whatever

jennyonthespot - Oh my golly, I love you.

Liz - The Wizard of Oz is awesome…and so are all of these rainbows! I have 2 daughters so we are pretty much surrounded by rainbows 24/7. I love this post & I’m now your newest follower 🙂 p.s. I’m making those rainbow ice cubes asap!

Mike S. - when i was a kid, it would play on a local station sometime in March. One year, there was a storm front and while watching the movie, we actually had to run to the cellar because of a tornado warning! I seem to recall thinking this movie must have some powerful mojo.
I love, love, love the photos in this post! Nice job!

crystal b - Ok, I am just shocked at that last comment — Ellen!!!! I can’t believe you haven’t seen the entire movie!!! That’s just … just … un-American!!!
Hey Meg, I noticed on your “35 things” button you want to learn how to cook pork. Email me, at crystalbeutler@msn.com. I have some awesome pork recipes for you.

Kari - You are such an awesome mom – seriously fun! You are truly inspiring and oh how I wish you lived near WI … I would love a photo session. 🙂
I’ve loved The Wizard of Oz as long as I can remember (I’m 28). It still makes me smile every time I watch it. Favorite memory you ask … I am a big dork, how about this?
*I too can recite every line with inflection as you said (my husband thinks I’m a nut).
*I commandeered my brother’s bedroom when he moved out and turned it into a Wizard of Oz shrine to accommodate my ridiculous collection … plates, Barbies, snow globes, music boxes, statues, ornaments, etc. All things OZ!
*I’ve met several of the munchkins and have autographs from attending “Wizard of Oz Fest” in Indiana two years in a row when I was in high school. My dad was such a trooper…
*I would totally dominate in a round of Wizard of Oz trivia 🙂 *We adopted a Cairn terrier from the humane society when I was 14, and of course, named him Toto (RIP buddy).
*My cousin and I spent hours learning the “we’re off to see the wizard” skip-dance. I told you … dork.
*I have the ruby slippers tattooed on my left ankle – love it! *Epic fail though … if you can believe it I’ve NEVER been Dorothy for Halloween.
We have two daughters (7 weeks & 23 months). Based on some of the other comments, it might be time to introduce the movie to Mallory! I can only hope she’ll love it HALF as much as I do!
Anyway, love your blog and I visit daily. 🙂

akmichelle.blogspot.com - What an awesome way to celebrate the Wizard of Oz anniversary! You’re such a cool mom. I’m glad the little ones loved it too. It’s nice to know that the classics are still classics!

Lori - My parents always made me go to bed before it was over–because they were strict with bedtime. But if I laid just right at the bottom of my bed I could peak into the livingroom and watch it until the end. If I heard my mom or dad coming I would hurry up and flip back to the other end of the bed and fake sleeping. AH memories!!!

chrsiti - you are one of the most creative ladies out there. thanks for the constant inspiration.

TrishNotChris - My youngest was scared to death of the monkeys so we hadn’t watched the movie. In the meantime, my oldest read the book at school. As you probably know, the book is VERY different than the movie…more violent and well, more detailed. Last year, we finally watched the movie and my oldest kept saying “Where are the….what about the….they left out…” and in the end, he said “I’m glad I read the book first…it’s more exciting.” Having read the book, I have to agree, but the annual t.v. showing was such an event and a wonderful childhood memory.

Trina McNeilly - you always bring the best rainbowy goodness! sigh!
xo T

Sandy - Wow, I feel like I missed out on so much (and again I say YOU are the COOLEST mom ever!). Year after year I laid down in front of the tv to watch it and fell asleep (I still do that today). I never watched the whole movie until I was well into my 30s. My family likes to make fun of me for not knowing it was in color since I ALWAYS fell asleep during the black and white part.

Elissa - their drinks turned brown. that’s just awesome. we did the WoO about a year ago and they all sat through the whole deal too, my youngest at only 2. Something about that movie.
and rice krispie treats are WAY better with fruity pebbles.

Cheryl @ a pretty cool life. - My sister and I used to wear our Halloween witch hats and watch when it would come on tv. SUCH a big deal to us!

