google.com, pub-8087192757053655, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 Director Jewels: 2017

Friday, November 24, 2017

Lavender Oatmeal Bath Soak with Essential Oils DIY + Free Printable

Lavender Essential Oil Oatmeal Relaxing Bath Soak

I blinked...and the holidays are here. How did that happen?! Holiday gift-giving is so much fun, and I especially love it when I can incorporate some oily goodness into it. I had to prep a really quick gift last week, and I ended up making this Lavender Essential Oil Oatmeal Relaxing Bath Soak. This idea was adapted from Young Living's own Lavender-Oatmeal Bath Soak recipe.

This recipe is SO easy to make - it didn't take long at all! I put some in bath jars, then put even more in 3x4" plastic bags so that I have them on hand for last-minute gifts. Then I printed up a quick label to attach to the jars and the bags! I've made that into a PDF (linked below) so that you can make them quickly, too! I've also made these Lavender Essential Oils Bath Bombs in a pinch for a quick gift, but they take a bit longer than this soak.

Lavender Essential Oil Oatmeal Relaxing Bath Soak

Lavender Oatmeal Relaxing Bath Soak
Supplies Needed: 
-1 cup Epsom salt
-1/2 cup Baking Soda
-1 cup Quick Oats
-20-25 drops Lavender Young Living Essential Oil
-Mixing Bowl & Spoon
-Food Processor

Optional:
-Lavender Oatmeal Bath Soak Printable
-Mini Clear 3x4" Bags (I found mine at Hobby Lobby)
-Staples
OR
-Small Glass Containers with lids

Lavender Essential Oil Oatmeal Relaxing Bath Soak

How to make them: 

1. Put oats in a food processor and grind until they reach a fine consistency (like flour). You'll probably have some floating oatmeal flakes in the bathtub, so the smaller you can grind them, the better.

2. Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl.

3. Add essential oils and stir until they are distributed evenly.

4. Toss about 1 cup in the bathtub when you need some time to relax!


And that's it! See? Super easy. Who is on your gift giving list this Christmas? I think I will give some of this goodness to friends, family, teachers, students....basically anyone who could use a little "me" time! And I think I'll keep a huge jar of this on my own bathroom counter, too!

Thursday, September 28, 2017

We Shall Not Be Moved: The Student Sit-Ins of 1960 at Kansas City's Coterie Theatre {Review}

Disclosure: I received press passes to attend this production at The Coterie Theatre. I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own.


The Coterie Theatre has been one of my favorite performing arts venues in Kansas City since I was very young. The Coterie has always offered productions that both entertain and challenge their audiences. The theatre has just kicked off its 39th season, and they are off to a very thought-provoking start with We Shall Not Be Moved: The Student Sit-Ins of 1960.

Left to Right: Darrington Clark (as Young Man), Antonia Washington (as Yvonne),
Khrystal L. Coppage (as Dierdre), and Robert E. Coppage III (as Eugene Conrad)
in The Coterie’s production of, We Shall Not Be Moved, by Ed Simpson.
Directed by Jeff Church, on stage September 19 - October 22, 2017.
Photo by J. Robert Schraeder and courtesy of The Coterie Theatre.

Written by Ed Simpson and directed by Jeff Church, the production tells the story of the student-led sit-in at segregated lunch counters which inspired a movement of non-violent protests. The play shows us how the students (inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr.) and their non-violent demonstration eventually gained momentum to inspire an entire generation to stand up for their Civil Rights. Similar to The Coterie's Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which was produced back in 2014, We Shall Not Be Moved was deeply moving and motivating.

Left to Right: Robert E. Coppage III (as Eugene Conrad) and
Khrystal L. Coppage (as Dierdre) in The Coterie’s production of, We Shall Not Be Moved,
by Ed Simpson. Directed by Jeff Church, on stage September 19 - October 22, 2017.
Photo by J. Robert Schraeder and courtesy of The Coterie Theatre.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the play is the interactive audience-participation, which allows those who are watching the production to ask questions of the performers and have them answer while still in character. Many of the young kids in the audience the day I attended brought up questions that otherwise might not have crossed the mind of the audience - such as When did segregation begin? and Why did you not want your child to be involved in the sit-ins? Hearing the actors answer the questions while still in character made it much easier for the kids to absorb the history lesson rooted in this production. Audience members of all ages participated when asked what they thought was the motivation behind the characters making certain choices throughout the show.

