We Have A Winner!

Well, folks - it's official!  Last night produced a winner of So You Think You Can Dance Season 8, and I couldn't have been happier about America's selection!

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Season 8 Winner Melanie Moore - she was deemed the original "beast" of this season, and she showcased insane talent in pretty much every number she danced in.  She not only is a brilliant technician, but she also brings a high level of performance and character awareness to her dancing, and that is a difficult skill to master - especially when you're only nineteen years old.

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This post is a tribute to her greatness, so I figured it would only be right to bring some of the numbers of hers that I loved best to all of you.  Dance fans, enjoy!

Melanie & partner Marko - "I Got You" - hiphop routine by Tabitha & Napoleon


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Melanie & partner Sasha - "Girl Power" - lyrical jazz routine by Sonya Tayeh


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Melanie & partner Neil - "Total Eclipse of the Heart" - contemporary routine by Mandy Moore


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And what would my blog be if I didn't give a tip of my hat to choreographer (and SYTYCD Season Two Runner Up) Travis Wall for this absolutely breathtaking concept piece?

Melanie & partner Marko - "Turn To Stone" - contemporary (WEEK ONE!!!) routine by Travis Wall


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Congratulations again to Melanie Moore on the big win - but also to all of the other Season 8 contestants - this is not the end of the road for you.  All of you possess something so magical and so special and it's now your time to share your light with the world!

And as a closing note, I must express my deepest thanks to Executive Producer, Nigel Lythgoe, and his team of dance soldiers for continuing this amazing program for eight seasons now. As someone who was enrolled in dance classes for fifteen years of her life, I know exactly what dance can do - the joy it can bring, the focus it cultivates, the athleticism and exercise that come as part of the process - dance NEEDS to be a constant in the world today. Kids and adults alike need to be able to get up and DANCE and make the world a better place, and I am so happy to see dance get the credit and attention it deserves.

From showcasing the world's most talented choreographers, to having judges on the panel who actually know how to properly critique a dancer (and consequently prepare them for the real world - professional dance is nothing if not cutthroat), and also creating a national holiday centered around dance (National Dance Day = July 31st, y'all!),  So You Think You Can Dance is a trailblazer in the industry! The show has proven results - contestants on this program book jobs, and as a dancer - that is always the goal.

Hats off to all of you!

Until next time,

Fun For Friday!

Okay, so my cousin posted the link to this video today and I thought it was equal parts adorable and hilarious and I wanted to share it with all of you!  As you probably have been able to deduce by the obsession I have with my furbabies, I believe dogs make the world a better place.  There is no better feeling than coming home and having furry creatures bark, wag their tails, and spin in circles - just because you came home!

Meet Carrie the golden retriever from Chile! She is a sassy little thing - look at those hips go! I think that Dancing With The Stars or So You Think You Can Dance should totally have her and her person, Jose, on their shows as special guests! She is obviously a very smart, spirited, and talented girl!


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Happy Friday, everyone!!!

Until next time,

Today Is A Great Day

Well, Peeps!  Today is a great day.  Why, you ask?  Well, today is great for two reasons.  The first is that TODAY IS LITTLE SISTER CHICKEN WING'S TWENTY-FOURTH BIRTHDAY!  WOO HOO!!!!

Who doesn't love a good birthday now and then?  So, to celebrate via the blog, I thought I would create a picture montage of the most ridiculous variety in honor of my sister!  Here goes nothing, and a big THANK YOU to FaceInHole.com for being more than a little awesome.

One of our favorite childhood activities? Playing BARBIES!

We have danced in multiple recitals together!

Even though Little Sister CW usually goes for lean men,

and I usually go for men of the stronger variety,

neither of us can deny our love of the Beebs. Just sayin.

We love watching crap TV - Bring on the Wingashians!

We will be each others' maid of honor someday if we don't kill each other first!

And if we do kill each other, hopefully someone won't turn us into Chicken Nuggets!

