Disney Favorites

So, whether its characters or parks or movies, Disney certainly has something for everyone to enjoy. I love Disney. I've loved Disney since I was a little girl, and I still love it. I've been to Disney World twice. Technically three times, but that was only a daytrip so it really didn't count. Florida is one of my favorite places in the world.


And these are a few of my favorite Disney-related things.


Characters 

Princess Ariel (When I was three, I told her that my Dad needed a kiss. He was expecting a kiss on the cheek, but she kissed him right on the mouth!

Princess Merida (Merida is my favorite because she's so sassy and I just love that red hair.)

Minnie Mouse (When I was about 13, I had this really awesome spider-web hairdo, and Minnie Mouse kept playing with my hair. She wouldn't let me stand next to her to take pictures, she loved it so much. It was kind of awesome.)

Tinkerbell (Tink has always had a special place in my heart. I have more Tinkerbell T-shirts than I do other T-shirts. I just love her.)

Dopey (I love Dopey. I've never met him, but he's my favorite anyway)

Grumpy (Grumpy is also equally awesome. He reminds me of my sister.)

Piglet (I love Piglet. He's my favorite of all the Winnie the Pooh Characters.)

Dory (Just keep swimming, just keep swimming. Who doesn't love Dory?)

Eeyore (Another of my favorite Winnie the Pooh characters. Eeyore really needs a hug. I really love Eeyore.)

Flynn Rider (Ah.. Flynn. The only Disney character to ever question why everyone is singing. I do love the smoulder as well. Maybe Rapunzel wouldn't mind letting me borrow him for a bit?)

Olaf (Everyone's favorite Snowman, of course. Olaf likes warm hugs. I wonder if his hugs are actually warm though.)

Sebastian the Crab (also a favorite.)

Captain Jack Sparrow (Although I'm not sure if I actually like Jack himself or Johnny Depp who plays him....)

Will Turner (Again, not sure if I like Will himself or Orlando Bloom. It remains undecided.)

The Mad Hatter (Ah... The Mad Hatter. So crazy, yet so funny at the same time. Why is a raven like a writing desk?)

Peter Pan (The boy who never wanted to grow up. Also, Peter Pan is the reason we were introduced to Tinkerbell in the first place, so he gets brownie points for that.)



Movies 

Snow White (1937)

Bambi (1941)

Cinderella (1950)

Lady and the Tramp (1955)

Sleeping Beauty (1959)

The Jungle Book (1967)

The Little Mermaid (1989)

Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Aladdin (1992)

The Lion King (1994)

Toy Story (1995)

Mulan (1998)

Tarzan (1999)

Toy Story 2 (1999)

Monster's Inc (2001)

Lilo & Stitch (2002)

Finding Nemo (2003)

Brother Bear (2003)

The Incredibles (2005)

Up (2009)

Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure (2009)

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Toy Story 3 (2010)

Tangled (2010)

Brave (2012)

Secret of the Wings (2012)

Monsters University (2013)

Frozen (2013)

Disney Parks 


Magic Kingdom (particularly Fantasyland and Adventureland)

Downtown Disney

Epcot World Showcase

Animal Kingdom

My Favorite Movies & TV Shows

So, since I happen to have a lot of time on my hands, I love watching movies and T.V. This is a list of all of my favorite Shows and movies. The movie list will not include ones that are in Theatres, as I need three lists to do that. 

