Best Physical Feature

I have no clue. I've had people say my eyes, or my hair... I don't see it, though... Can I pick brain?

66 days till Disneyland... watching Thor with the Parentals. The only reason I find this movie entertaining is seeing Josh Dallas as a British sounding dude from another realm. He looks so ridiculous... but I do enjoy it when his shirt comes off...

Worst Habits

I have a laundry list of these, too. So, again, I'll do a top 5 list... because I don't want to admit to all of them. Ha ha!

1. I pick at my fingers. It's a nervous habit I've had for as long as I can remember. My hangnails bug me and instead of taking care of them like I'm supposed to I pick at them. Gross, right?

2. I procrastinate. A lot. Social media does not help. Internet does not help. I am easily distracted. Even when it's something I enjoy doing, I have a hard time not putting it off.

3.When watching an intense sport or movie moment I bite my knuckles. I have bloodied them during 49ers games, figure skating, and several movies.

4. I can easily memorize movie and TV lines... problem is I then have a hard time not quoting them when watching them over again with friends/family. Apparently this annoys people?

5. I pick apart timelines in TV shows and movies. Continuity is a BIG DEAL. Apparently, some say my "over analyzing" is a bad thing, but it's part of my enjoyment of anything I'm watching. Though sometimes it does bother me (especially when it means gaping plot holes and the like). Once Upon A Time is filled with such issues. But I love it anyway... well... for the most part...



67 days till Disneyland!

What's in your handbag?

Not much is in my purse. I carry the basics - wallet, coin purse, pens, eye drops (when I wear my contacts), and... yeah, that's about it. Oh, my keys and my cell phone.

yeah, that was a lame prompt! ha ha


68 days till Disneyland, though!

Pet Peeves

If you follow me on facebook or twitter you've no doubt seen my rants about some of my major pet peeves, so this will be redundant for most of my readers (the 3 or 4 that I might have), but this is today's prompt! Maybe I'll just do my top 5 pet peeves, otherwise we'll be here all day and I have things to do.

1. People chewing/talking with their mouth full. I CANNOT STAND listening to people chew. This is not new information, I've had this issue since at least jr. high. Yet the people I live with act like I've never mentioned my issue every single day. It's DISGUSTING. I start getting physically angry just hearing (or thinking) about it. It's actually a recognized "disorder" but really it's just good manners. I DON'T CARE TO HEAR OR SEE YOU CHEW. It's why I eat in my room most of the time, and rarely go to dinner parties/potlucks/etc. It's just easier than being angry.

2. Fake laughing. I hate it. It's just because you want attention. Or are trying to get on someone's good side. It's lame. Stop.

3. Talking just to talk. I am guilty of this myself because I don't like awkward silences either, but OMG... some people take it to the extreme. I like quiet. So, please, be quiet. Haha.

4. You're vs Your. It's not that hard. We learned it in 1st grade (if not sooner).


5. Obese pets. It drives me nuts to see dogs and cats so overweight! It's not cute, it's bad for them, you're decreasing their quality of life. Stop giving them treats for every little thing. It's one thing for people to be fat, it's another when it's an animal that relies on you for everything - including their health. They don't need ice cream, french fries, or anything else you put in your mouth. So stop the cycle. Care for your pets properly.



Whew. Now that I got that off my chest...

69 DAYS TILL DISNEYLAND! Gah! We're just a few days away from the two month mark! Just a few days till I can start to book our ADRs! Just a few days before I get really antsy that the countdown isn't going fast enough! Haha!

Anywho, I gotta get going. Shooting a wedding tonight and I haven't gotten my gear together yet. Gotta get 'er done!

Five Senses

My five senses right now?

Sight - Watching CSI New York (I forgot how much I love Eddie Cahill, and Gary Sinise is always amazing), and editing photos (still) from the wedding two weeks ago. I'm multi tasking.

Sound - Listening to CSI New York more than watching it really. Also listening to my mom talk through it. -_-

Taste - just water for now, I should eat something.

Smell - dog farts... so disgusting.

Touch - the keyboard, duh.

