LBD 30 day challenge day 12: Favorite friendship

Charlotte Lu and Lizzie Bennet. These two have a powerful friendship that faces the ultimate trial when Charlotte moves away, but once Lizzie visits Charlotte, it was like their big fight never happened. These two have been through a lot throughout the series and they are always there for each other when they are needed most.

Youtube discoveries: Misty Mountains cover by Jun Curry Ahn and

A youtube find!



I learned about Jun Curry Ahn when I found his amazing violin cover of the main theme for The Moon That Embraces The Sun. I didn't know just how many covers that he did, but I found this one and had to share.

LBD 30 day challenge day 11: Priates or ninjas?

Hmm, that's a tough one. I'm going to say pirates because I don't know a lot about ninjas, and the pirate ride at Dinseyland is one of my favorites.

Here's the video where the question is from:

Writing your own fairytale

Anxiety is a trap. It keeps you in a prison that you have created yourself. Harsh words, bad memories, worries and insults surround you as you look out the window, wondering what life really is to the people passing you by. There's only one way to find out, and it's not like you don't know this, but you're scared. You're scared that someone will break you, once you've already been broken, you're afraid to trust others and you don't think optimistically in order to avoid being let down. Welcome to Go Dok Mi's world. To me, it sounds really familiar and terrifyingly miserable. Enrique saves Go Dok Mi by helping her save herself. He helps her see that you can trust people, and that they won't abandon you or let you down every time you need help. Go Dok Mi is annoyed at first. Her daily routine is no longer the same familiar pattern, and someone is constantly knocking on her door, telling her how great the world is. She hates it. Over and over she tells him to stop, and she does all she can to push him away. She tries to stick to her routine, but she can't avoid being with people forever. She begins to get used to this interruption, and starts to expect it. Enrique gives her a list of things that she should do everyday, and he creates a board game that will determine which risk she has to take daily in order to enjoy living. Go Dok Mi accepts the gift but doesn't use it right away. After a while, she gets curious and rolls the dice. This is her first step to healing. Once Go Dok Mi starts to hang out with people and learn about Enrique, she gets scared and runs away. But by that point, she has become so used to doing things, that she can't just stay in her room all the time anymore. It takes time, but Go Dok Mi finally becomes part of the world around her. She hangs out with friends and starts to learn about her own goals and dreams by helping others. She wants to write, and loves fairy tales, so she decides that she will write a fairy tale of her own. Enrique learns this, and tells her "Live, and write your own fairy tale."
This Korean Drama is one of the most inspiring and heartfelt stories that I have seen. Each small step is painstakingly slow, but necessary. I learned something by watching this series. Small steps are not nothing. When facing anxiety and fear, the small steps are extremely important, and they need to be appreciated instead of ignored. Regret is one of the motivators to change your life. You don't want to wonder  "what if" for your entire life, and if you take a step, instead of freeze, you probably won't regret it.
You can also think, "Why didn't I learn this sooner?" "Why couldn't I know then what I know now?"
Because life is a process, and lessons are learned through mistakes. Mistakes aren't always bad, and some mistakes can turn into blessings. Like Enrique tells Go Dok Mi, "you can start a journey with anger in your heart, but that anger can change to happiness." Go Dok Mi learned to live and now she's writing her own fairytale. My goal this year is to do the same. It's time to live, and write my own fairy tale.

So far . . .

I was bored . . .

LBD 30 day challenge day 10: How involved are you with the interactive side?

I'm pretty involved actually. I follow all the characters on twitter, and I follow Lizzie and Jane's tumblrs. Most of the news that progresses the story is on twitter and tumblr. The pictures they post and the conversations that they tweet are just one way to keep the story interesting. I've asked about a few of Lizzie's outfits and I've commented Jane's tumblr. I follow Pemberly Digital on facebook and twitter . . . need I say more?

(From Lizzie's Clothes Tumblr)

Heartsong of the week: "Where Do I Go From Here?" from Pocohantas II

This song really describes what I'm going through right now. And I've been told that many people my age feel this way. I'm really lost in so many aspects of my life. I push as much as I can to achieve my dreams, but I still don't feel like I know where I belong. I've gone through so much already, and I'm sure that it's just the beginning, but I really need to step up.
 I need to discover what I really want, and just go for it. The reason why I am so lost is because I feel trapped by both the past and the future. They swirl around me and buzz like insects, constantly reminding me that they are there, just waiting for me to fall back on old habits or plunge into the unknown with no protection. Like many people I have known, I refuse to let the past happen again, but I'm also terrified of the future. Is this whining? Yep. And if I know one thing, the world hates whining. But at the same time, this is my blog, and I am trying to actually listen to my heart now, instead of push it away or ignore the fact that it's even there. But I've done that so many times, that it isn't easy to admit this even to my self. With all that I have done, in the past and all that I will do in the future, my goal is to find where I truly belong.
So this is the song in my heart for now, telling me that I need to find the path, and begin my destiny.