Shows 

1. HBO's Game of Thrones. Season 4 simply does not feel long enough. We have 2 episodes left, and after last week's, I feel that I need more than that! I'm also going to hopefully be seeing Season 4's final episode in a movie theatre! Yay!
2. TLC'S The Little Couple. Mostly because I adore Jen and Bill, and their kids are so cute! It just sucks that it's so late on a Tuesday night, because I usually am exhausted and end up recording it so I can watch it the next day instead. 
3. ABC'S The Bachelorette. I am really liking Andi's season so far. Love Marquel! I feel that she has a really good group of guys. And Andi's real. Even if the dates have an element of princess to them, they are still realistic. I also love that she tries to get to know them all. She's just really genuine. 
4. Criminal Minds. I haven't watched the new episodes, because I forget what channel and night they're on, but I watch the reruns all the time. Mmm... Derek. 
5. CSI: Miami. Another crime show that I watch reruns of, but some how I never get tired of it. I love this show. 
6. FOOD Network's The Pioneer Woman. I normally can't watch shows like this because they make me hungry, but I love watching this one. 
7. FOOD Network's Chef at Home. Michael Smith is one of my favorite chefs. Again, makes me hungry, but so worth it. 
8. TLC's 19 Kids and Counting. Another of my favorite shows, because I simply love the Duggars. Although there's no way I can keep up with their names. Jim Bob, Michelle... Josh, Anna, John David, Jessa.... Jana, Jinger.... Josie...
9. The Big Bang Theory. Again, I mostly watch old episodes of it, but I love it. Even if I've seen the episode 5 times, I still laugh! Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur...
10. SPACE's Bitten. Ah. I can't wait for Season 2. This show did twist things from the book by Kelley Armstrong, but they did a good job, and I love it. 

Movies

1. The Hunger Games & Catching Fire. Absolute favorites. But mostly the second one, because Francis Lawrence is a gift from God to us Tributes. :')
2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy & The Hobbit Part One and Two. I'll admit that I still haven't watched all of the Lord of The Rings, mostly because I can never seem to find the time to have a full blown marathon, but I love them anyway. 
3. The Harry Potter series. I actually started reading them right after the Deathly Hallows was released, and I remember watching them and being terrified during the Goblet of Fire. Still, though, I adore the movies, even if they did leave things out. They were fantastic. I cried when it ended. 
4. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. Different from the book, but still awesome. I love it. And after reading City of Heavenly Fire, I've basically just been watching it over and over. 
5. Letters to Juliet. I love Amanda Seyfried. And this movie is so awesome. It's like, one of my favorites. I haven't watched it in a while, but I still love it. It's a great story. 
6. Mamma Mia. Again, Amanda Seyfried. But I can't watch this movie without singing along! And kind of tearing up with "Slipping Through My Fingers". One of these days, I'm going to get my Mom to take me to the live musical. Maybe for my 21st birthday? 
7. Anything Disney, especially: Tangled, Frozen, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, and Finding Nemo. I also really adore Brother Bear. 
8. The Heat & The Identity Thief. Both of them are absolutely hilarious! Although I think I love the Heat more. Sandra Bullock was so awesome in that movie. Also, Melissa McCarthy is the best. 
9. The Blind Side. I'll admit, I cry a bit when I see this one, but I love it. The Blind Side is such an awesome movie. Probably one of my absolute favorites. 
10. Ella Enchanted, & Ever After: A Cinderella Story. I can't decide between these two, because I love them both. But probably Ever After is my favorite. It's my favorite of all the Cinderella retellings. I also can't wait to see the new remake of it in 2015, starring Richard Madden from Game of Thrones as Prince Charming, and Helena Bonham Carter as The Fairy Godmother. 

Mythical Creatures that Would Make Awesome Pets

Admit it. There's been a magical creature or two that we've wanted as pets at one point. Whether it be unicorns or dragons or a flying horse, we've all wanted one. This is a list of creatures that would be awesome pets.

,

1. Dragon

Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon 

Daenerys Targaryen's Dragons from Game of Thrones  

The Hungarian Horntail from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 

Particularly the dragons from Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter, but the animated Toothless from How to Train your Dragon would do just fine. The perks: Imagine showing up on a fire-breathing beast to school! You'd be feared by everyone. The downfalls: Dragons might start a fire, which could burn down your house or even your city! Dragons are also huge, and they need lots of space to fly and they eat lots of food (particularly meat!) But they're gorgeous and it'd be totally awesome to have a pet dragon. It'd be a totally badass pet. 

    

    2. Unicorn 

Unicorn 

How awesome would it be to have a pet unicorn? It's like having a horse, but better! Unicorns are totally magical. Also, their horns have healing powers!! Sort of awesome, right? You won't need BandAid anymore, thats' for sure!! In Harry Potter, unicorn blood can also prolong death, if you drink it. It's also silvery so you won't be grossed out! Unicorns are also totally gorgeous.