I hope you enjoyed this ridiculous picture journey, Little Sister Chicken Wing!  I love you and hope you have the best twenty-fourth birthday ever!  I hope this year will be epic and that it will bring only good things your way!

The other reason that today is a good day is because my favorite show, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, is well underway!  Last night was the very first competitive performance show and holy bologna, if that episode was indicative of how this season is going to go - we have our work cut out for us!  Season Eight's bench is STACKED with talent - probably the most talent in one season that has ever been in the history of the show!  Don't believe me?  Check out this AHH-MAZING statue routine, choreographed by Travis Wall (of Season 2), set to a song by Ingrid Michaelson, and danced by Melanie Moore and Marko Germar:


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Like I said - AHH-MAZING! Love doesn't even begin to describe it! I can't wait to see how the season progresses and how the dancers develop even further! And that is why today is a great day!

Until next time,

I Am Addicted

Top o' the morning to you, Peeps!  I hope you are all having a blessed and wonderful Monday morning (I know...I did just use the words 'wonderful' and 'Monday' in the same sentence intentionally - I do hope you are each having a great day). 

Let's jump right in.  Today's topic is addiction.  Now, this is not a laughing matter, so I don't want people to think that I'm making light of a serious situation.  Having an addiction to anything is really not the best case scenario, but I guess some addictions are better than others.

Comanche and I were taking some time to unwind yesterday after another exceptionally busy week/weekend. To be honest, it was a perfect evening - the two of us (and three dogs, if we're being honest) on the couch, chillaxing with Chinese takeout and conversation. He made the joke that I am addicted to funny things (well, they are funny to him).  Here was the list:  television, the computer, my dogs, and couponing.  LOL!  It does sounds humorous when said in list form.

But, I think he has a strong case.  Let's work through these one by one, because I'm completely fine with just "owning it."

1.  Television.

Okay, I'm guilty.  Throw the book at me.  I love TV.  Being as I work for a TV station, I feel as though it's my vital responsibility to partake in television shows regularly (and by regularly, I mean every.single.night.of.the.week).  I mean, who isn't excited for these shows this week?

Yes, please! Who will win?!?!

As far as this show goes, and as far as this season goes,

I give it a 10!



The suspense is killing me! SO glad Haley went home!



I DIE!!!!!   MAY 26TH!!!!!!!!  YAY!!!!!!  FAVE SHOW!!!!!

Cannot wait for this season finale on Wednesday!

Okay, so clearly my man has a point when it comes to being addicted to TV.  I'm not ashamed to admit it, and quiz me on any of these shows later.  You'll be impressed, I promise!

2.  The computer.

I'll go ahead and jump on this grenade, as well.  I have to use the computer every day at work, and obviously, when I get home, the computer provides me with a wealth of information.  I check my facebook, I blog (which is clearly the most important thing you have to read, so you're welcome), I pay bills online, I check movie times, I double and triple-check recipes and cooking instructions, and a multitude of other things.  I think those are more than justified reasons to be addicted to your computer/the internet.

3.  My dogs.

Duh.  There is no argument here.  Ask any mother, and she'll tell you that when she looks into the big eyes of her children, she feels compelled to make them happy.  Okay, maybe all mothers except for those of teenagers (or extremely fussy babies).  But, if you had fur-children that looked like this, you would totally understand:

Oh my gosh, why are you the cutest dogs that have ever lived?!?!?!?!?

4.  Couponing.

Okay, again, he's got me.  This is probably my newest addiction, and it's actually one I've been wanting to write about for some time now.  I just haven't had the time to do the kind of post I really want to be able to do.  So, I am going to make you wait for it.  I will be completely transparent here - my newest addiction does take quite a bit of time.  Quite a bit of time is something that I don't have (or maybe I would have if I could shift some of my other addictions around).  But, I will say this - I wouldn't allow myself to become addicted to couponing if I didn't see the value in it.  So you'll have to keep checking back for more - it might interest you more than you currently think it will.  ;)

In closing, "Hi.  My name is Chicken Wing, and I am an addict."

