List-a-Mania 2017

I've decided to take inventory of some past lists I've made, and do some updates. Hoping for more fun and entertainment in 2018!

Celebrity bucket list:
1. Lin-Manuel Miranda, as always
2. Mindy Kaling
3. The cast of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (along with Santino Fontana)
4. Jamie Cullum (I'd be happy just to hear him perform live, at this rate.)
5. Sophie Kinsella (I'm hoping she'll come back to the US one of these days and stop in my neck of the woods. She didn't include my area on her tour last time and I was so jealous of people who got to meet her.)
6. The cast of Stranger Things
7. Tatiana Maslany (even though Orphan Black has ended, she's still fabulous)
UPDATE: I can't believe I forgot to include Randy Rainbow! I would love to meet him.

Top Five Favorite Movies that I saw in 2017
You can see how many movies I watch with my kids these days...

1. Beauty and the Beast
2. Wonder
3. Coco
4. The Greatest Showman
5. The Big Sick

My favorite new TV shows (shows I started watching in 2017):

1. The OA
2. The Bold Type
3. Will and Grace (reboot...it counts!)
4. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
5. Soon By You (web series with only 5 episodes, but it's just so addictive!)

Top Ten Favorite Books I read in 2017. (Some may be from previous years or publishing in 2018.)
I've shared my top five chick lit favorites at Chick Lit Central (as Melissa A). I read so many amazing books this year and am sad to have to narrow it down at all. I'm too lazy to put in my review links, so just trust me on this!

1. The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman
2. Beautiful Messy Love by Tess Woods
3. No Time to Blink by Dina Silver
4. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
5. This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel
6. Best Kept Secret by Amy Hatvany
7. It Started With Goodbye by Christina June
8. The Lost Letter by Jillian Cantor
9. The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister
10. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Ten good things that happened in 2017:
1. Seeing Hamilton
2. Trip to Nashville with my BFF
3. My older son getting into a school he really wanted to go to...and loving it
4. My daughter learning how to read
5. Meeting Nicole Waggoner when she was in DC
6. Catching up with family and friends on our trip to Chicago, as well as reuniting with a friend I haven't seen since high school.
7. Making some new friends online and in person
8. Seeing In the Heights at a local professional theater...featuring an actor I saw in the Broadway production.
9. My BFF coming to town for a visit (it's our annual end-of-year thing)
10. Getting to see Jen Tucker and Pam Jenoff again over the summer.
Bonus: Winning a Greatest Showman themed contest on social media!!!

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!

Rainbow Revisited

Here are two truths:
1. I absolutely hate (and that's too nice of a word) the person who's supposed to be running our country...but is only running it into the ground.
2. Randy Rainbow is my gay soulmate.

A while back, I talked about how amazingly wonderful Randy Rainbow is. He keeps me sane when the joke that calls himself the leader of our country does something ridiculously awful. (When doesn't he?) Randy says exactly what I'm thinking and feeling, but with more eloquence and usually in the form of a parody of a Broadway song. (Sometimes he'll change his tune and go pop or country.) So without any further ado, here are some of my favorite videos since the last time I posted about Randy's awesomeness:

How could I NOT love a Rocky Horror parody? I just wish Randy did the makeup to complete his costume.



Another Hamilton parody. Enough said. Hoping he'll do a Dear Evan Hansen parody soon!



This is just fabulous. I can't listen to "Despacito" without hearing this version in my head.



It made me appreciate The Book of Mormon a bit more.



Country at its best. So good that they tried to do something similar at the CMA Awards.



Just fun silliness. Enjoy!



While I don't like Cats, this song is just perfect.



Great parody of a Wicked song. So fitting! I just hope this version doesn't pop into my head when I see the musical again.



These next two are not about Trump, but they're still really good and they call out the mentality of his administration.

This was done a while ago, but I forgot to share it last time. Now that she's running for County Clerk in KY, it's even more important to share it!




Another fun one, just because. I love how he points out how idiotic people get over progress and being open-minded.



I'm sure as Randy keeps putting out more videos (soon, I hope!), I'll have another blog post to highlight his latest and greatest. In the meantime, check out his channel on YouTube and visit him on Facebook and Twitter.

Isn't she marvelous?

Back in March, Amazon previewed pilots of some new shows they were looking to stream later in the year. The one I decided to watch was The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. It was intriguing and amusing, so I voted for it. Thankfully, other people did too, because they picked up the rest of the series and recently started airing it. I somewhat binge-watched it, but there are only eight episodes, so it wasn't too hard. Especially since they were so enjoyable! I'm here now to share some reasons you should be watching this show too. And if you don't have Amazon Prime, sign up for a free trial. You'll be done in less than the 30 days of the trial, and then you get free two-day shipping on your holiday gifts, as well!



Here is the brief synopsis from Amazon:
In 1958 New York, Midge Maisel's life is on track- husband, kids, and elegant Yom Kippur dinners in their Upper West Side apartment. But when her life takes a surprise turn, she has to quickly decide what else she's good at - and going from housewife to stand-up comic is a wild choice to everyone but her. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is written and directed by Amy Sherman-Palladino (The Gilmore Girls).

Watch this trailer for the series. And if you're still not sure after that, check out my reasons (spoiler free).



Reasons to watch The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel:

*Rachel Brosnahan in the lead role of Midge. She is  absolutely delightful, even when saying the F-word a lot (don't watch in front of your kids). I love how Midge takes control of her life. She's a force to be reckoned with!

*Alex Borstein as Susie. You may recognize her from Mad TV or know her voice from Family Guy, but she is the perfect fit for Midge's wise-cracking manager and friend. I love the way she dresses. So unconventional for the 1950's, yet it just works for her so well.

*The actress who plays Midge's mom is also the principal on Speechless. She's not as funny and laid back in this role, but she is still really good.
Photos courtesy of IMDb.

*You can live vicariously through Midge if you ever wanted to be a comedian and never made it happen. It's harder than it looks though! I should know, after all....

*Watching Midge and her husband (played by Michael Zegen) together. I couldn't decide if they were better together or apart. They had a great on-screen chemistry.

*Surprise guest appearances by Max Casella (Vinnie from Doogie Howser), Wallace "inconceivable" Shawn, and Jane Lynch.

