The Power of Disguise

In my Mythology class a few years ago, my College Professor explained that you can learn a lot about a person by their disguises. Halloween itself is an archetypal holiday where people dress up as someone they admire, fear or want to be like. This lecture stuck with me as I learned about theatre, writing and the choices I've made for my costumes. Every character I have dressed up as is someone I admire or aspire to be.

When I was ten, I wanted to be just like Sailor Moon. She was brave, powerful, kind and beautiful. I dressed as her for Halloween because I admired her courage, kindness and her ability to overcome any obstacle thrown at her. Sailor Moon was my favorite character because I wanted to be just like her.

Belle has always been my favorite Disney Princess, and when I read the original fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast, I admired many elements of Beauty or Belle's character. Belle is kind, true to herself and very smart. Her love of stories is something I relate to. Belle is also brave, and made the decision to stay at Beast's castle on her own to protect her father. I can't even count how many times I've dressed as Belle for Halloween. She's been a role model of mine for a long time. 

Yuna is my favorite Final Fantasy heroine, because she taught me how to find my own path, despite what I believed people expected of me. Yuna is a character that represents hope, courage and wisdom. Her difficult path made her stronger, wiser and insightful. As Yuna learns how to overcome obstacles, she discovers who she wants to be. I look up to Yuna's ability to face adversity and create her own path.

Serah was only in Final Fantasy XIII for a short time, but I was able to relate to her. Not only did we share the same name, but we have similar fears. Serah was afraid of becoming a burden, and even though she couldn't change the past, she guided her sister and the lcie to change their fate. In FFXIII 2 Serah is a main character with a difficult quest ahead of her. She makes the decision to do something instead of sit and wait for things to come to her. Serah doesn't let fate control her, she creates her own. This is why I dressed as Serah for a convention.

Alice has quite the story in the Tim Burton film. During the time when the movie came out, I was facing a big decision about facing fears, living my own life and not focusing on the expectations of people my age. I remember watching the film, and feeling exactly like Alice the entire time. All I wanted to do was run away. I didn't want to solve my problem. I wanted to run from it, as far as I could. But by the end of the film, I realized, just like Alice, that the only person who could solve my problem was myself. If I never faced that fear, I would never grow and change into the person I wanted to be. I dressed like Alice because I admire her bravery, and I believe that one day I will slay my own jabberwocky.

Lizzie Bennet is my current role model. She's smart, creative and cares for her family. Lizzie is even my age, or turns my age at the end of the show. Lizzie's character is a beacon of hope for my generation. She lives at home, and has a hard time deciding what she wants to do in the future, but she never gives up, and stays true to herself. She knows that she's not perfect, but she accepts her flaws and learns what she wants to do in her life. As a modern day Lizzy Bennet, Lizzie's character is a wonderful role model for the twenty something generation fresh out of college. I hope to be as creative, clever and true to myself as Lizzie is.

Every Halloween, I dress up like a character who inspires me, or who I aspire to be. A few other characters I remember, but couldn't find pictures for are : Megara from Hercules, Queen Amidala from Star Wars, and Mulan.
What about you? On Halloween do you dress up as a character who inspires you, frightens you or who you aspire to be?

The power of Magical Moments

Never underestimate the power of bringing a smile to someone. As a former cast member, I missed bringing a smile to someone's face, but I never thought that it would happen to me after I worked for Disney. My first magical moment was dancing with Dale when I was seven, and finally meeting Minnie at the fifties themed restaurant at what was once MGM studios. My next magical moment was getting a picture with Stitch on the last day of my vacation, thinking I wouldn't see him before we left. I was able to cheer up little kids who were scared or sad during the Disney College Program, by giving them a Tinker Bell pin or a free ice cream. One couple was extremely excited to get free Mickey Bars on their honeymoon and thanked me more times than I could count. I really miss doing things like that, and every now and then, I'm able to cheer kids up with a good story or help parents with a recommendation at the book store. 

While I was visiting Disneyland with my friends, I really wanted to take a picture with Belle. Mom and I missed her last time when we went to Disneyland shortly after my dog died, and before going to an event for ShineOn magazine.  I had seen the Beauty and the Beast show, but I still wasn't able to see Belle or get her autograph. So I asked my friends if they were ok with me going back to give it one more try. They said it was fine and watched the Aladdin show at California Adventure while I ran over to Disneyland.

