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The 85th Academy Awards – Part 1

It seems only fitting that my last two Pop Culture blogs for Families will be about the Oscars.  If you’ve ever read any of my blogs around this time of year, you know how much I love this ceremony.  Yesterday, I turned E! on at 12:30 to begin my pre-Red Carpet coverage and finally turned the television off at 11:30 – 11 hours later. There were a lot of beautiful dresses.  Although Jessica Chastain didn’t win Best Actress, she was beautiful from head to toe.  Perhaps the Best Actress winner, Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook, should take a cue … Continue reading →

A Review of the 81st Academy Awards – Part 1

Well, the big day is over for another year…sigh. But, at least I have today to relieve everything! I really thought the Academy Awards ceremony was good this year. They tried to mix it up a big due to sagging ratings. Hugh Jackman certainly put on a show, but then I guess he had plenty of practice hosting the Tony Awards three times. I thought his “opening number on a budget” was hilarious and it got a standing ovation from the audience. I also loved the number where he and Beyonce sang about how the musical was back. Hugh was … Continue reading →

Focus on the Oscars: About the Academy Awards

The Academy Awards was first held on May 16, 1929 at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood. The ceremony, which was hosted by Douglas Fairbanks and William C. DeMille (older brother of Cecil), honored films from 1927 and 1928. Rather than being a big, glitzy production, the first Academy Awards was a private dinner held for less than 250 people. This year will be the 81st Academy Awards ceremony and will be held across the street from the Hotel Roosevelt in the Kodak Theatre. Every year, the awards have been broadcast, first on the radio, then on television (after it became … Continue reading →

80th Annual Academy Awards – The Winners!

I have to admit that with a three year old, I rarely get to see movies in the theatre anymore. This can be painful for me as most Academy Award nominated films are not out on DVD before the time the ceremony airs. But, it seems that each year, I get to see one nominated movie and put all my money on that one. So far, my husband and I are three for three. We did get to see Crash two years ago and last year, we were fortunate enough to see The Departed. This year, I had to put … Continue reading →

Book Awards: The Nobel

The Nobel Prize is one of the most coveted honors that can be received. The mere thought of being a Nobel winner sends chills down aspirants’ spines and makes them drift off into lovely daydreams . . . yes, I’ve had those daydreams and I know what they look like. Once you are chosen to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature, you know that you have truly made your mark on the whole world, and not just a small portion of it. When Alfred Nobel outlined the criteria for nominees for this award, he said, in part, that the prize … Continue reading →

79th Annual Academy Awards: The Fashion that Rocked and Stunk – Part 2

Well, in the last blog, I covered the ugly – the gowns that just shouldn’t have been worn out the door. Someone – their stylist, publicist, personal assistant, or mother – should have wait “Oh no, wait.” Now, I will move on to the beautiful gowns. I will tell you what E! online voters thought of my choices. The Beautiful Reese Witherspoon Wow, I bet Ryan Phillipe is kicking himself. She was just the epitome of beauty Sunday night. Everything was right – the dress, the hair, the makeup – all flawless. If only we all could be so gorgeous. … Continue reading →

79th Annual Academy Awards: The Fashion that Rocked and Stunk – Part 1

Okay, I have finally recovered from my 15-hour Oscar telethon Sunday and now that it is all over (Yeah, Martin Scorsese!), we must talk about one of the most important aspects of the Oscars – Fashion! There was no Bjork to wear a swan suit this year, but that does not mean some of the outfits did not stink up the red carpet. To be fair, I will let you know what the viewer poll at People magazine said as well: The Ugly Kirsten Dunst Personally, I thought she looked like she borrowed her grandmother’s gown. The color did absolutely … Continue reading →

The Academy Awards—I Want In

So, you want to hobnob with the stars during Hollywood’s biggest party? Dreams are great to have aren’t they? (Pardon the sarcasm.) Seriously, though, who hasn’t dreamed of walking down Oscar’s red carpet while flashbulbs explode in every direction and rubbing elbows with Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman or Steven Spielberg? Unfortunately, the granddaddy of all award shows is an invite-only affair and unless you somehow, someway become the next Jennifer Hudson, date the next Ryan Gosling or parent the next Abigail Breslin you’ll likely have to settle for a front row seat… in front of your TV. Then again, maybe … Continue reading →

Traveling to the Academy Awards

When I was younger I would sit in front of our family’s TV on Oscar night and wonder how fans secured the bleacher seats that put them within reach of Hollywood’s biggest names. (Okay, within reach if the celebrity crossed the street to the bleacher area.) As a 13-year-old girl I promised that someday I would travel to L.A. so I too could touch the jacket sleeve of a Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks. More than 20 years later, I still haven’t made good on that promise. However, I know others who share the same dream, have ditched their seats … Continue reading →

Mississippi Finally Bans Slavery

America made slavery illegal in 1865, right?  Hum, some of the states may want to check their paperwork just to make sure. The state of Mississippi found itself finally formally ratifying the 13th Amendment – that one that abolished slavery – on February 7, 2013. Now as you can imagine, being a southern state, Mississippi officials were probably less than excited about ratifying this amendment back in the late 1800s.  So not eager to let this long standing tradition go, Mississippi officials didn’t even get around to voting on the ratification until 1995.  1995?  Yes, it was 130 years after … Continue reading →