Saturday, December 27, 2014

Update and brief review of the movie Belle

I hope everyone is enjoying Happy Holidays. As we are entering 2015, my Movie, Fashion & Music Reviews United blog has stayed dormant for so long. It is my hope to become more consistent with postings in this New Year. So much has happened. I have not one but two wonderful children now! They are sweet and loving two & four year old boys. While very busy with them, I have occasionally tried to post at the other writing platform I use. My profile link is journey.hubpages.com. There, you'll especially find a lot of recipes for food that I cook for my husband and children.

While I still pay attention to the current trends in men and women's fashion and occasionally purchase some nice items for my husband and me, I have become enthusiastic about the adorable fashion finds that are out there for my little boys. I also love a great bargain!

Please follow my blog to learn more as I share information about some of the best sales I have encountered to stretch the clothing budget farther. It feels good to provide the clothing your children need, while finding cutest fashions and saving money.

I've also been watching more movies geared especially toward children as I watch them with my little ones. So, I can only write what I know. It has been a really long time since I've watched any of the current mainstream Hollywood movies so I can't really comment in movie reviews.

Occasionally, I will rent a movie that is not specifically geared to children from the Red Box & watch it after they have gone to bed but there is not much time for that. The common advice given to mothers of infants and toddlers is "sleep when they sleep" and that is so true. I try to get my rest. It is not always easy when we have a lot of important things to get done but in my opinion, it is better to go to sleep instead of staying up to watch the movies or television. Finding extra leisure & entertainment time is not worth sacrificing sleep when you have to wake up early the next morning. I was not always necessarily onboard with such an ideology but I sure am now.

Nevertheless, I will always like the movies, especially the most meaningful ones. The last one that I was actually able to see from the Red Box was based on true history and films like these are of course important to provoke thought,discussion and remembrance more so than the feeling of being entertained. There is merit to the educational element as some viewers of the film surely learn much about historical information that may have once been obscure to them.:

Belle, rated PG, not visually illustrating the violence of slavery but narrating the tragedy of it...

The movie does not have disturbing scenes of violence. It speaks of the blossoming love story between a young Lawyer and a woman who was the niece of the chief Judge of the Supreme Court of the land (Britain in the late 1700s), The niece, Dido Belle, was a biracial woman left in her Uncle's care by her father after her mother died. Her father and uncle were White. Her mother had been a Black slave.

Upon reaching her Uncle's estate, Belle in many ways lived a very privileged & entitled life but it was still made clear to her that the color of her skin would cause her obstacles. The trauma of this made her very disturbed and self deprecating, at times wanting to rub off the color of her skin! She battled between trying to keep her confidence and despising the sight of herself in the mirror.

The penetrating race dynamics were highlighted for example in Belle's relationship with the Caucasian cousin raised alongside her like her sister, who was also left to be raised by her Uncle. Additionally, Belle was not able to eat meals with the family when they had company. She was not encouraged to eat dinner with the hired help such as the cooks OR with her family so for her, this was a time of feeling very alone.

Belle's bond with the young Lawyer began as he was under the tutelage of her Uncle. His passion for true justice caused him to be at odds with her Uncle namely as a verdict was being sought in the case of the Zong massacre. Belle's life of privilege had caused her to be naïve to many of the realities of slavery beyond the walls she lived in but she was deeply affected as she began to learn more. Her love for her mother and her heritage caused her to naturally become passionate about the horrific issue. In the past, before watching this film, I have written some about the Zong here: http://journey.hubpages.com/hub/Slavery-The-Zong-Massacre

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....Additionally....and what do you know, I am admittedly not the huge music fan I once was either. More than mainstream/popular/secular music, I now listen mainly to soothing tunes, gospel music & of course lullabies and nursery rhymes to share with my kids.

As I have settled into motherhood, I feel truly blessed. God is first for me & family is truly second. Spending that time with them & sharing experiences with them is priceless. Naturally therefore, I will be shifting the content of the blog to focus more on things geared toward children because now that is what I know most about in the latest trends.

