All Time Faves: Disney Character

Day 25: Who is your favorite Disney character and why?

My guess is I've said this plenty times already but this is a tough one. I LOVE Disney. I love everything about Disney. I even worked there for one summer. I love Disney so much that making me chose just one favorite character is practically impossible. Yet, after literally perusing a list of Disney characters, one name stood out for me: Hercules.

To be honest, the movie holds such a special place in my heart. I remember seeing it at the movie theater (oldest one in Veracruz which no longer even exists). For my last year of secondary school my class did a theatrical production (an adaptation) of this movie and presented it in front of the whole school (I was one of the muses). How could I not love it?

But Hercules, man. He was the best. First of all how he is taken away from his home and family, having to grow up without everything he was entitled to. Bummer. Then, I think like most of us, going through a super awkward phase growing up as the weird, clumsy kid. Facing bullying and name calling for 'being different'.

I love that he knew he was special and different and he wasn't gonna let anyone tell him otherwise. I love how he had a dream and went ahead and fought to become who he was meant to be (going the distance, haha), a true hero. I love that he never stopped being that clumsy kid with a big heart, who even chose love over everything he fought for (returning to Mount Olympus with his family). I mean, what's not to love? Plus it does help that he has Ricky Martin's voice in the latin version :)

So there. Hercules is my favorite Disney character. What's yours?

g.

ps. Read about How I became a Disney Cast Member here.

*Image via here.

Current Reads

Day 24: What book are you currently reading or what was the last book you read?

The last book I read was 'The Choice' by Nicholas Sparks. I actually bought it without knowing there was a movie... but I'm kinda glad I did. Now I get to watch the movie and judge it since 'I read the book'. 

I bought it last month at the airport when I was heading to Nuevo Vallarta for work. There's so much time to be killed at airports while waiting to board flights. Then I got to read by the pool in the afternoon while I was away, which was a real treat.

I hadn't read anything in the longest time and had forgotten how much I enjoy reading. I spend too much time on the computer, tv or phone, so it was nice to relax on the couch with a cup of coffee yesterday in the morning to finish the book.

Do you have any good book recommendations? I'd love to hear!

g.

Getting Excited

Day 23: What is one thing that you are excited about?

Right now I'm extremely excited and really looking forward to seeing Adele live in Mexico City! The concert is on a Monday of a long weekend so we're planning to make a trip out of the whole thing. 

My best friend from home is meeting us in Puebla and then we're spending the weekend in Mexico City where we're meeting more friends who are also going to the concert, so it should be a weekend filled with food and drinks and hopefully some culture in there at some point.

We got the tickets in October last year so you can imagine how much we are all looking forward to it.

Other than that, I'm excited to take a holiday with A at some point before the end of the year and maybe sneaking in a quick trip to Playa del Carmen with a couple of girlfriends and visit my brother by the end of summer.

What are you excited about?

g.

*Image via here.

Prized Possessions

Day 22: What is your most prized possession and why?

When asked this question before, my answer has always been the same: my most prized possessions are two stuffed animals my grandmother (my dad's mother) bought for me growing up. She was a professor with a degree in special education whom we lost from cancer way too soon. She was caring and loving and really fun. These bears are a Fozzie Bear from the Muppet Babies and a rattle Teddy Bear. I actually remember getting both of them around the time I was 4-5 years old. The store where we got Fozzie still exists in a really old shopping center in my hometown. As for the other one, it was originally supposed to be for my (then) baby sister (who was actually still on the way) but I loved it so much, I kept it for myself.

My bears at home in Veracruz

There's absolutely nothing special about them, except the fact they were gifts from my grandma. They have both seen better times (Fozzie's nose was bitten off by my first dog, Spanky and the Teddy has had more washes than anyone could count). They are old and ragged, but I love them so much.

For as long as I can remember, they traveled with me around Mexico, the United States, Canada and even got to go around Europe during my time in England. They lived with me through the Disney ICP, my holiday in Puerto Rico and my year in Sheffield. Finally they moved to Mexico City with me after returning, where we lived for almost three years.

Here in a hostel in Dublin (pardon the mess)

About a year and a half ago when I moved here with A, I decided it was time to let go of them. Not in a 'get rid of them' kind of way, but I just didn't think they belonged in my 'adult house' with my boyfriend. And so I keep them in my childhood bedroom back home in Veracruz where I know my mom keeps them safe until it is time for them to meet their new owners (hopefully my kids, some day).

I have plenty of things I love back at home, but these are definitely the ones I cherish the most. What are your most prized posessions?

g.

*Cover image via here.

Five Quotes

Day 21: List five words or phrases that make you laugh

I believe I've talked before about how I'm a TV freak, so here's five lines from some of my favorite shows that crack me up every time:

From Friends:

'Fine! Judge all you want, but married a lesbian, left a man at the alter, fell in love with a gay ice skater, threw a girl's wooden leg in a fire, LIVE IN A BOX!' Monica Geller

Watch it.

From Grey's Anatomy:

'He is alone! All alone! Do any of you even know what that's like? Lives with Cristina, dates the perfect twelve year old, Manwhore!...' Dr. Addison Montgomery

Watch it.

From The Vampire Diaries:

'Stefan's different. He wants the whole human experience. He wants to feel every episode of How I Met Your Mother...' Damon Salvatore

Watch it.

From The O.C:

'Ryan, I was Nemo... and I just wanted to go home.' Seth Cohen

Watch it.

From One Tree Hill:

'You wanna know what I think? I think Nathan likes tutor girl, tutor girl likes Lucas, I know I like Lucas, and I have no idea who the hell you like any more so this has been turned into a one big love... rectangle plus one... whatever that is.' Brooke Davis

(Sorry, I couldn't find a clip for this quote, but it is from Season 1, Episode 6.)

g.

ps. Honorable mentions to every single line of Chandler Bing's, ever.

One Day...

Day 20: Where would you like to visit or live one day..?

One day I'd love to live in New York City. I think A would agree with my answer. We did meet there after all. We've been there once more since and have made it a point to visit at least once every five years. 

A actually disagrees with that last part there because if it were for him, we'd go once a year. It is such an evolving place that even if you went there twice a year, it would be different and that's kind of why we love it so much.

The thing with NY is... it has EVERYTHING. 

A gourmet market in the heart of Chelsea

Frank Lloyd Wright's Guggenheim Museum

The center of the universe, Times Square

Central Park

It's just the kind of place where I don't think you could ever be bored. There's always something happening, more restaurants than you could ever eat at, a lot of great museums and many places near enough for day trips and/or long weekends. Broadway/Times Square, Central Park, the Yankees, you get the picture. Plus it has got to be one of the most multicultural places in the world which is awesome.

And the architecture? for geeks like us, it's paradise. But maybe I'll write a whole other post about that.

So, yeah. Without a doubt, this would be THE place where I'd love to live one day, even if just for a year or so. What place would you like to visit or live in one day?

g.

ps. NYC cover image via here. All other images were taken by me.

Last Splurge

Day 19: Post a photo of the last item of clothing you bought.

That would be the dress I got at H&M for my best friend's wedding. Here's is a pic of me and A on that day.

g.