Browse the Garden

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

You know you're a RumBelle fan when . . .


You can't count how many times you've watched Skin Deep
You've heard the beautiful song: "Deal" on youtube
You've made or plan to make the chipped cup
You follow the Rumbelle tag on tumblr, deviantart, livejournal and youtube
You know about the RumBelle fanfic wars
You've made a playlist
You've read or wrote fanfics for them (or both)
You listen to "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri without thinking of Twilight
You can't wait for "Dreamy"
Tea cups make your heart ache
Roses make you smile
You know "any curse can be broken"
You say "Let's get ready to RumBelle!"
You go by "Dearie"
You know "Love is layered."
They have taken over your tumblr dash and livejournal feed
You count the days until the RumBelle reunion
You know it's not "just a cup"


Once again, feel free to add to this ^_^
 RumBelle forever!

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

To Create

To Create is to:
Dream
                                 Ask questions
Observe
                     Witness
Try
                                       Go beyond reality
See from above
                                  See from below
Learn
            Be
Watch
                   Listen
Wait
                Act
Wonder
                    Know
Borrow
                      Invent
 Shape
                                   Paint a picture
Perceive
                      Believe


 


Monday, February 27, 2012

Prices

Rating: G
Pairing: RumBelle
Synopsis: While Rumplestiltskin tries to annoy Belle on one of his good days, Belle ventures some questions.
Spoilers: During Skin Deep
Disclaimer: Don't own anything. I wish.

           “Not that one, dearie.”
             Belle looked up from her feather duster. If she had recalled correctly, Rumplestiltskin had told her that she would dust his collection. Apparently not. This was the third, “Not that one, dearie” he had given her while she attempted to do her work.
          “And why not?” She asked, hands on her hips.
         “It’s not dusty.” He waved his hand to emphasize the point.
          “Just like these two?” Belle pointed to the puppets he had also claimed were not dusty.  She had to admit they were odd. The expression on their faces was so painful that Belle was almost glad she didn’t have to spend time with them.
          “Exactly.”
           Belle looked at the sword in front of the cabinet. It reminded her of Excalibur, and tales of King Arthur floated in her head.
           Rumplestiltskin was now at the wheel, spinning as usual. Whenever she started her dusting, he always had to spin. She knew he was watching as she moved to the next piece. A golden goblet, also not dusty, she was sure of it. Excalibur and the holy grail? What deals did Rumplestilskin do? There were days she wanted to know, and days she didn’t.  She sometimes got a question in, now and then when his mood wasn’t sour. Judging by his playful tone and “dearie”, Belle suspected his mood was fine.
           “Not this one either?” She asked, looking at him.
           The grin on his face surprised her. She was not expecting such an honest smile.
           “Now you’re learning.”
           She rolled her eyes and moved on. A hat, royal blue with stars and a moon.
           “Normally when people collect things they are related in some way. My books for example, and Gaston’s . . . trophies.”
            She knew he hadn’t missed her grimace. It seemed to lighten his mood whenever she complained about Gaston.  Her strange and mysterious employer.
            “Stories. Deals. Contracts.” He replied. His voice was low, more serious and almost . . . sad. Belle waited to see if he would say anything else.
            “Everything in this room has a price.”
            “Even you?”
             She shouldn’t have said that. Belle knew the moment the words left her. Mention his work too often, and Rumplestiltskin would act more strangely, almost as if he was protecting something.
             She waited. Not a sound. He was only staring at her. She put down the duster, task forgotten in pursuit of a new adventure.
            “You said everything in this room had a price.” She said, walking toward the wheel.
            “So I did.” He stopped spinning the wheel.
             At that moment, some sunlight stretched across the floor, and Belle decided to stand in it for comfort. She had noticed that Rumplestiltskin never stood in sunlight. Even though he said he would get used to the curtains being open, there were specific places of the room he avoided.  His silence gave her courage.
             “So what is my price then?” Belle asked.  It was meant to be a joke, but it came out sounding serious. The softness in the question surprised her.
            “You were the price, dearie.” He started spinning again.
            “Yes. But if someone were to ask for me . . .” She ventured, listening for a warning. Nothing. “Like, Gaston, he seemed to think the price for me was a place at my father’s side or his ridiculous trophy collection.”
             “And you didn’t agree?” Rumplestiltskin stared, not moving as Belle moved to the table. She poured the tea and sighed.
             “No, but papa did. He wanted me to find someone, anyone I could relate to. He seemed to believe Gaston was that person. You see, I believe that people don't have prices.”
             “You’re speaking to the wrong one, dearie.” Rumplestiltskin sighed and got up for a cup of tea. He sat in his chair as Belle took her usual spot at the table.
             “I don’t think so. You haven’t told me your price, so I think you agree.” Belle took a sip while waiting for his wrath. Instead she got another round of silence.
            “Come on.” She laughed, “This is just a chat to pass the time. And who will I tell any way?”
              A sad expression crossed his face, and Belle almost dropped the cup in surprise.
           “I think the library upstairs needs cleaning.” Rumplestiltskin said finishing his cup. She couldn’t help but notice that it was the chipped one, the one she thought he would punish her for. Every moment she had spent in the Dark Castle was not what it seemed. Things that Belle thought would upset him made Rumplestiltskin laugh or dismiss without comment. Things that Belle thought would please him, like master-servant comments or harmless questions made Rumplestiltskin reflect in silence. He was a strange man, but if she was going to be in this castle for the rest of her life, with just him for company, she was determined to get to know him. Maybe she’d mention that in the future, when conversation seemed less awkward and fragile. For now, Rumplestiltskin wanted the library cleaned.
            As Belle got up and walked toward the door, she heard Rumplestiltskin’s wheel spinning again. This time the sound was frantic and somehow she knew that he was upset. But instead of taking it out on her, it was always the wheel he punished.


