Disney Birthday Bash Finale!

Thank you to my guests, as well as my dear readers, for helping me celebrate my birthday this week! It's been a lot of fun discussing all things Disney. Today I'll announce the winners first, and then I'll add my two cents' worth to the Disney discussion! ;) I'd also love to hear your thoughts on any of the questions!

The winner of Yesterday's Tomorrow by Catherine West is...

Missy!

And the winner of Gallimore by Michelle Griep is...

Renee C!

Congratulations, ladies! Be on the lookout for my e-mail!

And now here's my Q & A with myself regarding Disney:

Question: Since this week’s theme is “Disney,” could you share with us your favorite Disney movie and why it’s your favorite?

Answer: OK, I don't think we bloggers realize how difficult our questions are until the roles are reversed! Definitely hard to pick a favorite Disney movie. Some of my favorites have already been mentioned by others this week, including Tuck Everlasting, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Beauty & The Beast. But one of my other favorites is Brother Bear 2. The first one was very good, as well, but I just love the sweet romance, as well as the music, in the second movie. The theme of love overcoming fear and sacrificing for others is wonderful!

Question: Have you ever been to Disneyland or Disney World? If so, do you have a fun memory you could share with us about one of the rides/attractions?

Answer: Yes, I have! I've been to Disneyland twice so far, with this next week marking my third vacation there. (I haven't yet been to Disney World, but it sounds awesome!) As for a fun memory, I like sharing the one about meeting my "twin" at Disneyland. When my family and I were attempting to get an autograph from the Mad Hatter, he assumed that another girl who was the same height as me, with the same color hair (about the same length), and wearing glasses like me, was a member of my family. (Or maybe he just thought it was funny we looked alike--I don't know!) He put an arm around each of us and we ended up getting a picture together, even though we had never met! ;)

Then there was the time I got to play Jafar at Aladdin's storytelling place... That was interesting!

Question: Which Disney character from any of the Disney movies do you most identify with?

Answer: I'm going to be a copycat and say Belle. I love to read, I have brown hair, and "I want adventure in the great, wide somewhere." What can I say? ;)

I'll also say Cinderella, because for my senior prom in high school a couple of years ago I got to wear a blue poofy dress and be Cinderella for one special evening. It was so fun to dress up and dance the night away like a princess!

Question: Have any of the Disney movies reminded you of a spiritual truth? If so, could you share an example?

Answer: One somewhat recent example is from The Princess and the Frog. When Tiana is in the graveyard with the villain, he tries to get her to give up the talisman she's holding by tempting her with the fulfillment of her dream--her own restaurant, just like she and her dad had always wanted. But when Tiana thinks about her dad, she realizes that even though he didn't have what he wanted, supposedly, he had what he needed. He had love.

The difference between wants and needs is something I really need to take heart. With God, we have everything we could ever need. He provides for us, and in Him we find an all-encompassing love. Sometimes He gives us our wants, but sometimes He knows that what we need doesn't match up with what we want. So may we have what we need (according to God), rather than what we want.

Question: What do you love the most about Disney movies?

Answer: I love how Disney movies are positive in general. They encourage people to love others and to really live life--a life full of dreams, adventure, and hope. As they quote in Meet the Robinsons: "Keep Moving Forward."

(Brother Bear 2 picture is from IMDb.com, and The Princess and the Frog picture is also from IMDb.com.)

Disney Birthday Bash with Ashley!

Today's guest is a dear blogging friend, Ashley from After All, Tomorrow is Another Day. It's a pleasure to host her here, and I think you'll love her responses to this Disney-themed interview!

Amber: Thank you so much for joining us today! Since this week’s theme is “Disney,” could you share with us your favorite Disney movie and why it’s your favorite?

Ashley: Hands down, Tuck Everlasting has to be my fave Disney movie. Because, it’s the saddest movie you’ll ever see, yet you can’t help but watch it again and again. It’s romantic without being oushy-goushy and there is the element of adventure and wonder that comes with the thought of living forever, that sucks you in from the very beginning.

