Safe....Alek and Lindsay!
Also safe.....Bindi and Derek!! (HALLELUJAH!)
Going home.....Carlos and Witney.
NO!!!! Oh my word I am so upset right now... I loved Carlos, he was a great dancer, and he was so sweet. Especially after tonight, I personally think he should have made it to the finals and Nick should have gone home. *sigh* Oh well.
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What did you think of tonight's episode?
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Also, just a side note...
This was how many times I tried to get through to vote my five times. xD My mom called around ninety times before getting through. Team Crikey for the win!!!!
Hello, everyone! I mentioned that I went to New York earlier this month, and let's just say it was a very interesting experience. Tons of fun, but VERY interesting! Here are a couple of things that I learned while I was in the city...
The fact that I didn't get hit by a car was a miracle
Sometimes you can meet really cool people when you get lost on the subway
Being in New York helps you to forget everything. School, life back home, those twelve blog comments you should have replied to....everything.
The subway is a scary, scary place.
New Yorkers can be very chill with the fact that WE'RE LITERALLY AT THE SCENE OF A MURDER, GUYS. SHOULD WE NOT BE PANICKING A BIT MORE??
The subway is even more terrifying when your train is stopped for a police investigation/search.
Food is a lot harder to find in New York than you would expect.
Toys 'R Us is like, the best place ever. I could spend an entire day in there.
There is a very distinct difference between Northerners and Southerners. Namely, Southerners don't typically look as though they want to murder you just because you smiled at them.
I could basically live at Macy's.
Times Square is home to many interesting people. Some of which come up to you in Elmo costumes and try to hug you, and some of which need more clothing.
I am even more directionally challenged than I realized.
That being said, by the end of the week, I FIGURED OUT HOW THE SUBWAY WORKED. I was quite proud.
You can end up eating bagels for lunch in the middle of a graveyard and it's actually really cool and non-creepy.
Rats can be roughly the size of large squirrels.
When given enough incentive, I can sprint an extremely crowded city block at night dragging my mom behind me, in heels, in roughly 3-4 minutes. Stage doors are that incentive.
Also, meeting one of your favorite Broadway stars can render me almost speechless. And if you know me, that doesn't happen too often.
You can be innocently walking the streets of New York and then suddenly find yourself in a mob of Bruce Willis fans.
If you have a piece of candy in your purse when headed to Statue of Liberty, just give up now.
99 Cent Pizza is actually really good and not sketchy.
You can find out that one of your favorite TV characters is hosting a meet and greet ten minutes from where you are and it's awesome. (FARKLEEEE)
During daylight a place may seem perfectly nice, but go to the same area at night and you'll feel like you just signed your own death warrant.
Cannoli is the best thing in the entire world.
Similarly, Little Italy is heaven.
THERE IS AN EIGHTEEN MILE BOOKSTORE.
Hershey's Store is the best place ever. Period. Go there daily. THEY GIVE FREE CHOCOLATE.
Apparently Northerners are obsessed with Chick-Fil-A and call it their personal crack. Gotta love a piece of the South.
Always order pastries. Just do it.
There are tons of really great photo-ops. Like, you could literally do a photoshoot anywhere it's glorious.
The Disney store has the best escalator ever.
Speaking of the Disney store, the people there are pretty awesome and will announce a trivia question when you can't figure out what song is playing.
Peppermint hot chocolate = Life.
It's pretty easy to find said peppermint hot chocolate because Starbucks is LITERALLY on every street. There are three just in Macy's. It's kind of insane.
New York water is literally AMAZING. I was really shocked. But it tastes fabulous AND IT MAKES YOUR HAIR SO SOFT OMG.
They sell cats on the streets in Greenwich and Chelsea. THEY WERE SO CUTEEEE.
New York is both a beautiful and terrifying place.
(But I still love it ♥)
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Stay tuned to hear about more of my NYC experiences!
I can't believe that it's semifinals! Oh my gosh! That's SO crazy. I'm really sad, this has been a fun season. I just don't want it to end! I wasn't expecting to fall in love with this group like I did. Then again, I seem to end up falling in love with basically every cast...