I was in line with the people to meet the princesses when some pin traders around my age noticed my Keyblade  necklace and we chatted for awhile. Eventually I told them I was hoping to meet Belle, since I kept missing her. They told me to tell a cast member my story: it was my last day and I had already tried twice to see her. I took their advice and asked the cast member if there was anyone I could talk to. They told me the Beauty and the Beast show was starting, and if I got in before it closed, I could see Belle and get a picture. (I wish I had known that when I saw the Beauty and the Beast show the first two times -_-)  So I went over to the theatre and the cast member guarding the entrance told me that theatre was full, and the last one for the day. I repeated my story, telling her that I literally just wanted to see Belle. She told me she'd talk to her manager. So I waited, watching the audience get excited about the show, and while I stood there a cast member came up with a glass slipper and told me "Cinderella says she's sorry."

By then the show started, so I decided to stay and at least watch the show for the last time. During the show, another cast member came up and told me the same thing, giving me another glass slipper. So there I stood with two glass slippers I didn't need while watching the show. 

Close to the end of the show, the same people I met in the princess line came up to me and asked me what the cast member said. I told them. They walked away and I finished watching the Beauty and the Beast show. After the show ended, one of the guys from the group came back and asked me, "Do you still want to see Belle?" I said yes, and he introduced me to a nice lady who told me to follow her. She had given up two seats to other people so they could watch the show, and her husband and son were already inside, so she told me I could reclaim one of those seats. She told the cast member she had seats inside and said that I was also with her. As we were standing in line, I thanked her and actually began tearing up, because I had never experienced a reverse magical moment. With the people from the princess line cheering me on, I stood in line with the nice lady and her husband and was able to take a picture with Belle. It was a very magical moment, and I was really touched by how kind and generous that offer was. After the guy took my picture, I thanked him. He shook his head and said it was nothing, and the lady and her husband told me that they try to use their powers for good. The guy told me to have a great last day and I told him to have a great vacation as well. I'm so grateful that they were willing to help me see Belle before I left!

As for the Cinderella slippers, my friend and I found some little girls dressed as Cinderella and gave them away. That was another magical moment. I found my Cinderella getting her face painted close to the Toy Story Mania ride. I asked her father if I could speak to her and showed him the slipper. He grinned, but explained that she didn't know English. I asked him if he would tell her that she dropped something and give her the slipper. He did and the girl grinned from ear to ear. That moment reminded me of when I used to work at the parks, doing my best to make someone smile.
My friend found her Cinderella after the Toy Story Mania ride. She tried to give the slipper to a girl in a Cinderella jacket, but she didn't want it. Behind my friend, another little girl in a Cinderella dress ran to catch up with her. Once she got the slipper, she was so excited. That was just a few of the magical moments my friends and I experienced at Disneyland.

Another magical moment was meeting Russell and Dug after graduating as a Wilderness Explorer. My friend really wanted to see Dug, and she is his greatest fan :) We got our badges (stickers) and she took a picture with Russell in the signature Wilderness Explorer salute.
As we left the wilderness area, she looked at the pictures on the wooden sign and saw that Dug was in the photos. We decided to ask the cast member standing at the entrance if Dug would be out and about for the day. He told us to check the fallen tree, and while we were on our way, we saw Dug, and my friend was so excited. He was very interested in squirrels and had an itch that only my friend could scratch as they posed for a picture. It was fun to do the puppy pose, and the wilderness explorer pose as Dug gave us hugs and kisses. That moment really made my friend's day.
We were also able to (miraculously) get reservations to Blue Bayou and had a very nice table by the water, where we waved at the Pirate boats going by. One guy yelled at us to toss him a roll. We all had Mint Julep's and enjoyed the restaurant's tranquil atmosphere. It was a perfect break from the hustle and bustle of the parks.

Our trip to Disneyland ended with a nice view of the World of Color, which we all agreed was phenomenal and well worth the wait.
All these moments are powerful memories that capture the power of a magical moment. When things work out by chance, when someone is kind to you unexpectedly, and when something happens that brings a smile to your face. Magical moments are precious, sometimes rare, and should never be taken for granted.
What magical moments have you experienced?

More than a provincial day: A Disney Designer experience

So I realized that Belle and Beast were being released today at the Disney Store, and I decided to take advantage of my day off. I did want this doll set if possible, and when I dropped by the Disney store after my writing observation, I was told that the store would release the Belle and Beast dolls, and to be there at ten. Well, the actual raffle for the dolls didn't start until noon, but I was there to witness a magical moment.

