What Disneyland says about you

It’s no secret I’m a Disney fan. I like Disney. A lot. Okay moving on. I’ve realized that you can tell a lot about someone based on their favorite Disney ride, or favorite part of Disneyland.

For example, Kellen loves Haunted Mansion. It’s thrilling in a spooky way, even for adults. It’s vintage, so we know it’s stood the test of time, and you can go on it 3 billion times and never get sick of the music. I think he likes it because he appreciates vintage music, the setting, and decorations.

For me, I would say Adventureland is my favorite part of Disneyland. It makes me think of safaris, exploring, traveling, tropical places, and heat. As a kid, I loved summer because I would imagine I was on a safari in my backyard, or in Egypt climbing pyramids, or Indiana Jone’s friend running through old streets dodging ninjas (the story changed daily). Now when I go to Disneyland I feel like it’s my imagination from childhood coming to life.

Here’s my own little guide to each land in the park. So pick your favorite part of Disneyland and see what it might say about you.

Fantasyland

If this is your favorite, then you may be someone who is: Superstitious, a dreamer, silly, young at heart, or a romantic.


Tommorowland

If this is your favorite, then you may be someone who is: A technology wizard, innovative, or a planner.


Adventureland

If this is your favorite, then you may be someone who: seeks excitement, loves traveling, has a big imagination, is really awesome (oh wait…how did I slip that in there?).


New Orlean’s square (Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean)

If this is your favorite, then you may be someone who: is a history buff, values vintage ideas, is traditional, logical, or rational.


Frontierland

If this is your favorite, then you may be someone who: is traditional, appreciates nature, is into hunting/camping.


I love going to Disneyland because it’s such a creative environment. The gears in my head start turning and stories just begin developing. So from now on I’m telling people it is a necessity that I go to Disneyland—for work, of course.

What is your favorite ride or part of Disneyland?

A few of my favorite things

Lately I’ve tried to find joy in the smallest things. Cuddling with Kellen, staying warm through my space heater and/or pugs, sipping hot cocoa while the rain streams down the windows. I guess most of those things are a medium for me to stay warm, but they also warm my heart in a way. I like feeling warm, cozy, and safe.

I often forget how blessed I am to have these securities in my life. A husband who takes care of me, a house to live in, even the talents that my Heavenly Father has given me.

The other day I was at Hobby Lobby getting valentine's decorations (no, it’s not too early. Right?). Afterwards, I began speed walking through the parking lot in the freezing winter air. As I reached my car, I glanced up to the sky and froze. There, streaming across the January sky was a breathtakingly pink and purple sunset. I had to just stare at it—appreciate it. Marvel at it. Life is beautiful, I thought.

I didn’t make any New Year resolutions this year, because, well, I try to constantly have goals in my life. Now I have a new goal. I want to try and understand, be grateful for, and find joy in the small, yet beautiful things that surround my life.



What blessings, talents, or securities are you grateful for?

Life's a Happy Song

I just saw The Muppets movie with my family. The whole movie was so lighthearted and refreshing. This song is pretty cute and might be a good one to listen to in January (I'm already itching for spring). Anyway, enjoy!

Comic Relief

Today I was talking to my sister at the gym when I noticed someone eavesdropping on our conversation. Out of the corner of my eye I saw this big, burly, macho-man leering behind us. I didn’t notice him before, so I figured he must have crept up to overhear us. I turned around to face him, thinking that maybe if he knew I was aware of him he’d give us some space.

However when I flipped around, I burst out laughing. The creepy, macho-man eavesdropper wasn’t even a man—it was a mannequin wearing workout clothes. I'd forgotten that the gym put out mannequins to display their workout attire.

I still jokingly said, “Hey, stop listening to our conversation!” I should have also said, “And think about getting a tan. Honestly, you’re whiter than a vampire wearing sunscreen.”

It’s always a relief when I’m in an intense situation and then it turns out to be humorous or comical. I feel like laughing relieves stress and tension and forces you to breath.

Comic relief is an important part of writing. You need to have a balance of seriousness and silliness. J.K. Rowling is the queen of this. Harry will be in the middle of a dire situation and as the reader, you're biting your nails, anxious for his survival. Then, somehow Rowling makes you bust up laughing because Fred, George, or Ron (redhead thing?) will lighten the mood with a snide, silly, or sarcastic comment. It gives you a moment to laugh, breath, and relax for a bit before continuing.

A few years ago I saw the creepiest. movie. ever. I do get scared really easy with movies, but screams were heard through the theater in random outbursts (so I wasn’t the only one). Halfway through the movie we saw a lady outside the theater who looked exhausted. “I just needed a breather,” she said. “That movie is intense!” I realized that what that movie lacked was in fact a “breather” moment. It needed comic relief so that by the end of the movie you didn’t feel mentally and physically drained.

I’m still working really hard on getting down the right amount of comic relief. And I’m trying my best to stay away from extreme scary movies, and burly, eavesdropping mannequins.

Movies of 2012

I love going to movies. And as weird as it is I get bummed out when I’m late and miss the previews. I was scanning the new movie trailers for 2012. The Hunger Games, The Hobbit, and Breaking Dawn part two are what I’m most excited for. Though they have an unfair advantage because I bought, read, and loved the books before they were made into cinematic magic.

So my question is this, do you find that you enjoy movies more that are modeled after a novel? Because I often find that I do. Even television shows are more enjoyable if they were a book series first (namely Pretty Little Liars). I can’t decide if I’m more excited for certain films because I read the book first (in which case the author should get more credit than the actors), or if the movies I like are just in the same categories as the books I enjoy reading. I’m not really sure if that made sense, and if it did it was probably as clear as mud, haha.

What movies are you excited for? (HINT: The Hunger Games…)