Until next time,

Reverb 10 - Prompt #12

December 12 – Body Integration. This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present? (Author: Patrick Reynolds)

For me, I haven't had too many moments of consistent body integration since I left the worlds of cheerleading and dance.  Growing up, I had practices and classes every single week, so I was completely integrated most of the time.  As you all know, when you grow up, you forget to make time for yourself because you're too busy making time for everyone else.

I started Zumba this year, and that has been a blessing!  It feels good to get back into a studio and dance my little heart out!  It feels good to live my life in eight-counts again.  It feels good to just F-O-C-U-S.  Focus on the music, focus on the instruction, focus on perfecting the movements.  I have a hard time with staying focused but you don't have too much of a choice when someone is telling you what to do, so I love that about Zumba.

Check out this video to see how fun it can be!


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Until next time,

My Newest Love

Clearly, I'm in love with love.  I love to love people, places, and things.  I also love for those same people, places, and things to love me back.

A few posts back, I told you a story of the romantic variety.  In this post, I would like to introduce you to my newest love.  He's rythymic, smooth, upbeat, joyous, hard-working, and loves to make me sweat.

Dirty?  No, he's

ZUMBA!!!!

A girlfriend of mine at work told me that she'd started going to the free class at our local YMCA.  She told me that the classes were twice a week and here's the kicker - they fell in the later evening, so I could actually attend!  Yessss!  I was really nervous for some reason, so I did a little research on what Zumba is.

According to Wikipedia.com: 

"Zumba is the name of a dance fitness program created by dancer and choreographer Beto in Colombia during the 1990s. Zumba was marketed by entrepreneur Alberto Perlman, who made the concept popular through dance classes as well as branded merchandise. The program combines Latin and international music with dance in an effort to make exercise fun. Zumba classes are offered through licensed instructors in more than 90,000 fitness center locations in 110 countries with ten million participants. DVDs are also available for learning at home. Classes and instructional DVDs use music based on salsa, merengue, cumbia, reggaeton, samba and other international music styles and forms. The Zumba program is recognized by the America's leading fitness educators, including the Aerobic Fitness Association of America, IDEA Health and Fitness Association, and the American Council on Exercise." Source


Want to see an example of what Zumba instruction looks like?  Click here.

So, I decided to check it out, and I fell head over heels in love!  I found that while it was a challenging workout, it wasn't too hard for me to comprehend the choreography.  Granted, I did feel as though I had a slight advantage since my mother enrolled me in dance classes at the ripe old age of two.  And, being as I stuck with it for 15 years, I was used to living my life in eight-counts.

If you like moderate cardio with the chance to shake your bon-bon, then Zumba might just be the form of exercise for you!  Plus, there are all women in our class so far, and it feels like a girl-time party to me!  The instructor was great, and after every number, the ladies all clapped and laughed. Seriously, this has got to be the only gym class where there were more smiles than smirks present!  I think that's saying something!

If you think you might be interested, I'd say give it a shot and try to find a class near you!  This type of workout has officially been declared

Until next time,

Good Music Alert!

As always, when I find goodness, I would much rather pass it along than keep it to myself.  Consider this another of my random acts of selflessness!  A friend of mine made me privvy to a music group that I think is fantastic!  They're called The Band Perry and the members are Kimberly, Neil, and Reed Perry, and they're siblings.  I happen to think that's awesome!

I wanted to share some of their songs with you, and I think you'll enjoy the slightly country, slightly indie inflections they bring to the table.  The songs are precious, and are pretty much guaranteed to get your attention.  So, let's not delay this any further - here we go!

First up, If I Die Young.

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Next, All Your Life.

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Third in the batter's box is a catchy diddy, Hip To My Heart.