*The witty dialogue and banter. I love the way people had conversations on this show. And the stuff Midge says in her comedy routines had me cracking up.

*All the Jewish references. Of course I'm going to enjoy that!

*The fashion. I could not get enough of Midge's dresses. Gorgeous!

Courtesy of IMDb. I really loved this dress.

*The music. It wasn't just about rock 'n roll in the 1950's. There were some great big band and Rat Pack era hits. I love how the music enhanced the scenes in this show.

*The scenery and props. It really made the 1950's come to life with all the attention to detail. I felt like I had time traveled while watching each episode.

These are just some of the reasons I liked this show even more than I was expecting to. I had a really fun time watching it and I hope you will, as well! I also hope there will be a second season!

Movie Review: Wonder

About four years ago, I read R.J. Palacio's hit novel Wonder and loved every page of it. I even got to meet R.J. at Book Expo America a few months later and she was very nice. So I was thrilled to find out that Wonder was being made into a movie. (And that Daveed Diggs was going to be in it, since I'm a huge Hamilton fan.) The first time I saw the trailer (and the next few times after that), I could not keep from crying. And after hearing rave reviews for the movie over the past week, I was excited to finally see it in the theater. It definitely lived up to the rave reviews and my expectations. I loved it as much as, if not more than, the book!

Before I go on, watch the trailer. I dare you to not shed a tear!

Warning...there may be some spoilers in my review below, but nothing too major that it will keep you from seeing the movie.





I wasn't a fan of Jacob Tremblay when he was in Room, but he was perfect as Auggie. I know there are people who think someone who was actually born with craniofacial disabilities should have been cast in the role, but only in an ideal world (which we have yet to see happen), would this have really been possible. One of my friends said (on a Facebook thread about this issue): "I definitely think Hollywood needs to make a good faith effort to cast appropriately, but sometimes you just can't." Another person commented on the same thread by saying how Hollywood glamorizes everything. I agree that it would be nice to have someone who actually has been in Auggie's shoes play the part, but I also feel Jacob did an incredible job. He portrayed Auggie sensitively. I didn't feel like he was playing into some kind of stereotype or poking fun at anyone who actually lives full-time with the face he wears as a mask. It reminded me of how Eric Stoltz (who also does not have craniofacial disabilities) played the lead role in Mask (1985). I haven't actually seen the entire movie, but I never heard about any casting complaints in relation to that movie either. Was it because it was grittier than Wonder? I guess someone who has seen Mask could tell me their thoughts. In any case, as Auggie, Jacob displayed a full range of feelings from anger to fear to sadness, while also laughing and joking with his friends. If you would like some more insight from someone who really is in Auggie's shoes, check out this blog post. It's long, but well worth the read. Maybe you'll agree with what she says and maybe you won't, but that definitely leaves room for discussion either way.

As for everything else about the movie....I felt the story followed the novel pretty well. I know there were parts left out and parts added in, but I didn't miss the parts that weren't there. Maybe because I forgot about them. (I did notice that Summer's point of view wasn't shared in the movie.) I really like that there was some focus on Auggie's parents and their thoughts and feelings. It was something I had hoped for from the book that had never materialized. In the book, each character gets their own section and it starts back at the beginning. In the movie, there are times when a character's point-of-view is introduced and they go back to the beginning a bit, but then they catch up and move onward. Then we see Auggie's point of view again before switching to another character. In some ways, this lengthens the movie a bit too much, but it still makes the story worthwhile. It was interesting to see the impact Auggie's presence had on Via's life; how his needs always came first and she was left in the background. She and Auggie still had a good sibling relationship and I enjoyed seeing that play out.

The acting was great overall. There was a strong ensemble cast of well-known actors and newcomers that worked well together to make this movie the hit that it is. There are a lot of messages a viewer can get from the story and a lot of it depends on age and personal experiences. My six year-old enjoyed it as much as I did, even if she only understood it on a basic level. While I still feel that the overall message is too idealistic (I mentioned this in my book review), it never hurts to be kind to someone else, no matter who they are, what they look like, etc. You never know what someone else is dealing with. That was something that stuck out from the movie, when Via is telling Auggie that she also had a hard day when he felt like he held the monopoly on hard days. She told him that if he wanted to have a normal life, it wasn't going to be easy. They also showed how Via's best friend seemed to have it all together on the outside, but her life was far from perfect. I also liked that kids were friends with Auggie because they wanted to be around him, not because someone was making them be nice to him. He was kind to other kids, but also protected himself from being hurt. He wasn't afraid to stand up for himself either.

Overall, it is a sweet movie that is family friendly, or even to see on your own just to have a good cry. And yes, I cried. (Bring tissues!!!) It's also just worth seeing it to hear "Inigo Montoya" say "tuchus." :) (Yes, there are plenty of other funny lines and moments to balance out the emotional ones.)

Review: The Book of Mormon

After many years of missing out on The Book of Mormon, I finally got to see it this past weekend. My husband and I saw it in honor of his birthday. Thankfully, he loved the entire show. My opinion of the show is a bit more complex, so I’m sharing my thoughts here.

I will start this off by saying that the show is very entertaining and a fun way to spend an afternoon (or evening). There is more music than there is dialogue, which is always great in my book. There are some big show-stopper numbers that will end up getting stuck in your head for days after seeing it. The songs weren’t listed in the program, which I thought was kind of strange. Especially since I didn’t understand one of them until a little bit later in the show. And some of them sound similar to each other. They have some catchy tunes, but it will take a while for me to learn the words. (I went into the show only knowing a few of the songs, if that.) I enjoyed the song “Turn it Off.”  And “Making Things Up Again” was great too, even though I kept thinking of the Randy Rainbow parody.

The acting is great. The two lead actors had a lot of energy and put their all into the role. Their comedic timing worked well too. The cast worked well together and no one came off as embarrassed when they had to say some of the more raunchy or offensive lines. They all had great singing lines and did well with the complex choreography. I enjoyed watching them perform. There weren't any celebrities in the show, but that's okay. I could just enjoy it for what it was worth and focus on the characters and story.

