Random Facts #8

The skeleton of Jeremy Bentham is present at all important meetings of the University of London.

Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different.

The average lead pencil will draw a line 35 miles long or write approximately 50,000 English words.

The placement of a donkey's eyes in its' heads enables it to see all four feet at all times!

You're born with 300 bones, but by the time you become an adult, you only have 206.

Queen Elizabeth I regarded herself as a paragon of cleanliness. She declared that she bathed once every three months, whether she needed it or not.

Owls are the only birds who can see the colour blue.

Slugs have 4 noses.

Today in History… April 25th

1980 President Jimmy Carter tells the American people about the hostage disaster in Iran

1956 Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” goes to number one on the charts

1938 A seeing eye dog is used for the first time

1917 Ella Fitzgerald, American singer, is born

1859 Work begins on the Suez Canal in Egypt

1792 The guillotine is first used to execute highwayman Nicolas J Pelletier.

1719 Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe is published in London

1599 Oliver Cromwell, lord protector of England (1653-1658) is born

Update!

Hey Everyone!

I just want to say thank you for being so patient as I struggle to keep up with posting!  I admit, it’s taken me quite awhile to recover from the concert on Thursday night, and I still feel exhausted.  And now I am in the midst of my last week of classes and next week is my final exams.  So please bear with me as I muddle my way through the next two weeks.  I promise I haven’t forgotten about you. :)

I’d also like to take a moment to say that it’s been brought to my attention recently that comments that have been left on posts have not been showing up on the blog.  I am unsure of why this is occurring, as I am seeing on my end that I have the comment settings left open so that anyone is able to comment.  I am working on fixing this problem. 

In the meantime, tweet me!  @allisoncomments

And for more fun, I invite you to check out my tumblr and my Pinterest!

http://alagonigro91.tumblr.com/

http://pinterest.com/allisonlag/

My Favorite Quotes from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

"Just put them on, Archie, there's a good chap.  You can't walk around like that, the Muggle at the gate's already getting suspicious - "

"I bought this in a Muggle shop," said the old wizard stubbornly.  "Muggles wear them."

"Muggle women wear them, Archie, not the men, they wear these," said the Ministry wizard, and he brandished the pinstriped trousers.

"I'm not putting them on," said old Archie in indignation. "I like a healthy           breeze 'round my privates, thanks."

Come seek us where our voices sound,

We cannot sing above the ground,

And while you're searching, ponder this:

We've taken what you'll sorely miss,

An hour long you'll have to look,

And to recover what we took,

But past an hour - the prospect's black,

Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.

"Harry Potter has to go into the lake and find his Wheezy - "

"What's a Wheezy?"                          

- Dobby & Harry

"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals."      

                                                - Sirius

"And as he heard Voldemort draw nearer still, he knew one thing only, and it was beyond fear or reason: He was not going to die crouching here like a child playing hide-and-seek; he was not going to die kneeling at Voldemort's feet... he was going to die upright like his father, and he was going to die trying to defend himself, even if no defense was possible..."

"Yeh did as much as yer father would've done, an' I can; give yeh no higher praise than that."

                                                - Hagrid

"As Hagrid had said, what would come, would come... and he would have to meet it when it did."   

Introducing… Amarixe

Another YouTube beauty guru, Amarixe is a college student from California who posts her own makeup videos.  Similar to Miss Glamorazzi and most other popular beauty gurus online, Amarixe, or Allison, does tutorials, product reviews, and haul videos, though her specific makeup style is very different from the other beauty gurus that I watch and that I have recommended to you guys.  So here are some of my own personal recommendations for you from her channel!

Channel Link: http://www.youtube.com/user/amarixe?feature=watch

For any fellow nail polish junkies out there, I recommend this video.  But beware!  Jealous may occur!

Spring Nail Polish Haul:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt9gddEqkQ0&feature=g-user-u&context=G25d9991UCGXQYbcTJ33ZiwoAIw_OQn43q6xAOzTMOJYC7LwWl4Rw

                        

An interesting question to ask anyone with more makeup than they could possible use.

If all of my makeup disappeared:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7F_uxu9EnI&feature=plcp&context=C4954693VDvjVQa1PpcFMaNk7gwj4ztrFQlNND8_iJPOyO8cSQdHw%3D

So where do you PUT all of that stuff?

Makeup Collection & Room Tour! (September 2011)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=se5S4e9LCZg&feature=relmfu

Not gonna lie, after I saw this I went out and bought some.  And I LOVE THEM!

