Magazines I'd love to read

 I found these on Tumblr and had to share my favorites.
Find the rest here

(http://www.geekologie.com/2011/12/disney-princesses-as-magazine-cover-mode.php)

Good Stories

(Picture from http://abconceuponatime.tumblr.com/)

"Every good story begins with a wish."

This quote is very true. The character has to want or desire something, only then will people care about that character. It's all about the journey to get there and discover what the character is capable of.
Wishes and Dreams are very human things. To have a wish is to feel purpose and meaning in the world. Once you want something, you begin to change yourself, and work toward that goal. Characters don't interest audiences if they stay indoors with the windows shut. They have to act and move toward their desires, wishes and dreams.
The story is all about the path a character takes to get where they want to be, and how much they gain by getting there.

A picture's secrets

The road is bathed in sunlight as my cart is in the shadows. The guests go by, all dressed in bright colors with cartoon characters on their shirts and hats. A soft rustle fills the air as the tree above me drops some leaves no bigger than my fingernail. I brush them away, softly as the jazz band plays on, and the smell of popcorn drifts in the wind.
I take a deep breath, trying to capture the atmosphere and frame the picture in my mind. The river boat comes around and I wave at the people on it for the last time. Their smiles echo mine as the ship docks and one little girl drops a curtsy and does her best princess wave. More people board the boat, and one last passenger rushes to the gate. The band stops, and the breeze sends a piece of paper fluttering in front of them.
A cloud covers the sun as I turn to go.

The Goddess of Chance

         My days usually begin when I want them to. If I want it to rain, a slight storm starts up next to my window. If I want flowers, the flowers of my choice grow in the garden. Every now and then, a god or goddess will drop by and tell me a story. But this story, or rather, this project did not go the way I planned.
        As a goddess I have a specific job. I must represent and act upon the idea or symbol I am known by according to the mortals I observe. It may sound like an easy job, with a lot of benefits, and in one way it is. I control what happens and who it happens to. I live in a palace of my own creation with one room dedicated to my work. A single room that holds a giant pool of water, and shows the world of the mortals below.
        From this mirror I can decide who to listen to, and of course who to interfere with, but there are rules I have to follow. I must be subtle. An obvious goddess is doomed to be bothered by every mortal she helps. Once you offer one thing, they always come back for more. I must be in disguise whenever I travel to the mortal world, and I must be mysterious enough to hide my identity but informative enough to make my motive clear.
        It's frustrating at times. Some mortals are brighter than others, and some mortals actually care about their lives while others float about in a sea of mystery. Going with the flow they call it. I envy them. For they are able to live their lives, make something of themselves, while I dip in and out of the world, unnoticeable.
        As the goddess of chance, I took an oath to stay in my palace and observe the world until someone calls me, or until I decide to make something interesting happen. It is my gift and my curse.

Writing prompt 29: By the time you read this . . .

By the time you read this

I will be writing another story.
The dogs will be tapping, their claws echoing on the wood floor.
Soft music will be playing on my phone as I scribble in a notebook.
I'll be reading a story and hardly aware of the world around me.
Snow will be falling outside, as another winter comes to pass.
The washing machine will hum softly as the time goes by.
I'll have put away the memories of years long past.
A soft breeze will send a chill through the window.
The smell of gingerbread will waft through the kitchen.
I'll be baking with mom and talking with dad about the latest news in the world.
The dogs will claim the living room by sitting in the exact middle.
The oven will beep, announcing the  arrival of a fresh baked good.
I'll be laughing with my brother at a video game.
The street lights will wink on and off.
The soft tapping of computer keys will accompany loud music.
I'll be singing.
Disney music will echo through the house.
The dishes will be washed.
The clouds will be hanging in the air.
And I'll be somewhere between fantasy and reality.

On Pain

"I don't want my pain to be erased. As wretched as it is, I need my pain. It makes me who I am." Grumpy from Once Upon A Time

This quote really stood out to me.  Pain is something that no one likes to admit. It is the one part of yourself that you hide the most because it is a weakness in your mind. But pain comes with it's own lessons. The lessons you learn about people and the lessons you learn about yourself.
It's never easy to accept pain, physical or mental. That's part of the journey to discover who you are. You find a way to cope with pain, learn from it and work your way toward a better situation.
I think accepting pain is another way of growing up. Once you understand why something didn't go the way you planned, or why you were hurt by something someone did or said, you have a new type of confidence in yourself, and you can move on.
It isn't easy to acknowledge pain, or accept it. But it is possible to understand it. You can relate to people who have experienced similar pain, and you can acknowledge the fact that you are not the only one who has felt it.
I'm slowly learning this lesson as I allow myself to stop running from the past. Many parts of my past were painful, and I refused to acknowledge them, especially at the time. But as long as I can understand the reason for that pain, and how I used the pain to make choices in my life, I think I will get past the difficult times and prepare myself for better times.
My problem involved being ashamed of pain. I deemed pain a weakness and refused to acknowledge it. I hid it away in a box, and buried it as far as I could, away from anyone who would try to find it.
Now, day by day and little by little, I'm trying to find the box, so I can accept my pain and allow myself to understand it. Because, I agree with Grumpy. Pain makes you who you are, and once you accept it and understand it, you can use it to become who you want to be.