It might seem like the show would come to a screeching halt with the addition of a question and answer segment in the middle of the performance, but the production quality is high and the actors were able to carry on after ending the interactive segment as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

Left to Right: Khrystal L. Coppage (as Dierdre), Antonia Washington (as Yvonne), 
Darrington Clark (as Young Man), and Alisa Lynn (as Jenny) in The Coterie’s production of,
We Shall Not Be Moved, by Ed Simpson. Directed by Jeff Church, on stage September 19 -
October 22, 2017. Photo by J. Robert Schraeder and courtesy of The Coterie Theatre.

We Shall Not Be Moved is a uniquely compelling piece. I am certain that many audience members will leave the production and look at their world through a different lens. Change comes when people are willing to stand up for what is right. I hope that this production reaches as many people as possible during its short run. It will be truly inspirational for young people, teens, and adults alike to see what is possible when even just one person decides to take a stand for what they believe in.

Left to Right: Khrystal L. Coppage (as Dierdre), Antonia Washington (as Yvonne), 
Darrington Clark (as Young Man), Tommy Waller (as Newspaper),
Daniel Eugene Parman (as Mike Perkins), Roan Ricker (as Jerry Bigelow),
Alisa Lynn (as Debbie), Matthew J. Williamson  (as Phil Perkins), and
Deanna Mazdra (as May) in The Coterie’s production of, We Shall Not Be Moved,
by Ed Simpson. Directed by Jeff Church, on stage September 19 - October 22, 2017.
Photo by J. Robert Schraeder and courtesy of The Coterie Theatre.

The show runs approximately 75 minutes with no intermission. The performance is designed to be enjoyed by adults, teens, and young people aged 11 and older, but  the day I attended, there were a lot of young kids in the audience and they stayed engaged throughout the production.

Left to Right: Matthew J. Williamson (as Publisher) and Darrington Clark (as Young Man)
in The Coterie’s production of, We Shall Not Be Moved, by Ed Simpson.
Directed by Jeff Church, on stage September 19 - October 22, 2017.
Photo by J. Robert Schraeder and courtesy of The Coterie Theatre.

We Shall Not Be Moved: The Student Sit-Ins of 1960 plays now through October 22 at the Coterie. Tickets are available online.

Disclosure: I received press passes to attend this production at The Coterie Theatre. I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own.

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Grease at Kansas City Starlight Theatre {Review}

Disclosure: I received press passes to attend this event. No other compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own. 



Is there a specific show that you would say defines summer theatre? Perhaps one of the most iconic, well-loved musicals is Grease, and this week only, you can catch this production at Kansas City's own Starlight Theatre!

Photo Courtesy of Starlight Theatre

Grease originally opened on Broadway in 1972, where it ran for eight years and 3,388 performances. Now an entertainment franchise, the show has earned seven Tony® Award nominations and two Drama Desk Awards, spawned a hit movie (1978), two Broadway revivals (1994 and 2007), a TV reality show “Grease: You’re the One That I Want” (2007), and, most recently, the Grease, Live! TV performance starring Aaron Tveit on FOX (2016). "Grease: You're the One That I Want" was my favorite TV show back in 2007 and I have to tell you that I voted for the eventual winners, Max Crumm and (the incredible) Laura Osnes every week!

Photo Courtesy of Starlight Theatre

If you're not familiar with the story, here's the synopsis from Starlight Theatre:

At the heart of the musical’s story is the budding romance of bad boy Danny Zuko and virtuous
new girl Sandy Dumbrowski. When the two wind up at the same high school in the fall, their
summer love is put to the test by the familiar forces of peer pressure and close-knit cliques,
personified by Danny’s gang of Greasers and Sandy’s soon-to-be-friends, the Pink Ladies.
Through the halls of Rydell High to the Burger Palace, drive-in movie and pajama parties,
Starlight audiences will ride along as Danny and Sandy navigate the trials of young love.

Photo Courtesy of Starlight Theatre

The lead roles of Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski are played by Timothy Michael Quinn and Heidi Webster, respectively. They each brought these classic characters to life and the Starlight audience on opening night seemed to thoroughly enjoy their interpretation of the roles. Standout characters during the performance include Eric Geil (Roger), Anthony Norman (Doody), and Anthony Sullivan (Teen Angel). The number Beauty School Dropout had the entire audience rolling with laughter.