Today is the anniversary of the Magic Kingdom Park, and in honor of that day, two kids from the crowd waiting at the store were selected to open the store and call for TinkerBell to get the store up and running.
This entire event reminded me of when I worked at Disney, and I got to see the Safari opening of magic kingdom while getting the coffee stand ready for business.
The cast members set up a pole with a giant lock, and started asking everyone if they had the key. The kids looked around, and finally another cast member, hiding behind the PeterPan display held up a giant key with the Disney trademark intial. The kids were so excited, and they held the key, and unlocked the store.

This is when the cast member at the door announced that the first major event was the release of special edition Eric and Ursula dolls. She told me to come back for the raffle for Belle and Beast, so I spent some time wandering around the koi pond at the front of the mall. It was nice and quiet, and I noticed many different quotes etched in the stone.
"We must not only act, but also dream; not only plan but also believe." - Anatolie France
"Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're supposed to help you discover who you are." - Bernice Johnson
"To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life." - John Burroughs.
I think that quote was my favorite.
So I walked around and enjoyed the early morning sun, and the koi fish that swam up to the bridge and poked their heads out of the water. I debated making a wish at the fountain again, or going in to window shop, but I enjoyed the quiet walk in a place I normally knew as a bustling walkway.
Mom met up with me later, and we both waited until noon to put our name down for the raffle.
Now, for those who haven't done this before, the raffle isn't free. It's a chance to purchase the dolls. And this was my first time experiencing a Disney Doll raffle for sure.
In the end we each got a doll, and our names were called one by one. A few names were called, but no one claimed them.
What really made this day special was a couple who had put their names down the same time me and Mom did. The girl was there for her birthday, and Belle was her favorite princess. Her boyfriend put his name down too, and in the end her name was called!
So the event went much better than I expected it to. I had heard some horror stories of the last doll set, but in the end, I had a great day, and now Mom and I have doll sets to display. :)

A Visit to the Library Polyvore set for Belle

I found a fanart of Belle on tumblr and loved the style so much that I created a Polyvore set! Unfortunately, I couldn't find the leather satchel with the rose on it like the artwork. I named the Polyvore set after the picture.

View the full set here:  http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=76248854

Here's the picture that inspired the set:

A Touching scene from OUAT

Warning, this sneak peak is a spoiler, but I had to put it here because it is a beautiful scene. In context, Belle is lost and has no idea who she is, Rumple is dying and decides to answer that question for her, before it may be too late. It's a very touching scene, and I'm putting up here as a model for my future writing and as a RumBelle treat for my followers.

           

So far . . .

I was bored . . .

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.

Motivation

So I may have been inspired by the recent Once Upon A Time Promo.
Motivation is the key to everything in a character's story. An unmotivated character never grows or changes and never makes the history of the novel. Motivation makes people brave, and gives them courage to achieve their goals and dreams.
This is the first step in creating a character. They must have a reason to journey, to fight and to discover the answers to the story's questions. This is the key element to a believable character. Motivation. 

Belle: More than a bookworm

Actual post here by realgirlforlars

http://realgirlforlars.tumblr.com/post/39990198938

My Logic:

So I have created a Book Blog.

First post here: http://moderndaybookshelf.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-new-year-and-new-reading-list.html

I may post random book appreciation posts on this blog as well. Feel free to visit, comment, and recommend titles ^_^

Polyvore Set: StoryBrooke's Librarian

I made another Polyvore Set for Belle! This one is for her new occupation as the librarian in StoryBrooke. ^_^

View the set here: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=63785199

OUAT Challenge Day 24: Who would be your three best friends in Storybrooke?

Belle, August/Pinocchio  and Henry.

All of them love stories in their own way. Belle likes books, so we could talk for hours about what we've read and swap books over iced tea. I love to write, and I would probably talk with August about how to overcome writer's block, draw inspiration from the world and listen to his stories of all the places he has seen. Henry believes in the power of stories and he likes fairy tales. We could talk about different versions of the fairy tales and what they mean.

I would probably hang around Mary Margret/Snow White and Emma also. They seem very cool in their different personalities. Mary Margret is nice and would probably have a lot of fun stories about classes she's taught, and her life as Snow White. Emma and I have a lot in common so I think we'd get along well and talk about believing in yourself and staying strong.

Day 21: What is your favorite Story Brooke storyline?

I have several.
I like when Hansel and Gretel find their father in "True North".  They achieved a happy ending, even during the curse, because they were always searching for each other.
I like Emma's story in "Desperate Souls." Her struggle to be there for Henry and become a part of his life is a really powerful story to show how much Emma has grown.
Leroy's success at selling candles in "Dreamy" shows his determination to achieve something and make a positive difference in Story Brooke.