Silhouettes by Swimming With Dolphins

This song has been stuck in my head all week because it is awesome! And it reminds me of the You're Beautiful Korean Drama. When Tae Hyung tells Go Mi Hyu to stay in the light where he can see her ^_^

Chaos in an orderly fashion

 Prompt: Describe a place you know from the perspective of someone with amnesia.

The first thing I noticed was blue, a  soft one that filled the ceiling and walls accented by flimsy green curtains.A bookshelf stood by the doorway, unorganized and decorated with fancy snow globes, music boxes and a mug. Who lived here? Was it really me?I tried to understand the assortment of necklaces, books, stuffed animals and toys. Who was I? The room had an accent. One of calmness and comfort. Something childish was thrown in, yet it still belonged there. The random collage of items that varied in time. Some items were fragile, porcelain or glass. Some items were soft and cozy, a teddy bear or bunny rabbit. All of the items had a place next to a book series or a venetian mask. Each one told a story. It was chaos in an orderly fashion. Never before had I become so acquainted with a stranger.

Writing Prompt 28 : Masks and Mirrors

Prompt: If you were to publish a book about yourself, what will you title it?

Masks and Mirrors

It would be the story of a girl that  put on a lot of masks, the personalities of her favorite characters, who dealt with the turmoil in her life by following their actions. At the end of the story, she would realize that she doesn't need a mask, but a mirror. She would discover who she is and develop the confidence to be herself and be content with who she is. It would be a novel about letting go of the past, in more than just mind but in actions. Little by little and day by day, she would become the person she wanted to be and realize that she had the power to control her life all along.  She would learn that the only way to get over the past is to shape your own future. I would like to think the novel would be a powerful one, that would encourage other people to be themselves and appreciate who they are. Because it's not just the mindset that determines who you will be. It is also the path you choose for yourself. If you believe you can do something, then you can, but if you doubt yourself, you will fail. In order to let go of the masks, and situations from the past, the girl would learn all the things that she can do in the present moment. each present action would effect the girl's future, and the masks will become mirrors with each step she takes.

Words of Wisdom

"You hit a wall, you push through it." - Captain Haddock from The Adventures of Tin Tin.

This the best advice for people who have given up or become discouraged in anything.  Walls are annoying and they can often be intimidating. We find walls just when we think we have reached that moment of glory to meet a goal or accomplish a dream. Sometimes we forget that wall is still just one obstacle, one set back on the path to dreams and in the process of achieving a goal. Successful people, the people you read about, the people who became memorable for something have dealt with walls in this manner. It's a matter of effort and mindset. If you don't beleieve you'll get through the wall then you won't. But if you believe you can and do something about it, who knows how far you will go.

Beauty and the Beast in 3D!

So I've been waiting for this movie to come out since it was first announced and I finally got to see it today! The 3D was very well done. The Ballroom and Library were amazing, and the castle during the intro was so detailed that it overwhelmed me. I highly recommend going to see it in theaters if you love the movie and enjoy 3D. Watching this movie on the big screen gave the film a nostalgic feel, yet you're experiencing the film in a whole new way. The details are breathtaking.

Beauty and the Beast countdown day 3: favorite moment

Favorite Moment: When Beast gives Belle the library :)

Because it's so much better than "the usual things . . . flowers, chocolates, promises you don't intend to keep" ^_^

I can't wait to see the library in 3D!
as a side note: I created a Beauty and the Beast/ Disney tumblr
http://beautifulbookwormbelle.tumblr.com/

What's your favorite part of the film?

Countdown to Beauty and the Beast day 3: Modern day Belle

DisneyBound has an entire Beauty and the Beast fashion collection. Check out the tumblr.:

 http://disneybound.tumblr.com/

My Kyo and Tohru Tumblr

                                                Because Love is Beautiful

http://yearofthecatkyouru.tumblr.com/

Picture by yamigirl21 and featured here: http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=Kyo+Tohru#/d2um8ql

Beauty and the Beast countdown day 2: Upcoming cameo

Countdown Day 2 is an announcement on the upcoming Beauty and the Beast themed episode of Once Upon A Time. This episode airs on Valentine's Day which is perfect for the theme :) Any thoughts about the upcoming episode? For more info:

http://www.eonline.com/news/watch_with_kristin/casting_scoop_once_upon_time_finds_its/278631

  http://perezhilton.com/2011-11-29-once-upon-a-time-emilie-de-ravin-belle-beauty-and-the-best-photo