Top Ten favorite quotes:

"Keep Moving Forward" - Meet The Robinsons
This is literally my work ethic right now. It is also a great mantra and coping mechanism. 
"All dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them" - Walt Disney
I was introduced to this quote through a friend. It has stuck with me ever since. I hope to follow the Disney dream. 
"If you ever wondered where your dreams come from, you look around. This is where they're made" - Hugo
This movie was fantastic, but this quote was the best line. Movies and stories come from dreams, and the silver screen makes them reality.


 "No one decides my fate but me." Belle - Once Upon A Time
An empowering quote that not only defines Belle, but it is also a great truth in many situations in life. You can ask someone for advice, but the one in control of your fate is you.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Eleanor Roosevelt
I first heard this quote from The Princess Diaries, but now I try to apply this mindset in my everyday life. An important thing to remember. 


"Everything, in the end comes down to timing. One second, one minute, one hour could make all the difference .” - Sarah Dessen - This Lullaby
My favorite book of Dessen's. There is some truth to this quote. Some events in our lives, whether it is a career choice or personal decision, can be determined by our timing.


"Just as no matter how hard you try to keep it away despair will attack you again and again. In the same manner hope will return to you. And again, and again it will surely bloom" Kazuma Sohma - Fruits Basket
This quote has been my favorite Fruits Basket quote for years. In context, Kyo tells his teacher that his life isn't worth it, so why protect a tiny flower. He has made the choice to completely give up on his struggle to  be accepted. Kazuma waits for a bit and then tells him this quote to explain that things won't always be hopeless, and once Kyo has accepted himself, he can find the truth about his struggle and overcome it.


 "A flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all," - Mulan
This is a great quote from the Disney movie, but it also speaks about the ability to continue growing regardless of the adversity in life.


 "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear," - Ambroce Redmoon -  The Princess Diaries
A lesson I still need to learn. To be brave doesn't mean you are not afraid. It means you will face that fear, even if you are terrified. 


 "I will defeat sorrow, in his place. I will stand my ground and be strong. I don't know when it will be, but someday... I will conquer it. And I will do it without... false hope." - Yuna FFX
Final Fantasy X is my favorite game, and this powerful quote is spoken by Yuna at a crucial moment. She has just discovered that the people of Spira based their hopes on a lie, and she won't accept it. She is determined to fight her sorrow and find a real solution that people can believe in.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Sometimes you just feel like you need a miracle




Beautiful video with a song that really speaks to me right now.

