Day 1463: Disney Resolutions

I may already have most of my New Year's Resolutions figured out, including the one I shared yesterday to actively write a blog post a day for Everyday Disney, but the resolutions don't have to end there. This year I've got several resolutions, all of which I created based on things I've tried to do or have partially already nestled into my life. In other words, instead of going cold-turkey on a bunch of different resolutions, I'm taking works in progress and making resolutions to fulfill them in completion. My resolutions aren't the full point of this blog post though. 

It may be January 2, but that doesn't mean it's too late to figure out a few last minute goals of your own for 2017, and in the spirit of all things Disney, here are just a few Disney-Inspired Resolutions! 

Be More Like Tiana - It's probably a good idea for me to throw this one in here specifically because it's a bit of my own resolution for the year. Tiana is incredibly dedicated to her work, and while we all need to dig a little deeper to find out what really matters, working towards our goals with everything we have is also important! So be more disciplined with your work this year, find your focus, and then create the best work you possibly can! 

DisneyBound More - I definitely recall the days of my sophomore year when DisneyBounding was a huge part of my life. That year, I continued my Once Upon A Time DisneyBounds, participated in the March DisneyBound challenge, and definitely had more than a few outfits planned for my Disney trips. However, in the past couple of years, I've gotten a bit out of the habit, and I think DisneyBounding more often is a great resolution for us all to bring a bit more Disney into our daily lives! If you need inspiration, you can check out the official DisneyBound website by Leslie Kay! 

Follow Your Dreams - Have you ever had a dream like Rapunzel? My guess is that you have. Make it your resolution this year to follow that dream, and then, if you complete it, find a new one! This is definitely something that I'll be working towards this year with applying to work at Walt Disney World, so come on and dream with me! 

Be Healthy - This one's pretty typical for a New Year's Resolution, but let me tell you, it's never been so easy and so Disney. Check out The Healthy Mouse, created by Jessica McDonald, where you can find a wealth of wonderful suggestions for clean-eating recipes that are both delicious and Disney inspired! Since joining a Facebook group filled with Disney fans dedicated to clean eating, I've been more motivated to eat well and find health in my own life, and it all started with a look at Jessica's blog!

Join a new Disney Community - Speaking of Facebook groups, I've loved becoming a member of several internet Disney communities over the past few years, whether it be on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. These communities can get you excited for your upcoming trip, give you new ideas for what you can experience in the parks, rave with you about how much you loved the latest movie, or just offer general support, and there are a ton of them out there! Jump in and join the discussion! 

Watch All the Disney Movies - I've been working on this for years and I'm still not past Winnie the Pooh, which is only roughly halfway through the lineup, but hey, it's still a great goal! This year, make it a resolution to watch all of the classic animated films we grew up with! 

Exercise More - I think this one can be completed rather nicely by heading to the parks for an extra trip? After all, where else would I consciously walk over 15 miles in one day for fun? And of course you'll have to prepare for all that walking by exercising at home to get accustomed, so really, it's a great resolution! 

Eat More Churros - Or not? 

As you can see, there are plenty of Disney inspired resolutions to take on as we head into 2017, and I want to know what your resolutions are! Let me know in the comments below or on the Everyday Disney Facebook page or other social media! And while you're there, you might as well give them a follow, which will make it easier for you to catch upcoming posts as I work on my own New Year's Resolution of blogging right here! 

Have a magical day! 

Day 1462: Dig a Little Deeper

I originally wanted to title this post "Almost There," but after 1461 days of never repeating a blog post title, I didn't want to reuse one now, regardless of how well it portrays the theme of 2017 here on Everyday Disney. 

As of today, January 1, 2017, I will have been blogging for four years - with a lapse here and there. But with a little extra time over the next few weeks, years one through four will all read 365 blog posts each, with an extra one for 2016 because of that extra day thrown in there. That's a lot of writing, a lot of blogging, and a lot of my life, all captured here in the pages that make up Everyday Disney. In addition, I've posted thousands of pictures on Instagram, uploaded over a hundred videos to YouTube, and joined other internet content teams in the process. 

Let's flash back to January of 2013, when I wrote my very first posts here on Everyday Disney. I wondered back then if I'd be able to accomplish this crazy, ridiculous goal I'd come up with of writing everyday for an entire year, especially when I was only writing about one topic - and even if that topic was Disney. I still remember sitting in one of my high school's computer labs, typing away and designing the first elements of this blog. I was making decisions about my future back then, pretty much the same way I am now, only the decisions are a bit more drastic this time around. In 2013 it was what I wanted to major in, maybe worrying about who I would get as a roommate. Today it's a debate about what the rest of my life looks like, and no, I don't need to have it all figured out right now, but if there was one thing that helped me figure it all out back then, it was Everyday Disney. 

