Who Is David Blaine?

If you're like me at all, you are fascinated by David Blaine.  I love to watch his street specials where he performs tricks on the general population.  The reactions are priceless.  It's no secret that David is controversial, known for his crazy stunts, inspired by his hero Harry Houdini.  I have to say not only is he talented, but has a dark, mysterious, sexiness to him.  Would you disagree?  Here are some facts about him.  

--He practiced his first card trick at the age of four.

--In 1997, he filmed his first television special "David Blaine: Street Magic" for ABC.

--His mother who was a gypsy got him interested in magic.

--He is banned from every casino because of his ability to read cards.

--Born in 1973.

All images courtesy of Davidblaine.com or Google images

Fashion Friday Watch-A Looking At?

Lacoste $95

It's finally my favorite post of the week--Fashion Friday!  I hope you can come link up with me and make some new friends!  So what I'm obsessed with this week is watches.  I have my Michele two-toned, which is my absolute favorite, but I'm thinking I might want a stylish timepiece to break into Spring with.  Michael Kors seems to be the most popular, maybe because of the price point and style?  I found a few styles I love, and had to share for Fashion Friday.  What type of watch do you wear?  Do you own more than one?  

Glam Rock $525

Michael Kors $275

Betsey Johnson $95

Fendi $3,200

Michael Kors On Sale! $164

Kate Spade $175

Michele $1,845

Michael Kors $275

Badgley Mischka $250

So, want to link up with me?  Just follow the directions and add your link!  PLEASE FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS SO I DON'T HAVE TO BE A MEANIE AND DELETE YOUR LINK.

1.  Blog about anything fashion related...please make sure post is from today through the next few dates.  Old posts will be deleted.

2.  Grab my button above and link back to Blonde Episodes.

3.  Leave me a comment letting me know you were here.

4.  Add your link to the link up.

5.  Visit other blogs on the link and make new friends!

UPDATE:  THE LINK MIGHT NOT BE WORKING DUE TO TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH LINKYTOOLS.  PLEASE TRY TO ADD YOUR LINK AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK, JUST ADD MY BUTTON TO YOUR POST, LEAVE YOUR COMMENT AND COME BACK AND LINK UP HERE LATER.  BRENT OF LINKYTOOLS IS WORKING ON IT.  THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR PATIENCE.  THANKS FOR LINKING UP!!!

All images courtesy of Nordstrom

Titanic Returns

Can I tell you how excited I am???  I am the biggest Titanic fan...even though it tends to get a little cheesy at times.  I've been fascinated and obsessed with the shipwreck for as long as I can remember.  In college I wrote a research paper on the wreck and the history behind the ship.  So, imagine my excitement that the story was being made into a film in 1997.  I remember being in the theater, 21 years old, completely mesmerized by the flashbacks and how accurate James Cameron made everything look.  All the photos and people I had studied were coming alive on film.  It has remained one of my favorite films since.  

So, I can't wait to see the film again in 3D when it comes to theaters on April 4.  Will you go?  Here's some trivia about the film to get you as excited as I am:

--The studios wanted Matthew McConaughey, but James Cameron insisted on Leonardo DiCaprio. 

--When James Cameron decided to include real footage of the Titanic's remains on the seabed, he did not want to simply shoot from inside a submersible as had been done for the IMAX documentary Titanica. To allow filming from outside the sub, Cameron's brother Mike Cameron and Panavision developed a deep-sea camera system capable of withstanding the 400 atmospheres of pressure at that depth.

--12 dives were necessary. On the last two dives, shots were taken by sending a remotely operated vehicle into the wreck; James Cameron had intended using this device only as a prop.

--James Cameron went on the dives to the real Titanic himself, and found it an overwhelming emotional experience to actually see it. He ended up spending more time with the ship than its living passengers did. 

--Most of the decor on the ship was either reconstructed by or under the supervision of researchers of the White Star Line, the original company which constructed and furnished the Titanic. 

--The scenes during which Thomas Andrews chastises Second Office Charles Lightoller for sending the boats away without filling them to capacity is the only scene in the entire film in which the actors' breath was not digitally added in later. 

--The staircase is not actually technically accurate being slightly larger in the film than it was in real life. This is because people in 1997 were actually a bit taller than in 1912 so they would have looked out of place on a staircase that fit the correct dimensions. 

--The "full-size" ship exterior set was constructed in a tank on a beach south of Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico. Construction started on the 85th anniversary of the real Titanic's launch - May 31, 1996 (see also A Night to Remember). To reduce costs, the number of instances of some repeated components (such as windows) was reduced, and other parts (such as the funnels and lifeboats) were built at 90% scale to produce the correct visual appearance. The set was oriented to face into the prevailing wind so that the smoke from the funnels would blow the right way. 

--Gloria Stuart, being only 86, was aged by makeup to play Rose at age 101. She did not find this a pleasant experience. 

--The most expensive first-class suite on the Titanic cost $4,350, the equivalent of about $75,000 today. 