Top 10 Songs I love (at the moment)

1. The 1812 Overture

 Around this time of year this is always my go to song. In 7th and 8th grade our band teacher had us work, and work hard on this piece of music. We couldn't legally shoot cannons off in the band room or the auditorium, so she had the track coaches shoot track guns into large metal garbage cans. It was one of my most favorite memories of band in all 8 years that I played (5th-12th). I LOVE this piece of music and it's just not the 4th of July until I hear it (yes, I know, the music is not a patriotic piece... nor is it about the American Revolution/America in anyway). I mean, they SHOOT CANNONS as part of the music!

2. Don't Forget Me (Smash)

I loved the TV Show Smash. It lasted two seasons, and it's such a tragedy that it didn't get to go longer. I admit the only reason I stuck with it at first was because Jack Davenport was a main character and played his character extremely well, but I fell in love with so many of the characters as time went on (Christian Borle anyone?). Season 2 was a bit disappointing when they brought in a second musical, but it was still great. Wish it'd found its footing, because I miss the music. I blast "Don't Forget Me" while in the shower all the time. No, I don't try to belt it out like Kat McPhee, though.

3. Go The Distance (Michael Bolton - Disney's Hercules)

I've loved this song since Paul Wylie skated to it in his final season with Stars On Ice. It's just a great song, and it's another that gets blasted a lot while I'm in the shower or getting ready for the day. It's a power song, inspirational... and it's Disney. My mom was a fangirl of Bolton "back in the day" so I get that he's not really my generation's go to guy. But I don't care. I love this song.

4. I'll Make A Man Out Of You (Mulan)

Let's get down to business, to defeat THE HUNS! This has been Erin and my go to song for almost as long as I can remember (where our relationship is concerned anyway). We have a weird fascination with Donny Osmond, and he's the singer in this song. But ultimately it's not Donny that gets us all excited to belt out this classic Disney tune. It's just a fun song that makes us laugh. Whenever this song pops up on my iPod I blast the volume and sing along. It keeps me connected to my beastie even with all the miles that separate us. So, come on, BE A MAN! And be swift as a coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the darkside of the moon!

5. On A Hymnsong of Phillip Bliss

Another pice of music that holds a special place in my heart. We played this in high school, down in Florida for a competition. My best friend nearly killed us all as she was supposed to play the triangle. She had ONE NOTE at the end of the program. ONE NOTE that the conductor POINTED AT HER so she knew when to play... and in that moment as we held onto our LOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNGGGGGG note she was off watching a spec of dust float around. Chalk up another win for her ADD. *facepalm* I loved that music. When our "band mascot" and "super duper Senior" Honorable Judge Cranston passed away a year? after I graduated, the KCHS band and alumni were asked to play this song at his service. It was amazing.

6. Monkey Silly Song (VeggieTales)

Another one of the songs that's more of an inside joke between myself and Erin. You will hear us say "It's a monkey" many times in conversation and this is the song we're referencing. Kinda silly, I'm sure, but it's a silly song! I remember when this song first came out. Erin and I watched it together via the phone and youtube and laughed our butts off... Bob is definitely me... and Larry is definitely Erin.

7. Who Am I (Casting Crowns)

Casting Crowns is one of my all time favorite Christian groups. Their songs are so powerful, and this song always speaks to my heart. It's the prayer/questioning of my heart.
Not because of who I am,
But because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who you are!

8. Home To Alaska (Lee Greenwood)

Yes, it's a dated song, but I absolutely love it. Because it's Alaska. And this would be my heart's cry if I ever leave this place for other parts of the world. Actually after about 10 days of vacation I'm normally crying "I WANNA GO HOME TO ALASKA!" I love traveling "outside", but there's no place like home.

9. Wagon Wheel (Darius Rucker with Lady Antebellum)

Don't ask me why, but this song just gets me every time. Good beat, good melody... and Darius Rucker is one of the best country singers we've got right now. Never thought I'd be a fan of "Hootie" (which I just read on twitter today he's not particularly a fan of being called that, whoops). Now I have the song stuck in my head.