Revlon Lip Butters: Swatches & Review

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NwCM6k7ka8&feature=plcp&context=C43db0a0VDvjVQa1PpcFMaNk7gwj4ztqkD2FsMtC8PO32kNy7Aw6A%3D

Because if you don't watch this show, you're missing out, and because I really want to try this makeup look.

The Vampire Diaries Inspired Makeup: Caroline Forbes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PXCbQSlDco&feature=plcp&context=C4fec5c6VDvjVQa1PpcFMaNk7gwj4ztjmL0UDLLQOssf-8Jq2zR8U%3D

Random Facts #7

Beetles taste like apples, wasps like pine nuts, and worms  like fried bacon.

Of all the words in the English language, the word 'set' has the most definitions!

What is called a "French kiss" in the English speaking world is known as an "English kiss" in France.

Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.

You can't kill yourself by holding your breath

There is a city called Rome on every continent.

"Almost" is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order.

"Rhythm" is the longest English word without a vowel.

Story Time with Allison: University Program Board

Hey Everyone!

Today I thought I'd try something that I've seen on numerous vlogs and blogs that I frequent - story telling.  I know that doesn't exactly seem like much, but for many people, it is a way to connect on a more personal level with their viewers or readers.  So here it is!  The first edition of "Story Time with Allison!"

Growing up, I always heard stories about my parents' college days.  How great they were, the fun they had, the people they met, and, their experiences on the Board of Programmers.  As a college freshman, I did not feel as welcome as I had expected to be by my roommate and the people in my immediate vicinity.  I was overall not happy in school and had begun doubting if it was even the place for me.  Until, one day, I came across a hiring ad for University Program Board.  And the rest is history.  I was accepted into UPB as a P.I.T. Crew member (Programmers in Training), and at the end of the year became a member of the film committee, the committee responsible for running the on-campus movie theater.  Today, I am the Administrative Chair on that committee, and I am currently training for my position next year on UPB's Executive Board as the Administrative Director.

Now that I've joined UPB, I have met some of my closest friends.  All of my closest friends from JMU are all people that I have met through University Program Board, and I couldn't be happier with my decision to join.  I can't even imagine how my college experience would be different if I hadn't joined.  And while it is always fun to tell people that I'm a "second generation" programmer of sorts, that is in no way why I joined UPB.  I applied because I was looking for a niche - a group of people that I could be myself with, and that would make me feel welcome at JMU, and allow me to get more involved in the university community.  Being a part of the film committee as opposed to any of the other committees on UPB always seemed like a natural fit for me, and now that I'm about to leave the committee for my Exec position, I can't imagine having been on another committee.

So far, with my time on UPB I have seen Bridesmaids before it was officially released to the public in theaters, gotten into a Jason Derulo concert for free and stood next to him as "security" while he signed autographs, and next week will be working a Passion Pit concert.  Not to mention the countless number of matinee movies I've worked on, the number of popcorn batches I've popped, and the number I've free movies I've seen and the amount of free popcorn I've eaten. 

Is UPB a lot of work?  Absolutely.  Does my job on UPB sometimes make me want to pull my own hair out?  Definitely.  But is it worth it?  You bet it is!

My Favorite Quotes from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

"I don't go looking for trouble," "Trouble usually finds me"

                                                                                    - Harry

“I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

“Mischief managed!"

"Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business."

"Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git."

"Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a professor."

"Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball."

"As a sobbing Wood passed Harry the cup, as he lifted it into the air, Harry felt he could have produced the world's best patronus."

"I never betrayed James and Lily.  I would have died before I betrayed them."

                                                                                    - Sirius Black

"Godfather? "You haven't got a godfather!"        

"Yes, I have," "He was my mum and dad's best friend.  He's a convicted      murderer, but he's broken out of wizard prison and he's on the run.  He likes to    keep in touch with me, though...keep up with my news...check if I'm happy...."

                                                                                    - Uncle Vernon and Harry

Introducing… Tiffany Alvord

Another popular YouTube musician, Tiffany Alvord is a 19-year-old singer and song-writer from California with popular covers and original songs.  I personally discovered this artist after she toured the East Coast last summer with Luke Conard and Alex Goot.  Tiffany is an incredibly talented artist, and if you haven't already, you should check her channel out!