Photo of Kevin Clay (Elder Price) and
Connor Peirson (Elder Cunningham) from GramUnion

The scenery is fantastic. They could turn the stage from an airport into an African village and then into a “Spooky Mormon Hell.” Most of the costumes are men wearing white shirts, black pants, and black ties, but the costumes of the villagers emphasize their personalities.

Photo credit: Playbill

Having said that, here’s where my opinion differed from my husband’s. The other night, I heard my husband telling someone that I was laughing so hard throughout the show. The problem is, I wasn’t. I went to the show with very high expectations of hilarity. I used to watch South Park all the time (and was in tears from the movie) and have also seen Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s other movies, which were really funny. And everyone who had seen The Book of Mormon before me was saying how hilarious it was (albeit inappropriate and offensive, which I was prepared for anyway) and how they couldn’t stop laughing the entire time. So I went in ready to laugh my tuchus off. And I did laugh, but only some mild snickers for the most part. It almost felt like I was laughing because everyone else was. Like how a laugh track in a sitcom would make me laugh even if I personally didn’t find something that funny. Please bear in mind that I have a really good sense of humor. I love to laugh whenever possible and look for the funny in everything I can. (I especially need to do that nowadays, and thankfully social media delivers.) I laughed the entire time from Avenue Q and that’s just as offensive and inappropriate. I love when something makes me laugh so hard that I’m doubled over in tears, but The Book of Mormon never got me to that point. I even asked in a theater fan group on Facebook if there was something wrong with me or if the laugh factor was just really hyped up. I got a mix of answers, but I felt better knowing I wasn’t the only person who didn’t laugh super hard the whole way through the show.

This is not to say that you won’t end up in bouts of hysterical laughter. No two theatergoers are alike! This is just how I felt about the show and there could be a bunch of contributing factors. Sometimes just the hype itself is enough, like being told I am going to laugh when I have no idea what I’m going into (this also happened with The Hangover and Bridesmaids). As mentioned before, I don’t think that the offensiveness was an issue. I’ve laughed at many an offensive joke. Almost all of Movie 43 had me rolling on the floor in tears and I still laugh just thinking about it. Perhaps the story was over my head because I’m not as familiar with the background of other religions. (That didn’t stop my husband from laughing though.) Who knows why I wasn’t roaring with laughter?!? Please know that the musical is funny and that’s the intention. Everyone just has different definitions of what constitutes “hilarious.” There was one part toward the end that I did think was really clever and funny, but even that tapered off for me after a bit.

Anyhow, if you are planning to see The Book of Mormon, you should. Don’t let my inability to snort-laugh keep you from it. I am in the minority out of the billions of people who thought it was the funniest thing they’ve ever seen. Just be prepared that there is a lot of dirty language and R-rated humor. I definitely would not let my kids see this until they’re adults and can go on their own (since it would be too awkward to see it with them).

Thoughts on Stranger Things 2

First of all...there will be spoilers. If you have not seen Stranger Things (both seasons) and still want to, please do not read any further. If you're still on the fence, read my post from last year (spoiler free).

If you've binged season two and want to re-live it vicariously, you've come to the right place. I'll be sharing a bunch of random thoughts I had throughout the season. It was definitely a more emotional season overall, but I'll get more into that soon. I really liked it, despite all the scary and disturbing parts. I've been going through withdrawal ever since I finished watching this season.

*It was so nice to see Eleven again and to know she was okay. The surprise element was that she had been living with Hopper for the past year. It was interesting to see how she got from destroying the Demogorgon to living in the woods to Hopper finding her and keeping her at his home.

*I loved the chemistry between Nancy and Jonathan. I was so happy when they finally realized their attraction to one another, even though it was at that strange man's house.

*Speaking of which, who was the strange man Nancy and Jonathan were working with and how did he know who they were? I'm glad he carried through their plan to contact the media about Barb's disappearance.

*And speaking of Barb, I'm glad her family finally got some closure, even if it wasn't the complete truth. They probably would have been traumatized even further if they knew what really happened.

*The 80's product placement is fun. I enjoyed seeing old wrappers from certain snack foods. It gave off an even more authentic feel.

*There were so many creepy moments that just left me reeling. Like when Dart is eating the cat and then turns to look at Dustin and he's suddenly a Demogorgon. Or whenever the thing that was taking over Will's body had an intense reaction to heat and fire. And, of course, the Demogorgons getting into the laboratory building and killing everyone, including Bob.

*Even though it's sad what happened to Bob, I was shipping Joyce and Hopper the whole time. Sorry, Bob! I hope Joyce and Hopper get together in season three.

*It's terrible what happened to Eleven's mom and I was hoping that Eleven could help unlock her from wherever her mind has gone. I still have hope for that to happen in season three.

*The emotional level of the show is a lot stronger. I was brought to the brink of tears many times and even cried once at the end of an episode. There was Will, who felt bad about himself because he couldn't keep his demons under control. Will reminded me a lot of my younger son, so it was extra disturbing when he was going through all the physical trauma. Mike missed Eleven a lot and at one point talked about how lonely he was until Will became his best friend. Just seeing his reaction to Eleven's return was priceless. The connection between Nancy and Jonathan was so elevated that I felt this emotional investment in their relationship. I  even got misty-eyed from the last 15 minutes of the finale. Especially when those girls were all snobby toward Dustin and how Eleven showed up for Mike. And then there's this.

*The story line of another girl from the lab was interesting. There was one whole episode devoted to Eleven spending time with her and trying to punish someone for hurting her mom. I am iffy on this episode, as it was interesting, but it didn't really move the story along....unless more kids from the lab will be found in season three.

*Dart was super creepy and I was mad at Dustin for taking him in. It only benefited everyone at one point on the finale. However, where did the other Demodogs come from?

*I liked Max a lot. I wasn't sure if I would, but she was cool. I hated her step-brother, Billy. He was so skeevy. Like he was a Rob Lowe from St. Elmo's Fire wannabe, but not as nice. However, I love how Max put Billy in his place and it was interesting to learn why Billy acted the way he did. It was funny when he was flirting with Mike and Nancy's mom. I wonder what Billy meant about it being Max's fault that they had to move from California to Indiana. Unless he was just being a jerk because of his new family situation.

*Despite taking on a creepy disgusting monster slug creature as a pet, I still love Dustin. Especially with his "pearls." And that hairstyle at the way end? So awesome!