--Gloria Stuart was the only person who worked in the production of the film who was actually living in 1912. 

--Reba McEntire was offered and had accepted the role of Molly Brown, but due to later schedule conflicts, had to turn it down.

--Kate Winslet was one of the few actors who didn't want to wear a wetsuit during the water scenes; as a result, she got pneumonia, and nearly quit the production as a result. However, Cameron persuaded her to stay. 

--The hands seen sketching Rose are not Leonardo DiCaprio's, but director James Cameron's. In post-production, Cameron, who is left-handed, mirror-imaged the sketching shots so the artist would be appear to be right-handed, like DiCaprio. 

And photos of the original tragedy:

All photos courtesy of Google images

Trivia courtesy of IMDB

March Sponsors!

Good evening all!  I'm so excited to introduce my March sponsors to you all...these ladies are fabulous and you have to meet them and say hello!!!  

Heather Pranitis is the talent behind Blondie's Shop.  Not only does Heather blog, but she knits and creates amazing cards for all your keep in touch needs.  Heather has become one of my greatest friends through blogging and I can't wait to see her this weekend.  If you haven't had the chance to read her blog, This and That, or check out her Etsy Shop, head over there and make a new friend!  You won't regret it!  

Erica over at The Pretty Factor has been a sponsor of mine for a few months now.  If you're looking for some inspiration, you need to visit her gorgeous blog.  She's a lover of fashion and all things beautiful!  Her button is adorable and she's a total sweetheart!  

Amber Watson is the generous soul behind my Mark giveaway this month.  She is a Mark consultant and has graciously offered $40 to her Mark store!  If you don't know what Mark is or haven't seen their products, make sure to visit and enter the giveaway ASAP!  Amber is one of my favorite peeps on Twitter and she's an event planner too!!!

The gorgeous Kai of All Kinds Of Complicated is one of my newest sponsors.  Kai has seriously become one of my favorite bloggers and Twitter peeps.  She's so much fun and has great style.  Plus you have to check out girlfriend's gorgeous hair!  Visit her blog, and you'll love the theme right away.  Tell her I sent you!

Amber Dragg and her fabulous Scentsy business have decided to sponsor me this month as well!  Amber is sincere, sweet, and always a good person to talk to on Twitter.  If you haven't had the chance to try Scentsy products, you are missing out.  I have a burner in my room, in my classroom, and bought my mom one for every room of her house!  They are amazing and smell sooo good!  The new spring scents are coming out, so make sure to visit and get your order on!  

Sweet soul Veronika of Veronika's Kandy Koated Dreams is not only a sponsor, but a friend of mine.  Veronika is truly one of the sweetest people I've ever met.  I can't say enough about this beautiful girl.  She does giveaways constantly on her blog, just because she loves to give!  If you're in Texas, meet up with her!  If you're not, at the very least, follow her adorable blog!  

What are you waiting for?  Head on over and visit these fabulous gals!  Tell them I said hi!  If you're interested in sponsoring my blog for April, email me or check me out on Twitter!  Here's some more info:  

Childhood Memories

I've been feeling a bit nostalgic lately and have enjoyed finding some old photos of my childhood.  I had such a great childhood and can't say enough about my wonderful parents.  Even though they had some really tough times financially, we always seemed to have everything we wanted and more.  I can remember my mom standing in line at Toys R Us for hours to get me a Cabbage Patch Kid...remember those?  I was so in love!  

So, the first thing I was absolutely obsessed with as a child was Scott O'Dell's novel, The Island Of The Blue Dolphins.  My mom would read it to my brother and I every day and to this day it is one of my favorite books.  My mom even found an original edition at an antique store and wrote an inscription to me. This is one of my most cherished things.

How about Maui and Sons?  Does anyone remember wearing those hot pink sweatshirts?  How about Hot Tuna?  

My Little Pony.  My brother snuck into my room one night and cut off all the hair.  So traumatizing.

Every week in elementary school we got to visit the library and check out a book.  This book always went first!  We were so jealous of anyone who got to read it for the week.  Isn't it funny the things that are important to you when you're little?

Old school Nintendo.  We got ours when I was in the 6th grade.  I got a horrible case of the chicken pox, then the hong kong flu.  My brother and I played Duck Hunt like it was going out of style.  Because of all the sickness at once, I got Mono (no I didn't kiss anyone!  I was in the 6th grade)!  I had to stay home from school for 3 months and had a home tutor.

OMG does anyone remember these?  My dad drove us all over town trying to find different packs of them. Why on earth were these popular and why did our parents let us have them?

Safety Pin bracelets.  I had a booming business in 6th and 7th grade with these babies.  I loved making them and made some money at the same time.

And finally those adorable Cabbage Patch Kids.  Who could ever have enough?

I'm not sure how many of you can relate to my childhood or the things I love.  It seems like most of you bloggers out there are in your 20's, so we'll see who actually remembers these things.  I'd love to hear from any of you who loved the things I did or tell me what you loved from your childhood!