The most recent storyline with Belle in "The Crocodile" is a new favorite. The way Belle finally ventures out into the world and tries to find a place of her own. "A life, a job." She stands up for herself and finds something she loves to do. It's also important that Rumple/ Mr. Gold finally tells Belle the truth and they both agree to discover who they are for awhile, but still find ways to spend some time together.

OUAT challenge day 1: Favorite female fairy tale character

Belle

Belle has always been my favorite Disney character and Beauty was my favorite female lead from the actual fairy tale. She is a strong, bright and pure character with lots of heart. I do think she has lots of room to become a more three dimensional character in the show because there is a lot of information she doesn't know and isn't aware of. Judging by her appearance on screen, she is a brave, caring character who was put in a situation she was not prepared for. Her role of mentor in the episode "Dreamy" was a nice way to show how positive and sweet she is despite her situation.

FairyTale Belle

Fairy Tale Belle inspired by Once Upon A Time. I used a template to make this one.


http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=49514931

Writing Prompt 37: 10 Favorite pieces of music

Prompt: My 10 favorite pieces of music

I have so many favorite soundtracks and inspirational tracks for my writing playlist. These tracks come from all over: video games, movies, TV shows and random recommendations. Here are my top ten.

1. Eternity Memory of Lightwaves - Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi

I love this theme the most. It reminds me of myself for some reason. It's a calming tune and a relaxing melody.

2. Dearly Beloved- Yoko Shimomura


Another relaxing theme, and my favorite track in the Kingdom Hearts series.

3. Forbidden Friendship- John Powel

I love writing to this song. It has a little bit of everything.

4. The Riders of Rohan-  Howard Shore
Everything about this piece puts me back to the moment in the movie. I love the violins!


5. Becoming A Geisha- John Williams
This piece showed the transformation of Chio to Sayuri in one smooth melody.


6. Belle's Story- Mark Isham

This is another piece I enjoy writing to. It is simple and soft.

7. He's a Pirate- Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer

Such an exciting and memorable melody, this piece became one of my favorites very quickly.

8. The Guardian's Song- Ralph Schuckett

This track still astounds me.

9. Define Dancing- Thomas Newman

This track is just amazing :)

10. 꽃잎이 내린다 - 두 번째 달- Goong Soundtrack

I love this piece. It's so beautiful.

There are so many more amazing instrumentals out there, but these are my favorites. What instrumentals do you love listening to?

RumBelle Chipped Cup earrings :)

Here is the chipped version.
The listing on Etsy is here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/98555970/once-upon-a-time-chipped-cup-earrings

I enjoyed painting these :) Any comments are appreciated.

Something you admire . . .

        It's a tie between courage and confidence. I believe that courage and confidence go hand in hand. To be confident, you must have the courage to be yourself. To have courage you must have confidence in yourself. I guess I admire them, and spot them in a person right away, because I didn't have courage and confidence when I was younger. In all honesty I gave up on many things, including myself. It's been said that all the things worthwhile in this life require courage: getting a job, falling in love, having children, pursuing a dream and persevering in  a difficult situation. From characters in stories to people in real life, courage will always be admirable in my eyes. Confidence is it's own branch of courage. It takes bravery to speak your mind, step into the unknown and discover who you are.
      The power to face your fears requires a confidence that you will overcome them. That confidence becomes more important than fear. I believe that if you have courage and confidence, you can do anything you set your mind to. Most of the people I admire have these qualities, and I'm fascinated by the lengths they have gone with two simple character traits. The truth is that hanging around someone with these qualities is contagious. When someone around you believes in his or her self, you begin to discover that you can do the same.  The main reason that I admire both courage and confidence the most is because in my eyes, years ago, they were super powers. Anyone around me who was confident and courageous was a powerful being who could achieve anything in the world. There were many days I wondered how it happened. How could someone be so straightforward about what they wanted, and then go for it without fear?
       Now I'm learning, little by little, that it is something you discover, buried under doubt and fear. Some people have told me I'm more confident then I believe, and I'm braver than I know. For awhile these comments were extremely difficult for me to believe, and that was frustrating for the people who said them. Now, when I look back, I faced a lot of fears of my own and I displayed confidence without even realizing it. I'm still not as confident or courageous as I'd like to be, so I suppose that's another reason why I admire these qualities in others. These people give me a goal, to become as courageous and confident as they are, maybe even more so. My heroes, role-models and favorite characters are all important for me to look up to because they give me the hope that I will one day be just as amazing as they are.

RumBelle wallpaper

Yes I made another one. This one is clearly based on the iconic ballroom dance. Enjoy RumBellers ^_^