*Even though I didn't like Nancy with Steve, I have to admit he was pretty cool this season.

*There will be a season three, right? Perhaps Eleven can use her mind powers to make that happen.

Dare to be bold!

Earlier this summer, a few of my friends were talking about The Bold Type on Facebook, and I decided to check it out. Little did I know, it would become my new favorite guilty pleasure addiction show. I love everything about it and am sad that the season has come to an end (even though I know my fall shows are coming back). The show is currently awaiting renewal at Freeform and I really hope they get it!

Here are some things that stood out to me from this show, in no particular order. There may be spoilers, but nothing too revealing. You can always binge-watch all 10 episodes on Freeform.com before reading any further though. (Just saying...)

1. All three main characters were equally compelling, and also girlcrush-worthy.
a. Jane (Katie Stevens*) has the "girl next door" look, but is very dynamic at the same time. I love how she grows this season.
b. Sutton (Meghann Fahy) knows what she wants and goes for it. Her beauty is enhanced by her confidence. I also love when she's out of her element or uninhibited.
c. Kat (Aisha Dee) is not afraid to stand up for what is right, even if it gets her in trouble sometimes. She also explores her feelings for a woman and that makes her extra amazing. And her curls are just incredible...

2. Their boss, Jacqueline (Melora Hardin) isn't the Miranda Priestly type that I was expecting in the beginning. She's firm, but fair and understanding. She also shares a vulnerability that I did not see coming at all. There are times I wanted to get mad at her, but I really couldn't. She takes her job seriously and expects the same from her employees.

3. The show deals with some current and relevant topics, such as the new immigration policies or being trolled and harassed on social media for having a political viewpoint.

4. Speaking of politics, they are not afraid to make fun of and get annoyed with a certain leader of our country. And they don't make up a leader for fiction's sake either. This is the real deal. So if you can't handle their level of criticism, you might want to stay away.

5. Even though the main characters are probably about 15 years younger than me, I had no problem connecting with them. I would love to hang out with them if they were real and we worked together.

6. The fashion! I love what everyone is wearing on this show. Well, for the most part. Even if I don't like something, they still wear it well and it works for their character.

7. The romantic interests. Especially Richard (Sam Page).

8. Seeing what it's like to work at a women's magazine. I know the show is based off experiences working at Cosmopolitan. Seeing that I used to read Cosmo all the time, this definitely interests me. I love how they plan out articles and come up with new ideas. The excitement and chaos of working at Scarlet is just fascinating to watch. The main characters make it feel so effortless.

9. The relevancy. Social media plays a big part in this show, but I couldn't see them doing it without a social media presence. That wouldn't make sense in this day and age. Even the topics they choose for articles are relevant.

10. The setting. Obviously it's in NYC, but they make the city look and feel even more incredible than it already is. The most touristy they get is Central Park. It's really just about living and working in the city. And if I can enjoy that vicariously, then so be it!

There are many other reasons I enjoyed this show. I really, really, REALLY hope it comes back so that I can see what happens next for Kat, Jane, and Sutton. They left off at a pivotal point and I would hate for it to go the Hindsight route (as in not get a second season).

*Side note: Katie Stevens was on season nine of American Idol. That was the last season I watched before giving up.

In the Room Where it Happens

It's only been two years since Hamilton first premiered on Broadway, and I finally got to see it! (In Chicago.)

The show was a surprise for my sons, who are as obsessed as I am (if not more). I had to hold on to this surprise for five months, which was super hard sometimes. Especially when my older son kept asking if we could see Hamilton when it comes to our neck of the woods in 2018. We had the surprise orchestrated so that we'd tell the boys we were going to explore some museums in the city during our trip to see my family. Their sister would be doing something more for her age and interest level with my parents and sister (which was actually seeing Aladdin, but we didn't tell her this either, as it was also a surprise). The surprise almost blew up in our faces when we entered the parking garage and it said "Official parking for Hamilton." Damn you, parking garage!!! (Not to mention that we reserved space through Spot Hero and it was very hard to find anywhere to park in that garage.) Anyway, we played it off that anyone could park there and that we would just walk by the theater to take pictures. When we got over there, our sons first resisted taking pictures because we did that in New York. We told them to do it anyway. Here's the result (along with some fun video imagery from my husband):



(If you had trouble watching the video for any reason, we stood in front of the marquee to take pictures and my husband prompted the kids by asking "What time is it?" They naturally said "showtime" and I took out the tickets at that point. Then my older son cried. It was a beautiful moment. Of course, my younger son felt the need to be all obnoxious. Go figure!)

After the big reveal, we grabbed a quick snack and had a 20 minute meetup with my best friend. Then we went back to the theater and had to wait in a super huge line to get in, even though we already had tickets. I don't remember it being this chaotic to get inside a theater. We finally got in and I was able to use the bathroom with five minutes to spare afterward. Enough time to get some photos before the lights went down.

Then Daniel Breaker opened the show as Aaron Burr. My older son recognized him as Donkey from Shrek on Broadway (which we watched on Netflix earlier this year). He was a show-stealer, in a good way. I really liked how he played the part and gave a new dimension to Burr, just by the way he emphasized certain words or from the various facial expressions he used to convey his feelings. I really got more of a sense of Burr's animosity towards Hamilton. He was one of my favorite performers. He'll be playing Burr on Broadway soon and that move is much deserved.

It was amazing to see the way the songs played out on stage. Having most of the words memorized, it was nice to be able to focus on other aspects instead of having to listen to understand what was going on. This is a good thing because there was soooo much to see on stage and new ways to think about the songs. I think if I didn't have the soundtrack memorized, I would have been confused or overwhelmed. My husband seemed to do fine though, and has been humming some of the songs around the house. (Don't tell him I told you this. ;) ) I think this was also helpful for the boys. I remember seeing Les Miz when I was in my early teens and most of it going over my head since I hadn't really heard most of the songs at that time. This way, they could also focus on the staging, emotions, etc.

I also liked the fact that I didn't really know the actors all that well, so I could focus on the characters instead of how famous they were. This also came in handy when I saw mostly unknown actors and understudies in Wicked (Joey McIntyre being the only exception to that rule). There were some performances, aside from Daniel Breaker's, that really stood out for me. More on that soon.