So, I did not start writing this post intending to announce that my blog will change to a child focused and family oriented blog but inevitably it will. Take good care. Talk to you soon.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

2012 Prom Dresses

While writing as Journey * on HubPages for the past 3 years, I have included annual articles regarding prom dresses. They have been opinion pieces on what I have considered to be some of the most beautiful prom dresses available on the market for the respective years.

I recently wrote about the prettiest prom dresses for 2012. Please see the article here.:

http://journey.hubpages.com/hub/Top-Ten-Spring-2012-Prom-Dresses

I hope it is helpful to you if you are getting ready for prom or you are a parent helping your teen to get ready for prom!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Joshua Ledet - American Idol star

Joshua Ledet gave an amazing performance of the song When a Man Loves a Woman on this evening's episode of American Idol. Contestants were asked to perform a song from the year they were born. Joshua, the youngest of 8 children in his family chose to sing Michael Bolton's version of the Percy Sledge original When a Man Loves a Woman. All of the show's judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson agree that Joshua's performance was excellent and should keep him safest from elimination among all the contestants this week! I totally agree.

They also thought Holly Cavanaugh's performance of Celene Dion's The Power of Love was one of this evening's best performances. I agree with that too.

Cheers. Until next time.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Season 10 of American Idol

Season 10 of American Idol is shaping up quite nicely with some truly talented individuals as contestants. Things are also progressing quickly as the first eliminations from the top 13 contestants (10 chosen by the public plus 3 given a "second chance" by the judges, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson) have already occured.

Regardless of how well they can sing, some contestants seem to have more stage presence than others. What they call that star power or It factor. I can definitely picture some of them as becoming more famous celebrities before others. For example, while Jessica Sanchez is a great American Idol singer with an awesome voice in her rendition of Whitney Houston's greatest hit song I Will Always Love You, Colton and Skylar are both examples of contestants with great stage presence. We've got to keep in mind that Jessica is also younger and the more mature contestants seem to have more of a command on stage.

Nevertheless, none should be underestimated. The show has been known to help contestants undergo makeovers in wardrobe, hair and makeup to achieve that superstar appearance:-)

One of the things I have been enjoying on the show is the revival of a lot of great classic and hit songs. We the tv audience are reminded of how wonderful some of these songs are that we haven't heard in such a long time.

We know that Ray Charles' song Georgia as well as many songs by Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston have been highlighted during the competition but one of my favorite songs to hear that I hadn't heard in so long and I started listening to again on YouTube is a song that was played by Colton earlier in the competition.

It is Coldplay's Fix You. Beautiful. Here is the video for you to enjoy.



Lauren by Ralph Lauren Handbag

photo credit: ralphlauren.com

As featured in the April 2012 issue of Essence magazine dedicated to the late singer Whitney Houston, there is a pale yellow Ralph Lauren handbag that is absolutely beautiful for spring. I have added it to my fashion wish list.

In anticipation of what it might cost, I played the game of The Price is Right in my head:) before looking the handbag up online. I looked for this specific bag at the Ralph Lauren website but could not find it.

Then I checked back at the ad in the Essence magazine issue and it turns out that it is "premiering" on April 2nd. Let's be on the look out for this beautiful bag!

Meanwhile, pictured above here is a similar bag (not the same) in brown that I found on the website. It retails at over $300 which was not a surprise but while pricey, we know that these fine leather goods can potentially last a lifetime. This bag is the Bermondsey Leather Shopper in Lauren Tan.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Another shout out to Old Navy

photo credit:oldnavy.com
photo credit: oldnavy.com
I also love Old Navy's socks for toddlers. I last had the 8 pack costing $12 which I received as a gift and I liked them so much, I was headed to the website to stock up on some more. At the website, I found an even better deal that I decided to go with. For just $1 for each pair, I got several pairs of both of these super cute socks instead. Eight pairs of these would only be $8 and I don't hesitate to stock up on several pairs of the same socks. In case sides go missing, you always have another!