Tiffany’s Main Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/tiffanyalvord?ob=4&feature=results_main

Here are some of my personal favorites:

Gym Class Heros - Back Home ft. Neon Hitch (Cover by Tiffany Alvord & Luke Conard)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHZP3sQgGiw&list=UUR-ENZ64WL1vB8KU4YzdmTQ&index=17&feature=plcp

Secrets - One Republic (Cover by Tiffany Alvord & ThePianoGuys)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxRMFwPpkBE&feature=BFa&list=UUR-ENZ64WL1vB8KU4YzdmTQ&lf=plcp

Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe (Cover by Tiffany Alvord)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz054NiUNvQ&feature=BFa&list=UUR-ENZ64WL1vB8KU4YzdmTQ&lf=plcp

Listen To Your Heart - Roxette / DHT Version (Cover by Tiffany Alvord)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsMQVsUxqSk&feature=BFa&list=UUR-ENZ64WL1vB8KU4YzdmTQ&lf=plcp

Possibility – Tiffany Alvord (Official Music Video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RtR_P0WSrs&list=UUR-ENZ64WL1vB8KU4YzdmTQ&index=5&feature=plcp

Product Review: Primer

The makeup artist's secret to long-lasting makeup, primer was completely foreign to me until recently.  Thanks to Miss Glamorazzi, I'd heard of foundation primer but hadn't gotten any because I just hadn't wanted to spend the cash.  Instead, I'd only been using a $1 (YES $1) eyemake primer by e.l.f. that I'd picked up at Target.  But, during my first trip into Sephora a while back, I experienced the wonder that is primer. 

This particular primer (linked below) is the one that I purchased and it feels very light on my skin, and is very simple to use.  To apply, I take a makeup sponge a swipe all over my face.  Once applied, allow a minute to absorb into skin, and apply foundation as usual. 

While there are several different brands of primers with multiple formulations. I would recommend a water-based solution.  This will make the primer feel the lightest on your skin compared with other formulas.  But, everyone is different, and most places should let you test the formulas on your hands and let you pick the one that feels the best to you. 

But the best thing about makeup primers?  They actually work.  I instantly noticed a difference in how well my makeup help up once I began using primer.  For anyone looking to expand their collection into something more "adult" or "quality," I would definitely recommend investing in a quality primer.

http://www.makeupforever.com/products/hd-primer.html#.T4eOqFFSTfs

Random Facts #6

Of the 17k+ words Shakespeare used, over 1700 are recorded there for the first time.

A hurricane releases more energy in 10 minutes, than all the world's nuclear weapons combined.

The average human body contains enough fat to make seven bars of soap.

Antarctica holds about 70% of the world's freshwater in its ice.

Fire causes $15 billion in damage each year in the US.

60% of the world's geysers are in Yellowstone National Park.

Mary Shelly's Frankenstein is the most widely taught novel in America.

The lifespan of a tastebud is 10 days.

Elephants can't jump, every other mammal can.

Today In History… April 11th

1991 The U.N. Secret Council issues formal cease fire with Iraq

1981 President Ronald Reagan returns to the White House from hospital after recovery from an assassination attempt.

1974 The Judiciary committee subpoenas President Richard Nixon to produce tapes for impeachment inquiry.

1968 President Johnson signs the 1968 Civil Rights Act

1814 Napoleon abdicates and is exiled to Elba.

1783 After receiving a copy of the provisional treaty on 13 March, Congress proclaims a formal end to hostilities with Great Britain.

Top Musicals: She said, She said

Hey Everyone!
I thought it would be fun to bring in one of my really good friends, Kathleen, to talk about some of our favorite musicals.  Here we each talk about 3 of our favorites.  To make it a bit simpler, my thoughts are in blue and Kathleen's are in purple.  Happy Reading!  Don't forget to leave a comment in the comments section!

1.    Grease: Probably the first musical that I’ve ever seen, Grease is a must see for everyone, whether or not you are a fan of musicals.  The songs are catchy, and if you know them, you can’t help but sing along, and the characters are so outrageous that you can’t help but love them.  I also have a special connection to “You are the One that I Want,” since I danced to it with my dance class in a recital several years ago.

2.    The Sound of Music: The hills really do come alive when this movie is being played.  Hands down the best musical of all time, according to, well, me.  It's been my favorite movie since I was around 2, so perhaps I'm a bit biased.  After all, I know all of the lyrics and the majority of the lines by heart.  I used to dream I was Leisl when I was little so 1. I could dance with and be in love with Rofl and 2. so I could have Julie Andrews as my step-mother.  It's full of drama, romance, comedy, and most importantly amazing music- what can get better?