Miguel Cervantes played the title role. He was the one originally cast as Hamilton in Chicago, so that was good that we got to see him. He fit the role really well. While I usually have Lin-Manuel's voice in my head, Miguel added a different layer to the part. Perhaps because he is shorter than Lin, this added a nuance that wasn't there before. Like Hamilton had to fight harder to prove himself. I can't really place what it was, but he gave something extra to the role that differed from how I could imagine Lin playing it. He did a great job and I could see all the passion he put into it.

Karen Olivo left the show a few days before we got to see it. I was disappointed to hear that she was leaving so soon, but at least I was prepared not to see her. And that goes back to what I was saying before. If Karen had performed, I would have been focusing on her instead of Angelica. Aubin Wise took over the role of Angelica until the new actress (Montego Glover) starts next month. She played the part well and reminded me of Audra McDonald. I didn't realize how young she is, as she carried herself as the oldest and wittiest.

Ari Afsar was adorable as Eliza. She really made the part her own and put a lot of emotion into it. I got teary eyed at the parts I was expecting to cry from, but more because of how she added an extra punch to those parts. We got to meet and take pics with her after the show. She was the only main character who came out to greet fans. I just found out that she auditioned for my favorite season of American Idol and I even remember her because of the Adopt a Gran-Friend program she started. That stood out eight years ago!

Ari Afsar

Samantha Marie Ware took on the dual role of Peggy and Maria Reynolds. She did great as both characters. As Peggy, she added a bit of comedy through the way she came off as the bratty little sister. As Maria, she was sultry and more assertive than I was expecting. Samantha had a small role on one of the later seasons of Glee, so I remembered her from that.

Jonathan Kirkland, who played Washington, made me think of Collins from Rent. I was surprised to not see that role on his Playbill "résumé." He had a commanding presence, which is perfect for that role.

The other actors who stood out to me the most as top favorites from the show were Alexander Gemignani (King George) and Chris De'Sean Lee (Lafayette/Jefferson). Alexander was hilarious as King George. He didn't even have to do much other than some facial expressions and little gestures to have me roaring with laughter. He reminded me of Rowan Atkinson in some ways. Chris had a terrific energy as both Lafayette and Jefferson, and he also made me laugh a lot. I loved his performance of "What'd I Miss?". He was just a lot of fun to watch throughout the show.

The only thing I would criticize at all is the blocking, as the actors turned their heads toward the back of the stage during some parts and I couldn't see their facial expressions at those times. I thought "cheating out" was always the rule of theater. Not sure if the moving stage had to do with this, but it would have been nice to see their faces instead of the backs of their heads. Really just a minor issue, but something I noticed regardless.

Everyone in the show was great overall and they gave a memorable performance for my family and I to cherish. Would I see it again? Sure, but probably not right away. Maybe if I win a lottery sometime from the new app. I do want to take my daughter to see it when she's older. She loves the music, but the show would have been too much for her to handle right now. In the meantime, I'm glad to have seen it and that I can tell everyone how amazing it is. If you get the chance to see it, do not throw away your shot!

Family selfie

The amazing set

My HamilPop, courtesy of Broadway Goes Pop!

It's my birthday...and you get a present!

I love having birthdays, but I also enjoy giving other people gifts. (That, and my husband thinks I need to clean out my book collection. The horror!) So, enter via the Rafflecopter below and one of you will get a box of random books. US only please, as I have to cover the shipping costs. Sorry!


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Giveaway ends July 25th at midnight EST.

Orange is the New Black--Season 5, with SPOILERS

I recently finished watching the fifth season of Orange is the New Black. It was a tumultuous and intense season. Perhaps more intense than previous seasons have been. Some parts were really unsettling or disturbing. However, there were also some really good moments that stand out for me. I'm going to share about those today.

If you're reading this post, you've either seen the entire season or don't mind spoilers. (If you haven't watched the series from the beginning, none of this will make sense until you binge watch all five seasons.) I will not take responsibility for ruining the season for you, as I have indicated that there will be spoilers from this point onward. So if you're not ready yet, bookmark this post and come back when you're done.

Favorite moments:

*Episode 5: Taystee's speech at the end. I got teary-eyed from it. If that doesn't earn her an Emmy, I don't know what will.

*Episode 6: Big Boo questioning Angie about Saved by the Bell.

*The one girl imitating some of the other inmates.

*Episode 2: Frieda as a kid, and then seeing all her survival tactics as an adult, including her secret prepper bunker.

*The tribute to Poussey with all the books. So much love in that!

*Linda going undercover as an inmate by accident.

*Episode 1: Big Boo's shout-out to The Princess Bride.

*Flaca and Martiza's YouTube videos.

*The women taking down Piscatella at the end of episode 10.

*Red and Flores trying to re-enact Home Alone.

*Pennsatuckey camping out in the guard's house while all the drama is going on.

*Gloria tricking the other inmates into thinking she's sending all the guards to "The Poo" with intent on actually releasing them.

*The "Lasagna in the Oven" sign

*Maria getting to see her baby again.

*Nicky calling Vinnie to tell him that Morello really is pregnant and that he's lucky to have her.

*Linda and Pennsatuckey being friends for a few minutes before they both got out of "The Poo."

*Piper proposing to Alex. Also, Piper talking to her mom about Alex prior to that, and her mom actually being supportive.

*The makeovers, especially for Flores.

*Taystee taking on Figueroa and trying to help along the negotiations.

*Seeing what Red was like as a young woman in Russia.

*The media thinking Judy was kidnapped by Muslims because of the photo taken by the people in the helicopter.

*Suzanne getting to have play time with the guards and the innocent game with the naughty name.

*Red finding the map from Frieda, but thinking it was something different, yet it led her to find a bunch of people who were missing.

*The flashback to when Taystee and Poussey first met and bonded.

*What Chang says before she escapes through the hole in the fence.

*The Shining scene involving Flaca and Maritza.

*Learning about Alison's back story (even though we don't know why she's in prison yet).

*Hamilaria moments:
"Showtime!"
"See you on the other side."
"Say no to this."
"Wait for it."

I don't know what will happen in season six, but I hope we get back to some of the main inmates' stories instead of focusing on annoying ones like Angie and Leanne, the racist girls, or those girls who were snorting coffee. I want to know what's happening with Daya and Sophia, as well.