    3. Three Headed Dog 

Cerberus, Greek Mythology

"Fluffy" from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone 

Say goodbye to the average guard-dog who is easily fooled by treats and a good belly rub! Have no fear of break-ins when you have a three-headed dog guarding your house and your possessions. There's even one called Cerberus in Greek Mythology. And one called 'Fluffy' in Harry Potter. These dogs may not be the adorable little Chihuahuas you can carry around in your purse, but they're sure to give any thieves a good scare! Perks: Don't worry about locking your doors. Any burglars will probably pee their pants and run away screaming. Downfalls: You may have a heart-attack if this doggy needs to go pee and you wake up in the middle of the night to find it standing next to your bed. Also, don't forget to feed this three-headed monster, or you may end up his dinner!

      4. Pegasus 

Pegasus: The Flying Horse 

Also known as a flying horse. These winged horses are quite fantastic, and featured in many fantasy books and movies. Pegasus is also one of the most known creatures in Greek Mythology. They are beautiful. And how awesome would it be to have a flying horse to take you to work/school etc? All your friends and coworkers would definitely be jealous! And you can forget about gas money and taxis and bus passes too. (Although you may need a barn or something for it to "park" in)

      5. House Elf 

Dobby the House Elf, from Harry Potter 

Though technically not a pet, a House Elf would be a perfect companion, and they are magical! They're very handy for house work, and cooking and cleaning, and they would keep you company if you were bored. They are also obligated to do whatever you wish. I would, of course, pay them, because I don't like the idea of having a slave. Also, Dobby is one of my favorite characters in the Harry Potter series. 

     6.  The Cheshire Cat 

   

Cheshire Cat from "Alice in Wonderland" 

You definitely won't be called a crazy cat lady with this smiling kitty as your pet. The Cheshire cat is a character in the "Alice in Wonderland" book by Lewis Carroll. It's a talking cat, so if you think cats are bad enough with their sassy attitudes, imagine having a talking cat! He also smiles! And Cheshire is also very wise. 

      7. Phoenix 

A phoenix 

Phoenixes are very beautiful, immortal birds. When they die, they burn, and they are reborn from their ashes again. Phoenix tears also have healing powers. A phoenix is very rare. Fawkes the Phoenix is Dumbledore's bird in Harry Potter. 

      8. Giant Eagles

The Great Eagles from "The Lord of the Rings"

Giant Eagles are so much better than regular eagles because you can actually ride on them. How cool is that!? They are also very, very beautiful, of course. And well, who wouldn't want a great eagle as a pet? 

   9. Hippogriff 

Buckbeak the Hippogriff from Harry Potter 

Buckbeak is a Hippogriff from the Harry Potter series. A Hippogriff resembles a winged horse, but with the upper body of an eagle. They are extremely fast and are presented as being able to fly around the world and to the moon. When humans approach the Hippogriff, a proper etiquette must be maintained to avoid danger. They are proud creatures, and an individual must show proper respect by bowing to them and waiting for them to bow back before approaching. Eye contact must be maintained at all times, without blinking. The Hippogriff should be allowed to make the first move, as it is polite. If offended, a Hippogriff will attack. Although proud, Hippogriffs are also fiercely loyal and protective of those who have earned their trust.

      10. Direwolf 

Ghost, Jon Snow's Direwolf from Game of Thrones 

A direwolf is a relative of a wolf, but faster and stronger. Adult direwolves can be as small as a horse, and are able to rip a man's arm from its socket. Even a juvenile direwolf is capable of ripping out a man's throat. Direwolves can have a litter of up to six puppies. A direwolf would make an awesome pet, but I would want Ghost, as he's the biggest and prettiest color. Also, I'd be exceptionally delighted if Jon Snow was included ;) They are by far my favorite creatures.

That concludes this post. Comment below and tell me what creature you'd like as a pet, even if it's not listed here! 

 

The Fault in Our Stars: Spoiler-Free movie review

As far as movie adaptions went, I actually liked this one. It was close to the book, had several book quotes, and made me bawl. Actually, about every girl that was in the theatre was sobbing, especially at the end...
I was not, and I am pleased to say, disappointed. Alright, Van Houten wasn't how I pictured him (I thought he'd be a fat man, honestly) but I thought Willem Dafoe played him perfectly, and I adore Shailene Woodley (Hazel) and Ansel Elgort (Augustus.) It was a bit strange watching them make out when they just played brother/sister in Divergent, though, I must admit. My Mum and I kind of chuckled about that.