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Finally, here's Postcard from Paris.

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I hope you like what you've heard so far.  The Band Perry's debut album drops October 12, which is right around the corner!  I think I'll be purchasing a copy and if you like them, I hope you do the same!  Also, be sure to check out their website to learn more about these up-and-coming superstars!

Until next time,

The Greatest Gift Of All

Clearly, everyone who has ever been on the internet is dying to know when my birthday is so they can send me a delightful gift.  After many denials of such vital information, I've decided to cave only because you all are so very important to me, and let's be honest, because I do love a delightful gift.  Yours truly was brought into this world on August 26th.  There, I said it.

Now, as far as gifts go, a girl could ask for sensible items such as ridiculously cute shoes, or that gorgeous new Coach purse.  She could ask for a fabulous dress that makes her feel like a million bucks, or she could ask for a new personal favorite gift of mine - a massage to get rid of all the stress in her life.  Some girls like a good book to curl up and read.  Some love things that are so sparkly they sear your corneas if you look directly at them.  (I'm not saying that I would say 'no' to that last one if you really, really wanted to give me that!) ;)

But this year, you will all have a very difficult time gifting me something better than my friend Nay has.  I'll tell you why.  She has beyond blessed me with the honor of standing beside her as she marries the absolute love of her life - her best friend, (and a good friend of mine), DK.

The thing about Nay is that, even though she is older than me, I've always been exceptionally protective over her.  She is genuinely one of the best people that has ever walked the face of this earth, and she is such a catch!  Lucky DK!  She is a fantastic cook, she is truly an artist (you should see her paintings), she does graphic design, she has a knack for looking flawless ALL THE TIME, and she is absolutely hysterical!  I mean, the girl will keep you rolling with her witty comments and one-liners.  Not to mention, she is absolutely GORGEOUS.  See?

Photo Credit:  Nay 

No matter what craziness we have encountered in the years that I've known her, she has always been there for me and she is one of the best listeners/advice givers I know.  I've always hoped and prayed that she would find the perfect man for her, and I am happy to say that I vividly remember the day that she did.

I was out at a fraternity party gathering at college, when all of a sudden, Nay ran up the stairs and said, "I have to tell you something."  So, we went to a place in the house that was more quiet, and she looked like she was about to pop!  I asked her what the deal was, and she immediately exclaimed, "I met someone!"  To be honest, I was in utter disbelief at first, because Nay just does not get super excited about men.  There were those that she liked, and those that she thought were attractive, but she expressed those things in a very reserved and nonchalant way.  This time was different.  So, naturally the next question I asked was, "Okay, well who is it?  Do I know him?"  She said that I did and that the guy she met was DK.

Photo Credit:  DK

Now, if I'm keeping it real, I was probably more in disbelief over this fact than the fact that she'd met someone.  Don't get me wrong - DK is an AMAZING guy.  But, he is also one of the last people you'd ever think Nay would go for (at first glance).  He was a member of one of the wildest most fun fraternities on campus and there were certain connotations that went along with that.  He was the lead singer of a band and just completely the opposite of what you would think Nay's type was (if you had asked me back then, I would have said, tall, dark, handsome, lawyer or do-gooder-type, possibly from a different country or world-traveled and cultured).

But here is what is important:  In the years that I had known her, I had never seen Nay light up the way she did when she talked about DK.  I knew in that very first moment that this one was different.  This one was special.  Like every couple, they had their ups and downs, but it was adorable to watch them all twitterpated, and it was awesome to see them as their relationship grew into a powerful and very real love.

So Cute!  Photo Credit:  DK

So, you can imagine my excitement when Nay called to tell me she was engaged, and she asked me to stand beside her as a bridesmaid.  I accepted with all the love and joy in my heart, and then she asked me if I would mind if she got married on my birthday.  Are you kidding me?  I get to hang out in a pretty dress, eat cake, dance and have dinner with tons of our friends, all while watching two people that I love so much committing their lives to one another?  YES PLEASE!  Sign me up for that!  I could think of no better way to spend my birthday than that.