The opening number was absolutely gorgeous, I loved it. Seeing the pros dance is always so much fun! I wish that there were more numbers like that with just the pros. They're so great to watch!
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Let Round One begin!
Bindi and Derek- Bindi and her brother have spent their whole lives living at the zoo, working for wildlife conservation. Hearing her family talking about her was just the sweetest thing ever. And oh my goodness, when Robert said that Bindi was the best sister you could ever ask for, that was so sweet! I love the Irwins so much!!!
Oh my word, wow! That was great! That dance was super complicated, but Bindi was just phenomenal. (As always!) Haha, oh my gosh, there was tons of confetti and Bindi goes, "It's raining happiness!!" They were told that it wasn't as edgy as it should have been, but the song was just so upbeat that you really couldn't be very edgy. 27/30.
Alek and Lindsay- I love how Alek and his two friends from the train attack have been friends for practically forever. They grew up together, which I think is really cool.
Ahhh, they look so cute! I love it. That was a really a pretty dance! Alek and Lindsay are a great pairing, they work well together and they're so awesome to watch. Alek has grown so much as a dancer, and that routine was a testament to that. Really proud of him! I love how he's just a normal guy who came in with no experience, and he's grown so much. It's wonderful. 30/30.
Carlos and Witney- I love when Carlos said, "Now that she's gone and there's nothing I can do, there's no reservations!" You go, Carlos!! It was funny to hear his brother talk about him- 154 tardies because Carlos was always doing his hair in the mornings!
That was really cool, but I agree with Carrie Ann, parts of it I just didn't quite get. Parts of it I LOVED, but parts of it just left me like.."huh..?" I enjoyed it though, it was a cool concept. Bruno adored it, his reaction was the BESTTT. Gah, I love Bruno Tonioli. 28/30. (Note: I ended up watching it a second time because we wanted to show it to my dad, and I actually enjoyed it more the second time around. Maybe it was just me?)
Nick and Sharna- Nick went kind of crazy growing up, with lots of drugs and alcohol. He was surrounding himself with people who weren't good for him. Then his sister died from a substance overdose, and Nick kind of blamed himself for it. He managed to pull himself out of it and to become a different person.
I feel like his story beforehand might have gotten into his head. He had some footwork issues, he seemed a little hunched, and then he just stopped in the middle. Sharna got him back into it, which was good. It just wasn't his best dance. 24/30.
They explained what had happened with Tamar last week. I don't understand why Tamar didn't tell Val that she was going to the hospital, I would think that she would at least let him know. She went back to the hospital after the show, and found out that she has blood clots in her lungs. That's super serious, because if they got to her heart, she could die. She had to drop out, and is currently still in the hospital undergoing treatment.
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Time for the dance-off round!!
The winner of the dance-off gets three extra points added to their score. First up, Alek vs. Carlos!
Alek went first, and I thought that he did well!!! I thought it was a bit slow, but it was good! Like I said earlier, I'm very impressed with how much he's improved this season. Oh my gosh, I was laughing so hard at the ending...
Carlos danced next, and he did a great job! It was a lot quicker, and he had a ton of energy. I liked it a lot!!!!
Julianne was really critical of Alek, but was very complimentary of Carlos. Like Tom said, "Hmm, I wonder who you're picking." Bruno said that Alek had a few timing issues, but was good otherwise. Carrie Ann thought that they both did equally well! Personally, I think I might have liked Carlos a *bit* better, but they both did really well.
Carlos and Witney won with two votes, although Carrie Ann voted for Alek. So, Carlos gets three extra points.
Now, Bindi vs. Nick! Bindi's dancing first. Whoa, they started off with samba rolls! That's always a favorite of the judges. WOW!! That was absolutely incredible! Bindi has so much sass and energy, and Derek's choreography was phenomenal. The tricks in there were great!!
Nick is up next. I loved Sharna's choreography, but the performance itself just wasn't anything special to me.
Obviously, I adored Bindi's. She was so sassy, and it was just perfect! Sorry Nick, I have to vote for Bindi on this one.
The judges agree with me- they all voted for Bindi and Derek!
