Another year has come and gone . . .

It's new year's eve, and that means reflecting on the past year. Memorable moments, lessons learned and goals that were met. It also means coming up with a new year's resolution and looking toward the future.

Lessons learned this year:

"When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change."- Aang

I learned a lot about growing up this year.
I got a job  after college was over.
I learned a lot about healthy work place environments.
I had to say good bye to my best friend Haley, and learn to let her go.
I got in a car wreck that made me feel awful for hitting a deer, and totaling the car.
I took a stand against unhealthy relationships and reviewed my history with the bad habit of making them.
I had to accept that I cannot change others, but I can change myself.
In truth: The most important lessons I learned this year involved self compassion and wisdom.

Goals achieved this year:

I got published, sending one article to the Disney fan magazine MouseMag, and applying and getting an internship for Shine On Hollywood Magazine.
I published five articles this year, and one is on the way.
I got one of my dream jobs, working with books.
I found and made the chipped cup.
My RumBelle earrings sold like crazy this year, and I still have requests for a necklace and more earrings next year.
I finally found and bought Belle's Armani dress from Once Upon A Time's "The Crocodile."
I participated in an online Secret Santa event and turned it in on time.
I took on the Big Six Challenge and I'm almost finished with the first script for Nickolodeon.
I made my first Gingerbread House.

Highlights of the Year:

Once Upon A Time

Finding Nemo 3D

Arang and the Magistrate

Brave

Beauty and the Beast on CW

Disneyland

Shine On Hollywood Launch Party

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

Wreck It Ralph

PaperMan

Shine On photoshoot

Life of Pi

The Hobbit

Cheongdam-dong Alice

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

New Year's Resolutions:

1. The Big Six Challenge continues:
First script for Nickelodeon:
Legend of Korra

2. Learn Basic Korean: I watch so many Korean Dramas, and it's a beautiful language:

3. Get Published:
I plan to edit and publish Starlight this year

more info here

4. Get a life! No Seriously.

 The future is unpredictable, but with the right mind set, maybe I can learn to make people proud, and find where I belong.

People: A poem

I will never understand them.

The ones that lie.
The ones who are shy.
The ones who leave without saying goodbye.
The ones who question.
The ones who tease.
The "weather friends" who decide your worth to them with ease.
The total strangers who teach something of life
People come with a lot of strife.

Heartbreak and hurt.
Truths you can't blurt.
Masks you must wear.
Times they don't care.
Their words like knives.
Only seconds of their lives.

The ones who smile
know about pain.
The ones who laugh
dance in the rain.
The ones that insult
quiver in fear.
The ones that cry
never ask why.
The ones that lie
never say goodbye.
The ones that live in memory
are there like a stain.
Somewhere between happiness and pain.

Book Review: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin

Book Review:

Where the Mountain Meets The Moon by Grace Lin

I came across this book by chance and started reading it right away. This is a creative story, inspired by Chinese mythology and it has beautiful illustrations. In some ways, it reminds me of 1001 Arabian Nights, because it is layered with stories, and all the stories are connected. Minli is very wise, resourceful and loyal to her family. Her journey to find good fortune is like a fairy tale with many stories woven together.

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin

This book worked like a mystery. Each story became a clue to the real tale of Rendi and the moon's absence in the sky. But the story is also how Rendi learns about the world, and discovers who he is and what he is capable of. The reader wonders  who everyone is, and what part they have to play in the mysterious disappearance of the moon. I enjoyed this book almost as much as Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, but Rendi was harder to relate to than Minli. He seemed cold, but once it is revealed who he is, it makes more sense.

Both of these books are fun journeys through the imagination and the world of Chinese fairy tales. 