Chicago Jen - I feel the need to respond- I watched it every year on CBS and was scared and left the room when the witch arrived. I probably never saw it through until my teens. Recently, I loved watching it with the kids, they were much braver then I was. We got it from the library and they watched it every day we had it.
Awsome job- your so creative.
Chicago Dave

Nancy - Even though I have watched this TOO MANY TIMES TO COUNT, last time I noticed a quote that I never paid attention to before: Scarecrow to Dorothy: “some people without brains do an awful lot of talking… don’t they?” LOVE IT! And, ooh soo true! 🙂

Lora - You are the coolest mom ever! That colorful drink looked de-lish! I love all the bright rainbow colors! I didn’t get to watch the WHOLE movie until I think I was an adult. Every time they showed it on tv it was always on a Sunday night and we were ALWAYS at church. I wanted to be sick so bad just ONCE so I could stay home from church and watch the entire movie!

crystal b - Meg! How funny is that, we both referenced the Wizard on the same day!!!! Even funnier . . . my best friend and I made a cassette recording of the Wizard of Oz when we were in middle school! We tried to memorize the whole movie — it didn’t work but we got close. But, boy could we sing all the songs. We used to do a skit in high school singing like munchkins.
I had no idea it was celebrating it’s 71st anniversary until you left a comment on my blog! The Wizard must have been sending me messages in my sleep.
Awesome photos! Love all the colors. I’m jealous you live in Kansas.

Kirsten J - Omigosh, what a cute memory you made for your kids. Me? I so remember being dreadfully fascinated by those monkeys. And loving seeing it once a year 🙂

Suzanne D - Every year on January 29 (Kansas’ birthday), our entire grade school would have a school assembly to eat a Kansas-shaped sheet cake and watch “The Wizard of Oz.” Now that I am older, I am surprised that kids weren’t scared…but I guess that is what happens when you watch it every year. My girls have never seen the movie, and I this was great inspiration to have a rainbow night!

Tanya H - I love the music. Especially Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
I seriously love your creativity and how fun you are! I am so making those fruity pebble krispy treats for my kids next week when my daughter starts Kindergarten! THANKS!

Tracy - How Cute, Meg! Such a great idea! I wish when my kids were small like yours that I would have thought about these kinds of ideas. This is so cute and so neat! I love all of the pictures of the rainbow and love the movie the Wizard of Oz. However, I can’t remember which part is my favorite as I liked it all – maybe it was Dorothy’s Red shoes! HA! xoxoxo

Kat - I love the Wizard of Oz! That and Grease are my top 2 favourite movies! When I was in primary school my sister and I sat and watched it and wrote down every song so we could memorise them. We had to stop and rwind a million times. In Australia we don’t really do Halloween but my friend had a Halloween party last year and I went as Dorothy.

shelby - my favorite wizard of oz memory is watching it with my 3 year old daughter 🙂

Julie - My boys just watched this not too long ago when it was on tv. They too watched the whole thing. Shocking! I’m not sure what my favorite part is, but the first scene I think of is when the witch gets squashed. I can see her legs poking out right now.
So… those paper plates!! I commented probably two months ago that I saw plates at Target that made me think of you. Those are them. You probably didn’t read my comment or even think to look for them if you did, but I still feel happy that you found them! 🙂 So silly, I know!

Nina @ Mama Roux - What a fun and colorful blog post this was, I loved it! You are so creative. When I was younger I could never stay awake for the whole movie, it seemed so long and I thought the flying monkeys were so scary!

Tracey Garcia - I remember when I was little (pre-cable) it came on every year on CBS in the spring–usually right around Easter. My Granny and I would always watch it together.
My kids both love it too. I was shocked last year when only one of the kids in my class knew what the movie was and/or had seen it! My kids love it so much, I couldnt’ imagine other kids not having seen it too!

Cathy - Thank you for such amazing ideas! We plan on watching the Wizard this weekend…because we saw “Wicked” (so incredibly great!) and realized we should have plunked the kids down BEFORE to watch the Wizard of Oz.

Elizabeth - In fourth grade, I tried out and won the part of Dorothy in the school play. I’ll never forget it, actually — and still haven’t forgotten all the words to all the songs I sang…

heidi @ wonder woman wannabe - One of the most memorable times I watched it was when in college.
Someone had heard that you should watch the movie muted while listening to Pink Floyds “Dark Side of the Moon” – (starting the cd on the lions 3rd roar if I remember correctly)
So, one night when we had nothing in-particular to do and one of us had the movie, and another had the CD – we decided to test the theory.
It’s un-canny and a bit eerie how the different scenes in the movie seemed to go with whatever track was playing!!
Love the target shots – I was just there recently looking for some new hand towels and I just couldn’t help but smile with all those bright cheery rainbow colors!

ashley - I remember always being so scared of the flying monkeys. I would hide and get poked fun of by my best friend, but then we tried to make our own costumes and it was all good. I still want a pair of those ruby slippers!

tara pollard pakosta - P.s. I LOVE what you did for your kids with this celebratioN! how memorable!
tara

Tonya - Meg, have you been to the Wizard of Oz museum in Wamego? It’s a fun little stop, certainly no too big or grand, but cool nonetheless!
There’s so much I love about this movie….the munchkins, Glenda the good witch, the freaky monkey’s, those fabulous ruby slippers! But the thing I love the most are the songs! It just takes hearing a few words to any of the songs and I’m singing it all day!