Amber: Great choice--I love that movie, as well! Have you ever been to Disneyland or Disney World? If so, do you have a fun memory you could share with us about one of the rides/attractions?

Ashley: I’ve actually been to both parks, and they’re both amazing, however the memory that stands out the most for me is when: my sister, my mom and I were at Disneyland, in Story Bookland (any place about books has to be good, right?), where there is this boat ride that takes you down a river and through the mouth of the whale that swallowed Pinocchio. On the banks of the river are miniatures of several of the Disney character’s houses. Before, my family and I got to board the boat, the operator of the asked if my sister and I could sit in the front and be the shark watchers. At the time, I was only 5 yrs. old, and I truly thought there were man-eating sharks in the water. But luckily, none decided to attack that night.

Amber: Hahaha, very cute! ;) Which Disney character from any of the Disney movies do you most identify with?

Ashley: I know we all will say Belle, and now that I’m older, I totally understand wanting more to read a good book, then to spend time with an arrogant (if handsome) and insufferable man like Gaston. However, when I was younger, I always fancied myself to be more of a Sleeping Beauty type. I loved the thought of having long golden hair, the ability to understand animals, and three fairy Godmothers, dressed in green, red and blue. But never yellow, mind you, for that would be a crime of fairy fashion.

Amber: That's sweet! Have any of the Disney movies reminded you of a spiritual truth? If so, could you share an example?

Ashley: In the beginning of Beauty And The Beast, where the prince refuses the rose from the old “hag” and turns her away with hateful words, that really reminded me of how Jesus was treated here on earth. He came to offer us such a simple, but beautiful gift, and we not only didn’t want it, we crucified Him for it. We are all ugly beast without Jesus’s love. We may not look like one on the outside, but in the inside, our hearts are vile, and riddled with sin like cancer. But there is a Beauty that is constantly showing us love and our need to be loved by the King of Creation, all we have to do is except that love for now and eternity.

Amber: That is beautiful, Ashley! So glad you shared that with us, and I completely agree. So, what do you love the most about Disney movies?

Ashley: That no matter what’s going on in your life, the moment you turn a Disney movie on, you can believe for a moment that dreams really are wishes your heart makes and that with a wonderful thought, some faith and pixie dust, you can fly.

Thank you so much Amber, for the fun interview and I pray you have a blessed and magical birthday this year.

Amber: Thank YOU, Ashley, for visiting us today and for your wonderful responses!!

(Tuck Everlasting picture is from IMDb.com; Sleeping Beauty picture is from IMDb.com; and rose picture is from Families.com.)

Disney Birthday Bash with Michelle Griep!

Our second guest this week is Michelle Griep, author of Gallimore and Undercurrent, two amazing time travel romance stories! Earlier this week I posted my review of Undercurrent on The Borrowed Book blog, if you're interested in reading my thoughts on this great book. Read on to learn more about Michelle and find out how you can win a copy of Gallimore!

Amber: Thank you so much for joining us today! Since this week’s theme is “Disney,” could you share with us your favorite Disney movie and why it’s your favorite?

Michelle: Wow. That’s like asking my favorite kind of pizza. Tough call! So I’ll totally cheat and pick a favorite non-animated and a favorite animated…

George of the Jungle is my favorite ‘real people’ Disney flick. I could look at Brendan Fraser’s abs all day long. Seriously. Besides that, though, the story itself is cute and romantic.

Tangled is my favorite animated movie and I can sum up why in two words: Flynn Rider. What a hero! Headstrong and cocky, yet entirely teachable and loyal. The other bonus to this movie is the humor. Hilarious. I rarely laugh out loud, but I almost peed my pants watching this one.

Amber: Those are both very fun movies! Have you ever been to Disneyland or Disney World? If so, do you have a fun memory you could share with us about one of the rides/attractions?

Michelle: I went to Disneyland when I was 7. Being the youngest kid by about 15 years, I was basically an only child. Translation: spoiled rotten. I remember going on the teacup ride, the one with a wheel-type gadget in the middle that is used to spin the cup around. It was my dad’s goal to make me barf. Yes, my family certainly knew how to put the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional. He whipped that teacup around as fast as a tilt-a-whirl on steroids. But ol’ ironsides (my gut) was impossible to break. My dad wasn’t though. He felt pretty woozy by the time we exited.

