"born to amuse, to inspire, to delight."

R.I.P Michael Jackson

:(

I was shocked today when I read that Michael Jackson had died. When I checked my email before getting ready to go out, I'd seen on msn.com that he'd been rushed to hospital (that's all the headline said at that point) and I didn't even click on it because I figured it was just exhaustion or something, getting ready for his tour. But then as I was leaving I read on twitter, then facebook, all of the updates from people. It's so out of the blue.. he was so young, and leaves behind his children and other family.

I've always been a bit behind the ball when it came to pop music. My parents never really listened to anything other than classical music. Even nowadays I don't listen to radio so often when I discover something people will tell me it is in the top 10 and overplayed on radio stations. So I really fell in love with Michael Jackson's music with this song:

"Childhood" from the HIStory album. My brother and I went to see Free Willy 2 and I made him sit through the credits because I loved the song. I didn't even know who it was by! I then begged for the cds for Christmas that year (1995). I ended up getting the cassette tapes (we barely had any cds at that point) and I listened to those soooo much. I still remember several conversations I had about MJ with several select new friends who were also huge fans, when I started high school the following year. Sure, I had heard Michael's music before then. We often did our primary school aerobics to "Black Or White":



But i hadn't grown up listening to his music, and he never made such an impact on me before as he made with that 2 disc album. For everyone though, his music was and is so well known and popular. It's been used in movies, those that first sprang to mind were Center Stage ("The Way You Make Me Feel"):

and 13 Going On 30 ("Thriller"):



Within the last few years I fell back in love with the dancier side of Michael's music. I, like the boys I took care of, loved the new release of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" ft. Akon:

But it is honestly his (probably less popular style) ballads that are my very favorites. I loved "Little Susie" for a long time. Also, "Earth Song":

And, OF COURSE, "Heal The World":

Rest In Peace MJ. You and your amazing gifts will be missed.

xoxo
Mandy

9/35

I took this quiz from Peeptoe Pumps & Pearls. I didn't really think that I would do great on this quiz. Just remember that I've only lived on my own in this country for only a year, and that I'm living somewhere where I know only a handful of people, none of whom live closer than an hour away from me! Okay, excuses aside, I scored 9 out of a total of 35.

Let me know if any of you do this quiz... and I hope you do better than me! I'm sure most of you will.

Are you a Hospitality Queen?

Give yourself one point for every question you answer “yes”.

(My answers are in purple.)

1. Cooked supper last night. Supper = Dinner? Then yes I did. Let's just not ask me what it was. Haha.

2. Have at least one apron. Nope.

3. Make weekly menus to grocery shop from. No.

4. Consider the color of food when you prepare a meal. Yes. A rainbow of veggies is good.

5. Light candles in your home daily. Well, I did in the winter. Can that count? I think so, because it is far too hot to light them daily during warmer seasons in Los Angeles in an unairconditioned apartment.

6. Have at least 10 cookbooks. BONUS Add 5 points if you cook from at least 5 of them! No. I have 1 and I have never cooked from it.

7. Have something in your refrigerator/pantry right now that you could prepare a whole meal. Yes, of course.

8. Know how to make a cheese sauce. (Not melted Velveeta). No. But then, why would I want to know how to make a cheese sauce?

9. Have at least 3 different sets of matching napkins/placemats. No.

10. Have more than 2 sets of dishes. No!

11. Enjoy reading cookbooks like others enjoy reading magazines/novels. Yes, if they are around.

12. Entertained in your home within the last month. Yes! Hooray. See my last post. I'm going to count that as entertaining.

13. Worked in your yard/garden this last week. No. I don't have one.

14. Know what you are serving for breakfast in the morning. Yes. Hahaha. I need to post off my health insurance cheque, so I'm walking to the mailbox and getting an iced venti non fat latte with sweetener for breakfast.

15. Know how to make a curtain - mistreatments count! No...

16. Ever copied a décor idea from someone else. BONUS Add 5 points if someone has copied an idea from you. Yes, I have copied from someone else.

17. Play background music when entertaining. Of course! It's the most exciting/important thing about preparing to have people over.. making a playlist.

18. Ever crafted your own flower arrangement. BONUS Add 5 points if you used fresh cut flowers from your own garden/yard. No.

19. Baked something from scratch within the last month. No. I don't bake.

20. Updated your home for summer. No.

xoxo
Mandy

Visitors

Princess and her mom came over to hang out at my apartment a few days ago. It was wonderful to finally have someone close to me visit my place. No one has been here before, aside from 2 people I don't know very well. Another bonus about the visit was that it made me do an intense clean/tidy, which I hadn't done for a while. I am going to try to keep my place looking so great - it's so much nicer to be in at the moment! I prefer having a clean environment but I'm not very good at motivating myself to keep it super clean just for myself.

My neighbour's cat has pretty much adopted my place as his own, and he hung out the whole day with us. He loved the attention from Princess and her mom, who loved him as well. So we played with/cuddled the cat, watched a movie (102 Dalmations), played the Wii, and other random things. Hopefully they will come out and visit again soon.. When the weather gets warmer we can go to the beach!

xoxo
Mandy

T Swizzle, T Pizzle

I just started watching the CMT Awards from last night. I had to share this video - it's hilarious!

I should probably give the background information for those who didn't see it. The opening sequence to the award show has Taylor Swift talking about how so many of her dreams have come true, and therefore how everything that she dreams about MUST come true. It cuts to several dream sequences in true award show skit fashion. She places herself in the new Star Trek movie, and in this rap video:

Taylor Swift ft. T Pain - "Thug Story"



xoxo
Mandy

New Regina Spektor!!

Regina Spektor's new album comes out next Tuesday. I highly recommend it! I discovered her shortly after her last album was released and have been waiting so long for the new one. Wonderful lyrics, unique and beautiful vocals.. her music is amazing. There are three music videos currently out from the new album, "Far":

"Laughing With"



"Eet"



and "Dance Anthem of the 80s"



Hope you enjoy.. and get the album!

xoxo
Mandy

I live here, dangflabbit!!!

A FedEx delivery just came at this place where I'm housesitting. The puppy barked like crazy, like she always does when someone rings the doorbell. I went to answer the door:

FedEx Woman: Sign here please... don't let the dog out!
Me: It's okay, she's gated in with baby gates.
FedEx: Last name please?
Me: ******** (gives it, then explains) I'm housesitting.
FedEx: Oh, right. Are you from England?
Me: No, Australia. I live here now though.
FedEx: Oh nice. Enjoy your trip!!

Just another example of this stupidity crap I deal with all the time.

"Countrify then hip-hop it!"

The Hannah Montana movie is finally out!! I saw it for the first time (yes, you read that right.. I will be seeing it again) on Monday and it was awesome. Really really cute.
So, in honor of Miss Miley and the gang, here is some of the music from the movie.

Hannah Montana - "Let's Get Crazy":


Billy Ray Cyrus - "Back To Tennessee":


Taylor Swift - "Crazier":


And, of course, Miley Cyrus - "Hoedown Throwdown":


Now, everyone go out and see the movie. ;p

xoxo
Mandy