Books I don't like

I need to preface this post by pointing out that I'm normally not negative about books. I have a hard time giving three stars or less to a book on Goodreads/Amazon and would rather not review it at all if that's the case. I don't like hurting the sales of a book. However, some are pretty well known and did fine without my review, either way. I wanted to share about those here. I am not posting this on social media, as to not make authors feel bad. If you're a follower of my blog, then you'll probably see this post. Also keep in mind that no two readers are alike. I may not like a book, but it doesn't mean you won't. There are times I love a book that other people (usually in my book club) hate.

Here goes!

The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold: This was such a disappointment to me after reading The Lovely Bones. I didn't like anything about Helen.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski: This one just dragged for me and felt so unsettling. I disliked it so much that I forgot the author's name until now, when I had to look it up.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout: One of those books that was so depressing, I wanted to put it in the freezer afterward, like they did on Friends.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender: It had the potential to be interesting, but the lack of quotation marks was annoying. And it just went off the edge after a while and I felt like my time had been taken advantage of.

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult: One of her weakest books. The ending was so disappointing too. Thankfully she made up for it in the following years. There was a movie and I don't even know why I bothered watching because it wasn't much better.

The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks: I love Nicholas Sparks, but I was so mad at him for writing this book. I wanted to throw it against a wall when I was finished. And I refuse to see the movie.

The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank: I got this one, thinking it would be some edgy chick lit novel. However, it was slow and felt like everything was all over the place.

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce: It's rare that I get halfway through a book and just quit, but this was dragging so much that I kept zoning out. I listened to it as an audio book, but the story just wasn't doing anything for me.

Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg: I enjoy Fannie's writing, but this one just seemed like a portrayal of people in a small town and lacked substance.

I'm sure there are others, but they may have just been that forgettable. I am not including books I only read a few pages or chapters from before calling it quits.

As a bonus, these are the types of books that don't interest me:
*Books that take place on a beach or at a beach home
*Spy novels
*Cozy mysteries
*Jane Austen or anything related to her books
*Vampire novels
*Trending series: Hunger Games, Game of Thrones, Fifty Shades, etc.
*Political thrillers
*Sci fi and/or fantasy
*Stories about wealthy families
*New adult romances (usually featuring topless men on the cover)
*Horror (although I loved that in high school and college). This is different from suspense thriller.
*Fictional novels about historical figures

Thankfully, there are more books that I love than that I dislike. I'm never at a shortage for what to read, either!

You can't take the country out of the girl

I am so bad about posting about my vacations. Remember how it took me four months to post about my cruise last year? This time, I’m going to try not to let a month go by before posting about my trip to Nashville. Instead of sharing my entire itinerary, I’ll just point out the highlights and post some pictures.

To preface everything, I met up with Froggie, my BFF of 30 years, to celebrate our friendship and see another New Kids on the Block concert, since we did that in 1989. We picked Nashville as it was a new town for both of us to visit and a good in-between spot where we could catch the concert together.

Reunited at the airport!

Highlights:

*Our Airbnb: I’ve never stayed at an Airbnb before, so this was a different experience than staying at a hotel. Our host, Jennie, was very nice and accommodating. She did her own thing, so we only saw her every so often, but when we did, we had fun chatting with her. She has the cutest little dog who shares a name with my favorite dog from my youth. If you are ever looking for an Airbnb in Nashville, check out the ones in Donelson and perhaps you’ll find her. The price was great and the space was comfortable and large enough that we weren’t breathing down each other’s necks. We could come and go as we pleased, as she had a keypad with a code for us to let ourselves in. (That worked well, since we stayed out pretty late!) Funny story….when we first arrived, GPS changed the address on me, so we almost went to the wrong house. Oops!

*Broadway Street: There’s really nothing like it. Every bar has loud, live country music coming out of the doors and windows. There are tons of people all over the place. Everyone has their own way of dressing, so it doesn’t matter if you wear a dress or a T-shirt and jeans. You just fit in anyway. I love the idea that people are performing in the bars for a chance to get discovered and potentially become famous. There’s so much energy and enthusiasm all around.

*Grand Ole Opry: This was my favorite part of the trip. I loved learning about the history of the GOO and all the love that surrounds it. Country singers seem like one big family. There’s no pretense…they show up in their cars and walk up to a side door to access the building. There are dressing rooms for every type of performer and they all have different themes. Everyone just seems to get along and support one another. They showed a video where people were told they were invited to be members of the GOO. I was getting teary-eyed seeing their reactions. They were all so genuine and appreciative. The tour guide was a lot of fun and got so excited over the smallest details at the venue.

At night, we saw a concert at the GOO. While our seats were up high, it was cool to be there and see the performers standing on the famous circle where we all got to stand and take pictures on earlier that day. The performers were The Whites, Smithfield, Jamie Lynn Spears (yes, Britney’s sister, who has an incredible voice and country vibe), Maddie and Tae (Tae looked like Tatiana Maslany when I saw her and Maddie’s super thin high heels made me trip just looking at them!), Lee Brice (whose wife just had a baby girl recently), Montgomery Gentry (whom I thought was just one person’s name and not a band), and Ricky Skaggs (classic country). They each sang three songs. This was all playing on air, as it was being broadcasted to an XM station. They even had commercial breaks. Before the show, the emcee was asking where everyone was from and it was cool to see representation from all around the US. The emcee was kind of annoying, but she kept things entertaining.

The circle where all singers stand when they perform

A few of the dressing rooms:

*The NKOTB concert: The main reason we were there, of course! Not only was it NKOTB, but also Paula Abdul and Boyz II Men. B2M kicked off the concert. I almost forgot all the songs they did back in the 80s and 90s, but then they came back to me as soon as I heard the opening notes. The guys looked like they had a lot of fun performing. They even put lyrics up on the screen behind them so we could sing along. Paula’s performance was more artsy with a lot of dancing and interactive videos. There was even a video with the cat from “Opposites Attract.” She did all her classics, but her show was shorter than B2M. Then, finally, the New Kids took the stage! They performed for over two hours, playing their classics and tossing in some new ones. I like the “Dirty Dancing” song, which was new to me at the time. It was fun to sing along with the songs I listened to all the time in the 80s, especially “The Right Stuff.” Of course, Froggie and I were screaming for our favorite New Kids the whole time (hers is Donnie, mine is Joey). As an extra only-in-Nashville treat, they had Big and Rich perform. Then later, they brought Carrie Underwood onto the stage. That was so cool! They even performed songs from their earlier albums. If you were a die-hard NKOTB fan, you would know them. And, of course, they ended the concert with “Hangin’ Tough.”