10. Shameless (Garth Brooks)

Yes, it has to be Garth's version of this song. No, I don't want to debate it. Garth was my music idol when I was little. And he's still amazing! I was mad at him for ditching his first wife for Trisha Yearwood, but I'm over it. Because, really... it's not about his personal life, it's about his talent and what he brings on stage. Not as big a fan of his these days, but his music is still the best. So excited that he's supposedly coming out of retirement!

What are you afraid of?

I've struggled with this fear for most of my life - the fear of failure. I hate feeling like I've let someone down. Be it teachers, my family, myself, my boss... doesn't matter. It can be paralyzing at times. Even when I know that I'm good at whatever task is set in front of me, sometimes fear of failure overtakes me and it becomes a destructive pattern.

It's my greatest curse, I've yet to overcome it. If anyone at all has any idea how to magically erase this fear I would gladly learn the secret.

That's all I've got. It's the 4th of July, 72 days till Disneyland... and after a great afternoon of festivities I'm pooped. It was a great day and I'll hopefully have a few photos up later today from the parade. I walked home afterwards as Treat Street was packed and I wasn't handling the crowds or heat well (yes I realize I'm a walking contradiction considering I'd suck it up for Disney).

You know I'm lazy when I'm watching Thor (which I really don't like) and won't change the channel - not because I want to watch the movie, but just because I don't want to spend time finding something else (or turning on Netflix). Yup. Lazy. But at least I get to giggle at how weird it is to see Josh Dallas play a character that's NOT Prince Charming. Ha ha! Oh, my.

Favorite #Quote

"The only disability in life is a bad attitude."

                                                                  - Scott Hamilton

Day three of the 31 day challenge asks for my favorite quote, and I had to think about this a little bit. I have a page on this blog that is a list of quotes that have meaning, or I find funny, or hold special memories. You can view it here. So choosing one came down to just my tried and true inspiration. I used this quote in the yearbook my senior year.

Scott Hamilton is the 1984 Olympic Champion in Mens Figure Skating. He is the reason I fell in love with the sport of figure skating (though I can't skate to save my life). I saw him skate live in very early 1989, I was four, and I thought what he did was amazing. He talked to a radio (skating to Georgia On My Mind) and he did a backflip. It was during a Walt Disney On Ice show, and I was hooked.

I followed Scott's career religiously growing up. Even when my interest in the sport was low, I made sure to watch anything that Scott was a part of - be it a skater or commentator. He was my hero, and I loved him (still do!). I even at one time declared that I would marry him - I was too young to understand age difference. Scott was one of my favorite things about winter, and I looked forward to Stars on Ice and Ice Wars and other shows on TV.

Then he let the world know he was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer in 1997. I was devastated. I didn't know much about the disease, but I knew cancer was never a good thing. Scott gave the world a promise and a quote of inspiration that day with his "The only disability in live is a bad attitude." It has been my mantra ever since (even though I have SUCH a hard time these days following it). I prayed hard for Scott - daily. I knew he'd beat it, he'd beaten a mysterious childhood disease after all, and he was Scott Hamilton. I mean, really, if anyone was going to beat the odds, he would.

And he did, and he has. Several battles of cancer later he's still going strong - still inspiring. Always living his life to the fullest. And, now, living for Christ. He's still one of my all time heroes. Someone I look up to, admire, and pray for.

20 Facts About Me

Day two of the 31 day challenge is to write about 20 facts on myself. This should be boring, eh? But in case anyone was actually interested...

1. I am a huge 49er Football Fan. I have been since pretty much birth (if not before). Both sides of my family are from Northern California (but my parents didn't meet until they were both in Alaska, even though they went to rival high schools), and cheer for the Niners. I was born the day after they won the Super Bowl in 1985 - mom wouldn't go to the hospital that Sunday because she was afraid they wouldn't let her watch the game. I'm a huge fan of Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Colin Kaepernick, Frank Gore, Steve Young, and Coach Harbaugh.