3.    Grease 2: This is definitely a very controversial pick, as many people absolutely hate this film, but I really like it.  I admit that the acting isn’t the greatest, and the songs are just strange and in some ways awful, but that’s part of why I love it.  I think it’s hilarious.  I mean, where else can you get a song called “Reproduction,” or “Let’s do it for our Country?”

4.    Singin’ in the Rain: This comedic film follows The Sound of Music in my list of the top musicals.  Gene Kelly tap dancing... need I say more?  I must admit I have been known on many occasions to dance outside in the rain with an umbrella singing this movie's iconic song at the top of my lungs.  I'm a pretty cool person, for sure.

5.    Chicago: My favorite musical of all time, Chicago is Jazz and fosse-style dance at its finest.  If you saw Burlesque, then there is a good chance that you will like Chicago.  The best song?  The six merry murderesses in “The Cell Block Tango.”

6.    My Fair Lady: I honestly wish I was alive when this musical opened on Broadway and Julie Andrews starred as Eliza.  The movie is based off the Broadway musical and I would have loved to have seen her as the original character in this role. "Wouldn't it be lovely" if we could all go around singing about how the "rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain," and how we could "dance all night?"  Because, you know, it would be kinda sweet if your life could be a musical. 

Hello World!

Hello my lovely readers, and welcome new readers!

I'm sorry it's been almost a week since I've posted anything new!  I haven't been feeling well the past few days and have had a bit of a stomach bug type thing, and went home for the weekend, so I've been a bit preoccupied with other things the past few days.  BUT, tonight I will post TWO new posts!  So get excited!!!

Thank you for the continued support!
-Allison

The Best of Miss Glamorazzi

I've mentioned her several times before, but for those of you that do not know who she is, Miss Glamorazzi is one of my favorite people on YouTube and, along with Luke Conard, is my inspiration for blogging.  Miss Glamorazzi is a beauty guru who has won several awards including last year's NextUp competion and has been featured in "Seventeen" magazine.  Her videos include a variety of hair and makeup tutorials, product reviews, and style videos.  I will admit that many of this things that I have seen on her channel I have incorporated into my own life and style.  With over 100 videos on her channel, I'm sure everyone can find something that appeals to them.

Link to Miss Glamorazzi's Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/missglamorazzi

Link to Miss Glamorazzi's Vlog Channel (The Gridmonster): http://www.youtube.com/TheGridMonster

Want to look like Katniss Everdeen?  Here's one take on the look!

The Hunger Games Katniss Everdeen Inspired Makeup, Hair, and Outfit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beFeKNVoFUM&feature=plcp&context=C4df2889VDvjVQa1PpcFORum4ewqFYldtD4pyRu4yz8huP252auqE%3D

I'm not afraid to admit that 've done this to my nails.  Geek on!

Harry Potter Nail Tutorial: Hogwarts House Colors  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0auUI_Cxads&feature=plcp&context=C431a607VDvjVQa1PpcFORum4ewqFYlbg6AYO6LLXKe8Xr4r8Qtig%3D

If only I had her clothes...

Outfit of the Day: Job Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT2Hk7KZ24A&feature=plcp&context=C4dbab12VDvjVQa1PpcFORum4ewqFYleBzjwEBjPlT0Za61dnB6ys%3D

And I thought I bought a lot of candles from BBW.....

Black Friday 2011 Haul!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lg8FLhvKxo&feature=plcp&context=C4a37180VDvjVQa1PpcFORum4ewqFYla6kxlrTsqQSr7f6wrJPk5k%3D

One day I will attempt to do this to my hair.  Probably won't be successful, but I WILL try it.

How To: Bohemian Braids

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDBxJZHmu2w&feature=plcp&context=C4c7b5aaVDvjVQa1PpcFORum4ewqFYlWolWERG7nfVC0PCSYJrJ3E%3D

GEORGEOUS

Hypnotizing Eyes: My Go-To Subtle Smokey Look

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoYQHltYvrk&feature=plcp&context=C4ef6ea0VDvjVQa1PpcFORum4ewqFYleqKxikvjgteerJ0LzVcrCY%3D

My Favorite Quotes from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

“WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU," "ABOUT SAYING THE 'M' WORD IN OUR HOUSE?"    

- Uncle Vernon

"Fame's a fickle friend" "Celebrity is as celebrity does"

- Lockhart

"If you must know, when I was three, Fred turned my - my teddy bear into a great big filthy spider because I broke his toy broomstick.... You wouldn't like them either if you'd been holding your bear and suddenly it had too many legs and..."                          

- Ron

"Oh, Potter, you rotter, oh, what have you done, you're killing off students, you think its good fun - "                              

- Peeves

His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,

His hair is as dark as a blackboard.