The production is directed by Philip Wm. McKinley, who has returned to Kansas City to direct his 11th musical at Starlight. McKinley’s most recent Starlight directing credits are Disney’s Mary Poppins (2015) and The Sound of Music (2014).

Photo Courtesy of Starlight Theatre

Note for parents - Grease is a classic, but it includes some adult themes and mild language. I personally would recommend it for older teenagers and up. Or, just make sure that you look up the show content before bringing the youngest Broadway fans so that you know what to expect!

Tickets for Grease at Starlight Theatre are on sale now for $15-$143+. Tickets are available online at Starlight Theatre, by calling 816.363.STAR (7827) or at the Starlight box office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, MO 64132. Evening performances begin at 8 p.m. Enjoy one of 2017's last few summer nights out under the stars - and make sure you bring your dancing shoes for the singalong during the curtain call!

Thanks to Starlight Theatre for providing my tickets to the show. I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Disney on Ice: Dream Big Family 4-Pack Ticket Giveaway

Disclosure: I will receive media passes to this event. No other compensation has been received. All views expressed are my own. 



Oh my goodness - Kansas City readers, get ready to DREAM BIG - because Disney on Ice is headed to town!

We can't wait to see this show - it's been about a year and a half since my family has been to a Disney on Ice show and we are all so excited for this one. It's just about two weeks away!


Enter a world where adventure is awaiting at Disney On Ice presents Dream Big. Join the Disney Princesses as they learn that courage leads the way. Then watch Anna, Elsa and Olaf from Disney’s Frozen discover that true love is the greatest magic of all. Believing is just the beginning when Disney On Ice presents Dream Big skates into Kansas City!


I'm expecting lots of magic to unfold - both on the ice and probably also in my four-year-old daughter's eyes as she sees her favorite princesses come to life! My kids usually enjoy dressing up to attend Disney shows, and I'm excited to see which characters they want to portray this time. Is it weird for mom to dress up too? At the rate I'm going, I don't think I'll ever outgrow Disney - and I'm perfectly fine with that!


This spectacular show will play September 14 - 17 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City!

You can purchase Disney on Ice tickets now, plus make sure you are following along on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest info!

Here are the upcoming show times:


Thursday, September 14 - 7 PM
Friday, September 15 - 7 PM
Saturday, September 16 - 11 AM, 3 PM. and 7 PM
Sunday, September 17 - 1 PM and 5 PM

Giveaway

One person will win a Family 4-pack of tickets to Disney on Ice at the Sprint Center on September 14 at 7:00 PM. This giveaway is open to US readers only. Winner will be emailed and will have 24 hours to respond or prize will be forfeited.

To enter the giveaway, follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below (you may need Javascript enabled to see the form and it may take a moment to load)! Once you complete the first entry, the other options will open up so that you can complete them as well. All of the "extra entries" are optional - you can do just one, or as many as you want! Winners will be contacted by email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Disclosure: All opinions expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Giveaway Policy and my Disclosure Policy.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

An American in Paris: A New Musical at Kansas City Starlight Theatre {Review}

Disclosure: I received press passes to attend this event. No other compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own. 


An American in Paris touring company. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this week's touring production of An American in Paris at Kansas City's Starlight Theatre. I hadn't heard the original cast recording and I missed the Tony's the year the production won four awards. So I was very excited to see what this show was all about! 

McGee Maddox and Sara Esty in An American in Paris. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Set in Paris in the late 1940's (just after the end of WWII), An American in Paris follows the story of an American soldier, Jerry Mulligan, and the lovely yet elusive ballerina he falls for, Lise.

The lead roles of Jerry Mulligan and Lise Dassin are played by McGee Maddox (National Ballet of Canada) and Sara Esty (Miami City Ballet). Joining them in the principal cast are Etai Benson (Wicked) as Adam Hochberg, Emily Ferranti (Wicked, Dreamgirls)as Milo Davenport, Gayton Scott (Gypsy, The Women) as Madame Baurel, and Nick Spangler (The Book of Mormon, Rogers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella) as Henri Baurel.

An American in Paris touring company. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

The whole show feels like something out of a classic film - with lots of singing, dancing, and magical moments. The score features many familiar tunes such as “I Got Rhythm,” “Liza,” “’S Wonderful,” “But Not forMe,” “I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise,”and orchestral music including “Concerto in F,” “Second Prelude,” “Second Rhapsody/Cuban Overture” and “An American in Paris.”