LBD 30 day challenge day 9: Favorite actor

Daniel Gordh. He makes an excellent Darcy, and he's currently in a competition on twitter to get as many followers as Taco Bell. He also played a charismatic Augustus and seems to have fun on his cameos and interviews. My personal favorite was his performance of "Do You Believe in Magic" with Ashley Clements.

LBD 30 day challenge day 8: Favorite actress

Ashley Clements! I loved her reading of The Fault in Our Stars, which sounded so different from the Lizzie character. I also think it's neat she has a tumblr and twitter. She even started a tumblr for all the clothes in the show because so many people asked about them.

Gullwing Yuna Polyvore Set

After creating the Summoner Yuna outfit, I took on the challenge of her Gullwing attire. I tried to get the best skirt, since Yuna only has a half skirt and stayed with the color scheme of white, coral pink and blue.
View the entire set here:
http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=73441416

LBD 30 day challenge day 7: Saddest moment

When Lydia finds out about the video. She comes in, probably expecting a lecture from Lizzie about George Wickham, and she gets one, but not in the most gentle way. Lizzie thinks that Lydia agreed to the video, and knows about it. She's so mad at Lydia that she doesn't even assume Lydia doesn't know. Both Lizzie and Lydia receive a shock when Lydia discovers the video. Lizzie realizes that Lydia had no idea, and Lydia realizes that she doesn't know George Wickham at all. I thought this moment was more sad than Jane discovering that Bing left town. What Lydia discovers is mortifying and cruel. What Lizzie discovers is that she doesn't have faith in her sister at all.

LBD 30 day challenge day 6: Best costume theater

Charlotte as Caroline and Jane as Darcy. This scene was so great, and I thought they did a great job with their personalities.

The Lizzie Bennet Diaries So far

Whoever made this did a great job!

LBD 30 day challenge day 5: Funniest Moment

Darcy as Fitz
One word: Priceless.

Rapunzel versus the Witch : Flower Boy Next Door

I think this voice rings true for people like Go Dok Mi and myself. It's interesting that Go Dok Mi admits that she shut herself away, which makes her more of the evil witch in Rapunzel than the character of Rapunzel herself. But this is something we all do sometimes. We become our own enemy, with brutal internal criticism and excuse after excuse to keep us from achieving what we really want. I think this is the beginning of regret. Once you trap yourself in a situation, you only have yourself to blame, but at the same time you are still a victim, and still feel powerless and helpless to venture into the unknown. Go Dok Mi is wise in both admitting and accepting this about her situation. After all, they say that acceptance is a step forward from the trap of bad habits. Once you admit you are doing something wrong, you are motivated to change your habit and move forward to create a better way of life. 

LBD 30 day challenge day 4: Least favorite character

George Wickham

Of course, knowing the story and reading the novel long before the show, Wickham was always my least favorite character. He messed around, lied about his life and took advantage of women, especially Lydia, as silly as she is. But this George Wickham is the lowest of the low, because he used Lydia and tried to make money off of their relationship.And lets be honest loyal viewers, he loved the spotlight of the camera a little too much.

Writing Prompt 51: What will your book be about?

Prompt: The book you want to write. What's going to be in it?

An epic journey.
A world with it's own mythology and religion.
A growing up tale where the characters learn and change.
A challenge between the head and heart.
Magic.
Adventure.
Philosophy.
Beauty.
Mystery.
Many important characters like Gods and Goddesses.
Two evil villians.
A lake that reflects the stars.
A desert made of moon sand.
The ultimate test of light and dark.
A history of an ongoing custom.
Forbidden uses of magic and power.
A ruby palace.
An ice wasteland.
A sapphire forest.
Magical beings called starsouls.
A faelin.
A foi.

LBD 30 day challenge day 3: Favorite Male character

William Darcy.
We actually don't meet Darcy until episode 59, but we hear about him in Lizzie's point of view, and we see him act through costume theater. Naturally, Lizzie tells Darcy about her videos, and we see his reaction to this, to make our own opinion about his character. From then on, Darcy is aware of the videos, and appears in them again to explain his story with Wickham, and then becomes a regular appearance in Pemberly Digital. He's also in Gigi's Domino videos, where we see him take action against Wickham's scandal. As Lizzie's opinion changes about Darcy, we see him more for who he is, instead of her portrayal of him. Darcy is awkward, but he is also a loyal friend, and a kind person.