Song: Miracle
Artist: Vertical Horizon

Lyrics:
It's taken much too long
To get it right
Would it be so wrong
To maybe find someone
A miracle

And all you really need
Is everything you could never be
And so you'd give it all
For a miracle

[Chorus]
Is there a trace
Inside her face
Of a lonely miracle
And so you wait
And lie awake
For a lonely miracle

You never really know
What it is
Not until it goes
And if it comes again
It's a miracle

But what you miss is love
In everything below and up above
And could she bring it all
A miracle

[Chorus]

All you wanted was a (miracle)
All you needed was a miracle
A miracle
And all you wanted was a (miracle)
All you needed was a miracle
A miracle

It's taken so long to get it right
Could it be so wrong
To maybe find someone
A miracle

[Chorus]

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Inspiration


Inspiration did not strike today.
In fact it wants you to go away.
Why should you wait around?
When what you seek cannot be found?
You may scratch your head
and pull your hair,
but you won't find it anywhere.
Instead it chose to take a break
without realizing creativity was at stake.
So try not to freak out
or ask for more.
It's not hiding in a special store.
It isn't lounging in your chair.
It's simply just not anywhere.
But that's okay
and it's just grand.
Not everything for an artist
goes as planned.
So take a deep breath,
listen  for a sound.
Try to smile and look around.
There, you see.
It just may be
the moment you need
to succeed.
The world is full
of its' own art.
And sometimes you have to wait
for inspiration to start.
But in the meantime
wait and watch.
Each time you catch yourself
sighing,
trying,
and almost crying
because you cannot think of a single thing,
take a break and let the world sing.


Friday, February 24, 2012

The Corruption of a Broken Heart



A broken heart
can corrupt over time:
Lost and lonely
with no reason or rhyme.

It comes with anger,
sadness and pain.
The emotions meld
to form a great stain.

Bitter and broken,
shattered and torn,
emptiness grows
and darkness is born.

A battle begins.
The heart puts up a fight.
For even in darkness
dwells a beautiful light.


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Perspective






Why stare at the ground, when there are clouds in the sky?
Why dwell in the past while the present flies by?
Everything moves and changes with time.
Each step a challenge.
Each mountain a climb.
Smile on a day with pouring rain.
Laugh during moments you experience pain.
Once you believe,
you can achieve.
Why sell yourself short, when you don't know your worth?
Perspective brings meaning to the day of your birth.
Who are you?
Only you can know.
But you'll never find out
if you don't flourish and grow.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

You know you love Once Upon A Time when . . .


You look for the magic in everything.
Every Pawn shop is suddenly Mr. Gold's looming headquarters.
You know that "All magic comes at a price."
You eat Apollo candy bars.
You make a wish on any star you see.
You become an expert on Fairy Tale Couture
You know that Story Brooke is in Maine, close to Boston
You listen to the soundtrack whenever possible.
You've seen the Mickey telephone and Sorcerer's Apprentice hat
You count down until Sunday.
You stay away from apples.
Everything is "charming".
You give people you love "their best chance". (Snow White)
You make theories about each episode.
You know that no one can leave Story Brooke.
You watch for Disney and Lost cameos.
You follow the entire cast on twitter.
You bought the Welcome to Story Brooke T-shirt.
You own the DVD sampler.
You own the Fairytale book.
You know about Stealthy.
You know "What happened to Fredrick" but not Kathryn.
You ship Rumplestiltskin and Belle (RumBelle)
You know, "people are going to tell you who you are your whole life. You've just got to punch back and say, 'No. This is who I am". (Emma)
You know that "Believing in even the possibility of a happy ending is a very powerful thing." (Mary Margret Blanchard)


Feel free to add to this ^_^
(screenshot taken by me on itunes)
(quotes taken from Once Upon A Time)

Arrietty's Song: The Secret World of Arrietty

A beautiful Song in both languages, performed by Cecile Corbel. Inspirational writing music, and a wonderful tribute to a great Ghibli film.







Lyrics in English:

 I'm 14 years old, I am pretty
I'm a teen tiny girl, a little lady
I live under the kitchen floor
Right here, not so far from you.
Sometimes I feel happy
Sometimes I feel blue
In my dreams O I wish I could...

Feel my hair blowing in the wind
See the sky and the summer rain
Pick a flower from the garden for you
Beyond the lane there's another world
Butterflies floating in the air
But is there someone out there for me?

And so life goes on, day after day
With knick-knacks on the floor, nooks and crannies
I live in a tiny world
But out there, someone waits for me.
I wish I had someone to watch over me
In my dreams O I wish I could...

Feel my hair blowing in the wind
See the sky and the summer rain
Pick a flower from the garden for you
Now I know there's another world
Butterflies floating in the air
There is someone out there for me.

Feel my hair blowing in the wind
See the sky and the summer rain
Pick a flower from the garden for you
Now I know there's another world
Butterflies floating in the air
There is someone out there for me.