Kingdom Hearts Challenge Day 30: What Kingdom Hearts means to you

Kingdom Hearts is one of the first games I got for Play Station 2. I actually started the series by playing Chain of Memories, and even without understanding what was going on, the game was fascinating to me. There are so many conflicts: Dark vs Light, Brain vs Heart, Courage vs Fear. It's a complex story that goes deeper into the meaning and reason for emotions. What does a heart mean? Is the brain always in conflict with the heart? And so on.
Kingdom Hearts means a lot to me. Not just because it is an amazing story, but it takes you through Disney worlds and brings back childhood memories while introducing characters that you know from other Final Fantasy games. The main characters are very well created, with realistic inner conflicts and responses to philosophical tests and questions. Sora is a character who focuses on the heart, always there for others when they need him. Riku is a character of the mind, focusing on plans and questioning the world. Kairi is a mix between the two. She is a character of support and hope, always there when Sora and Riku need her. Roxas is an interesting character, curious, pensive and also brave. Namine is quiet but clever, finding ways out of the trap she's in and rescuing others from nonexistence.
The story that started it all, Birth by Sleep was a tragedy between three wanderers. Aqua, the responsible, brave and loyal keyblade master. Terra, the rebellious and brave warrior. Ventus the incomplete but kind and curious drifter. When Terra falls to darkness, the tone of the game changes. This is different than when Riku fell to darkness, allowing Maleficent to teach him how to be evil. Terra makes an active decision, even after witnessing what darkness does, and betrays his master, Erauqs, and his friends. Ventus's story is the opposite, he must confront darkness and subdue it with light. Ventus faces Vanitus, his shadow and fights to regain control of his body. Aqua must face the rift and mend it, using what strength she has left after battling Terra and protecting Ventus. All three wanderers were separated and lost the ultimate battle to darkness.
Each Kingdom Hearts story is a clever allegory about the human condition. Roxas asks the very common, "Who am I?" and "What is my purpose?". Sora looks for hope, wherever he can find it, even with his world destroyed and friends scattered. Ventus must battle his shadow, common in the hero's quest and many other stories.
Kingdom Hearts is a powerful collection of epic and human stories. It is the infinite battle of Good versus Evil, and the human condition of purpose and meaning. It is a philosophical story disguised as an epic journey, involving the characters from childhood memories and the warriors of Final Fantasy stories today. It's a story that means a lot to me, and with each new game, I discover something new about fears and dreams.

Kingdom Hearts Challenge: Day 29: Least Favorite Voice

Jack Sparrow

It wasn't Johnny Depp's voice, but the voice actor did imitate it.

Kingdom Hearts Challenge Day 28: Favorite Voice

Roxas/ Jesse McCartney


I really can't imagine Roxas or Ventus with any other voice. It suits both characters and has become a signature to define the exact opposite of Sora. Roxas is calm and Ventus is curious, both of these characters are voiced very well, and their voice actor is the same person, but these characters do not sound the same.

Kingdom Hearts Challenge Day 27: Favorite fan art

Shattered Mirror by mandi-chan

http://mandi-chan.deviantart.com/art/Shattered-Mirror-57443731

Does this fanart need words? It's just amazing!

Kyou and Tohru's Story

Kingdom Hearts Day 26: Favorite Official Art

I love how epic this picture is. Roxas and Sora look like true heroes.

I love how elegant and detailed this stained glass is.

Kingdom Hearts Challenge Day 25: Favorite system to play Kingdom Hearts on

Don't have one.


I enjoy all the games on their different consoles and with all their different game play. Each game is another epic story and another adventure to learn from.

picture by GeekTruth64

Kingdom Hearts Challenge Day 24: Favorite Keyblade

Oathkeeper

This keyblade has a story behind it, and symbolizes the promise Sora and Kairi made to return to eachother. This keyblade was also given to Sora the same time Roxas was created (Which is why Roxas also weilds this keyblade)

Divine Rose

This keyblade also has a story behind it, and symbolizes Beast's love and devotion for Belle when he follows her to Maleficent's castle in Hollow Bastion. It forms random rose petals that fall whenever the keyblade is swung.  

Kingdom Hearts Challenge Day 23: The scene that made you the saddest

When Xion died.

This was sad for many reasons. One, that Xion never considered herself an actual person and only Roxas believed she was a character of her own. Two, Xion dies from an unstoppable fate and once she discovers who or what she is, she pushes everyone away. Three, Roxas is the only one who believed Xion is a person of her own, but in the end, he is the person who must defeat her. Four, Roxas forgets all that happened, including Xion, and it is never clear if he ever regains those memories.

Kingdom Hearts Day 22: The scene that made you happiest

When Sora returns home in Kingdom Hearts II. That moment was not only a resolution for all the characters, but a breath of fresh air that promised new beginnings and a sanctuary after all they had been through. Of course my favorite part of that moment is when we see Roxas and Namine again, as proof they really do get to exist despite being nobodies. But I also love when Mickey, Donald and Goofy visit their world and they have a cheerful reunion. The ending song is nice and peaceful, while the credits role to show what became of the Disney characters. (Belle and the Prince Dancing).

Kingdom Hearts Challenge Day 21: Organization member you would get rid of

Xaldin

Not only was his boss fight really annoying, he was one of the rudest co-workers that Roxas had to deal with in 368/2 days. His real character Dilan was never very friendly in Birth by Sleep either.

Belle won this fight more than I could.

Kingdom Hearts Challenge Day 20: Character you would cosplay as

Fairy Yuna from Kingdom Hearts II.
The outfit is really cute and looks simple to make. I love the wings on the ponytail and the cute zigzag pattern of the shirt and skirt.