So, that is why this year will be the best birthday ever!  I have to say a huge THANK YOU to Nay and DK for giving me the greatest gift of all - their love and friendship.  I could not be more proud if I tried, and I could not be happier for two people who deserve all the love and the happiness that life has to offer.  They are great for each other, and I am so incredibly excited to take part in their big day. 

Here's to friends!
Here's to love!
Here's to friends in love!

Until next time,

Flamenco Inspiration

It always fascinates me where I find inspiration because, much like this blog, completely random things get my creative juices flowing.  An example of this is my most recent inpsiration.  I was channel surfing the other day, and came across a show on one of the Discovery or Travel-type channels, and they were discussing the art of flamenco dancing. 

For those of you who might not be familiar with the art form, Wikipedia won't let you down:  "Flamenco is a style of music and dance which is considered part of the culture of Spain, although it is actually native to only one region: Andalusia.  It has often been claimed that these influences coalesced [...] in the 15th century. Flamenco is popularly depicted as being the music of Andulusian gitanos (gypsies). Other regions, mainly Extremadura and Murcia, have also contributed to the development of flamenco, and many flamenco artists have been born outside the gitano community. Latin American and especially Cuban influences have also contributed."  Source


When I think flamenco, I think the series of sharp, crisp movements paired with swirling arm motions.  I think of the dresses that the female dancers where, and that is where I draw the most inspiration.

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Something about Spanish style has always spoken to me, and flamenco calls out to me in the same way.  For example, here are some home finds that scream "FLAMENCO" to me.

Please excuse me while I wipe the drool off my keyboard.  Have you ever seen a shower curtain so luscious in your life?  Oh Anthropologie, you slay me.  Source

Adorable and ruffly - just the way I like it!  Source

"You can stand under my umbrella, ella, ella, ay, ay, ay."  Source

As you can see, there are tons of neat ways to incorporate art into your home.  If you have found any other flamenco-inspired items, please feel free to shoot them my way!  I'm always on the lookout and look forward to expanding my scope. 

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

We Are Family. I Got All My Sisters With Me!

After all the drama that had been furiously swirling around my life for the past few months, I knew there was only one thing that could pick me up better than anything else ever could.

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So, Little Sister Chicken Wing and I made the two-hour trek to our state's capital city to visit two of my sorority sisters from college.  For the sake of protecting the innocent, we'll call them Al and Little Bit! 

Al is a gorgeous, super fun lady who was kind enough to house the Sisters Chicken Wing for the evening, and she is always a blast to hang out with!  In college, she was one of the only girls who wasn't afraid to get out there and shake it with me!  She is amazing at her job, and literally touches people's lives every day.  I absolutely adore her and always will! 

Little Bit is my darling Little Sister in our sorority and is one of the most amazing ladies this world has to offer.  She has always been there for me, no matter what. We've shared so many good times together, including when I stood beside her in her absolutely beautiful wedding (where she married another of my good friends, whom we'll call The Law).  I would do anything in the world for this lady.

So, on this very special (and very much-needed) Ladies Night Out, we went to dinner at the same place we went to for Little Bit and The Law's rehearsal dinner, Maggiano's!  Oh my amazing Italian food!  After stuffing ourselves to the brim with salad, calamari, fried zucchini (YUM!), lasagna, gnocchi with tomato vodka sauce, eggplant parmesan, chicken parmesan, apple crostada, and New York cheesecake, we hit up the same establishment that we went to for Little Bit's Bachelorette Party with our food babies proudly on display.

Naturally, that meant we had to DANCE OFF DINNER.  That we did, my friends.  That we did for hours.  It had to have been 110 degrees in there, but we brought it!  Here are some photos from the night!  I would show you more, but we were hot messes when we left, and by hot messes, I mean severely sweaty.  Not a good look for the blog recaps!