Heartsong of the week: "I'm Not Your Hero" by Tegan and Sara

 

So I've decided that music is pretty important in my life, and sometimes I find a song that just fits exactly what I feel and what I'm going through. I'm going to call them heartsongs because I liked the idea from Happy Feet that songs are in your heart. This is the song in my heart (and head) throughout the week.

LBD challenge day 2: Favorite female character

Lizzie Bennet.
Elizabeth has always been my favorite character in Pride and Prejudice because she is clever and caring. Her character is upgraded for the 21st century with Lizzie Bennet, a clever, creative and opinionated young woman. Her concern for her sisters and her friends is obvious when she performs her costume theater, but she also has a bias in the way she views people, and as the show goes on, she learns this.
Part of Lizzie's charm is that she has flaws. She judges people, and has an opinion for everything that she values and cherishes in life. She bosses Lydia around because she is concerned for her. She advises Jane on what to do because she cares for her. She gets angry at Charlotte because she misses her. And of course, she judges Darcy, because she doesn't know who he really is, and goes by what she has heard of him.
I think Lizzie is my favorite female character because I can easily relate to her. The way people view her and the way she views people.

LBD 30 day challenge day 1: How did you find LBD?

I found out about the Lizzie Bennet Diaries by watching Pride and Prejudice online with the RumBelle Movie Club or RMC. They kept mentioning it, so I finally asked, and before I knew it, I had watched half way through what had been released at the time. From then on, I watched an episode during my breaks at work and finally caught up in about three days. After that, I was hooked, and recommended it to everyone I know.

From one challenge to another

I saw this and decided to participate, because the Lizzie Bennet Diaries is amazing!

FF 30 day challenge day 30: Has Final Fantasy made an impact on your life?

Prompt: Has Final Fantasy made an impact on your life? If so, how? If not, what do you like about the whole series itself?

Yes.
Final Fantasy has a powerful formula for story telling. I would say that the game series, particularity Final Fantasy X has inspired me to create world and tell a story by coming up with my own mythology and honoring the hero's quest. The game series has impacted me by challenging my knowledge of  mythology and learning the steps of a hero's journey.
The stories of the games are philosophical and connect with the human condition in a way that involves the creation of different worlds. The characters have human elements, and even the deities and villains show powerful symbolism that relates to epic folklore.  The pattern of a Final Fantasy story is varied, but asks the same questions: What is true purpose? What makes someone a hero?
These questions are powerful keys in storytelling.
The other characteristic of a Final Fantasy game is world building. How was this world created? How does magic work in this world? What kind of civilization thrives here? Do they have a close or distant relationship with their deity? Is there more than one world? Does time play an important factor in this environment?
And of course: character building is a crucial part of a Final Fantasy story.
How strong is this character? How do they view themselves? How do they view others? How do they act/react? Do they have a goal? What motivates them? Who matters in their life? What choices do they have to make?
Final Fantasy impacted my life by helping me understand a complex and advanced story. By exploring new worlds and following many different characters, I have learned what stories I can tell. I know what worlds I want to create, and what makes my characters heroes or villains. Final Fantasy has taught me that stories can have many layers, and characters can change depending on their history and the changes they must cope with throughout their journey.
Final Fantasy has inspired me to tell great stories.

FF 30 day challenge day 29: How many Final Fantasy games do you own?

Hmm . . . that depends. Does Kingdom Hearts count as well?

Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X2
Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII 2
Final Fantasy Dissidia
Final Fantasy Dissidia Duodecim
Final Fantasy Theatrhythm

Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 days
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance

FF 30 day challenge day 28: Favorite mini game

I love Macalania Forest, and this game was my favorite requirement in the to do list for the legendary weapons. It was so calming compared to the Chocobo racing and the Lightning dodge. The only downside was catching the wrong butterfly and having to fight fiends, but it wasn't as annoying to go through the whole path again compared to riding a Chocobo in the Calm Lands against a fast racer who always managed to reach the finish line before you could.

Writing Prompt 50: A time I want to experience again...

