30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 23

I love this book so much! I will never be able to stop reading this book! Since being assigned to read it my senior year of high school, I have read it about a thousand times on my own!

For those of you who haven't read it, or said you read it but didn't really, I'll explain the plot. Elizabeth Bennet is the main character of this romance. She is the second daughter in a family of all girls, and her mother is determined to get all her daughters married off to handsome, rich young gentlemen. When the story opens, there is a new man who has moved into town, Mr. Bingley. With him he has brought a mysterious Mr. Darcy, a man who's gruff manners and prideful demeanor soon make him very disliked in the town, especially by Elizabeth. 

The story is one of love and how we can be blinded by first impressions. It is a satirical comedy, pointing out the flaws of the dating rituals and expectations of early 19th century England. It also highlights how a young independent type of girl might be looked upon by those around her at the time.

This book makes me laugh out loud and cry. I want so much to find the kind of love both Elizabeth and Jane experience. (Not to ruin the book for you, but I would also love to be able to find my own Mr. Darcy.)

I highly recommend this book! If you want to know the story without reading (crazy...) I would suggest the BBC version starring Colin Firth, which is almost exactly the book word for word. The newer movie starring Keira Knightly is good, but I don't feel like it reflect the book as well.

Happy reading!

--Lexi Lou

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 6

Day 6: A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day...

For those of you who don't know, this is Shirley Temple. She was my idol when I was a child. I made my mom put me in curlers every night so I could look like her. I had a sing a long tape with just her songs on it. I told people that I was going to be the next Shirley Temple! 

Shirley led an awesome life. She was in her first film, a series of what they were calling "Baby Burlesks", when she was three(1931)! Her first big movie was Stand Up and Cheer. Her acting and dancing career sky rocketed and lasted until 1961. She starred in a total of 43 feature films, not to mention the 14 short films and 25 story book movies she also starred in. In her later years she became involved in politics, being a representative to the UN, ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia, and the first woman to be U.S. Chief of Protocol. 

Shirley always made me believe that my dreams could come true. I wanted to be an actress on the big screen. Since I'm older, more realistic, and realize that's not going to happen, she still inspires me to do my best and sing my troubles away. 

This is a video of one of my favorite songs of hers. I wish I could get the video of me singing it when I was really little online. Maybe I'll have to make that a project for another day. 

--Lexi Lou

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 3

Day 3: A picture of the cast from your favorite show...

Moulin Rouge! (pronounced Moo-lawn Rooj, for those who don't know) This show stars my two favorite actors, Ewan McGregor (middle left) and Nicole Kidman (middle right). They play a penniless writer and a courtesan who fall in love against all odds, only to be separated by a rich and powerful Duke and (eventually) a disease which neither know about. I don't want to spoil the ending, but its a tear jerker. I love it!
What I really love most about this movie is the music! The songs are compilations of songs from musicals or pop culture revamped to fit this show. My favorite is the Elephant Love Medley (named so because it is sung in a building shaped like an elephant), which are love songs remixed. The song includes "Love Is Like Oxygen" - Sweet (band), "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing" - The Four Aces, "Up Where We Belong" - Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes, "All You Need Is Love" - The Beatles, "Lover's Game" - Chris Isaak, "I Was Made For Lovin' You" - Kiss, "One More Night" - Phil Collins, "Pride (In The Name Of Love)" - U2, "Don't Leave Me This Way" - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, "Silly Love Songs" - Paul McCartney and Wings, "Heroes" - David Bowie,  "I Will Always Love You" - Dolly Parton (and later by Whitney Houston), and "Your Song" - Elton John. So obviously, this song is a great one! The weirdest song in the show would probably be the Duke and Harry Zidler (middle in the picture) singing Madonna's "Like a Virgin".

Anyways, its an AWESOME show and you should all go out and see it! I love love love love love love love this movie!

--Lexi Lou