Best jeans for toddlers

photo credit: oldnavy.com

I am really happy with the Old Navy loose fit toddler jeans for my little one. They are very fashionable. They look so trendy. Baby won't care what he's wearing but he'll always be in style:)

Regular price was $16 a pair. I was excited to recently get them on sale for $10 per pair. I stocked up for sure on sizes 2T and 3T. You can check back with Old Navy periodically to look for this great deal.

$10 was really the lowest price I have ever seen them. They are currently $12 each for 2 pairs or regular price for one pair. Regular price is now up from $16 to $16.94.

Hanes Her Way is on sale at Walgreens

visit walgreens.com for an excellent deal on Hanes underwear for women OR men.

More practical than fashionable perhaps, these are nevertheless an awesome buy and now is a great time to stock up.

3 pack of ladies panties for $7.97. Buy one get one free. That's six panties for $7.97. A great BOGO deal.

Similar deals on boxers for men.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Color for Summer - Todays Fashion Find - Maxstudio Dress

As featured in the June 2011 issue of Marie Claire magazine, this Maxstudio dress, is a brilliant and daring green color, perfectly bold for wearing during the summer months. Of all the items featured in the fashion pages of this June issue of Marie Claire, this piece is my favorite. It is available at maxstudio.com for $128 in other colors including black but the green is my own favorite. Available in sizes S-XL, it is currently sold out but keep checking back if you are interested in this great dress, obviously a popular item. Click on the "long dress" link below to view.

Long Dress

Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day Shopping - Today's Fashion Find (Plus Size)

(photo credit: igigi.com)
I'm greatly impressed by the structure and classy look of the clothing at igigi.com. As many of the users of the site comment, you can find plus size fashion there without compromising style. You can find an unbeatable deal in affordability if you shop the clearance and final sales merchandise. The dress above is one dress that is currently available for just over $30! You must however be a size 22/24 or above. As of today, those are the only sizes left available.
Happy shopping!

Friday, January 28, 2011

American Idol Auditions

Hope you are enjoying a happy new year so far. Blog posts will become more regular than they were in 2010. Here is the post for the day.:

The majority of Americans seem to enjoy the reality talent shows such as American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance and Live to Dance. The latest season of American Idol is off to a great start. Paula Abdul has left the cast of judges to headline her own show, Live to Dance and the newest lineup of American Idol judges include Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. Randy has been on the cast since season 1.

Just as the majority of Americans may like the American Idol show, the majority of them may have been touched by 26 year old Chris Medina's story and his audition. He sang beautifully. His song of choice was Break Even by The Script. The popularity of this already popular 2009 song will surely be revived as Chris sings it on television in 2011.

The lyrics of the song are heartbreaking with lines about lack of faith and hope and love lost. Nevertheless, as Chris's own story is featured on the American Idol show, there is video footage of a banner held high on the wall in his home, stating "I believe in miracles" a declaration of faith and hope even during difficult circumstances.



Friday, May 14, 2010

Fashion Find of the Day - Prom Dresses

Edressme (edressme.com) has prom dresses currently up to 90% off. There are some really pretty ones in the collection and most cost about $75. Happy shopping!


Photo credit: edressme.com

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Fashion find of the day - Bella's Birthday Dress from Twilight New Moon Movie

I bet you thought this blog was abandoned but I promise it isn't however rare the new posts might become. Here is a fabulous fashion find that I am excited about and thought I would share. We all know about the Twilight phenomenon. This fashion find is inspired by the Twilight New Moon movie. It is a rendition of the dress the character Bella wears at her birthday party. Available at Torrid (torrid.com), the original price is $128 currently on sale for $47.97


Photo credit: torrid.com

In the trailer below, see the dress as featured in the movie. I really like its shimmery olive green color and detail.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Yellow Tunics

