Culture
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The Lost Art of Classic Jazz
When you think of jazz, most of us conjure up the smooth sounds of Kenny G, possibly Ray Charles and his woeful blues, or maybe the sultry tones of Diana Krall. But there are entire genres of jazz—styles that are important to our Nation’s history—that are unheard of by new generations of music fans. The classic styles of Dixieland, ragtime and stride are virtually lost to young listeners who aren’t being exposed to the “party music” that played during the 1890s to 1930s. From the age of 13, my father has been a classic jazz junkie so I grew up listening to this music. Blaring from our hi fi…
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Your Family Tree: Where to Start
The idea of starting a research project on your family history can be an exciting, yet daunting, one. Where did your family come from? How did your ancestors live? These questions are just two that got me started on a family tree. I wanted to know as much as I could about my family. When I first started, I was immediately overwhelmed and had no clue what to do. After quite a bit of research, I finally got on track and was amazed at some of the things I found. If you are interested in finding out more about your own family, I have put together a few pointers…
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In the Spotlight: WoonHung Jewelry
This week we are featuring Yvonne Chia who went after her dream of starting her own jewelry company several years ago and has gone on to be quite successful at it! Her jewelry is sold in Barney’s New York in Japan and in many top boutiques. I like how her pieces have a natural element feel to them. They are definitely statement pieces that could tie together a whole outfit! There is a simplicity to them but they are quite beautiful in this simplicity. She is based out of Singapore and took some time to talk to us about her company, WoonHung. Tell us how you and when you…
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Walt Disney’s Peter Pan Review & Giveaway
Can you believe that Walt Disney’s classic Peter Pan is celebrating it’s 60th Anniversary this year! This was my mothers favorite Disney tale and I also love Peter Pan with all the lost treasure, pirates and Tinker Bell. To celebrate the 60th Anniversary, Disney released an all-new “Diamond Edition” DVD/Blu-ray this month; however, fans can also experience the classic tale on mobile devices with the Peter Pan: Disney Classics book app. The iOS story takes readers to Neverland like never before. With read along activities, games and more, readers will join Peter Pan, Tinker Bell and the whole gang on a magical adventure whenever, wherever, and however they choose. I…
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A Gottman Institute Therapist Provides Tips to Keep Your Marriage Strong
The Gottman Institute: Many of you might have heard about Dr. Gottman of The Gottman Institute and his ability to predict with 98% accuracy which marriages would end in divorce. When I read this statistic, I was intrigued to learn more about this man and the compile of work he has done through the years. The Gottman Institute was co-founded by Drs. John and Julie Schwartz Gottman. The Gottman Relationship Institute has two major functions: helping couples directly, and providing state-of-the-art training to mental health professionals and other health care providers. The Gottman Institute applies leading-edge research on marriage in a practical, down-to-earth therapy and trains therapists committed to helping couples. No…
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The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity Review and Giveaway
The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity: Brings out Creativity in the Young and Young-at-Heart: Most of us grew up watching Bugs Bunny, The Roadrunner and Coyote and many more of the characters that Chuck Jones created in his lifetime. I had a chance to speak to his grandson, Craig Kausen, who spoke about how his cartoons are timeless and children today enjoy them just as much as we did as kids. I completely agree and just love that one man created such wonderful characters! My daughter and I found The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity a few months ago at the new SoCo shopping center in Orange County. We…