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Now, time for the trio round!! Oh my word, I'm so excited for this. Peta's back, which absolutely thrills me beyond belief- I've missed her this season!! Emma is dancing with Alek and Lindsay, which I am SUPER excited about- I loved when Emma and Alek danced together for Switch-Up week. And the fact that Derek, Bindi, and Mark are dancing together has me so unbelievably excited. Derek and Mark are absolutely brilliant, their choreography is always incredible, and adding Bindi to the equation just makes it even more PERFECT!!! I saw a few pictures of them this week on Instagram, and it looks amazing. CAN'T WAITT!!!!
Up first, Bindi, Derek, and Mark!!! I. Cannot. WAIT!!!! Ahhhhhh!!!
Mark and Derek have been working together for the past twenty years, so it's so much fun when they get together. I loved Mark's imitation of Derek, it was great. And I love that Derek got inspiration from a furniture store, that's hilarious. This dance is really intense and difficult, especially for Bindi. At one point she got dropped, and you know it's bad when they have to bleep out sweet Bindi!
OH MY GOSHHHHHHH!!!! That was one of the most brilliant things I have ever seen. It was truly breathtaking. "You are my little ninja warrior princess!!" She did not miss a beat, the choreography was insanely difficult and complex and fast, and she NAILED it!! The story that they told through that dance was so beautiful. Literally in awe right now. WATCH THIS DANCE!!! 30/30- DUH.
Next, Alek, Lindsay, and EMMA!! OH MY GOSH, the extent to which Alek wanted to be with Emma was the cutest thing ever. Like seriously, please, date. I love how everyone automatically knew who Alek wanted. Derek just walks over and picks Emma for him. XD "I picked Emma for the trio dance, because she's just such a great dancer." "Whenever Emma is within 100 feet of me, I can't concentrate very well." "Emma can bring the sexy out of me."
Ahhhhh, I was squealing so hard whenever he danced with Emma! I love them so much!! And wow, I really loved that dance!! It was phenomenal! It showcased Alek's strengths very well. I loved Lindsay's face when the judges were talking and she was in the middle of Alek and Emma. It was so funny XD I WANT TO SEE YOUR WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT!!! 27/30.
Carlos and Witney chose to dance with Karina! Karina chose Witney for a trio when she danced with Corbin, and the got a perfect score, so Witney wanted Karina. Neither of them has ever danced a Charleston on the show before, so this will be interesting!
I really liked that dance!!! I absolutely adore the Charleston, and I thought that they did a superb job on it. The lift with Karina on top and Witney hanging from the bottom was awesome. It was so much fun! The judges said that he stole the show from the girls, which is a huge compliment. Fabulous dance! 29/30- Why did Carrie Ann give them a nine???
I love that Tom literally paused the show to ask why Carrie Ann gave them a nine. He's the best XD
Nick and Sharna are dancing with Peta!!! Ahhh I'm seriously so excited, I've missed Peta so much!! This week, Nick gets to dance with not one but TWO amazing Aussies!! Haha, I love how Peta had like, three posters of Nick on her wall growing up. "Thank you very much, dreams come true!"
I've got to admit, that was a good dance!! I didn't love the beginning, but I thought that the rest of it was really good. There was a lot of personality, and he stayed in sync. The choreography was great, had a lot of Sharna's personality in there. The judges loved it. 30/30.
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TIme for..elimination. Gah I'm dreading this.
The first couple safe....Alek and Lindsay!! : )
Also in the finals...Carlos and Witney
IF BINDI GOES HOME I WILL HURT SOMEONE.
YESYESYESYESYESSSSS NO ONE IS GOING HOME BECAUSE TAMAR WITHDREW!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!
"Angelina D'Angelo has left town to see the world. It's now Grace's turn to use her magic to protect the people of Willow Falls, and she is up to the challenge. This is her destiny, after all. But destiny is a funny thing-it doesn't always behave the way you'd expect it to.
Mysterious postcards from Angelina begin showing up in the mail, Grace's parents are freaking out with worry, and something BIG is coming to town that will affect everybody who lives there. But all Grace is powerful enough to do is turn leftover meatloaf into pizza.
Fortunately, she's not alone. She has Team Grace on her side! Amanda, Leo, Rory, Tara, David, and Connor know a thing or two about magic and how it works. But none of them are prepared for what's coming, and none of them know how to stop it. Life in Willow Falls is about to change forever."