Technorati Profile




I haven't posted in a little while, but today I'll make one last note about Slumdog Millionaire! As with my film review of the movie Australia, when I watched Slumdog Millionaire, I took notice of the fashion. I know I'm not the only one. A lot of filmgoers were left talking about Latika's ( Frieda Pinto ) wadrobe after watching this film. Turns out the color yellow purposefully surrounded this character during the film- both for the character Latika as a child and for her as an adult.
She wears a yellow dress in childhood scenes. Later as an adult, she wears a one-of-a-kind yellow scarf designed by Suttirat Anne Larlarb who says, "I wanted to bookend the journey—to tie her childhood yellow dress to her final look." That is according to the wikipedia biography of the film, which credits Lindsay Soll, "Finders Keepers," Entertainment Weekly 1029 (9 January 2009), 10.

What I've noticed is the lovely sleeveless tunic Latika wears in the film release poster. One could say it is in the yellow orange family. Anyway, it inspired me to talk about yellow tunics for the fashion feature of Slumdog Millionaire, just as I featured fashion finds inspired by the movie Australia not too long ago.

Here are my top choices of yellow tunic fashion finds!






The 5 choices above, from top to bottom are:

1. indianselections.com offers the mustard art silk designer tunic or kurti for $59.99 (photo credit: indianselections.com)

2. Choice #2 comes from Neiman Marcus. It is an embellished yellow tunic with a beaded neck. It is imported silk / cotton and on sale for $114 (photo credit: neiman marcus.com)

3. My next choice is from a great place to shop - Bluefly. The chanterelle pointelle sleeveless tunic at a cost of $55.99. It is available in sizes XS, S, M, and L.
(pho credit: bluefly.com)

4. The yellow square neck 3/4 sleeve length cotton embellished tunic (available in petite, tall and misses sizes XS-3X) by Lissom. It is currently unavailable at amazon.com but that seems to be where to find it if it becomes available again.
(photo credit: amazon.com)

5. The Slinky Brand Tropical Experience 3/4 Sleeve tunic available at HSN. The latest clearance price is $49 while the HSN price is $59.90 with a savings of $10.00. Great deal!
(photo credit: fashion.hsn.com)

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Slumdog Millionaire Film Review

U.K. Theatrical Release Poster


I have posted in the past to discuss Slumdog Millionaire's 8 oscar wins and the fact that it has been a critically acclaimed movie, but now for the first time, I am posting an actual review of the film. Available on DVD as of March 31st, Slumdog Millionaire is a great film to watch if you haven't caught it yet. I recently rented it from the Red Box (www.redbox.com) and I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

DVD Cover



The film's main characters are Salim, Jamal, and Latika. They know each other since childhood when they become orphans in the Mumbai slums, through a rampage (religious uprising) that kills many adults including all of their respective parents. Salim and Jamal are brothers. On the night that they become orphaned, they find shelter in the rain. Jamal looks out from under the cover and sees Latika standing there, drenched. Jamal considered his brother Salim and himself to be the two musketeers. He begs Salim to allow Latika to join them under the shelter. "She can be our third musketeer", he says. Salim is opposed to it, but Latika stills joins them and quietly thanks Jamal as they all try to get some sleep. Shortly after, as they continue to live in qualor, some men come and offer them soda pop. The men remark on what a hot day it is and lure the children away from where they are and into a van.

They are taken on a ride to a camp of sorts where there are many other children like themselves and they are offered a meal. The kids say to themselves, these men must be saints, especially if they offer us second helpings of food. It is not long before the kids learn that these men are not saints. They are inherently evil. They are training all these children to become beggars on the street and will collect the spoils. They tell the children to sing for their earnings. But it does not stop there. They believe that handicapped, maimed and weak children will get more pity and receive more money when they beg, so they literally go about torturing children by blinding them to achieve this. That is when Salim, who witnesses another child being blinded, realizes that he need to get his brother, Jamal and Latika out of this situation. The three of them run away and it is one of many intense scenes in the film. Will they be caught? The children running to hop a train and get away from these terrible men is very suspenseful indeed.