Which is why I see no reason this blog can't help me through the next big steps of my life too. Which means it's time for a new resolution, and this is where "Almost There" comes in. For years I've dreamed of applying for the Disney College Program, but even through my semesters at St. Norbert, it's been sort of a side thought, a fear and worry for the future. The future, it seems, is now here, and as I eagerly await for applications to open for the fall program, I grow anxious and excited. I am, to play on Princess and the Frog, "Almost There," and that means that now is the perfect time to focus back in on what helped get me to where I am today and solidify everything before I hopefully head off on a new adventure! 

So this year, my resolution is simple: I am going to write a blog, called Everyday Disney, which for 365 days, I will write a post a day, or at least put something on the blog in order to keep up with the days. 

Yes, yes, I know, you're not really supposed to repeat New Year's Resolutions, but the way I see it, I already know I can do this, but technically I haven't actually accomplished the goal. There's always been a week or so at the end of the year where I frantically attempt to make up any missing posts from the year, and this time, that just won't do. Fifteen hour days, six ensembles, twenty one credits be darned, I'm going to do this. I am going to write about Disney every day for the entirety of 2017, and I hope I'll continue to have you all, as always, to join me. 

So here's to 2017, and being "Almost There." Now's the time to "Dig a Little Deeper" and find what makes us truly happy, and then work maybe just a little harder to get there. 

Or we could start with some beignets. That could be fun too. 

Have a magical day and a happy new year! 

Day 1461: What's There to Say?

2016 was pretty much a terrible year for everyone it seems. If you look around for more than a few minutes on Twitter you'll know very quickly just how awful the last 12 months were for a lot of people. We've lost so many legends this year, we elected a new president that split the country in a brand new way, and in general, 2016 was a flop. Which means that 2017 can only be better, right? 

For me, 2016 was a year of change and learning. I started it in one of the darkest places I've ever been, struggling with who to trust, where I was going to live, and feeling betrayed by the people I once called my friends. Luckily, moving out and across campus into a different apartment was the start of something great in my life. I strengthened the relationships that remained, gained a new and wonderful roommate, found comfort and happiness with new friends, and really learned who I am and who I want to be. As the year went on, I took risks too. I ended up attending an international conference in the Twin Cities, drove all the way to Colorado and back, traveled to Walt Disney World by myself for the first time (and for another conference!), joined a new group on campus that I never believed I could be a part of, and really began to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life once I leave the security of college. 

At the beginning of 2016, I made a resolution to, instead of taking on something new, focus on finding balance in my life that allows for growth. I honestly think I found that this year, although there's absolutely still room for improvement, and Everyday Disney is an example of that in itself. But even if I haven't quite figured out the full balance of time in my schedule, I feel like I've found balance in myself. The people I surround myself with now care about me for who I am and definitely don't ask me to change. I don't feel as though I'm split into multiple parts the same way I was last year, and most importantly, I feel confident in what I am capable of. 

Normally at this point in the end of the year blog post I'd go on some ramble about how many words I wrote this year, but since a good portion of the year has yet to be completed, that seems sort of irrelevant, so perhaps we'll save that for a later date. For now, we'll just keep steaming ahead into 2017 and new adventures, because something tells me that this next year could be one of the most interesting yet. 

Have a magical day!

Day 1095: One...Two...Three...

Three years.

I can't even begin to express how amazing and wonderful it feels to have the knowledge that I've been doing this for three whole years. I mean, just think about what kind of time that means. Since I started Everyday Disney I've graduated High School, moved to college, had plenty of ups and downs and late nights, played a lot of saxophone, went on more Disney trips than I ever thought I might in a three year period, and did a bunch of other stuff I can't even remember now because I'm too tired to do so. But, in a nutshell, just look at a few of the things that 2015 brought me:

To top it all off and ring in the new year, I skipped the ball drop in Times Square tonight for something that felt a little more like...me: a live stream of the countdown at Walt Disney World, which I took probably as many pictures of as I do when I attend any fireworks show live. 

And, of course, before we say goodbye to 2015 as a whole, we have to go back and complete the last month of the Everyday Disney Challenge: 

Thank you all for another wonderful year of Everyday Disney, and I'll see you all in 2016! 

Have a magical day!