Tag Archives: coins

Are Sports Not Working Any More?

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Sports were the typical activity to keep kids fit. Nobody really planned them outside of the idea that they were fun. There was Little League, soccer and of course football or basketball. Kids got together and started games themselves or they went with their parents into organized activities. Today, we have a lot more options for extracurricular activities and parents and kids alike are going to them in droves. So why isn’t it helping? Because sports, by their very nature, are biased against overweight kids. Why do I say this? Because I’ve been spending this whole week getting ready for … Continue reading →

Julianne Hough’s New Album Released Today

We know her best as the spunky blonde professional dancer from “Dancing with the Stars.” She’s taken home the title of “champion” twice, first with Olympic champion Apolo Anton Ono and then with Helio Castroneves, fully deserving this honor for her amazing choreography and gutsy moves. However, Julianne Hough’s first love isn’t dancing, it’s singing. She and her family formed a family band when she was just a child—yes, Derek too. Dancing was just a sideline for her while she studied singing, but when the offer to do “Dancing with the Stars” came along, it was too good to pass … Continue reading →

Dancing with Same-Sex Partners

Prior to Steve Guttenberg getting the boot from this season’s “Dancing with the Stars” he took to the dance floor with his partner Anna Trebunskaya’s husband, pro dancer Jonathan Roberts for a tango the show’s host affectionately referred to as the “MAN-go.” In the days since, Guttenberg and Roberts’ “man-go” clip has received more than a million hits on ABC.com and YouTube and has sparked a number of lively debates in cyberspace (and beyond) regarding the idea of having the popular dancing competition include same-sex partners. In fact, when a gay/lesbian/transgender group recently proposed bending the gender rules on the … Continue reading →

May I Have This Dance? Dancing and Couples

Everyone has different styles and opinions. Everyone also has different likes, dislikes, and turn ons. One thing that has always appealed to me is the art of dancing. Dancing can be very emotional and sensual. Slow dancing can create bonds and feelings between two people. It can create a closeness and a mood for love. The touch from your partner and the movement to the music can build a very appealing and romantic stage for intimacy. In addition to slow dancing, other types of dancing can be very sensual. The way that one another moves to the beat can be … Continue reading →

Body for Life Day #9 Training: Aerobic

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By now you should be used to the Body-for-Life 20-minute aerobic solution. For three days every week you get to put in a great aerobic workout in less than half an hour. This takes up very little of your day and you can have your workout completed, along with a shower and change, in no time at all. Last week we tried walking, running in place, and stair climbing. These are all workouts we can do indoors and at home. The best part about taking the Body-for-Life Challenge is the fact that you can do every workout in the comfort … Continue reading →

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939)

Vernon and Irene Castle were pioneers in ballroom dance and gave us such famous moves as “The Castle Walk.” Irene wrote two loving books in memory of her husband, and those books became the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie, “The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle.” Irene was a consultant on the film and oversaw the production, although not everything was done to her liking, and she clashed quite a bit with Ginger Rogers over some of the costuming. When Vernon and Irene meet, he’s already somewhat established in show business and she wants to break into it. She … Continue reading →

Three Little Words (1950)

“Three Little Words” is loosely based on the true story of songwriters Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. Starring Fred Astaire as Bert Kalmar and Red Skelton as Harry Ruby, we start the movie with Fred as a song and dance man, engaged to his dance partner Jessie (Vera-Ellen). He keeps trying to interject some magic into the show, but she thinks they’re better off sticking with dancing. What she doesn’t know and what he doesn’t tell her is that he’s moonlighting at another theater as a magician. One night his regular assistant doesn’t show up, and he has to rely … Continue reading →

Silk Stockings (1957)

This is going to be another flippy-floppy review. On the one hand, “Silk Stockings” stars Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse, so we know we’re in for some great dancing. On the other hand . . . well, I’ll tell you about it as we go. Astaire stars as Steve Canfield, producer of a Hollywood version of “War and Peace.” He has commissioned Russian composer Boroff to write the score, but now that Boroff is in Paris, where the filming will be done, he doesn’t want to go back to Russia. The Soviets send over three agents to investigate, and after … Continue reading →

Hoop-Dee-Do – It’s a Wiggly Party! (2002)

I have a confession to make. I really fight the urge to wiggle, but sometimes, I just can’t help it. And it’s usually to the stupidest songs on the show, too – but hey, they’ve got a catchy beat. “Hoop-Dee-Do – It’s a Wiggly Party!” was a new one at our house this week. With the discovery that my two-year-old is a musical genius, we’ve done what we can to hunt up different musically-based DVDs for him to watch. He quite enjoys the Wiggles. We start this show like we would any party – with the guests arriving and getting … Continue reading →

Piggies in a Polka – Kathi Appelt

Who could pass by a book called “Piggies in a Polka?” I certainly couldn’t, and so here we are. The first thing that catches my eye when I open the book is the rich, vibrant coloration of the illustrations. No mamby-pamby pastels – you feel drenched in shades of red, blue, green and yellow, with everything else in between. As it turns out, all the pigs from all over the holler are gathering for the yearly hootenanny. (I never knew how to spell that word before, and now I do . . .) We’ve got pigs playing instruments, selecting their … Continue reading →