Amber: "Ol' ironsides," huh? Hahaha, that's a great story! So, which Disney character from any of the Disney movies do you most identify with?

Michelle: Belle from Beauty & The Beast. No, I don’t look that fabulous in a yellow ballgown, and I don’t even know how to waltz. I relate to her because she’s always got her nose stuck in a book, re-reading her favorites and on the lookout for more. Now that’s a kindred spirit!

Amber: I totally understand! Have any of the Disney movies inspired your writing (ie: characters, plot, etc.) in any way?

Michelle: Not an entire movie, but a character: Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. He’s always doing and saying things that are unexpected, kind of out-of-the-norm for what you’d expect a pirate to be like. Outwardly he looks the epitome of the roguish swashbuckler, but there are so many layers to him that don’t fit the typical pirate stereotype. I use that template when creating my characters. Define who they are and then throw in idiosyncrasies that are quirky and endearing.

Amber: Very cool! Gotta love Jack Sparrow. ;) What do you love the most about Disney movies?

Michelle: Happy endings. I can’t think of one that doesn’t have a feel good finale.

Amber: Great answer! So glad to host you here today, Michelle!

Readers, if you would like a chance to win a copy of Gallimore, just leave a comment for Michelle along with your e-mail address! (U.S residents only, please.) A winner will be announced on Friday, June 3rd.

P.S. Doesn't Gallimore's cover fit so well with the Disney/castle theme this week??

(Teacup ride picture from AllEars.Net, and Pirates of the Caribbean 4 picture from IMDb. com.)

Disney Birthday Bash with Catherine West!

In a few days my family and I will be headed to Disneyland to celebrate my sister's 8th grade graduation and my 20th birthday, which both occur on the same day! In honor of our upcoming vacation, I decided to do a Disney-themed bash this week, and our first guest is Catherine West!

Catherine is the author of Yesterday's Tomorrow, a poignant and powerful love story set during the Vietnam War. Read on to find out more about this great author and to learn how you can win a copy of this great book!

Amber: Thank you so much for joining us today! Since this week’s theme is “Disney,” could you share with us your favorite Disney movie and why it’s your favorite?

Catherine: That’s hard because there are so many great ones! I think I’ll have to say Beauty and the Beast. It was probably the first Disney movie that came out just as my daughter was getting to the age where she’d sit through a movie and understand it – I remember watching it with her and seeing how intent on it she was – and of course I’m a sucker for a great love story!

Amber: Such a wonderful movie! Have you ever been to Disneyland or Disney World? If so, do you have a fun memory you could share with us about one of the rides/attractions?

Catherine: My husband is a Disney Fanatic! Kind of makes sense considering he’s a pediatrician! We’ve been to Disneyworld five times! There is nothing like taking little kids to Disney – the first year we went, my son was three and my daughter five – I think that was the best trip ever. My favorite memory from that trip was eating breakfast in Cinderella’s Castle, and having Cinderella come talk to my daughter and tell her that she looked just like her!! I don’t think Sarah stopped smiling the whole trip! We thought my son might be a little young at the time, but it was amazing to see how much he really did enjoy it, once he got over the initial fear of the characters, he started following them all around! It truly is a magical place!

Amber: That is so sweet! Sounds like you've had some memorable experiences at Disney World. =) Which Disney character from any of the Disney movies do you most identify with?

Catherine: I’ve always loved Ariel from The Little Mermaid. She had a dream and she wasn’t afraid to go after it, risking everything for it. I think that as a writer, I really get that. And of course it all turned out well in the end for her!!

Amber: That seems to be a prominent (and inspiring) theme in Disney movies--following your dreams! Have any of the Disney movies inspired your writing (ie: characters, plot, etc.) in any way?

Catherine: I am a die-hard romantic and I absolutely love happy endings, so I always appreciate the final scenes where we see our beautiful heroine in her wedding dress, snagging her handsome prince! I mean, come on, it doesn’t get any better than that! I can’t say off hand that any particular movie has inspired a book for me, but I love the concept of good overcoming evil. That’s important to me in my writing.

