Dreaming of Disney

Now, please be warned... when it comes to Disney I turn into a 6 year old girl watching Little Mermaid for the first time. Proceed with caution....

There are few things that I love more than Disney. Those include my family, the gospel and I think that's about it. Nothing puts a smile on my face like walking through the gates at Disneyland or daydreaming about what it would be like to be a Disney Princess. I'm aware that this behavior is questionable for a 22 year old woman but I can't help it. I dream of living on New Orleans Square, right next to Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland. I don't think I could ever talk Parker into it... or the Disney Company for that matter but a girl can dream.

Speaking of dreams, last night I had a most magnificent one. Parker and I went to Disneyland. It was just the two of us visiting. There were no lines. The dancers in the parades had us dance with them. We got to fly and crow with Peter Pan. To say it was magical, would be an understatement. Unfortunately, I woke up to cold Cedar City, which is cause for rejoicing most days but now I've got Disneyland under my skin. So I thought I would share some of my favorite Disneyland memories with you!

In 2008 I went with my high school orchestra. This is the first trip that I can remember well. We got a full day in the park. It was absolutely magical. You must understand that I've spent a large portion of my life convinced that I am Princess Ariel... at this time it didn't help that I was 16, had gingery hair and was wanting a little freedom. For the first time I got to see her. She was in the parade and she had her cute little grotto that has now been replaced with Pixie Hollow. My mom asked the Ariel we met how to become a Disney Princess. The girl stayed in character and said, "Well, I'm a princess because my dad is a king. Maybe you've heard of King Triton? Then Disney came and made a movie about me." Then she turned to me and asked, "Have they made a movie about you yet?" I said, "No, but it's in the works." And that was that. I remember being completely taken with the whole place. I felt like every direction I turned there was something wonderful to be found. One minute I was in the future and the next you could be completely taken with the past. To say I loved it would be an understatement.

If 2008 was the Ariel trip, 2010 was the Peter Pan trip. I was about to graduate from high school and life seemed new, scary and like it was moving way to fast. I became taken with Peter Pan, the boy who never grows up. I spent the trip with my mom and my brother... most high school kids would hate it but not me. I felt that there we could make time stop. Unlike the first orchestra trip, we got two days in the park instead of one and we got to do a masterclass with Backstage Disney. We were taken into a studio and we played the movie music and the Imagineers played our track against various Disney Films. We did part of Beauty and the Beast and the Lion King. The one I remember best is the Lion King. We did the scene where Simba finally takes his place as king after defeating Scar. The rain is falling and he climbs Pride Rock to roar. There is something about playing the movie music that brings it home in a different light. I remember having chills all over my body during Simba's ascent to the edge of Pride Rock. Like most of Disneyland, it was magical. After that the rest of the trip was amazing. I crowed at Peter Pan during the parade. I talked my mom into riding the teacups (a miracle) and Boone and I wept on Tower of Terror because we were so scared. I was there with my friends and family. It was wonderful. It also helped that during our performance award ceremony in the park, I got a solo award. Double win!

The next Disney trip was different. We went as a family with my cousins and my Grammy. We got to eat lunch at Ariel's Grotto and I matched Mickey on his steamboat. It was great to spend so much time with my family, especially as we were all getting older and spreading out (at least geographically speaking). This was the trip that I knew I would be "discovered". Someone was bound to look and me and think, "Ah! There she is! We've been needing a Cast Member just like her." I just knew that my parents would just have to leave me in California. Maybe if I stood on the curb and sang at the top of my lungs or was just perfectly helpful in one of the boutiques. I mean, they needed me... right? They really didn't. I was great at answering visitors questions when they were directed at me and I often had to explain that "I don't work here..." especially when we were in the shops by the Boardwalk in California Adventure. It turns out that if you want a job or if you have a dream, you should fill out the application.

Later in the week, Boone and I pretended to be pirates for a whole day. We only spoke pirate and we drove my mother insane but it was hilarious. We spend half of the day on the Pirate's Hide-away Island. We memorized every nook and cranny. It was awesome. I'm sure some of the little children we were surrounded by didn't appreciate having the "big kids" around. I promise we played nice though. 

The next step I guess is to get Parker to go. He's only been once a

nd he doesn't remember it well. I think he will love it. His imagination isn't quite as ridiculous as mine but it will be fun to be 6 years old together. I can't wait to show him all of the things that make my heart soar. It seems to me that in Disneyland, anything you can dream can be. I guess the world is really like that, it's just easier to remember in the world of "yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy..."

Thanks for listening to my memories and putting up with my childlike fantasies. 

Much love, from my home to yours

Sydney L

Warming Up Winter

January has a special place in my heart... probably because I was born in January and (in my mind... not real life) winter is half way over! I mean it's going to warm up... right? Probably not as soon as I want it to, but a girl can dream. So even though the snow is falling and our apartment is literally freezing (I'm sitting at my kitchen table in gloves and two sweaters), I thought I would share what is keeping me warm this month!