And the official site: http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/once-upon-a-time/index

Beauty and the Beast countdown day 1

Yep. I'm going to see Beauty and the Beast in 3D so I thought I'd do a countdown. The first post is a survey, feel free to fill one out for yourself ^_^

Favorite song from the movie: Beauty and the Beast

Favorite character: Belle, of course ^_^

Least favorite character: Gaston

Favorite quote: "Oh isn't this amazing! It's my favorite part because . . . you'll see. Here's where she meets prince charming. But she won't discover that it's him till chapter three." Belle

Favorite memory of events: The magical moment before the Beauty and the Beast show at MGM studios :) I got to sing before the show!

What does Beauty and Beast mean to you?: Beauty and the Beast is a deep and beautiful love story that shows the progression of a relationship through patience and time.

Growing up before everyone else

When you grow up before everyone else, you isolate yourself from the world. You take the things you know and the things you don't know, and you put them on an organized chart to identify yourself. The world becomes a mysterious and foreign place. With each difficult decision you make, you go deeper into that void of maturity and you become more and more strange to the people your age. It's a sad truth that we avoid what we don't understand, and we don't deal with things if we can avoid it. I knew that, even as I tried to ignore the giant rift that passed between me and others. I knew that even as I managed to pass for a Middle Schooler, High Schooler and eventually a College kid. But there are days where I don't feel young. Days I expect myself to creak loudly as I walk, or muse at the people passing me by like an elderly person absorbed in her neighbor's life instead of creating her own.
Growing up is difficult, and some people do get to choose when they grow up, but some don't. Some have to grow up because it is the only way for them to survive. And once they realize that they have grown up, it is a mystery how they will ever relate to other people who haven't.
Growing up is growing old, wise beyond your years. Watching other people live carefree and wonder what it's like to not have responsibilities. Growing up involves priorities that rarely include yourself. It is a decision that every person makes in their life, without realizing it. It doesn't happen in a day, week or month. Sometimes you grow up in a single moment. Other times involve a journey of small sacrifices until you lead up to your big decision. Growing up is a mystery. It cannot be defined simply or elegantly on a piece of paper. It cannot have specific emotions dedicated to it. Sometimes it makes you bitter and cold. Other times you become an understanding and caring person who can help someone in need. Each little decision grows with you and becomes etched in your way of life. It is a strange phenomenon. At times it is a phenomenon that you regret.
It is so much easier to whine, cry, scream and throw things when you don't want to deal with life. But it is not rational. It doesn't solve anything, and it can often make a situation worse. This is the difference between thinking you are a kid and actually being a kid. Growing up is painful. It is an unpleasant experience for everyone who prefers to stay locked in a cocoon or living a lie. There are levels of growing up too.
The more difficult the decision you make, the more you grow up. And the faster you grow up from those around you, the lonelier the road is. You lose people, you lose indulgences. You begin to understand others more than yourself, and then you are a fly caught in the net of maturity.

Taking one step at a time

I've been in a slump lately, realizing that I have a long way to go to achieve my dream. Then this song "One Step at a Time" by Jordin Sparks came on my ipod today and I remembered what it's really about. You can't just rush into life, or magically have your dream. Everything that's worth having takes time and effort to achieve. The only thing you can do is take it day by day and "one step at a time".



Lyrics:
Hurry up and wait
So close, but so far away
Everything that you've always dreamed of
Close enough for you to taste
But you just can't touch

You wanna show the world, but no one knows your name yet
Wonder when and where and how you're gonna make it
You know you can if you get the chance
In your face as the door keeps slamming
Now you're feeling more and more frustrated
And you're getting all kind of impatient waiting

[Chorus:]
We live and we learn to take
One step at a time
There's no need to rush
It's like learning to fly
Or falling in love
It's gonna happen when it's
Supposed to happen and we
Find the reasons why
One step at a time

You believe and you doubt
You're confused, you got it all figured out
Everything that you always wished for
Could be yours, should be yours, would be yours
If they only knew

You wanna show the world, but no one knows your name yet
Wonder when and where and how you're gonna make it
You know you can if you get the chance
In your face as the door keeps slamming
Now you're feeling more and more frustrated
And you're getting all kind of impatient waiting

[Chorus]

When you can't wait any longer
But there's no end in sight
when you need to find the strength
It's your faith that makes you stronger
The only way you get there
Is one step at a time

[Chorus x2]

Entering the Wildwood (Comtemplating Art)

Prompt courtesy of The Daily Writer by Fred White

Prompt: "Spend several moments contemplating a work of art of your choice, and then write a one-page story in which you enter that work of art. Describe how you interact with your surroundings."