There have been many times I have not been impressed with the use of pre-existing music as score for a new musical, but in this case it works - and it works well. The storyline flowed easily and the music seemed to be made to tell this tale.

Nick Spangler, McGee Maddox and Etai Benson in An American in Paris. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

The visuals provided by the always-moving set design were simply lovely and they contributed to the overall romantic feel of the piece. Several times the dance numbers made me think of the 2016 film La La Land - and I wonder if An American in Paris perhaps inspired that movie to some degree. 

A note for families - there was some mild sexual humor and quite a few instances where the characters cursed onstage. It wasn't overt, but parents of little ones may want to be aware before making the decision to take the whole family. It was definitely appropriate for teens and up and I think it's safe to say could be enjoyed by all ages. I wish I could see it again!

Nick Spangler and the An American in Paris touring company. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Tickets for An American in Paris at Starlight Theatre are on sale now for $15-$143+. Tickets are available online at Starlight Theatre, by calling 816.363.STAR (7827) or at the Starlight box office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, MO 64132. Evening performances begin at 8 p.m.

Thanks to Starlight Theatre for providing my tickets to the show. I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

The Little Mermaid at Kansas City Starlight Theatre {Review}

Disclosure: I received press passes to attend this event. No other compensation was received and all opinions expressed are my own. 




Travel under the stars - and under the sea - to the most magical show in town this week... Disney's The Little Mermaid at Starlight Theatre! You can catch the performance through June 11. This show was certainly a fun kick-off to Starlight's summer season and we can't wait for more.


The opening production of Starlight's 67th season is a family-friendly adventure, and the night that we attended there were lots of little Ariels out in the crowd waiting for the show to begin. The "Princess Cam" was a fun perk of the pre-show screen entertainment - watch for that if you have little ones attending with you.

Starlight's season consists of The Little Mermaid, Jersey Boys, An American in Paris, Something Rotten!, The Bodyguard, Motown the Musical, Grease, Mamma Mia!, and Kinky Boots. We'll be featuring reviews for a few of these shows here at Director Jewels, so make sure you stop by again to hear about our next adventure in July!


The familiar Disney version of The Little Mermaid was updated for the 2007 Broadway adaptation. I was lucky enough to catch that production on Broadway in the summer of 2008, and this is the first time since then that I have seen a professional production of the show. I couldn't wait to see another interpretation.

I was truly not disappointed! The use of fly lines to convey the mermaids swimming to and from the surface of the water was very convincing and different from the original production I saw almost nine years ago. I appreciated very much the artistic decisions that were made to include several little moments from the movie. Even small things, like the way Ariel and Eric looked at each other at certain points, were clearly taken directly from the film and since I grew up in the 90's when Ariel was a big deal - this was amazing for me to see.


The cast was excellent; they truly seemed to be enjoying themselves and did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life for us. Standouts were Scuttle (Jamie Torcellini), Sebastian (Melvin Abston), and Flounder (Connor Russell), who were given the not-so-easy task of bringing The Little Mermaid's beloved creature characters to life. Sebastian's crab walk cracked me up all night.


My four year old daughter attended the show with me and she was pretty enthralled for the majority of the performance. She was able to follow the story and was thrilled with Ariel overall (but especially her pink dress). I would advise getting to Starlight early if you have a little one in your party - head to guest services and grab a booster seat for them. We weren't there early enough to get a booster seat, but she switched back and forth between her seat and my lap and was able to see the whole show. Her visibility was definitely increased by the use of the large screens above the stage, which projected the show larger than life (concert-style) so that the audience could all see what was going on. While I appreciate that my daughter was able to follow the story a little better thanks to the screens, I was actually not a huge fan of them. I'm not used to screens during a live performance of this nature and they were a little distracting for me. I like to be able to take in the show as a whole, without necessarily needing to have a closeup view. But I do see how the screens would definitely enhance the viewing experience for those who were further back in the house.

Overall, it was a perfect evening at Starlight and I'm so thrilled I was able to continue this fun tradition with my girl after taking her to see Beauty and the Beast last year.


Tickets for The Little Mermaid at Starlight Theatre are on sale now for $15-$143+. Tickets are available online at Starlight Theatre, by calling 816.363.STAR (7827) or at the Starlight box office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, MO 64132. Evening performances begin at 8 p.m.

Thanks to Starlight Theatre for providing my tickets to the show. I received no other compensation and all views expressed are my own. For more information, you can read my Disclosure Policy.
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