The Disney College Program

I really miss my Disney family, co-workers and friends. But it's more than that. The Disney College Program was a big step for me to discover that I was stronger and more reliable than I thought I was. I had a routine: go to work and then pick a place to go after work to write. I came up with two different stories sitting in the Epcot World Tour area, and I would meet up with friends from work and just have fun. I decorated and made meals with my roommates and caught a movie with them every now and then. We'd go through the parks, and they would try to convince me to go on Splash Mountain. We'd work on projects for scrapbooks and go see the places we hadn't covered on our last visit. If we saw each other at work, we'd always joke around, even for a second to make the day brighter.
Back then, I felt like I could do anything, and I didn't feel depressed or lonely. Sure, I missed home every now and then, but I was in a familiar place where I felt I belonged. I didn't feel like a burden to anyone and I learned to stand up for myself and find a place where I felt welcomed.
I loved working and hanging out after work. I loved writing in a place that people don't spend a lot of time, or have the opportunity to lounge around and enjoy every day.
I miss who I was when I worked for Disney. I was confident and happy, learning something new everyday and looking forward to challenges. I was ready for an adventure and confident that I could deal with any problem.
Am I exaggerating? Of course. Memories change overtime, and even negative experiences can become positive ones if positive experiences over rule the negative ones.
I'll admit that I'm not the same person I was before the Disney College Program. I stand my ground now, and I don't let people push me around anymore. I have more confidence in my ability to write and talk to others. Sometimes I feel like I was an entirely different person at Disney. A normal person, who wouldn't shy away from social life. I wasn't as scared of people and I didn't feel like I couldn't make a difference. But maybe this is all in my head.
I remember having tough times at Disney too. A few room mate issues and an awkward encounter. Being homesick for a while and missing my family and friends. But I still feel like I was a better person at Disney. Someone that enjoyed having fun and loved making someone's day better. Someone who wrote whenever they could and jotted down idea after idea that would eventually turn into stories and songs.
I don't think that person is gone, but I feel like she has faded.
I still persevere in the career I want, but I don't push myself to try something new. I still enjoy sharing stories and ideas with people, but I don't deliver all of these words with confidence. I smile but it isn't always real and true. 
The thing is, I can be that person again, it just takes way more effort than before. I have to build my own confidence and make myself happy. I have to believe that I can overcome obstacles again, and I have the ability to do something about my life.
Maybe I'm lazy, thinking that being happy shouldn't be so difficult, but it's all I've known for a long time. I have my defenses, everyone does, and I have my own bad habits that need to be broken. Putting myself down, not believing I can deal with things. Not trusting my heart and constantly questioning anything.
Disney has always been a powerful beacon of hope for me. Whenever things went wrong, I would watch a Disney movie or listen to some songs to cheer me up. When I was angry, I could always think of a way to deal with it after remembering a Disney story or quote.
Maybe that place, surrounded by all my hopes and dreams, resonates with me because it gave me something to look forward to. It wasn't just a coping mechanism or an obsession. It was a way to deal with life, no matter what was thrown at me. It was a stable element in my crazy world, that kept me grounded and serene. A sanctuary.

Flower Boy Next Door Quote

FF 30 day challenge day 27: Favorite scene in any game

This is a tough one. But the scene that immediately comes to mind is the laughing scene in Luca from FFX. When you first see this scene, you laugh, because at the time, you think it's ridiculous and funny. There's more to this scene than that. It's a moment of comfort for both Tidus and Yuna. Tidus has just found out that his father is alive, and Spira's greatest threat. He's also found Auron again, reverting back into the kid he once was around him. Yuna has discovered that Tidus might leave, so she is worried that she will literally never see him again. In her own way, she tries to cheer Tidus up, because even though they will continue their journey together, something seems off about Tidus. He's not cheerful or carefree. So she shares something really important with him, a coping mechanism. She has a way to deal with sadness, and she knows that life is more precious than people understand. Her life is slowly coming to an end in her mind, and she is ready to say hello and goodbye to each place they go to. But at that moment, when she's worried that she'll never see Tidus again, she finds out that he's not leaving her and, just for a little while, she is genuinely happy. But her concern for Tidus is obvious when she tries to make him laugh.
No one else really understands what's going on in this scene, except maybe Auron, who knows why Tidus is upset, but even so, this is a moment that Tidus and Yuna get a little closer to each other. Tidus shows a different side, expressing how he really feels about being in a strange new world. Yuna shows a different side too. She lives in the moment, for the first time since Tidus has met her. It's a strange role reversal because Tidus is always happy, and if you notice, Yuna is always sad. In this scene, Tidus is the sad one, and Yuna cheers him up the way he cheers her up.
I think that's what makes this scene memorable and iconic for Final Fantasy X.

FF 30 day challenge day 26: Favorite weapon

Mog

Searh Farron's weapon is actually Mog, but Mog turns into a sword and bow and arrows. I like most of the weapons in the Final Fantasy XIII world because they transform in a steampunk style and change with a flick of the wrist.