Piece of art: Wildwood Dancing by Kinuko Y. Craft
original website: http://www.kycraft.com/detail_pages/wildwood-dancing.html
Inspired by the novel Wildwood Dancing by Julliet Mariller
original website: http://www.julietmarillier.com/books/wildwooddancing.html



The music came as I completed the puzzle. Distant sounds of laughter and the slow lap of water beckoned me to put my ear to the work and listen. My ear touched soft mossy green, and I saw a light in the distance. I was no longer in my room, the haunting melody grew louder as the light came closer. I could it hear it now, the language of the other realm. I took another step and realized it was water. The light was getting closer, but now I wasn't moving. I finally saw the outline of a boat, in the shape of a swan and a person made of wood rowing toward me.
"Ready to cross the Bright Between?" He called.
I looked around, and only found darkness from the other direction.
"Yes," I said with a shaky nod. Disbelief fading away with the steady tempo of the music.
As I reached the shore, the light revealed my feet, which were not in the tennis shoes I had on moments ago. Delicate sky blue slippers peeked out of a matching ballgown. I sucked in a breath as the boat pulled up to shore.
"The Queen was expecting your presence." The tree man said, holding out his hand. I climbed in the boat and watched the shore slip away faster than I had expected. Different lights came into view, tiny dots of orange and yellow. They formed a pattern while the moon peeked from tree branches illuminated just enough to appear like a shadow in the distance. Finally, I saw them. Dancers dressed in bright colors twirled and laughed. Some had masks and others had little or no human appearance. Musing with her guests and watching from the throne, the Queen smiled at me. As the boat pulled up to shore I saw other ladies like me, dressed in finery and arriving to shore. One young woman dressed in green stood patiently with a frog on her shoulder. She waited until all the boats were emptied, then turned and saw me.
"Hello. You've never been here before have you?"
"She is a special guest of the Queen," My escort spoke for me.
"My sisters and I have been coming here for many years." The young woman smiled. "No harm will come to you here. The Wildwood is always safe during Full Moon."
"Thank you." I said smiling. "It is an honor to be invited here."
"The Queen requests your presence." My escort said. He took my hand and led me around the dancers and musicians. The scent of flowers and fresh pondweed filled the air as we walked around the guests. I passed under a giant butterfly wing and passed several feathers until we finally arrived at the Queen's throne.
"Welcome." The queen stood, holding a scepter. The harpist next to her played a soft but happy tune that rang through the air.
"Once a year we invite someone new to the Wildwood to enjoy the delights of the Other Kingdom. You have been chosen as our special guest. Jena?"
The girl with the frog on her shoulder stepped forward.
"Show this young lady around. I'm sure she would enjoy a tour before her first dance."
"Dance?" I asked.
My escort smiled at me. "Your escort is allowed a special dance which you pick throughout the evening."
Jena nodded and took my hand.
"First I should introduce you to my sisters."
As Jena described each sister by name and interest, she occasionally interrupted herself to talk to the frog on her shoulder.
"Yes Gogu I was getting to that." she laughed.
"This is Gogu. He's been my companion for years now. He says it's an honor to meet you."
"It's an honor to meet you as well." I smiled at the frog.
After a few dances and stories around the edge of the forest, a white fox appeared in front of me. I excused myself and followed him through the dancers to a flowery patch of grass.
"Are you having fun?"
AN old woman with silvery white hair stood next to the fox. Although she looked frightening, I was only curious as to what she had to say.
"I'm having a lot of fun, thank you." I swept my best curtsey and waited.
She laughed, a loud and gritty cackle that echoed through the trees.
"I am glad that you have been dancing here, but you have not been dancing where you're from."
I looked at her. Her eyes were crinkled with an all knowing smile.
"Yes I don't dance there very often. I like to sit on the sidelines."
"This is very true." She nodded. "But you have yet to realize that you can dance. Remember this when you return."
I nodded, but when I looked up she was gone.
I walked back to the forest and found that Jena was looking for me.
"There's not a lot of time left." she said, "Where were you?"
"I found a white fox." I told her.
"Draguta's up to her tricks again is she?" Jena said while the frog moved on her shoulder.
"No Gogu. I don't think she meant any harm. Anyway, the last dance is for everyone to join in."
The music grew louder as we all joined hands and spun around. Once the dance was over, the Queen left and everyone waved goodbye.
I followed Jena and her sisters to the boats where our escorts were waiting.
"It was nice to meet you." Jena smiled, "If you're ever in the Wildwood again, look for us."
I waved goodbye as the boat pulled away. My escort smiled.
"It was an honor dancing with you." he said, "I hope you enjoyed your time in the Wildwood."
I may have replied but suddenly it was dark again, and the music was fading away.
The next thing I knew, I was opening my eyes and staring at the completed puzzle. As I got up and stretched, I could have sworn that the old woman in the picture winked at me, and I could still hear a soft hum of music.