Carrie joined them on stage!

My New Kid crush!

*Meeting Darwin Shrugged: While Froggie and DS had previously met in person, this was my first time meeting her. Honestly, it was like we had known each other our whole lives and were just friends reuniting after a long period of time. While I’ve only known her online up until now, she is the same in person. I was instantly comfortable around her. We all had a great time chatting and hung out for about two hours. I hope we’ll get to meet again one of these days.

*Manis and pedis: After we arrived in Nashville, we had to do something we always do together…get manicures and pedicures! We found this place called Sation Nails. They were really nice and the pedicure was fantastic. My nail tech had her three year-old daughter there at the time. So cute!

*Going to Target: It became a joke after a while, since Froggie had to go there a couple of times prior to us meeting up and then twice when we were together. The layout was the same as one I go to a lot. We also went to Kroger a couple of times.

Overall, it was a wonderful and unforgettable trip. I had such a fun time hanging out with Froggie and we got even more inside jokes, as well. Next time, we’re doing Vegas!

Favorite Disney Movies

Since I love so many Disney movies (I'm a Disney Dork, after all), I am just going to list my top 10 favorites here. What films are on your list?

1. Beauty and the Beast (original animated version, even though the live action one is amazing too): I fell in love with it from the opening number. And Belle is my Disney soul sister!



2. Aladdin: I love how the story was re-imagined by Disney. Robin Williams stole the show as the iconic Genie.



3. Wreck-It Ralph: Incredibly creative, funny, and even emotional. I love the rapport between Ralph and Vanellope. It's one of those movies I can never tire of.



4. Monsters Inc. (Pixar): So clever and imaginative. I love the way the monsters turn scaring kids into a business and way to power the town. And Boo is just adorable! I also enjoyed the prequel, Monsters University.



5. The Parent Trap (original version with Hayley Mills): I watched this for the first time in forever (pardon the Disney song reference) and found myself crying during "Let's Get Together." I watched this countless times as a kid and acted it out with my sister. (I was Sharon.)



6. The Lion King: This says it all!



7. Enchanted: I love the way they turn an animated princess into human form and put her into the modern world. So much fun, while also being sweet and creative.



8. Tangled: Definitely tissue-worthy. It had a similar feel to Beauty and the Beast. Mandy Moore was great as Rapunzel's voice. I also love how Mother Gothel was so easy to hate.



9. The Little Mermaid: Such a classic Disney flick. You can't not smile when Sebastian sings "Under the Sea." And "Part of Your World" is such a great princess ballad.



10. Hercules: It has a similar feel to The Little Mermaid. I love Megara and how she won't say she's in love. There are some great songs and a lot of fun energy. And, of course, I cry at the end.



Runner up:
Cinderella (live action): This was so beautifully done. I enjoyed the animated version as a kid, but the live action version took it to a whole new level. Lily James was such a sweet Cinderella. There were some funny moments, as well as really heartbreaking emotional ones.



Warning: I will be posting a list of my least favorites soon. If you've been keeping up with my blog for the past few years, you will know at least one of the movies going on the list!

The Goldbergs, Season 4--with SPOILERS

Since I watched the season as it was going, I didn't have the benefit of binge-watching. This meant I had to wait weeks between episodes sometimes. Oh, the travesty! And when is Adam going to pair up with the Duffers to make a Stranger Things crossover? It would totally work!

I enjoyed most of season four, as you can tell from my extensive list of favorite episodes. My sons and I even joke around about some of the things that happened on the show. We do this thing that Evie and Erica do to each other in one of the episodes, where they shush each other at the same time. And the swear/geek/attitude jar scene is always a classic to act out. And, of course, we call each other "shmoopie."

Episode 1-Breakfast Club
As a new school year begins, the Goldberg kids end up in Saturday detention.
How could you NOT love such a fun tribute to a classic '80s flick?!?



Episode 5-Stefan King
Adam tries to be a horror writer in the vein of Stephen King. However, his efforts get him grounded on Halloween when Beverly discovers that she's the basis for the monster in his story. Meanwhile, a desperate Erica forces Barry to be her "date" at the school's costume dance.
Two words: Suddenly. Seymour.



Episode 8-The Greatest Musical Ever Written
A school musical production creates strife between Adam and Barry while substitute teacher Beverly creates havoc in Erica's class.
Perfect episode for musical theater geeks like myself! See the trailer here.

Episode 11-O Captain! My Captain!
Barry tries to prove Beverly wrong in his chemistry class while Adam needs Erica's advice for his friendship with Emmy.
I cried from this one.

Episode 14-The Spencer's Gift
Erica and Barry get jobs at Spencer's Gifts, then Murray insists that Adam get a job as well, but Beverly is adamant that Adam focus on filmmaking.
I love how Barry turned out to be the better employee.

Episode 15-So Swayze It's Crazy
Beverly's on a mission to make Adam a film star.
One part made me think of the season one finale of FRIENDS, but with a better ending. That totally made the episode for me.

Episode 16-The Kara-te Kid
The ultimate karate battle between the Adams.
BEST episode of the season, hands down! Sooooo many funny moments. I even made my husband watch it. And there's a special treat at the way end...



Episode 17-Deadheads
Barry's JTP membership is in jeopardy while a family swear jar is introduced.
I love the multiple jar scene. (Or should we call it Jar Jar? That wouldn't make sense in the '80s though!)

Episode 19-A Night to Remember
Prom night at school.
Lots of sweet moments. This is also the episode where Adam and Jackie first meet. One part reminded me of SAVED BY THE BELL.



Episode 21-Fonzie Scheme
Beverly's attempts to find Murray a hobby backfire; Erica comes to the rescue when Barry's scheme to steal golf carts goes awry.
The golf cart scenes were so funny. 