Rainy Day outfit

I made this outfit because I want it to rain, not snow. I saw that Modcloth made a dress called rainy day and went from there. I tried to stay in the 30 to 40 dollar range and went with items that I could afford.
Full set here:  http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=71996394
I hope you like it.
What do you wear on rainy days?

FF 30 day challenge day 25: Favorite Monster

Coeurl

They're so graceful and very pretty. I love them so much that I made some. Using tiger figurines, wire, felt, epoxy and paint.
I really loved fighting them because they were patient and quiet.

Becoming (like) a diamond

I came up with this quote from a writing prompt, but now I find it to be true more than ever. It's important to believe in yourself, understand that you can be strong and you have every right to stand up for yourself.
I used to allow everyone to walk all over me, and I told myself that I didn't have the right to be brave, stick up for myself and just be myself.
It's one of those moments in life where you know that in order to get by, you have to create your own armor. And that armor can't be too weak or too strong. It has to fit you: your personality and your thoughts and dreams. It's an important lesson to learn that you deserve respect and that you have to be strong to deal with many obstacles in life, but you need to shine at the same time. Enjoy yourself! Become a part of something that you could only dream of and show the world what you are capable of.

FF 30 day challenge day 24: Favorite Quote

"This is my story."

No matter how many times this quote is mentioned, it is still my favorite of the Final Fantasy quotes. Both Tidus and Yuna say this when they have to make a tough decision or when they think back on what has happened. It's a powerful statement that encourages them to do what they believe is right. Whenever they feel lost or confused, Tidus and Yuna say, "This is my story" to help them move forward, no matter what the consequences are.

FF 30 day challenge day 23: Favorite Black Magic Spell

Another odd question, but I have always liked Waterga.
It's literally a giant wall of water that surrounds your enemy and pretty much destroys them.

FF 30 day challenge day 22: Favorite Theme

It's a tie between Tidus and Yuna's themes.

Memories and Lightwaves is my favorite Final Fantasy theme and I always listen to it when it shows up on my playlist. But Tidus's theme has been growing on me lately. It's perfect to write to and it fits Tidus's personality.

FF 30 day challenge day 21: Favorite Boss Fight

Hmm, I can think of a lot of boss fights that are on my least favorite list. Every one of them involves Seymour except one, the first Seymour fight at Macalania temple. This is where Yuna obtains my favorite aeon Shiva, and this fight is where she stands up for herself and finally listens to her heart. I like the fight probably because of where it ties in with the story. Yuna's guardians rush in to help her and once Yuna realizes that she isn't alone in dealing with Seymour, she takes a stand and the fight begins. This was probably a difficult decision that she thought about over and over again, until her guardians came and stood by her side. From that moment on, Yuna decides to listen to herself and continues to resist Seymour, even when he kidnaps her. It's a sign of self confidence that Yuna did not show before, and it was that moment that Tidus stepped in and decided to get involved.I guess this boss fight is memorable, because it represents a moment of strength for Yuna and an important decision for Tidus. At this point, they both decide to take charge of their lives and call the shots instead of do what everyone expects of them.

FF 30 day challenge day 20: Favorite Chocobo theme?

No version tops this one :)
 
The Final Fantasy Song by Legendary Frog

Writing prompt 49: What is changing in your life right now?

Everything.
People are not who they used to be. Places are not what they used to be. I'm not who I used to be. My view of the world and people in general changes everyday: Wavering from positive to negative, negative to positive and sometimes even somewhere in between. My entire life is changing from small steps to giant leaps or even giant steps back. My music playlist changes with each song I add to it. My stories change with each sentence I write. My thoughts and actions change with each word I hear.
Change is a constant in life, and I have learned to understand it, but I can't honestly say that I always accept it. When something changes, it is no longer what you've known, and there is fear there. Even good changes like getting a job or applying to writing contests can be scary because you don't know anything about their outcome. You know how hard you worked, and you know what effort you put in to apply, but you don't know what the outcome will be. You can guess, but you could be wrong.
This constant, yet fragmented element of life can come softly, or nearly blow you away. You can be hurt, you can be healed and you can grow. This is really the only guarantee of life. It will change. We take for granted the patterns that we're used to, and once something happens to tip that scale or shake the world you thought you knew, you can only accept it and continue on. But that isn't easy. It could take months or even years before you realize that since your world has changed, you need to change to deal with it. Even after changing you may not accept this. It's a challenge, and not always one that you are prepared for. A therapist will tell you to take your time but make sure you're progressing. A friend or family member will tell you to hurry up before the world leaves you behind. But no matter what they say, you have to look inward and decide what you can handle, and what you can practice until you get it right.
Change is difficult. Change is tough. Change is inevitable.