Amber: *Sigh* I think the happy endings are great, too! What do you love the most about Disney movies?

Catherine: I actually prefer the real people movies to cartoon characters, but I’m always amazed at how the cartoons manage to tug my heartstrings as well! I love that there is humor, a good moral premise and that they are made for all audiences. Of course over the years, Disney has come out with some not so great movies and some scary scenes that I wasn’t sure were entirely appropriate for my children, but on the whole I don’t think you can go wrong with a Disney movie. I do have to say that my very favorite watch over and over again Disney movie of late is Enchanted. They hit it out of the park in my opinion with that one. I love the music, the color, the story – everything!! So is it just me, or does everyone else want to know what’s up with the whole mother thing and Disney? Missing mothers, dead mothers, evil step-mothers…weird, huh? :0) Oh well, we love Disney anyway!

Amber: Hahaha, I'm sure you're not the only one who's noted that! ;) Thanks so much for visiting with us today, and for sharing those adorable pictures from your past!

Readers, if you would like a chance to win a copy of Yesterday's Tomorrow, just leave a comment for Catherine along with your e-mail address! A winner will be announced on Friday, June 3rd.

And if you would like to learn more about Catherine and her work, check out her website and her blog.

Tangled

It was with great excitement and eagerness that I went to the movies with two of my friends this past evening. The excitement continued to build, even as we went to the wrong theater (which wasn't showing Tangled!) and had to backtrack a short distance to the right one. We made it just in time to watch a couple of previews and dive right into the movie!

From the start of the movie I found myself intrigued by the creative twist on the traditional Rapunzel story--how Rapunzel came to be in the tower, her story. In traditional Disney fashion there was some sweet magic involved, then evil tried to take over and hide that sweetness selfishly away.

Throughout the first half of the movie, I was pleased with how humorous it was! I laughed frequently and enjoyed the cleverness of the characters and some of the absurd situations they found themselves in. Without trying to give too much away, I do have to say there was one scene involving Rapunzel's angst that was absolutely too funny! Alternately overjoyed and "in the depths of the despair" (as Anne of Green Gables would say), it was hilarious watching her reactions to her new-found freedom, as well as watching Flynn's reactions to her. Love it!

Many of the secondary characters were rather quirky, which was great but perhaps a bit overdone in parts. I loved Rapunzel's pet chameleon, Pascal, because he was just too cute! The horse was certainly interesting with it's dog-like behaviors, and one of my friends noted later how it was similar to Bullseye's behaviors in the Toy Story movies, although the horse in Tangled is even more dog-like.

The romance was so sweet in this movie! I enjoyed watching it develop and seeing how caring and giving it became. One of my favorite scenes involved hundreds of lanterns and a boat. I won't say anymore than that! Well, except I will add that the animation, especially in that scene, was beautiful! And their discussion of dreams--what happens once they're fulfilled--is one I think many can relate to with a smile.

This movie was fun and it did have some surprises. On the other hand, while it was unique in some ways, it was rather similar to other Disney movies. Don't get me wrong--I love happily ever-afters! But this movie wasn't as powerful as many of the Disney Pixar, and some of the Dreamworks movies, are. I didn't cry during this movie like I did both times I saw Toy Story 3 in theaters. I wasn't quite as thrilled by it as I was by How to Train Your Dragon (which I watched recently and loved!). But it was still good, and I'm glad that I went to see it!

*This review has been posted on Corban University's online newspaper, Hilltop News! Check it out HERE!*

(Poster image from IMDb.com.)

"Sharing a Smile" Saturday 3

I hope everyone is having a fun-filled Saturday!

Since I recently posted about a "time to laugh," I thought I'd share a video all about laughter. This is a video I found on YouTube of the song "I Love to Laugh" from Mary Poppins. (You can click on the video to see the full-size version on YouTube.)



Mary Poppins is such a great movie, as are many of the Disney movies! What are some of your favorite Disney movies?