WARNING- SPOILERS BELOW:

Of the three, Latika gets left behind, unable to hop on the train and caught by the men in pursuit. Jamal is bitterly remorseful and wants to go back to rescue Latika. Salim says that if they do, they are as good as dead. Jamal never forget Latika. Even though he was a young child at the time, he loved her since then.

Jamal and Salim continue on many life adventures, some of them quite comical in their struggle to survive. For example, the train stops at the Taj Mahal, which they have never seen before. They disembark and find themselves remaining in the Taj Mahal area for quite sometime, even posing as tour guides to earn some money.

When the opportunity arises years later, Jamal wants to go back to find Latika and goes around asking questions that will lead to her. Once again, Salim does not think it is wise, but goes along with his brother.

They once again encounter the gangsters they had escaped from as children. This time they are able to rescue Latika who is held by the gangsters, but at a price. Salim shoots the head of the gangsters and is forever changed. From that point on, he thinks that violence gives him power and he even lures it over the heads of Jamal and Latika. This makes the reunion of the three a dismal one. Jamal and Latika become Salim's victims. It is now Salim who takes Latika away from Jamal and again more years are to go by where Jamal is unable to see Latika. There are in fact 3 actors who play each of the respective roles. (9 actors in all- each of the 3 characters as a child, a teenager and an adult.)

When they are grown, Jamal learns that Salim has been working for yet another gangster who lauded him for shooting his enemy by saying, "An enemy of my enemy is a friend." This gangster now has Latika as a mistress. Jamal does not give up. He sees the circumstance as beyond Latika's control and does not blame her. He still loves her.

Jamal poses as a cook/dishwasher to enter the home of the gangster so that he could speak with Latika. She tries to convince him that it is too late for them. He also prepares a terrible sandwich that get him kicked out of the house. What kind of cook is he? Before he goes, he notices that Latika is watching "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and loves the show.

In the lifelong pursuit to connect with Latika, Jamal goes on the show as a contestant hoping that Latika will be watching. Interestingly enough, the series of flashbacks surrounding the movie are where Jamal finds his answers to each question. Some simple and some momentous childhood memories are where each answer on the game show can be found. This is how he, an uneducated boy from poor circumstances is able to do so well on the game show, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire". Because he is so successful, he is doubted and accused of fraud. The very first scene of the film shows his being apprehended, questions and even tortured by the authorities. The sequence of his memories make up the story that he tells them to prove his innocence. When he is finally released and allowed to return to the game show, he has just one question left to answer for the big win!....Will he win? Will Latika learn of his fame, find him and reunite with him? What will become of Salim who learns his wrongs and is seeking forgiveness and redemption?

This is an adventurous and suspenseful film. At the root, it is both sad and triumphant. It is also highly entertaining. More than anything else, it is a love story and makes us think about true love conquering all and overcoming any adversity. After all the dark moments, the final scene upon which the credits roll is even a joyful dance performed by all the cast, seemingly inappropriate but then again not so much so. At the end of the day, it really is a "feel good movie".

I Rate it 5/5 ***** stars
Rated R
Running Time: 120 minutes
From Fox Searchlight Pictures in association with Warner Bros. Pictures (USA)
Directed by: Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan
Written by: Simon Beaufoy
Produced by: Christian Colson
Starring: Dev Patel (as older Jamal), Tanay Chheda (as teenage Jamal), Ayush Mahesh Khedekar (as young Jamal), Frieda Pinto (as older Latika), Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar (as teenage Latika), Rubina Ali (as young Latika), Madhur Mittal (as older Salim), Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala (as teenage Salim), Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail (as young Salim), Anil Kapoor (as Who Wants to be a Millionaire game show host, Prem Kumar), Irrfan Khan as the Police Inspector, and others
Music by: A.R. Rahman