Emmylou Hart - One time we were visting my grandpa in Manhattan, KS. For some reason all the hotels were full so we found a room in Wamego where the Wizard of Oz museum is. It happened to be the OZtoberfest & some of the munchkins from the movie were staying in our hotel. We met a few at breakfast. My boys were to afraid to say “hi”. They loved the parade & the museum though. Wamego is a very cute Kansas town!

Courtney - I didn’t read all your comments, so I’m sure this has been mentioned, but anyone who loves the Wizard of Oz this much will LOVE LOVE LOVE the musical WICKED. It is so beautiful, the music will melt you! A good thing to do while the kids are all at school. Then, buy “The Grimmerie” that documents the making of the musical, it’s visually the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. BUT don’t read the book– not at ALL like the musical– very dirty and depressing. The musical is happy 🙂

Andrea - I have so many memories of watching the Wizard of Oz! I’d have to say my favorite is my earliest memory of it. My family always watched it together when it came on TV. I was about 2 or 3, and I remember my sister and I had our sleeping bags on the livingroom floor while my parents snuggled on the couch. It was late, but we had bowls of popcorn. I fell asleep pretty early in the movie, but I still remember it so fondly.
We now have a new family tradition that we watch the Wizard of Oz as a family the night before thanksgiving!

beth - I love that show and so does my kids….you would never believe this but one of the munchkins lives in our town.

Christa aka BabbyMama - My fave WoO memory is probably watching it every year when they’d show it on TV as a special… do they still do that? We never had such an awesome spread, though. Maybe I’ll do this when my daughter gets a bit older!

Sarah - I could never ever get over the monkeys. They scared the crap out of me and still do.

Nicole Q. - Those colors make me want to RUN to Target. . . . and the drink idea is a great fun idea! You are so creative! Glad you enjoyed a good family night.

lori lucas - I wrote about the Wizard of Oz today too, and my own five children!! http://abigstory.blogspot.com/2010/08/were-off-to-see.html
Your post is much more colorful than mine tho.
If you look at my post, THAT is my favorite memory!
Loved your post. Lori L

Mary Osborne - My mom always made us watch when we were little and it was on TV that one time a year.
I would be so excited but soooo scared, those flying monkeys were scary!!!! I thought Dorothy was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.
My two girls loved it when we watched it together and we just saw Wicked for the 1st time this summer. The references to TWoO in that crack me up.
Thanks for bringing back some great memories.

Bec - I have so many memories of watching this movie with my mom. It got to the point that everyone knew we loved it so we’d get several phone calls from family members to tell us it was on and what channel. It was almost ALWAYS on when we’d be decorating the Christmas tree. Neither of us love the flying monkeys. My high school performed this a couple of years ago and my mom and I were right on the aisle and they had the monkeys come in from the back and they were right by us and we both turned to each other and were freaked out. I’ve seen Wicked a few times and it is a great addition to the story!!! Your girls would LOVE it if they like the original. Don’t read the book though…it’s weird.

Amanda - When I was little I always loved the part where the house lands on the witch and her feet curled up-thought that was a cool special effect-LOL.

LC - I love the Wizard of Oz!
It was a favorite when I was a kid. One of the only movies my Brother and I wouldn’t fight over wanting to watch. We both loved it!
Then when I had my Daughter, around the age of 3 SHE fell in love with it. We watched it every single day for more than 2 years.
Good times.

Laura - Oh, it was such a treat to watch it once a year, and when the black and white turned to color, it was magical. There’s so much more sophistication today that I fear kids won’t understand how special that movie is and was…it was groundbreaking for its time. What a fun party you had. Love it.

deb meyers - We used to wait for Wizard, annually, too.
But the one that I literally lived and breathed for (1964)? was Rodger and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” with Leslie Ann Warren; and Walter Pidgeon as the king. I actually found it on Ebay (vhs). Such an unsophisticated version … actors did not have capped teeth, sets so plain. But the music…oh, the music!