2. I love all things Iditarod and sled dogs, but I won't drive a sled. I've never stood on the back of a sled and told the dogs to "hike up" or "mush" (who says that command anyway?). I have sat in the sled while a friend drove her team of two down the trail, over an embankment and then bailed and let the dogs run me through an open creek. I then walked, soaking wet, back home. We were in Jr. High. I've never wanted to drive a team since. Though growing up I wanted to be the next Libby Riddles/Susan Butcher. I'm perfectly content to support the teams I love and work for the whackadoodle breed of human known as Musher.

3. I've taken TEN trips to a Disney park. 1990, 2006, 2011 and 2012 were to Disneyland in California. 2001, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2013 were to Walt Disney World in Florida. I can safely say I haven't seen or done it all, but I have done so much and love going back. The trip in September to Disneyland (my fifth!) will most likely be the last trip to Disney for the foreseeable future, and that makes me sad... super sad. But I need to venture out away from my happy place... and I need to build up my savings.

4. I have never been on a date. I've not been asked since high school. It's not that I'm picky, it's just that I have a very... strict? idea of what dating and partnership should be. And, really, in 11 years since high school I haven't been asked. So I'm sure there's something wrong with me. Ha ha. But I'm actually quite content to be single. Until people put their nose where it doesn't belong. Then I am almost to pick some random guy up to shut everyone up and give them something new to gripe about.

5. I have an extra bone in my right foot. Apparently this is pretty common - though most folks have the extra bone in both feet. When my mom worked for a local chiropractor in town (I was eight?) he didn't believe us that it was an actual extra bone. Just one "out of alignment". He felt my foot and determined he was right, so without x-rays he began to try and manipulate it "back into place." It wasn't until I screamed out in pain and kicked him that he pulled back and said "I'll be damned. You're right." And people wonder why I DON'T like people touching me?!

6. Speaking of that - I hate giving random hugs, especially when I'm not the one that gets to initiate it. Like I physically HATE it. I give hugs to close family and friends, but really if I don't go in for a hug... don't assume it's okay. It's not comforting, cute, or friendly. I feel very confined, uncomfortable, and disrespected. It's one thing when the person doesn't know, but those that acknowledge that I dislike them (and then suggest I need to get over it) that's when I really take issue. I'm outspoken, but I'm also unable to really speak my mind in those situations... so I typically take my punishment and then the rest of the day is pretty crappy. Yes, it's that bad. No, I'm not going to change my feelings. It goes much deeper than someone's need to force me to hug.

7. Growing up as an only child I wanted a brother. Originally I wanted to be oldest with a younger brother, as I've grown up I've realized I wanted/needed someone older. This is going to make me seem hateful and uncaring, but the younger brother I was blessed with has caused so much pain and hurt and yeah that I feel very cheated. I really do have a yearning to have a protector, like the older brothers so many of my friends have. In the last year I've never wanted something more. I don't know why, I just really wish I'd had one. Interestingly enough, had my parents been able to adopt the boy that they were in the process of when they found out they were pregnant (and the mother was pulling out of the adoption) I'd have had an older brother (by about 6 months). I'm very thankful for the guys in my life through the years who were older and filled that role for me. Now that they're all away and married perhaps that is why I feel that desire again.

8. I have been obsessed with photography since I was seven years old. A friend from school gave me a point and shoot (film) camera and Panda Bear (it was a combo gift, not sure where he got it but I still have both the camera and the bear) for my birthday. I wore that camera out! My dad taught me the basics of SLR cameras and by the time I was in high school I was being asked to shoot weddings and portraits. I decided that I didn't want to do anything else - except maybe become a film director. I did not go to college for photography, however. I wanted to get into TV/Film direction. So I basically wasted a lot of time and money because I didn't end up with a degree, and I didn't achieve my goals. Mainly because I'm a poor student.