The movie was excellent. The cast was perfect. I loved Isaac even more than I loved him in the book. (I love Augustus, too, of course.) I was so pleased that they had actual quotes from the book, almost word-for-word. The same cannot be said for certain movies (except for Catching Fire, because that was perfection), so I was definitely happy about that.
The only issue I had was that it wasn't long enough. :'(


(I wonder if I can get my Mum to take me again...)

Cassandra Clare's Complete Collection (For NOW... Muahahaha!)

So, as many of you know, the last book in the Mortal Instruments, City of Heavenly Fire, was released on May 27th. And while it was the end of TMI, we'll be seeing more of the Shadowhunter series soon, with the release of Lady Midnight, the first of the Dark Artifices in 2015. Cassandra Clare has also said that there will be a series called the Last Hours, which is set in 1903 and deals with the generation after the Infernal Devices. The series takes it's name from Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, and the direct quote (which is straight from Cassie's website) is this:

You have been in every line I have ever read, since I first came here, the rough common boy whose poor heart you wounded even then. You have been in every prospect I have ever seen since — on the river, on the sails of the ships, on the marshes, in the clouds, in the light, in the darkness, in the wind, in the woods, in the sea, in the streets. You have been the embodiment of every graceful fancy that my mind has ever become acquainted with. The stones of which the strongest London buildings are made, are not more real, or more impossible to be displaced by your hands, than your presence and influence have been to me, there and everywhere, and will be. Estella, to the last hours of my life, you cannot choose but remain part of my character, part of the little good in me, part of the evil. — Great Expectations, Charles Dickens

The Last Hours series is to have three books, as with the Infernal Devices, called Chain of Thorns, Chain of Gold, and Chain of Iron, which is also a reference to Great Expectations.
("Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.” — Great Expectations)

Cassie's website also says that the books will interconnect with The Dark Artifices trilogy as two separate trilogies that are also the stories of Blackthorns, Herondales, and Carstairs, much like TMI and The Infernal Devices interconnected despite taking place in different time periods and locations. The exact order of publication isn't decided yet. Lady Midnight will be the next Shadowhunter book coming out, though. And least ye forget, The Bane Chronicles, which is coming out November 11th in a complete collection. You can, however, buy the separate e-Books, but I'm waiting until they're released on paperback. There is The Shadowhunter's Codex as well. 

I, for one, am excited about the new books, though I am sad that The Mortal Instruments is over. Though, Cassie says that we might see some of the characters in the Dark Artifices, but they aren't main characters. Alas, either way, it's sure to be heart-stoppingly excellent.. 

Cassandra Clare's "The Mortal Instruments", "The Infernal Devices", and "The Shadowhunter's Codex" (though you can't see it very clearly) completed and proudly displayed on my bookshelf 

When A Book Is Made Into A Movie: Pet Peeves

So, we all love seeing our favorite books on the big screen, right? I know that as a child, some of the first movies that I remember watching are the Lord of the Rings trilogy (though it scared me at the time!) and the Harry Potter movies (the Fourth 1 also scared me!). It was after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (the book) was released that I started reading the series, and I was about 11 years old. I remember that it took me a while to read them the first time around, but I loved them. I cried during the 6th book when Dumbledore died, and I cried during the 7th book. Luckily, I still had a while to go before the last of the movies were released, so my "Potter days" were long from over, as I'd only just been introduced to the fabulous world of Harry Potter.
Now, this is not a Harry Potter post. I love the movies and the books, and I was so sad when it ended, but Hogwarts will always be there to welcome me home. (That's a direct quote from J.K Rowling). This post is about movie pet peeves. Now, we all have them, especially when said movie is based on a book. If you're like me, you read the book before the movie comes out. So, you know what they leave out and what they add in and what they don't.