Lyrics in Japanese:

I'm fourteen years old, I am pretty
Genki na chiisai lady
Yukashita ni zutto
Karigurashi shitetano
Toki ni wa happy, toki ni wa blue
Dareka ni aitai

Kaze kami ni kanjite
Sora wo nagametai
Anata ni hana todoketai
Mukou wa betsu no sekai
Hora chou-chou ga matteru
Watashi wo matteiru

Sou kawaru koto mo nai
Watashi no chiisai sekai
Kirai janai no demo anata wo
Motto motto shiritakute
Yorokobi to kanashimi
Wa itsumo orimazatteyuku

Kaze kami ni kanjite
Sora wo nagametai
Anata ni hana todoketai
Mukou wa betsu no sekai
Hora chou-chou ga matteru
Anata wo matteiru

Taiyou no shita de
Hana ni kakomarete
Anata to hibi sugoshitai
Kono omoi wo mune ni
Atarashii sekai de
Watashi rashiku ikiru

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Bravery


"I always wanted to be brave. I figured, do the brave thing and bravery would follow." - Belle - Once Upon A Time

What is the definition of bravery? I know it takes a certain amount of bravery to do the right thing, stand up for what you believe in and pursue your dreams. It's not easy to be brave. It's often overwhelming and scary to  change something in your life. A habit, a routine can cause something in you to shift, making you discover a part of yourself you didn't know existed.
All heroes in stories must be brave. In order to do so, they have to accept their situation or at least acknowledge it, and then do something about it. It's one of those simple but difficult decisions to make. Once you change something about yourself, or your life, you discover that you have what it takes to make a difference. Whether this act is a simple response or a well thought out plan, the result is the same. Being brave is an opportunity to learn what you can do. It's more than just a decision, it is a step toward becoming who you want to be.


Saturday, February 18, 2012

Lost


Where do I belong?
Who should I be?
Is there a place to go
where chaos doesn't follow me?

Where do I belong?
Who should I become?
Why pursue the things
that leave me feeling numb?

How do I decide
what I want to do
when I'm so exhausted,
and depression runs me through?

On a day where the sun is shining,
I don't see the silver lining.
A pessimist is what I've become.
So disappointed,
and so numb.

Where do I belong?
What can I do to see
the things I want,
the things I love,
the things that I can be?

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

No one gets turned into a rose like Gaston

No one throws like Gaston
No one crows like Gaston
No one gets turned into a rose like Gaston.




I couldn't resist. ^_^

idea from visiting http://kovalaris.tumblr.com/post/17651694023/roses-are-red

Monday, February 13, 2012

Belle & Rumplestiltskin - Beauty and the Beast



Because this was so well done. I think Rumpelstiltskin and Belle are my favorite couple in Once Upon A Time now. So much meaning in a little chipped cup :(


Sunday, February 12, 2012

Kyou and Tohru - One Day



Too Beautiful to not be blogged. Another amazing find on tumblr with the original on youtube.
Enjoy ^_^

Song- One Day by Trading Yesterday

Lyrics:

If I could change the currents of our lives
To make the river flow where its run dry
To be a protocol of father time
Then I would see you tonight

If I could find the years that went away
Destroying all the cruelty of fate
I must believe that love will find away tonight

Lonely. Find me, one day you will come
Always for love sake
One day to be loved

If I see beyond the here and now
If you could here me calling you somehow
If I could know that love is reaching out
To find you with me tonight
But who can make these promises come true?
Beyond what I can say what love can do?
With every moment leading me to you, tonight

Lonely. Find me one day you will come
Always for love sake,
One day to be loved

I will stay forever here until that one day comes
Praying time will bring you near, always for your love

If I could change the currents of our lives
To make the river flow where its run dry
To be a protocol of father time then I
Would see you tonight

Lonely. Find me
One day you will come
Always for love sake, one day to be loved
Lonely find me one day you will come
Always for love sake, one day to be loved
One day to be loved
One day to be loved
I will stay forever here, always for your love




Saturday, February 11, 2012

Delicate flame




(One more day! I made two collages to pass the time. Can't wait for Sunday!)