9.  I am a HUGE Steven Spielberg fangirl. Like SUPER fan girl. I have a collection of his films (not complete, but we're getting there. I got a late start!), even ones I won't watch (ET because he scares me, and War Horse because it crushed my soul). To me, Spielberg is my generation's Walt Disney. He brought to life dinosaurs, brought us Indiana Jones, and even the supposedly flawed Hook brought about imagination. For all the fun that he brought to our lives, though, he's also brought the important stories of WW1 & WW2 - the horrors of the Holocaust, the tragedies of war as well as the beauty of those souls fighting for what they believe in. I could gush about him and his work all day. SPIELBERG!

10. I love Alaska. I was born and raised here, and Lord willing I will die here. I don't want to live anywhere else (except maybe Cinderella's Castle). I live in Kenai - where I was raised - and you can't convince me there's a better place on Earth.

11. I still love the show FRIENDS. I have just about every episode memorized, and my bff and I are known to have full on conversations using only quotes from the show. I got hooked on it just a few weeks before it ended, and I sat with my bff and hugged her as the finale happened. She was a HUGE fan while it was on the air (still is) and was the one that got me hooked. But she's the one who cried. I made fun of her for getting SO involved with a TV show...

12. And then 10 years later - yeah, it was my turn. If you've followed my blog in the last few months you know where I am going with this. I got hooked on Once Upon A Time last year. It was a great escape for when I lost my beloved pug dog Yuka (while I was away from home visiting my bff, ironically). I was SO excited for the third season of this show. It was going to be dark, it was going to have twists. There were going to be pirates, and mermaids, and Neverland... and then the second half of the season happened and I had fallen in love with a character that, unbeknownst to me, was going to die. I have never been affected by a television show as much as I apparently have with OUAT. I cannot get over them killing off Neal Cassidy. I've never experienced the grief over a character of a tv show like this (I have for movies, so I know it's possible). And I've lost quite a few favorite TV characters over the years. Michael Raymond-James (as I've gushed about before) is a fantastic actor. I'm sorry it took me so long to recognize it, but OUAT will not be the same without him. I cannot WAIT for Sons of Liberty (History Channel, premieres December 14th, yes I will be obsessively watching). Yes, I did have to do this just to mention MRJ. I'm a crazy person.

13. Speaking of Sons of Liberty, I am a huge US History nerd. I like world history, too, but US History gets my attention far more than anything else. Revolutionary War, Civil War, and our involvement in World War 2 are my favorite categories (oh and Lincoln and Washington). I have to give a shout out to my 8th grade US History teacher, Bob Summer, for giving me a love of the subject. Even if my grades didn't always reflect it (I was a huge disappointment for him, I didn't apply myself. My grades did not reflect my capabilities).

14. I used to be really into politics as well, but have become increasingly more jaded. Probably the Alaskan in me. Hard to care about national politics when you know your vote doesn't count and that you have a very non existent voice.

15. I have been a huge fan of figure skating pretty much my entire life. From the time I was nearly four all the way till now I've watched the sport and fangirled over so many of its stars. I believe the years of 1984-2004 was the best era of figure skating (peaking from 1994-2000). It's considered the "Golden Era" of modern skating in the West. Kurt Browning is the ultimate figure skater. We will never see another like him. Medals and titles don't matter (though his four world titles are nothing to sniff at!), he is far superior to anything the sport has produced before or since. I could watch him skate all day. Scott Hamilton is the ultimate showman, but Browning is the real deal.

16. My first celebrity crush was Tom Selleck as Magnum P.I. when I was a toddler. I would "call" him on the phone and talk to him for hours. I can't stand him now. Go figure. But I've always crushed on older actors. Very few from my age group are in my "best actor/hotties" list (well, that was more true before I started watching Once Upon A Time, most of those guys are my age-ish). I wanted to marry Scott Hamilton (figure skater) when I was four, and I've crushed hard for Harrison Ford, Kurt Browning, and a host of other older guys from the time I was in Jr. High. As I said earlier, I'm crazy.

17. I love tacos. Tacos are my most favorite things EVER. I could eat a mountain of tacos. They are my major weakness. I live for Taco Tuesday/Thursday. I love taco salad when I can't have tacos. Which is any time I have to cook tacos because I refuse to cook with oil over a flame.

