Global Arts

As one who doesn't celebrate Christmas because of being a different faith, I enjoyed reading the story The Snowman's Song: A Christmas Story. It is beautifully written with beautiful illustrations. This is book is enough to capture the attention of not only the child but the adult as well.

A little snowman wants to sing, but from the kindness and encouragement of others, he is able to achieve his dream. The Snowman's Song: A Christmas Story is accompanied with an audio CD.



Disclosure: I was sent a copy of the book by the publisher Leaping Antelope Productions for review only.

Posted by Faten Abdallah at 2:27 PM | 1 comments  
Labels: Book Review, Christmas, Holidays, season

Beverly Hills, CA — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 live action short films will advance in the voting process for the 82nd Academy Awards®. Seventy-one pictures had originally qualified in the category.


The 10 films are listed below in alphabetical order by title, with their production company:

• "The Door,” Juanita Wilson, director, and James Flynn, producer (Octagon Films Ltd.)


• “The Ground Beneath,” Rene Hernandez, director, and Kristina Ceyton, producer (Passion Pictures)


• “Hotel,” Tim Conrad, director-producer (Oyster Films)


• “Instead of Abracadabra,” Patrik Eklund, director, and Mathias Fjellstrom, producer (Direktorn & Fabrikorn)


• “Kavi,” Gregg Helvey, director-producer (Gregg Helvey)


• “Miracle Fish,” Luke Doolan, director, and Drew Bailey, producer (Druid Films)


• "The New Tenants,” Joachim Back, director, and Tivi Magnusson, producer (Park Pictures)


• “The Response,” Adam Rodgers, director, and Sig Libowitz, producer (Look at the Moon Productions)


• “Short Term 12,” Destin Daniel Cretton, director-producer, and Michelle Steffes, producer (Destin Cretton)


• “Sidney Turtlebaum,” Tristram Shapeero, director, and Daniel Jewel, producer (Third Man Films Limited)

The Short Films and Feature Animation Branch Reviewing Committee viewed all the eligible entries for the preliminary round of voting in screenings held in New York and Los Angeles.
Short Films and Feature Animation Branch members will now select three to five nominees from among the 10 titles on the shortlist. Branch screenings will be held in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco in January 2010.

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Posted by Faten Abdallah at 1:07 AM | 0 comments  
Labels: ABC Television Network, Academy Awards, Hollywood, Oscar Race, Short Films and Feature Animation

Posted by Faten Abdallah at 1:09 AM | 0 comments  
Labels: Claire, Fashion Leader, interactive gift exchange, retail, Secret Santa Circle, Teen

Jan Krystkowiak of http://www.whereintheworldbooks.com/ is offering 10% off of personalized kids books. Use code "tails".

Krystkowiak gave an interview on reading and how personalized kids books improve comprehension on Connecting Women Radio: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/connectingwomen/2009/11/14/Connecting-Women

Posted by Faten Abdallah at 12:28 PM | 0 comments  
Labels: Connecting Women, Jan Krystowiak, love reading, personalized kids books, where in the world books

PBS Sprout Online offers families a variety of educational and entertaining activities for any time of the year.

Here are some activities going on during the month of November:

• Starting Monday Nov. 23, PBS Sprout will begin running an on-screen crawl from sproutlet viewers saying what they're thankful for. You can check out the site and upload your message here.
• On Thanksgiving morning, sproutlets can call in (with mom or dad of course) and speak live the Sunny Side Up Show host and share why he or she is thankful. To participate, call: 1-877-91CHICA. The lines will be open at 7:45 a.m. CST (8:45 a.m. EST).
• PBS Sprout has a variety of kid crafts to keep little fingers busy to help decorate for the big feast such as placecards, napkin rings, and of course those fancy hand-turkeys . Visit here for some ideas.
• The "What Have You Learned" contest is taking place, and viewers can submit a child's artwork showing what he or she has learned - from counting to ABC's. Artwork may appear on Sprout so it needs to be submitted by November 22, 2009, and one winner per day will be chosen the week of Dec. 7th. Prize includes a Sprout Gift Package which includes a Leap Frog Tag Junior. For more information, go here.

I am member of Band of Bloggers which work with PBS Sprout Online.

Posted by Faten Abdallah at 11:16 AM | 0 comments  
Labels: arts and crafts, being thankful, family activity, PBS Kid Sprout

Hats are the must have accessory for the fall and winter months.

Celebrity hairstylist, Philip Pelusi reveals how to make your hair look great under the most common hat styles of the season.

Hat Style: Fedora

Hair Style: Contrast the angles of the hat with loose feminine waves.

Why This Works: Loose feminine waves are a great way to wear your hair under a Fedora. This type of hat has very sharp “menswear” angles. This is off-set by the softer hairstyle.

How To Achieve This Look: This type of hair style works best on medium to longer length hair. If hair has a natural wave, simply apply a curl enhancing products like P2® by Philip Pelusi® ReCurl to boost waves and BeachComber to add texture and let hair dry or dry with a diffuser attachment on your blow dyer. If hair is straight, use a big barrel curling iron to add curls, some facing towards and some facing away from the face.

Hat Style: Newsboy cap

Hair Style: Create ballerina-esque bun at the nape of the neck.

Why This Works: Wearing a ballerina-esque bun at the nape is perfect combination with this tomboyish type Newsboy cap look. Also the Newsboy cap is supposed to be worn low on the forehead and this tends to cover most of the entire forehead. Wearing a ballerina bun pulls the hair back off the face opening to face up.

How To Achieve This Look: Part hair in the center and smooth hair back into a low ponytail at the middle of the nape. Use a hair smoothing bore bristle brush and a hair smoothing product like Tela® Beauty Organics Composure. Apply product to the ponytail also and brush smooth. Twist ponytail in one direction and wind around ponytail and secure with a few hair pins. Put on Newsboy and you are ready to go.

Hat Style: Beret

Hair Style: Tuck the hair back into a side pony so that soft strands peek out.

Why This Works: A side swept ponytail is a perfect way to wear your hair under a Beret. A Beret has a French romantic look and this feminine ponytail really compliments that. Tuck the hair back into a side pony so that soft strands peek out.

How To Achieve This Look: This look works best with straight or smooth hair. Create a side part and use a bore bristle paddle brush and a hair smoothing product like Tela® Beauty Organics Encore and brush into a low side ponytail at the nape on the opposite side of the part. Secure ponytail and put on Beret. The back of the Beret should slouch to the opposite side of the ponytail.

Hat Style: Shearling hat

Hair Style: Pull the hair half-way back, then unclip when the hat comes off to get the hair's bounce back.

Why This Works: Shearling hats are beautiful and warm but they often crush the hair. A hair half-way up look is a great idea to make the hair look great while the hat is on and preserve the hair for when the hat comes off.

How To Achieve This Look: Style hair as usual and then apply a product that can act as a dry hair setting lotion like P2® by Philip Pelusi® Increase. Then divide hair in half from ear to ear and twist up the crown of the head and secure with a clip. This will work as a dry set. Once you take the hat off and remove clip, toss to separate hair and revive hair with a hair refreshing product like as P2® by Philip Pelusi® RefresHair®.

Posted by Faten Abdallah at 12:29 PM | 0 comments  
Labels: hair, Hair Styles, Hat Styles, How To Achieve This look, Philip Pelusi, Why This Works