"Love. It's like a delicate flame . . ." - Mr. Gold - Skin Deep


Friday, February 10, 2012

Hope and Light


Hope and Light
are side by side.
When you doubt,
they like to hide
in nooks and crannies,
behind the darkest cloud.
Hope and Light
aren't very loud.
You only find them
when you believe.
Light dwells in darkness
and Hope, doubt's reprieve.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

The Red Thread Wish


I wish the story
of the red thread was true.
That the string around my finger
is tied to you.
I'm sure you're still singing
and laughing with a smile.
It always helped me forget
for just a little while,
the pain in my heart,
the fear of a new start,
the scars from the past,
and a calm that won't last.
I'll never forget
my actions that day,
leaving the happiest place on earth
and running away.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

The Beauty and the Beast episode for Once Upon A Time "Skin Deep"



I'm very curious how this episode will play out, so I decided to blog about it. Belle is by far my favorite Disney Princess and of course the star of my favorite fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. This will be a good opportunity for character development on Rumplestiltskin. ^_^
I'm counting the days.




Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The Call to Adventure


I just read The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler and learned some valuable lessons. Everything in writing, whether fiction or non fiction is related to life in some way. One of the ways an audience can relate to a character is the exciting yet ominous Call to Adventure that looms in life from time to time. It is perfectly normal for a character to reject the call of adventure at first, but in order to keep the story moving, he or she must accept it at one point. The same is true in the real world. Opportunities may knock from time to time, but they don't mean anything unless they are acted upon.
It's interesting that I'm somewhat of a passive character in reality, but I write assertive and motivated characters that eventually find their purpose and meaning in life. I learned this by reading about The Hero's Journey, and The Character Arc. In order for a story to even be considered, the characters must grow and change. If the journey leaves them the way they are, it isn't a story, or a journey.
This is why stories are so important from generation to generation. They teach us to grow, while we watch characters make choices and learn from them. We can identify with the archetypes of the wanderer, trickster, orphan and hero so easily that most films feature at least one of them to move the story along.
Even writers have to go out and live life, but I had forgotten that. I was wasting away, trying to understand why my stories and characters had become bricks, roughly formed and almost shapeless. Writers always put a piece of themselves into a story. If they don't, it's not a good story. I had been putting my negative outlook on life, and my constant doubt in myself on countless pages. Before I knew it, my characters were seeing their world as a dreary, grey place, and they had begun to doubt themselves.
I had forgotten that I am a creator. And creators reflect their image, emotions and themselves into their creations. Knowing that, creating sounds like an act of responsibility. In a way, it is.
A creator must develop a certain reality, that reflects the things they know, and want to share with their audience. An actor must find the part of themselves that fits the role they play. A song can only sound honest and real when the person singing has a passion for the meaning in the lyrics. The same is true of stories.
An author finds the archetypes within and puts them on the page. Past experiences, current emotions and the knowledge the author has gained reflects the true world of the story. Without it, the story becomes a two- dimensional, or even one-dimensional piece with no meaning or purpose. It has to be something you want to write, or feel you need to write. Without the motivation to do so, the story becomes damaged instantly.
This is why an author cannot refuse to answer the Call of Adventure. For in order to write something, you have to feel a connection to it, and if you don't, you aren't ready to write it.
This book walked through stories like The Wizard of Oz, Titanic, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and Star Wars to show the Hero's Journey at work. The amazing thing is that we relate to these stories, even without knowing the Archetypes, Hero's Journey, Myth Quest or the Call to Adventure. Because they are parallel to situations in life, they are memorable and timeless.
All stories, even real ones have a Call to Adventure. The important thing is to answer it, and learn from the Hero's Journey.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

There are two sides to every story . . .





The modern day story of Beauty and the Beast was first told through the eyes of Kyle Kingsbury. Now Lindy speaks up and tells her side of the story. I really enjoyed both books, and was surprised to discover a book from Kendra's point of view is on the way.
Lindy's Diary reveals answers to the questions in the first book. She explains her life with her dad, and her struggles in the superficial school of Tuttle. It's interesting how both Kyle and Lindy feel guilty about their situations, and reflect on them  in different ways. If you liked reading Beastly, I recommend this book. Lindy is a strong character, just like Kyle.
Five out of five roses.




Friday, February 3, 2012

Living

What does it mean
to truly live?
Is it really just
a take and give?
Is all we know
part of chance?
Or is it true
that we must dance?
If only life
had an easy way
to define itself
from work to play.
But what use is it
to waste the time?
All things end
and there are hills to climb.
Dreams and wishes.
Goals and plans.
All have certain,
consuming demands.
Life alone
cannot be defined
by flashes of light
or moments in time.
No. It is far more
than minutes and space.
It's what you do
and the challenges you face.