18. I am terrified of cooking with oil because I set my parents' kitchen on fire when I was 16. In my defense I was sick and thought I'd put the tea kettle on to boil water to make some hot cider. In my cold med stupor, however, I turned on the wrong burner. It was an electric stove, so there was not flame to indicate that I was boiling the wrong thing. Mom had left a pot of oil on the stove. I walked out of the room for mere seconds and WHOOSH! I've been terrified ever since, though I love to cook.

19. It's just been in the last few years that I've loved to cook. It was out of necessity when I lived on my own, and now I miss not getting to cook more. I love planning my menu, going based on a theme, and making it all come together. I get this from my grandmother as she was the master planner and chef. I wish I'd embraced cooking sooner so that it would've been something we could have enjoyed together, but it makes me feel connected to her even though she's gone now. We'd always enjoyed baking, and now that I have found the love for cooking I have to believe G'Ma is smiling down on me.

20. I am a massive planner when it comes to vacation. I don't go as far as to do the spreadsheets (well, sometimes), but it's how I cope with the wait. This started back when I began working on the family 2007 trip to Disney World. I found a disney travel message board that encouraged this behavior. It's been a lifesaver SO many times, and now I'm kinda obsessed with planning. It's half the fun for me!

So there you have it, 20 facts about me. Probably more than you ever cared to know, but it is what it is... and if you actually read all that you deserve a cookie. Not going to lie. So I'll leave you with this adorable MRJ gif (yes I'm obsessed and I don't even know why. I feel like a stalker! LOL). I really need to rewatch Terriers again. Britt Pollack is too funny.

Don't mind just little ol' me.

The first day of the 31 day blog challenge has me introducing myself with a "recent photo". This was taken back in December, but I still consider it recent. Hair is longer now, and the bangs grew out... hoping to get that taken care of in a few weeks. Just in time for my Disney trip mid-September.

How do you introduce pure awesome? I don't know, but if I could... well... okay, honestly? I wouldn't consider myself awesome. I'm just your typical Alaskan Grown woman trying to live her dreams, and be the best version of herself possible.

I was born and raised in South Central Alaska and still live here. After living on my own for a time I am back living with the parental units. I'm slowly but surely becoming "an adult" as I near that "dreaded" (at least by most) milestone of 30. Just a few months now. I've never really feared it, I'm more that girl in 13 Going on 30... I'm waiting to embrace it. "Thirty, flirty, and thriving!"

I am a tv and film junkie. My heroes are Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg. At one time my dream was to become a film director, but life has a way of changing priorities. I'm a photographer - have been since I was seven - and that's how I choose to tell my stories. I love my craft and am always trying to better myself at it. After 20+ years I know I will never tire of learning.

I'm outspoken, I'm honest, and I value loyalty above all else. This can be a blessing and a curse as I definitely do not trust easy, but once I do trust there's nothing I won't do for a person. I don't see this as something that I need to work against, but one that I need to acknowledge and use to my advantage. But I can see where some people think I've an unhealthy view of life. I'm not depressed or a recluse, but I could live as a hermit quite easily in today's world of social media!

While I try to be guarded, I still wear my heart on my sleeve. I'm quicker to temper than I'd like to be, and I'm not good at hiding my feelings even when I do hold my tongue.

I've been hurt, I've been scarred. I've learned that trust must always be earned and not given. That blood and family mean everything, but can also be the biggest hurt. That working through that takes time, and means more hurting - and more changes - than you think possible. There's so much I have inside me that begs to be let out, but can't due to things beyond my control. There's so much within me that wants to talk about it, but to those that I can talk about it they don't want to hear...

All this to say I'm a walking contradiction. But by the grace of God I move forward and move on and am blessed beyond measure. I'm random, rambling, and quite dull (ha ha?).

Anyway, I'm not sure how good I am at introducing myself. I'm not super creative with these sorts of things (just see my bio). So I apologize if this is boring, or redundant, or just stupid. It happens. 

And, just because I can... Michael Raymond-James being adorable as
Britt Pollack in the short lived Terriers on FX.