I finally did it, guys. I read Graceful.
Now, before I rant about this book, a quick bit of background info- Graceful is the fifth and final book in the Willow Falls series by Wendy Mass. Originally, the series was supposed to conclude after the fourth book, but Wendy decided to write a fifth one- and I'm so glad that she did! I can't remember exactly when I first picked up the Willow Falls series, it was probably in 2012. I just remember totally falling in love with the books. When I heard that a fifth book was coming out, I nearly died of excitement! I waited and waited for my library to order it, and was the first person to snatch up a copy! I slightly postponed reading it, mainly because I didn't want the series to end. "Finally" (ha...Willow Falls pun...), on the way back from New York on Tuesday, I read Graceful.
Oh. My. Goodness.
I cannot put into words how much I loved this book. At first, I was a bit apprehensive. The Last Present ended well, and let's face it- sometimes a series will be great, until the last book ruins it. That wasn't the case with this book. The first half of it really worried me- it wasn't going the way that I thought it would, and it was a shorter book than the others had been. But around midway through, it really started to pick up, and I couldn't have asked for a better ending. It was very bittersweet, not only because it was the last book, but because of how it ended, but it was perfect. My sister can testify that I was basically losing it by the end.
One of the things that I really loved about Graceful was how it swapped POV constantly. Now sometimes, this isn't a good thing- it gets confusing, the storyline is harder to follow, etc. That wasn't the case in this book. Everything tied together perfectly. I also loved getting to hear from the other characters, because many of them had been main characters in previous books. They're kind of like my babies, so I loved to hear from each of them individually one last time.
For longtime readers, it's great to see how the character's lives turn out, and the different paths that they're each going down. I would definitely recommend reading the first four books first, otherwise Graceful will be EXTREMELY confusing. This is a series that you absolutely have to read in order. I actually made the mistake of reading the second book first, because I didn't know that it was a series, and that was pretty confusing. So, go and read the other four first. But please, just read this series. Trust me, you won't regret it.
Hey everybody! Sorry that I haven't kept up with the DWTS posts, life has been crazy with school and New York, and I've had the "luck" of being sick ever since we got home. I'm combining the last two weeks of Dancing With The Stars into one post, so sit back, relax, and get ready to enjoy some beautiful dancing!
(none of these images are mine)
Week 8-
I'm super excited that Erin's back, I've missed her!!
In the first round, each couple is dancing to honor their biggest icon or someone really important in their life.
Carlos and Witney are dancing a salsa in honor of Carlos's friend, Marc Anthony. That was really good, especially to have never danced a salsa before! 27/30
Alek and Lindsay danced to honor Chris Kyle. Oh my goodness, that dance was gorgeous!!! I adored it. I know that it's supposed to be about Alek, but I have to say that Lindsay was incredible! Her dancing was beautiful. Anyways. I thought that Alek was fantastic! Those lifts definitely weren't easy. 25/30
Andy and Allison danced to honor his icon, Stevie Wonder. He's reinterprating "Isn't She Lovely" to be about him and his mom. Aww, that was such a sweet dance. Carrie Ann and Julianne thought that he didn't do as well as usual, but I thought that it was beautiful. 22/30
Alexa and Mark are dancing a David and Goliath themed dance. Mark has a really cool vision for the dance, on a way to make him look like a giant, and to make Alexa look smaller.
Oh my GOSH, that was amazing!! As Tom put it, "Don't mess with David!" Alexa slipped twice, but otherwise it was incredible!! Mark choreographed it perfectly, I'm just so sad that Alexa slipped. 25/30.
Nick and Sharna are dancing to honor Nick's wife, Lauren. They've wanted to have a child for a really long time now, and Lauren is finally pregnant!
Wow, that was REALLY good!! It was stunning in every way. I loved how it told such a great story, Sharna choreographed that beautifully. I loved it. 30/30.
Bindi and Derek are dancing to honor Bindi's icon, Grace Kelley. Bindi has been working insanely hard, her feet are practically dead at this point, and she's covered in bruises. That girl is honestly the hardest worker ever, and she always stays so positive. I adore her.