My biggest pet peeves are:

• When they make a really good book into a movie, and the movie is really cheesy and silly and all around bad. (For example, Beautiful Creatures. Yes, the cast, in my mind, was perfect. But it was the complete opposite of the book! I loved the book, but the movie kind of made it look bad.)
• Focusing too much on the romance. Okay, I'm a female. I do like romance. Do I want romance in every flipping scene? No. Do I want them to say "Oh, I love you," after they've known each other for only a few days? Absolutely not. Because that's not realistic. I hate the insta-love thing. I can handle it in a book, especially if it's well written, but I hate it on the big screen. It's just cheesy. 
• When things aren't properly explained. Alright, I've not seen too much of this, as book-made-movies are usually okay at trying to explain it, especially when not everyone's read the books, but I'd like to know the hows and the whys. Like, they could've explained the Horcruxes and Dumbledore and Ariana alot more in the movies, but they didn't. They could've shown a bit more of Neville's parents. They could've told us about Voldemort's mother. People who'd read the books knew that, but the non-readers didn't. They were probably confused. 

Now, I could go on and on. But it's getting late, and my eyes are starting to hurt from looking at my computer screen. So, I should be off to bed. Just a friendly reminder, The Fault in Our Stars will be in theatres June 6! So lets wear orange and bring along some Kleenex. :( 

City of Heavenly Fire!! (& Info about The Dark Artifices)

So this post really doesn't need an explanation. For all you Shadowhunters out there, you've all been waiting as long as I have for today (May 27th).
At last, after months and months of suffering, re-reads, and snippets that broke our fangirl hearts, City of Heavenly Fire has finally been released!
I was so excited when I woke up this morning and realized that today, TODAY, I could finally get my hands on the book that I had been waiting since last year (when City of Lost Souls came out and I read it in like three days) for.
I just about cried when my Mom gave it to me. And proceeded to stare at it with wonder for the rest of the car ride, barely able to hold back from starting it. Several hours later, as I write this, the book sits next to me on my bed. I'm already 399 pages in, and let me tell you- it's been one heck of a ride so far. Epic. I will not spoil anything as of yet, though, and my full review will come later, but I just wanted to post today and celebrate the release of the book. Some of you lucky people got the book delivered a day early, but every moment of waiting so far has been entirely worth it for me.

Alas, the last epic book in the series that began with City of Bones, has finally been released. It is with a great sadness that I read my book, knowing that it will be a while before we hear of the badass Shadowhunters again. For fear not, dear Shadowhunters, there will be more! Cassandra Clare plans to write several "Shadowhunter" chronicles, and the next series, which will take place in Los Angeles five years after the events of City of Heavenly Fire, has been named.

The Dark Artifices. 

It will be released in 2015, starting with "Lady Midnight". Here is a summary of "Lady Midnight".

Los Angeles, 2012. 
It's been five years since the events of the Mortal Instruments when Nephilim stood poised on the brink of oblivion and Shadowhunter Emma Carstairs lost her parents. After the blood and violence she witnessed as a child, Emma has dedicated her life to the eradication of demons and being the best, fastest and deadliest Shadowhunter since Jace Lightwood. Raised in the Los Angeles Institute, Emma is paired as a parabati with her best friend, Julian. As Emma hunts those who caused the death of her parents, the trail they're following leads back to those they've always been taught to trust. At the same time, Emma is falling in love with Julian-- her closest friend, and because he is her parabati, the one person in the world she's forbidden by Shadowhunter Law to love. Set against the glittering backdrop of present day Los Angeles, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches from the warlock-run nightclubs of the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. 

Okay. So, that sounds pretty epic. 'Course we've got about a year to wait, probably longer seeing as how Clare likes to torture us. But, in the meantime, we can be tortured by the amazingness that is City of Heavenly Fire, and (hopefully) the City of Ashes movie, starring Jamie Campbell Bower as Jace and Lily Collins as Clary.

My Copy of City of Heavenly Fire.

Review of City of Heavenly Fire will come soon. Probably in a week or two, once I re-read it and fully grasp everything that happened in this 733 page book of epicness. Yes, I realize the word "epic" was used several times in this post. Sorry. I can't help it. I always use "epic" when describing a Cassandra Clare novel.. Anyway, in the meantime, feel free to sound off in the comments your thoughts about this book, and what you think of the Dark Artifices. :)