1) My grandpa bought me a Berkshire Blanket for Christmas this year... and it is literally keeping me warm. I'm not sure what has been done to this blanket but you wrap it around yourself and almost immediately you are surrounded by happy fluffy warmness. It is absolutely wonderful and it matches my living room so double bonus. When I'm wrapped in it I can almost tune out the noise of our neighbors' nightly dance party above my head. They (the blankets, not our neighbors) are sold at www.berkshireblanket.com

2) Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries- http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/miss-fishers-murder-mysteries/

I seem to be going through a 1920s thing right now and Phryne Fisher seems to have made it worse. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is a TV program filmed in Australia about Phryne Fisher, a female detective in the 1920s who solves murders and helps the local police in Melbourne, Australia . It sounds like a pretty regular concept and it is. The part that makes it amazing is Phryne. She is a regular flapper, a free spirit if you will. She is incredibly smart and gives everyone a run for their money. On top of that, the music is superb and the costuming is absolutely brilliant. The show has me searching for the perfect bob haircut for my hair. It's also different to look at the silly things we take for granted that were just coming out in 1926. I loved watching Phryne's companion, Dot, jump in fright every time the brand new phone rang. The series has 2 seasons out and both are on Netflix. Apparently a Christmas Special aired a few days before Christmas. It's the only one I haven't seen but if it's anything like the rest of the series then I'm sure it's amazing.

3) Billie Holiday- Now I've loved Billie for a long time. She was my introduction to jazz. Her phrasing is unlike anything I've ever heard and she has the ability to give me the chills or warm me up from the inside out. It seems that I always come back to her in the extreme times, the freezing cold or the hot summer nights. Which explains why I'm feeling her now, considering how cold it's been. 

As a music lover I try really hard to give all music a change and as much as I love the direction new music is going, there is nothing like going back to the roots. I find that it always feels familiar, even if I've never heard it before, and "cleanses" my musical pallet.

4) Last summer I read a marvelous book called The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro and ever since I've been on the hunt for a "signature scent". Apparently I'm quite picky. I don't want something immediately identifiable like Chanel NO 5 and I don't want anything that smells like food. I don't want someone to catch a whiff and think of dessert or their morning smoothie. I've been thinking of roses, something floral and feminine. In an Etsy wandering I found a perfume named Dauphine by Goest Perfumes. It is absolutely scrumptious. I literally want to bathe in it. Follow the link to look at the shop & buy a sample! https://www.etsy.com/listing/94342179/sample-dauphine?ref=shop_home_active_5

5) Now I don't cook... not really anyway. I'm a champion at heating up refried beans for a burrito or making a perfectly toasted grilled cheese but that is the extent of my skill. Recently on a Costco trip I stumbled upon Seeds of Change- Quinoa and Brown Rice. It is seriously the most delicious stuff ever and all you do is pop it in the microwave for 90 seconds. It's organic and healthy... which is great because Parker and I tend to gravitate towards Arby's or Gold Fish Crackers!

6) Last month Parker and I went to Las Vegas for a few days on our "honeymoon". We didn't really get the chance to have one after we got married, because of Parker's job with Vivint. It was great to "get away" with my sweet husband for a few days! We stayed at the Rio, saw a Cirque du Soliel show, walk the Strip, and ate DELICIOUS seafood from Joe's Seafood, Steak and Stone Crab at Caesar's Palace. The weather was perfect and I got my view of the fake Eiffel Tower to tide me over until Parker takes me to Paris ;) Just thinking about the warm weather and the fun we had warms up my insides.

Anyway, I hope that January is treating you well and all those headed back to school have had a great first week! Cheers!

Much love from my home to yours!

Sydney

The Times, They Are a Changin'

I guess what I mean is that I'm changing. The times are still the times and the world is still worldly. Maybe I should just stop rambling and share what I mean, deal?

The past few weeks I've been thinking about life, specifically my life because that's the life I know. I think back to a year ago. My life was confusing, or really I was confused and I didn't know what to do. I was working at the same job I had worked for about 5 years and I was living with my parents. The plan was to stay there until I finished school or went on a mission. Boone was gone on his mission. Then Parker came home and sort of derailed everything. I'm grateful for that.

It's amazing to me how much we plan and prepare and more often than not the Lord has something else in mind. Change is always coming. I mean we are in a constant state of transition without even realizing it most of the time. But more than everything changing around us I've been thinking about us, as people, changing. I feel that as grownups we are constantly reminding children to be more patient and reverent. We tell them they need to change but that is for the children. We forget that we are supposed to change. Somewhere between 10 and 16 we decide we can't
. We are who we are and that's all there is to it. We can point fingers and easily tell people what they can fix about themselves. For some reason it's so hard to point the finger the other way.

I've been thinking about the woman I want to be. I want to be strong and brave, full of love and hope that I can share with those around me. I can reason that I have a lot of love in me but as far as strength and bravery, I've got a long ways to go. It amazes me how afraid I am to talk to people, sometimes even people I know. I get so frustrated with myself. Maybe part of the problem is I expect to be different immediately. I don't want to work at it, I just want it to happen. It would seem that life doesn't work that way. Apparently we have to try... and I mean, I'm an adult I know that people have to try but sometimes, like with change, I forget it applies to me.

So here's to a new year, embracing change and pushing for a change in me. Hopefully I'll learn to be more patient with myself. Maybe I should also resolve to go to the gym more.... naw, maybe next year.

Happy 2014
-Sydney L Johnson-Alleman