Oh my goodness, that was adorable!!! I loved it so much!! She is so fun, but at the same time she was so elegant. P.E.R.F.E.C.T!!!! 28/30.
Tamar and Val are dancing to honor her sister, Toni. She did a good job on that! She's still not my favorite personally, but she did a good job. She did a lift though, so she'll get a point off for that. 28/30
Since Nick and Sharna had the highest scores, they get immunity as well as three extra points. Now, it's time for the dance-off!
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Oh my gosh, I love that Derek and Bindi just asked, "Who wants to dance jive??" They're going to dance with Carlos and Witney
Tamar chose Alexa, and they're dancing Cha-Cha.
That means Andy will face off against Alek with the Samba!
First up, Bindi vs. Carlos! Ahh, I loved that! Both of those couples are amazing. Personally, I liked Bindi and Derek, but they both were good. I loved how Bindi ran over and jumped into Carlos's arms at the end, that was cute:) And oh my goodness, it was so adorable when Bindi said, "Well, we wanted it to be your strength, too!!" Carlos won from all three judges, but America picked Bindi and Derek.
Tamar vs. Alexa- Personally, I preferred Alexa's cha-cha. I thought it had more content. Tamar did well though. She won from the judges, 2 to 1. America, however, chose Alexa, with 76% of the votes.
Andy vs. Alek- Hmm, I really don't know who I liked better! They both did well. Andy's handspring was awesome!! Andy won, both with the judges and America.
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Now, for elimination.
In jeopardy...Andy and Allison, and Carlos and Witney.
No!! Agh, this is so sad..
Going home...Andy and Allison.
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I was really sad that Andy left, although I think he was happy to leave on a high note after honoring his mom and winning a dance-off. We'll miss you, Andy!!
Tamar was missing from the beginning of the show because she had to go to the hospital. No one knows whether she'll be able to be there for the show or not.
Alek and Lindsay- Oh my goshhhhhhh they all took turns waxing Alek's chest xD I could not stop laughing during that clip. Derek's face was priceless.
I'm going to be honest, that wasn't his best dance. I think that he just doesn't look quite as...smooth? I'm not sure. Maybe it's the hip action. It was a very fun routine though, I liked it. 24/30
Alexa and Mark- Alexa is telling the story of how when she was younger, she struggled with bulimia for six years because a producer kept telling her that she was fat. She's dancing to an Ed Sheeran song, and the concept that Mark has created is fabulous. I'm seriously so excited to see this dance. Ed Sheeran + DWTS = Perfection!
Oh. My. Gosh. Mark Ballas is a choreography GENIUS. I am literally in awe right now. To quote Bruno, "You danced like a woman possessed. The choreography was brilliant. Alexa, you danced like I have never seen you dance before. It was scarily brilliant." 30/30.
Carlos and Witney- Witney's been kind of freaking out this week, because she hasn't liked what she's come up with so far. Plus, last season she and Chris went home Week 9, so it's even more stressful.
WOW!!! That was absolutely phenomenal!! I loved how they did the work with the door, and the fact that they stayed in sync without being able to see each other was great. I adored that dance!
Carrie Ann and Julianne said that it was technically good, but it didn't touch them, which I really didn't get. It was so good! They said it lost the passion. Bruno liked it though, so THANK YOU BRUNO!! He had one critique as far as Carlos's feet, but he liked the concept. 27/30
Bindi and Derek- Bindi is dancing to Roses and Violets, which is actually a song by Mark Ballas and his girlfriend, BC Jean. Derek was having a really hard time this week coming up with a concept, so we'll see how this goes!
OH MY GOSH!!! How is it that whenever Derek has a "bad week", it always turns out INCREDIBLE??? Bindi danced that dance partially BLINDFOLDED, and I cannot even express how beautiful it was. She is so perfect, and so flawless, agh. Derek's choreography was gorgeous, and Bindi was classy and perfect. To quote, Julianne, "I can't say enough." Bruno- "It was a thing of pure beauty." Carrie Ann- "When I watch you dance, tonight, it's like watching a sunrise." P.e.r.f.e.c.t.i.o.n. 30/30.