Angie C - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Wizard of Oz. One of my favorite memories is from high school when my friends from chorus and I dressed like the tin man, lion, scarecrow, and Dorothy for Halloween. I am now a Wicked fan as well. Maybe the wicked witch isn’t actually wicked…

Chris - It was one of the few nights my dad gave up rights to the big console TV in the living room and let the kids watch what we wanted. Every year we got dibs on the TV for the Wizard of Oz, The Macy’s Thanksgiving day Parade and the Charlie Brown Christmas Special, the rest of the time the TV blared HeeHaw and The Dukes of Hazard.
And upon reading your post, I realized my youngest kids haven’t seen it either. What kind of parent am I,lol?
Love the rainbows, love your post!

Stephanie - I LOVE The Wizard of Oz. I remember before VCR’s and DVD players I would be so excited when it was going to be on TV. I loved when it changed from Black and White to Color.

Amanda - Oh my goodness, this movie has always been a part of my childhood. I really don’t even remember it being not a part of my childhood in fact. I was absolutely terrified of the flying monkeys when I was little, so much so that I wouldn’t go anywhere near monkey exibits at zoos until I was like 9 because I was always afraid they’d start flying at try to snatch me.
Love your rainbow celebration! I think we’ll be adopting a few of those ideas in our house to celebrate the Wizards anniversary as well 🙂

Christy - So cute!! I love anything rainbow. My favorite part is the lollipop kids and the song they sing. We represent the lollipop kids, the lollipop kids…. now I’ll be singing that all day long..

Lori H - Like commenter Stephanie, I waited all year for the one showing of the movie, and I had to be really good as the time came so that I would be allowed to stay up and watch it. The same way with the Grinch every year. So much more special than just watching it on DVD whenever they want to! Glad your kids liked the movie. My two kids were probably Talby’s age when I introduced them to it…they made fun of the “lame special effects” and the slow pace. Oh well, I still love it!

Jaime - Love all the rainbow stuff! 😀
The Wizard of Oz is a favorite of mine a well. We haven’t seen it in a while; I should prolly put it on our movie night list!

Courtney Walsh - The moment where it turns from Black and white to color… and seeing the witch’s feet shrivel up and retreat underneath the house. Those are my favorites! lol
My kids found our DVD and watched it not too long ago. I was really surprised they liked it so much (not sure why) and really worried about the monkeys and the witch because they are a little freaky!
What a FUN party you had!! Love it. 🙂

Shannon - I love that you celebrated the anniversary of the Wizard of Oz!! We might have to have a “belated” celebration at our house! 😉 I have several fun memories of the Wizard of Oz. 1) For my oldest child’s first Halloween, we dressed her up as Toto (it was the first costume I had ever made)…my husband was the Scarecrow and I was Dorothy. We lived in MN at the time and thought it would be fun since we were still “Kansans” at heart!
2) This year my daughter tried out for her first community theatre production…The Wizard of Oz!!! She got the parts of a munchkin and flying monkey. She was so excited, but then said, “What is a flying monkey?” I then realized she had never watched the movie!! HA!! Needless to say, all 3 of my kids can now recite every line and sing every song! Here’s a post I did about the local production, http://maplememoriescrafthouse.blogspot.com/2010/06/follow-yellow-brick-road.html
Rumor has it that the show next Summer will be Beauty and the Beast!

Jeanne C - Did you know the author(Frank Baum) of Wizard of Oz was a newspaper editor in South Dakota in the 1800’s? He advocated and pressed for the annihilation of all native Americans. He actually called for the extermination. My dad is a Native American and I cannot fathom watching the Wizard of Oz, or promoting it in any way.

shannon - So adorable, you come up with some of the best ideas!

dori - not an old memory…a brand new one. my dad recently introduced the movie to my daughter (who is only 22 months) and she LOVED it. the puppy, the lion, the (flying) monkeys, the colors…the wicked witch didnt phase her one bit.

Danielle H. - I absolutely LOVED this movie growing up and watched it every year. I was so fasinated with the black and white at the beginning and then the brilliant color! I need to show my daughter this movie – I guess I haven’t yet because she’s 4 and I don’t want the wicked witch to scar her! Have you seen Wicked the Musical? You MUST. It is wonderful and I love how it gives history between Glinda and the Wicked Witch (Elphaba) before they ended up in Oz.

