Author: keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Old Movie Stars Dance to Uptown Funk

Posted on by keepinthesunlightblog@gmail.com

Old Movie Stars Dance to Uptown Funk

This makes me smile on a lot of different levels.  Watching a montage of such amazing dancers, the absolutely INCREDIBLE editing and selection, and, frankly, just the idea of dance and music across the ages is inspiring.

The comments say it:

“No one searched for this, but everybody is happy they found it.”
“I could watch this every day and always enjoy it.”
“That is one of the most worthwhile things I’ve ever seen on YouTube.”
“I don’t know how many YouTube videos I’ve watched, but all I can say is…You Won.”

Check it out if you have a moment.

Cups Game

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I remember the cup game from waaay back when at camp and school and it was just something kids did (as evidenced by this Full House clip).  I love when people come together and sing, but there’s something extra special about this one because it requires everyone to be fully participating.  Anyway, always makes me smile.  It’s tough to find a video that captures the magic of the moment, but maybe some of these will do…

Groups doing Cups Game

Harvard Drummers Group
If you watch nothing else from this page…  This is crazy Amazing!

Camp  
This one gives a feel for how I remember the cups game.  Just crazy and fun, before all the fancy pop singing.

Irish TV production
Girls singing the “I’m Gonna Miss You” song with the cups game.  They’re all dressed up and it’s a bit show biz, but I still really love seeing all these kids come together for this.

 

I got caught up in the history of the Cups Song…

Anna Kendrick Cup Video
A new version on the traditional cup game (although the comments make it seem like this video is a relic). Also a new version of a very old song from the 30s.  It cracks me up that Anna Kendrick had to apologize to camp counselors and parents for this song and game when they both have been around for ages.  Besides, to me, this cup game WAS camp.  And their frustration with her specifically just shows how clueless public is about how many people go into the production of a song and video.  Whatever.  These pop videos usually aren’t my thing, but I do really like this.

1987 “Screen Door” to cup game 

Lulu and the Lampshades

Anna Burden 

Thin Mints-Homemade

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Homemade Thin Mint recipe

Help!!  I’ve just discovered an amazing recipe for homemade Thin Mints.  And as skeptical as I was when I was making these, once I gave them a little bit of time to chill in the freezer, they went from pretty good to INCREDIBLE!!  I don’t know that I’d call them a “clone” of the original as the recipe maker did, but they don’t have to be clones, because they are better!

Even though I recently signed my daughter up as an independent Girl Scout, I’m a bit anti-cookie sales.  I know, I know.  I’m probably going to Girl Scout jail for this.  But between the unhealthy and socially irresponsible ingredients and the all-out cookie wars I’ve heard parents get into about these, not to mention the environmental impacts of packaged goods and cheap, plastic prizes, it just seems to have lost its original wholesome purpose.  And it doesn’t quite match my idea of what this program is about.  It feels commercial and grabby and thoughtless, which is not what Girl Scouts stands for at all.  And I know this is not the approach taken by all the girls and families and troops, but there are just too many factors I dislike to be willing to participate in this aspect of scouting.

Anywho, it did get me reminiscing for some good ol Girl Scout cookies.  And while I disagree with many of the ingredients and steps involved in the boxed cookies, I still found myself wondering if we just couldn’t have a little taste of GS cookies.  And that’s when I found this.  This wickedly good and dangerous recipe.  I’m still wondering if just about anything covered in the chocolate mint sauce found at the end would taste the same, but for now, these are pretty rad.  I may try using the homemade Oreo cookies as a base someday; I’ll let ya know how that goes!  In the meantime, trips to our freezer have become a little too frequent…

Support Your Local Bookstore!

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This is an important one to do year-round, but today (the last Saturday of April) is a day dedicated to independent bookstores.  Independent bookshops are easy to support, and they are almost always super rad.  This is definitely a moment to vote with your wallet for what you want more of in the world.

Since I tend to overthink the environmental impact of all my purchases, I usually don’t buy new books, but when I do it’s a treat, and I look to buy from a great bookshop.  For me, acquiring books usually looks like this:

–Check out a book from the library
–If I LOVe it, I look for a used copy at a local used bookstore or or library book sale or BetterWorldBooks
–If I LOVe it and can’t find a used copy and/or I’d like to support the local bookshops, I buy a book from them (or other item–bookstores have more than just books!)  I try to support the local shops on trips, during Covid shutdowns, occasionally throughout the year, and on Independent-Bookstore-Day.

With the amount of books we have in our house, we’re not in a position to always buy new, nor would my environmentalist-self want to.  But, that doesn’t mean I can’t support local bookshops every now and then.

Don’t have a favorite local bookshop?  Try searching for one in your area first.  If not, think about a shop you’ve enjoyed in another town and see if they’ll ship or if they participate as an affiliate at Bookshop.org (That link is to my online shop.) Any book you purchase on Bookshop will split a percent with participating independent bookstores.  How rad is that?  Keep these magical shops alive!  Where you shop matters.

 

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About the Books Here

Eco-Conscious Companies

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I thought it would be a good idea to start a list of some of my favorite eco-conscious companies.  I’ll add to this as I can.  But I also have many other conscious companies Pinned here.

—Zero Waste Cartel
My new favorite!  I found this company at the beginning of the year, and in one order, I checked off a bunch of my personal environmental goals.  I ordered compostable toothbrushes, chewable toothpaste in a jar, deodorant in a compostable tube, compostable floss in a reusable jar, and shampoo bars (finally!).  This company has been great to work with and sends out super wonderful, appreciative emails.  I love them, and secretly want to be BFF with the founder, Harriet.

—Mighty Nest (*Affiliate link)
Another great company I’ve ordered from frequently in the past.

—Under the Nile
Organic cotton clothing and products for babies and toddlers.  Can look a bit expensive, but they will occasionally have unbelievable sales on their clearance items –we’re talking $5 or $10 for organic, darling outfits.