Tamar and Val- Tamar actually is not here right now to dance this, because she was hospitalized in the middle of dress rehearsal. Since she's not here to dance, they're having to show her dress rehearsal performance instead, and the judges will score that.
I liked the beginning of her dance, but I thought that the second part was weird. I also just felt like her connection still wasn't quite as strong with Val. The judges all agreed that the concept was great, but it looked like a dress rehearsal. It could have been strong, but that performance wasn't. 22/30.
Nick and Sharna- Sharna's definitely feeling the pressure of wanting to win with Nick. He's having some pain in his hip, and it's really bad timing. I felt bad for Sharna, I know that she wants to win so badly..
Wow, I've got to admit, that was really good! The concept was great, and the parts where it was just the guys were cool. Great choreography on Sharna's part! The one thing was that Nick had some synchronization issues, and technically he should have stayed in hold the whole time. Bruno loved it though! 28/30.
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Time for the second round!
Carlos and Witney teamed up with Alek and Lindsay for the team challenge. They're boarding the Anthem of the Seas to gain inspiration from the show We Will Rock You. It was hilarious seeing them go around the ship just having a good time. Carlos and Alek are a fun team, I'm excited to see them dance. "I never thought I'd be at this point in the competition, but I need you, Alek. Will you be my hero?" XD
I really liked that!!! It was very enjoyable to watch, and the choreography was fabulous. Also, can we point out the glow in the dark water? Loved it!! The one handed lift was awesome, too. Julianne and Bruno were a little disappointed by the section with the two of them together, but other than that they liked it. Carrie Ann didn't think that they filled the shoes of the song. She said that they looked too small. I kind of disagree with that, but oh well. I thought that it was great:) Oh my gosh, Erin is me- "Don't touch me, I love you!" XD 24/30- that's kind of low..
Apparently right now, Tamar is on her way back. Will she make it?
Bindi and Derek are teamed up with Alexa and Mark!! Oh my gosh, Bindi- "It's the Charleston? I was looking up the CARLTON!!" They went to see Chicago in New York- OH MY GOSH, I am so sad, I WAS LITERALLY IN NEW YORK AT THE SAME TIME AS THEM!! I WAS PROBABLY ONLY A FEW BLOCKS AWAY!!! Gah. That's depressing.
Derek was kind of tense this week, which Mark called KTVD- Killing The Vibe Derek. XD That was hilarious.. I just know this will be awesome, though!
Oh my goodness, I was right!! I loved that dance so much!! Alexa and Bindi were fabulous, I'm so proud of them! It was truly insane. I loved the transition from jazz to Charleston, that was so great. They're such a wonderful team, I love it. I agree with Julianne- I wanted to be in that!! 30/30. (Both couples had a perfect night!! That makes me so happy oh my goodness.)
Tamar is officially back from the hospital, so she's going to be performing.
Tamar and Val are paired with Nick and Sharna. They're doing a dance themed to The Beatles Love show by Cirque Du Soleil. They really didn't have much time at all to put this number together, so that was already stressful. On top of Tamar being hospitalized today, it was just a ton of stress.
You could tell that Tamar was very out of it, but I have to give her props for even showing up. She had multiple issues, but she kind of had a right to them at this point. 27/30- That was very biased, I just have to say. She had a lot of mistakes. I understand that she's had a horrible time, and it's not her fault, but that wasn't fair on the judge's part. She had too many mistakes to get 9's.
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Elimination-
Alexa and Mark are in jeopardy, as well as Carlos and Witney
(I've got to say, that was mean to put them against each other....Let's face it, they probably weren't both in jeopardy. That was just something the producers did.)
(I also love how murderous Mark looked throughout this whole process....)
Going home....
Alexa and Mark
I'm so upset about that...they didn't deserve to go home. Alexa has done an incredible job, she really didn't deserve to go home. Seeing as Tamar barely made it to the show, I think that she should have gone home instead.
Seeing the Penavegas so upset was just heartbreaking. Carlos said, "It should have been me." He was crying so much, it was just so hard. They're such a sweet couple, and it was so sad to see that.
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As a bit of a post-note, Tamar has dropped out of the competition. Apparently she has a blood clot in her lung, and can't dance any longer.