Miss CW sitting in The Law's HOT car!  It's a Hyundai Genesis, and it was sweet action!

Cheers!  From left:  Al, Little Bit, Miss CW, Little Sister CW

At the end of the night, The Law (L) and our other friend Copper (R) showed up!  College reunion!

Showstoppin' Sisters

So, all in all, it was a top night!  We had fun, we kicked back, we laughed and recalled good times gone by.  I love these ladies so much, and sometimes, all you really need are your girlfriends to make it all better!

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

Playlist Need Updating???

Here is some completely random musical goodness, Peeps! Hopefully you can update your playlists and jam out all summer! I hope you all had a fantastic 4th of July holiday weekend!

Jewel - Stay Here Forever

Jewel More CMT Music More CMT Music Videos

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The Ready Set - Love Like Woe

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Christina Perri - Jar of Hearts

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The Dream - Love King

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Jewel - Satisfied

Jewel More CMT Music More CMT Music Videos

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Lil Jon ft. LMFAO - Outta Your Mind (Clean Version - let's keep it PG on the blog!)

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Florence and the Machine - Addicted to Love

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Prepare for some hip-shaking!
Sergio Mendes - Magalenha

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Lady Antebellum - Perfect Day

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Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

Holy Hotness, Batman! I Am Officially Excited...

...that one of my favorite shows premieres tonight!!!!!

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I've written about this show...ummm, quite a few times...and I always get SOOOO excited when it comes on, and for those of you who watch it - I don't know about you but I'm curious to see how the shake-up in the format is going to play out!

I love the fact that SYTYCD comes on right after Dancing With the Stars and American Idol finish up their seasons, and it leaves me without a gap of reality television greatness!

For all you SYTYCDancers out there, I'll follow up with my thoughts on the premiere soon!

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

They REALLY Care About Him!

Okay, so I've posted on a topic similar to this before here. It's no secret that I love the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, and so it touches me when people come together to honor him. He was the greatest entertainer of all time, in my opinion, and I think that one legacy he left behind was that no matter what you thought about him, you can't deny that he brought people together.

The ridiculously awesome videos that I'm going to share with you in this post are of a group of people who are now quite famous for their hard work and dedication in proving that fact. They've been dubbed the Filipino dancing inmates. Why? Well, because they are made up of 1,500 plus inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Cebu, Philippines, and they are amazing.

Description of video: A tribute performed by 1,500 CPDRC Inmates on June 27, 2009 in memory of Michael Jackson. Completed in 10 hours after receiving word that the King of Pop passed away. May he always be remembered. "Ben" and "I'll be there" were sung by Michael when he was still younger! "We are the World" was composed and organized by MJ.

Check out Thriller, below.

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Then, it was a general tribute to Michael Jackson, seen below.

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Then, they took on Dangerous.

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Now, they've given us "They Don't Really Care About Us."

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The reason why this one is special is because of the three obvious leaders of this group. The head of the operation is Travis Payne, Michael Jackson's longtime primary choreographer. With him are two dancers, Daniel Celebre and Dres Reid, who helped the inmates to learn one of the performances from THIS IS IT.

I think it's fantastic that they were able to do something constructive while in prison, and hey - they have given a great gift to the world. Every video makes you want to move - they hit everything wonderfully!

I definitely think MJ would be proud, and so touched that they chose to honor him through dance. I hope you enjoyed this, and if you know a Michael Jackson fan, send this post their way. I know that they'll enjoy it!

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

Chicken Wing Movie Review: This Is It

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This Chicken Wing Movie Review is one that touches my heart, as you all know that I am a HUGE Michael Jackson fan, and have been all my life. I wasn't sure what to expect out of this film as we pre-ordered our tickets to see the behind-the-scenes footage of the King of Pop's last show. In his words, it was a "curtain call," and as he told all of his fans, "This is it."