I wish he was mine, he's really divine,

The hero who conquered the Dark Lord.

"Got a sock," "Master threw it, and Dobby caught it, and Dobby - Dobby is free"

- Dobby 

Today in History… April 4th

1968 Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee

1949 The North Atlantic Treaty Organizatin (NATO) treaty is signed

1917 The U.S. Senate votes 90-6 to enter WWI on Allied side

1896 Arthur Murray, ballroom dance instructor is born

1841 President William Henry Harrison, aged 68, becomes the first president to dies in office, just a month after being sworn in

Nail Polish Design: Purple Polka Dots

This design was very simple to do, especially for beginners to nail design.  First, paint your nails a solid color of your choice.  For the look pictured below, I chose Sally Hansen’s Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear polish in “Lacey Lilac,” as my base purple color, and a plain white polish for the dots.

Paint the color as you normally would, but wait to do a top coat, and let dry for a few minutes.  They, using a dotting tool or some similar object, create small dots on the surface of your nail in the color of your choice.  Allow the dots to dry before applying a top coat to your nails.

About Me Survey #3

1.    What is your favorite thing to do? Watch movies, watch tv, read, and baking

2.    What’s your favorite color? Tiffany blue, pink

3.    What’s your favorite movie? Harry Potter movies (all), Footloose (original), Fantasia, Free Willy, Anastasia, Aladdin, Pride and Prejudice, The Proposal, 

4.    What are your favorite books? Harry Potter (all). Hunger Games (all), The Truth About Forever, Atonement, Pride and Prejudice, Scarlet Letter, The Lucky One

5.    What is your favorite quote and why? “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default.” --J. K. Rowling  This is just one of the many favorite quotes that I have because it is from one of my favorite people.  I find JKR to be one of the most inspirational people considering how much she has gone through in her own personal life and what she has now achieved. 

6.    What is your favorite type of food? My favorite foods are pasta, ice cream, and chocolate.

7.    What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Pistachio, French Silk, Mint Chocolate Chip, Cake Batter

8.    What is your favorite animal? Orca/Killer Whale

9.    Dogs or Cats? Dogs

10.  Describe your favorite texture: Cotton? (do people HAVE favorite textures?)

11.  What is your favorite flower? Lilies

12.  What is your favorite scent? Don’t have one. 

13.  Favorite place to shop? H&M, Gap, New York and Company, Old Navy

14.  What is your favorite season? Winter (I love snow!!!)

15.  What’s your favorite tv show? Vampire Diaries, Big Bang Theory, Pretty Little Liars, Gilmore Girls, Boy Meets World

1.    What are the top five places you wish you could go before you die? Rome, Italy; Sydney, Australia; Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; St. Petersburg, Russia

2.    What are the four things you can’t live without and why? Movies, Friends, good food, and books

3.    Do you have a crush on anyone? Yes ; )

4.    Do you think you can last in a relationship for months and not cheat? Yes

5.    Do you ever want to get married? Yes

6.    Do you like to dance? Yes

7.    Have you heard a song that reminds you of someone today? No

8.    Share a song that takes you to a certain memory in the past: “(You Drive Me) Crazy” by Britney Spears because this was one of my first Jazz dance songs that I did for a recital and to this day it is one of my favorite dances that I’ve done for a recital.

9.    Put your music player on shuffle and write the first ten songs that play: “ABC,” “O. Lover,” “Slughorn’s Confession,” “Lucky,” “Bigger than Us,” “One Kiss From You,” “S.O.S.,” “Black Eyes, Blue Tears,” “Dirty Diana,” “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

10.  A book you want to read/have recently read: I’ve been reading the Hunger Games series lately, and I’m currently at the end of Mockingjay.  Once I finish that I’m going to start reading Perks of Being a Wallflower.

11.  Describe your dream library: I want a library in my house when I have a house of my own, so a library in my own home that I’ve made my own is my dream library.

12.  Last movie you watched: other than movies for my Film class, “Singin’ in the Rain”

13.  If you could be any character, from any literary work, who would you choose to be? Hermione from Harry Potter or Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice.

14.  Halloween costume idea? For Charlie, and Ewok and I would be Princess Lea. Pretty sure this is happening this upcoming Halloween.

15.  How you’d spend ten thousand bucks? I’d put most of it in savings so that I have it for whatever I need it for and for my student loans, and then use some of it to buy a new laptop because mine keeps going crazy and the frame is cracked again, and buy dvds and books.