Episode 23-Jedi Master Adam Skywalker
Erica and Barry's curiosity with the yearbook's best goes awry.
However, I love how they make it up to Adam. I also loved Adam's power trip.



Episode 24-Graduation Day
Erica's graduation, Barry's summer plans and Adam's relationship go awry.
It was nice to see Dana again, even though she and Adam were out of sync. The graduation scene was funny too.

If you're a fan, tell me your favorite episodes from season four!

The show that leaves me speechless....with laughter!

I was going to give up on Speechless after watching the first episode. It had some funny moments, but I worried that Minnie Driver's character was the British Beverly Goldberg. As much as I love Beverly, that's just too much for me in one sitting. So I took a break. Then I decided to give it another chance and I'm so glad I did. Speechless is one of the funniest sitcoms I've seen in a long time. I love everything about it from the characters to the acting to the story lines to the way they tackle sensitive issues relating to disabilities. Minnie Driver's Maya is really just a Mama Bear standing up for the rights of her son who has physical disabilities. She's fighting for inclusion and making sure he is treated fairly by his school.

I honestly don't have a favorite character. I love them all. Even Kenneth! John Ross Bowie plays Jimmy, the father. His character is way more likable than Kripke from Big Bang Theory. I can't believe they are played by the same person! He is more subdued than Maya, but has his own ways of being funny and quirky. I love the connection he has with Dylan, played by Kyla Kenedy. I like Dylan because she marches to her own beat. Ray, played by Mason Cook, is one of the most hilarious characters on the show. He reminds me of my younger son in some ways. (Maybe it's a middle child thing.) I love watching his relationships with both J.J. and Dylan. And J.J., of course, who is the heart and soul of the series. I love that they cast someone who is physically disabled in real life to play him. While he can talk outside of the show, his character can't. Each episode gets its title from the way people read J.J.'s messages from his speech board. They'll spell out the first few letters from a word before they say the whole word. I love how J.J. is fighting for independence and we can see that stuff really bothers him. Like when people talk about him like he's not in the room or try to help him with something he wants to do by himself. He's not happy all the time and the show has addressed some heavier issues that go along with having a family member who has disabilities. And yes, he has his share of really funny moments on the show, such as the clever ways he gets around the city by himself.

And let's not forget about Kenneth, played by Cedric Yarbrough. I've seen Cedric on The Goldbergs and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, but this role is perfect for him. He is J.J.'s "voice," meaning he sits by him and reads aloud from his speech board. He's also J.J.'s physical aide and driver. Kenneth somehow manages to make a role for himself in the DiMeo family and tends to annoy Maya, even though they do get along sometimes. The show really needs to win an Emmy for best ensemble cast, if such an award exists. Best writing too!

I want to share about some of my favorite episodes. This is one of those shows that doesn't have to be watched in order, even though it does help. Each episode has it's own arc and doesn't really continue into the next all that much. However, you might miss some inside jokes by watching out of order. All the episodes I've chosen below were just really funny and clever, standing out from the rest of the episodes in the series. I think you just need to watch the show to see why I love it so much. I'm glad to hear that it's been renewed for a second season. You have the whole summer to catch up, so I hope you'll give it a chance! If you already watch, I'd love to hear which episodes stand out the most for you!

Before I share my list of favorites, here is a trailer for the first episode:


I-N-S--INSPIRATIONS
Exploring the city on their own, J.J. and Kenneth realize strangers see them as inspirational. The two push their luck, receiving free food and admission to baseball games and things soon fall apart. Meanwhile, as the family usually can't do anything without having to worry about wheelchair accessibility, Dylan and Ray convince Maya to take them paint-balling while J.J. is out. But can Maya let herself have fun without J.J.?

H-A-L-- HALLOWEEN
Jimmy is upset the kids no longer want to participate in the family tradition of dressing up for Halloween. Maya tries to cheer up Jimmy by allowing him to do things he loves by taking things off the family "Dead to Me" list. Meanwhile, Ray recruits Dylan to help work the school's haunted mansion while Kenneth is scared of losing his job when JJ gets drunk at a party. Even though Maya is furious, she is thrilled to see JJ having a "normal" life.

T-H-A-- THANKSGIVING
The DiMeos are forced to celebrate Thanksgiving with Jimmy's brother and family.

C-H-O-CHOIR
Ray and JJ join the school choir to enhance their resumes for college. The family has thier van stolen which leads to a Christmas miracle. Julianna Hough guest stars.

R-O--ROAD T-R--TRIP
The Dimeos go on their annual family road trip.

S-I - SICK D-A-- DAY
Sick bay claims Maya and Kenneth, forcing Jimmy to take the reins of the DiMeo household as Dylan looks after JJ, who returns the favor by running interference between her and a boy she likes.

V-A-L-- VALENTINE'S D-A-- DAY
Maya attempts to give Jimmy a Valentine's Day gift, with the help of his old roommate and her ex-fiance while Ray is elated to find out he has a secret admirer, but will he learn the truth of who it is? Meanwhile, JJ is in charge of distributing candy-grams, which proves challenging for both him and Kenneth

S-U-R-- SURPRISE!
Maia throws a Birthday Party for Dylan against her wishes. Jimmy and Kenneth try and find something in common

D-I - DING
After leaving a note behind Maya's back, Ray takes sides against the family when Maya dings a nearby car. Following through on a promise, Jimmy and Dylan share a moment, as father and daughter are on a search in the back room at the local supermarket while JJ teaches a rude customer a lesson, and a moonlighting Kenneth hides his side job from the DiMeos.

P-R-- PROM
It's prom night, and all three DiMeo kids are going, which leaves Maya and Jimmy with a rare night to themselves. Kenneth is shocked to learn that they like to spend their nights without the kids to bring up past arguments they have bottled up or ignored in the past. Later at school, Ray thinks he is finally about to have his first make-out session with a girl, but learns differently when she uses the "R" word. Meanwhile, a wary JJ bonds with someone who is sick of being the center of attention at school functions.

C-A-- CAMP
As the family readies for their flight to JJ's camp, Maya gets a surprise at the airport. Ray sees the summer as an opportunity to reinvent himself while Jimmy and Dylan turn the trip to camp into a father/daughter bonding moment.