I don't think he could have ever realized how true those words would be when he uttered them, and to watch the movie, Momma Chicken Wing and I both agreed that it made us sad. Not sad because it was disappointing (it most certainly was not), but sad because the overwhelming feeling of "it wasn't his time" came over you.

After watching the film, I had no new revelations. I already knew how hard Michael Jackson worked to perfect his art - he was the pinnacle of entertainment. I already knew how passionate he was about his songs and his moves. I already knew how he championed many causes, the top two being protection and advocation of children, and preservation and sustenance of the planet we all call home.

What touched me was watching the "chosen ones," the dancers hand-picked from thousands to be extensions of the man himself while on stage, talk about what it meant to them to work with the King of Pop. Their love and admiration of this man was completely evident, and they were different ages, from different countries, and different ethnicities. They were a good picture of our world - a world that was touched by a gifted individual. The director, choreographer, vocal leader, music director, backup singers, and band members all discussed what an honor and a privilege it was to work with a man so "kind, generous, and dedicated."

I also loved the fact that Michael was taking this show to the next level - yes, it was going to feature songs that he made into record gold in years past, but he had added things to make them current and even better! To be frank, I would have probably considered giving my first born child to go to that show! (Just kidding, future first born child!) Bottom line: It would have been one of the highlights of my life - to see someone of that level of genius in his element for the last time.

Months ago, I took advantage of an opportunity to become a part of this movie by submitting my photo to the Michael Jackson: This Is It Fan Mosaic. Basically, they wanted to recreate the movie poster, and they wanted to make it out of the pictures of Michael Jackson's fans. I thought it was a really cool way to show your support of the artist, and I really was hoping that my photo would be selected. I wrote myself a note of the date in which to check the website.

Here is what the finished mosaic looks like (zoomed out, of course):

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Imagine my surprise and happiness when a search of the mosaic produced this:

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I was completely overjoyed that my photo had made it! I did some editing of the photo above so you could see just where my picture was placed (see the red arrow). All you had to do was search by name, country, or favorite Michael Jackson song (and believe me, that was a TOUGH one!). And, when you zoom in, you can see the thousands of pictures that they used to make this portrait of the man himself. It was a really cool experience that I am privileged to have had.

Basically, I will be buying the DVD of this show, and I hope that people who didn't understand MJ will watch it. There were many people whose only goal was to bring him down when he was alive. That is unfortunate, but there is nothing we can do about that now. He didn't let it beat him down. His priorities were his children, his family, his fans, his causes, his world. I think that he is a shining example of perseverence.

(I also think it's pretty cool that a 50 year old man can still dance better than twenty-somethings that idolize him!)

So, that's my biased wrap-up. :) I love the King of Pop, and I loved this movie. It gave me the chance to "see" him in concert. So, if you are a fan, or are just curious, take a look at it. You might just find yourself enjoying. You'll most likely find yourself singing along!

Until next time,

Miss Chicken Wing

A True Honor...

As my faithful followers know, I am a HUGE supporter of the FOX hit show So You Think You Can Dance and last night was their 99th episode (I cannot wait for tonight's show - 100 episodes is a big deal).

Sure, they featured special guest judge Ellen Degeneres, who was hilarious, as usual. But something happened last night that left me honored to have been watching the show.

One of the world's best choreographers, Tyce DiOrio, created a piece that moved absolutely everyone in the audience. He used the power of dance to bring awareness to breast cancer, which has affected so many people. It's hard to imagine knowing someone who hasn't had to deal with cancer of some form, and breast cancer is one of the types that is seemingly unbiased in who it victimizes.