Juli - What clever ideas you have! When I was a child in Kansas in the ’60s, only one family in the neighborhood had a color TV. In those days, “The Wizard of Oz” was shown only once a year. The family invited all the kids from the neighborhood to watch it on their set. When the movie goes to color, a crowded roomful of children all chorused, “Oooooh!”

Jami - My best memory of Wizard of oz has to be when at Halloween our principal in elemantary wanted to borrow our dog chip (who we rescued from a golf coarse and was oh so mangy) to be her Toto (she of course was Dorothy) I love this cause Chip had to have felt famous. 🙂 He loved all the attention 🙂 I do really also love the WHOLE movie especially when the little munchkin rolls out the scroll and starts singing “As coroner I must advert…….” For some reason it always makes me laugh……
PS I am a nanny and a mom and I adore your blog. We do a lot of your crafts. I did a craft day where I blogged about it too 🙂

Trish - loved that it used to be on tv every year… wish they still did that!

annalea @ our hartbeat - oh and this is such a fun and simple family night. great job!

Michelle - When I was a kid. . .7 or 8 . . . my parents told us we were moving to Kansas. The only time I had ever heard of Kansas was in the Wizard of Oz and I was still little enough to be terrified of the tornado and in turn Kansas. We moved in March and I spent that whole spring and summer on the lookout.

FeFe - Well, I don’t love the movie but it does bring me good memories. It used to come on TV once a year and my dad insisted that we watch it. I would snuggle with my dad on the couch. I remember every year that dumb witch would come on and scare me to death. I would bury my head into my daddy’s chest…every single year. Hate the movie but love the memory! 🙂

Staci - I’m soooo duplicating everything you did this weekend!!!! We rented the movie a while back and it was scratched….big bummer ;( Soooo, perfect reason to just buy it right 🙂 Hmmmm, I have so many favorites in this movie…but I do love it when Dorothy clicks her heels in those gorgeous slippers and gets to go home….and I do LOVE it when the house falls on the witch and her striped legs roll up under the house 🙂 And of course when the witch melts 🙂 Oh man! Now I can’t wait for my boys to watch this!!!! My puppy dog likes to watch tv too 🙂 I bet Waffle liked Toto 🙂 Thanks Megan!!! you are a rockstar!

Vicki - I just have to say you are too cute!! 🙂 LOVE all the stuff you did!!
I don’t have any specific memories of watching the movie, but my favorite memory OF the movie is when the Lion says “I’ll fight ya with one hand behind my back….Grrrrufff…” 🙂

Sophie - Well, in England, The Wizard Of Oz gets played at least once on TV every holiday season. My family and I used to watch it whenever we could. The first time I can remember watching it, I was really small, probably about 3 or 4. I can remember getting scared at the tornado part and running to my dad on the couch to protect me. I also always got scared at the part when they first see the ‘Wizard’.
And when I went to see ‘Wicked’ in London’s West End, it brought back all those memories of Christmases when I was tiny (:
I’m so glad that your kids like it. I think this movie is one of those that is timeless. My parents loved it as children, and so did I. I daresay that one day my children will love it too!

Kimberly - This post made me happy 🙂
We watch The Wizard of Oz a lot – it really is the best movie!

Anna Marie - I LOVE the munchkin scene! I often break out into song “We represent the Lullaby League, the Lullaby League…”

Katie M. - I went to San Francisco about 5 or 6 years ago and we went to a movie theater that had a special sing-a-long production of the wizard of oz! All of the words to the songs were on the screen. Also, when Glenda would come into the scene, everyone in the audience would blow bubbles! It was amazing!!!! This would actually be fun to re-create for a gathering!

Laura - just as you said…the excitement of it coming on..because it only came on once a year. It was special.
DVDs have ruined that for me…everything today is immediate..at your finger tips..see anything anytime…no more waiting…takes the special out of
I wish I were more like you (in so many ways!)…I love that you held this one back for your kids
and that you created the “special” for them
( I too have seen this movie countless times…have you noticed how Dorothy’s braids go from short to long back to short while the scarecrow sings??? check it out…)

Niki - My favorite memory was being in the Manhattan (KS) City Theater production of The Wizard of Oz when I was 7ish. It was performed outside in the city park! I was a munchkin! Sooo fun!
I always wanted a pair of red ruby slippers. Maybe that is why I have a slight obsession with sassy red shoes!

lorel - she’s not really melting, she’s just going into the floor. 🙂

Holly - I remember growing up and waiting for that one time a year that it would come on tv! I need to make my kids watch it again….not sure my little one has seen it!