Tyce's number, featuring Top 8 contestants Melissa and Ade, was probably the most touching number I've ever seen, and I think that was evident by the fact that there was NOT a dry eye in the entire audience or judge's panel. I've never seen Head Judge Nigel Lythgoe cry before, but this number took him to a different place than normal, and it seemed that no one could remain composed while critiquing this work of dance excellence and genius. I'd like to share it with you, and if you know anyone who has faced or is facing this disease, please share it with them. I can't say that I've seen a more powerful exhibit of hope, and I want anyone who needs some hope to view this.

I pray that FOX will not take it down, as it raises awareness and creates positivity through adversity. I would never claim to own any rights to something this powerful and moving.

Please enjoy, and to those who are fighting - keep fighting. To those who have fought and won - congratulations. To those who have fought and lost - this piece will insure that everyone knows how hard you tried!

Melissa and Ade - "This Woman's Work" - song by Maxwell
Choreography by Tyce DiOrio

'SYTYCD' Top 8: Melissa & Ade's Contemporary Performance @ Y! TV

Keep fighting, and keep hoping.
Miss Inspired Chicken Wing

HOORAY FOR SWEDEN!

Wow, this is 100% pure awesomeness!

As you know, I love Michael Jackson, and you may have caught on that the majority of the ENTIRE WORLD loves Michael Jackson, too.

I ran across a shining example of a display of love for the late great King of Pop, and I felt compelled to share.

I haven't really spoken about the loss that the entertainment industry faced recently, because I still haven't quite found the best way to do it. That man had an impact on me - I believe that I love music and dance so much because of him. He was an innovator, and he was never afraid to leave his heart on the stage. I have so much admiration for him that it does make it hard to deal with the fact that he is no longer with us. I know his legacy is so much stronger than I'm sure even he ever believed it would be, and I am thankful for that. The world was a better place because of him, and I choose not to listen to those who only wanted to put negativity on his shoulders. I don't believe the allegations against him, and I don't believe I ever could.

But, back to the reason for this post - the awesome display of love that the people of Stockholm, Sweden exhibited.

Please view this, and again remember that I do not have the rights to anything. I believe that you will be just as impressed as me, and how cool this must have been to see in person!

Let's start a global revolution!!!



Enjoy, yall! (FYI: My beach vacation countdown is down to TWO DAYS! In two days I will be on VACATION!!! WOO HOO!!!)

Until next time,
Miss "Missin MJ" Chicken Wing

Time to Share Something I Love!

One of my favorite shows on television is So You Think You Can Dance on FOX. I seriously believe that it might just be the best thing that's ever happened to the world as far as reality TV goes.

Now, don't get me wrong...I love Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, and pretty much any DIY or design show on HGTV - all of which are reality shows. But, for some reason, I always get the MOST excited when SYTYCD comes on.

I think the reason why I get so much more obsessive about the show (as in a I-have-to-watch-it-or-I-might-just-die kind of thing) is because I used to be a dancer. No, not that kind of dancer - I trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, clogging, and toe (on pointe) for 15 years of my life. That's a huge part of my upbringing and I know how hard it is to make it in the world of professional dance. This show is so ground-breaking (much like Idol), because the people who compete on the show actually get jobs because of people discovering their particular talent, using this show as their vehicle.

For example, several have made it to Broadway, there have been a few that have major roles in major motion pictures....not to mention the endless music video and backup dancer opportunities that come their way. I adore that about the show, because these people could have continued to struggle for years, but they got their shot because this show served as a platform.

The judges actually know what they are talking about, as every single one has been a professional dancer (in their own genres) and they are all choreographers. When they critique a number, it has validity and value. That is something that impresses me.

Not to mention, the Top 10 dancers get to go on tour all around the country. Yes, I have been to multiple tours with Familia de Chicken Wing and yes, I do own a t-shirt. HAHA! I told you, it's serious! But look at the following photos and you will see the extraordinary talent that gets discovered via this program. (And yes, I am that girl who memorizes the choreography as to capture the perfect shot!)

Off to watch my fave reality show,

Miss "Got-the-dance-fever" Chicken Wing